ARF (Asari Republic Fleet): Lucian's Compass, Day: 1095

"Mother come quick! I think I found something!" the PA in Benezia's captains cabin blared annoyingly, waking her from her slumber.

"Ughhh." moaned the nearly thousand year old Matriarch rather uncouthly into her pillow, Goddess above I love my daughters unbridled enthusiasm, but for Athame's sake! and my sanity, she needs to learn to tone it down... But she'll probably be a matron by the time she calms down and by then I will have been long dead... Please don't let my little wing turn out like her father, one Aethyta in this galaxy is already more than enough, I shall not think it could handle two. Getting out of bed Benezia slips on a sheer pink silken robe that leaves nothing to the imagination and looks in her state rooms mirror. Is this a bit much? Well my shift doesn't start for another six hours so technically I'm off the clock... And my daughter did make it sound like an emergency. So fuck it. Let the maidens be jealous, I'm too old to care about the whims and fancies of others. Closing her robe and slipping into her slippers Benezia exited her cabin and headed for the bridge.

I hope she's found something more interesting than another supernova remnant, The matriarch mused while waiting for the elevator to reach the bridge. Their nebula's may inspire the poets to write scriptures dedicated to their beauty, but I'm nine hundred and fifty two. I've been everywhere and seen everything. Goddess I even knew Aria T'Loak before she became the Pirate Queen of the Terminus. She was such an adorable child, and from good stock, it's a shame she threw away her inheritance for a life of crime and savagery. After tapping a few keys on the bridge doors hap-tic interface it opened with a hiss. But I guess the Maiden stage affects everyone differently... I wonder if she still thinks her relationship with Councilor Tevos is still secret?... I guess you could say Tevos, broke omega's one rule... And Aethyta said I didn't have a sense of humor...BY THE GODDESS WHAT IS EVERYONE DOING ON THE BRIDGE AT THIS HOUR!?

Looking around the circular shaped bridge Benezia witnessed a sea of purple and blue crests, all of them excitedly bobbed up and down every time the main screen flashed white. "What is the meaning of this?" The matriarch sternly boomed over the ocean of Maidens and Matrons. "Why aren't you at your posts?"

A wave of gasps and silent hush's descended over the crew as they all snap off crisp salutes to their captain. "Matriarch, we were just..

"Silence!, Everyone back to their stations! Now!"

In a mad dash the crew rushed to their posts and moment's later the Matriarch had restored order. Taking seat in the command chair Benezia noticed her crews nervous glances. It's like they've lost their senses, it can't have been that big of a discovery. Maybe a garden world with some low level lifeforms. Maybe an eezo rich system for the Republics to develop. "Now... Will one of you tell me what is going on?"

"Mother." Liara T'Soni began, but receiving a stern glance corrected herself. "I apologize... Matriarch. A little over two standard hours ago our sensors detected faint, but constant, radio waves coming from an unknown origin." While she spoke Liara's feet, hidden underneath her consoles station, silently but furiously tapped on the bulkhead below. There was so much she wanted to say, the excitement of her discovery was unbearable, yet she knew how scornfully her Mother viewed her outbursts.

"Unknown origin you say?" Benezia curiously questioned as she brought her hand under her chin, "Is it a pulsar Astrometrics could have improperly cataloged?... Goddess knows lapses in duty performance are not uncommon amongst voyages such as these."

"No Matriarch." Liara uttered a bit more forcefully than she meant, "These waves are continuous and are not fallowing a standard frequency consistent with the pulses of a spinning stellar body. Furthermore I double checked the data from Astrometrics and no pulsars are in our immediate vicinity, but just to be sure I had the helm rabbit us a short jump through FTL to see if the signal changed."

"And did it?" Even though Benezia asked, she knew that she wouldn't have been awoken otherwise. And as much as she tried to fight it, the nearly thousand year old Matriarch felt something long forgotten within her stir. It was like a jolt, an indescribable sensation she hadn't felt since she was a Maiden dancing her way across the Terminus.

