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Their Finest Hour	By : draygon Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 8648 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or EA, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 6
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Shepard sighed as she plopped down in her chair, eyes unfocused as they scanned over the group picture the frame on her desk held. "And then there were six."

Grunt was now on Tuchanka, and likely would remain there for quite a while as he completed the rituals required before each mating request was accepted. Shepard shook her head at the memory of Grunt's initiation into Clan Urdnot. She both envied and was exasperated by Krogan politics. On the one hand, it was simple and straight forward. On the other hand, head butting Uvank just to get him to shut up gave her one hell of a headache while fighting the Thresher Maw. She was thankful she had remembered to bring the CAIN with her, and even more so as she got to use it to send Uvank sky high, laughing hysterically as he went screaming through the air and into the distance.

Mordin had returned to Sur'Kesh, not to retire, but to begin working on a new modification to the Genophage with his old assistant Maelon. Shepard had been surprised when he had walked right into her quarters and announced his decision. Not just because it was two in the morning and not just because she and Garrus were in identical states of undress, but because of the set of his jaw and the determination in his eyes. It was clear that he had thought long and hard about his decision. Shepard, of course, had been happy that Mordin had taken up his former assistant's banner, but also, she was sad to see a good friend leave.

Shepard leaned back in her chair, laced her fingers over her stomach and just watched the reflection from the huge, empty fish tank on the ceiling, getting lost in the random patterns of blue on silver. She sighed as her eyes drifted closed as memories bubbled to the surface with no rhyme or reason.

She watched with still palpable awe as her mother buttoned up her blue uniform as the entire ship made ready for inspection.

As a teenager aboard the Einstein, she wondered when her mother would stop reacting with a wince when ever someone mentioned Mindoir.

She woke up every night after only a few hours of sleep, the silence momentarily frightening her into thinking that somehow, the engines or air filters had stopped working. Annoyed with herself and anxious about the amp implantation in the morning, she punched her faded blue pillow and tried to get back to sleep.

She was unable to hide the annoyance on her face at the blue eyed turian opposite her in the sparring ring. "That's good... for an asari toddler. Now, are you going to hit me or throw a temper tantrum?" She was supremely pissed when he still laughed at her when she threw him up against the wall. He still gave her advice and just enough hints for her to figure her own abilities out. "Good job," the turian flashed her a grin as he picked himself up off the floor, brushing dust off of his pants. "With fury like that, it's almost a shame you weren't born turian."

Shepard started as her laptop chimed that she had a private message. She rubbed her face and sat up in her chair as she opened the message. "Incoming message from Admiral Stephen Hackett, Alliance HQ." Shepard's eyebrows rose as the comm announced who the message was from. It had been a long time since she had heard from Hackett and Shepard was immediately concerned as she saw the level of encryption the message had. What ever the Admiral wanted, it was not for anyone else to know about.

"Commander Shepard," Jane could already hear the strain in Hackett's voice with just her name spoken. "I need to discuss a sensitive matter with you privately." Shepard entered a series of codes to both confirm her identity and enable the encryption to open fully, projection the image of Admiral Hackett on the thin pane of glass holding her ship collection.

"Commander, thank you for your time. I'll keep this brief." Shepard recognized those two phrases. They usually meant, 'Thank God you answered' and 'You aren't going to like this'. Usually in that order.

"We have a deep-cover operative in batarian space. Name's Doctor Amanda Kenson." Shepard could practically feel the hackles on her neck rising. "Dr. Kenson recently reported that she found evidence of an imminent Reaper invasion."

"Why go directly to me and not Alliance brass or the Council?" Shepard would have loved to watch Councilor Valarn squirm as he was given proof that the "Reapers" were real and about to invade.

"Just this morning, I received word that the batarians arrested her. They are holding her on a secret prison outpost on terrorism charges." Shepard sighed. It didn't take much to get arrested for terrorism in batarian space. You were pretty much a suspect if you breathed and were able to use more than one brain cell to reason with. "I need you to infiltrate the prison and get her out. As a favor to me, I'm asking you to go in alone."

Shepard nodded. She knew what Hackett was asking her to do. By going in alone, she kept the Alliance and the Citadel Council out of any blow back politically. If she was caught, the batarian's would not have any ammunition against anyone but herself. And both the Alliance and the Citadel could enact plausible deniability, name Shepard a Rogue Spectre and have her executed.

So much for having at least a few months before the Reapers decided to show their ugly faces. "What is Dr. Kenson actually doing out there?" No use going into a situation with out the right information.

"She's a deep-cover operative, Shepard. We talk only when we have to."

"Right, stupid question."

"I had heard that she was investigating a Reaper artifact in the system. Her last report said she'd found it."

"The batarians aren't going to take kindly to the Alliance breaking into one of their prisons." Shepard wasn't keen on starting a war between the Alliance and Hegemony, even if there had been saber rattling for the better part of a decade.

