The Making of a Commander (Prequel to "At Long Last") Mass Effect Fan Fiction

Basic Training

Jane was in her second year of her academy training, and still loving every minute of it. She joined the alliance two years after a group of slavers attached, and killed her family, and most of her friends on Mindoir, a small human farming colony. Jane was just sixteen when the Batarian slavers landed, killing almost everyone she loved, and knew. It was nothing short of a miracle that she along with Tara, one of the other girls her age from the colony were able to escape. Jane remembered a small root cellar that she and her brother had found a few months ago, and that's where the two girls stayed hidden until they were rescued by an alliance patrol. Jane, and Tara have been inseparable since they left Mindoir. So when Jane enlisted, hoping to be considered for Interplanetary Combatives Training (ICT), Tara followed.  

  "The Interplanetary Combatives Training (ICT) is the Systems Alliance's premier school for leadership and combat expertise. The Interplanetary Combatives Academy, sometimes called "N-School" or "the villa," recruits officers from every branch of Earth's militaries to partake in grueling courses at Vila Militar in Rio de Janeiro. Initially, candidates train for more than 20 hours per day, leading small combat teams through hostile terrain with little sleep or food. Trainees who do well are awarded an internal designation of N1 and are invited to return. Subsequent courses--N2 through N6--are often held off-planet and include instruction in zero-G combat, military free-fall (parachuting), jet-pack flight, combat diving, combat instruction, linguistics, and front-line trauma care for human and alien biology. The highest grade of training, N6, provides actual combat experience in conflict zones throughout the galaxy. If the trainee survives these scenarios in "admirable and effective fashion," he or she finally receives the coveted N7 designation. N7 is the only ICT designation that may be worn on field or dress uniforms. There is little shame in failing an N course--the training is so extreme that even qualifying for N1 elevates an officer to a position of respect. The universal prestige of merely attending the academy helps to restrain trainees from taking excessive risks in pursuit of higher honors. Although ICT qualification by itself does not guarantee higher rank, those officers who are able to complete the program are typically well suited to senior leadership positions." 

 The alliance in their ultimate wisdom, and in the interest of peace, has decided to allow turians to train the human recruits. Jane's drill Sargent, just happens to be a very angry turian named Sargent Grave Kandros, that seemed to have a grudge against humans, or was it just her? Jane wasn't quite sure, but she wasn't about to let some damn turian, or human or any other species for that matter, stop her from reaching N7 designation. So here she was, standing in the rain holding her rifle over her head once again. Two hours into her "Sargent Grave Kandros is making a point" punishment, the rain stopped, and the sun broke through the clouds, causing  the air to become hot, and humid.  

Sargent Kandros was standing  just out of the view of the female human he was punishing, recruit Shepard. He shook his head as he watched her start to struggle from her three hours of standing now that the sun has broken through . "She is stubborn." The voice of his second in command broke his thoughts "I can tell you that." He walked next to Kandros, joining him as he stood just outside his door. "I have heard the other male recruits both human, and turian speak of her with great respect. Both species also seem to find her attractive." Kandros averted his eyes from the female, to look at the turian next to him "Even turians!?" He was surprised. "Several, they are often saying how they would love to mate her, and wonder what her skin, and hair felt like."  Kandros looked back at the human female. Well she did have a very thin waist, broad shoulder, wide hips, and the brightest green eyes he has ever seen, and her hair looked like red velvet. He had wondered himself what it felt like, but mating with her, that was something totally different. "I guess I can see the appeal" He huffed "She is one of my most promising recruits" He smiled. "That she is Sargent, that she is."His second in command slapped him on the shoulder, and left his office. 

 Moments later, one of the other female humans walked towards recruit Shepard, bending down just in front of her pretending to tie the lace on her boot. "Stupid humans" Kandros thought with a half smirk "When are they going to learn turians have exceptional hearing?" "Jane!" He heard the smaller girl whisper. "Are you okay?" "Just peachy, having the time of my life." Recruit Shepard answered her with sarcasm, making Kandros chuckle. "Get out of here, before the Sarge catches you." Shepard whispered back. "You mean Sargent Dickhead" The other girl snickered. Kandros frowned just a little when he heard what she called him. He was never really bothered by the names he was given by the recruits. If they liked him, then he wasn't doing his job. The next bit of the conversation did bother him however. "Hey, he isn't so bad, besides I think he looks pretty sexy, when he gets all pissed off at me." Shepard laughed this deep sort of feral laugh that made Kandros plates move. "What!!? You have got to be joking!" The other girl choked. "No I'm not. He is tall, strong, and he has the most amazing grey eyes that shine whenever he yells at me, and that voice, don't even get me started on that deep, rough, sexy voice. hmmm" Shepard hummed. "Oh my God, you're not joking! Is that why you get yourself in trouble all the time? This is the third time this month." The small girl asked with a little shock in her voice. "Maybe" Shepard chuckled "You are one sick bitch" The girl laughed, then she stood and walked away.