7. Cry Havoc
Joker hurriedly preps the Normandy SR-2 for battle as the voices of Commander Shepard and Admiral Anderson filter through the static in his earpiece. Shepard's hurt. He can practically hear her pain echo with each word, with every deep exhale he can make out through the weak connection. Anderson doesn't sound much better.
The Flight Lieutenant's frown deepens as he flips through the holographic screens covered in the Normandy's various status reports. EDI turns to look at him from her copilot seat. He hasn't said a word since asking her to set the Commander's comm link to their earpieces instead of the cockpit's main channel. He told her it just didn't seem right to have anyone else on the ship listen in.
"Jeff, are you ok?" she asks. Her synthetic voice carries a subtle emotional inflection that not many except Joker, Shepard, and some of the Normandy crew would understand or accept as being sincere. She's worried about him. The Alliance pilot forces the grim look from his face, trying his best to appear calm and collected.
"I'm fine, EDI," he states. "Just need to check the readings." Joker pulls over the status screens of the ship's drive core and shields until they are directly in front of him.
"This is the third time you've done a systems check in less than ten minutes. The Normandy's readings are optimal," EDI replies quietly, still looking at him.
"Yeah, well-"
Before he can continue a half-hearted sarcastic response to her, Joker is interrupted by Admiral Hackett over the cockpit's comm channel.
"Normandy, be advised we've received reports from Sword of several destroyer-class reapers breaking off from the battle," the Admiral states. "Sword intercepted a few of them, but there are two heading towards your location now. Right behind Harbinger. I'm sending Alliance dreadnoughts your way to provide Dagger with some heavy cover fire."
"Aye aye, sir. We'll adjust the combat strategy accordingly," Joker replies as he moves the status screens aside and pulls up the maps and controls.
"Good luck, Normandy. Shield standing by," Hackett says as he signs off.
The pilot's scowl returns. Nothing's ever easy, is it? They hadn't planned on battling multiple reapers. Still, he knows he needs to focus his frustration and anger at something and annihilating a few reapers would definitely hit the spot.
Joker and EDI hear Shepard calling out to Anderson just before the entire comm link to the Commander cuts to silence. Shepard's last words echo in his head. She sounded scared. His heart sinks and any semblance of composure he had previously tried to maintain shatters.
"Damn it!" he yells. "What happened? Can we get the comm back?"
EDI works quickly at the console in front of her. "I'm trying but there is an increasing amount of interference which I suspect is being caused by Harbinger. I've lost contact with the landing party as well. We should be able to maintain close-range communications with the arriving Dagger ships, but long and mid-range communications will likely be ineffective while Harbinger is in the vicinity."
"Fine, then let's deal with Harbinger," Joker says as he begins to connect to the other fighters. And then we're going to pick up Shepard and the squad, and head over to Omega... uh, well, somewhere... for the victory party.
He knows how silly and credulous it sounds even in his own head, but it's what they did after coming back from the collector base. Shepard has already gotten them out of two universe-altering suicide missions. She could do it again. He needs her to do it again, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to help her. He may not be able to fight on the battlefield by her side like Liara, Garrus, Tali, and even EDI, but he has the Normandy. And he owes the Commander his life. Hell, he owes her HER life.
It's something he's thought about too many times to count: the collector attack on the original Normandy. Sitting in the cockpit of the SR-2 during the night cycle while everyone else sleeps. Nothing but the quiet whirring of the ship as it cuts through the dark nothingness of space. The whole scene would replay in his mind in vivid detail. The sharp throbbing in his arm as Shepard pulled him out of the chair. Her heavy breathing as she rushed him to the escape pods. The intense heat and glare of the flaming ship. The terror he felt as he turned around to reach for her seconds too late. The dark metal of the pod hatch as it sealed shut. Shepard died. And it was his fault.
A blinking alert on the map breaks the somber memory and confirms that the reapers have arrived.
"EDI, shut down the stealth drives and redirect power to thrusters. Harbinger already knows we're here."
Joker maneuvers the Alliance frigate into position as the Dagger fleet arrives. In the distance, the incoming reapers stand out against a backdrop of Earth and the destruction of war in the space above it as Sword battles the invading armada.
"Confirming visual on Harbinger and two reaper destroyers," Joker relays to Dagger. "Fleet, report."
"Turian 7th Fleet squad ready," Lieutenant Cyrex Kalizen announces as three Turian fighter ships arrive at the rendezvous point.
