""Hunger is his name,"" said the commander of the ship. "Eden Prime supplies even the army and navy of Earth with agricultural products. If this monster has a ray gun..."

"All the areas of the planet will be burned down as soon as possible," Shepard replied. "But the main thing is that a lot of peaceful civilians, agricultural workers, and farmers will die. Thousands of people. Back on Eden Prime, apart from shotguns, civilians — and not only people, by the way, never needed any weapons. The wildlife of the planet is not so dangerous that it is absolutely necessary to carry an automatic rifle," said Shepard.

"And if no one but us, as an Alliance warship, meets this monster first..." said David Anderson, thinking. "Then we will have to believe that the invasion carried out by this ship is not brief, not exceeding the few hours allocated by its commander or pilot for the attack."

"Although... looking at this carcass... You can't say that. Our frigate doesn't have anything to tickle." Said the commander of the ship, in whose voice there was now a sharp and bitter regret. And impotence.

"Tickle?" — Shepard, having said this in a clearly questioning tone, abruptly straightened up even more. "Yes, sir. In order to tickle, there is."

"Come on, Shepard." — Anderson "clicked" the images of "shrimp" on his wrist instrument, took a closer look. "According to my information, we are not compatible with this "shrimp" in any military confrontation."

"And intelligence, Commander, does not need a military confrontation. It's bad for her." the commander of the landing crew replied. "We won't just shoot at him too much and for too long, but use other weapons. Our. Intelligence. And — sabotage." — Shepard, as Anderson understood from the concentrated look of the assistant, had already "scrolled through" kilometers of texts, hundreds of graphs and diagrams in his memory. "Really, Commander. And to do this, I ask you to allow me by any means necessary." here, Shepard made a well-marked and understandable stress for Anderson, "in the remaining time, bring both the ship and the crew into proper condition. If I have to combine two positions, then allow me, Commander, sir, to combine them not only in theory, but also in practice. By your order, I ask you to temporarily transfer all twelve policemen to my landing crew. If they were here, aboard a military reconnaissance frigate, then let them be useful. Instead of propping up the walls. Captain, sir, you've realized that we're going to have to fight one way or another. And there are no civilian organics on our ship."

"We have the Citadel Council Spectr on board. Nilus Kraik" Anderson said emphatically, without emotion. "He may not be a civilian, although who they are, these Spectr will sort out who they really are by status."

"It doesn't change things. He's on board our warship, not a "pleasure" boat. His rights don't apply here, but turn against him," Shepard said with conviction. "If the aliens do not let us humans into the Citadel Council, and restrict our activities in Outer Space, they have no right to command us, earthlings, because they command us in such a situation...."

"It means to show violence towards us, humans, earthlings, humanity..." Anderson continued quietly but firmly, gloomily.

"And we, earthlings, humans, and humanity, do not like violence..." Shepard supported the commander.

"And we won't tolerate it," the ship's master finished, typing something on his wrist omny-tool. "You've convinced me, Captain. I saw the speed with which the corporal ran out of here. And he noted how he felt about it. You and Alenko have managed..."

"Kayden Alenko." — Shepard stammered, corrected himself, forcing himself to speak within the framework of the statutory army protocol "Lieutenant Alenko is obligated," the XO emphasized the word in the tone of his voice., "be in good enough shape to command effectively and efficiently. Perform officer functions. Instead of lying on a bed in the Medical Bay with an almost constant severe migraine. Regarding everything else, I wouldn't want to specify in any way how I did it, but he won't have migraines anymore. Never," the XO emphasized. "I didn't interfere with the rest of his being. Shepard was silent for a few seconds. — "Adapts. We Normandians will need the full commitment of every person aboard the frigate right now. I guess we have even less than a day left."

"Are you cutting down on the build-up time as much as possible?" Anderson asked. — "The question is rhetorical, don't answer it. Well," The captain bent over his omny-tool, typed in a few code phrases. "With my commanding authority, I have ordered that all your orders and orders be carried out with maximum speed, accuracy and completeness. And I'm sure you'll be able to get all the crew members to do it that way in practice. Well, then," Anderson stood up. — "If anyone can get us out of this unenviable situation... Then it's probably you, Captain Shepard. And — to the whining and screaming... if there are any... don't pay attention. There are no civilian intelligences on the frigate Normandy. Everyone on board knew what they had signed up for. What was it like in the old oath? "To endure the hardships of military service with fortitude." It is a pity that there are no such words in our current oath now."

