Chapter 54:Conquer An Enemy Already Defeated

It would have been so much easier if the blighter sitting in the brig had been allowed to flee Tuchanka. Dare she even think it-dead? But the right decision had been made; Maelon's life was saved thanks in no small part to Tali's direct intervention. The young engineer confessed that she had only done so because of Shepard's influence.

Maelon was held in custody because in her very core Samara could not allow a criminal to go free. He must be brought in for his egregious crime however well intended the outcome was to be. Of course the Code compelled her to slay the man on the spot but for Shepard's mercy she had not. Instead she arrested Maelon.

Shepard was no one's fool. Whilst she was appalled at the measures the Council of old took in the Krogan Rebellions with the genophage and today's STG augmenting that measure was appalling to everything moral within Shepard. Militaristically, Gods curse her but she understood the necessity of it. Then. This was now.

The absolute callousness and cold diction that Mordin prescribed that augmenting the genophage was the best of all avenues and his continued refusal to see the torment in the mothers who held dead babies rose the gorge. More so because if clan leaders like Weyrloc Guld held command over the Krogan Nations then the galaxy was in dire trouble. The STG would be justified in the alteration of the genophage and the many more still-born deaths it brought with it. Hell the turians may well nuke Tuchanka to make sure the krogan remained down, if not utterly extinguished. Shepard wanted to ensure that didn't happen.

Wrex had to be given a chance to change things, to help uplift his people to a better path. Unfortunately there were more warriors like Weyrloc than there were like Ol' Wrexy. When the Council found out the krogan were attempting to form a unified government at best they will laugh at worst they will make attempts to retard such efforts on the pretext that it was a prelude to war with the unruly brutes.

Shepard's mind circled around and around and around. How to inspire without collating fear? And she kept coming back to a single axiom she had lived her whole military career. It had served her during Basic, during her N7 training, during the Skillian Blitz: If you can't win the game change the rules.

Normally when meeting with the Council Shepard would go alone. She had learned two years ago bringing in ground side crew only fueled Sparatus's disdain for her and his desire to have her Spectre status revoked for any infraction real or imagined. However this time perhaps having Samara at her side, a renowned and well respected asari Justicar would not only act as a buffer against the man's antagonizing slights and deliberate provoking but also as advocate for actions taken on Tuchanka. Adding the well respected and honored Professor Mordin Solus also added prestige enough for her words to be taken more seriously.

And there was another matter that sorely needed to be addressed swiftly. Mordin had been broken down on Tuchanka it was time to build him back up again. The Spectre knew that Tali and Garrus were trying to have a child, a difficult prospect perhaps even impossible for cross-species coupling without the aid of scientific intervention. Tali made a public declaration that she did not trust Mordin to help her and Garrus have that child. A decision made because of Mordin's forced confession, despite the fact the genophage had absolutely nothing to do with the request to help with conception. Yet another reason to uplift the good professor, a good commander never allowed her people to remain low for long especially in the eyes of their peers. The best way to accomplish this was to make a show of trusting his science for it was his science she had chastised.

Timing was everything. The galley was filled with the flagship team taking their morning meal. As always, Shepard's standing order was obeyed the team ate as one. They no longer questioned or hesitated to comply with the mandate. Dining together became so commonplace now that to do otherwise was inconceivable.

Mordin had been given the cold shoulder from the others since returning from Tuchanka. Enough was enough. Even so the Professor continued to show up for the meals. He ate quickly even for a salarian then returned to his lab to continue his research on the Collectors.

When Shepard saw the professor take a seat at the far end of the table she made a point to address it even before the others had claimed their chairs. "Mordin, the research you did on the seekers was phenomenal. I want you to coordinate with Dr. Chakwas to start inoculating the rest of Normandy's crew. Starting with our more key personnel: Joker, our good doctor and Kelly"

Upon hearing their names the white haired physician and the pilot looked up as did the ever chipper yeoman. Chakwas nodded her agreement. Joker like a petulant boy sagged in his chair; hating the very idea of needles, even if it was a hypospray, an injection was still an injection. Chambers smiled brightly at just hearing her name being mentioned as one more valued members of staff. She was not the only one to respond favourably.

"Of course Commander." Mordin answered, he understood the open gesture for what it was an offering of peace and open belief in his skills: an uplifting. "Made breakthrough can talk while next samples grow. Hate waiting for cutler analyse. Never fast enough." There was a slight smile on his face at that as if he were laughing at his own joke. Perhaps you had to be another scientist to appreciate the jibe for only Chakwas popped a grin and knowing nod of the head. "Usually no results in advance. Just checking work. Have to be careful."

Shepard nodded. "Good. I also want you to coordinate with the research vessel Victory and review what they discovered with their own autopsies on the Collector bodies we recovered, see if it matches what you found as well as what else you uncovered.

"While they are an extraordinary band of scientists their attention has currently been divided between their many projects to find ways to combat the Reapers. Yours has been solely upon stopping the Collectors. They can benefit from your knowledge and your discoveries and perhaps we can help the outlying colonies in the Traverse create pre-emptive defences."

All heads turned toward Mordin, waiting. Curious and perhaps a little surprised at their Commander's sudden reversal in how she responded to Mordin's scientific endeavours as if she were giving him a pardon or baring that granting him a reprieve from the public shaming he had endured.

