From: LTS
To: CC

Of the scientists you sent me, I believe Mordin Solus would be best suited to Shepard's team.

Not only is he brilliant, his temperament will fit well. His work with the STG will lead to some interesting discussions with Shepard, and I believe the Krogan will have their part to play in the war with the Reapers. Having somebody intimately acquainted with the species will be useful in the days to come.


'Ah Shepard, good to see you.'

Shepard smiled. Mordin was very often busy; to catch him during his brief down periods was rare, and allowed them a chance to talk.

'Have something I wish to discuss. Mentioned before I worked with STG on Genophage... was not entirely honest. Lie of omission. Apologise; will be working together on dangerous mission, want you to know what I did, what I am capable of.'

She had suspected the doctor was not giving her the whole truth when they first spoke, but she had not pressed the issue. She would be hesitant to trust a stranger with secrets, government or otherwise. In truth, she was surprised he was already admitting it; he had only been on board for a few days. She gestured for him to go on.

'Did work as I said: took samples, tests, monitored Krogan. However, found disturbing information. Krogan were adapting to Genophage.'

'What do you mean, adapting?'

'Will save you science of cause, effect was Krogan birth rate rising.'

Shepard had never spent a lot of time considering the Genophage. Humanity, not being present during the Krogan Rebellions, had an admittedly limited view of the discussion, but Shepard also believed it gave a perspective lacking in the other races. For now, however, she kept her tone neutral.

'What was the implication?'

'Every simulation, every model showed Krogan birth increase leads to all out war.'

'So what did you do?'

'Modified Genophage. Ensured effectiveness stayed at level originally intended.'

'Originally intended? What do you mean?'

'Salarian uplifting of Krogan during Rachni Wars was extreme outside influence on Krogan. Previously, high birth rate necessary due to hazardous conditions of Tuchanka; only few of every thousand babies survived past puberty. Without environmental check on population, Krogan rapidly multiplied to levels even most generous simulation did not predict. Krogan rebellions due to overpopulation of multiple worlds; took others by force to continue expanding.

'Genophage, designed by Salarians and deployed by Turians as Krogan descended on Palaven, was intended to restore Krogan population growth to pre-uplift conditions. One in a thousand. As environmental check no longer present, genetic one required.'

Shepard had never heard the details of the Genophage in quite so much detail before. History classes in the Alliance were brief by necessity: most recruits were only told that the Krogan threatened the Galaxy and the Genophage stopped them. She was fascinated.

'So do you see the Genophage as a weapon?'

'No! Genophage necessary tool for Galactic peace. Krogan uplift hastily considered action. Would have recommended against it if was there. Was not. Does not matter. Without outside intervention, Krogan would have evolved to lower birth rate as became more civilised, or died out.'

'So you see the Genophage as a way to artificially modify the Krogan physically, to balance what your ancestors did socially?'

'Yes! Glad you understand. Many soldiers either see it as blunt tool or horrific weapon. Limited imagination. Erm, no offence.'

'So, when the Krogan were adapting, you modified it?'

'Yes. Population growth would lead to war. Ensured Genophage kept Krogan birth rate at pre-spaceflight levels.'

Shepard's only source on information about the Genophage, aside from her briefing during training, was Wrex. He was understandably bitter about it, believing that the Council neutered his people. Some of the stories he told; of still-borns piled high, of barren females wandering the desert to be taken by the beasts of Tuchanka, sent shivers down her spine.

'So it wasn't designed as a sterility plague?'

'No, common misconception. Could have neutered Krogan. Would have been easy. Adapting Genophage to give exact desired birth rate much more difficult.'

'Was there no better way?'

'Given parameters, no. Tested hundreds of alternative scenarios. Thousands. Every model showed increase in Krogan birth rate led to war.'

'I meant is there no way to have the Krogan birth rate altered, that is not the Genophage? I've met dozens of Krogan, Mordin, killed most of them because they were on the other side to me. I accept that they're a warrior race but they are broken. They have no sense of pride in themselves, no drive to better themselves as a species. They just fight. The only Krogan I've met who wanted more, is not even convinced his people are worth saving. The still births, the infertility, all take their toll on every Krogan; most become mercenaries out of desperation. Surely there would be a better way?'

The Salarian let out a smile.

'Ah, more perceptive than career implies, Shepard. Would make a good scientist. Yes, considered alternatives to Genophage. Original concept flawed, messy. Designed out of desperation, cut corners. Social outcome should have been considered; breaking morale of Krogan important to stopping Rebellions, but disastrous for long term development of race. Birth rate alteration necessary, would have thought of better way to do it if I was there.'

His smile had a sad edge to it now.

'But wasn't. Considered curing Genophage and redeploying entirely new virus, altering birth rates without... complications... you mentioned. But would not have worked. Krogan already mistrustful of other species, unsurprising. To learn we cured Genophage, only to deploy entirely new weapon? Catastrophic. Would likely have completely shattered what remains of Krogan society; Krogan would die out.'

'Are you sure?'

