Alternate Past: Uncertain Future MkII
co-written with aDarkone
WARNING: Scenes of graphic violence. Marking beginning and end of scenes with === line breaker.
Time passed since the events at Palaven
Chapter 14:
UNSC:3 years
New Covenant: 3 years
Citadel Council: 3 years+3 months
Quarian Migrant Fleet: 3 years+10 months
Chapter 15:
UNSC: 4 years +2 months
Citadel Council: 4 years+1 month
New Covenant: 4 years
Quarian Migrant fleet: 4 years
Chapter 16
Fragile Peace: Changing Perspectives
**4 years+3 months for all factions**
"They told me to fight, and that's what I've done. Let historians sort through the wreckage, bodies, and broken lives to figure out the rest."
—Admiral Preston J. Cole, Private Diaries recovered from his home after the Great War.
The Colony of Roost, in the Lambda Aurigae System. A rather peaceful colony in the Outer Rim of the UNSC territory, back during the insurrection. And one that had somehow escaped the notice of the Covenant since the Great War and then on. Since reclaimed by the UNSC/UEG, it was one of the few colonies that people could escape to and feel as though the past several decades had never happened at all.
People flocked to the planet in droves in recent months, as the UNSC/UEG economy continually rose more than it fell, a prime vacation spot for all.
And this was also the world Preston J. Cole chose for his current home. Four years ago, after the Everest had violently forced its way from its prison, and nearly instigated another war, Cole and the rest of others aboard the ship were awakened from cryosleep. The only ones already awakened, by the shipboard AI, being the onboard marine contingent.
It took another year after that to bring the awakened crew up to speed on current events, along with gaining testimony and gather records. It had been quite a shock to them to hear that the war had been over for decades, of how it evolved into what is now called the Heretic Wars, and the Second Insurrection. The sheer influx of information of what had happened over the past several decades was shocking to everyone, and a few rare cases, people actually passed out in disbelief as though it were a cartoon. Humanity, despite having suffered so many losses and so many setbacks, was now a galactic superpower; one with the ability to take on the Old Covenant Empire and possibly win, rather than the fighting retreat the Great War had been. Along with the Spartan programs.
First were the Spartan-IIs, the Warrior-Gods of humanity, neigh undefeatable and never surrendering. Cole recalled hearing whispers about them before his retirement and after. Next were the Spartan-IIIs, highly trained elites, and nothing more than teens, sent out in droves to die and buy humanity time. Of those two, both had few surviving members and both programs had since long been shut down. And last were the Spartan-IVs; successor to both the IIs and IIIs. The reduced cost of the S-IIIs by using consenting adults rather than the methods of the S-IIs and S-IIs, but some semblance of the ability of the S-IIs by giving them a relatively cheaper version of the MJOLNIR armor, codenamed MJOLNIR GEN-II or just GEN-II.
Then of course, came the real shocker: the New Covenant, to an extent, worshipped humanity. All because of a tremendous stroke of luck that marked humanity as the children of their gods. Apparently that revelation had stopped the entire war almost on a dime. And the Heretic Wars was apparently a Covenant civil war between those who wanted to end the war, and those who wanted to end the humans. If that wasn't enough, the Covenant had actually saved those from the latter faction, with humanity returning the favor later on. Now the reformed New Covenant were, to an extent, allied with the UNSC/UEG.
Then of course, came the more recent of events: the second instance of First Encounter with the Citadel Council and the associate races. Along with the circumstances that resulted in their escape and near war.
After that however, came the interrogation. For Cole, it was both like and unlike the time when he had been brought in after the reported 'destruction' of the UNSC Bellerophon aka the Bellicose, and the 'death' of his second wife. Why he had faked his death? Why he had not followed his own protocol and destroyed the navigational data and the starmaps? And most of all: why did he leave them?
His answer was surprisingly simple. He was tired, growing old. The war felt as though it was lost at that point in time. He wanted to flee from the war, leave it all behind. And live out the rest of his days in a sort of exile. When they pressed him for what had happened from the Battle of Psi Serpentis to when the Everest was reclaimed by the UNSC, he refused to speak of it. And by the frustration he had seen on their faces, the rest of the crew had as well.
Of course as much as they wanted to court martial him for he did, they couldn't. Crucifying Cole like that would have ramifications they could not dare to imagine. And when they decided to try and scapegoat the crew, Preston had threatened them by going public with the truth, resulting in an impasse. As such he made a deal with the UNSC, specifically ONI. In exchange for his silence and exile, he and his crew would follow the cover story given to them: that during the battle, their slipspace drive had malfunctioned and catapulted them beyond known space, assumably from the gas giant temporary fusion reaction. Once they had reached their destination, their slipspace drive was found inoperable and the crew entered cryosleep while setting a normal space course back towards Psi Serpentis.
And so, here he was, along with some of his crew. Enjoying a life of peace and comfort after so long. Some of them, at any rate. Many were so used to fighting, or the repetition of military service, that after a few weeks, some had signed back on with the UNSC, while others had joined the CDF, and a few had joined the various PMCs now operating. He was half-tempted himself to join them, but he a few reasons to stay.
"Grandfather, you alright?" And here came one of them now. His granddaughter Sophia Alena Volkov, from one of his sons. Apparently once his ex-wife had heard of his 'demise' at Psi Serpentis, she had regretted everything she had done separating their children from Cole. To a degree, she blamed herself for his 'suicide' as it were, if what he had been told was right. Reconciling with their children, who had been estranged from her after learning that she had left their father. Sophia was just one of several of his grandchildren, all fully grown. The youngest at 20, the oldest pushing 30. "You alright, you looked lost for a moment."
The old ex-admiral shook his head. "It's already Sophia, just, an old man reliving some memories." As he said that, he couldn't help but feel that history was about repeat itself.
