"We are gathered here for the hearing in the case of Williams."
We were gathered in the radio room, and now David Anderson stood facing Williams; I stood to his right, and Jane stood to my right. Slightly to the side, watching everything unfold, stood Nihlus Kryik, who had decided to observe the proceedings.
"Ashley Madeline Williams, were you given an order not to approach the Beacon?"
"Affirmative, sir."
This was said in a voice that carried a sense of doom. It seemed she believed her career had come to an end. And it wasn't that she was entirely wrong, but knowing David Anderson, he wouldn't destroy her career. He might create some small problems, but he wouldn't destroy or humiliate her.
"Then why did you decide to approach the Beacon?"
David Anderson tried to show interest, though personally, I didn't give a damn about that question.
"The Beacon... sir, I had seen the Beacon earlier, and it was different. Therefore, I took the liberty of approaching it to check."
"To check? Are you a specialist in the field of Prothean technology?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"And how did you plan to determine what was wrong with the Beacon then?"
"I... didn't think about that..."
Williams looked away with a sigh.
"I see. Jane Shepard, you worked in a pair with Williams; give her a character assessment."
"A decent soldier. Of course, I wouldn't invite her into the N7 program—not enough skills for that yet—but N3, maybe even N5. Though in the latter case, it would be very hard for her."
Jane gave a brief assessment of Williams, and the girl looked at her in surprise. Because she certainly hadn't expected to be given such an assessment. After all, her actions had landed Jane in a hospital bed.
"I see. However, she does not follow orders."
"Sir, I'll tell you what I was told when I was in N7 training: Winners aren't judged. Yes, this time her skills weren't enough to turn everything in her favor, though I'd say there was no chance of that anyway. But..."
Jane shrugged.
"...next time, if she learns to more accurately assess her capabilities, she'll be able to achieve success."
David Anderson made a show of grimacing.
"And? Are you suggesting we forgive her? Despite the fact that, based on your logic, she's a loser, and they're usually the ones who take the fall?"
"Sir, I only gave her a character assessment, as was required of me."
"Fine... John?"
"I have nothing to add, really... despite the fact that 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 actually beyond praise."
I tried to remain impartial.
"However, I do not support Lieutenant Shepard's view on the Beacon situation. In my opinion, acting on the rule that winners aren't judged can only be done by someone with superior training. Because, you are absolutely right, losers are the ones who take the fall. And since the Citadel Council will surely make us take the fall, in my view, we can let Williams take part of it."
"I understand your point of view."
David Anderson nodded, while Williams cast a dissatisfied glance at me.
"Very well, as Captain of this ship, I am delivering my decision. Ashley Madeline Williams, you are guilty of destroying the Beacon, as well as of disobeying an order. Due to the fact that your reviews are quite positive, for the time being, you are issued a reprimand to be entered into your personal file."
"Understood, sir."
Williams seemed glad she hadn't been discharged from the military.
"Sir, I apologize, but you told me to warn you when we're approaching the Mass Relay."
Joker intervened in the proceedings, and he did so clearly at the right time for Williams, as David Anderson was about to say something else, and she wouldn't have liked it.
"I see..."
David Anderson wasn't very pleased to be interrupted, but at the same time, he understood perfectly well that it had to be done. So with a wave of his hand, he dismissed Williams, after which we were left alone.
"John, what do you say?"
"I'd say the mission went to hell... Though you realize that yourself. It's a good thing Kryik is alive; we'll be able to prove we're not the ones at fault, but what kind of beast we'll turn out to be in the end..."
I spread my hands.
"Agreed, and yes... get ready, you're coming with me to the Ambassador. Because I don't want to listen to his prattle alone."
David Anderson grimaced, and I only nodded at his words.
"Just don't open your mouth more than necessary in front of Donnel Udina. He's an extremely unpleasant and vengeful type. So if he doesn't like you, he'll put his efforts into getting you removed from the military."
"I don't care at all."
I shrugged carelessly.
"You know that I have no problems with money or work, and none are expected. I'll just finally take up corporate business full-time instead of constantly delegating it to deputies and hired directors."
"With that approach..."
Nihlus Kryik approached us.
"...I'm surprised you're still in the military."
"Actually, I'm in the military for the simple reason that by being here, I can help people. And I'm not talking about mythical people I help by serving, but those very people who are fired for trumped-up offenses. And they are very grateful to me for having a stable and high salary."
I allowed myself to smile.
"And why do you need so many soldiers?"
Kryik looked at me intently. In his gaze, it was clear that if he didn't like my answer, I wouldn't like the consequences that would follow.
"Why? To ensure the security of the colonies in the Terminus Systems, where I am essentially the only legal government. After all, the Systems Alliance doesn't give a damn about such colonies."
"I see..."
He didn't like the answer. But judging by his voice, it wasn't very strong. On the level of "you're some kind of idiot, but seemingly harmless." And though I didn't like that, I said nothing.
"John..."
Jane approached me when Nihlus Kryik left the radio room.
