Epilogue
This is Admiral Steven Hackett, 5th Fleet Alliance. It has been three months now since the Reapers were defeated and rebuilding efforts have begun. The scale of the destruction caused by the war has been catastrophic, the death toll incalculable. Whole cities have been destroyed and our colonies have been decimated. Of all homeworlds of the spacefaring species in the galaxy only Sur'kesh and Rannoch have been left largely untouched. As yet we can't even begin guess how long the reconstruction will take.
The days have been tough, harder for some than the actual war. In the midst of all this hardship, I wanted to do something to remind the galaxy of the historic victory we have achieved. To that end I'm putting this journal on display in our war memorial. When people visit the grounded SSV Normandy and look at the wall of names of all those who died while serving aboard her, they'll also be able to read the words of her former captain.
For the record Admiral Anderson, alongside Commander Shepard succeeded in their mission to take down that Destroyer and clear a path to the beam. Once that objective was completed, our ground forces and the remainder of the Resistance made a final charge on the beam itself. In response Harbinger descended from the battle in orbit and reached the beam just as they began their final run. The units faced crippling losses in that charge, 95% of the force were killed, with a handful retreating and only two individuals reaching the target, Anderson and Shepard.
It should be noted that their ability to get through was aided but Harbinger's abrupt departure when the task of the defending the beam wasn't yet complete. We can only speculate why this occurred but I like to think that Mr. Chan's virus might have been responsible. I've come to know the Salarian very well as we coordinate with what remains of the Resistance on our reconstruction efforts. He made a full recovery from his injuries and I've come to greatly appreciate and rely on his assistance.
Unfortunately we don't know for certain what occurred once Anderson got aboard the Citadel. We know that the Citadel arms were opened which allowed us to dock the Crucible and that eventually the weapon did fire destroying the Reapers. There are no eye witnesses left who can report on any of the events after Anderson was seen entering the beam. When we arrived on the scene we discovered the body of Admiral Anderson. We know he died due to blood loss from a gunshot wound but not who did it.
Our best guess lies in the other body we found, that of Cerberus' leader known as the Illusive Man. Ironic that a man that for so long seemed to be nowhere at all should eventually turn up where he was least expected. He died from a single shot to the head that looks to be self inflicted. The only other person discovered was Commander Shepard himself, unconscious and badly injured but still alive. He's been in a coma ever since the incident but perhaps if he ever wakes up we will learn more about Anderson's final moments.
For now all I can do is reiterate that Admiral David Anderson was a hero. His journal speaks for itself of the incredible determination and sacrifice he was prepared to live with in order to protect others. Nothing that I can say can possibly add anything more to his long and distinguished career. Instead I will focus on the lives he affected as head of the Earth Resistance.
As I have already mentioned Xi Chan is actively taking a leading role in rebuilding Earth's cities beginning with Anderson's hometown of London. He has taken up the mantle of head of the Resistance as the Admiral suggested and under his leadership it is a peacekeeping and administrative force. Major Coats (there's talk of a promotion to General) also survived and assists Xi Chan in his new role.
Regrettably Lara T'Ren was badly affected and unable to fight during the battle when one of her original crew, a young Asari named Benevola, was killed in the fighting. Due to the combination of indoctrination and grief, Miss T'Ren has not been able to recover from this trauma. She is currently being held in an emergency care center in London specifically set up for dealing with the effects of long term indoctrination. From what I hear Siri, another member of her crew acts as a full time carer. I can only hope that with time she and others like her will be able to heal.
Karlakh, another member of Miss T'Ren's crew reportedly left the Sol system in a salvaged ship. Apparently he told friends and colleagues that he intended to travel into Batarian space and rescue any surviving Drell still enslaved by the regime and then locate a world on which they can settle. My best wishes go with him but also my concerns. We haven't had any word from Batarian space since it was first occupied by the Reapers. As I understand it, the young lady referenced in this journal as Sarah Smith chose to go with him.
Finally we have received word from the remains of the Vancouver cell of the Resistance (all those that did not travel to London). Colonel Travis survived the war, supported considerably by a young, recently made captain by the name of William Stevenson. They finally found William's mother had been captured by the same Reaper Processor ship that they had disabled earlier in the year. She and 300 other prisoners were rescued in a raid made while most of the Reaper forces were distracted with the battle over London. Helping to plan that attack was one of Admiral Anderson's final acts.
Those are just a small selection of all the lives the Admiral saved by choosing to remain behind on Earth. Simply put he gave us hope and a new generation to lead us into the future. Speaking personally I can only say this: Goodbye, old friend.