Author's Note: Meant to get to the meeting on the Migrant Fleet. Made feels instead. Oops, sorry.
"She's not even graduated."
"Neither was I when I was made an officer. I was even younger when I joined."
"We have surviving diplomats for this sort of thing."
"Douchebags to the man. She's studied her entire life for this job, and when she's ready to take it, you want to hold her back because she's young? Because she's never done it before? That's idiotic. If you think that she'll never get anything done. Trial by fire, she'll pass every time."
"Because she's a Fenix, right?"
Jessica Zelda Fenix shifted in her chair in the lobby of the office of the Chairwoman of the Seran Union of Nations. Even though her door was closed, Jessica could still hear Chairwoman Draper and Sky Marshal Baird arguing. Every word. Her whole career, in the next room.
Ran'Kaufin nar Wizaum sat next to her, tapping his fingers against his first knees. Over the years his environment suit had been repaired, rebuilt, and redesigned, and now it was much bulkier than the first time she'd met him five years before. It resembled a Gear's armor as much as it did the original Quarian life support hardsuit. Even the faceplate, originally a dark purple, glowed blue like the eyes on a Gear's helmet. It didn't change any of his body expressions, however, and he gave her a thumbs-up.
Jessica returned the gesture, trying to smile.
"Because she's the best at this. You've read her papers, seen her at functions with alien dignitaries. If you don't take her to the conference, I will."
"You put a lot of confidence in one girl."
"Woman. She isn't the fifteen year old clutching on her mom's dress anymore. And I have faith in all my Gears. She's as good as they come."
"So was her brother."
Jessica winced. That one felt like a slap in the face. She imagined Baird was turning purple.
"Whatever happened to Franklin on New Mercy has not happened to her. We have no reason to believe it ever will. At least not without the Locust Queen. This is a diplomatic conference, not a battlefield, Monica. She's not going to pull a gun on us."
"She's said it herself. She wants answers about her brother."
"Wouldn't you? Hell, I want answers about her brother, but we're not getting them today. This has nothing to do with that. One day, she might be our ambassador to the Citadel. I have no intention of holding her back. Not when we need talent like hers."
"She's idealistic."
"Good. That means she has ethics. Something we're in short supply of."
"Fine. She can come."
Jessica let out a long breath. Ran'Kaufin patted her on the back. She smiled at him, and held his hand. He squeezed. They'd worked hard for this chance.
"Awesome," Baird opened the door, and saw Jessica's expression. He turned back to Chairwoman Draper.
"I told you she'd overhear through the door. But does anyone listen to me, noooo, I'm just the frickin Sky Marshal and an accomplished engineer and a celebrated Special Forces veteran. What do I know about hearing shit through walls?"
"That's enough, Baird," Draper commanded, and Baird shrugged it off. Chairwoman Draper was a very plump, dark-skinned woman from what was left of an equatorial UIR nation that nobody remembered had ever existed. She had come of age only after the Locust War, and a glandular disorder had exempted her from military service. She kept her hair short and square, making her look fatter than she really was, despite her actual excess size.
Despite not having been a military veteran, she dedicated her life to the reconstruction of Sera, and later the establishment of its colonies. She had masterminded much of the SUN's strategy in approaching the Council and other races. For nearly twenty years, she'd been content to run things from the shadows, until the first open SUN election was held, in which she had exposed every dirty little secret she had on her opponents. Combined with her history as a civil servant and community organizer, she won in a landslide.
"Congratulations, Jessica. You're coming with us to the Migrant Fleet," Draper's voice was deep and crisp, like a stern schoolteacher.
"Thank you, ma'am, I won't disappoint you."
"Ran'Kaufin, it's a pleasure as always. Are you ready to return to your people?" she asked him.
"I'm nervous. Terrified, really. But I'm ready. My sister is coming to get me and bring me to the Migrant Fleet. She tells me that the Quarians are…Worried. Word has reached them about Benny and the other AI's, and they are scared, ma'am."
"I know, Ran. We'll address that in person to the Admirals. You owe us nothing more."
"I…Can't help but feel like my work is never done, ma'am-"
"Please, it's Monica, Ran."
He nodded, "I've put everything into helping you get to where you are today. It never seems to be finished. Please, let me at least speak to the Admiralty Board on your behalf, and convince them to have the conference, or let them know what you want."
"If that's what you'd like to do," Draper nodded.
"And there…Is one more thing," Ran rubbed his hands together in his signature nervous tick, "I technically still do not have anything to bring to the Fleet. I know what I've done here is amazing, but I need to bring something to the fleet. So, I have a request for you."
"Anything," Monica crossed her arms.
"I would like to give them the Hammer of Dawn technology."
Draper paused, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Done," Baird announced.
"Marshal!" Draper objected.
"We owe him far more than Hammer of Dawn, Monica," Baird said.
"I know that. But that's not the point. If we give it to him, we're giving it to the Fleet. We haven't even begun to negotiate selling it to any of the Council Races yet. I'm not worried about Ran, it's the rest of them that I'm concerned about," she explained.
