Disclaimer: BioWare owns Mass Effect. 20th Century Fox owns the Alien franchise.
Widow System, February 19, 2177
1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard walked into the communal dining room in the 'human wing' of the ARV Tor'jalai, finding Ellen Ripley, Rebecca Jorden, Sergeant Dwayne Hicks, Corporal Jeanette Vasquez, Corporal-Technician Bill Hudson, Sergeant Rita Vrataski, Master Chief Stacy Valentino, and Captain Royce Mason already in the dining room, eating breakfast. It was Hudson's day to cook, so toast, bacon, and cheesy scrambled eggs were placed on the table for selection, with Elcor coffee and human-made sports drinks were available. Shepard padded into the room wearing only a plain t-shirt and some gym shorts, complete with a pair of slippers, heading straight for the coffee pot. She grabbed one of the taller available mugs, her name written onto with 90-mph tape and a marker, pouring the Elcor-grown brew into the mug and enjoying the scent of the coffee before taking her first sip.
"Gods, that hit the spot." Shepard breathed out, enjoying the taste of the coffee. So much better than the Navy stuff. She turned to the table, seeing the room's entertainment monitor turned onto Alliance News Network, showing Headline News, the volume lowered so conversations could take place without having to talk over the show's hosts. It seemed that the woman commentating, Patricia Hurst, was speaking on some policy dispute between Earth and some of the fringe colonies. Nationalist hold-overs, no doubt, Shepard thought to herself as she went to the table and began to put food on a plate for her to eat.
"Saw the interview, Janey." Royce called out from around a mouthful of buttered toast, his tone jovial. "Tore that sheila's 'ead right off on live video. Very nice."
"Yeah, her last reaction when you left was priceless." Hudson agreed, chuckling, fingering the scar that wrapped around the left side of his skull from brow to the back of his head, just above his ear, as he was wont to do. A reminded of the assassination attempt on all their lives at the Hesperiidae Hotel. Hudson had been extremely lucky that, despite velocities and physics, the mass effect-accelerated round had glanced his skull and traced along it instead of piercing it as it should have. "Showed her up good."
"I aim to try." Shepard replied with a smile, taking a fork and began assaulting her cheesy scrambled eggs. "Wanted to take her head right off in front of the Gods and everyone. Call me a traitor? Should have bent her over my knee and spanked her. That would shut her the hell up." Hudson laughed at that, while Hicks merely chuckled. "They plaster the interview all over the news yet?"
"Along with reactions, commentary, and the opinions of others." Vrataski piped up, demolishing her bacon. "You hear the phrase 'Humanity's First Specter' about every two minutes. Most seemed pretty impressed by you. Then there's the usual yokels and hard-liners about a 'woman in a man's job' or 'tax dollars working for the aliens'. Really haven't heard anyone bashing you. Yet." Shepard hmmm'ed that, knowing that Rita had a point; once the sensation of a human Specter wore off, she would be scrutinized and berated like any other celebrity. Just what she needed; some worthless talking head shooting their mouth off on matters they had no idea or knowledge about, paid to make ratings. Shepard had to resign herself to the fact that, even as she thought about it, there was undoubtedly 'nude' photos of her circulating the extranet, her face pasted upon some models'. It was only a matter of time, really. The dining room door opened and Counsel Agent Tela Vasir walked in wearing Huntress leathers, dropping in as she normally did in the morning. Usually, thought, it was after breakfast, and Royce noticed.
"Yer here earlier than usual, Specter." The N7 commented, still eating. "We got enough to eat if you skipped out on breakfast."
"I shall try some of your human breakfast." The Thessian announced, taking a seat across from Shepard, placing a plate in front of her and putting the same items that Shepard had onto it, sniffing each experimentally. Her nose wrinkled at the bacon, but the cheesy eggs she seemed to enjoy as her first taste of it quickly had her eating all of her portion quickly, and going for seconds. "This is good. What is this?"
"Cheesy scrambled eggs." Shepard explained, Tela knowing about cheese and eggs from her time with the human team. "High in cholesterol and calories, everything a growing girl needs."
"And growing boys." Vrataski pointed out, patting her own barely-thickened waistline. "Not that you'll have anything to worry about, Janey." That had Shepard blushing furiously as everyone else at the table chuckled save for Newt, who didn't get the reference towards motherhood. Even Tela saw hiding a smile.