"But they are certainly implied, sir," Shepard said, standing up and assuming his former tense "string" pose. — "Thank you for understanding."

"If we, the living intelligent organics, don't fully understand each other now..." said Anderson, looking at the "shrimp" that lit up on the screen again. Then ships like this... will bury us without any need for any conceivable understanding," the commander of the Normandy nodded to the commander of the landing ship crew.

"Get started. I'm sure you know what to do," he stormed out of the cabin, heading for the bridge near the Star Map."

Chapter 7. new police appointments. A conversation with Presley about the approach to Eden Prime.

Shepard, keeping the tuning of the "string", went down to the engineering bay. Engineer Adams met him at his main console. He was already aware that Captain Shepard had received special powers from the commander of the ship, so he was not surprised when Shepard asked him to show him the updated characteristics of the main systems of the Normandy.

A half-hour discussion took place between them, at the end of which Engineer Adams made many changes to the system settings. Several of the ship's most important parameters have been optimized, while others have been significantly improved.

After finishing a brief business chat with other engineers and technicians of the ship, Shepard climbed the ramp to the doors leading to the main parts of the frigate and headed up the stairs to the deck of the combat information center.

The policeman standing at the entrance to the deck apparently believed that Corporal Jenkins had exaggerated the power of XO Shepard's influence in his short story and therefore did not bother to come to attention in front of the ship's senior officer who suddenly appeared.

Sheppard pretended not to notice the violation of the statutory requirements, but, taking exactly one step back, he abruptly turned to the offending sergeant.

"Item one hundred forty-six of the Regulations of the Garrison and Guard Service of the Alliance of Systems, Sergeant. Should I remind you?" There was nothing but indifference in the captain's voice, which was clearly followed by cold rage. Not at all, sir! In a second, the sergeant dropped the look of a senior employee resting at his post and straightened up.

"I'm sorry, sir! Ready to be punished, sir!" He clearly sensed the fury of the first mate.

"Weren't you a good entrepreneur before you joined the army?" the captain continued to ask, slightly moderating the dissatisfaction bubbling up in him.

"He ran his own general store in his hometown, sir", The policeman was genuinely surprised that the senior officer of the ship, a paratrooper, was aware of such details of his personal biography. "I had more than a dozen different suppliers," he clarified.

"As the executive officer, acting on Captain Anderson's orders, I am relieving you of your duties as garrison and guard officer and transferring you to the position of Quartermaster of the ship. Now your workplace will be in the hold. There is a warehouse and everything you need to successfully work with suppliers and with goods. The problem with your separate housing will also be solved."

Shepard was about to turn around and head for the next policeman, but he was stopped by an indecisive question from the sales sergeant.:

"Sir, eh..."

"Sergeant," the XO said in a calm voice. "I don't need you in the brig, which isn't on the ship. And not with a broom in hand," Shepard clarified. "You have been given a specific task: to take up a position and properly perform the duties of the ship's quartermaster. You have an hour to receive the property and determine what needs to be repaired, replaced or purchased in the near future. Collect all relevant data from the ship's crew members. Please provide me with a copy of the list. I probably won't be sitting in my cabin-you'll find me on the ship yourself. Either in person or by communication. Do it.

"Yes, sir," the sergeant rushed to the stairs like a bullet, and soon his footsteps were already rumbling on the flagstones of the other deck.

* * *

"Master Sergeant Whitman, sir",— a burly policeman approached Shepard, who was turning from the door. "I am the commander of the police force unit on the frigate. I wish you good health," he gave the customary greeting.

"Hello, Master Sergeant." Shepard mirrored the greeting. "I assume you are unhappy that I have arbitrarily removed your subordinate from his post?

"I would be displeased, sir," the interlocutor did not deny. "You're right, the Alliance supplier has been imagining too much about himself lately. You see, he buys the goods with his own money. I wonder where he got it from, a rear Alliance rat dressed in a paramilitary Alliance specialist uniform." Shepard clearly felt the unspoken clarification "due to a misunderstanding of clothes", "your money in such quantities. The master sergeant's hands clenched into fists that were not much inferior to Captain Shepard's fists. "They took him on a "test" flight, for two weeks, but I feel like this is not a test flight... it stinks. Excuse me, sir," the master sergeant straightened up. He's just robbing my guys. And he doesn't consider yours to be people at all....

