PART 3 - 0NE YEAR LATER

Councilor Steven Hackett sat at his desk with one hand covering his face. He was experiencing one of the toughest parts of being a Citadel Councilor. There had just been a meeting with his fellow councilors and the topic was less than uplifting. A major crisis was brewing on Earth. The Council had decided that as humanity's representative, it fell onto Hackett to decide the best way to handle it. That was the part Hackett wasn't looking forward to.

Even when he was the ranking Admiral in the Alliance Navy, Hackett usually had someone higher up the chain of command to give the final say. Being a councilor meant he was now all he had. Whenever that thought crossed his mind, he thought back to when he was first offered the position. Back then it took the word of a good friend to make him see that his leadership during the Reaper War made him suitable for the job. But this time Hackett felt like he was about to betray the friend who helped him get the job.

A beeping from Hackett's terminal told him the call he had been waiting for was coming through. He hesitated before pushing the button to answer it. This was the point of no return. When he took the call, he had to make a decision that would have an impact on the current crisis. Once he made the decision there would be no going back. Finally he pushed the button and a male voice greeted him.

"Councilor," it said, "how'd your meeting with the other councilors go?"

"Not good Commander," Hackett replied, "this crisis has everyone on edge and the Council feels that something needs to be done and soon. Have there been any new developments down there?"

"Sorry sir. We've been trying to get a line of communication so we can learn what's happening inside but nobody's answering. I wish the news was better but nothing has changed since my last call."

Hackett sighed, "I was afraid of that. Then I guess I'm left with no other option, I'm going to have to make the call."

The commander made what sounded like a painful hiss, "you sure there isn't another way Councilor? After all you know what day it is."

"Believe me Commander I don't want to do this. Unfortunately the Council and I are in agreement that we need Spectre involvement on this. They are the only ones who are already on Earth. I'll make the call and inform you when I have an ETA so you can meet them."

"Man, Loco is not going to like this."

The rising sun began to peak through the cabin window and hit the face of Lieutenant-Commander Ashley Shepard. The light from the rays slowly stirred her awake. As she slowly opened her eyes, Ashley reached across the bed but was surprised when she felt nothing but mattress. As far as she knew, she didn't go to bed the previous night alone.

Ashley's confusion was interrupted when she caught wind of a pleasing scent. She instantly recognized the smell. It was something she had smelled many mornings before when she was a kid. Eggs were being cooked outside the bedroom. She got up from the bed and pulled out a robe from the closet. Once she was dressed, she followed the smell out of the bedroom and towards a nearby kitchen. The sight that greeted her made her smile.

Standing over a stove was her husband Captain Shepard who was in the process of scrambling some eggs. Once he was done, he gently poured the eggs onto a plate that was already loaded with sausages. He then grabbed the plate and turned to set it on the dining table behind him. The table already had a plate of pancakes on the opposite side and a glass of orange juice on each end. After he set the eggs on the table, he looked up and saw Ashley leaning against the wall smiling at him. He smiled back.

"Happy Anniversary Ash," he said.

"This looks amazing," said Ashley, "you really outdid yourself."

Shepard then pulled out the chair at the end with the scrambled eggs and gestured for Ashley to have a seat. As Ashley headed for her seat, she took some time before sitting down to give Shepard a kiss. Shepard then headed for the chair at the end of the table with the pancakes. On his way he opened the curtains on the nearby windows and was greeted by the sight of snow covered Alaska.

It had been a year since Shepard and Ashley got married. To celebrate, they decided to spend a week in Alaska. After spending their honeymoon in Jamaica, they decided to go the opposite of tropical for their anniversary. They had already been at the cabin they rented for three days and had been enjoying every minute of it. Now the actual day of their anniversary had arrived and Shepard was doing what he could to ensure it started well. As Shepard sat down, he watched as Ashley took her first bite of the eggs and was pleased to see her react favorably to the taste.

"These are delicious," she said after taking another bite, "those cooking lessons your former mess sergeant has been giving you are really paying off."

"I'll be sure to tell Rupert that next time I talk to him," Shepard said referring to Mess Sergeant Rupert Gardner.

"How's he been doing lately? Is he still with the Fifth Fleet?"

"Yes, he's been there ever since I recommended him for the posting after our mission against the Collectors ended and he quit Cerberus."

"So besides this amazing breakfast, what other plans do you have for us today?"