Mordin's' large eyes blinked several times before his lips curled into a smile. Once more he nodded. "Already anticipated the request. I have a collated file on Collector data. Happy to send it to the Victory. Presuming this will be transmitted on the encrypted QEC channel." It was not a question. However Shepard answered that yes it was.

"And there is one more thing. I want you and Justicar Samara," The Spectre deliberately used the asari's rank, "to accompany me when I present evidence of what happened on Tuchanka with Maelon. I am nobody's fool; right now curing the genophage can't happen soon enough. If Wrex is to have any chance at all to uplift his own people, to bring about a cultural revolution he and the female clan leaders need time.

"If leaders like Weyrloc or the Blood Pack were to get their hands on the cure it would be as disastrous as your simulations predicted, Mordin. But Maelon has a point as well, this genophage retards any hope of cultural renewal as much as the uplifting the krogan before they were ready had done so.

"You all heard Wrex say that his changes are going worse than he hoped for yet better than he had expected. He's meeting a lot of resistance. What he doesn't need is the added burden of the Council looking down on him for his efforts or worse still impeding them well intentioned or otherwise. He needs to do this on his own. It's up to us to make sure he has that chance."

"That will not be easy. Council predisposed to deny any krogan elevation. Will see this unification as premeditation towards war." Mordin said.

"Yeah. I know. It's why you must be there. To make a statement that it is now. You may think on the genophage as a good all around, but surely you do not still believe a divided Tuchanka is preferable?"

"Of course not. Never believed that the division of clans was preferable. Division caused needless deaths, wars. Not much hope for unification, hope to be wrong in this instance."

"If you feel that way why did you work on the genophage?" Shepard asked for everyone.

"Talked before. Best option. That or kill them all."

Grunt snarled something intelligible.

"If around during First Contact would have argued against uplifting them. Wasn't there then. Do what I can."

"Hang on Doc, you're saying you would have argued against first contact with the krogan? Why?" Garrus asked.

"Uplifted by salarians. Disastrous. Our fault." the old salarian bent his head in shame.

"Why do you blame yourself for what the krogan did?" This came from Samara.

"Like giving a nuclear weapons to cave men. Krogan unprepared for spaceflight, technical advance. Krogan could have evolved alone. Worked out aggression. Been ready to use new tech responsibly. Instead, salarians came. Disrupted krogan culture. Used krogan as blunt instrument against rachni. Short-sighted. Foolish." he breathed in heavily though his nostrils.

"Maybe that's what Maelon thought too. Why he tried to create a cure." Tali said her voice still retaining the frostiness it had on Tuchanka.

"Maelon betrayed me. Still hard to believe he betrayed my work." Mordin shook his head. "Disgusted by his actions. Proud of his nerve, though. Always thought he lacked backbone. Hope he finds something new. Better goal, better purpose. Fewer torture tests."

"You're really at peace with what happened." Shepard's wonder of Mordin's reaction towards his protégée was there in her voice, though barely discernable.

"Yes of course." The salarian's eyes blinked a few times as they typically did when speaking on personal level. "Can't change what happened. Life continues. Back to mission. Back to work. Become like Maelon otherwise." Mordin shifted the food on his plate with his fork before scooping up a mouthful and eating it. He swallowed before continuing. "Salarian emotional processing faster than other species. Has to be. Short-lived culture. Can't spend time reminiscing."

"So you really don't feel bad at all what happened on Tuchanka?" Tali pressed.

He looked up at the young mechanic. "Yes, correct. Now at least. Greatly distressed at the time. Stages of grief. Loss, anger, rationalization." he waved the words away. "Dealt with it. Most issues settled on Tuchanka. Some on shuttle back to Normandy. "

"Maelon didn't seem like he processed his emotional response." Once more it was Samara who spoke. "In fact quite the opposite. He was obsessed with the genophage."

Mordin turned to the matron. "True. Didn't mean to imply that salarians are healthier emotionally. Can still make wrong choices, bad decisions from grief, anger, guilt. Maelon couldn't accept feelings, made decision, executed. Probably before I left for Omega. Wish I'd seen it." the professors voice grew a bit softer. "Salarians still feel, just resolved quickly. Explains lack of marriage. Can't sustain courtship emotions. Or perhaps based on reproduction. Unsure."

Shepard smiled a little though none but the asari and perhaps a certain hooded thief caught it. Both gave a curious look to the Spectre but kept her tongue and allowed the dark haired woman to utter the question now playing in her mind—what was all on their minds. "What about Maelon's data on the genophage? His attempts at a cure?"

"Have it in the lab. Could recreate it. But could always have recreated or improved. Taught Maelon everything he knows. Didn't teach him everything I know. Not important now regardless."

That was fundamentally true. There were more important things that needed the professor's time and efforts.

"Have you been down to see him since we got back from Tuchanka?" asked Shepard.

Mordin shook his head and breathed in a heavy bit of air. "No. Not planning to. Everything that needed to be said was said. Will stand with you with the Council, talk about his motives. Talk about the altered genophage. May not have the affect you want. salarian Councilor will discount your findings of STG's covert actions, despite my testimony."

