Thessia
Parnitha System
Matriarch Benezia
I've attached to this letter my report on what we've managed to learn so far on the Humans and some of what the other Council members think. While they seem violent, based on our first contact with them, I believe that these people are not another Krogan. The very fact that they roam the stars suggests that they are not nearly as violent, not to mention the fact that they achieved so much in terms of technology. I'm sure that they have much to offer in music, arts, philosophy, culture, all of which they must have. Surely for them to be so advanced, these people must have an equally long history, one where they have learned and created many wondrous items. A little Asari wisdom, and I believe that these people could be a beacon of light in our dark galaxy, just like us Asari. I think, that in time, we can be good friends with these Humans.
Councillor Tevos
The Council of Matriarchs was not something that happened everyday, thought Matriarch Benezia as she slowly approached the Council chambers. The last time a Council happened was during the Geth uprising against the Quarians. They had agreed, by only a shallow margin, that the Quarians broke the law, and thus should pay for their actions. The Council was for decisions that not everyone should be privy to, at least at first. This was one of the few times not everything was openly released onto the intranet debates. Something like this required the… wisdom of their elders.
Still, as Benezia, moved forward into the chambers and took her seat near the front, she couldn't help but feel that, despite the centuries of Asari benevolently guiding civilization in the galaxy, a great wind of change was approaching. Maybe the Asari wouldn't be so passive with the arrival of the Humans. Maybe more Commandoes would be trained, to take a more… active part of guiding this civilization toward peace and stability, a safer place for young Liara.
"Fellow Matriarchs," spoke Matriarch Aenia, one of the more moderate Matriarchs around. "We've gathered here today to discuss the discovery of a new civilization, one that is even more advanced than we are. Humans. As I'm sure you've all read in the reports from both Tevos and Captain T'Loni, these Humans have managed to create their own form of FTL through wormhole generation, energy weapons and shielding, as well as superbly hard armor without any any use of the Mass Effect. That is only the very tip of the iceberg. We aren't sure of the computing capabilities or even what they would consider civilian technology. Mere miners managed to cripple the Gladius, a state of the art Turian frigate, on their first volley. I wouldn't be surprised at all if these Humans are so advanced that it would take us a few centuries to understand what they would consider "basic" knowledge."
She let that hang in the air a bit, letting her words sink in. Millennia of Asari leading the way, both technologically, and culturally, could be wiped out overnight by the Humans. "However," she continued. "These Humans seem to have one underlying weakness. An incredible sense of violent factionalism. Four major factions, or Houses, live in this Sirius sector, and from what we can tell, they are very different, just from the names alone. The Republic of Liberty, Kingdom of Bretonia, Kusari Empire, Federal Republic of Rhineland. Each of them are likely to have very different cultures and ideals. This is why one reason why we sent in Dr. D'Avo: to gather information on both the culture and the technology of the Humans. We do this so that when the time comes, we can bring them into the Citadel, and deal with them on our terms. We can then set to work on… properly educating these Humans, and maybe bring a little more stability and peace into their lives."
A wave of applause came in from her fellow Matriarchs. It all sounded so simple, but Aethya's words about what she heard about the humans still rung in her ears. "I bet you a million reds that those Humans would rather ally with someone they hate over someone they don't know. They'll join, but they'll never join on our terms Bezzie, just to spite us I think. I can feel it. "
She had a good point there, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was the end of an era, and the start of a new one.
Sur'Kesh
Prana System
Dalatrass Binosh
I've managed to gather some information on these Humans. Reports suggest highly divisive culture, with each faction following different ideologies and having a different culture altogether. Ripe for spreading discontent. Many secessionist terrorist groups as well. May be able to win influence by supporting the right groups. Keep this information within circle of course. Suggest only a few STG groups to begin observations of this Tau 30 system, may find alternate path to rest of Sirius Sector.
Councilor Valern
Dalatrass Binosh was, for lack of a better term, a spymaster.
It didn't really encompass all the subtleties her position as Dalatrass of one of the largest and most influential clans in Sur'Kesh, but it would suffice. Right now though, the newest species to be encountered, Humans, were a threat to the stability and peace the Salarian Union had worked hard to maintain. It was very likely that these Humans with their factionalism could spark a war over their technology or their favor.
Which is why she needed to curb that influence. Fast.
