Chapter 75
Jack gasped loudly in both surprise and pain as a knee collided with her abdomen, knocking the wind out of her and bringing her to the floor.
"Shit! Jack, I'm so sorry, are you ok?" Oriana said falling to her knees beside her sister.
"Damn, Ori, not bad!" She said looking up enthusiastically at her sister.
"OK there, Lawson?" The instructor, a short but physically solid human man named Harve Swanson said.
"Yes, sir. She just winded me, no damage, it was my own fault I wasn't guarding." Jack said, getting to her feet.
"Good, why don't you two call it a day? You're at the head of the class and the rest of the students could use my attention, plus I happen to know you're preparing for some final exams, Jack." Swanson
"Sounds good sir, thanks again." Oriana said, watching Jack carefully to make sure everything was truly ok. Jack's experience with Cerberus had given her a disturbingly high pain threshold, and Oriana was convinced she was shrugging off a broken rib or something worse. They gathered their things and headed to the showers.
"After we get home can you help me with trig?" Jack asked, while they were getting dressed in the shower room.
"Sure I have all afternoon. I can't wait until tomorrow." Oriana said.
"You sure that's going to be a good gift? It seems a little... egotistical." Jack said.
"Trust me, she's going to love it. I just wish Miri were here to celebrate." Oriana said.
"Yeah but at least she's doing good stuff... I assume.." Jack said. Miranda had alerted them early on that most of her work would be highly classified and that she could not discuss them even on secure channels. They made their way home and before they had taken their shoes off Catherine Bailey rushed over and immediately started fussing over Jack.
"Mrs. Bailey, I'm fine I promise you." Jack said, exasperated at the attention.
"Harvey called me and said there'd been an incident. No excuses lady, off with the shirt and hop up on the table." Catherine said. Jack rolled her eyes but smiled at Oriana. Her teenage instincts insisted on snark but internally she absolutely adored being loved so much. She sat on the table and removed her shirt. A very light bruise as forming just below her ribs.
"Does it hurt at all?" Catherine asked.
"A little but only at the surface, my guts feel fine." Jack said. Catherine nodded and waved her omnitool producing a three-dimensional image of Jack's internal organs. Satisfied there were no signs of internal damage or bleeding, she deactivated the omnitool and continued checking.
"Cate, do you remember where I put... Oh, shoot, sorry Jack." Armando said as he walked in to the room, he immediately turned his back as he realized his all but adopted daughter was sitting shirtless on the table. Cate rolled her eyes and Jack smiled, amusement clear on her face. Armando was extremely old-fashioned.
"Mr. Bailey you've seen me in less during my rehab therapy, I don't see what the big deal is." Jack said
"Forgive an old man for being old. Cate have you seen the spectrum scanner?" Armando asked.
"Top shelf of the utility closet, right where you left it, dear." Cate said while lifting one of jack's arms and prodding her abdomen producing a gasp.
"Hurt?" Catherine asked.
"No, it tickled." Jack said.
"Oh, ok. I think you're all set. Go ahead and put your shirt on so the fossil doesn't get more flustered any more than he is." Catherine said, grinning. Armando grumbled and walked off further into the house. Jack smiled. A silly as it would sound to most of her peers, this to her was heaven. Jack put on her shirt and went to sit in the living room with one of her textbooks. Soon enough she was so engrossed, she didn't notice when Armando came in and sat across from her.
"You're taking to that quite easily. Sure we can't talk you into going to college?" Armando asked.
"I really appreciate everything you and Mrs. Bailey have done for me, but I've made my decision." Jack said, marking her place in the book and looking up at Armando. She hated the thought of disappointing the old man she'd come to see as the closest thing she'd have to a father, but in her heart, she knew she was a fighter, she felt destined to join the Alliance navy.
"Oh don't give me that Jack, you know we're proud as hell of you and your sisters, whether you graduate summa cum laude, join the navy or end up flipping burgers down at Garg's. I'd be a hypocrite to chase you away from a military career, I'm just an old man and I worry." Armando said. Jack leaned across, putting her hand on his.
"I know Mr. Bailey, it's not a choice I didn't struggle with. I read up on what to expect in Basic, as well as day to day military life, I know it's hard, but you've taught me not to be afraid of doing hard work." Jack said. Armando took her hand and squeezed it.
"Just always take care of yourself, ok? I can't stand the idea of losing one of you, that includes Miranda." Armando said. Jack smiled.
"I promise. Besides I'm 17, I'm only going to ship off to do basic training and get some of my classes out of the way this summer, it'll be a year before I can legally be enlisted and assigned." Jack said. Being reminded that he still had a year with his girl before she shipped off brought a smile to his face.
"Eden Prime, sir?" Shepard said to Admiral Korris.
