"We're gathered here to conduct a hearing in the matter of Williams."
We assembled in the comm room. Anderson stood facing Williams, I was to his right, and Jane stood to my right. Off to the side, watching the proceedings, stood Nihlus—he'd decided to observe the hearing.
"Ashley Madeline Williams, were you ordered not to approach the beacon?"
"Yes, sir."
Her voice held a sense of doom. It seemed she believed her career was over. And it wasn't like she was wrong—but knowing Anderson, he wouldn't destroy her career. Cause some problems, maybe. But he wouldn't crush or humiliate her.
"Then why did you decide to go closer to the beacon?"
Anderson tried to show interest, though personally I didn't give a damn.
"The beacon... sir, I'd seen the beacon before, and it was different. So I took it upon myself to move closer and check."
"Check? Are you a specialist in Prothean technology?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"Then how were you going to determine what was wrong with it?"
"I... didn't think about it..."
Williams sighed and looked away.
"I see. Lieutenant Shepard, you were paired with Williams. Give her an assessment."
"Not a bad soldier. I wouldn't invite her into the N7 program, though—her skills aren't there yet. But N3, maybe even N5. Though if it's the latter, it would be very hard for her."
Jane gave a brief assessment, and Williams looked at her in surprise. She clearly hadn't expected that—given that her actions had put Jane in the med bay.
"I see. However, she doesn't follow orders."
"Sir, I'll tell you what they told me when I studied in N7 training: winners aren't judged. Yeah, this time she didn't have the skills to turn it in her favor—though I'd say she never really had a chance. But..."
Jane shrugged.
"...next time, if she learns to judge her capabilities more accurately, she can succeed."
Anderson made a show of grimacing.
"So what? You're suggesting we forgive her? Even though, by your logic, she's a loser—and people usually hang all the dogs on the losers?"
"Sir, I only gave her an assessment, as required."
"Fine... John?"
"I have nothing to add. Even though her actions turned me against her, I can't call her a terrible soldier. For a soldier exiled to a planet like Eden Prime, her skills are above reproach."
I did my best to stay impartial.
"However, I don't support the lieutenant's view on the beacon situation. In my opinion, you can only live by 'winners aren't judged' if you have serious training. Because you're absolutely right—people hang all the dogs on the losers. And since the Council will surely hang all the dogs on us, I think we can hang some of those dogs on Williams."
"I understand your position."
Anderson nodded. Williams shot me an annoyed look.
"Alright. As captain of this ship, I'm issuing my decision. Ashley Madeline Williams, you are guilty of the beacon's destruction and of failing to follow orders. Given that the reports on you are fairly positive, you are hereby reprimanded, with an entry into your service record."
"Understood, sir."
Williams seemed relieved she wasn't being discharged.
"Sir, excuse me, but you told me to warn you when we were approaching the mass relay."
Joker cut in—and he did it just in time, because Anderson was about to say something else, and she wouldn't have liked it.
"Understood..."
Anderson wasn't happy about being interrupted, but he understood it needed to happen. With a wave, he dismissed Williams, and we were left alone.
"John, what do you think?"
"I think the mission went to hell. You already know that. Good thing Kryik is alive—we can prove we're not camels, at least. What kind of animal we'll end up being in the end, though..."
I spread my hands.
"Agreed. And yeah... get ready. You're coming with me to the ambassador. I don't want to listen to his crap alone."
Anderson grimaced. I just nodded.
"Just don't open your mouth in front of Udina any more than necessary. He's an extremely unpleasant, vindictive type. If he doesn't like you, he'll do everything he can to get you out of the military."
"Couldn't care less."
I shrugged carelessly.
"You know I have no problems with money or work, and won't. I'll finally focus on the corporation full-time instead of constantly dumping it on deputies and hired directors."
"With that attitude..."
Nihlus came up to us.
"...I'm surprised you're still in the military."
"The real reason I'm in the military is simple: being here, I can help people. Not some mythical people I help by serving, but the very real people who get discharged over bullshit pretexts. They're very grateful that they have stable, high pay."
I allowed myself a smile.
"And why do you need so many soldiers?"
Kryik looked at me closely. His gaze made it clear: if he didn't like my answer, the consequences would be unpleasant.
"Why? To provide security for colonies in the Terminus Systems—where, in practice, I'm the only legal government. The Alliance doesn't give a damn about colonies like that."
"I see..."
He didn't like my answer. But judging by his tone, not too much—more like: you're some kind of idiot, but a harmless one. I didn't say anything.
"John..."
Jane came up to me after Nihlus left the comm room.
"...Don't you think you should've said something different? Something that would suit our guest better?"
