Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo - MechWarrior/BattleTech - Mass Effect crossover. Just so you know, I updated all of the chapters in my crossovers that had censored language. The censoring is not there anymore, so for those of you who informed me about this, you can go ahead and read those chapters. Either way, thank you very much for your support and I hope to see you in the future chapters. As always, leave a review and enjoy!
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MechWarrior 4: Vengeance OST – Emmity Road
Federated Commonwealth
New Avalon
January 5th, 3081
The office room was silent as Hanse Steiner-Davion and the men that were with him looked over the dossiers they had in their hands, going through them with an unusually high level of thoroughness. Stacked on top of his desk was a veritable mountain of dossiers, and inside his computer were a number of audio reports, combat footage of various people, as well as an unusually high number of records from other commanding officers. Outside of the office, the sun had long since descended under the horizon, with stars twinkling brightly in the night sky over New Avalon. Below, the city was still as busy as ever, with the glow from the lights of the city interfering with the nighttime vista up above. Below the window, there was a thick blanket of snow that glinted in the moonlight.
Taking a drink of some coffee, Hanse allowed the rich taste to settle onto his tongue for a minute before swallowing. He usually didn't stay up this late, mostly since he needed the energy to continue fulfilling his duties as First Lord of the Star League, but in this case, it was necessary, as he needed to finish up one last piece of work. Opening a dossier, he looked through it for a moment before putting it down, closing the manila folder as he considered his options, and remembered the reason why he was up well past his bedtime.
It had been roughly six years since Clan Wolverine legally took possession of the Aralak System, the very same star system that Tuchanka resided in, and helped cure the Krogan of the Genophage. In the Inner Sphere, the decision was universally welcomed, with Theodore Kurita saying, "About time this travesty was corrected. Now the Krogan will have something that was stolen from them: a future to enjoy." From a moral standpoint, Hanse had to agree with the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine; the Genophage had to be eliminated permanently. Even the other House Lords had nodded in approval of Clan Wolverine's decision.
The political maneuver was found to be highly controversial in the rest of the galaxy, though most of the Council Race's denizens supported the move. The Turians had nodded in approval of Clan Wolverine's decision for two reasons, with the primary being that they could now devote the freed up resources to other matters, such as patrolling Council Space. The Salarians, however, had been extremely critical of the decision, citing multiple instances where the Krogan were allowed to expand, only for conflict and chaos to ensue. The Asari had taken a neutral stance in the matter, adopting a 'let's wait and see' attitude, though it was clear that the bold move on the Clan's part had surprised them. The Krogan, on the other hand, were extremely grateful and overjoyed, now that the one thing preventing their species from growing in maturity had been removed permanently.
Over the next six years, the opinion of the Star League had gone from slightly negative to highly positive, with many of the Council Races denizens saying that the Star League was what the Council should've been from the very start. As a result, the number of immigrants entering the Inner Sphere practically doubled, with Turians, Asari and other species coming to find a better life in the Inner Sphere. The Krogan had been inducted as full members of Clan Wolverine, though it was clear that Khan McEvedy IV intended to allow the Krogan to form their own Clans once their population and technical expertise was up to Clan standards. The massive improvement in political favor had also allowed the Star League to use what had happened as a means of political leverage.
When it came to the Terminus Systems, that was where major changes were being affected. With the destruction of the Batarian Hegemony and the kingpins and warlords of the Terminus being captured or driven out, the Terminus Systems was a mess, with no legitimate government present. As a result, the Star League had taken possession of the Terminus Systems as an occupied territory. Over the years, construction fleets had gone to the various planets in the Terminus Systems in order to begin building new infrastructure and industrial centers in order to get the Systems back onto it's feet. So far, progress was slow, as numerous resistance cells that supported the old regime had sprung up, seemingly out of nowhere, though it was clear they were being removed one by one. Soon, Hanse thought to himself, the last remnants of the corrupt Batarian Hegemony will be purged, never to rise again.
