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While she had her boots on the ground, Shepard wanted to check in with some of her people who were already on Earth. Deep within her, she felt certain this was her last battle, and she didn't want to go into it with words unsaid that should have been spoken.

Excusing herself from the others, she found a reasonably quiet corner and hit her comm link. "Steve. You out there?"

Cortez's comm crackled with static, but his voice was strong. "I'm here, Shepard. You okay?"

"We're fine. All in one piece, thanks to you. Again. You okay?"

"Fine. It was dicey there for a minute, but … all's well that ends well. You okay?"

"Glad to hear it. I've come too far to lose my pilot now."

"Not one of my finer moments," he said. "If I'd been flying my old Trident, maybe things might've been different."

"We get through this, maybe we can get those old shuttles an upgrade."

He chuckled. "I'll hold you to that, Commander. Once we've taken down the Reapers once and for all."

"That's the idea."

"It'll happen. I'm just glad I could play a part. And, Commander …" Even over the shaky comm connection, she could hear the way his voice dropped and roughened with emotion. "Thanks for making me believe again. If you hadn't … It helps to have reason to live again."

Shepard was touched. "Stay sharp, Cortez," she said softly.

"Yes, ma'am." He broke the connection.

She hoped she would see him again. He'd become a good friend.

Touching her comm again, she hoped it would reach the longer distance into space, where the Crucible waited to be finished. Kasumi's voice was clear and strong, to her relief. Of course Kasumi's comms would be working well—she'd probably stolen some cutting edge tech to use.

"Shep! All good down there?"

"Good enough. You?"

"Oh, it's going along. We'll be there soon. No idea what it's going to do, exactly, but it'll be big." She paused. "Good luck, Shepard. If you live through it, drinks are on me."

Or on whoever she'd stolen her credits from most recently, Shepard thought with amusement. "I'm going to hold you to that, Kasumi. And … thanks. For everything."

She heard a faint chuckle, then the connection broke.

Trying one more connection before she really had to get moving, Shepard held her breath. She had no idea where in the galaxy Miranda was, or if she'd be able to receive communications. But there she was, her familiar voice coming through calm and clear. "Commander. Hope you don't mind me crashing this little party of yours."

"You're here?"

"Wouldn't miss it. Earth's my homeworld, too."

She probably had more memories of it than Shepard did, at that. "Well, I'm glad you're with us. Feeling better?"

"Much. Nothing a little medigel couldn't fix." She chuckled. "I got a few sideways looks from Alliance brass when I offered to help, but they can't be choosy at this point." There was a moment's static, then Miranda's voice came through again. "Shepard … I wanted to say good-bye."

"Good-bye?"

"If we both come back from this at all … everything will be different."

Looking around her at the rubble of London, Shepard certainly hoped it would be—but for the better. "Sure, everything will change," she agreed, "but on our terms. We've been running until now, Miranda. It has to stop. This isn't good-bye. When this is over, we'll both find our place. You have to believe we're not done yet."

"Listening to you … maybe I can believe it."

"Good. And Miranda?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. For everything." For her very life. "Be careful."

"I promise. And you, too, Shepard." Miranda broke the connection without waiting for Shepard's promise in return, which was probably good, because Shepard didn't think she could promise to be careful. Not now. It was really too late for that.

Finding the nearest soldier, she asked him where the merc bands were holed up. He frowned at her, as if wondering what she wanted with them, but pointed her in the right direction.

As Shepard had half-expected, she found Zaeed outside, by himself. With the mercs, but not part of them, grizzled old lone wolf that he was. "Shepard. Hope you've got a hell of a speech to get everyone moving."

She gestured around them. "If this doesn't galvanize them, no words of mine are going to do it."

"Yeah. Never seen anything like this. Still, I think you'd be surprised."

"We don't stop it now, everywhere will look like this."

He sighed. "Just doesn't feel like a real ground war when your opponents are taller than goddamned skyscrapers."

"We all like a challenge, don't we?"

Zaeed chuckled. "Maybe I'm getting too old for all this shit. Ah, no use talking about it. We're ready to go when you are."

"Not much longer now. Be ready."

They nodded at each other, and Shepard moved on, hunting for the biotics from Grissom Academy.

It was no surprise that she could hear Jack well before she saw her. She stopped to watch as Jack put heart into her scared young charges, only stopping when she spied Shepard behind them all. "Guys, Commander Shepard, here in person to get your asses in gear. Now, go get ready. Energy up, senses sharp." Jack watched them go with evident fondness. "It's gonna break my heart when they get hurt, Shepard."

"I wish they didn't have to."

"Yeah, you and me both. But they've earned the right to stand up and be counted. They're tougher than they look."

"They were taught by the best."

Jack smiled. "We won't let you down, Shepard. Let's kick some Reaper ass."

"That sounds good." They hesitated, looking at each other, but Jack wasn't one for emotional good-byes, and Shepard wasn't going to push it. "I'll meet you in the bar when this is over."

"You know it."

That just left the krogan troops. She found them fairly easily, and made her way through, accepting the slaps on the back that would have sent her flying if she wasn't used to krogans by now. At last she heard the voice she'd been waiting for. "Battlemaster!"

"Grunt!" She nearly embraced him, but she knew he'd be horrified if she tried it.

"'Bout time you got here, Shepard. I didn't want to win this thing all by myself."

"Good to see you back in action." It was more than good. No one who didn't know him would ever understand the affection she felt for this giant blunt hard aggressive being, but she loved him like the little brother she'd never had.

He leaned over toward her. "Wouldn't miss it." Looking around, he lowered his voice. "Shepard …"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks … for getting me out of that tank."

Tears came to her eyes and she blinked them away. No self-respecting krogan's krantt would be caught crying on the eve of battle. "Best decision I ever made. It's been an honor."

"Same here, Shepard."

Over her shoulder, something caught his eye, and he was gone, wading into his crew to settle a fight that was just started. She thought he'd patted her on the back—very gently, for a krogan—on the way past.

No more time to dawdle. She was needed in the War Room. She'd just have to hope she found everyone else on the way.