Time for some real combat missions. Based this particular chapter on Battlestar Galactica Razor and modified a line from Firefly. I just feel it suits a renegade Shepard well.
Since Robert and Miranda had started sharing the Captains Quarters, one negative issue had arisen. It was now hell to get out of bed in the morning. Who would want to get to work when they could lay in bed and spoon, or more, with Miranda Lawson. The Pros DEFINITELY outweighed the cons. He was having sex twice a day minimum. It was definitely a productive relationship between the Commanding Officer and the XO. This led Robert to think about his days as the XO aboard the Normandy SR1, before becoming the first human SPECTRE, before being tasked to hunt Saren. He was a strict, cold, and calculating Officer, the exact Opposite of Captain Anderson, almost seeming as if they were playing Good Cop-Bad Cop.
3 years ago.
"Crew, you have all the pieces to re-assemble the M-9 Avenger Assault Rifle, standard issue for Alliance Marines. I have placed one piece from an incompatible rifle in the mix, you are to fully re-assemble the rifle to my satisfaction in 60 seconds" ordered Robert as he paced in the training room in front of the new batch of Alliance marines. "Begin" The Marines scrambled to re-assemble their rifles. Some showed potential and assembled theirs with up to 3 seconds to spare. One, a hot headed Corporal finished with 2 seconds to spare. He seemed overly confident in his ability. Robert approached him and asked "Corporal, do you believe that this rifle is properly assembled?" The corporal leaned back in his chair and said "Hell yes sir." Robert, showing no emotion and pointed the gun to his own chest and ordered "pull the trigger." The room went silent, and all eyes fell on the Corporal. The Corporal looked puzzled and said "ummm, Sir?" Robert angrily said "You heard me soldier, pull the damn trigger." The Corporal said "Shepard, you've lost your mind!" This made Robert angry, forcing him to draw his Predator Heavy Pistol leveling it at the soldiers head and growled "pull the damn trigger boy or your replacement's first assignment will be to scrub your brain matter off the wall." As the other Marines started to rise from their seats, Robert boldly said "Sit your asses down!" They all listened and silently sat down. The Corporal, now sweating, swallowed a lump in his throat, closed his eyes, and pulled the trigger, hearing nothing but a loose click. Robert tore the rifle from him and said "If this happens in the battlefield, you die! Do you think a Batarian Slaver will let you call a time-out while you draw your side arm? I didn't think so! He will shoot you, gut you, and rape what is left, hopefully in that order" Shoving the rifle into the Corporal's chest, causing a painful thud, Robert looked to the group and ordered "Everyone, disassemble your rifles, and I want you to re-assemble them with your eyes shut! We will continue this until each and every one of you miserable FNGs meets my satisfaction."
Everyone knew what he did on Torfan. They knew he, and his men under his orders, executed over 70 unarmed Batarian Slavers, not including the ones he tortured for information on other enemy outposts. The Alliace Brass wrote this off, saying it was self defense in the midst of chaos. He was a cold hearted, ruthless, bad ass.