You are expected.
The Council Secretary invited us into the hall, where all the Council members were already present.
It clearly wasn’t the start of the session, because Nihlus was already standing before them, and Saren’s hologram could be seen off to the side.
“Oh yes…
humans…
who else could testify against me…”
Saren’s voice dripped with mockery.
“I wonder what they could have seen, if according to Nihlus, he was alone when I shot him in the head?”
The Spectre shook his head in bewilderment.
“Spectre, observe silence.”
Tevos cast a displeased look at Saren, but showed no further reaction to his lack of restraint.
“We have gathered to conduct a full investigation, and although the humans cannot confirm your presence on Eden Prime, they can confirm the rest of Spectre Kryik’s statement.
We will now conduct an interview to establish whether their testimony matches.”
Saren only demonstratively moved his mandibles.
I got the feeling he was trying to say we could have coordinated on the flight over and now our testimony would be identical.
“So, Captain Shepard, please step forward.”
At Tevos’s request, I took the step and looked carefully at the Council members, who were staring right through me.
Besides Tevos representing the asari, Sparatus was there for the turians and Valern for the salarians.
They were the most stereotypical representatives of their races.
“You were sent to Eden Prime to retrieve the Prothean beacon.
Tell us what happened during the mission.
Start with the short version.”
“At the very beginning, even before takeoff, I was arguing with the supply service representatives, who didn’t allocate the necessary equipment for the ship, and also arguing because the landing team was supposed to consist of two people, not counting me…”
“We are not interested in your problems.”
Sparatus said this in an arrogant voice.
“Get to the point.”
I just shrugged.
“Approaching the planet, we received a distress signal.
Please review this.”
I activated my omni-tool and transmitted the recording to the Secretary, who immediately added it to the case.
I saw the councilors were shocked that such a massive ship could have landed on the planet.
They were ready to declare it a lie and that such ships simply couldn’t exist.
“If necessary, we can let your technicians onto the Normandy to examine the original recording and verify its authenticity.
After receiving the signal, the ship activated all its cloaking systems and reached the colony, where, at Spectre Kryik’s insistence, we split up.
He went alone, while we advanced toward the dig site from another direction.”
“Who attacked the colony?”
“We fought two types of enemies.
The first type was geth.
The second type were strange beings, presumably created from humans by implanting something into them…”
“Elaborate.”
Valern looked at me intently.
“We encountered strange mechanisms that were retractable spikes.
In some places, we saw dead humans hanging on these spikes, and in others…
they were creatures…
gray-blue in color, that moved…
Well, the closest description would be ‘like zombies.’ In human culture, there are apocalyptic movies…”
“We are familiar with the term ‘zombie.’ Are you saying they were slow and clumsy?”
“No…
I’m saying they paid no attention to us until we got within a certain distance.
After that, they charged at us, no matter what.
We had to destroy the head for the creature to stop trying to tear us apart.”
The councilors continued to stare at me.
“When we reached the excavation site, it turned out the beacon had already been moved.
So we headed to its presumed location.
On the way, we found Mr.
Kryik lying unconscious.
At first, I even thought he was dead…
but it turned out he had a head wound, and the bullet ricocheted off his skull.
It’s very rare, but it does happen.”
“We know it happens.
What happened next?”
Tevos urged me on.
“Well, we took the monorail to the spaceport, where we found turian nuclear bombs from the Krogan War era, at least that’s what Spectre Kryik identified them as.
Since the bombs were rigged in a way that made defusing them impossible, I had to use a fairly complex biotic technique that an asari mentor taught me.
I gathered all the bombs and launched them into space, where they detonated without harming the planet.
I stopped paying close attention to what was happening after that, because even though I can use such a technique, it currently requires excessive effort.
Lieutenant Shepard can give you a more detailed account of what happened next.”
“Lieutenant Shepard?”
Valern nodded at Jane, and she stood next to me and quickly recounted the rest of the story.
After that, the Council withdrew for a brief deliberation, after which Jane and I were asked a few more questions aimed at clarifying the events.
And naturally, they were trying to figure out if we had coordinated with Kryik.
Saren couldn’t hold back at some point.
“…however, neither of the Shepards has provided any evidence confirming my involvement in the attack on Eden Prime.
And I, by the way, have work to do.”
“Forgive me…”
I decided it was time to play my trump card.
“…but we didn’t present that evidence because we weren’t asked if we had any data confirming Spectre Arterius’s involvement in what happened.”
“Do you have such data?
And if so, you should have mentioned it during your testimony.”
“The data exists.
I didn’t mention it because it was obtained after our arrival at the Citadel.
It was essentially a lucky coincidence.
A quarian managed to pull several audio tracks related to the events on Eden Prime from a geth she encountered elsewhere.
If the esteemed Council permits, I can play them.”
“Proceed.”
I immediately played the recording.
It was short, but it allowed Saren to be identified by his voice.
“Spectre Arterius, do you have anything to say in your defense?”
“No…
I am acting in the interests of the Turian Hierarchy.”
After that, the connection with Saren was cut off.
“I consider Spectre Arterius’s guilt proven.”
Tevos said this somewhat lazily, but it was clear she was tense.
After all, it’s not every day a Spectre’s guilt is revealed to such a wide circle of people, even if not to the general public.
“Agreed.”
“Confirmed.”
Sparatus and Valern confirmed Arterius’s guilt, and Kryik clicked his mandibles in satisfaction next to me.
“The Council will withdraw for a meeting to decide on further actions.