'Can never be sure, Shepard.' He took a deep breath. 'I am very intelligent. Have done many things on Galactic scale, some good, some not. Don't classify Genophage work as either. Necessary. Sometimes... wonder.'

'If you did the right thing?'

'No. Know I did the right thing. Wonder how future scientists will see me. Right, or wrong?'

The machine attached to a glass case containing a Collector Seeker, rebuilt from the readings Veetor provided, let out a loud beeping. Mordin crossed over and started tapping on the keyboard.

'Should get back to work, Shepard. Need to finish Seeker countermeasures before next encounter with Collectors. Good to talk.'

She held up a hand.

'Wait, Mordin, one more thing. Thank you for telling me this. I appreciate it must be difficult to trust this with somebody else, and I'm glad to know I can count on you not to flinch when it comes to the difficult choices. I just wonder though, do you ever meet any Krogan, or do you just see them as figures on a screen?'

He stopped his fidgeting with the machine and looked to the ground.

'Visit Tuchanka every year, Shepard. Continue to take readings, samples, as volunteer. See devastation, meet occasional Krogan. Helps... keep perspective. Know too many scientists who see Krogan as blight, but have never met one. Like you say, see them as numbers on a screen.'

Every year...

Shepard understood the man in front of her. After Torfan, she had forced herself to visit the family of every single marine she ordered to their death. To see the consequences of her actions. She knew what he must feel; the conflict of guilt, despite others telling him it was necessary, the self-delusion that it was for the best. She often wondered if Torfan would have been different if her sisters weren't there. Perhaps Mordin felt the same about his own circumstances.

'I... sorry Mordin, that was unfair of me.'

'No offence taken, Shepard. Reputation of top scientists as detached from reality, sadly well deserved. Have not spoken of STG work for some time, feels... good, to talk. Opinions become warped when not shared, challenged. Will be happy to discuss further next time tissue synthesis is compiling.

'Also, notice you have not taken me on ground team yet. Want you to know Salarians not as fragile as we appear. Have extensive combat training, happy to help out if needed.

'Thank you Mordin, it was good to talk. We are actually picking up a Krogan next, want to join us? I don't know if there'll be combat, but knowing my luck we'll have to fight some mercs. We always end up fighting mercs.'

'Of course. Let me know when we get there.'


Liara did not like to get involved in politics. It was messy and once involved, it was difficult to break away from.

Discovering and selling political secrets was part of her trade, but that was different. People asked for something, she gave it to them, and they went their separate ways. The only difference between a political enemy's extranet search history, and a cheating spouse's, was the price she attached to them.

But sometimes, it was necessary.

There was a growing movement amongst the Asari, that dictated a return to the tribal history of the species. Liara had made some progress in encouraging the rich families to share resources and military training, in preparation for war with the Reapers (not that she used that reason, of course) but if the movement was allowed to continue it could undo her work. They advocated full separation of the houses, even going so far as to say having just a single Asari to represent their species on the Council was an affront to their culture.

Consideration of how to react had taken several days. Stepping up her own campaign was fraught with risk: she had to be very gentle in her manoeuvring to avoid alienating the conservative Asari, so she had instead decided to sabotage the opposite movement. Targeting its prime movers would be a substantial task, which also ran the risk of her being exposed through any number of channels. It would only take one person not susceptible to bribery or threats to shatter her efforts and strengthen their own.

In the end, she had traced down the history of the movement. To her surprise, it originated in one of the houses most involved with her own plans, one of the families she had considered absolutely dedicated to her cause. One of the teachers there used the family's resources to reach out to those she thought sympathetic to her ideas, and the influence she held to preach to the young acolytes.

She had been looking at her phone for two hours now. She felt that once she had done what she was planning, there would be no going back.

Everything else was ready. She had arranged public debates designed to make those advocating the movement look like ignorant extremists, and had made contact with another teacher in the family's house she could rely on to step in when she was needed.

She just needed to make the final call.

What she was considering was outright wrong. There was no doubt in her mind that this was the case. Bribery and threats were certainly nothing to be proud of, but for the most part nobody was hurt, and she could comfort herself by knowing that the actions would help prepare for the Reapers.

As this will.

She fortified herself, and picked up the phone. She dialled the number.

'Yes?' The voice was heavily distorted. Telling race or even gender was completely impossible. The only thing she knew about the other speaker was their absolute discretion, their reputation, and their bank account details.

'Do it.'

Later that day, the teacher would come into an unfortunate "accident". Nobody would suspect wrong doing, and her contact in the family would lead a touching funeral before taking over her responsibilities. With its leader dead, key speakers discredited and youngsters under the influence of another, the movement would die out in weeks.

She sat back and started trembling. She had just ordered the death of another person. Somebody who had not done anything wrong, whose only crime was to hold an opinion inconvenient to her.

Was it worth it? Was snuffing out the life of an Asari, who still had hundreds of years ahead of her, an acceptable atrocity if it helped ensure the lives of millions were saved in the future?

She had considered so many other ways. So many other options. But they were too fraught with risk, or would take up so much of her time that her other operations would suffer.

It had to be this.

She would shoulder the burden, and if it damned her, so be it.