Hi Folks, another chapter here. I read every review, and I do appreciate some advice given on the speech patterns of Salarians in particular. Feel free to type whatever you like into the reviews!


Turian Heavy Cruiser "PFS Interdiction," 7th Flotilla Flagship, 1200 hours

"This was most unexpected," Admiral Titus Arranian glanced at the array of officers gathered at the bridge of his command ship, "Tell me how exactly we came by this information."

A young, darker fringed captain stepped forwards. "The PFS Longclaw was conducting long range patrol duty on the far side of the system, away from the rest of the flotilla, when we intercepted a Salarian survey vessel practically barreling towards the nearest Mass Relay, screaming that about first contact. We've apprehended the crew and seized the vessel, but we're still sorting through all the sensor data and videos they captured."

The admiral nodded for him to continue his report.

The captain motioned towards the holotable, a 3d representation of the post-battle space appearing in the center. "We are dealing with at least 2 new alien species, involved in some sort of large scale war. Both the initial contacts and the aggressor were very clearly purpose built warships, with the first two built around a familiar spinal-mounted mass driver type format, though with obvious technological differences, while the third contact seems to have some sort of plasma derived weaponry." He motioned towards the glowing wreckage of the defending fleet. "There is a clear technological advantage in this fight. However, based on the resources devoted to securing a relatively small colony, it is clear that both civilisations could pose a considerable threat to the security of both the Hierarchy and the Citadel Council."

A noise of general agreement rang around the holotable as another officer stepped forwards, "Admiral, at least one of these species is in clear violation of Citadel Law. Orbital Bombardment of a garden world is a war crime, one worse than any committed since the Krogan Rebellions." Narrowing his eyes in obvious anger, he continued, "Reporting this to the Citadel Council is of the highest importance, but this act cannot go unpunished. Allow me to send a portion of the flotilla to go after these criminals. They will face Citadel Justice under Turian guns."

The admiral retook his position at the head of the table. "We cannot allow this motion to go unanswered, it is true" he said, glancing at the officer that had just spoken, who seemed to glow with pride, "but we also do not yet know enough to intervene as we might wish. We will send a portion of the flotilla to render aid to whatever might still be alive on the planet, but engage none in combat, and retreat if faced with any resistance, be it from contacts 1 or 2."At this, he gave a slightly harder look at the other officer. "There will be no possibility of protest, be it from those we rescue, or the Council over sending aid to those who have just been bombarded."

He gave each officer around the table a steady look. "I will take the Interdiction, Mediator, and Victory to render aid. The Longclaw will head at flank speed for the Citadel with the Salarians, while the Sword will do the same towards High Command. The rest of the fleet will continue on the planned patrol at half strength." With that, the admiral spun away from the table, and the officers scattered to their respective ships.


Planet Roost, 2 miles out of Colony Borders, 1900 hours

Staff Sergeant Audrey Chen of Second squad, was out of options. The squad had been operating long range patrols when the glassing of Roost occurred- luckily with only the colony and the surrounding mile or so hit. However, even 3 miles out from the colony border, the shockwave had knocked down trees and sent enough wood shrapnel flying to kill two men on the spot and wound another 4, destroying their comms and half their equipment in the process. Only herself and Corporal Simmons had managed, by some miracle, to remain relatively unharmed. The Covies had not spent long on this planet- obviously not expecting many to survive the glassing, and trusting that the few elements that did would soon die off in the forests, without transport, communications, or supplies. They were, unfortunately, pretty close to correct.

"Park is dead," Simmons called out, and Chen cursed under her breath. 5 remaining then, not 6, possibly on the whole planet. She turned to the medic Davis, a short, stocky man who had caught enough shrapnel in the arm to rival a porcupine, yet somehow stayed on his feet. Chen motioned to the 2 other wounded, with the unspoken question. Will they make it? Davis opened up his medic bag, showing nothing but air, and shook his head. Damn. God fucking damn it all.

As if to punish her more, her eye sensor beeped, moments before three ships slammed into the atmosphere. A stream of data poured through the eyepiece- 317 meters, unknown configuration, unknown signal type, unknown material, unknown- until she shut it off just to stare at the vessels. Sleek, and unlike anything she had ever seen before- almost avian with wings and orange markings along studded white hulls. And, most importantly, it was far far closer to UNSC designs than Covenant. Side hatches slid open while the ships hung in the air, and formations of unfamiliar fighters and shuttles launched out of respective bays, some swarming around the ships, and some spreading out in an obvious search pattern.

"Never seen that pattern of ship before" Simmons remarked, gazing at the unfamiliar designs, "Or an entrance like that without a slipspace portal. Maybe some new ONI toys?" He shaded his eyes under his armored helmet to gaze at the small capital ships hovering motionless above the colony. Chen shrugged her shoulders, a motion rendered more or less pointless under the armored vest and shoulder pads.

"Works for me, they sure don't look Covie."

Simmons unlatched a flare from his pack. "Well, looks like we do get to go home after all."

Chen peered closer at the lettering on the side, not recognising the symbols or the shapes etched into the hull. "Simmons wait a-"

The distinct whoosh of a flare interrupted her, as the red glowing ball launched itself into the air.

