From Ashes
Chapter Twenty Five: Inquiry
A/N: Just a heads up: the beginning of this chapter might be a bit hard to follow who is speaking. Hopefully it will get clearer as the chapter progresses. I mirrored this after what happens on Earth in 2186. We never know who the panel is that Shep faces, so yeah :) Anyway, enjoy.
Steven Hackett crossed the room and stod in a queue by the balcony. Shepard could only see their silhouettes against the floor of the office; unable to tell who they belonged to.
"Very well." The greying admiral said in a louder and more "official" tone of voice; his London accent brought out even more by it. He glanced down at a datapad that rested on the desk in front of him before addressing Shepard. "Commander, you are aware of the purpose of this hearing and that the results may or may not result in your being brought up on charges, correct?"
"Yes Admiral, I am aware." She kept the answer short.
"Then I will get straight to business. We will start by revisiting your actions moments before the Citadel arms were opened and relays surrounding the station unlocked."
"This is the Destiny Ascension." The asari helmsman's voice came from an omni tool that was activated on one of the commanders' arms. "Requesting assistance. Drive core is offline, kinetic barriers are down to forty percent. The council is onboard; I repeat: The council is onboard."
"Just got that distress call as well." Joker's voice now. It seemed they had skipped over the initial contact with Shepard and her team. "I'm sitting here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet. Give the word and we can save the Ascension; just unlock the relays around the Citadel and we can send the cavalry in."
"You received the distress call from the Asari dreadnought, the Destiny Ascension, while aboard this station and in the topmost level of the Citadel Tower, correct?"
"I did, Admiral."
"What were the reactions of you and your present crewmates?"
"I was given advice for and against saving the Ascension." Shepard admitted. She did not specify who gave advice for each side of the issue. "One suggested that ships were held back so that they could focus in the attack on Sovereign. Another stated that the situation was more than just sparing human ships for the final push."
"And your personal opinion?" The admiral who had been posing the questions and speaking for the panel seemed to be neutral in regard to his position. He didn't seem too invested either way; or he was good at his work. Either way, it was encouraging.
"I agreed with the latter." Shepard began. "To quote them, this was bigger than humanity. Sovereign was a threat to every organic species in the galaxy."
"Some could argue that was all the more reason to hold the Arcturus fleet back until the arms opened." The commander that had used her omni tool to replay the Ascension's distress call spoke next. She didn't speak with any bias either way either.
"And that was what one of my squadmates suggested as a rebuttal." Shepard acknowledged Garrus' opinion again. "They stated that the council should die so that the fleets could focus on Sovereign when the arms opened."
"Yet you still chose to save the Council's flagship and risk the integrity of the Arcturus fleet." The admiral spoke again. This made a few people in the room shift uncomfortably. "Commander, can you explain what led you to this decision?"
"The simplest way I can phrase this, Admiral, is that it is because my name was put forward as a Spectre candidate." At some of the confused looks that swept the four admirals and commanders on the panel in front of her, Shepard clarified. "When I accepted the position, I knew two things: one was that the Alliance wanted a spectre so that they might get closer to a seat on the council; the other was that I could not just look at my assignments with only humanity's interests in mind. These things contradicted one another in a way. Accepting that position meant that I answered directly to the Citadel council and that I acted on their behalf as their agent. Put bluntly, when I made the choice to unlock the relays and have the fleets come in to save the Ascension, I was still acting as their agent and thinking of humanity's interests."
"I will now ask that Rear Admiral Mikhailovich step forward." The admiral motioned to the queue off to the left, and Mikhailovich stepped away to stand a slight distance to Shepard's left. He did not look at her as he did so. When he had removed his hat and stood rigidly still again, the speaker continued. "Admiral, I appreciate your taking the time from your flotilla to speak today. You openly objected to Commander Shepard's decision to assist the Council flagship."
