AUTHOR'S NOTE: Starting to get stuck on the story development. I have the general idea, just writing it all out effectively is becoming really awkward to do, so here you go, not one of my best. Due to the nature of the developing elements and the more time it will require to write said aspects, it will probably involve in an increasing gap between updates. Unless inspiration hits I am aiming for an update every two weeks from now on so I can try and write better and longer without such a small time constraint that I placed on myself. Enjoy! :)


Chapter 9: Your Move

After the tour of the non-restricted sections of the city, the Councilors returned to the meeting room to a highly stressed Mstislav. Valern attempted to catch his eye but he was having none of it. Considering how his job had gotten a lot more complicated, Mstislav was going to do this one by the book.

"Hello again Councilors, my apologies that I had to leave, some important issues arose that had to be dealt with immediately. I have also been told to offer an invitation for you to visit our home world, 2 and a half weeks from now."

Each Councilor had their own reaction. Sparatus rolled his eyes, but underneath one could tell he was interested. Tevos looked delighted at the prospect, although unknown to anyone, she still intended to make the Tau'ri join Citadel space. Valern kept his composure the best, although he was excited as any Salarian would be given the chance to see a society that evolved along a completely different technological path. Of course Valern personally claimed credit for the sudden improvement in relations but he couldn't say it aloud. Edon and O'Sullivan on the other hand looked shocked beyond comprehension.

"This is a generous offer Admiral, we would be delighted to visit your home world. How many days is it from here?" Tevos asked

"That depends Councilors. Via your FTL a few hundred years, our own can vary between a few days to weeks, while via Stargate is roughly a minute tops." Mstislav answered.

"What do you mean?" Valern stated, curiosity spiking.

"To put it in relevant terms, we have an alternatively designed mass relay that allows for instantaneous transportation over large distances." Mstislav replied.

"Wait, you can construct mass relays!" Sparatus asked.

"Not in the way you know them Councilor, but yes the nearest comparison would be a mass relay. However the standard model links to planets and is designed to transport personnel, not ships." Mstislav answered.

"Impossible! Only the Protheans could create mass relays." Tevos spluttered.

"Once you have the specs it's a lot easier to reproduce." Mstislav countered.

Valern stayed silent, as he was reeling from the claims the Tau'ri were making. It they could build mass relays, or whatever they called them, they were truly a power on par with the Protheans and Valern realized just then how little of a chance they stood against them. Valern smiled to himself knowing that out of the Council, the Salarian Union was the only one that stood a chance at a future alongside the Tau'ri.

"Councilors please calm down." Edon said interrupting the heated debate. "We wouldn't make a claim without being able to prove it. Now if you would like to see the Stargate, we can show you."

This shut up the Councilors straight away while Valern jumped on the chance.

"Of course Ambassador, please lead the way."

The delegates stood from the table and made their way to Stargate operations. Despite his security entourage, Sparatus noted the massive increase in security as they proceeded towards the Stargate. He was glad he included several biotics in his detail because if the power of their ships was anything to go by he needed every advantage he could get. Eventually they arrived at the command center and laid their eyes on the Stargate.

"This is it? But how in Goddess would something of this size be capable of interplanetary travel?" Tevos asked, clearly out of the depth.

"I'm not in a position to disclose that information Councilor. However we can provide a demonstration." Mstislav replied.

The Councilors watched in amazement as the chevrons lit up on the Stargate, and jumped back nearly a foot when the Stargate activated.

"An impressive light show, that still isn't proof of anyth." Sparatus began but stopped once various personnel stated to walk through the 'puddle.'

"Satisfied?" Mstislav stated smirking, upon which Sparatus had no reply but kept staring at the Stargate.

"Impressive Admiral although it is flawed. If the command center is overrun, any reinforcements would get slaughtered coming through." A gruff voice answered.

The Council delegation turned as one to the new voice and eyes widened in shock and fear as standing near them was a Krogan.

"What is a Krogan doing here?!" Valern shouted unable to contain himself.

"This Krogan has a name which is Urdnot Wrex." Wrex replied growling.

"And is here as a guest of the Tau'ri Councilors, so we would appreciate if your guards lowered their weapons." Mstislav finished.

"Not until you give us a damm good reason too. His species massacred millions!" Sparatus shouted back.

"While your kind murdered millions of innocent children." Wrex growled.

Halvard stepped in between the two groups, a no mean feat considering both sides had at least half a dozen guns pointed at the other.

"Please everyone calm down. Urdnot Wrex you know the conditions, get your men to stand down. Councilors you are the representatives of the Citadel, but not of the galaxy as a whole. To maintain our neutrality we have opened diplomatic relations with various other planets in the galaxy."

"First you attack us, then once you force us to sign a peace treaty while staring down the barrel of a dreadnoughts guns, you openly fraternize with those who wish nothing more than the destruction of the Council. What's next? Is the Migrant Fleet in the system? I've had enough of this mockery of justice! You won't get away with this." Sparatus roared and left with his security detail in tow.

"Please ensure Councilor Sparatus is escorted back to his ship." Mstislav ordered groaning. This was not how he wanted to do things.

"We apologize for Sparatus' actions, there is a lot of bad blood between the Turians and the Krogan." Valern stated.

"And not between our s Councilor?" Wrex asked mockingly.

"We may have developed the Genophage Urdnot Wrex, but we never intended to use it, not without offering the Krogan the option to end the war first. The Hierarchy military were the ones who mass produced it and used it." Valern answered.

