With a window in the background of a view into space and far above a lush planet, Ambassador Udina and Capable Anderson have been going over the many prospective candidates for Humanity's first Spectre. One such particular man came up during their discussion, with Udina speaking up first. The politician gave Anderson a curious look,
"Well, what about Avery Johnson? Man grew up in the colonies." Udina spoke to Anderson in a curious tone. "And quite the history might I add." He mused.
Captain Anderson held his elbow in his palm, while his other hand rubbed his chin in thought. "Hmm…Johnson…now there's a name that has been spread throughout human space like a wildfire." The captain spoke with a bit of a proud tone, "Avery knows how hard it is out there…"
Anderson stared out through the window next to him with a contemplative look, and folded his arms behind his back. "Avery Johnson…" the captain began to say with a smirk at the insane stories that surrounded the man the two of them had begun discussing about, "Fought off the Batarian Slavers from Mindoir with the local population."
The Captain then glanced over at Udina with an amused expression, "Word has it the sixteen year old at the time gathered every able person, and those under the boy fought like devils against those slavers."
Anderson chuckled and brought his arms around to cross them in front of his chest, "Can you imagine it, a sixteen year old fighting off an entire invasion of slavers with nothing but some inspirational speech, guns, willing farmers, and to actually successfully fend off the raiding slavers?" He asked Undina inquisitively.
Udina pursed his lips before responding, "I'd say it's a tall tale…" the politician wanted to scoff at the absurdity, but the evidence of Avery Johnson's history had too many eyewitnesses to be false. "But the man defended his home from what could have been a massacre, and that's just speaking about before he joined the Alliance Marine Corps." Udina added on to say with a contemplative tone, while crossing his arms as well.
"Then there's the Blitz…" Captain Anderson began to add, "And the entire operation on Torfan!" He remarked with approval of Avery Johnson, "The man knows how to gather up forces, instill courage unto others, and lead. He is just what we need as a Spectre!" Anderson mused with a smile. "Humanity needs a hero, and Avery Johnson is that very man we need!"
Udina studied Anderson's face, before nodding with a smile. "Then we are on the same page, Avery Johnson it is…the man has enough history to prop him up for the selection" he began to say, before turning to leave. "I'll make the call."
Making his way through the Normandy, Avery Johnson, clad in his army green N7 soldier uniform, was about to place a cigar into his mouth before he came across Doctor Chakwas. The woman gave him a look, before swiping the cigar out from his hand with an exasperated look.
"Not on my watch Johnson." Dr. Chakwas spoke disapprovingly, before marching off towards the disposal unit. Avery chuckled a bit in amusement while he continued to walk towards the bridge of the ship, the man dug into one of his small satchels around on his waist and brought out another cigar.
With a passing nod from Navigator Pressly, Avery Johnson tipped his head forward in response as he passed by. "Charles." He simply spoke, before placing his cigar within his lips.
"Avery." Charles Pressly casually responded, before resuming his duties.
As Johnson strode past the many officers on boards working on the sides, many stole glances at him with a few whispers to their fellow crew members. Avery stopped in place and glanced around with amusement, "What is this, highschool gossip girl time?" He barked out in a stern tone, getting many embarrassed looks from the whispering crewmates.
Avery continued on and finally reached the bridge, just after Nihlus complimented Joker's flying. The Turian Spectre exchanged glances with Avery before continuing on to leave, and once Nihlus was out of earshot, Joker took the chance to speak up of his discontent. "I hate that guy." The pilot of the Normandy griped.
Johnson scoffed an amused chuckle at Joker, and placed his cigar within his lips. "What's the matter Joker, can't handle a little pressure from an alien bird?" He asked the pilot of Normandy.
Not bothering to look back, Joker responded with a smirk. "Oh, I'm fine with any Turian, it's just the fact that he's a Spectre, which means something big is going on." The pilot remarked dryly, with a bit of suspicion in his tone of voice.
Avery took his cigar from out of his lips, and pointed at Joker with it. "I'll give you that, but for now, we need to play nice with mister space cop." Johnson quipped with amusement, before placing his cigar back into his lips and began patting himself down for a lighter.
Kaiden leaned around to glance at Avery Johnson, "Sir, you sure it's wise to smoke with doctor Chakwas onboard?" He asked unsurely.