"I did." Mikhailovich said stiffly. "I believed, as I still do, that it was reckless to send an entire fleet in to spare a single dreadnought. We did not lose as many ships as expected, but there was the potential to lose them all. That would have jeopardized our chances at defeating Sovereign."
"Shall we review the communications here as well?" The admiral acting as inquisitor nodded to the commander beside him who promptly found the communications between Shepard and Mikhailovich for playback.
"What's the order, Commander? Go in now and save the Ascension or wait?"
"I'm opening the relays now. Save the Ascension."
"Negative! Focus your attention on Sovereign."
"With all due respect, Admiral, we need to spare the council-"
"We cannot waste time and ships' firepower by going in to save one dreadnought."
"That one ship has more firepower than any of our dreadnoughts. The galaxy will need leaders that they can trust when this is all over. If we leave them to die, how will humanity look in the eyes of the other races?"
"At this point, you were speaking to your helmsman, flight lieutenant Jeff Moreau and Admiral Mikhailovich while the relays were being opened, correct?"
"That's correct." Shepard answered.
"Were you aware of what was going on outside the tower on all sides of the battlefield?" The commander supplying the comm from that day asked. "The specifics, I mean?"
"I was not aware of each ship's specific status, no." Shepard shook her head and kept her eyes forward. "I heard the weapons' fire and we could feel the resounding shockwaves hitting the station. From the communications we were getting, the Ascension was powerless; drive core was offline, and kinetic barriers were taking constant damage."
"Very well." The admiral nodded slowly as he took over again. "I do have to wonder, however: was this happening on an open communications channel? Did the Ascension receive any of what was said between you?"
"Honestly, I am not sure."
"Admiral," The commander questioned. "Your thoughts?"
"I…" Mikhailovich paused secondarily. "I don't believe they received us, no."
"I suppose that would have been for the best." The greying admiral said more as a personal thought. "The deciding party was neither one of you, am I correct?"
"Yes, Sir." Shepard volunteered at the rear admiral's hesitation. "Admiral Steven Hackett directed the Arcturus fleet and the Normandy to go for the Destiny Ascension as opposed to waiting for Sovereign."
"Admiral?" The commander spoke up. At this, Steven Hackett stepped past and stood on Shepard's right.
"I agreed with Commander Shepard's assessment of the situation." Hackett started. Shepard couldn't help but notice that everyone in that room seemed to pay a bit more attention when the admiral of the fifth fleet spoke. "The Ascension's main cannon and presence in the battle ahead would offer more of a chance for victory against something we had never faced before." He paused, and for a second, it seemed he was finished speaking, but he went on. "Note that I don't try to get involved in any political affairs," He glanced over toward Udina, who was behind them at his desk. "But I also agree with what the commander mentioned about leaders. We will need strong ones that can be trusted in days to come, and the Citadel Council has seen with their own eyes what lies ahead. Potential replacements for them did not see what took place here. They would be going in blind, and from a militaristic perspective, that is the very last thing anyone wants to do."
"With all due respect," Mikhailovich spoke, and Shepard was reminded of Ashley's words to Kaidan about how that phrase sometimes meant Kiss My Ass. "That was a gamble; we had no idea if that ship could even get its main cannon operational. If not, it would have been a paperweight in the battle with Sovereign."
"A fair point." Hackett admitted. "I will acknowledge that we lost four ships in going after one dreadnought, but I stand by my decision. Those brave men and women gave their lives for a greater cause, and that is all that I can offer on the subject."
"Are you certain that this wasn't a move to win the favour of the council?" A second commander on the panel spoke. His tone suggested distaste for the admiral he was addressing.
"As I said, I am not one to get involved in political affairs." Hackett stated calmly. "I had no ulterior motive when choosing to spare the council."
"Right." The admiral who had been speaking for the panel nodded to the commander who had asked the previous question. "The purpose of this hearing was to understand the circumstances in which that decision was made. I believe we have done so. The results of said decision have already occurred, and we cannot turn back the clock." He, again, looked to the male commander before speaking again. "Would anyone else care to speak in regard to this issue before we move on?"
