AUTHOR'S FOREWORD:

So, I added the story of Torfan from Shepard's perspective to the prologue, and already it seems to have proven a hit. I always felt the timeline was a little dry and offputting, but couldn't really think of a good way to fix that until a few days ago. The more savvy of you will recognise a theme along the lines of Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot, as well as the Illusive Man's last words in ME3 (if you shoot him). Shepard's motivations as a soldier are a lot clearer now, I think, so if you haven't gone back and read the new section, I advise you to do so.

Shoutout to Garm88 for noticing that I said "John" Shepard was born as opposed to Jane in the prologue. I was still deciding on gender when I was writing it, so it snuck in. Fixed now.

The story seems to have blown away another set of milestones while I was writing as well, so I guess I'll put up another bonus chapter after numero 10. If you're confused about the background, characters or events going on, drop me a PM or a review and I'll do a codex entry for it in the bonus chapter.

As for this chapter, it's a "exactly what it says on the tin" sort of one.

Enjoy.

Chapter Seven: Loyalty

Shepard yawned as she approached the bridge. It was four in the morning on the Normandy. The night watch were half-way through their shift, and straightened up awkwardly as they noticed their commanding officer on the deck. She smiled as she passed them. She knew the feeling of the mid-watch slump quite well, not to mention the jump provided by superiors showing up unexpectedly.

But she knew one flight lieutenant who wouldn't be perturbed by her arrival.

Joker was wide awake and watching the light fly by the bridge windows and glancing at the controls every now and then. The smell of coffee hit Shepard as she entered Lt. Moreau's realm. He glanced behind his chair as she peaked at the consoles.

"Commander," he said, turning back to face forwards.

"Lieutenant."

Then silence. At least for a moment. Until Joker could help himself no longer.

"So, how was Captain Mom? She kicked some pretty serious ass when you were planetside. I think it's a little too easy to see where you get it from."

"She was good. We hadn't talked in a while, so it was good to see her again," said Shepard, "And it's 'Group Captain' Mom now."

"Well, I'm still waiting for my own promotion," Joker said, waving his hand dismissively, "High Command must be waiting for the right moment."

"You would be demoted after a week," said Shepard playfully, "Between the lack of flying a ship and the non-regulation beard, you wouldn't last long."

"I figured I could keep flying and the fat paycheck. There are some who are good at what they do. I am the best at what I do. They gotta take that into account."

"They tend to get more uptight the higher in rank you rise, Joker."

"Awww. Ah well, I guess we all can't be paragons of military virtue. I think if the geth had any idea they would be facing both Shepards on Therum, they wouldn't have bothered turning up."

Shepard chuckled to herself.

"Is that really how you see me?"

"Oh, we all know you're far from a saint, but where the action goes, you can't seem to help yourself. I certainly wouldn't want to be your enemy, and I have a deadly war machine at my disposal."

"Good to know," said Shepard, somewhat less satisfied with his answer than she was hoping, "Anything to report before I go?"

"Yeah, Tali's been doing something with the engines and she knocked the kinks out big-time. I don't know what she did, but I'm feeling the difference up here. Plus those hips. I think she's still awake actually, if you want to talk to her."

"Thanks, I think I'll do that," said Shepard, "And Joker, thanks for the rescue back there."

"Just trying to get famous, Commander.."


The door of the cargobay opened, and Shepard stepped out into the space. It was far from quiet. The low hum noise of the engine was supplemented by one other source of sound. Wrex sat in a corner between a locker and the wall, leaning with his eyes firmly shut. His snoring was of a magnitude that scientists might be interested in studying. Why he wasn't in the crew quarters, the commander didn't know. He was certainly too big for the sleep pods.

With a shrug, the Commander turned and made her way into the engine room.

The glow of the engine made Shepard wince for a moment as she went from the relative darkness of the cargobay to the stunning brightness of haptic interfaces and the generators. Adams was nowhere to be seen, probably asleep like most of the crew. A few ensigns were grouped about the FTL consoles, monitoring them.

Tali was working as well in her own corner. Something like a yawn erupted from the young quarian. Shepard approached.

"Tired, Tali?" she asked, causing a jump, "Nervous about tomorrow?"

"Oh, Shepard, I didn't hear you," said Tali, "I'm not nervous, it's just too quiet to sleep."

"Too quiet? Have you heard Wrex and his snoring? You could hear that on the bridge."