Commander Johnson stopped patting himself down and gave Kaiden an annoyed look. "Listen space wizard." Avery spoke out with his cigar between his teeth, earning an incredulous look from Alenko in response to the name given him. Johnson pointed at Kaiden Alenko with mock anger, "Don't make me show you how I wrestled six Batarians into submission."
Alenko was about to retort, but Avery cut him off by continuing to speak with a challenging smirk. "With one arm behind my back, hmhm, yeah, and, two of those four eyed ball sacks were biotic!" the commander added, earning an incredulous look from Kaiden. The biotic couldn't think of a word to come back with, thus he was left flapping his lips trying to think of a retort.
Alenko couldn't try and argue with Johnson's supposed story of wrestling six Batarians, because most likely the man was speaking the truth as many tales of the living legend tended to be true. The Skyllian Blitz was just the tip of eyewitness reports of Avery Johnson's many deeds of heroic efforts, with so many more stories of tall tales that were almost true. Word spreads quite fast, but people tend to add a bit more to romanticize the man's many accomplishments of valor.
While Alenko still faced Avery Johnson, he supposed he could ask away a burning question he's been wondering about. "Sir." Kaiden began to say, getting Avery's attention with a nod from the man to continue speaking. "Is it true about the time you threw an overheated gun?" He tried asking, "Some people say it was a grenade that you used to blow up a Batarian tank, all the way to you just shooting a single shot under the tank to blow it up."
Joker chuckled a bit at the absurdity, and glanced over at Alenko. "What about the one where he used an aircraft to crash into the bunker, and went in guns blazing?" The pilot remarked with a wry smile, and glanced up at Avery who simply had an amused grin on his face. "You gotta admit sir, the tall tales tend to get wild, none of that actually happened to the letter, right?" He jokingly asked Avery.
Before Commander Johnson could respond however, Captain Anderson came in through the comms. "Joker, status report." He commanded out through the communications.
Joker faced forward to begin the diagnostics for Anderson, "Just passed the relay, Captain." The pilot responded while keying in on the control panel. "Stealth systems engaged, everything looks solid." Joker spoke with confidence through the comms to Captain Anderson.
"Good." Anderson spoke up in reply, "Find a comm buoy, and link us into the network. I want mission reports relayed back to Alliance brass before we reach Eden Prime." The Captain commanded through the comms.
"Aye aye Captain." Joker responded, before he added on to say, "Oh, and better brace yourself, sir. I think Nihlus is headed your way."
"He's already here, lieutenant." Captain Anderson responded, getting Joker to shrug to himself. "Tell Commander Johnson to meet me in the comm room for a debriefing." The Captain added in before the line cut off.
Joker glanced over his shoulder with a grin, "You get that-" he began to say Avery Johnson, only for the Commander to interrupt him as the man himself turned to leave. "This ain't a cave helmsman." Commander Johnson quipped amusedly as he turned around and left.
Once Avery Johnson was out of sight, Alenko smacked his forehead in exasperation. "He never answered if those tales were real!"
Joker glanced over at Kaiden with a smirk, "Well it's not like it'll be the last time you'll get to ask at least." He said to the biotic, earning a haphazard shrug from Kaiden Alenko.
"Eh, suppose you're right." Kaiden responded back before resuming his duties.
As Avery Johnson made his way to meet up with Captain Anderson, the commander began to approach two crew members on his way to the meeting as they chatted away by the navigational hologram chart.
Pressly was the first to be heard coherently, the man had his arms crossed in contemplation, "I'm telling you, I just saw him! He marched by like he was on a mission."
Adams released an annoyed grunt, his hands were in his pocket as he leaned against the navigational 'table'. "He's a Spectre. They're always on a mission." The man responded back to Pressly.
Once commander Johnson was close enough and the other two not yet aware of him, he chose to speak out with a boisterous attitude. "What this chicken clucking going on here!?" He barked with his cigar in his mouth, earning him surprised looks and shouts from Pressly and Adam as they gave their attention to Avery.
Avery pulled his cigar out and pointed at Pressly, "Now, don't be telling me you were a gossip chicken hen Charles." He chided the navigator of the Normandy, earning an embarrassed look from the man.
Pressly was about to respond, only for Avery to stop him. "Save it." He smirked with his hand up in a stop gesture, "We can talk down in the mess hall later." He remarked before excusing him.
