A/N: Well sorry for the delay, folks. I know I said October but a couple of things happened, and then another couple of things, and then it was December and well... Did I mention I was sorry? I'll try to get back into a proper schedule (I doubt it will be monthly again though) and carry on. Also I'm really sorry for the (very) rough state of this chapter, to be honest it really needs a few more read-throughs (and a lot of tweaking) on the conversations, but I'm not willing to let it slide any later. New Year, clean slate and all. Anyway here you go...and I'll go get started on the next chapter!

CHAPTER 21 – THF PRAEPESA

Shepard idly stirred the blue-green gruel that filled the small tin-like bowl sitting before him. Even after a week aboard the turian frigate he still found the mess space cramped. A single large table ran almost the length of the room leaving only a small space for wall-mounted bench seating to arc around it in a horseshoe. At mealtimes the diners needed to slowly thread their way through the narrow gap between table and seat in a single file and once everyone had finished the whole process had to happen in reverse – there was no space for anyone to make their way past their fellow diners. The sound of the compartment's hatch opening drew Shepard's attention away from the nutrient paste he had been toying with and the Spectre had to suppress a sigh as he saw who had joined him.

Diana Allers gave Shepard a warm smile as she slid into the space next to him, but there was a look of determination in her eyes as she studied the Spectre.
"I thought there was plenty of human rations aboard?" The reporter asked, "Or do you just..." her voice became insincerely enthusiastic, "love the taste of paste?"

Shepard openly grimaced at the reporter's use of a widely derided, but still catchy, advertisement jingle. "There's almost a hundred people where we're heading," the Spectre replied as he lifted a spoonful of the substance under discussion, "some of them are children." Shepard tilted his spoon, letting its contents splatter back into the bowl, "The turians are planning on feeding them this for the seven days it will take us to return to the Citadel." The Spectre nudged his bowl towards Allers in invitation, "Go ahead try some."

The reporter ignored the invitation. "Aren't they terrorists," Allers asked, "why are you worried about what they're going to be eating?"

Shepard reclaimed his bowl. "Maybe it's because no-one else seems to be," the Spectre replied, "or maybe because I'm worried what the paste suggests about this mission." Shepard's head turned to face the reporter sitting next to him, "Or perhaps I really do like nutrient paste and want to have some before it all disappears."

"Maybe you're just in here to sulk?" Allers suggested, "I heard you and Spectre Williams had another argument this morning."

Shepard smiled and lied, "That's not what I heard."

"Ok fine," Allers pouted, "but you have to admit that things are a little tense between you two. Right?"

Shepard hesitated, his instinctual reaction of avoiding a reporter's question was undermined by the fact that the only three humans currently aboard the Praepesa were all sharing the frigate's sole 'guest' cabin.

Allers waited, patient as the Egyptian Sphinx.

"It's an adjustment," Shepard bluffed, "it's been a while since we last worked together."

"Adjustment?" Allers muttered in disbelief as she gave a slight shake of her head at Shepard's reluctance to admit the truth. "Ash is angry with you, Shepard." The reporter told the man sitting next to her, "No, not angry – furious, almost murderous maybe."

Shepard was surprised at how much Allers' use of the shortened, familiar, version of Williams' first name hurt – especially after the marine had angrily told him to stop using it only an hour ago. "Miss Allers," Shepard said mildly as he resumed stirring his nutrient paste, "respectfully? You're exaggerating a little." The Spectre focused his attention on the glutinous blue-green paste as he tried to bury the memory of Ash's angry eyes coldly staring at him.

"I'm not," the reporter's voice was certain, "and I think it's, maybe partially, my fault."

"That's unlikely," Shepard replied absently as the angry brown eyes in his mind morphed into Miranda's hurt blue. The Spectre's stirring stopped as the guilt that had been haunting him since his betrayal in the departure lounge surged again.

"I know you and the chief had a...thing," the reporter began as her hand rested on Shepard's motionless forearm, "or nearly had – before she decided against it."

The warmth on his forearm derailed Shepard's thoughts – before Allers' statement snapped the Spectre's attention back to the woman sitting next to him. "Ash told you about..." Shepard asked in disbelief.

What could only be described as a smug smile danced on the reporter's lips. "The time she turned down a three-some with you and Doctor T'Soni?" Allers teased.

