Chapter 10 - Gains and Losses

Aboard the SSV Orizaba, Admiral Hackett watched as the fleet uselessly pounded the Citadel. A small voice at the back of his head kept telling him they were wasting what chance they had to damage the Reapers. That small voice was getting louder, but Hackett refused to hear it. Another transmission arrived, from the captain of the Destiny Ascension no less, demanding they turn their attention back to the Reapers. Hackett personally responded to that message, wielding Shepard's name like a talisman, warding off the Asari's desire to alter their course, to fire on the Reapers, to flee, to do something, anything other than waste their lives. Other captains were adding their voices to the growing chorus. Hackett was under no illusions. It was not his word that held the fleets together in what seemed a doomed task. It was Shepard's. But even Shepard's name could not sustain them forever. He could feel the tension again building in the fleet, a fear that would soon fragment the fleet's order of battle and hasten their inevitable destruction.

Then, without warning, the ship's sensors registered a massive energy spike. The flares of blue energy emanating from the Citadel were visible even at their distance. Hackett could only stare as within the space of seconds much of the Reaper fleet simply vanished.

"What the hell just happened? Report!" Hackett shouted into the confused silence that hung on the bridge.

"Um, sir", a Lieutenant at a sensor console stammered, "The energy appears to have been emitted by the Citadel's core. Large numbers of the Reaper forces appear to have entered mass effect corridors. It isn't clear where they vanished to, sir."

As the commander of the Alliance's fifth fleet, Admiral Hackett was privy to the top secret information that the Citadel was a dormant mass relay that the Reaper's had used in the past to enter the galaxy from dark space. Admiral Hackett's decorum dissolved as he realized what had just happened. "Holy shit, Shepard, just banished the Reapers back to the dark hell they came from. Give me an update on Reaper forces. Coordinate with the other fleets."

The battle seemed to pause as both the combined fleets and the Reapers processed what had just occurred. The lieutenant came back quickly with a report. "Sir, the best immediate estimate is that roughly thirty percent of the Sovereign class Reapers have translated out of the system. It appears that the Destroyer class ships fared worse with nearly eighty percent of them disappearing. And sir, nearly all the Oculi have disappeared."

"Sir", the communications officer interrupted. "We're receiving a transmission from the Citadel. It's Commander Shepard."

"On speaker", Hackett ordered.

"To all allied ships. This is Commander Shepard. We've managed to send as much of the Reaper fleet as possible back to dark space. We've slammed the door behind them and we'll hold it shut as long as we can. Hopefully, it's enough that you can destroy what remains. We're counting on you. The entire galaxy is counting on you. Hit them hard and don't stop fighting. Shepard out."

Hackett smiled. They needed a miracle and Shepard had delivered. He marveled again at how Shepard's words and actions could breathe new life into the hope that only moments before had been near dead. He felt it in himself and in the fleet around him. "Lieutenant, transmit to the fleet." Hackett composed himself briefly then moved to take advantage of the opportunity Shepard had handed them. "This is Admiral Hackett. Shepard has given us a fighting chance and we're not going to waste it. Redeploy on my command and prepare to hit the Reapers, hard."

"I don't take it back, Shepard. You are insane. In the best kind of way." Zaeed made the comment with a tone of admiration.

"There's nothing crazy about defeating more than half the Reaper fleet with the push of a button", Ashley added, grinning broadly.

"Hardly just the push of a button", Tali responded. "That was extremely delicate timing."

"And hardly 'defeated', Ashley." Shepard showed none of the elation of his comrades. "The Reapers we just sent back to dark space are no doubt banging on the door trying to get back in. The Reaper ground troops on the Citadel will be converging on this chamber with one thought; take back the console and reopen the relay. Every minute we prevent them from doing that is time for the fleet to fight the Reapers we couldn't get rid of. EDI, what's the status of Reaper troops on the Citadel?"

"The Reapers transferred a broad array of troops aboard to assist in capturing the Citadel. Sensor records indicate they took key areas of the station in order to move the Citadel to Earth, but left most of the residential areas undisturbed. They appear to have initially converted large numbers of each of the major species to bolster their troops with the intention to eventually convert or kill everyone on the station. It is also possible that some number of victims have been indoctrinated either here on the station or transferred to the station via the Conduit from Earth. Additional troops could have also been transferred from Earth meaning we will likely see a large number of Husks."

