Chapter 2: Collaboration
Walking into the communications room, Commander Shepard was surprised to see his entire team already seated and not arguing. It was no secret that certain personalities didn't get along, but the unit had held together longer than he had expected following the destruction of the Collector menace.
Looking briefly around, he saw they all knew what was coming. When the Normandy rushed in to save Shepard at the last moment from the asteroid, they had been able to see the Reaper silhouette. Bolstered by that awareness, and from the blood they had already shed together, there was a unity of purpose greater than their own differences.
Lacking appreciation for the subtleties of a shared quiet moment, EDI offered a status report, "Commander Shepard, the crew has been assembled as you requested."
Shepard smiled at that and replied, "Thank you, EDI. That will be all."
The ice having been broken, Jacob Taylor was the first to speak. "Who do we fight next, Commander
The directness of the question suited the moment. In being both a formidable biotic as well as an experienced soldier, Jacob knew how to get straight down to business. A difficult man to know, he had overcome many challenges in his life including the difficulty of having his father re-enter his life for but a brief moment before being revealed as a degenerate criminal.
"Good question, Jacob. That is why I called you here today."
Shepard looked around the room once more and saw people sat in their usual alignment. Jacob and Miranda sat next to one another. Jack sat opposite Miranda, ready to oppose any provocation either real or imagined. Tali put herself a distance from Legion. The other members filtered themselves between them, never sitting in the same places, but reflecting the same basic pattern as always.
Shepard continued, "We've seen a lot, together. We've bought time for this galaxy, but I don't know how long. A few months at least, but not that much more. The Reapers are already here."
Grunt had a big smile on his face and offered his assessment of the situation. "Battlemaster, we will prove our worth again and slaughter these Reapers by the thousands. You will do this, and I will kill."
In any other room, Grunt would tower over the other individuals as he was the perfect specimen of a Krogan warrior. Strengthened by his acceptance into Clan Urdnot, he seemed to have found comfort and peace. Or, maybe he just accepted the need for recuperation from his steady diet of battle and destruction. Krogan bloodlust wouldn't be the usual sort of morale boost you'd find shared by other species, but there were many appreciative nods around the table at the confident assertion.
"Commander," inserted Miranda Lawson, "I know I speak for us all when I say we will follow wherever you lead." With long black hair, and looks quite possibly more deadly than her formidable skills in battle, her air of command was instantaneous. It was sharp and compelling, and Jacob knew this as he had been unable to resist the temptation to get to know the Cerberus project leader far better.
A strange combination of confidence and vulnerability, like so many of the women on this crew, Lawson had been responsible for leading the project that rebuilt Shepard. Having recently learned from Liara and the files she obtained from the Shadow Broker just how much effort was involved, his appreciation for Miranda grew further even as he struggled with his feelings for both her and Liara. Both had worked to bring him back from the dead, and neither was a woman easily dismissed.
Never one to leave a comment by Miranda unchallenged, Jack spoke, "The cheerleader is right for once, but let's cut through the crap. I know you have a plan." She glared at Shepard with a combination of affection, hatred, uncertainty, and mostly a need for acceptance.
Having been rescued from captivity, the ink that marked almost every spare inch of Jack's skin was an expression of her complex emotions. Kept in captivity as a child, forced cultivation of incredible biotic powers had nearly broken her. Even now, she had the instant potential for violence, and in the process of drawing her into his team, Shepard had played with fire.
While he was never really interested in a physical relationship with Jack, her personality had made it difficult for him to say no. Yet, he did this, and managed to avoid at least one complication. Or so he had thought. When she learned that Miss Lawson was sharing the Captain's Cabin, he had to duck as a trash canister biotically flew at his head. A cold silence had settled between them on this issue, but he at least there was a working relationship at this point, a considerable improvement.
Considering all this, Shepard said, "I actually don't have a plan…yet. But, I know what needs to happen. We are going to need as much help as we can find, and it will take everyone working together to make sure we survive."
Although he hadn't had much time to consider the offer made by Admiral Hackett, one thing that had been on Jared's mind for some time was his relationship with Cerberus. Since he needed resources to conduct his missions, Shepard had accepted the uneasy alliance with Illusive Man but between having the information capacity of the Shadow Broker backing him, with EDI taking control of the Normandy's key functions, and this opening with the Alliance, he decided the time had come for a bold strike.
"I haven't mentioned this before, but I think the time has come to cut links with Cerberus."
He stopped to look at Jacob and Miranda, seeing her nod her head the slightest bit and Jacob remain impassive. Two key lieutenants of both his crew and that organization, Shepard would hate to lose them over this decision, yet they had grown to share a viewpoint closer to the Commander.
