26 Years Later
Earth Orbit – Sol System
"Well, what about Shepard? He's a spacer. Lived aboard starships most of his life."
"Military service runs in the family. Both his parents were in the navy."
"He got most of his unit killed on Torfan."
"He gets the job done. No matter what the cost."
"Is that the kind of person we want protecting Humanity?"
"That's the only kind of person who can protect Humanity."
"I'll make the call."
Near Jupiter – Sol System
Systems Empire Vessel (SEV) Normandy.
Commander John Shepard entered the navigation center of the SEV Normandy. He shoved an inferior officer out of his way. The servile fool tripped and fell. But nobody questioned him. Nobody had the authority to.
Joker's voice sounded over the comm. as the Normandy flew by the blue gas giant Neptune. "The Arcturus Prime relay is in range. Initiating transmission sequence."
Shepard walked through the connecting corridor to the bridge, lined with rows of weapons computers. Always alert and scanning for threats, they were incorporated with technology from the subjugated Turians, as were many of the ship's top-of-the-line systems.
"We are connected. Calculating transit mass and destination... the relay is hot. Acquiring approach vector. All stations secure for transit."
The vessel configured for mass transit, rapidly approaching the ancient relay as Shepard entered the bridge. "The board is green. Approach run has begun", said Joker again over the ship's comm., as the great glowing mass of dark energy held in place by curved metal from ancient times came into the view of the bridge as the Normandy turned in space.
"Hitting the relay in 3... 2... 1..." An electric blue current surrounded the ship as it lined itself up with the relay, and disappeared instantaneously, as the mass effect field accelerated it to impossible speeds.
...
"Thrusters. Check. Navigation. Check. Internal emissions sink engaged. All systems online. Drift... just under 1500 K."
"1500 is good. Our captain will be pleased." The enslaved Spectre, Nihlus, stalked off the bridge.
Joker looked at Kaiden Alenko in the co-pilots seat. "... I hate that guy."
"Nihlus gave you a complement... so you hate him?" replied Kaiden.
"Did you not just hear what that... thing said? It wasn't WHAT he said so much as the WAY he said it. That alien just strolls along all day, acting the role of supervisor, superior to us Humans. The captain should bring him in line."
"Hey- this ship was built with Turian technology. I dislike aliens as much as the next guy, but we need their kind on board as experts."
"Yeah, that is the official story. But you don't send Spectres, much less Turian Spectres, on shakedown runs. What knowledge could he possibly have other than-"
"That's enough." Shepard spoke up for the first time. "You're soldiers. Act like it."
"Sorry, Commander" Kaiden said.
The comm. beeped. Captain Anderson's voice.
"Joker. Status report."
"Just cleared the mass relay Captain. Stealth systems engaged. Everything looks solid."
"Good. Find a comm. buoy and link us into the network. I want mission reports relayed back to Empire brass before we reach Foothold."
"Aye aye Captain. Better break out the old whip, Sir. I think Nihlus is headed your way."
"He's already here, Lieutenant. And watch that tongue before I cut it out."
Joker just shook his head to himself.
"Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the comm. room for a debriefing." Beep.
"You got that Commander?"
"I'm on my way", the Commander said as he turned to leave.
"Is it just me or does the Captain always sound a little pissed off?"
"Only when he's talking to you, Joker", said Kaiden, smirking.
As Commander Shepard marched by the navigation room, he overheard Navigator Pressly talking to Adams down in Engineering over a private comm.
"I'm telling you, I just saw him! He marched by like he was on a mission."
Adams scoffed. "He's a Spectre. They're always on a mission."
"And we're getting dragged right along with him. I don't know what Imperial brass thinks they're doing, sending a former Council agent along with Humanity's most advanced starship..."
From what Shepard could tell, that was what the entire crew was thinking in some way or another. He even overhead the bloodthirsty Corporal Jenkins speculating with doctor/torturer (Alliance doctors served dual roles) Chakwas on how there was something "not right" about a Turian Spectre being sent on a mission to Foothold, Humanity's first colony.
As the commander entered the briefing room, he saw the Turian, studying data on Foothold. Suspiciously, he approached the Spectre, who turned to face him.
"Commander Shepard. I was hoping you'd get here first. It will give us a chance to talk."
Shepard narrowed his eyes. "What about?"
Nihlus began pacing, thoughtfully. "I'm interested in this world we're going to – Foothold. I hear it's quite beautiful."
"I'm a marine, not some tourist on vacation", Shepard sneered.