"SIMMONS DAMN YOUR-"

A shuttle above turned abruptly in midair, launching itself towards the red signal climbing into the sky. Rushing through the sky with unnaturally smoothness, the vessel, looking more like a box than anything close to a Pelican, pirouetted above their heads and began to descend. Chen and Simmons took up positions, weapons pointed at the hatches on the sides of the shuttle. The hatches opened, to armored bodies and unfamiliar faces. Covenant.

"COVIES" came her loud shout, as she slammed her rifle into her shoulder, before being blasted off her feet by a wall of air, and everything fading to black.


Centurion Tarn Valerius glanced at the young soldier who had fired the concussive shot, who looked slightly sheepish at the look from his superior. The other unwounded alien had been similarly blasted by concussion shots from the squad that had supposedly come to render aid. "Vakarian," the Centurion muttered sternly, "What were the standard orders of engagement."

Vakarian shifted uncomfortably. "To not fire upon, injure, or disable, and to disengage when confronted, sir."

"And what, exactly, did you just do, Vakarian?"

"Fired upon, injured, and disabled an alien in a first contact scenario when confronted, sir."

The Centurion sighed. "We will have to discuss this later. Load them up, we will scan and render aid on the Interdiction"

Loud sounds of protest were heard as the Turians unceremoniously picked up or bodily hauled the various wounded aliens into their shuttle, after being quickly disarmed in their confusion and wounded state. Some of the squad were gawking at the various aliens.

"Furry Asari! Would you look at that!"

"I wonder if they like what the Asari like…"
"I bet I could beat this one in a fight"

"This one keeps looking at me. I think it's in love"

The shuttle lifted off, various aliens restrained in the cargo compartment, and began its glide to the Interdiction.


Citadel Council Chambers, 0700 hours, Day 2 of Ongoing First Contact

"I understand the position in which your admiral was placed," Council Tevos, of the Asari Republics said evenly, "I simply wish he had been less hasty in his actions. The fleet represents the arm of the Council, and his actions, however noble, may have placed us in a position where we have clearly chosen a side without all of our information."

Sparatus, Councillor of the Turian Hierarchy, could not bring himself to say she was entirely wrong. The admiral had been a longtime friend and ally in the (admittedly straightforward) political and military fields of the Hierarchy, and he completely understood the reasoning behind the movements. However, this proactive stance had somewhat placed the Hierarchy in an uncomfortable position of being on a side they did not clearly understand. It was, however, his duty to defend the actions of his people as best he could.

"These aliens broke Citadel Law, glassed a planet, and likely murdered thousands of civilians. The admiral was remarkably restrained in simply rendering aid, when most others would likely have pursued and attempted to destroy these criminals."

"You do realise, Sparatus, that regardless of intent, we have been placed in a very delicate position by this act."

The Salarian councillor was staring deeply into the floating wreckage displayed by the holotable. "Troubling. Very troubling. Clear example of ruthless efficiency, but no motivation yet. Horrifying yes, but intriguing. Will have to gather more data."

A comm beeped onto Sparatus's omnitool.

"The admiral's ventures bear fruit, councillors. Five aliens retrieved from the colony side. We will see what they shall have to say for themselves." Sensing the flood of questions about to flow from their mouths. Spartacus held up his hand. "Hierarchy Intelligence will question them first. We have enough Asari language contractors to make this work. Your STG and Republics Command can have at them once we are done."


Turian Heavy Cruiser Interdiction, 7th Flotilla Flagship, Medical Suites, 0800 hours

Chen did not know how long she had been in the chamber. A stark, white room, with some form of glass door and windows, through which she could see 2 guards, and her squadmates, each, in the same manner as her, strapped to a bed, and stripped of their armor. Each was moving their heads, seemingly trying to communicate through the glass, but nothing seemed to penetrate the walls. Each however, also unharmed. Davis seems to have been treated somehow, his arm encased in a vat of some orange liquid.

The door slid open, and two of these new Covies stepped through, rifles laying heavily in their arms, in an obvious guard position. Between them, was something Chen hadn't expected. Glancing at Simmons through the window, she could see him mouth.

Hot blue woman?

The woman, for she could only be described as such, seemed to gaze compassionately into her eyes, laying her hands on the temples of Chen's head. Chen, more confused than anything, opened her mouth to speak, when something rushed through her head. Not a thought, nor a feeling, just the sensation of her mind being observed, looking for something. A presence, with soft touches, speeding through- searching and searching and-

Nothing. It was gone. Chen glanced up at the woman, who opened her mouth, as if unfamiliar with how to shape it. Then, with shaky voice, it started.

"M-my apologies, sergeant. Th-this was highly unusual an-and unethical, but necessary t-to learn to communicate." As the sentence continued, the alien woman seemed to gain more confidence in how to use her mouth.

Chen simply stared.

"What the fuck."

"I imagine this must be v-very confusing for you. I am Tselina V'linar, a translator for the military vessel you are now on. You are under the care, and the custody, of the Turian Hierarchy, who picked you up from your planet to render aid."

"What the fuck did you just do to me," Chen started, "Why the fuck are you speaking english. What in the-"

"As I said," The woman continued smoothly, "Very confusing. Now, tell me about your people, and your war."

Audrey Chen, Staff Sergeant of Second Squad, was completely fucking lost.


Alright little long, but the next one will follow extremely quickly, I promise :)