AN: Thanks to the Guest reviewer who pointed out the correct spelling of Batarian, I don't know why I've memorized it as having an extra a, but it's what I'm used to, so please alert me if I revert back to it. Any other corrections are appreciated.
Edit: Homophones are stupid. Fixed my use of riffle.
Arcturus Station meeting room 234.
"No. Don't even start. That man's a walking death curse, there's a reason the Alliance has him somewhere nice and safe where if anything goes wrong we'll need the other half of his luck to make sure it doesn't all fall apart."
"I think you're being overly-"
"No. I'm not and you know it. It's a miracle he isn't on permanent psychiatric leave with all the shit he's been through."
The hologram dissolved, returning to it's resting state of a blue mist, the Alliance's military logo floating in the middle.
"Well, that leaves the final candidate, Lieutenant Commander Aleandrea Sheppard. VI, Authorisation code GMV298A-A head is looking."
The hologram reformed, showing Aleandrea Shepard, wreathed in violet and in damaged power armour, heat sink beginning to drop from her rifle, obviously a still from one of her combat operations. A small wall of text appeared beside her, choice excerpts from her dossier.
"Aleandrea Shepard, no middle name. AMC, LC, B:A, P:A, N7, Snt, KC of Cerberus, Star of Terra. Currently on Operation assisting Batarian-Council peacekeeping forces."
"Of course you had her last, her life is quite the PR debacle. I take it the others were to make this look like a better option?"
"She might not have the best PR, but you know she's everything you're looking for. Dedicated, smart, not a racist outside of Turians and able to control it where they're involved. She's someone who'll get the job done, a fighter if there ever was one."
"You're on board with this Anderson?"
"She's got some bad publicity from Torfan and working alongside Batarians, but… I have to agree. You want a fighter, the only better Human soldiers are modified either mechanically or genetically to the point of them nearly being considered another species, and I don't see you authorising a Mutton or Thin-Man to be our Spectre candidate, do you?"
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"She's loyal to a fault; she'll take bad orders and make them work. Shepard has gone so far to impress Asari commandos without the usual racial reservations, and that's no simple feet. You hand the Council 'The Butcher', and they'll know we're not messing around.
There was a period of silence, followed by quiet agreement.
"Lady Montilyet, make the call. It's time we stopped sitting on that beacon and earned ourselves a few rungs on the ladder."
Lady Montilyet's hologram nodded politely before shutting down, leaving the cold metal room rather empty… It wasn't the nicest room they could have used for deciding the fate of humanity, but given it's been decided in muddy tents before, a randomly chosen room at the last minute to avoid spying was quite nice.
-XXXX-
Shadow Broker dossier compilation: Commander Sheppard
"Gravitas est Libitum."
-Shepard's personal motto and war cry, Latin for 'Gravity is Optional.'
Operatives note- It's surprising how well Human calendars match with the current Alliance calendar, though I'm surprised they didn't shift their calendars start date to something like post reformation, instead sticking with a supposed son of a god given their stance on religion. But it makes my work easier.
Basics:
Full Name: Aleandrea Shepard
Aliases: The Butcher of Torfan, Lockdown [Polite nickname earned in the military due to fighting-style preferences.], Supes [An impolite nickname based on her limited flight ability through biotics and psionics].
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Race: Homo sapiens baseline
Biotic Status: Alpha Class/Weak.
Psionic Status: Alpha Class/Weak.
Major Associations: House Shepard, Alliance Military [N7], Knights of Cerberus [Knight Commander].
Pre-Military life/Education outside of the military.
Born in CE 2120 to Commander Hannah Sheppard and Engineer Erik Vale, Aleandrea Sheppard is an illegitimate child. Caught in a routine check-up Aleandrea was found, as well as determined to be contaminated by Eezo [Which found a previously unknown crack in the ASV Religion's Decree's engine core.]. Both servicemen were reprimanded for fraternization, and Hannah's career quickly stagnated.
Shepard was born without deformities and is considered an Alpha class biotic, she also tested positive for psionic potential and at age 8 manifested, proving to be an Alpha class Psionic, weak in both areas.
Shepard's early years were spent on various stations and ships, and she was considered bright and independent. At age 5, she lost her father to a drunken driver.
At age 8, Shepard's psionic abilities manifested out of fear for her mother on learning of the 3rd contact war, where she was taken to her family estate to continue her schooling.
At age 12, Shepard was finally forced into mandatory biotic and psionic training alongside her usual schooling. In biotics, she's considered rather weak, and she has problems projecting it outside her body, her fields tending to destabilize quickly and unable to act with much finesse. However, she's learned to use her natural tendencies to create rather violent if short lived warps, and has mastered manipulating her bodies mass.
