A/N: Just a Crazy-Man: Thanks.

Coment9: Tellurians are as base human as you can get in a space opera. Just wanted to use a term for normal humans without using Terran. They both mean about the same, 'from Earth'.

.1: Glad you can relate. Thanks for reading.

George Cristian810: Firstly, it's 'too many' not 'to many'.

Secondly, how is having too many nations make it not credible? Not credible in what criteria and for who? How can you have too many nations? There are 200 to 300 countries IRL. I am pretty sure, in my story, I have written in fewer nation-states than IRL.

Finally, the three factions basically act as their own super states anyway. Would you have rather had me write in another generic singular world government?

May 7th 2341 CE.

In orbit of Shanxi Relay

10:05 Shanxi Standard Time

"They want to do what, exactly?", asked Octarius to a holovid of the human commander.

"It's as they've said. These few Batarians want to provide us with information in exchange for amnesty.", Julija responded.

"Commander, with all due respect, you and you Tellurians are unfamiliar with the nature of Terminus Mercs. Please listen to me. Have those pirates arrested? They're a security threat to your people just by them being there."

"They're as harmless as can be. Their equipment has already been confiscated. I don't need to understand them as intimately as you do, I only know that you can't afford to not listen to them. They have marked out the specific ships carrying your citizens."

"How can you possibly trust a word from these Batarians?", he opposed.

"How can I trust a word from you? Turian?", she returned.

"I can no more trust my new guests than I can trust the second new species our people discovered today. The Breko Brothers have thus far cooperated, respected our authority, and earned the right to be listened to after neutralising other Batarians that proved to be hostile."

"It could have just as easily have been an elaborate ploy."

"So, could have been your convenient assistance against my worlds siege.", she countered. She sounded more and more frustrated as she continued.

"Do what you will with the information I have given you. What I do on the ground for the security of my people, is of my own concern. I suggest you act quickly. Best of luck, Admiral." Commander Julija ended her transmission.

Octarius gave an audible exhale. He couldn't deal with insubordination, but he could give no appropriate reprimand. He and the Tellurians are allies for the time being. He requires their assistance just as much as they require of him. As far he could tell, the aliens have done a remarkable job. Almost too remarkable.

They have managed to deter all ground skirmishes by the pirates. Their own citizens seemingly contributing significantly. If the apparent defection of a Merc Company is an indication, even if they're a small company, the command of the pirates appears to be ready to fall apart. That means that Dhasvin could get desperate sooner rather than later. He might just do something drastic just to getaway.

Despite his grievances, there was little he could do to enforce Citadel doctrine on an independent state. The few time that he had to cooperate with other species, they always deferred to him, as was appropriate for the Turians position of peacekeepers. She was correct on one thing though, something he would agree with. He needed to act sooner rather than later.

"Officer Malsia, open comms with Captain Velimir.", he asked. His Comms Officer complied.

"Admiral. I just received the report from Shanxi. Do you require me?"

"I want to know in what state your ships are in, Captain." Even if the surviving Tellurian ships were combat capable, their combined forces would still be outnumbered, three to one.

"I'm afraid that only my ship is anywhere near ready for an engagement."

Now that just exacerbated their numbers disadvantage. It wasn't quite a decisive loss, Turians have fought against even greater odds against stronger and more numerous foes. The Krogan for example, but then again it came at a great cost of life and arms. Octarius' attention was brought back to Velimir."

"I do have to bring to your attention, some good news. We have received a discrete, long-range transmission."

That certainly caught the Turians attention. They were a multitude of possibilities of what it could have been, but by the spirits, he hoped it was truly good news. A holovid was sent to his ship and he had it played on his display. The quality was subpar at best and seemingly held a blue tint to the video. The image of a Tellurian wearing a differently designed uniform popped up. The male alien spoke and his VI translated for him.

"I am Flotilla Admiral Jeremié, of the SAS Navy. We were tasked to escort King James IX to his destination. By the executive order of the King, we are responding to the distress signal sent from the nearby planet of Shanxi. We are bringing a force of 15 ships to reinforce our GSA allies. God willing, we shall assist our fellow Tellurians."

The short message delivered valuable information. Now instead of the projected twenty-four hours to receive reinforcements, it seemingly will take less than one hour.

"The SAS are ready allies of ours. The addition of 15 of their ships is welcome aid."

"Thank you, Captain. When these reinforcements arrive, the Batarian numbers advantage will matter little."

Citadel Tower,

Citadel,

11:15 Citadel Council Standard Time

Ablus felt a headache coming to him. He had just received an urgent transmission from an old friend of his. The contents of the message didn't bode well at all. No doubt that the other two had received the message as well, which surely was the reason this new emergency meeting has been called. Ablus walked at a brisk pace down corridors toward a discrete meeting room, away from the prying eye of the public.

He had just left his reserved breakfast at Criterion. He had tried not to arouse suspicion when leaving, but a Councilor getting up off his seat just as his food arrives is more than cause for concern. Undoubtedly a start of a new chain of rumours. That mess is a problem his PR team must deal with.

