Four years came and went, feeling as if they passed by in the blink of an eye. Hannah became consumed with her new duties as XO of the Einstein, finding herself buried in orders and crew members almost constantly. She fell into a comfortable routine punctuated with occasional exciting flare ups. There was the time the Einstein was called to rescue a team of adventurers who had gotten themselves trapped in a cave while exploring a new planet for colonization, then a search for a rogue group of scientists that escaped from an Alliance prison, and of course, the occasional military action when colonies found themselves under threat from various pirate gangs. At least the Einstein hadn't gone missing, like the MSV Hugo Gernsback. That ship had disappeared completely, leaving everyone to speculate and rumors flew like the wind suggesting what might have happened. Batarian slavers, perhaps? Maybe another attack by the terrorist organization Cerberus? Or something like the Bermuda Triangle in space?

Then there were the happenings on Earth last year that had shook humanity to its core. Space wasn't the only place where dangers lay. Both the president of the United North American States and the premier of the Chinese People's Federation had been assassinated. This caused an uproar in the Parliament and the shuffling of seats after the next election. Things had finally settled back down and Hannah was glad the Parliament had captured some sense of stability once again.

Personally, everything had gone supremely well for the Shepard family. Hannah hadn't seen Jane much in the last four years on account of her intensive training, though they'd managed to get together at least once a year when their leaves coincided. Jane had picked the right profession. She excelled as an Alliance marine. She'd beaten Hannah's marksman shooting record right off the bat, something that didn't bother Hannah at all. Hannah had spent the next few weeks after learning about Jane's success bragging to anyone who would listen. After basic training, Jane flew threw her officer candidacy, exiting a Second Lieutenant. She was immediately asked to consider the Interplanetary Combatives Training program. Her entry into the program had led to an interesting e-mail sent to Hannah. Hannah had finally discovered the complete name of the man she'd shared a drink with back on Arcturus Station the night she had "not spied" on Jane when this message appeared in her inbox:

XO Shepard, this is David Anderson. You may remember me. We toasted to your actions on Mindoir when I was on Arcturus Station a few years back. I never forgot your name and when another Shepard showed up to in the ICT program, I wanted to see her for myself. I recognized your daughter right off. She's turning heads here. You'd be proud to see her in action.

I'm on the board to approve candidates and sometimes we look into their personal backgrounds to understand who we're dealing with. I noticed in your daughter's file that her father died five years ago. We wanted to know if this has had any negative effect on her. We're not asking to disqualify her, just to understand her better. Captain David Anderson.

Hannah had ruminated a day before responding to his e-mail. Of course her father's death had a negative impact on her—but Jane had handled it well. She hadn't crumbled into depression or stopped living life. Hannah finally replied, stating that Jane was a well-adjusted young woman that had faced her father's death with courage and that his memory propelled her actions as she desired to make him proud. She hoped she'd talked Jane up enough. She never received a response from Captain Anderson, but Jane had passed N1 and then continued on all the way up to N6, so she figured the board must have liked what they saw and been okay with Jane's psychological profile.

Currently, Hannah was standing near Maddock on the bridge of the Einstein, peering over the shoulder of a bridge officer. It was that time of year again: officer reviews. Hannah's job was to fill out forms for each officer and then either commend them or reject them for promotions. She always tried to be fair and objective. Of course, there were always the one or two officers who felt slighted if she didn't put them in for promotions, but overall, she got the impression the officers trusted her judgment.

The officer she was observing had leaned forward, listening to the various chatter from colonies and ships that came through on an Alliance frequency. Often the first sign of trouble came through normal space babble and a good communications officer could give the captain a heads up of any trouble brewing. Hannah noticed the officer was tapping in locations on a map as she listened, now honing in on any communication from the Vetus System. Hannah wondered if Jane was in that system right now. The last message she'd had from Jane, she'd informed Hannah she would soon be on shore leave on Elysium, a planet inhabited about fifty-fifty by human and alien species. Jane was excited over the prospect of meeting alien species she hadn't yet. In the last few years she'd met Turians and Asari personally, though only briefly, in conjunction with her ICT program duties. Jane's shore leave on Elysium would be short, only a pause before the next phase of the ICT program. The Einstein was only one system over and Hannah wistfully thought how nice it would be to see Jane again, but her duties on the Einstein wouldn't send her to Elysium anytime soon.

