The Citadel I

After an hour-long nap Sampson wakes up and heads to the cockpit with Ashley, Kaiden, and Sapphire arriving at a gargantuan five-armed space station as the Normandy remerges into real space.

A construct that dwarfs all other known creations in the universe, shrouded in a purple-glowing nebula as hundreds of thousands of ships fill the space around the station.

"Look at the size of that ship!" Ashley exclaims while staring in awe at a huge Asari Dreadnought that dwarfs the Normandy. As she and Sampson move closer to the observation ports to get a better look.

"The Ascension. Flagship of the Citadel fleet." Kaiden chimes in while standing back.

"Four times the size of anything the Alliance is fielding at the moment, with a crew of over 10,000!" Sampson enthuses as he stares at the marvel of engineering.

"Nerd." Sapphire says with a cough eliciting a quick glare from Sampson before he returns his attention back to the Ascension.

"Well, size isn't everything." Joker says defensively.

"Why so touchy, Joker." Ashley teases.

"I'm just saying you need firepower, too." Joker replies.

"Look at that monster! Its main gun could rip through the barriers on any ship in the Alliance fleet." Ashley exclaims in shock.

"Rumor has it that it's got as much firepower as the rest of the Asari fleets combined." Sampson says with a whistle.

"Good thing it's on our side, then." Kaiden says.

"Your sister's right, you're such a nerd." Joker says underlies breath but loud enough for everyone to hear eliciting a few suppressed chuckles before quickly calling up Citadel Flight Control before Sampson can argue back.

"Citadel Control, this is the SSV Normandy requesting permission to land." Joker asks while weaving the ship through the other idling ships.

"Stand by for clearance, Normandy." The flight controller replies.

"Clearance granted. You may begin your approach. Transferring you to an Alliance operator." The flight controller says after confirming their credentials.

"Roger, Citadel Tower. Normandy out." Joker replies.

"Normandy, this is Alliance Tower. Please proceed to dock 422." The Alliance operator directs.

"Roger, Alliance Tower." Joker calls back, smoothly gliding the Normandy into the Alliance dock that's near the base of one of the five giant arms of the Citadel.

The clamps secure the Normandy in place as the team disembarks and Jenkins is transitioned to the Huerta Memorial Hospital on the Presidium.

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A middle to borderline late-aged man is arguing with some projections as the team enters his office.

"This is an outrage! The Council would step in if the geth attacked a turian colony!" The ambassador shouts in outrage.

"The turians don't found colonies on the borders of the Terminus Systems, Ambassador." The salarian projection says with a matter-of-fact voice.

"Humanity was well aware of the risks when you went into the Traverse." The asari projection adds.

"What about Saren?! You can't just ignore a rogue Spectre! I demand action!" The Ambassador says with enraged determination.

"You don't get to make demands of the Council, Ambassador." The turian says with barely held disgust in his voice.

"Citadel Security is investigating your charges against Saren. We will discuss the C-Sec findings at the hearing. Not before." The asari says trying to mediate before disconnecting the projection.

"Captain Anderson. I see you brought half your crew with you." The Ambassador says with sarcastic exasperation.

"Just the ground team from Eden Prime. In case you had any questions." Anderson says, standing at attention as he motions to the team.

Sampson stands at attention with the Captain as the remaining ground team members rest against the railing overlooking the beauty of the Presidium.

"I have the mission reports. I assume they're accurate?" The Ambassador says dismissively as his previous fiery attitude vanishes almost without a trace.

"They are. Sounds like you convinced the Council to give us an audience." Anderson says with slight surprise.

"They were not happy about it. Saren's their top agent. They don't like him being accused of treason." The Ambassador says dismissively.

"Saren's a threat to every human colony out there. He needs to be stopped. The Council has to listen to us!" Sampson advocates fiercely.

"Settle down, Commander. You've already done more than enough to jeopardize humanity's candidacy for the Spectres." The Ambassador dismissively comments before elaborating, "The mission on Eden Prime was a chance to prove you could get the job done. Instead, Nihlus ends up dead and the beacon was destroyed!" The Ambassador accuses.

"That's Saren's fault, not his!" Anderson says, leaping to Sampson's defense.

"Then we better hope the C-Sec investigation turns up evidence to support our accusations. Otherwise, the Council might use this as an excuse to keep you and any other human candidates out of the Spectres." The Ambassador says glaring at Sampson as if they are another problem they have to solve.

"Come with me, Captain. I want to go over a few things before the hearing. Shepard, you and the others can meet us at the Citadel Tower. Top-level. I'll make sure you have clearance to get in." The Ambassador says leading the Captain away.

"And that's why I hate politicians." Ashley says standing up with the rest of the team.

"Preaching to the choir, Williams." Sapphire adds before the team moves on.

Walking into the neighboring ambassador's office, the team overhears a discussion between two Elcor, a large lumbering brutish appearing aliens that walk in a manner similar to that of a gorilla. Though with a greater ascetic similarity to that of a tusk and trunkless miniature elephant.

"I understand what you are saying, but these allegations are very serious. I can't just-" A deep, monotonous baritone voice emanates from the Elcor behind the desk.

"This is serious. My reputation is at stake. I spoke with the Consort in confidence, and her alone. And she betrayed that confidence." The other Elcor interjects in the same voice as the previous one.

"All right. I will look into it for you. In the meantime, do not do anything rash." The Elcor ambassador warns.