Thoughts from Andromeda part 48

By ElementalsAdvocate

….

April 23, 2819. Shipboard Time 16:03, Day 37 after Arrival. Andromeda Galaxy, Heleus Cluster, En route to Nexus in the Zheng He System from Planet Havarl, Faroang System.

….

"That's it – I'm done with all my emails and reports. I'm done, right SAM?

{That is correct Scott.}

"Thank God!"

{Incoming message from Director Tann.}

"….. SAM… Not cool. Not cool at all."

{Patching you through.}

The screen on the Pathfinder's desk turns on, projecting a live QEC feed of Director Jarun Tann sitting at his desk in the Pathfinder HQ on the Nexus. His expression is (severe?) "Pathfinder."

Scott puts on a (serious but open?) face. "Director Tann, what can I do for you?"

"You can explain why the angara hasn't attempted to speak with us, and why you have allowed him such liberty aboard the Initiative's spearhead vessel when he has yet to declare his intentions. Director Kandros raised a number of security concerns during our last meeting, and Director Addison is increasingly insistent that we begin formal diplomatic proceedings with the Angara as soon as possible."

"Yes, Director – I did receive emails from the Security Director and Director Addison on both those topics. But my Security Specialist has raised no concerns, and aside from the incident with the personal communicator, Jaal has been nothing but open with us."

"Nevertheless, Jaal ama Darav has refused to answer any of our messages or offers of communication. If I am to properly perform the First Contact Protocols upon your arrival at the Nexus, I must know the angara's mind. This is a critical cross-roads, Pathfinder. Word is already spreading amongst the population of the Nexus of your return and that you are bringing a member of an advanced alien race with you. I am sure that you have no desire to have future generations look down upon us for failing to "seize the day" with the first benevolent species to be encountered in Andromeda."

"I understand, Director. But what exactly do you expect me to do?"

Director Tann blinks rapidly for several seconds, then replies (scathingly?). "Ask questions! Find out what - if any - procedures or traditions the Angara may have for First Contact scenarios. And discover why he has refused to answer any of our communications. Is that clear enough for you, Pathfinder?"

"Crystal clear."

"Excellent. I will expect a full report of your findings on my desk within twenty-four hours. That should give us just enough time to make any special preparations if necessary. Now, how are the turians doing since the Vice-Admiral's death?"

"Stoic, Director. They are stoic."

"Hm. Typical turians. An honor guard to escort the corpse would be appropriate upon their arrival."

"Yes sir, I think that would be appreciated."

"Excellent. That's all for now Pathfinder. Remember, your report on my desk within twenty-four hours. Director Tann out."

Director Tann severs the link.

Scott stares hard at the now blank screen on his desk. His mouth is in a thin line and his jaw is tight.

"SAM, I think that I am starting to dislike that guy."

{Was that a joke Scott?}

"Yes SAM, that was a joke."

{Sarcasm or irony?}

"Sarcasm."

{Understood.}

"What are the odds that Tann tries to make a speech and butchers it?"

{Unknown. Attempting to calculate…}

"Woah! Hold your horses SAM! That was a rhetorical question."

{My words were… a joke?}

"Ugh..." Scott covers his eyes with one hand and sags back in the chair.

{Scott?}

"Well played, SAM. But that punchline was weak. Next time, just say: "That was a joke."."

{I have made a note.}

"Well, no sense in waiting around. Might as well get this done now." Scott activates his omni-tool and selects the inter-com function to the omni-tool provided for Jaal ama Darav. "Jaal, are you there?"

["Where else would I be, Ryder?"]

"I mean, where are you now and can we talk for a bit?"

[That is two questions. I am in the tech lab at the moment, attempting to comprehend Peebee's notes on the Vault you found on Eos. Our time in the Havaarl vault inspired me to seek out more information. However, I will require access to your – what do you call it? Body-camera! I will require access to the body-camera data you took to understand some of her comments. The underground monuments you found sound fascinating!"]

"Uh, about that Jaal? We need to have a talk. Can you come to my cabin?"

["Of course. I'll be there in a moment."]

"Thanks."