"We're trying to establish an alliance with them anyway," Baird shrugged, "What better way to show that we're serious than giving them our greatest bargaining chip right away?"
"The Sky Marshal is right, ma'am," Jessica said, "The Quarians will see this as a gift to the Fleet. They'll respond well to it, I'm sure of it."
Monica stared at Jessica for a moment, and sighed, "Fine."
"Good to know you consent to something that's already done," Baird said, "Jessica, we've got a lot of work to do. Ran, I'll see to it you get the designs and a whole damn satellite for it."
"Thank you, Sky Marshal, it is appreciated. Chairwoman-Monica. I have to prepare to leave. I…Have a lot of things to leave behind. I want to pack well, and bring what is…Most important to me."
"Of course, Ran. I'll see you again real soon."
Ran nodded, and followed out the Sky Marshal and Jessica. His thoughts were too many to really process. His sister, Aelp, had mentioned that she had a family now, and had completed her pilgrimage. He had memorabilia and computer data and personal effects. So little of it was useful. He had a niece! She was almost ten, and she was coming with her mother! What was he going to say to the Admiralty board? Would they see him? What ship would he go to? Would they take him? Would he be exiled for ascending a species that hadn't been ready for it? Were they ready for it?
His driver took him home, which was part mansion part laboratory. It was a massive, multi-layered facility. There were ships in the Fleet that weren't as big as his house-slash-laboratory. He had hundreds of people that were employed at his lab. They would still have jobs. The lab would go on, and his home would be preserved. It would always be his, he had been told.
"Is this the last time I'm gonna drive you, sir?" his driver asked, and Ran considered the question. His driver, a young man named Jenkins, glanced back at him briefly. Jenkins always had new questions for Ran, and Ran was usually happy to oblige. They'd both been rather quiet on the drive back.
"I-Yes, Richard. I think it is. You've been a good friend to me, and I appreciate all your work."
"What, drive you this way, fly you that way? Not very hard," Jenkins shrugged, "I mean, yeah, theoretically I was supposed to shoot things for you, too, but that never came up, so…"
"Service done is service rendered. Thank you."
"The pleasure is all mine, Ran. You know we're gonna build statues of you, right? We humans like making statues of people. It's one of our things."
"Yeah, I know. Humans are hard on themselves, you know. You're not as bad as you think you are. Every species has something about them they don't like. Dark secrets."
"Well, I hope we don't disappoint, sir. We're here."
Ran looked out the window. So they were. He left the car, and entered his house. His living room alone doubled as a ballroom, and was lined with art and sculptures. Humans really did like making statues. One of them was a painting of himself out of his suit. He didn't like it. He looked like he was skinless without his suit, and he didn't think nearly so highly of himself. It was some sort of masterpiece, however, and the wealth of his home wasn't really for his benefit, anyway. Still, since it had been built nearly ten years ago…It had been his space. His property. Nobody could, or would, ever take it from him. He realized that meant more than he thought it had. Did he really want to leave that behind?
Ran walked through the halls of his house, ignoring most of the paintings and fineries, and walked into his personal lab, where he tinkered with tech to give to the humans. He'd designed innumerable gizmos and gadgets for them. He'd built everything from starships and weapons to computers and toys. He'd obsessively packed and cataloged everything and used as little space as possible. Now that he looked at his lab, standing back from it, and he realized that his laboratory was massive in comparison to what he had waiting for him on the Fleet. He had so much space, and didn't use much of it at all. He realized he could have asked the Humans for a starship, and they would have given it to him. He couldn't help but chuckle at that.
Ran walked into his bedroom, a personal space that included a specially sanitized kitchen and all the facilities he needed to survive. For his twenty years on Sera, he had never been in his own room without being in the suit. Now, he figured, he never would.
He had a shelf where he kept items of his time on Sera. A tube of nutrient paste he'd kept over the years. He thought he was going to starve until the humans found a way to synthesize food he could eat. That might have been a good item to bring to the fleet. He had his first Omnitool lying on there. It hadn't worked in over ten years, and he had new ones, but he'd kept it. There was a VI of his mother. He used to talk to it every night when he was enslaved by the Batarians. After living with the Humans, he hadn't turned it on since. His mother was still alive, would he bring it with him?
Ran froze when he glanced at the last item. Dog tags. Theodore Jester. Serial number four nine two eight six hotel one one. Theodore Irwin Jester, Corporal, E-4. Ran'Kaufin knew that a lot of Gears had given their lives to protect him, but Theodore had been his friend for four years. He had been the first human (of many) to show him kindness. Theodore had said that the Humans would do everything they could to help the Quarians. Now, it seemed, that had turned into a promise, and was about to be kept. Ran grabbed the dogtags. He knew what he would be bringing back to the Fleet with him.
