Authors note: You know the drill... Mass Effect, and all it's Reaper blasting goodness does not belong to me. Im just using them to entertain you, the reader. Woopie
"Commander do you have any idea what you have done?! If the Reapers weren't enough, you had to get the Salarians involved?" scolded Hackett.
"Sir, I know I didn't intend for this to happen." Shepard managed to say.
"Intend? From what i heard, it's damn well what you intended! The Dalatrass emailed us all Shepard!" Hackett screamed.
"Sir I know what i did. I can fix this. Just give me time." Shepard said defensively.
"Time?! We have no time Shepard. What time we did have is gone now! We mite as well of just surrendered ourselves to the Reapers! Now to top it off I have to convience the other races not to leave our cause again Shepard!" Hackett disconnected abrubtly.
Shepard cursed silently to himself, as he kicked at the floor. I got to fix this, but how? Shepard stormed off to the war room to look at all the war assets to look at everything, anything that could make this miserable war come to and end. A quick scan of all available assets revealed just how bad things really were. The Turian army was at 27% strength, The Asari 24%, The Krogan 18%, Humanity 21%, and Non-Alliance Races 14%. Nothing, none of this is no good! Shepard slammed his fist on the desk damning his luck.
"S-Sir?" It was the young XO who was in charge of organising information.
"What is it?" Shepard glared.
"I know this isn't what you want to hear. But when i was growing up, and having troubles with something. My grandfather would always tell me: If your having troubles you need pie." the XO stated with a straight face.
"Pie?" Shepard shot an akward look at the young XO.
"Yes sir. What he ment was if it's not coming to you, you should go do something that you enjoy. Then it will come to you." The XO's eyes wandered around looking for more.
"Pie...Thank you. That'll be all." Shepard dismissed him with a salute and went back to the war asset screen. Shepard couldn't focus on the assets, the young XO's words kept repeating in his head. "Ah what the hell."
Shepard shrugged and decided pie it is. Shepard pushed himself away from the teminal and made his way to the Crew Quarters mess hall. The mess hall was fairly quiet. Rupert stood behind the counter cross armed as usual frowning at his feet. Jack was eating breakfast at the table farthest away from the counter. Shepard walked up to the counter and grabbed some breakfast off the counter. "Commander." Rupert mumbled as Shepard filled his tray with eggs, pancakes, and sausage. Shepard walked over to were Jack was sitting. "Mind if I sit here?" Jack shook her head, and pointed at the chair across from her with a fork. "Thanks."
Shepard let out a sigh as he sat down.
"So war with the Salarians, huh?" Jack said gulping down some egg.
Shepard didn't want to talk about it so he quickly changed the topic. "Glad to see my N7 hoodie, and black cargo pants fit you nicely."
"Don't try and change the subject dumbass." She countered.
Shepard scowled knowing there was no point in trying to argue. "Yea...I wish it hadn't come down to it."
Jack saw the pain, and sorrow in his eyes as he looked down at his tray. "Shepard i didn't mean to...I was only trying to." but words failed her when she needed them most. But then again she never was a words person, she was more of a person of action. Shepard didn't respond he was tired of talk. Talk is what had gotten him into this mess in the first place. "We shoulda nuked those fuckers when we had the chance." She sighed as she went back to her breakfast. Shepards head shot up in an instant. "Shepard?"
"That's it!" he yelled.
Jack shot him a confused look. " What's it?"
"Nuke them!" she could hear the excitement in his voice.
"Shepard! I was only kidding." she said with an amused tone.
"No! The bomb on Tuchanka, that the Salarians made to blow up the planet in case the Krogan got unruly!" Shepard shot out of his chair, and planted a kiss on Jacks forehead then made a run for the War Room.
"I knew he'd think of something" she smiled.
"What's Shepards hurry Jack?" Ashley asked as Shepard nearly knocked her over.
"Oh we're nuking the Salarians." she said while stuffing her mouth with more food.
"WHAT?!" Ashley said with complete shock on her face. Jack started laughing at Ashley.
Shepard scanned the galaxy for a planet he could use. The word searching was blinking across the monitor in bold letters while it scanned the galaxy for anything that was within his search parimeters.
"One match found." chimed the computer. Shepard leaned forward to read what it found "Mortifera...Computer bring up history." The computer brought up a second panel with everything known about the Planet. Shepard read it silently to himself; Discovered 2183 by doctor Hanz Klieg of Earth,32 times the size of Jupiter,Planet was deemed to dangerous to colonize do to extremely high amounts of Francium, and Ununoctium, and was named Mortifera the latin word for deadly do it being highly explosive and radioactive. Shepard let loose a grin across his face. Shepard turned to the Comm room to notify Admiral Hackett of his plan. Shepard hit a few buttons on the comm terminal addressed to Hackett as extremely urgent. There was silence on Hacketts end. Must still be upset with me, can't say I blame him though.
"Commander this better be damn good im still in a meeting with the other leaders." Hackett grimaced
"I promise it's worth it Admiral." he paused before continuing. "Sir i found a way to stop both the Reapers, and Salarians."
"Go on...I'm listening." Hackett said trying to be civil with Shepard.
"Your remember back on Tuchanka how we disarmed that bomb so that the Reapers or Cerberus couldn't use it. Well if we could get ahold of it and send it to this Planet..." Shepard sent the data to Hackett. "We send out a distress call so that both the Reapers, and Salarians respond to it. And when they do respond we detonate it wiping both parties out in a supernova explosion."
"Impressive Commander but what makes you think they'll respond to the distress call?" Hackett said sounding surprised.
"Leave that to Liara if anyone can figure that out she can." Shepard boasted confidently.
"One other problem...the bomb Shepard it's in Reaper territory. Going after it would be a suicide mission. Who in the rite mind would volunteer for this?" Hackett asked concerned.
Shepard grinned like a kid during Christmas morning. "Looks like it's time to get the old team back together for one more suicide mission. I'll have EDI contact everyone. You just keep our alliance alive."
"Just one more question Commander when do you intend to do this?" Hackett questioned
"This time tomorrow Admiral." Shepard answered with vigor, and confidence in his voice.
"Very well Commander, i'll let the others know. Good luck Commander. May the gods watch over you." He saluted then disconnected.
To Be Continued. Expect the next chapter to be filled with action.