A/N: Alright people, this is gonna be a short chapter because it's setting the stage for what's going to be happening in the next few chapters, with the Skylian Blitz coming up soon where we'll really see just how well X-COM wages war against dug in targets.

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"If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack."

-Winston Churchill

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Citadel Council Chambers

Given the situation he was in, Admiral Steven Hackett decided it was quite correct to feel a burst of trepidation as he moved forwards. Despite the full squad of heavily armed and equally armored X-COM soldiers a few meters behind him, he couldn't help but be apprehensive as he climbed the few steps that led up onto the small stage before the three aliens he recognized as the Councilors from the steadily growing Codex that had been translated.

Coming to a halt a few feet from the edge he spoke, his own translator picking up and immediately changing his words into the Asari language. There were plans to replicate the recovered 'omni-tools' they had retrieved from Turian soldiers, but even if progress was fast the rollout was a bit on the slow side. Still, from speaking to various prisoners he knew that it would be enough.

"Greetings Councilors, I am Admiral Steven Hackett, Humanity's envoy for the following proceedings," he said, working to make sure his tone was even despite the glare he could see the Turian Councilor, Sparatus he remembered, was offering him.

Casting a neutral glance at the Councilor in response, Hackett instead turned his attention to the center of the group as the Asari Councilor, Tevos, began speaking.

"And we welcome you Admiral, we are grateful that your people were willing to agree to the ceasefire and to send you here so that we could negotiate a lasting-" she began, only to stop when Hackett brought his right hand forward and raised it to stall what he was certain was a well prepared speech.

"I'm sorry to mislead you Councilor, but I am not the one who will be conducting these negotiations," he said as the three Councilor's turned surprised expressions on him.

"If you are not here to negotiate peace Admiral, then who is going to represent your people?" the Salarian Councilor, Lerana asked.

"My superior will be, Councilors."

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Tevos struggled to keep her face schooled in an emotionless mask as confusion and frustration warred within her at the human admiral's reply. Before she could phrase her response, Sparatus had already leapt to the front, his anger at his race's defeats and the nature of the negotiations coming to the forefront of his demeanor.

"And where is your superior admiral, if they will be the ones negotiating?" He grated out.

Hackett, to his credit barely raised an eyebrow before he reached into his front right pocket and withdrew a fist sized white sphere.

"If I may Councilors?" He asked.

Tevos felt herself hesitate for a moment before nodded, followed by Lerana and Sparatus scant seconds later.

Rather than saying something to indicate what he was doing, Hackett proceeded to toss the sphere straight up into the air only rather than coming back down, it kept going up till it was about two meters higher than her head, forcing Tevos to look up at the sphere as it glowed with white light that quickly expanded out sideways before stopping to form a rectangle several meters wide and a few tall made of white light before it went to static and then black.

Briefly she heard Lerana mutter something about "interesting hologram communications" as the Salarian cupped her chin before she turned her attention back to the floating display before her as an image faded into view, showing what she decided was a heavily muscled human in something resembling a Turian formal suit and the admiral's uniform before her. The human had skin similar in pigmentation to Hackett's though unlike the admiral this one's head was clean of fur and shined mildly in the scant lighting wherever it was transmitting from. Any other features were obscured by heavy shadows and this was fortunate as that was the point when the human began to speak, likely having decided that they had had enough time to look at it and vice versa.

And Tevos found herself...not afraid, that was hardly something she could afford to be in this situation, but at the very least intimidated as the human spoke, as even through what was likely a translation into Asari, the human had a deep, gravelly tone that reminded her of large stones grinding together, and still the words were clear as day to her.

"Hello Councilors," the human began, "This Council of Worlds has voted in agreement to your request for a peace treaty and as such we are here today to discuss what terms will be apart of this treaty. Now, what are your requirements for peace Councilors? State them so that they can be considered by this Council of Worlds."

Tevos hesitated, not out of fear, not out of intimidation, but out of confusion. The way this human spoke suggested that there were several independent powers, all working in collaboration. The idea that they were dealing with something similar to the Citadel itself hadn't even crossed her mind before now, but it was clear that this was the case. Instantly her mind was scrambling and adapting her plans to fit the situation as she kept up a neutral exterior before briefly clearing her throat to begin as she said, "Thank you Councilor, though we know relatively little about each other, we are grateful you will at least listen to us. Our initial requirements for peace are as follows."

Lifting up her left arm, Tevos activated her omni-tool before beginning to read out their list of requirements.

"First, and already addressed, is the cessation of any and all hostilities between Humanity and all Council races."

The human on screen nodded in agreement.

"Second, is for Humanity to state its current borders."

Another nod.

"Third is the compliance of Humanity with Citadel law."

"And which laws are those, Councilors?" The human on screen asked.

Sparatus picked up the torch here, to slight indignation on Tevos's part as he stated, "We will require your compliance with laws regarding the development and creation of AIs, genetic modifications, and ship development. Most notably the treaty of Firaxen."

"And what are the requirements of the Firaxen Treaty, Councilors?" The human asked.

In that moment Tevos finally felt a spark of fear. The tone the human had used came across as mildly condescending and some of the words, which wouldn't have survived the translation to Turian and Salarian were forms of themselves that indicated dismissal. Preparing to bring things to a halt before they could get worse, Tevos attempted to speak, only to be overridden by the unknowing Sparatus as he continued.

"The Treaty of Firaxen restricts the size and number of dreadnoughts a race may have as well as limiting additional naval construction." Sparatus replied, ignorant of where he was going, "For every five Turian dreadnoughts, members races are permitted three and associate races are permitted one. As such you will need to significantly downsize your military."

There was dead silence following this proclamation, as Sparatus and Lerana awaited a reply or question and Tevos felt her stomach drop as she caught sight of a grin on Admiral Hackett's face as the human on screen spoke.

"Councilors, before we continue any further," the human said, a noticeable and menacing edge coming to its voice, "This Council must correct the assumption you are laboring under."

And there it was, the words that made any hope Tevos had of avoiding conflict disappear.

"Humanity is not here to join your Citadel, we are here to see to the resolution of a war you brought upon yourselves and to prevent any further conflicts from breaking out. We are here to state the requirements we have to not begin a full, galaxy wide war. We are not here to join in your collaboration."

Everyone present had become noticeably tenser, and rage had appeared on Sparatus's well schooled face as he began a rebuttals only to be cut off by the human on screen.

"Silence Councilors. It is the decision of this Council of Worlds that Humanity will take the following course. One, we will cease all attacks against all Citadel species. Two, we will withdraw to our current borders and maintain our space. Three, when Humanity is ready, we will send an envoy to negotiate our participation in trade with the Citadel. Four, should trade, begin any unwarranted attack upon a human traveling in Council Space under Council laws will be considered an act of war, following, any Citadel citizen found in Human space who is not traveling under Human law will also be considered an act of war. Any further agreements between Humanity and the Citadel not stated here and now will be negotiated upon at a future date."

Stunned silenced followed the human's audacious declaration for several seconds before the human spoke again to say, in a note ably calmer voice, "Good bye Councilors, and remember, We, will be watching."

With that passing phrase, the screen vanished and the white sphere fell down to be caught by Hackett and returned to the front pocket on his uniform.

Looking up at the stunned Councilors, herself included, Hackett spoke one last time before he turned on his heel and left.

"Though this isn't official Councilors, my Commander instructed me to pass on a warning to you. I was told to inform you that the day a human is enslaved is the day Kar'Shan dies."

And like that the human envoy was gone. Any advantage Tevos and her fellow Councilors had had of gaining from this new race vanishing as the human fleet left the system in a flash of blue light.

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