**APUFMKII**
It had been a few months since the Quarian Migrant Fleet had entered New Covenant territory. The Arbiter and his Council having recently sent a message to Rtas after his report that allowed the Quarians to continue salvaging the wreckage in the Zortha System, provided that the Quarians turned over half of the materials they gathered in exchange. It was a way to see just how skillful, and thus potentially useful, these quarians were. Since it had only been about a human week since the permission was granted.
And since Rtas's initial report, the time was used in debate in a full session of the Council. Since that time the Quarians had honored their end of the deal, turning over enough raw materials to build a small fleet, assuming the Arbiter could find the personnel to handle the actual building of said fleet.
Now the Arbiter himself was coming to the Zortha System. Both to get his own impression of the Quarians and to continue negotiations with their leaders. While he may have been the Arbiter, thus giving him the authority to deal with the space nomads largely as he saw fit, the entire Council as a whole could override his decisions. As it was, they were letting him do as he wished. With a few conditions.
The leader of the New Covenant wasn't quite sure what to make of the Quarians. To Thel they looked small and weak, but prolonged contact with humanity over the Great War had taught him that such appearances could be deceptive. This impression of weakness was only strengthened in his mind when he discovered that their immune systems were so poor, that they needed their environmental suits, they wore at virtually all times, just to survive. Much like the Unggoy and their methane harnesses.
Yet according to what Thel had learned the Quarian people had survived things that would have destroyed lesser folk. Such as their own mechanical creations, the Geth, if he recalled correctly, rebelling three centuries ago, killing the majority of the Quarian race and forcing the rest to flee their homeworld and its colonies. Shortly after, being exiled and shunned by their own galactic government for the creation of the Geth. Resulting in the Quarians being labeled as outcasts in Citadel Council space. Forcing the Quarians to scrape by on what the more fortunate had discarded or were willing to part with. All this he had learned from Rtas simplifying communications with them while he waited the Arbiter's arrival. While the Special Operations commander was not authorized to conduct negotiations, he was well within his right to simply talk. And it was not as though he was a minor who let his idiocy dictate his words.
But through it all the Quarians had endured. By sheer will and determination, keeping their aging vessels running through constant repairs and with remarkable skill. Maintaining an impressive and extremely large fleet despite commonly being viewed, and treated, as the scum of the galaxy.
The sangheili leader wasn't sure that his own people could do as well under such circumstances. Unfortunately, considering how fast the infrastructure of the New Covenant was falling apart,Thel knew that that might not be a purely theoretical concern.
Partially to distract himself from such dark thoughts, the Arbiter looked outside his flagship, observing the Quarians at work. His CSO-Supercarrier, The Luminal Solace, one of the conditions the Council had set upon him; having him take one of the few Supercarriers still operational. The massive twenty-eight kilometer vessel dwarfing everything else in the system except the planets and their moons. Though, it was a considerable distance from the Quarian fleet.
Thel was privately impressed. The Quarians were handling the salvage operation more quickly and efficiently than anyone he had seen but the Huragok. Quickly gathering and processing large amounts of wreckage before his very eyes. Converting what his own people had dismissed as worthless, or at the very least too damaged to be useful, into useful materials. In some cases, he saw sections of hull simply being welded to the other hull of some ships. Though, these were pieces that were salvaged much earlier. The quarians were not fools; they isolated each section they salvaged, checking over it before deeming it fit. So far though, the only things they had salvaged was hull plating and raw materials. Engines, weapons, and reactors, and any other similar items were left well alone, with the greatest efforts being focused on hull pieces and deck plating.
In fact, most of the aforementioned materials, the weapons, engines and reactors, were being isolated from the rest by the quarians as they were tagged as such by Rtas and the other ships. Gathering into a decent sized cluster away from the quarians and the other wrecks. Several CRS-class light cruisers and a single CCS-class cruiser were positioned around it, Phantom and Spirit dropships going back and forth, bringing with them the smaller pieces.
He signaled one of the crewman to open a communications channel to Rtas. At the same time, he ordered the helmsman to bring the ship within shuttle range of Rtas's Assault Carrier. Now he would see for himself just what these quarians were like, and assess their potential.
**APUFMKII**
====Warning===Graphic Scene===Skip to next bracket if no desire to read====
The Citadel was burning, people screaming in fear as armored humans troops rampaged across the station. Shooting anything that moved. The sound of screaming was so loud that you could barely hear any individual words. In the confusion, an asari toddler was separated from her mother and ended up in the path of one of the human Spartans.
The child was too young to understand the danger so she meekly approached one of the hulking human warriors. But the soldier knew no pity for alien children.
He simply laughed and kicked the little asari so hard she hit a nearby wall. Severely wounding, but not outright killing, the little girl. Who whimpered in pain and fear as she lay crumpled on the floor. Hearing the noise the Spartan walked over.
The last image the child saw was the faceless golden visor of the Spartan. Showing her an image of her own teary bloody face just as he pulled the trigger on his gun. Ending with the sound of the weapon going off.
====End of scene====
"So what do you think of our new video?" the Sons of Impera's head of Public Relationships asked the rest of the governing board, within their headquarters on Palaven.
While the turian may have been grinning at what she called her "artistic achievement", everyone else was sickened by what they had seen, some actually having left the room. In spite of the fact that they knew it was fictional, it was too close to being real.
"Good, good work, Abrudas. Very good work indeed." Pallin complimented. "This is something that we can use. And shift public opinion against the humans. Very well done indeed." 'Perhaps too well', he thought privately.
"Yes, yes. Very well done indeed." Treeya added. "But where did you get the information about the humans? Supplied by the STG I presume?"
Abrudas nodded. "Them, and from a few rather disgruntled Spectres. Along with a gift from the Shadow Broker." She gave them the turian equivalent of a grin. "It's surprising how much information we've been sent that's actually useful."
