Scaled Perspective

(Trena T'Laria)

Location: Eclipse Command Center, Nos Irrail, Illium

"Why the fuck am I the one stuck doing this?" I growled, following my half-sister down the ostentatious halls.

Ithiri gave me a little smirk, "Oh don't be like that, Gears. Meeting with the former Hanar ambassador to the Council is an honor."

I scowled at her. "Like you fucking believe that. Where the fuck is Leska?"

She waved a hand, "She's off meeting with Yan, probably already on her back while that uptight bitch services her."

"So she's off getting fucked while we're stuck dealing with this?"

"While you are stuck dealing with this." My half-sister corrected me, "If you'd actually use your brain for something besides picturing your bondmate naked, you'd have already figured this shit out."

My upper lipped pulled back from my teeth, but I couldn't exactly bring up a counter-argument. I already knew why; I just didn't want to deal with this crap.

Jona wasn't about to lower herself to negotiating with a Council nation, even a minor power, not until they recognized her Confederation in return. That would normally have left the conversation for Leska, but she was off on Xentha 'liaising' with T'Ravt, which would have left it for one of the Meshinvi...who were all on Cathia trying to hack together a more efficient government. In Jona's head, that left only a member of her blood as a possible option, and there was no fucking way she'd trust Ithiri to handle it.

That left me as her oldest daughter on planet... important enough to not offend, with the added advantage that nothing I said to the jellyfish could actually be considered binding.

"Have fun." Ithiri grinned as we reached the waiting room, taking care to smack me on the ass as she left.

My retaliatory throw dispersed off of barriers that she had raised up the moment her back was turned, and I was left cursing irritably as I smacked the controls and stalked inside.

The Hanar was floating near the window, evidently looking out over the arctic ocean, not that I understood how the damn things could see. It was... dressed, for lack of a better bloody term, with expensive black silks draped over its body and wrapped around the top half of its tentacles, and it turned to bob agreeably in my direction as the door shut.

"Greetings." Light pulsed beneath the silk, the translator turning its voice into something deep and masculine. "Are you the appointed negotiator for the Eclipse Confederation?"

"Sort of." I replied, electing to remain standing, crossing my arms as I did. "Trena T'Laria, Executive Commander of the Silver Blades, Illium branch, daughter of Sederis, blah fucking blah. I'm here to listen to what you've got to say and relay it if it matters, assuming you're Rhysan."

"I am he." He bobbed up and down slightly. I must have blinked in surprise, because he continued, "I do not share my species' fascination with ambiguous personal pronouns, Miss T'Laria."

"Thank the goddess." I muttered. If nothing else that might make this conversation less headache-inducing. "What do you want?"

The Hanar was silent for a few breaths, then pulsed darkly. "I would have assumed an official message from the Illuminated Primacy would have been enough to warrant the attention of the Queen of the Eclipse Confederacy."

"She's busy." I replied flatly. "Get on with it."

If a Hanar had eyes to roll, I'm pretty sure Rhysan would have, but instead he simply floated a bit in my direction, a tentacle reaching into some kind of pocket hidden within his silks to produce something like an incense stick. "Would you mind terribly if I indulged?"

"Not if you don't care about me doing the same." I replied, already digging through my own pockets to find my pipe. A few moments later I had chehala smoke filling my lungs while the Hanar seemed to be contentedly absorbing the crisp smoke trailing up from the stick it held beneath itself. It was an almost surreal sight, but whatever the shit did for the jelly it seemed to relax him much as my own leaves did me.

"So." I asked, finally taking a few steps to my left and dropping into a chair, speaking in between puffs on my pipe. "What brings one of your kind to Illium?"

Rhysan cocked his body slightly as if trying to make a judgment call on how much he should tell me. I apparently passed because he drifted over to the chair across from me and lowered itself into it. He didn't quite sit like a normal being, but gathered most of its tentacles beneath itself in a rough copy.

"I regret to inform you that a civil war has broken out on Kahje. The Illuminated Primacy is split in twain. I was dispatched to inquire about possible assistance from your parent and her Confederation."

I'd been entirely expecting the usual Hanar shit about their Enkindlers, maybe expectations that we turn over some of the Collector crap we'd salvaged... a fucking civil war hadn't been anywhere on my list. Some of the most reclusive aliens in the bloody galaxy at war, with themselves? They'd long had a habit of bitching at everyone else for messing with Prothean crap but I'd never heard of any kind of internal schisms.

And it had to be a fucking serious religious brawl: these were the same idiots who had tried to stay neutral even when the Krogan were rampaging around.

"All right." I exhaled a plume of white, trying to not to sound as confused as I was, "What the fuck prompted that?"

