Chapter 23
"Thank you, Councilors," Shepard said.
Anchor stood sour faced next to her. Shepard turned the black stone over in her hands. It was the real shard. She had been suspicious at first after ordering him to relinquish it in front of the Council. She could feel a resounding, biotic prickling quality to it as she held it in her hand. It was the real thing.
"It's good to see will be all right, Spectre," Tevos said. "It was a shock to hear. Good thing your XO was able to control things. He's been very helpful."
"I bet," Shepard said flatly. "You're all aware a downed cruiser was found on the planet. Probably the Medurrus. It's been five days. We haven't sent anyone down to investigate it."
"We did investigate," Anchor said frostily. "Several probes have been dispatched. It's an old wreak. Nothing there but that downed ship."
"Downed ship." Shepard turned to him. "That downed ship could have survivors, Anchor."
"Or, we could lose some of our marines. The planet is dangerous. While you were down, I had to make the hard calls."
"Hard calls," Shepard snorted. "It shouldn't be a hard call. You should have been down there looking for them."
"Enough," Mason said. "Make your decision on how to proceed, Spectre, but remember you are a week behind schedule. I agree with investigating this ship on foot though. It could be the general and his men."
"General Taurin could still be alive if that's his ship," Sparatus said. "He and his men are true heros. Fighters. I agree with Mason. We need to have you go see. That's part of the reason you went."
"But not the main reason," Tevos said. "If it is dangerous, you can't sacrifice the primary objective to complete the secondary."
"Losing a few marines won't sacrifice the mission," Ilk said tiredly.
"We're not losing anyone," Shepard said. "But five days without any action? It's unconscionable."
"Anchor just chose to investigate more conservatively," Mason said. "That doesn't make it a wrong approach. In fact, he waited in orbit for you to make the decision once you were fit for duty again. Sometimes more lives are saved through conservative measures than the brazen ones."
"How many are saved by doing nothing?" Shepard asked but moved on. "We'll check this out and update you."
She curled her fingers around the shard in her palm and cut the feed. She turned to Anchor. He stared coolly at her.
"I left the decision for you," he said. "Just because we have different approaches—"
"Enough," she said. "Come with me. We're going down to the cargo bay. The landing party is getting ready."
"Very well," he grumbled falling in beside her. "That shard should be kept under watch. I can put in the armory for you. Keep the combination. Just you and I."
"James manages the armory."
"If you trust him, he can know the combination too."
"I'll take that into consideration." She shoved it into a pocket, and the hard lines deepened around his mouth as his eyes lingered on it.
She led them to the elevator. They stepped in.
"You look weary," he said as the doors slid shut. "Are you really ready for duty?"
She glanced at him. "Ready to take back my duty. Definitely."
"Very well."
They stood in silence for a moment.
"I told you on Elliom to take the shard with you, not hand it to me," Shepard said.
"You were so keen to have it," he said. "It was the first thing you wanted when I saw today."
"You knocked me off balance on that bridge." Shepard watched him for a reaction.
"I tried to help you," he said. "You tumbled back. I couldn't help."
"The risk of dropping the shard resolved itself pretty fast after I went to reach for it."
He didn't say anything crossing his arms with a furrowing brow. The elevator stopped and the doors opened. She stared at him a moment longer then caught the door as it started to close. James and two other marines collected rifles from the armory. Armor leaned against the side of the shuttle.
"I want you to lead the team, Lieutenant Commander," Shepard said as she stepped into the bay.
Anchor stared at Cortez, who circled the shuttle punching buttons on a datapad.
"Getting off the elevator?" Shepard asked.
"What? Oh." He blinked at her and then stepped out. "Of course."
"Did you hear what I said, Lieutenant Commander?"
Anchor shifted. "I was distracted, Commander."
Shepard glanced at Cortez. He squatted down to check under the shuttle.
"Why's he doing that?" Anchor motioned at Cortez.
"Doing what?" Shepard's frown deepened. "He flies the shuttle. He's doing a pre-mission inspection. Why does that matter?"
"Seems like he should be helping load. Helping Vega or helping you."
"Helping me what?"
"Get ready for the mission? Should we leave the shard in the armory?"
Shepard stared at him.
"Pay attention, Commander," Shepard snapped.
His head whipped to her. His eyes drifted out past her shoulder and narrowed. It had to be James or the other marines behind her. A quick peek confirmed the men were smirking, but keeping the appearance of being engrossed in sorting heat clips. She hadn't kept her voice down.
"Now listen." Shepard turned back to Anchor. "I will stay aboard and be in contact with you. I need you—"
"You're not going?" Anchor's eyebrows shot up.
"That's what I said when –"
"But, ma'am."
"Stop interrupting me, Commander."
Anchor fidgeted with his uniform cuffs. His eyes drifted back to Cortez, and a flush rose up his neck. Maybe he was afraid. She couldn't remember from his records whether he'd seen action or not. It was probably his first time leading a team into combat.
"I, uh … Of course. Just unexpected is all," he said. "From everything I'd heard, you always lead groundside."
Shepard's eyes ached as she stared at him through the bright bay light. Her headache was getting worse. She had to wrap this up.
"You're going with Vega, Stofsky, Briggs, and Jensen. Get your stuff around. I'll communicate with you from the CIC."
Shepard didn't waste any more words and walked over to the marine.
"He what? Seriously, no way," Jensen said to James.
"Not joking. Just this biotic flash, batted the bullet away." James laughed.
"That's not even possible," Stofsky sputtered.
James grinned. "If you met Major—"
"Listen up," Shepard snapped with enough edge that more than a few eyes widened. The chatter stopped. "Lieutenant Commander Anchor is leading the team."
Vega shot her a sharp look over his shoulder. She gave him a hard look back.
"Aye, aye, Commander," James said with a wrinkling brow.
Stofsky ran a hand along his red cornrows and shared a look with Briggs. Something drew Jensen's attention, and she twisted to squinted around Shepard. Shepard followed her gaze to the shuttle. Anchor loomed over Cortez gesturing as if ordering him about.
"Lieutenant Commander Anchor," Shepard boomed.
Anchor's mouth twisted. He glanced between her and Cortez, then ambled over.
"Let's collect everything quickly," Shepard said.
"I thought we had another hour," Anchor said quickly.
"We have everything, Vega?" Shepard looked back at him.
"Commander. We're ready."
"Let's go then." She twisted to Anchor. "I recommend finding your armor."