Jaal cuts off the communication.

"Okay Scott. You trained on the moons of Saturn, survived marine MRE's, traveled to another galaxy, and handled a First Contact situation without getting anyone killed. It's just a conversation with an alien commando, and he hasn't even tried to kill me yet. You can do this."

{You can do this.}

"Is there an echo in here?"

{No, just me.}

Scott bursts out laughing, just as the door opens and Jaal steps into the cabin.

"Hm, laughter. I've not heard that much on this ship."

"Sorry Jaal. SAM just made a joke, that's all."

"Do not apologize. It is interesting to discover another thing the angara and humans have in common."

"Really? Laughter or A.I.'s making jokes?"

"The Angara do not have A.I., so how could they make jokes?"

Scott snorted.

"Hm. You are in a much better mood today."

"Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep will do that to a human. But- that's not why I asked you here Jaal. Um, would you like to sit?"

Jaal nods genially and carefully lowers himself onto the couch. Scott takes the plush chair across from the angara.

"Jaal," Scott starts hesitantly, carefully choosing his words, "I just got a call from my superior, Director Tann. Apparently, he and the other directors have been trying to contact you, and you have been refusing to answer."

"Yes."

"May I ask why?"

Jaal studies Scott for a moment before answering. "If you are in a strange land and you hear someone calling out to you, someone whom you have never met before and cannot even see - would it be wise to answer them before you find them?"

Scott blinks. "Huh. I didn't think of it like that. It makes sense, I guess."

"Just so. It is the custom of leaders among angara never to make contact with one another until we are able to do so face to face, at least for the first time. When the kett first started taking our people, they falsified messages and records to convince other leaders and experts to walk into the ketts clutches quietly. So when the truth finally came out, the angara had few leaders and few means of fighting against them."

"Shit. Alien Invasions: subverting populations 101."

"Effectively, yes. You have experience with such tactics?"

"It's a common thread in alien invasions fiction. An advanced alien species turns up out of nowhere, promising to end all our problems, while secretly using us for heinous experimentation or food on the sly. Then, when humanity finds out the truth, it's inevitably too late to do anything."

Jaal appears taken aback. "Stars… has it ever happened?"

"If you want to believe the rumors, that's all the asari or the salarian's ever do: subvert other aliens on the sly for their own purposes." Scott's face twists, "I don't think I've ever heard of a sentient race that considers other sentient races as food, but… I never actually got the chance to see that much of the Milky Way Galaxy so, who knows?"

"A disturbing thought." Jaal's face tightens briefly, before relaxing back to rest. "So, when we arrive at the Nexus, I will be meeting your leaders. What are they like?"

"The Directors? They're all a-holes in their own way. Except for Kesh. You just don't want to get on her bad side." Scott freezes. Blinks. Then covers his face with one hand. "Shit."

"Ryder?"

"Sorry. Guess I didn't get quite as much sleep as I should. Now, the directors. Well, Director Tann is a salarian, and he's in charge of the whole Initiative. You know that when we first ran into the Scourge, it wiped out most of our leaders, right?

"Yes."

"Well, Tann was originally the Initiative's Treasurer. Basically, he was the guy in charge of making sure the Initiative got what it needed and had the money to pay for it, and all the records from that task."

"Was he good at his job?"

"He must have been, because when they put together the chain of command, he ended up ahead of Kesh."

"That would be Nakmor Kesh, the Nexus Superintendant?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"She sent me a message. She wanted to know if I required any special needs for my quarters on the Nexus, whenever I arrived. Only, that her schedule was packed and she would appreciate forewarning so she can get her engineers started as soon as possible."

"Yep, that sounds like Kesh."

"Is she related to Drack?"

"Yes. Kesh is Drack's grand-daughter. Well, he calls her that, but Drack told me once that the clan shaman just dumped her on him one day as a baby, so I don't think there's any blood relation between them. But Drack is really fond of her, and she seems to be fond of him, so clearly it works out."

"Ah. But – you believe Kesh is a better "director" then this Director Tann?"

