So, it is time for yet another chapter of Shepard Down. I have a long weekend this week, so I hope to post at least one more time. Provably on Monday. I don't know for sure. We'll see. I do want to get this story finished. I am so close that I can taste it! Alas, it is a bit away from the final chapter. And with how crazy my life is right, I don't know. We'll see. See where life takes me. Let's get on to the chapter.
SHEPARD DOWN
Chapter 25
The flag ship docked with the Normandy an hour later with Hackett arriving shortly after. There was little ceremony or fanfare with this visit. Then again this wasn't a formal visit. Instead, it was just a quick meeting before the main event tomorrow. Today he wanted to check on the preparations for the wedding and discuss his choice for Captain. The rest of it would wait until tomorrow. It was a lot easier to skip the formalities anyway. Hackett didn't like them very much anyway. He just wasn't that kind of guy. Never would be either. He didn't rise up through the ranks to be caught up with ceremony. So long as the people respected him and followed his orders that was good enough for him. The rest could be ignored. They could save that crap for official functions. He didn't want to deal with that today.
Fortunately, Commander Shepard seemed to pick up on this. She didn't have an honor guard to meet him. Nor did anyone call out his presence as he entered. They simply tried to ignore him as they went about their business. Still, the tension on the deck was palpable. It was hard to ignore it. Hackett was used to that kind of reaction, but it did get old. He didn't care about people saluting him every ten seconds. This crew knew that yet they couldn't help but watch his every move. They couldn't help it. He wasn't just any admiral. He was Admiral Hackett, a true legend within the Alliance. No one messed with him if they could help it. Which led to uncomfortable situations like this. He just had to deal with it. Besides, it wasn't that bad. On most ships it was far worse. People practically tripped over themselves. This was tolerable.
He attributed that to Commander Shepard. The woman was not your typical captain. She did not run a 'by-the-book' operation. She did not care for ceremony or decorum. Nor did she expect her people to do so. They were actively encouraged to speak their minds and think outside the box. It was what made her such an excellent commander and an essential part of the war. Hackett honestly didn't care if she or her crew failed to pay proper respect. They were heroes. Regulations be dammed! They earned this. He would not call them on it. He would leave it be. He preferred it this way anyway.
First, he inspected the shuttle bay where the wedding would be held. It was just about ready. A feat in itself. Where the pilot got everything Hackett didn't know. Nor did he care. What mattered was that it was there. Ready to go. The rest could be a mystery. Afterwards, they went over the plan. At 0800 hours the crew and selected visitors would be seated. It wasn't a long guest list, but there were a few notable people invited. He saw Kolyat Krios, the son of a famous assassin; several former Cerberus agents (including former crew members); the remainder of Alenko's Biotic Division; the remaining members of the council; along with anyone else associated with Normandy's storied past. It was quite the interesting list. It was certainly not conventional. Then again nothing ever was with that woman. So it made it sense. It had Shepard written all over it.
The most interesting thing was the decision to invite the council. He half expected them not to invite them. They didn't exactly have the smoothest relationship with them. Yet, they invited them. Regardless of whether or not they attended the gesture was the same. It was smart and forward thinking. It would serve her well. It seemed that Commander Shepard already had a grasp of the game that she had to play. It proved that he was right. She was right for this. She would do well. Even if she hated the job.
He saw that the ceremony itself would begin at 0900 hours. He would deliver a short speech then marry the two. Afterwards, he would depart the Normandy. Leaving Shepard, Alenko, and the crew to party. He would not be attending the reception. In fact, most of the guests would not attending. It was reserved primarily for family and crew. Officially, it was due to the space restrictions on the crew deck. It simply could not hold the number of people who were attending. In reality, it was because of a completely different reason. They wanted a private ceremony. Both Alenko and Shepard were not comfortable in the spotlight. If they could then most of these people would not be here. The list would just contain the Normandy's extended family. It would be a personal affair. Without any cameras or press; council or dignitaries. That was simply not possible. They had accepted that. Embraced it even. But they reserved the reception for themselves. He could not blame them. It would be what he would want.
Logistically, this wedding would work far better on the Citadel. There's more room to work with. It will be a challenge to get all the guests in and out. For there was only one docking port for entry and exit. Everyone would have to dock at the Citadel then be ushered in through there. There were no other points of entry. Since the shuttle bay could not be opened. Fortunately, it was doable. You could get people in and out relatively quickly if you did it right. Moreau would have his work cut out for him. Something told Hackett that he could handle it.
Satisfied that everything was in order Hackett moved on. He had one other task today: To announce Shepard's replacement. He had considered many candidates for the position. All of them were decorated officers. Who had served above and beyond the call of duty. Sadly, most of them were unsuitable. The Normandy wasn't your typical Alliance Navy Vessel. You couldn't treat it that way. Simply put: A by-the-book Captain would not fit in there. Neither would he or she be flexible enough to handle the missions. Most of them were covert in nature. Playing by the rules would not work. You had to go outside the box. Most of the commanders that he looked at couldn't handle it.
Truthfully, he didn't like any of the candidates that much. It wasn't their fault though. They just weren't Commander Shepard. There were few of her caliber. She was one of a kind. She could not be replaced. The navy would surely miss her. Jane belonged on that ship. No one else belonged there but her. Alas, that was no longer possible. She was with child and about to become a councilor. A replacement had to be found. If he couldn't find another Shepard then he could find the next best thing. That was what he struggled with. Who was that person? Who could take up the banner that Shepard put down?
He had spent most of the week trying to find that person. Sadly, Hackett hadn't gotten very far with it. All candidates were not good enough. Even Lieutenant Moreau was not ideal. He could not go into combat. His illness prevented that. He could not fire a weapon. However, he was one hell of a pilot. Provably the best one in all the fleet. There was no denying that. He served with distinction. He has proven himself able to think creatively in battle. A useful trait indeed. Even if he is somewhat insubordinate and unprofessional. On this crew that was actually an asset. Moreau is a unique officer in his own right. He really fit in well here. There was no denying that. There would less of a shakeup if he took over. They already knew and respected him. He could get the Normandy back on track faster than any other candidate. It seemed that the Commander's assessment was correct. Lieutenant Moreau would make a fine replacement. At least until such time that she resumed field work. Assuming that she ever resumed field work at all. It was hard to say.
Shepard might stay on the council longer than a year or two. It really depended on her. He knew that she hated the position. He understood why, but she would do well. She might even become an Admiral one day. It was hard to say, but the woman had greatness in her. What she did with it was up to her. All Hackett could do was try to guide her. along the way. She would change the universe. She just had to believe that she could.
That's it for now. See ya next time!