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thompsmt's FanFics
I'm putting in my stories as responses to this post.
I aim to have something that feels realistic, at least in atmosphere for the story. I may get some details wrong, but the idea that FemShep is in our universe is something I aim for.
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Alliance Personnel Introduction Document
Shepard, Amanda Renée
Born: 11 April 2154, Mars Naval Medical Center
Death: 7 July 2183 Over Alchera, Amada/Omega Nebula (Apparent)
Rank at death: Staff Commander (SEL)
Born to T. J and Hannah Shepard, both then active duty Alliance Navy personnel in 2154, Shepard quickly established her preference to be known by her middle name of Renée. Her early life was a succession of having only one parent at a time unless there was a crisis; then she found herself shipped back to her grandmother on Earth on the first transport out.
Her life changed in early 2165, when her father died in a tragic space suit accident that was deemed no fault of his own. Fearing for her safety Hannah Shepard placed her in the Great Western School, a boarding school aimed at the children of Alliance officers in North Dakota, USNA. An excellent student, she was active in various sports and academic clubs.
Following her completion of the Great Western School in 2172, Shepard then attended the United States Naval Academy in an Alliance Billet. Majoring in Systems Engineering, she also excelled as an athlete, competing in Triathalons at a very high level. As an Alliance Midshipman, Shepard received Hostile Environment Training at Fort Charles Upham in July 2173, rather than the USNAN specific training. Based on her class standing, any assignment was open to her, but she selected assignment to SSV FRANCIS DRAKE, an exploration ship, during her senior year. This was despite a request from Alliance Special Forces for her to apply.
Reporting aboard the DRAKE in mid-June 2176, 2nd Lieutenant Shepard was assigned as Sensor Officer and OIC 2nd Landing Team. During equipment familiarization and integration operations on Elysium, her team of seven Marines and ten Spacers were near the village of Tofte when the Skyllian Blitz hit in December. Her leadership, tactical knowledge, and drive for success turned the fighting by the militia at Tofte and her landing team into one of the major points of the fighting. When relived 72 hours after the engagement started, every regular was wounded, but only two died of wounds in action. Of the local militia, no deaths were reported.
Her status as a popular hero led to her being forced into the Alliance Special Forces Program. At graduation in 2177, she was noted as being the top “Boot” Special Operator, rated at the N4 level, and meritoriously promoted to Staff Lieutenant. The next four years saw her in both operational and staff roles with Alliance Special Forces. In 2181, she attended Advanced Special Operator Course, with an N7 MVC, and holds a record as the youngest person to achieve the coveted N7 MVC. She returned to operational service for the next year, until promotion to Lieutenant Commander with orders to the Prospective Starship Command Officer School (Perisher) in October 2182.
After graduating Perisher in December 2182, she reported aboard SSV NORMANDY as Executive Officer under the legendary Captain David Anderson. In early January 2183, she led the ground detachment to recover a recently discovered Prothean Beacon on Eden Prime. A force of Geth troops were in the area, leading to the beacon being damaged when it was accidentally activated by Lt. Cdr. Shepard.
Political machinations on the Citadel led to it being discovered that Council Agent Saren Arterius was behind the Geth landing on Eden Prime. Lt. Cdr. Shepard was assigned to bring the rouge agent to justice, and was seconded to Special Tactics and Reconnaissance. This mission required her to relieve Captain Anderson as CO of Normandy. Major worlds visited at this time include Therum Knossos/Artemis Tau, Noveria Pax/Horse Head Nebula, and Feros Theseus/Attican Beta. During a daring raid on the HQ of the rouge agent jointly conducted with the weakened 3rd Regiment, Salarian STG, Lt. Cdr. Shepard placed a nuclear demolition device to destroy Saren’s primary support facility, at the additional loss of only one crew member, Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams. The final element of her campaign against Saren was following him to Ilos under questionable circumstances that have been quashed by Admiral Hackett. Shepard managed to arrive at the Citadel through a Prothean backdoor, and confronted Saren in the council chambers, leading to the rouge agent’s death, and the destruction of his supporting Geth fleet.
