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Operation: Long Echoes

The Shepard

Kaya Shepard

Date: 06-14-2187

Location: Offices of the Human Councilor, Presidium, Citadel, Widow Nebula

Councilor Gunddarsen was becoming one of my least favorite people to deal with, though I'd grudgingly admit that the man wasn't really a downgrade from Udina.

Which wasn't saying much, since he sure as hell wasn't an improvement.

The old politician's replacement was far younger, looking to be in a vigorous middle age. He was handsome enough, I supposed, something he did his best to enhance by wearing nothing but the finest suits at all times. It was rare to see him without a cigarette, and sure as hell he had one going when I stepped into his office.

I'd pretty much expected the worst considering his background, and as a result I'd been surprised by was how much he seemed to consciously rein in any antagonism towards aliens. I'd expected far worse from a man heralded as Terra Firma's new meteor. I, and pretty much everyone I knew, had expected the usual Cerberus-style human supremacist rants.

Instead we'd... gotten an intellectual man who argued against the Council's authority on the argument that the organization was in dire need of reform rather than screaming about how Humanity needed to stand alone. His main point was that the Citadel was trying to simultaneously be an all-controlling galactic government as well as a loose confederation of allied states that were given large freedoms.

Naturally he favored the latter as the future, but he wasn't an idiot. Political ideals and a definite dislike for Turians had both been seemingly shoved aside in favor of a focus on the Reapers, Leviathans, and the pressing matter of survival. I'd have appreciated that a lot more if there wasn't something about him that still just rubbed me the wrong way. Something in the overly-familiar way he spoke or casually smiled, as though he was partaking in a joke only he knew the punch line to.

Or maybe I was just projecting because he'd been the one to yank me and Ash off of the investigation and pursuit of Kean and Lawson.

"Spectre Shepard." He greeted in his smooth voice, as always using my Council granted title rather than my Alliance ranking. "Were you successful in making contact?

"I was." I said, knowing my voice was flat but not really willing to do anything about it. "She didn't give me very much beyond what Sparatus already got from the SBC."

"Additional verification is always worthwhile." He chided. "In either case, now that we are all present, let us begin with the obvious. Admiral Anderson?"

I moved to one side of the office, still decorated in Udina's spartan style save for a luxurious wooden desk, taking a spot beside a silent Ash while Anderson rose from where he and Admiral Hackett had been seated. My old mentor moved to the front of the Councilor's desk, tapping a section of the wood paneling to reveal an extendable holo-emitter.

The map of the Traverse came up as expected, the countless uninhabited stars fading to mere gray orbs as the others were colored in based on allegiance and faction while tiny icons of ships came in to represent fleets. Lines appeared last, tracing outwards based on someone's best guess as to where everything was moving.

Six ship icons in particular became highlighted as Anderson began speaking.

"We now have six fleets that definitely originated from the Dark Rim taking up station in the Traverse." Anderson's voice was somber as he indicated the areas in question. "Three are blocking Relays 720, 723, and 724, isolating the Hegemony's rim colonies from the Traverse proper. Another has actually laid siege to a colony that declared independence from Khar'shan last year, with the fifth standing by in support."

The Councilor exhaled a plume of smoke at that. "Their progress?"

"Unknown." Anderson answered. "News out of that region is minimal during the best of times, and it is not on the AIS or STG's priority list."

When the public face of humanity merely nodded and waved for him to continue, the briefing moved on. "Her last fleet has put in at Novgorod, placing them in good position to support any of the three blockading fleets though out of position in regards to the far Rim."

Yellow icons blinked as he spoke, indicating each of the various task forces. Knowledge on their exact composition was somewhat sketchy, relying mostly on long range sensor data, but for the most part the enigmatic warlord's fleet seemed to be an eclectic mix of very old Asari ships, a rash of Batarian vessels, and then, strangely, a good number of ships matching ancient Krogan designs.

That was interesting, but we didn't talk about Cessa for very long... not when her far more infamous neighbors were also in motion.

"Within the Terminus itself, the primary movers have begun to consolidate their forces." Anderson walked as he spoke, circling the floating swathe of the galaxy and indicating the various areas. "Primarily around Omega, but fleets have also moved towards the Perseus Veil, and the Eclipse appears to be arranging battle-groups at every relay leading towards the Republics while also arranging their main fleets above Ilium and Cathia."

