Bright Sunny Day

by khatunLabs

At the start of 21st century, Earth is attacked by aliens. One human was (un)lucky enough to wait out the turmoil on an alien ship. This is her story. This also is a story of Aria T'Loak who could've excelled in a less righteous society. An AU story. Asari aren't as evolved as we're used to, Quarians aren't as sweet. Other species maybe show up later. M rate for later chapters

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Take off

'T'Loak to Fleet Command'

'Fleet Command is here.' The voice of her second-in-command who in her absence coordinated the flow of the battle for Earth chirped in reply.

'My group's sector is clean. The unit is on the way back.'

'Confirmed. Salvage groups and population control are dispatched.'

'What is the status from the other Earth sectors?'

'Three units have completed their assignments in sparsely developed areas and were reassigned. Most sectors report heavy ground fighting with Quarian forces.'

'What of the spawn ships and air assault units?'

'Earth air is clean. The space battles in orbit against the known Quarian fleets have completed. The salvage and cleanup activities are underway.'

'Clarify the known fleets?'

'The ambush fleets were observed hidden in the shadow sides of Sol planets. The ships are completely powered down, invisible to our sensors. A scout shuttle discovered one accidently by visual observation.'

'Interesting. How many groups have you discovered?'

'Five groups as of right now. Recon activities are still underway for 60% of the Sol System.'

'Understood. Anything else of note before I get on board?'

'Commando units at the more developed sectors of Earth are experiencing heavy local resistance in addition to high concentration of Quarian robotics. They have been granted permission to switch from Avoidance to Deterrence strategy with locals.'

The static filled the air for several moments.

'Fleet Command to T'Loak.'

'Fleet Command to T'Loak.'

'Go on, Fleet Command'

'It is the Command's conclusion that further strategy shifts are required to prevent Asari losses. We need your confirmation for high casualty strategies. Do the units have your authorization to go from Deterrence to Warning strategy with locals?'

'What are our current losses from engagements with locals?'

'Ten seriously wounded, over two hundred lightly wounded but requiring medical assistance.' The Asari on the other side of the comm knew High Commander was surprised and most likely annoyed at that news. When they planned troop spread and assignments, the locals were not considered relevant enough to factor in troop allocations. The losses represented two full commando units, units better applied fighting Quarians.

'Relay to all units, they have the leave to apply Warning strategy when dealing with local resistance. Try to keep casualties under 10 000 accidentals per engagement. Commando Units with losses above five fighters have authorization to apply Intimidation protocols if softer protocols had limited impacts. As per protocol, target the infrastructure points before habitats. Keep casualties under 50 000 accidentals per engagement. Inform leaders of the units I want detailed reports on how their units suffered heavy damages from these primitives.'

The comm unit paused for several moments.

'Relayed and acknowledged.'

'Set up a briefing for the quarter mark from my ETA to ship. T'Loak out.'

'Confirmed. Fleet Command out.'

The Asari commander rested her eyes and thought back to the circumstances that brought her to this outer system of the galaxy.

The glass elevator rose rapidly with every second revealing more of the stunning Thessia architecture and skyline to its occupants. Only one Asari actually paid attention, as she rarely spent any time on her species' home world. The tall athletic Asari in the formal tunic and pants embroidered with military order patterns stood out among other Asari in the ascending cabin. The assured, deceptively relaxed posture and the alert investigative gaze betrayed an experienced fighter. She caught several evaluating glances from the others in the elevator, and smirked at the boldest of them in return.

She had no intention to make acquaintances here, intimate or otherwise, but it was always amusing to see Maidens and even an occasional Matron or Matriarch squirm when caught staring.

By the time the elevator got to the soldier's destination she was alone in the cabin. The elevator opened to the closed blast door. After one more look at the gorgeous view behind the elevator glass, she moved next to the closed door. She stated her name and rank and sent a tiny biotic discharge into the glowing round sensor in the middle of the door.

The sensor flashed pale blue and the metal door slid open to reveal the long hallway and two young Commandos and a Huntress standing at the elevator entrance.