Excitement was now plastered across Liara's flawless blue face, she couldn't hide the giddiness from her voice as she almost yelled, "It did! The signal became strong enough for the computer to analyse and we think it may be a primitive form of communication, something The Republics haven't used in generations." As she spoke a very small blue holographic sphere jumped from her console and pinged a repeating chime as a small light on the top pulsed. Startled, Liara turned around and began deciphering the data. Completely oblivious to the fact that she turned her back to a Matriarch, an egregious social taboo in Asari culture.

More interested in what her youngest daughter found than upholding some archaic tradition, Benezia let the insult roll like water off of her back. Aethyta, our daughters just like you. A small, pensive smile formed on her lips as she remembered her ex- bond mates uncouth demeanor. Bucking authority and damning tradition. Although she enjoyed the subtle reminders her century old child conjured fourth, Benezia knew that discipline must be maintained on voyages such as these. "My child, how bold you've grown. I remember not more than eight decades ago you were still soiling the sheets you slept in."

A cascade of stifled chuckles and amused giggles came from the crew around the Lucian's Compass's bridge as Liara all but screamed "Mother!"

Raising her hand to bring silence once again the Matriarch chuckled, "You brought shame to me by turning your back, so I reimbursed the insult in kind." Inwardly Benezia beamed as her daughters face took on the same angry like expression Aethyta used when she was embarrassed. "But I trust the wound my daughter inflicted bore some fruit? I would hate to think I failed you as a mother."

"That's rich coming from you," Liara muttered inaudibly beneath her breath.

"What was that my child?"

Jumping slightly Liara remembered that her mother had impeccable hearing, "I was saying the fruit was rich indeed."

Leaning back into her chair Benezia smirked at how easily her daughter concealed her resentment. "By all means child, don't keep us waiting." sweeping her arm to the rest of the bridge, "I'm sure we are all intently interested in your discovery."

"Right away Matriarch." Liara curtly replied as she activated the main view screen.

As the starry void of space was replaced with white static, a video of some sorts began to play. All eyes on the bridge were glued to the screen as audio patches of gargled syllables trickled through the rooms overhead speakers. The crowd of blue and purple crests could barely contain their enthusiasm as the video and audio stabilized, revealing a statue of some sort of feathered flying creature grasping a symbol of two perpendicular lines with right hand ninety degree turns at the tips. Hushed excitement echoed throughout the room as strange music played over the speakers while the video panned down revealing Alien text "Triump des willens."

"I wonder what it means?" a crew member called out, only to be met with thunderous shh!'s from everyone.

Another segment of text appeared but this one was accompanied by a numeral that they recognized. "1934! They can count! They're more intelligent than the Krogan!" blurted out a young maiden from helm control, initiating a chorus of chuckles. Moments later a few of the Maidens even attempted to sound out the next patch of text, "De..furrr..de furrer?"

It was visibly evident to the Matriarch that any attempt to maintain order among the crew would be an impossibility. Sighing Benezia massaged her temples as the crews exuberance seemed to plateau. Goddess the Republics weren't expecting to find a new species so soon after the extinction of the Yahg. Tapping a few commands on her chairs arm rest the Matriarch continued to mull things over, not even paying attention anymore to the screen. As much as I hope whoever made this transmission still exist, the fact that we haven't detected any ion trails or radiation signatures indicative of FTL capable ships grant's heavy leeway to the likelihood that this species is already extinct. If they weren't we should have run into some sign by now, or at the least picked up anomalies consistent with subspace communication. If the numeral 1934 are a measurement of time it's safe to assume this is their earliest transmission.

While Benezia continued with her thoughts, the crew engaged each other in small talk about what they were witnessing. However the chatter quickly settled down as a rumbling beat of drums began to play. Soon more text appeared displaying the name Adolf Hitler, causing Liara to blurt out "This transmission must be a documentary of some sort, detailing the life of this A..d..o..l..f H..i..t..l..e..r person. I'll over clock the universal translators processor to try and decipher the aliens language."

she always was the cleverest girl in school Benezia proudly beamed at her daughter.

