Vanguard of Vengeance: Chapter 5
The Normandy's airlock cycled with a soft chime. The hemi-cylindrical hatch rotated upwards onto the open space, or at least what looked like open space. Shepard stepped out into nothingness until her boot clomped onto the hard metal ramp. The illusion dispelled, she cast her gaze back forward, towards the Systems Alliance docking spire. Uniformed Embassy security officers awaited her party in silent ranks. Shepard nodded to their sergeant, a man she had known from an earlier deployment, and signaled for the shore party to follow her down the ramp. They were five in total, Anderson, herself, the Gunnery Chief form Eden Prime, Nihlus, and bringing up the rear, the alien. For security's sake and against his vehement objection, Javik had been holographically disguised as an elcor.
"Gentlemen," Anderson spoke up as they reached the bottom of the ramp. "I want our guest escorted directly to the embassy, no detours. Is that clear?" The sergeant nodded and dispensed a rapid flurry of orders to his men. The security officers filed around the disguised Prothean and set off at a casual pace.
"Do they know what they are guarding, sir?" Shepard asked, curious.
"I specifically ordered that they not be informed. We can't have word getting out or we'll be mobbed. As far as they know, he's a trader from one of the Elcor moons here to set up a vital relief deal with our colonies in wake of the disaster."
"You realize that I'll still have to report this to the council?" Nihlus said. The Turian watched the alien go with a mix of unreadable emotions etched across his scaly face.
"That is a kind of mob that I think we can handle." A new voice joined the conversation, floating across the terminal. Shepard recognized that voice well. She hated it.
"Ambassador Udina," Anderson said respectfully. "You've been given the brief I sent you?"
"I did, come; this is not the place for a discussion of this magnitude. We'll go to my office, where we won't be overheard." The ambassador extended a hand towards the dock's single elevator. Anderson nodded. The group walked in step down the pier. The elevator ride was as to be expected on the Citadel, agonizingly slow and filled with a trite little tune. Shepard leaned against the glass, watching the blue clad C-Sec operatives mill around as she slowly descended towards them. They were mainly Turian, though she spotted the odd salarian, asari, and rare human. Shepard thought it ironic that all Alliance traffic was stuck being funneled through a de facto Turian enclave, someone on the Council must have felt pretty pleased with themselves the day they'd set that up. Not that Shepard could complain. Having to go through C-Sec discouraged a lot of the more anti-human elements of the massive station from causing mischief.
The elevator came to rest with a clunk. The round doors swung open to let in a rush of sound. Barked orders mixed with whispered conversations that blended into harsh accusations, all of which was overlaid by the computerized voice of the announcement system. Shepard and the rest stepped out to brave the storm, twisting and turning to get through the crowded checkpoint.
"Spectre Nihlus!" a voice called from across the room. Nihlus gave the closest Turian equivalent to a smile and excused himself, pushing through the crowd to greet another of his Species.
"I was wondering how long it would take to lose him," Udina whispered darkly, "If he testifies against you , Shepard…"
"I'm well aware of the consequences, Ambassador. I'm ready to accept the consequences."
"That's all well and good, but this kind of thing affects more than just you."
"That's enough, Ambassador," Anderson intervened. "We'll discuss this in your office, as you said." Udina muttered something under his breath, but he didn't bring up any more complaints. He did set a brisk pace though, first catching another elevator up to the Presidium, then storming through the avenues and parks to the Human Embassy. Shepard tried to take in as much as possible. If there was one thing Humanity had gained from its first contact with aliens, it was the chance to visit the Presidium. No matter the amount of political bull that got slung about, the maneuvering, the blocking, the false smiles and oily handshakes, the ring was a thing of beauty. Shepard arched her back, looking straight up. Above, the artificial skyline glowed softly, though if you focused you could see the Widow Nebula beyond. Looking ahead, Shepard followed the never-ending parks and green spaces rise up into the sky.
She smiled, remembering a time she and Kaidan had… She caught herself. She balled her fists and pushed the memories away.
"Is something the matter, Commander?" Anderson leaned in close and spoke softly.
"No, sir," Shepard said flatly. Anderson backed off, looking worried, but he didn't push.
The Human Embassy was a cramped space, three separate rooms and functions all compressed and spilling into each other. A small interview space backed onto staffer's desks, which in turn almost intruded into a tight waiting room. Only Udina's office offered a modicum of privacy, flanked as it was by prefab walls built in ugly grey. Udina waved the group through the doors, which closed with a hiss behind them, blotting the noise of the busy office.
"Now, we can get to the business at hand," Udina started. The man maneuvered himself to stand behind his abbreviated desk. "The facts are ugly, so I'll lay them out straight. We have lost the beacon. That'll piss off the Council, as will that SPECTRE's report that we recovered a live Prothean and didn't tell them about it. Now, the fallout will be intense, but I think we can weather it. Some sacrifices will have to be made."
