Chapter 50: High Warlord
Shepard stood behind Joker while the Normandy made it's final relay jump to the Krogan DMZ. She felt immense relief when he stomach settled back in her stomach after the jump, watching being flung through space at light speed was almost more than she could handle.
"We're clear Shepard." Joker told her, his hands slowing their pace over his controls. "Everything's still in one piece, stealth systems are active, and no sign of any Reaper in the space around us."
"Good work Joker." Shepard replied, patting the pilot on the shoulder. "This is why I keep you around."
"Not my good looks or witty personality?" the pilot asked in mock hurt. "I thought you had a thing for me Kat."
"I'm more of a leather and spikes kind of girl." she chuckled back, feeling a smile tug on her face. "Even if I wasn't I'm still out of your league."
Joker's face still held a smirk, but his shoulders slumped a little.
"Relax Joker, it's because you're a pilot, nothing else." she tried putting him at ease before beginning to walk out of the cockpit. "Besides, you're more asshole than I can handle."
"Yeah, but I'm your asshole." Joker there back, a laugh in his voice.
"Pretty sure you're EDI's not mine Joker!" she winked back, before the doors to the cockpit closed behind her.
"EDI, let Wrex know that we're over Tuchanka now, he's good to go ahead and call the clans together." Shepard spoke to the air around her, knowing the AI was listening.
"Yes Shepard." the AI replied only a second later. "Commander, you have an incoming call to the QEC."
"From who?"
"The Dalatrass of the Salarian Union."
"The hell does she want." Shepard muttered before heading to the QEC. Ever since the negotiations that ended in the Salarians getting the short end of the stick, and Rah telling the Dalatrass just how much he cared about Salarian forces in the war, the Dalatrass had supposedly been furious, that is if Mordin's sources were anything to go by.
When Shepard reached the QEC device in the war room, she found the Dalatrass already waiting for her. The Salarian looked to Shepard and nodded curtly.
"Spectre Shepard." The Salarian greeted her.
"Dalatrass," Shepard returned curtly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
The Dalatrass seemed to hold in a smirk at the pleasantries that Shepard had extended.
"I was hoping that perhaps you would be one to see reason Commander. It is clear to me that General Carmine has a one track mind." Shepard frowned at the Dalatrass' comment, the Salarian clearly hadn't done her research as to either herself or Carmine.
"What do you mean Dalatrass?" she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm in the process of preparing for a major operation Dalatrass, so please get to the point."
"My point is," the Salarian grumbled, put off by Shepard's attitude. "That General Carmine does not and refuses to see the bigger picture."
"I beg to differ, but please humor me."
"It seems that both of you are overlooking the support that the Salarian Union can give to this war. The ships, the troops, the technical intelligence that we could provide to the Crucible."
"How do you know about that?" Shepard growled at the Dalatrass.
"That's much that I know Commander, and much that I can give you, but only if you hear me out."
Shepard didn't respond, and the Salarian took that as queue to go on.
"All I ask is that you sabotage the cure. I know that Doctor Solus has finished there are fail safes built into the Shroud that will prevent the cure from being dispersed. So long as he doesn't know about them, you will win the support of both the Krogan and the Salarian unions. We keep the Krogan in check, and you get both our race's forces."
Shepard ground her teeth together, and felt her firsts clenching tight. She knew that the offer would work, but it would mean deceiving both not only her friends, but the entire galaxy. Everyone would think that the Genophage would be cured, and it would get the Krogans on her side, but what about after? What happens when the dust settles and the Krogan realize what happened?
"I don't require your answer now, I'll know when you make your decision." The Dalatrass' voice held nothing but smug triumph. Before Shepard could respond, the connection was severed.
"Commander Shepard?" EDI's voice broke the silence that had fallen over her.
"What is it EDI?" Shepard grit out.
"Both Urdnot Wrex and General Carmine have reported that the are ready for the council between the Krogan clan leaders when you are."
"Thank you, notify the ground team, we're all going planetside."
"Understood Commander."
Shepard stood at the QEC device for another ten minutes before finally moving. While she knew what was right, she also knew what would give them the biggest edge in this war, was it worth her soul and possibly another war to make sure that the one they fought now would be won? Was it really worth the cost?
"Fucking Reapers." Rah grit out after the sickening crunch of a husk's skull being crushed under his boot filled the air around them. "Fuckers knew our every fucking move."
Shepard looked to her friend with sorrow in her eyes, hidden only behind her visor. She knew exactly why it was the Reaper knew they were coming, and her friend's visage showed her just how true it was. She couldn't tell him, not now at least.
"Well you over grown lizard?" Rah asked Wrex, resting his massive hammer on his shoulder, between two of the spikes on his shoulder pad. "Where the hell are the other clan leaders?"
"They'll be here." Wrex grumbled kicking the corpse of a Reaper over the edge of the circular platform they were standing on. "I can smell them getting closer."
Just as Wrex promised, Shepard looked to the entrance to the ancient Krogan meeting grounds when the ground began trembling. Sure enough, from the large opening, dozens of Krogan entered the meeting grounds. Judging from the different colors on their respective armors, there were dozens of different clans coming to the meeting that Wrex had called for.
"We came as you asked Wrex." One Krogan spoke up once all the clan chiefs had entered the meeting grounds and formed a circle around Shepard, Wrex, and the others. "What is it you want? And why are there off worlders here?"
Around them, all the other chieftains began grumbles of disapproval, it was clear that Wrex wasn't the most popular of the clan leaders, only the most respected.
