Hello everyone, sorry for the wait, so I am just going to answer a few reviews then the chapter,
Chris Adair: You are correct but the Imperial have to deal with a Chaos invasion as Cadia is gone so they have bigger fish to fry then a dozen or so pathetic Xenos.
grey: one.) actually so far only the Inquisitor and his retinue, the High Lords, and the Admiralty Board know but the Guardsmen and such know that the higher ups are interested in the Quarians and while causing trouble is a no-no they aren't going out of their way to interact except when necessary, I just haven't shown any casual interactions yet.
2.) There are actual Abhuman and even beastmen regiments in lore, they arfe just not as famous as they are mainly used to supplement Human regiments or for suicidal missions that are not important enough to send the Death Korps.
3.) Are you a Psyker because you kind of nailed it.
Rayven Nightshade: sorry but that is a little overkill but very funny I agree.
A couple of people have asked about Guilliman and my answer is this: he is back up and about but he is probably not going to be in this story as he has to deal with the greater Imperium's problems so he won't really care about this little slice of space most likely.
If someone was to enter the Council Chamber they would have found Tevos ranting and lecturing Sparatus about his actions instead of the calm debate they would have expected to find.
"Thirty officers are in the hospital in critical condition and twelve more are dead Sparatus! We could have dealt with this more peacefully."
Sparatus ignored her as he looked over the reports from the fight on the docks and inside the Quarian vessel.
"We now have people who don't know what is going thinking we declared war against the Migrant Fleet!"
Valern finally spoke,
"That would be harder to do then you think. We have lost them and I believe their new ally has hidden them from us and they were gathering every Pilgrim to keep us from discovering this."
Valern had to admit these Humans were prepared for the worst case scenario. The debacle on the docks showed this as the Humans grabbed weapons immediately and fought them as they tried to escape on the vessel, unfortunately the dock was locked down on Sparatus' order.
The fight was brutal as there was no surrender from the Humans as they fought tooth and nail against C-SEC. The two machine guns they used were escpecially powerful. They had to use large biotic barriers to advance through that and even then they barely made it. Once inside they were meet with flamers and shotguns along with assualt weapons.
On the bridge was the last stand where a Human holding a sword of all things stood with five Humans and seven Quarian crew members. In the end twelve Humans and eighteen Quarians were left alive. The Humans had either been knocked unconscious by biotic attacks or were too wounded to fight any longer while the Quarians had surrendered when it was hopeless to fight any longer.
Tevos sighed as she knew Sparatus wouldn't admit he made a bad move and looked at the report from their analysts. The Human weapons for the most part were pretty unremarkable, magazine loaded chemical propellant rounds. The sword and heavy weapons were shocking though, the guns fired a one hundred caliber round with a solid fuel rocket propellant round with a detonating charge with a depleted uranium core.
The rounds could literally blow holes in makos and blow a Krogan apart. The sword was a marvel of engineering beyond anything the Council Races had ever imagined. The blade when activated had a disruptive field surrounding the blade that when it cut it physically cut through the molecular bonds.
Sadly the blade blew up shortly after they activated the weapon, thus rendering it useless. Valern was not surprised as the video from Abellio showed Humans with laser weapons and the fact they had none here showed they were trying to keep their weapons away from their enemies.
In the next two days after the dock incident the Humans had proven themselves a difficult race to deal with, seven escape attempts and they had attacked three guards.
Tevos wanted to try a Meld with one of the Humans to try and show that the Council was not an enemy but a friend to all new races to the galaxy. So far they were too busy dealing with the media to try.
LLLIIINNNEEE BBBRRREEEAAAKKK
Citadel News
Executor Pallin was trying to calm the public after the events on the dock.
"Executor, is it true that the C-SEC officers fought a new species on the order of Councillor Sparatus in relation to the destruction of the Batarian Slave world of Abellio!"
Pallin was caught off guard by the accurate recounting of events, his silence was all the confirmation needed as reporters pounced on this.
