Chapter 159: I Promise Not to Kill You, But I Can’t Promise More

=== Summary ===
Shepard can’t wait to share the news with Garrus, but she wants to tell him in person and he’s in meetings.
Shepard calls her mom to tell her that Hackett wants to commission a new exploratory fleet with her and the Normandy at the head of it. Hannah is ecstatic, but asks if she had spoken to Hackett about the challenges she was having with her work-life balance. Shepard admits that while she is very excited at the idea, she doesn't know if she can handle running a fleet. Hannah points out that if she was honest with Hackett, then Hackett has a fair idea of what she can handle- and while it is hard, she should trust herself. Then Hannah suggests that Shepard speak to Anderson for a second opinion before they move on to the joys of baby-proofing for a mobile one-year-old.
Shepard goes to the Anderson-Sanders domicile and asks to pick Anderson's brain about what he was doing  in the lead up to the war while he offers her coffee. When Shepard tells him that Hackett wants her to lead an exploration fleet, he tells her in no uncertain terms that she is an excellent pick. He correctly points out how much exploration she had done during her hunt for Saren, her excellent record keeping, and her natural desire for new discoveries make her a natural pick. Shepard is forced to agree and allows herself to be excited.
When Garrus comes home for lunch, Shepard presents him with sandwiches and the news. Garrus is happy, but asks her if this is something she wants, rather than just something she thinks she has to do. Shepard confirms that she’d rather be on the Normandy exploring than being a politician and promises not to work too much on it before their wedding in a month.
Garrus, Shepard, and Viatrix attend the wedding of Ka’hairal Balak to Khonine Me'zriya, as the batarian people take another step down the difficult road to reclaiming their culture. Despite the stares and hostility of the guests, the bride welcomes them and the groom includes his god-child in the ceremony, much to Vi’s delight.
=== Title Meaning ===
Both couples in the chapter - Garrus and Shepard, and Ka’hairal and Khonine have . . . complicated relationships. They’re vowing themselves to each other, but some days? Some days that vow is essentially “I promise not to kill you, but I can’t promise more”. When you’re dealing with trauma upon trauma, history and mental illness, broken trust and deep-seated unconscious beliefs that the future isn’t real… some days that’s all you’ve got to hang on to to get you through to the next day. But you hang on to it. Because you do love them, and you know it. And if all you can do that day is choose to continue loving them, choose to make it to the next morning no matter what . . . Well, that means a lot more than romance.
So, much in the vein of Ka’hairal’s conversation with Khonine when she proposed: I promise not to kill you, but I can’t promise more
=== Easter Eggs ===
==== Discord Highlights ====
Ragnar the campaign-breaking barbarian, the encouraging nature of eldritch horrors, and being 70% mac and cheese.