Miranda didn't know what to do the morning after her passionate make out session with her Commander. It went against everything she had taught herself to do; falling for someone was not something she had ever experienced before.

Pacing around her office in her short pail blue nightgown whilst frantically thinking was beginning to drive her up the wall.

Until the door to her office opened.

"Morning Panda Bear." The very red head of her thoughts chirped merrily as she strode inside, almost as if she had a spring in her step.

Miranda 'eeped' at first before becoming very self-conscious considering her revealing attire.

"Cheshire have you heard of knocking?" The raven haired woman asked in a chilling tone.

Shepard shrugged her good shoulder. "My ship my rules."

"Aha." Miranda replied sassily. "My room, my rules. Knock before entering please."

Shepard sighed exasperatedly before turning around on her heel.

"Not now Cheshire, you're already inside." The raven haired woman spoke defeatedly.

Shepard hid her grin before turning to face the woman again.

"What if I wasn't decent?"

Shepard cocked a brow. "Why? You got something I don't?"

Miranda huffed in annoyance. "That is not the case I can assure you."

"So what's the problem?" The red head smiled cheekily as she approached the woman.

"Despite us being of the same gender and possessing the same 'equipment' I'd still rather not be gawked at if I were in the nude."

"How many times did you see me naked when you were rebuilding me?" The marine asked casually before falling back into Miranda's office chair.

"That is not the point, we didn't know each other then." The woman denied pointedly only to receive a cocked brow from her commanding officer. "I sounded like a hussy then didn't I?"

Shepard didn't reply verbally, instead she raised her right hand and held her pointer finger and thumb a hare's breath away from each other as if to say 'just a little'.

Fumbling for the right words Miranda couldn't help but stutter. "What I meant to say is that, I mean no one see's me naked, or, no I mean-"

"Hush Panda Bear." Shepard steadied with placating hands and a calm tone. "I know you're not a slut, I was just playing."

"Quite the crass way to go about it." Miranda mumbled through a pout.

Shepard chuckled warmly. "As much as I enjoy teasing you, I actually came for your help."

"My help?" Miranda echoed lamely. Steeling herself the woman strode over to one of her dome chairs before lowering herself down elegantly.

"Yeah, ya see Grunt's getting restless, Garrus is getting paranoid, Mordin's suffering from a guilt complex, Jacob's got ghosts and Jack and I want to go blow up a particular planet. Not to mention your needs and the fact that we need more specialists." Shepard spoke softly but her words seemed heavy through her weary tone. "I plan on dealing with everyone's problems before we get too wrapped up in things but with my injuries I'm gonna need help."

"What can I do Cheshire?" Miranda asked resolutely.

Shepard smiled kindly at the woman's readiness to help her. "I need someone out there with me I can trust, you and I share similar talents on the battlefield and I know you've got my back and I've got yours. Despite the doc's orders I need to get shit done, what I'm asking you to do is going to involve a lot of strenuous days in the field, mental strain and possibly a bit of emotional turmoil."

"Commander I have always been willing to assist in any way I can, but now, I am fully prepared to shoulder any burdens with you." The Australian beauty interjected firmly with the faintest of smiles gracing her red lips.

"Thank you Miranda. First things first I feel the need for something therapeutic and ultimately selfish."

Miranda smirked. "You and Jack are going to go destroy that planet?"

Shepard shrugged faux nonchalantly, her injured shoulder was still immensely painful but she made no physical evidence of it. "Shouldn't be any fighting involved so it should keep Chakwas happy whilst also giving my shoulder a few more days to heal. The plan's pretty simple; swoop in, plant the bomb, and watch as a beautiful explosion rids our nightmares of such a horrific setting."

"Can I ask-" Miranda began unsurely before the Commander interjected quickly.

"Pragia, the place Cerberus turned Jack and I into weapons." Her tone was harsh and solemn but not directed towards Miranda in any way.

"Pragia..." Miranda murmured barely loud enough for Shepard to hear. "That name came up in my search a few times but neither myself nor EDI could decrypt the security program's around it."

"It's Hell." Shepard stated softly as she rose from her seat. "And we're gonna destroy it."

