One Giant Leap for Mankind

[paragonsoldier]

Repairs of the extensive damage done to the Citadel Tower during the attack by Sovereign and the geth were still ongoing, so when the Citadel Council called the meeting, it took place on a bridge over one of the Presidium's lakes. Officers of Citadel Security kept those not invited at a distance.

Shepard surveyed the Presidium as she walked towards the bridge. The debris - and the corpses - from the attack on the Citadel had been cleared away. Structural damage had been repaired, and she could see nary a hole, burn or dent from weapons fire. Some of the trees in the park were missing, and others had been trimmed down quite a bit, but there were no burned trunks or limbs in evidence. Nor did the grass show signs of gouging and scorching.

The commander didn't know what the meeting was about, or why she had been called to it. She was further mystified to see that the only two other individuals at the meeting, besides the Council, were Captain Anderson and Alliance Ambassador Udina.

As she stepped up onto the bridge, the two men moved aside to let her draw even with them: she ended up with Anderson flanking her on the left and Udina no the right. Standing so close to the Ambassador - who she had started out disliking and grown to absolutely detest - made her hackles rise, but she didn't show it.

Facing the three humans, the members of the Citadel Council stood as they always had in their traditional perch in the Tower: from Shepard's perspective, the turian Councilor was on the left, the hooded salarian representative on the right, and the asari in the center.

It was the asari Councilor who spoke first, effectively calling the meeting to order. "Ambassador. Captain. Commander Shepard. We have gathered here to recognize the enormous contributions of the Alliance forces in the war against Sovereign and the Geth."

The salarian spoke next. Shepard wondered if they had rehearsed this. "Many humans lost their lives in the battle to save the Citadel, brave and courageous soldiers who willingly gave their lives so that we - the Council - might live."

The Alliance fleet had come in time to save the Destiny Ascension - flagship of the Citadel fleet, to which the Council had been evacuated in the first minutes of the assault - and had in turn suffered heavy casualties from the geth ships' counterattack. They could have advanced more cautiously and taken fewer losses, while leaving the Ascension to be destroyed. But Shepard had told Admiral Hackett to take the fleet in to save the Council, and he had.

Shepard was surprised by the words of the turian Councilor, who had generally seemed to hold her species in low regard. "There is no greater sacrifice, and we share your grief over the tragic loss of so many noble men and women."

"The Council also owes you a great personal debt, Commander," the asari said. "One we can never repay. You saved not just our lives, but the lives of billions from Sovereign and the Reapers."

Again, they took speaking turns as they had before, the salarian coming next: "Commander Shepard, your heroic and selfless actions serve as a symbol of everything humanity and the Alliance stand for."

Then the turian: "And though we cannot bring back those valiant soldiers who gave their lives to save ours, we can honor their memories through our actions."

Although Shepard had been at least half-expecting it, she was still surprised when the asari councilor got to the point. "Humanity has shown it is ready to stand as a defender and protector of the galaxy. You have proved you are worthy to join our ranks and serve beside us on the Citadel Council."

Ambassador Udina piped up. "Councilor, on behalf of humanity and the Alliance, we thank you for this prestigious honor and humbly accept."

Something in his manner of speaking really rubbed Shepard the wrong way - granted, a lot of things about Udina rubbed her the wrong way.

She understood what it was a few moments later, when the salarian Councilor spoke. "We will need a list of potential candidates to fill humanity's seat on the Council."

That was it. Udina was expecting to be at the top of the list. Shepard did not think that a weasel should represent the human race - which seemed likely to happen, given the way politics usually went - but she had no say in the matter.

Actually, she was wrong about that. "Given all that has happened," the asari Councilor said, "I am sure your recommendation will carry a great deal of weight, Commander. Do you support any particular candidate?"

Shepard almost asked the Councilor if she was serious. It was just too much. But she had to be: there were no cameras hovering here, no crowds to witness the meeting. If it wasn't for show, then what could it be except serious?

Once Shepard had decided that the Councilor was in earnest, it took her but a moment to make her choice. "We need someone with the courage to stand up for what he believes in." The Commander looked to her left, where Captain Anderson - her former commanding officer - stood. "Someone like Captain Anderson."

Out of the corner of her eye, she could detect Anderson shifting or perhaps flinching a bit. He was surprised, but other than that small involuntary movement, he hid it well.

A certain notion occurred to Shepard. Perhaps the Council had known who Shepard would choose, or were trying to hint at who she would choose - and that was why they'd invited Anderson here.

Shepard's train of thought was broken by an incredulous Udina. "Him?" The Ambassador didn't quite scoff, but Shepard could read a scoff between the lines. "You must be joking. Anderson prefers to let his fists do the talking." She couldn't believe he'd actually said that. Udina of all people should have seen that it would have been more politic to voice agreement with her - even if it wasn't sincere - or just shut up.

Captain Anderson's response almost brought a smile to her face. "Only with you, Ambassador," he said. "Only with you."

When Ambassador Udina had locked down the Normandy, Shepard's ship, Anderson had gone into Udina's office to override the lock from his computer. Udina had been in the office at the time. Hence the talking with fists.

"Are you sure about this, Commander?" Udina had the gall to ask. "The captain is a soldier, not a politician."

Commander Shepard was not, of course, trained to be diplomatic. But she was smart enough to be subtler than Udina. She turned towards the Ambassador. "We've already got too many politicians on the Citadel." Only she, Captain Anderson and of course Udina himself would recognize that for the insult it was. Shepard turned to address the Council. "The captain would be perfect for this job."

"I think it's an inspired choice," the asari Councilor said. Neither she nor the other Councilors ever showed much on their faces, but Shepard was pretty sure that she meant it, and wondered again about Captain Anderson's presence at this meeting. "The Council would welcome him with open arms, should he accept."

The Captain, having gotten over his shock, responded as gracefully as Shepard had hoped he would. "I'm honored, Councilor. As humanity's representative, I'll do everything in my power to help the Council rebuild."

And there was a lot of that to do.

Incredibly enough, even the turian Councilor seemed pleased. "Sovereign's defeat marks the beginning of a new era for both humanity and the Council," he said.

But it wasn't going to be sunshine and flowers from here on out. Shepard knew that only too well - and she had to make sure the Council remembered it, too. "Sovereign was only a vanguard," she said. "The Reaper fleet is still coming. Hundreds of ships, maybe thousands. And I'm going to find some way to stop them."

One of the most effective ways to make an impression, Shepard had learned, was to leave someone alone with your words and no chance to argue them. So she turned away from the Council - a breach of etiquette, but one she could afford, and walked away.

She was off the bridge by the time Captain Anderson ended the silence, but he had a commanding officer's carrying voice, and she could still hear him. "Shepard's right. Humanity is ready to do its part. United with the rest of the Council, we have the strength to overcome any challenge. When the Reapers come, we must stand side by side, we must fight against them as one. And together we will drive them back into dark space!"

The Commander allowed herself to quirk a smile as she entered the elevator to the Wards, confident that she'd made the right choice.

[OOC: Thanks to SPRTN085, whose YouTube recording of the Paragon Mass Effect ending allowed me to transcribe the dialog for this post.]