Ambassador Anita Goyle's high heeled shoes clacked loudly alongside the deeper thump of the military boots worn by her six honor guards as she proceeded up the steps to the Citadel Council Chamber.
She glared up the stairs, ostentatious way to show they see themselves above the rest of the galaxy.
Shaking the thought from her head she continued going over all of the information the Federation had gained on the Citadel Council and these negotiations. Some of it was information provided by the Council, but most came from a mass datamining effort of all unsecure databases and monitoring of all unsecure broadcast.
And all of it cast serious doubt about whether the Federation and the Citadel Council could reach a mutually acceptable agreement. There was also the possibility of things going very wrong.
For that reason Goyle's "honor guards" where N7 commandos each carrying a "nonfunctional" M-7 Lancer affixed with a bayonet. Anyone looking closely at the bayonets, and several C-Sec officers had, would notice the distinct glint of an ultra-sharp edge. But no one stopped them.
The Council would have also been horrified to know just how quickly the "non-functional" rifles could be made functional. The restraining pin that prevented the physical operation of the rifle would seem impossible to remove by hand, but with their cybernetically enhance strength the commandoes could do it easily. Their armor also contained concealed systems to recharge the empty power cells of their weapons.
Goyle herself also wasn't as helpless as she appeared. She had the light subdermal armor around her vitals and anti-poison implants standard to an ambassador. But for this assignment she also had a set of particularly nasty daemons in a partitioned section of her neural computer.
She was not a combat hacker and definitely no stream-diver. But she had been assured these little bugs where easy enough to use, just point and shoot.
An actual combat hacker could do far more. But since there was no way to explain away her carrying a gun, the daemons were better than nothing.
When she reached the top of the stairs three beings stood on a raised dais on the far side of a large gap over what appeared to be an arboretum.
The being on the right had a hard angular face with mandibles to either side of his jaw and three crests extending behind his head. Overall, his appearance was vaguely avian, despite not having any feathers.
This was Sparatus, the Turian councilor, and if Federation intelligence was accurate the newest member of the Council.
The one on the right had large black/gray eyes, a flat face and rubbery looking skin. Her name was Zaou, the Councilor for the Salarians.
In the center was the Asari Councilor, Tevos; and she was the oddest of them all to Goyle. In fact to call her female was incorrect because the Asari were monogendered. Yet despite this extremely basic difference she almost looked human, with only her blue skin and the… horns? Crests? Tentacles? Goyle wasn't really sure, that ran back along her cranium distinguishing her. But even they somehow made her look more human by reminding Goyle of hair, despite having no similarity at all.
"Greetings ambassador," Tevos said, "welcome to the Citadel. I am Councilor Tevos representing the Asari Republics, this," she gestured to her left, "is Councilor Zaou of the Salarian Union, and" gesturing to her right, "Councilor Sparatus of the Turian Hierarchy."
"A pleasure Councilors, my name is Anita Goyle representing the Terran Federation," Goyle said. Of course they already knew her name and the government she represented just as she did them, but it had to be stated for the record.
Tevos nodded her head and began speaking. "I want to start by apologizing for the Turian's overreaction…"
"Overreaction!" Goyle roared, "they killed 3700 Federation military personnel, and MASSACURED more than 20,000 CIVILIANS!"
Tevos was clearly taken aback by Goyle's reaction, having apparently expected Goyle to accept the lackluster apology. She opened her mouth to speak but Goyle continued. "This was a heinous and despicable War Crime! An act of uncivilized barbarity more belonging in the age of swords than starships!"
"Yes…" Tevos began before Sparatus cut her off.
"There are no civilians in a combat area," he said simply.
"Good to know. In that case if we come to blows again, we can forgo invasion of any Council world and simply nuke all settlements from orbit."
"Ambassa…" Tevos began again
"You wouldn't dare!" Sparatus shot back.
"We would," Goyle countered, "our own laws recognize proportional escalation. You wantonly slaughter our civilians, and we do the same to you."
Sparatus opened his mouth to speak again when Tevos harshly said, "Councilor Sparatus I believe we are getting off topic."
"I disagree," Goyle countered, "the slaughter of Terran civilians by the Turians…"
"Will be delt with by Turian payment of reparations to the Federation," Tevos stated firmly.
