Port Hanshan was properly grim place, all greys and whites and stiff furniture. The boardroom of Binary Helix, which was tucked away in the North End of the Finacial District, was decorated in a pleasing mixture of Salarian and Asari. White wall's with black and purple accents. The asari blood tree decorated the corners, kept alive by some marvel of arteficial gardening. Its hand shaped leaves waving slightly.
The tables were curved in Salarian fashion, with chairs that had straight back rests. The room contained three figures, a salarian, a rather imposing krogan and an asari matriarch facing them.
The salarian wore a red suit, and glanced nervously at the krogan next to him, who was dressed in full black armour and a scowl. The asari was the most relaxed figure in the room. She was practically slouching over the chair, a batarian cigarette hanged loosely from her lips. She was dressed in a human pinstripe suite of all things. The black suit and facial markings made her piercing electric blue eyes stand out even more.
"Matriarch Benezia," it was the krogan who adressed her, "I trust these reports on your latest actions are accurate?"
Benezia nodded, and met his disaproving with an almost cheery grin. Okeer was a rare krogan, deeply invested in science and was one of the few who actually raised a finger to try and cure the genophage. Personally, Benezia admired him. "Of coarse, unless of course you're reading what I sent to the Council.''
The salarian, Maelon Heplorn, finally found his voice. "While I agree the genophage should be cured, what will using the rachni do to help?"
Both the krogan and Salarian stared at her expectantly and she sat straight, and removed the cigarette, purple smoke blowing out as she spoke, "Nothing." she gave a pointed look to Maelon, and took another drag from the cigarette before continuing.
"The cloning facility on Virmire," she tapped a button on the terminal infront of her, bringing up an info screen on the mention facility. "It was contstructed per your request, and I have forwarded all cloning instructions and techniques to docter Droyas."
Okeer gave a side-ways glance, "Cloning? You mean to arteficially create more krogan. That is hardly a cure, Matriarch."
"You can create a krogan with no genophage markers. Infact, you could create an enire krogan colony, with fertile females."
Okeer's brow lowered, "And what of Tuchanka? What of the woman suffering now?" his voice developed a tinge of anger. "Maelon can explain better than I." was Benezia's cool reply, as she leaned back in the chair.
Okeer looked to his left, and Maelon jumped into action. His omni-tool glowed as he activated it, "With the help of Clan Urdnot, I managed to retrofit an old Krogan hospital. I'll be able to conduct research on the homeworld itself. Have actual patients and access test subjects," upon Okeers steely gaze, he quickly added, "Varren mostly. And Vorcha."
Okeer nodded stiffly, "I suppose that will be enough. Though, what will you do when the KCP come sniffing? Where will you even get the supplies?"
At this, Maelon gave small, sly grin. "The blood back regularly visits Tuchanka for recruitment."
Okeer actually laughed, "A salarian with a quad. Never thought I'd see that. As long as that genophage is cured, I'll be happy."
"And it will be, Okeer. I can promise that." it was Benezia who spoke, as she stood. This prompted the others to get up as well, "Well, I can say I look more forward to working with Binary Helix now, where is that pyscho of a Turian anyhow?"
Benezia shrugged, "Not here. Spectre bussiness or something. Maelon, stay." she said a farewell to Okeer, who gave a slight blow and departed. As as they were left alone, Maelon exploded. "What are doing with the rachni!? You could practically smell the suspicion! Why include it the report?" he hissed, his arms folding tightly across his chest.
"What I am doing with the Rachni is exploiting a resource when I found it. Don't tell me the STG would not do the same." her tone was cool as she gazed down at him. 7 foot high, she was extremely tall, above average for an asari, and had knew when to use it as an advantage.
Maelon did not shrink away though but her words had struck home, "Yes, we would. But that does not answer the question of what you are doing."
Benezia sighed, and lit another cigarette, "There will come a time," she took a drag before continueing, "When we will be outmatched. It happened during the Rachni wars, and again during the Krogan Rebellions. Arsenals must always be upgraded, weopanry always improved, armour always strenghed. So that when a threat comes along, we can at least face it with out having to resort to uplifting primitive races or devloping genetic diseases."
Maelon deflated, giving a salarian nod at her words. "Now why did you not just say that. So what is it? Chitin armour? Acid-throwers? Toxin resisting armour?" he spoke almost gleefully now, and Benezia herself relaxed. This was why she liked working with Salarians. Unlike asari, they did not have to worry about more tan a few decades down the line, which led to less bitching about long term consequeces.
