Admiral Wright calls him, on a high security channel, to let him in on the Normandy situation. Personnel have finally been approved, he says.
Anderson's in command.
He already knows a lot about her. She's a deep-scout frigate, flagship of the new stealth class. He's already crammed every detail he can remember into his brain about her Tantalus Drive Core. He knows she's a joint effort, built equal parts by the Alliance and the Turian Hierarchy. That she's financially backed by the Council.
Wright tells him the only thing he doesn't know; she's going to run the mission that assesses the candidate for humanity's first Spectre.
He's told the Council's assigning a turian Spectre to oversee the mission. Nihlus. Anderson thinks it's just as likely he's there to monitor their investment. He and the turian are forwarded a list of potential candidates, approved by the Council for "satisfactory service history."
Shepard's made the list, he sees. Barely. He finds her name at the bottom, second to last. Anderson knows she's been on the Brass's radar since she enlisted. The ruckus she'd caused back then nearly gets him demoted. It's not blood in her veins, it's piss and vinegar. She's got more balls than an entire platoon of krogan mercenaries. She's their go-to soldier for critical missions. So when Hackett calls him and asks him to recommend an officer for the Alliance to back, he's only got one answer.
Nihlus has the same one. Turns out he's had an eye on Shepard for years now, too.
Anderson orders her back from shore leave. Three other officers, recommended by Ambassador Udina, Councilor Sparatus, and Councilors Valern and Tevos, he orders back as well. He interviews them, one by one, in a windowed room full of psychiatrists and Councilor's Aides and Udina's smothering personality.
Sparatus's nominee's the oldest, he learns. Soldier class. Least amount of MVC ranks, but rated 7 in all of them. Son of two naval officers that Anderson's served with in the past. He meets Anderson's eyes confidently, and Anderson can see why he would appeal to Sparatus. The next candidate, Udina's, has the cleanest record. Lowest proficiency scores of the four. Anderson recognizes him as the survivor from Akuze. Infiltrator. Nine consecutive years of expert-ranked accuracy with a sniper rifle. Valern's and Tevos's pick has the longest service history. Sentinel. She pauses to consider before answering each of Anderson's questions.
Shepard's the youngest. Vanguard. Highest number of hospitalizations. Shortest service. Most decorated. Longest record of disciplinary actions. He looks her in the eye the whole time, and not once does she break contact.
He and Hackett and Udina argue at length, when the interviews are over.
Udina doesn't want to approve Shepard. He thinks she's unstable. Irresponsible. Anderson watches him pace back and forth, and he can feel the frustration showing on his face. He reminds him that she's the only N7 that made the cut.
She gets the job done.
Anderson can see his scowl when the Ambassador turns his head. He's considering how much he can trust Anderson's word when Shepard's so clearly his favorite marine.
When he opens his mouth, Udina only asks if that's the kind of person they want protecting the galaxy.
"It's the only kind of person who can," Anderson answers.