But Goyle knew that was just short of a lie. The Turians had already told the other Council races that under no circumstances would they pay any reparations to the Terran Federation.
"With the conclusion of hostilities we are here to discuss the establishment of permanent diplomatic ties between the Terran Federation and the Citadel Council," Tevos said eyeing Sparatus again.
"Very well, how do you see that taking shape Councilor Tevos?" Goyle asked as though she didn't already know the answer.
"We are to offer the Federation client status with the Citadel Council," Tevos said magnanimously. "However, there are two major issues that will have to be delt with before that."
Here we go, Goyle thought. But she said, "and those are?"
"The first is your use of AIs," Councilor Zaou said, speaking for the first time.
"The Council recognizes that the Terrans were unaware of the extreme danger posed by AI technology, and it is fortunate we encountered you before they destroyed you," Tevos said genuinely.
"We make use of VIs," Zaou added, "they are admittedly far less capable but aren't dangerous. We would be willing to provide the Federation with this technology and aid you in its implementation while your AIs are decommissioned."
"The second issue is the Treaty of Farixen," Sparatus said, "which limits the number of dreadnoughts, or battleships as you call them, that any nation may have. As a client race you would be allowed one dreadnought for every five in the Turian fleet. Which would mean you could have up to 7."
"We are aware that you have 13 dreadnoughts in your fleet," Tevos said, "and at the time you built them you had no way to know about the Treaty, as well as the fact that these ships represent a large financial investment. So, the Council is willing to purchase your excess dreadnoughts for scrapping at production cost. Effectively refunding their price."
Goyle had to suppress a smile at the Council's guess about their battleship numbers. In point of fact the Federation had 20 battleships in its fleet. But that amusement was quickly washed away at the mention of the Council purchasing the battleships for scrapping.
Goyle was sure that any such ships would be scrapped of course. But only after a lengthy examination by every intelligence organization in Council space.
She was stunned by the shear audacity of the offer, and to make it as though they were doing the Federation a favor. Did they really take the Terrans for fools?
"Also," Tevos continued, "there is the matter of your 'battlecruisers,' or as our navies have taken to calling them light dreadnoughts. After much debate we have decided that two light dreadnoughts will be counted as one dreadnought under the Treaty of Farixen. How you choose to balance that is of course up to you, and we will extend the same offer of purchase for scrapping to your light dreadnoughts."
Goyle took a step farther forward and looked at the Council. "I see, and in addition to these requirements if we submit ourselves as one of your client states we would also be beholden to any additional laws you make. Correct?"
"Of course."
"Of course," Goyle repeated, "and how much say would we have in those laws? How much of a voice would we have in galactic affairs?"
"As a client state you would be allowed to make requests of the Council," Tevos replied evenly.
"And what obligation would you have to honor those requests?"
"We consider all requests made of us and act in accordance with the best interests of the galactic community," Tevos replied politicly.
"And what if we disagree with your decision?" Goyle asked.
"You may lodge a complaint with the Citadel Council."
"And that complaint means what exactly?" Goyle pressed. "What pressure does that complaint apply to you to do or change anything?"
"A complaint would let us know that the Terran Federation is unhappy with current affairs," Tevos said with some reluctance, perhaps realizing how this was sounding.
"There is one other point we should bring up," Zaou said trying to deflect the conversation, "we are aware that your people have had no choice but to use cybernetics. However, we have highly advance genetic modification technology that we would also be willing to share. Eliminating the need for such invasive and barbaric practices."
Goyle gave the Salarian Councilor a flat smile, "that is quite generous. Our gene mods have never been able to achieve a fraction of what the equivalent cybernetics have, and we have never been able to approach a gene mod that enables a brain to connect to the Stream. Are you saying you have gene mods that can?"
"No," Zaou conceded, "we weren't aware that you had genetic modification technology."
"Of course, we do," Goyle replied. Taking another step forward she said, "I would assume that you have laws against genocide."
Goyle had expected a simple affirmative and was truly stunned by the silence that descended over the council chamber.
Slowly meeting the eyes of each councilor, she asked again, "is genocide a crime under Citadel law?"