Next the video angle panned from inside a moving vehicle which slowly revealed to them that this new species has mastered flight, "Do you think they're space fairing yet?" another voice from somewhere asked.

"Assuming this species hasn't fallen prey to some cataclysmic event that outcome is entirely possible." replied Liara, "Since I'm not detecting any signs of subspace disturbances we can safely predict this video is likely their earliest transmission." After doing some quick calculations she added "Based on the speed of light and using the numerals 1934 as a starting point, the signals rate of decay indicates this video's origin is anywhere from 190-210 Light years away." pulling up data from astrometrics, "Unfortunately there's a lot of space and many uncharted star systems with planets within that large range."

"We could always jump to FTL and drop out every twenty or so light-years until we can pinpoint the origin?" A purple Asari from the life support terminal interjected.

"That is one idea," a Matron at the helm spoke up. "But we would have to modify the probes in our cargo bay to emit a subspace ping, use them as buoys to mark ground we've already covered."

"Yes, I don't like the prospect of running around in circles anymore than you," Benezia commanded, "Lt. Valeron, take a team and get started on the modifications." Returning the Maidens respectful nod the Matriarch turned her attention back to the rest of the bridge crew. "For now, I suggest we watch the rest of the video to see what we might discover. For all we know this species may already be extinct or as violent as the Krogan or as territorial as the Rachni." Benezia watched her crew's faces as they contemplated her words. Then a shy maiden in the rear gently asked "So how do we precede ma'am?"

Watching all the eyes in the room fall on her Benezia confidently replied, "We have the unique opportunity to observe a new species culture evolve over time as we move closer this signals origin. We are fortunate that this species used radio waves for communication as they travel at a constant rate. I believe our course of action should be to study them in depth before we make contact." Feeling a drive she hadn't felt in centuries she commanded "We will learn their language, history, customs, culture norms, religious beliefs, technical capabilities, and military strength. By the time we arrive at this unknown planet we will know this species better then they know themselves." Her last words boomed over the bridge as she basked in looks of admiration from her crew.

"Shall we tell the council?"

"I think not, if we tell them now they'll send a fleet to quarantine the planet and possibly exterminate the species…..just…like…the Yahg." Tears welled in her eyes, "No! We must never allow that tragedy to happen again... The Republics were powerless to stop the council, but not here. We will keep them hidden, if they need guidance we will guide them, if they need punishment we will scold them. We will embrace them tightly and nurture them from our breast as a mother would her young. And when the time is right we will give them the strength and resolve to forge their own path into this galaxy." Receiving agreeing nods from her crew they went to work.

The next two months were a flurry of activity as The Lucian's Compass whittled away the unknown void to find the signals origin. With every successful rabbit, more and more was learned about this unknown species. from the numerous view screens aboard the ship the Asari watched every glorious achievement and folly these 'humans' had ever made. At first all the conversations were about how strikingly similar their physiology was to Asari, and many giggled lustfully over the prospect of finally having 'male' Asari.

As progress continued the conversations shifted to mortification at the seemingly endless bounds Humans depravity for one another could reach, witnessing the atrocities committed by the Nazi empire. Then they were overjoyed to witness the resilience of the human spirit and their desire to unite in the pursuit of wiping out evil. They were flabbergasted at how fast Humanity had harnessed the power of the atom, and gazed admiringly as their leaders backed away from planetary nuclear annihilation. But by far the most amazing accomplishment was when they witnessed a species that mastered flight no more than 60 years earlier, landed on their planets moon. Their rate of technological advancement seemed like a dream. Fighting for civil rights, ending the so called cold war, colonizing mars, the Asari watched it all. And soon the crew had pinpointed the little blue gem this species called home.