'High Commander T'Loak, the Committee will see you now.' Young Asari with Huntress markings on her light armor motioned for her to follow. The other two remained largely motionless on either side of the elevator blast door.

Despite supposedly leading her to meet the Committee, her guide didn't turn into any large rooms on the floor. Instead they walked by the darkened walls of the conference rooms and through the common areas bright from large windows. Eventually they turned into the inner corridors, and took another, smaller, elevator up.

The elevator opened into the spacious lavishly decorated common area. Its high ceiling and intricately decorated pyramid-shaped skylight confirmed that she was at the very top of the building. The eight identical doors spread at equal distances from each other along the perimeter of the oval-shaped hall. Absentmindedly she recalled that there were eight members on the Committee. So the spiky triangular top of the building apparently housed the private offices of the Committee members.

Her guide walked to one of the half-open doors and softly rapped on the transparent polymer panel alerting the occupant of the room to their arrival.

Aria didn't have time to speculate on the identity of the person who summoned her. The elderly pale skinned Asari inside the room was well-known to anyone half interested in politics or in the military. The person inside was the Head of the Asari Defense and Security Committee which often equated to the Galactic Security Committee given Asari influence among species.

The Matriarch was a very powerful woman. The Defense Committee was under her control for half the millennium. During this time the organization's purpose expanded from purely Thessia activities to influence and decision making in everything from domestic security to SPECTER selections to the new systems expansions to galactic military assistance.

It was not only the position the Asari held that commanded respect and apprehension. The rumors said the Matriarch fought at the tail end of the Krogan rebellions, and some even speculated that the old Asari was part of joint troops clearing up Rachni nests. If even only some of those tales were true that meant the Matriarch was at least 1300 years old or possibly as old as 1800, the age unheard of for Asari. Such military experience and age would make this Asari versatile fighter and unrivaled biotic.

For the first time Aria felt prickles of apprehension and anticipation from the unexpected summons.

'High Commander T'Loak,' the pale teal-skinned Asari nodded, 'You may leave, Huntress' Aria's guide disappeared in the doorway and firmly shut the doors behind her.

'Matriarch Azeeda, your summons were unexpected.' She entered farther into the room. After her questioning gaze at the Matriarch received permission, she sat into the unoccupied chair across the low table from the Matriarch.

'I am retiring at the end of this governing cycle.'

'Oh…' A quick calculation supplied an answer, the end of the Asari governing cycle would come in roughly two standard galactic years, pretty soon in Asari terms.

Curiously she evaluated the old Asari. There were roughly three levels of influence between them, so the information, while interesting, hardly had any impact on her position. Unfortunately, her experience, age and rank were not high enough to compete for the spot… yet. Aria signed internally, this was truly unfortunate, who knows when such an opportunity would come again, probably no sooner than several centuries from now.

At the same time, luckily, her age and rank were not high enough to be a threat to any new leadership and to warrant removal and reshuffling when the new Committee Head was selected.

'I intend to recommend you to fill the vacated spot on the Committee.'

'You want me to take over for you?'

'Of course not. Don't play coy, Commander.' she continued' The Committee will select its leader according to protocol. I expect three or four members to hold on to their current responsibilities, and others to switch to the new roles. Of course, whoever becomes the new Head may have completely different ideas and vision for the sets of responsibilities the members undertake. As the newest and the youngest member I suspect you will end up with the least desired role.'

This was an unexpected development.

Only one member of the familial estate was allowed to participate in the highest offices of power in Asari tradition. T'Loak family was represented by her mother, a centuries-long member of the Asari Matriarchy Civilian Council. During the current decade her mother was also the top of the governing triad. One couldn't get any closer to the high office than this.

The younger Asari relaxed back in the chair and studied the impassive weathered face in front of her.

'I didn't realize this was an option. You are obviously aware of my familial connections…'

The Matriarch took a sip of her water.

'I like you, Commander. More importantly I believe you would be very effective in this position.' Hard faded eyes leveled on her. 'You are not wrong, the already strict confirmation process for the Committee in your case would be twice as convoluted, but not impossible.'