"Thus enraging Thessia." Gunddarsen stated, the fingers of his left hand drumming on his armrest. "And serving no real purpose given their claims that the Reapers have begun probing at the Hegemony, and that all of this is their movement to isolate that crippled nation."

Recognizing that it was my time, I sighed and took a half-step forwards. "According to Lawson and Kean, Aria and Sederis are still convinced that the Republics have either been partially or entirely taken over by the Leviathans. The official word is that they don't know what action they'll take against the Reapers but they're not betting on it being actually helpful, and they're mobilizing fleets as a precaution against any attack on that flank."

Admiral Hackett shook his head. "So they elect to provoke Thessia and turn public opinion against them?"

I could only shrug. "You have no idea how paranoid those people are, sir. If they think there's even the slimmest chance that Matriarch T'Ravt's cabal actually controls the Republics they're going to act like they do."

Gunddarsen took another drag of his cigarette and shook his head, "There are at least three normally pacifistic Asari news casts already calling for mobilization in response, though the number of war-hawks remains low."

"It won't." I promised him, "If I had to put money on it, Sederis at the very least wants a fight with Thessia, the sooner the better. The official reports coming out from her are just placating words to try and make her seem more benign than she is."

The Councilor's eye narrowed. "Explain."

"You've got to understand their mindset." I said. "The people at the top level aren't stupid. They're violent, paranoid, criminal barbarians... but they're not stupid. They know their only real chance to fight the Council on even terms came and went when Patriarch killed Queen-Matriarch T'Kun several centuries ago, and that only the Asari and Salarian desire to avoid massive casualties has kept the Council from moving against them."

"That," Hackett interjected, "And a desire to maintain a dumping ground for their cultural undesirables."

I waved an accepting hand, "Yes sir, but they don't need the entire Terminus for that, and you can't tell me that the old Council wouldn't have loved to cut them down to size and at least break up a few of the kingdoms that formed out there."

The Admiral nodded in acceptance, and I continued, "Sederis especially knows that the Republics want her dead and at least a good portion of their separatist republic back. I'm pretty sure she is also convinced about the Leviathan cabal running the place... so for her a war is a win-win. It deals with her long and short term problems and she's gambling that we'll have to side with her instead of with Thessia thanks to the Leviathan angle."

Which would turn an otherwise hopeless or stalemated conflict into one that the crazy warlord thought was actually winnable.

Ash rubbed at her forehead, "So instead of just fighting the Reapers, and figuring out what the Leviathans are up to later, she wants to deal with all of it in one go. Nevermind that breaking up the Council and starting a multi-front war is going to make dealing with the Reapers harder, if not outright impossible."

I could only shrug. "That's my best guess based on what I learned when I was out there. I doubt she'll make the first move in terms of shooting, but I wouldn't be surprised if she makes even more provocative actions over the next couple of months."

Gunddarsen puffed rapidly on his shrinking cigarette, "Without direct evidence of these Leviathans, I doubt we'll be able to do much of anything. I take it she and her kind presume we have far more power over our governments than we actually do?"

I snorted, "I don't think they understand democracy very well, or particularly want to."

Hackett sighed and spoke once more, "I can't believe I'm about to say this, but our best option may be to ignore that entire region and let them fight it out while we focus on the major threat."

"That is assuming," The Councilor replied, "That Hegemon Balak is correct and the Reapers are active and that the warlords are correct and the Leviathans have subsumed the Republics to a significant degree."

"Assuming that." The Admiral agreed, "In either case I believe that we have more local problems."

Everyone but the Councilor winced or grimaced at the reminder, and then turned back to the holographic map when Gunddarsen motioned for the briefing to resume.

"We can confirm that the Xenthans are mobilizing back up to war time levels." Anderson waved at the oblong shape of the Empire, nestled along the border of the Traverse. "Fleets have moved to blockade every Relay connecting the Terminus to the Traverse, excepting those leading to the clusters that Cessa has moved into."

Gunddarsen waved a dismissive hand, "Side details, Anderson. Do we have confirmation that a dreadnought is at Novgorod?"

My old mentor took a deep breath, then nodded once. "The Java Sea made a stealth through the system this morning. They confirmed the Blood Tide is in high orbit, along with nine cruisers of various make, twenty escorts, and nearly as many support ships."

"The Empress has to be as mad as Sederis." Ash spoke up as she shook her head. "Everyone knows that's a redline for war, by either side. What's the official word from Xentha?"

