Unintended Consequences
Arriving in her room, Shepard powered up her computer, and opened the message program. It synced with the nearby comm buoy, updating her inbox. A message from Rear Admiral Mikhailovich appeared, it stated that as soon as they arrived in dock, that he would be present for a full ship inspection.
25 hours later, Jeff requested docking permission for the SSV Normandy with Alliance Control. The airlock door slid open and Shepard was ambushed by a Rear Admiral.
"Rear Admiral Mikhailovich, fifth fleet." The Admiral stated.
"Spectre Agent Commander Shepard, SSV Normandy," the Commander replied with a salute.
"You don't know who I am, do you Commander? I command the 63rd Scout Flotilla. You and the Normandy were slated for my unit after shakedown. Then the Council got their paws… claws... tentacles... whatever. They got them on our ship. And you." The admiral replied.
"I still serve the Alliance. Sir. As a Spectre, I can advance our interests to the council." Shepard replied.
"Hmph. You still know what color your blood is, Shepard? I don't begrudge the politicians' to throw you to the council. It's an… opportunity. I do begrudge this overdesigned piece of tin, though." The admiral countered.
"Do not insult my ship! Or me, for that matter. I am an Alliance Marine. Sir!"
"Well Commander shall we get this inspection started?"
"Absolutely, Sir." Replied Shepard. "I would appreciate if you would allow me to come along for the inspection."
"Sure Shepard." The Admiral replied.
The pair entered the Normandy via the airlock. They turned left towards the bridge.
"I like the expansive bridge layout, it allows the commanding officer to give direct input to the bridge crew." Stated the Admiral.
They turned around, and Shepard opened the cover to the escape pod.
"Does this pod have sufficient life support for a full bridge crew?" Asked the Admiral.
"Yes Sir, it can safely support the helmsman, navigator, radar analyst, jump analyst, as well as two additional crew members." Shepard answered.
"These terminals here and along both walls, what are they for?" Asked the Admiral.
"They are for monitoring the IES components, kinetic barriers, and various other systems required for space combat."
"Why is the bridge split between two locations? Is it not more efficient to have the commander stand up at the bridge to relay orders directly?" Asked the Admiral.
"SIr, this vessel is a joint turian-human construction to further our interests. The turians believe it is better to look over the entire crew, rather than just the bridge staff." Replied Shepard.
"That is the Comm room, like all other Alliance vessels? right? Lets go downstairs to the crew deck." Stated the Admiral.
"The med bay is straight ahead, and my quarters are on the other side in the same location. The sleeping pods are at the end. The entrance to the crew escape pods are at the end of the hall. You expressed interest in the drive core, how about we take the elevator down to the cargo hold, and engineering." Answered Shepard.
"Two Mako's? why does a light frigate require two tanks?
Lieutenant Jeff 'Joker' Moreau whistled a random tune to himself as he leaned against the railings. Behind her, the Normandy sat quietly while it was being refueled. In front of him, Ashley slowly paced nervously around the catwalk. She wore the standard Alliance uniform with the boots, long pants and t-shirt. Jeff also wore the same.
"Relax, Williams," Jeff told her.
The sound of the airlock door hissing open warned Shepard of the Rear Admiral's approach. Shepard stood up and faced the man, who stood slightly taller than Shepard.
"Commander, I'm not happy," Rear Admiral Mikhailovich said.
"Of course you're not," Shepard muttered contemptuously.
"Well, I'm not convinced that the Normandy isn't a waste of taxpayer's money," Mikhailovich was saying. "But I am convinced that you believe otherwise and that you'll use it to your best ability. I'll be submitting a report to the Joint Military Council. It will not be as…negative, as I had planned."
"Thank you sir," Shepard saluted sharply. Mikhailovich returned the salute.
"Good hunting, Commander. Make us proud," the Rear Admiral told her. With a salute from Ashley, he walked to the elevator and descended.
"Well, that was a waste of time," Shepard muttered when he left.
"What, and you think talking with the Ambassador won't be?" Ashley asked her.
"Oh, I think both are a tremendous waste of time," Shepard said, smiling.
"Of course," Ashley smiled. "So, what do you think the good old ambassador wants with us?"
"What he wants with me, you mean," Shepard reminded her. "Your just tagging along."
"Well, I was heading in the same direction anyways," Ashley replied. "So what do you think he wants?"
"If I know the Ambassador, like I think I do. I'm going to walk in, get chewed out for something that was either a) not my fault, b) couldn't be avoided, or c) just because."
"Just because what?" Ashley asked, chuckling.
"C'mon." Shepard motioned her towards the elevator. "Let's not waste any more time."
"By the way, do you know where the others went?" Ashley asked as she got on the elevator.
"Kaidan wanted to get a better amplifier; his biotics aren't at the level he wants them to be," Shepard replied. "Wrex went to get his newly acquired heavy rifle upgraded because he is not happy with hit to kill ratio . The lovebirds, Garrus and Tali, are staying aboard the ship."
"And Liara?" Ashley asked, though in all honesty, she couldn't care less what the asari did. Shepard thought for a moment.
"She said she was going to study some of the Prothean data discs we found in the Artemis Tau cluster," Shepard replied. "But, frankly, I think she just doesn't want to leave her room."
