AN: I'm back, bitches! I've missed immersing myself in the world of being shat on by overzealous Mass Effect fans. I can't wait for the next round of people admonishing me for not producing literary perfection. I live to stroke the egos of sweaty neckbeards in their mom's basements whose only pleasure in life comes from telling me I'm a hack. Come to me my pretties! Bathe me in your scorn and righteous vitriol!
Chapter 34.
Harry maneuvered his new shuttle, The Duukaarn, which had been a factory defect he'd purchased from an Elcor ship merchant, into the liveship Rannoch's Blessing's enormous docking bay. The large, Elcor-sized hatch opened, admitting Harry, Tali and Wrex, with Jacob and Miranda remaining inside at the request of the Admiralty.
"I hope you understand our caution, two amongst you used to be Cerberus." Admiral Raan said.
"Entirely understandable. Jacob and Miranda had expected to be asked to remain aboard. Besides they are working pouring through all of the data they stole from Cerberus' servers during their escape. Once we're done they should have everything pertaining to the fleet catalogued and ready for you." Harry said.
"That is appreciated. We've dispatched five frigates full of engineers to assist with reconstruction efforts to to the Citadel. They will not allow us to send more." Gerrel said, sounding irritating.
"Fucking idiots." Harry muttered.
"Indeed." Gerrel agreed.
"On to business then." Korris said. Harry nodded, following him to a table which had been placed in preparation for the conversation. He smiled appreciatively when he saw that a human-compatible seat and a reinforced stool had been provided for himself and Wrex respectively.
"The first item on the agenda, the Alliance would like to propose an exchange of ambassadors in order to facilitate relations between the Systems Alliance and the Migrant Fleet." Harry said, tapping some commands into his omnitool, causing all five Admirals' omnitools to light up.
"That's a list of potential candidates, along with dossiers." Harry said.
"We thought you were here to finalize our agricultural transport contracts..." Korris said, seemingly shocked.
"That's also on the agenda." Harry said, tapping a data pad on the table in front of him.
"Your people were just offered a seat on the council... They'll never condone such close diplomatic ties..." Raan said. Harry shrugged
"The council is, and always has been, welcome to suck it." Harry said.
"Keelah." Tali said, holding the front of her helmet in her hand.
"Truthfully, and I have spoken with our Prime Minister as well as the foreign relations committee in our legislature who agree, we feel individual diplomatic relations with the council races directly would be more of a benefit than a seat on the council itself. A lot of their policies clash with our values. Not the least of which being the persecution of the Quarians, the protracted genocide of the Krogan, and the fact that they've provided the necessary permits for the production of eight Blasto movies. I mean, come on the first one was alright, but they're not even trying any more." Harry said.
"You're a peculiar one, aren't you, Admiral Potter?" Xen asked, struggling to restrain herself from giggling.
"For all you know we're all like this." Harry said with a grin.
"If that were the case, the reapers would have nothing to destroy when they return." Tali said.
"Your daughter is being mean to me, and is jeopardizing the progress of these diplomatic talks, Admiral Zorah." Harry whined.
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"Whole buttload of nothing, Commander." Joker reported over the comms.
"Understood. Let's head back to the relay, next up is Alchera." Shepard replied.
"Acknowledged, Commander." Joker said, punching in the coordinates into his console.
"So.. Benezia and Aethyta..." Kaidan said with a smirk, leaning against the wall. Joker laughed.
"I know, right? Once this mission is over I'm meeting them at Illium." Joker said.
"What's it like?" Kaidan asked.
"Well without going into too much detail, let's just say Aethyta is VERY imaginative." Joker said.
"You suck." Kaidan said. Joker laughed. They made more small talk before Kaidan was summoned over the comm to meet with Shepard and Ash, who had been promoted to Lieutenant, breaking the Williams curse. She was waiting when Kaidan arrived and offered a salute.
"Uh, you're the same rank as I am." Ash said.
"Just accept the damn salute, Ash." Kaidan said with a grin. She smiled and returned it.
"Alright guys, we're heading to Alchera next. I predict another nothing burger but still we need to go through the motions. Kaidan, give me a status report." Shepard ordered.
"All probes have been retrieved and should be cleaned up and primed by the time we arrive. Ship's sensors are calibrated, and all reports from civilian traffic in the vicinity report no activity." Kaidan said.
"Great, and you, Ash?" Shepard said.
"Science staff is prepped to analyze the next round of scans, and all ship parameters are nominal. Joker reported a bit of lag on the port thrusters but he's confident it won't affect the mission and can wait until we return to port for repairs." Ashley said.