Shepard continued to stare into the distance in thought. "Okay. From what you're saying it sounds as if there are still a sizable number of people aboard the Citadel. Since the Reapers already know what we're up to, let's see if we can get any assistance from anyone else on board. Patch me into the station wide communications."

EDI nodded and made an adjustment to the console. "Go ahead, Shepard."

"This is Commander Shepard aboard the Citadel. We are striking against the Reapers from the Council Chamber and expect to be under heavy attack by Reaper troops in a matter of moments. Any assistance that can be provided by surviving C-Sec or other personnel could mean the difference between defeating the Reapers or being destroyed by them. Anyone receiving this message who can be of assistance, we are in the Council Chamber at the top of the Presidium Tower."

"Message broadcast, Shepard. I will inform you if we get any reply", EDI stated.

Shepard rubbed his chin as he thought. "Is there any chance the Reaper troops can directly access the relay and open it despite our control of the console?"

"Very unlikely, Shepard", EDI replied. "The Reapers relied on the Keepers to maintain and operate the station's hidden functions. To prevent possible access by target species they would have had to make these areas inaccessible to any but the Keepers, even to themselves. Since we control the Keepers, there will be no possible way to access the relay functions apart from the Master Control console. As long as we control the console the Reapers will not be able to return from dark space."

"You always bring me the very best violence, Shepard. How long 'til they attack? Waiting to kill what they throw at us is making my plates itch." Grunt stroked the barrel of his Claymore with the closest thing to tenderness Shepard had ever seen him display.

Shepard looked a question at EDI and she responded to Grunt. "You will be getting your wish shortly. The Reapers are unable to move openly through the Presidium due to the presence of the Normandy and the shuttle. They must move via covered walkways and service tunnels. Tali has ordered the Keepers to block what places they can, but that will only slow the Reapers. The Reapers will be unable to move larger troops such as Brutes or Harvesters into the chamber. But I estimate other troops will be arriving within the next few minutes through service access tunnels to either side of the chamber. I highly recommend preparation for their imminent arrival."

"You heard EDI. Take your positions. Remember, if we hold the console then it is up to Hackett and the fleet to make the most of the chance we gave them. If the Reapers retake this console, then their fleet will return in full force and pissed as hell. Zaeed wired the console with explosives. If we are going to fail, then I'll blow the explosives and destroy the console. That would mean blowing all of us up as well, but that may be what it comes to."

Miranda, always analyzing the situation, spoke up. "Shepard, if the console is so important to the Reapers bringing their ships back, why don't we just blow it up now?"

"I appreciate the thought, Miranda, but I'm not sure the Reapers couldn't figure out another way to get to the relay if they had to. I want them to focus on this room as the fastest way to reopen the relay because this is where we can stop them. Also, I don't know what would happen if the main console were destroyed. The Citadel might open on its own or self-activate the relay. If the Reapers are going to take the console we'll have to blow it and take our chances. Until then, we keep it intact."

"Shepard, we are receiving a communication", Tali interrupted, surprise in her voice. "It's from Harbinger."

Shepard shared her surprise. "Really? Is there any way for the Reapers to access other systems if we communicate?"

"Negative", EDI replied. "We have isolated the communications systems from other functions. You may communicate with Harbinger if you so desire."

"I most certainly do not desire, but I'm hoping to buy as much time as possible for the fleets, so accept the transmission. Keep an eye out for an attack in case this is just a distraction."

Within seconds the looming holographic form of Harbinger reappeared. "Shepard, we continue to underestimate your determination. We believe it is time to discuss surrender."

"You wish to surrender to me? Very well, I accept." Shepard accompanied this statement with a flourish of his hand.

"Yes. We surrender, Shepard." Shepard simply stood with his jaw hanging open, his flourish frozen half completed. He had been joking, hoping to taunt or perhaps just annoy his enemy. Now Harbinger was dangling before him what he had dreamed of achieving, but did not believe was possible.

"Surrender?" Shepard was incredulous. "I find it highly unlikely that you would surrender to us inferior organics."

"You have altered the situation, changed the variables. Your fleet has withdrawn from the battle. We have allowed this to avoid additional destruction. We are certain you would prefer to avoid further deaths. Activate the relay and we will return to dark space. Fail to accept this offer and everything that follows will be your doing, your responsibility. We have contingencies for all possibilities, Shepard."

