Mess module on Kowloon Class vessel MSV Titanium Dove
In orbit around Illium
August 5 2183
Loadmaster Trishka Hale idly pokes at the non-descript mush on her plate, "Really Ishidah? I know we're low on real food until our landing window opens, but this is foul."
"It's the best we've got. It'll be nice to finally get paid so we can restock with fresh food," replies the long suffering cook. They both turn and look as the door to the mess opens revealing Titanium Dove's Captain and First Mate. Both have a look of disbelief on their faces.
Captain Nathan Zachary points at the opposite bulkhead, "Trishka, turn on the news. We just got a flash from Citadel space."
Trishka loads her Omnitool and switches the slideshow of various garden worlds off, tuning in to Westerlund News. The crew looks on as film from yesterday plays of the recovery of a large number of lifepods in Systems Alliance livery in the Terminus Systems. A caption overlay reads, "Lifepods from SSV Normandy being recovered from near the planet Alchera." A male voiceover starts, "This footage was captured yesterday by an embedded journalist on the SSV Fuji. These lifepods contain survivors from the unexpected loss of the SR-1 Normandy. The ship made famous by Commander Shepard during the battle to protect the Citadel from a Geth attack on July 4th. We go now live to the Citadel where Westerlund News has an exclusive first interview with the survivors."
The display changes to a docking collar on the Citadel a caption appears "SSV Fuji docked at Zakera Ward on the Citadel". The camera pans to reveal the face of a female correspondant. She takes a deep breath and speaks into the camera, "This is Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani reporting from the Citadel for Westerlund News, where SSV Fuji has just docked with the survivors of the loss of SSV Normandy. The Systems Alliance and Council have released no information beyond the loss of Normandy on August second and the search for survivors. Westerlund News is here with an exclusive first look at the survivors." The camera suddenly pans back to the docking collar as the airlock on SSV Fuji opens. Several Corpsmen in Systems Alliance uniforms are seen pushing stretchers with wounded crew members down the collar. They look at the camera and then look away. A woman in a white combat hardsuit with the helmet under her arm walks out of the collar. The camera zooms in and al-Jilani says, "Excuse me. Can you comment on the loss of the Normandy? Did Commander Shepard make it out?"
The young woman in the hardsuit looks into the camera, "No comment." She reaches out and pushes the camera aside. The camera pans to catch the back of her hardsuit as she storms off. The camera turns back to the docking collar as a Quarian female, a Turian male, an Asari and a Krogan disembark from the SSV Fuji.
The camera focuses on the Turian. "Garrus Vakarian? Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani with Westerlund News. Can I have a moment?" The camera pans to frame the four aliens and al-Jilani. "Can you comment on the accident that caused the loss of the Normandy? How bad were the casualities?"
The Turian looks directly at her, "I can't comment on that. Now get that camera out of my face."
The camera shifts to focus on the Krogan, he looks at a the camera showing a distinctively scarred visage, looks at the Quarian and then looks at al-Jilani. "Tali. Take care of the camera." He then turns to al-Jilani, "Commander Shepard was a friend to all of us and we don't want to talk about it." He then punches her in the face, the camera feed turns to static and goes black.
Triska looks away from the screen, "That was unexpected. Then again she's the most abrasive reporter in the galaxy. I'll try ANN, see if they have better information live."
The screen flickers and stabilizes showing the face of another human woman. The Alliance News Network logo shows prominently in the lower left, sports scores scroll across the ticker at the bottom. The woman begins to speak as a "LIVE" logo appears in the upper right, "Emily Wong reporting from Zakera Ward on the Citadel. Yesterday the survivors of SSV Normandy were recovered from the Terminus Systems. A news release from the Systems Alliance has confirmed 21 crew members are missing in action including the Captain of Normandy, Commander Jane Shepard. The SSV Normandy was lost after contact with a Geth vessel of unknown type. The surviving crew members escaped thanks to the heroic efforts of Commander Shepard and Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams. Coming up shortly is a brief retrospective of the heroic deeds of Commander Shepard, the first human Spectre. Councillor David Anderson has agreed to meet with me later this afternoon so we can recount her actions in defending the Citadel from the Geth."
The screen goes black for a moment and shows stock footage of the Citadel with the Destiny Ascension in orbit. The image fades out and is replaced with the Systems Alliance logo and a list of the missing crew from Normandy. The screen goes blank and changes to ANN SportsCenter 2183 .
Several hours later...
Citadel Presidium
Widow System
Inner Council Space
Councillor David Anderson wearily looks up from his datapad as his door chimes. The door slides open to reveal Emily Wong and a camera drone. She looks at Anderson, "Thanks for agreeing to this interview Councillor. I know you're busy so I'll try to keep it brief."