"That is a very complicated question…" Tevos began.
"No," Goyle interrupted, "no it isn't. It is a very simple question; do you consider the eradication of an ethnicity or entire species to be a crime?"
"There have been times in galactic history where such a thing has been necessary," Sparatus said, "in the case of the Rachni."
Goyle immediately ran a search of all available databases for 'Rachni.' When she read the results, she couldn't help but gasp. "I…"
"Ambassador…" Tevos began.
"No," Goyle stated, "no. There is no justification for that, the Rachni had been neutralized as a threat and you continued on to attack their homeworld and wipe them out. There is NO excuse!"
"You must understand the threat the Rachni posed, and there are many who agree with you that the Krogan went too far." Tevos said diplomatically.
"And yet you didn't pass laws or take any actions that would prevent something like that from happening again. That, more than anything, undermines your effort to shift the blame to the Krogan." Goyle replied, smiling she added, "and don't think I didn't see through that."
"If you are worried that we are planning on enacting a genocide against the Terrans we have no reason…"
"No, that is not my concern or my issue," Goyle interrupted Tevos again. "In response to your first requirement for us to be a client state, AIs have full rights under Terran law and are considered citizens of the Terran Federation. Therefor the 'decommissioning' of our AIs would be counted as genocide by Terran Law, which we consider to be a crime of the highest magnitude."
"There is a simple solution to this problem," Zaou said, "strip the AIs of their rights and then it wouldn't be genocide."
"That is possible," Goyle said, "if you can prove that the AIs aren't sentient then they could be denied rights."
"Whether they are sentient is beside the point. Their existence is a threat to the state, in more ways than one, that should be more than enough reason to strip their rights," Sparatus said coldly.
"The rights of the individual or a group cannot be compromised for the convenience of the state," Goyle quoted. "The mere fact that you would suggest that is vulgar in the extreme. I want to thank you for making my, and by extension the Federation's, decision here an easy one."
Taking a moment to compose herself Goyle cleared her throat. "You demand that we exterminate a portion of our population based on your own prejudices, that we dismantle a sizable percentage of our military and prostrate ourselves before you. In exchange for these demands you grant us the privilege," Goyle spoke the word with as much scorn as she could, "of graveling at your feet to beg your aid as you sit atop your ivory thrones only deigning to lift a finger when the tribute stops flowing. Sometimes not even then.
"You claim moral superiority while you hold that there could be any circumstance in which genocide is acceptable. We have formed a functioning society alongside the AIs we created this you find unacceptable while you allow another of your client states to continue the practice of slavery."
Looking each Councilor in the eye Goyle stated, "I see no morality here. I see three despots so used to power that you can't conceive of anyone saying no to what you want. But the Terran Federation will bow to no tyrant. Therefore, on behalf of the Terran Federation, I decline your offer of client status."
"Are you finished?" Tevos asked. "Very well. You should know that many of the terms discussed here are, as you would say, one time only offers and expire upon the termination of these talks. When you seek client status later your spare dreadnoughts and light dreadnoughts will be purchased at 60% production cost and the offer to provide VI technology will be void. The Federation will have to purchase IVs from a firm and pay for assistance installing them. And as for the matter of reparations…"
"First let me be clear we would sooner throw our battleships and battlecruisers into a star than hand them over for you to examine, and don't think that escaped me either." Goyle replied emphasizing the Terran names for the ships. "And I can already guess the Turians won't be paying us reparations, not that they would have even if we accepted your deal."
"It is true that if you are not a Citadel client state, we will not require the Turian Hierarchy to pay reparations for the damages and loss of life you suffered," Tevos stated ignoring Goyle's other comments. "In that case the Terran Federation will be considered a rogue state, and will be required to pay reparations to the Turian Hierarchy for damages it inflicted on Turian forces attempting to enforce galactic law during the Relay 314 incident."
As the conversation had deteriorated Goyle had seen her guards making what looked like nervus movements that concealed their removal of the restraining pins from their weapons. The rifles still didn't have any power, but that could be rectified quickly.
At the same time Goyle went through the daemons she carried, selecting which one to use if required. She selected one that would overload the local lights, creating a bright flash then plunging the whole area into darkness, and alerted her guards about what to expect if this went south.