"That's not...it wasn't," Shepard tried to explain whilst also trying to wrap his brain around the concept that Ash had confided that story to the dark-haired reporter, "I..." Shepard went on the offensive whilst he tried to recover from the surprise. "Why," The Spectre demanded to know, "and more importantly, how?"

The reporter smiled as she gently stroked Shepard's bare forearm. "She was more than a little drunk," Allers admitted, "and I don't think she remembers telling me." The reporter's smile grew as her fingertip started ghosting lazy little circles on Shepard's skin, "But I do. I remember how she wanted to sound angry, outraged, but really – I think she was secretly disappointed." The reporter's voice had gradually deepened as she talked, becoming richer, and the sensation of her skin brushing against his own made Shepard acutely aware of the woman sitting beside him.

"Miss Allers," the Spectre's other hand suddenly reached across, gripping the wrist of the hand that Allers was ghosting across his skin, "if you believe Chief Williams is still pining over something, that didn't happen, more than two years ago – I think you're mistaken."

"I didn't say that," the reporter's voice was steady as the motion of her fingertip ceased, "but I think that's part of it – even if Ash doesn't realise it." The reporter gave a sad smile before continuing, "That, and her own insecurities, would explain her anger when I told her about seeing you and your friend in one of the Citadel's passenger lounges."

Shepard forced himself to remain perfectly still at the reporter's statement, trying to conceal the sudden rush of adrenaline the reporter's words had triggered.

"Your friend is really stunning," Allers continued, apparently oblivious to Shepard's reaction, "is she a model somewhere?"

"No," the dryness in Shepard's throat made his voice unintentionally harsh, "she's a research scientist."

"Brains and beauty," Allers' voice was light-hearted, "now I'm almost feeling inadequate. Poor Ash. Where did the two of you meet?"

"Noveria." Shepard lied, hoping that the corporate-owned planet's reputation for secrecy would forestall any more questions about Miranda.

"Oh," the reporter seemed disappointed, although whether it was at the Spectre's obvious reluctance to talk or Noveria's reputation was impossible to tell, "does she at least have a name?"

"Holly," Shepard lied after a short hesitation. "Her name is Holly, Miss Allers," the Spectre repeated as he removed the brunette's reporter hand from his arm.

Allers gave a puzzled hum as she rotated her newly released wrist. "Holly," the reporter mused, trying to match the name to the glamorous woman she had seen. "Holly," Allers repeated, stretching out the alias as she came to a decision, "it doesn't really suit her," the reporter told Shepard, "her name should be something more classical; something like Cassandra, or Miranda, or–."

"Her name is Holly," Shepard interrupted the reporter's musing, "and I'm sorry, but I should go." The Spectre rose to his feet and stared down at the sitting woman who had now become an obstruction.

"I didn't mean to pry," Allers told the Spectre as she stood up, "I just thought you needed to know why Ash has been so angry towards you." The reporter edged her way past the table, clearing Shepard's path. "I know I'm not military," Allers continued as she watched Shepard, "but everyone knows that when the people in charge of something can't speak to each other? Things go wrong."

"Thank you," Shepard injected a false tone of confidence in his voice as he made his way clear of the mess-hall table, "but whatever differences the chief and I have – we're both committed to this mission's success." The Spectre hesitated as he examined the dark-haired reporter, "Miss Allers about Holly," the contrived confidence in his voice was gone now, instead there was a very real note of vulnerability in Shepard's voice, "I do my best to protect her, especially after Bahak. She's a good person and the work she does..." The Spectre's voice faded away as his own, private, uncertainties about Miranda's actions welled up, "...I'm asking you to keep this between us. She doesn't deserve to be tainted by the repercussions of my actions. Please?"

The reporter's eyes searched Shepard's face, as if she was trying to gauge if the Spectre's sudden vulnerability was genuine; it was, but not for the reasons Shepard had given. "A favour for a favour," Allers responded, "I get full access, and interviews, with the people you're going to arrest and anything they say to me is treated as privileged. No Alliance officials taking the footage, no Council censors, ANN gets it all."

Shepard waited a few seconds. "Agreed," the Spectre conceded, "but only if you haven't already told anyone else about Holly."

