Nos Astra, Illium, August 2068
Vasir walked through the spaceport with grace, outside her Spectre armor and wearing just a blouse and dress pants with something called an "oxford" as her shoes. Apparently, human fashion had taken the Asari by storm, and most maidens and matrons were eager to wear something less restrictive than their dresses, but still elegant and professional. The blouse was loose enough that she could easily conceal a pistol tucked on the small of her back. Once she arrived at her destination, she took a sit and immediately started talking to the bartender.
"Thessia wants you back old woman"
The bartender stopped preparing the drink she was making and took a hard stare at the Spectre. "Fuck off Vasir, I'm not that old, but if I go back, I'm certainly dying of old age, those cronies only talk and talk and never actually do something"
Vasir chuckled, grabbing a wine bottle and a glass that probably were going to someone else, some paying else. "Haven't you heard the news? The new kids on the block? The ones that technically your ex-bondmate found but, in reality the turians found and promptly invaded?"
The woman behind the bar only grunted at that. "I heard about Nezzie all right, she's having the time of her life with those humans? Europeans? I don't know, but she does seem to be enjoying herself. Made a treaty with the Turians and Chinese, introduced humanity to the galaxy"
"She's doing much more than glorified PR stuff. She's been advocating for greater cooperation with Europe, even got Tevos onboard to her idea. Heard rumors that they may even nominate her as ambassador to Europe."
"So, our councilor Tevos fell prey to Benezia's charms, hm, should've seen this coming"
Vasir downed her glass entirely. "She's advocating for change Aethyta. Benezia is convinced that theses Europeans are what the Asari need to get their heads out of their asses and do something, not to keep relying on salarian and turian interventions. I even heard she's considering starting a shipbuilding campaign, joint exercises with the euros."
With another big gulp of wine, Vasir finished her rant. "Don't that remind you of someone else?"
Aethyta frowned, and leaning closer to the specter, "And just what the hell do I have to do with all this, Vasir? If she decided now my ideas are good enough, good for her and good for the Asari, because they are. I don't care if she takes the credit for them"
Vasir, for the first time in her life, tried to deescalate a situation. "Chill, goddess, let me finish. She hoped Tevos on board of the change train and convinced her that an alliance with the euros can be about both of our species cooperating, and not just us getting sidelined in their political games. So, Tevos wants you to advise her on all matters of changes, said you always had the…. Less orthodox view on our future, so she thinks you are just the asari for the job"
Aethyta pondered those words for long minutes. Sure, she wanted change, but doing so alongside some newcomer that represented less than what, 10% of their race was a risky move, even for her. At the same time, it could be an excellent opportunity to shake the old out of the Matriarchy's ass back on Thessia. She had made her mind
"Ok Vasir, I'm sold, just tell me one more thing"
"Yeah? What's it?"
"Is Nezzie going to be working there as well?"
Vasir grinned like a varren about to jump on a prey.
Councilor Tevos Offices, Citadel, August 2068
Aethyta was waiting in Tevos's office. And goddess how bored she was. Nothing especially good to raid on Tevos's personal stash, just a bunch of thessian teas and whatnot, she even may had seen a couple packets of humans' teas in there. Hm, guess they are really making inroads with the asari.
Her boredom was cut short when Councilor Tevos entered her office, alongside a human girl Aethyta never saw before. Tevos, as always, started the pleasantries.
"Matriarch Aethyta, I'd like to introduce you to Ambassador Julia Koopmans of the European Federation"
"Cut the Matriarch crap, Tevos, I spent the last century trying to convince you that it's only Aethyta for me"
The human chuckled at Aethyta's crassness, so maybe she wouldn't be that bad
"So, Tevos, Koopmaans, care to tell me why I'm here?"
Tevos again took the lead. "Aethyta, as you may know, things have changed, and things will change even further. We believe, I and Matriarch Benezia believe, that allying ourselves with the Federation of Europe will be the best path the Asari can take in this brave new galaxy"
Aethyta answered with her usual nonchalant, "yeah, your pet spectre went all the way to Illium to tell me that, but enough of this. What do you want me to do? What kind of powers would I have? Because if by the end of the day the only thing I can do is present my ideas to a bunch of old fossils at the Matriarch's Forum, I'm out."
Tevos took a deep breath, preparing herself for the worst kind of negotiations ever, the ones involving Aethyta. "You'd have a special consultant job here on the Citadel, to formulize strategies for the modernization of Asari military, Asari economy and Asari society, you'll be responding direct to me, and both of us, alongside Benezia, will make up a committee to operationalize these changes. Firstly, it will be in Armali, where the three of us hold most of our influence. Then, we can start expanding it to the other republics."