The chairman didn't say anything, but he had already begun to suspect that the STG wanted to use the Sons as their varren's paws. A deniable asset that the salarian covert ops group could use to hurt the UNSC (or at least their reputation and political standing) while the STG kept its hands officially clean. But he didn't have a problem with that, as long as they were supporting his goals, Pallin Jared didn't really care why.
"But what good can this really do? Plenty of people already hate the humans" another member of the governing board asked.
"Fear, we use this to re-stoke the fear in everyone. People have started to get more comfortable as human's being our 'neighbors', what with the Treaty of Farixen being disbanded and the Council Fleets and arsenals ever expanding." Chazzik explained. "They have started to get complacent. We can use this to remind people that the humans are still a threat, that they still have the ability to destroy us. It's amazing just what fear can drive people to do sometimes." Many of the board nodded their agreement, the salarian's argument making sense to the most of them.
"I just hope this isn't going too far, and that this is taken seriously." Kreia, another asari on the board, was given strange looks. "If this video is seen as too extreme, we may accomplish our goals, but may harm our own cause. People might, I stress might, see us as warmongers or insane, due to how graphic the video is. And if this is not taken seriously, then it is all a waste of time and effort. Still, that just means we have to be careful." She explained.
"Unfortunately all this is dependent to a certain extent on the humans themselves...if they don't commit any further acts of aggression against us, then we will eventually be dismissed as bitter cranks at best. And if humanity is no longer seen as a threat then, this group will have no real purpose and we are wasting our time." Jared explained.
"BUT WE'RE NOT WASTING OUR TIME!" Treeya screamed, shocking everyone else in the room into silence. She glared at all of them, daring anyone to try and say she was wrong, sitting down when Pallin motioned to her to do so.
"Humanity destroyed Impera, killing our friends and family in the process for no reason. It wasn't necessary, they were already winning. The only reason to inflict that kind of death and destruction was pure bloodlust. Humanity showed its its true nature to us that day, and its only matter of time until they do it again. When they do we will be seen as visionaries, and our critics will become our supporters or be outcasted." the chairman said with true conviction, his charismatic words having a calming effect on the rest of the board.
"And once that happens, we will be able to destroy any of our political opponents by claiming them as agents of the UNSC." the head of PR added smugly.
"And if they are not working for the humans?" somebody Acton couldn't see asked.
"It doesn't matter...at that point, suspicion alone will be enough to destroy them." Abrudas replied confidently. "The people will do our work for us."
"For now we have to decide where we broadcast this video, and how." Pallin said, trying to wrap up the meeting. "I want suggested locations where we can use this to maximum effect and alienate as few people as we can. I DON'T want this being showed to a room full of schoolchildren, thank you. And keep an eye and ear open for any news about the humans. They're up to something, we all know it. Now, we just have to find it."
**APUFMKII**
**Epilison Eriadini system**
**UNSC planet of Reach**
**Spartan Operations Command Facility**
Frederic-104 resisted the urge to shift as he waited in his seat in the meeting room, trying to maintain the look of command amongst his 'siblings'; the remaining active duty Spartan-IIs. The others had no such compulsions. James-005 was, for a Spartan, relaxed; leaning back into, his arms crossed across his chest as he dozed. Linda had a datapad in hand, and more than likely, running through calculations for long distance sniping. Kelly was simply watching Fred with a bored, but somewhat happy look. To name a few of the two dozen or so Spartans waiting in the room.
The Spartans had been made into their own branch after the Heretic wars within the UNSC Navy, after records of certain S-IIs Ops and the nature of the S-IIIs were made aware to Halsey, Hood and Denton. It was both to separate the Spartans from being used by ONI as their personal attack dogs, and give them a more, comparatively, public appearance.
The reason they were all here and waiting was simple, Halsey, or as many of them saw her, their 'mother' had called for them. And specifically asked for all of them. In and of itself that was strange as they rarely saw her now, and when they did, she met with them individually.
They had only been waiting a few minutes, but felt like hours. Fred was about to consider asking Kalmiya where Halsey was when the doors opened and she walked in. "Well hello to all of you. It's been a long time since all of us were in the same room together." She gave them a 'Spartan smile' before looking towards each one and ticking off their names, despite having not seen the actual faces of some for years, if not decades. Before finally reaching him, "And Frederic, I assume that you're taking over for John then?" He nodded, his lips curving slightly at the edges.
Halsey looked over the assembled Spartans. Knowing she had to tell them that the UNSC required their services once again for something it was too cowardly, or too ashamed, to acknowledge. All but forcing her Spartans to serve as the dogs of ONI again. Hoping, just as she had in the past, that the mission was worth it.
"I wish that this reunion of ours could be for better reasons, but I am afraid it's the same as it always is." She removed a datachip from her pocket before inserting it into a nearby projector. "Cortana, if you will?"
The now familiar to the Spartan's as Halsey's 'other daughter', considering how the 'Smart'-class AI was made from Halsey's own flash-cloned memories, appeared before them. The blue avatar looked around the room. "Hmm, he's not around. Already knew he was though. Right then." She 'snapped' her fingers, shrouding the room in darkness and activating the other projectors. "I'm sure by now everyone knows by now, our lovely 'neanderthal has gone from our presence." Using the pseudo-pet name Cortana came up for John, "And some of you know why. For the rest of you: well here you go." With that the ONI reports Halsey had been given some time ago appeared before them all. Detailing everything about the Batarian Hegemony and the threat they posed.
"The Hegemony IS a threat to humanity. Not because of what they have done or could do to humanity, or even their proximity to our borders, but because of what they could start: a war between us and the Council Races. And war that would be even worse now than ever before because of how much they have been militarizing...but I won't lie to you…the Hegemony hasn't actually done anything to us yet...we will be starting an unofficial war against their regime and the UNSC CANNOT admit to operating that way...especially given how Parangosky's thugs have virtually destroyed all the goodwill the New Covenant had towards humanity over the past couple decades" Doctor Halsey explained to the group.
