The Elder Scrolls: Mass Effect
Chapter six: Breaking the abyss
Shanxi, earlier
Shepard and Anderson's eyes light up in shock. The emperor had just used the most dangerous weapon in the history of the empire on civilians. Muan-El was lucky they weren't in the same room together, bad things will certainly happen if so.
"You- you didn't really do it? Did you," asked David in disbelief. He found it difficult to believe that the vegetarian and pacifist emperor would use the insanity bomb.
"I'm sorry, but I did, it was the best option," he replied noticeably guilty having some regret to what he had allowed. He knew it was the right choice, yet why did it feel so wrong.
"Listen to him David. He did, he used the insanity bomb," said Shepard serious leaning her head towards David. She turned her head back to Muan-El. "You can't get away this. Justice will prevail. People must know," she threatened, her body was tensed up in a threatening manner. She was determined to reveal the truth no matter the consequences.
"Shepard, I didn't think this over without thinking about the millions of people who will suffer," replied Muan-El empathetic for the lives he had destroyed. He looked away from the two in shame for what he did. "I put myself in the shoes of every single men, women and child who will be harm." He took a deep breath and looked back at them.
"But in the end, I represent the empire and I must defend it and only it with my life."
Jana's body loosened slightly, yet she still kept an aggressive poster. "What about the truth? People must know."
"I will tell the empire, just not yet. We need to wait for this whole thing to clear over," he replied truthfully.
David looked at Shepard, her body was fully loosened and she had a more casual posture. She actually believed that he did and was willing to take the punishment. David was dumbfounded why Shepard believed in him, it didn't make any sense to him. "Shepard, his story, it doesn't make any sense. I mean, how did you even get an insanity bomb in the first place? We don't have any and they're damn impossible to get a hold of one," replied Anderson wondering how Muan-El could do it. He could not see how the Emperor could even use an insanity bomb.
"Maganus made one for him, he knows how too; ask him yourself," replied Muan-El without a hint of deceit in his voice.
Anderson was about to open his mouth, but closed it. He could not think of any more questions, he had enough unwanted proof that Muan-El used an insanity bomb. He was now wondering if Muan-El did the right thing. "Alright, you used an insanity bomb, I believe that. But, what if it didn't work; what if dropping the bomb did more harm to the empire then good?" Muan-El remained silent and almost motionless, keeping his head turned away.
"You never thought about it. You don't have a-," said Shepard shocked thinking that Muan-El could overlook something so broad.
"No! I do have a plan," yelled Muan-El angrily. His reptilian teeth were completely visible. His intense guilt had taken the form of anger. "If everything goes wrong, we'll blame it on Williams," he said quite angrily. David backed up a step, Shepard didn't move an inch.
"You plan on using Williams as a scapegoat, what did he do? Besides tell us," asked Jana defending the imperial General. At first she had despised the man, but now her anger had quelled or leapt onto Muan-El.
The emperor calmed himself down. He looked at Shepard with a calm expression on his face. "If it makes you feel any better it was his idea, he almost forced everyone to do it and he talked about it quite favourably," he told calmly and completely truthfully.
'That damn Shan'qkeel,' thought Shepard angrily. All of her anger was now back unto the imperial, her detest clearly visible.
David looked at his friend, her fists were clinched tightly. "Is something wrong," he asked. He could tell that his friend had something on her mind that was bothering her.
Jana loosened her fists and stood back up in a more relaxed position. She looked at David. "Uhh- what," she asked distracted. She regained her focus. "Oh right, everything's fine, just mad at Williams. He wanted to use the insanity bomb, should deserve some of the blame," she replied.
"You agree to use Williams as a scapegoat," asked Muan-El curious. He wondered about Shepard's quick change of opinion. At first, she was mad at Williams, then him, then Williams again. 'That elf sure is difficult to figure out,' he thought thinking about the dunmer's personality. "So, you're not mad at me anymore. How odd," he asked curious.
"Still mad at you, just angrier at Williams. For now," she replied making herself very clear.
Muan blinked wondering what she meant. He waited for several seconds to see if the two had anything else to say. Shepard and Anderson just stood their awkwardly, waiting to be dismissed. "Well then, this conversation has reached its toll. You may be excused."