"N7s and Tridents reporting in." N7 Special Tactics Operative Valentine is next to report in. Her team consists of five ships: two N7 Stealth Ravens and three Trident Fighters.
"Mantis team here." Zaeed Massani, founder of the Blue Suns and recent Normandy squad member, joins Dagger with two former-Cerberus gunships and two modified Mantis gunships.
"Zaeed. Nice of you to join us, old man," Joker remarks with a smirk.
"Watch it, kid," the mercenary responds, sounding only partially threatening.
The battle-scarred merc made killing and destruction his life's work, but something about him changed after the Omega-4 Relay mission. Then again, Shepard seemed to have that effect on everyone. Even Jack and Grunt left the Normandy very different individuals than they started out. Joker smiles to himself briefly. In spite of the loss and tragedy of this war, seeing old teammates provides a small comfort.
"Dagger, prepare for first contact. We all know the objective. Take these reapers out before they get anywhere near the Citadel or the Crucible. Harbinger is bringing backup, so we'll be splitting into smaller groups but the basic strategy is still the same," Joker explains to the fleet.
"Strike when the reapers are powering an attack and get the hell out of the way when they're firing. Don't let them lock on to you," he continues. "The key target point is the central energy core located right behind the prime oculus on each ship. Causing enough damage to that core will destabilize the entire ship."
"Roger that. Getting into formation," Operative Valentine responds.
"Preparing for first strike." Cyrex and his team take an offensive position.
"Here we go! Let's give 'em hell!" Zaeed shouts.
Joker hears the team leaders relaying commands as Dagger gets into position. The N7 ships and Tridents immediately settle into the customary yet effective wolfpack formation. They will be taking on one of the destroyers. The Mantis team and the Turian 7th Fleet fighters will target the second destroyer.
The Normandy is going up against Harbinger, the largest and deadliest of the reapers. Joker adjusts his SR-2 cap. His ship is ready and so is he. After everything Harbinger has done, especially the attack on the SR-1, this fight is personal.
"Normandy locking on to target. Thanix cannons ready," he states as he checks the targeting system.
The reapers are getting closer by the second. Harbinger charges towards the Dagger fleet with the two destroyers following closely on either side. Joker's heart begins to race. The cannons are primed and ready to fire, but he has to wait for the right time, for the perfect shot to do the most damage.
He flies the Normandy directly towards the colossal reaper as the other Dagger teams move forward to meet the destroyers. As the ship moves in closer to Harbinger, the imposing nemesis stretches its dark metal limbs outward towards the frigate, its large red oculus beginning to glow. This is it. The bullseye.
Joker fires the Normandy's primary weapons before Harbinger can launch its laser attack. The blue glow of the powerful twin Thanix cannons slice through the inky vacuum of space, hitting the target with spectacular precision and causing a shower of sparks.
"I know you feel this, you son of a bitch!" he shouts. This fight has been a long time coming.
"Direct hit," EDI confirms. "Harbinger's core still operational. Full shielding active."
The reaper immediately begins to pull back and upwards, taking a more vertical position to cover the targeted core. The Normandy's cannons need time to recharge. Joker glances at the status screen. Full recharge in T-minus 15 seconds. The ship's secondary weapons, however, are ready. He banks a sharp right before flying downwards to aim at the reaper's limbs. Another vulnerable spot.
The sounds of Dagger's assault pour through the comm as they engage the destroyers not far away. As Joker maneuvers the Normandy into position, he can see Zaeed and the gunships unleashing a barrage of heavy missiles while the agile turian fighter ships provide cover and keep the reaper's targeting system busy.
Joker launches the Javelin missiles at Harbinger they impact, resulting in plumes of smoke that seep from the reaper's limbs.
"Harbinger is preparing to counterattack," EDI warns.
He pulls the Normandy swiftly away from the reaper. "Taking evasive maneuvers."
The SR-2 glides upward and away from the glowing red core. Harbinger fires two crimson beams directly at the ship, one catching the edge of the Normandy's outer left thruster. The impact shakes the frigate violently even with the CBT barriers reflecting the brunt of the attack. Joker quickly steadies the ship and spins it around to face Harbinger as EDI checks the thruster status.
"Damage minimal. Thruster functioning at 89%."
"I can live with that," Joker quips. He glances at the Thanix weapon status. Fully charged and ready. "Firing primary now."