I sighed, "That they're only there to protect and reinforce their investments in the SBC given the chaos in the Traverse. I don't know if T'Ravt honestly expects anyone to buy that but she's repeating it as often as she can, along with extra hints that she still wants to be recognized officially by more than just the Elcor and Quarians."

"Unlikely." Gunddarsen discarded the remains of his vice into an ash tray and began working on pulling another out. "Especially not with a dreadnought three Relays beyond the borders of her nation and Sederis provoking everyone. I can already hear Valern howling that the Citadel and Hierarchy fleets must be deployed at once."

The implied notion that the Salarians would want war but want to actually participate was more than a little racist... yet knowing what I knew of Council politics, also probably not that far off from the truth. Which was damnably depressing on any number of levels.

"We will return to T'Ravt in a moment. What of the Hegemony itself?" He asked. "Are the splinter factions uniting?"

Admiral Hackett let out a deep snort, "If anything, the opposite. According to an STG brief I received yesterday, there was a grand summons to Omega some two weeks ago, right before all of this began. Tirravan and Besaid both attended, along with three others of lesser stature, but Kilika and nearly a dozen of the break-away Highborn refused to go."

"They've already begun fighting." Anderson added, "The local groups are calling Aria and Balak's declaration of Reaper activity to be nothing more than a pathetic hoax aimed at forcing them to kneel. They intend to fight back as sharply as they can."

Gunddarsen closed his dark blue eyes, looking tired for a brief moment before he regathered himself. "Which means the Reapers will have fertile ground with which to work if they are not dealt with quickly."

"The pirates are trying." Anderson said, his voice grudging. "Most of the Traverse bands have begun to migrate that way, following the lead of the bigger fish. Our estimates are that the majority are joining up with Tirravan's faction, and Hegemon Balak is rallying what's left of the core fleets to attack from the other direction. Still... I'm not hopeful they'll stamp that out before the Reapers make their move."

"Neither are the Warlords." I said, "According to Lawson, that's what the blockade is actually for. Stopping any traffic out of the Hegemony and into the Terminus so that indoctrinated have a hard time causing problems."

Hackett rubbed at his chin, "It's not a bad play, but it's not a winning one either. And why deploy an Xenthan dreadnought at all? They have to know that one such ship can't do much to a Reaper. Especially not a Stormwind class, they're not designed for the kind of slugging match."

I could only shake my head, "Lawson had no idea, and Kean cut our conversation short before I could ask. If I had to guess... I don't think T'Ravt or Aria is all that confident that the Traverse warlords will follow orders long-term. Sticking a dreadnought right in their backyard would definitely work as motivation."

For a while anyway.

"They're gambling." I continued with a tired sigh, "The Warlords I mean. If the Hegemon is bullshitting them and the Reapers aren't here, they're going to lose a massive amount of face and support... and they're going to be on a time limit. Even the most loyal of the smaller pirate bands can't sit idle forever."

Ash caught on at once, "Meaning if the Reapers have any working knowledge of the galaxy, and we have to assume they do... they're going to pull back and wait for that alliance to fall apart."

Admiral Hackett frowned, "You believe the Reapers will be so threatened by pirates that they would delay their attack simply to break them apart?"

"I believe," Gunddarsen said, "That there are several thousand dead Reapers still strewn across Ilos and its solar system. We have no real knowledge of how many of them are still active and how cautious or bold they might be. What do you believe would happen if they did delay?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Anderson shook his head, "It will be as Shepard said, the Terminus will simply change targets and provoke the Republics into open war. That will let them remain somewhat unified and allow them to deal with these Leviathan creatures, assuming they are located within the Republics at all."

The Councilor looked as though he was about to reply when the still floating map winked out and a flashing icon for an incoming message replaced it. He gave it a somewhat sour look and tapped another area on his desk before speaking to someone, "Yes? Of course, I am being briefed on the matter as we speak. ...I see, yes, I can be at the Chambers at the top of the hour."

"Council meeting?" Anderson guessed.

"Yes." Gunddarsen replied, speaking around lighting his new cigarette. "I'm afraid we're going to have to call this here. Anderson, dispatch one of your aides to the Citadel Fleet under my aegis and get any information on potential deployments. Admiral Hackett, please continue to prepare potential deployments to the Traverse."

When the two men nodded, he went on, "Spectre Williams. Have you made any progress on the death of Admiral Mannfeld?"

