"I'm glad you are willing to intercede with us," the judge—or officiator, Shepard wasn't entirely sure—said wearily. Xala'Far vas Orra was a tall woman, middle-aged but looking somewhat haggard.
"The quarian people have been through enough, and the galaxy is already a mess. I will advocate to the Council that whatever earnest measures the quarian people do to distance themselves from certain…bad decisions and poorly-chosen comments…will be enough," Shepard answered.
There was no way that the quarians were not going to throw the book at the Admiralty Board. She'd known it from the moment Xala contacted her, requesting that Tali be remanded into Flotilla custody pending her trial. That had been four days ago, though as her captain, Shepard had the right to visit her, which she did faithfully.
"How difficult will it make things, having alien representatives of a technically foreign authority 'witnessing' these proceedings?"
Xala shrugged. "Right now, you are a friend of the quarian people. You're perceived as a voice of reason, with our interests in mind, which is not something we have come to expect from outsiders. For the time being, I do not think that you and Spectre Alenko being foreigners will be a problem. Not the least because you are technically Tali'Zorah's ship captain."
Shepard nodded. "This is a pretty monumental step for the Conclave."
"At the very least, Gerrel proved himself willing to endanger the Flotilla beyond reasonable limits," Xala answered, unable to keep her tone entirely neutral. "At the very least, Xen promoted this insanity. The first law of the Flotilla is that no quarian may endanger its existence. The charges are fairly clear, anything further is simply used to assess magnitude of the offense." After a pause. "I suppose you are asking out of concern for Tali'Zorah?"
"Tali is ready to stand before the judiciary and take her lumps for her part in this…fiasco." After all, it was Tali who implored the Conclave and the ships' captains to come together and force a change of leadership. "I was asking because I don't want to be the one helping pile things onto a scapegoat. But it sounds like that may not be a concern."
Xala smiled wryly. "It is the judiciary's job to make sure that doesn't happen. But your concern is appreciated."
"Can I ask—what's the worst that can happen?" Alenko piped up.
Xala looked to him. "Exile, although given the current galactic state, it might be wiser on the whole to simply attach would-be exiles to ground units of quarian marines. Goodness knows they've begun indicating that with the Rannoch situation under control, units should begin deploying to help with the galaxy's larger problems. However, for the moment, they'll remain with the Flotilla."
"Any help would be appreciated," Shepard declared, knowing that she had already sent two units of geth Primes—with more units, different units, in the wings—to Adm. Hackett, who hadn't been sure what to think about them. He took them, though, since they were combat units, and whatever advances Shepard made, it didn't change the fact that people were dying at an unprecedented rate, even for a war.
"You've certainly earned it. I won't lie, that I am…disquieted…by this peace you've brokered."
"Centuries of a certain mindset will do that," Shepard allowed. She would have liked to say 'of prejudice,' but knew it would be undiplomatic. It felt like so long since she'd needed Council space diplomacy, rather than Terminus space diplomacy…or krogan diplomacy. "But I have faith that if both sides mind their manners, neither will have cause of complaint."
She would also personally recommend the quarians take a moment and visit the memorial cities, to see with what respect the geth had treated the original quarian dead. To really drink in the time and effort represented by the memorials. For 'enemies.'
"As you have already been a part of quarian judiciary hearings, will I need to explain them for Spectre Alenko?" Xala asked.
"No, I already briefed him, myself," Shepard answered.
"Then let us begin." Xala got up from her desk, opening the door to the anteroom where Vega and Garrus, as Spectres' aides, waited with several quarians. "Please see the Spectres settled," she declared.
They were taken to a large room, already mostly full, which buzzed like a hive of angry bees. Their bench was placed perpendicular to the judiciary benches, at the moment empty. Those benches would be filled with the captains of ships with the most clout, five each from the Heavy, Civilian, and Patrol fleets.
Already, several other quarians sat in benches close to the proceedings, clear indication that they would have some part therein.
The jury trooped into the room, all of them looking grim. They each paid a small reverence to the crowd before seating themselves, as if to underscore that, in this matter, they were servants of the people, not lords over them.
Xala appeared a moment later, paying the assembled quarians an even deeper reverence than the jury had, before stepping behind her podium. "These proceedings are now in session."
The murmurs in the room died down.
"It is a dark period in quarian history, when the Conclave, backed by the will of the people, must declare the current Admiralty Board unfit for duty, pending their own defenses. It should be known that Admiral Raan has already resigned, but will still stand trial to determine degree of complicity and magnitude of punishment should wrongdoing be established."
Murmurs of agreement, some of it resentful.
"These proceedings will be witnessed by Council Spectre Shepard and Council Spectre Alenko, as charges against certain of the Admiralty Board represent infractions against Council law, and it is not our desire to alienate ourselves out of the galaxy."
This did not go over quite so well…though Shepard sensed those who felt the outsiders were overstepping were quickly hushed by others. Probably those who knew their lives had been saved by those very outsiders.
"Please bring in Han'Gerrel vas Neema."