"If I may, I am Nihlus Kryik with the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel." This time, it was Nihlus who spoke up. All heads turned to look at the other spectre who had not moved from his place in the queue that had grown shorter with the leaving of two admirals.
"Of course."
"Wait." The male commander put up a hand as if to stop it. "Why is a turian speaking in a purely human matter?"
"Frankly, because this is not purely a human matter." Nihlus answered the question himself. Shepard suppressed the grateful look she would normally have sent him for that. Without moving from his place, the turian spectre spoke loudly enough to address the panel from where he stood; his voice remaining an even and calm tone. "Shepard touched briefly on the responsibilities of a Council spectre; We are meant to look past the needs of our own races and instead consider the greater whole. Humans, turians, asari, and salarians all lost good people in what is being called the "Battle of the Citadel". The galaxy is lesser for their loss, but they all recognized the threat that Sovereign posed. Your people as well as mine went in with the intention of neutralizing that threat at any cost." He paused for a moment to let that all sink in. When he spoke again, it was in a slightly quieter tone. "I have studied your military's structure. The Systems Alliance's N7 program is similar to elite units within the Turian military. Our best are groomed from an early point for positions such as the one Shepard and I hold. Your N7 program offers the greatest equipment and notoriety, but you expect the best out of your operatives in return with critical missions. Spectres are held to the same standard. We have top-of-the-line equipment, a combination of fear and respect for our positions, but we bare the burden of missions critical to galactic peace and prosperity. As an n7 operative and a spectre, Shepard exemplifies that which both the council and your military demand of her."
"Thank you very much, Spectre." The admiral, after being sure that there was no more to be said, offered. "In the aftermath, it is easy for us to forget that we are not the only ones dealing with such a loss. Sometimes, we must all be reminded that we are not alone." Looking to the other three on the panel, he received a nod from each. The second admiral hadn't said a word throughout the entire proceeding. "Now, if there is nothing more to be said in regard to this matter, I would like to move on to the final topic that needs discussing." Using his own omni tool, he sent an image of the late Admiral Kahoku to the display behind him. "Now, I will ask that all of those who are not involved in the matter of his death please wait outside. We appreciate the time you took out of your schedules to be here." Both Hackett and Mikhailovich were among those to leave the office. Though they were of high enugh rank to remain, they chose to leave. Captain Anderson stayed where he was, and so did Nihlus. When everyone had left that had planned to, the panel spoke briefly amongst themselves before theadmiral acting as foreperson spoke again. "As you are all aware, Admiral Kahoku was found on the planet Binthu in a facility not sanctioned by the Systems Alliance. The whereabouts of him and his people before this discovery are currently unknown." He then sent an image of the planet Edolus to the display. "The late admiral's men were found here on the planet Edolus in the Artemis Tau cluster, correct?"
"Correct, Admiral." Shepard elaborated after answering. "After becoming a spectre, I saw Admiral Kahoku in the Citadel tower. When he mentioned his men, I volunteered to look for them; I was on my way to that cluster anyway to find Doctor Liara T'Soni."
"What was the state of things when you found them?"
"I found their remains, Sir." Shepard accessed her omni tool and sent an image stored on her hardsuit's internal computer from that drop. It showed a ground vehicle and a few skeletal remains; along with the beacon that lured them there. "This was all that was found of the admiral's men,but they didn't randomly find their deaths here." She focuse on the beacon that was still active in the image. "This beacon was left and was broadcasting a distress signal on Alliance priority channels. It was left on top of a thresher nest. They didn't stand a chance."
"And you returned to the Citadel to report this to the admiral?" The female commander asked.
"I did." Shepard nodded. "He hadn't expected it, but under the circumstances, he wasn't too surprised either."
"Circumstances?"
"While on the Citadel and working to expose Saren, I came across a name." Shepard explained about the krogan blackmailer who mentioned Armistan Banes and his involvement with Chloe Michel.