Shepard and Anderson started to walk out of the room. Shepard stopped abruptly in her tracks. David and Muan-El stared at her slightly confused. "Wait," she announced loudly, shifting her head back towards the monitor. "I will like to come to the peace meeting, want to see how it turns out. I'll just be a bodyguard, nothing more, nothing less. Want to see turians up close, without them shooting at me," she asked desperately wanting to be on the fleet when it heads to the turian main military fortress. She had a desire, a need to see what they were like and if they have any other allies with them. "They don't have any allies? Do they?" She was quite curious to know.
"From what we've manage to gather; they have six allies in total."
'So they're from a planet with multiple species as well, how interesting,' she thought to herself intrigued by apparent connection between the two worlds. "Tell me about them," she demanded curious to know everything about the birds' allies.
"I think there are some scrolls and books about them in the library," he said tapping on his lip wondering if the books and knowledge scrolls have arrived yet. "Be wise if you were to read a knowledge scroll for the turian language if we have one. We wouldn't want any misunderstandings to happen now. Now do we?"
"No sir," replied Shepard nodding her head up and down. "Wait. You managed to get the turian main language? That fast?" She was shocked by how quick it took for the empire to obtain the turian language. She was quite curious to know they got it in the first place. "How did you?"
"We interrogated several turian prisoners and stole anything from them that could be of value. We also used memory recording spells and transferred the memories unto knowledge scrolls."
"Did you at least kill them?" David and Muan-el were shocked by such an atrocity of a question. "What?" Shepard looked at the two confused. "They must be punished."
The emperor rolled his eyes. He was appalled by Shepard's black and white sense of morals. "Alright, you two are dismissed. A shuttle will arrive at the south-docks to pick you up Shepard and the rest in two hours," replied Muan-El. The monitor deactivated and closed in on itself. Jana and David walked out of the comm room and down the hallway.
"Why didn't you asked to come," asked Shepard wondering why her redguard friend didn't even ask.
"I didn't felt like it," he replied turning his head towards her and then back. "I wanted to stay here and guard the empire. I'll learn the turian language later." Shepard was satifised with David's answer and continued to walk down the hallway.
They passed through the meeting room where Williams was supposed to be. Shepard took a peek inside; almost everyone had left including Williams. "Where's Williams," she asked stepping one foot into the room. She was curious to know if Williams would be at the peace treaty. She didn't think it will turn out well if he did come.
"He is in the north docks, about to head back to the imperial city," replied a wood-elf sitting on a chair near the end of the room.
'Thank you Azura,' she thought glad she wouldn't have to be near the imperial. "Thanks." Shepard walked away with David tagging along beside. "I thought you were mad at Williams, why do you want to know where he is," asked David.
"I am. Just want to make sure he won't be at the peace treaty. Wouldn't want him to do anything stupid," she replied walking at a faster pace. She looked at the sign in front of her; the library was to her left. "I'm heading to the library." Shepard took a left turn and moved out of sight from Anderson. He gave chase to her, but stopped halfway hesitating to follow her into the library. He decided to walk back and head towards the surface.
Jana entered the library; rows of bookshelves were laid neatly along the wooden floor and scrolls stacked on top one another at the end of the room."Excuse me," she asked walking towards the counter leaning her arm on it. "Have any books or scrolls on the turians? I need them, going to the peace treaty. Want to have all the information I can get," she asked at the orc behind the counter.
"Yes, I think I do actually," replied the deep-voiced Orc as he rummaged behind the counter. He pulled out several scrolls and books and laid them on the counter. "Here, will this do."
Shepard looked at the scrolls and books on the counter. She grabbed the scroll labelled turian language and a book labelled a brief summary for the peace treaty. "Thanks." She walked towards a table near the end of the library carrying the scroll and book in beneath her arms. She opened up the book and began to read. After about forty minutes, she closed the book finished reading the brief, but large summary of the turians' and the other species that were connected to them history. From what the book said; the turians were part of an alliance between seven different races. From what she had gather; the turians, salarians and asari make up the heads of what is called the citadel council with the drell, hanar, elcor, batarians and volus making up the bottom of this citadel forces. She was shocked by how each different race came from another planet. She originally thought they all just came from one planet. Suprisingly, there wasn't about these aliens appearance save for the turians. She found it quite odd.
Out of all of the races; She surprisingly despised the batarians, not the turians. They were a race that practiced slavery, something that she hated with a passion. Her detest for the batarians was quite ironic, after all, the dunmer used to be slave practicing race themselves.