That was what the STG were for though. Gather intelligence, then apply it in the most devastating manner possible
"Captain Tiral," she said to the green skinned Salarian before her, both of his horns having been cut off in one of his missions on Tuchanka. "I need you to take a team and as stealthy a vessel you can find. Head to this Tau 30 system, and map it out. Find everything you can about it, from planets to the asteroid fields. I want that system thoroughly investigated. T'Loni's reports indicate these… Mollies came from somewhere that wasn't the Human gate. We need to find that point of entry into the Sirius sector."
"Affirmative Ma'am. I'll get right on it. Orders for after we discover it though?" he said, his voice calm and professional.
"Transmit your findings to the usual location, then try to follow into Human space and make your own observations, but make contact a week after your initial transmission. As usual, if you are discovered…"
"Standard Protocol." he said as he left the room.
Good. Knowledge was half the battle, and with the STG, she would very likely get what she needed to secure stability within the Galaxy as quietly as possible.
Palaven
Trebia System
Primarch Fedorian
I'm sure you've read the reports on the Humans by both me and Captain T'Loni.
I cannot help but feel that these Humans will be a problem for the foreseeable future. If their miners could take out one of our state of the art frigates, the Gladius, then I feel that we must upscale our production of ships.
If these Humans join the CItadel, their criminals would very likely begin to spread to our systems and, worse, the Terminus systems. Things could only get worse from there. We must step up our military production and research. More joint ventures with the Salarians on the technological end, and maybe a few training sessions with a few Commando groups should help prepare them for operational readiness. I also feel that we must have some of the analysts at the Palatine Institute to look at the footage we have of the skirmish between the Mollies and the Bretonnians. An understanding of their tactics would most certainly help if a battle were to occur. It may help us narrow down their advantages in terms of technology.
I sincerely hope that these recommendations I give are that of someone paranoid, and not predictions of a future to come. If what I suspect comes true, then I merely hope that we have done enough.
Councilor Sparatus
When the people of the Galaxy think of a Turian, they thought of someone who would protect them, their own bodyguard against the dangers of the galaxy, both big and small. From pirate groups to petty thieves, Turians would handle them for you.
Fedorian had the… unfortunate pleasure of seeing a future where that simply would not be true. If these humans had as much petty in-fighting as suspected, with the level of technology they had… it would be nearly impossible for Turians to enforce the law.
Which is why they needed to compensate in some way. If not in technology, then at least in numbers, or, as the premier military organization in the Citadel, tactics and strategy.
Fedorian knew that a war between them and the humans would them would be horrible. They controlled the only known route into their systems, and they had weapons that bypassed nearly all of the Citadel fleet's defences. They could maybe, just maybe overwhelm them with numbers, but all it would win them would be a single system. The rest of their sector was only accessible by a single... jump gate, controlled by them. Only people they approve of got in or out.
Here, he sincerely hoped the Asari would be able to use their legendary diplomacy to ensure peace. Peace would be good, it was something any good soldier wants. There are after all, no winners in war, only survivors.
Still, if the Turian Hierarchy was to fight these humans, they must be able to at least fight smarter, take on these Human ships, and maybe not be too far behind.
Which is why he was here, in the Palatine Institute, where the very finest in Turian military scientists were discussing the footage they managed to capture of the human ships. Understanding the way they fought would be key in ensuring victory in any engagement, whether pirate or military.
"What can you tell me, Gaius?" Sparatus asked his close friend, Ret. General Gaius Calix. A veteran of many campaigns against pirates, General Calix was considered one of the finest Generals within the Turian Navy.
"I think, that we need to change the way we fight completely," Gaius said, his voice quite grim. "Look, we both know standard operating procedure in naval battles, basically long range engagements where we throw Slugs at each other from great distances. At worst, we move to medium range, where frigates and cruisers go to torpedoes. Then knife fighting range, normally for the occasional cruiser or frigate that gets through a screen, though that never happens with pirates."
"With these humans though… I don't think that could apply. They seem to rely heavily on their fighters. They could easily slip past any of our main guns, survive the GARDIAN batteries, then take out or cripple our long range capabilities, allowing their bigger ships to move in and mop up. It took concentrated GARDIAN fire to take out one of their fighters, and it was one of their miners too. Not to mention their own energy weapons outrange ours. It also looks like these fighters of theirs don't really need a support ship either, seeing as… this Captain Perkins was on patrol an entire system away from its home ship. We need something new to take this on, Primarch."
"What of our own fighters? Are they not capable of taking on these Human fighters?" Fedorian asked a little worriedly.
Gaius shook his head and replied grimly, "While certainly some of the best and most experienced in the Citadel, our own Fighters wouldn't be able to do much against these Human fighters. It only takes one hit for them to take out one of our own, while I suspect we would need far more with those energy shields of theirs."
