Yes! Finally! The last chapter in this section! I can't tell you all how much i enjoyed writing this particular chapter, especially the last section. I didn't think i would enjoy it this much. Now understand that I am NOT stopping with writing out my characters experience throughout the game. However, this will be the last chapter for this part of the story. If you dont already know how i am writing this out, then i will explain at the end of this chapter.

So, instead of going on and on again, here is the story. Enjoy and comment!

To: Commander Shepard

From: Captain Anderson

Subject: (none)

Shepard,

Meet me and Ambassador Udina where the Normandy is docked. You will be filled in once you get there.

-Anderson

"That from the Captain, sir?" Williams said as they walked away from the requisitions office, Garrus and Alenko walking with them, Tali and Wrex waiting in the main room of the C-Sec Academy. Shepard nodded to her as they regrouped and he led the group towards the large elevator in the center of the room that would take them to the Normandy's dock. Despite the elevator being larger than most of the others on the Citadel, it was still a rather tight fit for the diverse group.

"Just got a message from Captain Anderson," Shepard said, hoping to distract everyone from complaining about the tight space, "We're to meet him and Udina at the Normandy." He turned towards the non-Alliance members of the group and said, "There is no telling whether we'll be leaving with the Captain on the Normandy or not, so just sit tight until we know how we'll be getting around."

Everyone nodded as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened, revealing the Normandy, and just outside of it the Captain and the Ambassador. Shepard walked up to him while everyone else stood back slightly, some of them going to the side to lean against the railing. To be more specific, it was Tali who lead the way to the railing as she looked at the state-of-the-art ship before her in awe. Shepard saw Alenko and Garrus walk up behind her, Garrus also staring at the ship and Alenko telling the two of them what he knew about it.

This was all Shepard was able to pay attention to as the Ambassador spoke to him, saying, "I've got big news for you, Shepard. Captain Anderson is stepping down as commanding officer of the Normandy. The ship is yours now."

Shepard was taken aback when he heard that. He had expected to be allowed to use the Normandy to track down Saren, but with Captain Anderson in charge of it. He looked to said Captain who only crossed his arms and nodded.

"She's quick and quiet and you know the crew. Perfect ship for a Spectre. Treat her well, Commander."

This just didn't sound right to Shepard. "What's going on, Captain?"

"You needed your own ship," Anderson said, "A Spectre can't answer to anyone but the Council. And its time for me to step down."

If Shepard didn't buy that before, then the sigh Anderson gave after he finished talking kept him from believing it now. He voiced his concern, "Come clean with me Captain. You owe me that much."

Anderson nodded, knowing that Shepard was referring to the time they worked together and the running around that Shepard had to do to expose Saren, nothing more. He knew Shepard wouldn't say that using his new Spectre status, and that was why he answered vaguely, but honestly.

"I was in your shoes twenty years ago, Shepard. They were considering me for the Sepctres."

Shepard recalled what all he had been hearing during his search on the Citadel, including when they talked with Harkin in Chora's Den. So maybe Harkin was telling the truth after all. But Shepard wasn't fully sure why the Captain wouldn't have told him.

"You could've told me, sir. Why didn't you ever mention this?"

"What was I supposed to say?" Anderson responded, sounding agitated or angry. "I could've been a Spectre but I blew it? I failed, Commander." He let out a breath and continued, "It's not something I'm proud of. Ask me later, and I'll tell you the whole story. For now, all you need to know is I was sent on a mission with Saren, and he made sure the Council rejected me." Anderson looked Shepard in the eyes again, saying, "I had my shot. It came and went. Now you have a chance to make up for my mistakes."

"I won't let you down, Captain," Shepard said, wanting to be careful with what he said from now on. He felt bad making the Captain relive that, seeing as how bad if affected him. Even so, Shepard meant it when he said he wouldn't let him down.

"Saren's gone. Don't even try to find him," Anderson continued, moving things back to the main point, "But we know what he's after: the Conduit. He's got his Geth scouring the Traverse looking for clues."

Udina spoke back up, saying, "We had reports of geth in the Feros system shortly before our colony there dropped out of contact. And there have been sightings around Noveria."

"Find out what Saren was after on Feros and Noveria," Anderson said, making this feel like just another mission briefing, at least to Shepard. "Maybe you can figure out where the Conduit is before he does."

