True Strength Chapter 02: After Action, a mass effect fanfic

Anything I borrowed/modified from Star Wars, Star Trek, EVE Online, DUST 514, and d20 Future belong to the owners of those Intellectual Properties.
I borrowed/modified A LOT of shit.
I welcome feedback, but keep it civil.

'These are thoughts'
"These are verbal communications"
"These are verbal communications via radio, intercom, etc."
'[ These are mental communications via synaptic interface ]'
'[ These are verbal communications via synaptic interface ]'

Chapter 02: After Action

Terran Date: December 03, 2157
Terran Standard Time: 09:00
Cluster: Arcturus Stream
System: Arcturus

Deep within Arcturus Station's Strategic Command Center, the Systems' Alliance High Command, which consists of the highest ranking Admirals and Generals listens to the final message,

"The battle is lost; Systems purge has been completed; Self-destruct has been initiated; All hands killed in action. This is the Systems' Alliance cruiser SSV Kotte signing off."

Admiral of the Systems' Alliance Fleet, Admiral Selmic, addresses the other officers assembled, '[ That was the last transmission from the SSV Kotte. ]'

Admiral Selmic brings up an analysis of the turians, '[ What follows is an analysis of the turians based off of the information acquired from their systems. ]'

A holographic depiction of male and female turian slowly rotates above the conference table as a VI reads the analysis of the turian species as they relate to military matters. The diplomats and scientists have received a report targeted for their expertise.

Species: Turian
Home World: Palaven
Government: Turian Hierarchy
Government Type: Meritocracy

Although they lack the brutality of the krogan or the refined biotic skill of the asari, the turian military has formidable discipline. Officers and NCOs are "lifers" with years of field experience. Enlisted personnel are thoroughly trained and stay calm under fire. Turian units don't break. Even if their entire line collapses, they fall back in order, setting ambushes as they go. A famous saying holds: "You will only see a turian's back once he's dead."

Boot camp begins on the 15th birthday. Soldiers receive a year of training before being assigned to a field unit; officers train for even longer. Most serve until the age of 30, at which they become part of the Reserves. Even if they suffer injuries preventing front-line service, most do support work behind the lines.

Biotics are uncommon. While admired for their exacting skills, biotics' motives are not always fully trusted by the common soldier. The turians prefer to assign their biotics to specialist teams called Cabals.

Command and control are decentralized and flexible. Individual squads can call for artillery and air support. They make extensive use of combat drones for light duties and VI-controlled fighters, and practice combined arms: infantry operates with armor, supported by overhead gunships. Strategically, they are methodical and patient, and dislike risky operations.

Tradition is important. Each legion has a full-time staff of historians who chronicle its battle honors in detail. The oldest units have records dating back to the turian Iron Age. If an army is destroyed in battle, it is reconstituted rather than being replaced.

The turians recruit auxiliary units from conquered or absorbed minor races, like the volus. Auxiliaries are generally light infantry or armored cavalry units that screen and support the main battle formations. At the conclusion of their service in the Auxiliaries, recruits are granted turian citizenship.

Turian wars are often marked by citizen resistance. Most turian families keep small arms in their homes and take basic training courses that include instruction on how to create simple anti-vehicle explosive devices. To suppress citizen militias, the Turian Hierarchy makes use of "execution squads" known as hastatim. First, "safe camps" are established in cities to incentivize surrender. Next, hastatim soldiers are deployed door-to-door; anyone who refuses to be transported to a safe camp or demonstrates hostile intent will be shot. Hastatim burial units then retrieve and cremate the bodies. This approach is necessary because, without the safe camps, no turian would ever surrender, and without the hastatim, it would take years for the population to be pacified.

The mainstay of the turian infantry is the Phaeston assault rifle, light, accurate, and versatile weapon that nonetheless packs more punch than other rifles of its size. Other turian weapons include the Krysae anti-materiel sniper rifle, and the ML-77 Missile Launcher, manufactured by Armax Arsenal, one of the turian military's principal suppliers. Vehicles the turians employ include the A-61 Mantis Gunship, a versatile multi-role aircraft, the C77 Tyrus, a durable 13-ton infantry fighting vehicle, an APC variant of the M-080, the Jiris Infantry Fighting Vehicle, a hovercraft capable of traversing most terrains and engaging enemies at 20 kilometers with its missiles.

The turian navy is divided into at least 32 fleets and is allotted more dreadnoughts by the Treaty of Farixen than any other race. The navy serves as a galactic peacekeeping force and is also the primary military arm of the Council, contributing the single largest portion of the Citadel Fleet.

Notable Military Units

26th Armiger Legion
79th Flotilla
Sixth Fleet
43rd Marine Division
Seventh Fleet
Blackwatch

Known Military Actions

Unification Wars (500 BCE)
Krogan Rebellions (700-800 CE)
Battle of Canrum
Battle of Digeris
Battle of Gellix
Battle of Uresium

Holographic images of Hierarchy and Alliance vessels appear above the conference table displaying projected comparison statics as Admiral Andō begins his tactical analysis, '[ Kinetic barriers are effective against torpedoes but are ineffective against particle beam and particle pulse weaponry. Mass accelerator cannons appear to have roughly the same effective range as our particle beam weaponry, but lack firing arcs. This means the attacking ship has to be aligned to its target. They do possess a type of torpedo that can do massive damage. Once they begin firing those, priority should be given to evasive maneuvers, chaff torpedoes, and PADS. Turian sensors seem to be less sophisticated than ours. They could not detect the SSV Tesla through her plasma cloak and they also appeared to have difficulty targeting the SSV Kotte. Their ships don't seem to possess the same mobility that ours do. They also lack any significant broadside capabilities. ]'

