Hey Guys, I am hoping that I will get a lot of positive feedback from the poll. But in the meantime I'm not going to leave my fans hanging lol. Let me know what you think of the fighting part. And spread the word leave me comments, I always like constructive criticism. And as always Read, and Enjoy!!! Peace

Shepard woke up first, and looked first at the alarm clock on his bedside, and next to Tali who was curled up beside him. Just looking at her he smiled, but looking back at the alarm clock again he realized that it was about to go off. Gently extricating himself both from Tali, and the covers of the bed he turned the alarm clock off and went to go get a shower.

Stepping out Shepard quickly got dressed, and looked over at Tali as she gave a couple quick coughs. Shepard walked over to his desk, and after a few minutes left a note on the pillow beside her. It said 'Get some sleep, that's an order.'

Stepping into the elevator, Shepard pressed the button for the CIC. Thinking about it all he surmised that the Ship was probably ready to go. The crew had all come aboard yesterday, but the supplies had yet to be reloaded into the cargo bay. And certain systems had to be tweaked to where they had been, because some idiot had reset many mechanical systems back to their factory default.

As the door opened Kelly turned around and said "Morning Commander."

Shepard returned her smile and said "Good Morning." He made a quick turn and walked into Mordin's lab. Looking in Shepard was amazed at how things had already changed, just yesterday half of the things had been changed around as the workers had moved things to get to access panels. But today just a few hours later it was like their mission to the Collector base hadn't even happened.

Mordin beat Shepard to the punch saying "Morning Shepard, do you have that DNA?"

Shepard just smiled, and handed over the swab in its container. Saying "Thank you, for this I told her last night and She was so happy."

Mordin sensing that Shepard was not, quickly said "I have a feeling you are not, yes? May I ask why"

Shepard gave him a weak smile, before saying "I'd rather not get into it."

Mordin wanted to find out, it was in his nature, but he decided not to press farther.

After a second, Shepard realized that Mordin had nothing else to say, and turned around to leave.

Walking up front to the cockpit Joker turned around in his beloved chair and said "Hey commander, have a good nights sleep?"
Shepard, decided not to take the bait in the question and instead said "So, can you tell if anyone sat in your chair?"

Joker just smiled before saying, "I can't sense it, if that's what your asking. But I don't see any blood, and there were still tacks when I came back from my vacation." Joker gave a devilish grin before saying "There something you want?"

Shepard said "No, just wanted to ask if this new development with EDI will be causing any problems."

After a second Joker just said "No, in fact I think I could get used to seeing her like this."

Shepard just walked away shaking his head, the last thing he heard from Joker was "What? What?"

All Shepard could think was that one of these days Joker would have to find a real womanto talk to. Walking back to his personal terminal he checked his messages, most of it was just junk and he deleted it. As he did so, once or twice he subconsciously reached up and with his hand felt the new captains bars that Anderson had given him. A few days after Shepard had cooled down Tali had revealed that Anderson had wanted to talk to him after their meeting with the council. While he was there he got his own copy of the meeting, which Garrus had immediately requested to borrow, and he had been re-commissioned in the Alliance Navy. Come to think of it, Garrus hadn't given it back to him, before or after the vacation ended…

Looking through the now much shorter list he saw something interesting, a message from Alliance Command 'Requesting' his assistance. And it was relatively nearby. Giving it a cursory scan he quickly put in the order for them to head to the Adara system.

He downloaded the message to a datapad, and began walking back towards the elevator as he read it. He pressed the button for the loft it was quite, no one would need him. But at least the Alliance would mainly stay out of his way, as he tried to unite the galaxy against the Reapers. This promotion was just a formality really, Shepard hated formality.

The door opened and Shepard walked out, and silently entering the room saw that Tali was still asleep. Shepard removed the note from the pillow beside her, and quietly sat down at his desk just to think. He was already formulating a larger plan to bring about a galaxy wide alliance, to face the Reapers. Just the scale of the fleet they would need to gather just to stand a chance was mind boggling.

For a while he just leaned back in the chair at his desk and thought, but stopped himself suddenly as he realized that they may be arriving at the Adara system. Looking at the clock he realized that they were about an hour out. Getting up quietly he started for the elevator. A few minutes later, Shepard had informed Garrus, and Grunt, Miranda, Jacob, and Mordin would all be going down to the colony to see what was going on. This was a well established settlement, if something was bad enough to knock them off the grid, then Shepard would be needing the extra fire power.

A while later everyone was suited up and ready to go. The shuttle was lowered to the floor, and everyone piled into the open doors. Within 5 minutes the shuttle was about to land on the edge of the colony. The scans that the Normandy had done from orbit had been inconclusive, someone had set up a jammer down here somewhere. Shepard could clearly see that there was a problem just by looking out the window. There were fires burning in the distance, despite the pouring rain that was coming from the clouds overhead.