All heads turned to Shepard, waiting for her response. "It's not so much as the salarian government owning up to what happened. I know that is unlikely. Regardless it will be heard by the rest of the Council. And I can use it as a tool to help me motivate them into non action against the Krogan DMZ."

"HA!" Garrus barked out a laugh. "They should be good at non-action. They do it all the time."

"Until it's too bloody late to do anything." Zaeed said for the first time putting his voice in. "Then they're biting their nails wondering what should be done about the big bad. Bunch of lay-a-bout frog-faced fucktards." He turned to Mordin. "No offence on the frog thing, Doc."

"None taken." Mordin stood up. "Thank you for the help on Tuchanka." He said to Shepard, but his eyes turned toward Tali and Samara. "Should get back to work. Wasted enough time already. Lots to do. Talk later?"

Shepard inclined her head. There was indeed a great deal of work to be done. One such thing, the young Spectre was trying to hold off. But she could no longer delay. She had to speak with Maelon. To hear what he had to say about his motives on Tuchanka, the supposed cure, his dealings with the Blood Pack."

As she bussed her own tray it was Samara that came up to her and put a hand upon her arm. The small act in of its self caused Shepard to pause, unlike the asari Commandos she served with in the short time on the Victory, the Justicar rarely offered or allowed physical contact. So when Samara asked for a private word, the Commander did not hesitate to answer in the affirmative.

The elder woman gave a very brief tilt of her head and kept in time with Shepard's gait as they walked the few steps to the Starboard Lounge. "Thank you for this indulgence, Commander."

"It's not a bother, Samara." Shepard said activating the door's guai interface panel. "What's on your mind? Or can I guess and say this has something to do with the request to offer your testimony in front of the Council?"

"Indeed. And a small word of advice if you are willing to hear it."

To her credit, Samara never beat about the bush when discussing difficult subject matter. Life for a Justicar was always white and black. So was their philosophy on justice and law. As Samara once said before if she was forced to kill a man because he broke the law did she also need to know he was a good father?

"I'll listen to whatever you have to say. I value your insight." Said Shepard once the door closed and they were alone.

"The prisoner, you intend to question him to further your understanding of his motives." Samara began without a preamble.

"I understand his motives well enough. I reviewed the footage of the encounter your team had in the hospital and its conclusion with Maelon more than a few times. Enough to almost swear I had been there myself. I agree with everything said, everything done." she smiled. "I would have even motivated that lost Urdnot scout the same way as you had" Another smile. "Even if it meant dissing my chief engineer to get him moving."

They shared a smile before their faces returned to their more stoic countenance.

"Shepard, when I first started my Justicar training my Mistress taught me: Claim victory in your heart and the universe will follow. She further told me: When you have reached the end of the road, then you can decide whether to go to the left or to the right, to fire or to water. If you make those decisions before you have even set foot upon the road, it will take you no where... except to a bad end. Do you understand my meaning?

"I believe I do." came the Spectre's answer. "Confront the Council without erring. Whatever I do must insure victory; then I conquer an enemy already defeated. Thus in planning, never a useless move; in strategy, no step taken in vain."

"Yes. Exactly so."

"They are the words of Sun Tzu." Shepard admitted.

"Ah yes, your philosopher of war. When you mentioned him before I began to study his words: they echo what we teach our Huntresses. I can understand why so many soldiers especially the Alliances N7s are disciples of his. Then you must heed his words, Commander. I know you will speak with Maelon, but be mindful when you do. As I said before curiosity can be a very dangerous thing for those in law enforcement.

"C-Sec can afford it. But for Justicars and Spectres it generates unnecessary complications and muddies the waters of one's resolve and makes you second guess your duty."

"Samara, I never baulked from doing my duty or shirked my responsibilities." Shepard sounded as if she took the words of the other woman as a near insult.

"Nor would I ever accuse you of such." Samara quickly stated so her words were not taken as such. "Indeed it is your dedication to duty that gives you power and strength to carry on though adversity. A quality I greatly admire. Please do not mistake the meaning of my words.

"You are dedicated to those you call friend. I believe Urdnot Wrex's exact words were: 'How many fires have you walked through for your friends?' I believe there isn't a fire you wouldn't tackle for those you have drawn close to you. Even now on this ship, with a new crew you have proven such loyalties. To me when you helped me stop Morinth, then you helped me say goodbye to my daughter as we gave her body to the Void.

"To Grunt when you sojourned with him to the proving grounds and even destroyed a thresher maw on foot. As well as making sure Mordin had sanction to find his lost protégée. To Miranda when you helped her sister and her adopted family escape the clutches of Henry Lawson and even Cerberus. With Zaeed and Kasumi to confront ghosts of their pasts.

"My point Commander is that you've made it very clear you oppose the genophage and Mordin's role in the upgrade. Your dedication to Wrex is admirable. I know you want to help his people. Again something that is admirable, the krogan have answered for their ancestor's crimes. And as you stated the Council will not see Wrex's ambitions to unify his people as something positive, unless we make them.

"My fear is this, if you allow Maelon's words to cloud your judgment, that your efforts to aid the krogan will end as badly as Maelon's efforts to cure the genophage. Did you not say the Council is already predisposed to discredit any recommendation you offer based on their ardent disbelief the Reaper threat is real?"