"Why? You think she's shy?" Ashley joked.
"No," Shepard said simply. "I think she's scared."
They exited the elevator and went their separate ways.
"Khalisah Bint Sinan Al-Jilani; Westerlund News, would you answer a few questions for our viewers?
"How can I help you?" Asked Shepard.
"People back home have heard lot of wild stories about you Commander, I can give you a chance to set the record straight what do you say?"
"So long as you understand that I may not be able to answer all of your questions."
"I'm sure our viewers will understand," the reporter answered while she powered up her camera bot.
"Humans have been trying to get the attention of the galactic community for 26 years, with that in mind what are your feeling on becoming the first human Spectre?"
"Spectres represent the best of every species in the galaxy, to be asked to join them is an honor."
"Some have said that your appointment is the Citadel throwing humans a bone, have you encountered any situations where they asked you to put its needs above earth?"
"The Council is concerned with the needs of the entire galactic community, we're part of that community, our needs are part of their agenda, but we're one of many."
"Wow, you really believe that don't you? You've been given command of an advanced human warship for you missions, is there anything you'd like to say about it?"
"The Normandy is a triumph of human engineering, like our development of Carriers; it shows other races that we are able to think outside the box."
"That's gratifying. Many defeatist officers claim that the alliance can't compete with the naval power of the Turians. Do you think it was appropriate to hand earths most advanced warship to the Council?
"I have had enough of your snide insinuations," Shepard stated, before a right hook took the reporter to the ground.
"You Bitch! I'll make sure everyone in the Alliance sees that, your career is over!"
"Corporal Jensen, ma'am, are you alright?" the young C-Sec member asked the downed reporter.
"No, I'm not alright, Commander Shepard just punched me in the face. I want to press charges," Ms. Al-Jilani stated angrily.
"That's strange, Commander Shepard is quite fair tempered, you must have done something to set her off.
"I just interviewed her, that's all I did, here look at the recording." The reporter said, while transferring a copy of the file.
"Thank you, we will look into this matter." The corporal replied, contently knowing that nothing will happen, as the Commander is a Spectre.
Shepard was in a good mood, punching out the reporter did that. "How was the interview?" Ashley asked her, smiling as she did.
"It went great, I punched her out." Shepard .
"You did what?" said Ashley. "You punched out a civilian reporter on the Citadel; do you know what that could do to your career in the alliance?"
"Yes I do, I have a suffix to my name it says…"
"Spectre, yes I know of that too. So that title, it's like a do whatever you want and get away with it card?" Ashley interrupted.
"Yes, I do whatever it takes to get the job down no matter what." Shepard replied.
"What did she ask to set you off anyways?" asked Ashley.
"First of all, she had an agenda," said Shepard. "She was trying to prove that I am the Councils' bitch. That I'm putting the needs of the Council over the needs of humanity, and the Alliance. Xenophobic bullshit, if you ask me."
"Did you tell her that?" asked Ashley while they were walking through the markets.
"Yes, with my fist" replied Shepard. Suddenly Shepard's Omni-tool buzzed 'Shepard we need to talk, come to the embassy as soon as you can'
"Who was that?" asked Ashley.
"Just Udina, nothing important, I've been avoiding him all day, this is the fourth message he left since the comm. buoy link up last night on the Normandy."
"You mean you still haven't seen him yet?" Ashley asked.
"Commander Shepard, I was wondering if I could get a picture of you." Asked Conrad Verner.
"Sure, where do you want me?" directed Shepard.
"Over there, and can you take out your pistol." Conrad asked as he snapped the picture with his Omni-tool. "Thanks, this will look perfect in my living room."
"You punched out a civilian!" screamed Udina.
"She set me up to fail, I did the only logical choice-" Shepard tried to reason with the ambassador, to no avail.
"This is serious, Shepard!" shouted the quivering ambassador. "I've got all sorts of people breathing down my neck! Executer Pallin of C-Sec was actually trying to find a reason to lock you away!"
"Are you listening to me, Shepard!" screamed Udina.
"No," replied Shepard in a simple tone. "Just ask the damned question so I can get on with my life." Shepard retorted.
"What question Shepard?" asked the ambassador.
"The one where I tell you what happened during the last mission, and why I destroyed a priceless ruin."
"What happened on Therum?" Udina asked. "In the ruins?"
Shepard frowned. She was certain that the council would have forwarded a copy of the mission report.
"You read my report," Shepard reminded him.
"The report was unclear," Udina said. "I need to hear it from your mouth."
"Bullshit, my reports are always extremely detailed, you know that Sir." Shepard said directing it towards Captain Anderson.
"The report we received was heavily redacted, most likely due to the classified nature of your Spectre status." Anderson countered.
"Then here is a copy of the original version, Ambassador." Shepard said with a bit of anger in her voice.
"This is much better Commander, but I still want to hear it from you." Udina replied
"It's as it sounds," Shepard said sullenly. "I lifted my hand to grab my rifle and biotic energy exited my body with such force that it threw the krogan across the room. And then I blacked out, only to wake up in time to see the ruins collapsing around me. I ran out, and then my body gave out."
"What happened next Commander?" asked Udina.
"Lieutenant Alenko, and Gunnery Sergeant Williams carried me to the med bay of the Normandy.