Later That Day…

SSV Normandy SR2

Port Observation Deck

The Williams Sisters stand before the massive window separating them from the inky blackness of space. All around the Normandy, Quarian ships try helplessly to dodge the Geth fighters swarming around like angry bees. One rather large Quarian vessel breaks off to take a shot at the colossal Geth Dreadnought that Shepard and her team are preparing to board. The Quarian frigate turns and fires a full broadside salvo at the dreadnought, only for most of the shots to bounce off the shields. The rest either miss, or crash harmlessly against the hull of the massive ship, their impacts resembling popcorn popping in a frying pan.

"What a shit show." Ashley grumbles. As Abby nods in agreement, a Geth fighter rakes the now alone frigate with a strafing run aft to forward, blasting several holes in its hull. The fighter passes, followed by another that finishes off the frigate, blasting it open like a soda can. One of the pieces crashes into the docking tube that Shepard just entered. The tiny figure of the Commander turns to see her ship slowly drifting away. Deciding to be nosy, Abby tunes her omni-tool to the Shore Party frequency.

"So I'm guessing you'd rather not solo the Dreadnought?" The Normandy's pilot, who Shepard had called 'Joker', asks cheekily.

"Not if I can help it." Jane replies with a similar tone. "Have Tali look up the ship's schematics. I'll head in and find another entrance."

The Normandy subtly drifts away from the Dreadnought and moves to a different area of its colossal hull. Abby catches a glimpse of Shepard as they pass. She's slowly continuing into the docking tube, her MagBoots being the only thing keeping her from drifting away. The blue-striped armor-clad figure disappears again as Joker navigates to the next docking tube, this one being in not much better shape than the last thanks to the Quarians, but it's still intact enough for Tali and Garrus to begin crossing slowly.

"Hey, take your time, Commander. We're fine." Joker says. "Until, ya'know...they look out a window."

"Geth don't use windows, remember?" Shepard replies. "'Structural weakness.'"

"I bet they're over there thinkin': There's no way those Organics would pull the 'no windows' thing TWICE." Our pilot mutters.

"So how did you end up on the Citadel?" The Assassin asks her sister, although she already partially knows the answer.

"I was...injured during the Skipper's trip to the Mars Archives." The Marine replies with a shrug. "Sick Bay wasn't staffed yet, and T'Soni couldn't do much other than basic first aid."

Abby nods. "I'd heard about that." A sly grin crosses her face. "I also heard that you got your ass kicked in by a robot."

Ash, beginning to turn beet red, glares at her little sister. "Who told you that?!"

"That is for me to know, and for you to never find out." Abby says simply.

"Probably Vega." Ashley grumbles. "Him and his big mouth. Or maybe Traynor? Always so nosy..." She looks up as a Geth fighter screams past their window. "Sorry where was I? Oh right. While I'm at Huerta Memorial, I get paid a visit by Councilor Udina who comes with an offer." She pauses for a moment. "To become a Spectre."

"No way!" Abby finds herself nearly squealing. It wasn't often that good things happened to her Leatherneck sister during her service. She'd been a Gunnery Chief for years, just like how their father had never risen above Serviceman Third Class. "What did you say?"

"At the time, I didn't have an answer. It's a huge deal, especially for Humanity. There was only one at the moment."

"Commander Shepard." Abby says.

"Right. And speaking of, she showed up as Udina was leaving. I saw them give each other looks as they passed. I guess he was still holding onto that grudge against her for picking Captain Anderson as the first Councilor. Then Shepard and I worked through whatever drama I was holding onto because of her working with Cerberus."

"I'd heard about that, too."

"Why was Shepard never one of your targets?"

"Because she was actually doing something about the Collectors, while the Alliance sat on their hands on the sidelines."

Ashley bites her lip to avoid an outburst at the comment, however correct it was.

"Besides, I enjoy living, and people who are enemies of the Commander don't live very long."

The Marine can't help but chuckle at the comment. "Anyways." She continues. "Eventually I said 'Yes' to the offer."

"The second Human Spectre…" Abby says, giving her sister an almost overwhelming sense of pride. "I feel like I should bow or something."

"Well, I have already made a name for myself." Ash says. "The first Spectre to kill a member of the Citadel Council. Not to mention their own Councilor."

"Udina never should've been on the Council." Abby says in her sister's defense. "While he was more than qualified, being a member of the Council means being able to be cooperative with other races and helping them wherever possible, while at the same time furthering your own race's interests. He was only interested in the latter. In less of a "Let's do this to benefit everyone" way and in more of a "Hostile Takeover" way."

"Shepard saw right through him." Ashley says, shaking her head. "A shame Anderson stepped down and returned to the Alliance."

"Yeah, but who else in their right mind would stay behind on Earth? Anderson is the only one for that job."

Near the bow of the Dreadnought, it's massive rail gun charges and fires at a formation of Quarian LiveShips. The round nearly hits one, but a Frigate pushes forward to take the shot, the impact shearing the ship clean in half. Abby tries not to think of the thousands of Quarians who just lost their lives in the blink of an eye. While the LiveShips try to flee, their defenders attempt to cover them by firing at the Dreadnought and trying to distract it. The rail gun fires again, narrowly missing one of the Quarian warships while the sisters watch helplessly. The rail gun begins to charge a third time, but suddenly stops, as if jammed. The Quarians wisely seize the opportunity to escape to a safer area of the star system.

"How long do you think this'll take?" Abby asks innocently.

Ash shrugs. "About an hour. Maybe less. It depends on the mission."

One sister looks to the other.

"And...if the mission is to infiltrate a Geth Dreadnought?"

"That's a new one." Ashley replies with a nod. "We mowed down hordes of Geth back in the day, but fighting through a stronghold can take a while."

Suddenly, a wave of energy emanates from the Dreadnought. A fighter in front of the window is hit by the wave and it's engines suddenly stop.

"Shepard to Fleet." Abby's Omni-Tool chirps. "Dreadnought drive core is offline. We're making our exfi-WOAH!" The Commander is suddenly cut off by a blast hitting the Dreadnought's hull, without a shield deflecting it. After a moment, the entire Quarian Heavy Fleet opens fire on the defenceless ship.

With Shepard and company still on board.

"What the hell are they doing?!" Ashley demands to no one in particular. "The plan was for the Quarians to retreat! And Shepard is still in there!"

All anyone on the Normandy can do is watch as the Geth ship is pummeled with volley after volley from the Quarian guns. Shepard and Tali's repeated pleas for them to cease fire go unanswered, and the Dreadnought slowly begins to break apart. Joker detaches from the docking tube and pulls the Normandy away, so as not to be hit by any supposedly friendly fire.

"Joker!" Shepard's voice breaks through the deafening explosions from inside the ship. "We're taking off in a Geth fighter. Sending coordinates for rendezvous."

Moments later, a lone fighter flies away from the Dreadnought, the Quarians still blasting away. A few more members of the crew have joined the Williams sisters on the observation deck, some slackjawed, watching as the Dreadnought suddenly bursts apart into dozens of pieces. Everyone can almost hear the Quarians cheering as the Fleet flies away victorious.

"I bet the Skipper will have a word or two for Admiral Gerrel." Ashley says cheekily.

"Let's go hear it." Abby replies with a grin.