As for Tuchanka, the planet was slowly being cleaned up and decontaminated, with roughly 50% of the planet having been made habitable once again. The discovery of the underground gene vault had been a major discovery, with Clan Wolverine scientists going to work bringing back the native fauna and flora from extinction using their sophisticated biotechnology. Seed vaults containing plants used for food were also found, and a number of other vaults contained more genetic samples for native flora and fauna. So far, 45% of the plant had it's fauna and flora restored, with large patches of green being visible from space. The atmosphere was almost fully decontaminated, and the water on the planet was well on the way to being returned to pre-industrial conditions.
Then there was the current situation that he, and the others in the room were in. Ever since their military and political success, it was clear that the Council, while approving of what the Star League had done, was gearing up for something. SLIC Agents reported a massive influx of Spectre candidates, leading the House Lords to believe that something was going on, and that it wasn't anything good if history had something to say about it. To counter this, the SLIC recommended the creation of a division in the SLSOC (Star League Special Operations Command) dedicated to countering the Spectres that the Council employed. In a 3-1 vote, the Star League agreed to create a new division inside of he SLSOC, known as the Special Tactics And Reconnaissance Division, aka, STAR. This new division inside the SLSOC would serve as the Star League's answer to the Spectres, and would gain access to superior equipment, training and personnel.
Which was why Hanse and a few other people were in his office right now: they were looking for suitable candidates to recruit for the new division. It was agreed upon that any candidates needed to undergo a highly stringent screening, so that only the best would be able to get in, with any other candidates being rejected for various reasons. As a result, for every Great House, there were only roughly 100 candidates that were suitable for recruitment, and even then, they might be reduced to an even lower number. Since they were looking through the candidates that did pass the NI's already stringent standards, he knew that their first pick had to be the best they could get.
Looking up, he could see the others in the room that were working alongside him. The first was Donnel Udina, a tall, dark skinned man with hazel eyes and graying hair on his head. Officially, Udina was the Star League's ambassador to the Citadel Council, a fairly quiet and boring desk job given the relations between the Star League and Council. In actuality, Udina was working for the SLIC as a field operative, and was responsible for the Star League gaining access to the Council Archives, which allowed the Great Houses to gain access to a lot of dirt on the Council. The second man in the room was, in many ways, different from Udina. Also a tall man, Admiral Stephen Hacket was an older man, with gray hair, very light blue eyes, as well as a scar that ran down the side of his face, nearly invisible against the man's pale complexion. Like Udina, Hacket worked for the SLDF, but as an Admiral, he led the Fifth Naval Fleet, which was one of the most prestigious fleets in the Star League. Both men were hardened individuals and both were good at their jobs, making them qualified for this occasion.
As he looked through the files, Udina spotted a potential candidate. "Well, what about Ian Dresari? He fits the age range we're looking for, and he's had military experience."
"Possibly," another voice agreed. That was Captain David Anderson, one of Hacket's best men. Anderson was the youngest of the group, with dark brown hair, a dark brown complexion and bright green eyes that held an energy only seen in younger people. While he was young, he was already a highly accomplished SLDF Captain, having participated in Operation FRACTURED TERMINUS and in the defense of New Elysium. He'd also been around the block a few times, as records indicated service in the SLIC. Looking over Ian Dresari's dossier, he said, "He fought during the invasion of the Kerensky Cluster. Helped defeat Clan Smoke Jaguar during the main invasion."
"His psychological profile indicates that he has a strong sense of leadership," Hacket noted. "While he wouldn't be my first pick, he would make for an excellent XO for our first one."
"Agreed," Hanse nodded. "From what I recall, Ian was a bit of a troublemaker before he went to fight the Clans, after which he came back a reformed individual. When his father passed away a few years ago, he declined the title of Governor and gave the position to someone else. From what I recall, his sister won the election." Looking at the others, he asked, "Any other suitable candidates?"
"Why not Saren Arterius," Hacket asked. "He resigned from the Spectres about five years ago, and he's recently become a Star League citizen. Even removed his clan markings and replaced them with new ones."
