Mass Effect 3_Aura'anna-Citadel_Council

Mass Effect 3

Commander Shepard goes to see the Citadel Council regarding the war, Earth, the Reapers, and what they have found on Mars.

Unfortunately, the Council - once again - isn't interested in anything they have to say. She's standing the same place where three years previously, she attempted to convince them that Saren was dirty and was behind the Geth attacks. Once again, they were ignoring the warnings, their intel, their expertise. Once again, they were only interested in themselves, in covering their own backsides... and not in ensuring the safety of the Galaxy. 

Shepard realises they need to work together to take on the Reapers. Even Udina realises it. The Council once again, just shoots them down. She watches them leave... but Udina asks for her company in his office. Udina is openly frustrated and appalled by their behaviour - but is quite helpless to do much at the moment.

At the moment, the Turian Councilor - Sparatus - enters and offers Shepard a "back door" into gaining what she needs to help her cause: To essentially bypass the council and go straight to the horse's mouth - the rulers themselves. In this case, the Turian Primarch himself might be made directly available to her - he's trapped on Palaven's Moon, and a rescued Primarch would probably be grateful enough to grant his saviour whatever they require.

As an interim token of support, they are reinstating her Spectre Status, allowing her access to the widest range of systems, gear, and carte-blanch in whatever she needs to do to get whatever task she needs done to be done.

Shepard also speaks further with Udina about their situation, and then goes to speak with Commander Bailey. Unfortunately, when she walks in she sees the last person she now wants to see - that damned reporter al-Jilani. The reporter walks out with yet another attack aimed at her - at least some things never change - leaving her to speak with Bailey and see how he's doing.

But the reporter's not done. Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani is ready, waiting to accost her as she leaves the Embassy level. As she's inundated by accusations, she resists the urge to hit her. Instead, this time Shep decides to use her - the reporter was everywhere, and that kind of exposure was just what they needed right now.

Shep reaches out to al-Jilani with honesty and sincerity - then implores the reporter to ensure that no one is given the chance to forget about Earth. Amazingly, the reporter responds well - showing her fear, thanking her, and effectively showing Shep her gratitude for her work.

James is standing closeby as the reporter leaves. Shep notices him staring out of the window, waiting for her. He's watching the Presidium, watching the skycars flying by... and he's disturbed by how quiet and calm it was there. The discrepancy between what they've just been through on Earth, and then on Mars, and what they are looking at right there, was too much for him to handle. The illusion of peace - and worse, the abject denial - was something he found too disquieting to manage. He leaves her there for the Wards, where the other soldiers were, and she stands alone at the window... not knowing what in the galaxy they were going to do now.


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