"Hardy-har-har. Oh! Trial's on!" Shepard looked to the entertainment monitor, seeing the program shift to an update to the Weyland-Yutani Trial. "Turn it up!" The volume went up as the survivors of LV 426 faced the monitor that showed the updates of what was dubbed 'the Trial of the Century'.
"Good morning, Alliance. I'm Sarah Powers and I'll bring you up-to-speed on the Trial of Chief Information Officer Jack Harper of Weyland-Yutani Corporation." A twenty-something blonde woman in a profession red dress spoke on camera. Two picture-in-picture frames were on one side of the monitor, one showing an older man with steel grey hair, captioned as Court Prosecutor Michael Giamanti. Below him was an Oriental-looking man by the name of Tadashi Yokasiru, Defense Attorney for Jack Harper. "With me today is Prosecutor Giamanti and Defense Attorney Yokasiru, commenting on the finish of the closing arguments of the Trial of Mr. Harper. Mr. Giamanti, any thoughts?"
"Of course, Ms. Powers." The older man, a prosecutor who served in the Corporate Courts with an impressive win record, responded. "With the evidence, eyewitness testimony, and cooperation of 1st Lieutenant Shepard and her men, we of the prosecution were able to establish a very comprehensive timeline pertaining to Weyland-Yutani's role during the 'Broken Sword' incident, as well as Director Harpers' own personal knowledge and involvement. Thanks to the efforts of Lieutenant Shepard and her team, we of the prosecution had no problems finding the necessary evidence we needed to not only ascertain the level of Director's involvement relating to the incident, but the deep level of his guilt as well. What she, her Marines, and the colonists suffered was horrendous, and it is my job to see that justice is served, and that their involvement was not in vain. I personally promised the Lieutenant and her team that I would nail Jack Harper to the full extent of Alliance Law, and I hate breaking my promises." Hudson whooped as Shepard felt herself smiling. She had like Prosecutor Giamanti when she had met him almost two month before. And he had made that promise.
"Mr. Yokasiru, anything to add?" Sarah Powers asked.
"The whole trial, as I've stated, is a farce." The Defense Attorney began, getting a few boos from the table. "The whole incident was a cooked-up scheme masterminded by Lieutenant Shepard, obviously to cover up either her ineptness or crimes she herself had committed on the colony. The evidence she presented could not be verified, nor could the colony be investigate to ascertain if her involvement did not cause the deaths of those colonists through her actions. The woman has publicly admitted to having turned the colony into a wasteland in which no one or any object can enter without perishing; who is to say the colonists were, in fact, dead before it happen, that we are not just trusting the word of a mass murdering Marine who so cleverly covered her tracks?"
"Can you believe the gall of this guy?" Hicks shook his head, bewildered. "Them's fightin' words if I ever heard any."
"Fucking pendejo." Vasquez shook her head, the anger in her tone obvious.
"What appalls me, Ms. Shields," Mr. Yokasirucontinued, "is that instead of a true call to justice, that everyone seems to laud Lieutenant Shepard for her recklessness and incompetence. The woman has the Counsel practically eating out of the palm in her hand, forcing this unjust trial to occur, which I have repeatedly called for in suspension due to unjustifiable outside influence, completely negating my client's rights to a fair trial!"
"Where was my family's rights in your client's defense, jerk?" Newt called out, getting another whoop from Hudson, the squad's technician offering a high-five to the eight year old girl, who immediately took up the offer.
"I really hope that scumbag charges a shitload by the hour." Shepard commented, taking another sip of her coffee. "Drain Harper's accounts dry. Leave him convicted and broke."
"Mr. Giamanti, you've of course have heard of Lieutenant Shepard's supposed recent promotion to the position of Counsel Agent." Ms. Powers continued. "Any thoughts on Humanity's First Specter?"
"Good for her." The Prosecutor smiled. "Agent Shepard," the man emphasized, "is the type of woman who puts people first, cares for those under her command, and absolutely refuses to fail. She'd make a hell of a prosecuting trial lawyer, but I'd say she's found herself in a niche she excels in, and more power to her. Wherever you are, Specter Shepard, know that my boys and girls back in the office are cheering you on." That had Shepard smile; she knew she liked the man.
"Mr. Yokasiru?" Time for the other shoe to drop, Shepard thought wiry as the Oriental man opened his mouth to spew hate and lies.