Adams and Pressly glanced over their shoulders as Johnson approached Chakwas, the two men smirked amusedly when the woman berated him again and took the Cigar from him. The commander had an unashamedly look and grin with his hands up in mock surrender, before the Doctor Marched off after patting the commander down for more cigars.
The two crewmembers turned and faced each other once more to continue talking, with Adams speaking first, "So that's Avery Johnson…huh…he's shorter than I imagined." Adams mused with his arms crossed with a contemplative look on his face.
Pressly smirked at Adams, "The man's larger than life, have you heard the tall tale rumors of how he fought off those slavers?" he asked his fellow crew member.
"Let me guess." Adams began to say with amusement, "The tale starts with him fighting off the slavers with just a stick." He chuckled.
Charles Pressly chuckled warmly, "Hah, no, this one has him use a single bullet that somehow curves around and kills every Batarian, people have been going around saying he's some 'ultra' biotic warrior." The navigator says while making air quotations with his fingers on the word ultra.
Adams scoffed and shook his head, "Hasn't Commander Johnson tried to lay the facts straight?" He asked with an incredulous look.
Pressly simply shrugged with his arms crossed, "I've actually asked him that before, but he's gone for the record and said he's tried to lay the facts straight, but he's always been interrupted with something urgent." The navigator responded amusedly.
While Chakwas was walking back from 'disposing' of Avery's cigar, Jenkins faced the commander with a curious look. "So commander, you don't think we'll be staying on Eden Prime too long, will we? I'm itching for some real action!" The Corporal asked Avery with an excited demeanor.
Just as Avery Johnson was about to respond, Doctor Chakwas was the first to speak once she returned. "I sincerely hope you're kidding, Corporal. Your 'real action' usually ends with me patching up crew members in the infirmary." The Normandy's residential Doctor chastised the man with a disapproving gaze.
Commander Johnson gazed at the corporal with a scrutinizing look in his eyes, he lifted his hand up to point at Jenkins with a stern look on his face. "Now listen here Leeroy!" Avery began to say, earning an incredulous look from Jenkins at the nickname the commander gave him; He's still not sure why people use his middle initial of 'L' to call him Leeroy, something about some old game from the twentieth century he last heard.
"Don't let me catch you going off like some outer space cowboy, guns blazing like some fool thinking he's invincible!" Avery Johnson berated Jenkins while jabbing his finger into the Corporal's chest.
Corporal Jenkins began to sputter with a hint of…awe? Avery shook his head, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have other matters aside from reigning in some corporal that's still acting green around the gills!" He boisterously remarked, before turning to leave around the wall and towards the entryway of the meeting room.
Once Avery was out of earshot after passing through the door of the comm room, and the doors shut behind him, Jenkins faced Chakwas with an excited expression. "You saw that right! The commander Johnson just berated me!" The Corporal remarked with awe in his voice.
Chakwas sighed and placed her fingers on her forehead, she was already feeling a headache coming on. "Try to at least take some of the advice Johnson gave you to heart." The doctor responded with annoyance at Jenkins.
Corporal Jenkins slapped his forehead in frustration, "I forgot to ask for his autograph on my gun!" The soldier exclaimed, Chakwas simply sighed in frustration before leaving the Corporal.
"I better not catch you back in medbay Jenkins!" Chakwas's voice echoed back as she left towards the elevator, her destination to be the medbay and begin preparing for the post mission on Eden Prime.
Comm room
Avery Johnson strode in with a curious gaze in his eyes at the lone Turian Spectre, Nihlus stopped watching a picture of Eden Prime from the projector in front of him and turned around to face Commander Johnson.
"Commander Johnson." Nihlus began to speak with a slight nod of his head. "I was hoping you'd get here first. It will give us a chance to talk." The Turian Spectre finished saying in a genuine tone of interest towards the reputable man, the 'dossier' of Avery Johnson was extensive. Eye witness accounts lauded the man as a practical hero, but that's where the trouble began with the man. You had to separate everything from video surveillance, eye witness reports, unbiased reports, to sifting through the nonsensical elaborate feats that seemed nearly impossible for one human man.
Avery Johnson tilted his head forward a bit in response to Nihlus's greeting, and kept his arms at his side as he gave the Turian a scrutinizing gaze. "Sounds fair if you're to be with us on this mission to Eden Prime." The commander responded gruffly.