"Sounds like a good choice," Udina nodded. "Saren's always had a high opinion of the Star League, partially due to the fact he was there during First Contact, and mostly because he approves of our actions. When I personally interviewed him, he said that if he had a choice between rejoining the Spectres and becoming a citizen of the Star League, he would always choose the latter over the former."
"His military record is exemplary," Anderson remarked. "Worked his way up in the ranks after he became a member of the Cabal. Since he became a citizen of the Federated Commonwealth, he's replaced his old biotic amps with those designed by the Star League. He's currently working on being recruited into the SLDF; apparently, he wants to earn his citizenship through military service. Having a former Spectre in STAR would be highly useful, since he has an in-depth knowledge of the Council's tactics."
"I see," Hanse nodded, yawning a moment later. "Doesn't seem like a bad choice. We'll have him under consideration as well. Any other candidates?
"I've got one," Udina replied. "What about… John Shepard? There are little, if any, records of his past."
"Doesn't have one," Anderson replied. "He grew up on the streets of Terra, learned how to fend for himself. An impressive accomplishment given that Terra is still under COMSTAR control. Normally, they would've recruited him as an Acolyte, but once he was of age, he left Terra and came to the Free Worlds League."
"He's also got an extensive combat record," Hacket nodded. "Records indicate that he participated in the defense of New Elysium, as well as FRACTURED TERMINUS. A few years ago, however, he saw his whole unit die on Akuze IV, thresher maws from what I recall correctly. He could have serious emotional scars."
"Every soldier has scars," Anderson replied. "Shepard is unique in that he's a survivor. He's also an exemplary example of what someone from the Star League can do."
"I see," Hanse nodded. "He has multiple commendations on his record, though he does have some citations. Is this the kind of man we want as our first pick?"
"That's the only kind of man that can lead," Anderson defended. "Yes, he has some citations, but he has a significantly higher number of commendations. We'd be foolish to pass him up."
"Alright then," Hanse nodded. "I'll make the call to the other House Lords. In the meantime, get some rest, all of you. We'll need it in the upcoming days." As the others left, Hanse watched as an SLIC Agent walked into the room, with the man handing him a data pad. "Project OLYMPUS is complete," he asked.
"Yes sir," the Agent replied. "Due to the Quarian Consensus' assistance in construction efforts, we were able to complete Project OLYMPUS nearly two months ahead of schedule. Inspectors have already done a full sweep and the station has been deemed ready to be manned."
"Good," Hanse nodded. "The Council will be very impressed should they ever come visit. What about Project ARROWHEAD?"
"That has also been completed," the Agent replied. "Scientists reported complete success with the prototypes and the first production models have already been manufactured and installed onto our newest project."
"And that would be?"
"Project NORMANDY, sir."
Ah, yes, Hanse thought, a smile on his face as he recalled that particular project. After Tuchanka had been legally transferred to Clan Wolverine's possession, the Turian Hierarchy had begun talks with the Star League in order to gain access to the technologies that the Star League had not shared with the Council Races. Given that the Great Houses opinion of the Turians was already cordial, and that the Hierarchy had been working on strengthening relations, a vote was taken on if the Turian Hierarchy could gain access to restricted technologies, such as the K-F Drive or BattleMechs. In a unanimous vote, it was decided that the Turian Hierarchy had earned the privilege of gaining access to restricted Star League technology.
Almost immediately, corporations sent construction fleets in order to begin setting up production facilities on Palaven, the Turian homeworld, as well as on a number of other Turian colonies. Companies like Armax Arsenal and Haliat Armory became subsidiaries of companies such as Defiance Industries, Lockheed-CBM and other Inner Sphere corporations. Within the first two months, Defiance Industries built it's first 'MechWorks on Palaven, followed shortly thereafter by Lockheed-CBM's Shipyards built around Palaven and it's moon, Menae. In the first year since the decision, Defiance Industries designed the Praetorian, a Turian Assault-class 'Mech based closely off of the Blood Asp-V, a Clan 'Mech that had been redesigned using advanced Star League technology. Shortly thereafter, the first Turian K-F Drive equipped WarShip, the Spirit of Palaven, was built, with the older ship of the same name being decommissioned and scrapped for recycling.
