Dragon Effect Graduation N7 Class of '77

The Interplanetary Combatives Academy had gone through a hard year in 2176, with one of its most decorated N7's publicly marring the corp's honor and strict adherence following his dishonorable discharge.

thus, in 2177, the new class began, with new programs and traditions.  Three new recruits went above and beyond the training to become the best of what the System Alliance Navy could offer.  Granted, they had their ups and downs all during training, but these three soldiers picked each other up when they fell, pushed each other forward when they lagged and made all who came to know them understand, the N7 program was where heroes are molded.

Each of these N7 boots later went on to become legends in their own rights, but they also kept this celebration picture near them always.

From left to right:

Commander Jane Shepard, N7 and first human Council Spectre.  Born aboard the SSV Hawkins, Jane Shepard was a spacer through and through.  Following in the footsteps of her parents, Shepard enlisted with the System Alliance Navy in 2172, with commendations from Captain Farraday of the SSV Tyson and the ships newly promoted Executive Officer, Commander Hannah Shepard.  Commander Jane Shepard later would be given the System Alliance Medal of Honor for her heroic actions during the Skyllian Blitz on the border of the Fereldan Expanse and Batarian Hegemony.

Master Chief Marian Hawke, N7 Corsair.  Born to a traveling colonial family amid the Fereldan Expanse, Master Chief Hawke was a devout colony kid, first joining the Lothering Militia and then enlisted as an NCO in the System Alliance Marine division.  Little is known about her private life, other than the possibility of unregistered biotics in her family.  During a suprise attack by unknown raiders, Master Chief Hawke earned the moniker "Butcher of Torfan" in retaliation to slavers targeting local colonies.  Sadly thought KIA in the Battle of Ostagar, Hawke later returned to active duty after the events on the planet Kirkwall with a new title, Champion.

Lt Commander Grey Cousland, N7 Warden.  Another colonial but hailing from the city planet Highever in the Fereldan Expanse, Grey Cousland is one of the few children of the regional Governor Bryce Cousland.  While his eldest, Lt Fergus Cousland is patroling the wilder regions of the Expanse, the younger Cousland caught the eye of System Alliance Warden Commander-Instructor Duncan Anderson.  Even after enlisting with the System Alliance, Grey Cousland continued her studies and preparations to join the elite Warden, a unit charged with the safety and security of the Fereldan Expanse and its citizens.  Later, during the Battle of the Citadel, Warden Commander Grey Cousland lead the ground teams in retaking the Citadel from Reaper forces.

*Artist's Notes*
-Each character was given a color scheme based upon the current events and schemes seen in the US military for the past 20 years.  Hence why Shepard is wearing blue (Air Force and Space Command), Hawke is green for Marines and Cousland is khakis for Army.  i apologize if i got it wrong, call it artistic license.
-yes, i was intentional in giving the Dragon Age character Duncan the last name Anderson.  I wanted them to be brothers in my head cannon.
-and finally, yes, i added another rank to the System Alliance Military command structure.  I would place "Master Chief" above Operations Chief and below 2nd Lieutenant.

Ideas are mine
All characters © 2014 Bioware

probably one of my last revisits to this fandom then devoting time to commissions and pages.  one more pic featuring everyone's favorite legendary apostate visiting one of her many "daughters" across the universe.