"The struggle we face is larger than any one species, and we must be larger than a society to protect human colonies. Cerberus has shown their willingness to write off other species as acceptable losses, but I will not." Speaking with conviction, Shepard saw the aliens in his crew nod.
"You're right, Commander." Garrus Vakarian spoke with authority. A former C-Sec Officer, once known and feared as Archangel, the Turian had proven himself to be a good friend to Shepard and represented strength and commitment, the best traits of his race. "I think many more people will support you if you leave Cerberus, and any debt we owed them has long since been repaid."
Tali was next to add her agreement. "We must fight together, Shepard. My people do not trust Cerberus, but they will trust you just as I have." Hiding behind the biosuit worn by all Quarians, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy was a mystery that still perplexed Shepard. Dressed in her usual purple, she had been with Shepard on both missions showing her tremendous technical skill. Yet, she remained apart from the crew for the larger part, and thought often of her people.
Shepard's spirited defense of his shipmate had saved her from baseless charges of treason against the Migrant Fleet and the threat of permanent exile. While a part of him would have appreciated having his friend stay with his crew indefinitely, he knew the importance of her people in her life. A fighter and a skilled tech, her influence upon the Quarians would be crucial to future engagement.
"We need allies. We need our people behind us, and we need to get ready for war."
Shepard paused to consider the next steps. Two possible plans passed through his mind. The first was to travel with the crew to the various worlds, beginning with the Citadel, to attempt to galvanize support for the upcoming war. The second was to assign the crew separate missions to use their personal influence to make a difference. With time being an issue, the second seemed to make sense, yet Shepard found himself struggling to give the order. More than squadmates, the crew of the Normandy had become a second family to him, and seeing anyone leave would be painful.
"I am going to travel to the Citadel to try to rally Council support and give them a warning. Even if they didn't listen last time, they need to be made aware of the coming threat," Shepard said as he wondered what response he would receive.
At a minimum, the last commanding officer of the Normandy, Captain David Anderson, now Counselor for Humanity upon the Citadel Council, would carry some weight. Anderson had shown himself willing to take risks to support Shepard in the past, and though the relationship had cooled somewhat thanks to his involvement with Cerberus, he still considered the man a friend and an ally.
Hearing no objection, Shepard continued, "Then, I will return to Earth to rally support amongst my people. The Reapers have already been targeting humanity, and it seems likely that when the attack comes, Earth will need to be ready as the frontline."
With the measured restraint of someone long used to managing their own emotions, the Asari justicar Samara asked this inquiry, "Commander, why do you believe humanity will be the first target? Surely, since the Asari, Salarians, and Turians have been here longer, it would be just as likely they would be struck first."
The point was a valid one, but before Shepard could answer, he was pre-empted by Mordin Solus. A brilliant scientist, Solus had been responsible for implementing many of the upgrades that allowed the Normandy to survive the encounter with the Collectors.
He had been a difficult member to trust, as he was a doctor who operated a clinic that killed and saved with equal efficiency. He had worked to cure diseases, and yet was the mastermind behind the infamous genophage, the sickness that stopped the Krogan rebellion and decimated that once proud species. Cerberus brought Shepard into contact with Solus, something he probably would not have done on his own, and over time he found the scientist to be a better man than he first expected.
Maybe his own hard decisions changed his perspective on the questions, but Jared came to see how sometimes there are only two bad choices and picking the lesser of the evils is the right choice. When it came to looking at questions, Solus usually saw all the angles, and he wondered what assessment would be offered by the doctor.
"Facts fit what Shepard says." Speaking in his staccato style, Solus laid out the argument. "One, the Collector Reaper was built in a human format. No accident there. Two, the Reapers use organic life to reproduce, and humans have the most diverse genetic code. Seems efficient to start there, but kill all they probably will."
It was a sobering thought that made it more important for Shepard to get back to Earth. While he traveled the stars for so many years that he could see many places as being where he would settle down, if the opportunity was ever allowed to him, he knew the fight was going to take him back where it all began.
"Defend our worlds we must. But we each have worlds to defend. Probable we should each go and prepare, the collective thinks this." Legion surprised everyone by speaking, usually content to listen and observe the interaction of the organics on the crew.
While not quite an individual, Legion was a Geth platform that interacted with Shepard. He wondered how far to trust the machine, especially as he had come to learn more about the Geth culture. Like the Reapers, they sought a collective form of intelligence, but it was also different. The Reapers were part organic, where the Geth were purely synthetic. What would be expected from them was an unsettled question, but having the assistance of the collective beings for the upcoming fight warranted any risk.
