Disclaimer:- I don't own Mass Effect or any of the characters I'm just borrowing them for a while.
A/N:- Sorry it took so long to update this but I've been working on this chapter for a couple of days. I've got a few other ideas I'm toying with in regard to this fic but in the meantime I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
The Normandy SR2 was still docked at Citadel but the human crew were getting restless, the Council had made no headway in deciding whether or not to lend its aide to the Alliance against the Reaper threat and it was beginning to frustrate the former Cerberus' operatives. There growing impatience was being felt on every deck even as far as Commander Alissa Shepard herself and it was disconcerting to say the least, an unhappy crew might get sloppy in the event they were called into action but in truth she could understand their frustrations; the Council's dithering meant more human lives were being lost by the hour and when the extranet feeds had failed all those daring to believe in a miracle on the Citadel had finally lost hope. The Alliance Communications networks had also ceased broadcasting, the Reapers it appeared had hacked them upon entering the system so no new information was getting out of the local cluster. Anyone that had been able to send a message or video file had soon stopped broadcasting within days of the invasion. Shepard however had not yet given up, she'd seen the footage of Alliance soldiers fighting back against the Reapers and she refused to believe that all of them had succumbed to the enemy but even her own resolve was fading. At Shepard's request EDI had been monitoring all Alliance Channels including those that fed back to the local cluster, if a skilled communications expert or a hacker had accessed the Alliance Communications Array then maybe a message would get through any Reaper blockade.
"Commander, I have detected a broadcast from the local cluster" EDI's blue orb flickered to life in Shepard's quarters, "It appears to have been broadcast from Earth." she continued, time seemed to slow for Shepard in that moment; someone had broken through the communication blackout and sent a message,
"EDI, how was the message uploaded?" Alissa asked wanting to verify its origin before allowing EDI to play it back, "It was uploaded via the Alliance Communications Array, using current security codes for personnel serving on Earth" EDI intoned, "My sources indicate that the message is genuine Shepard" she added hoping to put the Commander at ease, "Play it back, EDI"
"This is Lt. Commander Amelia Grey of the Alliance Military to anyone that might receive this message. The current situation in London is rather dire, I have encountered many hostile forces and have appeased them but my ammunition is running low and the enemy outnumbers me greatly. I've met a few other Alliance Personnel but they seem intent on waiting for their end in a dignified manner, I have yet to give up my hope. Current location is Westminster Bridge heading East toward St Thomas Hospital, aside from military personnel I've not encountered any civilians. I send this message in the hopes that aide may be coming, if not then I'm just letting the Galaxy know that someone is still fighting down here. I don't know what these squid like machines are, there message echoes throughout the dying city 'salvation through our destruction' well sorry I don't need salvation right now, I just need more bullets. To anyone who hears this, keep the faith we're not going down without a fight. Lt Commander Amelia Grey, out"
A soft yet determined voice filtered through Commander Alissa Shepard's cabin as the message from Lieutenant Commander Grey played back over her personnel terminal, the sounds from a City under siege could be heard in the background as the Lieutenant recorded; echoes of screaming also filtered through and for a moment Alissa Shepard's head dropped in despair at what those on Earth must be encountering. There had been no warning about the Reaper invasion the Alliance and Council had swept all the incidents under the carpet and now when humanity needed a saviour there wasn't one to be found. She smiled a little when the Lieutenant asked for more bullets rather than salvation, it seemed that despite the situation the Lieutenant still had a sense of humour and it warmed her heart to know that someone was still fighting down there and not willing to give up but still the plea for help didn't go unnoticed. The ones that hadn't given up were running out of ammunition and possibly medical supplies as well, it wouldn't be too long before they hand nothing left to fight with but there bare hands and ultimately that would mean their end. Alissa Shepard didn't want to think about that, she would be damned if she was going to let those that were fighting down their down. She owed it to all those that believed in her to go to the local cluster and get as many survivors out as possible but the Reapers outnumbered the Normandy and there were no reinforcements to call upon, it would be worst than a suicide mission but then again she and her crew had beaten the odds before but it would be a fool's errand to go to the local cluster alone. When the message ended she sighed deeply, "EDI pass the message on to the Alliance Brass and the Council, lets see if they do anything now." she added with a hint of determination and renewed belief, just who was this Lieutenant Commander Amelia Grey and how had she been able to get a message out of the local cluster. Sitting down at her terminal Shepard was determined to find out.
Searching through the extranet proved pointless, the Lieutenant had done nothing remotely newsworthy according to Shepard's findings and after accessing the Alliance database all Shepard could find was the bare essentials. Lieutenant Commander Amelia Grey was a trained Alliance Marine and had been stationed on Earth since graduating the Academy aside from that her records were classified which puzzled Shepard, for a soldier that had done very little to have a overtly classified file was very interesting indeed. Sighing Alissa closed down the terminal and left her quarters, maybe Doctor Chakwas or her mother Captain Hannah Shepard could shed some light on the mysterious Lieutenant.