Ablus was reiterating the events Octarius had reported on, within his mind. The colonial raid, the pirates attempt to escape into an inactive Relay, and finally the First Contact. This new series of events could pose a paramount threat to his generation. The illegal pirate activity had exponentially increased upon the increased patrol range for individual fleets, spreading an otherwise effective defence fleet, thin. This entire fiasco could all root back to this issue. He had the good sense to finally get Cajae to side with him against Tevos on the issue of security.

As Ablus entered the designated meeting room, he could see that the other two Councilors were already seated. They were certainly fast getting here. He eyed them up and down as he took a seat, trying to appraise their stance on the matter. Cajae took little notice nor care, all the while going over notes in his usually Salarian mania. Tevos on the other hand, he could tell was holding back her emotions. He felt a chilling temper in the expression of her eyes, despite the lack of expression the rest of her face held. Her eyes kept at him up until he sat down. He spoke first.

"Would you inform me as to the reason behind this meeting?" They all knew obviously, but he would rather they reveal their intentions and whether they will act accordingly or take this opportunity to sling slander.

"Of course. You did receive an encoded message from one Admiral Octarius did you not?" She kept her tone sweet as if hide the scent of her venom.

"Yes, Octarius is a good friend of mine, and a loyal Admiral to the Council."

"To the Council? Are you sure that it is us that his loyalty lies? Would he not be more loyal to the Hierarchy?"

"In my opinion, the interest of the Hierarchy aligns with the interests of the Citadel."

"That is not an answer to my question."

"His loyalties are not what is in question here. What we need to focus on is the events occurring surrounding the 314 Relay."

"And we shall, but not after we decide what to do with the responsible parties. Namely the cause of the pirate's escape, and the Commander responsible for entering an illegal Relay, Octarius."

"You can't be serious?! What we need is to send reinforcements through the Relay and tighten security around the Alelius System!"

"Lower your voice Councilor. I will not be shouted down. I can see your personal relationship with the Admiral is clouding your judgment. I see now that the delegation of our actions now falls on myself and the Salarian Councilor. Cajae?"

"Hmm. Oh? Yes! Yes of course. I'm afraid I must disagree with you Tevos.", Cajae acted as the lever between the back and forth of the Turian and the Asari.

"What? In what matter exactly?", Tevos was once again incredulous.

"Activating Relay 314 is the Pirates responsibility. Octarius' simply pursued. Entering illegal Relay irrelevant. STG reports no foul play or conspiracy on Octarius' part."

"Would you truly believe the Hierarchy wouldn't hold him responsible for his incompetence anyway?"

"No, I don't. But irrelevant. Not our responsibility. Priorities remain. We react quickly."

Finally having the matter move away from Octarius, Ablus continued.

"Tevos, I suggest you follow your own Goddesses virtues and have patience. I shall contact the Primarchs, this is first and foremost a Turian matter."

"I think not! If one of your own Admirals failed at securing an inactive Relay from being used, it has become a Council matter.", Tevos was having none of it.

"And who exactly has to take the brunt of these security threats? Whose people put their own lives on the line?", retorted Ablus. Tevos' mouth was flapping like a piece of Salarian seafood at his statement. It was a small victory that left him feeling justly vindicated.

"Cajae? Can we count on the STG?"

"Already disseminating the alien video message. The unit will be dispatched. Will observe the alien system.", Cajae didn't give a second glance to either of his colleagues. He acted as he did since he started, focused on Council matters first, and all else is irrelevant. He even declined Ablus' invitation to breakfast.

"Tevos. Can you have a First Contact delegation dispatched?", Ablus asked.

"I suppose I should, seeing as we're ignoring the matter of a captain overstepping their boundaries."

Ablus was about to correct her on Octarius' rank, but, Octarius would be lucky to come out of this politicking with his head on his shoulders. As he and his fellow Councilors concluded their course of operations, he felt a looming dread for the fallout of this mess. He hoped his friend would leave this debacle with his life. For the moment he needed to focus on the task at hand. Relay 314 deserves all their attention now.

A/N: I wanted this to be a bit longer and more detailed, but as they say 'Better finished than perfect. I have had my repeat exams this month, so I was busy with that. I also had some of my friends give their thoughts on my writing. Unexpectedly one friend of mine gave a full-on, English teacher dissertation on my writing. He made a lot of good points on where I was missing out, where I could expand, and what I should cut. I was already towards the end of writing this chapter, so I might as well have posted it.

I've decided to give my works a rewrite, most of these I written with a beginner's to intermediate knowledge of writing. While these stories came from bouts of inspiration and passion, they're still pretty rough and raw.

If you could PM or leave a review, can you tell if it's best to leave my stories on my account and post the rewrites alongside them? Or should I replace my stories with the rewrites?

I am not giving up on writing, I want to improve myself. Thank you for reading.