"Yes, we attempted to detain several members of a new species for questioning about the attack on Abellio, unfortunately this resulted in violent confrontation with C-SEC.
We currently have them in custody as the Council attempts to work this out."
A salarian called out,
"Is it true that that there were Quarians involved in the incident? Reports indicate that the captured ship was a refurbished Turian frigate owned by the Migrant Fleet. Is there any evidence to support the possibility of a Quarian invasion into Citadel Space?"
"No, as our analysts have confirmed a Quarian invasion would be too costly for them as they would be fighting with thier entire population on board which would be foolish to say the least."
Pallin answered as many questions as he could but eventually he managed to end the press release.
Soon people on the streets saw a rare sight, the Consort leaving her Chambers and entering the C-SEC offices on the behest of the Council.
She nodded to the Councilors and looked through a window into a hold cell where a single Human was pacing. He stood at about six feet with sandy blonde hair. His uniform was a slate grey with a single white hand print on his left shoulder guard.
"You wish me to Meld with this man correct, Councillors?"
At thier nod she entered the cell with two officers. She stepped towards him only for him to step back and tense. She slowly raised her hands into plain sight and free closer.
She put her hands on his head and whispered,
"Embrace Eternity."
Her first thought was of a maelstrom as she could see his mind as a sea of thoughts. She touched a memory to see a far younger version surviving in the depths of a Hive City.
The term suddenly made her see an image of what at first seemed like a massive mountain when she noticed it was actually a city built upward instead of outward.
Suddenly inside it she marveled at the construction but shivered at the architecture, it was dark and forbodding. She saw civilians scurrying in the streets.
She was thrown from the memory to another, this time he was wearing a uniform and carrying a rifle. She looked at the mass of soldiers marching in formation singing and the term Imperial Guard came to mind. She realized it was a full army marching off to be deployed.
She saw battlefields of a dozen wars and they terrified her, she could see where he had marched past the bodies of men he had been playing cards with not days before without a care.
Going through cities vandalized by symbols and marks that made her feel ill just to look at as they past macabre idols built from torn apart bodies.
She then fell into a memory that held deep meaning to him.
~Memory~
Jared stood in a trench with nine other troopers as they fired at the endless waves of the Tyranid advance as artillery shells were raining down and Hydras fired upon the Gargoyles and Harpies flying overhead in dogfights with Vendettas.
He noticed the heavy Bolter behind them stopped firing and he took a quick look, seeing the gunners dead he yelled out,
"Mitch, Davies, get to the heavy Bolter quickly we need it of we are going to live!"
Thier company had been deployed to this mountain pass to hold back the swarming Xenos so the three hive cities could evacuate. They had been nearly constantly fighting for days with few breaks in between attacks.
They were slowly pushed back until they were holding the line in a forward base that had been hastily fortified. The next two weeks were harrowing but then a call come over the vox,
"This is Inquisitor Tiberius of the Ordos Xenos, hold on reinforcements are on their way."
Cheers rang out as Maurader heavy bombers came from the skies and Valkyries landed alongside larger transports with fresh troops and armor.
After the fighting was over the three thousand strong company was reduced to six hundred men and the remnants of various armor groups. The Inquisitior was impressed with the show and had them put under his command as his personal troops.
~Memory~
Sha'ira was both amazed and shocked at the way these people waged war as it was worse then even the Krogan Rebellions and Rachni War combined.
The Inquisitior was a powerful man, she could tell as he pulled strings to rearm and equip his new troops. She was suddenly thrown not just from his memory but his mind as well.
She stumbled back as the Human tried to attack her but he was caught by the two guards as he screamed at her.
She left the room quickly. The guards returned him to the cells. Sha'ira found the Council in thier Chambers discussing other things.
"You need to let them go or you will bring a war upon us more devastating then the Rachni did."
Tevos looked at her and was about to answer her when an alarm went off.
