If It Meant Living: Mass Effect 1

3: XO

The Normandy SR-1 shone like a star beneath the floodlights of the Arcturus dock.  She was beautiful.  Smaller than most Alliance warships, but sleek and graceful.  This really might be fun.

Shepard was late.  She had been in the middle of blowing up a Batarian slaver outpost when the new assignment came in; these things took time.  This was her first XO assignment – N7 Special Forces marines didn’t typically serve long, stable tours, on land or in space.  But this was the most advanced Alliance warship in the fleet, a prototype, everything but its existence classified.  She wasn’t sure how long this assignment would last after the shakedown cruise was completed; but then again, she rarely knew where she would be the next month anyway.

They had waited on her because Captain David Anderson had specifically requested her for his XO.  Anderson had been in command of the initial unit to arrive at Elysium, officially relieving her of duty from her homemade barricade.  He had brought food too, so he was a goddamn capital “H” Hero in her book.  Since then they had crossed paths three or four times in assignments around the galaxy, never working together for long but developing a comfortable relationship of mutual respect.

Of course, Anderson had specifically requested most of the officers on the Normandy.  She had reviewed as many of their files as possible during the flight to Arcturus, and recited them in her head as she boarded the Normandy for the first time.

·         Flight Lieutenant Jeff “Joker” Moreau.  Almost as many reprimands for insubordination as commendations for exemplary service.  Disabled, chip on his shoulder over it, but likely the best natural pilot in the military.  She wondered idly if he’d be a pal or a royal pain in her ass.  Or both.  Probably both.

·         Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko.  Tech, medic, biotic.  L2 biotic, she had noted with a combination of sympathy and wariness.  The most highly decorated officer on the ship outside of Anderson – and her – though, so she assumed he was functional enough.  Handsome, too; god, she hoped he wasn’t stuck-up and obnoxious….

·         Chief Physician Doctor Chockwas.  Years of experience aboard warships but with extensive knowledge of alien physiologies as well.  Loved by all with whom she had served.  Cool, maybe she wouldn’t get all disapproving at all the cuts and…life-threatening gashes…she frequently came back to a ship bearing.

·         Navigation Officer Pressly.  Xenophobe.  But he had worked with Anderson before, and been at Elysium, so he couldn’t be all bad.  Right?

·         Chief Engineer Adams.  Engine nerd.  He’s served on virtually every type of ship the Alliance built and knew their engines inside and out.  She wondered if anyone knew the Normandy’s shiny new prototype engine inside and out.  Well, at least she’d always know where to find him.

She stepped aboard to the salutes of most of the officers she had just been thinking of and a few more.  How had they known she was there?  She tried to suppress a grin at the pomp of it all.  The first impression of your XO as a grinning, giggling idiot couldn’t possibly be the right one to make!  She (mostly) succeeded, returned the salutes, introduced herself, and scuttled off to her quarters.  She had almost made it there when she felt the engines fire under her feet as they left dock.  They really had been waiting on her.

She made it back up to the flight deck just as they were hitting the Arcturus Relay.  A Turian was positioned behind Joker in the cockpit.  Spectre.  She had heard the word whispered no less than three times during her quick traverse of the ship.  He certainly wasn’t in the roster file she had been forwarded.