"...don't you think you should have said something else? Something that would satisfy our guest more?"
"Why?"
I looked at her with slight surprise.
"Well... he is a Spectre, after all."
"I don't care at all..."
I shrugged.
"...Jane, it's been a long time since"
The time when I was worried about being kicked out of the military. So there's no point in dodging the question.
"And us?"
She looked at me gloomily.
"Did you think about what would happen to us if you were thrown out of the army?"
"Well, I'll leave the gear to you, and I'll invite those I've taken a liking to along with me."
"Tch..."
Anderson walked past me.
"Don't you dare poach soldiers from the army. It's one thing when you pick up those who've been discharged, and quite another when you lure away those still in service."
"Yes, sir."
I said it with a slight smile, but Anderson didn't give a damn.
"Sir... Ma'am..."
Williams approached us.
"I... thank you for not sinking me."
In the girl's eyes, gratitude toward Jane was visible, along with gratitude mixed with resentment toward me.
"Sinking you?"
Jane addressed Williams with a hint of displeasure in her voice.
"And why would we do that? We've never engaged in such things, and even when you were detained, we did everything strictly within the regulations. Or rather, John did..."
"Actually, I detained her precisely because I thought it was the right thing to do, not because of the regulations. And if it's up to me—or to be precise, unless Anderson suddenly develops a burning affection for you—you won't be serving on the SSV Normandy."
"Not that I really wanted to."
Except her voice made it clear that she actually wanted to serve on this ship very much.
"Sir..."
In Jane's voice, I heard something that didn't please me much.
"...Williams is a good soldier, after all."
"A good soldier, you say?"
I looked at Jane intently.
"Yes."
She nodded confidently.
"Fine... Williams..."
I stood directly in front of the girl and gave a slightly arrogant smirk.
"...undress."
I easily caught Williams's hand, but she immediately tried to drive a knee into my groin.
"Atte-e-ention!"
Jane's shout rang out, and Williams snapped into a rigid stance.
"So? You said she was a good soldier, didn't you?"
The girl winced, and the look she cast at Williams held a trace of disappointment.
"I spoke too soon."
"Ma'am?"
Williams was clearly shocked by what she had just heard.
"Williams, a good soldier in your place should have asked only one clarifying question: how fast to undress."
Jane spoke in a tone that made it clear to Williams that it was better not to argue right now.
"And no, they wouldn't have made you strip completely. John would have stopped you once you took off the armor. It was a perfectly ordinary test, which you failed."
"I... I've sent men to hospital beds for less."
"Well, that's your business. You couldn't follow a simple order. And to hell with it if John had ordered you to undress while you were alone, but he did it in my presence, which means you should have realized this wasn't just for nothing."
"You two just conspired!"
A light, barely perceptible jolt suggested that the SSV Normandy had passed through a Mass Relay, which meant we should be at the Citadel port very soon.
"Conspired? Not at all... I didn't ask John to test you. Rather, it was his initiative after your stunt with the beacon. I would have just worked you like a rented mule, but..."
"Well, perhaps all is not lost yet..."
It seemed Williams had decided that Jane was the weak link in our team, someone she could apply a little pressure to. A foolish decision, as Jane wouldn't go against me—at least, I wanted to believe that.
"Not all?"
"Well, yes... If you're transferred somewhere, then..."
"Ah, so that's what you're getting at..."
Jane shook her head somewhat disapprovingly.
"I hope to remain on the SSV Normandy under the command of Captain Shepard. As a commander, he suits me perfectly."
Williams's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"That brute?!"
"Hah, you're so naive..."
Jane shook her head. Having lost all interest in the conversation, I decided to leave the girls.
"Alright, I'm off. Jane, when we're on the Citadel, I'll be waiting for you, Becca, and Chifuyu by the airlock."
"Becca?"
A note of confusion sounded in Jane's voice, though from her expression, which cleared very quickly, I saw the confusion was brief.
"You mean Revy? You... don't confuse me, okay? Rebecca is Revy, Chifuyu is Chief. What should we be wearing?"
"Duty uniform, but there are several concealed body armor vests in the container, as well as weapons that military personnel are allowed to carry on the Citadel. Unfortunately for us, those are pistols with six-round magazines. At least the number of magazines isn't limited."
Jane winced at the mention of the pistol.
"Are you expecting trouble?"
"I'm always expecting trouble. So you and I will have some business during which you and the girls will have to accompany me."
"Understood."
Jane smiled at me, then turned back to Williams.
"Well, I have work to do, so..."
She didn't say goodbye and simply headed for the exit, following me.
"I get it..."
Sadness and even anger could be heard in Williams's voice.
"It's 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 respond to the girl's indignation.
"...and I respect him for being able to make a decision. It doesn't matter what the Systems Alliance or other people think of that decision... He saved the planet's inhabitants with that choice, and not everyone could have brought themselves to do it. As for what's happening to you—that is the consequence of your actions alone."
After those words, I turned around and went about my business.
***
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