Chapter Seven
Tanda was not used to having to pitch the future of Imperial plans and efforts to a group of blue alien women, to put it mildly. She was much less used to having to include someone on those plans whose intents might be actively pernicious to their execution. However, the Asari of Mils had become a bedrock to the nascent Imperial Regime of the Milky Way, and accordingly they had to be placated, had to be assessed for support, and won over to her objectives. It was a political job, but she had been, at least, raised no stranger to political jobs. Her parents had not been pleased when she had gone to Anaxes instead. Despite her distaste for the position of being a pitchwoman, she would simply have to do it.
She tried to be polite, anyway, as she walked with them to a suitable meeting room and settled down, standing and waiting for all the Matriarchs to sit. Using a hologram, she began to outline her plan.
"Hyperdrive revolutionises the colonisation of this galaxy. We have already done a great deal to establish peace and order here. The Sigurd's Cradle Cluster is now under a stable government with only the Systems Alliance' Skepsis system at the Mass Relay here," a tap of a pointer, "being outside of our control. It is not our interest to behave in a hostile fashion to organised and recognised governments. Thus, we now have a stable government stretching across fifty at least lightly inhabited systems-stations and other forms of colonies included-and about five hundred uninhabited systems as well."
She paused for a moment, and then Tanda smiled and continued. "At any rate, you can see that the outer expanse of each cluster size defined by the most advanced Asari faster than light drives is defined as a series of interlocking spheres from the two mass-relay systems."
"Using hyperdrive-especially aggressive patrols by our hyperdrive equipped fighters and gunships-piracy, smuggling, and slave trading have been brought to an effective end in Sigurd. This has naturally and inevitably resulted in a concentration of the forces of disorder, chaos, and barbarism against us, preferring to make the headquarters of their fractious coalition at the Omega system. I do not believe that concentration will last. I do not intend to further attack, and I do not believe that our enemies can coordinate an offensive against us. If they do, the conserved firepower of the Elrood Sector Forces is adequate to destroy them. Settlements in Mil will be adequately protected by reserve fighters and planetary shields over the course of such operations."
"Without any desire to continue offensive operations into the rest of the Terminus Systems, my only interest is in the even smaller, less well known and explored, and extremely lightly peopled Rosetta Nebula cluster. It is isolated from the rest of the network save a second relay into the Omicron cluster, and does not even have substantial piratical activity. Securing it provides a 'deep flank' to our operations, new opportunities for corporations under Imperial law to expand, and the prospect of an additional range of habitable colonies. Most importantly, however, it is relatively close in realspace terms, which means hyperlight transit via hyperdrive between the two clusters will be readily possible. This will allow for the colonisation of planets outside of the usual radii of travel from gates within a local cluster, and ultimately create the backbone of a strong state that can maintain order in the region and negotiate with the coalition of Council Space on the grounds that we will be able to largely exclude piratical raids from the Attican traverse."
She paused again, her voice getting a bit hoarse. The tone required for this sort of presentation was profoundly different from the tone of command. "Therefore, my desire is to expand a series of control points into the Rosetta Nebula, to bring it under our authority, and then to use my scouts and probe droids to fully understand and map the region of space between the two, and begin searching for regular hyperroutes."
"This ties into another initiative. Thanks to the relatively light population of Sigurd's Cradle, our long term industrial output is extremely limited, and this is profoundly concerning in terms of our ability to maintain Imperial technology. A powerful industrial resource that is unaligned politically exists in the galaxy today: It is called the Wandering Fleet, or Refugee Fleet, of the Quarian people. They are traditionally discriminated against and forbidden settlement, treated as criminals, but really the fleet has strict laws against piracy. They look for worlds on which to resettle; but worlds are a precious commodity in the current modality of faster than light travel, so people have opposed them at every turn."
"With hyperdrive we can break out of that modality. My probe droids will be looking for a suitable planet for Quarian colonisation. In exchange, Quarian incorporation into Imperial territory and law will allow them, in settling down, to remove the cause for the distaste they are held in across a wide range of space, and will thus allow us to harness their mechanical and technological prowess to adapt Imperial technology to a long-term, stable base in these clusters, and to begin large scale production of the supporting equipment required to maintain the Elrood Sector Forces beyond the six year endurance provided by our internal supplies."
"That, you might say, is the essential plan and objective of my government at this time, which I have chosen to share with you to seek your input and observations before considering final implementation."
