2435 Hours, October 23rd, 2182 (Unified Military Calendar)

Systems Alliance; Gravestone - Star System; Circumspect - Planet; High Cliff Systems Alliance Intelligence Network (SAIN) Research Base

"You want the Empress of Elysium as our godsgone blighted new Spectre Yu; have you replaced your brain with a Batarian slave collar? Her anomalous biotic powers, political opinions and criminal adolescent years marks her as an enemy of this institution. Her repeated comments to the media about if it were up to, she'd completely dismantle SAIN from top down, stands as proof of her intransience towards all that stands between us and alien subjugation. And you have the arrogance to think we could control her?". The greenish black shade expressed this as green fires roared from his skeleton, as if his rage could burn himself to cinder.

The red colored shade evidently going by Yu leaned against a crumbled rock, her facial expressions expressionless. "I thought we were in the business of turning Humanities greatest enemies and adversaries into our allies, burning any fools that stand against us to ash. Commander Astor Saki Vastagh is useful for our purposes, her upbringing and heroism already benefits the SA military with a steady stream of recruits from impoverished Terran communities. Her exotic biotic powers and electronic warfare skills shouldn't be discounted as gimmicks either. Especially in her masterful defense of Elysium, and Apotheosis. With the information and levers we currently have on her compared to the other two proposed candidates; we can turn our greatest opponent into our staunchest champion. Since it would seem in my directorate's estimation, with her at our side we would have 93% chance of success in this endeavor."

The greenish shade his face wreathed in green fire sneered, the fire roaring out before him temporarily abated. "Have your directorate send that report to me after this because I think you're pulling the success rate out of your mummified ass Yu. If you've met that raging bitch in person you would realize that we barely control her to begin with. What with her association with pro-independence parties on Elysium and Terra Firma in the Parliament makes her politically dicey. I doubt Udina, Park or Goyle are going to play ball with us if we propose her. Better if…"

"Better if we decide to put the Butcher of Torfan as our Spectre candidate?" Said the blue shade, her skeletal arms and face covered in blossoming vibrant violet flowers, as dark things slithered in her ribcage. "He's an avowed Batarian and Krogan racist, in kahoots with Kyle and his band of speciests. Not to mention the war crimes that he and troopers under his command committed on Ogmios. The Citadel Council would sooner have him in shackles or laugh us out of the godsgone council chambers before we could propose him as a candidate."

The green shade nodded his theatrically, "Considering the other genocidal maniacs that are currently running around under the Council's little Spectre program, he would certainly fit right in. Major Nir Farrokhzad's record speaks for itself, if not for his actions at Torfan or Ogmios SA would be currently facing a protracted war against dug in Batarian militants across all of the Skyllian Verge. His ruthless pragmatism and realpolitik are assets to be cultivated. Never mind that his reaction times and reflexes are nearly or above Salarian upper thresholds. He is rated master in almost every weapon in the SA infantry arsenal and has even designed a few weapon mods himself makes him suited to this endeavor than the frankly paranormal powers displayed by Commander Vastagh. Ignoring the fact that he is unfavorable to minority species because of traumatic experiences on Mindoir; his relationship with Citadel species is excellent. He has numerous admirers and friends within the Turian hierarchy and even has an Asari siari master as a bondsmate, making him the most likely to get Citadel council backing."

Yu grunted flames belching from her shade, "And that's the problem right there, his Asari bondmate makes him a political nonstarter in the current session. The premier and the prime minister are going to balk at having him as Kaleo's committee's recommendation. Besides, he has a 120 million credit bounty on his head making any use of him outside of Citadel or Alliance space fraught with complications. Something that makes him especially useless for the task we have planned for the candidate."

The blue shade that is probably named Kaleo plucked a flower that was growing from her hand before examining two of her compatriots, "I have to agree with Yu on this one Spyros, notwithstanding my previous comments about Major Farrokhzad. It is my belief his potential since Torfan and Ogmios has dimmed. It has been three years since the Major has taken part in any military operation in person. And these days according to my sources he's ensconced on Veles in charge of 2nd Ranger Battalion of the 31st Expeditionary Brigade. His current activities include furnishing and maintaining his increasingly large harem of women and pursuing connections to Cerberus of all things. Hardly the ideal fit for Humanities first Spectre." Blue shade sighed, "Thus my Committee's recommendation is that we go with Lieutenant Commander Trai Kwon, the Slayer of Akuze."