There was the barest hint of fidgeting at her words, that alone told Halsey more than any words just how her Spartans felt. Only a few of the Spartans present had participated on covert ops against the New Covenant, but they all knew about them. Individually most of the missions didn't seem 'that' bad, but all together they amounted to a virtual campaign against the alien nation. Now apparently they were going to start something similar with the coalition of species known as the Citadel Council.
"So, why did you call for us?" Kelly,the fastest, and perhaps, the most innocent of the Spartans, asked her 'mother'. "John's already there, so this is something else."
Halsey sighed, she should have known better than to try and beat around the bush with them, "I'm here because ONI is asking for more of you to assist him. They no longer have technical command over you, and I had already approached John about this myself. The fact he did not inform any of you to the full extent tells me much." She noticed signals being exchanged amongst her Spartans, codes she easily read. "As of now, this campaign, this Operation Spartacus, is still small. The reason I called for all of you is that I want you to be ready. Sooner or later, ONI is going to ask me for more of you, and perhaps eventually all of you. I know if I ask you all for volunteers, all of you will. I just want you to be informed and ready when the time comes."
Then partially to convince herself as much as them, Halsey said "Cortana please bring up the overall data on the Hegemony."
The Spartans were suddenly presented with information like infant mortality rates amongst batarian slaves who gave birth, conservative estimates as to how often batarian slaveowners raped their slaves, and scenes of slaves inside the Hegemony being abused.
Along with data on their standing military, and police forces.
"I won't lie to you and pretend that we're conducting Operation Spartacus for humanitarian reasons. But I truly believe the Hegemony is evil; it has murdered and enslaved millions of people for centuries. And now we have a chance to end this and create something better in the Hegemony's place, and show up the complacent 'Council Races' who for centuries did nothing while these atrocities occurred on their doorstep, the real goal of ONI is to create a buffer nation between us, and the Council Races. Perhaps I am being naive when I say this, but I believe that this can be more than just an opportunity for the UNSC to increase its power and influence. This is a chance for humanity to show the galaxy that we are not a monster or a conqueror as we portrayed ourselves over four years ago. But as fellow sapients striving for the same thing: our place amongst the stars." Doctor Halsey told her Spartans. Giving each of them a final look, she saw nothing by conviction in their eyes. No hesitation, no trepidation, simply a desire to do what they were made to be: the ultimate soldiers. "So, shall we begin?"
**APUFMKII**
As Halsey was explaining the details of Operation Spartacus to her Spartans, back on Khar'Shan, the operation had already since started. From what began as one man operation sent to Khar'Shan, had now grown to two. The fact that Jella Korragan's savior and rescuer was human was surprising for several reasons, outside of being a new species, he was so similar to a batarian, with his armor, it was difficult to think otherwise. But in the nine months since he had saved her, her life had changed so much.
Before she was barely alive; surviving on what she could steal, what she could find, and what she could loot from the dead. Now, though, she was healthier and fitter than she had ever been in her life. And it was all thanks to the human, John Doe. What was once a struggle of survival, was now a fight for freedom.
And she had learned so much from the human, everything from mathematics, and physics, to firearms and martial arts, things that she had dreamed of and been denied so long. Growing in strength, knowledge, and resolve in the refuge of the safe house (just on the outskirts of Pride Rock City) ONI had set up for her and John Doe.
Together they had killed numerous overseers, corrupt police officers (like those who had tried to rape her when she met John), and relatively minor slaveowners throughout Pride Rock City. Although they had spread fear amongst the upper class in the city, it wasn't enough to really change anything.
John Doe knew if they wanted to attract followers and make people think the rebellion had a chance, they would have to do something dramatic. And Jella had something in mind.
The mayor of Pride Rock City and his wife were infamous for the awful way they treated their slaves. Beating, raping, and even murdering their sapient property whenever the mood struck them. Secure in the knowledge that as long as they kept the people who 'mattered' in Pride Rock happy they could do whatever they wanted to their slaves without fear of consequences.
Jella and John aimed to prove them wrong.
John Doe's AI was able to hack the local communications network to get the blueprints for the mayor's mansion. After which, it was just a matter of capturing and interrogating one of the mansion's guards. They picked one of the off-duty guards who had been partying a little too hard one night. The guard broke quickly under Jella's suggestions; giving them everything from passcodes and guard patrols, to the armory location and back-up response times. The guard's silence was easily bought with a slice of the neck. ONI would be providing the weapons and explosives though their agents and couriers: the batarians that ONI had taken control over. They would have to obtain transport themselves however. A problem easily solved thanks to how easily Doe's AI could hack and disable the security system of the vehicles.
Even under ideal circumstances, the security for the mayor's mansion would probably be no match for a Spartan. But with the security codes, patrol schedules, and other data that the Jella and John had, they were able to sneak into the mansion with relative ease. They didn't even have to kill more any guards. Knowing the guards exact patrols, they simply avoided them. Using the passwords they had to unlock the armored doors, or simply hacking for those they didn't. Jella had been tempted to don a stolen guard's clothes and armor, but Doe had shot it down the moment she suggested it. Even if they managed to acquire a set, she would be outed the moment anyone saw her if the guards were even somewhat competent. So with the codes and AI in hand, they simply entered the building like they belonged, and as far as Jella was considered, they did.
'Their security is pathetic...the elite here obviously rely on their fearsome reputation more than anything else to keep the slaves in line.' John Doe thought as they made their way through the mansion to the master bedroom. He had counted more blind spots than in an insurrection base, which, considering their usual haphazard construction, was saying a lot. He or any of the Spartans, even the S-IVs could have done this. He saw Jella's marker flash yellow on his HUD. "Jella, status?" When he got no response, he commed her again, this time her marker flashed green: the all clear signal. He sighed, while an all out firefight would be no problem, it was something he'd rather avoid for as long as possible.
