Alternate Past: Uncertain Future Mk. II
Chapter 26
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." -Albert EinsteinShadow War: The Best of Intentions...
Since their kidnapping at the hands of the humans during the first disastrous meeting between the UNSC and the Citadel Council, the Council had rarely left the safety of the Citadel. Rather than being a show of cowardice, it was largely taken as a show of solidarity by the citizens. Presenting a strong public image during these times of fear.
Still, they did leave the Citadel when the situation had called for it. And the presentation that they were recently invited to, certainly warranted it.
A small fleet of ships, mainly turian vessels, were scattered throughout one of the most desolate systems in the Hierarchy's territory. Small by today's standard that is. A decade ago the number of ships present would have been considered an invasion fleet by the Citadel powers, now it was just a larger than average task force (albeit one centered around a turian dreadnought).
The entire Piett System was uninhabitable and lifeless, no colonization values whatsoever. The only decent sized planet orbiting the Piett star was barren, lifeless, and the turians had stripped it of all natural resources centuries ago.
In fact the only thing that stood out about the world of Firmus was its size and density. Which were virtually the same as Impera's before the fortress planet was destroyed. Which made it ideal for the demonstration that was about to occur.
The Councilors were on the bridge of the turian dreadnought Implacable Justice, which was part of a new class of dreadnoughts built after the end of the brief war with the UNSC. The Implacable Justice and her sister ships were the first of the Imperator-Class dreadnoughts, the Hierarchy's newest ship-of-the-line. At a length of almost two kilometers, three spinal guns and enough munitions to turn a moon into cinders. In addition to new Cyclonic Barrier Technology, courtesy of the Asari Republics on top of their own multi-layer barriers, the Imperator-Class was incredibly hard to kill. The entire design had been created with the goal in mind of giving the turians a fighting chance in space combat if they had to fight humanity again (something many turians thought was inevitable). But the Implacable Justice and the dreadnoughts like her were insignificant compared to what the Council had come to the Piett System to see.
As the Councilors watched from the bridge, what appeared to be a large shuttle was launched from the lead dreadnought. Moving relatively slowly towards the planet Firmus. Sensors aboard the Implacable Justice gave everyone on board and those connected a crystal-clear view of the object as it fell towards it's target.
The wait was almost agonizingly slow. "So…" Wrex started, "you really think that this new toy of yours is going to actually be effective?" When he and the other Councilors had received the missive, he had his doubts about what the message claimed.
"Indeed, we are." Cicero replied, no one missing his use of the word, 'we'. It was becoming apparent, if it wasn't already, that for the length of this presentation, Cicero was there as part of the Turian Hierarchy, not the Citadel Council. "Today will be a Red Letter Day for not just the Hierarchy, but all of Citadel space. After today, while the people may not know it, the human's have lost one of their monopolies." As though on cue, the package impacted the lifeless world just as Cicero finished speaking.
And again, the galaxy shuddered. A massive nuclear explosion cracked Firmus' surface, great fissures visible from space breaking continents as the mushroom cloud reached towards the heavens. Shockwaves shattered mountains and raised towering tsunamis of rubble that destroyed whatever the shockwaves left behind.
In less than a minute, Firmus was just a cracked and ruined world. Magma flowed out from the fissures, everything was buried under rock or rubble but the spectacle of death was not quite over. The pressures upon the planet was becoming too much, the mushroom cloud had yet to fade, only growing stronger and larger. Gouts of flame pierced out from the atmosphere.
Finally the planet had enough, atmosphere, rubble and water was ejected into space as the planet came apart in great chunks. Magma super-cooled in the Void of space. Several warships were forced to enter FTL to avoid
All told, it took mere minutes for Planet Firmus to be reduced to mere free floating chunks the size of continents. An entire world reduced to rubble by just one bomb. Just like what had happened to Impera.