'[ My recommendations, vessels should maintain their mobility during battle. Open attacks with pulse torpedoes to blind the enemy. The get in amongst the enemy fleet and use our broadside capabilities to maximum effect. Initiate systems breach as soon as possible and target data mining to military intelligence. Take out FTL propulsion and kinetic barrier generators with particle beam weaponry. At some point upon successful systems breach, shut down gravity, fire control systems, and self-destruct; erect systems blocks to prevent re-activation. If this isn't possible, attempt to take helm control and navigate the ship away from the battle ],' concludes Admiral Andō

A holographic galaxy map appears above the conference table as Admiral Ryan gives his strategic analysis, '[ The star charts that we acquired clearly show every species' claimed territory and some contested territory. The Mass Relay Network maps we obtained show active and inactive relays. After some study of their preferred methods of warfare and their laws against opening dormant mass relays, their most likely avenue of approach, should they decide to attack, would be through this area here leading straight to Shanxi. That'll stretch their supply lines and increase the time it takes for reinforcements to arrive. ]'

'[ I'd recommend bringing all Alliance forces and territories to DEFCON 3 and CYBERCON 3. The turians probably don't know where our colonies are located, so they'll send in scouting ships. Position fleets here and here outside of strategically valuable systems so that they can avoid detection but can reinforce a system inside of an hour. Re-call all research missions and commence research vessel reconfiguration to wartime standards. Withdraw half of a colony's defense fleet to behind the colony to be held in reserve. Deploy two stealth wolf packs to strategically valuable systems, where they'll maintain stealth mode until the turian fleets engage our own. Increase patrols along the most likely approaches to Alliance space. Inform Sol Defense Command of the situation so that they can take appropriate action ],' states Admiral Ryan.

Admiral Madrigal speaks, '[ It appears that the turians are a very militaristic and disciplined society. Why this captain broke, their own regulations is strange. According to the star charts we acquired, we weren't in their territory. So why did they open fire without provocation? ]'

'[ The turian captain mentioned something about the Citadel Conventions. I believe he was hoping for a quick victory in order to get his hands on our technology ],' replies Admiral Müller.

General of the Systems' Alliance Marine Corps, General Murphy, speaks, '[ When the turians send in ground troops, we need every soldier and combat vehicle to be ready. The Reserves and Colonial Militia need to be activated and placed on alert. Non-combatants need to be alerted and their Evac Kits prepped and ready. The moment a turian fleet enters one of our systems, the evacuation order needs to be given so that non-combatants have time to make it to the Hold-Out Bunkers. If capture is imminent, follow Standard Operating Protocols. If taking prisoners follow Standard Operating Protocols with one exception, do not ask any questions beyond name and rank. An enemy this disciplined isn't going to give us anything useful. ]'

'[ Agreed General. All recommendations are accepted and approved. Alert all fleet and ground commands, DEFCON 3 and CYBERCON 3 are now in effect. Activate the Reserves and Colonial Militia in accordance with Emergency Force Activation Protocols; instruct them to prepare for ground assault. Alert all non-combatants prepare Evac Kits and stand-by for evacuation orders. Alert Sol Defense Command of the threat. I want all forces ready to deploy before the end of the day. I want all colonies prepared and ready for ground assaults before end of the day. DISMISSED ],' orders Admiral Selmic!

Terran Date: December 03, 2157
Terran Standard Time: 12:58
Cluster: Unnamed – Temporary Alliance Designation – C/05
System: Unnamed – Temporary Alliance Designation – A/01/R

Admiral Triellix Kyia, of the Turian Seventh Fleet, just finished reading the after action reports from the surviving crew of the PFS Vindicator. She leans back and sighs heavily; Captain Epessan really stepped in it this time. His mother's family would not be covering for him on this latest debacle.

Admiral Kyia lifts her head as her omni-tool signals and incoming call, as soon as she answers it her aide speaks, "Admiral, Commander Ky'yn has arrived."

"Send him in Lieutenant," responds the Admiral.

Command Ky'yn enters the Admiral's office and stops three paces in front of her desk before saluting sharply, "Commander Ky'yn reporting as ordered Admiral."

The admiral returns his salute, "Commander, has the surviving crew of the PFS Vindicator been transferred aboard?"

"The crew has completed transfer, all systems have been scrubbed per regulations, and self-destruct is available at your convenience Admiral," answered the commander in a professional tone.

The admiral shakes her head sadly as she activates her omni-tool and contacts the bridge, "Captain, this is Admiral Kyia, initiate self-destruct of the PFS Vindicator."

She gestures for the commander to join her at the observation window. Over the intercom they hear the captain order, "All hands, ATTENTION! We commend the PFS Vindicator to the Great Void."

The admiral and commander salute crisply as the PFS Vindicator becomes a superheated fireball before dissipating into nothingness.

The admiral begins to speak, "Please take a seat commander."

The commander takes a seat opposite the admiral before she begins, "Commander, I've read the reports and thoroughly studied the data provided by you and the surviving crew. I have a few questions."

The admiral continues, "In the reports, it states that the ships encountered did not emit any kind of mass effect signature. Is this correct?"