The trek to St Thomas Hospital wasn't especially long and once Lt. Commander Grey and Corporal Williams had hacked entrance door allowing them access the three weary comrades breathed a huge sigh of relief. Doctor Reeves noticed that Corporal Williams was injured and ushered him into the nearest side room so she could deal with the bullet wound, which left Lt. Commander Grey to her own devices. Amelia called up the data on her Omni-tool and checked how far her message had gotten, according to the Alliance network it had made it out of the local cluster something of a bonus then compared to other messages that had been broadcast, perhaps there just wasn't any communication traffic at the time of upload. Flicking through the files on her Omni-tool she pulled up 20th Century Earth music and started humming along to Iridescent by Linkin Park something about that song gave her the belief to keep fighting against the creatures that were plaguing the city, a single play through was enough as she continued to sift through her Omni-tool files; it was outdated and needed patching but the commands at her disposal were enough for the time being. Sighing she looked around the room that was currently serving as home glad that the walls were thick and still intact at least the Reapers hadn't taken out this building yet.
Dr Chakwas had seen many a Marine pass through her medical bay both on Alliance ships and on shore based establishments it was however a surprise to find Commander Alissa Shepard in the Normandy's medical bay when there was nothing wrong with her, "So Commander, for what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked with a smile as Shepard sat down in the chair opposite her, "I'm looking for information on an Alliance Marine but their service record is heavily classified, so my query Doctor is have you ever treated a Lieutenant Commander Amelia Grey?" Shepard let the name hang in the air for a moment as she waited for Dr Chakwas to respond, something about this Marine had piqued her interest and until that was resolved she couldn't let it rest, "I'm afraid I can't help you Commander, I've seen many a soldier pass through here and other medical facilities but no one of that name, what would you interest be in her?" the Doctor looked straight at Shepard her clinical gaze never faltering, "EDI picked up a message from the local cluster from Lieutenant Commander Amelia Grey, it's the only Site Rep we've received from Earth in one solar week. Somehow she got a message out and from EDI's analysis the Lieutenant used current security codes for Alliance soldiers on Earth, to hear a Site Rep from a Marine in the midst of an invasion and to listen to the determination in her voice intrigued me. How does a Soldier who has been abandoned by the Alliance and the Council keep fighting for a victory they may never see. I wanted to know more about what drives her but found nothing in the official records so I thought asking you and my Mother would be the next best thing." she sighed her frustration getting the better of her for a moment, "I'm sorry I can't help you Commander, maybe Captain Shepard can be of better assistance." Dr Chakwas smiled as Shepard rose from her seat, "Thank you for your time Doctor." she added before walking out of the medical lab.
Calling her mother had been the last option available to Alissa Shepard, whilst they had resolved their differences over her dying and subsequent resurrection at the hands of Cerberus they hadn't actually just sat down and talked like mother and daughter instead every conversation they'd had of late was about the current Reaper invasion of Earth and the Alliance's stance on it; sighing heavily as she entered the briefing room, "EDI open an FTL channel to the SSV Orizaba and Captain Hannah Shepard" as EDI opened the channel Alissa Shepard stretched and stood with her hands behind her back, old habits die hard it seemed and she stood to attention when her mother's voice came over the Normandy's FTL channel, "Captain Hannah Shepard..oh Alissa I'm on duty so I can't be taking personal calls" Alissa shook her head before speaking, "I'm on duty too and this isn't a personal call I'm after information about an Alliance marine and I'm hoping you can help. The Normandy picked up a communication from the local cluster, Lieutenant Commander Amelia Grey of the Alliance Navy managed to get a site rep from London onto the Alliance Communication Array's. I've verified the security codes and they are current issue, what I want to know is who this Lieutenant is; her file is heavily classified." she asked laying down her request with crisp authority, a brief pause followed before Captain Shepard answered, "Lieutenant Commander Grey is something of an enigma within the Alliance and I'm not surprised that she of all people got a message out despite the current situation. Not much is known about her Alissa only that she's an exceptional soldier and dedicated to the cause, I'm sorry I can't be of any more help but that is truly all I know and that's only from hearsay." she added with a soft chuckle, "I'm really sorry Alissa but I have to get back to work, SSV Orizaba out." the FTL channel went silent and Alissa Shepard was left with more questions than answers and a mother who was growing more distant by the day, when this is over she thought I'll make amends somehow, "That will be all EDI." she added turning away from the terminal and back towards the CIC, "Logging you out, Shepard" came EDI's reply as the door to the briefing room swished shut.
Standing at the Galaxy Map, Commander Alissa Shepard briefly glanced at the local cluster before turning away and walking down to the elevator; there was nothing she could do for the Lieutenant at this moment in time but her thoughts were with her all the same, 'Keep fighting soldier, I'll find a way to get there'