A/N: The next two chapters are very text-dense, and honestly I'm not 100% keen on them – hopefully you can bear them.
Chapter Ten: [Operation Traffic. Post-mission report.]
-Operation Traffic – Official Post Assignment report-
Filed by Captain Kurt Magnusson, Commanding Officer on board N7-Class SSV Drake.
For the consideration of Admiral Steven Hackett.
Mission brief: [See pre-Mission report, filed by Captain Magnusson.]
Post-Mission Classification: Mission Successful.
Operatives Involved:
Captain Nathan H. Harker, N7.
First Lieutenant Lucian S. Spector, N7.
Lieutenant Teresa E. Grant, N6 [Additional Service Record Unavailable]
Private Alec P. Mackenzie [KIA]
Mission Overview:
Initial combat drop successful.
Asset acquisition successful.
Flight Serviceman Charles J. Fissinger disobeys protocol to remain in area.
Operatives Harker and Spector defend area; facilitate escape for Operatives Grant and Mackenzie.
Serviceman Fissinger on-hand to mount quick extraction.
Private Mackenzie killed by enemy fire during extraction. Body unrecovered. Death confirmed by eyewitnesses.
-End of official report-
CO's notes: All Operatives performed outstandingly. As we discussed, each should make a valuable addition to the proposed "N7" taskforce. You did me the honour of suggesting the Drake as a potential service vessel, and I believe the current contingent of crewmembers to be perfect for your plans. It is with the utmost regret, however, that I must confirm the death of Private Alec Peter Mackenzie. According to Operatives Harker and Spector, Mackenzie more than proved himself, and fought to the last.
Captain Harker – who I maintain would be better suited to command the Drake in its new capacity – has recommended Private Mackenzie for a posthumous medal of valour. I am inclined to agree – although I know that the current climate leaves little time for formal ceremony.
Kurt Magnusson, Captain.
-End of Co's notes-
Additional notes on the Deceased: Mackenzie's family identified, however, Intel suggests that they were almost entirely on Earth at the time of the Reaper invasion.
-Two Exceptions: Cousin (female): Evelyn Briers – medic, last stationed on the Citadel.
Brother: Leon Mackenzie –reportedly in service with Cerberus Terrorist Cell.
-End of additional notations-
Personal Evaluations:
Notation: The following are based on personal opinion. They are brief, and deal little with the concerned's activities prior to my meeting them. Frankly Admiral, I still believe that these should have been filed in a more formal capacity.
-Updated as of Operation Traffic-
Captain Nathan Henry Harker:
N7, Actives Alliance: Captain Harker's prestigious and extensive military record speaks for itself in matters of evaluation. Personally, I have found him to be a leader of marked ingenuity, compassion and skill. In his field work, he has few peers, conducting himself with the kind of extremities of dedication and courage that elude even the best of the best. I have had the honour of working alongside Harker in the past, and am glad to be doing so again. Both in and out of combat situations, the Captain displays a genuine loyalty and care towards those serving under his command. He is one of that breed of Commanders that promotes the utmost synergy amongst his followers – favouring a less formal, more familial approach to his inter-unit relationships. While this is not a leadership approach that I would take myself, I am able to recognise its value and effect. In fact, I believe that it is this nature that marks the Captain out as an ideal leader for the new multi-systems "N7" program, especially considering the number of non-humans we are predicted to be taking on. The Captain is a particularly formidable graduate of the original N7 program, but it is those natural leadership qualities, and his strength of character that truly set him above his fellows.
Note: Despite our equal ranking, it has been decided that I will retain overall Command of the SSV Drake, whilst Captain Harker will have the initiative during combat assignments.
