Eight Months latter...
Council's Chamber, Citadel, June 2067
"The americans are encroaching on Batarian territories! Soon we will have no more room to expand! The Skylian Verge should be declared a zone of exclusive Batarian interests!"
"Our "encroachment" means the previous unclaimed territories of the Petra Nebula, Maroon Sea, Attican Beta and the Armstrong Nebula, territories the Council recognized as legitimate american territories during our first talks. Also, ambassador Dabkhara, we made sure not to touch the Hades Gamma nor the Voyager Cluster, there's still ample room to expand in the Traverse"
Ambassador Rodrik knew this day would come, when the batarians got pissed with having a neighborhood consisting not of random bands of pirates and slaver but an actual country. Still, he could have gone at least a year or ten without the current mess.
"Ambassador Dabhkara!" Councilor Tevos raised her voice, "You very well know that such demands cannot be made, much less conceded by this Council. I suggest you find a way to directly negotiate with the United States of America regarding your current border"
"Your inaction only proves one thing, Councilor Tevos: You are behaving like a pet for this… americans! And for the other humans! Why would they want a Councilor when you do that job so perfectly for them?"
"Enough with your offenses Ambassador, or I will kick you out of this session myself" Rodrik had to admit, he did not expect seeing the Turian Councilor Sparatus so angry today.
"There's no need for that, Councilor Sparatus, because I'm leaving! From now on, the Batarian Hegemony is no longer a member of the Galactic Council! We no longer respect the authority of this circus!"
And with that, the Batarian stormed out of the building, shoving aside guards and reporters, disappearing into his office.
Rodrik shook his head in disbelief, gave a few more words to the Council as a courtesy and headed to his own office. Halfway there he saw someone he really didn't want to talk to today
"I take everything went to shit?" Asked Julia Koopmans, now the European ambassador to the Council.
"What do you think? The Batarians were doing fuck all on the Traverse for centuries, thought no one would try and expand their way because they'd be too afraid of pirate raids and the oh so powerful Hegemony, now the new kids on the block came barging trough, getting a good chunk of their territory without any objection from the Council"
The Dutch woman had, in Rodrik's opinion, an extremely bubbly personality for someone known as one of the most hawkish politicians Europe had. She gave a very theatrically shrug, got a cigarette from her case, and lit it.
"You should start smoking, you know, now that medicine is probably going to make us all immortal, no one cares about lung cancer! Or sexual impotence, I bet there are some very sick sex toys around here."
He declined her offer of cigarettes and tried to keep the image of a sex toy for Hanars or God forbid, Krogans from ever crossing his mind again.
Julia changed her posture, assuming a somewhat more serious one and spoke. "So, the very pissed off Batarian that just came here was their ambassador?"
Rodrik reconsider the offer (cigarette offer, not Hanar sex toy offer) and lit it. "Yes, said to the council that the Hegemony was getting out, for now on they are no longer part of the Galactical Community"
She looked at him somewhat worried. "You know what that means right? They're going full rogue; they're probably going to start financing pirates and slavers and everything else the Terminus can regurgitate into existence against your colonies"
"Then, they would be picking a fight they can't possibly win"
"Who says it's about winning dumbass? It's terrorism, plain and simple, force you guys to abandon those territories, then the Hegemony comes on a white horse and brings 'peace and stability' to a lawless region made worse by those pesky americans"
Rodrik huffed, the cigarette already over, he threw the butt at the lake below them, it almost hit a keeper in the head.
"Never gonna get used to those little spider dudes"
"Yep, official version says they just… came with the station, like buying a new TV and getting 12 months of Netflix free, but whatever, they are just, you know, an alien race genetically engineered to be slaves."
"Everything is so fucked up here"
"Yeap, it is, but, also, giant jellyfishes! And they are like, Mormons or something. And the Asari, mijn God, seems like I died and came right to lesbian heaven"
"And are you really the best Europe could send here?"
"You know it" she responded, making finger guns at him "lovely chat, but gotta go, something about how European territories are too close to inner Council worlds to comfort, maybe I will suggest an alliance with the krogan to the bosses back in Brussels"
She took off, a small mirth in her pace, and he just went back to business. She was right in one thing tough, Batarians going rogue meant that attacks on far flung territories would only get worse.