"Preposterous. There is no way that woman is a Counsel Agent." The man scoffed, making Shepard shake her head. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"But she public displayed the Specter's Badge live on camera." Ms. Shields pointed out. "From a red Omnitool, at that! Every report indicates that those are the hallmarks of high-level access of the Counsel SpecterNet, which is supposedly biometrically linked to a single individual. According to many who have tried, failed, and have been charged and prosecuted for it, it is impossible to fake. Not to mention that lying about being a Specter, and somehow faking what is thought impossible on live holovision seems like a terrible idea."
"As I said, I'll believe it when I see it." The Defense Attorney reiterated. Can't win them all, Shepard shook her head as she finished the last of her breakfast and coffee, slipping her plate into the dining room's available sink and washing it off with micro-jetstreams meant to maximize cleanliness while saving on water; always a valuable commodity in space.
"All right, boys and girls, get yourselves ready for school." Shepard called out, looking at the chronometer on her Omnitool, looking at the time. "Try not to have too much fun shooting and looting with C-Sec while I learn Citadel Law."
The shuttle ride from the ARV Tor'jalai to the Presidium was thankfully a short one with little interference from C-Sec SSS, more interested in incoming vessels than outgoing, a Turian pilot in each of the three shuttles used to take the Xeno Squad to their respective destinations. For Ellen Ripley, it was C-Sec pilot school where she learned how to fly more modern ships, getting her flight status reinstated through the Counsel so that she could pilot whatever ship was needed for any kind of mission. For Rebecca Jorden, it was a classroom full of Turians where she learned basic education, one of three human children under the tutelage of a Turian female. For the N's, it was working with Special Services Section, learning how better to fight against other races, as well as integrating different tactics and weapons. For the 343 Marines, it was working with C-Sec's Civil Defense Forces, the Citadel's version of SWAT, learning more team tactics, as well as various weapons, capabilities, and tactics of other species.
For 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard herself, it was what she called Specter School
"You seem quiet." Counsel Agent Tela Vasir commented quietly next to her as they rode in the back seat of their aircar escort, piloted by the Turian C-Sec Special Services Section Agent Malio Vibicus. The forty minute flight from the Tor'jalai to the Office of Special Tactics was perhaps the only true alone time that Shepard got to have with the Asari Specter, where no one else could interrupt them or walk into awkward situations. While there had been some speculations about her and Tela being together, Shepard hadn't told anyone on her team. She herself had struggled with the fact that she had gotten a crush on an alien, and a female one at that when she wasn't even attracted to human females. Yet it had happened, worming its way into her whenever she enjoyed just talking to the Thessian, or whenever they went out just to do something normal. Tela had been the first non-human Shepard had gotten any real experience with as an individual, and she had found the Asari to be smart, sassy, and enjoyable to be with. When Shepard had to admit it to herself that she might have had feelings for the Thessian, she told Tela in clipped, difficult words, having to struggle against something she had thought true her entire life; that aliens were meant to be feared and distrusted. Even now, she still had some issues with it, thought, thankfully, Tela Vasir was both accommodating and understanding. Better yet, Malio Vibicus, who exclusively drove for Humanity's First Specter, would simply put up the aircar partition between himself and the two Specters in the back and let them enjoy their privacy together.
"Still stewing about that defense attorney." Shepard admitted, shyly slipping her hand into Tela's, holding onto it gently. As always, she was reminded of the differences in their species just by touch alone, the Asari's snake-like skin warm in her grip. "Don't like being falsely accused of anything. Well… I liked the mastermind bit. Sounded pretty awesome." She smiled at that. "Of course, in the same breath, he called me an idiot, too. Can I be both a mastermind and a screw-up at the same time?"
"Sadly, I've actually seen it before." The Specter admitted with a smile, simply holding Shepard's hand. "Turian Separatists, as an organization, have brilliant logistics and maneuvers, but engage in terrorist acts that have seemingly little point other than to infuriate the Hierarchy and get innocent people killed." Shepard merely grunted at that, trying not to think of alien terrorists when the Alliance was still dealing with the human variety with Nationalist uprisings and former Independent hold-outs. "About last night… do you feel comfortable talking about it?" Tela's voice was soft and understanding.
"Not so uncomfortable that I can't talk about it." Shepard replied, a little embarrassed, yet her hand remained in the Asari's. "It was… a very interesting experience. Not at all what I thought it was going to be. I thought that… you know…" Shepard trailed off, a little embarrassed. "… I thought it was going to be messier."