She was additionally intrigued by some races called the rachni, krogan and quarians. The Rachni were a race of sentient bugs that waged war with the council sometime during the era and nearly caused their destruction. The salarians uplifted the krogan from their homeworld and used to eradicate every single rachni. She felt no sympathy for the rachni at all, if somebody forces someone else to near extinction then they themselves must be willing to face the same. The krogan; however, had slightly more sympathy then the rachni. After the extinction of the rachni, the krogan had begun an aggressive campaign to colonize as many worlds as possible. Their aggressive colonization caused the krogan to wage war with the council. The Krogan's high numbers, superior biology and how quickly they were able to replenish their numbers made them a dangerous enemy. The Krogan's superiority forced the salarian to invent a virus called the genophage that practically made the krogan sterile, and the turian used it to them; the council won and the krogan were left sterile. She knew the empire would have done the same, yet; she felt some sympathy for the krogan. After all, the krogan were a culturally low and were given powerful technology. No wonder they were so aggressive, they're society was a warrior race at the time.
The quarians; unlike the krogan or rachni, had her feel sympathy. The quarians were a species that had practically no immune system forcing them to wear environmental-suits outside of their homeworld. Apparently, the quarians invented the geth, they rebelled and forced the quarians to become a nomadic race.
She glanced over at the C.U.B unit close by to her left. The golden sphere blue eyed machine was rearranging books on the shelves. She could not see how machines would rebel in the first place; then again, C. used to organics and just forced to become machines. While the geth were machines from the very start. 'Now, what would you call that,' she wondered. What do you call something that is born a machine? 'A robotic lifeform? Inorganic Race? Unnatural intelligence?' She could find an appropriate word for this machine-born. 'Machine-born, that will do,' she thought satisfied with the name.
She was perpetually shocked that the council refused any help and the quarians' immune system had weakened even further. She was disgusted by one race being eradicated and two others being forced eventually into extinction. Through, she was being hyprocritical to judge them when they themselves have committed worst crimes and forcing six different races into extinction. How was she to judge for their acts?
The Yahg and Vorcha were the only two species that she cared little for. They were a species that were to aggressive for most people to get involved with and not much of a threat to attract their attention.
She grabbed the knowledge scroll and held it in front of her. Gulp. She always hated having tons of information forcibly planted into her brain. It hurts, a lot and she had never done it with a language before. Unfortunately she could not find any faster way to learn the turian language. "Well then, lets get this over with," she murmured to herself nervously. She opened up the scroll and within seconds thousands upon thousands fragments of knowledge were blasted inside of her mind. 'By Oblivion,' she yelled out while reading the knowledge scroll. Everyone in the library stared at the elf who was swearing quite repeatedly. "Holy shit." She fell back into her chair, finished reading the knowledge scroll. "Damn, that shit was heavy," she thought grasping her head in recovery from the surge of knowledge.
'Let's see if worked,' she thought thinking of a simple sentence to say. 'Ma'shak Ciz'Buvka. No that's daedric. Ivor shala chezburga. No that's elvish. Volo cheeseburger. Now that must be turian,' she thought glad that it was able to work.
She turned her head back and checked the clock; it was two-fifteen, only eight minutes or less to get to the south docks. 'Shit. Fleet is going to come soon. Better get moving.' She grabbed the scroll and book from the table and quickly ran out the door, tossing the scroll and book unto the counter without much care. She ran out of the library and checked the sign at the end of the hall.
North docks: four kilometres
East docks: seven kilometres
South docks: two kilometres
West docks: twelve kilometres
Activity center: one-hundred meters
'Hmm. could probably teleport without getting sick,' she thought quite sure for herself. It was only two kilometres, a distance small enough where barely any side effects would occur. She got teleportation sickness when teleporting nine or more kilometres.
She walked inside of the nearest elevator and went upwards to the surface. It was always a better idea to teleport in an open field then it is in inside an enclosed underground base. The Elevator moved quickly towards the surface. The metal doors slid up and Shepard stepped out unto a cobblestone sidewalk. She looked upwards to the clear blue sky. She could spot a ship off in the distance; an imperial/Nord ship guarding the skies. The elf smiled glad that battle for Shanxi is over and the empire has won. However, she wasn't quite if this battle between the Empire and this council was truly over. After all, one battle, no matter how big doesn't automatically count as a war.
She casted an overcharged detect surroundings spell; a white misty dust form between her hands. For a brief second she could feel and sense everything up to four kilometres for a brief four seconds. Fortunately, four seconds was all she needed. She could detect a wide open area with three shuttle docked about two kilometres south; obviously, where the south docks were.
