"Welcome to Tuchanka everyone," Shepard said as she, Grunt, Mordin, Garrus, Ashley, and Kelly stepped off the shuttle onto the desolate planet, "Home of the Krogan, giant creatures that'll eat you in one bite, and deserts that go on for days."
"Your attempt at humor suggests you're not too fond of this place Shepard," Mordin said.
"It's humor Mordin, don't need to dig deeply into it. Let's go see the clan leader," Shepard said.
After they passed several Krogan who gave them the stink eye they finally made it to the base of the clan leaders 'throne', and Shepard broke into a wide smile when she saw who was on it, "Wrex!"
"SHEPARD!" The big Krogan shouted as he stood and walked over to his friend embracing her with a hug tight enough to almost break bone. He set her down and gave her the once over, "You look well for dead Shepard. I knew the void couldn't hold you."
"Looks like helping me destroy Saren and the Geth has worked out for you. Glad we didn't have to kill each other on Virmire."
"Ha! You made the rise of Urdnot possible. Virmire was a turning point for the Krogan, though not everyone was happy about it. Destroying Saren's Genophage cure freed us from his manipulation. I used that to spur the clans to unify under Urdnot."
"You abandoned many traditions to get your way. Dangerous," The Krogan who'd been speaking to Wrex said.
Wrex responded to this by head-butting him, "Speak when spoken to, Uvenk. I'll drag your clan to glory whether it likes it or not."
Wrex sat on his throne, "Now, Shepard. What brings you here? How's the Normandy?"
"Destroyed in a Collector surprise attack. I ended up spaced."
"Well you look good. Ah, the benefits of a redundant nervous system!"
"Yeah, humans don't have that."
"Oh it must have been painful, then. But you're standing here, and you have a strong new ship. Takes me back to the old days. Us against the unknown, killing it with big guns. Good times."
"Sounds like you've got big changes ahead for the Krogan."
"We are making a neutral ground where all clans are welcome. Fertile females can be shared among clans. We will strengthen our race as a whole."
"You threaten everything that makes us strong. It will not last," Uvenk said.
"Maybe. Until then, you're lucky to be a part of it," Wrex said.
"How do you maintain security with so many different clans in one place?" Shepard asked.
"Any clan willing to send in hostages can come in. No fighting inside the camp. Clans punish their own criminals. We stop conflicts before they arise. Then we present them with a choice; pay a fine and deal with your problems, or your clan is no longer welcome."
"That doesn't sound very harsh by Krogan standards."
"Allies from other clans like what I'm doing. They help deal with sceptics. Many are eager for an outlet. Every time I've declared a clan unwelcome, my allies have destroyed them. Word gets around."
"What do the women of clan Urdnot think of this plan?"
"It was our female clan leader's idea. The neutral area is safe, and it encourages more female clans to ally with us. Attacks on Urdnot now endanger the females of all clans. Even clans that want to see me dead will defend clan Urdnot."
"Your women have their own clan structure?"
"Nothing is more valuable than a fertile female. We know it. They know it. They isolate themselves for their own protection. We work together to set up these breeding alliances. I can hardly do anything without Clan Leader Uta's approval."
"What's so important about maintaining individual clans?"
"Every clan has different customs. Rites of passage, rules of behavior, battle songs, all unique. That diversity makes us great. No clans, not even my own, was meant to survive on its own."
"Urdnot is the leading clan. Doesn't that make your culture primary?"
"For now, but every clan has its unique assets. The best tacticians are Urdnot. Jorgal has the longest breeding line. Gatatog holds the oldest settlement. Others have their own strengths. We keep going how we are, the clans will end up as craters under nuclear haze. Even Urdnot. We need to rethink. Restart."
"Sounds ambitious. How's it gone so far?"
"Better then I'd feared, worse than I'd hoped."
"It can't continue. You're going against what makes us strong," Uvenk said.
"Sounds like you're not making friends."
"Traditionalists like Uvenk are chained varren. Always fighting, guarding their pathetic stick in the ground. When the smoke clears I can plant the flag on their corpses and rally the rest around a new Krogan hub."
"Sounds like you're counting on a lot of bloodshed. Even after you unite."
"It'll be slow, but I won't change what we are. Krogan are judged by the strength of their enemies. Our greatest insult is to say 'someone's not worth killing'."
"Well I hope that goes well with your people. But back to the reason I'm here…"
"We don't often allow aliens to do business on Tuchanka, but you're an exception."
"I'm looking for a Salarian. He was captured by the Blood Pack and brought here."
"My scout commander can direct you. He's probably near the perimeter running target practice. Don't take too much of his time. I need a constant watch on the other clans."
"I have a Krogan on my crew. He has some kind of sickness and needs treatment."
Wrex stared at Grunt who stepped forward, "Where are you from, whelp? Was your clan destroyed before you could learn what was expected of you?"
"I have no clan," Grunt said, "I was tank bread by Warlord Okeer, my line distilled from Kredak, Moro, shlagur-"
"You recite Warlords, but you are the offspring of a syringe!" Uvenk said.
"I am pure Krogan, you should be in awe."
"Okeer is a very old name. A very hated name," Wrex said.
"He is dead," Grunt said.
"Of course. You're with Shepard. How could he be alive?"
"I need grunt back up to speed. What's wrong with him?"
"There's nothing wrong with him. He's becoming a full adult."
"Ah, puberty ritual, common among species with hormone-driven reproductive urges," Mordin said.
"I don't care what aliens call it. Krogan undergo a Rite of passage."
Uvenk angrily stepped forward, "Too far, Wrex! Your clan my rule but this thing is not Krogan," he said, storming off.
"Idiot. So Grunt? Do you wish to stand with Urdnot?"
"You'll let a tank bred Krogan join Clan Urdnot?"
"Only because he's with you. After all, you and I killed many like him. Not quite as big, but many. Clan Urdnot is strong and the others will do as I say. They see the benefit of my vision."
"What does the right of passage require?" Shepard asked.
"Hard for me to say Shepard. The shaman will discuss that."
"What if he doesn't do this Rite of Passage?"
"If he was left here, he would be killed. The clan-less are not respected. A tank bred, probably more so. His disposition is what it is, rite of no. That's just him being a Krogan. Okeer didn't tell you that in the tank, did he boy?"
"Well, this is his choice," Shepard said, turning to Grunt.
Grunt turned and looked out over the camp for a few seconds, thinking. He turned back around, "It is in my blood. It is what I am for."
"Good boy. Speak with the Shaman – He's over on the second level. Give him a good show, and he'll set you on the path… You to Shepard. How many times have you stepped into a mess for your crew, hmm?"
Shepard smiled and nodded, "Good to see you Wrex. Are you sure can't come with us?"
Wrex sat on his throne, "Wish I could, but I need to keep these shortsighted fools in line. Hunt well Shepard." Shepard nodded and was about to walk off before Wrex finally spotted Kelly, "Hey!" everyone stopped and looked at him. He stood and walked over to her, "Who's this?"
"This is my sister Kelly."
"It'd probably be best if she stayed here. The rite is dangerous, and those that require help to survive are considered worse than those who don't do it at all."
Shepard turned to Kelly, "Probably not a bad idea."
Kelly nodded, "I agree. I'll see you when you're done."