Berlaymont Building, Brussels, June 2067
…. In other news, The Batarian Hegemony has ceased its relationship with the Galactic Council. Kar'San claimed that "the clear bias the Council has for the newcomers makes negotiating Batarian interests with the Citadel an exercise in futility" and that "The Hegemony will find its own way" ….
"Turn off that damn thing", said Matthew Suri, the European Finance Minister, "The boss is coming"
As if on cue, Prime Minister Casteux entered the room where a meeting with his inner cabinet was to take place: Wallerstein, his Foreign Affairs Minister, Aleksi Kowalski, Defense Minister and Nabila Nader, his Internal Affairs Minister. Joining them were Vice Admiral Baltazer, now chief of the European Intelligence Services, the amalgamation of every spy agency – civilian or military – Europe had and Julia Koopmans, ambassador to the Citadel.
The first order of the day: the tantrum the Batarians threw at the Council. After Koopmans retold what she got from pestering Rodrik on her way there, the real discussion began.
"The americans are deluded if they think any aggression will come in the form of a Batarian attack, they'll employ deniable assets, pirates, slavers, mercs, all swimming in cash from Kar'Shan, obviously, but the connection won't be so clear." Said Wallerstein.
"One would expect them to know this kind of strategy, after all, it's the same shit everyone has been doing on Earth for what, close to two hundred years?" Added Kowalski
"I don't think they are that dumb, but I also think they are underestimating the capabilities of the Batarians to pull this kind of thing. Their colonial clusters are quite a ride from Sol, if they don't start to concentrate a portion of their fleets in or around Petra Nebula, they could be facing three to four days to get ships in there in case of a Batarian attack. And that ruin world they found, Feros if I'm not mistaken, it's on the middle of nowhere, it could take weeks to reach Attican Beta from Sol", the Prime Minister chimed in
"All it means is that the americans are between a rock and a hard place. Either they stretch themselves thin protecting every colony from here to the Armstrong Nebula, or they risk not managing to respond to a crisis" Baltazar said
"And if they don't respond to, say, Elysium suffering an attack of pirates, the Petra Nebula is just one relay away from Exodus Cluster, we'd be facing a refugee crisis," said Nader
"So, gentlemen and ladies, what can we do to prevent an American stupidity from spilling over our borders?" Casteux wanted results, not analysis, that he could get by reading a newspaper or something
"I don't think we have much to do, at least for now. We must wait and see what the Americans and the Batarians will do. But, one thing is certain, we cannot afford to have the whole southern Traverse falling in disarray, it would put the Batarians too close to Exodus and even Sol.," said Koopmans
"If it comes to the worst case, us and China can jump in the vacuum and take control of the region, we can even invite the UN to lend us a hand. But I don't think it will come to this. The americans will have to deal with several terrorist attacks for the next decade or so, until they get really pissed and invade Kite's Nest, that is." Baltazar answered, and continued: "but for now the only thing feasible is to increase surveillance on the Batarians, and share some of it with the americans, we can also increase our contributions to the UN fleets patrolling the far frontier of human territories, Mindoir and Horizon, because those would make great targets if there isn't a strong deterrence fleet nearby"
"Ok, so that's solved, we spy on the Batarians, alert the americans and send more battlecruisers to the UN, anything else?"
"We need to stop devaluating the Euro against the Credit, otherwise the Volus will have a collective heart attack, and the Turians will be annoyed because the Volus will be annoying them. Our industries are more… resilient than first thought, they can, at least some of them, compete in intergalactical markets fairly well. Our shipyards are highly sought after, apparently, they are a good medium between a cheap volus deathtrap and a luxury asari yacht. Those Suez class supercargo ships are a hot commodity now. And we keep getting inquires about selling our plasma cannon technology to the turians, they surely are drooling at our warships." Suri said
"There's no way we are going to sell that technology to anyone else. We kept it secret from everyone since we found it on Mars" said Baltazar
"As for devaluation of our currency, we can't do that unless the Chinese and Americans and actually everyone else in this planet does. Otherwise, we will have a super valued currency and no exports markets." Jacques answered his minister
"The Americans are also trying to approach the Turians sir, maybe out of a mutual dislike of the Chinese, reports say that there are tentative talks about trade deals and whatnot, even military hardware" Suri spoke, content the PM's answers validated his own thoughts on the matter.