John moved ahead to see that Jella had stabbed a sleeping guard in the throat. As he watched she continued to angrily stab the already dead male. Reminding the Spartan that for all Jella's dedication and talent for guerilla warfare, he was not working with a professional. She was a civilian, and trained in as effective a manner in an incredibly short time span. Simply put, he need to keep a tight rein on her.
"Jella, stand down. We need to move on." the Spartan told her urgently. When she ignored him, continuing the eviscerate the corpse, the Spartan simply stepped up to her and grabbed her wrist, snatching the other one out of the air when she tried to strike him. "I said, Stand down." The authority in his voice snapped Jella out of her, if silent, bloodlust driven rage, staring back at the Spartan, who still held her wrists in a vicegrip.
"Sorry," She muttered, the Spartan releasing her as she turned away. Shamed in being reprimanded like a child then what she had actually done. Slotting the knives she held back into their original place. Doe nodded and took the lead, Jella fairly close behind. This time they avoided any guards they came across, hiding in the shadows until they passed. It wasn't long until they were outside the Master Suite on the home.
Doe signalled Jella to get ready, before drawing his silenced MA5-K and a large half-sphere from his belt that had three touch circles on it. He planted it on the door, dead center over the locks, and primed it. He planted himself right next to the door, and the breaching charge detonated with a deafening boom,the sounds of alarms blaring, screams of terror, and the thumping of armored boots heading in their direction sounded through the air. John simply nodded at Jella; it was her show now. Jella needed to be the face of the rebellion, its leader. Which meant that she would have to be the one to do the dirty work. In the meantime, John would make sure that no one would interrupt her 'private session' with the mayor.
Mayor Braca Jeedai had had an easy life. Born to wealth and privilege, he had also been blessed with good looks and natural charm. With all his advantages Braca's entry into politics had been rather effortless. He had also found a mate that was a natural match for him. Because like Braca, his wife Lesa was a sexual sadist. Becoming excited and aroused by the pain of others.
In a more humane society, Braca and Lesa would have had to hide their vices to order to gain and maintain social acceptance. But in modern batarian society, nobody, or at least nobody with power and influence, cared that the Jeedai got off on hurting people, as long as those people were slaves, and among batarians, slaves were just personal property.
Right now, the pair were panicking, calling for their guards and trying to find out just what was going on. Having only woken up from the breaching charge and immediately ran for their safe room. A precaution any self-respecting politician took again possible assassination. Least, that was where they were trying to get into when Jella found them, still in their nightclothes and trying to open the safe room, when she came through the dust. To them, she looked like an agent of death: with her hands, arms and chest covered in the drying blood of the dead guard from before, her bloodied knives in hand again.
"Just take whatever you want and leave!" Lesa screamed, thinking (or at least hoping) that this was a simple robbery.
"Yes there's no need for further violence" the mayor added, managing to maintain a calmer facade, though inside he was equally terrified. Thinking that he could just buy his way out of this problem as he had so many others. Neither of them realized just how hopeless the situation they were in was.
Jella replied by throwing a knife into Braca's stomach. The batarian screamed in pain and horror as the knife buried itself three-quarters of its blade into him, his wife screaming alongside them. Neither of them had ever experienced any sort of violence against them, or any real physical pain, so it was a credit to the both of them that neither passed out in shock or fear.
"Shut up, just shut up. You think you can actually buy your way out of this? Both of you? No, you're not going to see another sunrise after tonight. Tonight, your blood is going to be the one to paint the walls."
Braca, drawing on his anger shouted back, "No, it'll be yours! Once my guards get here, Lesa and I will make sure to make you last as long as you can while we have our fun. I've been looking to break in my new firestick on someone like you." He looked past Jella to see three of said guards rushing towards him, "Hah! See here th-" the words died in his throat as he heard three sharp snaps before the back of each of their heads exploded in a gory mess of blood, brain and bone, their bodies dropping bonelessly to the floor.
Jella laughed at the Jeedais shocked expressions. Seeing the sadists realize that for once that they were not in control. Lesa was the first to adjust to this new reality, saying meekly "surely there's no need for further death...simply tell us what you need and I'm sure we can get it for you...money, vehicles, weapons...anything you want dear."
====Warning===Graphic Scene===Skip to next bracket if no desire to read====
Korragan thought of what she had heard about Lesa. Remembering a story of how the mayor's wife had caught a slave boy stealing food and then forced his own relatives to castrate him. Threatening to simply kill them all otherwise. With that in mind, she threw her other dagger and hit Lesa roughly where a batarian female's womb would be located. Smiling wolfishly as the other female shock and pain.
"How about that? And everything else you've taken from all the slaves you've had in your 'care' over the years? You remember them? The ones you tortured, ripped apart, mutilated for your own sick perversions? Undo all of that, and maybe we'll talk. Otherwise, your husband said something about a firestick?" She went around the room, searching for it, the couple flinching when she stopped, rummaging through the desk, and pulled out the aforementioned torture device. "Ah, here it is." A firestick was a batarian invention, more akin to a neural lance than anything else, when it was placed against a body and activated, it sent a massive electrical surge through the victim's nervous system and pain receptors, causing them to feel as if they were actually being burned alive. Some, like the one Jella held, had other settings, such as making the victim feel as though they were being dipped in acid, and other sensations.
She approached the couple, smirking when they jumped as three more sharp slaps sounded. When she got close enough, she didn't even smile. Just jabbed the firestick into the area around Braca's wound, causing him to scream in pain.
