Chapter Three:

Power Struggle

Palaven

In semi-lit room several Turians sit at a rectangle table. One Turian sitting on the side stands up and says, "The time is now the Primarch and the government are in a weakened state, and the military cannot stop us. Everything is in our favor I suggest we attack without any hesitation. If we delay, we will miss our window of opportunity and the people will turn against us."

Another Turian comments, "The people are too dumb to oppose, and the ones that do we will make examples of the rebels. No one will stop the will and rule of the true Turian Sovereign."

The lone Turian at the head of the table says in a dark malevolent tone, "I welcome your openness and determination to have me gain control of the empire, but we must not rush our moves. We will continue the operation to undermine the power of the government until they have no choice but to bow before me."

All the Turians stand to their feet and face the Turian at the head of the table and say, "Yes our great Sovereign."

Hundreds of miles away lies capital city of Cipritine, the heart of Turian government. The city is comprised of multiple high-rise buildings cylinder shaped with flat surfaces and some dome surfaces. At the center of the city lies the highest building with multiple flying vehicles going through it and around the structure showing the massive amount of business being conducted in the city. The building is marked with multiple holographic signs written in the Turian language translating into 'Government Administration Office'. The bright greenish tinted sky is also filled with small cruiser ships hovering in a geosynchronous orbit around the city. In the government office, the temporality Primarch Xalen sits at his desk working on the daily bureaucratic paperwork for running the empire. After completing the boring paperwork, he looks out the wind letting the sunlight hit his brown single scale skin and brightens his light brown highlights on sides of his face and the several medium sized marks located over his eyes with a gap between the Y-shaped patterns running from his nose up to his for head. His aqua colored eyes stares out towards the city as the noonday rush begins. The door chime goes off in one moment later a voice comes over the intercom, "Gen. I am here to get the paperwork."

"Come in Lieut.," he authorizes.

The door opens and a woman comes in picking up the pads off of his desk. She looks of the data pads and notices a similarity with all the pads, "Sir you have not even signed any of these requisition orders, and Sir you haven't approve the budget for the reconstruction of the fleet. The General Council is waiting on these documents Sir!" She looked up at Xalen is shakes her head in disapproval, "Gen. Xalen as temporary Primarch you must keep up with the required documentation for the office."

"Lieut. do I resemble anything to a politician? Last I checked I am the commanding officer for the Homestead Fleet. I should be spending my time making sure that our space and territory are secure from any outside threats," he retorts.

Lieut. suitably makes her way towards a wall panel and activates the monitor system on it showing the latest numbers of fleet time construction, "Well sir if you have not noticed we have a great number of perils to handle right here within our own space. There has been a massive rapid increase of piracy within our own territorial space and this is hindering our ability to complete the construction. And thanks to our Pirates we have no choice but furlough nearly a third of the fleet workforce."

"Well thank you for that graceful insight but I am highly aware of our piracy situation. That's why I'm ordering the third fleet to cover our major shipyards and the second fleet to protect our cargo ships."

"Sir last I checked those numbers the third fleet is made up of four war vessels, and the second fleet is only made up of at least one cruiser. Gen. with those numbers we can't…"

"Lieut. I am well aware of the number of ships in the fleet, I want you issue the change of orders at once. Is that too hard to comprehend?" Xalen growls out.

Irritation and fuss full her face and she turns her back to Xalen and says, "Sir yes sir." She starts walking to the door, but before she exits Xalen grabs her hand and turns her face him.

"Lieut. please forgive my attitude doing all this work is getting to me, and you didn't deserve to be treated or talk to in that manner," Xalen apologies.

"I forgive you Gen. Xalen," she smirks and walks out of the office.

Xalen goes back to his desk and begins to work on the paperwork. After five hours, he finishes the final data pad. Xalen stacks the final pad on the right side of the desk and sits back in his chair closes his eyes letting his mind wonder. His mind fades back to the day he was high-jacked into running government.

Garrus and Xalen sit in Victus office as he reads the innovation, "You are invited to Alliance Naval Headquarters for the Shepard & Anderson Memorial Tribute."

"Nico died once by getting spaced got at plaza. Then Cerberus brought him back to kick the Collectors and Reapers ass. Now he saved the whole damn galaxy and he is getting a statue. Victus just know when I bit the big one, I want both a statue and plaza with a giant house for my children," Garrus smirks.

Victus shakes his head laughing, "Garrus when you die I will name a whole planet after you!" The Turians burst out in laughter still cracking jokes with other about futures. "All kidding aside, we can't just leave Palaven without any someone in charge."

"That's simple get Gen. Hatre to hold the fort," Xalen suggests.

"No he was just promoted to Gen. and he wouldn't have a damn clue on how to run the government let along the other fleet movements," Victus responses.

