Chapter 2: The Renegade returns
The year is 2200 and the once all human council has been dissolved and the "old" council is restored. All members associated with the human council have either resigned or where arrested and tried for treason. It took five years since the Reapers where defeated in 2187 to rebuild the council completely. Members of the Alliance military resigned when the old council returned to power along with former councilor David Anderson. The new council was replaced by Turian Admiral Salorus Vasonus, the Asari Marus Kiprol a diplomat and a former asari commando, the Salarian Kendal Zeddik and human Alliance Parliament member Blare Feldmen.
Tensions were high on the Citadel when it was announced a human was allowed to take a seat on the council. But that quickly changed when the new human councilor convicted commander Hazel Shepard, gave the Quarians their embassy back and invited the batarian Hegemony to the Citadel.
His policies have been criticized and he has been called a weak apologist that's given up human strength to strengthen the other races. Him and the other council members have recently since the destruction of an alliance colony in the Traverse are being pressured to speak with the newly released Hazel Shepard in a discussion on colonial defense.
"So you've heard to?" Councilor Feldmen asked
"Yes we've heard she is on the Citadel." Councilor Kiprol said
"Shes calling us out." councilor Vasonus growled "It's embarrassing!"
"We need to respond!" Councilor Zeddik demanded
"Relax, all of you!" Feldmen shouted "Shepard is a relic, a left over from when humanity was still new to the galaxy."
"That may be but she is still a powerful symbol." Councilor Kiprol said.
"We need to put her in her place!" Councilor Vasonus shouted
"Don't worry we'll give her an audience." Councilor Feldmen said calmly.
"What do you mean?" councilor Zeddik asked
"The quarians, Alliance and executor Vakarian want us to talk to her...we will." he answered.
"I'm not following." Kiprol said scratching her chin.
"Shes irrelevant and out of touch with the rest of the galaxy and we will show this to every one when we speak with her." he said clearly in control of the conversation.
"What are you saying?" councilor Zeddik asked
"I say we allow reporters and vid crews to televise our conversation and show the galaxy that Shepard is no longer the great hero she was, but just a pathetic old fool that is out for glory." Feldmen proposed
"He's right, if you humiliate her in front of the galaxy she will fade away." councilor Kiprol said
"My thoughts exactly!" councilor Feldmen said grinning at his fellow councilors who nodded in reply with the plan.
The next day in the council chamber:
"Are you sure about this Shepard?" Garrus asked uneasily
"Yep." Shepard replied quickly
"But Shepard they'll eat you alive in there!" Garrus said
"At least they can't send me to prison again right?" Shepard said pretending to sound worried
Garrus stopped and pulled Shepard to the side and looked intensely into Shepard's eyes. "Shepard you got out of prison not to long ago and now you want to talk to the people who sent you there."
"I do."
"I know you Shepard..."
"Don't worry I don't have a gun on me and I don't have a shuttle ready to crash into the tower." Shepard said mocking Garrus's seriousness
Garrus let out a deep sigh "Fine but be ready for what ever tricks they have." he said
"I'm always ready!"
Shepard walked to the council chamber. The last time she was there they where putting her in prison for ten years. A lot has changed Kolyat Krios is now a very successful C-sec officer, Garrus is the executor and quarians have real influence on the Citadel and a new home world.
"This meeting of the council has been brought into session to discuss the complaints by former alliance commander Hazel Shepard." councilor Kiprol announced
"The destruction of our colonies is not a complaint!" Shepard yelled
"You know some thing about destruction yourself Shepard." councilor Feldmen remarked "Or at least the colonists you killed on Faros would agree."
"Those colonist were being controlled by an alien creature, it was an at of mercy to kill those colonists and for all we know they would have had permanent damage from their minds being controlled!" Shepard shot back
"And I'm hear to talk about our colonies that face an immediate threat by a foe that I haven't dealt with yet." Shepard said
"This council will not listen to threats against one of our allies!" Councilor Zeddik shouted
"That was a promise councilors." Shepard said
"The batarians are our friends Shepard." councilor Feldmen said in a chastising tone of voice signaling his fellow council men to calm down. "But you would know that if you weren't in prison."
"I was in prison because you councilor needed a sacrificial lamb to give to the other members of this council." Shepard retorted
"You killed the old council for you're own gain!" councilor Vasonus barked
"You were an Admiral once right?" Shepard questioned
"Yes but I don't..."