Shepard was about to answer when a beeping sound came from a terminal on a desk in the cabin's living area. The sound made the smiles on both Shepard and Ashley's face fall. To ensure that nothing would disturb their anniversary, they kept the list of people who knew where they were staying down to only one person: Councilor Hackett. The one condition was that Hackett would only call if it was an emergency. If the terminal was beeping, it was highly likely that Hackett was calling and not to wish Shepard and Ashley a happy anniversary.

To further prove the point, the silence of the Alaskan wilderness was interrupted by the sound of an Alliance shuttle landing outside the cabin. Whatever Hackett was calling about, Shepard had a feeling it was going to result in him and Ashley having to go somewhere immediately after the call was finished. He glanced at Ashley who was starting to get up from her chair. He got up as well and the two of them headed for the terminal. A few button pushes later they were greeted by the face of Councilor Hackett. They came to attention and saluted.

"At ease," Hackett said after saluting back, "Captain, Commander believe me when I say that I wish I didn't have to make this call today but sadly circumstances are forcing my hand."

"No need to apologize sir," Shepard replied, "what can we do for you?"

"We have a crisis brewing in London. Several high level diplomats from all council races were visiting to witness the commemoration of the recently completed Conduit Memorial Park. After the ceremony they gathered in the State Ballroom of Buckingham Palace for a reception. An hour ago we received word that a small group of terrorists had infiltrated the palace and taken the dignitaries hostage."

"Have the terrorists issued any demands yet?"

"Not yet. We've tried to establish a line of communication with them but so far they have refused all requests to talk to us. We have no idea who these terrorists are or what they want. I have to say that there are just too many unknowns. Given that, I'm afraid we don't have a lot of options. The Council has decided, and I agree with them, that we need to get some Spectres involved in this matter. I know you two are celebrating your anniversary today but you both are the closest Spectres as you are already on Earth. The Council has decided that you two are our best and only choices."

Shepard sighed after Hackett finished speaking. Ashley gave a quick salute to Hackett and left to head for the bedroom. Shepard knew what she was going to do. While he and Hackett finished their discussion, Ashley would be in the bedroom packing suitcases. They both wished that they could decline the mission and continue their vacation in Alaska. But they also knew that they wouldn't be able to enjoy themselves thinking about the hostages and what might happen to them if they didn't help. There was no other choice, their anniversary plans were going to have to come to a premature end.

"Call the Council and tell them that Williams and I are on our way," Shepard finally said.

"Thank you Captain. I assume that you noticed the shuttle outside that I sent for you."

"Yes sir."

"Once you and the commander are packed, that shuttle will take you both to London. I'll send word to the commander in charge of the task force to head to the spaceport to greet you. And Captain, I know this won't make up for ruining your vacation plans, but I do want to wish the both of you a Happy Anniversary."

Shepard came to attention and saluted, "thank you sir."

Hackett saluted back, "Hackett out."

After Hackett's image vanished from the terminal, Shepard headed into the bedroom. He saw that Ashley had already packed one suitcase and was working on the second one. Based on the grunts she was making, Shepard could tell Ashley was not in a happy mood. It was a complete switch from the one she was in when she first woke up.

"It's bad enough that we nearly missed our wedding because we got called onto an assignment," she said, "but now we have to give up our anniversary plans?"

Shepard just shrugged his shoulders, "blame the terrorists. They're the ones who have no appreciation for what we had planned."

"They never do."

Shepard walked up behind Ashley and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her on the back of her head. Ashley couldn't help but smile and turned to face Shepard. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.

"Are you trying to cheer me up hero-man?" she asked.

"It seems to be working," Shepard replied, "I promise that we'll celebrate our anniversary properly when the mission is done."

"I guess that will have to do."

"I'll finish packing the other suitcase. You can head out to the shuttle. Let the pilot know that I will be out in a minute."

"Aye-aye skipper."

Ashley picked up the already packed suitcase and headed out of the cabin. After watching Ashley leave, Shepard went to work on the suitcase. As he packed he thought about how Ashley was probably right. The Reaper War had been over for almost two years and the two of them had hoped things would settle down so that they could enjoy the rest of their lives together. Unfortunately between Alliance and Spectre business it was proving to be almost impossible for them to have any time to themselves.

With the suitcase packed and ready, Shepard took one last look at the cabin. All he could think was this was not how he wanted his first year of marriage to end. He then turned and walked out the door to join Ashley on board the shuttle.