"Commander...I mean, Shepard, Admiral Anderson wants to speak with you." James announced at the open door as Annie raised a curious brow but didn't linger, exiting her cage and heading down the halls filled with rushing people. A familiar face stepped next to them as Annie smirked and shook Anderson's hand.

"You look good, a little soft around the edges, but good," he teased as Annie scowled, jogging to keep up with his quick pace.

"What's with all the hurry? You said you needed to speak with me?"

"The Board wishes to speak with you..."

"About the Reapers?" Annie stopped as he continued up the stairs, lowering his head.

"Yes."

"You know we're not ready," the admiral hesitated, giving a heavy sigh before turning to Annie. "You know we can't beat the Reapers by talking them to death."

"They're just scared," he attempted to explain. "You're the only one that knows what we're up against, you've seen them…hell you've talked to one."

"Is that why they grounded me? Took away my ship? Cut me off from the outside world?" She couldn't help how upset she was about that, how much it got under her skin.

"Hey now, for all of the shit you've done you should be happy that was the worst of it. It's your knowledge of the Reapers that kept your ruling from being worse."

"And your good word," she grumbled, pushing past him only for Anderson to grab her shoulder. He was the closest thing she'd had to a father after what happened to her parents. And certainly he had done more than he should have to make sure she could do at least something towards this approaching war. Sometimes, though, she didn't know if he even realized how much she still relied on him, on his wise words and his stories. Anderson, like many, drove her to do better. But at the same time she couldn't help how much of a child she acted in front of him.

"Annie, look," he took hold of both of her shoulders, "I trust you, the Alliance trusts you, hell, even alien civilizations trust you…but you're about to walk into a room of terrified committee members. You have to convince them that it's time to act."

"I'm no politician, Anderson. I'm just a soldier."

"I'm not asking you to be one. I just need you to do whatever the hell it takes to help stop the Reapers." They continued onward, making their way through the numerous security checks before stepping into the lobby outside of the committee's room.

"Good to see you again, Admiral," Annie glanced to her side, startled as she watched Ashley stepped up to the pair. The woman had changed since their last meeting. For one she was no longer dressed in heavy armor, or even her civilian uniform. Her hair was down, which Annie never remembered seeing, and while bags hung under her eyes…she looked good. She was always a pretty woman; it just seemed that now she also held a little more sex appeal. "Shepard," she greeted, giving Annie a nod of her head in the commander's direction as Annie smiled in return.

"You too, Lieutenant-Commander," Admiral Anderson continued forwards but Annie stopped, glancing over at Ashley.

"Lieutenant-Commander?" She questioned as Ashley bowed her head in somewhat embarrassment.

"You hadn't heard?"

"No…I've been a bit out of the loop these days."

"Sorry, didn't mean to make you feel left out." Ashley looked guilty, Annie waved her hand dismissively at the comment.

"It's fine," Annie smiled, reaching up to pat her gently on the shoulder, "it's just good to see you."

"You too, Shepard." They parted and Annie jogging to catch up with Anderson as they entered the bustling room.

"Shepard, we have some unfortunate news. Colonies have started to go dark. We've lost contact with everything beyond the Sol Relay." Annie didn't like the sound of that but she couldn't ignore the anger and frustration that had been settled in her stomach for years now. She stepped forward, hands clenched as she lifted her nose at the committee.

"You brought me here only to confirm what I've been trying to warn you about for three years now. The Reapers are here." It was then a man on the far end of the room shouted that they had an incoming message from London. Quickly it was brought up and they watched as the smoke and fire cleared from the battlefield to expose the terrifying sentient beings. Annie then turned back as the conversation was ended, seeing the fear Anderson had been telling her about on their walk up.

"What do we do?" An older woman pleaded with Annie. Annie stepped forward, clenching her fist.

"The only thing we can; we fight or we die!"

Suddenly there was a loud bang, ending in a terrifying buzz that sent a shiver down Annie's spine. The room turned to the massive window behind them, watching as long black arms broke from the skies and the Reapers descended upon the city. Without warning one turned on the Headquarters and Annie grabbed at Anderson's arm, pulling him away as the bang sounded again, this time paired with a zap as an explosive red laser slammed into the building.

Annie was thrown from her feet, tossed into a nearby bench, sufficiently knocking the wind out of her. She grunted, rubbing at her sore shoulder as she looked up at the destroyed room, bodies scattered at all ends. "Annie!" Anderson shouted as she started to get up, movements a little stiff but nothing too bad as she checked the nearest person for life. "Annie we don't have time for that," he held out a pistol to her as Annie hesitated, looking down at the body. She hated that he was right. Sacrifice a few to save a billion. Annie was sure that would never sit well to her. "Come on we've got to get to the Normandy."

The pair headed out the massive hole in the window, looking out as the city started to crumble beneath the Reaper's immense power. She knew this was never going to be easy, but Annie was worried she might've finally met her match.