"Pretty much so. But I'm not going to let their wise monkey knee jerk reaction blockade me and what I have to do. The Reapers must be confronted and destroyed, the Collectors stopped, the genophage cured and the krogan people united."

Samara shook her head and offered an indulgent smile. "Next you will say that peace between the quarian and geth is not only possible but you will see it done."

"It could happen." Shepard returned the smile. "And why not if the geth can be turned to join the battle against the Reapers all the better."

"T'is difficult for one to turn on their gods and unlikely."

"I defeated the odds before. In fact I've made a career out of it. Words such as unlikely and impossible have no real meaning for me Samara. I'd think you know that by now. It's not arrogance; it's a stubborn refusal to accept something is impossible until you've confronted it.

"Like you said if you already made the decision before you set a foot on the road all it will lead to is a bad end. I'm not about to let that happen. I can't."

"An impossibility on your part?"

"Let us say 'unlikely.'"

"There's a difference?"

"Of course." Shepard cocked an eyebrow, "One is more positive, the other not so much. Me? I'm hopelessly optimistic. There is always hope. Only because it's the one thing that no one has figured out how to kill yet."

"Goddess grant that day never comes."

"As long as we fight, it will not. We can't allow it. We can't allow this division of our peoples. The Reapers are coming Samara. The Collectors are our current threat." she held up her hand and splayed her fingers. "A great man named Nelson Mandela once said one person cannot do anything. One is weak." she closed her fist. "But united there is strength. If we are to win against the Reapers it must be as a united galaxy.

"Trust me when I say whatever Maelon has to say will not sway me from my duty. From my efforts…for unification. What Wrex is trying to do for Tuchanka I am trying to do for all of us. Tuchanka must be united if it is to survive. The galaxy must be united to survive the culling of the Reapers. There is no option otherwise. We fight as one or we die, Samara. We will not suffer the fate of the Protheans."

"And you see a unified krogan government as a means to confront the Reapers." again it was not a question

"A unified krogan government crushed the rachni."

"And you think a unified krogan government can crush the Reapers."

"What I think matters very little if Wrex isn't given the chance to do what needs to be done. But yes as a whole I do believe a unified krogan government is very key to pushing back any Reaper presence when they begin their war. I will do what ever is necessary to make that happen. Wrex needs the chance, so we have a chance. End of story."

ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME

"I see brigs generate an air of brooding." Shepard said once more without preamble.

Maelon looked up, blinked twice and answered: "A little debris from the past that's all."

"Oh? I was lead to believe salarians swiftly resolved emotional issues.

"Yes. The past is past. It's done."

"But then there is the paperwork you leave behind."

The prisoner smiled at that. It was the tragic smile all those on death row have when inevitably coming to terms with what awaits the green mile. "Commander Shepard, you have questions?"

"Not really. I'd say more of a clarification. I get wanting to help the krogan people. I do. And everything you did you thought you were doing to help them. The truth is you couldn't have been more wrong.

"Weyrloc Guld and the Blood Pack? Seriously? Really what were you thinking? That is the worst possible person to go to if you wanted to make reparations for the genophage by curing it. Unless of course that's what you wanted."

"Wanted?"

"Another intergalactic war with the krogan. I can see it." Shepard tapped her head and paced the area near the brig as she had done when Miranda was sitting in that cell. As if she were a shark circling the waters. "Brilliant really if you think about the strategy. Oh sure I can make a cure the genophage. It will take a few dozen krogan prisoners, from other clans if you don't have any volunteers. Oh and a whole host of humans as well." she turned cocked her head almost draconian.

"Let us play pretend. Lets us say you did it. You made the cure. But now it is in the hands of a warlord. One who is blood thirsty and hungry for vengeance. Granted he isn't the only one. As I walked through the Urdnot compound I heard several warriors commenting on how they wanted the galaxy to pay for the genophage. Starting with the salarians then the turians would be next." Shepard stared at the man for a moment before continuing.

"In this pretend world we've established the clan Weyrloc has the cure, and he gains the support of those of like mind, those who want vengeance. Let's face it, that's ninety-five per cent of the male population. As I never met with any female clan leaders it's difficult to say how they sway. Wrex's more aggressive people have a coup. A bloody one. Wrex is cast down. Weyrloc takes the throne. Now that war they seek-happens.

"So now we are at war with one of the most vicious warriors next to the rachni the galaxy has ever known. Any chance of cultural uplifting and the Krogan Age of Enlightenment are gone. Wrex is dead and so are those who supported him. More than likely male and female alike. And as the galaxy now fights the krogan who have no doubt secured alliances with the batarians and half the others races in the Terminus Systems.

"We are utterly distracted when the Reapers come. We die. Thanks to in no small part to your enthusiasm to right the wrongs of the past and cure the genophage."

Maelon shook his head; "I was led to believe you wanted that accursed thing cured."

"I do! Whole heartedly but not if it plunges the galaxy into chaos and war. You should have waited. Taken the slower path and not acted so precipitously, Wrex would have allowed you to make the cure in his clan's name, but not at the expense you offered—demanded."