"I advised the commander to speak with Admiral Kahoke about Banes." Captain Anderson volunteered. "This was before Shepard discovered his men on Edolus."
"I see." The foreperson said quietly and shared a look with the other admiral on the panel. "After you spoke with him about his men, what did Rear Admiral Kahoku do, Commander?"
"He thanked me, said he was going to notify their families, and that he was going to do what he could on his end."
"Do you know what he meant by that?"
"I don't."
"You didn't question it?" The male commander on the panel asked sharply.
"Before you answer that, Shepard," Anderson spoke up. "I'll pose a question of my own: Commander," He addressed the man who had just spoken. "Would you have done the same had you been in Shepard's position?"
"That's irr-"
"Don't tell me it's irrelevant." Anderson cut him off. "In the same situation, you would not question what an admiral was going to do, and you know it. Hindsight is always 20:20."
"We will be moving on from that." The admiral spoke before the commander could respond to Anderson's comment. "Commander Shepard, did you hear from the admiral again after he left the tower?"
"I did. He sent a message to my ship." Shepard retrieved it and used her omni tool to play the recording. "When I got the chance to get to those coordinates he sent, I found a cluster of facilities on the planet Binthu. One contained husks, another had rachni, and the last had thorian creepers. All were being experimented on by Cerberus. Their troopers and snipers were left to defend the facilities."
"The Alliance sent in a team to recover his remains when you discovered them, and an autopsy was performed. There were needle punctures on his forearms but no other signs of trauma to his body. The results of said autopsy have not been released as far as actual cause of death. You did mention in your report that Cerberus may have been involved with ExoGeni corporation. How did that tie in?"
"ExoGeni was funding the colony on Feros where the Thorian was discovered. People were exposed to the spores it released, and some were completely transformed by the creature itself into what we know to be "Creepers". Shepard sent an image of the moss-covered skeletal creatures to the display. "ExoGeni found this out and were using the outpost at Zhu's Hope as a control group in their research. We encountered the creepers in one of the facilities on Binthu and again on one from Nodacrux, where ExoGeni had shipped them offworld for further study."
"The personnel from that facility on Nodacrux are being held here on the station for the time being, correct?" The female commander asked. At Shepard's nod, she continued. "Alliance interrogators will be having a word with them if it hasn't happened already."
"You encountered rachni in the Styx-Theta cluster as well as on a derelict freighter." The greying admiral was looking over a datapad with notes scrolling down its display. "Those were suspected to be Cerberus related as well."
"They were. The audio log from the freighter confirms that Cerberus was planning on dropping rachni onto different worlds, but they got out of control, and the project was aborted." Shepard said simply, but another thought hit her. "While on the topic of Cerberus, there are two people who have stated that the massacre on Akuze was a Cerberus operation."
"Yes, I saw your report on that, and we're speaking with Corporal Toombs and Doctor Wayne now." The commander that seemed to be as neutral as the admiral stated. "In regard to Admiral Kahoku, are there Hardsuit logs and any ship movement data that can corroborate that you were nowhere near the facility when he was killed?"
"Yes." Shepard had known that this was going to be an issue. Ashley had suggested that they might want to hold onto the footage after finding Kahoku. "Everything has already been forwarded."
"Excellent. We will be reviewing that once the evidentiary portion of this hearing has concluded. Does anyone else have anything more to add?" The admiral questioned as he placed the datapad back down onto the desk.
"Evidence you cannot ignore." Nihlus volunteered. He stepped forward and transmitted something to the terminal on the desk, and Shepard heard the chime from her own omni tool that meant data had been sent to her personally. "It is directly related to the attack on Akuze, and confirms that Cerberus was the cause of the massacre that occurred there."
"How did you…" The commander looked over it before she looked back toward Nihlus. "This is…"
"I cannot reveal where I received the information. It is best that way." Nihlus left it at that. He did however, share a look with Shepard that clearly said they would discuss it later.