"Who will accompany you on this?" Miranda queried in a way where she made her desire to go clear whilst also not pushing anything.

"Jack wants it to be just me and her but I've convinced her to let three others tag along." The former Hellcat explained as she began to pace. "Yourself, even if that is only for my own selfish needs, I also think you should get one last look at what Cerberus does. We're also going to take Garrus and Grunt."

"If I may be so bold." Miranda began tentatively. "Why those two?"

"Grunt doesn't know where he belongs, I figured showing him where I came from might give him some perspective. As for Garrus, well for a start he's my best friend, Jack is more like a sister and you're something more." The raven haired beauty blushed at her words but let her continue. "He's the guy I know would have my back no matter what I did, but I'm worried what kind of path his vengeance obsession might take him down. I want to show him what happened to me, I want him to know that I've got his back no matter what as well."

"Sharing his sins." Miranda commented offhandedly.

"Exactly. I went through hell, had everything stolen from me, but I can still smile."

"And forgive?"

"Not from my past, anyone involved will die if I catch them. But today, the people I meet today? Yes. I can be merciful."

"You're a better woman then most."

"I'm barely human, not really. But if a genetic fuck up like me can forgive then why can't everyone else?"

"You don't think of yourself very highly do you?" Miranda questioned softly.

At those words Shepard stopped her pacing but did not look up from the floor.

"You've seen my psyche profile. Unstable, dangerous, prone to violent outbursts to deal with minor problems. Untrusting, paranoid, emotionally scarred and irrational." Shepard listed off quietly. "The only reason I got to the level of Commander was because of my combat skills. Do you know what the hardest part is?"

Miranda gently shook her head to answer the rhetorical question.

"Even I know they're right."

The undignified snort that escaped the other woman's lips made Shepard stop and stare at her.

"Yeah right, and Turian males look good in dresses." Miranda supplied sarcastically before rising up and stepping towards her IfriendI. "Tell me oh great and terrible crazy one, did any of these people ever serve with you?" At the red heads confused shake of the head Miranda continued. "I memorised your bloody psyche profile, who ever wrote it needs a good old fashioned slap. I've had to completely rewrite it over the past few weeks aboard this ship. Do you want what I truly wrote down or what a friend would say?"

"The truth."

"Loyal to a fault. Doesn't understand where she belongs but decided to make her own place in this galaxy. Obsession with animals indicates desire for affection, affection she is hesitant to give but not unable to. Puts everyone's life before her own but shows no signs of suicidal tendencies. Homosexual but not shy about it despite stereotypical occupational opinions, easy to get along with, persistent in making other people open up. Finds fulfilment in helping others. Do you know what I'm getting at?" Miranda spoke steadily and confidently.

"I'm-"

"Yes, you are bat-shit insane but in the best way. You're a kind person with a bad ass attitude. Confident but not cocky. Emotionally driven but certainly not emotionally unstable." The woman stopped and stood right in front of The Commander. "Cheshire Shepard no one will ever honestly tell you you're sane, but I have come to find myself enjoying time with you, whether it's on the battlefield or moments like this."

Shepard's reply was quick, succinct and perfectly understandable. In a single quick movement the redhead placed her hands on Miranda's cheeks and kissed her, deeply and with fervour.

Miranda moaned in delight as her eyes fluttered shut.

Rain poured down on them the second the team disembarked from the shuttle.

"I don't like rain." The giant Krogan grumbled in annoyance as his feet thumped through puddles that had gathered upon the worn roof of the building they had landed on.

Both Miranda and Garrus expected some sort of witty retort from their commanding officer, but when they turned to face her they were met with frantic eyes darting across the rooftop. Internally Shepard was warring with her Varen instincts to flee from the retched place but her human side needed resolve.

"Let's just get this over with." Jack spat venomously as she pushed her way past everyone else.

Jack was having a hard enough time without everyone else around, but deep down she knew who was suffering the most.

As hard as it had been, no matter how horrifying and disturbing it had been for her she knew that Cheshire had had it worst. At least Jack was still fully human, at least Jack hadn't been forced to kill before their escape. At least Jack left with her virginity.