She then formed a spinning dark purple sphere between her hands. The sphere expanded and she disappeared in flash of purple light. Luckily, there wasn't anything or anyone who was caught in the blast.
She later rematerialized after three seconds in an open field three hundred meters away from the south docks. She could see multiple elves, men and beastfolk and plenty of shuttles nearby. 'Good, not late,' she thought glad that she made it with only five minutes to spare. She started to sprint towards the south docks when she noticed them entering the shuttles. "Hey! Wait," she yelled out catching the attention of the folks and pilots on the shuttles. She rushed towards the south dock and quickly jumped inside one of the shuttles minutes before it took off. The Steel doors closed as soon as she jumped inside.
Shepard looked up at the three surprised people. She could see a middle-aged sea-elf, who had clear glass-like skin that revealed her shiny silver-coloured skull. She wore light-blue robes with a strip of dark green down the middle with golden images of serpents and other sea beasts weaved in. She had pure silver eyes, long pointy ears, a slightly almond shaped face, slightly towered over her and no hair on her scalp or the rest of her body.
A young bosmer woman with slightly tanned skin, black hair, brown eyes and stood at least half an inch shorter then Shepard. She wore moonstone chitin armour except the helmet. She had a golden elven heavy pistol attached to her hip.
And a nord with light brown hair, pale white skin and stood a foot taller then Shepard. He wore dark green thin pants and a thin dark green vest. Surprisingly, for a nord who was a foot taller then her, he looked rather slim. He slightly shook his head left and right making a slight clicking noise.
"What," Shepard asked wondering what the nord was implying.
"If you came any later and you would have been left to dread water, Elf," he said with a deep voice. He offered out his hand.
She grabbed unto to his wrist and felt it. "Huh, she thought. His arm felt like he had less muscle then her; sure, his arm was bigger then hers, but size doesn't always mean strength.
"Uhh Elf, you just going to lie there," he asked as Shepard just laid there bewildered by the man's lack of noticeable muscle.
"What? Oh, right." She allowed the Nord to help her up.
"That's the spirit Elf," he said cheerfully. He slapped Jana's back causing her some irritation.
She rubbed her back; she may have underestimated the man's strength. Through, she knew was stronger then the nord. "My name's Jana, not elf," she replied annoyed being called elf three times in a row.
"Sorry," he replied awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "By the way, I'm Uthgard Honey-buns." He offered out his hand.
'Honey buns.' Shepard giggled under her breath at the funny name. 'Honey buns, by the gods, what kind of family name is that.' A noticeable smile formed around her face.
The nord raised a brow confused by what she was laughing at. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, just thinking of a funny joke I heard once." She struggled to keep himself from giggling any further. She eventually managed to cease her giggling. He grabbed the Nord's hand and shook it. "Please to meet you, Uthgard Honey-buns." She giggled once after saying his family name; luckily, she managed to stop herself from giggling any further.
'I'm please to meet you Jana…"
"Karina Shepard."
"… Karina Shepard." He let go off her hand. "And that's Terri and Sheva." He pointed to the wood-elf and sea-elf.
"Hello," said Terri. She had a bitter feminine voice
"Greetings Ash-lander Jana," said Sheva. She had a sweet and colourful voice. Shepard found it slightly annoying.
"Hello," said Shepard. She looked at the sea elf irritated. Ash-lander was not a nickname she liked; elf was better.
"What brings you here Ash-Lander Jana? I'm here translate the voices of this bird man that struck the blade of a giant when they didn't expect it," she asked giving a long and unneeded sentence
"Body-guard," she replied simply. She looked at Uthgard and Terri. "What brings you folks here?"
"Chef, and don't ask why a chef would be needed at a peace-treaty. Apparently, the emperor thinks the best way to show our might and worth is through cooking," replied Uthgard making slight fun of Muan-El.
"Same as you," replied Terri while spinning her pistol around her pointing finger.
Uthgard looked at her nervously. "Safety better be on," he asked worried she might shoot somebody.
"Don't worry safety is on. Plus, it ain't even loaded." She placed the pistol backed in the holster. Uthgard rubbed his forehead relieved. "Why didn't you bring a gun," she asked towards Shepard.
"I'm a mage, don't need one right now. Plus, I want to appear non-threatening, but still pose a threat to them.
"I can never figure out magic. Why use a firebolt if a bullet is just as effective."