"Oh, how little you know." Tela smiled, a sweet smile that Shepard found herself always wishing more of. "That was just a simple mindmeld, Jane. I kept it simple and light because it was your first experience, and I didn't want to scare you with a full immersion. What you experienced is generally what we are taught as Maidens when we are taught how. I figured with…" the Asari squeezed Shepard's hand, "you having such little experience with other species, and having to work against all you've known, it would be best if we start with just a simple joining of our consciousness. There is more to it, trust me."
"It gets better?" That had Shepard's cheeks heating up. She had found it quite exciting herself, and she had found it quite similar to sex, though it some ways, it was somehow better. The Thessian laughed at Shepard's reaction.
"Baby steps, Janey. Don't be the kind of Maiden who jumps straight into the strip club right after finishing her studies." Shepard didn't know exactly what to say to that particular phrase. Still, she felt as comfortable and as relaxed as she had ever felt, and she wondered how things were going to go with them. With the human media in a storm with the Trial, and now her Specterhood, it would come out sooner or later. Shepard just hoped it didn't hurt things between them. "You're worrying again, Jane."
"I'm a woman, it's my job." Shepard pointed out, making the Thessian chuckle. "I've… been meaning to talk to you, Tela. About us." She got flustered once more, the conversation leaving her words clipped and half-meaning'ed. "I… don't know what to think of us together when I think of my friends. Are we dating? Are we… I guess I can't say girlfriends, but…" Shepard struggled with what she wanted to say, to say what she meant. "There's so much I don't know, Tela, and so much that I'm dealing with. I hate having to struggle with myself for it, but I fear what others might think or believe. Sometimes I'm afraid someone's going to find out and it's going to push me over the edge or I'm going to end up a nervous wreck. When you think of us, what do you think of? What do Asari think of this?"
"In Asari culture, I would say that we are je'dai; the beginnings of a bond." The Specter replied, looking to Shepard. "It is when two are discovering one another, finding out their similarities and differences, working towards the intent to build a foundation for oneness. Is that what you seek?"
"I just… I guess I just want you to know that when I am with you, I feel happy, comforted, and content." Shepard replied softly, looking into Tela's blue-violet eyes. "I guess we humans like to label things so we know where we stand, to give us an idea how to move forward. I… like the sound of je'dai. Sound better than 'fumbling'." She found herself looking out the aircar's window, seeing the Citadel passing by her view. "I guess I'm just afraid of asking the wrong things, or saying the wrong things. I know that Asari aren't like humans, and that the physical act of sex isn't the same between our species. I just wish I had… someone I could confide in, someone who would understand what I'm going through from my end." The Specter looked at Shepard thoughtfully for a long moment, obviously pondering her words.
"You know… I do believe I know what troubles you, Jane." Tela finally replied after a spell. "Is it true that humans will talk to one another about such things like relationships and issues, to bring such things to a social venue for advice?" To that, Shepard nodded. "Yet you have no one to do that with, as you know of no other human to have done so, and you do not have enough trust in another species that might have done so. I believe what you want is the reassurances that one can get from another's experiences, to know the things that an Asari would know, save you are worried that asking me might make things uncomfortable."
"That sounded a lot better than what was in my head, but yes." Shepard replied, feeling a little bit better. "It never really occurred to me that you might feel the same way as well. I mean, if I don't know the differences between a human relationship and an Asari relationship, how would you?"
"Yes, but I am also just over six hundred galactic years old, Jane; I can make do." The Specter smiled. "I will ask around to see if there is anyone that might know of somebody. Most likely, you might have to settle for, say, a Turian with an Asari mate, or perhaps a Quarian, as Quarians have a remarkable amount of similarities with humans." That surprised Shepard to hear; Quarians and humans were similar as well? "Jane? I would like for you to know that I, too, feel nervous around you." That surprised her, hearing the Asari admit as much. "When I was a Maiden, I never had anything thoughts of being bonded with another, my decision was… colored by my father's abandonment of me. I was never very good with relating with my own species to feel comfortable enough to let them in, and I was usually too intimidated by the differences in the other species as well. As time grew, it was more of a force of habit, as well as using the excuse of my work to justify never having a relationship of worth or substance. It never bothered me that, for decades on end, I was content not to share myself with another.
"And then I met you over a hologram." Tela smiled softly, aiming it towards Shepard.