Aria stayed silent.

'You will be challenged, because of your family, because of your youth for this position, because of your complicated history in and out of service.'

Matriarch took another sip of water and continued.

'You are ruthless, no other way to name your military style. You always put your mission and the Asari lives above all other factors.' Aria wanted to roll her eyes, she heard this evaluation, often as a form of underhanded reproval, before. She was the Asari military commander, who else she was supposed to prioritize.

The Matriarch smiled thinly as if guessing her thoughts.

'Your people are loyal to you, the soldiers outside your fleets respect you. Your fleets are the only formations with the waiting list of transfer-in requests. This may cause tension with your peers but the Committee finds this quality of yours remarkable and desirable in a member.'

'Trust of the troops matters. Just like your reputation among galactic species and broad Asari society matters.'

Aria slightly inclined her head agreeing in general to the points listed.

'For all intents and purposes, you are a Matriarch' with satisfaction, old Asari noticed a barely noticeable widening of the others eyes, and she laughed.

'Relax, Commander, I neither possess nor have interest in obtaining your medical and psychological data. The sum of her experiences, the influence she commands over others and of course her biotics, are what elevates the true Matriarch over an average old Asari with certain biochemical measurements, Commander.'

Matriarch finished her water, moved the glass to the side, and then continued.

'In addition to your personality, your powers are on par or stronger than half the nation's Matriarchs. Indeed on the Committee of eight strong Matriarchs only three are stronger than you, and I am included in that number.'

'I am aware. Of course my powers rivaled many Matriarchs several centuries ago in my early Matron days. How is it relevant? I assume you are not settling the disputes in the Committee by the biotic tourneys.' Aria tactfully kept to herself that if the push came to shove, she anticipated that she would prevail in a single combat against all but the elder across from her.

'Oh clearly not, but believe me on an unofficial intangible level, it matters.' The Matriarch continued. 'Did you hear enough compliments for one visit?'

'Are there more?'

'Don't push it, Commander. Are you interested in this position?'

Matriarch stood up and poured two low glasses of dark liquid, the local strong brew, giving the younger Asari time to mull over her words.

'Say, I'm interested. How do you plan to get by my familial connection? And let me say right now, even though my mother and I have a contentious relationship, killing her is not an option.'

'You should not believe all the rumors you hear about me, T'Loak. We have at least two other options. For one, you can challenge your mother for the leadership of the estate. I do think you have enough power and clout to pull it off.' Aria swallowed, just even thinking about that eventuality gave her nausea. Crossing her mother was never wise, but trifling with her position in society that was dangerously foolish.

'And another option?'

'Instead of just my recommendation and a simple majority agreement, you'd have to have recommendations of the three senior members of the Committee, then also all other members of the Committee have to explicitly and on record state their agreement to your nomination, and finally the Committee has to officially petition the Office of Assignments for your confirmation. It will be under their purview given the conflict of interest your familial connection creates with the Civilian Government approval process.'

'Three senior members. The Committee has the total of three senior members.' At the Matriarch nod. 'I assume you already have investigated their support inclinations.'

Matriarch stood up and refilled their glasses with the dark liquid.

'I didn't realize this will require extra alcohol' Matriarch thinly smiled, an annoyed expression in her whole posture.

'Matriarch Fleur's partner was killed during the first contact misunderstanding centuries ago by a Quarian soldier. Impressively she still keeps the grudge toward the species. She supports you in theory but would be more inclined to give you her support if you investigate her hunch that the Quarian government is up to no good in the more remote systems of the galaxy that we claimed.'

'These rumors were proven unfounded by the Third Quadrant fleet, what is there to investigate? Quarians are no Krogan, they won't dare to get into a dispute with us, regardless of their advances in military robotics.'

'I trust you to keep your opinion to yourself if you want her support. Take a trip, personally, to some of our more remote claims.'

'Fine. It is easy enough. I was getting restless on Thessia anyway.'

Both took a sip of the drink.

'This stuff is good.' The older Asari nodded in agreement.