The Turian Spectre gestured with his hand towards the picture of Eden Prime, slightly turning his body for Avery to see the picture of the planet as well. "I'm interested in this world we're going to, Eden Prime. I've heard it's quite beautiful." He remarked in interest.
Commander Johnson glanced at the picture of Eden Prime, and let a chuckle escape from his lips. "An appropriate name if we're speaking of Eden." He mused with a glance at Nihlus, "A garden world to reflect the picturesque landscape of a biblical place."
Nihlus allowed himself a hum of thought escape his 'mouth' as he faced Avery Johnson. "Yes... a garden world of beauty. Serene. Tranquil. Safe. Eden Prime has become something of a symbol for your people, hasn't it? Proof that humanity can not only establish colonies across the galaxy, but also protect them. But how safe is it, really?" The Turian asked Commander Johnson with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.
Avery Johnson strode forward to stand beside Nihlus and gazed at the picture of Eden Prime, he placed his hands on his sides as he gazed at the Garden world. "From what I can say, we learned early on that no planet is safe." He gruffly answered with a glance over at Nihlus, and smirked. "And I'm damn well proud the Alliance took my suggestions to heart!" Avery exclaimed, he turned and fully faced Nihlus with a smirk.
The Turian Spectre crossed his arms and let a sound of understanding escape through his throat, "Yes, the Johnson Standard." He quipped with amusement in his voice, "Arm every planet with guns and ships…leave no colony unprotected without a major garrison of Ships and Marines."
Avery Johnson simply stared back at Nihlus with an unreadable expression until he made an annoyed grunt, "I'll be frank space spy cop…" the Commander began to say while earning a look from Nihlus of the title given him, but the Turian allowed Johnson to continue speaking. "Shanxi was one thing, but the attack on my home world by the Scrote looking bastards was a slap in the face that humanity needed to nut up and adopt a more aggressive approach to colonization!" Commander Johnson remarked with a boisterous attitude.
Nihlus simply stared back with an unreadable gaze at the moment while his arms were crossed, "And yet, with the increasing number of the Space Fleets, the new Orbital Drop Shock Troops division, you humans have been causing quite the problem with the council." The Turian remarked without a hint of disapproval.
Avery Johnson walked backwards a bit to lean on the nearby wall and crossed his arms, he had an amused look as he stared back at Nihlus with a chuckle. "Not my fault you space birds get to have the monopoly on dreadnoughts, so we stuck with our species' tried and true Navel loophole." The commander gave Nihlus a good look in the eyes, "Build a shit ton of Carriers, a staple within Human Naval Warfare!" he boisterously exclaimed with a quirk of a grin on his lips.
Nihlus shook his head before responding, "Your people are still newcomers, Johnson. However…" the Turian paused in speaking to gather his thoughts, "It's a welcome thought to have a species be dependent on themselves for protection…" Nihlus cleared his throat before adding in, "Off the record of course." He shrugged in a gesture of lifting tension between the two of them.
The sound of the Comm doors opening up with a hiss brought both of their attention to the Captain entering in, Anderson glanced between Avery and Nihlus as he strode in while the doors behind him closed back up with an audible hiss. "Good to see you getting along with your evaluator Johnson." Anderson remarked as he stopped just short a few feet away from the two.
Avery eyed Anderson momentarily before responding, "So there was more to this mission than you let on." Commander Johnson responded with a critical gaze.
Captain Anderson and Nihlus shared a look, before Anderson faced Avery once again. "We're making a covert pick-up on Eden Prime. That's why we needed the stealth systems operational." The Captain responded to Avery, and crossed his arms as he began explaining more. "This comes down from the top, Commander. Information strictly on a need-to-know basis. A research team on Eden Prime unearthed some kind of beacon during an excavation. It was Prothean."
"Well I'll be damned." Avery remarked with interest in his eyes, before he let a grunt of thought escape through his throat. "How big do you believe this could be for us?" He asked Anderson critically.
Captain Anderson momentarily shuffled his feet to stand more comfortably before answering. "This is big, Johnson. The last time humanity made a discovery like this, it jumped our technology forward two hundred years. But Eden Prime doesn't have the facilities to handle something like this. We need to bring the beacon back to the Citadel for proper study." The Captain explained to Avery.