While Shepard hoped that was the case, he also remembered that it wasn't just Saren and the Geth they should be worried about. "The Reapers are the real threat."

"I'm with the Council on this one, Shepard," Udina stated before Shepard could say anything else, "I'm not sure they even exist."

"But if they do exist," Anderson said quickly, "The Conduit is the key to bringing them back. Stop Saren from getting the Conduit and we stop the Reapers from returning."

Nodding to Anderson, Shepard looked back to Udina and asked, "Do we have any other leads?"

"Yes, one other. Matriarch Benezia, the other voice in that recording?" Shepard nodded to show that he was following, "She has a daughter, a scientist who specializes in the Protheans. We don't know if she's involved, but it might be a good idea to try and find her, see what she knows. Her name's Liara, Dr. Liara T'Soni. We have reports she was exploring an archeological dig on one of the uncharted worlds in the Artemis Tau cluster."

So, three solid leads. That's more than Shepard really expected to have at first. While there are two systems that might hold some clue as to Saren or the Conduits whereabouts, there is one person that might hold information on Saren's Matriarch ally. Shepard didn't really know too much about either area. Noveria he knew the least about, and wherever this Dr. T'Soni is at, Shepard doubted he knew much about that either. The other place though, Feros, and the colony Udina mentioned, he did know a little about. The name of the colony was Zhu's Hope, a colony that's still trying to set its roots and grow. If they had dropped out of contact after reporting geth being nearby, then they were most likely under attack. They would need help.

"The colonists on Feros might still be alive," Shepard said, looking to Anderson for his option.

Anderson merely said, "Its your decision, Commander. You're a Spectre now. You don't answer to us."

Hearing his Captain, or better said his former Captain, say that sounded weird to Shepard, but he knew that it was the truth. As he was nodding his understanding to Anderson, Udina spoke up saying, "But your actions still reflect on Humanity as a whole. You make a mess and I get stuck cleaning it up."

Deciding not to get into an argument with the Ambassador, Shepard said, with as little sarcasm as he could manage to sound honest, "I'll try not to make things any harder on you, Ambassador."

"Glad to hear it, Commander. Remember, you were a human long before you were a Spectre." Looking back towards Anderson, Udina said, "I have a meeting to get to. Captain Anderson can answer any questions you may have."

Shepard waited until the Ambassador had disappeared into the elevator before he turned to Anderson and asked, "How are you holding up, Captain?"

"Honestly? This isn't how I pictured my career coming to an end. Pushing papers really isn't my thing."

Laughing a bit, Shepard said, "Don't think its my thing either, Captain."

Anderson smiled and shook his head. Turning serious, he said, "But you're the one who can stop Saren. I believe in you, Shepard. If that means I have to step aside, so be it."

Shepard was taken aback by what his former Captain said, and at the same time he was very flattered. It was an honor to know that this man, whom he looked up to, trusted him that much and was willing to give up his military career because of that trust. If Shepard needed any more reason not to let Anderson down, this was it.

However, despite all that, Shepard felt that he had to ask something, something that was personal to the Captain. "Sir, tell me what happened with you and Saren twenty years ago."

Anderson signed and nodded, before he started. "Its close to twenty years ago now. Ambassador Goyle was our representative here on the Citadel. Like Udina, she wanted to get a human into the Spectres," Anderson had looked down at this point, took a breath and then said, "She choose me. The Council sent Saren to keep an eye on me and evaluate my performance. Just like they sent Nihlus to keep tabs on you."

Shepard nodded to show that he was following. Anderson began to pace while telling his story. "We had intel on a rogue scientist being funded by batarian interests. He was trying to set up a facility to develop illegal AI technology out in the Verge. Alliance Intel had done all the work, but the Council wanted a Spectre involved. We compromised: I was assigned to help Saren in his investigation. We tracked the scientist to a refining facility on Camala. He was hidden away somewhere inside, protected by an army of batarian mercenaries."

The Commander couldn't help but notice the change in demeanor while Anderson spoke. When he started, Anderson seemed distant and unnerved from having to relive this part of his past, which Shepard could understand, as Anderson had said it was a moment he wasn't proud of. As he began to get into that one mission, though, Shepard could just see the man who was on Camala, tracking down this rogue scientist. The Captain was precise with the details of the mission, and he almost had more of a bounce in his step while he paced. This was the Captain Anderson that earned the respect of his men, the respect of Commander Shepard.