"He asked you here," Rah spoke up, almost yelling over everyone, making his voice heard. "Because I asked him to call this meeting."
"Carmine." Wrex growled in warning to the marine.
Rah pulled his helmet off and gave the elder Krogan a look that silenced him instantly. When the marine looked around, and Shepard got a look in his eyes, her own widened in fear. Rah's eyes were cold and held nothing but malice in them, there was more warmth on Noveria than in Rah's eyes.
"I had Wrex call this because I have something you all want, but at a price." Rah yelled out to every Krogan, and silence fell over them all. "I have a cure for the Genophage."
The other clan chiefs roared in outrage, all around her, Shepard could feel the air becoming more and more hostile by the minute. Looking around at her squad, she could see everyone but Javik grimacing and tossing questioning or angry glances at Rah. Javik seemed to be giving Rah an approving look and it terrified her.
A thunderous boom sounded in the grounds around them, and a wave of energy washed over everyone. Shepard looked back to see Rah lifting his hammer off the ground, and a commotion coming from one side of the circle.
"Hear him out!" A large Krogan, older than Wrex by the looks of him, yelled out. The other Krogan, even Wrex, bowed their heads to the old Krogan.
"Thank you Warlord Zerot." Rah gave a small smile to the grizzled Krogan before looking around once again.
"As I said, I have a cure to the Genophage. If you want it, you need to help me. If you want your cure, you need to bloody fucking earn it." Rah yelled out, his voice holding no room for argument, it held no compassion, only orders and demands. "If you want your cure, you will fight for me. You will fight under my banner, you will fight the Reapers. You will join forces with the other races that fight under me, for me, and you will earn your place in this galaxy."
"And who are you to make these demands?!" A voice called out from the clan leaders, clearly angered.
"He is Warlord Carmine!" The older Krogan, Warlord Zerot, yelled back. "A human that rivals the greatest warlords in all of Krogan history!"
A heavy and stunned silence fell over the Krogan around them. Shepard didn't know who this warlord was, but it was clear that he had the respect of every single Krogan around them, his words must have carried heavy weight to them.
"When I look around at those here, I see a bunch of whelps fighting over scraps! The only one here that even has a clue as to being a Krogan is this HUMAN!" Warlord Zerot yelled out, pointing to Rah. "He is the only one here that has what it takes to bring our people back into its former glory! We follow him, and we will reach heights that our ancestors never could have."
Warlord Zerot turn to fully face Rah, and walked up to him, placing a large hand on the marine's arm. "I gave you this hammer as a symbol of your leadership. I will gladly let you lead me and my clan Warlord."
Shepard could feel the stunned looks of everyone around them pointed to the pair, and it only intensified when Warlord Zerot knelled before Rah, bowing his head.
"The female clans will follow you as well Warlord Carmine." Eve's voice spoke out, and the female Krogan moved into the center of the circle as well. Eve, just like Warlord Zerot, knelled before Rah. "You have our aid Warlord."
"Clan Urdnot is yours whelp." Wrex grumbled, though Shepard could hear the pride in his voice. Wrex knelled next to Eve and both of the Krogan reached out to put a hand on Rah's armor.
One by one, the other Krogan in the grounds knelled down, pledging their allegiance to Rah. Each one reach out to touch him, and then those around them. Before long, the last clan chief knelled down, and every Krogan was connected to each other, and to Rah.
When it was just Shepard and her squad still standing, Shepard looked to her brother. "I hope you know what you're doing General." Shepard knelled as well, reaching out to place her hand on Rah's chestplate. "The Council and the Alliance will follow you General."
behind her, Shepard heard each of her squad follow her lead, kneeling down and placing their hands on each other's shoulders.
After a long, heavy silence, Rah spoke out to the gathered Krogan and her squad.
"Rise soldiers of the galaxy. Tell your clans and prepare for war. in two days, we will take back Tuchanka from the Reapers. After that, we take back the galaxy, and our future." Rah spoke to, his voice full of pride and relief.
As one, everyone that had been kneeling rose and separated. Warlord Zerot clasped arms with Rah, and looked the marine in the eyes.
"We will see you in two days then, High Warlord Carmine."
The Krogan all roared in approval at Rah's new title. There was no doubt in Shepard's mind now, that her brother had changed, had pulled the most violent race in the galaxy into this war, had become something that Shepard feared.
Slowly, one by one, the assembled Krogan left the meeting grounds until only Wrex and Eve were left.
"I will go and prepare my clan." Wrex nodded to Rah, also clasping arms with the marine. "I'm proud of you kid."
Rah only smirked and watched Wrex leave as well.
"I hope you know what you're doing Rah." Shepard spoke to her brother.
"You know me Sarge." Rah chuckled. "I'm just winging it."
Rah pulled his helmet back over his head and began walking out of the grounds as well.
"We're all doomed." Garrus muttered, jokingly, to her and Shepard couldn't help but smirk.
"Pretty much."
"He is this cycle's only hope." Javik's grim voice spoke to her, making Shepard whirl on him. "He is the only of you primitives that has what it takes to lead this cycle into the final battle with the Reapers. He is this cycle's Avatar of Death, the only one that can, and will, do what needs to be done."
"He isn't a Prothean Javik." Shepard snarled to the ancient warrior.
"No, his soul is as old as the cycles themselves." The Prothean replied coldly, before walking out of the grounds as well.
A/N: Sorry that this took so long to get out folks, life's been annoying.
Anyways, hope you all enjoyed! Please let me know what you think! Thank you all so much for continuing to read!