As is usual with biotic psions, Shepard often uses her psionics to sustain her powers for extended periods. She's considered competent with Mind-Frays, Mind-Merges [Forced and mutual.], and Psi-Shadowing as of last review, however the last is rated rather weak. Unusually for such a weak psion, Shepard is also capable of limited psionic telekinesis, and she often combines this with lightening of her mass to achieve limited flight, which caused her to create her personal motto, 'Gravitas est Libitum'. Her recorded maximum speed [unassisted] is 55KpH, however it takes 50 seconds to achieve that speed.
Shepard graduated high school with credit/distinction level scores, having studied English, Maths, Physics, Biology, Xenobiology, Psychology and Xenopsychology. Shepard joined the Navy immediately after at 18, though only went on the officer's track at her mother's insistence; while Shepard enjoys war games she considers her abilities to be limited beyond small groups, and has been privately recorded as saying she believes herself having been promoted beyond her competence.
Shepard has also studied applied Human/Xenopsychology [Tertiary level.] and applied Human/Xenobiology [Tertiary level.]. Shepard's supposed reasons for doing this are her interest in alien species [Flagged as a potential liability by the Alliance.], and her interest in the 'why' of things go wrong in the body [It's suspected she would practice medicine if she became free to pursue her own interests]. Shepard is also considered technologically competent outside of her military training requirements.
Military training and service:
Shepard revealed aspirations to be a Master of Marines in recruitment, and was directed to the Sentinel Program due to her low levels of biotic ability and her technical skill.
Shepard excelled in her course, coming second in her group, commented as having 'A slight tendency to loose combat awareness in favour of extreme focus that we haven't quite beaten out of her.'. She reanked 3rd in terms of Biotics, her lack of strength being exchanged for unusual sustainability and great skill, and she managed to finally overcome her inability to project fields and sustain them as pure biotics. In Info-Ware Shepard only ranked 5th, and was noted as having an over reliance on VI managed programs rather than managing them herself, however she was noted for having optimised her omni-tool to a unusual degree, and despite the space being used by a larger VI program she was noted for having a unusual number of abilities on hand. Finally, in Psionics she ranked first by the dint of being the only psion in the group. Despite the relatively large number of Psions amongst humanity, biotics are rare, making Psion-Biotics rather rare.
Where Shepard excelled most was in combat, and tactics, setting new high scores. She also ranked high just about everywhere else, coming in 1st or 2nd. Shepard while not being a sniper, was considered to be a 'Urban Sniper' by Alliance military standards, a skill level comparable with a Designated Marksman of most other races, albeit held to a higher standard.
One lesson Shepard learned quite well was to be friendly with armoury officers, and it shows in the slightly higher quality of her gear, and a number of small modifications.
She then applied for N class training after completing her first tour of duty.
To achieve N1 class training you've got to survive first high intensity training, and then simulations of the 30 deadliest operations undertaken by X-Com, as reconstructed by mind-taps, records, and details retrieved through mind-merges. The operations would be altered to increase difficulty based on how many biotics would be in your group.
1% of applicants are expected to pass, 15% are expected to die, 5% are expected to never fight again due to physical injury, 1% are expected to leave the Alliance military on extended psychological leave followed by their decommissioning.
.001% are expected to pass without suffering a major injury.
Shepard was one of those marines, surviving without major injury while further setting new records with a marksman grade rifle. Records found no trace of cowardice to taint her 'uninjured' status.
During cross species training and operations Shepard had only one reprimand, and that was due to her insult of a Turian unit she was to command for an assault. After having performed what she called some 'tests of their ability to take orders from a human', which ended in rather ridiculous orders which were followed without complaint. Having given the most ridiculous orders she could think of while staying within the law, she finally burst out "Fuck it, one, two, [Increasing numbers]. Prove you're not somehow VI's in Turian bodies and then I'll use your names.", and stormed off. Being special forces soldiers, this caused a minor incident, but is the only account of true racism that can be levelled against her.
Shepard achieved the designation of N7 despite this reprimand for her work alongside Batarians performing border patrol, where she led a small team in a counter-boarding action and seized control of the Blood Pack cruiser Bloody Crest.
The public spotlight: The Butcher of Torfan
"After Elesyium they were going to die. That was known. We thought we'd do anything to achieve victory… Shepard made us regret saying 'Death or Glory' when she resorted to second contact tactics."
Interview of an unknown Alliance marine.
In social situations, Shepard is calm and collected, and often very formal and private, making few friends due to the distance she imposes… This would do her no favours in the assault on Torfan, being a horridly rushed affair which she had to take control over.
