Arcturus-Office of the Prime Minister
"Mister Soren!"
The Prime Minister turned around in his chair to see an aide standing outside the door waving a pad at him, he frowned, and well this should be important.
"What is it?" He said opening the door.
The Aide spilled in, "Sir, I take it you have seen the recent resistance broadcast? From Daniel Hudson?"
"Yes, I saw it." He frowned at the aide, They certainly caught us off guard with that little stunt, had to release a press release, and accelerate the time table on the conversion program on Earth.
"Well OANI has used the information to triangulate a position, we know where they are, where Shepard was, at least when they sent the message!"
"Oh?" Soren brightened.
"They are…at Sanctuary…sir." The aide panted.
"Excellent, we will just have to bump the time up for the planned assault we were making on the colony of Horizon." Soren grunted. "Get with the local fleet commands and see what forces we have available now might as well try and kill two birds with one stone and all."
The aide made a note on his report pad his hands arching and racing through the various permutations. "Anything else?"
"And get me Nathan Burke, and his squad, I need to inform them of this development, and give them their marching orders."
"Yes sir," the aide nodded, and then left the room.
Soren turned back to his office window, looking at the swirling clouds of rock dust, and the stars beyond. His feelings raging within him, happiness that they might have been able to save the situation, but dread that they had to wait in the first place.
He sipped his coffee waiting for the call to go through.
SSV Anzio-War Room
"Sanctuary?" Nathan Burke asked. "That was certainly a bold stroke."
"Shouldn't be surprising though," Amanda put in next to him, "it's probably what I would've done, it was the best of limited options they had available to them."
Soren nodded on the screen, "regardless I am gathering an element from the third fleet to rendezvous with you one relay out. Hopefully we can take them by surprise and round up all the leaders of the resistance."
"What do we know about the geo politics of the planet?" Burke asked.
"Well, the planet originally was settled separate from the Alliance's sphere of political interests, out in the Terminus Systems. This much is well known, but if they are going out of their way to ally themselves with Shepard's band then their antagonism has only increased. They need to be stopped; we need to finally bring the colony under our sway once and for all. If we don't, then the consequences are likely to be more ghastly then we can imagine."
"We'll get it done sir." Nathan grunted. "On the way."
"Thank you, Arcturus out."
"Amanda…get the ship ready for a jump to the…umf" He grunted as Amanda's lips went to his and her arms went around his neck, pulling him in for a tight kiss.
"Hmm," She purred laying her head on his chest, "It's been a while since we did that."
"Yeah," Nathan grunted.
"Don't you miss me?" She murmured huskily.
He grunted as her voice bored right through him, "Well yeah…it's just that I do think that there are some advantages to the idea of waiting till we accomplish a mission, especially one with so much danger involved."
"But that could be months from now," Amanda frowned.
"You think we'll fail?" Nathan asked sounding hurt.
She gave him a frustrated look, "no I did not say that, did I?" She assured, "but we are facing the first human Spectre, a woman who has dealt with many situations, defeated the Reapers, hell if the rumors are true she has come back from the dead. Whatever happens this isn't going to be easy."
He sighed, "I suppose you're right."
Silence descended on the room as neither one wanted to say something, neither of them occurred anything else to say, other than a cloud of accusation and doubt was hanging over Nathan's head like some black storm cloud. It made it hard to think, hard to rationalize, every time he tried the storm would spark and his thoughts would go fleeing back along a more favorable, less painful, path. Take Amanda, neutralize Shepard.
"But you still want to continue what we started from the war?" Amanda asked demurely.
"I'm…not sure," he winced, "I'm not sure of a lot right now. Actually."
"Well, I'm sure." Amanda said moving her mouth up again and clamping down on his lower lip.
Nathan froze for a second, he wanted to push her away, for half a second before he seized her and started to kiss her back. Fully and passionately, he huffed, and she giggled, her leg came up against his, and he led her to his quarters.
We have all the time in the world for a quickie, his mind rationalized, yeah his mind.
Normandy-CIC
Abigail Shepard and Ashley Williams stood in the well of the Galaxy Map, after having a bull session with the Horizon parliament, and comparing notes on the status of the ship, and the resistance, and after meeting with Hudson, it had been a busy day.
They had decided that she would be the supreme military commander of the entire military resistance they were starting. Though I'm going to keep the rank of Captain, she frowned. But she was the George Washington of their little group. Though I shouldn't exactly be surprised I have been shouting orders at Admirals and deciding the fate of species since I took Command of the Normandy not fair, but it is what it is.
Hudson would be Thomas Paine, the person they would go to for their political 'propaganda' and getting the truth out…hopefully countering the real propaganda of the Soren government if they really insisted on coming after them.
