Ashley, Jack, and Samara

Feeling surprisingly indifferent about whom she roped into this risky and potentially meaningless operation, Jane rattled off the names of the three crewmates that had gone the longest since joining her on a deployment. Ashley cursed under her breath, Jack threw her arms in exasperation, and even Samara failed to stop a twinge at the edge of her mouth from slipping through her stoic front.

"I thought for sure she was going to drag one of us along," Wrex said to Grunt.

"Why's that?"

"Sometimes I get the feeling that we're just seen as mountains of redundant vital organs," Wrex rolled his shoulders.

"Speak for yourself, old man. If those around you are losing respect for you, then you've got no one to blame but yourself," Grunt asserted. Wrex barked a laugh.

"Best of luck out there," Kaiden clapped Ashley on the shoulder.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Alenko," Ashley demanded semiseriously before speaking up for Shepard. "Hey, Commander," she rubbed her neck, "are we sure we need this many for a potential rescue mission? After all, each additional seat filled is one less to carry some poor, broken soul back out of that toxic oven." She was willing to roll the dice on being one of the commander's low-priority picks for this trip.

Seeing right through her, Jacob snorted a laugh and played it off like he was itching his nose.

Legion spoke up. "Shepard-Commander, your requested squad is distinctly lacking in members that specialize in mechanical and virtual skillsets. I offer myself to compensate for this shortcoming."

So maybe I do have one volunteer after all.

"The lamp has a point, Shepard," Jack said, less than sincere. "In the interest of rounding out the team, you should probably take it instead of one of us. You don't need two biotics, so I'll step down." Jack's courtesy won her a murderous look from Samara.

"Smooth," Zaeed muttered to Javik.

"Maybe you'd like to volunteer too?" Garrus whispered to Tali.

"Keep that up if you want to wake up without your fringe, Vakarian," she responded in a low and ominous voice.

"Legion, your offer is appreciated, but I'm comfortable with my choice," Jane said. "The three of you lucky winners, be ready to drop in ten."

The group dispersed as the crew moved to either get ready or return to their duties.

"Goddess see you back to us safely," Liara said as she took Samara in a hug of well-wishes.

"I have every confidence that we will emerge from any challenges intact," the older asari assured her.

James pulled Jack aside. "Hey, if the going gets tough, just remember your students."

"The thought of leaving people behind is supposed to reassure me in a life-threatening situation?" Jack inquired.

"Just sayin'," James shrugged, "You tend to try a little harder when you've got people to come back to."

"That's very sweet of you, pecs, but I'm not going to let a shitty atmosphere be the thing that does me in; not after surviving what I have."

Ashley grabbed Steve's attention from the terminal he had been working at. "Can I grab some of those cryo ammo mods?"

The pilot's brow tightened. "You think you're going to need ammo mods on a rescue mission?"

"Like we said, could be a trap. I'd rather be prepared."

"If you want, go right ahead." He shook his head indifferently as he retrieved the appropriate component for the lieutenant commander.

A short while later, Shepard was situated in the Mako with her three squadmates. She and Ashley ran final checks as Samara fastened her seatbelt opposite of Jack. In anticipation of the inhospitable conditions on the planet below, both of them had been compelled to don spare armour sets over their normal wear; five-point Citadel Council emblems emblazoned on their shoulders and breastplate.

"I've never experienced a high-orbit drop before," the asari commented to the other biotic.

"Me neither, but as I understand, the L-C over there has, and her shoulders have only been going up since climbing into this tin can. I don't know about you, but I'm taking that as a warning."

Samara did not say anything, but she slipped her helmet on and checked that it was snug.

"Shepard, we're coming up on our window. Is everyone buckled up in there?" Joker's voice sounded in the ears of everyone in the tank.

"Ready and waiting on you," Jane answered.

"Gotcha. Opening the bay door now." The displays at the front of the Mako reflected the pilot's announcement. "Arriving at high-orbit drop window in sixty."

Without thinking, everyone in the Mako tightened their grip on whatever they were holding to brace themselves.

"Dropping thirty... Dropping in five, four, three, two, one..."