Chapter 2: Two Thought

Locatation: Council Space, Hades Gamma sector, Anateus system, Ploba (Anateus Gamma)
Date: November 5th, 2176 CE
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Another gas giant; similar in appearance, banded orange and red, as the one a universe away was, but different in location. This gas giant would take 20 terran years to make one orbit of its sun; it was by no means a "hot Jupiter". And this planet had no natural satellites; the space around it had been clean of such object. Now, since the arrival of sentient life to the Anateus system, the plant had gathered an impressive collection of orbiting sensors, all looking for one thing.

The rumoured, elusive signs of artifice in the depths of the swirling gas. Throughout history, there had been tantalising hints, pings on radar, gravatonic fluctuations, of unnatural, geometric shapes below the helium layers. People had gone looking before; the satellites kept a constant watch, but occasionally groups would hurl themselves in deep-atomosphere craft, trying to find anything in the depths of Ploba.

All previous attempts had failed, one way or another. Sometimes the crafts would emerge, their efforts futile. Sometimes they'd never re-appear, but their words and screams would be heard as the radios broadcast their vessels being crushed like a can, or them stuck, eventually perishing as the recycling systems failed. Sometimes they would just disappear. It must be said that the latter occurrence in part contributed to the myths about Ploba. And then there was the case of the Dire Ver, a joint venture between the hanar government and a turian sect. The ship had emerged, ten galactic years later, after it had vanished. The ship was intact.

The occupants had been smeared over the bulkheads like jam.

Nothing else in the ship showed any signs of depressurisation, compression, or even the accelerations needed to overcome the effects of the protective mass effect fields. Some groups claimed that the patterns of the smears had been in the Fibonacci sequence, that the turian government, controlled by a cabal of the elcor and the volus banking clans, had known the truth about Ploba and used it to attack the hanar representatives, and that the turian military intelligence had been working with the elcor. These same groups were also claimed to be behind the death of Matriach Dienna, a matriarch of the asari, who, although a liability to her species as a whole, especially after she had claimed that the respected Matriarch Benezia was working with the salarians to betray the asari to the humans, elcor and turians, was a remarkably popular figure on the extranet, praised for her charity work and fashion sense.

These people were generally laughed out of civilised company (or at least spoken to with the words "Insulting laughter", in the case of the elcor), especially if there were turians in the room. The general consensus was that this was merely a sign of senility. By contrast, certain groups of humans had a tendency to forgive the flagrant racism, although that was largely because she made clothing look very, very good. This behaviour was found most puzzling by the turians, although there were counter-allegations thatbthis was just because the turian anatomy was incompatible with human and asari fashion.

Back in orbit around Ploba, though, were a number of ships, clustered around a larger one belonging to the hanar government. Officially a trans-species endeavour, the Depths of Infinitude, a deep atmosphere ship, would be dropped into the planet itself. Powerful mass effect generators would increase the mass of the ballast five-hundred times; when the ship had to leave, they would be turned off, with the reduced density enough to leave the ship to rise into the upper atmosphere, where it could be collected. The two human members of the twelve being crew, along with the two turians, had begun to refer to it as the "Anti-Balloon", a common technological development which worked as a metaphor.

On the human remora-vessel, docked in the hanar ship, the two members of the Depths of Infinitude were being briefed by Representative Fox, from the Human Systems Alliance.

"And so, I feel it is fair to fully explain the void-political aspects behind this venture, before you leave. You are aware, naturally, that the hanar are funding most of this expedition, with the rest of us as contributors?" explained Liam Fox, stroking his salt-and-pepper moustache.

"Naturally," answered Dr Alice Pylades. "The design of the ship is based upon the internal, biological mechanism which the hanar use to move around."

"We're also aware of the … religious aspects of the hanar, such as their insistence that we have regular prayer meeting during the expedition," added Major Victoria Gong, Alliance military representative on the expedition. "We know that they believe that the "Jupiter Brain" is a Prothean artefact."

"Yes, I'm sure we all are of that. Such as their insistence that each piece of the ship is sanctified by a "Priest of the Enkindlers". No, what I want to talk to you about is this. We, which is to say the Human Systems Alliance, do not believe that anything will be found. At best, the expedition is a waste of money. At worst, it will kill you. By volunteering considerable funds, sending volunteers to help them, conforming to the stupid hanar beliefs and generally being nice to them, we've obtained several important trade concessions. To be frank, your role in the expedition is already complete." The Representative stared into both their eyes in turn. "Essentially, don't get yourself killed down there. If nothing is found in the pre-determined time, don't let the fanatics keep you down there longer. We've had covert talks with turians and their volus clients. Both of them have observers on the mission, appear to be doing it for the same reasons as us, as a second order extrapolation, and would really prefer not to let their observers get killed. They'll back you up."