"If that is all that needs to be said, we will conclude the evidentiary portion of this hearing and ask, Commander Shepard, that you return within two hours' time; at which point we will have rendered a decision."
No one else on the panel said a word, so it was implied that they were all clear to leave. Shepard, Anderson, and Nihlus headed for the door to Udina's office, and when it opened, they found a few more people outside waiting. Aside from Shepard's crew, Hackett was waiting with his hands clasped behind his back. Just to the left of her crew, Shepard had to look twice. "Joker?"
"Hey, Commander. Sorry I was late getting here. I had to… you know, make sure our parking was validated."
"I think he had to remember which way that dress uniform went on, Commander." Pressly supplied with a grin that was unnatural for him. Usually, the man didn't really crack a smile at all, but it was good to see.
"Hey, just because I don't practically live in mine…" Joker shot back with obvious mock offense. "Besides, I feel naked without my hat."
"The look suits you, Joker." Shepard admitted. It was different seeing him out of combat fatigues and his hat.
"So, how'd it go?" Garrus asked as he stepped away from the wall he had been leaning on.
"Evidentiary part is over, and I have to say it went better than expected." This time, Hackett spoke. He had stepped forward, but his posture was still the same. When Shepard looked to him, he inclined his head slightly. "Didn't think you were the only one under fire, did you?"
"Honestly Sir, I went into it thinking that way." Shepard answered. "I didn't expect them to question you or the rear admiral as well."
"They weren't here during the battle, and they wanted information from all parties involved." Hackett admitted. "I will say that Mr. Kryik made for an outstanding character witness and a reminder that humanity should not take priority."
"Thank you, Admiral." Nihlus extended his hand and the admiral took it. "There was a time when turians were in the same position as humanity; not as dire a situation, but most had the same mindset."
"And there was a time when humans and turians did not see eye to eye." Anderson added.
"Yes." Nihlus nodded slowly. "It is good to see that both species are putting what is in the past behind them, for the most part. Only united will we defeat an enemy that tries its hardest to divide us." He then turned to Shepard. "Shepard, if you will meet me in the spectre requisitions office later, I would appreciate it."
"Of course." She nodded, and Nihlus headed back down the stairs and out of the embassies. Once he had cleared the door, Shepard turned back to Hackett. "Sir, if I may ask, who were those people in there?"
"The one doing most of the talking was Admiral Liam McKentrick. He is a veteran of the First Contact war. Then there were Commanders Joan Harwood and Benjamin Carter."
"Ben Carter?" Pressly asked suddenly. "I assume he wore his views on his sleeve."
"You could say that." Shepard said. "He seemed a bit more… pro-human."
"I remember him from my last post." Pressly explained. "He was still bitter about the occupation of Shanxi and the Skyllian Blitz. He was one of the ones on the ground on Mindoir."
"And the admiral that did not speak, Sir?" Shepard had stared at them all, and the second admiral hadn't offered one opinion on anything presented.
"Admiral Celine Dixon. She prefers to hear all sides of an issue and not pose questions."
"Ruthlessly impartial from what I hear." Anderson offered. "I've seen her sit in on a debate that was barely considered civilized. She jst sat there and said nothing, but when it came to making a decision, she used their own words against them."
"Which is why she was interested in this issue." Hackett explained. It's a proverbial hot topic and one that will change how we look at things moving forward." He let his hands fall to his sides and looked Shepard and her crew over for a moment before finishing his thought. "Now all that is left to do is wait. I will say this for you, Shepard; it is impressive."
"Sir?"
"Your crew, human or otherwise, has stood by you throughout this entire ordeal. I saw something in you after Elysium, and apparently the council saw the same. Well done."
"Thank you, Sir." With one last salute, Hackett left the corridor and headed downstairs. This left Shepard with her crew and former CO. There was silence for a brief time, but Ashley broke it with a question that made Shepard's shoulders shake with laughter.
"Is it just me, or does anyone else get chills when he talks like that?"
