T'Ara Republics liaison office, Matriarch central administrative offices, Democracy Plaza, Larissa (Capital of Thessia)
Liara pinched the bridge of her nose in a vain attempt to ease the pain thrumming through her synapses. The tension headache had been building for the last three hours; as she argued her way through one objection after another from the T'Ara administrative team in front of her.
She wished Kasumi was with her. But having a non-Asari in her delegation would have derailed at least half the limited time she had been allotted for her proposals. The Asari government was reserved for the Asari only.
The blood throbbed at her temples. The voices in the room, the back and forth between her team and the administrators, seemed far away. With every passing heartbeat marking the painful futility of trying to get them to understand.
They had to wake up to the reality that the end of everything was upon them. The great Asari journey would end in ashes just as it had for every other civilisation.
Despite their flaws, and she knew they had many, the promise of Asari culture, beliefs and politics would run out of time.
A sudden tightness in her chest almost made her gasp. The prickling sensation confirmed that she was losing control, her biotics flared, her frustration and rage roaring into life through her blood.
She slammed two biotic fists onto the table in front of her, cracking the stone, her voice as cold as she had ever heard it, "enough… I will speak directly to the T'Ara."
She stood; the blue shimmer still evident around her clenched fists.
Turning to the door she said over her shoulder, "I will return in one cycle. I claim my right as the head of an Asari Republic," she turned back to fix the recording device with a glare, "to meet with the inner circle under D'Acravo."
The gasps of those present, including her own team, echoed in her mind as she made her way quickly back to her Republics Embassy.
Private office, Thrassican Embassy, Democracy Plaza, Larissa
"But to invoke D'Acravo, Lady Liara. Such an archaic rite has no place in modern Asari politics." Matriarch T'Joan spoke from the video screen, her demeanour and tone left no doubt as to how shocked she was.
"There is no time left for the niceties of Asari processes," her initial euphoria at, effectively, slapping the most powerful group of Matriarch's in the face, had faded as her anger had drained away.
"Liara," Seninnth T'Joan's voice was softer, her eyes showing concern now, rather than their previous shock, "you know how much support you have amongst the other Matriarch's. It isn't enough to sway some of the T'Ara or even win an open debate in the Tad'Iyasa Gga. Yelling at them won't change anything."
She felt her shoulders slump, sinking further into the chair. Everything Seninnth had said was true, so why had she made such an irrational demand. It would certainly end any further discussion or negotiation with the central administration. She would be out of favour until such time as her breach of etiquette had faded enough to be overlooked. That might take decades.
Thessia did not have decades, nor did the rest of the Galaxy. She was not entirely sure why that belief was so strong. After all, they had no idea when the Reapers would arrive. No, it was not informed by any rational calculation. Yet, she was staking the life of every Asari she was responsible for on her instincts.
Something did not sit well with that thought. Not instinct, she just knew, as if a clock was counting down in her mind, her body.
"Liara," the sound of her name pulled her from her introspection.
"Yes, I am sorry Seninnth….," a terrible thought struck her. Perhaps she was having another breakdown. She couldn't, not now, with so much still to do. And she had to get to Shepard, they had to be together when the Reapers arrived.
"You look very tired, Liara. I'm concerned about how much you insist on carrying on your shoulders."
She took a deep breath, pulling herself together, "I, yes, perhaps it was not the best approach. Now, I must come home, we need to complete our work…" and I need to get to Shepard she thought.
Edges of the recurring dream she had been having pushed into her mind. And once again she had to focus on what Matriarch T'Joan was saying.
"I suspect after your meeting in the morning there will be little else for you to do in Larissa."
There was no missing the edge of disappointment in her mentor's voice. It surprised her that she was prepared to live with it. Shepard had told her on more than one occasion at the beginning of her political career, 'channel your father, no one argues with Aria.' By that measure her outburst had been a gentle rebuke.
"I will use the rest of my time here to strengthen our alliances," she paused and asked more quietly, "did you see Shepard's message to the Initiative Expedition?"
"Yes, it was impressive," the other Asari paused for a moment, "I do understand how difficult it is being apart from her."