"How bout Lt .Gen. Surus he was able to hold control of the outer moon doing the Reaper attack, and he is well verse in fleet movement," Garrus recommends.

Victus rubs his chine thinking about this candidate, "Umm… He going to be another no because I just transfer him and the remainder of his fleet to merge with the First Fleet, and they are patrolling the borders."

"Well damn the will only leave only two people. Garrus and…," Xalen stops talking when he knows the only other person capable of running the government.

"You Xalen," Garrus figures out.

Xalen eyes bug out as he yells, "I don't know a damn thing about running the government. I'm just the Homestead Fleet Commander."

Victus jumps in quickly, "That will make you the perfect person for the position, and will only be a few days. Beside the only real work that you have to do is sign orders, bills form the cabinet and Parliament, and keep a close eye on our pirates. This will be a walk in the park for you Xalen, and if you need any help, I'm only a short quantum comlink away."

"Well ok I guess I can handle doing this," Xalen says in a nervous tone.

"Excellent Xalen, you will do fine," Victus smiles.

Xalen's mind comes out of the flash back and he says softly, "Damn you Victus you said this job would be a walk in the park. You lie just as good as a Citadel Council Member." A minute later, the door chime goes off, "To hell with it. Come in." The Lieut. walks in holding another data pad. "Lieut. if that is more bureaucratic bullshit, then open the window and toss it," he says turning in his chair to look at her.

"Well your half right Sir." She says walking to his desk. She activates the data padand begins to explain the reports on the pad, "Sir the only administrative part of this is a petition."

"A petition," he held his hand out to read the request. "Why in the world this is a make a lick of sense."

"Well Sir these are the furlough workers at our shipyards that have been hit by pirates. They want to petition a grievance against the handling of the situation by the government."

Xalen lays the pad on his desk, "Why can't Victus handle this? He should be back in the office within a day or two let him handle it." He sits back in his chair looking at the Lieut.

"Well Sir that's the other thing the Primarch sent a message not too long ago."

"What did his message say?" Xalen asks.

She takes a deep breath and looks eye to eye with him as he says in a bold blunt voice, "Sir he reported that he will be gone for another two weeks and Gen. Garrus will be accompanying him to the Citadel."

Xalen rockets up from his seat and shouts, "WHAT THE FUCK! WHY THE HELL IS HE GOING TO THE CITADEL?!"

The Lieut. remains calm and continues to explain, "The Primarch wants to assess our status and position within Council Space. You are still aware Sir that the Krogan, Geth, Qurains, and Humans have selected new Council Members, and the Primarch wants to get some one-on-one face time with the new members. His main goal is to persuade some members to allocate needed resources to help the Empire."

"Oh great! Another reason for him to be off world and me stuck with running the government. I am so fed up with this shit! Fine I'll approve their demonstration. Where do they plan to hold these rallies?" Xalen inquires.

"Mainly around government offices and some shipyards."

"With that known I want armed security at each location, and their standing orders are 'Maintain civic order and do not fire unless otherwise ordered'."

The Lieut. makes the notes on her PDA, "Okay that is one issue down, next I have a report from the First Fleet that one ship spotted three unknown Turian cruisers near the Wannun Nebula. General Surus wants to know what his orders are."

He looks like outside at the setting sun in the darkening sky, "This might be a long shot, but order him to investigate if the ships are rogue cruisers; then informed them that they are to be assimilated into the First Fleet under the doctrine of Emergency War Powers Recruitment. Okay Lieut. that's two down and one to go; hit me with what you have left Lieut."

She shakes her head in a joking manner, "That will do it for today Gen. you are cleared to go Sir. Have a nice evening." She gives a salute and walks up of his office.

But before she can go through the door Xalen calls out, "Lieut. if there is anymore bureaucratic bullshit I don't want to see it, or hear it, or even know about it until tomorrow morning, and if anyone values their lives they better not bring any of this to me. And you can tell that to everyone even the members of Parliament." The Lieut. only shakes her head once again and leaves his office.

Back in the dimly lit room the Turian sovereign sits at the head of his table looking at the extranet reports passing over the screen. Moment later another Turian comes walking in holding a data pad dressed in his military uniform walks of the table and stops three chair links away then comes to attention and salutes. "General Sovereign I have word Sir."

Sovereign looks away from his extranet panel at the soldier and says, "What do you have to report my child?"

The soldier activates the data pad and reads off of it, "General Sovereign your master plan is folding out just as you envisioned it. The fool left in control has done just as you wished. The protests are set and ready, and he's ordered armed security at each location. Your men are in place at each area and wait for your command to execute the next phase of the operation."

Sovereign sits back in his chair cackling softly thinking about the beating us of his plan then says, "I want you to change three things. First I want all the demonstrations to be coordinated on the same day. Second I want you to contact all the mass media networks especially the Galactic News Network; I want this to be seen all over the known galaxy. Third I want more than 1 million workers present at each demonstration."

