~Interlude: Before the Storm~
Major Kirrahe sighed as he affixed the plaque to the Normandy's memorial. Lowering his head, he stepped back and put a hand to his face. He wished his scouting team had been more thorough. He wished they'd been able to discover the extent of the sabotage. Of course, he realized, it still would have been too late to matter. It wouldn't have changed what needed to be done.
He suddenly found himself understanding Shepard's disdain for the whole political process. It wasn't something he'd had much cause to consider before. He was a soldier. They told him where to fight and he fought. But now there was a greater threat than the Krogan. A greater threat than any they had known. He had a duty to defend his people, and he would do it.
He had to wonder how Mordin would be remembered. The Krogan, of course, would hail him as a hero if the cure worked as it should. Would their own people still paint him as a traitor in the end? Privately, Kirrahe found himself wondering if there would be anyone left to remember. But he planned to do his part to ensure there would be.
With that he continued down the corridor to the observation room on the now-quiet ship. He had people to contact, plans to make. If STG was going to go rogue and follow Shepard, he had work to do.
Matt Tyler idly scanned the available frequencies for what he decided would be the last time that night, hoping that he would manage to find one he could get a message out on. They hadn't been able to manage any communication off-planet since the Reapers hit. He set the scanner to alert him as he looked out at Major Alenko's squad. No, he reminded himself for seemingly the hundredth time, his squad.
"I hope we manage to get through to him directly," Michelle piped up. "Just to make sure he actually gets it." Yeah, they'd gone through this about a hundred times, too.
"Yeah, Shelley, we all know you don't have an ulterior motive there." Gary ribbed gently. "Oh, those eyes, that voice," he continued in a falsetto voice.
She punched him in the arm. "You're such a jerk. And it's not like I'm the only one." She winked knowingly at Matt.
"Please," he laughed. "He could almost be my father!"
"Oh, c'mon, he's not that old."
No, he wasn't, Matt mused. But that wasn't really what he'd meant, either. Major Alenko was his commanding officer, or at least had been. There would never be anything else there. Beyond that, the man was his teacher, his mentor; he was handsome, no doubt, and Matt certainly admired him, but... well, maybe Shelley had a point. But still, he saw no point in going down that path.
"Hey, I think he's getting something!"
The voice jolted his attention back to the screen, and his jaw nearly dropped to see Major Alenko's face materialize in front of him. "Tyler?" The major seemed as surprised as he was. And damn if that smile shouldn't be illegal.
"Major- I-" he checked the channel, "but this says... Spectre Headquarters?" Alenko nodded. "But that means... Congratulations, sir."
He smiled again. "Thanks, Tyler. But.. wow, I never expected to... Is everyone okay? Are you safe?"
"Everyone present and accounted for sir. And as safe as can be expected." Alenko nodded, waiting for details. "We were en route to Vancouver from New York when the Reapers hit. Went down near Chicago. Haven't seen much action, yet, though. Mostly just funneling civilians out of the city."
"You guys'll have all the action you can stand soon enough." No more smiles now, the Major was deadly serious. "You're doing a good thing there; keep it up and keep doing what needs to be done."
"Of- of course, sir," Tyler stammered, hoping the Major didn't think he was complaining. But as he said it he noticed the screen was blank. The connection had been lost.
Admiral Hackett looked up at the woman entering his office. "Hannah," he nodded, "have a seat."
She did so, and looked at him pointedly. "Anything new?"
"Hannah, you know I shouldn't be doing this."
"She's my daughter, Steven. You kept her in custody for months and then threw her straight into the fire. It's not right. She shouldn't have to shoulder all this on her own."
Hackett leaned back in his chair and sighed. She was absolutely right, but yet... "Hannah, I hate having to lean so heavily on anyone. But she's proven herself time and again. I can't think of anyone who commands more respect. If I had anyone else I really trusted to do this... hell, I don't know if there's anyone else who could."
Hannah lowered her eyes. "I know."
Hackett sighed. "Hannah, I think we can do without you for a couple days. She should be heading back the Citadel shortly; go see her. I hope it'll help. I will do what I can to make this easier on her."
She nodded. "Thank you, sir."
Ben Alenko poked his head out from cover and scanned the area. "It's clear. Let's move."
There were six of them in the group. Two were actual military; they took point. The husband and wife followed, leaving Ben and Andrew to take up the rear. Andrew was seventeen, just a kid; his parents had been killed in the initial attack. He'd joined up with their group about a week ago, when they'd tried to escort him out of the city. He wanted to fight, he'd said, and had been surprisingly competent so far.
Ben couldn't blame him. It was why he'd returned to the city in the first place. There was too much on the line to just wait it out. Still, he couldn't help feeling a pang of guilt for leaving Cathy behind. He knew she'd be safe for now; every indication was that the Reapers were focusing on the major cities, leaving more rural areas alone for the time being. And she'd understood, even if she wasn't enthusiastic about it. She'd accepted it, in her quiet way. She and Kaidan had always had that in common.
Maybe that was why he'd taken to Andrew so well. The kid was quiet, but eager, a lot like Kaidan had been before they'd taken him to that place, and done whatever it was they did. Before he'd come back and Ben discovered he barely knew his son anymore. He'd been broken; and though it had faded as he watched Kaidan enlist in the military and have a successful career, Ben never quite shook the feeling that he should have been able to protect him. That he should have taken his family, run, hidden, done something to stop it.
They had stopped now, taking cover behind a ruined skyscraper. Simmons, one of the marines, peered around the corner of the building. "Got a group at ten o'clock. 'Bout a half dozen husks. Two of the big guys. Looks like four of the uglies. Preparing to engage"
"Ain't they all ugly?" Andrew joked.
Ben smiled but shook his head. "Pay attention, kid." They drew their weapons and opened fire.
"Got 'em!" Simmons called as the smoke cleared. "Looks like we're g-" he was cut off by the sound of a Reaper's horn, that loud thrumming, more vibration than noise. Ben could feel it in the marrow of his bones.
"Run!" They took off, finding cover where they could, but the ground was uneven and Ben felt himself losing his footing. He pushed Andrew ahead of him as he stumbled. Nearly breathless, he tried to get up, but when he looked up all he saw was red...
Udina frowned as he sank into his office chair. It had really come to this. They hadn't planned to act so soon; they'd hoped to wait until the device was ready. But that damned Salarian was getting too close. And above all Udina had to save face; the Illusive Man needed someone on the inside who could be trusted if they were going to save Earth. That was, after all, their top priority.
Still, he found himself wondering if Shepard might have the right idea. Udina knew little about the device itself, after all. Maybe the Alliance plans for it would have a better chance at success. And the Illusive Man hadn't been inclined to provide him with much detail on his plan. Why hadn't he pressed him for more information? Why had he been so trusting? He should-
"Ugh!" A sharp pain in his skull broke Udina's train of thought. When it subsided, he found himself wondering what he had been thinking. Shepard's loyalties had been... questionable in the past. The Illusive Man had shown himself to have Earth's best interests at heart. Udina shook his head. Sadly, it really was the only way. He would be ready tomorrow to play his part.