The Spectre held up a hand and stopped Maelon from issuing the words forming on his tongue. "I talk, you listen, I leave and then I hand you over to C-Sec. That's it."

"Look we both want to help the krogan, so listen very closely. When you give your testimony to the Council make sure you don't screw up Wrex's chance for unification. I shouldn't have to say this but I will. I'll say it just the once. If you screw Wrex over like you did when you went to Weyrloc with that cure of yours it won't be STG agents that will ensure your silence, it will be a very pissed Spectre." She left it at that.

Before she reached the door however Maleon called out to her, causing the woman to pause at the threshold of the shuttle deck.

"What they say about you is true." He didn't wait for the inevitable question of 'what is that?' "You are a most tenacious and decisive woman."

She turned and looked at him. Her face revealed nothing of her thoughts. She simply turned and left with Samara's warning echoing in her hindbrain like a musical OSD stuck on replay.

Claim victory in your heart and the universe will follow. She further told me: When you have reached the end of the road, then you can decide whether to go to the left or to the right, to fire or to water. If you make those decisions before you have even set foot upon the road, it will take you no where... except to a bad end.

ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME

The Citadel loomed in the fullness of the purple black expansion the Serpent Nebula within the Window System. To the Spectre the Citadel with the wards arms fully extended always looked like a lotus blossom in full bloom.

The Normandy sailed in seemingly drifting on the shoals of stardust. Standing behind him as she often did The Spectre waited with arms folded across her chest as Joker announced their arrival.

"SSV Normandy SR-2 requesting a vector and berth to secure C-Sec docks." Joker radioed the request to the Citadel Control. "Spectre Authority."

*Spectre Authority?* there was a pause. *We are aware the Normandy is a Spectre vessel but such a request is unusual.* And there was the insinuation despite Citadel space-traffic control knowing very well that the Normandy was a Council Spectre vessel.

"Citadel Control this is Spectre Shepard am I to understand I am being denied?"

*NO! Of course not, Spectre. Your authority is fully recognized. What is the nature of this specialized berth?*

"High priority prisoner transfer. I want a fully armed contingent of C-Sec agents. Notify Executor Pallin. This prisoner must be transferred with the utmost security. Beyond that I will not say."

*Understood. And be advised Executor Pallin no longer serves as head of C-Sec. That position is now held by Commander Armando-Owen Bailey."*

Joker nearly broke his neck turning around so very quickly he was positive he had fractured a few fingers on his left hand as he gripped the arm of the pilots chair so tightly. He flinched at the sudden sharp very familiar pain but his gaze was steady and sure watching his Commander's reaction to the news.

She could be hard to read sometimes, this time it was nearly impossible. "Copy that Citadel Control. I'll still need a full complement of officers."

* Commander Bailey has been informed. He is currently tied up in a meeting but assures me that he will be there at prisoner processing at C-Sec Academy. Please proceed to C-Sec docking bay 117. Captain Frederic Kelly will be waiting along with the armed escort.* the woman on the on the other end of the line informed them.

"Noted. Normandy out." Shepard cut the communications. "Things have certainly taken a turn."

"No kidding right? Bailey's the Executor now? Wonder how that happened? Thought he'd wait a little while before going for another promotion after getting bumped up from Captain to Commander." Joker said. "Hey maybe the Spectres all got tired of being shit on by the Pallin guy."

"Maybe. I doubt it." Came Shepard's answer. "Technically speaking the Spectres and C-Sec handle two different aspects of the law. As Spectres we can take over a local investigation if the situation warrants it, but we can't say who holds on to the sheriff's badge so to speak." She shifted her right arm to scratch at the back of her neck, then rolled her head back and forth, listening to her vertebra crunch. "Right now I don't care who sits in the Executor's seat, I just want Maelon off my ship so I can go back to the mission."

Just as she was about to turn and leave, she glanced back to her pilot. "Inform the crew they have a twenty-four hour furlough."

"Aye-aye, Commander." A moment later Joker's typical jovial-mocking voice echoed throughout the halls of the Normandy passing along Shepard's orders. Adding that if they were not back in the twenty-four they'd not only miss the boat but would have a bit of an issue with being AWOL. It was the sort of thing the military frowned on. For the non-military crew, well they just had to deal with a grumpy Spectre.

Grumpy Spectre indeed, Shepard thought bitterly. But not because the possibility of my team taking a runner, I'm not looking forward to the damned headache that comes with meeting with the Council. Of course that only came after dropping of her prisoner. That was a road to oh-not-so-much-fun.

The logistics of prisoner transfer was a fairly simple matter. It was just the matter of the actual transport; of course that responsibility was handled by C-Sec. Shepard saw at least ten C-Sec agents along with a man who stood at the very least seven feet tall. He was thickly muscled it appeared as if he could bench-press a shuttle and the blue / white C-sec assault hardsuit gave him the appearance of a mountain.

That boy ate his Wheaties. Shepard thought as she looked up and up at the great bear of a man. He snapped a very crisp salute. "Spectre Shepard."

"Captain Fredric Kelly, I presume."

A simple nod of the head. "Yes Ma'am. His voice was thick and deep with an Icelandic accent." It wasn't a question. He looked at the sullen salarian in restraints. Maelon looked up once then cast his large rapidly blinking eyes back down to the metal flooring of the docking bay.

