Walk The Line

Chapter One: New Beginnings

People, keep on learnin'
Soldiers, keep on warrin'
World,keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long.
Powers, keep on lyin',
While your people
Keep on dyin'
World, keep on turnin',
Cause it won't be too long.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Higher Ground

The Normandy was a stunning ship, it's glossy black and white surface gleamed in the Vancouver sun making it look eerily new. Commander Sara Shepard reviewed it with eager eyes through the large window pane of the Alliance base. It certainly was a beauty, she had thumbed though the schematics when Captain Anderson had requested her presence aboard the vessel. The ship was a prototype melded together from an Alliance cruiser and something the Turians had had stashed away in their armada.

The Citadel Council had had sponsored it's commission years ago and to see the finished results docked right in front of her was astounding. The Normandy was more than just a space craft, it was an olive branch between the two cultures and Shepard hoped that this marked the start of a smoother relationship between the two species.

Over the past six months it had been captained by David Anderson, a war hero whom had been the first Marine to graduate through the N7 program. Over the years Shepard had heard a lot about Anderson and she had come to view him with a slight reverence. The man was everything she strove to be as an Alliance officer, the perfect role model as it were. Which was why she had been surprised when she'd received his request for her transfer as his XO to The Normandy. She hadn't realized that her own reputation would spread that far through the Alliance, she certainly hadn't expected to show up on Anderson's radar.

Heavy footsteps behind her alerted her to the presence of someone else heading towards the docking lounge and she turned in time to see Captain David Anderson taking long purposeful strides towards her. Shepard straightened up immediately, placing both of her feet together, her shoulder's turning rigid and taunt as she saluted her superior officer.

"Sir." she greeted as Captain Anderson returned the salute meeting her cornflower blue eyes with his own dark gaze.

"At ease soldier." Anderson uttered in his gravelly voice, taking in the young Alliance officer in front of him.

His new executive officer looked different from the picture they had on file and Anderson had to admit the new look suited the slender woman. Her cherry red hair had been chopped into layers that ended at her jawline, framing her pale features. The tight bun that she had been sporting before that hadn't done her striking appearance any justice. The style made her look everyone of her twenty nine years. Her navy blue uniform was crisp and freshly laundered, the gold lining glittered in the florescent lighting that hung above them. The patches on her athletic shoulders revealed her rank

Shepard linked her fingers behind her back, following Anderson's movement so that the two of them were back at the window staring through it at The Normandy.

"What do you think Shepard?" Anderson asked in his low tone.

"I'm intrigued to see what the experimental drive core can do." she informed her superior officer trying to keep the edge of excitement out of her voice. "And to try out the stealth capabilities."

"Captain Rowlands said you had a thing for ships." Anderson supplemented into the conversation, his arms crossed over his chest.

Shepard bowed her head for a second. Her hair falling over her features shielding her expression from Anderson's view. The truth was after what happened to her family on Mindoir, she didn't like to stay too long in one place. She had served on numerous frigates over the years as well as planet bound bases, being stuck too long with her boots on the ground made her feel uneasy.