And then Wallerstein added: "And Beijing is courting the Salarians, apparently they always thought that the Turians were a lite version of the Krogan. But nothing more concrete than a few words of praise between the Politburo and the Dalatrasses."
"Which, for the sake of symmetry, leave us with the Asari, they have a very good impression of us, especially because we didn't botch our first contact as bad as the Chinese. Matriarch Benezia was well surprised by our "willingness to engage in diplomacy". Perhaps a more overt approach to them is in order?" Said the PM, to everyone's agreement
"One more thing", Koopmans was actually smiling saying this, "There is a giant gap in our western borders, and by ours, I mean humanity, in the form of the Krogan DMZ. Sure, it's under Council responsibility, but anyone can fly in and out with ease, they just care if you're taking like, nuclear weapons to Tuchanka. The Asari, if we're going blue babes' way, which I 100% agree with, are also the only "big three" that doesn't hate the Krogan, long lifespan and pacifist nature probably. Imagine the possibilities: an allied corridor between the Exodus Cluster and Thessia, with Sol and the Krogan DMZ in the middle. We could secure our main interests even if the Chinese make friends with the Salarians."
"That's a… surprisingly good idea Koops, but how the hell will we get the krogan to cooperate? Tuchanka is a wasteland, their people are divided between warring bands, not a chance of they getting a unified government" said Kowalski
"And neither do we, humans, I'll look around on the Citadel, perhaps we can find our Krogan Bismark lying around"
Casteux straightened in his chair and started to talk. "So, that concludes our meeting today. Investigate the Batarians, warn, if possible and if we remember, the Americans in case of four eyed agression, help the UN for a change, keep the Volus from launching a massive buying spree of our currency, start talking with the Asari and find a Krogan von Bismark." He sighed, loudly. "Never thought that ruling a galactic empire would be such a shitshow, dismissed everyone"
Zakera Ward, Citadel, June 2067
Wrex was drinking at his favorite bar, meaning the only bar that hadn't banned him yet. A successful job demanded a good Ryncol to celebrate. The TV was on, speaking for the millionth time about those humans. Wrex found it funny how they seemed to like infighting more than Krogan, but also a pang of envy. If those pyjacks could have so much success while fighting among themselves like starved varren, why couldn't his people? He was about to ask the owner to turn the damn thing off or switch to the bioticball league when something caught his attention. A human woman, the European ambassador to the Citadel by the looks of it. She was speaking about how they should look for allies in the galaxy just like they did at home, that burning bridges just because other people didn't look like them never once worked in their history. She spoke of the krogan, how they would make terrific allies if only Tuchanka wasn't, well, Tuchanka. Wrex felt something inside him, and it wasn't the Ryncol. He once was a leader, heir apparent of Urdnot, but then he grew disillusioned and left Tuchanka for good. Maybe, if these squishy humans were telling the truth, the Krogan could find new friends in a hostile galaxy.
Councilor Tevos's private residence, Citadel's Presidium, June 2067
After a good dinner and small talks, it was time to talk shop. Councilor Tevos, Matron, was very nervous of talking shop with Matriarch Benezia T'Soni, powerful head of one of the most influential houses in Thessia. "Matriarch, I believe now is a good time for us to discuss your stay on Earth, how did it go?"
Benezia took a sip of her port wine, a gift she brought to Tevos after her time in Europe. "It was wonderful Tevos, they are a very particular race. Of course, I've stayed most of my time in the European Federation, a very lovely country. This delicious wine comes from a region they call Portugal. But I believe your question is about other subjects and not about the quality of their wines"
Tevos sipped her own wine, she had to admit, it was very good. "Yes, Matriarch, I was thinking about their potential for the galaxy, and the Asari, at large. Do you think we could bring these humans under our guidance? Perhaps make them realize the pettiness of their quarrels with one another"
Benezia laughed gently, "Tevos, I believed we found the most peculiar race ever to grace this galaxy. I don't think they would change their ways, even by our influence. In fact, I think they will influence the galaxy more than the other way around. Their rivalries are what fuels their development. They know not how to live without it. And I think the contact with the humans is bringing forth the same competitive spirits in all races. We both know that the Turians and Salarians never did trust each other fully, it was Asari power that ensured a peaceful coexistence between the two. Now, as they find two nations embroiled in open rivalry, I can quite well imagine them taking sides. Relations between the Chinese and the turians are abysmally bad, understandable given how first contact played out. And both sides think they should have been more… forceful in their negotiations. The americans see in the turians a natural ally against the Chinese. And the Salarians, they will think that they can counter growing turian influence by allying themselves with the Chinese."