"Councillors, we are getting readings coming from the edge of the nebula. They are unlike anything we have on record!"
LLLIIINNNEEE BBBRRREEEAAAKKK
Two days ago
Tiberius was reading a report on what had happened at Cadia and the resurrection of Roburte Guilliman when Admiral Zorah came into his office.
"The Citadel ship has not returned plus Citadel News is going crazy about a new species being arrested with Quarians."
Tiberius looked up at that as he didn't need a war with those upstart Xenos.
"Take some men and retrieve the prisoners from the Citadel, I will have a emissary go with you."
As Rael turned to leave Tiberius call out,
"Take the Dominator class Cruiser The Imperium's Shield and some escorts. Ensure this "Council" understands how out classed they are."
He left towards the space port while making a call home. He received an answer quickly,
"Hello? Oh honey I am glad to see you and I am sure Tali will be too."
Zato'Zorah said as she bounced thier three year old daughter trying to feed her. Tali laughed at reached for the video image of her father.
Rael smiled and waved at her causing more giggles before he looked at his wife.
"I was calling to tell you I have to go to the Citadel so I will be gone a couple days. I love you both."
Closing the video call he looked at the new Quarian Fleet, it was an incredible sight. Hundreds of vessels were now made into mining fleets mainly consisting of freighters and mining ships sent to mine asteroids and the like.
Most of the fleet had been too old and worn out to repair so they were smelted down and used to repair the rest. The frigates and destroyers had been turned into Defense Monitors while the Cruisers had most of their unnecessary components removed and converted into a mobile heavy Macro-cannon platform.
The biggest change was the Live ships themselves, their main guns were replaced by two Lance batteries and were equipped with three plasma Macro-cannons on each broadside. The defense was increased by a half foot of adamantine armor along with a void shield generator.
The Imperium's Shield was a powerful vessel that had been painted black to show the crew's mourning of their lost home world Cadia.
Rael's shuttle landed in the main hangar and as he exited the craft a human woman came forward and greeted him,
"Greetings Admiral Rael'Zorah, I am Inquisitorial Representative Chrina Anolla. If you will follow me."
Ten minutes later they reached the bridge to meet Captain Miranda Keyes. She was barking out orders aand checking reports before they left. Noticing the new arrivals on the bridge she stood and walked over, data ports and other implants disconnecting from her back as she stood.
She walked with a grace that caused a few to whisper that she had Eldar ancestry but if she heard anyone dare say that she would make them clean an entire deck with a single small scrub. Her hatred of the manipulative race came from her family being tortured to death by Dark Eldar.
"We will be leaving in an hour so I can have you escorted to your rooms so you can rest. Sailor, escort our guests to thier rooms."
Later the great vessel tore a hole in reality to a place of unending mind rending insanity. The crew prepared for combat as they prayed that the Gellar field will hold.
LLLIIINNNEEE BBBRRREEEAAAKKK
Captain Alasia of the Citadel Defense Fleet was nervous as the strange reading rose when what appeared to be a rip in reality opened. The hole made her skin crawl as she looked at it, she swore she heard voices calling and screaming at the edge of her hearing.
Three ships glided out as they entered reality again. The first was as black as the void around it, only the golden symbols embossed upon it and the nebula around showing it, the four point three kilometer vessel defiant before the Citadel along side the two escort prowling slight below it.
A hail was coming from the largest vessel,
"I am Representative Chrina Anolla of His Holy Order of the Inquisition. I have come for the Imperial Citizens you are holding prisoner upon this station."
Alasia wasn't sure what to about this, never had a new species come to the Citadel before Asari diplomats had smoothed things over. Luckily for her Councillor Tevos answered the hail herself.
"I am Councillor Tevos and I would like to apologise for the unfortunate event that caused this to be necessary. I would also like to welcome you to the Citadel on behalf of the Citadel Council and it's associate races."