Hannah took a deep breath and turned her attention back to her data pad, tapping in her observations of the communications officer, Ruth Hu. She was distracted when Lieutenant Hu abruptly fixed her with an intent gaze.

"Commander…there's a sudden increase in chatter coming from Elysium." Hu paused, listening, her head turned to the side. "Sounds like several distress calls."

Hannah felt her heart leap into her throat. She put her data pad down on Hu's desk and activated her omni-tool, tuning her comm into Hu's station. She was assaulted by a barrage of voices in her ear the moment she was connected.

"Repeat. Under attack on Elysium. Unknown enemy."

"Enemies on the ground in Illyria. Suspected terrorist action as several bombs have exploded in center of the capital."

"Outlying cities under attack from unknown forces. We need help ASAP!"

"Our city block blew up! My wife and I are trapped with our baby son. Please, send someone. Please help us!"

Hannah tried to listen to each voice in the jumble. Many seemed to come from Alliance personnel, identifiable as the calm messages dutifully reporting what was happening, but intermixed were civilians, like the last voice she'd heard. What is happening on Elysium? Hannah wondered. And please tell me Jane isn't there yet.

Pushing aside her personal concerns, Hannah called out to Maddock. "Captain, we have numerous distress calls coming in from Elysium. It's under attack." Right after she reported, she heard another call in her ear.

"…been under attack for at least two hours. Communication was down, apparently part of the enemy attack. We're dying down here! Anyone who can hear us, please respond!"

Maddock was now standing next to her and Hannah eyed him. He nodded, having heard the last communication. "Lieutenant," he addressed Hu, "connect me to the last incoming signal." Hu's hands punched several symbols at her station and she nodded to Maddock.

"This is Captain Maddock of the Sixth Fleet. We have received your SOS. We will proceed to Elysium ASAP."

"Get me the other captains of the fleet," Maddock ordered Hu.

"They're already hailing us, sir," Hu responded.

"Come with me," Maddock commanded Hannah. She followed behind him as they marched to the communications room. When they entered, several holograms were already on display, all captains from the rest of the fleet. A discussion then ensued, as they deliberated how to handle Elysium, which was apparently under some kind of large scale attack. Captain Vandenberg took charge of the fleet as all admirals were currently absent. His dreadnought would travel at the front of the fleet, followed by the cruisers and frigates, with the carriers bringing up the rear. The deliberation ended with the declaration that they'd head out in ten minutes time.

Hannah was thrown into a whirlwind of activity as she informed the Einstein crew of their mission and contacted the pilots and marines on board, commanding them to ready themselves for action. By the time she'd completed her tasks, the fleet was ready to move out, headed to the nearest mass relay that would transport them to the Vetus System.

The fleet headed straight for Elysium when it arrived in system. Hannah's hands were full with commands from Maddock as he tried to anticipate what they were heading into. The ships ahead of them in the fleet relayed back information as they received it. Soon the report came back that the ships seen orbiting around Elysium appeared to be composed of pirate ships and a large contingent of batarian ships. Hannah's heart pumped at the news. She'd been waiting for the batarian bubble to burst for five years and now it finally had. She knew this was going to be bad.

The ships surrounding Elysium numbered in the hundreds. Captain Vandenberg began ordering attack formations, causing frigates and cruisers to launch into immediate action. The Einstein held back with the other carriers as they scrambled their fighters, sending them howling out of their bays to join the fight.

Hannah felt oddly reminiscent about Mindoir as Maddock began to ask his officers to strategize a way to send in the marines. The distress calls made it quite clear the enemy wasn't only in space; people were being killed down below. After a while, Hannah's observations led her to point out a weak point in the enemy formations where they seemed to be guarding their backs and avoiding any direct confrontation. Maddock and the other carrier captains decided to exploit the weakness, launching several shuttles with marines on board. All of them but one made it through, headed down to take on the ground forces attacking the colony.

By the time they had deployed their marines, the battle had been engaged for at least an hour. Hu had kept sending out a distress call, asking for reinforcements and finally got an answer from the Second Fleet that it was on the way. The Alliance had the upper hand above ground. The pirate ships were no match for stringently trained Alliance personnel. Still, the number of ships the enemy had brought to the battle made it clear they had come prepared for the Alliance Navy to show up.

Hannah hadn't disconnected from Hu's station and as she stared at the map, waiting breathlessly to hear that the marines had touched down, a familiar voice sounded in her ear, causing immediate and intense panic to assault her thoughts.