Dr Pylades looked appalled. "But, Representative, with all due respect, think of the knowledge we could obtain if we found an untouched Prothean gas-giant installation! And if it is a cache of weapons, as others believe…"

"Then we certainly don't want the hanar getting their hands on them!" interjected Major Gong. "Only humanity should, in a perfect world, be able to get such a cache. The strategic implications of the hanar becoming a super-power, as they would, as they have the only military ships in the region, allowing them to secure the weapons… well, they'd be dire." She nods to the Representative. Dr Pylades suddenly got the feeling that this had been a pre-arranged trap.
"They could, and likely would, be stopping any development into the Protheans not overseen by their Priests. The fact that they would have the weapons of the Gods in their hands would bring their religious hardliners into power. And they'd have the force to, hah, force their demands."

"And we could kiss goodbye to any chance of a seat on the Council, as the Council would be left with having to accept the hanar, who'd likely get the chair, as well. We're talking theocratic dictatorship here," added Victoria. "I know this means a lot to you, Alice, but it's for the best. We don't want either a theocratic dictatorship or a galaxy wide war, if on the out chance the Council didn't give in to these theocratic demands.

"This is only a worst case scenario. The HSA believe that there will be nothing found, like all the previous expeditions," added Representative Fox, in a kindly tone of voice. "We just felt that we wouldn't send you down there without a full explanation of the void-political aspects of this venture. Now, go get changed. There's the speeches and ceremonies we have to attend before you depart, and it's our appearance at stake. The Alliance has provided you with a selection of garments, and a stylist."

Alice stood up. "I… I understand, representative. I thought it was just a scientific, research mission. I didn't know any of that." In a more sarcastic tone of voice she continued, "After all, everyone should know that the hanar are actually a religiously fanatical group of crusaders who worship the technology of a long dead race that preceded all sentient life, and if they get the right weapons, would launch a genocidal campaign against humanity. Hah! That kind of thing has never been encountered in real life; only in holo-vids!"

"Just a worst case, just a worst case, doctor," Liam Fox replied. "We don't really believe that it is probable, but it is a VI extrapolation of what happens if the hanar suddenly increase in galactic power."

They watched Dr Pylades march out of the room, her eyes slightly red, as if, with a bit more prompting, she might be made to cry. Then:

"The lock to my room is installed?" Major Gong asked.

"Correct. If someone tries to break in, and find things they shouldn't, then they'll be taking a long fall."

"Good, good. The key is near the drawers?"

"As expected."

"Excellent." Major Gong stood up, and saluted the representative. "I hope that they will not try to break in, but if it is needed, I will use the key. I will be taking a fall with them, to protect the sanctity of our… of my privacy."

Representative Fox stood up. "You're a hero, Major, even if no-one will know. I hope to see you in the medal ceremony. If you don't return, I make sure that your family is honoured." He stroked her hand. "I hope they don't break in to your room. It would be worse for ever one."

"Thank you, sir." Major Gong turned, and headed for the door.

"Oh, yes. Victoria, if I may?"

"Sir?"

"Something in black and purple, for the ceremony, I think. Not too low cut, though, maybe a dual layer bodyglove."

Victoria Gong smiled. "I'll bear that in mind, Representative. Although, I'll note that you should stop doing that. People might start to think that the rumours are true," she added with a coy smile.

"The rumours are just the product of bigotry that should have died away with, hah, with the Koslovians."

"That's not very funny," Major Gong replied, in a reproachful tone of voice.

"Oh, I know. The public would crucify me if they'd heard me say it. Jokes should not be made about a group of neo-Communists taking over Russia."

"Especially since it ended in '23 with the nuking of Moscow and Toyko. Those millions of deaths are not funny."

"It's been over 50 years! Can't a man succumb to a single tasteless joke with the whole galaxy getting him to bend over," replied Liam, in an exasperated tone of voice.

"Now, it's funny you should say that, because bending over, and those rumours… not a good choice of words. I hope we, in the military, will have your support for the next round of budget assignments," added the Major, as she shut the door behind her.

"What! You wouldn't!"

The door remained closed.

"Bitch," muttered the Representative. He was a bit shocked to realise that he now wouldn't mind her dying on the mission.