Tanda regard them in a silent pause. They had watched her presentation very politely, and didn't interrupt. Soft discussion broke out amongst the group when she finished, most of the women talking amongst each other-one offering, a bit sharply; "You sound like my wife, talking about breaking stagnation by bringing all the races together. Why? You are over-extended, with a limited base of ships - and how will you win the Migrant Fleet over, when they are so isolationist?"
The Commodore filed through her mental list of names. "Matriarch Lasava, I believe that I can find what they want in providing them with habitable planets which will be secure from all outside threat, being accessed through the range and capabilities of hyperdrive rather than traditional travel modes. These will allow the Quarian species to recover in peace and prosperity from its demographic catastrophe. As for the rest, I do believe that as our probe and reconaissance efforts continue to improve astrogational mapping, travel times with hyperdrive throughout the area will improve exponentially, as they did in my home galaxy. Ultimately this is a force multiplier which matters considerably more than the actual number of ships in the Elrood Sector Force."
There was a great deal of discussion amongst the older women there, but they, in the end, narrowly endorsed her course of action with only minor suggestions, wishing her... luck. With stability, well, many things could be done. Now, of course, they would have to win over the Asari electorate, but Tanda had come to realise that was mercifully likely if the Matriarchs had endorsed her plan. Some order existed, after all.
The torrid climate at the capital of Mil was miserable for most this time of year, and Tanda had quickly retreated back inside during the subsequent reception to avoid becoming a sweltering mess in her uniform, but the asari seemed to take it in stride. Most humans ran for the air conditioning, as herself was included.. And there was that one... observer.
Tanda Pryl came straightaway for her... And offered her hand to the Asari woman. "A pleasure to meet you. I appreciate the risk of your having come out here from settled space to... Observe us."
T'Nara took it, with a small smile. "Commodore, most Matriarchs prefer to return to Thessia, but we cannot offer wisdom we do not have, and there are questions that must be answered before certain decisions can be made."
"I welcome the establishment of trade with more settled space, Matriarch. Do you wish to arrange a meeting in private, or are you content with your ... Observations, here?"
"If you are offering... we can discuss matters."
"I am."
She gave a small bow of the head. "Then, Commodore Pryl, at your convenience."
"Come on, back to the customs office, then." She let her two subordinates fall in. She considered it a trust building measure that she wasn't asking the woman to come up to the fleet... And it was a good excuse to get away from the reception early.
"Of course, Commodore." She gave a glance to the other asari in Imperial uniform, and a longer glance at the Twi'lek... but followed along, looking keenly about as she did. Tanda wondered what kind of spy she was.
Customs had Imperial equipment in it, but was otherwise a buildout of the existing spaceport. Tanda settled in after receiving the salutes of the Imperial Army personnel on duty and flopped into the chair that the Lieutenant normally had. She felt far more exhausted than she did after combat. Kesea and Kesalia stood while Tanda motioned to the chair across from her, well, one of two but the other would be unoccupied as a matter of protocol; both subordinates would stand. "So. You're here from the Asari government."
"Such as it is." She sat, calmly and gracefully as every damned asari seemed to—that much, Tanda had figured out. "You have somewhat of conquered one of our colonies."
"I don't think we've conquered them. They've agreed to cooperate with the Empire voluntarily. Furthermore, you didn't extend claims of control out here like the Systems Alliance did with its base at Skepsis. I saved this planet from a rather severe slave raid. We've been cooperating since."
She waved arily. "The concerns we have are balanced with an equal opportunity. The Asari position is based upon our technical and diplomatic leadership of the Council. You threaten a disruption of this position. Negotiations are indicated."
"What do you want to negotiate on, Matriarch? I have no interest in offending Council space or Council interests."
"We... desire access to your technology, Commodore. I am not here on behalf of the Council."
Tanda pursed her fingers together and resisted the urge to frown. "That is not something I can give out easily. First of all I must establish the means to replicate it."
"We have interest in facilitating this development, Commodore."
"I'm quite certain that you do," she smiled back. "Please understand however that I am somewhat constrained. I am not the whole Empire, Matriarch. And, I must keep interests of the Imperial way, the New Order, well in heart." She paused a moment. "There are however certain technologies which are not under Imperial Interdict and that can be freely shared with anyone. We can certainly make those available."
She gave something of a look. "Commodore. You are not in contact with your superiors - effectively, you are your Empire—surely you can be realistic about this? You are not a figment of the imagination as other stories we have heard, and the Republics must... not lose their position, for the sake of galactic stability."