While the spectacle was doubtlessly impressive, for the the krogan Councilor it was a...disappointment. The human's planet-killer had reduced Impera to little more than an asteroid field, while this bomb had just pieces behind the size of small moons. Showing that even after all the work the turians had put into the project, they were still trailing behind humanity.
Councilor Tevos had a very different reaction to the sight though. Knowing that that it heralded the beginning of an arms race greater than any her people had ever seen. No, it had since begun after Impera, today was just an example of what would come from it. And that the next great war, the destruction of garden worlds might be the norm, rather than the exception. Perhaps worst of all, her own people would need such weapons just as a deterrent (if nothing else).
The salarian Councilor showed no visible reaction at all. The STG had informed him of what the turians were working on long before this. But no salarian had been quite sure the turians could do it. Now the had, and all the Citadel Races would have to live with the consequences.
But Councilor Cicero was simply furious. While the device had indeed destroyed Firmus as advertised, it was supposed to be as destructive as the human planet-killer. It obviously wasn't, embarrassing him in front of his colleagues. As well as illustrating how the Hierarchy had yet to equal the destructive power of humanity.
Cicero turned and glared at Doctor Mothra, the Director of Project Endymion, and the turian male who had promised him that results of the A.P.A.W. (anti-planetary artillery weapon) bomb would be just as impressive as the humans NOVA bomb. Instead it had failed to live up to the hype.
Mothra was feeling quite nervous, and was not hiding it well at all. A talon kept scratching at his arm, creating a tear in his coat. It had taken him and his team a full year to (roughly) understand just exactly how the human's NOVA bomb had operated to give it such destructive potential.
The best theory had been containing a single massive, or simultaneous nuclear explosions, and containing that detonation for as long as possible to boost the thermonuclear yield. A theory that, despite seeming somewhat hairbrained, was the most plausible. From there it had been trying to actually develop a bomb that used this technique.
Obtaining the nuclear warheads had been easy enough. The Hierarchy alone had produced enough warheads to fill every turian home in their home system. No, the problem had been trying to find a material that could contain and boost the yield.
Every material he found could not contain the fission reaction long enough for there to be any benefit. At least until he had opted to try the expensive alloy known as closest turian approximation to the alloy used in Mass Relays and the Citadel. It was still a far cry from what the Protheans had apparently been capable of producing on a mass scale, but it was the strongest material available, if extremely costly due to its production methods. Which was why it was reserved for the manufacture of military drive cores, specifically dreadnoughts.
And it had worked. Sort of. The amount of the prohibitively expensive alloy to make the prototype A.P.A.W. bomb used made up roughly seventy-percent of the actual bomb. The remaining thirty-percent was the dozen or so nuclear warheads that were actually used. Raising the price of the bomb to the point that it would have been cheaper to build a dozen dreadnoughts.
Only to see it fail to deliver on his promise to match the humans firepower.
"I admit the prototype wasn't quite as destructive as projected sir but it did STILL destroy Firmus. We now have a proven design for a weapon that can destroy enemy worlds" Director Mothra said in response to Councilor Cicero's glare.
"Yes. But we are still evidently lagging behind the human" Cicero ground out.
"Keep in mind, this was only the prototype." Mothra tried to argue. "A non-production model. With the next generation we'll be able to produce them on a somewhat large scale, and make them more effective."
"They better, or you may found yourself eking out a living in the Terminus." Cicero threatened before approaching his fellow Councilors. "Well, impressive isn't it?"
"Indeed...the Hierarchy can now match the UNSC when it comes to destructive potential." Tevos said with an insincere smile. Knowing that if the turians and asari ever became enemies, they were all too likely to use such weapons against the worlds of the Asari Republics.
"Oh, this will not just be only available to the Hierarchy. In times such as these, we must all stand together. To foster such relations, the Hierarchy will be sharing both plans and methods of manufacture with the Asari Republics, Krogan Empire, and Salarian Union."
The other three Councilors looked at Cicero in surprise. Even allies generally didn't share such valuable technology for free. Especially when it involved issues of national security. There had to be some sort of catch.
