Prologue I

As three shapes cast their shadow over an impressive observation window overlooking a beautiful planet. A voice discusses with another.

"Well, what about the Shepard twins, or their younger sister? They're Spacers, lived aboard starships most of their lives." Udina asks.

"Military service seems to run in the family, not only are the parents' lifers in the Navy. All three of their kids enlisted, albeit in separate branches." Chimes Captain Anderson.

"The oldest twin, Sampson Shepard proved himself during the Blitz, held off the enemy troops until reinforcements could arrive. I am however concerned about the younger twin's mental health, Sapphire Shepard did see her entire unit die on Akuze. That could leave some serious emotional scars. Then there's the youngest Shepard, she's out on deployment for a classified alliance black ops, no telling when she'll make it back. She also got most of her unit killed on Torfan." Admiral Hackett comments.

"You're right about Sampson, he's the only reason Elysium is still standing. But for Sapphire and Sylvia, every soldier has scars. Sapphire's a survivor. And Sylvia, she gets the job done, no matter the cost. But, that's neither here nor there since they're off the books and Cerberus has taken an active interest in the latter's action reports." Captain Anderson corrects.

"We can't question Sampson's courage," Udina admits.

"Humanity needs a hero, and Sampson's the best we've got." Captain Anderson asserts.

"I'll make the call, but you know, ever since Akuze. The twins have been a package deal. I'll be hard-pressed to sell one let alone both of them." Udina questions.

"I'll make space for both of them regardless, it's the Spectres' who have the final say on who gets the application." Captain Anderson says while walking away.

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Lights flash throughout the Normandy's cockpit as Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko and Joker begin the ship's approach run on the mass effect relay. As Sampson enters the cockpit to talk with the crew.

"The board is green. Approach run has begun." Joker says routinely.

"Hitting the relay in... 3... 2... 1..." Joker says, bracing himself for the jump through the relay.

"Thrusters... Check. Navigation... Check. Internal emissions sink engaged. All systems online. Drift... Just under 1500k." Joker says, flitting through his after-jump checklist.

"1500 is good. Your captain will be pleased." A turian Spectre by the name of Nihlus states before leaving the cockpit to some other place on the ship.

"I hate that guy." Joker whines, conveniently after Nihlus leaves the cockpit.

"Nihlus gave you a compliment... So you hate him?" Kaiden jokingly asks Joker.

"You remember to zip up your jumpsuit on the way out of the bathroom? That's good. I just jumped us halfway across the galaxy and hit a target the size of a pinhead. So that's incredible!" Joker retorts with an exasperated sigh.

"Besides, Spectres are trouble. I don't like having him on board. Call me paranoid." Joker says sarcastically.

"You're paranoid. The Council helped fund this project and they have a right to send someone to keep an eye on their investment." Kaiden rebukes as if this conversation had already happened dozens of times before.

"Yeah, that's the official story. But only an idiot believes the official story." Joker calls back in his true conspiracy theorist way.

Sampson finally speaks up, "They don't send Spectres on shakedown runs."

"See! There's more here than the Captain's letting on!" Joker says with vindication.

"You always expect the worst." Sampson chidingly says to Joker.

"Well, bad feelings are an occupational hazard. We don't go anywhere unless there's a good reason, so what are we doing here?" The conspiracy theorist's paranoia returns to Joker's voice before an electronic crackle interrupts him.

"Joker! Status report!" Captain Anderson calls to Joker.

"Just cleared the mass relay, Captain. Stealth systems engaged, everything looks solid." Joker says, snapping to attention.

"Good, find a comm buoy and link us into the network. I want mission reports relayed back to Alliance brass before we reach Eden Prime." Captain Anderson orders.

"Aye, aye, Captain. Better brace yourself, sir. I think Nihlus is headed your way." Joker warns.

"He's already here, Lieutenant." Captain Anderson replies angrily, "Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the Comm Room for a debriefing." Before disconnecting the comms.

"You get that, Commander?" Joker calls back to Sampson.

"He sound's angry. Something must've gone wrong with the mission." Sampson ponders aloud.

"Pfft. Captain always sounds like that when he's talking to me." Joker laughs.

"I can't possibly imagine why," Kaiden says sarcastically.

"I'm on my way," Sampson says, turning to leave.

"Pfft. Is it just me or does the Captain always sound a little pissed off?" Joker asks laughingly.

"Only when he's talking to you Joker." Kaiden retorts.

Sampson turns to walk down the command center, passing the airlock, and towards the comms center behind the elevator. Where Navigator Pressly was arguing about Nihlus with Engineer Adams. Turning around Pressly salutes Sampson.

"Congratulations, Commander. Looks like we had a smooth run. You heading down to see the Captain?" Navigator Pressly asks.

"Sounds like you don't trust our turian guest?" Sampson questioningly prods Pressly.

"Sorry, Commander. Just having a chat with Adams down in engineering. Didn't mean to cause any trouble." Pressly reassures, "But you have to admit, something's odd about this mission. The whole crew feels it."

"You think the Alliance brass is holding out on us?" Sampson asks.

"If all we're supposed to do is test out the stealth system, why is Captain Anderson in charge? And then there's Nihlus. Spectres are elite operatives. Top covert agents. Why send a Spectre... A turian Spectre... On a shakedown run? It doesn't add up." Pressly questions.

"You don't trust Nihlus?" Sampson says, giving Pressly a quizzical look.

Pressly sighs before continuing, "I don't like turians in general. Runs in my family. My grandfather fought in the First Contact War; lost a lot of friends when the turians hit us."

"That was thirty years ago. You can't blame Nihlus for that." Sampson counters.

Pressly looks down in dejected contemplation, "No, I guess not. But it still makes me nervous to have a Spectre on board, especially a turian. We're an Alliance vessel, human military. But Nihlus doesn't answer to the captain like the rest of us. Spectres operate outside the normal chain of command. And they don't come along just to observe shakedown runs. Nihlus looks like he's expecting some heavy action. I don't like it." His previously pensive tone turning almost conspiratorial.

"I'll see if I can get some answers when I see him," Sampson says.