And here is the second and last part of the story. Hope you have as much fun reading it as it was fun for Warringer and me to write it!
##################
The White Tower
Andy Cramers phone rang.
‘New Year’s Day, back at work and the phone is ringing’ Andy thought with a smirk.’ Just another day at the office.’
“Chief, here is perimeter security. We just got a ship on our scopes heading for the White Tower. I think you should be notified about it.”
“Why?”
“Because Commander Shepard is on board the ship. And the transmitter the ship just activated says the ship is called ‘Normandy’.”
The phone threatened to fall from Andy’s fingers, but she only for a moment, while her facial expression changes from a smirk to a frown.
“Shepard,” she muttered under her breath, with the phone only picking up unintelligible mumbling.” Isn’t he even able to take a vacation without getting himself into trouble?”
She breathed in deep for a moment.
“Chief?”
“I want scans of it and two of the Star Clippers watching it, before I’m allowing that ship to dock. If its Shepard and a ship named ‘Normandy’ it spells trouble. You know Shepard.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the other side said and hung up before Andy could say anything more, leaving her to steam at being called ‘ma’am’.
Moments later Andy stood up and made her way towards the main hangar, grumbling along the way about Shepard, brigs and zip ties.
“Standby Star Clipper is just launching, second one will take a few more minutes” he heard the voice of the hangar master from the communicator.
“Scan results incoming Chief,” came the voice of one of the Perimeter Security operators of Section One. ”Unknown aerodynamic ship frame, most likely custom built, 63 meters long. We register a strong Mass Effect field, working as engine and shield system, but we can also see two other engines on the wings, currently inactive. Ship is at least partly radar stealthed and has no windows. Two small visible weapon turrets, one large and one small airlocks. Transponder registry code is CI-003 Normandy.”
‘Mass Effect field?’ Andy thought.
“Great, the kitties are involved...” she muttered with a sigh. “No surprise when they have invited him...”
“Chief, we are being hailed by the Normandy. Its Commander Shepard.”
“Put him through,” Andy noted and waited for the telltale click over the connection that signaled that she was put through to the connection to Shepard. Then she waited for his first words.
“White Tower, here is Commander Shepard on the Normandy, could you please connect me to Chief Cramers?”
“Shepard!” Andy yelled into the communicator. ”Can’t I even send you away to take a fucking vacation without you messing it up?”
“I am sorry Chief, I did not know more about my vacation than you did. But it seems I got a nice Christmas present I would like to talk about with you, in person if possible.”
“Christmas present? Are you drunk on egg nog or something? That is more then just a christmas present!”
“No Chief, I am not. I can even show you a picture of Santa Clause. Its quite a strange story, but I think you will understand whats going on. Shall I come over with my shuttle to the White Tower or do you want us to land?”
Andy breathed in deep. Considering CGI, she had a good idea what the Santa would look like.
“If its a sexy catgirl in a sexy little number, I do not need to see it because I see that everytime I look into a mirror,” she said with a growl, eve through she was about to laugh out loud, but that would ruin her image.
“You will dock and than we will talk,” she said, keeping up the light growl. “Alone!”
“Normandy will proceed to dock with White Tower. Shepard out.”
-------------------------
The Normandy slowly floated into a large hangar bay of the White Tower, slowly aligning its airlock with the Towers one.
“Airlock connection established, atmosphere pressure one hundred percent” the hangar master announced. “Shall I call the two Star Clippers back?”
“No,” Andy, who had now reached the hangar, noted. “We’ll call them back when we are done here.”
The airlock opened and Shepard appeared behind.
“Good to be back home Chief, that was the craziest Christmas I ever had” Shepard said and stepped out.
“I’m sure,” Andy noted dryly and looked behind the man who was the bane of her existence more often then not. There was a second airlock, and two catgirls behind him looking out of the airlock Shepard had just left.
“I said that I wanted to talk to you alone...”
“Do not worry Chief, they are part of the crew, they agreed to stay on the ship while we two are talking.
“Bending the rules already,” Andy muttered and then hooked a finger into Shepards collar to pull him after her and into another, currently unused, airlock nearby. Another finger then pushed a button to close it for privacy.
“So what is the deal with that ship?”
“Do you remember what I told you happened when I first visited Jenga? The last thing I did before I left was to apologize, that I just was delusional enough to believe they would build me a Normandy. It seems the idea to build a ship similar to the one from the Mass Effect games stuck.”
“And they are just giving it to you out of the good of their hearts...” Andy noted sarcastically.