"Of course there are a few conditions."
"HA. I knew it. Okay Cicero, just does just the Hierarchy want?" Wrex replied with a smirk.
"Aside from not using against it the Hierarchy?" Cicero asked. "Total commitment to suppressing the Rebellion in the Hegemony. Along with a cooperative effort between all four of our governments to develop the next generation of these bombs and any potential variations."
None of the other Councilors were enthusiastic about supporting the Batarian Hegemony in what was increasingly looking like a bloody civil war. But none of them were willing to accept the other Council Races having the technology while they were denied it. So Wrex replied "all right Cicero I'll send a krogan fleet to support the Hegemony within a week."
"The Union lacks the vast fleets and large armies your people and the krogan have, but I will ensure that the STG makes ending the batarian rebellion their top priority." Valdn said as he looked at Cicero.
Tevos didn't say anything. Instead she simply used her omnitool to send a large file to Cicero's. Smiling as the turian read it. Saying ,"I trust this will be sufficient." Cicero considered the technologies and vast funds the asari was promising to share and simply nodded (while he would have preferred more of a military commitment, the truth was that Project Endymion needed the financial support of the wealthy Asari Republics to reach its full potential).
Vadln spoke up, drawing the attention of his colleagues,"If we are to be sharing the responsibilities of our secret projects." Before he had their curiosity, now he had their attention. The STG were notorious about their secret projects. So all the other Councilors were eager to hear what he had to say.
"There is another Project the STG has been conducting for a short time now. One that I think all of you will be interested in. We call it: Project Bruticus."
**APUFMKII**
To the ignorance of the Council and all their escorts, the demonstration had borne silent witnesses. Far from any turian ship, the first in a line of quarian-Covenant engineered warships bore witness to the fruits of the turian war machine.
The stealth ship was the first in its class and type within the New Covenant. Taking the revolutionary ship designs the quarians had spent years developing, brought to life (as well as being enhanced and altered) through the use of superior Covenant technology. Creating ships with no heat signatures, radiation, or other detectable emissions. Invisible to everything but the naked eye.
But for the leaders of the New Covenant, this was not quite good enough. So the sangheili engineers involved had added their active camouflage technology to the stealth craft. Creating spaceships that were undetectable via virtually any means known to the Council Races, UNSC, or the New Covenant itself.
Today had been the test of the prototype, to see just how well it would truly function against the Citadel Council. They had tracked and followed the Implacable Justice to this barren system. Both to simply observe the Hierarchy's newest and most powerful type of warship in action, and to see how well the stealth held up against the Hierarchy's latest technology.
It had meant to be a simple test, to see how long they could last before they risked detection. No one, not even the shipmaster had expected to bear witness to what they had just had.
Subtle glances were shared between the crew until finally they all look to their shipmaster. With the barest of hesitation, he nodded. A sign of relief was shared as the helmsman made their preparations. This was no longer a simple test, now they were the sole bearers of a critical piece of intelligence. The decision was made: they would make all haste to High Charity and report in. What their superiors did with that information was beyond their pay grade.
Silent and unseen, the prototype craft traveled to the dark side of what had been Firmus' moon before a slipspace rupture tore its way into existence and they slipped through, the portal closing behind them.
The Citadel Council and its escorts ignorant that their trump card had already been revealed.
**APUFMKII**
Although things had gotten very ugly on Jarum in the immediate aftermath of the escape of Thomas Bluestone, in the half a year since then, things had more or less returned to normal. This partially due simply to the passage of time, but it was also due to the humans investing a lot more money into the colony, and Consul Alexander Xanatos' efforts to reach out to the community. Then less than a month ago, a new construction project had unearthed a human corpse. A forensic examination revealed that it was the remains of Bluestone, thus making it obvious to all but the most bitterly prejudiced against humanity that (regardless of who or what was behind the man's escape) the UNSC government had not helped the rapist escape justice. Which did even more to quiet anti-human voices in the colony.