"This is Lieutenant Jane Shepard. I'm with a group of twenty-five marines and we're pinned down in the seventeenth block of Illyria. We've got thousands of colonists in this city block with nowhere to go. We've got the high ground, but we need back up. Anyone who can hear us, contact us if at all possible!"

Hannah felt her heart thumping in her chest. Jane's voice was urgent, yet steady and calm, but all Hannah could hear was the fact that her daughter was down below, fighting for her life. She hadn't seen her in eight months. She couldn't lose her. Not now and not here, not when she was just within reach. She marched over to Maddock.

"Jane's down there," she informed him tersely.

Maddock turned hard eyes on her. "I heard."

"Request permission to lead the last team of marines down to the surface."

"Request denied."

Hannah's mouth fell open. "Sir, permission to speak freely."

"No."

Hannah stared at Maddock, anger welling up within her. Maddock took her arm firmly in his grasp and pulled her to the side. "I understand what's going on inside you, but this is not the time. I need you here. You're my XO and the Einstein needs your leadership now more than ever. The best you can do for Jane is stay above and kick pirate butt out of this system."

Hannah nodded, fury still raging in her heart, but her head acknowledging the truth of Maddock's words. Maddock let go of her and went back to his place on the bridge, Hannah following and trying to push her feelings away.

"Commander, this is Lieutenant Marshall checking in. We're on the ground. Enemies in sight and will engage presently."

Hannah put her hand to her ear. "Acknowledged. Delta company engaging enemy," she informed Maddock who nodded he'd heard.

Hannah trod over to Hu's station. "Can you connect with the last signal, the distress communication from Lieutenant Shepard?"

Hu looked up at her with compassion in her eyes. "I'll try, ma'am." Several minutes ticked by and Hu finally looked back at her helplessly. "Sorry. I can't raise that signal again."

Hannah nodded, then paced back to Maddock and the other officers, joining their strategizing, but only listening with half her mind; the other half was still connected to the chatter coming through on the comm. After another thirty minutes had passed, she caught Jane's voice again.

"Defenses have been breached in the capital. We're heading towards the enemy with a load of grenades and charges. With any luck, this will seal the gap. We still need any help that can come our way." There was a pause and Hannah wrung her hands, waiting to hear Jane again. Her voice came sudden and loud, the sound of gunfire and explosions evident in the call. "Under attack! Several men down. Heading towards the south, trying to…" The comm went silent.

Hannah put her hand to her heart, feeling her chest move up and down rapidly. Don't take her from me! Please don't. I can't do this. Don't do this to me.

Maddock's hand was suddenly on her arm and when she looked up at him, his eyes had softened. "I need you here."

Hannah nodded. "Yes, sir." She turned her attention back to the map and began to converse with the other officers, trying to forget that her daughter might be dying down below.

A short fifteen minutes later, the enemy ships turned tail and fled when reinforcements showed up. Enemy ships tried to flee from the ground as well. Most were destroyed as they fought their way skyward, though a few of the larger ones slipped through. Casualty reports began to stream in. Both medical teams and search and rescue teams were dispatched to Elysium. Hannah began to account for the marines assigned to the Einstein, contacting the groups below to determine who had survived the battles. The entire time she kept wondering if her own daughter had survived, but every time the thought reared its ugly head she pushed it back, willing herself not to think about Jane.

Hours passed by as medical teams ferried the worst cases up for transport. The Einstein was about to depart for the nearest station with the necessary medical facilities. Hannah didn't want to leave without knowing Jane's fate, but she knew she would be forced to go along. This was what she had meant when she told Jane before she graduated that the Alliance owned you once you joined up. She had no choice but to obey.

However, before they left Elysium, another voice sounded over the comm. "Request permission to enter SSV Einstein's bay doors. We have wounded marines on board in need of immediate assistance." The voice was interrupted by another, insistent and determined.

"This is Lieutenant Shepard. Two of my men will be dead in a few minutes if we don't get on board now!"

Hannah's heart leapt. She was alive. Jane was alive. Hannah looked to Maddock who smiled and nodded. She put her hand to her ear, wanting to give the answer as fast as she could. "Permission granted. Bays are clear."

Hannah looked back to Maddock, who waved a hand towards the elevator, giving her permission to leave the bridge. Hannah rushed to the door and entered, tapping her foot all the way down, the elevator not moving fast enough for her.