“Please let me finish, Chief. They finished the ship a few weeks ago, but it did not worked very well. A number of strange quirks that prevented them from doing a full tests. They reasoned that the first Normandy, which they built after the two ships of the games, was unfortunately not a ship that would accept any captain. So they invited me to test this hypothesis...”
“And?”
“The ships AI recognized me as the captain of the ship the moment I entered. We did a number of technical tests of the ship during the last week, and it works very well. As long as I am in command, at least. So they propose a compromise.”
“Okay, what does that have to do with Section 6 and why should I allow you to keep it?” Andy then asked coldly.
“They will lease the ship to Space Patrol, we will get a crew for it and they will even cover maintenance or upgrades. But they want the technical data about how the ship behaves so they can do better in the next one.”
“Anything else?”
“Think about it Chief. This ship is much more modern than anything we have. Its well armed, its stealthy and its able to do long range operations on its own. It has its own on board repair options and a large hangar. And its for free.”
“The problem is that we know that the Clippers work. They work very well and are easy to maintain. You have to give me more than that.”
“I don’t think we need to worry about maintenance, they have 24 Exocomps in the ship that can do most maintenance jobs together with the AI. And it is much faster than our Clippers, which gives us new options for quick response operations. We might be even able to give CI feedback whats missing and they might integrate it later!”
Actually Andy had long since made up her mind. The Normandy was a good way to keep Shepard out of her hair for longer times at once. And it was always good to have a highly mobile Operative Team out there not based on the White Tower. Much better to have them on the move and able to get into action when needed.
“Just to be sure you understand, if you disagree I will tell them and they will have to find another way. I will not throw away my position at Space Patrol just for a ship.”
Something suddenly stuck Andy.
“Well armed? The ship only got two lasers...”
“Oh, it seems you missed the spinal mount 88mm coil gun. Nice thing, just between first and second deck, Mass Effect boosters inclusive,” Shepard replied with a smirk.
Andy blinked.
“Spinal mount? What were the cats about to do. Fight a war?”
“I think they are in this mindset since the raid on Jenga a few years ago. I have tested the coilgun in the Main Belt, it will shoot two holes in nearly all ships the bad guys have. And then there are the two combat drones...”
Andy could feel that Shepard was enjoying the exposition a little bit too much.
“Okay, stop it,” she noted icily. “Just shut up and let me think. And do not even think of talking before I allow it.”
With that she let him just hang there, while she took her sweet time to let him stew, while she pretended to think about the whole thing.
A few times she pretended to say something, but to then stop herself for thinking a little more. It was after the third time that Shepard started to sweat a little.
Then she took a deep breath.
“You,” she said and pressed a finger onto his chest waiting for a moment to let him sweat a little more,” will get the ship. BUT...”
Holding up a finger she continued.
“I will watch you like an eagle. You screw this up and I will give the ship back to CGI. And you will be put into Logistics and never see it again. Am I clear?”
Shepard swallowed and nodded slowly.
“Yes, Chief. There is just one other thing I would like to mention. We have to think how we integrate the crew into our missions. At the moment they are not even part of Space Patrol, and they will learn a lot about us.”
“They won’t be part of Space Patrol,” Andy noted. “But rather a sort of temps. They will get payed, they will be part of operations and briefings, but not part of Section 6.”
“What do you think about creating a new status as a deputy in Space Patrol?”
“Didn’t I say that, smartass?”
“Was not sure about that Chief. But Space Patrol gives it a formal name and procedure, other Sections might use it later too. I think a lot of Fen would understand the procedure, especially in the Jupiter system.”
“Bah, browncoats...”
Shepard smirked. “Exactly... the wild west of our solar system!”
“I don’t want to deal with this. Go up to Section 1 and get them to deal with this. It is their job and I don’t want any more paperwork. Now get out of my hair. I got actual work to do.”
“Yes Chief, I will!” Shepard said and then he grinned.
“Oh, just one thing Chief. The Normandy is connected with an FTL link to the Interwave. So no communication delays to the White Tower.”
Andy gave Shepard a glare.
“Don’t even think about developing some Colombo quirk or I make sure that there will be delays.”
“Peace Chief, you know me. I work well in an independent group, I don’t need to call home every few minutes like Ensign Jones.”
“At least Jones does not generate paperwork. Because when you call home, it means trouble and doubles my paperwork.”
“I will do what I can Chief.”
The button of the air lock was pushed again and opened, allowing Andy to walk out and away from Shepard and the hangar in her usual way, after dealing with Shepard. Grumbling and her cane impacting on the deck plating a little more forceful then needed.
“And now get to Section 1 and have them deal with those cats.”
Shepard just smiled and left for the Administration area. There were some paper jobs he liked to do. And he knew that others wouldn’t like the paperwork he created for them.