Still, the UNSC did not forget how closely the embassy had come to simply being ransacked and burned to the ground by a raging mob. The compound was now patrolled by the towering HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mk. IX Armor Defense System, more commonly know as the Mantis. At almost six meters, it was easily seen over the walls of the compound. The sight of the machines causing everyone give the place a wide berth. Still those machines and the occasional storefront with signs that said, "No humans allowed", it was almost as those the Bluestone Incident had never happened.
The most visible sign of how comfortable the people of Jarum had become with humanity was all the asari/human couples who openly showed affection for each other in public. Something that would have been unimaginable a few years ago (or on the Citadel in the present day). Of all these couples, the ones who were the most publicly proud of their relationship were Michael Smith and Rayna Cardiga. The asari and human male had quite a lot in common. They were both doctors, they both had a daughter from a previous relationship, and they both believed in dedicating their lives to helping the less fortunate.
They ran the Community Health Clinic in the rundown Jubilation Street neighborhood. Which was funded via a grant from the city government (and since the Bluestone Incident, the UEG consulate) to serve the health needs of low income people (that frankly couldn't afford to see regular doctors). The only two full time employees were Smith and Cardiga themselves, everybody else who worked there was a volunteer or worked part time.
Smith and Cardiga were an odd couple in many ways. Unlike the stereotypically beautiful and slender asari that seemed to be the only kind that ever appeared in the media, Matron Cardiga was pleasantly plump (having never lost most of the extra weight that she gained during her only pregnancy fifty years ago) and was annoyed by the fact that all too many people asked, upon first meeting her, when the baby was due.
Michael Smith was fairly short for a man (his head only coming up to Rayna's shoulders, so if he wasn't careful his eyes were constantly on breast level with her and most other women) and very skinny. Unlike Cardiga (who ate for comfort) Michael lost his appetite when he got angry or stressed. But much like Rayna, he was too busy most of the time taking care of other people (such as his daughter or patients) to take care of himself (and make sure that he did things like exercise and eat properly).
Between their children and patients, the couple were left with very little free time. And what free time they had was increasingly becoming consumed by one project. Something that had started as a joke, turned into a kind of hobby, and was becoming a serious concern of theirs as time went on.
"Are you sure about this Mike?" Rayna asked anxiously as she paced the little office they both shared at the clinic. Eating a candy bar without really thinking about it as she walked back and forth (Cardiga had quickly fallen in love with chocolate after humans had introduced it to the galaxy).
"As sure as I can be with what we got here." He answered, not taking his eyes off his tablet. "I've redone the same test half a dozen times and they keep giving the same answer."
"But even if our data is PERFECT and there's no way it could be with equipment of such low quality. Will anybody believe us when we are so obviously biased?" Rayna asked as she continued to pace, finishing off the candy bar and reaching for another.
"I know, I know." Mike tried to placate. "But it's the best we got. Even if we had better equipment to run these tests, that's not enough. We need a fresh set of eyes on this. I'm still having a hard time believing what the damn results are saying!" He drew the tablet in a huff. "Even if we had top of the line gear…" He let the sentence hang.
Rayna stopped pacing and put a comforting hand on Michael's shoulder. Telling him "You're right. We should get somebody else involved. What about that sangheili doctor who came by the other day? He's not human or asari so he can automatically be more objective than we are."
"That depends." Mike answered cryptically. "If he's one of the younger generations, he might be willing to help us. They're usually more open and willing to talk with us humans. If he's one of the older generations, the ones who fought in the Great War, he'll try to keep his distance. They don't feel comfortable being around us after what they did. Even if us younger generations don't hold a grudge against them for it."
The matron brooded on that for a moment. She couldn't imagine hating anybody the way that all too many humans hated the Covenant Races (and were often hated in return). But Rayna was a naturally kind and compassionate person, so that said more about her than the asari in general. Finally she replied, "Well ask him anyway...the worst he can say is no."
