Chapter 18

Eventually their convalescence leave ended and they both reluctantly returned to duty. Shepard only had pain after extreme exertion so she had returned to her normal physical training regimen. Tali tried to join her one day but couldn't keep up after twenty minutes, no matter how much watching Shepard sweat motivated her. On their first day back they both had a memo waiting at their stations infroming them that they were to gather with the rest of the squad and report for reassignment at noon that day, Admiral Hackett himself was going to be there so they assumed they were going to be attached to the fifth fleet, and that suited them nicely. Their day moved quickly enough as they finished their daily tasks and documented their procedures for those who would replace them after they left. At 11:30 they broke for lunch and immediately after headed over to HQ to meet with the admiral.

Admiral Hackett was pleased to see his people smartly dressed and on time. He'd expected no less, but that didn't dampen his pride in his efficient, well-disciplined soldiers. He walked through the door of the classroom they'd been herded into, and everyone stood automatically and saluted.

"As you were." He said, and they all sat down.

"Before we begin, let me express my sincere condolences at the loss of your teemmate Private Luis Jiminez. He will be honored and remembered by the corps for the rest of our days." He said. The squad was silent but conveyed their appreciation in their gaze.

"Next, as you know you're going to be reassigned to a warship in preparation for the shit show those four-eyed bastards downstairs decided to start." He said.

"Most of your skillset involves domestic management, which won't be of much use on a ship, but above that you have proven yourselves in combat, and as such you will serve primarily as your ship's marine detachment." He pressed a button and the lights dimmed, and a holographic projection appeared in the center of the room from hidden projectors. It took the form of a warship, a sleek, dangerous looking predator with two wings featuring a total of four main thrust engines as well as multiple maneuvering thrusters on the aft of the hull and each wing. The wing tips were armed with what looked like an extremely heavy version of the autolasers protecting the Arcturus station, and the underside had several visible torpedo tubes. The main weapon however was a spinal cannon that ran the length of the ship. With a length of only 170 meters, the ship couldn't support one of the giant planet-wrecking accellerators that a dreadnought would wield, but it was definitely enough to take out anything smaller than a cruiser in one shot.

"Ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you to the Frigate SSV Normandy SR-1. When the hull was laid down it was originally intended to be an exploration vessel, but we have since redesigned it to handle front-line battle action. In addition to the weapons visible on the outside, it features advanced stealth systems including traditional heat sinks to keep the thermal signature down as well as nanoplating on the hull that is capable of deflecting ladar scans. It also has an experimental system that hasn't even been named yet, it is a small swarm of micro ships that flies out between the ship and its target and projects a spatial distortion that reduces visibility significantly. When stealth isn't an option, the ship is as you've seen equipped with laser hypercannons, a spinal gun and an array of torpedo tubes. There are also primary and secondary kinetic barrier systems, the primary projected around the ship and the secondary protecting the shield and crew areas. According to the Quarians this ship is beyond the capabilities of all of our neighbors" Hackett provided.

"Your commanding officer will be Captain David Anderson." Hackett said, bringing a smile to Shepard's face.

"Ensign Zorah, make sure you keep any wrenches in the engineering section." He said, getting a laugh from everyone assembled. Shepard pretended to pout petulantly.

"Your first mission will be... significant. You along with other parts of the fifth, fourth, and first fleet will be holding an Alliance coming out party in the widow sector, a few million kilometers off the bow of the Citadel. Over the course of our... conversations with the Batarian prisoners, we've discovered that the Citadel races have long believed there to be a sentient species in our part of space, and with the disappearance of the Quarians along with the missing Batarian raiding party and all the other noise we've been making, it's been decided that we should be proactive and introduce ourselves. Basically what you're there to do is intimidate them into leaving us the hell alone. Any questions?" Hackett said

"Sir, what are we going to do with the Batarian prisonsers." Shepard asked.

"That's up to the Hegemony." Hackett answered, offering no details. Shepard took that as a hint to not ask.

"Sir, what if it turns into a firefight? Do we know what kind of defenses the Citadel has?" Baxter asked.

"The Admiralty informed us that the citadel races have grown complacent over the centuries, and only defend the station with a small defence force, mostly Turian "volunteers." While their ships are formidable, they are not numerous and our defenses will easily hold. We're hoping they won't be dumb enough to shoot first but if they do, better to fire the first shots on their turf than ours." Hackett answered. After few more procedural questions were answered, Hackett held up a hand to get their attention.

"One last thing. The Normandy finds itself in need of an executive officer." At this the squad internally groaned. They got along after years of working together and now some green newbie was going to come and start messing things up.

"Lieutenant Shepard, step forward." He ordered, Jane stood up, confused and approached the Admiral, saluting then standing at attention.

"That better be the last time anyone addresses you by that rank." Hackett said with a smirk, then reached into a box at his side and removed a Lietuenant Commander insignia from it.