By the time Hannah made it to the hangar bay, the shuttle with the wounded marines had landed. The two marines in critical condition were being cared for by medical personnel, ferried out of the bay on gurneys. Jane was helping her men out of the shuttle. Her hair was disheveled, parts of it pulled out of its pony tail in strands. Her uniform was absent; she wore relaxed shore leave duds. Hannah noticed a cut across her forehead and that she was favoring her left leg. Jane suddenly looked her direction, as if she sensed her mother nearby. Their eyes locked and a silent thank you passed between them as they realized each had survived the onslaught.

Hannah waited patiently until all Jane's men had been passed off to the doctors, then she approached her daughter as a nurse dabbed at her forehead and asked about her left leg.

"It's fine," Jane was insisting. "Just a sprain."

"I should still check it out," the nurse contended.

Hannah strolled up to Jane, keeping her emotions hidden. "Just let them check. I know Petra. She won't let up until you let her do what she wants."

Jane sighed grimly. "Okay."

The nurse gave her leg a once over, then nodded. "You're right. I'll wrap it up for you." When the nurse had finished, she left the bay. Hannah felt the acceleration of the Einstein as it left Elysium. She looked around. A few crew members still occupied the bay.

"Your quarters?" Jane suggested. Hannah nodded in agreement and left the bay with Jane. Jane strode with purpose and determination, stalwart even after what she'd just been through. However, when they reached Hannah's room and the door closed, she fell into Hannah's arms, enveloping her mother in a tight and long hug. Hannah returned it, holding her, glad that even as Jane matured, she still let herself be herself in front of her mother. When Jane released her, she was blinking her eyes to keep from crying.

"I'm glad to see they haven't crushed emotion out of you," Hannah commented, knowing how aggressive the ICT program was.

"Not that they haven't tried," Jane answered, wiping her eyes quickly. "I've gotten good at keeping my feelings in control, though, staying focused when I need to."

"That's good," Hannah said, motioning to her bed. Jane sat and Hannah sat down next to her.

"It was awful, mom," Jane said, pulling out her ponytail and running her hands through her hair. "Out of the twenty-five of us, only sixteen are left. Nine friends gone." Jane got up from the bed and punched her hand into the wall. "I failed them."

Hannah stood and put her hands on Jane's shoulders. "No, you didn't. You protected civilians and got everyone you could out of there. That is not failure, Jane, and don't ever think it is."

Jane eyed her suspiciously. "How can you be okay with losing people?"

"I'm never okay with it," Hannah maintained. "Never. But you do what you can and when you've done that, you have to make yourself be okay with it." Hannah had been given many opportunities to practice her words over the years. And yet, she still remonstrated herself for every "failure," every time she felt she'd messed up. But she wanted to spare Jane from the same burdens she carried.

"Take a shower," Hannah commanded.

"I'm okay."

"That's an order, Lieutenant."

Jane shook her head, but smiled at the fact that her mother had just pulled rank on her. "Alright…Commander," she said, emphasizing the last word sarcastically. She walked into Hannah's bathroom and soon Hannah heard the shower. She knew Jane needed to relax a little and wash off the strain of the fighting on Elysium.

Hannah sat down at her desk, skimming through the numerous reports on her computer screen. The Einstein had come off well. They'd only lost three of their marines. They'd taken on board about fifty wounded, both civilians and soldiers. In about forty minutes they'd be arriving at Armstrong Station which had a critical care facility. Hannah heard the shower stop and Jane rummaging around in the bathroom.

"You got any extra clothes?" Jane called behind the door.

Hannah moved over to her closet, choosing a pair of pants and a gray shirt for Jane to slip on. Walking to the bathroom, she opened the door slightly and put her arm inside for Jane to take the clothes. Jane took them and the door slid shut again. Hannah ambled over to a cold, metal chair and sat, waiting for Jane to exit the bathroom. Jane emerged in Hannah's clothes, only a tiny bit big on her, with a towel wrapped around her head. She sat down on the bed and gazed at Hannah.

"Feel better?" Hannah asked.

"Much." Jane took a deep breath. "At least physically." Jane put a hand to her head and closed her eyes.

"What's up?" Hannah inquired.

Jane lowered her hand. "Contemplating the strange mix of emotions I'm feeling."

"Like what?"

"Well," Jane said, speaking slowly. "It's…it's like my mind doesn't know what to make of what just happened on Elysium. I feel elated. I mean, we kicked ass down there and that felt good. But I also feel grief, like when dad died, knowing comrades fell next to me. And then there's just utter relief that I'm alive." Jane paused. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry or just be silent…I think I'll pick the last."