'Matriarch T'Ishta, hm, she likes gifts.'

'Sol,' Aria could tell that was a code for something but she was quite removed from finer local rumors to risk a wrong assumption. 'She wants me to pay my way in?'

'What do you know of her on a personal level, Commander?'

'Nothing. I only heard that she likes to screw with the minds of primitive species. Is she an Ardat-Yakshi? Is that how she gets around the strict rules for their place in society?' Aria curiously looked at the Matriarch. 'Does she want me to bring her a bunny from faraway lands or something?'

'She is not an Ardat-Yakshi. Not exactly.' The pale eyes appeared almost embarrassed as they bored into the younger Asari pale blue. 'And no she doesn't want a bunny.'

Eventually the realization dawned but instead of being offended purple-skinned Asari grinned, amused.

'She wants to meld with me.'

'She never voiced to me that her recommendation depended on this … condition. But I do know for a fact that it is.'

'Does she realize half my partners run away mid-meld, and many others never want a repeat experience.'

'I believe the rumors of your personal life are part of the appeal.'

'And you are certain she is not an Ardat-Yakshi?'

'I am certain.' After a pause. 'Let's have you come back from the Quarian investigation, before doing anything. It'll give me time to find a different solution to this improper eventuality.'

'Is there anything else we should discuss?'

'No you are free to leave, Commander. Come see me after you are back.'

Aria rose from her chair.

'I'm leaving to chase Fleur's ghosts in two days' time. Please have the copies of the two recommendations forwarded to my personal account before I depart the orbit just so I know I didn't imagine this conversation.' Aria let her grin show, and for the first time since Matriarch heard of the price T'Ishta expected for her support the old Asari was more concerned for her abusive colleague than for the High Commander.

Before exiting the Matriarch office Aria paused head half-turned.

'Thank you for the opportunity, Matriarch Azeeda.'

Shuttle shuddered.

'Apologies, High Commander!' the pilot's voice sounded through the intercom. 'We are in a high space debris zone. These species don't know the meaning of a clean up I'm afraid'

Aria didn't mind the jolts that pulled her into the present.

The Matriarch Fleur like a bad clock turned out to be correct at least this once. Quarians did attempt to occupy the Sol System. Luckily her fleet headed toward the outer systems before the automatic alert was triggered, so they were able to reach the system in time to spoil Quarian plans and suffer just fraction of casualties they would have had otherwise. If Quarians deployed their advanced space-to-space missile nets and had time to set up bases on the planets in the system, the Asari losses would have been much worse before they reestablished control of the system.

Aria was pleased that she decided to personally oversee the operations in this remote system. The trip ground-side turned out exhilaratingly eventful. Even her brush with death didn't spoil her enjoyment from putting her skill and raw power against an unfamiliar threat. Several of the commandos from the unit she took along would need to spend time in med bay, but all were alive and in good spirits. She was well-aware that soldiers viewed her presence on military excursions as a point of pride. The day reminded her of her youth spent in various commando units, with few exceptions, the years filled with less responsibilities and with significantly more fun.

She probed the Earthling form slumped against the opposite bulkhead with her boot. There was no reaction.

Creatures of this world were alien, some of the only few in the galaxy with the land-bound high mammal as their closest relative. Most were on a weaker side. Smaller in stature and fragile under any type of damage. Also, intelligent, if primitive, only on the verge of space travel.

And their minds. If this creature was an average specimen of its kind, their minds were very compatible with Asari, easy to enter, bright and shiny.

This creature. She saved her life. Though obviously terrified, she crawled out of that stinky hiding place and gave Aria the distraction she needed. By the smell alone she would bet this was the first time the thing moved from that hole since attacks started. Quarians made their move three day ago. So it must have stayed there for the whole three days. Impressive self-preservation instinct.

Aria looked again at the still form slumped against the bulkhead. Initially she was amazed at the creature's ability to sleep in the obviously foreign surroundings, but now she thought perhaps it wasn't sleeping, perhaps it was passed out from hunger or something.

She wanted to know more about it. First, though she'll have the creature examined and cleaned.