'That or skewer me with an energy sword.' Mike thought to himself, only nodding his assent to Rayna. It was one of the qualities that he loved about her, but for all the centuries she had on him, Rayna could be amazingly naive sometimes.
**APUFMKII**
For the Covenant, there was very little that was capable of shaking the faith and strength of the alien confederation. The news that had just been brought before them by the prototype craft had done just that. Prompting the Arbiter to call forth a meeting of not just his advisors, but his closest compatriots.
The Sanctum of the Hierarchs was one of the few, most secure places that the Arbiter chose to hold meetings such as the one he had called for. As they all filed into the chamber, Thel waited patiently and in silence, a sign for those who entered to do the same. It was only after the last attendant entered, a quarian by the name of Kal'Reegar, his quarian advisor for matters regarding interstellar conflict, did Thel share the news.
Needless to say, the information had not been well received in the slightest. The UNSC having the NOVA bomb was terrible enough, but now another nation had a similiar, if weaker weapon as well? Compared to the Covenant's usual method of Glassing a world, they were starting to fall behind in the 'World Ending Weapons' race.
The Arbiter's advisors tried to talk to their leader of the New Covenant, trying to urge him to go to war. If not with the entire Citadel Council, then the Turian Hierarchy alone. How they could not allow these kinds of weapons to proliferate.
"With all due respect, sir...that's total lunacy." the Quarian Marine said loudly. The sangheili advisors bared their teeth and growled at what they considered to be a young upstart.
"And you hatchling, should learn to silence yourself!" One of them snarled, one the advisor's eyes milky white from an old wound. "What would you know that would be of any worth? Your race may have been accepted, but not yourself within this Council. I-"
The advisor silenced himself as Thel raised a hand. "It is often surprising what the freshness of youth may see, that by our aged views may have remained unseen otherwise." He chided the advisor who bowed his head in submission. "Now then, speak your mind young one. Why do you think it is such 'lunacy' as you say, and what would you do in my place?"
"First let me ask everyone here a question...who do you think the turians are building these bombs to fight?" Kal'Reeger patiently asked.
"The humans of course." An advisor, this one a Kig-Yar or Jackal, as the humans called them, answered. "But who's to say they won't turn them on us. I certainly would consider doing such."
"Yes...but who is the greatest threat to the New Covenant right now?" the quarian continued.
"Again, the humans." The same advisor answered. "Just where are you going with this, hatchling? You ask obvious questions for obvious answers."
"That just my point! the answer is or at least should be obvious. Humanity has been acting as the New Covenant's enemy since the war ended...why should we help them now? Because they said they're sorry and won't do it again? That's like an alcoholic promising never to drink again or a male who puts his mate in the hospital all the time saying he'll never hit her again; worthless until they do something to back it up"
"While you may have a point," An elite missing the left side of his jaws started, "that does not eliminate the risk the turians and their new weapon may pose against us. While we have done little to gain their ire, in war, such distinctions are usually forgotten. To attack them now, while it may aid the humans, we would be doing so for our own benefit, not theirs." He countered. "Would you be willing to run that risk? If the Citadel and the humans were to wage war, that neither would target us with these world killers?"
"This bomb doesn't change the strategic situation. The Council Races already have enough nukes to render every major human world uninhabitable and eat a big chunk of the worlds in our territory too...but it doesn't matter because they can't reach our worlds...and they still can't reach our worlds now that they have this bomb" Kal'Reeger said confidently.
"As weird as it sound, until they develop Slipspace technology all those nukes and even that bomb are functionally DEFENSIVE weapons" the quarian advisor continued.
There were grumbling and murmurs of agreement. Despite the youth of the quarian compared to most of the advisors, they could not deny he had several valid points. Thel simply looked straight at Kal, who was doing his best to not fidget under the stare. And was grateful for his polarized visor as it meant he didn't have to steel his features.