But her wrathful mind was so focused on revenge that she barely noted Shepard stalking after her instead of striding alongside her confidently like she normally did.

Once inside Grunt shook his body like a dog to rid himself of the water that had collected upon his scales.

"Let's just plant the fucking bomb and get the fuck out of here." The bald biotic grunted in angst.

Shepard however was transfixed on a blood splatter, dried and fizzled, on the floor near a computer terminal.

Most of the mission went like that. Jack hid behind her anger whilst Shepard seemed to shrink into herself every now and then.

Until they came to a hallway that would lead them down into a lower section of the facility, a hallway with a single office door on the right hand side.

"No." Shepard stopped the whole team when the whisper escaped her mouth. "No. Not this hallway, we'll take another."

"The hell Chesh?" Jack snapped moodily. "This is the fastest way."

Shepard however just continued to stare at the door a few meters ahead of her. "I'm not going this way."

"What the hell why no-" Jack cut her own tirade off when she glanced at the plaque on the office door.

'Reginald A. Dawkins'

"Oh." Jack murmured. "Yeah... Ok then." The bald woman seemed to completely change. Anger forgotten even she seemed perturbed by the name on the door.

"Who was he?" Garrus questioned in a hushed tone after they began to move away.

"He used to run this place." Jack answered before shooting Miranda a knowing look. "He was the one who did you know what to you know who."

Miranda felt bile rise up in the back of her throat. 'The one who defiled Cheshire.' Her mind supplied silently. She committed the name to memory, after this was done she would find that guy, and he would pay.

"Forget about it." Shepard mumbled to the woman beside her, as if she could read her mind. "He's untouchable."

"You haven't seen me try." Miranda's voice was cold and promised a world of hurt for her enemy and comfort for her friend.

"Did you know The Illusive Man's real name is Reginald Arthur Dawkins?" Shepard muttered.

Miranda stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth falling open as her heart went cold. "What?"

"After you brought me back and I spoke to him, I knew it was him. He had those same eyes. The same attitude and the same brand of cigarettes."

"You knew then... Then why?" The others had wondered ahead so they didn't see the woman grasp the red head by her shoulders.

"I have to save everyone." Tears were pooling in the eyes of the taller woman. "No one else will suffer like I did."

There was a cold silence in the air before Shepard felt the grip on her shoulders tighten, despite her wound she did not care.

"Unacceptable."

The firm tone made Cheshire's eyes snap up to meet the crystal blues staring at her.

"Your life does not mean less than others, I cannot stress that enough."

"And I'm not saying it doesn't, all I'm saying is vengeance isn't as important as saving lives."

The sentence was louder than it needed to be, that was what Miranda thought at least until she caught a glimpse of Garrus staring at them.

Heat began to pool in Miranda's stomach. It wasn't anger. It wasn't admiration. It almost seemed like disappointment, not at Shepard but in the way the woman was using one of her most horrific memories to try and help someone else. So yes perhaps there was a little admiration there, but a large part of herself couldn't help but to find Shepard's life completely unfair.

"Let us complete the mission, however once we return to The Normandy you and I are going to have a chat about all this." Miranda spoke firmly but warmly, still there was no denying the fact that this was not up for negotiation.

Apparently it was too much to ask for, I mean really, when has Commander Shepard ever left the Normandy without a firefight ensuing shortly after?

They had all been so certain that the facility had been completely abandoned and that it would still be empty.

But no, of course not, because that would have been too much to ask for.

Who ever that whack job was who had supposedly wanted to restart the Teltin Facility neither Jack nor Chesh could say, they certainly did not recognise neither his face nor name.

Miranda was certainly peeved as she waited in her room for word from Chakwas concerning Shepard. The Aussie beauty had been adamant on having their little chat but of course Shepard had to take a direct punch from an angered Krogan directly to her injured shoulder. Anything else would have been too much to ask for.

"I'm not doing it Doc!"

Miranda's eyes snapped up and in mere seconds she was out her door at the sound of the familiar voice.