The cannons' beams reach their crimson target for another direct hit. Harbinger's core goes dark as Joker swings the Normandy around the reaper in a large arc, checking on the rest of Dagger. Some of the ships have already taken considerable damage, but the fleet seems to be holding strong against the destroyers. Both of the smaller reapers are visibly damaged, though the flares of red lasers cutting through the smoke and dust reminds him that this battle is far from over.
In the distance, two massive Alliance dreadnoughts move towards Dagger. The SSV Logan and SSV Orizaba.
"The Citadel arms are opening," EDI suddenly announces. "Hackett's team is docking the Crucible now."
He grins as he adjusts the ship's angle to get a view of the Citadel. The arms slowly extending outwards remind him of a flower blooming.
"Shepard did it! I knew she would. Now let's hold up our end of the bargain," he says as he returns his focus to Harbinger. We will win this. I know it. Just like I knew Shepard would get the job done.
"Wait? They're retreating?" one of the Trident pilots exclaims.
"I doubt that," Cyrex commands over the comm. "Do not stop the attack!"
Joker looks at their enemies. Harbinger and the other two reapers begin to move backwards. They're pulling away, but why? To regroup? It doesn't make sense.
The Normandy moves forward with the other Dagger ships and Joker prepares the SR-2's primary and secondary weapons. His pulse seems to echo in his head as he realizes what the reapers are doing. They continue to move back and angle themselves towards a new set of targets: Shield and the moving Crucible.
"Bloody hell! It's going to attack the Crucible!" Zaeed yells.
"Dagger, we can not let those reapers through!" Joker commands the fleet. "Hold the line at all costs!"
"On it! Running a blockade!" Valentine responds as her team moves to intercept the enemy.
"Gunships! Move now!" Zaeed orders.
"Normandy, be advised, the Orizaba and Logan are moving into position. We'll form a secondary blockade and provide some backup fire."
In spite of the static on the comm, he knows who it is. The ship name just confirms it. Rear Admiral Hannah Shepard. Commander Shepard's mother.
"Aye aye, ma'am," Joker responds as the dreadnoughts get into place midway between Dagger's location and the Crucible.
The precision fighters move accordingly to allow the powerful battleships a clear line of fire as they continue a close-range assault. The reapers acknowledge the dreadnoughts' arrival as they attack Dagger with a renewed vengeance, vicious streaks of crimson lashing at the fleet. Within seconds, a Mantis gunship falls victim to Harbinger's dual lasers. The ship and its pilot disintegrate quickly, leaving a cloud of smoldering wreckage and smoke.
Joker locks on to Harbinger and fires the cannons again. Though narrowly missing the reaper's energy core directly, the Normandy's attack prevents the hulking foe from locking on to the other Dagger ships or the Crucible. The dreadnoughts begin their assault as well, the high-velocity guns impacting the reapers' exteriors with a shower of smoldering black metal fragments.
The Stealth Ravens and Tridents concentrate fire on the most heavily damaged reaper, hoping to bring it down quickly. Dark smoke surrounds the destroyer as portions of its thick plated exterior burn, casting a hazy orange glow around it. The SSV Orizaba focuses on the weakened reaper as well, its heavy weapons continue to cut into the enemy.
The dying reaper counters with a final attack, striking the closest target, a Trident. The powerful beam easily cuts through the bottom hull of the fighter, causing it to explode. The fleet quickly finishes the destroyer off in a fiery blast. The dark alien ship seems to shatter like glass in slow motion within the vacuum of space as the debris is propelled outward from the explosion.
"One reaper down," Cyrex confirms over the comm.
The Normandy moves in for another attack on Harbinger and prepares for the it to counter, but the reaper's charging weaponry angles away from the frigate before firing the dual-crimson lasers directly at the Orizaba. It hits the dreadnought hard despite the distance. The impact pushes the battleship backwards as a quick series of violent explosions erupt from the ship.
Joker immediately fires the Thanix at Harbinger effectively interrupting the strike on the dreadnought and causing the reaper to pull back. The damage to the Orizaba is already done however.
"Orizaba, come in. What's your status?" he asks frantically over the comm. "Rear Admiral Shepard, do you copy?"
He hears static and loud booming sounds over the voice of Hannah Shepard ordering everyone to evacuate the ship immediately. The SSV Logan's captain commands his crew to begin rescue procedures and pick up the escape pods.