Nihlus glanced over Avery before speaking, "Obviously, this goes beyond mere human interests, Commander. This discovery could affect every species in Council space." He started to explain to Commander Johnson,
Avery simply scoffed with an irritable look, "So you're saying we should play nice, and give up whatever we find that pertains to Protheans?" commander Johnson questioned Nihlus inquisitively.
Nihlus simply shook his head, "You humans are still a young space faring race, but some species see you as selfish. Too unpredictable. Too independent. Even dangerous."
Avery Johnson eyed Nihlus for a few moments, before responding with a smirk. "If anything, being seen as dangerous can be a nice deterrent, you can't expect us to just roll over and let every species walk over us."
"Be that as it may." The Turian responded back, "It's still preferable that your species share the Prothean beacon, it wouldn't do to have every species get up in an arms race about others hoarding technology." Nihlus remarked at Avery.
Avery Johnson let a sound of annoyance escape his lips, his arms still crossed as he gazed over at Nihlus. "Let me guess, sharing this beacon will get us within the good graces of the council?" He mused with a critical gaze at Anderson, "
Anderson released a sigh before responding, "Johnson." He began to say with a look of understanding, "I want to say I agree with your stance, but our species just scratched the surface of Prothean technology." The Captain tried to reason with Avery Johnson. "Sharing that beacon will improve relations with the Council. Plus, we need their scientific expertise. They know more about the Protheans than we do."
Avery made a hum of thought before responding, "Well, I suppose you have me there." He irritably remarked.
It was Nihlus's turn to speak up next, "The beacon's not the only reason I'm here, Johnson." The Turian Spectre spoke towards Avery.
Anderson gave Nihlus a nod before facing commander Johnson. "Nihlus wants to see you in action, Commander. He's here to evaluate you."
Commander Johnson chuckled a bit and faced Nihlus, "Well I hope you tightened up your britches, cause when you're with the Johnson, always expect shit to go sideways." Avery explained to the Turian with an amused expression.
"I'd be hard pressed to believe your words if you were any other person Commander Johnson." Nihlus began to say with a hint of amusement in his tone, "But I've read your files, the leadership you demonstrated on Akuze, quite the tale before your counterstrike on Torfan." The Turian Spectre remarked. "Not a single life lost against what was supposedly humanity's first time facing a Thresher Maw, a report had detailed it would have been a massacre."
Avery scoffed with a smirk, "Ain't no Star Wars, off brand, Sarlacc Worm doing me and my men in, not on my watch!" Commander Johnson responded boisterously. "So what exactly is this evaluation intended for?" Avery questioned Captain Anderson with a gaze directed at the captain.
Anderson took that as his que to begin explaining, "The Alliance has been pushing for this for a long time. Humanity wants a larger role in shaping interstellar policy. We want more say with the Citadel Council. The Spectres represent the Council's power and authority. If they accept a human into their ranks, it shows how far the Alliance has come." The Captain explained to Avery Johnson, said man in question had an unreadable expression before smirking at Anderson.
Avery Johnson let a chuckle out before responding, "Well I'll be, didn't think my accomplishments were that good to become some space super spy." The commander remarked, before facing Nihlus with a peculiar look. "Hope you don't hold Shanxi against us then." He quipped light heartedly.
Nihlus gave what looked to be an amused expression in his eyes, "Not all turians resent humanity. Some of us see the potential of your species. We see what you have to offer to the rest of the galaxy... and to the Spectres." The Turian explained to Johnson without a hint of sarcasm in his tone, "We are an elite group. It's rare to find an individual with the skills we seek. I don't care that you're human, Johnson. I only care that you can do the job."
Commander Johnson simply chuckled warmly at Nihlus, "Well look no further, cause Avery Johnson has more than enough skills within every finger." He quipped with a hidden meaning in his phrasing.
Nihlus, not finding the secret meaning in Avery's words, responded back. "I need to see your skills for myself, Commander. Eden Prime will be the first of several missions together."
Anderson took his chance to speak up next, "You'll be in charge of the ground team. Secure the beacon and get it onto the ship ASAP. Nihlus will accompany you to observe the mission." The Captain explained with his gaze directed at Avery Johnson.
