Admiral Hackett was pacing the office being used by Captain Anderson. Anderson stood to the side of the desk waiting. Hackett spun and his hands hit the desk, as he leaned forward he punctuating his words to Anderson with a finger.
"I want them both in ICT training Anderson. I've signed their commissions now make it happen."
Anderson nodded. "Yes Sir but."
"No Anderson I don't care, the Alliance spent too much money on her. We lost her once given up for dead and then that complete screw up on Jump Zero almost cost us her life again." He paused and eyed the two dossiers on the desk.
"Alenko, good military family I agreed to this from the start. Is it for sure?"
Captain Anderson nodded once firmly. "I've seen them together; I made sure he was the one with her on Jump Zero. If it wasn't for him she would have most likely gone back to Randiv and stayed with Vandrel permanently. They were also at the ball together. I would assume..."
Hackett cut him off. "Yes but then we all saw how she and what was his name? Kryik? Well either way, how they acted towards each other. I won't have her genes wasted on a damn Turian. Did I mention the stake the Alliance has in her Anderson?"
"Yes Sir, of course Sir."
Hackett eyed him before pushing back off the desk clasping his hands behind his back.
"Well then make it happen Captain; send them to the Vila. A few years away from everything but him and intense training should seal it. I want her on lead, push her. I want to know she's everything we hoped for. We missed too much time in her training already."
"She was still trained sir, it wasn't a complete loss, and she's already one of the best snipers we've ever seen." Anderson clenched his jaw. It seemed wrong to be planning someone's life from behind a desk.
"The Alliance did not make her to just be a sniper; she was made to be an all around perfect soldier with biotics Captain. If she continues to refuse to use them." He paused staring Anderson down.
"Well just make sure she uses them."
"Yes Sir. Is that all Sir?"
Hackett turned to face the window. "No, put pressure on that Turian Spectre Saren Arterius to make sure she's separated from Kryik. I will not have this screwed up. Allow her contact with her father though. I don't want her running home. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir it is."
~~00o00~~
Dad,
Well things have been crazy here to say the least. I miss you and home more than I can say. Hey! I broke the all time long distance marksmanship record. You would have been proud. So for the reason I'm writing. I won't be attending graduation. I'm not actually sure where or what we're being sent to do. I'll let you know when I do. I'm sorry dad I was looking forward to seeing you and showing you Earth, well at least a bit of it.
I love you dad talk soon okay?
Red
Hey you ask out the doc yet?
She paused, her fingers hovered she wasn't sure how to start this letter.
Nihlus,
I know it was weird at the ball. I don't know why you can't write me but I understand. Our lives aren't really our own right now. I get that. Know that I love you and just being able to see you that soon was amazing. I think of you often and I pray to the spirits that they watch your back when I can not.
I love you.
I'll write you again when I can.
Jane
Jane clicked off the console and turned back to the bed and grabbed her bag. Dropping it in the front room she glanced around. Even though she hadn't been here long she was going to miss it. It really was beautiful.
"Kaidan you ready to go? If we want to grab food before we need to head out now."
She was facing the window watching the bay for the last time. Kaidan laid a hand on her shoulder and she leaned her head against it.
"You ready Kaidan?"
What he wanted to say was that as long as he was with her, he would walk through hell and back but instead settled for.
"Yeah Jane, I'm ready."
~~00o00~~
0800 found them standing at attention in front of Captain Anderson as he finished something he was typing out. Finally turning his eyes to them he nodded.
"You are being reassigned to the Vila Militar in Rio effective immediately. As this ICT training is for officers Admiral Hackett has seen fit to promote you both to Second-Lieutenants. I don't need to impress upon you how important this training is and how high of an honour this is. Once again not only myself but the Alliance expects big things from you. Grab your things and head out. Your new gear and classifications will be waiting for you. Dismissed."
Both Jane and Kaidan were so shocked they almost forgot to salute before they about-faced and left the office.
In the hall Jane's face broke into a grin as she was hugged by a shocked Kaidan.
"You believe this Jane? It's incredible I've read a bit about N-School. You know Captain Anderson is an N7. The fact that Admiral Hackett is sending us Jane, it's insane." He stopped mid sentence; he had said he'd walk through hell with her. Now it just might be about to happen.