There was a long pause then Representative Chrina said she was coming onto the Citadel with a security team. Forty minutes later a Thunderhawk Transport screamed through the void escorted by six Lightning Air superiority fighters, on board was Representative Chrina, Admiral Rael'Zorah, a ten man team of Tempestus Scions, four Quarian Marines, and a Bald man in robes carrying a staff.
The man had tattoos inked across nearly every inch of flesh in intricate swirling patterns. This man was Primaris Psyker Ezekiel. He was coming as a trump card for Chrina as these Xenos had no knowledge of Psykers or their abilities.
The Thunderhawk landed in a crowded docking bay close to the Presidium Tower as it's four twin-linked Heavy Bolters swept the bay for threats. The main ramp lowered as the Scions ran down it and took up defensive positions around it. Reporters and civilians crowded the entrance to the bay trying to get a look at the new arrivals. Chrina seemed to glide down the ramp dressed in a flowing kimono-like robe embroidered with an Imperial Aquila and flowing flowery lines across it.
While beautiful the dress also had threads of Ceramite and Adamantium woven in with the silk along with a powerful Conversion shield emitter. She walked forward with her head high and an uncaring look upon her face with Ezekiel and Rael just behind her. Stopping before Pallin she spoke clearly and calmly,
"I have come for the Imperial Citizens being held here. Turn them over to me and we will take our leave."
That got some mutters from the crowd as they watched with baited breath. Pallin nodded but said,
"The Council was hoping to speak with you before you go Representative. We can have the Humans brought to this bay with their returned valuables while you speak with the Council."
Chrina gives him a look for a moment, as if it would be worth it to speak with the Council or just kill him and leave, but relented and nodded. She spoke with an almost put upon air, as if it was a dreadful task,
"Very well, I will speak to this Council. As for my people I requested all Imperial citizens which includes the Quarian peoples under the Treaty of Unification written and signed by both the High Lords of Holy Terra and the Admiralty Board."
This was a shock to everyone as no one could see any reason to ally with the Quarians since they were kicked off the Citadel. Pallin was just as shocked but nodded and had a message sent to bring the Quarians as well. Chrina nodded and followed him escorted by four Scions.
She noticed Ezekiel was whispering to himself and looking around him. She whispered to him,
"Are you alright Ezekiel, you looked ill?"
"There are imprints of unknown Xenos everywhere, almost all of them screaming in pain. I can sense untold numbers of these echos, such pain they have left a lasting impression upon the very ground we walk upon. It is very disorienting, Milady."
She nods and continues as the Scions tensed up at the thought of Warp entities around even if they are just echos.
Pallin over heard them but didn't understand what they meant but made a note to tell the Council. They reached the Presidium after a twenty minute tour during which Chrina grew more irritated.
As they went up the steps in front the Scions stood at their back turning the stairs into a killzone. Chrina stood tall before the Council with a serene look upon her face hiding her disgust and hate from them.
Tevos spoke first and said warmly,
"I wish to welcome you to the Citadel Representative and I hope our people will prosper together."
"I must apologise for my associate's rather rash action to your people on the Citadel. He was just alarmed by the events on Abellio and wanted to ensure our planets were safe."
Chrina surprised them by asking what planet was Abellio. Rael answered her.
"The Slavers planet Lord Inquisitor Tiberius invaded and then blew up, Milady."
She nodded at him and turned back to the Council,
"We do not care about your reasons. I am just taking back what is ours and leaving. I have no wish nor need to deal with you."
This stumped Everyone listening as no one had ever just dismissed the Council before, not even the Krogan.
Valern was the first to speak after that shock,
"Surely you do not mean that as a young race there is much we can teach you. We noticed you didn't have any Eezo readings on your gear nor kinetic barriers. We have better technologies you could learn of."
Rael flinched as he knew that Chrina would not take that well. Chrina drew up and sneered at them.
"You dare look down on us, Xeno!? The Imperium of Mankind has stood for forty two millennium against many enemies so do not think you have anything we could not learn from the Quarian peoples."
