Commander Ryan Shepard - X0 SSV Normandy SR1– Systems Alliance Frigate

Briefing

My suspicions are confirmed; my gut instinct, female intuition or whatever you want to call has yet to let me down, Nhilus Kryik a tall muscular Turian Spectre stands beside me on the flight deck as Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau & Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko prepare to send the SSV Normandy through the Mass Relay to Eden Prime. The Turian disappears after paying Joker (as he likes to be referred but as of yet I have no clue as to why?) a compliment of how the Captain will be pleased with his superb manoeuvring of the Normandy, although Joker is none too pleased which I find rather odd but I guess you cant please everyone? Joker states that Spectres are trouble which at this moment in time I’m inclined to believe.

This is the first contact I have had with Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau & Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko since joining up with the Normandy & I must compliment Jokers skills as a pilot which are second to none, although I’m not sure about his casual attitude towards authority this is something we might have to work on? I think its going to take some time before I find out what makes Lieutenant Alenko tick as it does with most soldier types myself included. It will be a cold day in hell before I find someone who can empathise & understand what tortures I have had to endure & what goes on in this head of mine & that’s a burden I have to bear.

Navigator Pressley caught my attention having a rather heated discussion with a fellow officer; it appears that everyone is on edge. Pressley informs me the whole crew feels there is something odd with the mission & believes the Alliance brass is holding out on the crew. He is an astute man & has drawn the same conclusions as myself.

Why is there a Spectre aboard the Normandy?

Why is Captain Anderson a highly decorated officer in charge of a shakedown run?

Why does the Normandy have a fully staffed crew?

I promise to find him & I answers as this is beginning to grate on my last nerve, Im not used to being left in the dark & I’m defiantly not liking the fact that I’m amongst the last to know just what this bloody mission is.

Dr. Chakwas & Cpl Richard L. Jenkins collar me for a chat, the briefing is important & time is of the essence but I feel the need to stop as the well being of my crew is paramount & foremost in my mind. While talking with Cpl Jenkins I am reminded of a past green recruit itching for action who couldnt wait to be on a proper mission needing to prove to the brass just what she could do. I remember being in Cpl Jenkins shoes once upon a time in what now seems like a different lifetime it’s so far removed from the life I live today. I feel it is my duty to pass on advice to Cpl Jenkins that has undoubtedly kept me alive in the past & will hopefully keep me alive in the future “Only a fool goes looking for a fight” “Treat this like every other assignment” “Your young Cpl with a long career ahead of you dont do anything to screw this up” I stare at him intently hoping he is paying attention to my words praying that something of what I’m relating to him is being absorbed. Im reassured with a smile & extract a promise that he “wont screw this up” I feel relieved & hopeful that this young man with the grace of the Gods & my guidance will have a long & successful career. I dont want to lose another fine young man I have already lost too many.

Nhilus & I have time to talk about Eden Prime before Captain Anderson arrives; I get the distinct feeling he is testing the waters trying to judge my reaction to his at times quite threatening line of questioning but I keep cool & answer his questions openly & honestly. On his arrival Captain Anderson quickly informs me that this is “far more than a shakedown run” (No shit Sherlock!) & that the mission is in fact “A covert pickup of a Prothean Beacon using the Normandy’s now fully 

operational stealth system & that once retrieved we will be returning the Beacon to the Citadel for further study” Captain Anderson carries on “This comes straight from the top, its on a need to know basis”

I’m thinking the mission is quite straight forward so why the Spectre? I realise Prothean technology is important to all races as it is the basis of all modern technologies. The location of Eden Prime in proximity to the Terminus Systems & the problems that this poses if news of the Beacon leaks out as any attack by the Terminus Systems would be seen as an act of war so secrecy & security is a must but even so, a Spectre? As if he can read my mind Nhilus interjects & reveals that his true motive for being aboard the Normandy is to “evaluate & observe” MY performance on this mission as apparently my courage & skill during the Blitz has made me the prime candidate to become the FIRST HUMAN SPECTRE!

BLOODY HELL!

Courage, Skill?

Mine was not the courage or the skill, that belongs to the civilians of Elysium. Mine was the grace of the Gods & a shit load of luck but I agree with Captain Anderson when he says” It is for the benefit of the Alliance that I become a Spectre” & “Earth NEEDS this” Whatever that means? What does Earth need? A Hero? I just hope I can fill those boots.

A transmission from Eden Prime. “Heavy fighting, unit under attack, heavy casualties” Im suddenly watching my life on wide screen HD in glorious Technicolor only this time it isnt me, its some other luckless unit fighting for their lives & Nhilus, Captain Anderson & I can only stand & watch until there is no more comm. traffic. Were still 17 minutes out & what the hell is that?