"You're talking about my SPECTRE application, aren't you?" Shepard asked. Her voice quavered ever so slightly, almost imperceptible to anyone who hadn't known her for a long time. To Anderson, it was a warning sign.
"Very perceptive of you, Commander. If all evidence didn't point to the contrary, I'd say that you were the perfect candidate for the job." His voice was thin and snide.
Shepard's own voice rose in challenge. "I did everything I could, damn it! Good men died down there! It's not just some political fallout!"
"Commander, you are out of line!" Anderson surprised the assembled by raising his own voice. "The ambassador's ambitions aside, this is the situation we're in. The Alliance's position is delicate, more delicate than we even tell our public. Now sit down and listen to what Udina has to say." Shepard blinked. She hadn't realized that she'd risen from her chair. She retook it slowly.
"Now, if there will be no further interruptions." Udina resumed his speech. "The Prothean gives us a chance here. He's a valued commodity, one of a kind. The secrets of Prothean knowledge he might have locked up in his head…"
"Ambassador, the Prothean, Javik, is a soldier, he's not a scientist. And he's not going to like being used for barter."
"Be that as it may, that will not be immediately apparent to the Council. If we let them assume there are secrets, they'll run with it. Unmitigated access to the Prothean should draw off the fire for losing the beacon, who knows; maybe you'll still have a shot at the SPECTREs."
"So that's our plan? We trade the Prothean for amnesty?" Shepard shook her head slowly. Stray images still drifted in her head. Images of fighting and death, much of it alien to her. "And how are we going to play the attack?"
Udina drummed his fingers against his cheek. "Yes, the attack. The Geth being on the move will certainly distract from your failures. And perhaps we may even be able to negotiate a dreadnaught or two out of the incident."
"What of these Reapers?" Anderson asked.
"The Prothean's boogiemen? A threat back in his day, perhaps, but not anymore. You'll keep your testimony to the hard facts, things we can confirm. Now, I've worked in your hearing for later today…"
Shepard let the rest of his words wash over her, ignoring the rest of the briefing. It was clear that the ambassador wouldn't listen, so why should she reciprocate? Her mind drifted instead to the hearing. Without backup, it was up to her to convince them of the Reaper threat. Images flashed before her eyes, images of whole colonies going up in smoke. Yes, she'd bring them to admit there was a threat if she had to drag them out to Eden Prime personally.
The chambers of the Citadel Council were massive, encased as they were by the Presidium Tower. They rose in tiered steps past gardens and statues, leading up to a wide open space. Shepard tugged uncomfortably at the dress uniform she had been told to wear, yearning for the simple BDUs, or even the familiar weight of her combat harness.
"This place is built like a fortress," Chief Williams whispered sidelong at Shepard. "Give me a platoon and I could hold this room against the Turian fleet." Shepard nodded, letting her eyes fall over the fountains and rock structures. It did look like it had been designed by a being who had anticipated a firefight breaking out on the steps. Even the statuary seemed to maximize the amount of concrete and metal placed at roughly chest height.
"You all remember your roles?" Udina asked for the third time. Shepard fought the growing urge to punch the little grey-haired man. "Just stick to the script and maybe the Alliance will struggle through this debacle."
Feet clomped on metal as the diplomat led the Marines forward. The group rounded the crest of the Council chamber and finally came face to face with the three most powerful individuals in Citadel space. The Councilors had set themselves up on a high platform made almost entirely of glass, separated from the narrow petitioner's bridge by a sharp drop into open space. Galleries lined the sides of the chamber. Some of them had already filled with onlookers; aliens come to gloat at humanity's latest fumble no doubt.
"The Council recognizes the delegation from the Systems Alliance," the leftmost Councilor, a Salarian, said in a voice cast throughout the chambers. "The hearing regarding the SPECTRE candidacy of human, Commander Evangeline Shepard may begin." Somewhere a metallic chime sounded. "The SPECTRE, Nihlus, was assigned to your assessment. He will deliver the facts of your case for deliberation. Shepard turned as footsteps approached from behind her. The dark crested Turian ascended the steps to mount a similar bridge. Unlike the Commander, the Turian was still dressed in his battered black and red combat armour, though the suit had evidently received a new layer of polish.
"Esteemed members of the Council," Nihlus began. "It is solemn duty to report on the events on the Human colony of Eden Prime. As you can see from my report…" Nihlus manipulated his Omni-tool. At once, copies of his report flashed into existence before the members of the Council. Nihlus went into a detailed analysis of the combat on the planet. He described the Geth, their numbers, their actions. Shepard couldn't help but be impressed by his neutral hand on the subject matter. Any number of Turians would have turned the report into a carnival tour of Humanity's failings in the matter. Nihlus remained objective throughout.
"… and so I must conclude, through Shepard's actions, the day was not a complete loss." Nihlus finished, closing his report.