As for Ashley, well she would just get the Normandy, not really a cool historical parallel but she was still in command of one of the most unique warships to have existed since the Alliance Navy got its start.
"Captain," Her aide came up breaking her out of her reverie.
"Yes?"
The man handed her a pad and then before saluted heading off.
"Anything good?" Ashley asked.
"I wonder why he handed this to me," Abigail said handing it over, "it's a status report on the engines."
"Adams says the heat diffusion system is acting up?" Ashley asked reading from it. "Well that is certainly…different."
"Yeah," She sighed.
The Galaxy Map whirled below them, in its super imposed, super-fast, representation of the Galaxy. A Galaxy which was in abstract turmoil again. This was not the Reaper War, but it could easily have the effect of spilling over into the entire Galaxy, the war that they had to fight if they wanted to be free. They had their break from the Disciple crisis, which also could have had galaxy changing implications, but they headed it off before it got any worse. I wonder if I have it in me to be lucky one more…
"Shepard," Miranda came up behind them.
The two women turned on the third.
"Yes?" Abigail asked.
The genetically enhanced operative blanched at the inquisition, "My reports through the Phoenix Network has picked up reports, an attack force due to be heading to Horizon has picked up its launch date, they are leaving now. Nathan Burke and his squad are also on the way."
"Wonderful," The Normandy's current CO groused.
"How'd they find us?" Abigail pressed looking deep into Miranda's eyes.
The operative smirked ruefully, "My guess would be that little radio broadcast that you had Hudson do. I mean really Shepard, the voice of the resistance?"
"It's a good idea." Abigail defended.
"But not a secure one," Miranda rebuffed.
"Fine, something we need to work on. In the meantime let's get the people down there ready for evac. As many as we can." Abigail ordered.
"We're going to evacuate Horizon?" Ashley arched a surprised eyebrow.
"Yeah, all available transports, shuttles, any ship with weapons capability, we'll attempt to escort them out…Traynor get me in touch with the Horizon Prime Minister…she is going to love this."
"And where are they going to go after we get them out?" Ashley asked.
"Anywhere we can get them," Cameron's voice cut in before Abby could reply. "That is not our first priority; our first priority should be to get them off world and to get them out of here. To survive, we can worry about the where later."
Abigail smiled thinly, "He's right."
"Yeah, but we need a plan. How about Akesh?"
Abigail shook her head, "too many unknowns, too many…things we can't control. They are out. As much as I might like the idea."
Ashley sighed, "So what we just go drift around the stars like the Quarians? I don't want to do that either."
"Neither do I," Abby agreed, "But we have the supplies and the training to do what we need to make it happen. At least until we catch a break."
"Exactly, buy time that is all we can do." Cameron agreed.
"You seem to have a lot of experience with this," Abigail teased turning to Cameron.
"Hey, I was on the run at one point, having the galaxy mad at me. We do have allies; we just need to find them."
The human Captain nodded, "right, it is good solid advice."
"I've got the Horizon governor on the line."
This should be fun, Abigail groused. "Put her on."
Normandy Deck 3
"Ah!" Abby hissed as Chakwas rubbed a hand over her exposed stomach, and particularly the scar from Nathan's attack.
"Don't be such a grouch." Chakwas chastised.
"And where have I heard that one before," Her patient remarked sarcastically.
"Well, you seem to be healing nicely." Karin muttered taking out her Omni-tool to do a third, and hopefully final, scan.
"So I can get back to full duty?" She asked hopefully.
Chakwas frowned, "I said healing, not healed. You still need more time to get a few things sorted out…that is if you ever manage to heal at all. This is not something that is just going to happen."
"Damnit," Abigail grunted, "we have a situation developing here, I need to be there if we are going to head this situation off."
"The crew needs you in one piece; you can't be in one piece if you die. Commander Williams, James, and that new you are more than sufficient for the time being, the important thing is you stay healthy and safe. Give yourself time to heal, to get back into shape, you've done it before."
Shepard bit her lip and closed her eyes, "fine, whatever you say, you're the doc…doc. But the crew is going to need me eventually."
"Well, that is what we are here for." Chakwas agreed.
"Good, well then I will come back in for the next appointment same time in a couple of days?"
Chakwas shrugged, "Sure, if you want, duties permitting, it looks like you are an important woman now."
"Thank you Doctor," Abby nodded leaving the room.
All of the doctor's ministrations and probing caused her back and leg to stiffen up, she gritted her teeth and hissed as she slowly made her way out of the room and headed for the mess hall. Her goal was to see who was there.
And to answer her question both Cameron and James were sitting there, looking as though they were engaged in an arm wrestling competition.