"Shepard do not make me order you." Chakwas was standing opposite a very flighty looking red head. "It is imperative that we asses-"

"No way." Shepard interrupted. "Poke me with needles and fingers until I cry uncle, but you will not lock me up in a room with her."

"Will you please stop acting like a five year old girl Cheshire." Chakwas chastised in a motherly tone. "I simply do not understand your fear of therapists."

"Fear? No I am not scared of them my old friend, nor do I dislike them, but as you well know my secrets and what's in my head are strictly reserved for me, myself and I." The fiery red head barked back.

"And me." Miranda butted in as she asserted herself into the conversation. "Dr Chakwas I can assure you The Commander does not need a session with Yeoman Chambers for she has already agreed to have this particular discussion with me."

"Agreed is a strong word." Shepard mumbled as she looked away.

"At this point all I want is for her to talk to someone." The older woman sighed exasperatedly. "There is something rather undignified about chasing your twenty eight year old superior officer around a mess hall at stupid o'clock in the morning. I would have become a school teacher if I wanted such milarchy."

"Shepard, your room or mine?" Miranda question sternly.

The commander groaned loudly as her shoulders slumped forward. "Can't I just go to bed? Sleep sounds good."

"If you're a good girl I might even read you a bedtime story."

Shepard shot Miranda a glare. After a pause she spoke grumpily. "It'd better have dragons, and no knights! Only knightess'!"

Miranda rolled her eyes, but there was a certain fondness on her lips that did not go unnoticed by the doctor.

"Really now, it's like dealing with children." The white haired woman heaved a heavy sigh before trudging back to her office.

A full hour into their 'chat' and Miranda was just barely holding on to her last scrap of patience.

Cheshire Shepard was a master of avoiding topics she did not want to discuss, but Miranda knew these tactics all too well.

Shepard had seated herself in her desk chair practically forcing the other woman to stand or lean against the cluttered desk, a great way to ensure that neither could get too comfortable to prolong the session. Her answers on difficult subjects were short, clipped and flippant whilst anything else was drawn out and laborious. Klipp seemed to serve as a perfect distraction as the red head continuously stopped to remind the young Varen 'what a good boy he is'.

Biting back a growl Miranda finally snapped.

"If you're quite done avoiding the topic perhaps we can cut out the charade and get back on track?"

"So we can what? Talk about Teltin?" Shepard returned snappily. "I'm sorry Miranda but I've spent a lifetime trying to forget it-"

"That is not what I'm talking about." Miranda interjected forcefully. "I want to talk about the meaning of life."

Shepard's face displayed a myriad of emotions that caught the operative by surprise. Confusion, befuddlement, surprise and more. "Beg your pardon?"

"Perhaps I should narrow it down a bit and rephrase myself." Now that Miranda had her friends full attention she would move to the real subject. Shepard may have been adept at avoiding topics and hiding things but Miranda's forte was information gathering. "I meant the meaning of IyourI life."

Shepard felt herself bristle at the statement. What could she mean? Surely she didn't mean why Cerberus had altered her?

"Cerberus meant for you to be a weapon yes?" The operative questioned, ignoring the positively frightening gleam that lit up in her CO's green eye. "A weapon to which they hold the trigger?"

Shepard felt her sharp almost fang like teeth grind together in rage.

"Yet you chose not to be as such, so why, oh why do you insist on acting like one?"

The red head wanted to lunge forward and go for the jugular like her instincts demanded, but she didn't. Surprisingly enough she found herself sitting there in utter confusion. "What?"

Miranda stood before the woman with her hands on her hips. "Let me tell you the difference between a woman and a weapon. Women think, weapons do not. Women feel, weapons do not. Women have a conscience, weapons do not. And this particular woman," Miranda gestured to the red head. "Has a lot of people who care about her. I do not understand why you feel the need to always ensure your body is always in the way of bullets and bombs aimed at other people. A week ago after Horizon you sat me down and gave me the exact same talk I'm giving you before you went and gave it to Grunt and The Damned." Miranda was panting hard as the emotions spilled out from her mouth. "I would just like to know, Cheshire Shepard, why on Earth do you refuse to take your own advice?"

"Coz I'm meant to be dead."