"It's going to be quite a while until the fleet is ready for it's next maneuver. Eden Prime is pretty far out of the way but our spies in Cerberus have informed us that Harper is planning on something there. We can't figure out what but I think if you go with a task force and park the Tyrannicide in orbit it will make a lot of us feel better. Ambassador T'Soni's daughter, Liara is down there working on several projects for us, on top of that I've had the President of the University of Cairo threatening to throttle me if we put their precious doctor in harm's way." Korris explained grinning.
"Of course, sir. It'll give me a chance to get used to commanding a battlecruiser. Should we expect them to make a move?" Shepard asked.
"We don't have enough intelligence to make that assertion. We want you to land your ground teams near the colony and make your presence as conspicuous as possible. There are already thousands of Geth present, but with their preparation for the Kar'Shan operation underway we don't want their processes to be distracted too much." Hackett said
"Understood, sir. We'll make way as soon as we can." Shepard said.
"One thing about the Tyrannicide, Shepard. The tyrannicide is a serious piece of hardware, we can't leave it in the hands of a lowly Commander." Hackett said.
"Sir?" Shepard said, missing the beaming smile coming from her mother.
"Step forward, Commander Urdnot Jane Shepard Vas Normandy." Admiral Anderson said, she did.
"I told you I expected to be pinning these on you soon." Anderson said, smiling brightly. Shepard stood in utter shock, nodding her assent as Anderson gestured at her insignia, barely registering what was going on. Once finished, he stepped back and saluted.
"Congratulations, Captain Shepard." Anderson said, everyone in attendance snapped a salute which she returned robotically.
"Wait... wha?" She asked, causing the assembled admirals to laugh heartily.
"Jane you had to have seen this coming. You've been commanding three separate armies against our enemy. Every obstacle that's been put in front of you you've defeated, every challenge you've risen to." Gerrel said.
"It's still... a lot to take in.. Thank you so much." Shepard said, her eyes watering. Tali took her hand and squeezed it.
"You more than deserve it. Now go prepare for your trip to Eden Prime." Hannah said, hugging the newly minted Captain. Tali and she turned and walked outside and was greeted with the second thing that had totally taken her by surprise that day. The crew of the Normandy that had not remained aboard for the trip for refit and resupply, primarily the ground assault teams, had assembled in formation and upon stepping outside they all simultaneously saluted. At this her tattered resolve crumbled and she returned the salute, crying openly.
"At ease." She said and they all rushed her to shake her hand or in most cases hug her.
"Congratulations, Captain Shepard." Grak said, wisely going in for a handshake, however Kurg's enthusiasm got the better of him and he slapped her on the back hard enough to almost knock her over.
"Nice one, Battlemaster!" He shouted, she grinned. She looked out at the gathered group of Alliance soldiers she considered as good as her family, Humans, Krogan, Quarians, one Asari and a few scattered Geth platforms. She was proud of course, of her accomplishment, but that paled in comparison to the immense, and limitless pride she felt for the people in front of her. It was a privilege to be given the command of a ship, but it was an honor to be their friend and leader.
"Alright guys, next up we're going to borrow the Tyrannicide, and take her to Eden Prime. Our mission there will be defense and surveillance, she's a new ship and her crew hasn't broken her in yet but remember that we are guests so let's do what we can to respect the ship while we've got her. We'll all take the grand tour in one hour and get acquainted with our new accommodation. In the meantime, go get some lunch." Shepard said. Simultaneously as though rehearsed, which it likely was, everyone present and in perfect unison said "Yes Captain Shepard." They then turned and made their way to the mess area.
"Well, Maelon, that's mostly up to you, however we have concerns about you returning to Sur'Kesh." Admiral Chambers said over video communication.
"Don't worry about me giving any information to those animals." Maleon said, bitterly.
"Well yes there's that but we're more concerned with your safety. There's little chance that the Dalatrasses are unaware of your actions, as well as those of STG. We're not in the habit here of releasing people into custody of those whom would torture them for doing what's right." Chambers replied.
"Oh... Unexpected. Still though I'll never set foot on the home world again while it's being run by those lunatics. No, if you'll have me I'd like to offer my services to the Alliance, even if it's under the same terms as Dr. Solus'." Maelon said.
"We'd appreciate the help, however Dr. Solus' movement restrictions are due to his work on the genophage. We don't hold the entire Salarian race responsible for that despicable nightmare, least of all those who have actively worked against it." Chamber said, his expression warming.