"Normandy, we've taken major damage. Evac protocols in effect." She finally replies over the comm. "The Orizaba's heavy artillery remains functional and we will continue to assist Dagger."
What? She can't be... "But Rear Admiral-"
"Lieutenant Moreau, do NOT stop the assault on the reapers. That's an order!" Her authoritative voice and rank leave no room for further arguments.
"Understood, ma'am," Joker replies reluctantly.
He can hear more noise and bits of conversation between Rear Admiral Shepard and the Orizaba's pilot. Joker tenses as his fears are confirmed. They would not be evacuating with the rest of the crew. They'd keep the dreadnought's main guns firing at the reapers. They were going down with the ship.
Joker scowls and turns his attention back to Harbinger as it aims for the dreadnoughts again just as the second group of escape pods launch. The SR-2's cannons are not ready so he furiously rushes the ship closer to Harbinger. Close enough to see the dents and punctures in its thick armored exterior.
"Launching Javelins!" he announces. The missiles barrel into Harbinger resulting in more dark gray smoke. It manages to keep it from attacking the dreadnoughts again.
The Normandy begins preparing for another attack as Harbinger recharges. On the SR-2's starboard side, the turian fighters finish off the remaining destroyer. The ensuing blast and heavy wreckage envelops one of the turian ships. The SSV Orizaba stops firing as well, the dreadnought going completely dark as the comm link cuts from loud static to silence.
"We've lost the Orizaba," Valentine confirms solemnly.
"God damn it!" Joker curses under his breath.
They've lost too much. Three Dagger ships and the Orizaba. They couldn't lose anymore. The destroyers are gone, but Harbinger is still functional and deadly. The two red beams continue slicing through the remnants of the demolished reapers and Dagger ships alike.
"Jeff...," EDI calls out to him, her voice sounding strange. Joker immediately glances at her while trying to keep his attention on the battle and the controls at the same time. What he sees makes his blood run ice cold.
Her visor is covered in a stream of glowing red digital code. Reaper code. The advanced AI's normally gray eyes are also glowing and red. No, not EDI. This is NOT happening!
"EDI?" he asks as the anger and frustration he felt just seconds before are replaced by alarm and dread. "EDI? What's going on? Talk to me."
"Harbinger is...," she attempts to explain, but her voice is interrupted by a sharp loud blare of electronic sounds.
"EDI! No!" Joker yells, his pulse skyrocketing as he tries to divide his attention between EDI and the battle. "Come on! Fight it! You're stronger."
"I... can't... it's trying to rewrite..." she struggles to reply through the jarring electronic noise.
"No. No. No. Don't do this to me. I need you. Fight back, EDI! You can do this!"
In spite of the remaining Dagger fighters continuing their close range assault, Harbinger prepares for an attack on the Normandy, taking advantage of the confusion in the frigate's cockpit. It angles its massive body directly at the Alliance ship.
"Joker! Watch out!" Zaeed shouts a warning through the comm. "Harbinger's locked on to the Normandy!"
Joker turns his attention back to the battle, banking the ship sharply to evade Harbinger's attack. The reaper's laser is faster. It clips the underside hull of the SR-2, the impact sending the ship into a savage twist.
As he struggles to stabilize the Normandy, Joker glances over at EDI and all time seems to stop for a moment. Her body is slumped down in her copilot seat, arms limp at her sides.
"EDI," he whispers sadly.
A flash from his console indicates the Thanix cannons are charged and ready to fire. He has to take the shot. There's too much riding on this.
As Joker flies into position for the next attack, he sees silver movement in his peripheral vision. Instantly he turns to see EDI moving slowly at first then sitting up and straight arms moving towards the controls. For a heartbeat, his hope is overclouded by fear that Harbinger is now controlling her. But he realizes that the red code is gone.
"EDI, what the hell just happened?" he asks cautiously.
"I am fine, Jeff," she replies, her synthetic voice back to normal. "Harbinger will not control me. Not now or ever." She examines the Normandy's status screens and quickly begins analyzing the damage.
"The Normandy's hull is significantly damaged. Shielding and barriers holding at 75%."
Joker exhales in relief. She's ok. But they still have Harbinger to deal with. This has to end now. Before he loses anyone else.
He locks on to the reaper and fires the Thanix weapon just as Harbinger unleashes its own attack, forcing him to dodge the lasers and the cannons to miss their target.