"I admit that you intrigued me at first." The Counsel Agent continued, still holding Shepard's hand, her blue fingers lightly rubbing at the pads of Shepard's own fingers. "But when I discovered that you killed an Ardat-Yakshi on your, I was very impressed, as those creature are genetically evolved to seduce and kill Asari. That alone may have made you worthy to be looked into as a Specter in an Asari's mind, but then I began to look into your actions at that Hadley's Hope colony, and I knew that you were a blessing by the Goddess Herself; a warrior of both body and mind. The more time I spent with you, the more time I wanted to spend with you. I… I had never truly felt that way in another before." The Specter went quiet for a moment, looking out the aircar's side window thoughtfully before returning her gaze back to Shepard. "When I am with you, Jane, I feel… complete, whole. It is as if I were missing something this entire time, yet had no idea about it until the day I met you. And now your cheeks are reddening again."
"Because you're teasing me!" Shepard accused with a smile. "Flirt." That had the Thessian chuckle softly. Shepard saw that they were but moments away from their respective destinations; she to the Specter School, while Tela worked her desk at Specter Investigations Division. "Crap. We're here already?"
"Have a good day at school. Maiden." The Counsel Agent smirked, getting a growl in response from Humanity's First Specter.
"Good morning, class." Specter Instructor Cavius Raminion spoke as the thirteen Specter recruits took to their respective seats facing the Turian Instructor in the plain class room that 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard sat in, having long since grown use to the Asari-styled chair that she had to make do with with its strange padding meant for a Asari's subtly different physiology. The Class she took, Citadel Law, was one that she actually found herself enjoying, learning about what Specters were capable of doing, what they were allowed to do, and what governments would potentially do if one of them were to show up. Shepard had assumed that Specters were basically allowed to go anywhere and do anything, but had found that it simply wasn't the case. Perhaps for an Asari or Turian Specter, such things would go smoothly, but there were a good many in various positions in various governments who would try to interfere with a Counsel Investigation, either because they were involved, or didn't want Counsel involvement into something they saw as 'theirs'. Shepard could understand the feeling; if a Specter had showed up on one of the ships she had been living in with the Alliance, things would probably have ended badly. The class was to teach them how to get what they needed done without having to resort to violence or threats of repercussions. "Rahe'Tarram? Your report."
A Quarian female in full EnvioSuit stood from her chair, moving to the front of the class to address them. Rahe'Tarram nar Sofis was a Quarian Pilgrim who had, during her travels through the galaxy, gotten wind of slavers who would specifically abduct Quarian Pilgrims in the attempt to have them invent AI warframes. Rahe'Tarram, the daughter of two Quarian Migrant Fleet Marines, had let herself be captured to reach the slavers' base, feigning unconsciousness before being tossed into a cell. After taking down her Batarian captor, she had hacked his Omnitool and weapons, and had raised merry hell on the slavers by activating their own stations' defenses against them while launching a one-woman rescue mission to free her people. Shepard had a lot of respect for the Pilgrim, and found Rahe to be a friendly woman who was interested in guns and explosives. Most definitely the daughter of a Marine. Her suit was colored mostly a subtle yellow that Quarians found pleasing to their silvered eyes, cast with subtle tones of some lime-green and bright orange along the seams, lines, and connection points of her suit. The headscarf that she wore to cover the tubes leading to her helmet, called a sha'hana, was the same lime-green color with orange swirls and designs as her suit, her opaque mask a tinted orange. Shepard had tried to impress upon the girl a sense of better tactical coloring, as anyone with a working eyeball could see the Quarian a klick off without optics. Rahe had thoughtfully listened, and then pointed out that she was a Quarian; anyone would see her a klick away just because she was Quarian. Somehow, the two of them had become fast friends; Shepard had lived in ships the vast majority of her life, and Rahe's parents were Marines, and things just fell into place.
"My report will be on the various faction of Terminus Warlords and their more semi-permanent holdings in the Systems." The Quarian female began, her voice vocalizer flashing with her words. "I shall start with the Pirate Queen of Omega, Aria T'loak." Shepard listened with interest, writing down her notes with a stylus on a datapad as Rahe'Tarram spoke, describing the Asari woman who ruled Omega as well as large swaths of the Terminus Systems. The Quarian then went to describe the station known as Korrman, the Briar Nebula, and the Vegius Sector. Shepard found the information both informative and well-distributed, making it easy to follow. She had recorded it as well as filling in her thoughts on the information as Rahe'Tarram finished her report a half an hour later. The Quarian woman returned to her seat, Shepard giving her a smile and a nod as she did so.
