Chapter 158: Dereliction of Duty

=== Summary ===
Sisters Elana and Ana return to their home to find Carlos (brother of Manuel from Eden Prime) hosting a gathering of people, who have come to hear about his visions of “the shepherd”. When the two of them react poorly to this news, the crowd begins to turn ugly before Carlos redirects them towards “following the shepherd’s path”- a chant the congregation takes up.
In the Stockholm Government Hall, Clara argues with Dr. Rossi and Lieutenant Senzke about what their current goals should be: Running a struggling planet or Preparing for the Reaper’s return. Clara is convinced they are dead, the other two believe they are trapped- and either Shepard or Viatrix are the key to releasing them and ascending humanity. They also note that there are groups that are worshiping Shepard, as a savior or a god.
Miranda and Jack express their rage at trying (and sometimes failing) to keep civilians safe from the landmines the locals no longer possess the power to sweep for. Intel says that Minos is going to attack one of the local orphanages for taking in some biotic children. Jack and Miranda say the attackers are going to be paste if they have something to say about it.
Shepard gives Hackett an update on her condition (she’s a huge work in progress- physically, cybernetically, and mentally), and tells him that she does not want to leave the force. That being said, she doesn’t know how to juggle being the Citadel Councilor of humanity, Co-Captian of the Normandy, and mother to Vitarix- so she’s hoping Hackett has some advice for her. Hackett’s response? She should be an admiral- leading an exploratory fleet. In fact, he’s already planned the pinning ceremony.
=== Title Meaning ===
=== Easter Eggs ===
==== Discord Highlights ====
The Reapers going galaxy-hopping, Russian fic combat challenges, and jumping the spike traps which istie may or may not have set. I'll never tell.