Chapter 2: Assembling the Team

-Citadel, Docking level

Commander Jane Shepard strode down the walkway with the regal bearing and presence that only a military officer of her stature could command. As she walked through the docking level toward the Colloquia, a small ship that frequently was commissioned to perform tasks such as this, she thought about how to approach her temporary alliance with the mercenary extraction specialist. Captain Anderson had made it clear that the commander was in charge of the mission, but that latitude was necessary and she should give Danger room to work.

I wonder exactly how much latitude he is expecting me to give her…

She wasn't used to people not following orders, but the mercenary had more than proven her loyalty to humanity and Jane was reasonably sure that they would be able to work together. In addition, they had a pretty long history, so she already knew of some of the other woman's quirks and personality flaws. Danger may have been several years older than the commander, but that hadn't stopped them from becoming fast friends and all but inseparable in the old days. They had drifted apart when Jane had joined the military and Danger had decided to roam the galaxy mercing herself out, but they always caught up a few times a year for drinks at the Flux and made sure to send random updates via message.

Jane reached the docking bay where the Colloquia was housed and looked up at the machine. It wasn't as sleek as some of the other ships in the area, time and space debris having worn away the once brightly painted letting on the hull, but the engines were solid and the captain experienced. It would get them to Earth to perform the extraction, and get them back out alive. The Alliance might not have been sending their best vessel, but they were sending one that could certainly do the job.

She entered the ship and greeted the captain, a jovial man named Ned who had seen at least seventy winters. He grinned widely at her, and saluted. He was often paired with Danger on her extraction assignments, as he was retired military and the Alliance liked to keep tabs on her in case she went rogue. So far she had stayed just on this side of Alliance law, but Jane Shepard had seen enough betrayal in her short life to know that sometimes even people with the best of intentions can be confused and later, corrupted. Keeping Ned nearby and using him to 'assist' with missions meant the Alliance could rein the mercenary in if she went too far across the line, and take all the credit if she managed to do something impossible.

That second part is particularly important, huh Udina?

The vessel wasn't anything fancy and certainly wasn't anywhere near the class of ship that the commander was used to serving on, but it was one of the fastest in the galaxy. That lent itself well to Danger's chosen profession, and since the Colloquia had been retired from active service, the Alliance had no problems with using it for these sorts of missions. This tin can may have been no Normandy, but it would get the job done. Besides, the ship wasn't doing the rescuing; Jane and Danger were. All it needed to do was get the two humans to Earth.

She made her way down to the garages. Danger was there, as expected, on the ground underneath some sort of all-terrain vehicle. Jane crossed her arms and smiled at the sight of her old friend's legs sticking out from under it.

Some things just never change.

"Well would you look at this grease monkey. Don't you ever get tired of doing that crap yourself?"

Danger, grinning like an idiot, slid out from under the vehicle and hopped to her feet. Wiping her hand on her repair cover all, she offered it to the commander.

"Jane! Gosh, I didn't think it was possible for you to get any uglier. What's with the collar?"

The commander shook her old friend's hand and smiled. "Eh, you know the military. Have to look top notch when parading around the Citadel." Looking at her now smudged hand, she grabbed a nearby cloth to wipe it off.

"Indeed. Another reason I'll never join up."

Jane looked at the taller woman and shrugged.

"It's not all that bad. They feed you, pay you, and occasionally even compliment you. The brass would fully fund your missions if you did join up with us. Weapons, armor, ships, the works. They'd probably even give you a budget for these tin cans you call rovers," she said, nodding to the CamMech 3.

"They'd also tell me how to do my job and strip me of my authority the second I didn't play ball or they felt they could do it better." Danger shook her head. "No Jane, you will see. You are being catapulted to the top right now, but it won't be long before you reach the summit and the only place left to go is back down."

"Well we'll just see about that. For now, let's talk about this mission. Were you briefed?"

"Briefed enough. Human mercs, probably pirates or something. Caught themselves an asari. Is that the right of it?" she said, turning back to her repairs.

"Well, that's some of it. This asari is of particular importance to the Alliance, and it's imperative that we get her out alive and unharmed. Do you hear me Danger? Alive, and unharmed."

Danger turned and leaned against the rover, crossing her arms and one leg over the other. "Yea yea, I know. I hear you. Listen, this is the biggest job of my life too you know. With this paycheck and the notoriety, I'll be able to set up on Omega for life. Everyone will be falling at my feet in worship. I bet even that bitch ruler won't be able to resist me."

"Going blue? I thought you weren't into that."

"I'm not, actually. But you have to admit, that would be one hell of a conquest, no?"

The commander just rolled her eyes. She may not have known everything there was to know about Danger's past before they met, but they had kept in contact over the years and occasionally had drinks when Jane's shore leaves coincided with the mercenary's lulls between extractions. In all that time, she'd never seen the driver so much as look twice at an asari despite them throwing themselves at the tall blonde woman. Jane didn't understand it herself, but just chalked it up to Danger probably being only interested in males or something. Maybe some traumatic event caused her to shut down in the face of intimacy. She didn't know, and in any event she didn't push the matter and Danger never offered up information on her personal life. Danger was in love with her machines, but as long as she got the job done the commander didn't care if she decided to wed a paper towel.

"Do we want a third man for the team?"

"Maybe. We'll need at least a shuttle on standby. This old girl," Danger said giving the car a slap, "will get us in and out of the compound, but after that we'll need to get off the planet ASAP. I've put a lot of upgrades into these cars over the years, but I don't think any of them have learned to fly into outer space yet."

"I'll make the arrangements. Is there anything else you need?"

Danger just grinned idiotically. "Ever the same, Jane. Already treating me like a crew member, asking about my needs, making sure I'm ok. I'm touched."

"Oh shut up. Do you need anything or not? Last call."

"Hmm. No actually I think I'm all set. Had to replace some parts on the old girl, but she's as good as new. You just make sure we have a pilot for that shuttle and the bay door is wide open, and we'll go get us an asari."

"All right, I'll be in my quarters if you need anything."

"Commander, is that an offer?" Danger grinned roguishly, eliciting another eye roll from her old friend. "Ha, I made you blush. You really need to get laid. After this you should take some shore leave and come to Omega with me. They are loaded with blue, just the way you like them: naked."

The commander grinned and shook her head. Danger would never change. "I'll take a raincheck on that one. Let's deal with one thing at a time. We have an assignment."

"Well think about it. Open door offer!" she said, turning back to her repairs and waving a wrench. "I'll see you later, Jane. Forgive me if I don't salute."

Commander Jane Shepard nodded, and left the garages, heading towards the communication center to go over the latest intel on the mission.