"YOU BITCH! DON'T YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE! THEY'LL CRUCIFY YOU FOR THIS!" Lesa screamed in anger and fear. In response, Jella pulled back the Firestick, flicked a switch, and jabbed it into Lesa instead, replacing the stick with her boot on Braca's lower torso.
"She's right you know...the Hegemony takes attacks on its officials very seriously...the worst you treat us the worse they'll feel obligated to treat you once they catch you" Braca said quietly, his pain and fear having stripped away most of his bravado.
Jella smiled again, giving her a more feral look, "And what makes you think, that's going to stop me?"
===End of Scene===
At the door, John Doe kept watching the hall, his silenced MA5-K aimed and ready, and keeping one ear open to what Jella was doing. He sighed internally, as it was taking everything he had to not follow his training and belief, turn around and stop Jella before it could go any further. This was not what he had fought for, against the Covenant and the Insurrection, for about this was, in a word, wrong. It was cruel, inhumane, and no one, no one deserved it. The screams he heard behind him were like those he had heard during the Great War; when the Covenant had rounded up human prisoners and let loose feral grunts and jackals, Unggoy and Kig-yar respectively, on them. Ripping apart and devouring the humans, whether they be men, women or children. The same fear, the same hopelessness. His grip on his weapon white-knuckled in maintaining self-control "The mission is what matters. This is for the protection of humanity." He muttered to himself.
Eventually the cries of pain ended, and John Doe turned around. The gory masses in front of Jella Korragan had been so mutilated they were hardly recognizable as humanoid anymore, they would probably have to do DNA testing just to positively ID the bodies. Having suffered such abuse that the bodies had literally fallen apart: by sheer force and torture, they were dismembered and decapitated, and their torso was just a mess of muscle.
Meanwhile Jella was painting on the bedroom wall. Using her victims blood as a medium to write 'THE REBELLION LIVES' in bold crimson letters. Turning to her companion as she noticed him inspecting the bodies.
Over the time they had known each other, the batarian woman had gotten pretty good at reading John Doe's body language. So she could tell that the Spartan was upset. And she could guess why.
"Don't look at me like that...they had it coming...besides if were going to win we need to make the slavers as afraid of us as the slaves have been afraid of them" Jella said indignantly, even more blood coating her body. .
"And how many more... 'meetings' like this will be necessary?" John Doe asked in a monotone.
"As many as it takes" Jella answered without the slightest bit of doubt or hesitation in her voice. In fact, she sounded rather eager.
John realized he was going to have to curb her bloodlust, because if he didn't. Instead of being a revolutionary and leader, Jella was going to appear as psychotic and insane. If that happened, this operation would be dead before it could get off the ground.
**APUFMKII**
Back on the homefront, specifically over Reach, other problems were beleaguering two humans. Choi and Danvers had, since the test of the now tentatively approved Babylon-class ships, been analyzing the data and trying to devise solutions to them. Ones that were cost-effective. The problems themselves were twofold. The first was when all four cannons from a single turret fired together, the sheer force of recoil, even with inertial dampeners, was enough to cause considerable strain between the turret itself and the rest of the ship. The solution was simple enough: reducing the magnetic acceleration, and thus the muzzle velocity to levels where it wouldn't damage the superstructure. Along with considerations to use a different base design for the next eventually series. While that meant that the final impact energy of a four-gun blast was limited, it was acceptable to the ships tearing itself apart.
The second problem was more complicated. Apparently, there had been an error that the 'dumb' type AI hadn't been able to compensate for in addition to everything else when the firing happened, only barely being able to correct slightly at the last second to manage a glancing blow.
In theory, this was an easy fix: replacing the 'Dumb'-AI with a 'Smart'-AI. In reality, it wasn't. AIs were notoriously expensive pieces of equipment. Even with the new methods pioneered by Halsey and Denton, 'Smart' AIs were a rare sight, servicing only within the offices of ONI, or anyone of at least a flag rank, and few lucky others. With the number of Babylon-class battleships slated for construction, meant that the requisitioning a 'Smart'-AI was totally infeasible. There was also the recent, and so far unexplained, disappearance of several 'Smart' AIs, though most of them were those reaching the end of their 'lives' before entering Rampancy. A preclude to a 'death' state where the processing ability of an AI grew to such a point where they would either literally think themselves to death or go insane and potentially homicidal. There was the theory of a later state called Metastability, where the AI was now more or less human in terms of thoughts and emotions, but that was purely theoretical.
And despite 'Dumb' AIs gaining increased ability and flexibility, for maximum effectiveness, a single Babylon-class would need a grand total of three 'dumb' AIs, two for the four turrets and one for the rest of the ship itself, for the battleship to operate at optimum levels in a combat situation. Now that may have would have been a feasible solution were it not for one problem.
"Damn it!" Choi yelled, papers and datapads rippled and clattered as they were thrown off the desk in his frustration. "Months since that damn test and we're still nowhere nearer to solving this bloody problem then when we began! Argh!" He slammed a fist down on the desk, getting only sore knuckles for his efforts. He barely noticed the pain as he sat down into his seat.
Said problem was still providing a source of aggravation for Choi: for that many AIs to operate within a ship, required either extremely costly data-processors like those used in the Gen-I MJOLNIR MK. V and VI suits, or relatively cheap, but space consuming equipment. And on a warship, space was at usually at a premium. And neither was working out, as the ships lacked the space for all the hardware needed for the operation of three 'dumb' AIs. Least, not in any secure manner.
His only companion at the moment, Linda Danvers, sighed as she watched her boss pace the room. Wondering (for what seemed like the millionth time) if she had been too hasty tying her career to his. Thinking that at least Derek had been good in bed, Choi had rejected her advances, keeping their relationship professional. Saying that he was not one for a 'no-strings-attached' type of relationship.
Then an odd thought occurred to her.
"What if were over thinking this?" Linda said to the universe at large.
