2183, in the aftermath of Cmd Shepard becoming Spectre.
"This time you've overstepped your authority, Ambassador…"
Baffled by the calm but stern Fifth Fleet CO's first ever reprimand, Ambassador Donnel Udina's head jerked up and swept over the Admiral's steely, displeased features on the other end of the scrambled transmission. The equally rare warning in the graveled, uncanny voice didn't elude the astute politician either.
What had gotten into the restrained Admiral? Usually, they got along fairly well. And although the Fifth fleet Admiral never hesitated stating his professional opinion, he always remained reasonable and restrained. Which was more than could be said about some of Hackett's senior Fifth fleet staff - or the bunch of daredevil Joint chief Admirals, for that matter.
He frowned. Most of them had little regard or interest in the complexities of governing. The Fifth Fleet Admiral was the evident exception to the rule.
Still, the Admiral should be thrilled by the Alliance's recent success, instead of scrutinizing him right now like he was some sort of...criminal.
How dare he?
On the other end of the transmission the Admiral monitored the Ambassador's reactions.
Udina would remain reasonable or lash out.
Either way, let him come.
It did happen Hackett appreciated Udina's energetic honesty, but the Ambassador's craftiness clearly carried a streak of either the passive-aggressive or of rashness when the man got frustrated. Which happened surprisingly often for the pugnacious career politician.
"How so?" Udina demanded, folding arms over his chest and the creme colored, tailormade dress.
The Admiral Hackett swallowed his scowl. The Ambassador's self-righteousness obviously clouded his understanding of the possible ramifications that his rushed decisions very possibly might cause.
Additionally, Donnel Udina didn't care in the least who became the first human Spectre. Not really. It was what the Spectre symbolized for humanity as such, and possibly for his own status, that was imperative. Which was one reason why the Ambassador had crossed a line after the Council appointed N7 Shepard as new Spectre earlier the same day.
And once more the Admiral questioned how Udina had been elected in the first place. By all means a connected and crafty politician, but who despite knowing the foundations of politics well enough, lacked the required sensitivity and understanding of the Council-races' unique peculiarities. Like how the asari longevity made them unwilling to act and to rather wait. Udina knew that - but more than once had the human Ambassador been unable to deal with it smart and patiently and instead retreated into tantrums. Frankly, the Admiral found that embarrasing for humanity as much as the man himself. But where he and the Joint Chiefs had left it to the Parliament and Prime minister to handle, Udina had meddled into Naval affairs more than once.
Alas, it had been a truly unsettling discover that in the Ambassador's opinion the Alliance Navy was no more than an appendage. At least whenever the Ambassador found it fitting to forget the carefully built trust and well defined responsibilities between Alliance Parliament and the Navy.
"In no particular order;" the Admiral held up a well manicured finger before him, and unsolicited the thought flashed by in Udina's mind how someone with such humble background, could carry himself with that imposing, natural elegance. Making a half-succesful attempt at hiding his discontent snort, Donnel instead nodded graciously.
As if the Fifth fleet Admiral waited for his sign to continue.
Which he clearly didn't, but the Ambassador knew from personal experience how much appearance and building momentum could become a game changer.
Instead a verbal slap brought back Udina's attention in a wink of an eye.
"The Normandy isn't yours to give away, Ambassador."
Careful not to let on the snarl on his tongue, the Admiral tersely whipped out his words. "Nor is it within your mandate to have Anderson step down as it's Captain in the midst of a top secret, naval operat-"
"Anderson resigned by free will and suggested Shepard", Udina interrupted, loosing his temper. The only visible effect it had on the Fifth fleet CO was that he scoured Udina with an unsettling ice storm in the bright blue stare. Taken aback, the politician tried to find something legit to counterclaim the Admiral's unfortunately solid point.
"The situation got too ad hoc after Shepard's appointment to have time for making calls," Donnel finally drawled, his chestnut eyes flashing with emotion. "We had to seize the moment, I'm sure you of all understand that, Hackett."
A bullshit argument! flitted by in the Admiral's mind and struggled to plunge from his lips. Impertinent boludo! But this argument clearly didn't need any additional emotional reactions as Udina expressed those well enough. Curbing his emotions the head of the Fifth instead straightened, lifted his chin and folded his arms behind his back.
"Not to mention that you acted reckless, all three of you! Caught up in your desire to nail Saren Arterius, no matter for different reasons. And you used Captain Anderson's decades long bad conscience for spoiling humanity's chance to a Spectre, didn't you?
Struggling to find a way to sidestep the all too lucid analysis, Udina pinched his nose, then growled, "I honestly don't see the problem, Hackett. We finally got our Spectre - which should please the Navy, shouldn't it?"
Hackett scoured Donnel Udina's openly grumpy face, the downcast corners of the broad but thin lips, a sure sign of long time discontent or frustration. The arrogant nose and the intelligent, calculating hazel eyes.
"As uniquely talented as N7 that Shepard is, did you or Anderson consider that the Commander up to now only had a few months training as XO, and now captain the Navy's most expensive and state of the art ship?"
Suddenly wide eyed Udina opened his mouth to say something, but he snubbed the flabbergasted Ambassador.
"Did you take into account that she is even more new being the Council's secret police and that it might turn out overwhelming or worse, dangerous?
"At the time no…" the Ambassador began indignantly.
Shepard had appeared decisive, capable and passionate on the Citadel. "It was Anderson, Nihlus Kryik and you who recommended her in the first place, remember?" Udina counterclaimed angrily.
"For Spectre-nomination and evaluation, yes ,and as special forces Shepard is indeed unique. But it would have been wiser to let Anderson remain on the SR1 to support her as her advisor for a while. Now she's thrown into the alacrity."
Evenly, the head of the Fifth fleet delivered the deathblow to this argument.
"And consider how it will appear to the turians when humanity now pits the newest spectre against their legendary Saren Arterius. Just recently removed by the same human Spectre who's hunting their legendary Spectre in the very ship they helped us build..."
The Ambassador grew more pale and ragged with each uttered word. Goddammit, Donnel silently blasphemed and draw a hand over his weary face. However much he hated to admit it, Hackett's words were true.
He'd been too carried away in the moment of sweet, long awaited success that he'd forgotten to take a step back and consider.
Reluctantly Udina nodded and the Admiral had to admit that the Ambassador soaked it up without complaining. And yet he had Stay out of military matters from now on on his tongue. But it would to pour salt into the man's wounded ego and would benefit none.
Instead Hackett wrapped up the heated conversation by deliberately focusing on the turians.
"Just because councilor Sparatus agrees Arterius is a traitor, doesn't mean the turian people are willing to agree. You too know that he's pretty much like a hero to them. The entire Alliance should downplay 'Shepard 'hunting Saren' for a while or the tension between our peoples will likely mount."
His words were deliberate, and as predicted Udina was grumpy enough not to appreciate being told what to do.
"We'll handle that," the Ambassador emphasized and threw a sour look at the lined face on his terminal.
Hackett had to fight down the smug smirk tugging the corners of his mouth upward, and looked down.
"Exactly, Ambassador… Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get hold of Commander Shepard. The Navy has some assignments for her."