"Yes and I want him in solitary confinement. No one is to speak to him, no one is question him and he is to have absolutely no visitors not from the Salarian Consulate or Embassy and especially not the STG. Am I understood? Spectre authority." Shepard issued with the full command dominance that came with only being an Naval officer and N7 but with the power of being an agent of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance squad. There was no denying the orders or she who had issued them.

"As you order Spectre." Kelly said. He gestured to four of his guards to take the salarian into custody. They all but frog-marched him into the awaiting prisoner transport. Four others quickly entered after. The others save for young corporal and Kelly remained, the former gave the latter a data pad which in turn he handed to Shepard.

Shepard scrolled through the contents until she got to the bottom of it which required her signature and palm print to make the transfer of custody official. After doing so the Spectre handed Kelly the pad which he also signed, took off the gauntlet and pressed his palm to the face of the screen.

"Have to say I'm surprised Spectre." Kelly said after handing the data pad back to the young cop who had given it to him in the first place. "Most of you Spectres run roughshod over C-Sec., Nillus, Bau and especially Tolan, Vasir and most especially Saren take great pleasure in flaunting their authority. You actually go though the regulations and formalities."

"Serving in the military for over a decade regs are common place and serve a purpose. They are there for a reason. I once told my XO who used to be in C-Sec that just because you can ignore the rules or break them doesn't mean you should."

Respect reflected in the C-Sec Captain's eyes, more than it had been before. Before it was for the rank now it was for the woman, which had nothing to due with her prior history of being a war hero or the Savior of the Citadel.

The man dipped his head showing his respect. "Spectre I assume you wish to see your prisoner safely locked away."

"You assume right. Let's just say I don't want any sort of 'unforeseen circumstance' to occur. Meaning no insult to C-Sec capabilities but I'm not taking that risk. Besides I should properly greet the new Executor."

Again a slight head nod from the great bear of a man.

Getting to the docks C-Sec Academy only took moments given the height of traffic. Of course having sirens blaring to clear the way helped.

Upon docking Captain Bailey was there awaiting them. "Spectre Shepard, I see you brought gifts."

"Good thing I'm not Greek." Shepard drawled.

He smiled at that, "Indeed not but I'll be wary all the same. A prize like that will have people looking for him either to take what he has buzzing around in that noggin of his or to silence him for good. He's trouble." The Commander looked over his shoulder to the transport wagon.

"You can say that again. It's why he had to remain in solitary confinement, like I told your Captain Kelly." Shepard turned now facing the old beat cop.

"Not an issue. Guessing he's something like that butcher Dr. Saleon back in the day, carving up people. Can't say I blame Garrus for wanting to pop that frog in the head for what he did to all those people."

"Something like that." Shepard nodded. Saleon a salarian geneticist had once escaped C-Sec custody went dark and resurfaced as Dr. R. Heart. The one that got a way, one that haunted Garrus for years until his C-Sec contact, whom now Shepard assumed was none other than Bailey passed along intel that he was holed up on the MSV Fedele.

Strangely when Shepard and Garrus caught up with him he had been working furiously on Frankensteinian test subjects that resembled thorian creepers. In his medical storage bay were containers holding organs for asari, salarian, human, krogan and turian. The man was truly sick. He had died by Garrus's blaster fire when he had refused to be taken under arrest. That whole event had been a critical turning point for her Archangel.

You can't predict what people will do; all you can do is control how you respond to it. That day Garrus decided to become a protector rather than an agent of vengeance.

"So I hear congratulations are in order, Executor. How'd that happen?" Shepard changed the subject.

Bailey tilted his head to the side; "A bit like you and Saren. Not as much drama, not saving an entire colony from blowing up, or an open gun fight in a bar…. but let's talk about it in my office, like Pallin's it was very close the embassies. Clearly not the old Turian's spacious offices that were once near the diplomat's lounge. Though it was more than he had previously which was a simple desk just off the customs office within the Zakera Ward Precinct.

"Like what you've done with the place." Shepard said looking around. "It's sooo Spartan."

"Haven't had a chance to call in the interior decorators, yet. Mind you as soon as they are called in the keepers will probably change things around. They've done it to this office once already. They have this strange feng shui thing, going on."

Upon hearing the keepers brought up brought a scowl to Shepard's lips. The strange creepy buggy caregivers of the Citadel were originally designed by the Reapers. Even though they did manage to repair a great deal of the Citadel's destruction caused by one of their former masters, Shepard still had an innate mistrust for the insects.

Just like she had a mistrust of this meeting. Shepard's gut told her that Bailey wanted to tell her something but was unable to, as if he was held back by orders not to divulge what he knew. There were ways around that; one simply had to ask the right questions, in the right way.

"You said you came to the office a bit like me and Saren. Guessing Pallin got caught doing something he should have, and paid the price for it."

"Pretty much."

"Dirty cop?"

"There was evidence. Air tight."

Shepard cocked her head. "But you have doubts."

A shrug of the shoulders. "You know how it is. Evidence is clear, irrefutable. All there. like you said: air tight. But there are stirrings in the gut that just don't sit right. He hated dirty cops, hated Spectres even more, or maybe it's a case of 'doth protest too much,"

"He hates dirty cops because he was one and wants to point the finger somewhere else to assuage his guilt?"