"Some." Ash replied, "It was definitely intended to look like a suicide, but we managed to turn up a few things that make it clear it wasn't. No leads on who could have gotten onto and off of Arcturus though."

Gunddarsen exhaled smoke and nodded, "Continue focusing on that for now. The man was a short sighted fool due to be replaced, but we can hardly allow the commander of the AIS to die without dealing with whoever was responsible. Shepard, what your own investigation?"

I crossed my arms, "It's hard to investigate a Councilor, especially one who's basically living on the Destiny Ascension."

He gave me a less than impressed look, "What do you have?"

Forcing down my simmering anger, I spoke as calmly as I could. "There's a no-confidence vote scheduled on Thessia next week, but she's expected to pass in the lower Assembly despite the Matriarchs wanting her gone. She's getting plenty of expensive wine sent to her through back-channels, along with medication that's definitely intended to counter long term alcoholic effects in Asari. I'm also fairly certain she's refused at least two directives to return to Thessia for consultations."

Gunddarsen slowly pulled his cigarette away from his mouth, staring at its smoldering end. "She is aware of something... if Sederis is not merely a paranoid lunatic, and these Leviathans are influencing Asari politics, that may explain her actions. Continue your work, Spectre."

"I still think one of the Turian Spectres would be better at this." I countered, "For both jobs. Ash and I are soldiers, not investigators."

"You are Spectres." He replied smoothly, that telling smirk appearing once more, "And the principal role of a Spectre is as an investigator who does not suffer from any restrictions. Further... you are two of a very small number of Spectres who we can trust implicitly. The sooner you resolve these investigations the sooner we may have critical information on who are enemies are, and how far their reach extends."

I had to choke down another argument, knowing it wouldn't get me anywhere. I'd already tried to protest to Sparatus and been told, bluntly, that Gunddarsen wasn't wrong. He'd also reminded me rather sharply that while he could understand my personal loss, in the grand scheme of things the actions of a mercenary company in the Deep Traverse and the death of a handful of Corsairs was not a Council priority.

There were already too many jobs for Spectres and not enough of us to go around, especially not enough of us that weren't possibly compromised in one way or another.

"Your AIS and the STG will continue that investigation and locate the missing ship." He'd told me, "Remember Shepard, you received your title to defend the galactic peace and the Council's rule. We did not give it to you so that you could run around pursuing personal vendettas... and don't bring up Ilos. We both know this is an entirely different situation."

"Yes, Councilor." I forced the words out, knowing that both he and Sparatus were right, and unable to stop myself from hating it. "I'll get back to you when I have more information."

Silent Witness

Voya'kean vas Xentha

Date: 06-20-2187

Location: Silver Blade Compound, Xentha

My idiot male of a partner was once again worrying me, and I did not appreciate the emotions he was causing. It was entirely ruining the entertaining, potentially even arousing, sight of him pummeling challengers in close combat.

"How many does that make?" Shyeel asked as she dropped onto the chair beside mine, the pair of us among the many watching the sparring ring where Cieran was currently resolving a few leadership questions.

"Nine." I replied as one of the maiden Nightblades sheepishly picked up her training sword from the dirt and gave her Commander a quick Batarian-style bow before retreating. "He's made his point in the first few, he's just venting frustration right now."

The Asari let out a quiet grunt as a Batarian made his way down, gauntlets flickering to low-powered life as he did. "It's not just his usual complaining this time, is it? He's really sick of this whole responsibility thing."

"He's very sick of it." I shook my head and leaned back, "Whatever dregs of Batarian nature I haven't beaten out of him are the only things keeping him here, and these keshin acting like immature pirates instead of soldiers did not help matters."

Not that we hadn't expected there to be a few issues with him returning to command after several months away, months where a great many recruits had to be brought in and trained up by Ayle's people while the little bitch focused on our new cadre of assassins. Still, we'd all been rather surprised at how quickly the displeased rumbles had started as the new Lancers began adjusting to his delegation heavy, laid back command style.

The various long-term veterans had done their best to assist, but it had been an uphill struggle. Aria's orders to relocate from an increasingly comfortable Novgorod back to the militant, and now mostly empty, base on Xentha had not helped matters in the slightest... especially because Cieran didn't really want to be here either and had been slow to react to the problems as a result.