Commander Johnson glanced back at Anderson with a nod of understanding, "Well just give the word Captain when we arrive, I should be getting a squad ready." He remarked before the sound of the comms coming to life.
"Captain! We've got a problem." Joker's voice announced through the comms.
Captain Anderson glanced between Avery and Nihlus while he responded, "What's wrong, Joker?" He answered with a commanding tone.
"Transmission from Eden Prime, sir. You better see this!" Joker responded back through the comms with a tone of worry.
"Bring it up on screen." Captain Anderson replied back as he turned to face the projector within the comms room, along with Nihlus and Avery.
A video began playing of a loud battle going on with Alliance members pushing a hard front against an unknown force at the moment. A female soldier had gotten close to the screen as she began to issue orders, "GET DOWN!" The soldier commanded as she joined in with her fellow soldiers in periodically shooting out from behind cover.
In the sky of the video feed was a different story altogether, there were heavy anti air guns going off in a cacophony of blasts towards alien enemy aircrafts. The video then went to static before clearing up to show an unidentifiable large ship, the feed then cut off moments later.
"Everything cuts out after that. No comm traffic at all. Just goes dead. There's nothing." Joker explained through the comms to Captain Anderson.
Anderson traded glances with Nihlus and Johnson before speaking up, "Reverse and hold at 38.5."
The video feed did just that, and froze at a stilled image of a behemoth of a ship. Neither of the three spoke up for a few moments, before Avery Johnson allowed himself to speak up first while glancing at Nihlus. "What do you know Super Space Spy." He quipped, earning a look from the Turian, "You're gonna experience the Avery Situation!" He chuffed with a grin.
Nihlus blinked momentarily, and gazed over at Commander Johnson with a cautious look. "I highly doubt we'll be facing insurmountable odds." The Turian Spectre responded with skepticism, aware of the popular household phrasing popularized throughout Human Space.
Johnson walked over and patted Nihlus on the shoulder, "Stick around Space Bird, you'll come around and realize every mission I'm on is the Avery Experience." He quipped before exiting out the comms to get ready.
Nihlus exchanged a look between Anderson and Him, "He's kidding…right? Not all of those reports about him can be real."
Captain Anderson glanced at the form of Avery exiting out towards the elevator, and softly smirked. "Nihlus, this is where the notion, 'actions speak louder than words' is well and truly needed." He answered with amusement.
Nihlus gazed where Avery once was before exiting out the comms room, "I suppose this situation calls for me to keep a closer eye on the man, seeing is believing I think the saying goes." the Turian Spectre mused.
Within the cargo bay, Avery Johnson was pacing in front of three humans and one Turian…the one human and Turian not sure how they got roped into Commander Johnson's pre-battle speech. With a custom issued pump shotgun in hand that Avery held within his hand, he stopped and faced the 'men' while using his free hand to pick his now smoking cigar from his mouth. The commander blew out a cloud of smoke before addressing his 'audience'.
"Alright, listen up!" Avery announced with great bravado, his gaze glanced from Kaiden, Jenkins, Anderson, to finally Nihlus. "We're about to face danger, some unknown danger!" He added with a smirk.
Jenkins looked like was about to shake out of his armor suit from excitement, never would he had imagined he'd actually be on the receiving end of The Avery Johnson's motivational speeches. Watching clips that were spread through the net was one thing, experiencing in person and to be actually part of Commander Johnson's strike force? It took all his willpower to not ask for an autograph
With Kaiden Alenko, the Human Biotic was less visibly enthusiastic as Jenkins, but a smile did grace his lips. This was the chance to personally see Avery Johnson in action, the rumors and tales surrounding the mythical legend himself were beyond irrational and dipped into the impossible. There was no way the Commander used a meteor to crash it into an Enemy Batarian's space station, really now, what's next? Avery Johnson somehow saving the galaxy from a synthetic race of Eldritch Artificial intelligence with just a bullet?
Captain Anderson wasn't sure how he ended up standing at the ready along with Alenko and Jenkins, he was supposed to be the one debriefing Commander Johnson, but here he was the one standing at the ready like he was back in bootcamp. Anderson had to give it Avery Johnson however, the man had an infectious energy that could rile one up real good before an upcoming battle
Nihlus was a bit confused in his situation, here he was at the business end of Avery's supposed pre-battle…hype? He was supposed to keep an eye on the human for his evaluation, but now here he was feeling back in the Military.