After a few interviews and some down time following the battle at the Citadel, Shepard’s impending promotion to Staff Commander was announced. Because of ship losses, NORMANDY was assigned to sensitive patrol routes in the Terminus Systems. Investigating a distress call over Alchera, Amada/Omega Nebula, NORMANDY was attacked by an unknown large warship. Shepard and 20 others were lost with her. Staff Lieutenant Alenko, the Marine Detail Commander, was the senior survivor.
UPDATE: In 2185, Staff Commander (SEL) Shepard apparently resurfaced, with reports of her appearing on Omega Sahrabarik/Omega Neubla, at the destruction of the Blue Suns prison ship PURGATORY, Illum Tasale/Crescent Nebula, and other locations in the Terminus Systems in the company of known operatives of the shadowy Cerberus organization. Councilor Anderson met privately with her in the Alliance Embassy on the Citadel, and Admiral Hackett has vouched for her loyalty.
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Interview with Renée Shepard
For Immediate Release
Filed by Emily Wong
EMILY WONG is sitting in front of the camera, with an empty chair beside her. It’s facing WONG’s at an angle.
Emily Wong: Good evening, I’m Emily Wong with Citadel News Net. Tonight, we welcome Lt. Commander Shepard of the Systems Alliance and the hero of the recent Geth Attack on the Citadel.
COMMANDER SHEPARD enters. She’s a tall, athletic woman in the blue trimmed gold of an Alliance officer, with her red hair worn in a bob. WONG rises to shake SHEPARD’s hand, and they both get seated in the chairs.
Wong: Commander Shepard, I’d like to welcome you to tonight’s program here, and ask a few questions. I promise this won’t be as dishonest as a previous interview you were in.
Renée Shepard: (Laughs) Thanks Ms. Wong.
Emily Wong: You’re the officer personally named by Admiral Hackett as the deciding factor in the recent battle at the Citadel, and you are the first human to be named an agent of Council Special Tactics and Reconnaissance. People would love to know more about the Woman of the Hour here. And that’s why we’re here tonight.
Shepard: Thanks! On the whole, it’s been quite interesting to suddenly become a celebrity. I did have some exposure to the whole media circus for defending the village of Tofte back on Elysium, but I got shuffled off to the Special Forces shortly after that. I mean, I did a few interviews back then, but they were more perfunctory than anything else.
Wong: Alright, it’s common knowledge that you’re second generation Alliance. Did your parents have any input into your decision to enlist?
Shepard: Some. I mean, there was influence, but I really had my own choice. If there was anything that persuaded me to join, it was the raid on Mindoir. I only saw the public news releases, but there was enough to persuade many of my graduating class that joining the Alliance was the way to defend ourselves from the threat from beyond. The investigative team that followed the Marines in-their footage is still suppressed on the grounds that it would provoke a massive outrage on Earth.
Wong: That’s quite interesting. I’m not sure I agree with your statement-
Shepard: I don’t set policy at that level. I still try to be a professional officer.
Wong: Of course. Of all the choices you’ve made recently, which was ones were hardest?
Shepard: Hardest? I think it was letting Kate Bowman and a few other engineers die over Terra Nova. The training I’ve received, that you go to take out terrorists, but ignore hostages, made that a difficult decision to make, and seeing that room with a bomb and burnt bodies, is just difficult.
Wong: That’s a surprise. I would have thought leaving Gunnery Chief Williams behind on Virmire would have been the most morally trying.
Shepard: Not really. We all knew the risks going into Virmire. Our mission was to stop Saren at all costs. Ash was one of the best people I’ve worked with in combat, and her death was a tragedy. Accepting the risk of going into combat is one of the millions of regretable things that happen in the service. Chief Williams, Corporal Jenkins, Service Chief Buckholtz, Serviceman Buckley, and these are just a few of the people I’ve seen die.
Wong: (Visibly shaken) Those last two; who are they?
Shepard: Those were the ones who died in action from my unit on Elysium. Chien-lu Buckholtz was my leading NCO and senior Marine. Joe Buckley was a communications tech who volunteered to stay in place for a trap. A good number of pirates went down with him.
Wong: (Regaining her composure) What about the device used on Virmire- doesn’t that violate the Citadel Conventions?