The words cut through Miranda like a knife, leaving an agonising hollow feeling in her chest.

"Because I'm meant to be dead." The redhead repeated through a heavy sigh. "I had my chance, I've seen so many good people die, so many innocent people who deserved a second chance much more than I did-"

The resounding echo of an open palm slapping across a cheek resounded throughout the quiet room, the only noise that accompanied it was Klipp's sudden yelp of surprise.

"How dare you?" Screeched the Aussie beauty.

Shepard's face was lax as she stared up into the seething face of the furious woman who had just slapped her.

"Do you understand nothing?" Miranda bellowed furiously. "It's as if you're on the outside looking in at your own life, there's a difference between being selfless and being stupid Cheshire!"

Shepard was speechless, it was as if her usually quick working mind had just shut itself off.

"I saw you today! I saw the remnants of what you were out through when you were a kid, when you were the innocent needing a second chance!"

"Wha-"

"No you listen to me." Miranda interrupted vehemently. "Even if I have to spend the rest of my life to do so I will make it my own personal responsibility to get it through your thick skull that you do deserve a life, because as far as I can tell you've never allowed yourself to have one."

Miranda stood before the woman with her hands on her hips. "Now, do something selfish for god's sake. Buy something pointless, paint the ship red or maybe even fucking hit me! Just do something for yourself Cheshire!"

The red heads mind clicked back into action.

Silently and slowly the woman rose from her chair, resembling a predator readying itself to strike its prey.

For a second Miranda almost shied away.

"Something selfish?"

The former experiment's question hung in the air like a shroud.

"Something you truly want."

Just as the last word left Miranda's mouth the woman thought she had been attacked. She fell to the ground with a loud thud with the full body weight of the red head on top of her.

She readied herself for a hit only to find lips hungrily smashing against her own.

It was surprising at first but it didn't take the intelligent raven haired woman to start returning the kiss with equal intensity.

Shepard didn't ask for permission, Miranda simply gave it.

Shepard forced her tongue into the mouth of her prey and let it completely assault the silken like flesh that Miranda's own tongue wore.

Miranda moaned deeply into the mouth covering her own as the taller woman's hands came down to rest firmly on her hips.

The red head broke the kiss leaving both of them panting for breath, Miranda could feel Shepard's hot breath on her ear.

"You want me to do something selfish?" She asked huskily. Miranda nodded wordlessly. "How about I do you then?" There was an audible grin in her voice as her Varen like instincts rose to the surface of her mind.

Miranda felt the hot kisses being placed on her neck before she noticed the zipper of her jumpsuit being slowly pulled down. She made no move to resist, instead she found herself cooing in approval.

Shepard hummed into Miranda's neck. "You taste delicious." Miranda felt her whole body quiver in delight at her words.

"I've never had sex with a woman before." The dark haired bombshell informed breathily.

Shepard pulled her head up to face Miranda, her hungry eyes holding an affection that made her internally swoon.

"When I'm through with you you'll never have sex with anyone but me ever again." She stated.

Miranda shivered at the feeling of her breasts being revealed as Shepard slipped the woman's jumpsuit down from her shoulders to gather at her hips, although her black bra was still concealing her dignity she couldn't help but to feel weak at the powerful woman's stare.

"That's far more attractive than my sports bra." The redhead murmured approvingly. She made a show of licking her lips before moving her face down to suck at the soft skin above Miranda's jugular all the while letting her right hand trail up her toned stomach until she could cup her soon to be lovers breast.

Miranda gasped at the sudden contact and couldn't stop her own hands from wrapping themselves around the back of Shepard's neck.

It wasn't long before the Spectre's other hand found the other unattended breast of the woman beneath her.

They were exquisite, Shepard would never lie to say otherwise. They were big, firm and perky and reminded her of her own pair. Although her bra didn't seem overly fancy or risqué there was something appealing about the black fabric, however even though that was the case it was still in the way and thus had to be removed.

Shepard planted her lips on those belonging to the other woman and initiated another kiss although this time it wasn't strong and demanding, this time it was wet, passionate and warm.