Back with Avery Johnson, the man nodded to himself as he continued his pre-battle speech, "We have Beacon to retrieve, but apparently, the universe loves to add a few flavors to the mix!" The Commander declared as he began pacing in front of the four that stood at attention, "I say let the universe throw more on!" Avery challenged into the air with a smirk as he turned around to pace across the four again, "Cause ain't no place our enemies can hide, once I get down there, and you will be charging in like the bastards insulted the good name of your mothers and fathers!"
Avery halted in front of the four 'men' and took a drag from his cigar, before blowing out another cloud of smoke with a grin. "And when we're aiming our guns into the bastards' faces, we will give them the looks like the Goddamn devil is hounding their asses!" He yelled out triumphantly once he began to notice the eyes of the men in front of him begin to harden, gazes full of resolve and courage.
Avery began to pace again before continuing his battle-hype speech, "If those sum'a'bitches do get their grubby hands on the beacon, we won't let'em take it as long as I'm down there! I'll take you all with me if I have to and chase those sorry sons'a'bitches to the edges of the galaxy, wring their necks, and make them wish they never bothered to try and steal the beacon!" Commander Johnson turned around to continue pacing while he kept speaking
"Most important of all, I don't care if it's God's own anti-son-of-a-bitch machine, some cthulhu ass machine, or a giant ass ship of some godforsaken ancient race with superior technology, we're not gonna let 'em have it!" Avery bellowed out with his voice reverberating throughout the cargo hold.
"What we will let 'em have is a belly full of lead, and a pool of their own blood to drown in! Am I right, Marines!" Commander Johnson yelled out boisterously for the last few words with a triumphant tone, Avery turned around to face the four 'men' at attention when neither of them responded. "AM I RIGHT MARINES!" He yelled out with a smirk.
"SIR, YES SIR!" Chorused each one of them simultaneously, earning a gratified expression on Commander Johnson's face.
"Mhm, That's what I thought! Now get ready and leave your purses behind, cause it's time you leave the pussyfooting behind, and show whoever knocked on Eden Prime that we carry guns from the cradle to the grave! They'll regret ever knowing the day they met the bonifide Avery Fucking Johnson."
Commander Johnson turned to face the four and puffed from his cigar one more time, before blowing out smoke to speak. "Move out!" He commanded in a boisterous tone with a smirk.
And somehow, all four once again chorused together; "SIR, YES SIR!"
Eden Prime
Leading the Team on the ground with his shotgun in hand, Avery Johnson could be seen at the front as he led Kaiden, Jenkins, Anderson and Nihlus through the rolling hills and tall trees of Eden Prime. A few gas-bag creatures could be seen floating harmlessly in the distance as Avery led the group through the area towards their destination, everything seemed fine for now until two of the five within the group began to realize something wasn't right….
Just as Commander Johnson reached an outcropping of boulders, Captain Anderson slowed down after realizing he accidentally got too caught up. "Wait a minute, Why Am I down here?" He questioned through his helmet's mouthpiece.
Once Avery stopped at the Outcropping of Boulders, he turned to face Anderson and Nihlus, who had a befuddled look upon his face…for Turian he supposed. The Spectre stood not far from Anderson, while Kaiden and Jenkins stood not far from Commander Johnson.
Kaiden faced Anderson as he addressed the Captain, "I actually forgot you joined us sir, wasn't even aware we had two extra members in this mission." He remarked with amusement in his tone.
Captain Anderson looked directly toward Kaiden, "This isn't a time for games soldier, I'm not even supposed to be down here!" He reprimanded the Biotic for the tone of voice he was given.
Nihlus looked between Anderson and Avery before speaking, "I'm a bit confused here as well, I was planning on scouting out ahead." The Turian Spectre mused in an incredulous tone.
Avery Johnson faced Captain Anderson first, "Well Cap'n, unfortunately, you're stuck with us, we're in too deep now." He made a nod towards the sniper weapon within Captain Anderson's hands, "Your aim still good sir?" Avery asked his Captain.
Anderson made a grunt of thought before answering as he idly looked down at his own weapon, "*sigh*, Well, I still go to the shooting ranges out of habit to keep my marksmanship up…didn't think I'd be facing action again." The Captain whispered the last part to himself.