First Lieutenant Lucian Scott Spector:
N7, Active Alliance, High-level infiltration specialist: Lieutenant Lucian – or Luke as he demands to be known as – is a crack shot, a skilled and inventive soldier, and a brave young man. He is also arrogant, insolent, reckless, and highly irritating. His mouth is both too large and too fast for his own good. That said, I must reiterate my initial points, however begrudgingly. I have little love for Spector, but he is an asset to the Drake's ground forces, and his existing relationships with Operatives Harker and Grant meant that the three of them function as a cohesive and effective unit. In addition, Captain Harker's presence is invaluable in controlling Spector's eccentricities – and I believe that Spector may serve as a similarly beneficial comfort to Harker. Certainly, the two are able to work together with a unity rarely seen outside of sibling relationships. Spector I will tolerate, due to the undeniable value he adds to the team. I still don't like him.
Note: Spector's incessant wise-cracking most likely serves as some form of defence mechanism. This may be something to bear in mind as the war progresses. Certainly, Luke seems uncommonly well-spirited. On the other hand, his good nature has a generally positive effect on the Drake's crew.
Lieutenant Teresa Emily Grant:
Active Alliance, Technical specialist: Lieutenant Grant is a highly intelligent junior officer, with high-level combat ability and truly outstanding tech abilities. Beyond this, she is an engaging and perceptive crew member, though she seems undergo subtle mood shifts – in the brief time that she has served under my command, I have observed her to often withdraw into a more inwardly contemplative mood. I would posit that this is linked to some preoccupation that she is reluctant to share with her peers. Grant is perfectly personable, and possesses a sharp wit, but she has so far restricted her inter-crew relations to Operatives Harker and Spector. This makes sense, as the three of them have served and worked together frequently in the past. My main question regarding Grant is why she has not received a formal N7 ranking. She has an excellent tactical mind, and shows a blend of loyalty and initiative that more soldiers should seek to emulate. Most interestingly of all, in collating information for Grant's evaluation, I have noted that swathes of her Alliance service record is classified beyond my security clearing. For the purposes of further coordinating the soldiers under my command, I am submitting the formal request that I be granted access to an uncensored version of Grant's file. The lieutenant expertly retrieved the required information during the recently completed Operation Traffic (though I am not entirely convinced that the collected data was as urgently needed as was suggested). Following her conduct, I am hereby submitting my recommendation that Grant be immediately elevated to N7 ranking. If I am honest, it is a promotion longer overdue, and having a third active N7 on board would be ideal once we begin to take on new recruits – the rank carries weight beyond the Alliance, and supplies the holders with ideal expertise.
Notes: The relationship between Operatives Spector and Grant seems strained. It may merit internal investigation and meddling.
What on Earth has Grant been up to? Her filled are filled with black tape.
-End of personal evaluations-
Closing notes: The three current members of the Multi-Species N7 program are certainly up to the task. Each is an exceptional soldier in their own right, and together form a formidable team. Since you expressed a desire that the initiative be lead by N7 operatives, I believe we have been fortunate.
The loss of Private Mackenzie has been a bitter blow to us all. The Captain is privately blaming himself, I know. A man of his character finds it hard to lose those under his command. I have instructed Spector – who is grieving in his own dysfunctional manner – to do what he can to reassure the Harker. Grant, meanwhile, seems subdued – understandable as she had worked closely with Mackenzie during Operation Traffic. I remain confident that each will find the strength to cope, and will use the Private's fall as yet another reason to keep up with the struggle ahead.
Please find this report to your satisfaction Admiral.
Kurt Magnusson.
Captain, N7.
-Close Report-
A/N 2 (electric boogaloo): I wanted to have some kind of information based chapter, and I really hope that this wasn't too dull. Hopefully it contains some decently interesting information on this lot of characters. The formatting didn't come out as well as it looked in word - one real issue I have with FF. I'm going to try to get another chapter up tonight, but don't hold your breath. If you don't seen Chapter 11 soon, then I'm sorry, I'll try to get it out for Saturday evening when I'm back.
NLReal - We're getting the quite the correspondence going, aren't we! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, and I might even swing back around to Harry and Ford a little earlier than I was originally planning. Sorry to hear you're suffering from the dreaded block, I sure do know that feeling...