Spyros narrowed his flaming green eyes, "Would be a great fit in theory, considering that his mother is fleet admiral of the 12th Fleet, and his family's connections span most of the FLEETCOM. His biotics are about as powerful and discerning as an Asari commando matriarch, making him an easy sell to both the Citadel and our own people. Plus, his vendetta against Cerberus has been beneficial to us. Yet..."

Yu finished where Spyros left off "from what I was able to uncover recently in a related task; unknown to the general public Trai Kwon is currently being remanded to the custody of the Alliance Psychiatric Service. He suffered nervous breakdown during a combat drop as of 2 months ago. Supposedly one the native species on the planet reminded him of his Akuze experience and well," Yu twirled her fingers, "I doubt he will be much use here. I'm surprised your committee wasn't read in on that tidbit."

Kaleo crumbled the flower in her hand, "That is not the news that I was hoping. Still at this juncture I cannot in good conscious support either of your picks; while Vastagh biotic powers are a hard counter to most other biotics her reckless heroism usually results in her missing or failing her mission parameters. The inversion is true of Farrokhzad. Though his ability to complete missions with limited quantity of troops and armaments against insurmountable odds are to be admired, his actions result in a blowback effect that harms SA interests in the process."

Yu rubbed the side of her skull, "Then we are at an impasse, again. This is the eighth such selection process we've gone through in the last three months. Our principals are likely to replace us if we don't come to a recommendation soon."

Spyros gave a bark of laughter and gestured wildly with his hands, "That might be an issue for a career climber for you, Yu. All I care about is getting out of this blasted virtual reality and go back to eating food, instead of getting fed via a tube."

The last shade, wreathed in subdued yellow flames decided to finally speak, its voice modulated in symphony of different human voices, as if hundreds of other humans were speaking at once, in concert. "We are forgetting about one vector. A vector we've controlled since conception. A vector of unknown quantity to the Citadel, but a known one to us. A vector that sublimated large swaths of independents, rebels and Batarians. A vector who has acquired information and material needed in our quest to contain a threat to all galactic civilization and reduced countless previous galactic civilizations to dust. A vector when once given a task will doggedly pursue it to the edges of the galaxy and beyond. A vector that has never known 'no I can't'. We think you know who we refer to."

Kaleo sat up; her flowers wreathed on her dying and wilting in response, "You want to recommend Shepard!?"

"Yes." The yellow shade said in chorus. "We cannot think of anything that could stop a hyper lethal vector like Shepard. Especially in the task we have in hand."

Yu considered it for a moment, "It's possible."

Spyros spoke, "I say it's more than possible. Even likely. The military cadres and empyreans will see this as victory, as their super soldiers are spared from the slaughtered. SAIN gets our own Spectre to use and abuse. Galactic affairs get paper wrapped superhuman to present the Citadel with. And the politicians can say they're putting forward a neutral, apolitical option to pacify their electorate."

Kaleo brushed the dead flowers off her form, gazing onto her compatriots. "The Circle isn't going to like our recommendation, losing one of their few remaining Svetovids is going cause consternation."

Yu shrugged, "The next class of Svetovids are coming online in the next seven months, I sincerely doubt the Circle will care if we prune a Svetovid from their control. Especially if we can gain an in with the Citadel Spectre Corps. Plus this will be better for us than returning to them empty handed."

Spyros nodded the greenish flames emanating from bodies smothered, "Yeah, I doubt the Citadel will care how many mass graves Shepard's created considering the Hierarchy's own current policy direction towards separatists and other riffraff. Also means I can get some proper seafood once I get out of this place too."

Kaleo considered that for a moment, "Fine. I have no problems with this recommendation, though we'll need someone to keep a leash on her for the short term. Any recommendations?"

The yellow shade smiled, "Only one. David Anderson."