At the time, Shepard was a Knight of Cerberus, and for the assault chose to make use of her role as Master of Marines, giving command of the ASV Warning Cry to her XO, one of the things that would save her from the death of many officers when it turned out the forces guarding Torfan in space weren't as advertised. While the space forces were eventually defeated, there were few other officers available to command the attack once it was truly underway, and after a Batarian-Krogan blitzkrieg, there were 3 tested officers on the field, Lieutenant Shepard, Major Kyle, and Acting Sub Lieutenant Morrison, who was badly injured but lucid.
Major Kyle broke down and was deemed unfit for duty, given the chaotic nature of the fight, Shepard, now the commanding officer, ordered him to organise the defence while she lead the attack.
Shepard, being both Sentinel and Cerberus trained was trained in old X-Com urban combat doctrine, while she was mostly trained the more defensive of the two most commonly known doctrines, it's a rather aggressive doctrine which can get inexperienced or under equipped soldiers killed very quickly.
Shepards forces were ordered to constantly move forward, sticking to what hard cover they had available to form an advancing wall of fire, while smaller groups peeled off as needed to rooftops and other flanking positions. While the constant preasure wasn't something the Batarians could keep up with, the training of the marines meant casualty rates had reached 50%, before the Batarian stronghold was reached.
It should be noted, the 'medium' range for this was within effective range of long range shotguns, a range considered uncomfortably close by most.
Having reached the final Batarian stronghold, Shepard initiated the more aggressive 'chase' tactics that were refined hunting down fleeing aliens and practised by Alliance vanguards and Penal Legions, methods her forces were not trained in. Here, medium range was what most would consider knife fighting ranges, and despite using sentinels as line breaches and her masterful use of vanguards ,casualties approached 60% by the fights end. Of this 60%, approximately 18% died of their wounds, and 22% wouldn't be able to fight again, effectively a 24% fatalities and a 36% casualties, rates that hadn't been seen since the end of the third contact war. and was considered unacceptable in the day and age of kinetic barriers given the Alliance was attacking a pirate planet.
However, Shepard was on the front line of every attack, just short of acting as a Vanguard. For her bravery and quick thinking, as well as completing of the mission in a manner that was later deemed acceptable given the intelligence stuff ups and her perceived inexperience at such large commands. As such, she was given commendations, medals, and increase in rank within the Knights of Cerberus, as well as additional command training instead of the expected reprimands. Acting Sub Lieutenant Morrison received similar commendations and rewards for his defensive tactics, but didn't remain in the public spotlight except for being noted for how well his support forces managed to extract and care for the wounded while maintaining a solid defence to prevent Shepard from becoming enveloped.
However forever onward in the eyes of the media, Shepard Sheppard was seen [After a particularly provocative statement by a reporter.] as 'A butcher's blade quenched in Alliance blood and soaked with the blood of pirates.', earning the name 'The Butcher of Torfan'.
Combat Doctrine:
Shepard only has standard alliance marine augmentations, consisting of genetic modification with council limits [Natural human maximums.]. She makes use of Alliance Armoury Titan light power armour, a modified Alliance Armoury K-L Harasser Strike rifle [A low powered laser/medium strength AP kinetic combi-weapon of marksman class.], altered to improve the refire rate and effective firing time of the kinetic section, and a Modified Alliance Armory K-L Vanguard shotgun [A high powered laser/low powered kinetic combi-weapon.], modified to fire larger pellets with an adjustable spread, and with the laser focusable to a single beam.
Shepard prefers to push hard against enemy positions, using herself as an anchor in any combat push for flankers to rely on. She primarily uses her Strike rifle in automatic-kinetic mode to provide suppressive fire, combined with info-war, a variety of omni-fabricated grenades and drones, biotics and psionics, forcing opponents to hold their position or die due to her sheer amount of firepower [Earning her the nickname of Lockdown, as she's proven overly competent in suppressive tactics.], while allies move to get better shots around their cover. Should her assigned flankers receive too much counter fire it'll often signal a distracted enemy, who she'll then sneak up using flight and omni-fabricated distractions before striking mid flight with her laser, often bypassing the enemies cover.
It should be noted that while Shepard doesn't use flight capable power armour, she can sustain equivalent flight for over an hour [Though will be thoroughly exhausted doing so.], and is both willing and able to play 'skeet', meanwhile shooting people as they struggle to find useful cover. This tactic has earned her the longstanding nickname of 'Supes', being short for Superman, which she finds annoying due to calling her a man and comparing her to such a comic book character equally.
Personality and major Opinions:
Shepard is standoffish when encountered alone or by strangers, becoming rather formal and polite in a manner some confuse momentarily as attempted flattery, something slightly more common with aliens as she's semi-fluent in many alien trade languages and will use formal turns of phrase when dealing with aliens. This is a stance she often holds for a long time, taking longer than others to consider someone a friend. Noticeably however, this applies equally to aliens and humans without reserve, even Batarians and Turians, though for sake of her nobility she isn't in the habit of making such friends, and she holds Turians in lower esteem.