"Fuck!" he shouts in frustration.
"Primary weapons recharging. Full charge in T-minus 15 seconds," EDI states.
Harbinger continues to fire its lasers furiously at the Normandy and Joker continues to dodge the deadly beams. Dagger is unrelenting in their assault on the reaper. The effect of their bombardment seems to reach a tipping point as Harbinger's oculus flickers. Smoke pours from the giant foe as it begins to maneuver into a vertical position once again.
"Harbinger's core has sustained significant damage and its barriers have been compromised," EDI confirms. "It's vulnerable to attack."
"This is it, Dagger! Fire away! Hit it with everything you've got!" Joker orders the fleet. He glances up at the Thanix weapon's status. 11 seconds to go.
Dagger surrounds the damaged reaper causing Harbinger to return fire.
"Launching Javelins," Joker announces, the missiles striking Harbinger's front panels. The laser stutters, cutting out as the oculus continues to move. It shifts to aim past the fleet before it flickers back to life.
"It's aiming for the Crucible again!" shouts one of the turian pilots.
The red glow from Harbinger's damaged core grows brighter, directly in line with the SSV Logan as the dreadnought picks up the last few escape pods.
"No, it's going to hit the Logan!" Joker's pulse races. The cannons aren't ready and the Javelins aren't in place yet. Shit! Not again!
"Not if I can bloody help it!" Zaeed yells.
Joker looks over at the mercenary's gunship as it rushes straight towards Harbinger.
"Zaeed! What the hell are you doing?" he shouts back.
"Can't let you and Shepard have all the glory. I'm buying you some time to finish the job, Joker."
Harbinger's energy core reaches its max charge and all Joker can do is watch as Zaeed dodges the reaper's crimson laser before barreling full-speed into it. A fireball engulfs the Mantis and the reaper core, heavy black smoke hanging over the impact point.
"Harbinger's systems appear to be shutting down entirely," EDI says, bringing Joker's awareness back to the objective. "Shields are destroyed. Energy core failing."
The Dagger fleet wastes no time moving forward to take advantage the enemy's weakened state. Joker lines the Normandy up with Harbinger locking on to it.
"This one's for Zaeed!" he declares before firing the now-charged Thanix weaponry. The streams of blue light illuminating the debris and smoke hanging in the space between the Normandy and Harbinger. It strikes the destroyed oculus directly, resulting in a series of powerful explosions as the reaper breaks apart, finally defeated.
"Harbinger terminated," EDI confirms with a calm yet triumphant tone.
The Normandy crew erupts in a chorus of cheers and relieved sighs.
"Good job, Dagger," Joker says adjusting his cap again. "Regroup with Shield ASAP. The reapers might move on the Crucible in force since Harbinger couldn't get past us. Be ready."
He exhales deeply, the adrenaline previously coursing through his veins during the battle is dissipating fast. Ache and weariness are setting in. A holographic screen to his left catches his eye. It's the log of comm channels, several connections marked as lost. Joker frowns at the sight of "Zaeed Massani" and "SSV Orizaba".
"EDI, how's she looking?" he asks, pulling his eyes away from the channels screen.
"I'm initiating return to normal energy ranges. Redirecting appropriate power to stealth drive and CBT barrier," she replies. "Wing structure has external damage. Shielding in place at hull breach and holding. Drive core output stable."
"What about the Orizaba? Can we help pick up the survivors?" he asks quietly.
"The Logan has already picked up all surviving crew from the escape pods," she replies solemnly.
Joker is about to ask about Hannah Shepard but stops himself, dreading the finality of the answer. He already knows. The Rear Admiral and the dreadnought pilot sacrificed their lives to help Dagger stop Harbinger.
He remembers his conversation with her on Earth, when she came to see the Commander. Shepard is so much like her. His heart sinks as he thinks of telling Shepard about her mother. He sighs quietly. This war's taken so many people out of his life, yet mourning would have to wait.
"Can we get the squad or Admiral Hackett's link back?" he asks.
"I'm repairing the connections now."
There is something he wants to say to her, but he pauses, thinking of what exactly to say and how to say it.
"I thought I'd lost you for a moment there, EDI," he finally speaks softly. "What happened?"
EDI turns to look at him.
"Harbinger recognized the reaper code in my programming, perhaps due to proximity. It tried to control me with what essentially amounts to reaper logic. Likely similar in many ways to the means Sovereign used to gain control the geth heretics. But I was able to counter it."
