audio • 002

[armsmaster]

[ Yet another audio post to the network from a certain Lieutenant Vega. Turns out there's been a Commander Shepard on board the Tranquility right before he showed up. The guilt is a whole other thing that he's not willing to talk about. But what he wants to know... he's gotta ask. ]

Shepard was here.

[ For anybody who's spent any length of time talking to Vega, they might notice how un-Vega-like his voice is this time around. Quiet and controlled and holding down tight on so many other things that want to unleash themselves. The overruling tone to his voice is painfully respectful. ]

People who knew her... you uh-- you mind talkin' to me about it?

Comments

not here;

[suddenlycaptain]

[ She should probably feel worse about this than she actually does.

Hey, someone had to tell him. ]

private.

[darkart]

Why?

[armsmaster]

Shepard was my CO. Greatest soldier I ever met and served with.

[darkart]

Then you already have a fine idea.

[ And enough other people are speaking up that Severus isn't inclined to be very chatty. But before he bails, a warning: ]

She and Javik were killed by the ship and there's an audio recording of their final moments. Someone will eventually show you.

[makedo]

[ there's a pause before he says anything at all, then: ] She your CO?

[armsmaster]

Si.

[ How does he do anything but strong silence when he feels like shit? Feelings and expressing them aren't his forte. ]

She was.

[makedo]

[ another beat passes, before- ] Lucky bastard.

[ is a compliment to shepard rather than anything else. ]

video.

[debts]

What do you want to know?

[ It's actually kind of a non-answer, but Natasha doesn't make that particularly clear. ]

[armsmaster]

[ Non-answer or not, Vega wants to pursue every avenue of information until he gets to the bottom of what went down here. ]

What happened. I know-- knew Shepard. Not exactly one to lie down and give up. Not ever.

[debts]

So you know the answer.

[ Said in a way that's not dismissive, but. It's the bravest people who die. Something like that. Shepard died precisely for all those reasons; for being good, for thinking of better ways than taking it lying down. ]

She didn't give up.

[dogbane]

She led two reconnaissance operations and was an unequivocal badarse. I didn't know her well, but I respected her. I reckon there are more than a dozen people on the ship who'd say the same.

[armsmaster]

[ Weirdly Vega is at least buoyed by the confirmation that yeah, sounds like the Shepard he knew and served under. ]

Yeah, badass is an understatement. I need to know what went down. What went wrong, whatever.

[dogbane]

To be totally honest, no one really knows.

I'm going to link you her last transmission, but it's going to be hard to hear if you was friendly with her, mate. Brace yourself. I'm sure there's others on this fucking ship sending you other information about the reconnaissance as well.

[The link transfers over seconds later.]

[private text]

[sorrycharles]

did you know her?

[armsmaster]

Yeah. She was my CO. Back in the war. Best CO I ever had. You knew her?

[sorrycharles]

I know her work.

[wiped]

I knew her. Not as long as everyone else, but I still knew her.

[kutte]

Why?

[ bluntly, maybe more than he should be. but shepard's a hard topic. she might always be. ]