Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 4: Coup de grâce
July/19th/2158
Location: Aucturus Station/Alliance Parliament-"In Session"
The large Circular room was filled from General's to the Civilian sector of Senators. The Situation inside the room was chaotic of names and slurs being thrown at one another. Zachev's "accidental" Death left a huge power vacuum in the System Alliance Government, Zachev was highly influential and a great leader. Unfortunately because of his death the Materson has stepped up to the plate hoping to ease tensions and make peace with Citadel Space. Senator Udina however along with most of the Parliament was furious of Materson "Kowtowing" to the Council. Udina stepped up from his chair ready to explode on the matter.
"Materson have you lost your mind?! We just came in to contact with a hostile race and you're asking us to destroy our fleet."
Members of the board from different parties jumped up from their chairs either to support the outburst or go against it. Jao Nemir of the Terra Firma Platform was the first one to shout down his fellow senators speaking out against Udina.
"We helped form the System Alliance, we bled for it, fought for it!... and now you want to bow down to this Alien Council, I, nor my party will not accept this!"
Quick as the outburst the Liberal party was quick to rebuttal.
"The Council has offered colony rights and resources for the Ships we decommission, we can spread humanity through the stars peacefully."
However this got the attention from Senator Maximus of a Conservative party from Shanxi.
"Peacefully my ass, you weren't there at Shanxi, the Turians Executed our Civilians in COLD BLOOD! MY SON DIED AT THE BATTLE OF Sal Wits, where General Williams Surrendered on SPOT!"
Materson was sweating like crazy, the parliament was divided and attacking each other like a pair of Jackals.
"ORDER, ORDER! I WILL HAVE ORDER in the Parliament!"
Some of the Members ignored Materson, while some barley took notice to his Command.
Admiral Grissom stood from his Chair and Spoke out.
"Materson Decommissioning our fleet is too much to ask, I don't care what the Council says to us, they're not in charge, I think my fellow Admirals hear speak out against the decommissioning of our fleet."
Udina nodded at Grissom and turned his attention towards Materson.
"Sure they promise us Colony rights, but what's to stop them from attacking us when we have no fleets to defend our territory?"
Jao spoke out to bolster Udina's Points.
"We will not be slaves to this Citadel Council; the System Alliance must stand alone, economically and militarily."
Lisa Talerson of the Democratic household spoke out against Jao.
"So you have us wage war against the whole galaxy."
Jao's face turned red at that comment.
"I didn't say that you Treasonous BITCH!"
Operative "Silver Tounge" AKA. Krant was not amused of the situation; this room was a powder keg ready to explode.
"Materson, Zachev wouldn't let this happen, and you know it. Zachev would've led the Systems Alliance…. Humanity to a brighter future, but what you're saying is nothing short of madness you're asking us to bow down to a foreign power regardless of their species they're going to take advantage of us, if we give in to their demands."
Materson just glared right at Krant.
"Zachev… is not here anymore, nor is he in charge…. I am. "
Grissom replied to Materson with a Grim Look on his face.
"Materson….."
Materson stepped up from his chair and towards the Podium, to address the System Alliance.
"As of Today I am enacting Emergency Power, over the Parliament. All System Alliance Civilian Fleets are to be disarmed and refitted for proper civilian use; The System Alliance Military Fleet will decommission over 95% of our Dreadnaughts. All Turian Colonies will be returned to the Hierarchy, the System Alliance Currency will Forfeit, so we may you Galactic Currency, 60% of our Military bases across the Colonies will decommission. Our Ship yards will stop the production of Dreadnaughts and be scrapped for Civilian Stations. The Enactment of the Demilitarization of the Alliance will be a step forward. This will be done in the Name of Peace, for Galactic Good Will."
A series of nay's and no's could be heard and echoed throughout the Alliance Parliament. A senator yelled out against the Enactment.
"YOU'RE GOING TO KILL US ALL!"
In instant Krant along with the Admirals and 60% of the Parliament left the building quickly fuming with anger.
Admiral Grissom is approached by Rear Admiral Hackett.
"What now John?"
Still walking to his Dreadnaught he quickly looked at Hackett with a concerned look on his face.
"We'll rendezvous at Earth; I called all of the admirals there for a meeting along with the sympathetic senators."
Before Grissom and Hackett reached the Shuttle bay they were approached by Senator Udina.
"John, did you hear about the situation on Earth and Her Colonies?"
Grissom arched his brow with a confused expression.
"Now What?"
"Mass Rioting, Demands for Impeachment, Calls for arrests. This is progressing faster that we'd expected. The people are even going far enough, to call the military and demand a Coup' attempt."
"Shit…"
Udina stepped infront of the two.
"John…. Is that even possible, I mean you have the power to enact it, but…."
"In history Military Coup's are never in laws of the Nations, but they step up to secure the Government from self-inflicting destruction on its own people."