In addition to this, the quality of life that the Turians enjoyed went up tremendously, with Turian lifespans increasing until they matched Terran lifespans. Older buildings were being either demolished, or preserved as historical treasures for future generations of Turians to enjoy and cherish. In addition, the Hierarchy had worked with the Star League to improve it's military, with nanotechnology and genetic engineering being used to augment Turian soldiers, while giving them access to training regimens that were not only highly demanding, but highly rewarding as well. The Hierarchy, being the autocratic meritocracy it was, wasted no time in putting all of it's newly accessed technologies to good use. SLIC reports indicated that the Hierarchy was now able to sufficiently protect it's own territory, while population census' indicated that the Turian's were now starting to grow tremendously, with projections indicating that the Turians would soon double in their population.
During this time, however, the Hierarchy had decided that one of the best ways to improve relations was for their AeroSpace Engineers to work with SLDF AeroSpace Engineers in order to build a new ship. Codenamed Project NORMANDY, the new ship was to be the definition of cutting edge in both the Turian Hierarchy and the Star League, making use of advanced technologies from the Inner Sphere. After a few weeks of deliberation, both sides had agreed to give the project their full backing. Coming out of memory lane, Hanse asked, "Is it complete?"
"Affirmative, sir," the Agent replied. "The ship is now complete, and it's been given the same name that the project has. It is now known as the SLS/HDF Normandy."
"I see," Hanse nodded. "Named after the famous Battle of Normandy during WWII on ancient Terra. It's kinda fitting, since one of my ancestors fought in that war." Yawning, he looked at the clock and said, "Oh, it's nearly 11:50. I've got to get to bed now, otherwise Melissa will put me through the wringer. Thank you for the status report; I'll be holding a meeting with the other House Lords tomorrow." With that, Hanse left the office, fully intent on getting some much needed rest.
. . .
Federated Commonwealth New Avalon Shipyards January 19th, 3075
The transit car was alive with activity as dozens of people chatted and talked with each other, with most of those people wearing work uniforms, indicating they worked at the Shipyard they were at. The workers came from all walks of life, from Turians that had found work helping others build military WarShips at the shipyards, to Quarians that were looking for honest, decent paying work in order to take care of their families. Others were maintenance personnel that ensured that the New Avalon Shipyards would continue to run as smoothly as they had for the past 400 or so years. Others still were tourists that were currently touring the Shipyards in order to get a better idea of the designing and engineering that went into the ships that would ferry thousands of people to designations throughout the Inner Sphere.
Not everyone was a civilian here, however, as Shepard could attest to. A tall, young man, Shepard was quite handsome by Terran standards, with chiseled facial features, dark blue eyes and a build that would leave many a bodybuilder envious. A small white scar interrupted the hairline of his buzz cut brown hair, the result of a knife fight he'd survived during his time in Operation FRACTURED TERMINUS. Currently, he was fully armored up, wearing the new M50 Colossus Infantry Armor Kit that was currently replacing the older M45 Titan IAK, with the olive drab and gray armor glinting slightly in the light of the transit car.
Looking outside, he could see the expansive, Inner Sphere famous shipyard that was overlooking New Avalon. While not as famous as the New Syrtis Shipyards, the New Avalon Shipyards could make it's own claim to fame, as it was where the SLS/FCS Guardian of Liberty had been built, using a specially designed facility, the same one that he was at right now. We've come a long way since the 2100's, Shepard thought as the transit car flew along it's journey. I wonder how some of the leaders of old, such as Winston Churchill would've reacted if they saw how far humanity has come. A smile creased his face as he thought about that.