"Very good, Rahe'Tarram." Instructor Raminion nodded his head, looking at the class of thirteen. "Recruits, as Specters, it is expected that you will deal in a wide variety of situations. Yet as individuals, each of you have talents and skills that set you upon a particular path, will define how you deal with things. It is my job to expand upon your other capabilities so that when a situation arrises, you know how to crack a door open or decode software as well as fire a gun and perform first aid. Rahe'Tarram is a good case in this; she infiltrated into an installation by means of a ploy, was able to hack personal systems as well as security systems, and took the fight to slaves by means of a shotgun. A wide variety of skills such as this is useful for a Specter; what would you do when you lack the necessary knowledge to perform a task? That question will go to Jane Shepard."
"Use whatever resource happens to be available." Shepard replied immediately. "I myself am not skilled at breaking into doors, so I would include a member who was to make up the difference. If that isn't possible, I would assume that if I am infiltrating a compound, then its security members would have access codes. I would 'persuade' them to give them up, or give them to me."
"Interesting. Plausible." The Turian instructor nodded. "How would you go about getting an enemy to give such information?"
"Break a finger." Shepard smiled. "Then take that broken finger and wiggle it around for a while until they're ready to give up everything. If it's a Turian, go for a mandible instead." That had Cavius Raminion's own mandibles flare out in shock. "Sorry, but your talons are too hard for us humans break. Your mandibles, on the other hand? Perfect."
"That's not something a Turian would do to another," the Instructor announced, wincing, "but that is the kind of thinking we do try to promote. What would make another give in to your demands. Threats of death might work, but sometimes you must carry them out, and the situation might dictate that stealth is the better option. Other times, bribery works just as well." Shepard hadn't thought of that, yet there were mercenaries who didn't do contracts, only hired for whatever immediate job they were on, and open for negotiation. It might be a strange sight to hire the same mercenaries that might have been hired to kill the Specter in question! "Each being has a weakness, something that will make them fold. For some, greed is a powerful motivator. For others, it is pain. For some, the intellect holds a higher regard. If you can find your enemy's weakness, you can control them. For instance, Jane Shepard, what would you say is my weakness?"
"Immediately? I'd go for the thermal regulators in your armor." She pointed out, having a few of the Turian recruits growl in dismay. "Palavenians need a higher temperature to be comfortable than the rest of us, so the first thing I would do is try to hack your suit's power supply and shut off your ability to stay warm. Your head won't be in the fight if your worried about freezing to death and your limbs start going numb. Might just make a Turian run." Shepard smiled at that, making one of the Salarian recruits snicker.
"Good. That is a good strategy." Instructor Raminion pointed out. "Defeating the enemy's want or ability to fight or continue fighting can be more effective than just killing or capturing. What Jane Shepard suggests is a psychological attack; to demoralize an enemy. If her strength isn't in stealth, she can change the environment to where a Turian guard will be less effective, increasing her chances in infiltration. Or in Rahe'Tarram's case, turing the anti-riot guns inside of a compound onto the very slavers who need them. It is thinking like this that can make an individual exceptionally dangerous. Charging into a situation blind and ignorant is always a good way to get yourselves killed. It is a rare day when a Specter isn't outnumbered, facing odds that would make most Krogan blanch. What we try to teach you is how to level a playing field, how to develop a plan that will make an enemy less effective, or yourself more effective. Anyone can pick up a gun and shoot it; knowing when to do so is what makes you better. Asha T'vara? Tomorrow will be your report day, and your report shall be on the the different types of biotic-suppressive weaponry and pharmaceuticals, and which ones are deemed the most effective. Class is dismissed. And Jane Shepard? The Executor would like to see you in his office as soon as you are able." That had Shepard stop in her tracks; the Executor of the Special Tactics wanted to see her? Her first thought was that it couldn't be about anything good. Rahe'Tarram looked over to her with her orange-tinted visor, cocking her head to one side, a Quarian gesture that meant what is this? The rest of the class filed out, Naor the Bull next to last as the Elcor waited patiently for the smaller species to leave before he lumbered out, Shepard waiting for the Bull to leave before leaving herself. She needed a moment to calm herself, wondering what the Executor might want with her.
"Ah, Agent Shepard. Come in."
1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard found herself walking into a spartan office that was the Executor's of Special Tactics, a plain office that only contained a desk, a work station, a few chairs, and one monitor that was playing a new broadcast from the Hierarchy, the sound muted. The Turian that sat at the desk, old enough that his plates were starting to droop with age, was clicking away at his haptic keyboard with his talons, typing at a speed that Shepard marveled at; how did a creature with only three fingers per hand seem to be able to type as fast as a human could with their five fingers each?