He'd expected more issues from the Nightblades, and been mildly surprised to find most of them practically giddy in their support once they'd realized he and the little bitch were practically the same person. That had been our biggest clue to the real problem; the Silver Blades, as much of a united front as we generally put up, still had a lot of lingering after-effects from our regional origins... and where all of the Nightblades were either from Ilium or Omega, all of the new Lancers were from Xentha or Khar'shan.

To say they were having problems shifting from the kind of stoic Turian-Batarian military crap that Ayle and Shaaryak had drummed into them to Cieran and Trena's Ilium by way of Omega dismissive laziness was understating things.

Cieran's patience had broken last week when we still hadn't gotten a mission to take everyone on to force some cohesion into place. Much as he once had on Omega, he'd gone full-Warlord mode and re-instituted a lot of the Omega branch's traditions. The primary one was a viciously relentless training pattern of squad on squad combat, pitting the teams against each other... and against us.

We were still down Illyan, but he'd dragged Ghai and the little bitch into our group, and despite how long it had been since we'd really fought together the five of us had flattened any and all challengers... usually assisted by the fact that we prepared the training zones far in advance. Only Mirala's team one really gave us a good fight; the Ardat'yakshi doing a better job than Deshi and Jacqueline of pounding teamwork into her new squadmates.

That had quieted most of the muttering, but the internal culture remained divided and a bit awkward. Cieran's mood hadn't improved very much as a result, if anything he'd gotten even more irritated as the days had gone by and he had to keep dealing with the uptight attitudes. He'd eventually gotten to the point where he'd taken over the little bitch's morning close combat sessions to vent some of his emotion through violence.

"I remember," Shyeel said as we both watched him ruthlessly go through his latest opponent, "When he'd work through his emotions by fucking Illyan and Joa senseless, or getting drunk out of his mind."

"Is that a comment on how I'm affecting him, or a comment on the fact that I'm not letting Illyan have sex with us?" I asked darkly.

The latter was a rather touchy subject at the moment. Illyan was... and I couldn't believe it at times, more focused on seducing me than simply trying to convince me to let her sleep with my husband again. Which was good in the sense that I didn't have to kill her, but irritating in the sense that Illyan and I had a very... complicated relationship that wasn't improving by living in tight proximity.

A blue hand rolled, "More I'm surprised he's doing this instead of dragging you to bed. Sex life still quiet?"

I let out a low mewl of displeasure, "I still do not care to discuss that with you... but no, it is as active as it has ever been."

Shyeel glanced at me with her lips pursed, "So not very. I thought you worked through your issues when we were all in the District."

"Just because I no longer have a panic attack at the notion of it does not mean that I am always in the mood." I countered. "I am not an Asari maiden who only thinks with her azure."

"I was just asking." She shrugged a wordless apology. "Not used to seeing him like this and was trying to pick out reasons for it beyond the obvious idiots down there challenging him."

I felt a muscle in my jaw twitch as I exhaled sharply. "He... is tired and frustrated with the situation in general."

"The vacation being cut short still, or the whole thing with Illyan?" She asked.

"The vacation being cut short, the issues with Illyan, the thing with the Butcher," I ticked them off one at a time, "having to call Shepard and deal with that bitch, being stuck as the middle-man between Ayle and Lawson, the fish you just referenced... and most of all; the fact that he just doesn't want to do this anymore."

Shyeel winced as we watched Cieran deflect a feint, dodge the main punch, and retaliate with a series of vicious body blows. "...I was wondering when that would happen. He was never really comfortable with the whole command and power thing."

"That," I said flatly, "Is understating things."

Aside from the day we'd officially bonded, and perhaps the first time I'd let him claim me, I was fairly certain that the day he'd transferred the Directorship to Ayle ranked among the best days of his life these past few years.

"He still has some notion of responsibility for the corporation, but he largely trusts that Ayle can handle things to his liking, and that Joa will act as a brake on her more wild ambitions." I continued, "Which was all the keshin ever really wanted... and now that he's sure it's all being run well he wants to be done with it more than anything."

Our friend exhaled, "It's that bad?"

"It was the vacation." I muttered. "It reminded him of what things used to be like and how much he missed not having to bother with this warlord style crap. Of what it was like when just the four of us were running around, or maybe even the times when the Blades were just another commando team."

Shyeel shook her head as she picked up on the rest. "And since we aren't on Omega with Aria holding a gun to our heads, he's... well, like you said. He's having a hard time figuring out why it's worth dealing with all of this. Fuck that sucks... I'm guessing the impending war is the only reason we're sticking around then?"

