Commander Shepard / Jane
Jane turned to walk towards the comm room, rounding the galaxy map she could see Jenkins and Dr. Chakwas chatting against the wall. As she approached she started to overhear their conversation.
“Okay so I can understand that biotic implants are placed into the part of the brain that actually causes the generation of mass effect fields, but that part of the brain still exists in non-biotic individuals. Exposure to eezo* shouldn't be capable of fully rewiring an existing part of the brain to suddenly fulfill a completely different function.” For one of the few rare times it seems Jenkins hasnt noticed Jane on her approach, fully wrapped up in his conversation with Dr. Chakwas. Considering the topic she decided to stay out of view and just listen in for the time being.
“Of course corporal that would be impossible, but that’s not what's happening. Frankly all this information should be covered in your more advanced biology classes. The part of the brain that is responsible for generating mass effect fields was always capable of doing so, but without exposure to eezo in the womb said location will be incapable of generating the energy locally to create mass effect fields, even small ones.” Dr. Chakwas is quick to give her answer, simplified compared to what an actual biotic would be taught, but still informative, especially to a standard soldier like Jenkins.
“Yeah well, I never really cared for bio. I was always more of a tech guy. But if that’s the case the side effects caused by L2 implants is likely from overdrawing the amount of power the biotics can naturally generate. The worse the side affects the lower the biotics natural ability is. Is that correct?” Ah so that's what this is about. Jane knew that Kaidan and Jenkins were friends, and that Kaidan was an L2 biotic. Anderson had informed her and assured that no side effects he suffered from would limit him in combat. That apparently wasn't good enough for Jenkins, as he seemed to be trying to research a solution to a problem that the citadels top scientists couldn't solve. She wasn't sure if this was a sign of arrogance, or simply a determination.
“As far as my understanding goes that's exactly it, it’s why the L3 were designed to have a max limit on how far they could overdraw your natural ability. Hence why most L3’s top potentials are lower than the L2’s. With the exception of some of course Commander.” Dr. Chakwas is the first to notice Jane had been listening in, and with her attention drawn she decided to properly join the conversation.
“Ah, Commander.” Jenkins snapped to attention giving a salute, fully focused on her. Again he’s looking at her strangely, different than anyone else on the ship tends to. His eyes fully focused, taking in every detail as though the fact she’s standing in front of him is impossible.
“Jenkins, you’re from Eden Prime aren’t you? What can I expect?” Again Jane chooses not to confront his odd behavior, it’s not important currently. What is important is intel, anything Jenkins can give her can be useful, life saving even.
“Honestly not much commander. Eden Prime is peaceful. They were very careful with its development, so you don't have any noise or city pollution. I lived on the outskirts of the colony. At night I used to climb this big hill, and could view all the lights of the settlement and the starry sky above it at once. It was beautiful. I eventually realized the calm and quiet wasnt enough for me, so I joined the alliance.” It looked like Jenkins missed his home, he spoke of it fondly but his expressions were almost unattached. Probably not trying to think about his family or home he had left behind, or perhaps he truly didn't care for it as he said. Not her business, as long as he was mission capable.
“Any idea why Eden Prime is our destination?” She pushed, his description was nice for what the environment would look like, but not full of anything particularly useful tactically.
“Well that’s just it commander. It’s an uneventful colony, well defended even for being on the edge of the Terminus Systems. I’d say it’s not bad for a shakedown run, but that wouldn't explain why we are operating a full crew. Or why there’s a spectre on board.” Again Jane is surprised to find another person suspicious of the truth of this mission. Although she does find it relieving that this is one of her ground crew. With Kaidan fully convinced everythings above board, having someone else anticipating things to go FUBAR might prevent it.
“What do you know about the Spectre’s?” Jane directed her question to Dr. Chakwas
“Only what I've heard. Spectre agents work directly for the Citadel Council. They usually work alone or in small groups. Spectres don't have any official power, though. Basically, they're a shadow organization with a mandate to preserve and protect galactic stability.”
“At any cost. Don’t forget that part doctor. Spectre’s operate above the law.” Jenkins grimaces as he speaks, showing clear disdain for the idea.
“Not a fan of Spectre’s authority corporal? I heard you were a fan of Spectres.”
“The films sure commander, they're entertaining enough. And I’ll be the last to argue that a good number of Spectres haven’t been responsible for saving countless lives. But any organization that operates above the law becomes difficult to moderate. A Spectre goes rogue and the only protocol is to send another Spectre after them.”