"Strife arose between the Faithful and those who have forsaken the word of the Enkindlers." Vague, yet fucking unhelpful. "The Reborn Herald of the Enkindlers comes, as foretold by prophecy, and to hasten the return-"

"Skip the fucking sermon." I cut him off, "What does your Herald want? Weapons? Ships? Soldiers?"

"All of the above." The Hanar bobbed in another nod, flicking away the stub of its incense stick and fishing out another.

When he didn't elaborate even after lighting up again, I growled and stabbed my pipe in his direction. "Look, why the fuck should we help? We're kind of busy if you didn't notice, and your little nation is on the wrong side of the Council border. Why in Athame's bloody name should we care about one Hanar priest wanting to rule supreme?"

"Forgive me," Rhysan said, straightening in his own chair, "I did not make myself clear earlier: The Herald of the Enkindlers is not among the Beloved. He is an Enkindler."

I blinked a few times. "What?"

"He was woken from stasis in the Prothean ruins of Therum, found by the Priests whom were allowed to investigate in the wake of the Geth attack upon that world." Rhysan continued, leaning forward, excitement bleeding into his voice for the first time in this conversation, the tell-tale enthusiasm of a zealot emerging. "He has arisen to lead the Beloved and our Illuminated Primacy to a great and glorious destiny."

"You have..." I spoke slowly, ignoring the laughable idea of the Hanar with any kind of great destiny in favor of the more important piece of information. "...an actual Prothean?"

"A true Enkindler." He confirmed. "Who is in need of aid. The Beloved Faithful would of course, not expect the Eclipse to shed their blood out charity. In addition to economic and technological concessions, the Illuminated Primacy stands ready to give full diplomatic recognition to the Eclipse Confederacy, and the leadership of Jona Sederis as its Queen, or whatever title she settles upon in the upcoming times."

My back hit my chair as I leaned back, trying to process this tides-begotten shit. Officially the Hanar were the third oldest space faring race after the Asari and Salarians, though they claimed to be older than either. If they had ever actually cared about affairs beyond their borders, or beyond grabbing whatever Prothean tech they could wrap their grubby tentacles around, they could have probably become a major power. Athame's azure, a Council member even.

"You do fucking realize that the Council is going to lose their shit, right?" I asked, knowing I sounded incredulous but not giving a fuck. "They're going to kick out your ambassador and close your embassy."

"We have already withdrawn our staff and closed said embassy." He replied easily.

I could only blink. "What."

"My government has cut all ties to the Citadel, and is in the process of securing new safeguards for our future," Rhysan shrugged again, gesturing to the room around us. "As I said earlier, the Herald of the Enkindlers has come to lead my people to their glorious destiny; a destiny of which the Citadel Council has no part to play."

Athame's ass... looked like I was going to have to talk with Jona after all. Fucking complicated shit.

The Herald

(Ko'le Seneschal)

Location: Starlight Station, In Orbit Above Kahje

I gazed over the planet sprawling below, wondering at the dichotomy of it. Here was a world that did not look to have changed since my last visit more than fifty millennia ago. Any yet... the rest of the galaxy seemed to have lost all semblance of sanity.

Hanar. Asari. Turians? How did these primitives come to rule this galaxy?

The same way we did, Beast: on the backs of the dead civilization that came before them. As with the Inusannon, so with the Protheans: laying the foundation for the next cycle to rebuild.

Beast's snarl of rage was cut short by the sound of the door sighing open behind he and I opening. I turned to see a hanar float serenely into the room.

They were still swimming in the oceans below us in our cycle.

Quiet.

"Hello, Tallaxis," I greeted as he drew closer, the Hanar was one of the few whose company I could tolerate with any degree of equanimity since they had awoken me from stasis. Which was why, I suspected, that he had been assigned as our personal yeoman.

"Herald," Tallaxis acknowledged with a short bow, glowing brightly in delight, probably unaccustomed to a non-hanar being able to distinguish between individuals. That I was his Herald likely only made it all the more flattering for him.

Fucking Primitives.

I said quiet, Beast.

Ignorant of my mental conversation, Tallaxis reported. "We have heard back from the Fleet of Illumination. Admiral Oraka has declared for the Expectant, and is returning to First Land to link up with Admiral Zymandis and the Fleet of Hymns."

I let a breath slowly, waves of anger and disappointment washing over me. "That fleet's flagship is the Hira, is it not?"

"Just so, Seneschal." The Hanar gave another floating bow, more of an up and down bob. "With Zymandis in command of the Virago, that gives the Expectant both of the Illuminated Primacy's largest ships."

Beast let out a snarl through our throat, "All this time, and the Hanar only have two dreadnaughts and a few frigates?!"