"Legion is right," admitted Shepard. "If any of you want to return home to prepare, to warn your people, you should do so now. You may not have the chance later."
Looking around the room, the Commander began sizing up his crew wondering who might stay and who might leave. The humans would have no reason to leave, but anyone else was an open question. He could see these thoughts were not new to certain crew members, but they were not ready to answer.
"As you know, Admiral Hackett recently visited this station. He made the suggestion the Normandy would be welcome back in the Systems Alliance fleet." Shepard paused to allow his squad to digest the information. "This is an offer I will consider, but I want your opinions."
Thane Krios, the Drell with only a few months to live asked, "Would non-humans be welcome in the Alliance?"
Thane was another surprise. Known as a feared assassin, he was a devout man who believed in old gods and making peace with his family. Having a perfect memory, he remained untroubled by anything he did save his failure to protect his wife and the future his son was trying to build. With his lungs in decay, the question came out as raspy in the moist air.
"You are all welcome on my crew, always, and if the Alliance won't accept that, the Normandy will enver rejoin them. I believe Admiral Hackett knows that, and Tali and Garrus can tell you we've worked together before for the Alliance."
Jack interjected here, "I'm not wearing no uniform for anyone, Jared. Forget that."
Shepard saw her unease at the idea of being involved with any formal military, and knew she wouldn't be the other one.
"The girl is right, Shepard." Zaeed spoke for the first time in this conversation. The founder of the Blue Suns, the record of this mercenary was marked by a thousand accomplishments, but he was a man who walked his own path and had joined for the pay. "We don't need any government giving us orders. What did they do anyway?"
Jack looked at her surprising ally, and nodded her agreement. Which, unsurprisingly, led Miranda to get involved.
"They're both right that the Alliance didn't do enough. That is why I joined Cerberus. But, with so little time remaining, can we afford to ignore our governments anymore?" Halting for dramatic impact, Lawson might be the best speaker on the team and looked at everyone. "I don't like it anymore than anyone else here, but we can't win this fight alone."
A part of Shepard wanted to ask in response if she wasn't wrong. The last few years had been just that. While the Council, the Alliance, or Cerberus might have provided a ship, a crew, and funding, it was his men and women who had been putting their lives on the line. The Commander fought Saren, fought Sovereign, fought the Collectors, and while others had helped, each would have failed without him.
As he thought these things, he realized Miranda was looking to him for the next comment and some support. "We need allies. But we won't answer all these questions today. There's a lot to think about."
Settling nothing, Shepard knew the next step. Even though they were in the Sol System, going to Earth would take some time and there were other priorities to consider. He wanted to take care of some unfinished business and make a report.
"I'm still a Specter, so I will visit the Council first to see what help they can offer. After that, we can make some decisions."
Looking at everyone gathered around this table, he felt a sense of pride as he said. "We will find a way, we always do. Dismissed."
The crew filed out one after another until only Shepard remained with Miranda waiting for him at the door. She stopped and looked back upon her lover, thinking how the stress he felt was much like how she had always driven herself. To be the best wasn't anything exceptional; it was the required minimum.
"Jared," she said softly. "Do you think there would be a place for me…I mean for us, in the Alliance?"
It was a question with many meanings. While Cerberus didn't have any policies about fraternization between officers, the Alliance frowned upon such things. That said, Shepard wasn't in a position to be accepting rules placed by others.
"Well, Miranda, it's not like you're an Alliance Officer so…"
Before he could finish, she spoke, "I might not be a military officer, but I am an officer of this ship. Just because we join the Alliance, I am not going to accept some reduced role. This is my fight too."
Jared loved her passion and her self-confidence. It was what he projected for himself, and this shared understanding brought them closer together.
"I would never do that to you, Miranda."
"You better not be thinking about giving me up, either," she said with equal sincerity as her eyes hinted at more and with her finger poking his chest.
Shepard smiled at that, and said, "I might be crazy, but I'm not insane."
Truthfully, Shepard didn't know to resolve this impossible situation, between having an officer, a lover, and all these expectations rolled into one. But, he would find the answers. Just not today.
Part of living through this was a newfound appreciation of getting the most from each day, so Jared let a little bit of his own personality sneak through as he said, "We have a few hours before we reach the Citadel. Why don't you come up to my quarters, XO Lawson, and we will negotiate the right position for you?"
Walking with her genetically perfect body, swaying her hips with a rhythm all natural, she raised an eyebrow and said, "Is that an order, sir?"
And smiling with his eyes as well as his lips, Jared said, "You bet your ass it is."