Tevos frowned, "And where does it leave us, Asari? We cannot be the guiding hand we always were if our partners find new allies and decide to follow their own agendas"
Benezia raised her head and looked straight into Tevos's eyes. "You are forgetting the third human power, one that in their home world has always tried to guarantee a balanced global order, I believe they would make natural allies for the Asari"
Tevos turned her head in confusion, "But Matriarch, how can you be so… peaceful with the idea of such great changes on the horizon? The order maintained by the Council for generations could collapse!"
Benezia put her hand gently on the younger woman's shoulder. "Tevos, you're young, let the allure of the old be a blight only for those who lived so long they cannot fathom change anymore. I should be one of them but, well, Aethyta happened in my life. I'll never admit it to her, but she is right, you know. We Asari have grown complacent, happy to be the diplomat's others expect from us, happy to let the turians fight and die for us, happy to let the salarians plot and scheme for us. Maybe it's time to change things, to make our galaxy more resilient to the unknown. I believe these humans were a blessing from the goddess, disruptive enough to incite change, but not dangerous enough to pose an existential threat while doing so."
Tevos sighted. "But how can we do this without being merely pawns in a game not of our doing? We will be serving European interests, not asari's"
Benezia gave her a light smile. "Only if we let them. Make no mistake, I do not believe they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. My time spent among them showed me how cunning they could be. But it also showed me that they are reasonable, they will negotiate and compromise and try to find a middle ground. We can grow together with them, not in their shadow, if only our leaders, if only you, can muster the courage and wisdom to navigate this new ocean"
Two years later…
BREAKING NEWS: AMERICAN-TURIAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT DEAL SIGNED, AS SALARIAN TALKS WITH CHINA INTENSIFIES
EBC GALAXY SERVICE
WASHINGTON, SUR'KESH, BEIJING Earlier today, in an event at the White House, american president Harold Brown and Turian ambassador Bartus Quentius signed a comprehensive deal for establishing a free trade zone between Turian and American territories. The deal covers raw materials, manufactured goods, and specialized services. The Turian Hierarchy, and their Vol allies, have also promised to increase investments at key areas of american economy, including colonial infrastructure, modern fabricator plants and communications systems.
President Brown said that "today is a historical day for our two great nations! We deepen our friendship with the Turians and Volus and increase economical exchanges that will surely be beneficial to all. Us americans will have access to the state-of-the-art in modern manufacturing, and the turians may rest ease having a steady supply of commodities to their economy". Ambassador Quentius's statement reflected the same hopeful mood: "The americans have some of the largest eezo reserves in the galaxy, second only to the asari, and now, the Hierarchy can tap into these reserves without paying heavy export taxes and market rates. It will guarantee that the single most important element in galactic society is always available to the citizen of the Hierarchy and to our fleets protecting the galaxy".
Commentators say that the deal, while apparently disadvantageous to the americans – as americans manufacturing cannot hope to compete with the low-cost, decent-quality volus products, opens the possibilities to a modernization of the american industrial plant, long behind its more technological competitors like China and Europe.
As the Americans and Turians seal their deal, the Chinese and Salarians come ever close to theirs. Sources in Beijing say that the last hurdles are being solved as the two nations come close to a technological sharing agreement. "The salarians are interested in our ballistic technology, especially in our FTL-capable missiles, and we would really like to understand their direct-energy weaponry, like their GARDIAN ultra-violet arrays. The technologies are complimentary, and we together stand much to gain with this agreement." said the chief Chinese negotiator, Mr. Li Huang.
Salarian Dalatrass Eschell, who is leading the salarian delegation, said that "their technology is impressive, and this cooperation pave the way for more deep relations in the near-future. Our territories share a long border, maybe a cooperation in security can be the logical next step"