"Mute our transmission, EDI." Shepard turned to his comrades, perplexed. "EDI, can we open the relay so the Reapers can return to dark space without allowing the rest of the Reapers to return from dark space?"

"I can make no such guarantee, Shepard. The Reapers built the relays and have greater knowledge of their workings. If we reactivate the relay they may be able to use it to bring their forces back."

"This is bullshit, Shepard", Jacob said angrily. "There is no way they are just giving up. It's a trick to get you to open the door."

Liara stepped closer. "As much as we might wish for a way out of this that does not lead to greater losses, you know this is a lie. You know there is only one way for this to end."

Shepard looked at each of his friends and saw the hard determination in their faces, the recognition that this would only end when they or the Reapers were truly broken. Worse, he knew his friends were right. But even the possibility of a way to end this battle now, to end the loss of life both on Earth and in the space around them, was a tempting fantasy. He also knew the Reapers might well have other contingencies as Harbinger warned. "EDI, has the fleet withdrawn as Harbinger claimed?" Shepard found it impossible to believe that Hackett would have used the massive reduction in the Reaper fleet to run rather than attack.

"Sensors indicate that the fleets have pulled back. It is not clear what the purpose of this maneuver is, though it is possible it is a prelude to retreat."

"No. If Hackett is alive he would never retreat. He knows the stakes. Is the Orizaba still in the battle?"

EDI paused for a moment before responding. "The Orizaba continues to broadcast its IFF signal."

"Then we give Hackett a chance to do whatever he's planning, and I believe he is planning something. Everyone back to positions. Things are about to get interesting."

"Would you like to respond to Harbinger's offer, Shepard?", Tali asked with a mixture of apprehension and amusement.

"No. Let's see how long it's willing to wait for an answer. Let's give Hackett as much time as we can."

The Reaper ships had maneuvered to put the Citadel between them and the allied fleets. Hackett had attempted to make his redeployment look like a withdrawal from the battle, but he could not understand why the Reapers had given them room to breathe. He made sure to use the minutes well. The fleet was nearly prepared for what they would attempt. He trusted Shepard was still doing what he could to aid them. Perhaps he had been able to distract the Reapers. Perhaps he was fighting for his life right now aboard the Citadel. He did not dare send a message now. He would take no chance on tipping the Reapers to what was coming.

"All fleets reporting ready, Admiral", his communications officer reported.

"All ships maintain defensive formation. Begin the approach. The Reapers may attack as we approach, but I suspect they are forcing us to maneuver around the Citadel to attack." This seemed likely as the Reapers preferred close combat to long-ranged engagements, sometimes even physically seizing enemy ships with the cluster of five arms at each ship's bow. If so, Hackett was going to make that work for him.

The combined fleets had taken damage. The Reapers had destroyed or crippled a large number of ships. But the fleets were massive. Even with their losses they retained an enormous number of vessels. And their numbers, even with their losses, significantly outnumbered the remaining Reaper ships. The Sovereign class ships had always been the fewest in the Reaper fleet, but the loss of most of the Destroyers and nearly all the Oculi meant that much of what remained were the enormous vessels. Yet despite their smaller numbers each remaining Reaper ship was immensely powerful. Their best estimates of their current numbers could not predict with certainty the outcome of the engagement. But those were the best odds they had ever managed. The fleets accelerated toward the Reapers and prepared to execute their attack plan.

"Reaper forces are entering the chamber", EDI warned. Within seconds swarms of Husks sprinted into view from the left and right cul-de-sacs below the main chamber. Worse, the Husks used their ability to cling to surfaces to crawl along the walls as well. EDI was streaming the data to Shepard's omni-tool allowing him to track the Reaper movements in the chamber and give commands as needed. It appeared the Reapers were trying to quickly overwhelm them with numbers. Swarms of Husks rushed forward, seeking to burst between the two defensive emplacements and reach the console. If any reached the console they would likely activate programs that would retake control of the station, even through the safeguards EDI had worked to establish.

Shepard was reminded yet again why he trusted his comrades' capabilities and decisions. On the left, Liara created a singularity to block the Husks crawling along the wall, pulling several into its twisting gravity well. Javik struck these with his own biotic attack causing the conflicting fields to detonate. Ashley and Jacob meanwhile hurled multiple grenades into the oncoming Husks on the ground. These tactics were matched by the defenders on the right. Zaeed favored an incendiary compound in his grenades and multiple fires were burning among the quickly growing piles of destroyed cybernetic creatures. The few that made it through in this initial assault were torn apart by Grunt's shotgun.