Codex: Gear MultiCorps
In the wake of the establishment of the Seran Union of Nations, the Gears quickly adapted to having significant competition on diplomatic, military, political, cultural, and scientific matters. As the Gears had been a de facto military dictatorship until the establishment of the SUN, they were forced to keep their edge. As a result, individuals with extraordinary talents were brought into the Gears, and a number of subdivisions were created to accommodate their talents. Everything from scientists to soldiers, teachers to engineers, diplomats to artists were integrated to ensure that the Gears maintained significance after the Union's founding. The Gears operate independently of the SUN, but with intimate coordination. All Gears were expected to double as soldiers, and those that dedicated all their efforts to their military careers had to be the best warriors mankind could offer to retain their positions.
Dossier: Ran'Kaufin vas Wizaum nar Rayya
Born 0 AE. Raised aboard a small Quarian frigate, Ran'Kaufin's parents were given permission to have two children, and so he was raised alongside his sister, Aelp. Ran excelled as a pilot, and wanted to become a squadron leader. Knowing he would never be able to fly for a Citadel military, Ran instead joined on with what he thought was a mercenary organization, hoping to learn new ways of dogfighting. Instead, he was forced into the role of mechanic and shuttle pilot for a band of slavers.
Ran flew for the Gatatog slavers from 17 to 19 AE, at which point he was captured by Delta and Hotel Squads at the Battle of Mercy. During his stay with the pirates, he befriended a Batarian named Gavun, who was also captured, and together they began working to help the humans defeat the Gatatog-affiliated pirates, and alter the Batarian Hegemony. Ran became a notable engineer, famous throughout Human space as the alien responsible for Humanity's ascension. Most of Humanity's pre-contact information about the Citadel races is based off of texts he brought along his Pilgramage, as wella s his personal experiences and education.
Despite having a reputation for fineries, Ran is practically minded and generous. Those who know him see him as being excitable but kind. Ran enjoys flying and telling stories, and is known for his unwavering loyalty to his friends.
Dossier: Jessica Zelda Fenix
Born 20 AE. The oldest daughter of the Fenix family, and the daughter of legendary soldiers Marcus and Anya Fenix-Stroud. Like all of her siblings, Jessica is a talented Biotic, with a sharp mind and a powerful body. Jessica was always enamored with her parents' stories, and after learning about the existence of truly extraterrestrial life, was immediately fascinated. Her parents, being heroes, were constantly invited to formal events around the world, most of which they did not attend. When Jessica insisted on attending one that the Quarian Ran'Kaufin would be going to, her parents obliged. After meeting the alien, Jessica dedicated her studies to understanding alien cultures.
Jessica proved to be a prodigy similar to her mother and grandfather, and began writing significant scientific papers about First Contact Scenarios and policy proposals by the age of eighteen. She was invited to join both the SUN Diplomatic Corp and the Gears, and opted to join the Gears, following her parents and older brother, as a scientist, soldier, and diplomat.
After her brother's alleged treason at the Battle of New Mercy, Jessica's career and allegiance was brought into doubt when she expressed a desire to find answers regarding her brother's incident. Sky Marshal Damon Baird's faith in her loyalty and abilities allowed her the chance to lead Seran-Quarian relations.
Jessica has been noted as being naïve and idealistic by multiple observers. However, she has a strong sense of justice, and has a supremely keen mind. Outside of those with some sort of relevant profession, Jessica is slow to open up and difficult to befriend, but what relationships she does have are unwavering and intimate. Having grown up on a ranch, Jessica enjoys physical activity and exercise, as well as being a noted bibliophile.
Dossier: Chairwoman Monica Draper
Born 7 BE. Monica's homeland was destroyed during the Pendulum Wars, and her family bounced between refugee camps in the UIR until the end of the war. Her family was lucky to settle into a bomb shelter, which protected them from the Hammer of Dawn Offensive against the Locust. A sickly child, Monica was unable to help her family fight the Locust, and by 8 AE, she was the only survivor of her family. Monica found refuge among the Stranded, where she realized her gift for organizing people and planning communities. Over the next ten years, Monica managed to keep her fellow Stranded alive with a sophisticated system of tunnels and communication, until the destruction of the Locust and the Lambent in 17 AE.
After the war, Monica was selected by Victor Hoffman as a civilian liaison to Gear Command, which quickly established itself as a military dictatorship of Sera. Monica was responsible for coordination between settlements and fledgling nations, and became politically influential. As Humanity began to adopt Mass Effect technology, she became instrumental in the planning of the supernational organization now known as the Seran Union of Nations. During its first fifteen years, Monica worked in the shadows, manipulating political factions into taking certain actions that brought wealth and prosperity to the Human race. When the SUN held its first elections in 38 AE, Monica leaked extensive files on her political rivals, and ensured her election as the first democratically elected Chairwoman.
Monica is a stern, difficult to read woman that exudes power and control around others. While she has a certain sarcastic streak among friends and intimate rivals (such as Sky Marshal Damon Baird), she is almost never speaking in jest. Monica shows her affection through favors rather than warm words or compliments.