“You watch too many of those vids Jenkins. The council would obviously have protocols for a rogue agent.” Chakwas is the first to respond, cutting off Jenkins' idea. Honestly Jane would have to admit she didn't disagree with him. Absolute authority can be dangerous, and it surprised her to see Jenkins thinking about it so deeply. She had taken him for more of an overeager grunt, and idealist at best.
“Well I need to head to coms, if I get any news on this mission I’ll be sure to fill you in.”
“Ah, uh-- of course commander.” Jenkins fidgeted, a look almost like anticipation or anxiety going past his eyes.
“Nervous corporal?”
“Uh, no-- not at all, commander. Just excited for some real action I suppose.”
“I sincerely hope you're kidding. Your real action usually results in me patching up crew in the infirmary.” The doctor shakes her head, clearly not the first time she’s had to reign in overeager soldiers.
“Just treat this like any other mission and you’ll be fine.” Jane hopes a simple reminder is enough to calm Jenkin’s nerves. Overeager can be as lethal as anxiety in combat, one rushes too fast, the other hesitates. Both will get you killed.
“Easy for you to say, commander. You already proved yourself on Akuze, everyone knows what you're capable of. This is my chance to show the brass I can be more than a grunt.”
“You're young Corporal. You have a long military career ahead of you. Don’t do something stupid to screw it up.”. For a moment annoyance flashes across the man’s face, before it fades and he gives his response.
“ I understand what you mean. I won’t screw this up, I swear.” He gives Jane a proper salute as she looks him up and down once more. She will definitely need to have a discussion with Jenkins at some point, try and figure out what about him feels so off.
Later though, first she had a debriefing to attend.
The comm room was on the same floor as the command deck. Behind the wall where the staircases to the lower floors resided, a hallway that led to a solid door. As Jane closed the distance to the door it slid open revealing the sparse room. Circular, with a railing surrounding the platform, there are a series of chairs on the left and right sides of the platform. Straight ahead are the holo projectors that will display information as well as the individuals who may contact the ship for communication. The room however wasn't empty, or inactive.
The holo projector was displaying an image of a lush fertile colony, large silver buildings and green grasslands that can be recognized as Eden Prime. Nihlus was standing in the center of the room, his back to Jane as he was observing the images of Eden Prime as they floated by. He turns around as he hears her enter and gives a greeting.
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“Commander Shepard. I was hoping you’d get here first. It will give us a chance to talk.”
“The captain said he’d meet me here.” She keeps her response brief. She has no problems with the Spectre, but his presence aboard the Normandy and apparently waiting to speak with her alone has her feeling on edge.
“He’s on his way. I’m interested in this world we’re going to — Eden Prime. I’ve heard it’s quite beautiful.” He turns again to observe the images of the colony. Jane is unsure as to what he’s getting at, but she can keep things professional.
“They say it’s a paradise.”
“Yes... a paradise. 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?” He turns again to look at her, his gaze is aggressive, evaluating her.
“Do you know something?” Jane is smart enough to see what is an attempted provocation, and she won’t rise to it. There’s a different message in his words though. He’s not just trying to get a rise out of her. Something happened, or is happening.
“Your people are still newcomers, Shepard. The galaxy can be a very dangerous place. Is the Alliance truly ready for this?” His question goes unanswered as captain Anderson enters the room at this point, moving quickly to fall into step beside Jane. He gives a simple nod in greeting before beginning to speak.
“I think it’s about time we told the commander what’s really going on.” Nihlus nods in response.
“This mission is far more than a simple shakedown run.” Nihlus is staring firmly at the commander. Awaiting her response.
“I figured there was something you weren’t telling us.” Keep it simple, professional. She can lodge a personal complaint with the captain later but she would not disrespect him in front of the Spectre.
“We’re making a covert pick-up on Eden Prime. That’s why we needed the stealth systems operational.”
“There must be a reason you didn’t tell me about this, sir.”
“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.”
Shit. No wonder there’s so much secrecy around this mission now. A prothean artifact of any kind can be insanely valuable. Both monetarily and scientifically. If word got out it would be a race among nearly every group in the galaxy to get their hands on it.
“What do we know about the artifact?” The most important things first, intel takes priority.
“We’re unsure. From what the archeologists on Eden Prime could tell us it appears to be a beacon of some kind. Capable of storing and transmitting information.”
“All citadel technology is based on what we could scavenge from prothean ruins, and an intact data cache would be a massive discovery.” Nihlus speaks as well, and his response makes it clear as to why there’s a spectre on this mission now.
