5. Not According to Plan

Things aren't going quite according to plan. The plan was to land, deal with any hostiles (done and done) and ascertain the fate of the colonists (ditto) before riding away into the sunset as heroes, figuratively speaking. Instead, the colonists aren't playing ball. And it's frustrating the hell out of First Lieutenant Storm.

The civilians that she, Fredericks and Williams have located, Abby and Ben have led her squad along with Shepard to the entrance to the underground vault, cunningly concealed amidst a boulder-strewn area several klicks from the spaceport.

Now, the on-planet colonial administrator, Abby and Ben's father, is flatly refusing to go along with the plan to at least temporarily evacuate the civilians.

"Sir, this colony isn't currently safe," Storm attempts to explain. "You have no Marine garrison and the solar activity makes interstellar communication impossible. It's really for the best if you allow the colony to be evacuated."

The colonial administrator, Thomas Barnes stands arms akimbo. "Leftenant, we Aurians did not get where we are today by abandoning our little piece of the galaxy at the first sign of trouble and we're not about to start now."

Barnes is backed up by a chorus of murmured approvals and much nodding of heads.

Helplessly, Storm turns to Shepard who has been silent since entering the vault, content to let her squad second handle negotiations. "A word, Ma'am?" Storm asks quietly. Shepard nods and the officers step out of earshot of the colonists, footfalls echoing dully from the metal walls and floor.

"You have to admire the craftsmanship of these vault walls," Shepard muses, rapping her armoured fist against a wall, eliciting a hollow bonging noise. "I can see their point, actually. They spent who knows how many tens of millions of creds building all this and for us to ask them to leave? Yeah, I wouldn't be too thrilled with the idea either."

"Commander, it's not safe," Storm counters. "It's only a matter of time before raiders make a concerted enough search of the area and find the entrance. Then it'd be like shooting fish in a barrel. Only messier."

Shepard nods and, for a moment, Storm thinks she's convinced the Hero of the Citadel to back her up. "We're letting them stay."

"What?" Hailstorm blurts, shocked. Several pairs of eyes, Fredericks' and Williams' among them turn in her direction. "Commander, with respect-" Shepard cuts her off with a raised hand and Storm subsides.

"We can't make them leave, Hayley," Shepard says gently. "For better or worse, this is the decision they've made and, from the looks of this place, nothing short of a direct hit from a tactical nuke can breach the walls from outside."

The Lieutenant's brow furrows and her lips compress into a narrow bloodless line. "I'm formally lodging my protest at this decision, Commander," she eventually says. Shepard just nods, "Duly noted, Lieutenant."

Arms folded across her chest, Storm replies, "What now?"

Shepard tilts her head in the direction of the assembled colonists. "I use my Spectre priority clearance to request a cruiser and frigate wolfpack to provide cover for the system until a new garrison unit arrives." When Shepard next speaks, she addresses Storm directly. "I know you have reservations, Lieutenant and I admire you for standing by your convictions but from here, this looks like a win for us. The colonists are safe, the immediate threat has been repulsed and, from a political standpoint, we score brownie points with the Citadel races for taking care of business ourselves without relying on them for aid."

Despite herself, a smirk tugs at the corners of Storm's lips, "Always working the angles, Commander?"

Shepard nods, "And then some."

A/N:The resolution may not appeal to everybody but I drew inspiration from the bushfires that happened recently in Victoria. Basically, people in high-risk areas were saying they should have the choice to stay and defend their properties rather than have the authorities evacuate them. I'm thinking I might expand this later with another mini-fic on a different subject, if/when inspiration strikes me.

As always, feedback is appreciated.