Commander Johnson faced Nihlus next, "And you, I'm gonna have to ask you to cool those talons of yours, I need all the manpower available in this hot mess!" Avery declared with boasting enthusiasm.
Nihlus shook his head and began to head out past Avery Johnson, "I'm afraid not-" He began to say as he was just about to jog past Commander Johnson, only to be pulled back by the man by the arm right before a group of drones began firing at where he was from around the outcropping of boulders.
Johnson smacked the back of his hand into Nihlus's chest, "What'd I say, this here is an Avery Experience, so tread carefully!" Avery exclaimed with an annoyed tone towards Nihlus.
With a quick peek from Avery around the boulder he stood behind, he then looked towards the others with a nod. "Alright men, let's light'em up, full auto till the damn weapons overheat, then switch to your offhand weapons, go go go, no lollygagging!" Commander Johnson ordered before he took the lead with an initiative from him in firing off his shotgun into a drone that had flown in towards the group.
Jenkins and Alenko took up Avery's flanks as they rushed in with the Commander, their automatic weapons on full blast as they gunned down the incoming drones in the area. With some reluctance from Nihlus, he took up the rear with his Rifle along with Captain Anderson; The two of them picked off the drones from afar, while the other three at the front focused on the drones that'd pop up around the outcroppings of boulders and trees.
Normandy
Pressly's mind was going through many thoughts, one of which is where Captain Anderson was on the ship. He tried asking around from almost everyone on the ship, and now he's on his way to the Ship's controls and ask from Joker of Anderson's whereabouts.
The ship's navigator eventually reach the 'cockpit' of the Normandy, "Joker." He began to say, earning the ship's pilot attention. "Do you have any idea where Captain Anderson is?"
Joker leaned himself around to face Pressly, and gave the man a look. "Well yeah, don't you?"
Pressly shifted a bit on his feet while he crossed his arms, "No, last I saw, he went down to the cargo hold of the ship." The navigator responded annoyedly.
"Huh…" Joker began to muse as he looked over at Pressly, "Uh…he went down with Commander Johnson, along with Nihlus, Kaiden and Jenkens…" The Normandy's pilot began to see Pressly's face twist into confusion and incredulity. "Uh…was…was that not supposed to happen?" Joker asked the Navigator, who could only momentarily blink as he tried to grasp the situation.
What the hell happened?!
Eden Prime
Ashley Williams can say she has seen a lot of things, but never has she seen a man inspire civilians and doctors to take up guns. Never mind the fact that she managed to meet the one and only, the man himself, Avery fucking Johnson, hell, she had to do a double take when the Commander assisted in taking out the enemies that had her surrounded.
Taking a peek from out of her cover, she helped Kaiden Alenko beside her in keeping heavy fire on the Geth while the others spread out to cover ground. The female soldier had seen a Turian amongst Commander Johnson, along with Captain Anderson…wasn't he supposed to be a captain of a ship? The situation just kept getting weirder on top of the reanimated 'Borgs'...Commander Johnson's words, not hers.
Honestly, what's next, she's gonna end up tagging along into a Galaxy saving adventure?
Nihlus
Oh spirits, those reports and eyewitness accounts weren't lies; The rumors are still up for debate, because somehow, he had seen the man use a Geth's own arm as a missile that held an overheated explosive gun. Why do humans have a rocket launcher that can shoot anything that can fit in it? The Commander had stuffed the arm with the overheated gun within its grasp and used it as an impromptu missile….spirits, How's he going to explain this or even write the report?
Or even the matter of the fact of Saren's attempted assassination on him, if not for the fact Avery had pulled him out of the way in time. He had seen the Turian's face from afar, something wasn't adding up right and the appearance of the Geth only made it worse.
This was twice that Commander Johnson had saved his life, he'd rather not owe the man more. Luckily, he's supposed to be the human's evaluator to be a Spectre…he might need to push the choice for it to happen soon, Avery Johnson was already exhibiting the makings of a Spectre.
If inspiring people into a regiment to fight off the Geth isn't Spectre worthy, then Commander Johnson's tactical skills are more than enough in his eyes….
He just wished the man would stop calling him avian names, though he could understand it wasn't out of hate, it seemed the man just liked giving everyone little titles sometimes.
As much as he regrets to admit it, this was becoming an...ugh...Avery…situation...spirits help him.