That smile faded when he remembered some of the darker parts of his past. Born on Terra, he'd been forced to enter one of the gangs in Old San Francisco in order to survive, a time that he wasn't too particularly proud of now that he was older. He hadn't indulged in many of the excesses that the Reds enjoyed, such as drug abuse, sex and other decadent indulgences, but he had done his fair share of violence. By the time he was 18 years old, he was more than ready to leave the Reds, and Terra, behind, having been fed up with the life he had lived.
After he'd stowed away on a CargoShip bound for New Olympus, he'd found that life in the rest of the Inner Sphere was far more enjoyable than life on Terra, though it did have it's fair share of dangers. When he'd been eventually caught, he thought he was going to go to prison, only to be surprised when the Captain of the ship offered him not only forgiveness, but a chance to join the SLDF. Realizing that military life would bring out the best in him, he'd immediately accepted, having grown tired of living a criminal lifestyle.
Military bootcamp had been hard, with his drill instructors not giving him any bit of leniency. Despite this, Shepard had found that, for the first time in his life, he had something to live for other than simple survival, which had motivated him to become the best soldier that he could possibly become. During this time, he'd made friends with a number of people, both human and otherwise; he smiled as he remembered one of his best friends, a Turian named Garrus Vakarian. While the two had grown up in completely different circumstances, Shepard found that Garrus' military lifestyle was attractive to him, while Garrus was highly interested in how human beings lived, plus he was highly helpful whenever Shepard struggled at something. By the time bootcamp was over and they were assigned to New Elysium V, the two men were like peas in a pod, and Operation FRACTURED TERMINUS had only strengthened that brother-like bond.
Moments later, Shepard could sense another dark memory coming up, one that he had no intention of reliving. Breathing in deeply, he quickly banished the memory of Akuze IV to the corners of his mind, preventing the memory from ever surfacing. While his psychiatrist had said that wasn't a healthy reaction to a bad memory, Shepard knew that he wasn't fully ready to relive that day: the day that he lost most of his squad. I lost a lot of good people back then, he thought, a frown on his face as he thought about what happened for an instant. Still, those people wouldn't want me to dwell on a tragedy like that. They would want me to honor their memory by going on for them. Shaking his head, he banished the dark thoughts once again. As he did so, he felt the tram slowing down, indicating that they were stopping at a tram station. "Now arriving at Shipyard Bay Delta. Thank you for riding the New Avalon Transit System. We hope you had a pleasant journey."
With that, the doors opened up, with dozens of people getting up and leaving the tram car. Making sure he had all of his gear, Shepard got up from his seat and, slinging his duffle bag over his back, walked out of the tram car and into the transit station. Looking around, he could see dozens of people on the station, going about their daily business. Walking along, he moved through the crowd of people, towards a part of the station that was reserved for authorized military personnel. A holographic sign on the wall read Warning: Authorized Personnel Only. Unauthorized Personnel Will Be Reported And Prosecuted. Walking over, Shepard watched as a pair of SLDF Marines barred his way. "Identification please," one man asked. Transmitting his ID to the officer, he watched as the man looked through the ID and said, "Go on ahead, sir. They're expecting you."
"Thank you," Shepard replied. Making sure his bag was in place, he continued forwards, with the officers remaining at their positions in order to ensure no unauthorized personnel came their way. Walking through a series of hallways, he turned to the right before passing through another security checkpoint, where he was thoroughly scanned, both by the machine as well as a pair of guards with handheld security scanners. Once they gave him the all-clear, he continued forwards, entering a large chamber.
The chamber was actually an enormous, fully enclosed Shipyard Bay, with powerful lights providing ample illumination in the entire chamber. Robotic arms that were built into parts of the bay were busy at work installing the last few panels of Advanced Lamellor Ferro-Carbide armor plating before affixing them to the hull of a ship inside the Shipyard Bay, ensuring that they wouldn't come off during even the tightest maneuvers. The ship itself was a work of art, with it's curved hull, blue and black paint, and wing-like structures at the sides of each ship, along with the pair of prongs that jutted off of the cockpit. The ship was small by SLDF standards, with a length of roughly 250 meters, a maximum width of roughly 90-100 meters and a height of just 45 meters, making it one of the smallest WarShips in the SLDF's fleet. On the side of the ship, Shepard could see the words SLS/HDF Normandy stenciled in gray letters.