Sparatus scoffed,
"The Suit Rats aren't worth anything as their so called fleet is a crumbling mass of wrecks cobbled together into ships."
Tevos, who had been thrown for a loop at the age of the Imperium tried to calm things down as she tried to get Chrina to see the benefits of joining under the Citadel's leadership.
"There is no need for this to descend into a fight. You must have seen the beauty of the Citadel, it is a shining beacon of the galaxy. Surely you would like to be apart of this."
"This so called beacon is nothing more then a graveyard of screaming souls and a Emperor damned Xeno construct."
Seeing she wouldn't listen to them she tried to appeal to Rael, but when she looked at him Rael just shook his head no.
"You won't change her mind as it is the decree of the High Lords and they hold no love to Xenos. Honestly we we're lucky as we are useful to them."
Chrina nodded and spoke with a relaxed candor,
"If they hadn't been we would most likely have ignored them or if needed killed them all. Although recent findings have shown a likely genetic relationship between the Quarians and Humans. Proving them to either be an ancient Human genetic project or genetically modified Humans."
With that Chrina turned and without a care from the Council started to leave the Chamber but paused for a moment, calling over her shoulder,
"Ah yes, before I forget, stay out of Imperial space or die."
With that she continued out. Outside a shuttle was sitting to take them back to the bay. As they headed back an Asari guard who was riding with them kept glancing at Chrina, amazed at the similarities between Human women and Asari.
Suddenly Ezekiel siezed up and yelled,
"Look out!"
A missile struck the shuttle causing it to crash on the Presidium. Chrina shook her head and pulled out a pistol as bullets impacted the shuttle's hull.
Dozens of Xenos in black armor were attempting to rush the downed shuttle when Ezekiel stood.
"Be damned to the depths of the Warp, Xenos!"
He thrust an arm forward sending a torrent of fire from his hand burning everything it touched. Chrina fired her Hot-Shot Laspistol at one of the burning Xenos while also activating her teleport homing beacon.
FLASH
Where there was nothing now stood three large black armored figures. Kill Team Ovarius stood ready to kill.
Watch Sergeant Ovarius stood in the middle wielding a Xenophase Blade and Deathwatch Shotgun as well as an Auspex upon his shoulder showing the surroundings in great detail. Veteran Damian held a storm Bolter and power sword while Veteran Gregory carried a Deathwatch Frag Cannon and a Power Fist.
"Suffer Not the Xeno to Live."
The Aliens fired upon them only to find their weapons less effective then they hoped. The Veterans withstood the fire and then replied with thier own weapons.
Ovarius sliced through a Turian with his Xenophase Blade and blasted half of a Salarian away with his shotgun. Damian chopped an arm off an Asari while shooting his Storm Bolter at a Krogan.
Gregory blew up a cluster of Vorcha while crushing a Turian's chest in his power fist. Ezekiel threw fireballs as the Scions fired thier Hot-Shot Lasguns.
The Asari guard was calling for support but couldn't reach anybody as she fired her pistol over the wreckage at any enemy she could see.
Finally C-Sec Mantis gunships arrived on scene and the attackers started to flee. Ovarius however had a Turian by his neck dragging him to Chrina, throwing him at her feet. She looked at him with disgust as he was not looking well, burns covered him except for his missing arm and the blown off hip.
"Who do you work for Xeno, tell me and I will grant you the Emperor's Mercy, don't and I will see how much of I can cut off before you die."
To the shock of the C-Sec nearby, her voice sounded as if she was talking about the weather instead of torture. The Turian could barely talk but managed to say,
"The Shadow Broker hir...,"
Before he started to choke as foam came from his mouth and his body seized. Chrina looked on as he died before her, some kind of poison was evident in his death. She shrugged and turned to Ovarius and inclined her head in thanks.
"Thank you Watch Sergeant, I am in your debt. Now will you do me the honor of escorting me to the Thunder Hawk?"
"Of course, Milady. My squad would be honored to escort you."