"I am only the first," Tanda answered, shaking her head. "You surely must realise that about humans. I will have to give an accounting of myself on Imperial Centre when other Imperial forces arrive here, perhaps to the Vizier Pestage himself." We did it once we can do it again... right?
"Commodore, if your method of arrival was easily repeatable, surely others would have come from where you do in the past, would they not?"
"It was a modification of technology abandoned twenty-five thousand years ago, Matriarch. A profoundly experimental one, to be sure. The scientists are here, certainly—and yes, that will complicate replicating the experiment-but the plans are at Imperial Centre and another station will be built in time once the galactic situation has stabilised. I am playing a long game, but I do hope to return home, someday."
"As I said, there is plenty of technology not actually military restricted in the Empire."
"Then let us negotiate, Commodore."
The words frustrated her, for it seemed they were moving in circles. Still she indulged. "Well, what shall you want from me? I can publish a standard list of unrestricted technologies and we can work on prioritizing them. We intend to market and export aggressively when our manufacturing base is established, but, of course, you are clearly interested in your own works."
"I would need the list of what was available, Commodore - we have... some technologies greater than yours, but you have demonstrated a great deal of such in all aspects of spaceflight and energy manipulation. We can offer... what assistance you need, covertly."
"Pulling the unrestricted technology list now..." Tanda smiled wryly. "Really, though. I somewhat question our technical base to, for example, be able to produce even a restricted hyperdrive."
"Perhaps so, Commodore, but technicans and resources can be made available to you and yours."
"You seem very eager to collaborate on this matter," Tanda murmured. "We've barely gone into any details."
"... Are we not permitted to have our reasons, Commodore Pryl..?"
"You certainly are. Do I need to know them? I'm not sure. But I must be careful..." She looked to the Twi'lek, who gave her a single nod to confirm that the room was clear of bugs.
Tanda looked back and smiled wanly. "Of course, the Internal Security Bureau officers may remove me from power if they judge I am acting contrary to the interests of the Empire."
"That would probably be unfortunate for all involved."
"It would." She folded a leg over another, and slightly leaned back in the chair. "Assistance can be provided in that as well, if you deem it necessary."
Tanda folded her hands. That was going into dangerous ground for when she was called to account before Pestage. Or whomever would replace him. "What are you talking about?"
She... waved a hand. "I mis-spoke, it is nothing, Commodore Pryl." She offered a mask of a smile. She'd said nothing quite seditious. "You can be a danger to the Republics, one we seek to remove in a friendly fashion."
"As you say. Ion cannon are perhaps the most useful technology I can transfer to you immediately. You may have heard the reports on their operation. Also lighter anti-fighter and anti-vehicle lasers, hyperspace sensors and coms, our very advanced ionization engines with gravitic thrust redirection vains... Anti-gravity technology in general, hrrm, proton torpedo and concussion missile plans, hyperdrives up to class I, civilian ray and particle shielding - military generators are more powerful for a given mass by about a factor of two -" she added blandly, "droids except those lacking in nonviolence programming or HRD models, and sundry other things which perhaps demonstrate that the Empire is quite... Unresticted, when it comes to our regard for technological dissemination. Of course on the other hand by providing the data, even if it is legal for civilians to possess, I am remitting to you Imperial property and this will be a financial transaction..." She looked levelly across at the Matriarch.
"I can make no promises, when we regain contact with the Empire. I am not allowed to. And if that should not come to pass..."
"...Then you really have nothing to fear."
"Then the specifics of discussion can be carried out, Commodore, and prices set." She smiled, and it seemed a brilliant sort of thing, so very disarming that it made Tanda want to rub her eyes. "Perhaps including a premium for your... discretion in such negotiations with others not of the Republics."
Tanda stiffened sharply. "Matriarch, I was born and raised in a society where aliens were a normal presence." She gestured to the Twi'lek lieutenant. "You know we are not exclusionist! We have a definition of concern for our species that is, I think, fundamentally more liberal than that of most species in this galaxy. But I must be able to help the homeland of my own people, too."
"I can at least assure you that we will evaluate carefully our interests. But I think that your galaxy is lightly populated enough that the wide-scale dissemination of hyperdrive will result in a general development of pacific pursuits. There will be a hundred inhabited planets for every one known, in time."
"That will keep people busy for a while."
The Matriarch frowned. "That is not in our interests as we see them, Commodore Pryl. If it is in yours..."