When he saw the name of the ship, Shepard remembered the details that he'd been cleared to know about. The SLS/HDF Normandy was the first ship that was jointly designed by Turian and Terran WarShip Engineers, making her the only ship that the two factions had collaborated on. While the general profile and internal layout came from her Turian designers, the technology and materials for the ship were all from the SLDF. Only the best materials were used in her construction, ensuring that the design would hold up even under fire for extended periods of time. The ship was armored with several hundred tons of Advanced Lamellor Ferro-Carbide Armor, giving her a surprising amount of longevity out in the field.
What made the WarShip truly unique was the use of the experimental, Compact Advanced Void Signature System, which was affectionately nicknamed 'Caviss' by the crew. Like the larger AVSS, the CAVSS was designed to create a modulating refraction field that would bend light around the ship, rendering her almost perfectly invisible. The difference was that, thanks to research into Forerunner technology, the CAVSS was much smaller than the AVSS, while having an equivalent duration an effectiveness. If the technology was successful, then the CAVSS would replace the AVSS, allowing larger WarShips to carry more munitions, personnel or other systems in the extra space provided.
Her armament was also unique as well. Since he was going to be onboard the ship, the SLIC had felt that Shepard also needed to know about it's armament. After the discovery of Element Zero, and First Contact with the Citadel Council, First Lord Hanse Steiner-Davion had authorized Project ARROWHEAD, which was the SLDF's attempt at making viable mass accelerator weaponry using their advanced materials design and nanotechnology. For over 22 years, the scientists and engineers assigned to Project ARROWHEAD had worked hard to integrate Element Zero into Autocannon and Gauss Rifle technology. One of the reasons why the project had taken so long was that the scientists and engineers wanted to make absolutely certain that Star League mass accelerator weapons would completely outstrip any mass accelerator system on the military market.
If that was their goal, then they succeeded magnanimously at that. According to tests done on the new equipment, Star League mass accelerators were roughly three times as powerful as the most advanced Council counterparts, with Element Zero enhanced Mass Drivers being able to send a 120mm projectile at roughly 10% of the speed of light; this gave SLDF Mass Accelerators a massive edge in terms of raw damage output. Similar gains were seen in smaller mass accelerators, with 'Mech scale Gauss Rifles and Autocannons benefiting greatly from the upgrade. As a result, it was decided that the new mass accelerators would replace traditional Gauss small arms, while upgrades would be performed to phased plasma weapons to a similar effect.
As a result, Shepard knew that the Normandy truly was bleeding edge technology, a testbed for the most advanced technologies available in the entire Inner Sphere. Walking along towards the ship, he took a moment to gaze at it through the Lamellor Ferro-Glass view ports in the hallway he was in. A few moments later, a deep, flanging voice said, "I have to hand it to the Star League. They know how to make a ship, and a good one at that. Makes me wonder why we didn't do this sooner."
Turning around, Shepard saw a male Turian that was standing behind him, with both blue eyes focused on the ship itself. Shepard immediately recognized this Turian as Saren Arterius, one of the nonhuman members aboard the Normandy. In lieu of his traditional green facial paint, Saren now wore white and blue facial paint that was arranged in an elegant, angular pattern that traveled along his facial plates; that indicated his citizenship in both the Federated Commonwealth, and the Star League in it's entirety. He was currently wearing Turian pattern M50 Colossus armor in the same colors as Shepard's own armor. It was also clear that he'd undergone extensive nanotechnological and genetic augmentation, as Saren's musculature was visible underneath his body suit, while his eyes had blue glowing implants that provided a miniature HUD when his helmet was off. Looking at Shepard, Saren said, "Wouldn't you agree?"
