"Shepard and friends, follow me."
I gave a short command and headed through the CIC toward the stairs. We descended first to the deck where the cabins were located.
"Right, this cabin is for the landing squad. Currently, myself, Kaidan Alenko, and Richard Jenkins live here. Now you do too. You can drop your things here... you won't need them for now."
The girls only gave grim nods before following me. Meanwhile, we headed for the cargo bay.
"Joker, get Jenkins and Alenko to the cargo bay, now."
"You got it, Cap!"
Joker was, as always, chipper.
"That, by the way, is our pilot—Jeff 'Joker' Moreau. Be careful with him; he likes to watch everyone, so don't go running around the ship naked, even if it seems like the corridors are empty. And it's best to check the women's showers for cameras."
"Hey! Cap, I like to peek, sure, but I don't put cameras in the showers! I value my life!"
Joker's voice sounded indignant, but not offended.
"What else..."
Stopping on the stairs, I looked at the ceiling. I stopped quite abruptly, so Shepard, who was walking right behind me, bumped into me, but she managed to react.
"Good reflexes."
I nodded.
"Thank you, sir."
"Yeah..."
I waved a hand.
"Let's get the ground rules straight right now. I don't give a damn what happened where or how in your previous service. On this ship, for the landing party, I am king, god, and father. Even the Captain of the ship cannot give you orders. You can feel free to tell him where to go, though Anderson is a good man and won't bother you with orders."
I continued moving.
"Upon completion of THIS assignment, I can facilitate either your discharge—and not a dishonorable one, but based on years of service—or you can stay and serve under my command. That depends on your wishes... Questions?"
"This isn't a question... more like... Sir, I am very grateful to you!"
Jane said this, and I froze in shock, even glancing back at her.
"Grateful?"
"Yes, sir! I was in the Elysium garrison! You bought new gear for your company back then and ordered the gear they were using to be handed over to other companies. I received much higher quality gear, and thanks to that, I survived!"
I blinked, slightly taken aback.
"Ah... yes... that happened. I remember I had a big row with your supply service back then about why they were buying such crap for the soldiers. They just kept saying they'd already issued an elite company and that it wasn't a capital planet to be buying the latest developments for."
I looked Jane over carefully.
"So, you're saying you survived because of me?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Don't bullshit me... I don't like being lied to."
She blinked in shock.
"Why didn't hundreds and thousands of others survive, but you did? Or are you trying to say you were the only one who got better gear?"
"No, but..."
"You survived primarily because of your skills. And that plate on your chest only confirms it. They don't give N7 to just anyone."
Without another word, I continued the way to the cargo bay.
"So, which of you can drive?"
"I can, sir!"
Orimura took a step forward.
"Then you'll be in charge of mastering this beast. By the time we drop, if it's required, you must know it as well as the spots on your body that give the most pleasure when touched. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
She winced but didn't say anything. She just started toward the transport, but I stopped her.
"Wait... don't start mastering it yet. I need to introduce the whole landing team."
I grimaced again, and two minutes later, Jenkins and Alenko ran into the cargo bay.
"Alright, let's all get acquainted. The Normandy's co-pilot and part-time biotic, as well as a member of the landing squad, Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko. His junior comrade, Corporal Richard Leroy Jenkins. My name is John Shepard, I am also a biotic and the commander of your circus on wheels. Lieutenant Jane Shepard, from this moment on, you are my second-in-command in the landing party..."
"But sir..."
"Alenko, do you want to argue with me?"
I looked at the guy with a very "kind" gaze.
"No, sir."
"Good. Next, Lieutenant Chifuyu Orimura, she'll be the driver of this Turian monster, and finally, Corporal Rebecca Lee. From this moment on, we are all one big, happy family. Follow me, quick march..."
I accompanied my command with a light wave of my hand, and we all walked to a container, which I opened with a special key card.
"In here is unisex armor for a full landing party—that is, for thirty people. So you'll be able to find something that fits. Whatever the supply officers gave you, pack it up and shove it in some far corner of the ship. It's total junk. Take your weapons from here too..."
I tapped the open door of the container.
"...Jane..."
"I'll see to it, sir!"
She looked at me with a gaze that practically screamed adoration. And not just that.
I looked her in the eyes intently.
"I don't know how long we'll be working together..."
I'm lying through my teeth, and I do it often. If these girls suit me, we'll be working together for a very long time. Even if they want to quit the military, I'll recruit them into my corporation's security service, as I've done with many worthy soldiers.
"...but I want this gathering of yours to turn into a cohesive platoon as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, due to my position, I won't be able to spend all my time at training, so..."
"I will draw up a plan and then clear it with you, sir, so that you can train with us at least once every two or three days."
"Maybe more often..."
I shrugged.
"...we'll coordinate that once you have the initial plan. For now, get to work selecting your gear."
"Yes, sir."
Jane stepped inside and, after a quick look around, began issuing gear to her new subordinates. I, watching all this with a slight smirk, went about my business... inspecting the ship was one of those tasks—specifically, the parts that fell under my area of responsibility. Time flew by. Soon, the ship undocked and slowly left the Citadel docks, heading toward one of the human colonies where a Prothean beacon had been discovered.
"Captain Shepard, permission to speak?"
I turned slightly and saw Rebecca standing next to me.
"Ah, Corporal... speak. And yes, when we aren't on official business, you can just call me John."
"I'll think about it, Captain. As for the question... I wanted to know, you tested Lieutenant Shepard, but you didn't test me or Lieutenant Orimura. Why is that?"