"I'm not a gossip columnist, Shepard," Allers replied, "and I haven't mentioned it to anyone after I saw Ash's reaction. But if you want to keep your relationship secret, choose less public locations to meet."

"I'll keep that in mind," Shepard promised, "and thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I think it would be best if I went to talk with Chief Williams."

"What about your bowl," Allers grinned, clearly pleased with herself, "and all that tasty paste?"

"Help yourself," Spectre said as he headed for the hatch, "call it research into conditions for turian-held prisoners." The false grin on the Spectre's face slid away as the mess-hall hatch closed behind him, leaving him alone in the frigate's narrow corridor. A quick check on his omni-tool gave Shepard the location of his fellow Spectre and he started on his way.

As on the original Normandy the Praepesa's armoury was merely a small space set aside in the frigate's cargo bay where the armourer could work. Unlike the Normandy, either iteration, the Praepesa's cargo bay was tightly packed, a pair of turian Venator Infantry Fighting Vehicles squatted just in front of the floor-mounted bay doors, whilst a tightly packed group of shipping containers filled the rest of the frigate's largest compartment. Shepard paused at the sight of the modified shipping containers, each was capable of holding fifteen prisoners in what would be very cramped and uncomfortable conditions once they were filled to capacity. Shepard forced down his anger and moved on, looking for the once familiar silhouette of Ashley Williams working on a firearm.

Instead Shepard found an angry brown pair of eyes tracking his approach as a dismantled Phaeston rifle lay unattended on the work-bench in front of the Council's newest Spectre.

"Ash," Shepard asked, trying to ignore the way his old friend's eyes tightened as he used the old familiarity, "got a minute? I think we need to talk."

"I'm busy," the dark-haired marine shot back, "these rifles won't check themselves."

"Then let the Ninth Platoon's armourer do his job," Shepard fired back, "and stop getting in his way. You're a Spectre now, Ash, and this is a Spectre matter. So leave the guns to the armourer and do your own job."

"Fine, you want to talk?" Williams stepped away from the work-bench and glared angrily at Shepard, "You've got my full attention. Now what did you want to say to me?"

Shepard stared back at Williams, his own temper starting to flare back into life as Ash's eyes burned into his own. "Vocatus Carpus," Shepard's eyes never left those of his old friend as he addressed the turian NCO whom Ashley had been working with, "can we have a little privacy for a moment?"

"Stay," Williams' voice interrupted before the experienced turian soldier could respond, "we'll go." The dark-haired Spectre stalked past Shepard, narrowly avoiding clipping the other Spectre's shoulder as she did so.

Shepard relaxed the clenched fists Ashley's angry approach had triggered and gave the silent turian armourer a wry smile. "It's a human thing," Shepard tried to joke as he turned to follow the other Spectre, "we're actually friends."

The gimlet-eyed stare from the veteran turian's blue eyes told Shepard whose side the Ninth Platoon's armourer was on.

Shepard hurried after his old friend, finally reaching her as she stalked past the empty prison containers and grabbing her right wrist to force her to stop. "Ash–" Shepard began.

"Don't," Williams warned as she broke free from Shepard's grasp, "I told you to stop using tha–"

"Fine." Shepard snarled back, "Chief? We need to talk; preferably before you start throwing actual punches at me." The Spectre took a quick, calming, breath before continuing. "Allers told me what she told you," Shepard told the angry marine, "and I wanted to explain."

"Explain how exactly?" Ashley demanded, "By lying to me again, like you did on Horizon – and after Bahak?" The dark-haired Spectre took a small backwards step, just enough to take her outside Shepard's reach. "Tell me again how you're not working for Cerberus, how you didn't help the terrorist who murdered your mother–"

"Ash!" Shepard shouted, "Enough!"

"Stop calling me that!"Williams shouted back, her hand had drifted downwards until it rested atop the pistol she wore, like Shepard did, on her upper thigh, "Stop pretending as if nothing's changed! Stop acting as though we're still friends!"

Shepard took a calming breath, then another and another, as he struggled with his anger. "Alright, Chief," the Spectre's voice was flat, dead almost, "why don't you tell me what our problem is and then we'll see if we can't solve it."