Bailey gave a strange shrug of the shoulders that taken in one light could be seen as admission and in the other neither confirming nor denying the words spoken. "I don't know there is a big difference between a dirty cop and a cop willing to dirt his hands. Me? I'm the latter. You know that. But Pallin he was a straight laced stick up his pucker-hole as they come….came."

"Where'd you get the hands on the Intel that outed our turian 'friend'?"

"Our Councilor's office."

"Anderson?" Shepard frowned. She trusted her former captain. It was why she nominated him for the role of Councilor. Yet it was up to the Earth Systems Alliance Prime Minister and President to accept that nomination or name their own candidate. They had not given any other contender for the coveted position, though there were a few that could have taken up the mantel. Udina being the first.

"If it came from Anderson, it can be trusted."

Again one of the one his strange head nods that was very definitely trying to convey something he wasn't allowed to speak of. "If it came from Anderson."

Shepard frowned. "If?"

"I think you should talk to the Councilor." And there it was culpability.

"Bailey what's going on?" Shepard frowned.

"Talk to him. I have orders, Shepard you know how it is."

"I could use Spectre authority and demand the answers. I'd rather not."

"You could, aye. Won't get you anywhere, though. This comes directly from the Council. You want answers, go talk to our Councilor."

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That is exactly what Shepard did.

She expected to find Anderson's very confident personal assistant Cerise manning the desk outside his office. Instead she found a young man. He looked vaguely familiar to her. She looked at him for a moment then recalled that was this was the ghoulish guy who wanted to keep Nirali Bhatia one of Ash's friends in her old Unit 212 body more or less as a hostage to uncover what the geth had done to her, as she hadn't quite turned into a husk.

Shepard convinced the supposed diplomat to return the body of Nirali to her husband Sameash. The commander was as passionately committed now as she had been back then when she said those studies violated the very principles the Alliance fought for.

Why Clerk Bosker was here as Anderson's personal aide Shepard couldn't fathom. Her mind darted back to the odd way Bailey was acting. She knew from the start he was trying to tell her something had he had evidently been ordered not to.

"C—c-commander Shepard?" Bosker stuttered he stood up and saluted. "I'm Petty Officer Clerk Bosker…"

Shepard turned to him, a cold mask of command slipped easily in place. She didn't return his salute "I recall. You were part of the diplomatic corps were you not?"

He nodded.

"Then you know very well that addressing me with my Alliance rank rather than proper title is a great breach of protocol. I am a member of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance." she got close to the mealy little man, "I expect to be addressed as such."

His Adam's apple bobbed like cork in the water. "Yes…yes ma'am. My apologies Spectre Shepard."

She lifted her chin imperiously, something she picked up from Samara. "See to it that it doesn't happen again."

He nodded and the champion Adam's apple bobbed back and forth. "Announce me." Shepard turned away from the desk and entered the Councilor's office without waiting for the all clear.

"Wait you can't just walk in…"

"I just did." Shepard tossed over her shoulder then the door closed. As soon as she saw the décor the frown she held on the outside became a scowl. This was not Anderson's office. The décor was all wrong. Gone were the memorials of past battles, the small display case with model ships, and the flowing lines of neo-art deco black and white furniture. The furnishings were eloquent, of the highest quality and exceptionally expensive.

The paintings on the walls depicted the skylines of many of Earth's mega-cities. New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Sydney and of course the heart of the Alliance Vancouver. Definitely not Anderson's tastes. Save for Vancouver perhaps.

"Trust you not to follow protocol." a male voice not belonging to Anderson slithered from behind the Spectre. She recognized it at once.

Spinning around Shepard pulled her pistol from its holster and pointed it directly at Donnel Udina's forehead. "I have a long list of people I didn't want to see today, and your name is right at the top. But hell I should have recognized your foul stench as soon as I walked in here. Where the hell is Anderson?"

"Charming to the last." Udina drawled. "You know it's illegal to point your weapon at a member of the Citadel Council."

"Yeah well that would worry me if you were one. I won't ask this again, where the hell is Anderson?" the demand sharper this time, more fierce. The finger that once flagged the trigger was now a hair's breadth from squeezing it.

Udina looked at the weapon as if it were inconsequential. Though a keen eye could spot small beads of sweat gathering at the man's temples.

"Oh but I am humanity's true Councilor, Shepard. Our government in their latent wisdom saw the folly of a poor decision based upon a very biased opinion of one glorified war hero."

The gun lowered but was not returned to the Specter's side.

Udina walked around to what was now most certainly his desk. "Humanity has suffered for that error."

"Anderson is one of the most capable and experienced leaders we have in the Alliance Military! His command is undeniable"

"Military speaking I'd agree, but he speaks first with his fists, much like you. He wasn't fit to take the seat of Councilor. He is no diplomat, competent he might be on the battle field and in the trenches, and frankly it's where he belongs. But in the Grand Game of the political arena he had no place. And he knows it. It's why he sends his adviser and our ambassador to all the diplomatic functions. And for that we have suffered greatly for any political clout you might have won us saving the collective hides of the Council."

