Continuing on from my last post.
(Later, Shepard stands in the hangar bay of the Normandy, checking over the shuttle before launch. Unnoticed by him, Ashley walk up behind him.)
Ash: "Hey skipper, don't you think that you should leave that to the techs?"
Shepard: (Turns to Ash, placing the data pad on a rolling cart along with the tools.) "I have to do something to keep busy. With EDI now in control of most of the ships systems, I don't have much that needs doing. This is a simple pick up and drop off assignment."
Ash: "Tell me about it, I'm as bored as a pacifist's pistol. Honestly skipper, when are we going to start fighting back aginst these Reapers?"
Shepard: (Rolls his eys at his fellow SPECTRE.) "And I heard such good things about you too... Anderson told me that you had gotten over this rash streak of yours."
Ash: (Grinning wickedly as she places a hand on her hip.) "Old habbits Shepard. Now that you're the highest ranking SPECTRE onboard, I have someone to **** and whine to again."
Shepard: (Groaning, he places his head in his hands.) "Oh lucky me...."
(Suddenly the two are interupted by the intercom.)
Joker's Voice: "Comander, you need to get up to the bridge right away."
Shepard: (Glances at Ash, a worried expression clear upon his face.)
Ash: (Nodding to Shepard.) "Get up there skipper, I'll finish these checks. It's probably nothing."
Shepard: (Nods to his team mate and quickly makes his way to the bridge. Upon arriving, he exits the lift and quickly makes his way to Joker's station. He can hear the pilot arguing with EDI.)
Joker: "Are you sure about these reading EDI?"
EDI: (Sounding somewhat miffed.) "My sensors are working at full capacity Jeff, there is a Reaper ship on a course to the academy. It will arrive thirty minutes before us."
Shepard: "Can you tell what type of Reaper it is?"
EDI: "It is difficult to tell from this distance. Estimates would place the ship as either a scout or a frigate."
Shepard: (Visibly stiffens. Even a Reaper frigate was a formidable enemy. Even if their three warships could dispatch the Reaper quickly, there was a chance that it could destroy some of the freighters that would be used to evacuate the colony. And even if they decided to engage the enemy, the Reaper would still have half an hour to bombard the settlement from orbit. They would also try to land assault units as well to take as many humans hostage as possible.) "Joker, push the Normandy to maximum FTL. We need to get there as soon as possible."
Joker: (Flashes his commander a predatory grin. It may not be much, but they were going to take the fight to the Reapers.) "Aye Sir!"
(As Joker co-ordinates with engineering, the cries of protest from Gabriella Daniells can be heard over the intercom.)
Shepard: (Quickly turning to the weapons stations aft of the pilot's seat.) I want a firing solution on the Reaper BEFORE we drop out of FTL. Let's send the Reapers a taste of their own medicine!"
(A corus of confirmations drift to Shepard's ears as he walks towards the galaxy map. He turns to his communications specialist.) "Send a message to the fleet, inform them of the situation and request that the freighters hang back untill they receive that all clear."
(The young woman nods and imediately goes to work.)
Shepard: (Activates the ship wide intercom.) "Attention crew, the Reapers have sent a ship to 'Process' the Ascension colony. With their limited defences, they won't stand a chance. I want all ground teams prepped and ready in ten minutes. Report to the shuttle and the Hammerhead for drop once we are in range. Shepard out."
(On the bridge of the Orizaba the communications officer turns to Hannah Shepard as she receives the message from the Normandy.)
Comm Officer: "Captain, the Normandy has detected a Reaper frigate en route to the colony."
Hannah: (Sits up straighter in her chair and uncrosses her legs. Her features narrow as she looks to her data pad, displaying the most recent updatas from the sensors and communications.) "All hands to battle stations. Charge the Thanix cannon and be prepaired to fire on my mark. Make sure we co-ordinate fire with the Normandy and the Perugia. Have all the fire teams report to the shuttles for ground assault. Heads up people, the Reapers are going to make us work for this one!"
(Meanwhile, with Jack at the academy, the students and the teachers had just been let out of the assembly.)
Sara: "Alright children! Everyone form a line and make your way to the shuttles! From there we will go to the space port to await evecuation."
Jack: (Motioning to her own students she quickly walks up behind her friend.) "****, it's going to be hard to leave this all behind."
Sara: (Nods. She can't help but glance wistfully around as they slowly make their way towards the shuttle.) "I've spent the last eight years of my life this school teaching. I can't believe I'm leaving it to be destroyed by the Reapers."
Jack: **** Sara, don't sound so depressed, it doesn't suit you. Once Shepard gets everyone together, he is going to win this war and tear the Reapers a new ass. It won't be long before you're back here teaching again."
Sara: (Despite Jack's comforting words, she still frowns.) "Maybe, but what will be the cost? You know some of the older students show great biotic potiential. How many of them will be called to fight for the galaxy? How many of them will be asked to kill? Will Shepard ask for us to join as well?"
Jack: (Begins to answer in the negative, only to stop before she can start. She knew, possibly better than anyone in the colony, how powerful even young untrained biotics could be. Some of the older students had shown suprising potential to become Alliance adepts, or vanguards. Would Shepard ask her to encourage the older students to fight with the Alliance soldiers? Could she even do that? A year ago she would have said yes.. But now, she wasn't so sure. There was no way in hell she would let her own class be forced to go to war. She wanted to believe that Shepard would find another way...)
Sara: (Interupting Jack's thoughts.) "Hey, we are almost at the shuttle."
(As the two women board the shuttle with their charges, Jack can't help but take one last look out the door at the place that had been her home. Looking back to her students, she can't repress the chill slowly making its way up her spine.)
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So, another section written. What do you guys think? I'm going to be honest and say that I have no idea how good this is. I am trying to portray a Jack that has grown and matured somewhat as a result of the responsibility of teaching young biotics just like her. There are times I feel like I have nailed the character, and there are others that I feel like I might have gone a bit far. Let me know what you think, and if you want me to continue. Suggestions are always welcome. I may not include you idea directly, but know that it will have gone a long way to stirring my creative juices. Take it easy, and have a good one. I'll try to get the next part up by tomorrow evening.
Modifié par Mr. Tanner, 06 février 2012 - 05:14 .