“This is big, Shepard. 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.” Jane knows Anderson well, and she has never seen him this tense and serious about a mission before. To the point that she begins to suspect there's more at play than the beacon.
“Obviously, this goes beyond mere human interests, Commander. This discovery could affect every species in Council space.” There it is. Nihlus is here because the council wants to ensure they get access to whatever info we dig up.
“I don’t see why we need a Spectre for a pick up mission. One that’s returning to council anyway with the information anyway.” She pushes back Nihlus, hoping it can make him hand out a straight answer for once.
“The beacon’s not the only reason I’m here, Shepard.” There it is.
“Nihlus wants to see you in action, Commander. He’s here to evaluate you.”
This catches Jane by surprised. There aren’t many reasons to be evaluated by a Spectre, and while she can guess a few, she prefers to know rather then to assume.
“What’s going on, Captain?”
“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.” So that’s it then. Jane is being evaluated for the Spectre’s. A huge honor, and a larger responsibility.
“Not many could have survived what you went through on Akuze. You showed a remarkable will to live — a particularly useful talent. That’s why I put your name forward as a candidate for the Spectres.” Ah. Of course it’s Akuze. Everything in her life for the past few months has been tied to Akuze. Why wouldn’t this be different? She ignores the gross feeling that rises thinking of that incident, focusing instead on the question raised by Nihlus’ words.
“Why would a Turian want a human in the Spectres?”
“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. 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, Shepard. I only care that you can do the job.”
“I assume this is good for the Alliance.”
“Earth needs this, Shepard. We’re counting on you.”
“I need to see your skills for myself, Commander. Eden Prime will be the first of several missions together.” Nihlus is still watching, his gaze evaluating her every action and reaction, but where before it felt hostile and invasive, now Jane felt it was more familiar. Similar to a teacher or instructor watching you perform a task alone for the first time.
“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.”
“Just give the word, Captain.” Jane was ready. There was a nervousness, leading a ground team still made her heart clench when she thought about it too hard. But she was a soldier, one good enough to be considered for the Spectre’s apparently. She wouldn’t disappoint that faith others placed in her, and she would try and hold that faith in herself as well.
“We should be getting close to Eden —” The captains words are cut off by the private link in the comm room coming to life, sharing Joker’s voice.
“Captain! We’ve got a problem.” His voice sounded genuinely concerned, to the point the entire room quieted to listen.
“What’s wrong, Joker?” The captain shared the look of concern that filled both Nihlus and Jane’s faces.
“Transmission from Eden Prime, sir. You better see this!”
“Bring it up on screen.” The captains order is immediately followed by the vid screen coming to life, showing a video from what must be the surface of Eden Prime.
The vid shows alliance soldiers under attack. Bolts of blue energy fly past the screen as a woman in pink and white armor closes the distance to the recording. “GET DOWN.” The woman shouts, pulling down the man recording the video and rising to engage in combat with the unseen enemy once more.
“We are under attack! Taking heavy casualties. I repeat: heavy casualties! We can’t…argh!
--eed evac! They came out of nowhere. We need —” The voice of the one recording rings out, cutting in and out of focus before falling to silence to stare up at an object. The camera follow the gaze, exposing the image of ship for a single moment before the camera cuts to black.
“Everything cuts out after that. No comm traffic at all. Just goes dead. There’s nothing.” Jokers summary cuts the silence in the room.
“Reverse and hold at 38.5.” The captains order is followed quickly as the image of the ship returns to the screen.
It was unfamiliar to Jane, the ship was a dark purple in color, and it’s design was similar in appearance to a squid. A large central mass ending in a point, while its more bulbous bottom was attached to several large tendril like shapes. Similar to tentacles. It fit none of the galaxy’s known ship designs.
“Status report.”
“Seventeen minutes out, Captain. No other Alliance ships in the area.” Joker's response is quick and practiced. Even he knows better than to joke in a true combat scenario. An attack on Eden Prime, by anyone, is a declaration of war on earth.
“Take us in, Joker. Fast and quiet. This mission just got a lot more complicated.”
“A small strike team can move quickly without drawing attention. It’s our best chance to secure the beacon.” Nihlus gives Jane a quick look before returning his focus to the captain. He wasn’t making a request, he was informing him what the best plan was.
“Grab your gear and meet us in the cargo hold.” Anderson returns the comment to Nihlus before facing Jane.
“Tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up, Commander. You’re going in.”
Jane nods, and gives the ship on screen another look. She couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of dread just from staring at its image. What were they heading into?