"Jaal-" Scott sighs and massages his temples. "-I'm not going to touch that question with a ten foot pole. I'll just say that – Tann was ill-suited to take command of the Initiative when he did. He's… very much a "by-the-numbers" kind of leader. Being that he was an accountant - and a salarian accountant at that - it kind of makes sense. He depends on calculations and logic and cost-versus-risk-versus-benefit processes and procedures. Don't get me wrong; Tann was willing to roll with me as the Pathfinder practically from the moment I arrived on the Nexus. Problem is, he's also got a butt-ton of bias and history weighing on him, and sometimes I think he just doesn't recognize it – or refuses to."

"Hmmm. In what way?"

"You did get the Codex, right?"

"Yes."

"Have you read up about the Krogan Rebellions?"

"Yes, but only briefly. The Codex is quite extensive. I've already sent a copy of it to the Resistance. I hope that won't be a problem."

"I don't think so." {Shit. SAM?}

{The Codex was provided for the event of First Contact. Whatever the angara's reaction to the information, presentation of the Codex is part of the protocol.}

{Okay, that helps. Sort of.} "So you know why salarians and krogan don't get along."

"The Genophage. I tried to ask Drack about it. He was... most aggravated. And whenever I try to ask Kallo about it, he becomes evasive."

"Yeah." Scott is silent for a few moments. "Jaal, I'm going to let you in on something. When it comes to aliens, you can try and look for similarities and commonalities all you want. But the immutable fact is, at some point, we're all different. We may do similar things, act in similar ways, but that doesn't mean we all do them for the same reasons. All of us compete with one-another at some level, and the competition can get really fucking brutal at times."

"Why is this important to the Director Tann?"

"I'm getting to that. Back when I was a Peacekeeper in the Alliance, sometimes we'd get called in to deal with domestic incidents that were getting out of hand. My squad and I were on this arid acid-bath of a planet called Asteria, and we got called in to deal with a disturbance on the edge of the colony. This lone turian had apparently walked into a human bar, sat down, and started drinking himself into a stupor, and some locals decided to start a fight with him. Except they found out that even as drunk as he was, this turian could still hit like a mule and fight like a tiger. When we got there the fighting was already over and the three local tough guys and two cops were lying out in the street, and a crowd was standing around watching the show. Nobody was dead, but the windows on the bar were busted out and some of the tables were out in the street. Now, at this point I was expecting some kind of black ops commando with a grudge, but when I managed to get a look inside the bar, there was just this one plain-clothes turian, unarmed except for a bottle of turian brandy and singing to himself, kind of soft.

"So anyway; my CO – after setting up a perimeter and checking the bystanders - hands me his gun, tells me to keep the crowd back and the squad under control, and he walks into the bar alone. He sits down beside the turian, pours himself a drink, and they talk. For an hour. Turns out the old turian had just found out one of his kids had been killed in a separatist bombing."

"Separatist?"

"Turian's who think the Hierarchy is full of bull and want to govern their own planets independently. Problem is, if every planet split off on its own, the turian military wouldn't be nearly as strong as it is, and it wouldn't be able to be the Councils military arm. So the Hierarchy tends to stomp on them pretty hard whenever they crop up inside Citadel space, and the Separatists can get nasty in a hurry."

"Hm. I didn't know about this. Is this "separatist" movement driven by biology, or social pressures?"

"I don't know. I just know it exists. It's part of their history. Like racism is for humans."

"I suppose every race has their problems."

"Demons more like. Anyway, one the things that turian in the bar said stuck with me. "Asari and salarians at the top, dancing with and against one another for preeminence over all below. Turians below them, trying to clean up asari and salarian messes while trying to keep everyone else from making more, with little or no honor to show for it. Then the humans, grasping and clawing to stand upon the heights with no idea of what they're doing. Below them, the volus, drell, hanar, and elcor, making their way in lock-step, envious and longing to rise but fearful of falling. And then the vermin, the ones who never rose and the ones who fell: the carnivorous vorcha, the slave-taking batarians, the vagrant quarians, and the destructive krogan."

Jaal stares at Scott, eyes wide and eyebrows raised. "Fascinating. I shall have to read the Codex more closely in the future."