Spectre Kryik, proceed to the debriefing room.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Spectre immediately left, and we were asked to leave the hall, as there was nothing for us to do there.
“Any ideas?”
Jane threw me a careful look and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“What’s there to say?
It’s either yes or no…
And if it’s yes, then it looks like we’re the ones who’ll be wading through the shit.”
Chifuyu snorted softly.
“When has it ever been different?”
“Well, basically never…
but before, the piles of shit were much smaller, a shovel was enough.
Now, what kind of excavator are we going to need?”
“Hah…”
I turned my head slightly and saw a turian standing a little apart from us.
My words had clearly amused him.
“…your commander speaks wisely.
You are climbing very high, and if you manage to stay up there, you really will be shoveling shit with excavators.
Though I can’t say I’m unhappy with the way you’re climbing.
I’ve been gathering kompromat on Arterius for a long time, but my superiors…”
“And who exactly are you?”
“Garrus Vakarian, investigator with Citadel Security.
Pleased to meet you.”
With those last words, he subtly hinted that he already knew all of us, but there was no need to skip formalities.
“Captain John Shepard, commander of the Normandy’s ground operations.
My lieutenant Jane Shepard and her subordinates Chifuyu Orimura and Rebecca Lee.
And our commander…”
I nodded at Anderson, who hadn’t said a word during all this.
He hadn’t even been interrogated to establish the truth.
“…David Anderson.
Likewise pleased to meet you.”
“And what do you plan to do next?”
“Nothing yet…”
I shrugged casually.
“…because the Council’s position and our place in their plans are still unknown.
Once everything becomes clear…
I’ll do my job.”
“I see…
if you ever need a good investigator and an excellent sniper, contact me.”
Garrus quickly gave me his communicator number, then left us.
“John?”
Anderson looked at me questioningly.
“What?”
“What do you think of the turian?”
“I think not every turian is equally useful, but if you prepare him right…
you can fit even an investigator into the job.”
“So you want to include him in the team?”
“It’s too early to think about that, but if they send me after Saren, I’ll contact him. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
I think a good sniper will really come in handy.”
We stood in silence for a while longer, each lost in our own thoughts.
But personally, I was thinking about the canon and what I had managed to change before it even started, and what I still had to break over my knee…
or maybe break my knee on…
Anyway, my thoughts were interrupted pretty quickly.
“Come in.”
We were called back, and we entered the hall.
The councilors fixed their gazes on me.
“I still think it’s too early for humanity.”
Sparatus said this in a slightly displeased voice.
“Two against one, my friend, two against one…”
Tevos gently pointed out that they had a triumvirate and everything was decided by a majority vote.
Although, in my opinion, the asari made a mistake when they gave power to others.
They should have built their own empire with subjugated lesser races.
But…
not everyone is capable of that.
The turians, for instance, probably wouldn’t have missed the chance if they had reached the Citadel first.
“Captain John Shepard, step forward.”
I took a few steps.
“From this moment, by the decision of the Citadel Council, you are vested with all the powers and privileges of a member of the Citadel’s Special Tactical Reconnaissance Corps.”
Tevos said this in a steady voice, laced with solemnity.
“Spectres are not trained; they are chosen.
They are tempered in battle and in carrying out special assignments.
Through their actions, they place themselves above all ranks and positions.”
Valern picked up the solemn speech after Tevos.
“Spectres are the Ideal, the Symbol, the embodiment of Courage, Determination, and Dedication…”
Tevos pronounced almost every word in the sentence with a capital letter.
“…they are the right hand of the Council, the instrument of our will.”
Yeah, and they’re also your left hand, as well as the excavation equipment that shovels shit.
And also personal assassins, saboteurs, and so on.
Well, I kept those thoughts to myself.
“Spectres bear a heavy burden; they are the defenders of peace in the galaxy.
They are our first and last line of defense.”
Isn’t that a bit of a flimsy line of defense?
Anyway, I kept those thoughts that came to mind after Sparatus’s words to myself as well.
“The safety of the galaxy is in their hands.”
“You are the first human Spectre, Captain.
This is a great achievement for you and for all of humanity.”
“It is an honor for me, esteemed Council members.”
I had to say something, and that was all I could manage.
Though if it hadn’t been for Aria’s lessons, even that would have sounded so hollow.
Because this isn’t an honor—it’s a headache!
“We are sending you to the Traverse after Saren.”
Valern said this, looking at me with his huge eyes.
Even at this distance, it seemed his eyes were too big.
And it was a little creepy.
But whatever, I’m not going to marry the guy.
“He is evading justice, so you are authorized to use any means necessary for his capture or elimination.”
On the last word, the councilor placed a barely perceptible emphasis, as if indicating which option was preferable in this case.
“Do you have any questions?”
Sparatus looked at me closely.
“Yes…
do I already have access to the Corps databases?
I think before flying to the Traverse, I should study where Saren has been most often, his routes, and…”
“We already have that information; we compiled it while we were deliberating.
All the information will be transmitted to you by a special Corps courier.”
At least they won’t hand it over through Moody; they could have done that too.
“Thank you.
I will do my utmost to accomplish the assigned task.”
“The Council session is declared closed.”
Tevos closed the session, and we were finally able to leave the hall.
Once outside, Anderson shook my hand.
“Congratulations…
you are worthy of this rank, my boy.
I had no doubt about this decision, so the ship is already cleared; just the codes need to be transferred.”
He extended his hand and activated his omni-tool, and I followed suit.
“Good luck in your work, Spectre Shepard.”
“Thank you, Captain Anderson.”
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