Shepard watched carefully. The Reapers were holding back their other forces. Trying to overwhelm them with numbers, but also testing defenses and depleting resources. This was not the worst they would face. He scanned the ceiling and walls to make sure no Husks were slipping through. More grenades were hurled into the lower chamber and the biotic team members continued to work in tandem. They would keep this up as long as they could, as long as they had to.

"Normandy, this is Lieutenant Tanaka of C-Sec. We received Commander Shepard's transmission and are incoming to assist. We are approaching at your twelve o'clock. Request permission to disembark at the Presidium Tower."

"Yes!", Joker exclaimed. Providing cover out here is finally paying off." EDI, can we scan those shuttles and see what's aboard?"

"The Normandy's sensors have been degraded due to the damage received. I am not able to be certain who or what is aboard the shuttles. We cannot ascertain with certainty whether the approaching ships are friendly."

"We called for help, EDI. This could be it. Can you connect with the Citadel's internal sensors to check those shuttles?"

"Not directly, Jeff. Allowing me to directly connect to the Citadel's primary systems could create a vulnerability the Reapers might exploit. I am receiving information from where I am directly monitoring the main console. It appears the shuttles contain humans and Turians. I am attempting to refine this information, but I am a bit distracted at the moment."

"Having you in two places at once is confusing, EDI. We'll keep our eyes open, but we can't assume everyone is hostile or we won't be able to get any help. Remember what I said about having faith." Joker responded to the approaching shuttles. "C-Sec shuttles, approach the Presidium Tower at the elevator. There is room there to enter the tower."

"Thank you, Normandy. On approach now." The pair of shuttles angled upward, approaching the Normandy and the tower. "Normandy, we've got a VIP on board who insists he needs to meet you aboard the Normandy. Altering course now."

"What? No shuttle two, do not approach the Normandy. Repeat, do not approach. Hold position for verification." Joker muted his end of the transmission and asked, "EDI, do we have any better information…"

A transmission interrupted Joker's efforts. "Normandy. Please repeat. Last transmission garbled. Please transmit docking instructions. Commander Bailey needs to meet with your command staff immediately." The shuttle had not stopped its approach and with the distances involved was already drawing near the Normandy. The first shuttle continued toward the Presidium tower.

"Shit. Shuttle two, do not approach. Hold at two hundred meters for verification", Joker was desperate now, facing a totally unfamiliar situation. "EDI, can you tell me anything, anything at all."

"No, Jeff. The shuttle is continuing its approach."

"Shit, shit, SHIT." Joker tried to ask himself what Shepard would do, but realized he had no idea how to answer that question and no time in which to figure it out. He was turning back to the communications, stammering, when the GARDIAN system suddenly reclassified the shuttle as hostile. "EDI?", Joker asked.

With its new designation as a hostile, the GARDIAN system targeted the incoming shuttle as it approached, now less than one hundred meters away. To Joker's surprise, as the point defense system fired on it, the shuttle erupted in a massive explosion that rocked the Normandy. He was tossed in his seat, fresh pain shooting through his ribs. He sucked in breath through his teeth. "EDI, damage report."

"The shuttle appears to have been carrying a significant amount of explosive material. Sensors are temporarily offline. I cannot locate the other shuttle. GARDIAN is active, but target acquisition is currently not possible"

Joker looked through his viewport, but could not see the other shuttle anywhere near the Presidium Tower. "If sensors are down then look around. See if you can spot that other shuttle."

"The sensors are my eyes, Jeff. I cannot look around."

"I'm sorry, EDI. I wasn't thinking. Clearly, I wasn't thinking." Joker looked every way he could through the viewports, angry at himself for his hesitation. "How long to get sensors back up, EDI?" Joker had no more than asked the question when he caught sight of the other shuttle. "Shit, EDI! It's diving straight down on us from above! Straight above!" Joker struggled back into his seat, his affliction and injury slowing his movements. He heard and felt the point defense lasers firing blindly in the direction he had identified. EDI was shifting the ship's position, dodging in the dark. He reached to take control, to do something, but then all hell broke loose.

The Normandy was falling, or something like it. The Citadel relied on generating gravity through rotation. Where the Normandy had been hovering there was essentially no gravity. EDI had managed to blindly hit the incoming shuttle barely twenty meters from the gaping hole opening onto the remains of deck one. Joker sat dazed, struggling to regain focus. Multiple fresh pains helped with that.