"Yeah, well. I'm paraphrasing a bit. He was pretty morbid from drink and half of it was almost in verse."

"What happened when your… CO? What does that mean?

"CO is a human abbreviation for "Commanding Officer"."

"What happened when your- CO… finished talking with the turian?"

"They walked out of the bar, the turian paid for the damages, and we all went quietly about our business."

"Sounds like your CO was an akaar ashaan - A noble heart."

"Yeah. I used to think so too."

"Something happened?"

"You could say that. I'd rather not talk about it."

"Very well. So Director Tann, as a salarian, looks down upon the krogan?"

"Yes. I think he wishes the krogan didn't exist, but Kesh designed and built the Nexus with Jien Garson, the Intiative's founder. Kesh knows the Nexus better than anyone, and it's only thanks to her that the Nexus hasn't come apart at the seams. Also, she's very loyal to her people, and they're loyal to her."

"You mean the krogan?"

"No, the engineers. The krogan too, but most of them left the Nexus because Tann can't manage people for spit, except to give orders and make bad speeches. It's complicated. But Tann's not an idiot. And he has managed to keep something of the Initiative together for the last fifteen months. So take that for what it's worth."

"I shall. Now, the other Directors; they are Addison and Kandros, yes?"

"Addison is in charge of colonization. Kandros is in charge of security."

"What are they like?"

"Addison's a b-." Scott stops himself, and starts again. "Addison is… difficult. She's kind of wound up. She's the only one of the original directors still in her position. Totally dedicated to her work, but like everyone else on the Nexus, she really, really didn't need the Scourge and everything that came with it, and could really use a vacation. I try to avoid her if possible."

"But, since you are the pathfinder, doesn't that mean you report to Director Addison?"

"God, no! Ugh- It's complicated, Jaal. It's all complicated. Look – Addison is in charge of finding, creating, building, administering, and maintaining the Initiative colonies. That means she's de facto in charge of getting the Nexus what it needs to survive. I assume she's already attempted to work out some kind of trade deal with you?"

"Yes, she has sent several messages requesting contact with the angara and the Resistance. I have refused to answer any of them."

"Good bargaining position. But you should be ready for her when we arrive. She can be – difficult."

"I will be prepared."

"Anything else?"

"Your security director: Kandros, is a turian, yes?"

"Kandros is okay. He tries to play referee between Addison, Tann, and Kesh."

"Hmmm. And not an easy one."

"No. What did he try and talk to you about?"

"Nothing. He sent me no message, and has made no attempt to contact me. Of your Directors, he seems the most prudent."

"Yeah, Kandros is that. He's tough, but he's fair. He actually got the job after he broke out of a kett prison camp on Eos. Pulled a bunch of our people out with him, and when they finally got back to the Nexus, Tann gave him the job of Security Director on the spot."

"What happened to the last Director of Security?"

"That's… part of the reason our situation is so complicated. Um, has anyone on the Tempest talked to you about The Uprising?"

"I've heard some of the crew mention it in passing. Some sort of unrest on your Nexus that resulted in a schism amongst your people."

"That's it in a nutshell. You can only push people so far before something snaps. Being trapped on a wrecked space station, putting out one fire after another, low on food, fuel, water, facilities, and ad hoc leadership. When word got around that the scouts sent out by the Directors found the Golden Worlds were wrecked, and with no other viable alternatives, a lot of people freaked. They felt betrayed by the Directors. The previous security director, Sloane Kelly, tried to play peace-maker, but ended up siding with the rioters after Tann unleashed the krogan on them. You've seen what Drack can do on his own – imagine dozens of Drack's all being unleashed on a mob in a confined space station."

"Not something to see on a full stomach."

"You can say that again."

"Not something to-"

"It was an idiom Jaal! Just an idiom - it means I agree with you."

"Hrrrm. But- how did the krogan come to be "unleashed" by Director Tann?"

"Most of the krogan had been in cryo-sleep right up until the uprising. But apparently, someone from the Directors woke up a krogan warlord, Nakmor Morda, and made a deal with her that the krogan would get a seat at the high table if they put down the rioters."