"Not alone, Chief." From that point, the next two hours were spent on various parts of the presidium near the embassies. Shepard could see more Alliance personnel around than was normal, and they seemed just as interested in the results of this inquiry. For a brief break, she did get down to the requisitions office to speak with Nihlus, and that conversation yielded information that she hadn't expected.
"Shepard."
"Nihlus."
"I asked you here so that I could discuss the information I passed along to your military during that inquiry." He used a terminal to display what he had already sent them. There were statements, a tentative layout of the original plan that triggered the attack, and so on. "You are wondering by now, how I came by this information."
"You could say that." Shepard crossed her arms as she looked over the layout of the farming colony. "I was on Akuze after the event, and from what I understand, the Alliance is still trying to piece it together."
"There's nothing left to find." An asari came from the shooting range that had been built into the office; her eyes on Shepard. "After the initial attack and subsequent one, the area was sanitized by the Alliance black ops group known as Cerberus."
"Seryna Shepard," Nihlus turned his head toward the asari. "Tela Vasir, Special Tactics and Reconnaissance."
"Spectre." Vasir greeted.
"A good find, but how did you come across this information?" Shepard had returned to looking through the information scrolling on the display.
"A little work and a lot of bargaining." Tela crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "I was investigating some unusual activity in the Traverse. Honestly, I'm surprised our paths didn't cross sooner. Information I came across was… wanted by another party; I was told they had something on humanity that could prove… interesting."
"You mean the Shadow Broker." Shepard guessed. "They were interested in information I came across in one of Cerberus' bases."
"Correct." Vasir nodded. "Turns out, someone within the organization really pissed off the Broker or their agents. Either way, they wanted to bear a little ill will toward the organization and thought I might put the information to good use."
"Instead, you turned it over to Nihlus."
"When I realized your Alliance was going to have to look into its own black ops group, yeah."
"What did they want in return?"
"That's the thing." Vasir sighed. "I don't know yet."
"It was most opportune." Nihlus muttered. "The Shadow Broker organization, if that is truly what it is, has its own system of checks and balances. Everyone falls victim to its games. No race is immune to it."
"I heard that from Barla Von." Shepard nodded. "Everyone plays its game; it's the only way to keep one step ahead."
"That's the thing;" Tela shook her head. "No one ever gets ahead. The Broker always comes out on top." She then looked to Shepard again. "They know you withheld that information Kahoku agreed to give them, by the way."
"He may have agreed to hand it over," Shepard began. "But he's dead. I make no such promises. If this information can bring Cerberus down, I'd rather use it to do so."
"The question is: Do you trust your Alliance with it?" Vasir asked as she retrieved a shotgun from a table before heading for the door. "Just a thought."
"Pleasure to have met you." Shepard said it as a formality; she wasn't sure if she meant it.
"Perhaps we'll meet again." Vasir said over her shoulder as she left. When the door closed behind her, Shepard and Nihlus looked at one another.
"I don't know if I should be worried or encouraged by that." Shepard admitted.
"She is trustworthy;" Nihlus said in a more reassuring tone. "If not intimidating even in general conversation."
The two hours passed quickly, thanks to the diversion to the Spectre office. This left Shepard enough time to get back to the embassies and wait around with her squad before people started coming back up to the ambassador's office. The two commanders, Harwood and Carter respectively, headed up first and then the admirals followed. McKentrick and Dixon kept their eyes forward and said nothing as they passed through the embassy lobby. When Hackett and Mikhailovich came through, Shepard stood and followed them. The rest of her crew had agreed to wait in the embassy lounge for news. When the three reached the Ambassador's office, Anderson was waiting.
"They're ready, I take it." Hackett asked on approach.
"I think so." Anderson nodded. "They've not said anything. Go when ready."
"No time like the present." Shepard said simply. "I'd rather get this over with."
