We're going to need a bigger boot.

Kaidan wasn't sure why he'd expected this meeting to go off even remotely well. Previous experience had taught him that it generally didn't, even if the Admiralty Board was less obtuse than the Council. And it wasn't like he could blame them for putting all of their focus on Shepard: having a presumed-dead war hero walking around, working for a terrorist group? Yeah. That was bad. Real bad. Especially if it had something to do with the Collectors.

But they'd cast aside any talk of Reapers almost immediately. There would be no preparations, no planning, no... anything. Not until they got evidence they really couldn't ignore.

It was with that in mind that Kaidan left the conference chamber, a million thoughts spooking through his head and not a word to pour them into.

"Alenko."

He looked up and blinked. "Councillor Anderson!"

Anderson took a few steps closer. He was not in his usual formal clothes - instead, he was wearing his uniform again. "Not for much longer," he said. "I'm stepping down from the Council and rejoining the Alliance Fleet."

Which meant the Council spot would fall to Udina. Kaidan blinked. "Really?"

"Don't tell anyone," he said. "I haven't announced anything yet. But I belong on the forefront of the military, not... fighting my way through a bureaucracy." He crossed his arms. "But that's not why I'm here to talk with you, Commander. I need you."

"Of course," Kaidan said, unconsciously setting his shoulders and bringing his back up straight. "...For what, sir?"

"The board might not be convinced about the Reapers, but you and I know better than that," Anderson said. "I need us to be prepared. And I want you involved in the preparations - as a teacher. Black ops biotics. You'd get the cream of the crop. And a promotion." Off Kaidan's look, he added, "You don't have to decide right now. I won't be switching posts for another few months. But when I come back on board the Alliance, I could use a man like you to teach the kids what's what. To do what the Council and the board won't do."

"Uh," Kaidan said. Shit. He'd just uhed Anderson. "I'll think about it. Sir. I'm... not sure if teaching is really the best life path for me."

"All of your experience is with teenagers," Anderson replied. "This will be different."

"I realize that."

Anderson gave him a firm nod. "I'll talk to you again about this," he said, "Give you all the details. I just wanted to approach you before you went back to your post. Good night, Commander."

The captain had always had a knack for entering and exiting quickly. Kaidan stared after him for a while, his shoulders dropping down. Maybe? Maybe.

[[ establishy ]]