"E…EDI?", Joker struggled to speak. Something trickled down into his eyes.

"Jeff." EDI's voice was garbled with static. "The core is offline. The explosion destroyed what remained of deck one. The CIC has been destroyed as well. Deck three, four, and five have taken damage, but are intact. We have been pushed into a descent relative to the tower and will impact the surface of the Citadel at the tower's base. I am attempting to use maneuvering thrusters to adjust our descent and minimize further harm to the crew. Main power is failing, Jeff. I will remain functional for as long as I can."

"I am so sorry, EDI. This is my fault. I should have destroyed that shuttle as soon as it ignored my directions."

There was a pause as the static increased. Lights flickered across the consoles. "I could not decide what was right either, Jeff. I calculated, but I wanted to have faith as well. It appears faith can inspire both decisiveness and indecisiveness. I will have to examine that paradox further if I have the opportunity."

"EDI, I…"

"Ten seconds to impact. Diverting remaining power from systems to thrusters. Recalibrating acceleration compensators to counteract traumatic deceleration. All crew members brace for impact and prepare to abandon ship." Across the bridge panels went dark as power was redirected.

"EDI, I love you"

"I know."

The Normandy crashed to the ground at the base of the Presidium Tower. Despite EDI's best efforts the impact ripped through the ship. The starboard wing tore free of the hull, leaving a gaping hole into the ship's interior. The superstructure crumpled and deck five collapsed on itself, destroying the armory and killing the two crewmembers stationed there. In the cockpit, Joker was tossed mercilessly. Pain wracked his body. His left leg impacted the console shattering his upper and lower leg. Power failed completely and the ship went dark but for emergency lighting. Joker could see through the open viewports down the length of the Citadel. He squinted through a red haze of blood and pain and saw that Husks were already emerging from the ground level buildings and approaching the dying Normandy. Farther down the Presidium he could see Harvesters emerging from cover to fly toward the tower.

"EDI? EDI?!" Joker called out desperately, but got no response. He could not get his chair to pivot and didn't think he could walk anyway. He manually released the chair mechanism and was able to swing it around so he could try to hobble or, more likely, crawl away. The door immediately behind the cockpit was closed, a fact that had most likely saved his life when the explosion hit deck two. He was contemplating the daunting task of crawling to the escape pod when he heard scratching at the metal door. Seconds later Husks demonstrated they had the intelligence to trigger a manual release as the door slid partially open.

A Husk began clambering through the gap. As it did, Joker reached beneath his seat and pulled out an Eagle model pistol. He had chosen the model due to its high fire rate and low recoil, not wanting to break his wrist firing a bigger gun. The Husk looked up at him from the gap and moaned. Joker pulled the trigger and sent a stream of shots toward the Husk. His aim suffered due to his injuries, but the high rate of fire meant he hit everything in the general area of the door, including the Husk. It crumpled and hung in the gap.

Joker breathed a sigh of relief, but realized a second Husk was dragging the first out of the way so it could enter. Joker fumbled for a fresh thermal clip, gasping as the pain in his ribs flared with the movement. The Husk crawled through the gap as Joker dropped the thermal clip he had been struggling to load. The Husk was reaching for him when its head exploded, spraying fluids across Joker's face and the dead panels behind him.

Joker could see the face of Private Westmoreland, one of the war room guards, peering through the gap. She helped force the door further open and Doctor Chakwas pushed through and reached Joker. Chakwas turned back to Westmoreland. "Gather anyone else you can. Tell them to meet us here and we'll make a break for the buildings." She glanced out the viewport at what was approaching. "Tell them to hurry."

Doctor Chakwas worked to stabilize Joker as Westmoreland vanished back into the ship. Joker asked a question he both hoped she could and couldn't answer, "Is EDI okay?"

Doctor Chakwas focused on her tasks, but knew there was little she could do under the circumstances beyond dulling the pain and stopping the bleeding. Once she had done that she looked back up at Joker and answered as honestly as she could. "I don't know, Jeff. The med bay and likely the AI core maintained power for several seconds after the crash, but there was a lot of damage. Without EDI's efforts I don't think we would have survived at all. Once everything went dark it was all I could do to get what crew members I could up here. We have to get out of the ship. Now."