"Hmmm. That sounds like asking the cavak to get rid of the frumtheer that are raiding the brilaf orchards. It might work, but there's no guarantee that there will even be an orchard by the time it's over."

"Okay, I actually managed to get most of that. Yes, I agree. But, after the riot was put down, things broke down again. Tann said he never agreed to any deal, never even knew about one, and someone else backed him, and at that point the whole dam thing looked like it was going to come apart at the seams again. In a way I guess it did. Most of the krogan just packed up and left as a group, and the rioters were all exiled. Director Kelly chose to go with the exiles. She'd had it up to here with Tann and his Initiative. I don't know what happened to either group. I don't suppose the Angaran Resistance…?" Scott trails off, looking questioningly at Jaal.

Jaal slowly and carefully nods his head, once. "We have had contact with the group you call the "Exiles". That is how we were able to obtain a lexicon of your language. However, the Exiles have avoided confrontation with the angara for the most part, and Evfra would prefer to focus upon the kett. The Roekaar are another matter."

"Naturally." Scott says sourly. "Do you know where they are?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Because I'm the Pathfinder, and the way my luck goes, I'm probably going to end up having to treat with them sooner or later."

"Hmmm." Jaal hums in a (contemplative?) manner. "I don't know precisely. I might have found out more information, but then the Tempest landed in Aya, and that changed my plans. Somewhere to the galactic north, beyond Haranj, "the Fisher's Lure", the black hole at the center of the cluster. But that is also the direction the kett came from. If your exiles have managed to scratch out an existence there, then they will be a formidable people to deal with."

"Great, just what I wanted to hear."

"You are joking?"

"It's called sarcasm Jaal. You can look it up later."

"Very well." Jaal rises. "Thank you, Ryder. You have given me a great deal to think about. I will be looking forward to seeing the Nexus in person. How much longer before we arrive?"

[Approximately forty-two hours, Jaal. However, that time is likely to be cut down to thirty-eight if the star charts provided by Raaschel Vier continue to prove accurate as to the Scourge concentrations in this area of space.]

Jaal looks over at the holographic projection of SAM's avatar on the desk, looking (bemused?). "I am still finding it difficult to understand how anyone could have created something like your SAM. It is… humbling - Like standing under the monoliths on Havarl."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

"You must be very proud, to be a part of a family that can make such wonders."

"Jaal." Scott stops, seems about to say more, and then- "Thanks."

Jaal looks at Scott closely, and then nods slightly. "Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?"

"Yes – is there any kind of ceremony that the angara use for First Contact? Any words or greetings the Director's should know?"

"None that have survived the kett." Jaal says with finality. "If your Director's desire words then let them be their own words. The angara have had enough of "words".

"Okay. Thanks."

Jaal nods again, and leaves the cabin. Scott sags back in his chair.

"SAM?"

{Yes, Scott.}

"Remind me again how I got into this."

{You got on the Hyperion.}

"Fuck."

{… … …}

"SAM…?"

{Yes Scott?}

"Do you think you could…"

{I am not the Pathfinder, Scott. And Director Tann specifically requested the report from you. However, I can put together a short summary of our findings while you get more coffee.}

"SAM, you are a gentleman and a saint." Scott says with evident relief. He stretches in the chair, threading his fingers over his head, joints popping slightly, before coming languorously to his feet. "I'll be back in five minutes. Unless the coffee's all gone, in which case, be back in fifteen. Unless there's another disaster, in which case-"

{Logging you out, Pathfinder.}

….

Authors Note: This one was hard, but enjoyable once I really got down to it. It always bugged me that there was never any recognition of Jaal coming onboard the Nexus for the first time. As starved for morale as the people apparently are, and as conniving as Tann apparently was, you would think someone would at least have thought to have some kind of procedure or ceremony to mark the occasion. But it is what it is. What do you think should be a part of the first meeting between Jaal ama Darav and the Initiative Directors? What do you think about Jaal admission to knowing about the exiles? Please let me know in the reviews, or Private Message me. Your reviews inspire me to keep writing. So, read, review, and enjoy!