##################
The White Tower
Andy Cramers phone rang.
‘New Year’s Day, back at work and the phone is ringing’ Andy thought with a smirk.’ Just another day at the office.’
“Chief, here is perimeter security. We just got a ship on our scopes heading for the White Tower. I think you should be notified about it.”
“Why?”
“Because Commander Shepard is on board the ship. And the transmitter the ship just activated says the ship is called ‘Normandy’.”
The phone threatened to fall from Andy’s fingers, but she only for a moment, while her facial expression changes from a smirk to a frown.
“Shepard,” she muttered under her breath, with the phone only picking up unintelligible mumbling.” Isn’t he even able to take a vacation without getting himself into trouble?”
She breathed in deep for a moment.
“Chief?”
“I want scans of it and two of the Star Clippers watching it, before I’m allowing that ship to dock. If its Shepard and a ship named ‘Normandy’ it spells trouble. You know Shepard.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the other side said and hung up before Andy could say anything more, leaving her to steam at being called ‘ma’am’.
Moments later Andy stood up and made her way towards the main hangar, grumbling along the way about Shepard, brigs and zip ties.
“Standby Star Clipper is just launching, second one will take a few more minutes” he heard the voice of the hangar master from the communicator.
“Scan results incoming Chief,” came the voice of one of the Perimeter Security operators of Section One. ”Unknown aerodynamic ship frame, most likely custom built, 63 meters long. We register a strong Mass Effect field, working as engine and shield system, but we can also see two other engines on the wings, currently inactive. Ship is at least partly radar stealthed and has no windows. Two small visible weapon turrets, one large and one small airlocks. Transponder registry code is CI-003 Normandy.”
‘Mass Effect field?’ Andy thought.
“Great, the kitties are involved...” she muttered with a sigh. “No surprise when they have invited him...”
“Chief, we are being hailed by the Normandy. Its Commander Shepard.”
“Put him through,” Andy noted and waited for the telltale click over the connection that signaled that she was put through to the connection to Shepard. Then she waited for his first words.
“White Tower, here is Commander Shepard on the Normandy, could you please connect me to Chief Cramers?”
“Shepard!” Andy yelled into the communicator. ”Can’t I even send you away to take a fucking vacation without you messing it up?”
“I am sorry Chief, I did not know more about my vacation than you did. But it seems I got a nice Christmas present I would like to talk about with you, in person if possible.”
“Christmas present? Are you drunk on egg nog or something? That is more then just a christmas present!”
“No Chief, I am not. I can even show you a picture of Santa Clause. Its quite a strange story, but I think you will understand whats going on. Shall I come over with my shuttle to the White Tower or do you want us to land?”
Andy breathed in deep. Considering CGI, she had a good idea what the Santa would look like.
“If its a sexy catgirl in a sexy little number, I do not need to see it because I see that everytime I look into a mirror,” she said with a growl, eve through she was about to laugh out loud, but that would ruin her image.
“You will dock and than we will talk,” she said, keeping up the light growl. “Alone!”
“Normandy will proceed to dock with White Tower. Shepard out.”
-------------------------
The Normandy slowly floated into a large hangar bay of the White Tower, slowly aligning its airlock with the Towers one.
“Airlock connection established, atmosphere pressure one hundred percent” the hangar master announced. “Shall I call the two Star Clippers back?”
“No,” Andy, who had now reached the hangar, noted. “We’ll call them back when we are done here.”
The airlock opened and Shepard appeared behind.
“Good to be back home Chief, that was the craziest Christmas I ever had” Shepard said and stepped out.
“I’m sure,” Andy noted dryly and looked behind the man who was the bane of her existence more often then not. There was a second airlock, and two catgirls behind him looking out of the airlock Shepard had just left.
“I said that I wanted to talk to you alone...”
“Do not worry Chief, they are part of the crew, they agreed to stay on the ship while we two are talking.
“Bending the rules already,” Andy muttered and then hooked a finger into Shepards collar to pull him after her and into another, currently unused, airlock nearby. Another finger then pushed a button to close it for privacy.
“So what is the deal with that ship?”
“Do you remember what I told you happened when I first visited Jenga? The last thing I did before I left was to apologize, that I just was delusional enough to believe they would build me a Normandy. It seems the idea to build a ship similar to the one from the Mass Effect games stuck.”
“And they are just giving it to you out of the good of their hearts...” Andy noted sarcastically.
“Please let me finish, Chief. They finished the ship a few weeks ago, but it did not worked very well. A number of strange quirks that prevented them from doing a full tests. They reasoned that the first Normandy, which they built after the two ships of the games, was unfortunately not a ship that would accept any captain. So they invited me to test this hypothesis...”