"Lieutenant Commander Jane Shepard, Duty calls you to assist Captain David Anderson in commanding this newly minted ship, do you accept the burden of command?" He asked. Shepard was dumbstruck. She was convinced that clocking her dear friend on the back of the head with wrench meant she'd be retiring at Lieutenant.

"Sir, yes sir." She said with a shaky voice. He sought permission, which he was granted, and removed the insignia from her breast, affixing the new one in its place. She saluted, but he waved it off instead offering his hand. "Congratulations Jane." He whispered and shook her hand.

"Dismissed." He said and turned around to talk to the staff that had accompanied him, the squad swarmed around Shepard congratulating the promotion, and asking her what she thought of the whole thing. Her response was to say that while they were dismissed from this meeting, they had not been dismissed from their duties, they all groaned playfully and returned to their stations. Tali whose station was adjacent to Shepard's congratulated her again, but she had a question.

"Jane, I saw that when he promoted Auntie Raan, and now you, why does he always pause before putting the insignia on?" She asked.

"Oh, well it's Alliance tradition for the officer promoting the soldier to place the insignia themselves. Since we wear them above the breast, it's lead to officers in the past taking liberties when promoting female officers. Admiral Hackett always seeks permission first, he's being honorable and a gentleman." She replied.

"Oh that makes sense I guess. In the Flotilla we didn't even have insignias, the crews knew who was who." tali responded.

"By the way Tali, what was that "Little present" The doctors said you'd read about?" Shepard asked as she signed off on some form that came across her desk, proudly grinning as she scratched out "Lieutenant Shepard" and replaced it with "Lieutenant Commander Shepard"

"Oh I totally forgot about it let me check." She said, she brought up the screen of her omnitool and found what she was looking for. "Keelah..." she said.

"What?" Shepard asked.

"Look!" Tali said, coming around and showing her the display on her omnitool. It showed a picture of a rather dashing looking Captain Anderson standing behind an ethereal goddess with pure white hair, deep purple skin and brightly shining eyes.

"Holy shit, is that Admiral Raan?" She asked.

"Yeah, I can't believe it, she's out in the public without her helmet and mask. Oh I remember she volunteered for that suit cure!" She siad, then scrolled down to see a note from her aunt.

Dear Tali,

As you have no doubt seen, the immunotherapy was a resounding success. It took just a week, and I got a little sick, but Keelah was it worth it. I strongly urge you to take it, if you go to the med center and request it my authorization will be there waiting for you.

Tali. I'm so happy with him. After I lost your uncle Pikku I never thought I could fall for someone else. He's so kind, and patient and I just... I think I love him. I think you love your Human too, and I want you to be as happy as I am. Please consider taking the therapy.

Love,

Auntie Raan.

PS Humans have a LOT of stamina.

"Eww." Tali said after reading that last, but everything else had made her so happy. She looked up at Shepard who had read along with her.

"Wow." Shepard said.

"What do you think?" Tali asked.

"Tali, I think that night except the hospital visit was the best night I can ever remember having. I can't get the thought of standing in front of me like that out of my head, but this is a big decision. It worked with Raan but how many others have tested it? Also she said she got sick. I don't want to lose you." She said.

"Jane, it's fine. I'll read the study they're getting ready to publish and take a look at the numbers, but Auntie Raan wouldn't have suggested this if she wasn't confident." Tali reassured her.

"I mean I'm behind you, whatever you decide, but I just... I'm worried." She said.

"Don't be. I have a lot of reading to do, I'll let you know what I decide." She said.

"Ok, just, I love you Tali, suit or no. Doesn't make a difference." Shepard said. Tali desperately wished she could kiss her for that.

"So, sort of change of subject, if Anderson's gonna be leading us in our conquest of dumbfuck station, where's Raan going to be?" Shepard asked.

"I don't know, I'll ask when I write back to her. She's not exactly a front-line kind of person, I'm guessing she'll remain with the other admirals coordinating with command." Tali guessed.

"I bet that means lots of shore leave on Earth then." Shepard said while grinning.

"Shepard she's like a mother to me, please don't put that image in my head." Tali said as she returned to her console to calibrate an exhaust conduit control module.

Things wound down until at the end of the shift Shepard's squad gathered over by her station and signed out for the last time. After this tehy'd have three days of shore leave, so to speak, then they'd be boarding the Normandy and preparing to go scare the pants off of a bunch of Bureaucratic aliens.

"I'm gonna kind of miss it. You know, except all the bitching about supply shortages, and the traffic jams. And when ventilation gets clogged like it does every week and the whole station stinks like burning rubber and fish." Private Baxter said.

"Yeah then there's all your bellyaching." Tabitha Kowalski, another member of the squad complained.

"Yeah yeah," Baxter replied.

"And that's a wrap. Go rest up guys make sure your kit's in order and I'll see you in the docking bay in three days. Please try to stay out of the hospital. Or jail." Shepard begged.

"No promises LC." Baxter said. They dispersed, Shepard's hand automatically reaching out for Tali's which grasped hers as they walked way from their assignment for the last time. Three days from now, they'd be underway on a ship, preparing to start some galactic-level shit.