"More or less." Another shrug punctuated my words. "That and he still has some desire to personally see the Matriarch killed."

"Ugh." She made a disgusted sound, "That bitch. I'd done my best to forget about her once he got his head fixed."

I grimaced, feeling my tongue flick over my lips. "It's not fixed, it's... just patched together enough that it's not killing him anymore. Ghai thinks she can hold him together for something like his full lifespan thanks to the greybox and what Aria got us, but she won't swear to that."

"...meaning we still have to find that old bitch and whatever research she has." Shyeel finished. "Athame's ass, that's not going to be a fun campaign."

"Probably not." I agreed darkly, the memory of an unending scream making me shudder and be thankful for the bright sun overhead. "And it's not one he thinks we can run off and do on our own. I think he plans to convince Lawson to work with us, and to take both of the stealth ships into the Republics to hunt her once the war starts."

There was a long hum in reply to that, both of us watching as the farce below ended; Cieran finally looked tired enough to call it a day. "I guess that explains why he's doing all of this personally instead of just leaving it to Trena. We'll need the backup if we're hunting those... things again. Goddess... we're going to be up against more than one this time, aren't we?"

My fingers twitched as I exhaled. "Yes. Yes we will."

Shyeel's own breathing hitched for just a moment as she seemed to find a memory of her own, and she quickly shook herself and rushed to move on. "Yeah, well, guess we'll deal with those waves when they reach us. You think going and killing a few idiot pirates might help? Aria's got to have work for us soon."

"...yes, that should help." I said as I shook myself, disguising my discomfort and the effort of repressing unwanted memories in a few simple arm stretches. "Once we aren't stuck sitting here listening to complaints things should improve a great deal."

"Hope so. Cie's... well, no offense, but Cie's not as bloodthirsty as you are. Not sure missions will really help him calm down."

"I don't intend to actually let him fight." I shrugged as I stood up, watching as the crowd dispersed and the male in question began to head our way. "He'll do something stupid if he tries when he's in this kind of mood."

"I thought you got all hot and bothered when he does stupid things like personally fight Krogan Warlords."

That memory was at least a pleasant one, and I smirked a little as I recalled the idiotic expression on the giant alien's face when Cieran's pistol had found his throat. "He is exceedingly attractive in those situations... but he doesn't have a giant idiot who will throw herself into gunfire for him at the moment."

Shyeel groaned. "Voya... tell me you're not supporting Illyan just so you can use her infatuation with your bond-mate like that."

"I don't have to use her." I pointed out reasonably, "The idiot would do it either way. She still considers herself his personal bodyguard after all."

"Athame's ass..."

The curse came just as Cieran arrived, his pale skin covered in a light sweat as he tiredly tried to tie his long mane back. "Hey Shyeel. My wife causing problems again?"

I hissed at the accusation even as the Asari laughed, "Just the usual plots to get Illyan shot a few more times."

"Oh, so nothing unusual then." He said as he reached our level, reaching out to hug me. "How was your morning?"

I tolerated the contact, my anger unable to stop my instinct to rise up enough to rub my left cheek through the groomed hair around his mouth. "Pleasant until an idiot male decided to throw a temper tantrum."

He sighed as he continued to hold me, "It wasn't a temper tantrum, it was Trena's recommendation to make sure the muttering stopped."

"It was a temper tantrum over Cheyl running his mouth yesterday." I growled as I dropped back down to my heels. "Stop deflecting."

"It wasn't and I'm no-" His voice broke off as I reached behind his neck and grabbed the tied off hair, a single sharp tug enough of a threat to make him stop. "...what do you want for lunch?"

Shyeel cackled as I nodded in approval. "Steak with that fish you made last week."

"Yes dear."

Author's Notes

Sorry for the delay, this chapter went through a lot of iterations and about 5k wasted words as I fought with who I should use for the points of view. I like where it ended up just took longer than I'd have liked. In either case, things continue to progress both personally and politically. Next chapter will see the old crew off of Xentha and dealing with their first crisis and investigations.

Goal is still to have this story done by the end of December at the very latest, still on pace for a sixteen chapter story.

Please read and review, criticism is welcome, flames not so much, as usual. Reviews are my lifeblood as a writer.. every-time my email goes off with a review it makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so please. Even if it's as simple as "I enjoyed it, please continue."

Thanks, Kat