"Gentlemen." She greeted as she rounded the corner.
They both stopped for a second, long enough to look up at her as she came around the corner.
"Gentlemen, please, as you were." She held her hand in a stopping gesture, though they did not comply, she sighed. "You two ready?"
"Yeah Lola, just settling a bet between me and Cameron…blowing off some steam, apparently we were good friends back in his universe."
"We had our moments," Cameron smirked.
Abigail nodded and joined in the smiles, but her mind was already racing ahead to another problem she had to consider. Well, I've been avoiding this…but he has shown himself to be…a Shepard.
"I've been meaning to bring something up and…ask you," She turned to James.
He nodded at her urging her to continue.
"I think," She hesitated, "James would you have any great objection if Cameron took point on this one? Maybe for a permanent posting?"
The Special Forces Commander traded a look with the former Commander from another universe, Cameron looked right back at the younger man staring at him. Finally James broke the grid lock.
"You thinking I can't handle myself Lola?" He teased.
"No," she responded honestly, "just…" she struggled for the right words.
"Yeah I know," James grinned, "he was a Shepard, and in another universe a Commander in the Alliance Navy…that is at least one thing I am not, and the other thing I can never be. I don't have a problem if he takes point, less pressure on my shoulders. I can just worry about being the bad ass Marine and shooting things, and not goofing off having to worry about nurse maiding people."
"Cameron?" She asked.
The man shrugged, "fine by me. But the question I have is…why?"
The Captain shrugged back, "Well, considering that you are a Shepard, you have the experience, you have proven yourself time and time again since we met you are capable, loyal, everything I look for in any subordinate. And…" she bit her lip, "you have a cool and level head."
"Well yeah but any of those attributes can be found amongst members of the crew." Cameron pointed out.
"Well," Abigail pointed out, "Ashley is going to have her hands full commanding the Normandy, James, as he says…is not always the best at this sort of thing, Garrus is busy with the weapons suite, and even if he wasn't I don't think he likes the idea of command anymore then James when you get down to it. And I'm still on the disabled list, at least for now."
"Right," Cameron nodded, "fair enough, just checking."
"I understand." She glanced at the two of them. "Well, continue with your game boys…have fun." She smirked before sauntering off down the corridor towards Hudson's room. Before she made it very far they were already grunting in consternation.
"No way man!" James exclaimed, "You were totally cheating!"
The Captain's smirk grew slightly wider as she turned the corridor, and entered the room, the door opened before her. Daniel Hudson was standing at the window and turned at her presence.
"I take it you've heard?" She asked the former Prime Minister.
"That Soren is putting together a task force which is threatening Horizon and will be here any hour now." Hudson murmured, "I've heard."
"Well, I guess a Frigate really is a great place for a rumor mill." Abby acknowledged smiling wryly.
Hudson smirked, "Still, I don't know the why behind the reason they found us."
"We think it's your radio show. They probably homed in on the signal."
Hudson nodded gravely, but he looks relived, Abby's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Well that's too bad; there goes my brilliant career in radio."
Uh huh, Abigail thought to herself. "We need to find a way to transmit secure signals in the future is all, and since that doesn't matter anymore I want you on the airwaves as soon as you can get on the airwaves."
"Why?" Hudson responded sighing.
"We need to rally the troops somehow, this is the only way we can do that, if we don't, if we don't explain why this is happening and more importantly what is happening how is the people supposed to know? Even if we touch one person then we will be gaining steam." Abigail emphasized the last.
"Right," Hudson nodded, looking determined.
Maybe I am good at this after all, Abby smiled wanly.
…
"Well, my friends, this is now the time for action. There is an Alliance task force on its way to Horizon, to the place known as Sanctuary, for right now they are on their way to attack.
And while it is true we were here I have it on good authority that they were coming here anyways, to attack a neutral world, which has not done anything to anyone, simply in a bid to take over the Government.
I ask 'why?' why is this happening? What has Horizon done to the Alliance? Can you think of one thing?
Why has no one reported that this attack has been necessary? While it is true that the military often has to act in secret to protect their battle plans and strategies, they are also answerable to the people.
And have you, the people, heard a single explanation for an attack on Horizon? Are they developing weapons? Are they threatening to blockade Alliance interests? What exactly are they doing?
Ask yourself, reach your own conclusions, do the research. This is only the beginning.
Because what about the attacks on Tuchanka, on Sur'kesh? Have they told you the people about the need to attack those worlds?
Something, ladies and gentlemen, is afoot."
AN: Well GF is back, if you read it, review it, if you could be so kind and sorry for the long delay on this and I hope to be getting back to regular updates of this stuff.