"I certainly do," Shepard replied, extending a hand towards Saren. "Lieutenant Commander John Shepard. Free Worlds League Armed Forces."
"Lieutenant Saren Arterius. Ex-Hierarchy Defense Force, Ex-Council Spectre, Star League Defense Force."
Both men shook a hand as they greeted each other. Looking around, Shepard asked, "So, what brings you here today?"
"I've been assigned to the ship," Saren replied. "As you know, I was recently recruited under the Interspecies Exchange Program before being assigned to the Normandy. According to STRATCOM, a former Spectre would be of great importance to the division we're a part of now. As a result, I found myself being whisked along to this assignment. Training was minimal, as I already received adequate instruction from the Hierarchy when I was fifteen."
"I know," Shepard replied. "It's not uncommon for Turian recruits to be entered into the IEP in order to enhance their training and bodies using SLDF technology. I see it's been good for you. If you don't mind me asking, how do you feel?"
"Fine," Saren replied. "It's alright for you to ask me, since you've no doubt undergone the same enhancements. I feel young again, as though the Spirits themselves felt that I was worthy of being granted an extended life. Five hundred years of life seamlessly melded to your own natural lifespan is a very welcome addition. Either way, I fully intend to make the most of those extra centuries. Do you?"
"Certainly," Shepard replied.
"Good," Saren beamed, his mandibles parting in the Turian equivalent of a smile as he patted Shepard on the shoulder. "Come on board. I'll introduce you to the others, though there is one man that I know you're familiar with already." Motioning to Shepard, Saren proceeded inside, with the former following him closely. Once they passed through decontamination, they proceeded inside of the ship.
The interior of the SLS/HDF Normandy was just as high tech and eloquent as the exterior. Looking to the left, Shepard could see the cockpit of the Normandy, which held two pilot seats that were currently occupied by the pilot and the copilot. Holographic screens displayed vital information about the status of the ship, from armor integrity, to the heading and velocity of the ship. Lamellor Ferro-Glass viewports were built into the cockpit, and there was a holographic display, most likely for the NI onboard the ship. Looking to the right, he could see a long hallway that had computer terminals with personnel seated on each side. Further in the back, he could see the CIC of the ship, which had a large hologram of the star system they were in, as well as computer terminals that were built into an arrowhead shaped railing that prevented people from tumbling into the holoprojector. Two doors were on either side of the back portion of the CIC, as well as an gravity lift elevator that would take people to other decks of the ship. The interior of the deck was a matte black color, with olive drab and gray sections that helped break up the monotony of the interior.
Once they were inside, Saren said, "Welcome aboard the SLS/HDF Normandy. If you don't know, Shepard, this is one of the smallest, if not the smallest, WarShip in the SLDF's fleets."
"I know," Shepard replied. "I was given the size specifications of the ship before I was reassigned. It's a small ship, which is perfect for what it's job is going to be."
"Indeed," Saren nodded. "Infiltration and espionage. Not my usual cup of teva, but I can manage with it."
"Teva," Shepard asked. "Is that the Turian word for-"
"Tea," Saren finished. When Shepard nodded, Saren said, "Yes, it is. It's what you humans call a 'conjugate', a word that means exactly what it sounds like."
As they walked further into the ship, Shepard could see that not all of the crew members were human. There were Turians, a few Salarians, some Asari, as well as a few Krogan here and there. He even spotted a Quarian that was busy working on part of the holoprojector, as the display was fizzing here and there. "Everything alright," a Human crewmember asked the Quarian.
"Almost," the Quarian replied, her voice echoing from where she was working. "Just about… there! It's fixed!" Just like that, the holoprojector reinitialized, before displaying a much clearer image of the system they were in. A moment later, the Quarian pulled herself out of the maintenance hatch, closing it a moment later.
As he walked along, Shepard noticed another Turian that was present, one that he almost immediately recognized. "Garrus," Shepard called out, a smile on his face. "You son of a bitch!"
