Chapter 18 - Get Together
Nezu'Garrel Memorial Refining Station, Asteroid Nezu'Gerrel
August 2, 2035
It was the most important meeting in the history of the galaxy, and it wasn't close.
The collective power of both the traditional species and the newcomers had allowed them to reinforce Sol as a temporary safe haven for all sapients. The key word being "temporary." Eventually the Reapers would overwhelm them, and they needed to finish the Crucible FAST. The problem was that they needed to modify it in such a way that it wouldn't kill the Geth or anything but the Reapers themselves. That was doable, but not easy, and it was taking up valuable time that they desperately needed.
Councilor Nelyana was nervous. She was never nervous, but she was 887 years old and she had NEVER given a speech as important as this. She and her staff had revised it at least a dozen times.
She HAD to get this right. For the sake of not just the asari, but all sapients everywhere.
"Honored sapients," she began, "let me start my apologizing."
The looks of disdain switched to ones of confusion. As she had anticipated, they were stunned by that opener.
"Since the arrival of the Link, and especially since the beginning of the Reaper invasion, the Asari Republics have been engaged in intense self-reflection. Shocking, isn't it?"
As expected, they were caught off guard and laughed. That was good. The asari needed to be humble and deferent in this moment. They were not rulers anymore. They were equals.
"Here's the bottom line: it's time to end the concept of species superiority. It failed us, and fractured us when we could have been preparing. On behalf of the Asari Republics, I deeply apologize for the concealment of Vendetta, and a gesture of goodwill and trust, would like to present a proposal to you."
They were all stunned at the speech, but maintained enough composure to check their omni-tools.
"We propose the formation of the Galactic Confederation. It will be a loose confederation, with the only obligations being mutual defense, trade agreements, and adherence to a Universal Declaration of Sapient Rights, a copy of which I have provided to all of you."
"The Confederation will be governed by a Galactic Assembly," she continued. "This Assembly will be completely equal amongst all species - one species, one vote. Its decisions will be binding, with no veto power. However, its authority will be limited to issues of defense, trade agreements, and enforcement of the Universal Declaration."
She breathed in before concluding. "Again, we apologize for our past failures. If we win this war, it must be a new dawn for the whole galaxy. One where we do not rule over one another, but work together for the better of all sapients."
She sat down.
And was shocked when she got a standing ovation.
"Incredible!" The quarian representative exclaimed. "I can't believe it took a Reaper invasion to get asari to be reasonable, but Keelah, I'll take it!"
She grinned. "Would you like to vote on my proposal?"
The proposal passed. Unanimously.
And once they were done celebrating themselves, the turian representative had finally gotten a chance to speak and propose the trap the Hierarchy had been planning.
