Devi Shepard

[Flies by Handles]

   I've put off a more complete write up of my main character, Devi, for too long now. I even gave her an actual name (Dionne), although I still resort to using her nickname most of the time. To those interested, if any, I suggest you first read through the 3 page interview in the links below. The idea behind them was simple: Have a junior publication aimed at teenagers feature an interview with a younger Shepard. This interview was not completed due to an unforeseen event and following a special request by Alliance Intelligence personnel, the interview was pulled from publication.

Imgur Link:

Alliance News Presents

Or:

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Page 3

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There are two defining moments in Devi's formative years.

  The first took place in the month of June when Devi, only 14 years of age, watched her fellow Reds companion overdose on hallex. The sight of a frothy-mouthed, clammy-skinned friend convulsing in a back alley might have soon passed into the deep recesses of Devi's mind were it not for her encounter with another more enlightened friend earlier that day. You see, this older friend had just been accepted into the UNAS Naval Academy. He, a poor ruffian very much like Devi, managed to keep his eyes to the sky and look past south L.A.'s unique concoction of pollutants and dissipated dreams and see the stars still shining as brightly as they did a million years before. They were indifferent to one's social caste and failings, but they made beautiful guides to those who simply held their heads up. And so D walked out of that alley, shortly after the ambulance's departure, and thought of how she might thank FatherO'Neill for his patience and maybe find some way, some bridge, to those stars.

  The second defining moment marked Devi's lowest point and it involved her mission on Akuze. According to Alliance military reports, the marine platoon under Devi's command encountered something rare and horrifying; two fully matured thresher maws that had claimed the land sitting under the Akuze colony. It was reported that Devi sent two squads to take out what was then believed to be only one thresher maw, while the two remaining squads evacuated 35 survivors camped 5 miles from their original settlement. Contact from the first two squads was lost and on the third night in the field a second thresher maw uprooted the base camp Devi had established for evacuation.

  Through pure luck she was the only one left alive. With all the communications equipment destroyed and only basic rations and medical supplies left from the demolished Makos, Devi made her way out of thresher maw territory and eked out a meager existence in the Akuze barren lands. Disoriented, malnourished, and still suffering from the effects of a head concussion, Devi was retrieved 40 days after the incident. In spite of the trauma she was reinstated after a mere six months of medical leave thanks to heavy petitioning from her superior officers and her own pleas. The beginning of the next year saw Devi apply for N7 training. It's notorious attrition rate and severe physical demands appealed to Devi's lingering guilt. The N7 program was something Devi once thought of as the ultimate goal in an Alliance soldier's career. She now viewed it as both punishment and redemption for her failings in Akuze.


   Capable, composed, strong, dependable; these are terms often used to describe Devi by those who have served under her. She is not the boisterous, charismatic leader one finds in movies. Instead, she leads by example and is more than happy to delegate certain tasks to more capable personnel. Those under her command might also find her reserved and not altogether comfortable in casual social settings. They might mistake introspectiveness for introversion.But what will always go unnoticed to everyone but Devi herself, is a persistent feeling of loneliness and anxiety concerning personal attachments that Devi has worked hard at keeping tucked deep inside. She is very critical of her actions and thinking, never feeling any genuine fulfillment in what she accomplishes. The Akuze incident follows her like a shadow and removes the luster of many things she has every right to enjoy. Devi's natural inclination towards self-criticism amplifies what many recognize as survivor's guilt.

  Devi is intelligent though not particularly gifted in mathematics or science. She does take a special interest in literature, history, and cultural anthropology. She has an open mind towards aliens, a virtue not common among Earth's less fortunate inhabitants. Devi likes to think that this openness was ushered in by her first-hand observation of humanity's grimy underside while still living in south L.A. She holds no illusions of human supremacy. Due to her own life events and the teachings of Father O'Neill, Devi strongly believes in second chances. This willingness to forgive has a heavy influence in all her personal and professional pursuits. While some service personnel chaffe under her idealism, her single-mindedness and capability as a military leader usually keeps disgruntled service personnel in line. Devi is also slow to anger, which is a most fortunate quality given her service record.  

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Game Decisions:

ME1 Council: 
Not knowing the true strength of Sovereign, Devi directed the Alliance to
focus all of their firepower on the Reaper. This is a decision she will
regret for the rest of her life.

The Rachni:  They were saved.

What happened on Feros?: The colonists survived.

Virmire:  
Ashley died. Devi constantly reexamines and doubts her motives for letting
Ashley stay behind. On occasion she worries that her decision was due to
her feelings for Kaidan and not the mission objective.

Conrad Verner:  She pitied Conrad and let him off easily.

Bring Down the Sky: The Batarian leader was let go for the sake of the hostages.

Anderson or Udina:    Anderson of course.

The Collector Base:  The base was destroyed.

Suicide Mission casualties:   A complete reversal from the tragedy on Akuze, all of the Normandy crew members survived.

The Geth:  The Heretics were destroyed.

Genophage cure data: She advised Mordin to keep the data for possible use in the future.

Overlord:  David Archer was released.

Kasumi: Kasumi was allowed to keep the Grey Box.

Romance: Kaidan is Devi's official romance. Thane is her alternate romance.