--
Wounded and exhausted, Shepard crawls to the console in the Citadel core as Admiral Hackett's voice calls out, informing him that the Crucible has not fired. He collapses, only for the podium to rise slowly into the air.
Losing consciousness, Shepard is unaware of the presence of another, the ethereal figure waiting patiently to speak with the tired soldier. It's a few moments before he stirs; the first thing he sees is a pair of polished black boots. Struggling to his feet, the commander sways, his eyes bleary, before he recognizes the figure before him, murmuring "...Who are you?"
Steely eyes focus on Shepard, and the admiral nods, his lips pursed. "Rear Admiral Mikhailovich. Fifth Fleet. You don't know who I am, do you, Commander? I command the sixty-third scout flotilla. The Normandy was slated for my unit after its' shakedown run. But then the Council got their paws...claws, tentacles, whatever. They got them on you, and our ship."
Realization dawns and Shepard staggers back, horrified. Motivation. It suddenly made sense. "Admiral...how could you?!"
Mikhailovich withers the commander with a cold glare. "I don't begrudge the brass' decision to toss you to the Council. I do begrudge this overdesigned piece of tin, though," he says, staring out the window towards the distant Normandy.
Shepard's resolve shines through, and he counters, "The Normandy's a fine ship, sir. She's served us well so far."
"It's a gimmick, commander," Mikhailovich replies. "Useless in a stand-up fight." The blare of a Reaper can be heard in the distance. Looking upon his dark handiwork, the admiral continues, "This...experiment diverted billions from our appropriations fund! For the same price, we could have had a heavy cruiser. But no...we had to make nice to the Turians and throw money at a co-developed boondoggle."
The two soldiers stare each other down. All of the fighting, all of the death and destruction...it came down to this moment.
"I'm here to make an inspection, Commander," snarls Mikhailovich.
http://i.imgur.com/bk9VkjR.jpg
Modifié par Disastersaurus, 21 juin 2013 - 05:44 .
Retour en haut