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Several Weeks throughout the System Alliance, both Civilians and Military Officials began protesting against the Enactment made by Prime Minister Materson, Civil Unrest hit the System Alliance with several fleets blockading the Aucturus station, Cerberus joined the fray to help the Coup attempt, as the Pro-Human Organization gained the influence of most of the parliament's members. Siege of the Station lasted for three hours before a Troop Carrier connected to the station and made an arrest on Prime Minister Materson for High treason against the System Alliance.
The System Alliance now was without leadership, and the power vacuum was now larger, to tie it up the Alliance Officials who did the Coup attempt against Matterson and his board members, reformed the System Alliance Government and gave it an Alliance Council, instead of a Prime Minister. Military Members would have to enact laws, only agreed to and passed by the majority of the Parliament.
Days later Unrest completely grinded to a halt and production picked up. Senator Donnel Udina was chosen to become an ambassador to the Citadel Council, to engage on Alliance Terms.
November/31st/2158
Location: Citadel/Presidium/Council Chambers "In Session"
The Council heard about the Alliance Coup attempt and realized that Prime Minister Materson was removed from power, effectively destroying any hope of the Alliance decommissioning any of their Ships. Tevo's was however impressed how this species reformed their government this fast.
"Ambassador, we welcome you to the Citadel on the System Alliance request, to open up negotiations."
"Council the Alliance would like to come to a compromise on the Negotiations referring to the Turian Colonies and the System Alliance Future Presence in the Galaxy."
Tevos smiled and thought to herself maybe this will turn out for the best, maybe we can work with this government.
"First of all 60% of the Turian Colonies will be returned, final say on that matter, the System Alliance will place a Embassy here but we will not integrate with Citadel Space, leaving our Fleets and Military Technology unmolested by Citadel Influence."
The Council was shocked no one in Galactic History had denied integration to Citadel Space.
"Your denying an invitation to the Citadel?"
"Yes we will remain a sovereign nation"
"Ambassador surely you could reconsider think of what we can learn from each other, all the accomplishments Humanity and Citadel Space could make. The Citadel guides Species for the Greater good, so they may join the Council."
"I'm sure we'll manage, we reviewed your History from your Codex, all I can say, is it scares Humanity with your leadership."
Sparatus was the one to speak up against Ambassador Udina.
"What do you mean?"
"Well for starters the Rachni War, you uplifted a species to save the Citadel Space from the Rachni Menace, and to thank them you neuter their entire species."
"The Krogans were barbarians with nothing to quell their hunger for war; they had to be put down!"
"So you infect them with a Sterility virus and demilitarize them?"
Tevo's decided to change the subject.
"Anything else Ambassador that concerns your species?"
"Numerous but I will name the core basics. Here's another one the Quarians, three Hundred years ago they too were nearing a seat on the Council, but when they were developing V.I. machines they started to gain sentience. They lost their home world and colonies and ask for help and what do you do? You Exile them from the Galactic Community."
Once Again Sparatus intervened.
"The Quarians are being punished for unleashing the Geth on the Galactic community; they will continue to live amongst the stars until they defeat the Geth."
Udina was now annoyed for his arrogance.
"So you punish the Ancestors Children? The people who made the Geth are long gone, their species is dying and you feel content of not doing anything, not even help them with a colony…. To add to that are Geth attacking? No they haven't attacked anyone but the Quarians."
"You wouldn't understand Human!"
"Having the Turians protect the client species of the Citadel did a wonderful job at attacking the victim of that war."
Tevo's quickly intervened to stop the argument.
"Gentlemen please, we're not here to argue the past. Ambassador is there anything else?"
"Yes being a part of the Citadel Space makes other species become reliant on you, and the System Alliance does not want that, in good faith we will have an embassy here, and enact certain trade agreements, does that sound fair."
The Councilors looked at Udina and agreed with uncertain look.
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May/1st/2174
Location: Horse Head Nebula/Cronos Station (In Progress)
The Director gazes outside of the Observatory, into the endless space in prescenes of a Dying Star. The Director is approached by the "Messenger"
"Director, you called?"
"Yes…. Humanity has been expanding mostly in the Attican Traverse, it's quite funny how the Council awards the Alliance Colony rights that contradicts with the Batarian Hegemony."
"You think they wanted a war between us."
"There you go, they want to observe the Strength of Humanity."
"The Skillian Blitz is over… Jack saved the Elysium, and pushed them off Torfan."
The Director puts out his cigarette, and turns his attention away from the Super Nova.
"How's the Situation on Khar' Shan?"
"The Hegemony leaders fled the planet and headed towards the Terminus."
"The Hegemony's territory will bolster Humanity's presence in the Galaxy."
"Yeah that won't stop the Citadel, calling the Human race-"
"I know, what they think of Humanity, and I care none for it."
"Sir I also have reports the SSV Geneva was stolen from an Alliance Ship Yard."
The Director rasied his left brow and stood up from his chair.
"What did it have on it?"
The "Messenger" looked at the OSD pad.
"Antimatter."
"Find it."