Aethyta nodded, still a little suspicious. "And the pretty face over here" she said, pointing to Koopmans, "what's her part in this circus?"
Koopmans didn't miss a beat. "Well, I'm flattered you think I'm pretty, and my job here would be to coordinate strategy between Europe and the Asari. Brussels believes that an alliance with you guys is beneficial to our interests and to asari interests. If we acted as a united front, like, say, signing some treaties for trade, technology, and such, and started to train our armed forces together, it will show the rest of the galaxy, and the rest of the planet Earth, that we are committed to a serious alliance"
"I still don't know how all of this helps us"
"Well, let me put it this way Aethyta, I know for a fact you always hated how Asari armed forces are structure. Small commando tactics, hit and run operations, nothing made to stand a proper war of attrition like the Turians, the Batarians or the Krogan. We, Europeans, we know how to fight that way, hell, we fought two devastating wars that way less than 150 years ago. We have the tactics; our hardware is built for fast paced maneuver warfare. Imagine the possibilities of having human instructors working in tandem with asari instructors to integrate your natural biotics into these tactics? Also, I know you always advocated for the Krogan and I agree, hell, I couldn't begin to imagine what it is like to live the past 1300 years with the Genophage. I had this idea, you see, and my government liked it: if the krogans get their shit together, and we can help with that, we could help them become true actors in galactical affairs. You'd have Thessia secure from most sides, the DMZ and Sol are just a Relay jump from Athena."
"Ok, that's better, I'm almost sold. But we can't just start doing all of this, it would be too disruptive, and goddess knows how those idiots would react"
"We could always start small, you know. A commercial treaty, say, eezo for military hardware. Don't pretend you, and everyone else, is not interested in our small arms technology, prehistorical tech that can defeat shields? We can even transfer the technology. And we need eezo, our reserves are not that great, and just keep buying from the americans is always a recipe for disaster. Or how about, instead of sending your maidens to galivate the galaxy as mercenaries or dancers, why not have them spent a couple of years in Europe? Go to college, serve in the Foreign Legion of the Army, integrating both cultures can be a powerful first step to more in-depth cooperation in the future"
Aethyta sighed. "I will have to think about it, but you make good points"
As Koopmans left the office, only Tevos and Aethyta were left insider. Both asari stared at each other for long minutes, until Tevos broke their trance
"We need to speak with Benezia"
Tuchanka, Korgand DMZ, August 2068
Wrex was an old krogan. It's been 400 years since he felt the scorching heat and the razor sands of his home planet. But he is also a Korgan with a mission. He still remembers the layout of the base: one more thing to change when what needs to be done is done. Arriving at a great atrium, if a bombed-up shelter could ever be called that, he saw his brood brother, Wreav.
A Krogan still clinging to a past that never existed, and if it was to be their future, they would surely die. Just like Wrex's father. With a thunderous voice, he challenged the smaller krogan into a duel, winner takes the throne. The shaman seemed content, as the rites were surely followed in this challenge.
Wreav stands, and barks an evil laughter at Wrex; "And who will be your Krannt? Those willing to die and kill for you". As on cue, two very big krogan appeared behind Wreav. Wrex snorted. "You think, little brother, that after centuries of exile, my Krantt would simply forget who I am? And with that, Wrex turned to see his group, screaming: "WHO AM I? WHO I AM FOR YOU PYJACKS?" To the deafening noise of "krantt, krantt,krantt"
Wreav's krantt were less sure about their chances, but for honor and glory, charge into battle they did. And they were immediately massacred by Wrex and his Krants. That only left Wreav alive, crawling away from Wrex and asking for mercy. Mercy that Wrex delivered as a point-blank shoot from his shotgun.
Capital of Urdnot, Tuchanka, September 2068
After the dust (and corpses) of Wrex's reclamation had settled, it was time to go to work. His first decision was to have the old shaman as his main councilor, that would appease the more traditionalists. After that, his couriers sent messages, to all clans, to discuss the future of Krogan. A paltry few answered back, but Wrex knew it could turn into this. So, he used his best hidden card: calling all females clans for a meeting.
The females were the true bearers of the Genophage. They had to see daily the mountain of pups that never were. There could be no political solution without them. As the hours passed, Tomkahs started appearing on the horizon. As they stopped inside Urdnot's compound, Wrex could see dozens of female shamans leaving the vehicles, fire in their eyes and hope, hope that the Krogan can, one day, be more that what they've been reduced to.
Asari Embassy, Brussels, August 2068
Benezia felt anxious for the first time in decades. And all the previous times she did, it had to do with a certain ex she has. Why did they decided that both had to work together now was a mystery to the Matriarch. She broke of her trance when the other parties started to come in: Matron Tevos, the Councilor, Matriarch Lidanya, closest thing they had of a high command and… Matriarchy Aethyta.