"You wanted to see me, Executor Contenus?" Shepard asked, standing at parade rest in front of his desk, unsure what the protocol was when meeting the Head Specter-in-charge. She should have asked Instructor Raminion when she had the chance. She figured that a military stance would be sufficient enough for a militant race, so she stood there at parade rest.
"Please, have a seat. And call me Kryus." The old Turian replied, pointing to one of the available chairs. Shepard accepted the seat, sitting in front of the desk as the Executor began to type away again. "I call you in here because the STG has found an anomaly pertaining to a human vessel. Our reports indicate that this ship, a mining and surveying vessel, was in the middle of… planet-fracking?" Shepard grunted at that, knowing of it but not all the details. "It found something alien in origin and brought it on board. We scan for such things in the hopes of keeping Prothean technology away from the black markets."
"So you want me to investigate a possible Prothean find?" Shepard asked, curious. She really didn't know much in the way of Prothean technology save what she learned in her school lessons on-board Alliance Ships.
"Yes, but what truly caught our attention was the cut-off distress signal we received later, some several hours after the object was brought on board." The Executor told her. "It seems that the ship is in a degenerating orbit to the remains of a rogue planet that was cracked open, with engine malfunctions and several other emergency situations. The STG recon vessel, unfortunately, does not have the capabilities to go in. You do."
"A human for a human problem." Shepard realized, watching the old Turian nod his head, and she began to realize something. "Is… is that why I am a Specter? For situations such as this?"
"Yes. Now don't get me wrong," Kryus Contenus held up his talons in a gesture to indicate to give him a moment to explain, "you are both talented and worthy of it. But we at Special Tactics like to have a member of a species help out its own species when they can; I wouldn't expect you to understand that myriad of differences in a Turian culture, so it is only fair that we have a human for such incidences when we need a human perspective for a human problem. Plus the Alliance would rather deal with a human than any other species, I would imagine."
"You're not wrong." Shepard admitted, not sure if she should feel disappointed or not. It did make sense, though. Why else would Rahe'Tarram be a Specter if not to aid her own people? "Planet-frackers are very large ships, Kryus; dreadnaught tonnage or greater. I'm not going to be able to do it myself, especially if the ship is in distress. Did they say what caused the malfunctions, or why the distress signal was sent?"
"I can do better." The Executor replied, playing the distress signal.
"Mayday, mayday, mayday!" A man's voice called out, the panic in his voice obvious. Shepard could hear an emergency klaxon going off in the background "This is Engineer Temple! We're under attack by some… I don't even know what the fuck they are! But they're capturing or killing everyone! If you can hear this… send somebody! The Ishimura's taken a lot of damage, and most of the systems are off-line! And if you do come? Bring lots of guns, 'cuz these things love to stick the the shadows and ambush you..." The transmission cut off, and Shepard frowned; that was it?
"Can you play it back one more time? I heard something in the background, sounded like a VI-voice announcing something between the klaxon." She asked the Executor, who nodded, playing the recording again. Shepard listened with her eyes closed, trying to focus on the synthetic female voice that was trying to announce something in between Temple's words and the wails of the klaxon buzzer. "I think we'll need someone to clear it up for us, if possible. But it sounded like the ship's VI was putting some section of the ship into quarantine from biological contamination. I think the Med Bay."
"Agent, I'm sending you in to investigate." The Executor of Special Tactics told Shepard, his tone authoritative. "Normally, we would send in someone who has experience with humans, but it's far easier just to send in the one human Specter we have as oppose to the Turian veteran of Shanxi." That had her snort. "I am going to allot you the normal needs for such a mission that a Specter would have; ship, crew, a pick of specialists that we normally have available throughout the Citadel in various positions, the run of the armory, and credits to make purchases that you would need. As this is your first mission for Special Tactics and you are still a recruit, I will assign to you a mentor who has done this sort of thing, to help you as needed and to give advice as warranted. You will take the lead on this, Jane; your mentor is there to back you up."
"Appreciated." Shepard replied, and she was appreciative. While she had been trained in logistics in OCS for the Alliance, she never needed to worry about such things as the needs of a ship, a Navy crew, or picking up members of a team; the Navy did all that. Someone with that knowledge would be most beneficial. "Who will it be?"