Shepard: My orders were quite clear, and both Captain Kirrahe and I believed it was the best choice available. Saren, in addition to his army of Geth, we found he was setting up a facility to cure the Krogan Genophage. I don’t know about you, but the Krogan were bad enough the first time the Council had to fight them. I don’t want to see Stillwater over run by Krogan looking for vengeance against the galaxy.
Wong: I’m unsure I agree with you, but you did what you thought was best. I’m really not trying to be a hostile interviewer here. It did come up to my producer that people were wondering if Chief Williams might be related to General Williams of Shanxi infamy?
Shepard: The Chief was the General’s granddaughter, and was the best straight up fighter I’ve known. She and her family do not deserve the black-balling due to an ancestor’s decisions. Everyone deserves a chance.
Wong: That’s a thoughtful defense. And now we’ll get back to you; so how were you selected for Special Forces?
Shepard: A rather long story. When I was almost done at Annapolis, I had the option of any section of Alliance service. I did get to see my file a few years back, and I was noticed then as being an exceptional candidate for SF at that point. However, something attracted me to being in the Exploration Service. It might have been the romance of being one of the first people to find new worlds. However, after the fighting on Elysium, I was approached by a Staff Commander, and told that it would be in my best interest to enter the Special Forces program. He gave me his contact information and walked out of the sick bay. A day or two later, I called him up, and told him I was volunteering. His response was, “Good, I didn’t have to volun-tell you.” It’s still kind of surreal.
Wong: Continuing on, it is known that several members of your team on board an Alliance starship are extra-terrestrials. Do you care to explain their presence?
Shepard: Certainly. Who would you like me to start with?
Wong: Let’s start with the Krogan.
Shepard: Urdnot Wrex actually came aboard with information relating to Saren, and I believed his knowledge of much of the shadier side of the galaxy would come in useful in the future. He left to return to Tuchanka shortly after the relief of the Citadel fleet.
Wong: The Quarian?
Shepard: Tali’Zorah nar Rayya was yet another informant we found, and she provided much of the final piece of evidence that Saren was working with the Geth and engineered the attack on Eden Prime. Her superb knowledge of technical systems proved to be an asset to Normandy during the mission. If she wanted to come to the Alliance, I would personally sponsor her for admission. However, she does have a commendable loyalty to her home and people-something we all can support.
Wong: That’s quite an endorsement for a member of your crew.
Shepard: What can I say; I’ve always been trained to support good people for advancement and recognition.
Wong: That’s true. Now, what about Garrus Vakarian, your Turian?
Shepard: Mr. Vakarian was the C-Sec officer who was investigating Saren before Eden Prime, and offered his information. His combination of combat skill, technical ability, and knowledge of the Citadel proved vital during this mission.
Wong: That brings us to our final member of your team, Dr. T’soni.
Shepard: Liara we first found out about after the investigation we conducted on the Citadel. Her mother, Matriarch Benezia, was a major supporter of Saren’s, and we wanted as much information as possible on the Turian and his allies. When we finally found her, it was unfortunate that she had not communicated with her mother recently. Years in fact. Liara’s knowledge of the Protheans gave us an idea of what Saren might have been after, plus she has extensive knowledge of the region we travelled through from archeology digs. Unfortunately, we were forced to kill Benezia with Liara present at Noveria. Also having lost a parent, Liara’s method of handling her death was excellent. She chose to remember her mother at her best, not taken into the madness Saren strove to create.
Wong: That’s an interesting response to tragedy. And what about your final team member, since we already spoke about Chief Williams.
Shepard: Lt. Alenko, right? Well, the Lieutenant is an excellent officer, and one of the best biotics in the service. We need more men like him in service.
Wong: Well, were about out of time now. Any last items you’d like to say, Commander?
Shepard: Certainly. I’m honored to be assigned to be humanity’s first agent for the Council, and I strive to be the best representative for our people on the galactic stage. Thank you for this opportunity.
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Blue Interlude
Between Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2
One week after the events of Mass Effect, Arcturus Station late afternoon station time.