Jane pulled herself back. "Come on we'd better go. This is one shuttle we don't want to miss."
~~00o00~~
As Jane soon found out Rio was situated on yet another coast. But this one was surrounded by thick forests, jungles Kaidan told her. They were taken straight to Vila Militar and just as quickly shown to the yard where formation and orientation were about to start for the new wave of officers joining.
They stood at attention with the group of about thirty others.
"I am Commander Davis and you are the finest officers the Alliance has to offer. At least that's what they tell me. We'll put that to the test. In your time here, you will be pushed to the limits of your endurance you will be tested in ways you could not imagine. When we leave this yard you will be broken into squads of four. That team is your family, you will eat, sleep, breath and train with these people. If for any reason you decide you can't continue, in keeping with tradition there is a bell in the yard which you can ring at any time to drop out. If you are on a mission with your team you may not drop out, your team is your family and they will get you out and you will get them out. Then you can quit. If this is all understood I will break you into your teams and I will give you the bunk you will be staying in together."
Jane watched as Commander Davis went through the lines checking his omni-tool as he went separating them into the four man squads.
"Alenko, Shepard, Powell and Lambert you're in bunk C, grab your gear and settle in."
The group was quiet as they marched single file to their bunk. Inside were four beds with a small shower and head in the back. They each tossed their things on a bed. Powell was the first to speak.
"Oi, I'm Lieutenant James Powell; I'm your munitions and demolition man." Powell stood at about six feet with sandy blonde hair and the accent was hard for Kaidan to place. British but he couldn't pin point where.
The girl on the bed to Jane's left turned towards the group. "Lieutenant Deana Lambert, medical officer hopefully front lines medic someday." Kaidan gave her a quick once over, black hair blue eyes. Pretty, someone you wouldn't mind waking up to in a med bay. He smirked to himself that they should hand-pick doctors that way.
The two watched Jane expectantly, but Kaidan spoke first.
"Second-Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, Biotic." Kaidan watched the eyebrows raise as they nodded and turned their attention back towards Jane. She cleared her throat; he knew she was always nervous with a new group. He didn't really blame her what with the things that had happened in the past.
"Second-Lieutenant Jane Shepard, Sniper...and Biotic." She had almost not added biotic but she knew she should just get that out-of-the-way now.
"Well two biotics in the same squad, interesting. Sniper huh? You must be good."
Powell was staring at Jane's back as she was turned unpacking her gear. Kaidan noted that Powell had taken a once over of Jane as well and felt his hand clinch. He sighed and turned to unpack. It's nothing he told himself, he had just gave the once over to the doctor. Same thing he tried to tell himself.
Jane shrugged as she stored her gear in the foot locker near the end of her bed.
"Yeah, you could say that." She finished and sat on the edge of her bed. "When are we supposed to report.." Jane was cut off as their door was kicked in.
"Out, march two abreast move, move." They were lead down the road in front of the bunks where the other squads were being collected much the same way.
Once they were all gathered Commander Davis shouted above them.
"Once I give you a command you will answer me with Oorah do you understand?"
"Oorah!" The group answered.
"Drop and give me push-ups you will count as a team. Do it."
"Oorah." At fifty the Commanders voice rang out again.
"Recover." They all stood at parade rest, no one faltered, they stood at the ready as he walked the lines inspecting each one for their breathing and then called out.
"Sit-ups Count as a team until you hear me call recover."
At sixty he called for them to recover again and walked the rows checking them again. Someone in the back coughed and Davis was in front of them in seconds.
"Are you having trouble breathing First-Lieutenant Miller?"
"No, Sir."
"Well then drop and give me twenty more."
She dropped and began the sit-ups. Commander Davis looked around at the rest of them still standing at recovery. "When one of your team is given an order you will follow. That is your teammate and you will share in each other's rewards as well as punishments. Hit the ground."
"Oorah." They hit the ground and as well did twenty more.
"Recover."
"As you've noticed this place is rather hilly. You will love those hills, you will march those hills, and you will live in those hills. Right now you're going to run those hills. If one of your team falls back you will fall back, no one is to be left back. If they want to quit they can quit when they get back. While they are out there they are your responsibility. You do not want to see what will happen to all of you if you leave someone back. Now move."