"Yes, very interesting. You say the Humans were able to actually revive a living Prothean?" The Turian Councilor asked.
"Yes, Councilor, that is true." The SPECTRE answered without looking at Shepard.
"This is troubling," the Asari Councilor said, "deeply troubling. Where is the Prothean now?" It was Udina's turn to speak.
"The Prothean is a guest of the System's Alliance embassy," the man said quickly and smoothly, "He has identified himself as a Head of State and is being treated as such."
"You expect us to believe that?" the Turian Councilor said. "More likely you are holding him for interrogation. The Prothean should be remanded to Council custody immediately."
"My colleague may be blunt, but he is correct," the Asari said more diplomatically. "The Council has rules against the hoarding of Prothean technology."
"Be that as it may, the custody of the revived Prothean is not the purpose of this hearing," Udina said quickly, "If we could return to the matter at hand."
"As you wish," the Salarian Councilor said. "With SPECTRE Nihlus' testimony, I believe we have all of the evidence we need. Unless, that is, the Candidate herself has anything to add." Eyes fell on Shepard. She glanced sidelong at Udina. The Ambassador shook his head ever so slightly. Shepard set her teeth and looked the Councilors dead in the eyes.
"I have no further comment," she managed.
"Good, then we will press on," the Turian said, "SPECTRE Nihlus, what is your recommendation?" The black-crested Nihlus stood at attention.
"Given the circumstances, the candidates actions under fire, and the successful recovery of the Prothean, I recommend that Candidate Shepard's application be accepted with all due haste. I look forward to serving with her."
Shepard could only look at the SPECTRE in astonishment. The Turian turned and gave his species' closest approximation of a smile.
"Excellent, shall we continue straight to the inauguration?" Udina said, happy for once. "Only there's the matter of the attackers at Eden Prime. We…" but he was cut off.
"While in most cases, the Council would hold to the advice of the supervising SPECTRE, we are afraid that our own assessment must run contrary to his in this case." The Asari said in a voice that cut through Udina's spluttering. Shepard looked up at the alien with a look of pure contempt. "We've received another report, one that may have been more complete than that of SPECTRE Nihlus. It is unfortunate, but the Council must deny the application of Candidate Shepard." And with that, the Council turned as one to leave.
"Wait!" Shepard managed to blurt through her anger. A strong arm fell on her arm, most likely Anderson, but Shepard didn't care. "Who gave this report? How could it outweigh Nihlus'?"
"That would be my report." A new voice sounded throughout the chamber. It was thin, like the crack of a whip, with a biting sarcasm that set Shepard's teeth on edge. A hologram flickered into existence above the empty gulf between the Council and the Humans. It was a statuesque Turian, grey and covered in cybernetics. His sharpened crest swept back severely to a point just behind his head, giving him a hawkish face. His eyes glowed with a blue light, even through the holographic projection.
"You!" The exclamation came, not from Shepard's own lips but from her commanding officer. Anderson stared bayonets at the holographic Turian. "Why, Saren, How?"
"Anderson, I should have known that you'd wrap yourself up in this latest embarrassment. Suffice it to say, Nihlus was not the only SPECTRE observing the action down on Eden Prime. I took personal interest when I realized the import of the mission that had been assigned to a… human."
"And so you took it upon yourself to make your own assessment?" Anderson spat back. "So, Saren, what is it you saw that Nihlus did not? Or have you decided to fabricate more claims against us?"
"As if I would have to stoop to fabrications," Saren said threateningly. "The matter is simple. The Commander showed poor utilization of assets, achieved unacceptable casualty ratios, and failed to complete the mission. Oh yes, by chance she secured a completely unrelated piece of technology, but the SPECTREs are chosen based on their ability to achieve their goals, not bring back flashy baubles." Saren ticked off the points on his fingers as if he were lecturing a child. "If you are done wasting my valuable time, I have important duties to attend to. Honoured Councilors." He bowed his head slightly before disappearing.
"Strange how he never gave a damn about Human casualties before today." Anderson almost shook with anger. "That bas…"
"That will be quite enough, Captain," Udina said. "We have a situation to salvage here." He moved to address the Council. "We must abide by your decision, but there is still the matter of our attackers, Councilors."
"Ah yes, this 'Super Dreadnaught,'" The Turian Councilor raised two talons to deliver air quotes around the words. "Your report mentioned the Geth utilized some yet unseen ship design. We are assigning a commission to look into the matter. Your government will be informed if we turn up anything pertinent to your people. Now, this hearing is officially adjourned."
Author's Notes:
A bit of a talky chapter I'm afraid. But now we're heading into the main plot, which I hope you'll stick around to enjoy. There will, of course, be some changes, not least of all being Shepard's status. Don't worry though, you can be sure that the old gang will still be gathered, though perhaps not in the same order or for the same reasons.
-Liddle Out