"Thank you, Admiral. If you'll have me, I'm sure my experience with genetic research and biological modification could prove useful to your efforts." Maelon said
"I agree wholeheartedly. I'll discuss this with the Prime Minister and the Admirals. Please contact me if you have any questions, Chambers out." Admiral Chambers said, disconnecting the call. Maelon sat back in his chair feeling as though an enormous weight had been removed from his shoulders. Not only has his desperate efforts in defeating the genophage born fruit, but the Alliance didn't plan on executing or torturing him for information. He hadn't dared to believe them when they assured him he'd be treated fairly, however after his contribution against the genophage had born fruit their attitude changed immediately. He was no longer sneered at with derision, not even the by Krogan crew members of the station where he was currently residing.
Mordin Solus was a different story, he was restricted to the limited lab setup they'd given him, which was supervised directly by Geth platforms, as well as the mess hall, restroom facilities and his bunk. He was kept at arm's length by the Alliance crew but he was not assaulted either verbally or physically. Despite the tight control over where he was allowed to go, he was entirely unbothered by this, instead he delighted in his work going through intercepted Salarian intelligence and offering verification of truth as well as his interpretations of the possible implications of what had been intercepted. His insight had proven valuable not only to the Alliance as well as the Turians and Asari as numerous compromised STG operatives had been discovered and detained within their space as a result of his efforts.
Kirrahee and his crew were also treated kindly amongst the Alliance crew, though their high-energy nature had been a problem at the beginning. Admiral Xen of all people had solved that issue by requesting that the Salarians begin training Alliance soldiers in STG tactics and techniques. Kirrahee had agreed immediately, as it would prove useful against the foes he'd found amongst his own kind. As a result, at any given time the station's training rooms were often abuzz with activity, and Mordin's expertise in Salarian medicine had frequently proven useful as a result of STG underestimating the strength and durability of the Human and Quarian soldiers.
On Tuchanka, after the initial shock of having swarms of tiny Krogan scurrying about wore off, the population set about revolutionizing the infrastructure across the planet. Radiation scrubbers which had been installed almost immediately after the Humans had met the Krogan, had largely reduced the ambient radiation to tolerable levels in all but the worst hit parts, and as a result plant life had begun springing up all over the planet. Alliance prefabs had given way to brand new structures of Krogan design, many of which would serve to facilitate their expanding population. The Krogan had found themselves in need of schools and medical facilities more than ever, and the eager population had poured themselves into it. Thousands of Humans and Quarians now called Tuchanka home, and were working feverishly amongst their Krogan brothers and sisters to accomplish this.
The Geth were overjoyed, or whatever their emotionally limited version of joy was to see all of the organic sentients populating Rannoch. Contrary to their original concerns, they had integrated perfectly, and it was not uncommon to see groups of Humans, Quarians, Krogan and Geth platforms standing at street corners awaiting transports and discussing mundane topics. Rannoch had become a cultural hotspot in the Galaxy attracting hordes of tourists from the Council worlds, most surprisingly a large community of Vorcha had established itself in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the Capital city of Kerah.
The Vorcha had always been entirely uninterested in Galactic politics, and very little is known of their origins, even the location of their home planet has been lost to the ages, but they'd been welcomed with open arms in many of the Alliance worlds. Finding themselves no longer needing to engage in mercenary work to survive, many had found work with the Alliance in places too dangerous for Humans or Quarians, and had even asked the Alliance to broker contracts with the Turians, Asari and Volus for similar work on those worlds. While Krogan were excellent at heavy construction and moving heavy materials around, Vorcha could get into anywhere, and were often required for retrieving difficult to reach resources as well as rescuing trapped workers who had fallen into tight spaces.
Humans had proven uniquely well-adapted at interacting with the Vorcha, where most races were immediately either intimidated by their predatory appearance or irritated to no end by their shrill voices, slowness to grasp subtlety and limited vocabulary, Humans with their myriad languages and cultures had since the war learned patience when dealing with unfamiliar cultures so had been able to adapt fairly quickly.
Earth remained the paradise of progress and beauty it had been since clawing its way out of the nightmare of global war, more than a century ago. Vibrant communities all over the planet existed, all home to numerous sentient races. Walking through the streets of Atlanta you were as likely to encounter a Batarian Refugee, Asari or Turian tourist or Krogan citizen as you were a Human or Quarian. Many adults upon graduating high school immediately enlisted in the Alliance Navy, so training camps and equipment depots were popping up all over heavy population centers.
Meanwhile underground on all Alliance worlds, feverish work was underway digging fortified bunkers capable eventually of supporting the entire population of their planets in preparation for the looming threat of the Reapers. Palaven also was in a similar state of preparation, with numerous Alliance crew as well as Vorcha contractors working feverishly to update their old bunkers with newer, more stable technology and reinforced structural supports. Unfortunately aside from those privately funded, Thessia remained slow to act due to their government turmoil, so the Matriarchs had quietly requested assistance in establishing an evacuation fleet of unarmed, but heavily armored and shielded transports all over the planet. It would never be sufficient to save everyone, but it was the best they could do for now.