The soldier records down Sovereign's orders and says, "I will have done Sir. The way how you have the sounding out it goes to show the unparalleled that is your genius."

Sovereign could the sense smirking at the compliment the soldier just gave him. Then his eyes turned back to the soldier, "Is there more?"

"Yes sir." The soldier strolls down on his pad, "Your fleet has spotted the First Fleet. They are waiting on orders on what to do next Sir."

Sovereign stands up from his chair and walks to his lit up aquarium tapping on the glass attracting the aquatic animals in the tank. "Destroy them, and I want the media to find out about their losses."

"Gen. Sovereign you are brilliant tactician Sir. This move will show the people that the government is weak and incapable of even securing its own borders," the soldier says entering the notes onto his PDA. "I have one more piece of information Gen. I've learned from our source within the government Bureau that Primark Victus will be on the Citadel for approximately 2 weeks."

Sovereign lowers his head slightly rubbing his hand down the aquarium glass letting his two fingers leave small streak lines until his hand falls by his side, "the Primark is making this far too easy for me. I want you to add one other thing; I want you to have someone disabled the government Bureau I'll care how, but the building must not be destroyed. I just wanted disabled, and I want that pawn only be able to watch."

The soldier because the walkout when he turns his head, "Gen. when you wished for the revolution to begin?"

Sovereign turns to look at the soldier before he exits, "Seven days will be the beginning of our rise back to great power." Sovereign laughs thinking about his great ascension to power.

Six days pass without any incident, Xalen reads over the daily reports from different parts of the Turian Empire. After another hour he becomes bored and tosses the last pad on his desk and stands up to stretch while looking outside less than a minute the door chime goes off. "Damn the one moment I try to clear my head someone's already calling." The door chime goes off again, "Fine come in. Come in." The door opens and Lieut. with another Turian come walking in up to his desk. He sits at his desk, "Welcome ladies please have a seat."

"General Xalen please let me introduce representative Zaxry," the Lieut. states.

Zaxry is a middle age woman with gray single scale skin and burgundy highlights on sides of her face. Her bright blue and silver dress hugs her upside down pear figure. Zaxry eyes are a light purple tint color. "It is a pleasure to meet to Gen. Xalen; I was curious to see who was running the government at this time. I wanted to come here to thank you for your gallivant and persistent determination and keeping things running during these hard times."

Xalen gives a smile then says, "Thank you Madam Representative. Now that the pleasantries are out of the way what can I do for you ma'am."

Zaxry smirks hearing his bluntness, "Well the Primark did choose a straightforward person to run things while he is absent."

"Madam representative did the Lieut. inform you why I hate politicians." He leans forward in his chair crossing his arms on his desk.

"No Gen. she didn't tell me that information."

"Because all politicians do is bullshit and talk niceties while wasting the time of those don't have time to waste. So madam representative what can I help you with or what is your purpose here?"

"I have been sent over as an emissary from Parliament to ascertain your reasoning for posting armed security around government offices, and to get a briefing on the pirate situation." She states sitting back in her chair with calm and in command look.

"Well ma'am I ordered guards posted to maintain civic stability because tomorrow I been informed a number of rallies will take place, and to protects and ensure the uninterrupted functions of the government offices I have ordered security to keep the protesters within certain localized areas. Now to your request about the pirates I ordered the Second and Third Fleet to provide escort and security for the hit areas. You can inform the parliament that I have the situation under control, and we will be making arrest of the privateers very soon."

"That's refreshing to learn and…"

Suddenly a voice comes ring out from Xalen extranet terminal, "Gen. sorry for the interruption Sir, but we have a priority one situation occurring outside." He presses a button to complete the call link, "What's happening?" The voice remains silent on the other end with a faint static buzz bleeding through the COM. "What's the status down there? Somebody give me a status report!" Xalen gets up and looks out his window, but since he is on the 89th floor it was hard to tell what is going on the ground.

Lieut. gets up from her chair and runs out the door to her desk and activates the security cam link to the lower floors. "General it looks like our protesters have decided to take the initiative and come a day early."

"General one of the protesters as a contact with our ground security forces, they requesting to begin their rally right now." Xalen walks back to his desk and says, "Absolutely not tell him to go home and wait till tomorrow I don't have time to do with this shit." The voice over the COM link announces, "Sir the media is all over the place. They are broadcasting this Galactic wide."

Zaxry says, "This will be a PR nightmare if you send these people home. General has representative of the Turian Parliament I cannot in full fate allow you to not to let these people express their views."

Xalen sighs, "just have our security officers initiate the operation as line out." The officer on the other end the line acknowledges the orders and ends the call.