"What's faster? A bullet or a lightning bolt?"
"A lightning bolt, obviously. But to the eye and body there is no difference."
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
The shuttle exited orbit and approached a fleet of one-hundred and seventeen ships waiting in space. They could see tens of Nordic, elvish, Imperial, Dunmer, argonian and khajit designed ship waiting to show the council the might of the Empire.
Shepard looked at the way the ships were placed and organized. The smaller, but more armoured ships formed a ball around the larger, but more armoured ships. Tens of cruisers appeared to be spread randomly across the fleet. She couldn't figure out why they would be placed in such a way; after all, she was a nightblade not a ship captain. The Vasharoda, one of the ten flag ships of the empire stood in the middle of the fleet protected by the dozens of ship surrounding it. She could not tell if they were organized for defence or offense.
The shuttle flew towards the vasharoda. The warship's belly opened up and the shuttle flew into the hangar. The shuttle landed and powered down inside of the hangar. Shepard, Uthgard, Terri and Sheva jumped out of the hangar. They felt a strange sensation just being on the vasharoda; none of them have ever stepped foot in such an important ship; especially, when it involves aliens.
A sphere shaped white green eyed machine came floating towards and moved in front of there face. "Sup fuckers, I'm Ralo, follow me," the foul-mouthed robot ordered. He led the four unamused people inside the elevator. The robot looked down at elevator buttons to the left. "Uhh, could you press the two?" Uthgard pressed the button and the elevator moved slowly towards the 2nd floor. The elevator doors opened up and they stepped or floated out unto the 2nd floor. "Guards go to the tactics room. Chefs go to the kitchen. Translators go to the communications center. If you don't know where that it is, then look at the signs." He pointed his eye up towards the signs above them.
Bridge Comm center Kitchen elevator command center cockpit captain's quarter crew quarters Tactics room
"If you still don't where they are then you are an idiot," said Ralo. He then flew off slowly towards the right of the deck.
The nord turned and faced them. "Well then, looks like our roads split from here on," he said. He walked towards the kitchen and to Ralo
"You're a chef too. What's your name," asked Ralo.
"It's Uthgard Honey-buns," he stated proudly. Ralo the robot laughed hysterically, constantly saying Honey-buns. Uthgard now knew the true reason for the dark elf's spontaneous giggling as he looked back at her with an angry look on his face. The machine and nord moved out of sight. Sheva walked towards the comm. center. Shepard and Terri walked towards the bridge.
The two elves entered the tactics room and were surprised by its unexpected small size. It was about the size of an average sized yarn and for a ship so big, the bridge just seemed naturally small. Six other guards all wearing armour that covered their entire bodies, preventing anyway of finding out stood in the room. Supreme General Mary stood in the room with her hand leaned against the table. She looked up at the two elves that had just entered the room. "Good, looks like everyone is here. Please, come in." Shepard and Terri entered the room. "Since everyone is here, I can start giving out orders." Three green circles surrounded by four reds in the center and two reds by each side popped up on the table. "I want mages on the sides," she told pointing to the two red circles by the sides. "And non-magic users surrounding me, Maganus and Muan-El. Any questions?"
"Why does the most powerful mage alive need bodyguards, it doesn't make any sense," asked Jana incredibly curious. After all, the archmage could control things at a sub-atomic level, freeze or heat anything to their limit. Teleport across entire continents maybe even planets, heal from the brink of death, breath in space and defeat an entire army by himself with ease; so why did he need a bodyguard?"
"Just because you're a mage doesn't mean that you're invincible," replied Mary giving a very poor reason why Maganus needs guards in the first place. "Look, don't ask me anymore questions. He wanted guards for some reason."
Shepard could not understand why the most powerful and perhaps the smartest person alive would even want guards to protect him. From what she has heard, every action the man takes has a rhyme and reason that allows follows a goal or path. So, what is the purpose of guards? 'Why does god need soldiers?'
"Anymore questions," asked Mary. The room remained silent. "Good, you may be dismissed. Return when needed." The eight guards followed one another out of the tactics room. General Mary stayed behind, playing with the table to create scenarios in case they might be encountered.
Jana walked out of the tactics room and took a right turn. She walked down the wide open corridor looking out unto the star-filled space. It was a marvellous beauty that is both known and mysterious. The sound of buzzing light pushing the ship came from below, her elvish ears straightened in response. The rumming and blazing sound grew louder and louder until the sound of the pushing light exploded into the sound of the thunder. In less then a second, the thousands of stars in sight were replaced by black nothingness. The ship had just entered FTL speeds.