If she had to say that she was a making a plasma-flamethrower rifle, to a matriarch, she would be berated with lines about how dangerous that could be and blah blah blah. Give it to a salarian, and they would immediatley pour over the idea, suggest improvements and alternatives and other varieties. In spite, Benezia had actually given that plasma thrower idea to a quarian on his pilgrimage. Later, she found out about the the Reegar Carbine.
Her lips widened in a small grin at that memory. "No, yes to the last one though. Though chitin armour... there's an idea. Acid throwers just sound like they'll be banned faster than the Wraith Shotgun."
Maelon gaved an annoyed tsk at the mention of the shotgun, "Indeed, though we have managed to get weopan's into our militaries that defy the treaty of Farixen.''
Benezia nodded absently, notcing a message blare on her omni-tool, flagged as important. "Well, I have to my office, I shall see you later then?" the salarian nodded again, and was already headed out, "Yes, fare well to you, Matriarch."
When she reached her office, which was on the otherside of the building, she sat immediately to read the message. It was from Shiala, and as she read through it, a twinge of anxiety needled it's way into her gut.
It read:
Matriarch,
You were right on both counts, the Exogeni corporation found a Thorian, and the Hegemony are madly interested. Reports of cruisors and light frigates, all with Hegemony markers. They built a prisoner-of-war colony on top of the damn thing! Also, the attached file should interest you.
Shiala.
The attached file had been a very interesting conversation between one Matriarch Trellani and the Exo-geni Cheif Executor. The conversation was basically going on about what the Thorian was and that they should ehange the current colonists for prisoners, but what interested her was the whole Exo Geni/Cereberus thing.
She brought up her terminal and selected Trellani's omni. A few seconds later, a rather disheveled looking Matriarch greeted her, "Benezia, what can I do for you?"
She sounded out of breath. Realizing what she had just interupted, Benezia smirked. "Trellani, fooling around with the cerberus human again? Please don't answer." she added in the last quickly, seeing Trellani's cheeky grin. "Feros. Explain, and be quick about it."
Trellani's grin faltered and the vid screen blured a little as she sat down, the view of rumpled sheets and human designer shirt acting as proof to Benezia's earlier suspicions.
"They're studying the thorian. Of course, half the colony is probably being affect by its spores by now. Fear not though, batarian captives that won't be missed."
"Why though? Mind control methods?"
Trellani shook her head, "No. Well, not enitely. They want to study its mind controlling capabilities, so that they can possibly create their own. Can't blame them, we have the Ardat-Yakshi. For now, what they want to be able to turn these creatures, the 'creepers', docile, and use them as weopanas when they kill the thorian."
Benezia exhaled, sitting back slowly, and the Matriarchs had called her insane. "I'm assuming the planetery exploration company is not doing all the research, I'm guessing Cereberus has a finger in this pie, as that charming human saying goes?"
Trellani actually laughed, "Of course we do. All research is coming to us, not the Alliance."
Benezia nodded, "Good. I guess I should inform you now of the Hegemony fores enclosing on the colony." she poured herself a glass of human ''vodka'' while Trellani exclaimed. "How in the depths do you say things so casually?"
Benezia actually paused mid sip and stared at the younger matriarch, one brow tatoo raised. Slowly, she swallowed the strong drink and spoke, "You mean to tell me you did not know?"
Trellani sighed, "Jack!"
The illusive man, wearing only his suit jacket, appeared next to her, those creepy cyber eyes caring a lot of concern. "Matriarch Benezia, good to see you again. Now, what's so wrong that Trellani is all shocked about?"
Benezia snorted, the man had knowing, tired look in his eye that spoke volumes. "The batarian forces encroaching on Feros."
"I know about that. The Alliance is already moving to intervene."
Trellani shot her bondmate an annoyed look," You knew?"
"Found out five minutes ago, how long you two have been talking for."
Before possible bickering could break out, Benezia interjected, "And what is Exo-geni going to do to cover their track?"
"Surely Shiala can extract vital information, no? She need only get the information and the Chief Executor, Ms Baynham, offworld."
Benezia nodded quickly, "Yes. I'll send word. Currently the SA is too busy on Eden Prime anyway. Well, thanks for clearing that up Trellani, next time though I want to find out from you and not a conviently placed commando."
Trellani shook her head with a small, "I was... preoccupied," she shot a glance to the man next to her, "Good Bye, Benezia. Walk with the Goddess."
The link cut, causing silence to fall in the small office. She quickly dispatched her orders to Shiala and then sat back with a slow exhale. She had a feeling it was going to be a long week.
Fatigue faded as another message came through, it took her a second to build the energy to click it, and when she skimmed over the content, any trace of fatigue was chased away. Liara was in danger.