"The problem is you're Cerberus," the other Spectre's voice was quieter, but the same anger still seethed there, "and you've been lying about it; to the Alliance, the Council – even to Anderson." Williams' voice softened as she continued, "Anderson's put his career on the line for you so many times – and you betray him like this?"

"I'm not a part of Cerberus," Shepard said, "I don't know how many times I repeat that before you'll believe me, Chief, but it's the truth." The Spectre continued before Williams could interrupt. "Yes I saw Miranda on the citadel – and yes I didn't tell anyone, but that was to protect her and her sister. If the Illusive Man ever learnt she was helping me; he'd have them both killed."

"What about Arcturus?" Williams asked, "What about your mother and the four hundred, seventy three other people she murdered that day? Let me guess, she didn't have a choice, is that what she told you?" The former marine's voice was openly scornful.

"How far would you go to save your sisters?" Shepard quietly asked, "To save Abby, Lynn, Sarah?"

"I wouldn't murder four hundred and seventy four good people!" Ash fired back, "Neither would the skipper I knew!"

"I killed more for less," Shepard reminded the other Spectre, "more than three-hundred thousand batarians died just because I wouldn't trust their government, Ash."

"That's different," Williams argued, "the batarians–"

"Died because they were batarians," Shepard interrupted, "if it had been a human colony, or an asari, a turian, even a krogan one, I would never have done what I did."

"I know what you're trying to do," the other Spectre warned, "trying to manipulate me, make me feel sorry for you – it's not going to work this time." Williams stared at her former commander.

"I'm trying to explain, Chief," Shepard objected, "not manipulate."

"Then tell me the real reason why that murdering hitch isn't in a cage or dead," Ash's dark eyes bored into Shepard, "and don't even think of trying to lie to me again."

"Because she's a source," Shepard responded, "an asset."

"Then she should be in a cell somewhere, being interrogated," the dark-haired Spectre interrupted, "not walking around free to murder how-many-more people she wants!" The hand Williams had left resting on her holstered sidearm moved, the marine's fingers wrapping themselves around the weapon's grip. "And don't try and tell me some Cerberus lie about a fictional sister – according to her ASIO file, she doesn't have one."

Shepard bit back his own retort about Oriana, it was clear that Ash wouldn't accept the truth about the younger Lawson, instead he told his friend the truth she needed to hear. "Because I care about her," Shepard admitted, "because Miranda's important to me." The words rushed out now, the emotions behind them driving Shepard on. "So yes, maybe my judgement's impaired, but it's my choice, Ash. I'm not letting the Council or the Alliance have her!" Without realising it Shepard had grown tense, subconsciously preparing himself for a fight as the other Spectre tightened her grip on her pistol.

"So instead she can stay with Cerberus?" Williams' voice was as coldly focused as her eyes, "She can stay free to kill who knows how many other good people and you'll help her avoid justice because you're infatuated with her?" The other Spectre gave a single, slow, shake of her head, "Can you even hear yourself, Shepard? What happened to you?"

"What happened to you, Chief?" Shepard asked instead, "You used to know me better, we were friends – very nearly more than that – and now? Now you've got a gun in your hand because we're arguing. What changed things, Ash?" Shepard pressed on, trying to reach the marine who had travelled so far with him, "Even after Horizon, after Bahak when you came after me, you weren't this angry with me. Allers used the word murderous – and right now? So would I."

"You're calling me murderous!" Ashley's voice was a furious roar, "You, after what you did? After you tried to kill Liara, after using a bomb in a busy restaurant – and when that didn't work? You sent your drell assassin to finish the job!"

A sick, ice-like, knot formed in Shepard's stomach as the other Spectre continued.

"If the matriarch hadn't warned me, if she hadn't told me who your friend really was, would your assassin have killed me as well?" Ashley's anger burned away any other emotion that may have been in her voice. "He would have had to," the Spectre continued, answering her own question before Shepard could, "he would have realised I could identify him – could have made his hit more difficult."

"The matriarch," Shepard asked in a sick voice, "the one who told you that Thane was an assassin, who was it? Councillor Tevos?"

"That's your response?" Williams asked, "Your not even going to try and deny it, try to lie your way out, claim your innocent somehow? You just want to know who finally realised you're a traitor?"

