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Shepard knew Thane would need time to answer her question, and that pressuring him on it wouldn't help. She had made her need clear, and he would respond to the best of his ability. Trusting him to do so, she put it out of her mind for the moment.
The next task on her plate was to let her people know that she was being called to a tribunal on Earth. That would affect them, and the future of this ship, and they needed to know early enough to be able to make their own plans. She called them all into the conference room, and waited while they assembled.
Looking around at the beloved faces, she couldn't help but smile. "First of all, I want to thank each of you for being here. I couldn't have done any of this without you." Garrus started to say something, but she held up a hand. "Let me finish. You all know what happened to the Alpha Relay, so I'm sure it won't be a surprise to you to hear that I'm being called back by the Alliance, to go to Earth and take part in a tribunal investigating my involvement."
"So much for you having saved the galaxy," Kasumi said, rolling her eyes.
"The batarians don't care. Or they don't believe it. Or both. However you look at it, thousands of their people died because I wasn't fast enough to stop it. I don't mind being held accountable for that." Shepard thought about the hours she had spent trying to figure out how she could have kept things from going the way they had. "In many ways I feel accountable."
"Siha."
She smiled at Thane, then turned back to the others. "So, first you should know that I will undoubtedly be out of commission for a while … and second, you should know that I'm strongly considering turning the Normandy over to the Alliance." Shepard looked at Joker. "Unless anyone objects."
Joker groaned, lifting up his ballcap to run a hand over his head, then settling the cap back on. "No, I guess not. Might as well give them back the cushiest ride I've ever had. Why not."
"I suppose you can take your chair with you."
"Hell, no. Where the Normandy goes, I go. We're a package deal."
Standing awkwardly at the back of the room, engineers Daniels and Donnelly exchanged a quick glance, and then Donnelly said, "Count us in, as well, Commander. Might as well see if the old ball and chain will take us back."
"I'm sure they'll need you—does the Alliance have anyone else who can understand this ship?"
"Not half as well," Donnelly agreed, grinning.
"Fuck that," Jack said, hopping down from the table she'd been sitting on. "None of those Alliance assholes are getting their hands on me. Grunt, take me to Tuchanka."
The krogan chuckled. "No."
"Damn it. Never mind, Shepard, I'll find somewhere to get off." Jack grinned at the double entendre.
It looked like the rest of Shepard's companions intended to do the same—Samara to resume her work as a Justicar, Kasumi to get back to a particularly interesting heist she had been planning, Grunt to report to Tuchanka and put himself to work on behalf of Clan Urdnot. Miranda seemed uncertain about her future, but Shepard imagined she would land on her feet.
Mordin had stood uncharacteristically quiet during the conversation, but Shepard saw him look up with a startled expression, as though an entirely new thought had occurred to him.
"Mordin, you have somewhere to go?"
"Maybe so. New thought. Needs consideration. Wouldn't have imagined possible but for you, Shepard. Must thank you."
"It's I who should be thanking you. If there's ever anything I can do to help—"
"Generous offer. Will keep it in mind. Same offer in return, of course. Naturally."
"Thank you."
Garrus was the last to leave the room, hovering there until everyone else had left. "You two going to be all right?"
"Yes. We …" Shepard glanced at the door, wishing Thane had decided about her proposal, but he clearly hadn't. "We're working on it."
"If either of you need me—"
"We'll call, we promise. You'll go to Palaven?"
"That seems like the best option, yes. I'm sure my father would like the chance to lecture me on my life choices." Garrus chuckled. "Best birthday gift I'll have given him in years."
"Garrus …"
"Shepard. Don't let them railroad you. You did what was right."
"I'm not just going for that. The Reapers are coming. Prepare your people."
"I'll do my best. And you take care of yourself."
She smiled. "I'll do my best."