Tallaxis seemed genuinely abashed at Beast's sneer, and merely rolled the front two tentacles in a Hanar shrug. "We are not a warlike people, Herald. We maintained enough vessels to protect our borders: no more, no less, though this one would prefer to describe them as more than 'a few frigates'."

"You are cowards," Beast spat, not caring about the exact numbers or types. "Content to watch the rest of the galaxy tear itself apart in chaos, feeling superior because you knew the Truth."

The Hanar seemed to shrink in on himself, his tentacles curling close against its body as it tilted itself down in shame. It still took an effort, but I wrested back control from Beast, turning back to the hanar.

"Forgive me, Tallaxis," I spoke as gently as I could, the effect somewhat ruined by Beast's anger that made my voice lower than it should have been. "That was… unjust."

"But not untrue, Herald," He replied evenly. "This one is one of many of the Beloved who feel we have been too... hmm… passive in our long and prosperous history. These Faithful welcome the Herald's Return, and are fully prepared to lay down their lives to execute his will and vision."

That was something, perhaps. "So what then, is the status of these… 'Faithful?'"

"We hold Starlight Station and the homeworld," Tallaxis stated evenly. "The Planetary Defense Ring is firmly in our control, as well, along with its attendant battle stations."

"And what are the capabilities of the Ring?"

Another hanar shrug was offered by Tallaxis. "The Illuminated Primacy successfully resisted an invasion attempt by an Imperial task force, during the Krogan Wars."

I could not contain Beast's scoff of derision. "That was centuries ago, Hanar."

"The Defense Network has only continued to be upgraded since that time," He continued, evidently undaunted. "We believe it to be more than sufficient to protect sacred Kahje against the Expectant."

Perhaps... perhaps not. "And how many ships do the Faithful current have under our control?"

Tallaxis darkened, but answered evenly. "We have eight vessels in the Garrison. Two heavy frigates, the Enkindler's Hope and the Enkindler's Vision, a destroyer, and five corvettes. Few in number, perhaps, but equipped with the technology of the Holy Enkindlers."

Which mattered far less than it would have if we were fighting the primitives elsewhere in the galaxy. The forces of Zymandis would hardly be any less well equipped, and would possess far more numbers. My yeoman continued on as I thought, his voice gaining a touch more confidence. "We may be able to gain the loyalty of two other Garrisons, perhaps trebling our forces."

"Even should that happen," I sighed, "You are indicating that Zymandis doesn't have the numbers to attack us here, and we do not have the ships to fight him or claim the outer colonies."

A low pulse of light came as he spoke. "That is… not an untrue analysis, Herald."

I could feel my hands tremble and my biotics were simmering as my fingers curled into fists, which was usually a sign that Beast was attempting to wrest back control. Probably to try and kill something. That usually placated him… for a little while, but we hardly needed to find a new yeoman already, and randomly slaying our followers would hardly endear us to even the most faithful of them.

"Any word from Rhysan on Ilium?" I asked, forcing my fingers to relax, pushing him back as far as I could. We needed intelligence, data, information. Anger could come later.

"None yet, Herald," Tallaxis answered apologetically.

There were several minutes of silence, mostly of me trying desperately to maintain logical strategy over pointless temper tantrums, despite Beast's protestations that mindless violence was precisely what would make us feel better.

"Zymandis will no doubt be making overtures to the Citadel Council," Tallaxis said finally, cautiously offering his opinion. "Especially since our own withdrawal and closing of our embassy there."

The Council: more primitive fools governing out of a trap, an action that was all the more inexcusable given that they knew what the station was.

We should have just declared ourselves and forced them to obey.

I fought the urge to sneer as I turned away from Tallaxis to regard Kahje once more. Yes, because they would have fallen into line so easily.

They would once we killed those who resisted!

We lack an Empire beast! We have no friends, no reinforcements, no Avatars to fight beside us! We would be overwhelmed and slain!

Beast let out a frustrated snarl in response, almost sullenly slinking into the back of my mind. I could not hold any anger against him, he was what he was, but his complete inability to think beyond the immediate short-term was more than slightly frustrating. Primitives though they were, the so-called Council had more than enough raw numbers to massacre what meager forces I possessed.

The time of the new Empire would come, but that time was not now.

"You do not think that was wise," I stated more than questioned, turning to look over my shoulder. "You believe that we should have maintained an embassy."

"This one's beliefs matter very little compared with the Exalted Herald's…"

I let my breath escape in a hiss, which ended whatever flowery praise Tallaxis was about to heap upon me.