"Why would I? Corporal, I might disappoint you now, or maybe please you, but I don't care how the other members of the crew follow orders. Though, if Jane had ignored the order or punched me in the face, then I would have tested Chifuyu. And if she had failed the test too... well, then this landing party wouldn't have had a chance of staying near me, and I would have transferred you to other ships under various pretexts in the near future."
"Sir?"
It was clear that such a respectful form of address didn't come easily to her, but she was trying.
"Sigh... my job is to pick a competent second-in-command and give them tasks. Jane's job is to drive you so hard that if you hear an order to get laid, you start undressing first, and only in the process do you timidly ask with whom and for how long, but the thought 'Why?' never even enters your head."
"Um..."
Rebecca blinked, somewhat bewildered.
"...and would you give such an order?"
"If you keep asking stupid questions, I'll knock you out, drag you to the bunkroom, and have my way with you myself. I'm not some nice old uncle, you know. I've been through so many hot spots... things you haven't even dreamed of. And my childhood was a total pile of shit too."
"Ahem... my apologies, sir."
"Forget it. Now march back to Lieutenant Shepard... no, that's too long. I need to come up with some callsign, or a nickname... something sweet and embarrassing, so that every time she hears it, she's torn between the urge to sink through the deck and the urge to kill me. Anyway, march to Jane, let her deal with you and the others."
"Yes, sir!"
I could see by her eyes that she definitely wouldn't be able to resist sharing my "not-quite-quiet-enough" thoughts with Jane.
"Joker..."
When the girl was far enough away, I addressed the pilot.
"...send me the recording of how Jane reacts to my thoughts about a sweet and embarrassing nickname."
"Sir, I..."
"Joker, I'm not asking you to send me their lesbian orgies, just my XO's reaction. And you'll either do it, or all your secret porn folders will become public knowledge to Anderson."
"Ah?!"
The panic in Joker's voice was extremely pleasant to my ears...
** Perspective: Cargo Bay **
"Up!"
Jane gave the order, and her subordinates immediately began to stand.
"Laps around the bay! Double time! March!"
She set the example herself, running around the not-so-large cargo bay, maintaining enough speed that the others had to put in considerable effort to keep up.
"Lieutenant, permission to..."
"In formation! Now!"
Rebecca didn't get a chance to say anything before the order was given, and she joined the training. She had stepped away supposedly to the toilet and during a short break, returning just as the training resumed. Realizing now was not the time, she shoved all her thoughts as deep as possible.
"Flash right!"
Everyone dropped so that their feet were toward the "flash" and their heads were as far from it as possible. Only Jenkins remained standing, blinking in confusion.
"Jenkins! For fuck's sake! On the command 'flash,' a soldier must drop to the ground, covering their head with their hands, and their feet must be pointed toward the flash! Why the fuck are you standing?!"
"But... ma'am, we're on a ship..."
"Jenkins..."
Jane's voice became very kind, and Rebecca and Chifuyu, who were familiar with her, tensed slightly. Meanwhile, no one, not even Alenko, thought about getting up from the deck; the latter even pressed his temple against it, enjoying the pleasant coolness.
"...my dear subordinate... I've heard of Captain Shepard's methods, you know, and if you don't know, let me enlighten you. To soldiers who get wounded because of their laziness and lack of training, he easily issues a 'wolf ticket.' Do you know what that means? No pension... no combat awards... nothing. Your entire life in the military, all your training, will turn into a puff of smoke."
Jenkins froze, staring at Jane.
"And Lieutenants, he demotes to privates—again, if losses occur due to their stupidity and inability to instill correct actions in their subordinates in combat situations. And while I don't give a damn about your life—you can file a report right now and I'll ask the Captain to sign it—I myself have no desire to be a private, nor to be kicked out of the military. So when I give the command FLASH!"
Jane struck Jenkins hard in the stomach, and he doubled over.
"You, goddammit!"
She grabbed him by the neck and shoved him so that his face hit the floor.
"First, you drop! And then! ONLY THEN! You can curse me in your head! Do you understand me?!"
There was no answer, as the guy was trying to collect his bloody snot from the floor.
"And THIS is what I got for a landing party?"
Jane shook her head.
"Revi!"
Rebecca immediately jumped up and stood before the Lieutenant, snapping to attention.
"Get him to the medical bay."
"Ma'am, I must point out, we haven't studied the cabin layout yet..."
"I'll... take him..."
Alenko stood up from the floor with difficulty.
"...if Lieutenant Shepard permits, of course."
"Permitted. And tell them not to turn him into a pretty boy, just fix the results of the fall. Then both of you back here."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Alenko stood at attention for a couple of seconds, then went to Jenkins and helped him up. Together, they headed toward the medical bay.
"Jane..."
Rebecca addressed her friend and commander once the guys had left.
"...I have some unpleasant news for you."
"And what news is that?"
"They've decided to pick a sweet nickname for you."
"Huh?"
"Well, I ran into Captain Shepard, and he started musing—not very quietly—that calling you 'Lieutenant Shepard' isn't very convenient, but he doesn't want to just use your first name. So he needs to come up with a sweet, embarrassing nickname for you."
Jane clenched her fists and took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.
"As long as he doesn't stick his hand in my pants, he can do whatever he wants..."
"Even so?"
Chifuyu also stood up from the floor and was now looking at her friend and commander.
"Exactly so."
Jane nodded resolutely. In her mind, she smirked, because overall, one could allow such a man to stick his hand in their pants. He was strong, stood up for his own, was wealthy... what more does a girl need from a man? Well, except maybe for him to fuck her senseless.
Shaking her head and driving away thoughts that were more inspired by the past—when she had seen him fighting on a planet against Batarians... covered in their blood and guts... she focused on the current task, deciding she would think about the rest later.
***
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