The run was short Jane thought only about four kilometers. But when they were back in the yard there were a few who she could tell were breathing harder than they should have been. But there was no break the Commander marched them right to the start of what looked to be the biggest obstacle course Jane had ever seen.
"This is the confidence course it will be run daily, you will not know when and your entire squad will be timed, if you leave someone to finish last and do not cross as a squad I will have you run it again. Now move!"
The first obstacle was a net rope wall, as they all climbed up and over as a squad they were in a good group and headed towards the mud flats, Jane waited as her squad hit their stomachs and started the crawl towards the end, the wire above them caught Lambert's uniform as they weren't in armor and caused her to become stuck. She pulled forward but was sinking into the mud quickly as she was struggling. Jane came up behind her unhooked her and pushed as Kaidan yelled for her to grab his leg and together they shoved out of the trench muddy but together.
The next was a hand over hand rope crawl which was situated over a pool. Jane thanked the spirits that Kaidan had given her a crash course in swimming all those weeks ago. Shepard, Alenko and Lambert made it off the rope, when they heard a splash behind them. Powell had dropped off the rope and hit the pool. Jane jumped into the pool and swam with Powell back to the other side once he was on the rope she talked him through crossing his ankles properly and then the smooth hand over hand motion until they dropped down on the other side together.
Commander Davis watched the squad his notes of the team were quickly adding up, his first report on Shepard and Alenko was due to Captain Anderson tonight.
As the squads finished together one by one they stood aching and more than one of them was sucking wind. Commander Davis ignored this and shouted.
"Showers, food, Racks. In that order, move it."
As they finished their meal and headed to their racks Jane felt at home. She didn't know why but this, just as it was with her dad, always felt right.
~~00o00~~
Each day found them up at 0400; they repeated the runs and obstacle course daily as promised. Hand to hand was daily as well as weapons and tactical driving.
Jane's driving was erratic and a little out of control Kaidan thought as they jumped out of the tactical land rover.
"That was fantastic." Jane said and then stopped at the look on her squads faces.
"Yeah so all for never letting Shepard drive again give me a Oorah." Powell's face was white as he tried to laugh.
"Oorah." Replied Lambert as she leaned against the side of the vehicle.
"Spirits it wasn't that bad." She glanced at Kaidan and he held up his hands.
"Hey I didn't say anything. But uhh maybe don't try to throw us out on every turn."
Jane rolled her eyes as Commander Davis strode over to them.
"Shepard how about you try to keep the land vehicle on the damn ground and not try to fly it."
"Oorah Sir."
"Good, now I want you to suit up, full packs and weapons and report to the yard with the rest of the squads."
That was their first night march alone, they were on a fifteen kilometer hike into the hills and it was quiet but it didn't last. They didn't have any of the training officers with them so the squads eventually broke into conversation.
"So Shepard, what's with you and Lieutenant Alenko? It looks pretty serious." Lambert smiled at Jane and she laughed.
"No, nothing like that. We've been friends for a long time. That's all."
"Really? Wow, I would have thought. No you know what never mind."
Kaidan bit his lip as he watched Powell's reaction to Jane's answer he wanted to groan but kept it to himself.
The group dropped back into silence as they finished their march. Back at the yard they were put through a round of jumping jacks, push-ups and up-downs before being dismissed back to their bunks.
"So do you think they're trying to kill us, my plates of meat are killin me." Complained Powell as he stripped off his armor back at the bunk.
Jane snorted and stared at him. "Your what?"
"You know plates of meat...feet. Oi, never mind."
Jane shrugged and continued her thought."I've got this feeling it's not even the half of it. Really this is just ramped up basic so far."
It was almost dawn and sleep was not an option at this point so the squad hit the showers and changed into new uniforms and made for the mess. As they were eating Powell was staring at Jane like he wanted to ask her something. Jane finally looked up met his eyes and nodded.
"What is it Powell?"
"Well, I've got to ask. I've heard, well shit I don't know how to say this but, your marksmanship your hand to hand people say you learned it in the Turian military. Is that true?"
His eyes were round as he stared at her.