"And why?"
I looked at her with mild surprise.
"Well... he's a Spectre."
"So what? Couldn't care less..."
I shrugged.
"...Jane, that time when I worried about getting kicked out of the military is long gone. So there's no point in trying to wriggle."
"And what about us?"
She frowned at me.
"Did you think what happens to us if you get thrown out?"
"I'll leave you the gear, and I'll invite the ones I like to come with me."
"Tch..."
Anderson walked past me.
"Don't you dare poach soldiers from the military. One thing when you pick up those who got kicked out, and another when you poach those still serving."
"Yes, sir."
I said it with a slight smile, but Anderson didn't care.
"Sir... Ma'am..."
Williams approached us.
"I... thank you for not throwing me under the bus."
In her eyes there was gratitude toward Jane, and gratitude mixed with irritation toward me.
"Throw you under the bus?"
Jane turned to Williams with a slight edge.
"And why would we? We've never done that. Even when you were detained, it was all within regs. Actually, John did it..."
"Actually, I detained her because I believed it was the right call, not because of regs. And if anything depends on me—more precisely, if Anderson doesn't suddenly fall in love with you—you won't be serving on the Normandy."
"Wouldn't want to anyway."
But her voice made it clear that, in reality, she wanted very badly to serve on this ship.
"Sir..."
There was something in Jane's voice that I didn't like.
"...Williams is still a good soldier."
"A good soldier, you say?"
I looked at Jane closely.
"Yes."
She nodded confidently.
"Fine... Williams..."
I stepped right up to the girl and smirked a little too boldly.
"...Strip."
I caught Williams' hand lightly, but she immediately tried to knee me in the groin.
"Atteeeention!"
Jane's shout—and Williams snapped to attention.
"Well? You said she was a good soldier."
Jane grimaced, and the glance she threw at Williams held faint disappointment.
"Spoke too soon."
"Ma'am?"
Williams was clearly shocked by what she'd just heard.
"Williams, a good soldier in your position should've asked only one clarifying question: how fast do you want me to strip?"
Jane said it in a tone that made it obvious: arguing right now was a bad idea.
"And no, nobody would've made you strip completely. John would've stopped you once you took off your armor. That was a simple check, and you failed it."
"I've sent men to the med bay for less."
"That's your business. You couldn't follow a basic order. And to hell with it if John had ordered you to strip when you were alone—but he did it in my presence. That means you should've understood it wasn't just like that."
"You two just planned it!"
A slight, barely noticeable lurch told me the Normandy had just passed through the mass relay, which meant we'd soon be docking at the Citadel.
"Planned it? Not at all. I didn't ask John to test you. That was his initiative after your stunt with the beacon. I would've just ridden you like a rented mule, but..."
"Well, maybe not everything is lost..."
It seemed Williams had decided Jane was the weak link in the team—someone she could pressure a bit. A stupid decision, since Jane wasn't going to go against me. At least, I wanted to believe that.
"Not everything?"
"Yeah. If you get transferred somewhere, then..."
"Oh, that's what you mean..."
Jane shook her head, somewhat disapproving.
"I hope to stay on the Normandy under Captain Shepard. As a commander, he suits me completely."
Williams' eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"That brute?!"
"Heh. You're so naive..."
Jane shook her head. I'd already lost interest in the conversation and decided to leave the girls.
"Alright, I'm off. Jane—once we're on the Citadel, I want you, Becca, and Chifuyu near the airlock."
"Becca?"
There was confusion in Jane's voice, but it was brief. The look she gave me clarified quickly.
"You mean Revy? Don't mess with me like that, alright? Rebecca is Revy, Chifuyu is Chief. What should we be wearing?"
"Casual uniforms. But there are a few concealed vests in the container, and weapons that service members are allowed to carry on the Citadel. Unfortunately for us, those are pistols with a six-round magazine. At least the number of magazines isn't limited."
Jane grimaced at the mention of a pistol.
"You expecting trouble?"
"I always expect trouble. So we've got a few things to do, and you and the girls will escort me."
"Understood."
Jane smiled at me, then turned to Williams.
"Well, I've got work, so..."
She didn't say goodbye—just headed out after me.
"I get it..."
There was sadness—and even anger—in Williams' voice.
"This is because of my grandfather, isn't it?! Because of him?!"
General Williams was a great man who made an extremely controversial and difficult decision...
I even stopped to answer her outrage.
"...and I respect him for being able to make that decision. It doesn't matter how the Alliance—or anyone else—judges it. He saved the people of that planet with that decision, and not everyone could have done what he did. As for what's happening to you—that's a consequence of your actions alone."
With that, I turned and went on my way.