"Understood. I want one more readiness check before we hit the relay, then it's just a matter of waiting." Shepard said.
"Yes, Commander." Ashley said.
"Will that be all, Ma'am?" Kaidan asked.
"Not quite. A ship of this size requires a clear chain of command. We find ourselves without a first officer. I have two candidates, and a good idea of how I'm going to proceed, but I wanted your input." Shepard said.
"Ma'am, if I may?" Ash asked. Shepard raised an eyebrow but nodded.
"Lieutenant Alenko is much more suited to the position than I am. The biggest ship I've ever been in command of is a fighter." Ash said. Shepard nodded.
"I disagree, commander. I know the ship well enough, and I have command experience in freighters and troop transports, but I have little experience in leading ground forces. Ash is a natural born leader." Kaidan said. Ash gaped at him, but Shepard grinned.
"That was my assesment as well. So, unless you're not interested, Kaidan I'd like for you to assume the role of First Officer, while Ash I'd like to designate you as squad leader. We almost always deploy two teams of marines on ground ops, and I can't think of anyone I'd trust more to command the second squad." Shepard said.
"I'm honored, Commander." Kaidan said with a wide smile.
"I, uh... What?" Ash said, causing the other two to laugh.
"Squad leader, Ash. Basically the two of you will be taking my place when I am required in either role. When I'm on the ground, Kaidan is in charge of the Normandy, when I'm stuck on the ship, You're in charge of the marines." Jane explained.
"I... what?" Ash said, staring gobsmacked at her. Shepard grinned and patted her shoulder.
"This is where you say 'Thank you commander, I accept.'" Shepard said.
"Wha?!" Ash repeated. They were all startled when Fawkes appeared in a flash and settled on Shepard's shoulder, nuzzling his head into her side.
"You've been gone a while." Shepard said, stroking his feathers. He trilled, causing a feeling of well-being to wash over them.
"That reminds me, Kaidan, I need you to get with Karin and test out the new magical suppressor cuffs. I'm not allowed, regs state I have to have access to my magic at all times." Shepard said.
"Understood commander, I'll go get my wand." Kaidan said.
"You really need to keep that with you at all times, Kaidan." Shepard admonished. He nodded.
"I know, I've been relying on biotics for so long I just never think about it. I'll work on it, Commander." Kaidan said, saluting before leaving.
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Garrus disembarked from the shuttle he'd booked after bidding the Normandy crew goodbye, and grimaced as the acrid air of Omega Station wafted into his nostrils. He was not unfamiliar with the station, however it was most certainly not his favorite place to be. It was however, perfect for what he had planned. Garrus was above all things, a sucker for a sob story, and Omega was full of them. Since C-sec was corrupt and useless, his innate desire to do good would only be restrained by the idiotic regulations and restrictions involved in legitimate law enforcement.
The life of a vigilante had always intrigued him, ever since as a child he discovered translated copies of Earth comic books at one of the cultural exchange events that occurred on Palaven. He'd purchased digital copies of them, translated into Turian and had been entranced ever since. He hadn't been the only one, by two years after the peace agreement between Earth and Palaven, Earth-produced comic books, graphic novels, vids and literature featuring Turian protagonists were making millions of credits all over Turian space.
"Watch your step, Turian." An especially ugly Batarian growled as he brushed past Garrus. He growled as he watched him lumber away, heading towards Afterlife.
"Nevermind him. You're Garrus Vakarian, right?" Another Batarian asked, in a far more polite tone.
"That's right, and you are?" Garrus asked.
"Name's Bray, I work for Aria. You should go speak with her. Preferably now." Bray said. Garrus could tell he was very politely relaying a demand coming from higher up than himself. Garrus nodded.
"I'll head right over then." Garrus said.
"Appreciated." Bray said, before turning and walking off to continue whatever it is he was doing. Garrus gathered his things and started towards the source of a low thrumming beat that had pervaded the station since his arrival. He was about to queue up behind a disgruntled pair of drunk Asari when a news kiosk caught his attention. He turned and and gasped when he read the headline.
"Alliance frigate, MSV Normandy destroyed in suspected Collector attack above Alchera." Garrus rushed over, dropping his things and shoving an outraged Salarian out of the way, and scrolled down the article, which expanded upon the headline. Information was still coming in about the circumstances of the incident, however one fact that was known, was the list of casualties. At the top of the surprisingly short list was a line that made his heart sink
"Commander Jane Shepard - KIA"