"This is not an Alliance operation." Shepard tilted her head at the subtle change in Hackett's voice. It sounded like a plea. "It's just one person going in to save a friend. If you break her out, of course the batarians will be upset. Just keep this quiet, Shepard," there was that plea again. "and there will be nothing to worry about."

Shepard took a deep breath and told her gut to shut up. Of course this had trap written all over it, but Hackett was an old friend. And if an old friend needed a friend rescued, then she would do it. "I'll make this a priority."

"Thank you, Shepard. The prison is hidden underground at a batarian outpost on Aratoht. I'll upload the coordinates to you." Shepard checked her omni-tool, nodding to herself as the coordinates confirmed that the system was indeed deep in batarian space. "Once she is secure, confirm her discovery. We'll debrief you when you're back."

"Got it," Shepard nodded, saluting to the Admiral as he cut the communication. After the screen went back to transparent, she slowly sat back down in her chair. All she had to do was keep this under wraps...

"Commander Shepard," Jane winced as Miranda's voice invaded her thoughts through her comm. "I picked up a heavily encrypted message sent to your private terminal." Shepard just barely kept herself from laughing. "Was it anything important, Commander?"

Shepard quirked her lips, shaking her head. "Just personal business, Miranda."

"Oh." Shepard had to smile at the disappointment in her voice. "Well, if you need anything, Shepard, I'm here."

"I know, Miranda." She smiled, hating that she had to lie to someone she considered a sister. A bossy, nosy big sister, but a sister all the same. "Thank you."

With a deep breath she lifted herself out of her chair and made her way down to the cockpit. She wasn't the least bit surprised when Joker turned his chair around to regard her with a barely concealed smirk. "So... you got a message from big daddy?"

"You could say that," Shepard smirked.

"So, where we going?"

Shepard transferred the coordinates directly to Joker's console, watching his face as he stared at the map then back at her. "You do know where this will take us?"

"Yea," Shepard sighed. "Know any pilots that could get me there without pissing themselves?"

Joker's eyebrows rose as he feigned insult. "You wound me, Commander! I never piss myself. Unless I miss the bottle." He wiggled his eyebrows at Shepard as she rubbed her eyes to scrub that image from them. "My aim is deadly."

"I'll take your word for it." She laughed, shaking her head.

"Caution must be exercised," EDI chimed in. "The Hegemony considers the presence of Alliance vessels in Batarian space to be hostile."

"We're not Alliance." Joker deadpanned as he turned his seat back around to face the console.

"While that statement is true, the Normandy SR2 closely resembles the Normandy SR1, which was an Alliance vessel. Activation of stealth systems is advised."

"Really?" Joker smirked as he maneuvered the Normandy toward the relay. "I was thinking about going in all neighborly. You know, with bright neon lights, a loud speaker blaring Disco and have Gardner bake up a batch of cookies. Everyone loves cookies."

"Blaring Disco on any channel would be considered an act of war, Mr. Moreau."

"Fine!" Joker sighed in mock exasperation. "We'll do it the boring way. I was really looking forward to those cookies."

Shepard chuckled at the two as the Normandy went into silent mode before entering the relay.

"I know you don't like this-"

"You're damn right I don't like it." Garrus leaned back against the fish tank, crossing his arms over his chest. "Hackett's sending you straight into batarian space with no backup as a personal favor for a friend."

Shepard scowled. "You're forgetting the evidence she has for an imminent Reaper invasion." She shook her head, sealing the latches on her boots as she pounded her feet on the floor to make sure the fit was secure. "And if an entire team went in to get Kenson, they would kill her just to keep any information she had from us. And if there is a way to stop the invasion-"

"It would die with her. I know. I don't have to like it." Garrus chuckled softly. "Here I am worried about you. The Collectors killed you and all it did was piss you off." Garrus shook his head. "Batarians would be like sand in your boots."

"Ha! Sand in the boots is pretty damn annoying." Shepard smiled, walking over to Garrus and pulling on his collar until his forehead touched hers. "The Normandy will be just close enough for you to pull me out if things get too hairy."

"You humans and hair," Garrus chuckled as he ran his hands through Shepard's short locks. "If it didn't clog so many drains it would be endearing."

"You're telling me."

"Shepard," Joker's voice came over the comm. "we're five minutes out and running silent."

Shepard nodded and smiled at Garrus one more time before turning around and boarding the elevator. "Joker, after I'm planetside, take the Normandy out past the orbit of Bastzuda and make like an asteroid."

"Aye, Aye, Commander."

"No playing pong with passing ships either, Joker."

"Damn..."

Shepard smirked as she stepped out of the elevator and into the cargo bay. The area was quiet except for the hum of the drive and the quiet conversations of the maintenance personnel that worked tirelessly to keep the Normandy in top condition. Shepard sat quietly, and gave the Kodiak pilot a nod as the doors closed and the small craft took her to the planet below.
- 6
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Their Finest Hour