Chapter 16: A solution to the Shepard problem.
This is Alliance news wire with breaking news. The geth and quarians have pulled out of defense commitments, with the Terminus Alliance. This comes weeks after the council's disappearance and invasion of the Systems Alliance colony of Aite. This may confirm rumors of a divide in Shepard's army.
In the week following the council's assassination, Councilor Blare Feldmen called in a state of emergency for Council space and stretched the Citadel fleet to blockade every mass relay to the Terminus systems. He is currently meeting with council representatives in the council chamber, to discuss a form of action.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice." Feldmen greeted.
"Why did you call this meeting human?" The turian rep growled. "We have enough problems without you instigating a war with Shepard!"
"Had my colleagues heeded my warnings they'd still be alive today." Feldmen calmly answered.
"True enough but what is the point of this meeting?" The asari rep asked.
Feldmen exhaled heavily. "We are on the verge of a galactic crisis!" Feldmen shouted, clenching his fist. "The Citadel fleet is still being rebuilt and we all know we can't fight Shepard and her army!"
"No!" The turian yelled. "The Turian Hierarchy…"
"Is rebuilding its fleet and struggling to maintain order on its colonies!" Feldmen interrupted. "The Asari Republic and the Salarian Union aren't in a much better position either." He added.
"The councilor is right." The asari rep conceded. "We're all still recovering from the Reaper conflict and a full scale war with the Terminus would be a massacre."
"What are you saying?" The salarian asked suspiciously.
"The galaxy needs real leadership; we can't afford to ignore threats like the old council and my colleagues did!" Feldmen shouted. "Humanity at this point in time has the largest fleet in the galaxy!"
"You are suggesting we hand humanity the council?" The salrian rep questioned.
"Yes I am." Feldmen answered. "We cannot ignore Shepard like the old council did with Saren and the Reapers."
"Why the sudden change of heart Feldmen?" The asari questioned. "It was you that dismantled the human council in the first place."
"I disagreed with the manner in which we gained the council, but not our results." He answered. "A human council kept order in the days after the siege of the Citadel; we dropped crime in the Wards."
"And it was a human council that defeated the Reapers!" he continued.
"Shepard threatens the peace we've achieved in the last ten years and it will take a human council to stop her!" Feldmen proclaimed. "Humanity knows the sacrifices we must make to survive, the question is do you!"
The asari rep. looked nervously at the human in front of her. "We'll need to…discuss…"
"We don't have time to talk!" Feldmen interrupted. "We need action and we need it now, if we're going to win against Shepard!"
The representatives looked at each other intensly, as if they were reading each other's minds. They knew everything Feldmen said was true. If Shepard attacked they would be helpless, they needed humanity.
"The human…is right." The turian rep said uneasily.
"The turian Hierarchy will make any fleet and troop commitments, which it is asked of." The turian mumbled.
"And the STG will forward any relevant data on Shepard's fleet movements and activities in the Terminus Sytems." The salarian conceded.
Feldmen sighed in relief. "I appreciate you're sacrifices that you've both made for the galaxy."
The other two reps look at the asari. "I can't believe you two!" She yelled. "He's playing off of our fears and your all letting him!"
"I can assure you this is only temporary." Feldmen explained. "If we don't do this we will be crushed by Shepard and do you think a galaxy under her will be any better?"
"Feldmen how long is temporary?" She questioned. "How do I know you aren't establishing some kind of dictatorship?"
The asari looked back at her fellow representatives, who were quiet the entire time. "You two can do what you want!" She yelled storming out of the council chamber. "But the asari will have nothing to do with this new council!"
End.