In friendly company however, she holds surprisingly few inhibitions where she believes things won't make it back to her family or the media, and has held surprisingly good judgement on exactly how far she can 'let her hair down'.
Shepard holds the military and government in high regard, and considers many negatives to be 'out of the realities of being a galactic government where bureaucrats are concerned', pointing out to the Alliances stability and the surprisingly high rate of immigration given their citizenship tiers. This is believed to be her stance having been a military child and a nobleman however. When she can be broached about Torfan, she considers it a 'Rare screw up.' and will say nothing more.
On the issues of Transgenics and AIs, Shepard agrees with the council that their trust in Sighs was insane, and is neutral on Transgenics.
Shepard is not a human supremacists to any degree, but she does hold to the belief that the Turians need to suffer through all the punishment attacking humanity brought them, and considers Turians to be little more than VI's [It's been privately recorded her stating: 'They were just following orders, yea, that holds as much water as their ass would hold MEC boot.'] and Slavers as a whole, having said publicly that they're 'Like Batarians but with a better reputation.'. Mentioning that they're quietly receiving Asari support is a quick way to annoy her. While like all humans she considers Batarian slavery as reprehensible, that's the only part of their regime she'd like to forcibly change. Other races she views equally with Humans [While pitying the Volus due to them being bound to the Turians], despite Asari salvation and the assistance of other races, in her words 'I'd rather judge based off of individual merit.'.
-XXXX-
Tevos sighed as she read through the various dossiers she'd gotten on Shepard, having little doubt Valern had already read it.
"Moria dear, can you patch me through to whoever's currently in the Spectre's office and then see yourself out."
"Yes Tevos. Good evening."
Tevos began considering who she thought was free... Preferably a Turian, if they could test just how racist Shepard was they may be able to deny Humanity a Spectre for a little longer, though the Batarians wouldn't like them getting more space assigned for their expansions...
-XXXX-
PS:
Adendum:
Shepard, just letting you know, you're going to be under heavy scrutiny the moment you arrive, and you're going to have to deal with Turians... I can not tell you how much the Alliance can't afford you to fuck this up.
David
I put down the tablet very carefully as I leaned back on my bed.
'They better not be looking to put me up for promotion again... I'm going to need to have a word with him, Balek may be an ass but he's better than having to deal with Turians... Perhaps I've been considered resting too long...'
I failed to contain my laughter.
"Yea, like they'd let me dance in the spotlight any more than I am."
AN:
Note: While the Alliance calls element zero Stablerium, it'll be referred to as eezo in all cases, since it's what you are all familiar with.
Questions I've been posed I'll answer now publicly:
Will X-Com meet the Geth? Yes. But so will the rest of the galaxy. Ask a smarter question. Any other answer would be a plot spoiler anyway.
Why wouldn't X-Com remove the Broker? While we know it's easier than it sounds X-Com doesn't. They also don't want their nation to be crushed into a find powder, and they have AI monitered communications, with the AI's coding unknown to the outside world, and they using communications on the Alliance and Remnant have mastered… X-Com has much bigger fish to fry, which are also much safer fish to fry.
Now, some question pre-empts.
Yes, combi-weapons, here's why:
Alliance marines can apparently move around with 5 weapons at once with minimal trouble, so the weight issue isn't that bad until you need to hold the weapon in your hands.
Secondly, lasers allow a small level of anti-armor, but they're just about useless as suppressive weapons due to their heat build-up [In my world thermal clips exist, for lasers. Of course, people recover them and let them cool, so ammo is not limited so much as exists in limited bursts.], finally, lasers tend to be overly lethal and very messy, making them slightly worse for capture ops.
So, by combining lasers with weak kinetics, in exchange for having to give them more powerful hydraulics in the arms for the weight increase, they get the near-limitless ammo of kinetics [insulated from the laser, while coming with standard heat management systems that can be thermal clip assisted] along with their ability for suppression and lower lethality for capture missions.
Yes, Shepard dislikes Turians. In her mind, she considers Turians to be something akin to Ethereals with a measure of legal protection and good PR due to their history, her viewpoint being tainted by the 3rd contact war, and how like the Ethereals the Turians were believed to be attempting to enslave people, something they haven't fully denied by saying they'd make them a 'client race'. As you'd expect from this, she's not going to particularly like Garrus to begin with.
It also means that Shepard agrees with Ashley on something.
Oh, designation translations:
AMC, LC, B:A, P:A, N7, Snt, KC of Cerberus
Aliance Marine Corps, Lieutenant Commander, Biotics Alpha Class, Psionics Alpha Class, N7 [Duh], Sentinal training, Knight Commander of Cerberus.