"I think you'll only need one guess." The old Turian gave a smirk with his mandibles. "You two work together well, anyhow. How many assassination attempts have you stopped together? Four? Five?"
"Too damn many, Kryus." Shepard replied softly, though she was happy to hear that it would be Tela Vasir who would be accompanying her. The Asari, as a warrior, was as tough as they came, a hell of a shot, and pretty damn powerful when it came to biotics. "Am I allowed to bring in other Specters? If it's Xenos, a few more with experience wouldn't hurt in case I'm busy somewhere else."
"Sadly, we are rather tasked out at the moment with a few issues concerning the Batarian slavers and the Blood Pack running amuck in some darker corners of Citadel Space as of late." The Executor sighed, shaking his head. "The dozen or so that I have here I need to keep for emergencies and the like. Likewise, I believe our specialist pool is rather drained as well for the same reason. Thankfully, your team of humans is up for the task for the most part, so you'll at least have a compliment of your Alliance Marines, as well as your N's, who are trained in such things as ship clearing, I believe." That had Shepard nodding; boarding ships was an N-team job. "You do lack more tech-savvy personnel, any kind of science personnel, biotic strength, and data specialists. And I'm certain that we have little to provide at the moment."
"What about… well, what about the recruits in my class?" Shepard asked, surprising the Executor. "I mean, they're all Specter recruits, and I know most of how they got to be there. Between them, I think we could fill out those roles well. Besides, if this is a Specter mission, why not include them in? Have Instructor Cavius Raminion come in for instruction, command and control, but it gives them the same experience that I'll be learning. Plus, they won't be as jealous." Shepard smiled, making Kryus chuckle at that. "Hell, we've got… three Turians, two Asari, three Salarians, a Quarian, an Elcor, a Volus, and a Drell. Most of them were former military, several with SpecOps history, and every one of them is a fighter and a survivor. That'll give me… twenty-two? I'm not stealing your specialists, we all get to play, and Raminion can mentor the others while Vasir mentors me. I think it's a big plus in the win column."
"It's bold. It's got merit." Executor Contenus mused, rubbing his mandibles with his talons. "It does give you a wide variety of specialist skills, and experience for them as well. Thankfully, as an officer of your military, you've had training leading teams, and you also have assets with your humans to back you up a necessary. Raminion's been itching his plates to get out of the classroom, and would make a good team leader for you. Thankfully, he has no issues with you being a human, and he knows well enough to take your lead in this manner. His advice will be invaluable to you, as you being in charge of a human-oriented mission means he less at risk of being shot at by humans who are spooked by the sight of a Turian, Specter or not."
"Sounds like we're going to have ourselves a regular shin-dig." Shepard commented, making the old Turian look at her oddly; evidently, that didn't translate. "What of the Prothean object?"
"While we don't know if it is indeed Prothean or not," Kryus answered, "the Counsel will want it secured and returned for safe-keeping. Some of those Prothean devices are quite dangerous, and even something benign can spark a bidding war or some salvagers killing one another for something that could be worth millions of credits. It's safer with us, not to mention we possess enough researchers to determine its safety and value of knowledge. For this mission, I will be pulling in a specialist of Protheanology, someone who could readily identify its type. Sadly, most Protheanologists are rather unimaginative, mostly seeking buried treasures to sell to the highest bidder as oppose to doing real research and science. I looked up several Protheanologists from the various Universities, and I found one from Serrice on Thessia. She's young, but talented, and she's written papers on such things as art, culture, and architecture. She would be your best bet for someone who isn't looking for a quick credit or splashing her name throughout the archeological scene. She is, as they say, the real deal. Unfortunately, she's off on a dig on a planet called Feros, and you'll have to pick her up."
"Because that's what I do, pick up Asari." Shepard grumbled, making the Executor chuckle. "So, who's Indiana Jones? The archeologist?" The Turian didn't get the reference, but answered anyhow.
"Doctor Liara T'soni."
A/N: You saw that one coming, right? Prothean object, the Ishimura… what a mess! We're really going to be needing those Specters, aren't we?
In Mass Effect, Specters don't seem to last long. Heck, they can all plausibly die! I wanted there to be a reason why Specters aren't seen much; too damn busy. Soon I'll go into the multiple departments that Specters have, like Investigations, Undercover, and Insertions. Shepard would be a classic Insertion; all firepower.
This team is huge with eight humans and fourteen aliens. And then I'm stuffing them into the Ishimura? Inconceivable!