Quickly, Jana got bored looking at nothingness and decided to just wander around the flagship.
Present time
"This is councillor Tevos, I want the citadel fleet to defend the citadel. This is not a drill, I repeat this not a drill," ordered Tevos without any hesitation. The order ringed through the radios of every single citadel ship and all of her captains. "I want every single C-Sec officer to rally all of citizens to their homes and keep them there. This is not a drill, I repeat this is not a drill," she ordered to C-Sec headquarters. Every single C-Sec received the message and began rallying people to their homes, much to the surprise of the civilians especially the ones first being on the citadel. They did not know what the danger that was heading there way. Soon, after the citadel fleet came to life and flew out of the citadel. The fleet form a defensive perimeter.
The three councillors placed their hands unto the console in front of them and the arms of the citadel slowly started to close together.
Tevos leaned her head back and stoked it in frustration. "How long will it take for the invading fleet to arrive," she asked towards Valern.
Valern checked the citadel Radar. "According to their distance and speed they're going..." He calculated the math. "…In thirty minutes," He said surprisingly slow for a salarian.
"Thirty minutes? That's awfully slow," replied Spartanus turning his head towards Valern. "It takes ten minutes to get to the citadel. Are you sure they're in the serpent nebula?"
Valern looked back at the citadel radar for any errors, he couldn't find any. "They're just on the edge of the serpent nebula."
Spartanus looked at his fellow councillors. "We have to call every single citadel ship to defend the citadel; it will take only an hour for every ship to get here," he demanded.
"And what, leave everywhere else completely unguarded," replied Tevos.
"There's a fleet of one-hundred and seventy ships coming our way to invade the citadel. We need all the backup we can get," he argued frustrated.
"We'll call in for sixty more ships," replied Tevos trying to keep calm.
"Sixty ships? Only sixty ships? Sixty ships won't do, we need a hundred ships to even have a chance to defend the citadel," he replied quite angrily. "They killed countless turian soldiers and made millions insane and now they want to destroy the citadel. We can't let them do it."
Tevos really wished there was a chair behind her, so she could fall into it. "Hang on a minute, what if they're ships are much weaker then ours," she suggested. She turned her head towards Valern. "Valern, what are the heat signatures on the ships?"
He looked back down at the citadel radar; he was shocked by the data or lack of data. He quickly checked for any bugs, again; zero errors. "There aren't any heat signatures," he told surprised. Tevos and Spartanus were both shocked; it meant that these newcomers had stealth capabilities. But, how were they picking up there signal in the first place.
"If they don't have heat signatures, then how come they show up on our radar," asked Spartanus incredibly curious.
"We're picking up there radio waves," he replied surprised by a fleet having true stealth ships sending out radio waves at random. He checked the frequency of the radio waves, there was also another wave that Valern could not recognize, and neither could the computer. The wave moved in such an odd and chaotic, constantly changing frequencies and wavelengths at random. Valern realized he may have just discovered some new form of wavelength or radiation. "And large amounts of unknown energy coming from the fleet."
"What, do they want us to know that they plan to invade," asked Spartanus unable to fathom revealing away your position just like that.
"Maybe they don't mean any harm; perhaps they only want peace," suggested Tevos. The theory was quickly shot down angrily by Spartanus.
"Are you kidding me? They bombed a city with some madness nuke and are heading this way with a fleet of over a hundred ships. I don't think they want peace," he replied angrily. Tevos was about to open her mouth, but Spartanus interrupted her before she could. "And if they want peace, they wouldn't have dropped a bomb and would have came here with a fleet of fifty maybe seventy and ask for peace. Now tell me again do they want peace," the frustration from the situation quite visible on him.
"No, not when you put it that way, but let us at least think of the alternatives," she suggested trying to not lose her temper. Through, the young councillor was making it quite difficult.
"Uhh..Tevos," said Valern looking down at the radar. "There…" He was cut of my Spartanus.
"What alternatives? They want to blow up the citadel and we have to stop them." Spartanus desperation to defend the citadel had made him angrier and angrier.
"There speeding up," said Valern much louder this time. Fortunately, he managed to gather Spartanus and Tevos attention.
"Did you say something," asked Tevos trying to remain calm, but was showing signs of frustration.