"What you mean?" Christian asked distantly, imagining what Lord Hood would do to him if he couldn't come through on his promises. Wondering if it was too late in life to change careers.
"Hey...listen" Linda said irritably as she snapped her fingers to get her bosses attention.
"This is the sort of thing that we would automatically use some sort of AI for right?"
"Yes...that's the problem" Choi replied, not sure where she was going with this.
"But the Citadel Races would just use a Virtual Intelligence, which is nothing more than program so sophisticated that it can imitate sentient behavior, and they're even simpler than a 'dumb' AI, and the existing computer systems on the battleships can certainly support those" the woman who had spent years studying the technology of the Citadel species explained.
"A program that sophisticated would take-" Choi started to object. Only to be interrupted by Danvers.
"No time at all if we got an AI to do it...and once the program is written we won't need the AI anymore."
Christian Choi paused in thought. Mentally digesting Linda Danver's simple, yet potentially revolutionary idea. Then cautiously saying, "It could work."
"Yes it could, and if it does we or at least people like us could use it to cheaply expand the UNSC fleet even more quickly, using VIs to do jobs that AIs used to. Sure the ships won't be quite as fast or efficient without AIs, but with the New Covenant rapidly declining our only real rival is the Citadel Council. And our advantage in firepower and strategic speed over them is so fast that we won't need AIs on our warships." the chief engineer said enthusiastically. Already imagining how she could ride this to fortune and fame.
"Everybody wins." Choi agreed. But inside he had his doubts. The thought of such a highly advanced program being able to adapt to battlefield conditions, which were almost always shifting in the most radical ways possible, seemed almost like fantasy. Then again, there had been moments throughout history where despite the lack of an AI, humans had managed to adapt. Case in point being the Keyes Loop during the Great War.
He was also wondering how artificial intelligences, which were created in the image of human minds, would react to being told to create mindless programs to replace them. The 'dumb' AIs would probably accept it without issue, but the 'Smart' AIs, were an unknown. He knew that he certainly wouldn't be happy with the job. Then the administrator told himself he was being foolish and invited Linda to dinner to celebrate her breakthrough, deciding to give her a chance outside the workplace. And hoping it wouldn't end like his last relationship.
**APUFMKII**
It had been some time since he, the Arbiter, had made his presence full known to the quarians, and his discussion with Rtas about said race. He had caused quite a panic, with his arrival. Then again, anyone sane would panic upon seeing a CSO-class Supercarrier. After his meeting with Rtas, he had him arrange a meeting between himself and the leaders of the Migrant Fleet.
Then he had been told that the meeting would take time to arrange because the Admirals, the apparent leaders, had to calm and rein in the civilians before somebody did something drastic. In exchange, he was asked if he wished to have a tour, both a shuttle ride and within certain vessels, while he waited.
He accepted.
While the quarians had offered their own shuttle, Thel opted to use a Seraph fighter, as the quarian's own ships escorted him. With a quarian onboard to serve as a guide. During the flight, he was observing the large number of aging vessels the Quarians had been forced into using by both circumstance and desperation. Admittedly, like his friend Rtas, he was impressed. The age of the ships were apparent, along with how quickly these aliens had adapted the pieces of the wrecks, granted being only the hulls, to their own vessels.
When he was touring one of the quarian vessels, a liveship, they called it, his opinion of them only grew. The 'liveships' as they called them, were little more than roving farms. Hydroponics facilities, algae farms, whatever they could grow for food, and do so efficiently, they did. He also questioned those that he encountered, though that itself was a challenge as most were apparently so frightened by him, despite wearing EVA armor, few actually spoke with him. Those that did, were either very young or very old. Trying to get a feel for what the Quarians wanted and needed from his own people, and most of all, what the Quarians could offer the New Covenant. The presence of his personal guard, a half dozen Honor Guards from the garrison on his flagship, didn't help. Still, he managed to glean some information, and form some level of opinion on the character of the quarians themselves, but there was still much to consider.
That had been a little ago, now he, and his honor guard, was following a guide to what he assumed to be a meeting room. The guide had told him as much. When the group arrived at a set of doors, guarded by six quarians armed and armored, Thel held back a snort. 'It seems that these younglings seek to display their strength.' Still, again and again, it seems these quarians, for all their perceived weaknesses, had more than a few hidden strengths. None of the six actually showed any outward signs of fear. No trembling, no one tightening their grips on their weapons or any twitches. 'They are young, but learned. If only they had a guiding hand...' He thought before he moved towards the door, startling his guide who had been speaking to one of the six armed quarians. Before anyone could say anything, he touched the haptic door controls with a claw, opening them and surprising most of those present. He had figured out how to operate them, much like how he learned to operate human technology, he watched. And he more than ample opportunities to learn.
Stepping inside, it was more than clear that the apparent leaders were also surprised at his sudden entrance. Most of them at least, at least one, perhaps two, were less so. Almost as though they were expecting it. One of them, a female if physical appearances and any sort of similarity to humans held credence, addressed him. "Greetings, Arbiter Thel'Vadam, correct?" He gave an affirmative nod, surprised by how clearly his name had been pronounced, even with the translation software provided and his own, rapidly growing knowledge of the quarian languages. Most butchered it to some degree or another, the first time. There was also a hint of fear in her voice however, 'something to keep in mind', he thought.
"Please, take a seat if you can. I realize that they may not fit your physiology, but it is the best we could manage." The female said, gesturing to a rather large seat, one that looked it could both hold his considerable weight, and fit him. Where they found such a seat or why they had one, was strange. Still, he nodded and took it, with two of his honor guard coming in behind him and flanking his chair. It was slightly comfortable, but it was bearable. The female introduced herself, "I am Admiral Daro'Xen." gesturing to herself, and these are my fellow Admirals, Rael'Zorah, Shaala'Raan, Han'Gerrel, and Zaa'Koris." Gesturing to each respective individual as she named them, purposely leaving out the ship names and specific duties.