Tevos watched Valern curiously. This wasn't like him at all. Initially she was happy with his pleasing attitude towards the Tau'ri when they assumed the Tau'ri would be begging to join them but this was different. She expected him to leave along with Sparatus which in turn would allow for her to appear the most balanced party to negotiate with. Him reasoning, almost apologizing to a Krogan wasn't in her plans to sway the Tau'ri. Still she knew she had to act in order to retain any ground on Valern.

"After all the Turians were brought into the galactic community during a galactic war which only escalated with each battle." Tevos supplied.

"We respected the Turians until the first reports from the hospitals started to filter through of almost every child having died before birth. It was thought to be an isolated incident at first, then a disease until it was confirmed that Hierarchy forces had been identified at each system affected. It is one thing to beat an enemy into submission and to keep fighting, but it is entirely another to target civilians. To even go as far as to attack children, let alone target them. That is one crime we can never forgive Councilors. I won't try to defend the actions of my people, but neither will I accept yours. However Councilor Valern I thank you for your honesty." Wrex replied, offering his hand to Valern who stood shocked for a moment before accepting the handshake.

Not even Mstislav saw this coming and to say Tevos was furious was an understatement. She was livid with Valern and she was going to have a long discussion to remind him where the Union's loyalty lies. Valern on the other hand was still in shock as to the current turn of events. To find his hand released and not crushed by an angry Krogan was beyond his comprehension. Wrex appeared indifferent but he knew of all people that you can't generalize everyone under the same banner with himself being the example. After all the Salarian Councilor had been honest with him and had given him the most respect after the Tau'ri but considering they had only a few days of relations, it didn't really count. Still he let himself smile as he left the gateroom for the infirmary.

After that little incident the situation calmed down and the Councilor's made their leave, informing them that they would take them up on their offer to visit their homeworld and would return in 2 and a half weeks. Mstislav watched the shuttles take off before turning to one of his ensigns.

"Raise the city shields, I don't want to pay for the meeting between Urdnot Wrex and Sparatus. Also what is the status of the fleet at Tuchanka?" Mstislav asked.

"The last report states that they are holding in orbit cloaked and are providing reconnaissance support to clan Urdnot." The ensign answered.

"What?! Why on earth are they interfering? He was ordered to protect the planet, not help them fight a war!" Mstislav shouted.

"Sir, Captain Hikaru reported that several clans have moved on Urdnot so they are providing tactical information from orbit, such as troop dispositions and locations to ensure their survival. He is requesting orders in case they are overrun." The ensign replied.

"Very well, authorize infiltration units to hit their smaller units so they can focus on the major forces without revealing themselves. Worst case scenario, allow for emergency evacuations to the fleet but remain in the system. Also inform Captain Hikaru to prepare for a possible offensive against the planet. I don't want to show are presence in the system but we may be forced to reveal our hand" Mstislav ordered.

"Yes sir." The ensign said saluting before running off.

Mstislav gazed back to the skies where the shuttles had become tiny specs, although he was having a nagging feeling that relations with the Turians were about to go south, even more than they already had.

"Captain Ruso, take a ship along with the Salarian IFF to the coordinates provided." Mstislav ordered before returning to his office, although he muttered to himself "We're going to need all the help me can get."


As soon as the Council fleet was back in Citadel space and was in range of a comm buoy Sparatus dispatched a message requesting an emergency meeting with the various leaders in the Hierarchy, mainly generals but a few politicians included along with the Primarch. Sparatus stood in the comm room watching as each person came online.

"Welcome all. I've called this emergency meeting to deal with a developing situation with the Tau'ri." Sparatus began.

"You were sent on a diplomatic mission Councilor, how did you manage to mess that one up?" one of the generals asked.

"Everything was developing fine until the Tau'ri introduced us to another party they are negotiating with, the Krogan." Sparatus countered. The effects were immediate with each person attempting to get their point of view across. Sparatus held his hand up for silence and continued. "It is not some rag tag mercenary group they are negotiating with either, intelligence has previously identified this Urdnot Wrex as a leader on Tuchanka attempting to unify the Krogan under alternative means and it would seem that it is starting to work."

"That same report stated that he would be dead within a month as the other clans aren't too keen on the idea." Primarch Fedorian stated.

"Yes and latest reconnaissance reports indicated that several clans are laying siege to them. Normally they would have been defeated by now, but somehow they are not only holding out but are pushing them back. Several units have just disappeared without warning, only to be found massacred and nobody nearby. I can only assume that the Tau'ri have infiltrated the sector and are providing support. It would also explain how they managed to get Urdnot Wrex off the planet." Sparatus replied.

This had the persons attending up in outrage. They all knew what happened the last time the Krogan took to the skies and if they managed to get their hands in weapon systems they couldn't hope to counter, the Council wouldn't last long.

"I suggest we deal with this problem once and for all." General Netak Idun said.

"And what do you suggest General?" Fedorian asked.

"Dispatch a force to Tuchanka. The main Krogan population center left in the galaxy is there. It is already a DMZ that is supported by the public. Extending that to an occupation of the planet may be costly but will save millions, if not billions of lives in the long run. I for one will not place a price on the future of Citadel space." Idun answered.

The murmurs of agreement sounded around the room although a few were in disagreement, mainly due to the massive PR job they would need to do to swing it in their favor. Fedorian looked around the room, almost wishing they could just bombard the planet instead of sending needless numbers of soldiers to their deaths. Sighing he said,

"Very well, you are cleared to proceed with the occupation of Tuchanka and authorized to engage the Krogan forces." Everyone saluted before disconnecting until it was just the Primarch and Sparatus.

"Is there something else Primarch?" Sparatus asked.

"Just one thing Councilor. You had better hope that the Tau'ri aren't in the system or this could be a very short war." Fedorian replied ending the transmission and leaving Sparatus to realize the implications of his course of action.