Tali giggled. "Krogan snoring isn't as comforting as knowing the air filters are still working. On the flotilla, if the ship is quiet, it means something is wrong. We grow up with the sounds of our ships, and get used to them. Some quarians even have problems living on planets during their pilgrimages because of it."

"I knew a couple of people like that," said Shepard, "But I can't say I ever lost sleep because the ship was too quiet, spacer or not."

"Most of our ships have been in service for many decades or centuries, I doubt you were living on anything more than a few decades old."

"We don't need to keep our ships in service that long, usually. You'd think a princess would have quieter quarters."

"Quarians don't have princesses," Tali said, a bit flustered, "I'm the daughter of an admiral, but we're governed by our ship captains as well as the Admiralty Board, and it's not like my father's position is hereditary. If anything, it's a burden, everyone expects me to bring something spectacular back to the fleet."

"Well, when we take Rannoch from the geth, maybe that will be good enough," said Shepard, half-muttering. Tali looked stunned, as far as could be told from body language.

"Do you really think the Alliance will go that far?"

"There's only one way to end this war, and that is to stop Saren and the geth. As long as the geth have somewhere to run off to, the Reapers will have an army to use against the galaxy whenever they want. The Alliance knows that."

"...I don't know what to say Shepard, to hear them speaking about my homeworld like it's a target..."

"Don't worry," said Shepard with a smile, "Destroying it is off the table, and besides, with you helping us, there will be a lot of grateful people in high places."

"Is that what you think the Alliance want to speak to me about?" Tali asked, rubbing her palms together, "Do they want me to try and get the Migrant Fleet to join the war?"

Shepard thought about the idea for a moment.

"I think they more likely want to know how you hacked a geth mech," said Shepard, vocalising her conclusion, "The politicians tend to have more official channels than the daughters of admirals for diplomacy. I mentioned how you saved our lives in my report, I guess people read it."

"I hope that's all it is, I'm not good with politics."

"Who is?" smiled Shepard, "Anyway, I just wanted to come down and see if there was anything you need?"

"Nothing comes to mind, I'm just happy to see all this. The Normandy is very advanced, it's no wonder the Alliance has come so far in such a short time."

"The turians helped, as did some technical assistance from your own fleet," said Shepard, moving beside Tali to watch the spinning drive core, "But she is beautiful."

The pair watched the core do its work for a minute.

"Shepard, I'd like to say... thanks."

"What for?"

"You've been very kind to me, you took me along on this even though you could have easily just dumped me on the Citadel or to your superiors."

"I need the best people for this war, Tali. When I saw how you handled yourself, I knew you were one of them."

"Still, thanks."

"You're part of my crew now, think nothing of it."

As Tali looked at her, Shepard pat the young quarian on the shoulder and left. It felt good to have people to rely on again.


Shepard walked into the med-bay to see if Karen was awake, but found the room empty. Making to leave again, noises from the laboratory drew her ear. Who was messing around in there at this hour?

She opened the door to the lab and found Dr T'soni hard at work, in a borrowed SR-1 medbay uniform. The asari was stretching her arms into the air when Shepard wandered over. Liara got up from her chair.

"Commander, I didn't hear you come in," she said, "Come to check up on me?"

"No, just wondering who's so busy back here," Shepard said, glancing at the interfaces, "You seem to be much better."

"Dr. Chakwas assures me I am going to be fine, she has an impressive knowledge of asari physiology."

"Karen has some of the best hands around, she knows what she is doing."

"...Commander, I know you took a chance bringing me aboard the ship, and I have seen the way some of your crew look at me. They do not trust me. But I am not like Benezia, I will do everything I can to help you stop Saren, I promise."

"You stopped a krogan from killing me, an experience like that tends to build up trust. I'm more than willing to give you the benefit of the doubt."

"I am glad to hear you say that, Commander."

Shepard leaned on the table, putting her weight on her palms as she inspected the writing in what she assumed was Prothean. She decided she needed to know more. Better safe than sorry.

"Tell me about yourself, Liara."

"I am afraid I am quite boring, Commander, I spend most of my time digging around in ruins in remote locations, finding usually mundane artefacts from Prothean sites."

"Sounds dangerous. And lonely. Considering how you handled yourself, I'm guessing it isn't the first time you've got into trouble?"

"Occasionally, I would run into indigenous lifeforms or get attacked by mercenaries or pirates, but I have always been very careful. Until the geth showed up on Therum, my biotics have been sufficient to handle any situation I have come across."