Emily briefly surveys the room and motions to Anderson to join her at the window overlooking the Presidium. She pauses as she looks out at the Presidium, visible scars of the Battle for the Citadel still evident, "I'd like to shoot the piece from here. It will help showcase the debt owed by the galaxy to humanity and Commander Shepard. I'll be asking you several leading questions, I'd like to paint a picture of who Commander Shepard was and what forged her into the savior of the Citadel."
Anderson looks at her with a brief flash of grief in his eyes, "Yes Ms. Wong. You'll get your ratings. This isn't my first rodeo. Let's get this over with."
Anderson walks over to a seating area next to the window. He sits down facing into the room while Wong directs and configures the camera drone with her Omnitool. She walks over and sits in the remaining chair next to Anderson, "Shall we begin Councillor?" Anderson nods assent and Wong starts recording.
"Emily Wong with Alliance News Network, reporting from the Presidium. I have with me Councillor David Anderson who has consented to speak regarding the late Commander Shepard, missing and presumed dead since the loss of her vessel, SSV Normandy, on August 4, 2183. Commander Shepard was the first human Spectre and one of the heros of the Battle for the Citadel earlier this summer. Councillor Anderson, you knew Commander Shepard for the majority of her career. Can you elaborate on her career prior to becoming a Spectre? What events shaped her into the woman we know as a Spectre and a Soldier?"
"Shepard was a colony kid who had a rough start. She grew up on Mindoir and was there when slavers raided and razed the colony. She was later rescued by a System Alliance patrol, from that point forward the Alliance became her family. She came to command's attention during the Skyllian Blitz when she led a squad into a reinforced bunker. Shepard was instrumental in breaking the final holdouts on Torfan, although there was a high cost to Humanity and the Alliance that day. Going on from the Skyllian Blitz, Shepard continued to reinforce her reputation of seeing that the mission was completed regardless of the cost. She was the best candidate to be the first Human Spectre for that reason. She was like a bulldog and wouldn't let go short of death."
"Can you summarize the events surrounding the recent Geth attack on the Citadel and Shepard's actions leading up to the battle?"
"I can't go into details on some of it Emily, it's still highly classified. She got pulled into the events on Eden Prime while investigating the colony going dark after a Prothean relic was uncovered. Normandy was in system at the time of the attack, guess Shepard was lucky that way. she landed with a fireteam and fought her way through Geth and Geth Husks to where the artifact was located. Unfortunately the artifact was destroyed by the rogue Turian Spectre Saren before she could recover it. She did manage to salvage the space port on Eden Prime allowing the Alliance to reinforce and resupply the colony. It was on Eden Prime and later on the Citadel that Shepard uncovered Saren's collusion with the Geth. She went on to thwart a Geth incursion on Feros and to stop the actions of one of Saren's allies on Noveria. At this point the Salarian STG requested Council assistance with the Geth on Virmire. Shepard discovered that Saren had a research base on Virmire exploring the process of Geth indoctrination and the creation of husks. Shepard destroyed that research base with the assistance of STG. Unfortunately Lt. Kaiden Alenko was forced to sacrifice himself in the interest of the mission."
"Did Lt. Alenko's death impact Shepard?"
"Not really. If anything, it made her focus on catching up with and stopping Saren. She always said she'd have time to mourn later," Anderson pauses and takes a moment to recover. He take a deep breath and continues, "During the raid on Virmire, Shepard determined the location of the long lost Mu relay and that Saren's eventual goal was through that relay. She followed him through to the Prothean planet Ilos where she discovered a relay called the 'Conduit' which allowed Saren to strike directly into the Citadel. You know the rest."
"Yes Councillor. Saren came through and compromised the Citadel's defenses allowing his flagship, Sovereign, to dock with the Presidium tower. During the fight with the attacking Geth fleet, the Alliance Fifth fleet was heavily damaged. This sacrifice by the Alliance allowed the Destiny Ascension and the Citadel Council to press the attack while Sovereign was docked with the Citadel. Shepard ended up fighting Saren in the Council chambers resulting in Saren's death and the unexpected failure of Sovereign's kinetic barriers. Sovereign was promptly destroyed by the combined might of the surviving Alliance vessels and Destiny Ascension, forcing the Geth fleet to withdraw beyond the Veil. We here at ANN would like to remind you that many beings lost their lives and homes during the battle. As the Citadel is rebuilt, we urge you to volunteer at your local medical centers or displacement centers."
Wong pauses for a moment and then resumes, "Councillor. Can you comment on the rumors that Commander Shepard claimed Saren to be under the control of the mythical Reapers rather than allied with the Geth?"
Anderson's face shifts from a forced smile for the audience to a look of frustration, "I can't comment on that Ms. Wong. I'm sorry, but this interview is over. I need to get back to work."
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Topic: Mass Effect Campaign: Story and Background (Read 2896 times)