The deep bass voice softly said as he feel instep with her. The short trip was mostly uneventful as most traffic was diverted away from their route. The Docking Bay was a mess with xeno bodies being pulled out by grim C-Sec officers while the Scion guard stood stiffly on the lookout for any more hostiles aiming to try again.
They left quickly after getting aboard, the Council watching from their private chambers while reading what little Sha'ira had been able to glean from the Human's mind. The wars that made their's seem like playground scuffles, the enemies that were far beyond them in might, and the idea of the Imperial's being led by a millennia old half-dead corpse shook their view on the galaxy.
Sparatus of course was arguing for more military spending which Tevos sadly knew was needed as she doubted any of these races would listen to what was essentially the new kids on the block. Valern was for trying to find out more about these races but due to their far different method of travel not dependant on the Relays they had no idea how.
Tevos worried about the future of the galaxy as she knew that a time would come for them to enter this harsh new playing field and they would likely be behind the rest. Little did she know that they were being brought into events far grander then even the Asari could plan.
LLLIIINNNEEE BBBRRREEEAAAKKK!
"Amazing, the Imperials didn't immediately start a new war."
A shadowy figure said as they watched the events from afar. Another figure nodded but had a different opinion.
"They are not mindless savages brother. They have more pressing enemies to face but we must insure they stay in contact with this region of space, the Harvesters shall return from their fifty thousand year slumber. They are getting ever closer to discovering some of our few colonies. We must ensure they don't."
They watched as the Imperial left the Citadel, a dazzling trap sitting their drawing in the unsuspecting like a beacon luring them to their death. Sadly an untold number of species fell for this trap during the millennia but soon the puppeteers will have a target that will not crumble before them like all the others have.
"The mon-keigh will end this threat to our people but make sure they do not suspect us for causing the gap in those "Turians" patrol or for getting those pirates to attack the Imperial world. We do not need them attacking us in retaliation."
End Chapter
Now things get interesting, someone is setting up events for their benefit, most Warhammer 40k fans know who I am talking about. Now we will have the Imperials getting settled to exploit this new sector for all it's worth.
Now an Omake for Rayven Nightshade as I found his idea to be hilarious.
Chrina stood surrounded by C-Sec officers at the order of the Council and she just smiled and in a flash of light a massive machine stood between her and the officers. This mighty 3.7 meter tall Venerable Dreadnought wielded a power fist with built in heavy flamer and an assault cannon.
The officers stood in stark terror as the reality of the situation took such a turn it that bad luck basically took the situation and raped it then burned it alive as the Dreadnought gave a mighty war cry that shook the ground beneath them.
"IN THE EMPEROR"S NAME, LET NONE SURVIVE!"
He charged the thirty or so officers firing the assault cannon at them while shooting out flames burning several while more were blown apart. Hitting the group like a freight train seven died before he even stopped. Grabbing one with the power fist he squeezed slowly and caused the body to explode sending gore flying.
An Asari sent a Thorw at the rampaging machine only to be surprised as the attack did nothing to the behemoth, only making him turn to her and bathe her in cleansing fire. She screamed at the intense heat as small arms fire pinged against Adamantium plates while he continued to crush xenos or even just continue forward and step on them.
A Krogan caught the power fist and caused a brief tug of war before the power field flared ripping his arms apart at the molecular level. Two rockets impacted the Dreadnought only to have nothing to show for it except some smudged dents.
Cursing their luck a couple tried to run for it only to be shot in the back by the assault cannon. Reinforcements arrived only to find a field of dead bodies and torn apart walls and floor. Gore laid upon the floor and dripped from rips in the walls. One Turian was literally embedded into the wall nearby.
By the time they had caught up, Chrina was already back aboard the Thunder Hawk with the Dreadnought. The horrifying events were broadcast on the Citadel News that night as the most bloody one sided battle in Citadel history, when asked to comment the Imperials said that is was just a regular Tuesday to them.
End Omake