"He says they're holed up on a frigate, the flyers. Do we fly high and imagine a lot about ourselves?" — Shepard remarked emotionlessly.

"You're a real XO, sir. To know such..."

"This, Master Sergeant, is not a small matter. For me, anyway," There was a tinge of metal in Shepard's voice.

"I'm glad to hear it, sir. Let me consult with you." The Master Sergeant took out his command reader. I saw you put my sergeant in charge of trading and supply on the frigate. Support. I believe him, I have repeatedly visited his town, where he was born and grew up. They trust him there, he has never cheated on anyone, always gives discounts and sells exceptionally high-quality goods, surviving on only two percent of the profit. Captain, I understand that maybe I'm meddling in something else. But I don't want you, XO, to think of my people as ballast. Whitman clicked the lid of the device, opened the screen. Here, take a look. A list of my suggestions. My guys are professionals.

"I see it, Master Sergeant. And I really appreciate it. It's good that you came to me right now. Shepard said after reviewing the master sergeant's suggestions."

"You know, Captain, to be honest, I feel uneasy. I've been in the army for twenty-five years. I've seen everything. And here... it's like a grave.", The Master Sergeant swallowed, nipping the next words in the bud. And very close... this grave. I don't want this rookie Jenkins to... become an invalid or... something even worse... to happen to him.... He's from Eden...."

"I understand," Shepard said after a moment. "I see your guys don't just want to prop up the walls. Good. Master Sergeant, send copies of diplomas and certificates with your ID to the appropriate omny-tools of all members of the crew of our ship. I think that at such a moment, as a deep intelligence ship, we should not contact even through computers and request clarification on the central database of the Alliance's MSF. It's troublesome," the XO noted. "And those five, the youngest, who still have no professions or specialties other than army ones, send them to the hangar where Corporal Jenkins is currently working. The Ministry of Education and Science ordered Lieutenant Alenko to conduct a cycle of airborne assault training with them. — Shepard did not delay, opened his omny-tool, typed in a message, and closed the lid of the device. As we can. But the landing party must be made combat-ready, Master Sergeant.

"I agree, sir," the master Sergeant nodded. "May I say, sir?"

"Permission granted." Shepard nodded back at the other man.

"Captain, my men and I... would like to express our... common opinion to you.... You just gave us the opportunity to become something more than army cops. And we won't forget it. We will do everything to ensure that our enemies are dead as soon as possible," the master sergeant raised his hand in a military salute, clearly turned around "on the spot" and walked away, heading for the hold.

* * *

"Captain, sir!" A young man in a paramilitary uniform was hurrying towards him, almost dragging a burly military police sergeant who was holding him down with one hand. "Captain, they"-the visitor glanced warily at the escort-"confiscated all my goods and said they would now sell them at cost price. Captain, this is... This is a robbery! And they... They're military police... supposed to protect the law!" he stopped two meters away from Shepard, apparently seriously afraid to approach him.

Shepard gave him a hard look, once again beastly:

"Emphasis. Lying down. Ac-cept! One hundred and twenty push-ups. To per-form." Shepard's lips spat out, and his face turned back into the mask of an Indian god.

Upon hearing the commands, the young man silently collapsed to the floor and began to do push-ups. On the eightieth ascent, he could no longer straighten his stiff arms and sprawled helplessly on the plates of the deck's metal floor, unable to move.

"You. Quartermaster of the Rear Service of the Alliance of Earth Systems," The XO muttered. — "They used labor. Civilians. Movers. For loading and unloading operations. With your product. By doing this. Regularly. Constantly. Purposefully. Forgetting The Oath Of The Civil Service Of The Alliance MSF. You. Robbed. Soldier. The Alliance. Which. And so. They get it. Far from the most. Big. Salary. And those. Nevertheless. They continue to serve. And — do it honestly. Your duty. You. They arranged it on board. A combat frigate of the Alliance of Systems. Debt lawlessness. For two. The past. Weeks. So that's it," Shepard's fists slowly clenched. The police sergeant, standing behind the prone supply man, assessed their size and weight with obvious respect. "All the debts. None of my people. Those who are currently on board. The frigate. To return. To You. Will not be. No. Debts. In front of you. They don't. Stand up! Attention!"