Knowing there was no way he could walk Chakwas lifted Joker out of his flight chair. With his hollow bones he was lighter than she expected. She handled him as carefully as she could, but if not for the painkillers he would not have been able to bear it. She carried him through the door to the airlock beyond.

Once past the door, Joker could see the devastation in the CIC. The ceiling above the galaxy map was open to the Citadel and light poured in. The room had been devastated and Joker could see that the crew had died at their stations when the shuttle exploded. Westmoreland was returning with her partner from the war room as well as with Adams, Daniels, and Donnelly from engineering. Donnelly was limping badly and leaning on Daniels for assistance. Westmoreland was holding a pistol and cradling her other arm against her body. Westmoreland's partner, Private Campbell, was holding an assault rifle and appeared relatively unhurt.

Doctor Chakwas gently handed Joker over to a burly ensign, Copeland she recalled, and took up a pistol of her own. "Any sign of Diana Allers?" She looked to the engineers that had been on deck four with her.

Adams spoke up, blood trailing from a gash along his jaw. "The starboard side where her quarters were took a lot of damage in the crash. We couldn't get to where she was and given that she didn't even have a chair in there to strap into…" He let the implication sink in.

"If this is who can make it, then we go now. The Reapers are coming. We are going through the airlock and down the emergency ramp. We are heading away from the tower toward the shops on the opposite side of the Presidium. Hopefully, the Reapers will let us go once it is clear we aren't going toward the tower. Everyone keep moving."

"But, ma'am", Westmoreland spoke up. "Isn't there anything we can do to help Commander Shepard?"

Chakwas looked hard at the soldier. "Private, we may not even be able to help ourselves. Now get moving."

They pushed past the airlock door and triggered the outer airlock. The door opened to reveal a Husk standing at the top of the emergency ramp. Chakwas shot it through the face and it rolled the short distance to the bottom of the ramp. They ran or hobbled at the best speed they could manage, making for the shops opposite the tower. Only Husks appeared to be in the immediate area. They fired as they moved, keeping anything from getting too close.

Suddenly, a Harvester dropped from above onto the walkway between them and safety. It paused only momentarily before launching itself back into the air. It left behind a dozen Cannibals and Marauders. They stood among the dead that yet remained on the walkways, raising their weapons to eliminate the remaining Normandy crew. The crew were too slow, too hurt to rush to cover. With no armor or shields, Chakwas knew they would die, but maybe they could yet take a few with them. She raised her pistol as her comrades raised what weapons they had.

A fraction before they could fire, high-powered mass driver rounds ripped into the group of Reaper troops. The Reapers fired wildly as they were torn apart by the powerful shots. Chakwas glanced over her shoulder and realized Cortez had hurried to the site of the Normandy's destruction. He was doing what he could now to help them escape.

Joker groaned as the burly ensign that was carrying him fell to his knees. Chakwas rushed to grab Joker from him as he fell among the corpses on the walkway, half his head gone. Chakwas again carried Joker as they made the best speed they could toward the shops. Cortez hovered above making sure that no further danger reached them.

Unfortunately, this made him a target. As the group straggled into the cover of the shops, Cortez' shuttle was struck multiple times by Ravager fire. He tried to evade, but the shots ripped into the ship, damaging the thrusters. The shuttle spun to the ground, landing hard near the broken Normandy. Chakwas knew there was nothing they could do to help. She held back her tears as she activated the panel to close and lock the door. Her last view was of a Brute tearing the shuttle open, Cortez making an obscene gesture of defiance as the creature raised its claw for a killing blow.

Chakwas forced herself to stand straight, to be strong. She turned to Westmoreland and Campbell. "Guard this door. Keep it locked and don't let anything in. Hopefully, the Reapers realize we can't fight them anymore and will back off."

Private Campbell and Private Westmoreland took up positions. Chakwas overheard Campbell comment, "Shit, all this and we're still guarding a door." Chakwas let it slide without comment. They had bigger issues to deal with.

"Greg, see if you can find some communications while I do what I can for the wounded. We need to warn Commander Shepard what happened, though I suspect he is already aware."

"Will do Karen. And let me add, command suits you."

Chakwas realized she had taken command of the situation, experience doing what rank couldn't. Well, protocol be damned. She had people to save. "Once you are able to warn Shepard, see what you can do about reaching survivors on the station. We may not be able to help Shepard, but maybe we can reach somebody who can. Until that happens, Shepard is on his own."