"It is, and if you don't want a deal, that is your prerogative. But I cannot prejudice my own people. I will not, and I never would. Do we understand each other?"
"Perfectly, Commodore."
As the weeks began to turn into months, the Galactic Empire lived a stripped down existence in the Milky Way, in this putative homeworld of humanity. They had started with 115,000 people in their little Sector Fleet, and the population of the entire cluster they had subsequently seized was - light.
Perhaps the same as the single planet of Bakura, perhaps a bit less, still. That irritated Tanda, who saw the need for rapid industrialisation in every logistics and maintenance status report that updated to her comp. In the meantime, it guaranteed a rapid audience for the man coming to talk: When Tanda had heard of it, she was immediately suspicious, but nonetheless had given the order to get someone to hear the man out. Carefully.
The human male assigned to the job had essentially been put to work studying an offer. Not the Asari Matriarch's, but an offer received in the subsequent week of a different tenor, entirely. The analyst assigned had been one of the engineering project managers from the Gree Station, and Jak Starsoul—perhaps the most ironic family name ever considering his disposition-was skilled enough in the bureaucratic ways to rapidly evaluate what they were offering-and ranked enough to report directly to Commodore Pryl.
The man who arrived greeted him very respectfully, and had seemed sincerely impressed from the moment he had come aboard the Star Destroyer, carefully hustled around to avoid Asari. "Sir - I represent... an organization whose fundamental ideology shares certain interests about the future of humanity with your just and fair Empire. I have been instructed to sound out the possibility that we could... gain mutually through cooperation in seeking the survival and rightful place of humanity in this galaxy. You have achieved much already, if through... some worrisome employment decisions."
"The Empire is committed to the precepts of the New Order. The Empire values efficiency and values pragmatism," the manager responded dryly, Jak using his very best manager-speaker. So far, he wasn't particularly impressed. "You are coming here representing a certain sectional interest of the Systems Alliance-that much seems clear."
"The Systems Alliance would be displeased to know of our meeting, sir. It has thrown its' lot in with those who would enervate humanity until it was swallowed by the alien mass." He replied, with a hair of affronted tone.
"I see. What is it that you want from me-and what is it that you can do to serve the New Order?"
"I would wish to speak with Commodore Pryl on behalf of my employer. He can offer much to you. Credits, ships, resources, technicians... or is it the Empire's intention to build itself up in this galaxy for the asari to pluck everything you have accomplished from the geriatric survivors in a century?"
"Don't question the intentions of the Empire," Jak answered flatly. "You will be contacted tomorrow with instructions on your meeting arrangements."
"Thank you." He would stand, and offer a hand. They were... polite, at least...
Tanda Pryl was waiting for him the next day, as unamused as Jak Starsoul had been. She was sitting in her office in full uniform, the walls blank, the crisply professional sort of background the Empire aspired to, with little in the way of adornment and a carafe and servant droids on the table as well as a holoprojector and a few flimsies. Pleasant things on the walls-that was saved for private cabins.
The human man from Cerberus arrived. From Europe by his appearance, he gave a small bow upon being shown in. "Commodore Pryl. The Illusive Man sends his regards. He hopes all is well in your territory."
"The Illusive Man." She folded her hands up, showing the black gloves she wore even then. "I see."
"Yes, Commodore. May I sit? He wishes you well. Our organizations appear to share a common interest in humanity's future."
"You may," Tanda poured out a cup of water for him as she gave him a moment to sit, and then continued. "I think it is humanity's Present, Sir-Asari and Turians and what have you may dismiss it, but I am not a madwoman and am quite sincere when I speak of the Empire beyond this galaxy. I do recall the name of the Illusive Man—and the organisation you represent-from the ISB briefings. May I be blunt: Do you therefore represent the interests of an internal insurgency against the Systems Alliance government?"
"It is one way of phrasing the situation, given their refusal to defend humanity's interests in any form of full-bodied fashion. You... do not appear to so refuse, but there have been certain... worrisome elements."
"None of the Asari will be promoted past L'tenant," Pryl waved her hand. "That's hardly abnormal in the Empire. There are practical problems with dealing with a mass of non-human sapients within galactic civilisation even when it is ruled absolutely and unquestionably by humans. It would be absurd not to have a certain level of participation from other species."
"So you say, Commodore. That will be... a great relief, if I may. We... understand you require certain assistance in some areas." He folded hands onto his lap. "And certain information."
"Well, Sir. Let's start with your name. And then get down to the information you think I will find so useful..."