"This one believes that the currency of the Council is control," He started again, more confidently and without hesitation in his voice. "The withdrawal of Rhysan and our diplomatic staff sent a clear message to Hanar everywhere: that the Herald of the Enkindlers bows to no one. While true and proper, perhaps maintaining a small Embassy could have aided against Zymandis."

"You think Zymandis will be willing to grovel at the Council's feet in order to win Turian or Human support?" I asked. "That he may not have if we had maintained a limited embassy?"

Tallaxis glowed in a Hanar affirmative nod. "The Turians have long been suggesting the Beloved of the Enkindlers come to an arrangement with them similar to the Volus, and have been Zymandis may just be desperate enough to sacrifice self-respect for military aid. The Humans may be interested... or perhaps not, they are difficult to predict."

Humanity. My people... and the Earth. I could not even remember the last time I had seen it, even from orbit.

When I was all we were. Even Beast sounded quiet, subdued as he tried to find a memory only to fail.

We must go there at some point.

And be mocked as a fraud; or worse, a Monster. Came the bitter reply.

I grimaced, not appreciating the moment of clear thinking from him. "What of the… 'Hegemony' the Batarians have assembled in the Prothean's absence? From what I've read and been told, there is little love lost between them and the Council as well, with the inclusion of the Alliance. The Avatar of Enlightenment had high hopes that the species would eventually become efficient soldiers."

"They are only just now concluding their own civil war, Exalted One," Tallaxis explained gently. "It is likely that they would have few ships or soldiers to spare beyond their own borders."

"Dispatch a message to Khar'shan regardless," I ordered, "See if they have any interest in strengthening the relationship between our two nations. Even minimal aid is superior to none; begin with offering weapons in exchange for trading ports and technology."

"Your will, Herald," Tallaxis bowed, "And on the same note, Elkoss Combine has accepted the contract to mass-produce the Holy Guardian-class exo-suits. They expect the prototype shipment to be completed by the end of the month."

"Excellent," I replied, glad of some good news at last.

Is this what has come to pass? Turning fucking Hanar into warriors?

When your sword breaks, Beast, you draw your dagger.

Don't quote Prothean proverbs at me, Seneschal. When our sword breaks, we bludgeon our foes to death with our fists.

"And the… other matter?" I asked.

Tallaxis flashed a series of hesitant shades. "There is a small manufacturing firm on Kahje. It typically deals in customized weapons for drell. They are slightly limited in scale, however. It would be a simple matter to contract outside –"

"I will not allow this tech to be… auctioned off at the highest bidder!" Beast snarled, causing Tallaxis to once again flinch and prostrate itself as best as the floating being could.

Inhaling sharply, I forced my body to relax, wishing once again for a solution to my mental problem. "The knowledge I possess secures the Faithful a distinct advantage over the Expectant, but only so long as we are the only ones with access to it. The production will be limited, until their manufacturing base is enlarged, true, but the Particle Rife blueprints will remain squarely in our, and only our, control. That is non-negotiable."

The last part was more for Beast's mollification than Tallaxis' edification. But it did get me thinking…

"What of your…Drell… assets?" I asked aloud, "These do not fall under the hierarchy of the Military Command."

"They do not, Herald," confirmed Tallaxis. "They are under the control and report directly to the High Witness of the Temple of the Enkindler's Memory."

I groaned, my hand coming up to rub my left temple. "Who has decided to stay neutral in this conflict, if only because he and Zymandis apparently hate each other more than they hate me."

"The upper echelons of the priesthood of the Temple of the Enkindlers' Memory are still set against recognizing the Herald of the Enkindler's Return," He replied, pulsing apology.

"Because their whole authority revolves upon their being the only ones who can offer interpretations of the Enkindlers' Words," I mused, "Something which a living Enkindler showing up would threaten."

"The Herald does pose a direct threat to their authority," Tallaxis agreed, one of his front tentacles rolling into a fist. "Hypocrites and doddering fools, who would resist the fulfillment of the prophecies they have preached for so long."

"The Temple is below on the home-world, is it not?" I asked, the mental strain growing more and more painful as Beast insisted that it was past time for him to work out our frustration.

"It is," Tallaxis stated, pointing to the largest of the continents on the mostly-aquatic planet. "Overlooking the city of Reminiscence."

"Summon a shuttle," I sighed, yielding to Beast's plan and control, "The time of their inaction and ineptitude has come to an end. High Witness Korban must declare for the Faithful, and turn over control of the Intelligence Service to us."

"Or else…what follows?" Tallaxis asked, bringing up an Omni-Tool to relay the command, even as he fell in behind me.

Green biotics flared around my clenched fist as Beast purred, "Bloody constraint, and perhaps a re-imagining of the Order, and the office of High Witness."