"The plan was simple: sneak into the plant, capture the scientist, sneak back out. Quick, quiet, and a minimum of bloodshed," Anderson said, as he stopped pacing and stood back in front of Shepard.

"I'm guessing things didn't go as planned."

Anderson nodded and explained, "Saren and I split up to cover more ground. Then, about halfway through the mission, there was a massive explosion in the refinery core. Officially, it was labeled an accident. But I think Saren detonated it on purpose to draw off the enemy guards."

Shepard shook his head, not wanting to know the answer to his next question, "How many casualties?"

"The explosion tore the refinery to shreds. The whole place was on fire. Black chemical clouds poured out into the atmosphere. Nobody inside survived. There was a camp for the workers and their families nearby. Between the fires and the toxic fumes, the final death count was over five hundred. Mostly civilians."

"Five hundred? Five hundred dead just to get to one man?" Shepard asked in disbelief.

Anderson just nodded gravely, then said, "Saren didn't care. The target was eliminated. Mission accomplished. And I ended up taking all the blame. That ended all talk of me joining the Spectres."

"Saren caused the explosion," Shepard said, "How'd he pin it on you?"

"In his report, Saren accused me of blowing his cover. He said it was my fault the guards were ready for us. He claimed that's why it turned into a massacre. Saren's report was all the proof the Council needed to kill my chances of becoming a Spectre."

Yet another time when Saren abused his power and then hid behind the Council. This one had costs hundreds of lives, like Eden prime. Shepard was going to do his best to keep any more lives from being lost or ruined because of Saren.

Shepard turned and looked at the people behind him, all of who seemed to have been listening to everything that had been said, and then he looked towards the Normandy. He was nervous, he wouldn't deny that, but he also knew what was at stake. He also knew that he wasn't alone. While it may be a rather odd group he had standing beside him, he knew it was a tough one, and he could only hope that it would be enough.

Anderson watched Shepard while he looked to his new team and his new ship. He could tell the Commander was obviously in deep thought. After all, he had a lot on his shoulders now. Luckily, he had others to help with that burden. Anderson had already planned to allow Shepard's new team onto the Normandy had he still been in command of it, though now it didn't matter. With Shepard as a Spectre, and the Normandy now his, Shepard could have whoever he saw fit on the Normandy, and on his team.

After a few silent moments, Anderson decided to break the silence. "Is there anything else, Commander?"

Shepard looked back from the Normandy to his former Captain, "No, sir. In fact, I should be going."

Anderson stuck out his hand, saying, "Good luck out there, Commander. You'll need it." Shepard took his hand and gave his a firm shake, thanking him. Anderson then said, "I'll be here if you need anything, Commander."

Shepard nodded to him before turning around and addressing the people behind him. "Alright everyone. Lets head aboard and get everyone settled. We take off within the hour." And with that, they all began to walk along the docking ramp and towards the Normandy's airlock and decontamination cycle, Anderson behind them, still on the dock, staying to watch the Normandy depart.

When the decontamination cycle ended, the group of five stepped into the ship and turned right towards the CIC with the three Alliance marines leading the way. They were met with curious glances and minor whispers, but Shepard had expected that. After all, he was being followed by non-Alliance people, all of them armed to some degree. But the Commander continued heading towards the CIC, and the elevator behind it.

As they walked around the Galaxy Map and through the doors that led down stairs towards the elevator, Shepard spoke over his shoulder to the group, "We are going to go down to Engineering first. There are personnel lockers there that each of you can have to store your armor, weapons and some personal items. From there, we'll find a place for all of you to get settled in."

He stopped at the elevator and turned to Williams and Alenko and said, "If you two could wait for the elevator to come back up, I will take down our newest crew members first. That way we can avoid another tight elevator ride." When they nodded their consent, Shepard motioned for the other three behind them to follow him into the elevator.

During the elevators descent, Garrus turned to Shepard and said, "Commander, while I appreciate you allowing us to come with you, I don't want to be a freeloader. If there is anything you would allow me to do while on the ship, then I would gladly take the assignment."

Before Shepard could respond, Tali also spoke up, "Me too, Commander. It would only be right for us to do our part while being a member of your crew."