The heaviness inside her was almost unbearable at times. Shepard's message was both public and personal. They had worked on it together as her bondmates understanding of classical Asari poetry structure was non-existent.
Realising that she had once again drifted into memory she sat up straighter and responded, "that is why I am determined to complete my visit here tomorrow and return. If I have only managed to awaken three Republics to the coming devastation then so be it."
Mid-morning - T'Ara Republics liaison office, Matriarch central administrative offices, Democracy Plaza, Larissa (Capital of Thessia)
This time she had no members of her delegation with her. And on the other side of the enormous conference table there only sat three Matriarchs.
"We are here to honour your request for D'Acravo," Matriarch G'Alana's voice was calm but there was no smile of welcome and their greetings had been perfunctory.
She looked at each Matriarch in turn before speaking, settling herself with a deep breath, "the plans you have put in place to ensure the continuity of our civilisation are not good enough."
The Matriarchs, as one, stiffened and before they could respond she continued, "please do not insult me by continuing this pretence. The Protheans believed they could defeat the Reapers and they failed, despite the fact that they had the entire Galaxy under their control.
"You question those things that are far beyond your knowledge. The T'Ara is fully aware of the threat the Galaxy faces and we have been preparing for this event since the end of the last cycle. Asari are immune to the corruption the other races fall prey too. We have no enemy within," G'Alana leaned in to emphasise her words, "except those Asari who do not trust the strength and wisdom of the T'Ara and our preparations."
A cold sensation flowed through her body with the realisation that her people, the wonderful experiment that was the Asari culture, their bright light in a dark universe would be snuffed out not through force of arms but through the hubris of its leaders.
These Matriarchs were convinced by their own certainties. That the Asari were the apex race Taking the long view and putting in place strategies over vast stretches of time rather than responding to changing circumstances, believing this made them invincible. Yet none of them had seen a Reaper up close, nor fought their thralls. And they seemed determined to ignore the evidence that Matriarch Benezia T'Soni, her mother, had fallen to indoctrination.
"And yet my mother fell to their influence, a single Reaper ship nearly took control of the Citadel and we will also have to deal with the Geth who are following them," her voice was as cold as the certainty gripping her mind that they would not listen. That nothing she said or suggested, offered or begged for would change their intentions.
"That Benezia was under the influence of Saren Arterius is not at issue, the reason for her actions is another matter. It is not uncommon for some Asari to fall from our path so far there is no redemption. Aria T'Loak is a case in point." G'Alana's stare was unflinching.
The anger and resentment she felt exploding through her mind, burnt away the frozen feeling of impotence.
"You forget Matriarch, that I am aware my father was sent by the T'Ara to the Terminus systems to carry out another of your plans," her voice dripped with sarcasm as her skin prickled with the fury that was gathering force in her mind, "and that you sent my mother on one last mission to find out what Saren was really doing."
She stood, and looked each of the most powerful Matriarch's of the T'Ara in the eyes, "did either of those plans achieve your aims? Except of course for feeding the egos of the inner circle and giving you the impression that you were manipulating the entire Galaxy to fulfil some great design handed down through Asari generations."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the room. An hour later she was on her shuttle heading back to Thrassica, knowing she had failed to save her planet and her people.
Thrassica Republic Cruiser – en route Thrassican seat of government
Her dark mood settled not only over her but spread throughout her delegation. And yet she had been more than successful strengthening her partnership with the three Republics who believed as she did.
Ambassador K'Assia, her most experienced diplomat in Larisa also reported positive meetings with senior members of two other Republican families. At this stage they were interested more in preparing for a breakdown of Galactic order. Not an invasion of Thessia, but it was a start.
She stared at her image in the mirror, noting how tired and drawn she looked. "I must break free of this feeling," her hands gripped the edge of the sink and she leaned in closer. Liara searched for any hint of the madness that had overtaken her before. Scouring her mind, testing her feelings and her judgement.
"It would appear I am not losing my mind…," turning to a comm unit she keyed up for her assistant.
"Porta, please ask Priestess Lorca to join me in my cabin for a meditation session. And schedule a briefing session with everyone in one hour."
Straightening up, she felt purpose replace the void of frustration and anger.
