Chapter 9: Response

This is Citadel news net with breaking news. The Human Systems Alliance have sent the 63rd scout flotilla into the Terminus Systems to aid former Alliance commander Hazel Shepard, who in the past six months claimed Omega station and has started a major campaign in the Terminus. This comes one week after a failed attempt by Hegemony forces to capture Omega.

In related news the quarian Admiralty Board have declared war against the Batarian Hegemony for the destruction of the carrier Ulnay and the death of Admiral Tali Zorah vas Normandy. The geth have also begun to mobilize into batarian space and reports also say that the geth and Commander Shepard have come to an aid agreement in her expansion into the Terminus systems.

The Citadel Council has remained silent on this matter and councilor Feldmen a critic of Commander Shepard has declined to comment. Citadel news net will keep covering this breaking story.

"This is an outrage!" A holo of the batarian ambassador yelled. "The council would step if human colonies were being attacked!" The ambassador shouted.

"Shepard's mercenaries have only attacked slavers, pirates and Hegemony space stations that participated in these illegal activities." Marus Kiprol the asari councilor said dismissively.

"You can't just ignore Shepard and her military activities in the Terminus, I demand action!" The batarian ambassador bellowed.

"You don't get to make demands of the council ambassador!" Salorus Vasonus, the turian councilor growled.

"The council cannot act against Shepard in the Terminus systems, she is out of our jurisdiction and her act of vigilantism is a mundane problem that the Hegemony must deal with alone." Kendal Zeddik, the salarian councilor replied.

"But she has instigated a war with the geth and the quarians!" The ambassador protested.

"When the Hegemony attacked Omega against our wishes and one of the casualties was an Admiral of the quarian people, they clearly showed their disregard for Council policy." The asari councilor said.

"Screw policy, Shepard needs to be dealt with!" The irate ambassador yelled.

"The Council is currently in formal diplomatic talks with Omega and cannot risk our acting against them to cause another unneeded war." Human councilor Feldman sighed.

"You're all cowards!" the batarian shouted. "All of you are afraid of Shepard and my people will not allow her to continue with this aggression!" The ambassador bellowed before he cut connection.

"Great… five years in rebuilding relations with the Hegemony down the drain!" Councilor Feldmen thought out loud. "I hope you are all happy!"

"They are responsible for the death of a thousand quarians and the death of an icon." The turian councilor growled. "They deserve no less then what the quarians and the geth give them."

"Feldmen we learned of your actions from Shepard!" The asari councilor snapped. "Sending Liara T'Soni to Omega and dispatching a squad of specters to kill Shepard, behind our backs!"

"Shepard is a menace, a relic of the 2180's!" Feldmen barked. "She killed the original council and now has intentions on taking over the Terminus systems!"

"Yes and because of your previous actions you have put us in a weaker position!" The salarian councilor retorted. "Did you know she killed those three specters?"

"No I didn't." Feldmen mumbled.

"The deployment of the specters can be seen as an act of war and you are lucky that Shepard didn't take it as such!" The asari councilor snapped. "Your obsession with seeing Shepard as an enemy has already cost us enough!"

"Councilor we are leaving you out of all diplomatic talks with Shepard and the council has already voted on giving her aid in her attempt to settle the Terminus systems." The salarian councilor said indignantly.

"You can't keep me out I rebuilt this council!" Feldmen yelled.

"You're out Feldmen!" The other three councilors Shouted.

Feldmen stomped out of the council chamber fuming. He had ree

stablished the "old" council from the human dominated one that took over in 2183 and now the very people that he put on the council have betrayed him. Shepard was a menace many times more dangerous than Saren or even the reapers, Feldmen believed. He had to do something about her and not even his resources as a councilor would be enough to get rid of Shepard.

"I take it the meeting didn't go well?" A women's voice asked as Feldmen walked into his office.

"No it didn't." He replied.

"So you've requested our help and what would that be?" The women asked.

"If Shepard takes control over the Terminus Systems, the entire galaxy will be in danger." Feldmen said slamming his fist into his desk. "I cannot allow that to happen."

"Shepard is a hero to humanity and is trying to take over and stabilize the most unstable region in the galaxy." The women replied. "Why should we help you?"

"I know how Shepard thinks." Feldmen said, lighting a cigarette. "Once she's taken over the Terminus she'll start by destroying people and organizations she believes are a threat." He exhaled. "I know you of all people know what she's capable of."

The women looked at the man in front of her in disgust. She'd been ordered to speak with the councilor, but didn't know of his obsession with Shepard. "What do you want?" She asked giving the councilor a glare.

"I want Shepard a corpse!" He shouted, with a wild look in his eye. "I want her very being erased from memory!"

"Would you like you're Shepard shaken or stirred?" The women asked comically, with a grin on her face.

"I'm serious!" He shouted. "She needs to die!"

"Oh I'm very serious councilor." She snapped "But if we accept this and if we fail, Shepard won't stop until she's killed us all…including you."

"Then that's a risk for the sake of the galaxy I'm willing to take." Feldmen replied.

"I'll give this information to my superior and he will notify you if he accepts." She answered, walking out of the councilor's office.

"That's all I ask…and have a good day miss Lawson." Feldmen said with an evil grin on his face.

End.

AN/ This is the last chapter for awhile that we hear from the council, It's all Shepard from this point. And please review, constructive criticism is welcome or if you just want to comment on how the story is going.