Lieut. walks back into the room and says, "Sir these seen be going quite smoothly the Valley is a not blocking any entrances and they are only holding holo-signs and shouting out speeches."

"Well as long as things remain peaceful we really don't have much to worry about," Xalen says looking out the window once again now able to see the vast ocean of people gathering in front of the Plaza and made entrance of the government Bureau.

Protesters continue to file into the Plaza area by what seemed to be the thousands upon thousands. Them holding signs that said 'Down with Victus' others signs said 'End the Oppression '. While others shouted out old Turian war songs. Small media cameras hovered around the massive crowds taking aerial shots and filming the protesters as they continue their rally. The news reporter from the Galactic News Network reports, "This crowd you see behind me is made up of hundreds of thousands of men and women in some children here to protest their grievances against the Primark."

Another anchorman reports, "There is an estimated number of nearly 1,000,000 Turian at this protest alone, and this is only the beginning we have got confirm reports of other massive protest all across Turian Empire."

The first reporter continues, "Many of the protesters signs say and I quote 'Down with Victus'. However we have confirmed reports that Primark Victus is off Palaven, so many wonder around the galaxy if the Primark is aware of the situation unfolding here and around the Empire. Sources close to the government officials have verified that the acting Primark is the Homestead Fleet commanding officer Gen. Xalen."

The anchorman comes back, "Gen. Xalen has not been able to be reached for comment on the situation and…"Both a reporter and anchorman turn their heads to hear shouts and cries rise up from the crowd.

The shouts and cries from the crowd increase exponentially with the sound of accompanying gunfire. The massive spurs of gunfire ring out into the crowd, and squirts of blood start splattering all over the ground and, other protesters, and the bodies of those already slain. Another squad of armed security officers gets into position and opened fire on another cluster of protesters. Blood splatters into the air from the open will the opening wounds hitting the escaping bystander's and blinding some making them fall to the ground; then they would be trampled by others. Cries grow louder and louder to the point that the occupants of the higher government offices can hear their cries mercy.

Xalen hears the cries and looks of his window and sees a devastating scene. Smoke begins to rise from fires and billows in the sky. He calls out rushing to his desk and slamming his fist against the control panel to activate the systems, "LIEUT.! LIEUTENANT GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW!" She rushes into the office and wishes her face up against the glass looking down below at the fires and tries to make sense of the situation in her mind. Xalen yells at his extant terminal "ANYONE! SOMEBODY GIVE ME A STATUS REPORT NOW!" The only thing that comes back over the speaker is the sound of gunfire and screams. "Lieutenant get me some pictures down there," Xalen orders squeezing his fist tightly while listening to the sounds coming back over the speaker.

She does is ordered and rushes to her desk to activate the monitoring system of the lower levels. The images coming over the screen are only horrifying scenes of people being shots in the head, torso, and other vital organ areas. She can only cover her mouth seeing the massive slaughter unfolding before her. "General it's a massacre," she works out feeling the sadness for the unknown persons being slaughtered. She looks up and sees Xalen stare hard at the monitor seeing the same images. She tries to activate the communications network, but it shows that the system is off-line and cannot be reactivated. The Lieutenant walks slowly back into his office with her head held low, "General , Madame Representative I'm sorry I can't activate any external communication lines. We can only receive information Sir I think we better assess the damage of this by checking the news network; I'm scared that this could be extended throughout the entire Empire." After hearing her words, their eyes light up with the terrorizing prospect that might come true. They not their heads in approval, and she activates the wall screen monitor turning it to the Galactic News Network.

"This is a GNN breaking news report. We have got confirm reports that the Turian security forces have opened fired on civilian protesters. Early estimates are showing the death toll in hundreds of thousands," the news anchorman says to the camera. Then he turns to the anchorwoman saying, "With these shocking reports from the Turian Empire do we have any ideas or plausible reason for the Turian government's aggressive actions towards these activists."

"We don't have any confirm reports, but we believe it is in conjunction with the increase of pirating that has plagued the rearmament. Some sources are saying that the workers want an end to the harsh working conditions that have been forced upon the workers. While other sources have stated they wanted Primark Victus to be ousted from office," the anchorman states.

The anchorman put his fingers up to his ear, "Alright I'll just informed that our sources in the Turian Empire have reported that armed security at other demonstrations on different planets have opened fired on the protesters."

Xalen looks at the Lieutenant once again and says in a soft broken voice, "Lieutenant I don't care how. I don't care by what means find a way to contact our armed security details, and tell them to stand down this is a general order I do not care if the protesters are fighting them. Tell them will to stand down and retreat do not fire any more shots. Please," he says what tears flowing down his face, "save as many lives you can. We have to save their lives."

Everyone's attention is drawn back to the newscast when the anchorman says, "This will be forever remembered as the most deadly and bloody protest ever in history."