A tall, spare woman, with a prominent nose, and grey hair walked out of the elevator into one of the high security docks at Arcturus Station. The Marine sentries immediately came to attention upon seeing the gold stripes of a Captain on her shoulders. The first one scanned her, an attaché case, and three quarter meter tube she carried with the omni-tool on his left arm as his colleague covered them from a few meters away.
“You’re clean, Captain, uh, Shepard.” The scanning marine informed her, “Are you rel-“
“The Lieutenant Commander is my daughter, to answer your question, Private,” was her sharp retort. “And this is on official business.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m contacting the Normandy right now. And, do you currently have a command?”
“Not yet.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied as he put the last touch onto the brief data spurt going to the ship’s VI.
Captain Shepard proceeded up the bay, to the brow to the forward airlock. Waiting for it to cycle, the flat voiced, slightly feminine VI announced, “Captain, Systems Alliance, Arriving,” followed by two sets of chimes; ding-ding, ding-ding.
Entering the space just behind the airlock, a young officer stood, and greeted her, “Commodore, the Captain will see you in her state room. I’m Lieutenant Moreau, Normandy’s Chief Helmsman. Just follow me.”
“Of course. “ The pair set off walking down the CIC passageway. Noticing the slight limp he walked with, Captain Shepard spoke up and asked, “Lieutenant, were you recently injured?”
“No, ma’am,” Joker sighed, “I have Vrolik’s syndrome, and despite that I’m the best damn pilot in the fleet. I dropped our Mako into a 20 meter space at Ilos. Ma’am”
“Right, I remember hearing something about you. Interesting set up in this CIC. Can’t say I’m much of a fan of this setup.”
“Err, you’re not the first who’s said that, Captain,” as they walked past the navigation display in the aft section of the CIC, “Rear Admiral Mikhailovich gave us a bad review a couple of months ago. The Skipper gave him her best effort. . .”
“Lieutenant, I’ve been around enough to know how officious seniors can act around equipment they don’t like. I’m sure even in wet navies that was a problem.”
“Right, ma’am. Now, down this ladderwell, and we’ll be in the accommodation deck.” The Marine sentry saluted, as they went down. “On the left is the captain’s cabin. I’m sure you’re quite ready to see your daughter, ma’am.”
She rapped twice on the door, and a cool voice answered, “Enter!” and Hannah Shepard went into see her daughter.
“Mom! Ma’am!” Renee Shepard leapt up in a bit of surprise, and took the tube and attaché case from Hannah. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, a couple of things dear,” was Hannah’s reply with a brief smile coming across her face. “First, I’m here in an official capacity. Admiral Hackett asked me to bring a few pieces of news down for you that he felt were best delivered in person. Second, I’ve got something that was supposed to go to David Anderson, as the Captain of this ship, and third, how could I resist a chance to see my daughter.”
Renee blushed deeply at the last comment, and replied, “So why did he ask you?”
“Well, he figured that with our schedules, we won’t get much chance to meet anytime soon, and it’s a bit of a favor to both of us. I’ve got some very important news for both you and me here.”
“Right. Would you like to meet my officers and team for dinner? We’d all be honored to have you in our wardroom.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve not had to preside at a wardroom table, so why not?”
“Not a problem, Mom. I’ll just send the message to everyone.”
****
A little over an hour later, the senior staff of the Normandy assembled at the wardroom table. As for long standing tradition, they stood behind their seats. Lt. Pressly stood at the immediate left, instead of his usual right. Lt. Adams was displaced down a seat on the left with Chackwas on the right. Lt. Alenko was next, with Dr. T’soni across from him. Tali’zorah and Garrus were the final pair at the table, with plates of dextro-amino acid food already set out for them.
Just after 1700, Captain and Lt. Commander Shepard entered. The Lieutenant Commander took her seat at the head of the table, as the Captain took hers at the right of the head, and the Lieutenant Commander nodded for the mess to take their seats.
The meal progressed through the salad, soup, and main courses, and the ensuring small talk. The non –humans found Captain Shepard’s talk of human major starship life interesting, while she found some of their commentary on customs for formal dinners fascinating. The Alliance officers regarded this as a chance to catch up on the gossip that pervades any organization.