"I said there speeding up. There going about 2.6 times faster now since five minutes ago. They should arrive in nine minutes," he told.
Spartanus tilted his head towards Tevos. "Call the rest of the ships," he asked surprisingly calm this time. Tevos moved her hand towards the console and sent a black alert, essentially the signal for a citadel emergency. The message reached every single council ship out there. All they can now is wait, hope and pray.
Matriarch Lidayna stood in the bridge as countless men and women worked to their full capacity. Her heads were leaning on the bridge's main computer. She checked to make sure that every single ship had there weapons and shields to full power. They were ready to shoot down almost anything that comes there way.
She looked towards the small, but quickly increasing in size invading fleet. She could tell some of the ships were bigger then anything they have; especially, the large light blue glass slug-looking ship in the middle. If there was anytime to be religious it would be now. "Goddess," she murmured looking at the size of the fleet and ships as they moved into view. She hoped reinforcements would arrive soon.
"Captain, we have a clear shot. Should we fire," asked a weapons officer.
Lidayna tilted her head right towards the weapons officer. She rose up her right hand signalling her to wait.
"But, we have a clear shot."
"I said wait," she replied with a very commanding tone. The weapon officer looked back at his monitor signalling that he understands. Lidayna activated the ship's communicator. "This is the destiny ascension; you have just entered into council space. Turn back now or there will be causalities on both sides," she ordered sounding commanding. Through, she may have been saying, "Please don't hurt us." She didn't
The hundred-seventy ships stopped in their tracks. "Captain, they powered down there weapons. Should we fire," asked a weapons officer.
"Wait," ordered Lidayna as she watched the fleet wondering what they were doing. She waited for any response they might receive.
"Captain, we've just received a message from the fleet. All of the ship's hacking defensives are up at a hundred percent," replied a comm. officer.
"Play it."
"Four days ago, one of your captains decided to fire upon us for breaking a law that we have no way of knowing. The captain then ordered the slaughter of countless other citizens. Fortunately, things didn't escalate any further," the voice sounded raspy and reptilian, his or her anger slightly visible. "We the empire and the people of Nirn would like to make amends with this war and make peace with the citadel council. We are asking permission to come on the citadel." The message stopped playing. It was in perfect turian, they had learnt turian.
Lidayna looked around for any turian crewmates. "You there sir, I need your help, now," she commanded pointing her fingers towards a turian comm. officer. He brought his attention unto his captain. "Ask them if want peace so bad, then why did they drop that bomb in turian."
"If you want peace, why did you drop the bomb on Taetrus," said the turian officer towards the Empire fleet.
A new message was received by them from the empire fleet, this time the voice sounded deep and commanding "It wasn't us, it was a terrorist who stole one of our insanity bombs and teleported it inside one of your cities," the voice told with false truthfulness in his tone. "We are deeply sorry for our mistake and we promise to punish the man responsible," he told with fake sympathy for them.
Lidayna rubbed her chin wondering if they were telling the truth. The turian officer looked at Lidayna, she actually looked like she believed him. "Lidayna, you don't actually believe them," asked the turian comm. officer.
Lidayna completely ignored the man and contacted the citadel. "This is Matriach Lidayna, the invading fleet is asking for peace and they wish to dock the citadel, should I let them. They also say that the bomb was dropped by terrorists," she asked the three councillors. She could hear talking in the background. She could hear a loud and noticeable humph in the background
She received her answer after five minutes. "This councillor Tevos, let them through."
"Tell the fleet to power down their weapons and let them pass," she ordered to a nearby comm. officer. The entire fleet powered down their weapons. They waited for ten minutes, a shuttle didn't come through.
Codex: Knowledge scrolls
Invented during the early fifth era by the Empire's Institute for the Academically Gifted or TEIFTAG, one of the many billion septim companies owned by Maganus, knowledge scrolls are magical scrolls that allow people to absorb large amounts of knowledge and experiences within seconds. Once somebody reads a knowledge scroll, the knowledge and experiences would be planted in their brain for their entire body. The technology and magic is based off of the design of an elder scroll, to a much more simpler degree.
The knowledge scrolls have made learning everywhere much quicker and simpler. However, not everyone agrees to using knowledge scrolls. For one, the knowledge scrolls are ridiculously expensive, costing eight hundred septims each. There is also the risk of brain damage, insanity, alzehmeirs and memory loss when somebody reads a knowledge scroll holding a lifetime worth of knowledge. Still, despite the dangers, expensive and backlash of some people; the knowledge scrolls have earned Maganus over half a billion septims each year. Due to the invention of the knowledge scrolls, TEIFTAG is now third out of the twenty one companies Maganus owns, only next to the Empire's national league of magic and the Empire's national league of merchants, shops and inns.