"Yeah, I got that impression," smirked Shepard.

"As for the solitude," continued Liara, taking Shepard's interruption as a compliment, "I am not very good with people. I feel that I need to get away from them sometimes."

"You don't like people?"

"I'm a Matriarch's daughter, they all expect me to follow in Benezia's footsteps and become a leader. I am more interested in the past... It sounds foolish when I say it out loud, as if I became an archeologist simply to spite my own mother."

Shepard smiled, knowing that feeling a little. Her own mother had mixed feelings about Alliance service, given that her father had died in it. Shepard for her part didn't want to do anything else.

"All children rebel against their parents at some point, it's natural."

Liara laughed slightly at that.

"You share the wisdom of the Matriarch. That is exactly what Benezia said when I told her I was going to study archeology. But it is about more than that, the Protheans are fascinating figures and we know so little about them despite owing them so much. I wanted to know everything I could about them."

The Commander almost stepped back, as Liara overflowed with enthusiasm.

"That is why I find you so fascinating, you were marked by the beacon on Eden Prime, touched by working Prothean technology!"

"I'm fascinating?" asked Shepard, "I've been told that before, but never in a 'dissect in a lab' sort of way."

"No! I did not mean to say... I never meant to offend... I only meant that you would be an interesting specimen for an in-depth study... Wait, that's even worse!"

"Relax Liara, it was a joke."

"Oh, Goddess, you must think I am a complete fool. This is why I get away in the field, I always have some embarrassing thing to say."

"It's fine, really. And don't worry, you're hardly the only person on this boat who has issues with your parents. My mother didn't want me to join the military, even though she loves it herself. You should talk to Tali as well, her father is an admiral and everyone knows it. Our ambassador even greeted her like she was a visiting dignitary when we first met."

"...Well, I suppose I have sisters in arms in that respect."

Now completely certain that Liara could not be in league with Saren and the geth, Shepard felt like she could finally sleep.

"We'll reach the Citadel in a couple of hours and I really need to rest. I'd like to learn more about your people some time. I've talked to other asari before, but they don't seem to have much to say on the subject. I should go for now."

"Well, there is a good reason for that," said Liara, her eyes drifting upwards in annoyance, "Goodnight, Commander."


Shepard had dressed in a fresh formal uniform, anticipating the presence of those higher ranked than herself. The orders her mother had given mentioned something about a meeting with High Command, so it seemed appropriate. Ashley and Kaidan had went casual. Wrex and Tali were both in their usual armour and enviro-suit respectively, though that was hardly a surprise as they probably didn't have anything more formal. Liara was in a new set of Alliance fatigues, her university robes being all she had to wear when she came aboard. Garrus wore his C-Sec armour, which was formal enough supposedly. A motley band indeed. Everyone except Tali and Liara were given shore leave, so the rest went ahead. Garrus insisted on staying with Shepard however.

The airlock sequence ended, and the hull plate swung away. The docking arm opened up as well, and the group marched out lead by Shepard. At the end of the corridor stood two figures in formalwear. One was the inevitable Ambassador Udina, the other was a very familiar face.

"Anderson!" said Shepard, pleasantly surprised, "It's good to see you, sir."

"My ship treating you well?" he asked, returning his former XO's salute before shaking her hand.

"Wouldn't be any other way. So, are you going to tell me why I've been ordered back here?"

Anderson turned to Udina. The ambassador smiled to himself.

"We have a meeting with the Council, it seems your own efforts and my work with the turians in particular has paid off," he explained in his unusual accent that Shepard still couldn't place, "They want to speak to you in particular. I think they're going to cave in, and grant you status as a Spectre."

Shepard's mouth nearly dropped open. The development was unexpected at the very least.

"If I might ask, why now?" asked Garrus. Udina looked slightly annoyed at the question.

"It has to do with the war. We're on the edge of breaking out on our own, and confronting us is a far more costly proposition than bringing us on side. They're afraid if they don't concede something small now, they'll lose us entirely. It has asari fingerprints all over it, but the biggest development has been your own people. The turian councillor has privately said to me that their government is actually impressed with how we've handled ourselves thus far, though obviously they are not happy about the security threat of provoking the Terminus."

"Um, excuse me," said Tali, "Can I ask why you asked me to be here?"

"We wanted to ask you a few things about quarian politics," said Anderson, "As well as ask if you could pass on a message for us. We don't know the current location of the Migrant Fleet, and we can't give sensitive information to just any pilgrim."