At this point, Commander Shepard, signaled for everyone’s attention, “Right, the main reason we’re here is the Captain, my mother, has some thing’s she’d like to present. You’ve got the floor Mom.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. First, I’d like to present this picture. It shows the old American cruiser Normandy being overflown by your starship.” The unrolled painting showed a narrow ship with a small single mount gun in the bow and a large superstructure that midway up canted back with hexagonal panels on the angled section being over flown by the familiar image of the SSV Normandy. “We all know it’s not realistic, but it’s an old tradition in aerospace and nautical art.”
“Thank you, Captain,” was the reply from Pressly, “As the Normandy’s wardroom, we’re proud to have this as a token of the past of our name.”
“Continuing, I’d like to you and Mr. Pressly to stand up, Renee,” Captain Shepard contined. They did, and the Captain handed a folder to Pressly. “Open it up, and please read it.”
“Erm, ah, To all who shall see these presents, greeting:”
“GREETINGS,” came the shouted response from the assembled officers.
“Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of Amanda Renee Shepard I do appoint her a Staff Commander in the Systems Alliance Navy to rank as such from the Sixteenth day of July 2183. This Officer will therefore carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the office to which appointed by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging.
And I do strictly charge and require those Officers and other personnel of lesser rank to render such obedience as is due an officer of this grade and position. And this Officer is to observe and follow such orders and directives, from time to time, as may be given by me, or the future Heads of State, or other Superior Officers acting in accordance with the laws of the Systems Alliance.
This commission is to continue in force during the pleasure of the Head of State of the Systems Alliance for the time being, under the provisions of those Laws relating to Officers of the Systems Alliance Navy and the component thereof in which this appointment is made.
Done at the Arcturus Station, this Fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord Two-thousand One Hundred-Eighty Three and of the Systems Alliance the Thirty-Fourth.”
They started clapping, and Alenko called up to the bridge. A swift and joyful announcement on the 1MC brought everyone else onboard around the small table, turning the formerly quite dinner into a small crowd of noise. At the center of it all, Hannah pinned the insignia on her blushing daughter.
“Since I know you all want to hear a speech on this,” Renee started as she was trying to calm everyone down, “And yes, smart remarks will be met with the full powers to punish lese majsete at my command.” A gale of laughter swept the room. Renee continued, “I am the most surprised to receive this promotion of anyone. I thought that getting sent over to the Council would leave me at a dead end as far as promotions go, but I am surprised. I find it to be another vote of confidence in my abilities. But it’s rather embarrassing to almost be at the point of being equal to your own mother, who has over thirty years experience. Thank you all for your appreciation, and please, cary on as normal.” The crew left, leaving the command party at the table. “Mom, do you have anything you’d like to share?”
“Yes. I was informed today that I am assigned to take command of the next dreadnought the Alliance is to build, the Orizaba. Her first steel is going to be cut next week, but I am to report as the prospective Commanding Officer before the end of November. My friend at Personnel Command showed me the orders.”
Adams interjected, a rarity from the rough-hewn engineer, “Captain, from what I’ve heard from you tonight, you’re ‘friends’ with about half the senior officers in the Alliance. I would be surprised if you’ve got any enemies.”
Laughing, she responded, “Well, when you’re a from the mess decks up spacer, you meet quite a few people.”
“Right, right, that’s enough. We’ve got a dessert here, and we can call this adjourned,” Renee moved to end this side of conversation.
The dessert was a cherry pie for the levo-amino acid diners, with some sort of popular Turian treat provided for Garrus and Tali. The conversation was quite a bit lighter hearted at this point, with more than a few jokes passing back and forth.
As it all ended, Hannah, touched Renee’s elbow, and asked, “Can we speak, privately, after this is done?”
“Of course,” was Renee’s whispered reply to Hannah’s request. When the desert and coffee were finished, the guests were all dismissed, and went off to their ususal places, and Pressly left the ship to see his family in the services section of the station. Hannah and Renee walked to the small stateroom for the commanding officer.
Once the door was shut, Renee asked the obvious question, “So are you speaking here as a senior officer, or as my mother?”