"Most do," Hannah informed her. She knew exactly what Jane was feeling and there was no emotion word for "just fought a successful battle but lost friends, but also saved a whole colony." "You get used to feeling that way and it gets easier to handle over the years."

Jane shook her head sadly. "I hope I get used to it soon. It's an uncomfortable way to feel."

"You made me proud, kiddo," Hannah said softly, staring at Jane with respect in her eyes.

Jane blushed a little. "Thanks, mom."

"We'll arrive at Armstrong in about thirty minutes. Get some rest. You'll need it."

"Alright." Jane pulled the towel off her head, picked up a brush on Hannah's bedside stand to work out the tangles, then fell back on the bed. She was asleep within five minutes.

Hannah knew she should move back to her desk, start responding to e-mails and issuing more orders, but she just sat still, watching Jane sleep. How fast time flies by, she thought as she contemplated her daughter. Wasn't it just yesterday Jane had been in an incubator and Hannah'd been hoping she'd survive? And now she was a woman in her twenties, strong, capable and downright amazing.

Hannah finally stood up and walked over to the bed. Leaning down, she kissed Jane on her forehead. "Rest well, honey," she whispered, then wandered back over to her desk.

Hannah woke Jane when they arrived at Armstrong Station. She accompanied her daughter to the med bays and then to the medical wards on station. There she'd had to say goodbye, as the Einstein had orders to meet back up with the fleet immediately after it delivered its cargo.

The fallout of the events on Elysium was swift and variable. ANN coined the term for the incident, the "Skyllian Blitz." Alliance operatives discovered that the batarian Hegemony had used its funds to support the Blitz. They also claimed an anonymous source had revealed the Blitz's leader, an infamous pirate named Elanos Haliat. He hadn't been found yet, but the Alliance wanted his head on a pike. There was also a whole lot of outrage pouring forth from Terra Firma, many of its politicians demanding a formal war against the batarian Hegemony. So far the Parliament hadn't declared war, but Hannah wondered if they wouldn't do something soon.

Jane had been hailed all throughout the Alliance for her actions on Elysium. As details emerged, Hannah realized Jane had been entirely modest with her. Not only had Jane managed to close the gap in the capital's defenses, but she had also placed the charges herself that pushed the pirates on the ground back, not wanting any of her own men to take on the job. Jane ended up being given the status N7 without any further training and receiving a medal, the Star of Terra, effectively declaring her a hero of humanity. Hannah burst with pride and she was pretty sure she annoyed her crew members to death, mentioning Jane every chance she got.

Personally, Hannah also found herself experiencing positive results from the Blitz. About a month after the battle, she received a message that sent her heart soaring.

XO Shepard, this is Admiral Mikhail Novikov of the SSV Kilimanjaro. Your recent actions at Elysium have come to my attention. Captain Maddock has boasted of your strategy in getting our marines down to the planet during the conflict. I can also surmise it was no easy thing maintaining your sense of duty while Lieutenant Shepard was down below. I would like to offer you the Executive Officer posting on board my ship. I will expect your reply by 0900 tomorrow. Admiral Novikov.

Hannah blinked her eyes. The Kilimanjaro? A dreadnought? Her dreams of rising in the ranks had just become real before her eyes. Yet, part of her didn't know whether she should accept. She felt staunchly loyal to Maddock after all these years.

Hannah left the message up on her data pad and marched to the bridge. She was off duty, but she wanted to run this by Maddock before she accepted, not wanting him to think she was ungrateful for all he had done for her. She found him next to the helmsman, staring out at the blankness of space.

"Sir," she said, clearing her throat to get his attention.

Maddock turned to look at her, his eyes all business."Yes, Commander?"

"I just received a message from Admiral Novikov…" Maddock interrupted Hannah before she could continue.

"Go."

Hannah smiled knowingly. "You already know."

"I'm the one that recommended you for the position." Maddock wasn't smiling, but Hannah detected joy in his eyes nonetheless.

"Thank you, sir."

"You deserve it."

Hannah turned to leave, then paused, looking back. "Are you ever going to become an Admiral, sir?"

Maddock now grinned slightly. "Never. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I want to see Lourdes and Jules sometime, don't I?"

Hannah nodded. She understood his choice, but it wasn't hers. She hoped someday she would be an Admiral down the road.