Kaidan watched Jane for her reaction but she just chewed on the inside of her cheek for a moment before laughing.
"No Powell, I wasn't in the Turian military." Jane paused and Kaidan could see Powell's face fall in disappointment. Then she smiled and added. "My Father was though."
This relit his expression and he leaned closer to her. "Then it's fucking true. You were raised by one. Oi, this is bloody brilliant. What was it like? Was he mean to you? You know because you're a human."
Jane lifted a finger and smiled cutting him off.
"It was a childhood besides training in all of this at a young age I'm sure it was much like anyone else's."
Kaidan laughed, she turned her eyes on him and smacked him playfully.
"Listen here Alenko."
Kaidan poked her in the side and rolled his eyes. "You know we don't get that kind of training until later. And I doubt any of us grew up on a colony outside of the Sol system during the first contact war. You're weird Shepard just admit it."
She smacked him again and they laughed continuing to shovel down their food.
Powell watched this exchange and shook his head; just friends his left foot.
~~00o00~~
Their days were getting longer twenty hour stretches in the middle of the jungle, being dropped off in the middle of nowhere with no food or water and expected to make it back to the vila as a group was easier said than done. In the next week they watched as four squads fell apart and were reformed with the remaining members.
Lambert had taken a nasty fall but they had gotten her out and back to the vila. She was okay but Jane wasn't so sure about her mental state she seemed to have gotten jumpy and second guessed every move they made. Jane watched her as they ate their first meal together since they had made it back. Lambert's eyes avoided her and she wasn't talking. Shit Jane thought, she had to hold this team together for another week and if Lambert cracked out there she was sure Powell wouldn't be far behind.
~~00o00~~
"Set up the scenario Commander."
Commander Davis stood before the image of Admiral Hackett.
"Permission to speak Sir."
"Granted Commander."
"It's only a week until I issue invites to come to N1 training. Don't you think we should wait until the squads are."
Hackett cut him off. "No I don't Commander, I want to know now. My operative is on the ground. I want you to set it up; you have your orders now do it. Send me word as soon as they're there."
"Sir yes sir."
"Hackett out."
Davis set his jaw and spun to address the squads.
~~00o00~~
"Your next deployment is immediate; gear up and head to the shuttles." As they had only been back to the vila for less than three hours you could imagine the silent groan and prayers that were being sent up as the squads grouped and made to leave.
"Shepard, grab your squad and report to my office in five."
With that the Commander left the field.
Shepard, Alenko, Powell and Lambert stood stiffly at attention in Commander Davis office.
"At ease."
They dropped to parade rest and he nodded.
"Shepard your team will not be heading out for a normal deployment. I think you noticed we had a team that didn't return today. Something has gone wrong they dropped off our trackers and their comms aren't working. I need your team to go in find what happened and get them out of there. You will be dropped at their last known location. You will be going in hot and if there is trouble you are to engage and get that squad out of there. Do you understand?"
"Oorah Commander."
"Shepard has lead. Move out."
~~00o00~~
As the shuttle landed Shepards squad found themselves in the thickest jungle they had ever encountered.
"Listen, I want eyes and ears open, keep your comms on if you see anything call it in. This was their last known position. Spread out in a perimeter look for anything that could tell us what direction they went." Jane scuffed her boot over what looked like had been a fire. What the hell would they have done building a fire.. It looked like someone had cleared the area and perhaps they had slept here, it was more than obvious to each and every one of them as they met back at the landing zone which direction they had gone.
"Shepard." Kaidan scuffed his boot over the same ashes she had.
"Doesn't this look a bit, off? Every one of us knows never to build a fire. We're on noise and light restriction out here. That's day one stuff."
Jane nodded.
"Oi, look here." Powell pointed off towards a stream. "It's obvious there was some sort of struggle Shepard and they headed off towards the stream. I'm going to agree with Alenko. Something is off. Do you think there was a fight in the squad? Someone went rogue?"
Jane was looking at what seemed like drag marks leading down the embankment towards the stream. Lambert was to her right looking down into the bushes. "Shepard, you need to see this."
Lambert's' breathing was heavy in her helmet as Jane stepped behind her. "That's a lot of blood Lambert."
