As soon as she was able to fight her way free of Dr. Chakwas and her medical implements, Erynn Shepard left sickbay. Out of habit she went straight to the captain's cabin, forgetting that she wasn't technically a member of the Alliance Navy anymore. She found clean uniforms in her size in the closet, and the few, small personal belongings she had in her possession when the Reaper attack started arranged on the desk. She supposed the crew had taken it upon themselves to make her feel at home.
Several minutes later, showered and dressed, Erynn ran her fingers along the cool glass of the empty fish tank and tried recall the good memories that happened in this space, but somehow those stolen moments always seemed to come with a heavy price to be paid later. She sighed and promised herself that she wouldn't dwell on the past while there was so much work to be done. She left the cabin and its ghosts behind and descended to the CIC.
As Shepard entered the Command Information Center, she saw Major Kaiden Alenko and Admiral Anderson standing with their backs to her at one of the consoles. Both turned as Specialist Traynor announced her presence on deck, Kaiden with a look that warned of mixed feelings. She hadn't seen him since the attack on Horizon, and their meeting then had not exactly been cordial.
Salutes and handshakes were exchanged, and Kaiden immediately turned back to the console to consult with another crew member, leaving Shepard in the dark about his attitude towards her.
Anderson gave Erynn an appraising look and said, "Well, I've seen you look worse."
"Me too." Erynn tugged at the hem of her tunic, self-consciously smoothing her uniform.
"Still fits after six months in storage?" he raised a brow in mock surprise. "I would have thought civilian life would have been less kind."
She repressed a snort and then realized that, as the ranking officer on board, Anderson should have her cabin.
"I'll have my things moved out of the captain's cabin for you." Shepard said "I don't think anyone was planning on having an Admiral on board when they assigned quarters. Hell, I'm not even active military."
Anderson shook his head. "No need for that, I'm bunking in Port Observation. The Normandy is yours." He stepped forward and pressed something into her hand. When she looked down, she saw her old Alliance military dog tags. "Consider yourself reinstated, Commander." Shepard saw, for a fraction of a second, a bright spark of pride in his eyes, and had to fight back a hiccup of emotion. Anderson had always had faith and pride in her, even when it seemed like everyone else in the Galaxy had their doubts.
"Thank you, Sir." She whispered, hanging the tags around her neck and tucking them beneath her tunic. He clasped her shoulder firmly and then turned back to the command console.
"While you were out, we received an emergency message from Admiral Hackett." Anderson said, bringing up the brief and heavily distorted vid feed of Hackett along with the image of Mars on the galaxy map. "We're on our way to the Mars to the Prothian Archives to try to retrieve Dr. Liara T'soni and some research that may help us defeat the reapers." Anderson continued. "We have no idea what we are looking for exactly, but it may be our only hope to stopping them."
Shepard nodded, "I'll grab my gear."
The red glow of the Kodiak shuttle's cargo lights seemed to be absorbed into the surface of Shepard's N7 armor as they bounced through the Martian atmosphere. She braced a hand on the bulkhead, her helmet clutched in the other. Next to her, Kaiden Alenko conducted one more check of his weapons and then sat motionless on the jump seat, head bowed.
"We're almost there" James Vega called over his shoulder as they continued their decent. They had been unable to raise anyone at the archives, EDI reported that the complex seemed to be online, but an eerie silence met their transmissions. As they landed, Vega reported that there was a massive storm heading their way.
"How long till it hits?" Shepard asked, securing her helmet and checking life-support systems.
"Half hour tops, after that we're going to have difficulty keeping up comms with the Normandy" He switched off the power to the engines and grabbed his own weapons.
"Understood"
Shepard stepped out of the opening hatch and onto the dusty red surface of Mars and moved quickly towards the archives, followed by Vega and Alenko,
High above them on the Normandy Admiral David Anderson stood in the CIC clutching the edge of his console, straining to hear their ever-weakening transmissions. Come on Shepard. He thought to himself. Find our hope.
As they approached the archive complex, they could see what appeared to be several assault troopers executing archive workers. They rushed forward to intervene, but it was too late. They eliminated the troopers, but all the workers were dead already. Kaiden eyed the Cerberus emblems on the troopers' armor and shifted his gaze to Erynn.
"What's Cerberus doing here on Mars?"
"Good question." Shepard replied
"You don't know?" Kaiden asked in a less than respectful tone.
"I'm not with them anymore Kaiden, if that's what you're asking."
"It's just a bit convenient…"
"Hey! I don't work for them anymore!" It was a harsh tone, and she knew Kaiden was asking what were, in his mind, fair questions, but she needed to return focus to the mission. Lieutenant Vega came to her aid by bringing up the fact that Shepard had been under constant surveillance since returning to Earth and had no way to be in contact with Cerberus. Kaiden grudgingly held his argument as they entered the archive building. The first room they entered seemed deserted, but a moment later that appearance was broken by the sound of buckling metal in the duct work overhead. Dr. Liara T'soni burst from a ventilation grate, closely pursued by two Cerberus troopers. She hit the floor in a crouch and turned, dispatching the soldiers with her biotic Lift power and a few, well placed shots from an M-3 Predator.
"Shepard, thank the Goddess you're alive"
"It's good to see you Liara, but we don't have time for reunions. Hackett sent us."
Liara nodded, "I've discovered plans for a Prothean device in the archives. One that could wipe out the reapers." She pointed out an observation window towards another building. "The archives are just across that tramway. If Cerberus hasn't gotten there first."