Chapter 3
Amelia
October 21st, 2189
"Today, we gather here at the site of our greatest victory. Three years ago, all the galaxy s[pecies united under one banner, ignoring our petty squabbles and past interactions, and we defeated the greatest threat this galaxy has ever known. This victory belongs to each of us, every man, woman, and child, every civilization, on every world. This wasn't a victory by a single fleet, a single army, or even a single species. If this war has taught us anything, it is that we are at our strongest when we work together." Hackett paused, casting his steel-blue eyes over the crowd of various species seated before him, a congregation of political and military leaders, all deathly silent as he spoke.
"One person is owed a special thanks because she prepared the galaxy to face this threat and ultimately prevail by the sheer force of her will. For that reason, I am proud to unveil this statue in her honor today." With his words, the curtain veiling the statue was pulled away.
I looked on from where I sat in the front row, shocked, staring at a ten-foot-tall statue of me in full armor, my helmet tucked under one arm and my other in a crisp salute. Above the statue, a model of the Normandy flew, its engines flaring as if it was streaking over my head.
"I've asked her to say a few words today, so please welcome Admiral Amelia Shepard-Vakarian." Loud applause broke out across the crowd as I stood, smoothing out my Dress Blues, the four gleaming stars pinned on my lapel shining in the bright London afternoon as I walked up to the podium.
Hackett gave me a salute and a handshake as I approached, stepping back and giving her the floor. "Thank you, Admiral Hackett," I began, pausing to wait for the noise to die down. "I'm flattered, but I cannot take as much credit as offered. As Admiral Hackett said, this victory belongs to every one of us. I just did what I had to do to get the job done. I often think about my actions leading up to our victory, and each time I do, I end up at the same conclusion: I am no hero, but I served in the company of heroes. Let this statue and these Gardens be a reminder of not just me but all those who served under me, alive or passed. Let it be a reminder of all those who enabled me to stop the Reapers, to all those who aided me in my journey, and especially to all those who died along the way. They are the true heroes in this story."
"Today will be marked as a day of celebration for millennia to come, and eventually, as time passes, we'll forget the pain that came alongside. But for now, we'll repair, rebuild, and help our neighbor do the same because if our victory showed us anything, it's how strong we are when we work together."