"Shepard," Garrus replied, an equally large smile on his face. "You son of a vorcath!" Just like that, both men engaged in an impromptu arm wrestle, with both men struggling to gain the upper hand. A few moments later, Garrus began to gain the upper hand, though it was clear that Shepard was allowing him to. "What's the matter," he asked, a grin on his face. "You haven't been slacking off again, have you?"
"Make it easy on yourself, Garrus," Shepard beamed. After a moment, he conceded the wrestle and said, "Alright, you've got me good." As both men chuckled, he said, "It's good to see you again, Garrus."
"Likewise," Garrus beamed. Noticing Saren, he said, "Well, it seems as though the Spirits have decided to bring along an esteemed soldier to the crew. Not that I'm not of course." Saren's only reply was a feral, but friendly, growl that echoed in the CIC of the ship. Nodding at that, Garrus said, "Come on, I'll show you the accommodations. It's not much, but when you can jump 4200lys in an instant, then you can get some much needed rest at port." With that, they followed Garrus on a tour of the ship.
Using the gravity lift, they each went down one deck at a time. "This the mess hall and crew quarters of the ship," Garrus told the others. "There's a cooking station for the mess hall cook to use, as well as a medical bay on the right. We've got a requisitions officer in the office on the right, and an armory/firing range ahead. Behind me is the crew quarters, as well as the observation decks and lavatories." The rest of the tour went along in this manner, with Garrus showing Shepard the cargo deck, and the reactor/AEZC deck above that.
As soon as they returned to the CIC, Shepard spotted his new CO. Captain David Anderson, from what he could recall, was probably one of the best men to serve under in the entire Star League Naval Command, and with good reason. Anderson was not only a kind captain, he was a firm one, and was more than willing to show a new crewmember the ropes when it came to certain things. That wasn't to say that he was spineless, however, as his non-classified combat records indicated that he was a legitimate badass when it came to fighting. Walking up to Anderson, Shepard saluted and said, "Lieutenant Commander Shepard reporting for duty."
"At ease," Anderson replied. "I see you've been familiarizing yourself with the Normandy. Good thing you are, because you'll be stationed on this ship for quite some time. Once we've completed our shakedown run, we'll be assigned to the 20th Scout Flotilla as a forward recon scout in the event we enter hostile territory."
"I see," Shepard nodded. "Anything to know about the crew, sir?"
"We'll be picking up a few more people before we're good to go," Anderson replied. "We'll also be jumping through the interuniversal wormhole to collect the remaining crew members before returning to the Inner Sphere. Just get to know them, and you'll know all you need to. Anything else?"
"Nothing that I'm aware of, sir."
"Good. We're about to disembark and head for our objective. Are you familiar with Fuchida IV, Shepard?"
"Yes," Shepard replied. From what he could recall, Fuchida IV, known as Eden Prime to the Council Races, was a planet that was located in the Draconis Combine, near the border of the Great House and the Periphery. Colonized in the year 3065, the system was named in honor of Takayoshi Fuchida, one of the two scientists that described how Hyperspace travel could be done using an FTL drive. Fuchida IV was home to roughly 8.4 million people, split evenly between the two habitable planets in the star system, known as Fuchida IVb and Fuchida IVc. Fuchida IVb was an agricultural colony that also served as a vacation resort for people that came from the Inner Sphere to enjoy the beauty of the planet. Fuchida IVc was an industrial planet, and was quickly becoming one of the largest industrial hubs in the Draconis Combine.
"Good," Anderson replied, "because that's where we're performing our shakedown run. Once it's complete, we'll head back to New Avalon and report to the Scout Flotilla. Dismissed." As soon as he said that, the doors to the Shipyard Bay opened up, allowing the pilot of the Normandy to fire up the ship and bring her outside. Moments later, the K-F Drive activated, with the ship disappearing in a flash of brilliant blue-white light. What none of them knew was that they would soon be caught up in events that would envelop not only the Star League, but the UNSC as well.