"Tevos lied to you!" Shepard's shout echoed off the frigate's bulkheads. "She lied to you, Ash." Shepard continued in a quieter, but still angry, voice, "I asked Thane to help protect Liara – and you. To make sure that no-one, not even the Council, could harm either of you, and they murdered him!" Shepard started to pace, hoping that the activity would channel his anger, his frustration, his hurt at Ashley's accusation. "The asari arranged for Liara to be abducted and when Thane tried to prevent it, they murdered him." Shepard halted, staring at his friend. "A Matriarch called Aethyta killed Thane and abducted Liara – and Tevos used her Council status to quash any investigation." Shepard swore and resumed his pacing. "I need to speak with the other Councillors, tell them what Tevos has done, get them to order an official investigation and if they won't – I'll find some way to go around them."

"Councillor Tevos wasn't involved," Williams' words halted Shepard's frustrated pacing, "Aethyta came to me, Shepard. She told me who she was, why she was there, who your Drell really was, and then she told me what you'd done."

"And you believed her?" Shepard demanded, "You believed some random asari bartender claiming I was plotting to murder Liara? Why? How?" Shepard couldn't understand how Ashley had so badly misjudged him.

"Because I can't trust you," Williams snapped back "You're a traitor, a liar, and I can't trust you. So when Liara's father visited me in the hospital, when she told me about the Drell, about you? I had to do something, I had to protect my friend, except you had left me trapped in a hospital bed. So I did the only thing I could, I helped the matriarch get Liara safely away, and I used my Spectre clearances to make sure nobody from C-Sec would go looking for them."

"I asked you," Shepard said slowly, "in the hospital, after Liara had vanished. I asked you for help. If you knew anything about what had happened – and you lied to me, Ash. You told me that you didn't know anything about Thane's murder, about Liara's abduction."

"No," Ashley snarled, "you can't pretend to be the victim here. Not when you're a member of Cerberus, not when you tried to have Liara assassinated."

"For the last time, Ash," Shepard's voice was cold, "I am not with Cerberus and I have never wanted Liara dead. I don't know what Aethyta told you and I don't know how you can believe I would ever want that."

"How can you stand there and lie to me?" Williams asked, "How can you even think I'd believe your claim not to be Cerberus when you're secretly meeting with the terrorist that attacked Arcturus, when you're secretly sending encrypted messages to them?"

"When I'm..." Shepard was confused by Ashley's new accusation, "...Wait...You're monitoring my communications?"

"The Praepesa's communication logs show you've sent and received several messages." the other Spectre continued, ignoring her former commander's surprised reaction, "They've all been encrypted in an unknown code – and we haven't been able to trace them."

"And you just assumed they're from Cerberus," Shepard disgustedly concluded, "because you've already decided I'm a traitor, so who else could I be talking to?" The Spectre copied his friend's earlier tactic and answered his own question, "Or could I possibly be communicating with someone else, someone I can trust. Someone with the resources to try decrypting the files I stole from the woman I love." Shepard let the pain he had been feeling since seeing Miranda on the Citadel creep into his voice, "The woman I sat next to, the woman who risked so much just to give us a few moments together, the woman who gave us the information for this mission, the woman who loves me – and I lied to her. I betrayed her trust; for the people who stuck me in a cell on Earth for six months, for the Council, and for all the people who are at risk because the Illusive Man believes the only way to get people preparing for the Reapers is to make them afraid."

"So who is it?" Williams asked, unmoved by Shepard's rhetoric, "Who is this person you trust more than the Alliance, the Council? Who is it that you trust more than the murdering terrorist you're infatuated with? Come on, skipper, who is it you really trust?"

For a second Shepard almost answered, almost told Ashley the truth. "Joker," the lie was bile in Shepard's mouth but the greater hurt was in Shepard's chest as he realised he no longer completely trusted the dark-haired marine watching him, "I've been talking to Joker."

Ashley blinked in surprise, "Joker? Jeff?"

"Joker." Shepard confirmed, watching as some of the other Spectre's tension ebbed away, "He already knows about me and Miranda, plus he's got access to the Normandy's computers. I'm hoping that maybe he can find something there that will unlock the files I copied."