"Then you must understand that by sacrificing the council I made sure that Sovereign was destroyed, the geth were defeated and the Citadel was protected after the battle." Shepard interrupted "Or councilor would it have been preferable to save the council and risk the lives of the billions of people on the Citadel during the battle?"
With that question the Turian councilor backed down.
"Then how do you justify using the deaths of the council to put in a human dominated council?" councilor Zeddik questioned
"After the deaths of the council the galaxy needed leadership...real leadership." Shepard answered
"And a human council gave us this correct?" Zeddik asked
"With the council dead humanity stepped up to lead the galaxy and our fleet along with those that defeated the Reapers showed that we would do what ever was necessary to protect the galaxy." Shepard answered. " And you can't deny that if our feet was damaged in any way that would have resulted in greater casualties when the Reapers arrived."
The Salarian not having any more words to argue with backed down.
"We are not here to discuss Shepard's past we are here to discuss Shepard's complaint." councilor Kiprol intervened.
Shepard was clearly angry about what would be called righteous fury a complaint, but let it go. "What are you going to do about the batarian attacks in the Attican Traverse."
"We are levying sanctions and ordering them to pay reparations to those effected by the colonies." councilor Feldman answered proudly.
"That is not enough!" Shepard shouted "They've been attacking human colonies and taking slaves for a lot longer than you've been sanctioning them!"
"Then what do you suggest Shepard?" Feldmen said mockingly " You seem to have all the answers."
"The Alliance...no this Council needs to retaliate against the batarians!" Shepard proclaimed "And our fleets Admirals and Captains should be able to do that, not just file a report when a colony is being attacked!"
"What you are suggesting is war?" Kiprol asked
"That's what I'm saying!" Shepard grunted
"Shepard we have no time to entertain you're prejudices against the batarian people!" Feldmen said
"Batarians attack humans, they enslave humans and you just give them sanctions to pay off?" Shepard questioned "I'm worried about our colonies, that's what I'm here for and you four are here to make me out to seem irrational and a racist!"
"Then what about the batarians you killed on Torfan?" Kiprol asked "That had nothing to do with any prejudices?"
"Batarians attack human controlled space and you expect a soldier to disobey orders in a combat situation?" Shepard question angrily. "Those batarians would have returned to kill more humans, I made sure that they never got a chance."
Councilor Kiprol being a former commando backed down, understanding having to follow orders.
"Shepard this council will not be brought into a needless war because of you're blood lust and you're glory chasing!" Feldmen yelled
"This has nothing to do with me, this is about our colonies that are being attacked and this council not doing a god damn thing about it councilor!" Shepard barked "Or did you the four of you just agree to turn this into a "Shepard bashing party" just because this is being watched on the vids?"
Councilor Feldmen in that very moment felt the entire galaxy watching him. This was supposed to so how out of touch Shepard was. But much to his surprise Shepard was holding her own.
"And if this council doesn't do any thing about the batarians I will!" Shepard proclaimed
"What can one woman do against an entire government?" Feldmen scoffed.
"I was the one that defeated Saren and his geth, I defeated the collectors and I was the one who got this galaxy ready to fight the Reapers!" Shepard barked "So councilor does that answer that question?"
"Shepard we cannot get involved in a single matter." Kiprol added
"But if you get involved we would not be able to stop you if..." councilor Zeddik said
"No I will not allow her to be a spectre!" Feldmen interrupted
"That decision wouldn't be up to just you!" Vasonus barked
"Sounds like you four need some help and I'll give it to you." Shepard said taking a deep breath and then exhaled. "No the title of spectre is a relic I don't need."
"We'll respect your wish Shepard." Kiprol said
"What are you going to do Shepard?" councilor Zeddik asked
"I'm gonna stop these attacks against my people...one bullet at a time." Shepard said as she walked from the council chamber.
"This is a mess." Councilor Feldmen thought to himself. Shepard made fools of this council, the batarian embassy will most likely demand to have Shepard arrested which he couldn't do because she hadn't done any thing yet and this meeting of the council was live on the vids and extra net, possibly gaining sympathy for Shepard cause. She was a rebel and a real renegade. He thought that when Shepard was put in prison it would break her fighting spirit but all it did was bottle it up. Now that it's out they're would be no stopping her. The renegade had returned and anyone in her way would would find no mercy from the end of her gun.
End.
AN/ I really like how this chapter ended up. (I hope you really hate the new council.)
Next chapter will be all action.
Please review.