"For once, we agree." Mikhailovich quipped. The four entered the office and took their previous places; Mikhailovich on Shepard's left, Hackett on her right, and Anderson standing back with the ambassador. The panel stood with their backs to the newcomers again; its two senior members sharing a quiet conversation. When the door closed again, they all turned to face the room again. Admiral McKendrick clasped his hands behind his back in a fashion Shepard associated with the admiral to her right.
"Thank you for returning promptly." McKendrick began. "As stated earlier, we had hoped to reach a decision within the two hour timeframe, and we have." He cast an eye around the office to gain a sense of where each person stood in regard to their composure and nodded finally. "Given the fact that you all have jobs to do and posts to return to, we will make this as brief as possible. Admiral?"
"I do apologize for the lack of involvement in the evidentiary phase of this inquiry," Admiral Dixon spoke in a very detached and solemn tone as she stepped forward to join the other speaker. "But I spent that time gtting a grasp of each situation as it was presented. That being said, I will get straight to the point. The Battle of the Citadel was a scenario that no one could have predicted or prepaired for. Choices had to be made for not only the good of the Systems Alliance but for the good of all. I do not loke losing people under our command," She looked over the three before her and focused on Shepard for a split second longer. "But Ialso know that we cannot always come first. So, it is the decision of this panel that no one be penalized for their actions during that event." There was what sounde like a final break in the tension in the office at that point. "There were risks and consequences associated with every decision made during the battle with Sovereign and the Geth, but each had to be made, and there would have been casualties on either side regardless." Dixon said simply. "Now, moving on to the issue of Cerberus and the death of Admiral Kahoku…" She paused and looked over something on a datapad briefly before she spoke again. "The Alliance sanctioned R&D projects by what has been called a "Black-Ops" group, and it did involve Armistan Banes. We did not, however, condone experiments on humans, rachni, or any other of the abominations listed in the investigation conducted by you, Commander." She looked again to Shepard, who nodded. "I do not like the thought of them moving about like a grenade with a proverbial loose pin in this galaxy when relations are still fragile. An investigation has been launched, and our ties with the organization have been severed. Now, as far as the late admiral's death is concerned, there is no hard evidence that you, Shepard, have had anything to do with it." The admiral used her omni tool to place what looked like ship movements and other such data on the display behind her. "The data your ship's navigator provided as well as your own logs and Hardsuit trackings prove that you could not have been anywhere near him within the window of estimated time of death." Dixon stepped back and allowed for Admiral McKendrick to speak again; the display behind her going blank after a few moments.
"Are there any questions or concerns with this panel's findings/"
For a long moment, no one spoke, and it seemed the admiral had gotten his answer when Shepard finally voiced the question that was on her mind. "If I may, Admiral, I would like to know why the public heard that Admiral Kahoku died of natural causes. I understand that the Alliance doesn't want news of their own black-ops group going rogue, but his family has the right to know that it was foul play."
"I cannot say I disagree with you, Commander." Celine Dixon admitted this with a thoughtful expression. "One could assume that the family was either told a watered-down version of the truth or at least that he did not die naturally. No one is certain at the moment." She then gave the occupants of the office a serious look before speaking again. "I will say this however; the Alliance did not want word getting to the press about their own "Black-ops" organization going rogue and experimenting on a race that was supposed to be extinct, let alone its own colonists. That should give you an idea of the red tape that we are dealing with here." With a last look at the admiral beside her, Dixon closed with: "Consider that last a personal opinion."
"Any other concerns?" McKendrick asked, but no one else spoke up for several seconds. "Very well. This hearing is adjourned. You may all return to your respective duties." With that, the admirals and commanders on the panel left the office in the same way that the council would have their chambers in the Citadel Tower. Hackett and Mikhailovich followed suit, and that left Shepard with Anderson and Udina. The latter went back to whatever he was doing at his desk while Anderson stepped forward and cuffed Shepard on the shoulder.
"Loooks like you dodged a bullet there, Shepard."
"I think I dodged more than that, Sir."