A little over an hour later Liara sat at the head of the conference table. Most of the members of the team she had taken to Larissa were with her including Ambassador K'Assia. Liara had recalled all her officials to Thrassica. And publicly advised all citizens of her Republic to return home, much to the anger and annoyance of the Asari Government.
On the screens across one wall the leaders of her government joined the meeting and she was pleased to see Kasumi sitting with Matriarch T'Joan.
"We have done all we can to persuade the Matriarch's of the devastation we face," Liara said looking around the room and at the screens, "we must now move to phase one of our plan to ensure continuity of our Republic."
As she looked around her heart lifted. Everyone looked sombre, but there was no fear, only determination in the faces of those she counted on to face the coming storm.
The meeting followed what had become a familiar pattern. Reports from the various project streams. The enormous building challenges to create enough hidden bases for her population. Scientific and engineering solutions to maintain all her people's needs, as they faced an uncertain future. This included rotating families in and out of cryo stasis using the latest technology that had gone into building the Arc's.
And preparations to support her people to accept her decision and engage with the plans made.
"We will have to draw a line Lady Liara," General La'Tga said, "I understand your wish to leave the door open as long as possible. But for security reasons we will need time to move our citizens to their designated bases. We need to start soon."
General La'Tga was probably the most experienced of all her military leaders and as such had been put in charge of moving the civilian population to the safe mountain hideaways. There was no settled decision yet on how to deal with those Asari who did not want to leave everything and head for a secret location, for who knew how long. Her advisors were split almost evenly.
"Could we designate one of our final locations for all those who wait until the invasion is real," she asked, "I understand this would leave this site less secure than the other's but I can see no other solution."
She received nods and a clear yes from her building and security leads. There was nothing left for her to do but officially give the go ahead to begin phase one.
"I will meet with the leaders of our partner Republics as soon as I land," she said calmly, "implement phase one please."
A shiver of excitement ran around the room and she could see those on her screens also bristling slightly as if in preparation to jump up and get on.
Within another hour her shuttle was landing and she threw herself into work, only pausing to spend time with her daughter.
T'Soni Private Residence, Thrassica, Thessia
On the morning of the fourth day after her return, Seninnth T'Joan and Garrus Vakarian entered her office. She tried to hold back her irritation but it bled through into her tone of voice.
"I do not believe we have a meeting scheduled? I am very busy, can this wait?"
"You are wearing yourself, and everyone else into the ground Liara," T'Joan said, "you can do many things but you cannot create more hours in a day no matter how long you work."
She heard the concern in Lady T'Joan's voice but her response was, by now, automatic, "it is my duty to prepare the Republic and I will not fail, nor will I let anyone else fail…"
The rest of her well-trodden speech about everyone needing to be on board or get out of her way was cut off by Garrus.
"Liara, your fight doesn't end here. You need to keep your strength for when you join Shepard," she felt a familiar ache at the sound of Shepard's name, "I don't think you could have done anymore to prepare your people for what's coming."
Garrus looked to T'Joan who had moved close and put an arm around her, "your mother would have been so proud of you little wing, but Garrus is right. There is little more left to do, except…"
She felt herself relax a little. The multiple threads she was running herself ragged attempting to weave together in a tapestry of protection seemed to flow together now. She tried to sense deep into the fear and anxiety for its source.
"I won't be here," she said finally, "I will be leaving it all for you and Nara to carry out… leaving my daughter."
T'Joan's voice was soft when she spoke, "we are all behind you Liara, you are the Asari's greatest hope for surviving if…" T'Joan didn't complete her thought but she knew what it was.
"If Shepard… if we fail," she felt only a fraction of the burden of responsibility she knew her bondmate carried, and even that had the potential to freeze her with fear. She could so easily buckle under her own expectations.
"I'll be right there with you," Garrus smiled, "and the dream team hasn't failed yet."
"Tea," T'Joan said brightly, "and then we must plan for your departure."
Liara spent the night holding her daughter as Nezzie slept and burbled in her sleep. Her thoughts strayed to her son and she tried to reach out to him with comfort and love.
One thing she knew with absolute certainty in that moment was that she would do anything, sacrifice anything to protect her daughter. She also vowed, if they survived, to find her son, no matter how far away from her he was.