She nodded. "Yes it is, I'm not sure whoever's this is could have made it, it's pretty dried but I'd say if we look closely those drag marks have blood in them."
"She's right Shepard." Powell walked back towards the group from the stream.
"Blood leads to the water and then follows it down stream."
"Well let's do this, Powell you've got Point."
They moved slowly down stream the light was waning early Jane noted, most likely due to how heavy the canopy was in this part of the jungle.
"Powell do you see that?" Jane could just make out a light to their right, as they made their way closer Powell nodded.
"Yeah, it looks like a building, small, looks like the door is on the other side, no visible window on this side. Orders?"
"Move slowly, find me a window."
"Roger that."
"Door on this side Shepard, window; I can see movement."
"Stay low."
Jane made her way up from the rear removed her sniper rifle.
"Let's have a look shall we. Alenko watch the door. Powell, watch our six, Lambert you're my spotter.
Jane adjusted her scope; she could make out three people against the far wall. Alliance military armor; the fourth as she adjusted slightly looking right was on the floor face down unmoving.
"I've got eyes on our missing squad. No sign of what they are doing yet. They don't seem to.." Jane froze. Kaidan didn't remove his rifle or his eyes from where they were trained on the door but he felt her flinch.
"What is it Shepard?"
"Turian's two of them and I'd swear.."
Jane's breathing returned to normal as she forced her heart to slow.
"I'd swear I know them."
"What?" Kaidan's voice was louder than he thought and she winced in her helmet.
"You don't need to yell Alenko."
Powell and Lambert were silent. Powell didn't turn from watching their backs but he asked.
"Well what are they doing?"
As Jane continued to watch the red Turian had his pistol drawn and was pointing towards the body that lay near them. Then as the Alliance officer shook his head he was pistol whipped and there was more yelling that Jane couldn't make out as he motioned again towards the body. This time when he shook his head the pistol was placed to his temple.
"The Turian has a gun. Alenko call in the shot."
"Commander Davis this is Second-Lieutenant Alenko. We have hostiles in sight they are threatening Alliance personnel they are Turian I repeat Turian. Shepard has the shot. Advise sir."
Back at base Commander Davis stood before the image of Hackett, Hackett nodded and Commander Davis called back.
"Take the shot."
As Kaidan called it in Jane searched the Turian's face she knew those marks. That was her colony. What in the bloody blue fuck was going on? Did she know them, had they turned merc? Her mind was racing but her hand was still steady as the call came back to take the shot.
She hesitated only a moment before she squeezed the trigger and the first Turian dropped. She had another round chambered as the second Turian spun towards the window and she fired dropping him as well. Jane could feel the pounding in her head starting. What the hell did she just do?
"Shots taken Sir confirming kills now."
Jane sounded calm but her mind was anything but.
Commander Davis nodded towards Hackett.
Hackett nodded. "Good get them out of there. I'd say they passed Commander, tell Shepard to stand her team down and we'll send in our own recovery team. Tell her not to ask questions just to get out of there and to the evac zone. We don't need her finding out her gun was loaded with blanks now do we?"
"No Sir."
"Commander Davis to Second-Lieutenant Shepard, stand down. I repeat stand down. Remove your team to the evac zone, we have a recovery team in position."
To her credit she didn't question and the Commander heard her call her team back. What he didn't know was that she didn't want to go into that building, she didn't want to find out if she had known them. It was better this way.
"Good job Shepard. When you get back to the Vila report for debriefing. Davis out."
~~00o00~~
"Excellent work commander. I suggest leave and then inviting Alenko and Shepard back for N1 training off planet. Hackett out."
~~00o00~~
"Captain Anderson, Shepard and Alenko have made it to N1 training. She can be trusted."
Anderson nodded. "She was able to do it then?"
"Yes, she truly has a snipers heart. Doesn't feel, just does the job. Now we just need her to do that with her biotics. But that will come in time. Now Anderson I trust you've taken care of our other Turian situation?"
"Yes Sir, I've spoken with Saren, he assured me he'd see to the situation."
"Excellent, Hackett out."
~~00o00~~
Have a great Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day. Remember to take a moment to remember those who gave the best of themselves so we wouldn't have to.
^.^