Re: The Arrival
Given that EDI now seems to be linked to the station's computers, the data will transmit rather quickly to whatever terminal seems the most likely candidate to receive such things, allowing those more familiar with the information to analyze it.
"I'll inform my crew of the situation. Give them some time to get acclimated. I'll also assess the damage to the Normandy and we'll see what we can do to get her patched up and flightworthy again. Thank you, Commander. I realize this is a lot just dumped on you." Julia will receive a salute from Lilith, followed by one from Kaidan as well. "By your leave."
Unless Julia has anything more, Lilith's party will make their way back to their ship, EDI chiming in now and again with directions so they needn't bother any of the station's crew or residents.
"What are you going to tell them, Lil?" Kaidan glanced over at her as they walked.
Her shoulders sagged a little. "The truth. They knew going into this that we were on a suicide run. That there might not be any coming back from this. We survived, but..."
"Hey, there's still a chance we'll see home, right?" He eased closer, lightly checking her shoulder with his. "C'mon. You're Commander Shepard. Impossible is normal for you, right?"
She chuckled. "Thanks, Kaidan."
Hopefully he was right.
***
Once back on the Normandy, the first order of business was taking stock of the damage. In spite of the new plating, the Collector's had managed to score several hits onto the ship's hull. Most of it appeared to be superficial, but there were a few spots that would need patched up. The biggest problem was the hole that had been punched into the docking bay. That was going to need fixed, not to mention the interior of the ship had suffered extensive damage from their firefight as well.
"She held together when it counted, Commander," Joker informed her as she passed the datapad back to him. "Not exactly sure if they're gonna have the spare parts we need lying around but the galaxy's a big place. If we can't find the exact parts, we'll see if we can't come up with something similar. Not like we're going to be making that run again, after all."
"There is that." Thank goodness for small blessings. "I need to talk to the crew." She started off, then paused and turned. "I don't think I thanked you, Joker. You--and EDI--did a hell of a job in the relay. If it had been anyone else, I don't think we'd have made it back."
He ducked his head, tugging his cap down a little lower. "Just doing my job, Commander. But, ah, remember. Gold medals, not silver."
"You just might have earned a few this time." She grinned and headed to the CIC, where she'd requested the crew gather for the announcement. Looking at those gathered there, she took a breath and made her announcement.
"As many of you were aware, there weren't plans for us to make it back through the Omega-Four after we headed in after the Collector's. Thanks to all of you, we managed what everyone said was impossible. The Collector threat has been stopped." She paused, smiling a bit as some cheers piped up from the crew. Once they quieted down, she continued. "Our return trip, however, brought about some...complications. We're still trying to figure out why, but the Omega-Four didn't return us to Citadel space. It didn't even return us to Alliance or Council space. We are, in effect, somewhere else and yet, we currently reside within the Milky Way."
She let the questions and clamor rise up, catching the bulk of the concerns. Holding up a hand, she waited for quiet again. "I wish I had more concrete answers. We are looking into it. However, we are effectively stuck here until we can figure out a way to duplicate the apparent phenomenon that brought us here. Our hosts are looking into it, but this may be even beyond their scope right now. I had hoped to bring you all home after everything. For now, this is going to be home. The station we are at, Peltas-Five, is something of a hub, not unlike the Citadel. They are xeno-friendly but even in my short tour, there are quite a few differences. But I know you. Know my crew. You'll adapt. I know you will." She paused again, looking over those gathered. "Dismissed."
Many of the crew broke off to process the information they'd been given. Some approached her and she gave what reassurances she could. Her team, however, weren't going to let her off the hook so easily. Rather than retreating to her cabin, she headed for the conference room where they could gather and air out their opinions on the situation.
"Did we hear you right, Lola? We're in some sort of...alternate...space?" James was the one to drop the elephant into the room once they'd all gathered.
"Near as I can figure, yes. We compared maps with the information they have here and while the overall remains the same, everything's just...different."
"For one thing, there's no Asari here," Kaidan chimed up. "And I'm willing to bet a lot of the other races don't have homeworlds, either."
"That is somewhat troubling. Though we've managed to function without their assistance thus far." Thane was as quick to assuage the situation as bring up the problem.
"Right now, we're limited to our own data and what can be provided through the station. Interestingly enough, EDI and Legion seem able to access data that is relevant to this...reality in addition to our own. We won't exactly be out of the loop but expect quite a bit more cultural differences."
"What's the plan, then, Shepard? We just sit around? Wait for this to right itself? Or we gonna do something about it?" Knowing Zaeed, he probably was going to get a bit more colorful, but he was getting better at reigning that in. Now if only Jack would follow his example.
"We're going to let the station look over the data compiled when we came back through the relay. They seem to think that whatever happened, happened then. Mordin, if you want to offer your services, I'd like to have one of mine going over what they find."
"Certainly. Chance to study new phenomenon. Knowledge limited. Feeling quite up to challenge after Collector situation."
"Is a puzzlement," she offered up, sharing a smile with the Salarian, who understood her reference. "I wouldn't say they've pretty much given us run of the station, but if you want to get out, stretch your legs, hit the mess, consider this extended shore leave. Just remember that you're still representing the ship while you're out there. And me."
The group broke off after that, save Garrus, who lingered in the room with her. "Not quite the homecoming we were expecting, is it?"
She shook her head. "I'd hoped, after that fight, to just see it all done. Now we're adrift. Like we never made it back through."
"But we did. You brought us all back. Sure, we've managed to take one hell of a detour, but you got us all out of there alive, Lil. That counts for something in my book."
She allowed herself to lean against him, feeling his arm drape over her shoulders. "Thanks, Garrus. I hope we can get through this."
"We will. Because we have you and you have us. Now, you've just turned Grunt and Jack loose among an unsuspecting populace. Maybe you ought to go rectify that situation." He brought his forehead down, tapping it lightly against hers.
"Good point. And I could use a drink." She paused. "We're going to look into supplies for you and Tali. Right now, you probably want to keep to what's on the ship. Until then--"
"I'm a grown boy, Lil. I can take care of myself. Tali, too."
"I know, but you're mine to worry over."
"We'll be fine. Go get drunk." He chuckled, patting her on the shoulder and giving her a little shove to motivate her out the door.
"To new horizions," she breathed softly, following her crew to the airlock.