Codex: Current relations between the different races of Nirn.
Since, the reign of the last dragonborn, racism had been down to its lowest, but that still didn't mean it was completely gone. Every single one of the race of men have remained on completely peaceful and friendly terms from the start of the dragonborn's rule of the empire to present day. The most racial tension occurring between different races of men was the Nords and Imperials, but that was quickly destroyed when the dragonborn became emperor.
Every single one of the elven races had remained on generally friendly terms so far, through; much of them kept to themselves. The altmer and bosmer are the only elves who have a social relation with each other. The orcs, dunmer and especially the sea elves have stayed mostly to themselves do to religious, cultural, societal reasons or just being new to the modern world. The giants are the only elves to be looked down up due to there inability to use magic and troubles to fully adjust to modern society to this day. There incredibly large size has made it difficult to find buildings that could house their massive size. The giants have had zero luck getting to know there fellow races due to still be a nomadic race, but to a lesser degree. However, the giant's intimidating size and physical prowess have allowed them to succeed in the military, as sailors and bodyguards. In contrast to giants, the maormer have had found a well fit place in the empire and are friendly with all of the races of Nirn. Through, there religious nature had made it difficult for other races to socialize with them.
The hatred between the Khajit and Argonians have turned into more of a rivalry, when one race accomplishes something, the other race tries to do it or something else better. The rivalry had sometimes gotten out of hand. However, the tensions between the Khajiit and Argonians are still present despite them being on friendlier terms. The Rieklings have it the worst out of all the races. The goblish race's short life span, small size, troubles talking to other races and inability to use magic have made them generally unwanted in most places of society. Rieklings have been forced to work menial jobs in any place that are willing to have them and to this day, they are still not considered truly a humanoid race.
Elves and Men have remained mostly on friendly terms with each other having become friendlier with each other since the dragonborn's rule. However, they are still not the best of friends and both species tend to keep to themselves most of the times.
Beastfolk and Men have had a neutral relation with each other; neither of the two groups has showed any signs of aggressiveness or friendliness with each other to a majority's degree. The closest beastfolk being close to Men would be the argonians, and still they weren't exactly friends with any of them.
Beastfolks had the same relation with elves as they do with men, mostly neutral. The dunmer and argonians, surprisingly are the only two races that off on friendly terms despite their past. Originally the argonians were slaves to the dark elves, then unwanted but needed allies, then enemies and then friends? The dark elves and argonians have unexpectedly became integrated with each other's society, culture and religion as much as they could. It is difficult to say when hatred had turned to friendship, but it's believed to have started during the time of the dragonborn emperor.
The Machines have enjoyed a friendly relationship between almost of Nirn's races; the Maormer and the rieklings are the only two races that had distrust for this metalsoul people due to them having a distrust of anything not organic for multiple reasons. People who had become machines have enjoyed their lives for the most part and the incredibly small robotic race hasn't encountered any problems so far.
Author's notice: I can't wait for people to guess what's going to go on next chapter. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please fav, review or follow this review if you wish to show your support or criticism.
On a completely different note, Lets talk about one thing that didn't make sense in Iron-man 3.
Warning, there might be spoilers.
In Iron-man 3, there is something called extremis that basically hacks your brain and modifies your body to have a healing factor, better brains and control heat. In the movie they are shown to be pretty powerful able to survive things most people won't as they long they don't accidently explode. But, there is one weakness I have noticed or realized. Since everything extremis does relies on the brain, then cutting off the head would pretty much kill them. So, how come nobody even thought about trying that? I think if an extremis-infected person can't regenerate their heads and even if they could, there brains would be completely new brains. Also, don't say because Iron-man 3 is PG-13 because that's a dumb reason, they could have had it done.
Like in the scene where tony stark is being chased by that girl with extremis. He could have done some weird science thing that makes a razor sharp plate or something. The extremis woman could hear something coming her way, turn around. The camera would then pan in on the spinning blade heading her way and a cutting noise would play. The camera would then change view showing a blade on the wall and blood on the walls. They could have totally showed that. If anybody could explain be why nobody thought of cutting off the head or why it won't work. That I'll be great.