“Your mother, for once,” was Hannah’s curt reply. “I’ve known you for over thirty years, and I noticed something about you and that Asari, what’s her name again?”
“Liara, Dr. Liara T’soni, Mom. And I’m not even thirty yet!”
“Right. You were looking at her like you did around Edward, that young man you broke up with back in seventy-seven, when you graduated from Special Forces school. It’s obvious to me that you’re carrying on with here. And I’m counting your in-utero time, thank you very much!”
“Mother-“
“Don’t ‘mother’ me. You’re concerned about me approving you having a romantic relationship with a non-human. Don’t try and protest, that’s what I am sure you think. To be honest, right now I’m happy that you’re showing interest in somebody. And from all the lurid rumors on the extranet that Asari can reproduce with anyone, I wouldn’t mind getting blue granddaughters. So will you properly introduce us?”
“Right, Mom,” Renee responded in a bit of shock. Regaining her composure, she pressed the button on her desk to page Liara. “Liara, I’d like you in the captain’s cabin at your first convenience, for a social item.”
With the rap on the door, Renee touched the pad for it to open, and Liara walked in. “Mom, I’d like to introduce Dr. Liara T’soni. Liara, this is my mother, Captain Hannah Shepard.”
“It’s nice to meet you Captain Shepard. Your daughter has been a most interesting person to travel with.”
“And you Doctor. But call me Hannah. So what brought you into this ship?”
“Hannah, you can call me Liara if we’ll be on that sort of basis,” Liara spoke softly, “My mother, Matriarch Benezia, was one of Saren’s top lieutenants, and I was wanted so the Council could find out about her intentions. I am also an expert on the Prothean extinction, and we found that Saren was interested in that event, my expertise became mission necessary.”
“And what happed to your mother?” Hannah asked.
“Well, we had to kill her. She’d been brainwashed into believing Saren’s goals, and knew it, and requested we kill her. It was hard on all of us,” Renee responded.
“I do not remember her as the maniac she died as, but as the woman she was in my youth,” Liara gave her soft response. “It’s a tragedy about what happened, but even the strongest of us can fall. And she was very strong.”
“And when exactly was your youth?” in a manner of a question being asked where the asker knows that she doesn’t want to want to know the answer, but has to ask anyhow.
“I’m 106 years old. And those are Earth years,” Liara answered. “Is there some sort of taboo I am violating?”
“Let’s just say that among humans, 106 years is still considered to be rather old. And if you were Human, it would be presumed that I was after your property by outliving you. The age issue between Asari and Humanity is another one of the issues we’re confronting as humanity moves into the galaxy,” Renee answered.
“I see,” Liara answered. “What else is there for us to talk about?”
“Well, I would like to know my future daughter-in-law,” Hannah responded.
“Are you implying-“ Liara tried to reply, her mind racing with the ideas she had about human society, romantic tradtions, and reproduction.
“Mom is one of those people who expect there to be some sort of recording of relationships that progress past a certain point,” Renee responded, “I’m sure that we’ll be together long enough for something like that to happen.”
“I see.” Liara answered. Hannah took that as a chance to start asking all sorts of questions about Liara, some that seemed silly. It was much of the meeting someone who you know cares deeply about sort of questions.
Noting the clock, Hannah stood, and said, “Well, it’s getting late, and you’re due to leave soon. It’s best I get back to the quarters area in the station. It was nice seeing you, and a joy to meet you, Liara.”
“And you as well, Hannah,” Liara replied, smiling and finally feeling confident.
“It was great to see you as well, Mom, and I’m very happy that you and Liara hit it off so well,” Renee replied. The trio walked up the ladder, and down the CIC to the main airlock, and said their goodbyes. When the VI announced that Hannah was leaving, Liara and Renee went back to the captain’s cabin.
“That was quite a bit better than the last time we met one of our parents!” Renee exclaimed as soon as the door was shut, and they embraced.
“I know. I just feel, well, a bit pressured,” Liara responded, “I don’t know what your mother actually wants from us.”
“Well, she’s always wanted me to be happy. And right now, I’m happiest with you.” Renee said, right before embracing her favorite Asari very tightly, and moving to the bed.
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