Chapter 13: In transit
The ground team was siting in the comm room going over the last mission. "A rachni queen? Exogeni found a rachni egg that turned out to be a queen." Nihlus pondered.
"Well that's the military industrial complex for you." Williams stated. "If a corporation thinks they found something that they can make money off of then they will do their best to control it."
"Regardless we put a stop to it." Shepard said proudly.
"There will be questions about letting the queen go Shepard." Nihlus said matter of fact.
"I imagine so." Shepard said tiredly.
"What I am more worried about is that group Cerberus." Kaiden said.
"Anything that you know about them." Nihlus asked.
The three humans shook their heads no. He sighs, "I will ask some sources to see if they have heard anything on this Cerberus."
"Commander we should talk with Udina and the captain and see if they might no something about them." Alenko suggested.
"It can't hurt." Shepard agreed. "Though I do not look forward to interacting with Udina."
"No one likes interacting with politicians commander." Williams said in agreement.
"Alright everyone dismissed." Shepard ordered.
"Hey commander want me to connect you to the council?" Joker asked over the intercom.
Shepard sighed as she looked at Nihlus and nodded at him. "Go ahead joker."
"Connecting you to the council!"
Holograms of the council appeared. "Shepard you found a living rachni and let it go." Spartus accused sternly.
"Yes sir I did, we communicated with the Queen." She explained. "She realizes the mistakes of her ancestors and has agreed to not intervene on our affairs."
"Let's hope that you are correct or else our children will suffer for it." Spartus snipped at Sheppard.
"What I'm more concerned about is this Cerberus group that you encountered." Valern said taking the attention away from the Turian. "The report indicates they are highly trained and disdain for the council as well as its participation in the shady elements in the galaxy."
"Anything that you can tell us about this group?" Tevos asked.
"This is the first time I encountered and I have never heard of them either." Shepard answered.
"Regardless we now have evidence of Exogeni's involvement in illegal experiments, Cerberous will be looked into later." Tevos said. "We will be ready with your next assignment."
The council ended the call and Shepard took a breath of relief once the image of the council disappeared. "I know that they are not the most grateful." Nihlus said.
"I'm used to that, I just don't enjoy speaking with my superiors." Shepard said.
"So your comfortable with fighting enemies through impossible odds, but talking to your superiors is stressful."
Shepard shrugged. Nihlus chuckled before leaving the comm room. She looked around and sighed before she to left the comm room and headed for the cockpit.
"Hey commander heard you encountered the rachni." Joker greeted in a joking manner.
"I would not find fighting rachni a fun time."
"Still I wonder what the queen will do now that it is free."
"I don't know, but I refuse to commit genocide of an Alien race."
"Fair point, I am just glad that I don't have to make the big decisions."
Shepard chuckled at that and smirked. "Lucky you."
Shepard walked away letting joker fly the ship. She then walked to the elevator and took it down to the cargo hold. She found Ashley on her communicator talking with someone who looked like a younger version of Ashley.
"So are you interested in that lieutenant Alenko?" The person on the other end asked giddily.
Shepard walked within the view of the communicator. "Is that commander Shepard?"
"Yes I got to go love you." Williams frantically said hanging up the communicator.
She turned around facing the commander giving her a salute. "Commander."
Shepard finding this hilarious laughed softly at this. "Family back home?" Shepard inquired.
"Yes mam my little sister mam." She said not exiting her salute.
"At ease Williams." Shepard told the marine. "I take it that you have family back home?"
"Yes mam."
"Tell me about them."
"I have three sisters Abby, Lynn, and Sarah." She started telling. "That was Sarah."
"So are you going to respond to the message about the lieutenant." Shepard teased.
Williams blushed. "The lieutenant is not my type mam."
"Okay." Shepard said smirking.
"Anything else that you wish to talk to me about?" Ashley asked hoping to change the subject.
"I wanted your opinion on the last mission."
"Frankly mam as much as I dislike them I am glad that you didn't kill the Queen, I don't want the genocide of an alien race on my conscious."
"I should go, shore leave once we make it to the Citadel."
"Yes mam."
Shepard walked over to the engine room. Shepard looked around and found Chief Engineer Adams talking with the rest of the enginers. Shepard walked over to the Chief Engineer. She saw that the engineering team noticed her and saluted. Adams turned around and gave her a quick salute.
"Commander what brings you down here?" He asked.
"I wanted to check to see how everything is going I never came down here."
"Everything is running smoothly Commander." Adams answered. "I can proudly say that this is the best engine ever."
"That's good to hear but what about you chief?"
"I'm doing great, I have been stationed on nearly every ship the Alliance controlled but none can compare to the Normandy."
"With the money that was put into it, it better be." Shepard stated looking at the engine. "I will let you all get back to work."
"Commander."
Shepard wen back to the elevator and went up back to the main room. She then walked down to the mess hall to grab some chow knowing that it will still be some time before they reach the Citadel. She saw Alenko rubbing his forehead. She walked over with her food and sat in front of him.
"Hey lieutenant you feeling okay?" Shepard asked them.
Alenko looked up surprised. "Commander when did you get here?"
"Just now." Shepard answered. "I take it you had a migraine?"
"Yeah I had one of my bad ones."
"Have you talked to Dr. Chakwas?"
"Yeah she gave me something for it and told me to rest for a couple of days."
"Good and I hope you follow the doctors orders."
"You got it commander."
The two continued to make small talk until they finished their Chow and went their separate ways. Shepard going up to the cabin and laying down and resting in her bed.