"Perhaps a change in battlefield doctrine? " Fedorian suggested. "We could specialize our ships more? Definitely up our point defence systems. " While Fedorian wasn't the finest military mind, he was certainly one of the better ones in the Hierarchy. You didn't get to the top without earning it in Turian society. He hoped his own idea had merit.
Gaius paused a bit, clearly giving the idea some thought. "It could work… The crews would need retraining and we would need to draw up new ways to arrange fleets but I think it could work. Frigate sized gunboats, filled with nothing but point defence to take down small ships." Gaius smiled a bit, a little bit of hope in his face.
"Primarch, I think we can beat them."
Omega
Sahabrik System
Aria
As agreed, I've forwarded you something I know you would find very interesting.
I know whatever newcomers come out of the Sirius Sector will head there.
Please remind them of your Rule.
Tevos
There are many in the Galaxy who would call Omega a wretched hive of scum and villainy. They certainly wouldn't be wrong in that regard.
Essentially a space station attached to an asteroid, Omega was the premier location in the galaxy for drugs, guns, black market goods and services. If you needed a drug, Omega had it. If you needed someone eliminated, there was someone on Omega who would do it for you. The biggest merc groups in the galaxy had major operations here, from the Blood Pack to the Eclipse. Lives and secrets were bought and sold here daily, and for the right people, this was a land of opportunity.
As long as they remembered who was in charge, at least. The one person everyone on Omega answered to.
Aria T'Loak. Queen Bitch of Omega. Essentially, the most powerful crime lord to take the throne of Omega. Nearly everyone within the Terminus systems did business with her, and nearly as many people answered to her.
Which is why it isn't surprising to find that more than a few… influential Asari answered to her as well. A few favors traded between Matriarchs and all that. Thus, this report was essentially a warning of things to come. Things that could hurt the one thing she really truly cared about aside from her position of Queen of Omega.
Liselle. Her daughter. It may be time to bring her back home under her watchful eye. Especially after what she had read.
Humans. A game changer to be sure. New guns, new FTL, new shields, all of which would affect business on her home turf. And knowing people, they had to have their own criminals as well. Even Turians had scumbags, and a lot of them worked for her. And if they had criminals, they had business to bring. New drugs, new goods, new secrets. From all of which she would take a little cut. A… service fee for the location provided.
Still. It was best to be cautious about this sort of thing. Perhaps she should ask Patriarch for more Krogan? The more intelligent ones at least. Ones she was sure could… competently follow orders. Perhaps train a few Vorcha Blood Pack style as well. Never hurts to have some meat shields.
Still. Those Humans had a dark side, that she was sure. Eventually, they'd make their way to the end of the Galaxy. Omega.
She'd be waiting.
Someone had to teach them Omega's only rule.
Hagalaz
Sowilo System
To: Shadow Broker
From: Operative Tower
The reports from the Council are worrying sir. These Humans seem to be a completely tech base, and we have no idea how to infiltrate their systems. The only known point of ingress into their area is the Tau 30 system. Knowing the Salarians though, an STG team is being deployed there already. I suggest a closer look at STG comm buoys for the foreseeable future. I expect they'll have plenty of data on these Humans, providing with us with much at little risk.
Still, any data on these Humans would change the balance no matter who you give it to. I suggest holding on to it until a… change is required.
Throughout the Galaxy, if there was something that needed to be found, some secret, some little bit of information, there was only one person to head to to learn the answer.
The Shadow Broker.
Some say he's a myth, and that the people who are under his name are merely very good information brokers. Some say it's just a moniker used by a group.
Those that say it's one very well hidden person though, would be very right.
Hidden aboard his ship, literally riding the eternal storm on Hagalaz, The Shadow Broker pondered this newest bit of information.
Humans. A New race, with new technology, new culture, new parameters. No agents within, no knowledge of them.
Yet. What data he had on them was… interesting.
Heavy factionalism and a miner's rebellion in one of them. Suggests that there may be more rebels and criminals within their systems.
And those types are always willing to pay for services he can provide.
It was all a matter of finding agents there. To find agents, he needed to get his hand a little dirty.
That was what his Operatives were for, though.
To: Operative Galaz
From: Shadow Broker
New mission. Proceed to the Tau 30 system. Observe until official Citadel relations open trade, then proceed into the Sirius sector. I want you to begin low level information gathering and recruiting. Standard procedure applies.
Now, all he had to do was wait.
The Shadow Broker eventually finds everyone's secrets, after all.