Shepard's anger rose. Anderson would never shirk his duties, Udina on the other hand… "You have some gall beseeching Anderson's credibility Udina. You were the one disgraced, stripped of title and office. You betrayed the Alliance to Cerberus. And it was you who sent those bounty hunters after my wife! Destroyed my child!"

The gun was placed in its holster as her body took on a blue glow. The Spectre seething in rage took a step closer.

Her mind screamed with Liara's voice 'NO! My love, No!'

'Liara?'

"Kill me Shepard, and that asari child won't be the only thing destroyed." Udina hissed.

'Stay your hand, my love. Still your fury.' From the great distance of the Void Liara's calming tones soothed the raging beast lurking just inside the Commander's heart Shepard commanded the dark energy boiling in her blood to cool until the glow dispersed.

"Just like your mentor, thinking with your fists instead of your head." Udina crowed his small triumph. "Good thing you have sense enough not strike."

"I won't give you the pleasure." Shepard growled. "I don't know how you weaseled your way back into office but it won't last."

"I did no such thing. President Huerta was the one who reinstated me. He was quite insistent that I take the mantel and burden of Councilor from your dear Captain." the gray haired man grinned like a piranha. "Of course that was just before his unfortunate health condition took its toll and rendered him brain dead. I think they are going to name or rename a hospital for him as a memorial. Touching really."

"And what of Anderson?" Shepard said through gritted teeth.

"Made an Admiral. Trust me when I say he's happier back in the uniform. Like you he was born to wear it."

"I don't believe Anderson would have agreed to this so easily. Or without telling me."

"Are you privy to everything he does?" Udina snorted when he didn't get a reply. "I believe the good Admiral decided to run off and play war hero once more."

"What are you talking about?" came a heated demand on frozen breath.

Udina shrugged his shoulders, "I can't truly say. Only that he somehow conned former Executor Pallin to commission an all turian C-Sec task force and along with some turian General named Oriana to charge off on same dammed fool's errand to eliminate the heart of Cerberus."

Shepard went from scowling to frowning. This was news to her. Surely if Councilor…Admiral Anderson had gone off to attack Cerberus he would have told the Spectre of his plans. She was after all the one responsible for passing along vital information on a few key Cerberus strongholds. It was why Shepard had gone pseudo undercover as an 'ally' of Cerberus….of TIMmy so that she and Anderson could be the ones to bring The Man down-to destroy the whole organization or at the very least bring it to its knees.

"Pallin? You mean the man you had removed from office? Charged as a traitor? I knew it was all bullshit. That man was an ass but he wasn't a dirty cop."

"The evidence clearly points that he was." Udina flashed a smarmy smile. "Just like the evidence is irrefutable of you charging into my office without proper admittance and threatening me." he pointed with his chin to the several key-placed CCTV cameras. "You can not kill me. We both know that."

Shepard shook her head. "Death is not the only possible outcome." her hands glowed with a swirl of biotics then dampened slightly. "Anderson, Huerta and Pallin. I bet that list goes on and on to get you just where TIMmy wants you. I don't know exactly what your game plan is Udina, but I won't let it succeed. I will see you fall."

"You might think that but I couldn't possibly comment." The old man scoffed. "Your delusions are faulty. Those foolish Prothean beacons have badly distorted your judgment. Society has a right to protect itself but it doesn't have a right to be vengeful, It has right to punish but it doesn't have a right to kill. Your position as Spectre is not as secure as you think."

"You dare imagine what I think?" Shepard hissed.

"The ripples of your every action lead to the same outcome, Shepard Your disgraced removal from the Spectres and your beloved military. And then we will have a true Spectre. One ever loyal to the Alliance."

"My loyalty to the Alliance is unshakable." she scoffed.

Humanity's newest Councilor cocked his head. "Is it? Aren't you the one supposedly allied with Cerberus all on the pretext of protecting our colonies against the Collectors threat? Your alliance to Cerberus is there in the open. Me? You have no proof of any affiliation. Just like always, you have no evidence to present, only speculation and the testimony of very questionable and unreliable witnesses." he smirked. "If you try it drum up charges on these wild allegations, not only will you be laughed out of court but you will have driven the final nail in the coffin that was your glorious career by your own hand."

He waved the irate Spectre off with a flick of his wrist. "Now be a good little war hero and go save some colonies from the big bad bugs. I have actual work to do. Anderson created one hell of a political shit storm when he charged off with his crusade. And I have to clean it up."

Deflated and enraged the Spectre had no choice but follow her orders. Once more The Illusive Man and his lackey Udina had outmaneuvered her.

Confront the Council without erring. Whatever I do must insure victory; then I conquer an enemy already defeated. Thus in planning, never a useless move; in strategy, no step taken in vain

The problem with Sun Tzu was that TIMmy was as an avid disciple of the ancient philosopher as much as Shepard was and had been playing the Great Game far longer than she. Today—in this moment she became the enemy already defeated.

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AN: The part of Bailey becoming the Executor is based heavily on the small story: Inquisition by Mac Walters. The story can be found in Mass Effect vol1 which include the anthologies of Redemption, Evolution, Invasion, and Homeworlds as well as the novel: Retribution.