She pauses thoughtfully for a second, not sure if she should say this out loud. But the realization, the fear she felt when Harbinger tried to rewrite her programming, makes her want to tell him. She was afraid to die. And that fear awakened her sense of mortality. Life is too short, organic and synthetic life alike.
"I am more than just code and synthetic materials. I understand that now, Jeff. You and Shepard gave me that understanding. If not for you, I don't know that I could have stopped Harbinger's reprogramming."
"I'm just happy you're ok, EDI," Joker confesses. "I don't know what I would've done if... if I lost you." It's his turn to pause now though it just creates an awkward silence. He's never been one for talking about his feelings in the first place, and his new relationship with the unshackled AI is completely uncharted territory.
"I mean it's not like I couldn't manage the Normandy on my own. Hell, I know this ship better than anyone," he states. "But then I'd have to read though all the daily status reports and handle all the systems adjustments. It'd be a whole thing."
Joker smiles, shrugging nonchalantly. It isn't what he meant to say, but it's the best he can do right now. He hopes she understands the hidden subtext.
"I feel the same way about you, Jeff," EDI says knowingly before turning back to the console in front of her. "Although according to my calculations, I could run the Normandy 8.23% more efficiently without you."
He laughs quietly. And that's why I love you, EDI.
The moment's indulgence is over quickly as the current situation pushes into the forefront of his mind again. Harbinger is dead, but the Commander and the squad are still out there.
"I'm heading in towards the Citadel," Joker declares.
The Normandy gracefully races past the floating wreckage of the battle, most of it the remains of Harbinger.
"I wish Shepard was here to see Harbinger blown to pieces. She would've loved it," he says dolefully.
"We will show her the vids once she's back aboard the Normandy, Jeff," EDI responds confidently. "We've captured the battle with at least three of the ship's cameras. Perhaps we should make a montage of the footage set to something classical? Maybe Ride of the Valkyries?"
Joker knows she's trying to raise his spirits. He's grateful.
"You know what, EDI? That's not a bad idea. Oh and we definitely need slow motion on the explosions. Shepard's a big fan of those."
His smile falls into a pensive expression as he looks beyond the floating debris of the Orizaba and towards the next destination. Hold on, Shepard. We're coming.
The SR-2 glides quickly towards the Citadel and the Crucible, the large metal structures getting larger in the windshield of the ship's cockpit as the frigate gets closer. They've already come so far. The Crucible is complete. Harbinger is gone. Shepard and Anderson are on the Citadel. Everything that had been deemed impossible, they'd accomplished. The worry Joker felt for Shepard prior to Operation: Dagger is diminished somewhat, now replaced with hope and determination. They would win this. He can feel it. The tide is turning in this war.
Author's Notes:
Thank you so much for the awesome comments and fave alerts! When I first started writing this, it was just because I had these "what if" ideas in my head. I never expected that anyone would even care to read it, so to have all these kind comments completely blows me away!
Sorry for the delay. I hope I haven't lost too many of you. I can't believe it's taken me so long to finish these latest chapters. Moving forward, I'm hoping it won't take more than 2-3 weeks for updates.
This is something of a missing moment in the game for me. I really wanted to have a space-boss-battle against Harbinger by controlling the Normandy! (Kind of like that boss battle from Metal Gear Solid 4 where it's Metal Gear Ray vs. Metal Gear Rex.)
Also an apology goes out to all the Zaeed fans reading this chapter. From the start, I wanted to explore the ways Shepard's previous actions and choices could impact the story. (Something I felt the game's ending didn't really show.) Sometimes it's subtle; sometimes it's more dramatic. For example, this Shepard would have stopped Zaeed from running after Vido at the cost of innocent lives during his loyalty mission in ME2, and something about that sticks with him. The events here being his redemption moment in a way. If Shepard had ended that ME2 loyalty mission another way, maybe Zaeed doesn't sacrifice himself to save the SSV Orizaba survivors, leading to other consequences later on. Or maybe he's dead by the time Operation: Dagger begins and that leads to even heavier casualties for the fighter fleet. From the Citadel survivors to Shepard's history and morality, I wanted there to be several of these moments where the impact of the past is felt, so look for more of these as the story continues.
** Chapter 8: This Mortal Coil should be up in a few minutes. **