Glad beyond belief that humanity hadn't become extinct even after numerous close calls, but now a decision had to be made. Knowing that their actions would impact the galactic community in foreseeable ways, many opted for continued observation. However others rallied for first contact to be made. The pro contact supporters cited numerous examples through humanities history that showed at their core they weren't as violent as the Krogan. Yet the opposition sited examples of how humanity colonized their own planet, stating they may fall back to their imperialist ways. But in the end the pro contact faction won. It seemed that the curiosity was too great to resist.

And after a 12 hour process of confirming and reconfirming to humanities government leaders that they were in fact alien. The Lucian's Compass was given the final go ahead to dock at Earth's only orbital structure, Serenity tower. From the historical documents the Asari knew that the platforms original purpose was to act as a launch pad for Earth's lunar and martian colonies, and now it served as the meeting point between their two cultures.

Maneuvering the ship to the docking hatch the crew breathed belated sighs as the hard seal connection lights flickered green. With her commando escort Shiala next to her, Matriarch Benezia keyed the docking hatches holographic access panel. With a quiet hiss of equalizing pressure seals the automatic door whooshed open, to reveal numerous human guards with leveled weapons. Cautious little things aren't they. I wonder if they realize those chemically powered primitive weapons are almost ineffective against biotic barriers.

"Greetings, I am Matriarch Benezia, representative of the Asari Republics." Bringing her hand to Shiala's shoulder, "This is Shiala, head of my security, she will be accompanying me while I visit with your planets leaders. I was told this wouldn't be a problem."

Lowering their weapons a gruff english accented voice from one of the men called out, "Shit, I thought all this was still some sort of joke." Stowing his pistol in a holster he yelled, "Detail! Attention!" With crisp military precision the several humans snapped too, forming two columns the men waited for the blue Aliens to to start walking. Moving forward the man who spoke removed his helmet to reveal a high and tight hair cut, extending his hand, "Names Cpl Zaeed Massani, British S.A.S, Welcome to Serenity Matriarch Benezia."

Being familiar with this gesture the Matriarch took the young mans hand and shook it, "You seem almost unperturbed at meeting an Alien Cpl, hopefully the rest of your species is so open."

Releasing her hand Zaeed motioned for her to fallow, "I've seen my fair share of weird shi... Stuff ma'am, after a while you learn to take things as the come."

"An interesting attitude." Benezia said as she and her staff walking through the tower under guard. Her crew displaying every bit of Asari elegance and grace their race was known for. As they made passage through the crowded halls of curious onlookers they crated an aura of breathless and divinity in their footsteps wake. Only increasing their escort difficulty as they tried to clear the way for the diplomats, but one boy got through.

Defiantly jumping in front of Benezia's path the boy yelled out, "Hey Lady! Did you enjoy the history lesson? That's how you knew where to find us isn't it?"

Benezia dismissed her human guards who quickly tried to clear the blue eyed boy from her path. Taking a knee in front of the nine year old she gazed into his deep ocean blue eyes, his powerful gaze revealed a sort of wisdom beyond years. Placing a delicate hand on his shoulder she replied in a soothing voice, "Yes little one, we did."

Touching the Matriarchs hand with his own he smiled as his fingers traced her bodies tiny scales, "You're old aren't you? Like really old,... and powerful…..scary powerful... Like me, maybe you can end it." the boy almost painfully muttered

"Whatever do you mean little one?" the Matriarch pumped as much motherly love into her tone

Watching intently the human boy closed his eyes, when he opened Benezia noticed the traces of Dark Energy flicker across his blue Iris's. With a controlled breath the boy burst into vibrant blue flames, the wisps of energy trickled off his body like waves of smoke. Some in the crowd screamed in shock, others ran away chanting demon and whatnot, but most just stood silent.

"What's your name little one?" Benezia whispered as she brought her head closer to his.

"John, John Shepard."

Authors note: because of the resounding positive response, i will now solely focus on this story for the time being. I will also try and shoot for weekly updates, but focusing on my college career comes first. Thanks again for the positive responses everyone!