With barely a palpable delay Goyle told Tevos, "this is the most blatant attempt at strong arming I have ever seen. You aren't asking for reparations, you're demanding tribute, and if you further insist, we will pay your tribute in blood. But I warn you, we won't be the only ones who bleed."
"Are you threatening the Council?" Sparatus asked indignantly.
"No," Goyle replied, "I am promising that we will resist any act of aggression with deadly force. I think we're done here."
With that Ambassador Anita Goyle turned and walked out of the Citadel Council chamber without being dismissed. Behind her the last two honor guards kept a careful eye for any sign of attack.
To the great relief of Goyle and her entourage they made it to their shuttle without incident and where safely aboard the battleship Heracles in less than two hours. Just an hour after that the Terran fleet was safely through the Mass Relay.
Tevos leaned back in her chair in the Council's meeting room. The meeting with the Terran ambassador could have gone worse she knew, but not by much.
"Well, that went about as well as could have been expected," Sparatus said selecting a bottle of Turian whiskey from one of the desks. Tevos could only stare at him as he continued, "I'll send the word for the fleets to be readied."
"What?" Tevos finally managed.
Sparatus looked at her, "I'll send the word for the Turian fleet to prepare for the invasion of the Terran Federation."
Tevos's jaw hung open. Sparatus had only been voted into his post a few weeks prior and she didn't yet have a good feel for him but she hadn't believed him insane. Until now.
"Are you suggesting that we escalate to full scale interstellar war with the Terran Federation?" Zaou asked, her voice as incredulous as Tevos felt.
Sparatus scoffed, "It will barely count as a war. You grossly overestimate the size of the Terran fleet, I doubt they have more than 8 dreadnoughts. That is the most we have ever seen on the field at once."
"We have confirmed the electromagnetic signatures of at least 12 different vessels, and we can assume they had at least one in reserve," Zaou countered. "I personally think they have considerably more than 13."
"I agree," Tevos said instantly. "I have conducted negotiations with many different species and developed a feel for it, even when I am not familiar with the specific body language of a given species. When the number of Terran dreadnoughts was mentioned Ambassador Goyle tried to hide her reaction, but I got the feeling that our estimate was significantly off."
"Even if the Terrans have as many dreadnoughts as the Hierarchy fleet we can still crush them," Sparatus countered.
"At what cost?" Tevos shot back, "how many would die on both sides? How much damage would be inflicted? How long would it take to recover?"
"What are you suggesting? That we wait for that AI time bomb to explode and take us out with it?"
"No, the Terran AIs represent a serous threat to the entire galaxy, but I don't think it is as immediate as many believe." Tevos met first Sparatus's eyes then Zaou's, "there will likely be some warning of an AI insurrection before it happens, and if not then we will deal with that then.
"But I believe we have time for a more subtle approach. Time to bring the Terran's to our way of thinking. Remember our goal is to protect the people of the galaxy, including the Terrans. Whether they wish to be or not."
So, acknowledgments: I do not own Mass Effect or the related properties, or any of the ME characters so on and so forth. Also this fic is inspired by the Fanfic Call to Duty by z98, it is a great piece of fanfiction and I highly recommend you read it. As a result there will be some similarities born of the fact we are writing about the same property and using a similar idea, aka an AU in which the Systems Alliance is replaced by a government with more military bite that is less friendly with the Council.
However, the government and Terran society I am writing is very different from z98's Empire. For example, the greater use of cybernetics across society, which is another acknowledgment. I am taking inspiration for these cybernetics heavily from Cyberpunk, though not exactly.
This fic will also contain far more space combat, though the exact amount will depend on where in the story we are and what is happening. I am not going to try to force space combat in where it doesn't belong. But it is for this reason that I have made some changes to the Normandy. I'll explain that more after Chapter 1.
This is a story with both John and Jane Sheppard, and with both of the taking the spotlight at various points. Again, I'll talk more about that after Chapter 1.
Finally I am posting this story both on as well as on my Deviant Art page, both under the username: pyromancer707. I will be posting original fiction on Deviant Art, and will update with story as I am able around work, school, and writing my own Novel.
See you soon!