Finally, the Arbiter relaxed the stare. "It is often a wondrous thing what the young can teach us. Wisdom is not solely for the old and experienced, and too often we forget that." Thel's lips moved outwards before returning to their normal position. Kal felt that he had just seen the Arbiter had smiled at him. "Until the circumstances change, we shall do nothing against the turians. Our only actions shall be to monitor our borders more closely, and watch for any developments."
Kal'Reeger breathed a sigh of relief at that. There was another important reason for the New Covenant not to get involved, that he frankly hadn't wanted to discuss here. The simple fact that, in his mind at least, the New Covenant fleet wasn't ready for a war. The Quarians and the (ever increasing) people that they had recruited to help them were making progress in learning all the nuances of Covenant technology, and thus fixing and restoring the warships of the New Covenant (which had lacked proper maintenance for months to years, or in a few cases, decades) but they still had a long way to go. And all their work could be undone at this point if the leadership tried to use the fleet before it was ready.
"As you decree, my Arbiter." Everyone in the chamber chorused, their right arms clanging against their chest in salute.
The subject now finished, Thel decided it was time to address another issue that had been on his mind for sometime. Looking at the only quarian in the room as he began to speak. Telling them all "but once we finish rebuilding our fleet we must use it...both to show our own people and the rest of the galaxy that we are strong once more."
Kal'Reeger stared at the sangheili leader in surprise. Wondering if the Arbiter could possibly be talking about what he thought the male was talking about. If he was going to do what quarian leaders had suggested Thel do ever since the quarian people had officially been admitted to the Covenant.
"Once we are ready. We shall invade the Perseus Veil and destroy the vile machines that currently control it, Restoring it to its rightful owners and expanding our Covenant." Thel boldly proclaimed."Our faith is strong, our Covenant unbreakable. In time, our faith shall be rewarded."
**APUFMKII**
Far from the politics of the Covenant, a new ploy was about to be set in motion by those who thrived within the shadows.
Deep within ONI's Sword Base, a collection of ONI agents, thirteen in all, sat at attention in the sparsely decorated meeting room. A large roki wood table as its centerpiece. The agents present were as unique as they were varied. Some were field agents, others were accountants, logistics managers, or otherwise never deployed to the field aside from the occasional undercover work with civilian targets.
Yet, there were three shared traits between all thirteen. They were all a part of Section III, fiercely loyal to ON,I and lastly, they were all women. Incredibly attractive by many standards as well. As usual, Admiral Parangosky kept them waiting. It was a cliche but effective tactic she liked to employ to remind her subordinates who was in charge. As they waited the women awkwardly chitchatted with each other, wondering why their fearsome leader had summoned them all.
Then the door to the room opened, and a blue woman walked in. It took only a split-second for the women to register that fact before they were rising from their seats, hands snapping for their sidearms, the two nearest about to charge forward to take the woman down. Only to freeze as they heard a familiar voice shout, "Check!"
All thirteen were comically frozen in place, their hands gripping their pistols, their bodies entering familiar stances while the two about to charge were comically hunched over. Nobody moved a muscle.
Parangosky smiled at the speed of their reaction. "Stand down ladies, and well done in your reaction." She applauded, "but perhaps you should take a look at what the 'asari' is wearing?"
As the women regained their dignity, pistols sliding back into their holsters, they did as ordered and took a good look as the supposed 'asari'. By appearances, the woman did look alien, but then they noticed what she was wearing, an ONI uniform, with a Commander's insignia on her uniform. But that wasn't possible. There was no chance that the Director would ever accept an alien into ONI's ranks.
Seeing that her agents had processed what she said, the ONI director turned to the 'asari', "Thank you, Agent Katya. You may take a seat." The agent saluted before taking a seat closest. "I assume you all realize what has been done to agent Katya?" They all nodded numbly in surprise. There had been rumors for years that the R&D division of ONI was working on a method to surgically alter agents to appear as aliens, but this was the first real confirmation any of them had gotten that their researchers had actually done it.
"Katya is the first person I've recruited for a special mission to infiltrate the Asari Republics" the head of ONI informed her audience.