Miranda felt the tongue of her commander against her own and quickly became lost in the sensual machinations of the taller woman, she was so enthralled with the kiss that she almost didn't notice one hand slowly leave her breast to travel behind her back to the clasp of her bra. Almost.

Arching her back slightly off the floor Miranda gave the redhead more room behind her to remove the last piece of clothing hiding her womanly mounds.

The bra popped away almost dramatically as if cheerful to not have to imprison the large globes any longer. Shepard released the kiss with one final long smack before tilting her body back to look at her prize.

Miranda was not use to the feeling of not being in charge, but a very small part of her found the new sensation almost relieving.

Shepard watched the rise and fall of her companions chest as she sucked in air between her plump lips, her perky breasts and stiff nipped moving with every intake.

"Damn you truly are beautiful."

Miranda had heard people compliment her looks a thousand times before but she had always disregarded them. She never truly took pride in her appearance, she didn't earn it nor did she work for it. She didn't even inherit them. She was designed this way.

But this time, for the first time in her life, those words she'd heard so many times before felt different in her ears.

Like a physical manifestation of something far greater than mere lust. Like something far more valuable than any gem. Like something real.

And that is what made her squirm beneath her commanders body and predator like gaze.

Shepard took note of their skin. Miranda wasn't pale but she wasn't really tanned either whilst the redhead herself was remarkably pale. Miranda had large perky breasts and appealing pink nipples just like the commander herself, only Shepard's breasts were possibly half a size larger. Her waist was slim but she bore wide womanly hips whilst the commanders stomach was tight and toned.

"You and I aren't is different Miranda." Shepard began softly. "My appearance wasn't altered and yet we hold quite a few similarities."

Miranda got the message but now was not the time to debate her design versus normality.

"Can we move this to the bed? My back's starting to hurt."

Shepard grinned almost evilly at the request. "You gonna have to work harder than that Panda Bear."

A modicum of Miranda's natural ferocity returned to her and sparked a small glimmer of defiance in her eyes. "I will not beg."

Oh yes, Shepard liked this.

Shepard could see it all. Miranda was a genetically designed attempt at perfection, but through her life she had developed countries one hell of a personality of her own creation. She was a devil with a backbone and an aim to do good, any means were justified if it were for the greater good. She was not submissive to most people.

But Shepard was not 'most people'. She was a genetically altered alpha predator. Engineered for dominance. If anyone ever attempted to stand against her she was instinctually obligated to put them down.

But Miranda was different, the animalistic part of Shepard's very being screamed in approval of her most basic of acts.

However Shepard would not let her resist her power, she would not crush her with it, but she would be made to obey it.

So, Cheshire Shepard would not make her beg for that would be an injustice to Miranda's own strength, but she would be made to bend; but never break.

The feeling of power surged through Shepard's body, from her bones to her psyche. She hefted the woman beneath her into her arms as she stood up before moving towards the bed of her private cabin.

She dropped Miranda down and into the bed before climbing over her, her lips upturned displaying her fangs the whole time.

Oh yes, Shepard liked this. And so too would Miranda.

It was the perfect time to give a lesson on how to Sin with a Grin.

Cheshire Shepard strode confidently onto the CIC deck the following morning for the start of her duty shift.

After waking up that morning and eating a healthy breakfast with the woman of her affections she had called for a meeting between herself, Miranda, Garrus, Zaeed, Mordin and Jack for 0700 hours ship standard time to be conducted at the helm of the ship so that Joker could be involved as well.

When she arrived she found both Miranda and Joker nursing their first cups of coffee for the morning, one of them looking like she needed it more than the other. Surprisingly Jack was there as well, on time no less! But she seemed more than a little perturbed at being summoned at such an ungodly hour.

Garrus and Zaeed were standing next to each other, wordless and with their arms crossed almost mimicking the stance of the other.

Of course Mordin was there, is glossy eyes bouncing around the room taking in every minor detail.

"Morning all." Cheshire greeted boldly. She received responses from all in the form of a vast range of mutterings.

The Commander grinned to herself, finding a small amount of sadistic glee in annoying them all some have this early in the morning.