"Hey babe", that's the way Aethyta decided to greet her former lover and it did nothing to calm Benezia.
"Good morning, Matriarch Aethyta, unfortunately we have little time for your games today, so shall we sit and start working?"
All the presents did just that. After tea and coffee were served, the servers respectfully left the office, and inside it, only four asari remained.
"I think it's prudent to begin with a brief report on what Ambassador Koopmans said during our meeting with her. For the sake of both Lady Benezia and Lady Lidanya who could not attend that meeting."
And so Tevos retold all the points Koopmans suggested, how to better implement them and what good would they bring to the Asari.
"Excuse me Councilor", said Benezia, "According to your tale, which I by no mean accuse of being false, what would the humans possibly win with those terms they proposed?"
Aethyta knew that Benezia knew what the humans would get, she only asked to see if Tevos understood as well.
"Well, for starters, they'd have a steady supply of eezo and lower their demand for american eezo. Moreover, they'd be selling millions, if not billions, of credits in military hardware for us"
Aethyta chuckled, "what more kid"
"They'd get our help dealing with the Krogans, bringing them fully into the Galaxy once more"
"Close, but no cigar, would you mind Lidanya?" said Aethyta
"But of course, Aethyta. Councilor, what escaped of you is that by training our forces to their standards it means they will have a much larger standing army should the need arise. If they are, for example, fighting against americans and turians on the ground, having only human troops won't cut it, they need allies who can understand the way they fight. They'll be basically transforming our maidens into reserve formations for their armed forces"
This time Benezia intervened: "and as for the Krogan, they like the idea of a strong Urdnot covering their wester borders and maintaining communications open with Thessia should the unthinkable happen and, say, the salarians and the Chinese move to cut Exodus from them.
Tevos sighted. Tevos was on the verge of tears. How could she be so naïve? Surely her hundreds of years doing this kind of politic would have made her more… attentive to these details.
It was Aethyta, surprisingly, who came to comfort her. "Relax kid, they only saw it because they have centuries of experience on you, Let me show you how to turn this shitshow into a situation both us and the euros win"
"Take the joint training, ok, we'll learn how to fight like Europeans and turians, but they don't have the biotics we have. It's just a matter of integrating our current tactics in theirs. Imagine, for example, commandos riding on top of a tank, multiple barriers and the tanks' own shields and armor. It would take a frigate to take it down, and any strongpoint left alive would have to deal with 6 very pissed commandos with tank support. Or how lethal it would be if room clearing teams could use one or two singularities? They'd be begging for a regiment of hunters by the end of the training session."
"I… I haven't considered these scenarios… but you're right, we do have our own contribution"
"Yes" this time it was Benezia speaking, "and if we play our cards right, we can come on top of the Krogan situation. I've spoken briefly with Ms. Koopmans, but her idea is to find someone capable, which I believe they already have, and give him all the weapons and money to bring the rest of the clans to his side. But that alone will only guarantee a Krogan Civil War, we need to talk to those leaders, understand what they need and, when the time comes, we Asari could throw our support behind a cure for the genophage."
Tevos, recomposing herself, finally found her own words again: "so, how can we start it? I believe small steps are the best way, something like… a trade deal! Eezo for weapons systems, we cut our export fees for European eezo and sell directly to them, so there are no market fees, and we start buying some weapons system from them. Aethyta and Lidanya, do you have something in mind?
Aethyta spoke first. "Hmmm, perhaps those small arms of theirs, you know, rifles, pistols, light machine guns, just so we can see how they operate. I think the reproduction is easy, because mechanically them don't look to complicated. They can bypass our shields and are extremely reliable, not so many moving parts like a modern gun. We should also see if they are willing to sell us some of their vehicles. Light scout vehicles with heavy machine guns and cannons, they would be wonderful for a small team of commandoes to multiply their firepower."
Lidanya agreed with Aethyta, and more: "The whole of their navy is… interesting to say the least. I know they would never divulge the tech behind the main gun of their dreadnoughts, but they do have seriously powerful anti-air and anti-space capabilities that I think they'd be willing to share. Also, I'd like to see their fighters. They have a multirole light fighter for deployment in space, but the actual defense of Earth is taken by what they call "heavy interceptors", these fighters could complement the defenses of Thessia and of worlds at risk of pirate attacks.
Tevos than said: "ok, it covers our trade deal, but what about a… exchange deal? To ask them to let our maidens spent their wild years there, you know, working odd jobs while traveling the country, or even, serving in the Foreign Legion of their Army! They could even get a citizenship after! Or just going to college in another planet, I mean, our education takes much more time, but they could take 2 or 3 undergrads diplomas and decide what they want to do afterwards.