"I am Thel'Vadam, Arbiter of the New Covenant." He said, returning the respect shown.
"You have an impressive fleet admirals...your people have done a remarkable job maintaining despite numerous shortages" Thel continued, managing to both praise the Quarians and remind them of their dire situation. Showing the diplomatic skills that he had slowly (and somewhat reluctantly) developed during his time as Arbiter.
"Thank you. I hope we can reach an accommodation beneficial to both parties." Zaal'Koris said, which sounded good on the surface but really meant virtually nothing at all (to which Thel simply nodded in amusement).
"In that we are agreed, however if that is the case, then what could your people possibly offer mine in return? To use a human term, I am holding all the cards here." Thel pointed out, having no desire to, as the humans say, beat around the bush. "From what I can see, your people are the ones who have everything to gain, while mine does not."
The Admiralty board looked to each other, having to admit that the Arbiter did indeed have a point. Between the two, as it stood, only the quarians would benefit as there was very little for them to give.
But boldness had taken admiral Zorah this far, and he refused to stop now. Knowing that the worst thing Quarians could do at the moment was nothing (for unless their fortunes changed they were all doomed).
"What do we have to offer…simple ourselves...the Quarians are the best engineers in the galaxy" Rael proudly proclaimed. "That is a fact, no other race in the galaxy is superior to us when it comes to engineering. There is no other race better than ours, a trait we have gained through necessity and dedication."
There was a time, not that long ago, when Thel would have laughed at such a statement. Knowing the genetically engineered Huragok were far better engineers than virtually anybody else. Their tentacles and cilia could manipulate and interact with the inner workings of any sample of technology down to the smallest possible scale. Making micro-improvements that more often than not, dramatically improved capabilities, repairing what was given up for lost, and learning the intricacies of even the most advanced technologies with but a glance. But seeing his people humbled had given him more appreciation for the pride of others. And he knew his own people could no longer afford their former hubris. So he only said in response "Perhaps."
Daro'Xen gave a tilt of the head. "You sound as though you doubt us. Pardon my tone, but have you not seen what we have done with the wrecks orbiting this planet is the short time we were given? How we took the scraps that were unknown to us and already repurpose them for own use?"
Thel shook his head. "No, I have seen your people working, and am admittedly impressed by what they have done. But our former caste of Engineers would have done it even more quickly...they were BUILT to be the ultimate engineers with an intuitive grasp of technology that is unparalleled. I have seen them study technology that was unknown to them, and yet tinker with it as though it had been doing it throughout its life. Everything that they touched, that they changed, was made into the pinnacle of its form. All inefficiencies removed, all excesses cut away. To try and match their skills was a fool's gambit."
The admirals spirits all fell at the Arbiter's words. The Old Covenant's Engineers abilities sounded almost magical. There was no way the all too fallible Quarians could compete with that."Then, what else can we offer?" Xen asked, in a defeated tone.
Thel raised a hand in a halting gesture. "While I may have said that your people are not the best, as you so presumed to be, I did not say that your people's skills are of no value to mine." He sighed, knowing what he was about to say would tilt the discussion heavily in the favor of the quarians, but considering that he already made up his mind beforehand, it was not saying much. "Our engineers, the Huragok we call them, have been lost to us. Only a few remain among us," a lie, as only one actually remained and it was approaching the end of its life span, "And we find ourselves in need of replacements."
Xen'Daro thought about the implications of what the Arbiter had just told them. Mentally filling in some of the blanks. Then she guessed aloud "you're ships haven't been properly maintained without them have they?"
"No they have not" Thel grimly admitted, knowing that (if anything) that was a massive understatement. "We try, but few can match the skills of the Huragok." He didn't mention how their regular engineers were almost wiped out, leading to even fewer knowing how to maintain said vessels.
"You want us to repair your fleet" Zaal'Koris figured out.
"Yes...and if you do so you shall become members of the Covenant...with more than enough food and medicine for all your people….access to our technology...your own worlds…and even a voice in our Council. But first you must prove yourselves." Thel said solemnly, unaware of how much he sounded like a human delivering a sales pitch.
"How?" Shala'Raan asked urgently. She, along with the rest, were eager to seize the chance, any change, that could prove beneficial to their people, and this stood above the rest.
"You must prove that you can offer something to our Covenant that no one else can within a year...otherwise we will evict you from our territory." the Arbiter warned. The Admirals barely repressed their shudders, recalling both Rtas's and Thel's own massive warships that dwarfed almost anything in existence.
The truth was, while Thel had compassion for the Quarians plight, and growing respect for their abilities, he had to think of his own people first. Unless the Quarians proved themselves both trustworthy and competent he would have to abandon them to their own devices. The New Covenant's situation was too desperate for it to be able to afford the burdens of those who could not contribute.
"What if we...don't accept this proposal?" Rael asked somewhat timidly.
"Then I must ask the Migrant Fleet and its people to leave the Zortha System now." Thel told the admirals. Not eager, but perfectly willing to carry out the implied threat.
The admirals could refuse, leave and die in space as their ships fell apart and they slowly starved. They could try to fight the New Covenant for the Zortha System and almost certainly get annihilated by the Arbiter's forces. Or they could take the alien leader's offer and have a real chance at survival.
It wasn't a hard decision to make.
"Then we accept" Rael informed the Arbiter, as all the other admirals eagerly agreed.
Thel rose, reaching out his arm to Rael in a human gesture. The quarian, momentarily confused realized what was going on, and grasped Thel's arm. And the first step was made towards what would hopefully be, a new alliance.
A/N: Currently many of the earlier chapters are undergoing rewrites/edits as I and my partner write the next chapters. Chapters 1 and 2, rewritten/edited have been posted as of this posting.
