Epitaph:
The universe has lost a truly exceptional individual. Admiral Victoria Regina Shepard, Alliance Navy, [Retired], the first human Spectre and hero of the Reaper War, died early yesterday morning on Earth in what officials have deemed a tragic mountain climbing accident. She was 51 years old.
Most famously known for her instrumental role in discovering and combatting the Reaper menace as the first human Spectre over twenty years ago, Admiral Shepard is also remembered for; establishing peaceful relations with the re-discovered Rachni, promoting the reconciliation between the Geth and the Quarian Flotilla, and helping dismantle the human supremacist terrorist organization Cerberus and re-integrating its members into galactic society. In recent years she had avoided the spotlight, living a quiet life with her family on Thessia, occasionally teaching or lecturing at universities throughout Citadel space.
Spontaneous memorials have sprung up at Alliance embassies and offices on worlds ranging from Palaven to Tuchanka with offerings of candles, flowers, fresh meat, or any number of other local traditional items mourning the loss. Candle light vigils are being held outside the human embassy on the Citadel and on the human colonies Zhu's Hope and Eden Prime.
Alliance sources report that SSV Normandy, Admiral Shepard's former command, accompanied by her sister ships SSV Khe Sanh and SSV Khafji of Wolf Pack 6 - Alliance 5th Fleet, are currently transporting her body to the Systems Alliance capital on Arcturus Station. Shepard's body will lie in state at Parliament House until an official memorial service planned for later this week. Alliance sources have also confirmed that SSV Normandy, escorted by an honor guard of ships from the Alliance 5th Fleet, the Turian fleet, the Quarian Flotilla, and the Destiny Ascension, flag-ship of the Citadel Fleet, will transport her body to Thessia where she will be laid to rest in the gardens at her home at her family's request.
Councilor David Anderson, human representative on the Citadel Council, made the following statement to the press regarding Admiral Shepard's passing:
"Shepard was, quite possibly, the finest soldier I have ever had the honor of commanding. She epitomized all that the Systems Alliance and the Citadel Council stand for. She was the hero we needed; even when we couldn't admit it to ourselves we needed one. She never gave up, never shied from anything regardless of how difficult or dangerous. She was always there for us, even when we weren't always there for her. Shepard was my friend. I will miss her dearly. My heart goes out to her family."
Admiral Shepard has no living human relatives. Her mother, Hannah Shepard, commander of the Alliance dreadnaught SSV Orizaba, died in combat when her ship was destroyed in the Battle of Luna in the Sol System during the Reaper War.
Shepard is survived by her Asari wife the Lady Dr. Liara T'soni and their daughter Samara.
Filed: Emily Wong
Future Content News Corporation
Reproduced with permission – Citadel News Net
Commander Ashley Williams, Citadel Council Spectre, closed the news file. She deactivated her omni-tool and looked at the casket. Jesus skipper, why? she thought to herself. She closed her eyes tightly in thought. Four simple words, we still need her. That's all it took to set her into motion. I thought I'd be breaking up galactic conspiracies when I became a Spectre, not starting one. She shook her head.
Anderson was right though, the galaxy still needed its hero. What surprised Ashley wasn't that Anderson had said it, but that Liara had said it first. Liara told Anderson that this had to be an accident. Not even for her, but for the rest of the galaxy. I don't know if I'll ever understand aliens, she thought.
Having the coroner declare Shepard's death an accident wasn't difficult, he'd been almost eager to do it. Aside from the Alliance midshipmen she addressed the week before her death, very few people outside of the family knew of Shepard's erratic behavior. The officers and midshipmen Shepard addressed knew the score; there wouldn't be any problems there. Spectre Williams had made sure of that personally. Information security ran in the family. There were no treatment or counseling records that would suggest this was anything more than a horrible accident, and Kelly was dead, so the cover-up pretty much ended there.
There would be no repeat of the Lazarus Project, on that Liara was crystal clear.
I know the Lord works in mysterious ways, but why? How can this be part of His plan? Ashley squeezed her eyes tighter, tears appeared at their edges. All these gifts and you throw them away? How could you?
Ashley took a deep breath. She centered herself:
"Death closes all, but something ere the end
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods."
Ash opened her eyes. All that Shepard was, all that she could have become, laid in a metal box with a flag draped over it. "God damn it!" she kicked the casket. It rung hollowly, echoing in Normandy's hold. God damn you!