At this point the doors had opened to the Engineering level. Before Shepard responded, he led the group over to the lockers he had spoke of earlier, telling each of them to pick a locker of their own. While they chose and began to put their weapons and any personal items into the lockers, Shepard looked around the cargo hold and thought about what he could have the new crew do. At one point, his eyes fell onto the Mako at the right end of the room. Usually, they only had someone run a diagnostic on the Mako right before a mission with it, or if it hadn't be used in a week or more. If someone wanted something to do…

"Would one of you like to be assigned to maintain and repair the Mako?" Shepard asked, turning towards the three behind him.

Garrus looked over at the landrover and nodded, saying, "Sure, I can do that."

Shepard waved his arm towards the Mako and said, "Its all yours then. I'll see to it that you get any clearance needed to use the terminal there for diagnostics and access to any parts you would need to work on it. Just make sure it keeps running smooth and its weaponry and shields are working."

Garrus nodded and made his way over to the Mako, looking it over and taking basic scans with his own omni-tool until he had access to the terminal. Shepard looked back at the other two and began to think about what they could do.

"That's about the only thing I can think of that would need to be done. Do you two have any preferences on what you would like to do?"

Wrex merely shrugged and said, "I'm good with just doing nothing, so long as we get to fight later."

Shrugging, Shepard said, "I guess that's fine with me. Like I said, I can't think of anything else anyway." Wrex nodded and walked off to the side, passing both Williams and Alenko, who had just gotten out of the elevator.

While they began putting their own weapons and their armor into their lockers, Shepard looked at Tali. Tali shook her head slightly and said, "If it's all the same to you, Commander, I'd rather be doing something. I wouldn't feel right working for you and not helping somewhere while on the ship."

"Fair enough. Is there anything in particular that you would like to do?"

"Well, I could do work in the engine room, if I'm allowed to, of course," she finished rather quickly.

"I don't see why not if its what you want. If you will, introduce yourself to our Chief Engineer, Adams. Let him know that I sent you. He'll be behind those doors there, where the drive core is," Shepard said, pointing towards the doors on either side of the elevator.

She looked that way and then back to Shepard, saying, "Alright. Uh… Would it be all right if I took a look around the Normandy? So that I can know where everything is, I mean…"

Thinking about that, Shepard asked, "You probably do need to know that, don't you?" He chuckled a bit, then said, "If you could wait for a while, I'll show you around myself. I have one or two things that I need to do right quick. Once we've left the Citadel, I'll come down and show you around. Garrus and Wrex too, since they'll need to know where everything is as well."

She agreed and left for the drive core to introduce herself to Engineer Adams. Shepard turned towards the two marines who were now in their casual uniform. He noticed that Alenko seemed a bit pale. "You alright, Kaiden?"

"Just a headache, Commander, its nothing to worry about," Alenko replied, trying to just pass it off. But Shepard wanted to err on the side of caution.

"You should go and see Dr. Chakwas, just to be safe. That's an order, Lieutenant," Shepard said before Alenko could protest. He nodded and began making his way towards the elevator. Shepard looked at Williams and asked if she was all right. When she said she was good, Shepard nodded to her and left to follow Alenko, heading towards the cockpit to talk with Joker and get the Normandy on her way.

"I heard about what happened to Captain Anderson," Joker said as Shepard came up behind him, out of his armor and now in his own casual uniform, the same as everyone else was wearing. "Survives a hundred battles, and then gets taken down by backroom politics."

"Another reason why I hate politics," Shepard replied, then he told Joker where they were planning to go, letting him access the coordinates and start ship preparations.

As Joker nodded and started inputting the information into the panels in front of him, he said, "Just watch your back, Commander. Things go bad on this mission, and you're next on their chopping block."

Shepard was quiet for a few moments before he responded. "Captain Anderson should be the one in charge. Its like I'm stealing the ship from him."

Joker snorted and then said, "Yeah, the Captain got screwed, but its not like you could've stopped it. No one's blaming you. Everyone on this ship's behind you, Commander. One hundred percent." Joker looked down at one of his panel, pressed an icon and said, "Intercom's open. If you've got anything you want to say to the crew, now's the time."

"I'm not exactly good with words, Joker," Shepard said apprehensively.

Joker merely shook his head and said, "Yeah, but it can't hurt, can it?"