As the doors opened everyone jumped out with their guns at the ready. Shepard signaled for them all to move forward. Garrus ran off to find some high ground, Grunt and Mordin ran off wide left of the shuttles position. The last orders that the groups heard was "Total radio silence except for immediately pertinent intel, and coordination."

He picked up a couple double clicks from everyone's radios in response to his order. Shepard, Jacob, and Miranda started to silently prowl up the middle of a road running parallel to the main thoroughfare of the colony. A minute after they left Shepard heard the Shuttle lift off, with no one there to protect it the pilot had been ordered to remain airborne but on station for emergency pickup.

For about ten minutes nobody could find anything, not a single human being or anything else for that matter; just empty buildings. Then suddenly the silence was broken, off in the distance Shepard could hear gunfire. And over the radio Shepard heard Mordin's voice "Commander, taking enemy fire. Need assistance."

Shepard started sprinting as fast as he could yelling as he went "Just hold on, we're coming!"

They made it about four fifths of the way there before they encountered anyone. Garrus, had already been working his magic as Shepard could see about 5 dead hostiles already laying in the mud. Shepard immediately back pedaled right into Jacob and Miranda, causing a temporary pileup. Shepard turned and signaled to them that there were some armed unfriendly's around the corner, they both nodded. Using the cover of the rain and the distraction from Garrus. Miranda and Shepard dashed across the alleyway entrance and took up position on the far side.

Shepard used his fingers to signal a three count to them. Then Shepard swung around the corner and let loose a quick burst at a particularly ideal target. The soldier went down, their armor was unmarked that was all he could tell.

Shepard heard Garrus' voice over the radio, "You better hurry Shepard, Mordin and Grunt aren't doin' so good. I'll cover you just get to them, now!" Shepard didn't even hesitate, if he couldn't trust Garrus to cover them, and get them there safely who could he trust? Shepard dashed forward, firing at every target he could see as he ran by. They had only just started this new firefight, they didn't expect a charge this soon, so many of them just stood there to be swept away by Miranda and Jacobs biotics.

Shepard ran across an empty square, and into an alleyway. On the far side of the adjoining square Shepard could see Mordin and Grunt hunkered down between some crates and a wall that was quickly disintegrating from the volume of fire that had been thrown at it. Shepard waited a second before rushing forward again, right as he cleared the alleyway he almost ran straight into a YMIR mech that was repositioning.

Shepard screamed a series of expletives as he slid in the slick mud, landing hard on his butt he slid forward and right into the back of the YMIR's legs. Shepard scrambled back to his feet as the mech turned around. And began firing into his back as he ran for cover, a combined blast from both Miranda and Jacob knocked the mech back on its heels. Which gave Shepard just enough time to limp back behind their own cover.

Quelling the rage he felt Shepard activated the medigel system in his suit and felt the extreme pain in his back begin to subside. Rolling down and into the mud, Shepard unloaded an entire thermal clip into the mech. And Miranda used the opportunity to hit it with a blast from her SMG. Jacob was busy taking potshots at a sniper that was clearly visible across the square on top of a building.

The mech fell from a lucky shot to the head, Shepard yelled again "Get your heads down!" and rolled back into cover right as the mech fell to its knees and exploded.

Shepard shook off the concussive blast, and staggering to his feet he ran for a nearby building. From experience Shepard knew that the best way to get the advantage on an enemy in urban combat was to remove one of their strong points and make use of it for their own purposes. Shepard edged into the entrance of the nearest building. Sweeping every room they entered Shepard found this one to be entirely empty.

Shepard ran for the roof, and crouching low made a running jump to the next roof over. There was a sniper on this one, but thankfully couldn't hear them between the combined sounds of the gunfire and the rain. Shepard, deciding to finish him quietly pulled a knife from a sheath on his boot and lunged for the soldier.

The soldier, possibly just by luck turned right at the last minute and saw Shepard coming. The man rolled fully onto his back, and using both feet kicked Shepard off of him right as he reached the man. Shepard winded, landed flat on his back, and the medigel's anesthetic wasn't that effective. A jolt of pain shot through him as he landed. The man rushed at him with his own knife, and Shepard looking for his knife found it a couple of feet away. Shepard rolled, but the man was on him before he could reach for it. Shepard crossed his hands in front of his face and caught the knife about a foot away from the crack in his chest plate. Shepard bucked his hips as hard as he could sending the man up off of him for a second. Shepard took the opportunity, and kicked off with his foot. Sliding on the rain slicked roof Shepard was able to stand up before the man lunged at him with the knife.

Shepard knocked the knife away from him as he grabbed the mans wrist. And using his other arm to apply pressure to the back of the elbow, snapped it perfectly. The man howled in pain, and Shepard using this momentum sent the man flying face first into the ground. Cracking the polarized faceplate, apparently this also knocked the soldier out as well. Turning him over, Shepard looked into the now transparent faceplate.

Batarians, Shepard hated Batarians…