Ashley's eyes examined Shepard's face. "I'm sorry, Shepard," the earlier anger was gone, instead there was a note of pity in the new Spectre's voice, "but I just can't trust you." Williams reluctantly moved her hand away from her pistol and waved Vocatus Carpus over. "I don't know if you're a traitor, or if you're just confused, but it's obvious you can't be trusted," Williams continued as the turian NCO approached, "and as such I'm assuming command over this mission."

"Ash," Shepard tried to persuade his friend, "you're making a mistake." The Spectre took a step to one side, keeping both Williams and Carpus in the same field of vision. "I'm the only person who can prevent this mission from turning into a disaster - and we both know it."

Ashley's eyes angrily narrowed at Shepard's words. "You haven't left me any choice," the other Spectre answered, "you've lied to me, tried to manipulate me. I can't trust you any-more, skipper" Williams turned her head to address the waiting turian NCO, "Spectre Shepard no longer has access to the restricted areas of the Praepesa. Please escort him off of this level."

"Spectre," Vocatus Carpus's voice was professionally disinterested as he acknowledged Williams' instruction.

"Ash," Shepard recognised the set look on his friend's face and changed what he was going to say, "why?"

"You lied to me," Ash told the man she had just replaced, "You have a tell, it's why you've never won serious money from me playing Skyllian-five and it's why I know you haven't really been talking to Joker. The Council told me if I couldn't trust you, to take steps – and you've just blown your last chance." The Spectre stepped away, before pausing and adding, "Final mission briefing is at 2230 hours, as a courtesy, I'll send someone to escort you – if you want to attend."

"You're not worried I might tell Cerberus what you planning, chief?" Shepard's voice was sarcastic.

"I've also rescinded your communication privileges," Williams voice was matter-of-fact, "until we've returned to the Citadel – or you decide to stop lying to me. It's your choice." The Council's newly selected Spectre walked away without a backwards glance.

"The ladder is that way, Spectre." the Vocatus' voice intruded on Shepard's musing on whether he should have told Ashley about EDI, if he should have taken the risk that the marine would have kept from the Council that an unshackled, former-Cerberus, AI was in control of a warship currently docked in their station.

"I know," Shepard's reply was distracted as he tried gage Ashley's likely reaction if he actually told her the truth she was demanding to know, "thanks."

There was a quiet tension in the Praepesa's CIC as the frigate approached Gellix. Despite Shepard's arguments during the final briefing, Williams had fundamentally changed the nature of the operation – and the first change was about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting planet.

"Ninety seconds;" the voice of the Praepesa's pilot sounded over the intercom, "vector is good."

"Main battery is armed," the frigate's senior weapons operator announced from her position, "targeting solution set."

Shepard stared across the CIC's hologram at Ashley as his hand reached up and tapped at his ear-piece. "Ash don't do this," the more experienced Spectre pleaded on a private channel, "there's civilians, children, down there. Going in, guns blazing, is exactly the wrong thing to do here."

The other Spectre gave a single, shake of her head as Shepard's voice sounded in her ear before curtly tapping her own communicator to close the link. Williams' dark eyes burned back at her former commanding officer as she instead spoke to Lieutenant Victus. "As soon as we land, I want both Venators deployed and heading for the prison's control room – use minimal force but we need to secure the facility as quickly as possible."

Shepard shook his own head in silent disappointment.

"Shepard," Ashley's voice was pitched loud enough for everyone in the CIC to hear, "as soon as the GARDIAN mount's confirmed as destroyed – I want you to transmit. Let Cerberus know who we are and that they won't be hurt if they surrender."

It was unprofessional, petty, and outright disrespectful but Shepard made one last effort. "Ash, this is a mistake. The people down there escaped from Cerberus, they're scared, and if we go in shooting – they'll panic. Just let me talk to Jacob first–"

"We've been over this," the other Spectre interrupted, "if you're not going to help – I'll have you removed."

"Fifteen seconds," the pilot's voice announced as he started counting down, "fourteen, thirteen..."

"This is a mistake," Shepard repeated as the pilot's countdown continued, "but I'm not going to leave you with a massacre on your hands, Ash."

"Fine," Ashley scowled as the pilot's countdown entered the final seconds, "at least we all know where your loyalties lie."

"...Two...one," the pilot's voice continued, "arriving."