"It's more than just a tourist destination, isn't it, Shepard? Foothold is a symbol of Humanity, a perfect little world on the edge of the Empire. Proof that Humanity can not only establish colonies across the galaxy, but also protect them from... inferior races. Like my people. Even though we've proven that we serve only the Empire over the past two decades. But how safe is it, really?"
"Are you trying to scare me, Turian?"
"Your people, the overlords of mine, are still newcomers, Shepard. The galaxy can be a very dangerous place. Is the Empire truly ready for this?"
"If you think-" Shepard began to exclaim, but was cut off by Captain Anderson's voice behind him.
"I think it's time we told the Commander what's really going on."
Nihlus nodded. "This mission is far more than a simple shakedown run."
"I already figured that out."
"We're making a covert pickup on Eden Prime. That's why we needed the stealth systems operational."
Shepard's eyebrow moved upwards, like Spock's. "There must be a reason you didn't tell me about this, Sir."
"This comes down from the top, Commander. The information's strictly on a need-to-know basis. A research team on Foothold unearthed some kind of... beacon during an excavation. It was Prothean."
"I thought the Protheans vanished fifty thousand years ago."
Nihlus piped up. "Their legacy still remains. The mass relays, the Citadel- I mean Eden Prime station, our ship drives – it's all based on Prothean technology."
"This is big, Shepard. The last time Humanity made a discovery like this, it jumped our technology forward two hundred years. But Foothold doesn't have the facilities to handle something like this. We need to bring the beacon back to Eden Prime for proper study."
"Are we expecting trouble?"
Nihlus retorted, grimly, "I'm always expecting trouble."
Captain Anderson continued. "There's more Shepard. Nihlus isn't just here for the beacon. He's also here to... evaluate you."
Shepard swore. "What? If you think I'm going to let myself be... observed by this subhuman-"
"Shut your mouth, Commander! I've been pushing Imperial HQ to elevate you for a long time, don't make me regret it! Nihlus may be a Turian, but he's also a Spectre, and the only one the Alliance could spare for this mission. Human or no he's qualified to recommend you for the Spectre program, and that's all that matters."
"Both the Captain and I were impressed when we studied the reports from Torfan. A grim business... but you got the job done. That's why Captain Anderson put your name forward as a candidate for the Spectres."
"I don't like people making decisions about my future."
"This isn't about you, Shepard. Humanity needs more leaders, more inspiration on the battlefield. We're counting on you to be one of them."
"I need to see your skills for myself, Commander. Foothold will be the first of several missions together."
"You'll be in charge of the ground team. Secure the beacon and get on to the ship ASAP. Nihlus will accompany you to observe the mission."
"Fine. Just give the word Captain."
"We should be getting close to the-"
And then, Joker, over the comm. system.
"Captain! We've got a problem." His voice sounded urgent.
"What's wrong Joker?"
"Transmission from Foothold, sir. You'd better see this."
The captain turned to the view screen. "Bring it up on screen."
Joker did. The first thing the three of them saw was... rifle fire. Shaky camera movement, smoke... marines were firing upward at something, retreating. A female marine rushed over to the recorder. "Get down!" She continued firing, protecting the transmission. More unsteady movements... earth met sky as explosive rounds impacted. An officer was yelling at the camera. "We are under attack! Taking heavy casualties! I repeat – heavy casualties! We can't... argh!... –eed evac! They came out of nowhere! We need-"
The marine fell back from the camera, apparently dead. The cameraman was looking around again, at marines that looked upward, their eyes transfixed with expressions of shock and awe. The camera looked that way, too.
What the transmission showed had to be seen to be believed. It was... something that large had to be a ship, but it looked... different from other vessels of alien design. Almost like a giant hand, the digits of which all moved independently of one another, while electricity sparked. Suddenly the transmission shook once more... the cameraman was firing... an explosion... static.
There was silence for a moment. Joker spoke.
"Everything cuts out after that. No comm. traffic at all. Just goes dead. There's nothing."
"Reverse, and hold at 38.5", commanded the Captain.
The ship again. Nihlus' mandibles twitched with some weird alien emotion.
Anderson. "Status report!"
"Seventeen minutes out Captain. No other Alliance ships in the area."
"Take us in Joker, fast and quiet. This mission just got a lot more complicated."
Nihlus gave his tactical appraisal. "A small strike team can move quickly without drawing attention. It's our best chance to secure the beacon."
"Grab your gear and meet us in the cargo hold", the Captain ordered Shepard as Nihlus stalked off in Turian fashion. "Tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up Commander. You're going in."