"And as a daughter of Admiral Zorah, I can be trusted to be discreet," concluded Tali, a hint of irritation entering her voice, "Okay, I can help."

"What about Liara?" asked Shepard, as the asari stepped forward, "The orders said to bring her too."

Anderson and Udina looked at each other, their faces turning sour. Something wasn't right.

"Is something amiss?" asked Liara, "I would like to help the Alliance stop Saren and my mother."

"Neither myself nor Group Captain Anderson ordered your presence here, Dr. T'soni."

"Then who did?" asked Shepard.

The elevator pinged, announcing its arrival. The doors slid open, revealing a squad of infantry in heavy armour standing together. The soldiers exited, and parted ways, revealing who they were escorting.

Karla Haider stepped towards them, wearing a long leather coat over her formal uniform, and fixing a high peaked cap emblazoned with the Alliance golden eagle on it in embroidery. Her hair was revealed to be black and in contrast to her previous holographic appearances, now flowed down to her shoulders as opposed to being tied back. Shepard was taken aback, not only by this appearance, but by the height of the woman. She was quite small, yet seemed a giant by force of personality alone.

Haider approached now, her escorts in tow.

"Anderson, Udina, good to see you in person at last," she said, nodding to them, "I see you've brought me my prize."

"Prize?" asked Shepard, "What do you mean prize, Colonel Haider?" The commander had almost failed to add the woman's rank. Talking about someone as if they weren't there was bad enough, but referring a member of the crew as an object was something else entirely. Shepard's hands balled into fists. Haider's eyes flickered downwards at them, and she smiled.

"Major-General Haider, if you please," she replied, "And I would apologise to Dr. T'soni, but I've yet to determine whether or not she's working with her mass-murdering mother, so you'll excuse me if I'm less than polite at the moment."

Liara squirmed for a moment beside Shepard, the latter unable to determine if it was discomfort or anger causing the reaction. She opened her mouth to say something, but the Commander stopped her by gently grabbing her forearm. Wanting to say something very ill-advised, Shepard restrained the urge and thought quickly. She couldn't stay entirely quiet.

"General, I filed my report and it is accurate," she said, "Liara has no idea where Saren or Benezia are, and she has offered her help willingly to defeat the geth."

Haider looked at Liara now, tilting her head slightly.

"Yes, I read the report," she said, "But we can't simply take your word for it, Dr. T'soni. There is a process to this. We must know."

"...General," said Udina, disapprovingly, "Perhaps you should keep your personal feelings to yourself and do your duty."

"Oh relax, Donnel," said Haider, "I have orders to be gentle. Dr. T'soni, I must ask that you come with me."

Liara glanced at Shepard, before stepping forward.

"I will cooperate," she said solemnly, "I am not your enemy."

"Smart on both counts," remarked Haider, "I think we'll get along just fine."

"If she-.." began Shepard, before stopping.

"If she what?" asked Haider, as Liara was led away.

"I need her to take down Saren," said Shepard quickly.

"You have nothing to worry about if your report was accurate," said Haider, softening slightly, "But the burden of the security of the Alliance falls in no small part on my shoulders. I must have whatever intelligence she has, I simply must. Like I said, I have orders to be gentle and other methods aren't generally effective against asari. Satisfied?"

"Almost," said Shepard, feeling slightly relieved.

Haider left with her troops and Liara, a shuttle arriving to pick them up. The group piled into it quickly, and it flew off with a purpose.

"Brave woman," said Udina, as they watched the transport fly away.

"Dr. T'soni or Haider?" said Shepard, "I watched Liara drop a krogan like it was nothing not two days ago, and Haider knows all about it."

"What a magnificent bitch," remarked Garrus, his face clearly showing amusement at the audacity of the intelligence officer. Tali hmmed her agreement on that count.

"I'm sorry, Shepard," said Anderson, "I knew that was coming, but Haider outranks me by a mile."

"She outranks me now as well," said Udina, extremely irritated at the fact, "Intelligence agencies tend to gather power to themselves that only a madman would cross, especially in wartime."

"I hope Liara will be alright," said Tali, "I wouldn't feel comfortable with this if she was hurt."

"She won't be," said Udina with certainty, obviously trying to preserve Tali's good graces, "It would be unforgiveably stupid, and while the General is many things, stupid is not among them."

They all looked at each other, hoping that was the case.

"Right Shepard, let's see what the Council want with us, shall we?" Udina added after a moment.