Benezia smiled, "I think these two topics are perfect for a first talk with the Europeans, I will try to broach the subject with the Prime Minister the next time we see each other. But something says to me he will accept, and we may find ourselves once more here to finalize the deal."
Presidium, Citadel, August 2068
Koopmans was running at the Citadel, while taping something at her cellphone
"Boss, I think I found our Krogan von Bismark, permission to open diplomatic channels?"
Attached to the message, a single link to a story not relevant enough to hit front page that day
"BREAKING NEWS: Urdnot Wrex has claimed the leadership of clan Urdnot, biggest in Tuchanka, has received support from local female clans.
11 months latter….
BREAKING NEWS
EBC GALAXY SERVICE; EBC THESSIA
FRANCE Today is an historical day for Asari-European relations. Matriarch Benezia, Ambassador of the Asari Republics in Europe, Councilor Thenala Tevos, Representative of the Asari at the Galactic Council, Prime Minister Jacques Casteaux, Minister for Foreign Affairs Katherine Wallerstein, and European Ambassador on the Citadel Council Laura Koopmans have just signed what is called the "Comprehensive treaty on trade, cultural exchange and military exercises". The treaty just signed is the most extensive of all the treaties signed between Earth's nations and alien powers. The signing took place at the famous Château de Versailles, at the Galerie des Glaces, or Hall of Mirrors, famous for being the place where the German Empire was founded and World War 1 ended.
The treaty contains provision for zero tariff trade of eezo and European weapons systems, such as small arms, armored vehicles, tanks and even fighters. Critics say that Europe is handling too much of its technology to the Asari. Government sources responded saying that "they, sooner or later, would be able to acquire these technologies on black markets or trough our competitors. It's better for European security if we are the ones selling these weapons to them"
The Cultural Exchange part is also drawing a lot of attention to itself. The so-called "Maiden Years", when young Asari leaves their homes in search of new experiences can be a very dangerous time. Drugs and mercenary work are all too common results of such exploration. According to Matriarch Aethyta, who helped the negotiations: "By giving this safe outlet for our maidens to spend their need for new things, Europe is guarantying a safer place for them. They could go and take several college courses and getting several degrees during the process, and after that, their number of options pursuing higher education significantly increases. Or, if they are more adventurous, they could join the ranks of the Foreign Legion in the European Army, gaining citizenship in Europe after the completion of their term. Or they could simply explore the life in different European's cities, getting a job and living as locals do. Not only it will provide a safer environment for our maidens, but we believe it will deepen the connections our two people have."
The so-called "Wild Maiden Years" is a byproduct of the very long Asari's lifespan, with some individuals easily reaching beyond 1000 years of age. The Maiden phase, beginning at their 40's or 50's and ending much later at their 150's or 200's is marked by a profound desire to explore, meet new people, and generally have new experiences.
The most contentious point of the treaty is the Military Exercises Provision. Although talks between various nations have been reported, none have come so far as to announce them. According to Matriarch Lidanya, representative of the Asari High Command: "The way Asari wage war is fundamentally different from the way Europe, the turians, the Batarians or other human nations wage war. The equipment purchases and the technical expertise brought by the European military will allow us asari to be more than small unit commando, partaking only in infiltration and hit and run engagements. We will be able to hold our own during a battle of attrition. We also believe that we can create a new paradigm in modern warfare by integrating the basics of mechanized war and biotic combat.
Prime Minister Casteaux said that "today marks a new era in intergalactic politics, we and the asari have deepen our alliance more than any other Earth's nation and Council' race. The possibilities for future cooperation are endless". Some speculation has arisen that the Europeans and the Asari are planning on supporting the newly form government of Urdnot Wrex, who seeks to unify the krogan clans of Tuchanka.
A/N Thanks for all the reviews, guys! I must admit that some of the things you pointed regarding earlier parts of my story were completely unintentional. Like, when the turians say that the americans have the second largest reserve, I was going to change to "very large reserves" but ended up forgetting.
Anyway, to everyone who wants Saren: yes! we will be seeing him, unfortunately, only in the future, his vengeance will be of course tied to Sovereign and the reapers.
I intend to start now a brief arc on the Krogan unification and, as you can see, the asari and europeans will have a main role in it. Expect salarians being mad at it.
We will also start to discuss the fallout of the american x batarian conflict, how it will spillover on frontier worlds not owned by the big three countries and the rest of the traverse and maybe even terminus! The quarians will be making their appearance too
This will probably be a longer arch, because it's the setup for Shepard, so not only we will have a proxy war in the Hegemony, but we will also have Shepard somewhere during our ride