“And?”
“The ships AI recognized me as the captain of the ship the moment I entered. We did a number of technical tests of the ship during the last week, and it works very well. As long as I am in command, at least. So they propose a compromise.”
“Okay, what does that have to do with Section 6 and why should I allow you to keep it?” Andy then asked coldly.
“They will lease the ship to Space Patrol, we will get a crew for it and they will even cover maintenance or upgrades. But they want the technical data about how the ship behaves so they can do better in the next one.”
“Anything else?”
“Think about it Chief. This ship is much more modern than anything we have. Its well armed, its stealthy and its able to do long range operations on its own. It has its own on board repair options and a large hangar. And its for free.”
“The problem is that we know that the Clippers work. They work very well and are easy to maintain. You have to give me more than that.”
“I don’t think we need to worry about maintenance, they have 24 Exocomps in the ship that can do most maintenance jobs together with the AI. And it is much faster than our Clippers, which gives us new options for quick response operations. We might be even able to give CI feedback whats missing and they might integrate it later!”
Actually Andy had long since made up her mind. The Normandy was a good way to keep Shepard out of her hair for longer times at once. And it was always good to have a highly mobile Operative Team out there not based on the White Tower. Much better to have them on the move and able to get into action when needed.
“Just to be sure you understand, if you disagree I will tell them and they will have to find another way. I will not throw away my position at Space Patrol just for a ship.”
Something suddenly stuck Andy.
“Well armed? The ship only got two lasers...”
“Oh, it seems you missed the spinal mount 88mm coil gun. Nice thing, just between first and second deck, Mass Effect boosters inclusive,” Shepard replied with a smirk.
Andy blinked.
“Spinal mount? What were the cats about to do. Fight a war?”
“I think they are in this mindset since the raid on Jenga a few years ago. I have tested the coilgun in the Main Belt, it will shoot two holes in nearly all ships the bad guys have. And then there are the two combat drones...”
Andy could feel that Shepard was enjoying the exposition a little bit too much.
“Okay, stop it,” she noted icily. “Just shut up and let me think. And do not even think of talking before I allow it.”
With that she let him just hang there, while she took her sweet time to let him stew, while she pretended to think about the whole thing.
A few times she pretended to say something, but to then stop herself for thinking a little more. It was after the third time that Shepard started to sweat a little.
Then she took a deep breath.
“You,” she said and pressed a finger onto his chest waiting for a moment to let him sweat a little more,” will get the ship. BUT...”
Holding up a finger she continued.
“I will watch you like an eagle. You screw this up and I will give the ship back to CGI. And you will be put into Logistics and never see it again. Am I clear?”
Shepard swallowed and nodded slowly.
“Yes, Chief. There is just one other thing I would like to mention. We have to think how we integrate the crew into our missions. At the moment they are not even part of Space Patrol, and they will learn a lot about us.”
“They won’t be part of Space Patrol,” Andy noted. “But rather a sort of temps. They will get payed, they will be part of operations and briefings, but not part of Section 6.”
“What do you think about creating a new status as a deputy in Space Patrol?”
“Didn’t I say that, smartass?”
“Was not sure about that Chief. But Space Patrol gives it a formal name and procedure, other Sections might use it later too. I think a lot of Fen would understand the procedure, especially in the Jupiter system.”
“Bah, browncoats...”
Shepard smirked. “Exactly... the wild west of our solar system!”
“I don’t want to deal with this. Go up to Section 1 and get them to deal with this. It is their job and I don’t want any more paperwork. Now get out of my hair. I got actual work to do.”
“Yes Chief, I will!” Shepard said and then he grinned.
“Oh, just one thing Chief. The Normandy is connected with an FTL link to the Interwave. So no communication delays to the White Tower.”
Andy gave Shepard a glare.
“Don’t even think about developing some Colombo quirk or I make sure that there will be delays.”
“Peace Chief, you know me. I work well in an independent group, I don’t need to call home every few minutes like Ensign Jones.”
“At least Jones does not generate paperwork. Because when you call home, it means trouble and doubles my paperwork.”
“I will do what I can Chief.”
The button of the air lock was pushed again and opened, allowing Andy to walk out and away from Shepard and the hangar in her usual way, after dealing with Shepard. Grumbling and her cane impacting on the deck plating a little more forceful then needed.
“And now get to Section 1 and have them deal with those cats.”
Shepard just smiled and left for the Administration area. There were some paper jobs he liked to do. And he knew that others wouldn’t like the paperwork he created for them.