The Praepesa's inertia dampeners where too well tuned to let any of the frigate's sudden halt risk the comparatively fragile crew, only the change of the CIC's central hologram to display the near-orbit space of Gellix indicated that the turian warship had finally arrived.

"Confirming location," a tiny frisson of excitement was in the pilot's voice as he spoke, "drift..." there was a slight pause as the pilot checked, "...eighteen hundred; sending data to fire-control."

Shepard made the calculation in his head as the voices of the Praepesa's command staff continued around him, converting the turian imperial proculs into metres. "Five hundred, sixty metres, and change," the Spectre murmured to himself, "Joker wouldn't be that impressed."

"New contacts," another turian voice announced as a series of green icons bloomed in the display, running parallel along the Praepesa's port side, "multiple small craft and a freighter...the freighter has a civilian transponder." The largest icon, hung above the Praepesa's port stern and the apparent destination of the others, turned orange.

"Solution on ground target corrected," the senior weapons operator reported, adding to the growing sense of confusion in the CIC, "main battery ready."

"The other contacts," Lieutenant Victus worriedly asked, the nearness of so many unexpected contacts had left him rattled, "what are they? Fighters? Shuttles?"

"Not identified," the turian operating the frigate's sensors sounded as worried as his lieutenant, "I'm checking the database now – but they're too small to be manned."

"Fire main guns." Williams ordered the weapons operator directly, bypassing the unnerved lieutenant.

"Belay that," Shepard snapped, causing both women to turn and look at him, "Lieutenant Victus, order evasive manoeuvring. Now!"

"Ignore Shepard," Ashley instructed everyone in the compartment as she glared at the other Spectre, "and stay on mission."

The turian crewman turned back to her console, as if looking for reassurance in the familiar display, "Main battery's ready, lieutenant," she reminded her commander.

"Unidentified contacts have altered course, lieutenant," the sensor operator added, "now closing on us."

The turian lieutenant's eyes seemed fixated by the half-dozen-plus green icons that swarmed towards his ship, before closing as he took a single calming breath. "Main battery – begin firing." Victus' voice was calmer as he finally committed to a course of action, "Pilot, after the main battery has finished firing, begin combat manoeuvring." The lieutenant's eyes opened again as he continued to give orders, "Label approaching contacts as hostile and engage them with missile defence–"

"Firing." the turian weapons operator stated, not waiting for her officer to finish issuing orders, before sending the fire confirmation to her waiting gun crew – and the deck seemed to vibrate as the frigate's main guns fired.

Instantly alarms sprung into life, and the CIC's hologram flickered, as the Praepesa began to take damage.

"Outer hull thermal limit exceeded," the Praepesa's AI flatly announced as Lieutenant Victus shouted orders for evasive manoeuvres, "outer hull complete failure in eighteen seconds, seventeen..."

A cold sweat broke out on Shepard's skin, despite the environmental system of his hard-suit, as he watched the young lieutenant try to save the Praepesa. The Spectre's breathing grew faster, more desperate and his hands unconsciously tightened their grip on the metal railing that ran around the now crazily-flickering CIC holo-display, as the turian pilot began desperately manoeuvring away from the drones that were melting the frigate's hull.

"Point defences?" Victus snapped as the VI continued remorselessly counting down.

"Engaging...but..." the turian spacer who monitored the Praepesa's three laser mounts reported, "...but hostiles are extremely agile – and very resistant to energy weapons."

Shepard forced one of his hands to pry itself free and to work a console, pulling up telemetry on the Praepesa's assailants. Hoping that the simple motions could quell the panic he was feeling. "Occulus," Shepard muttered as he recognised the drones that were tearing into the turian frigate.

"Shepard," Ashley's voice, even as accusatory as it had become, helped draw Shepard back from the fear that was threatening to swallow him, "you know what they are – don't you?"

"Reaper drones," Shepard confirmed as he looked up, meeting Williams' stare. "The Collector's had a couple to guard their station," Shepard continued as everyone's stomach gave a slight lurch as the Praepesa's struggling inertia dampeners fought to protect her crew from the wild g-forces the frigate's careening generated, "they were all-but-immune to the Normandy's GARDIAN array. We had to use standard kinetic weapons instead." Shepard turned his head, addressing Lieutenant Victus as he added, "We need to land, while we still can."