"What's the deal Chesh?" Jack almost demanded in a warning tone. "This'd better be damn good."

"Possible reasons too many to calculate accurately, most trains of thought lead to either exploration, defiance or bloodshed. Should be a very enjoyable day indeed." The resident amphibian scientist supplied quickly with a merry smile.

Shepard loved his positive thinking, she truly did. What better way to start the day than by traversing unknown space that would almost certainly lead to yet another bloodbath? Truly splendid.

"All excellent ideas Mordin." Shepard praised with a single clap of her hands. "I like the sound of that."

"Great. Now that that's settled in hitting my bunk." Jack groused as she made a motion to leave.

"Not so fast baldy-locks, that's not why I called you all here." Cheshire stopped her in her tracks and paid no mind to the glare and growl combination she received from Jack.

"She genuinely does have cause to assemble us here." Miranda stated suddenly, her voice hoarse from a night of moaning, but the others didn't need to know the reason.

"That's right." Cheshire began. "We're heading straight for an ambush."

It was said so factually and succinctly that the others couldn't help but to let their faces falter.

"Um... Commander?" Joker questioned dumbly.

"Panda Bear and I got a secret communication from TIM last night. According to him Cerberus received an emergency distress call traveling through secret Turian channels. The frigate claims to have had a run in with out mystery Collectot ship and somehow disabled it. TIM wants us to swoop in and investigate." Shepard explained dramatically.

All crew members on deck shared a look of confusion with each other.

"It's quite the gamble to simply assume that it's a trap isn't it?" Garrus questioned unsurely.

"We are certain it's a trap, and we are also certain that The Illusive Man is trying to send us in to fall for it." Miranda explained stoically.

"We were actually pretty lucky." Shepard reasserted herself. "TIM wasn't the only one to intercept the transmission, our good friend EDI also received the call and logged every scrap of data on it she could."

"After careful analysis of the signal and the contents of the message both myself and EDI are certain that it is a fake, a very finely forged one, but fake nonetheless." Miranda concluded.

A brief silence hung over the crew.

"So I should change course right?" Joker questioned lamely.

"Nope." Cheshire chirped.

"Most intriguing." Mordin murmured to himself as he lifted his long fingers to rub gently at his chin.

"You actually want us to fly into a tripod this magnitude?" Garrus questioned with the Turian equivalent of a raised brow.

"That's precisely what she intends, with her own little twist of course." Miranda answer in place of the redhead.

"Hey, they don't call me The Butcher for nothing." The woman spoke with a bone jarringly sadistic grin.

"Well, I'm game." Garrus shrugged as he answered. "A little carnage always brightens up the day."

"Personally looking forward to your display Shepard." Mordin chimed in. "Your stories often told to frighten Salerian younglings at night." Shepard's response was to let her grin widen as her eyes sparked in approval.

"I never turn down a beat down." Jack punched the Brit next to her as she spoke. "What about you old timer?"

Zaeed gave a breathy chuckle before he answered. "Try and stop me little girl."

"So a little payback?" Joker mulled it over aloud.

"Think of it Joker." Shepard began dramatically. "We fly in all guns blazing, you drop off me, my crew and The Damned to wreak havoc from within whilst you and EDI fire on the damned thing with everything you've got before you swoop back in and grab us before were blown the kingdom come by an explosion we'll probably see throughout the sector.

Joker smirked. "You had me at 'hello'."

"Alright!" Shepard cried loudly as she switched back to Commander Mode. "Get back to your stations!" She turned around and headed back into the main section of the CIC. "Battle stations!" She called out above the din. "Shields up! Weapons at the ready! Miranda and EDI cut all ties with TIM and his God-be-damned organisation. Joker set a course and patch me through to the crew!"

It was an instantaneous madhouse as crew members dove into action.

All throughout the ship everyone went silent as Joker called their attention through the coms to inform them of Shepard's oncoming speech.

"All crew member's prepare for battle! All specialists to the shuttle bay! The Damned included. All personnel are to be armed and dangerous until I give the order to stand down!"

There was a brief pause as she let her words sink in.

"Get the adrenaline pumping people, we're bringing the war to them!"