Shepard just gave Joker a look for a second before he gave in and leaned towards the Intercom, "This is Commander Shepard speaking. We have our orders: find Saren before he finds the Conduit. I won't lie to you, crew. This mission isn't going to be easy."

He took a moment to think of what to say next, deciding to go with the beginning. "This began with an attack on a human settlement in the Traverse. But we know Saren won't stop there. His Geth armies aren't going to stay on the far fringes of Citadel space. Our enemy knows we're coming. When we go into the Traverse, Saren's followers will be waiting for us. But we'll be ready for them, too."

He looked to his right where Joker sat and saw his ever present smile, if at all possible, grow while he continued to input ship prep information into his controls. Thinking on how to end the speech, Shepard finally said, "Humanity needs to do this. Not just for our own sake, but for the sake of every other species in Citadel space. Saren must be stopped, and I promise you all… we will stop him."

Shepard reached over as he said the last sentence and closed off the Intercom. Joker looked at him and said, "Well said, Commander. Captain would be proud."

Shepard looked ahead for a second, out the Normandy's windows. That's when he noticed something to his left. He could just barely recognize the form of Captain Anderson standing on the dock, looking at the Normandy. Seeing him out there gave Shepard more encouragement than the Captain probably realized.

Turning to Joker for a second, and then turned around to walk towards the back of the ship, saying, "The Captain gave up everything so we could have this chance. We can't fail."

Joker never looked back at Shepard as he talked, instead looking at his screens and just listening. As Shepard said what he did, he looked to the light showing the connection that he had set up at the beginning of Shepard's speech with Captain Anderson's omni-tool. He smiled even more than he had during Shepard's speech as he said with enthusiasm, "Yes, sir!" and then cut the connection to the Captain's omni-tool, moving on to get the Normandy clearance for lift-off.

Anderson merely stood there the whole time, looking over what was his ship, knowing that she was to be leaving soon. He was rather surprised when his omni-tool chirped to say that he had an incoming message or transmission. He activated it and was again surprised when he saw that it was a transmission from the Normandy's bridge, more specifically from Joker. He accepted it, but before he said anything he heard Joker say, "Yeah, but it can't hurt, can it?" and after a moment heard Shepard begin speaking to the crew.

He put his arm down and merely listened to the Commander's speech, standing in attention, looking at the Normandy, directly at the bridge where he knew the windows were. During the Commander's speech, he could help but feel inspired and encouraged himself. Shepard could give quite the speech, he thought, even though he hated to give them. Anderson chuckled to himself as he thought that.

"Well said, Commander. Captain would be proud."

And that he was, but before he could say so, giving a surprise to the Commander this time, he heard what Shepard said as his voice started to sound far off.

"The Captain gave up everything so we could have this chance. We can't fail."

Anderson beamed with pride at his former XO, at his determination and loyalty. They couldn't have chosen a better man than Shepard. He prayed that God would see them all through what ever happened, Shepard and his crew, human and non-human. He heard Joker say, "Yes, sir!" and then the connection was cut. The ship's docking clamps released and Anderson stood tall and gave the Normandy a firm salute as the Normandy left the Citadel and made its way into the Traverse.

Well, there it is. I do hope that some has been enjoying reading this. I will plan on writing even more when i can, but i will not be giving any dates or time limits. Usually when i give myself a time limit like a week or so, life starts to get really busy and i dont get anything posted in that time.

Do please comment and say what you will. I enjoy writing, but it wouldnt hurt to hear some feedback.

Now for me to explain how i am writing all of this out. This will be the last part of the beginning part of the story. However, I will be posting many more stories that span through the Mass Effect story. The main parts of the story, Feros, Therum, Noveria, Ilos and then back to the Citadel, will be posted as separate stories and in that specific order. All other missions, like Pinnacle Station, Dr. Saleon and Wrex's Family Armor, among a lot of other side missions, will be posted as short stories, and all of them will be by themselves. Some will be longer than others, but they will be posted separately with the idea of keeping it as a short story. There will also be some extra interactions between crew members while onboard the Normandy, and these may very well be posted as short stories and one-shots as well, though i have not made up my mind on that just yet.

So, any thoughts on the story or how the other parts will be written? Please, by all means, comment and say something, good or bad, say what you will. Until next time!

-halfbreed