"But what about Operation Spartacus? I thought we weren't conducting any other major campaigns until it had been completed" one of the women asked.
"And we will not be." The Director confirmed to their confusion. "Agent Katya's mission, and those who join her, will be strictly reconnaissance. The others however, will most likely be sent to the Terminus systems."
"And what would our orders be if we were part of the latter group, ma'am?" another agent asked.
"To establish yourself somewhere in the region, whether that be on your own or with the others. Then to understand and attempt to integrate into the local power structure." Parangosky replied.
"Just how deep does this disguise go, ma'am?" one of them asked, "will we be able to fully emulate the asari?"
"For this stage, the surgical operation will only be skin deep. It is only your appearance and the feel of your skin, both of which will effectively emulate that of an asari." Parangosky replied. "However, this is only the first stage. As our research goes further, so to will the extent of your disguise. Biotics will only ever be a part should we find a means of incorporating them or emulating them into the human body. It is doubtful we shall ever find a means of effectively emulating the asari's 'melding' ability."
A few of the agents were actually disappointed at the admiral's words. Because biotics could be very useful when they were forced into combat situations. While the asari's touch telepathy could be invaluable in their line of work.
"Are you asking for volunteers ma'am?" an agent boldly asked.
"I am. This operation for those who take it, and progress into the later stages as they are made available, will most likely be permanent. Or at the very least, exceptionally difficult to reverse." She admitted. "And the missions themselves will likely be extremely long term."
"Long term as in years?" one of the women asked.
"More like decades" Parangosky replied although she was thinking 'or more likely centuries if things go according to plan.' But the admiral was too secretive and paranoid to share all her thoughts. Even with trusted agents such as these. Besides, she thought it would be easier to get them to make a decades long commitment once they had been living as 'asari' for a few years.
"But ma'am, the asari can live for a millenium. Wouldn't they notice us aging far too quickly if we lived among them for that long?" a thoughtful operative asked.
"We have found ways around that, although I will not reveal the details except to those dedicated to the program." The admiral spoke with a smile.
Despite her apparent hope for the program, not all of the agents were quite convinced. A long term undercover operation was one thing, but most, if not all of them, were certainly not eager to live out their lives looking like an asari.
"I will be honest...this program's success is vital. Operation Spartacus is ultimately just stage one of the plan to ensure humanity's continued growth. What I am asking you to participate in will guarantee human dominance of the galaxy for centuries to come." Parangosky confidently stated.
"I won't force any of you to undergo the procedure...but you should know that you will probably never have another chance like this in your lives and if you turn it down I will be...disappointed." the admiral continued, putting emphasis on the last word.
All the agents shifted nervously. Disappointing the admiral was a very dangerous thing to do. At the very least it would kill their careers, but it was all too likely to result in them coming to an untimely end instead.
'I don't want to spend the rest my life bald and blue!' the woman sitting closest to Parangosky , thought. But disliked the idea of disappointing the unforgiving admiral even more, so she was the first to volunteer.
"I accept the task, Admiral." She announced, pointedly ignoring the surprised look of her comrades before they too volunteered for the task. Parangosky looked at the agents with about as much fondness as she was capable of as they all agreed to be surgically altered. Thinking that this Operation appeared to be off to a good start.
**APUFMKII**
Unlike the rest of the Citadel Councilors, Tevos had not gone directly back to the Citadel after witnessing the destruction of Firmus. Instead she claimed that she had private business she had to handle before heading home. The Councilor's private yacht, Thessian Beauty, had docked with the Implacable Justice, and Tevos had gone aboard to meet Spectre Tela Vasir, who piloted the vessel to the turian dreadnought. As soon as the airlock had closed behind Tevos, the Thessian Beauty had undocked and headed straight for the Relay.
The Councilor had given her new lover a great deal of discretion in how to handle matters after confiding in the Spectre. Aside from letting Tela use her ship she had also given the Spectre permission to act in her name. So Vasir had approached influential asari that she knew held a grudge against the Justicars. Claiming that the Asari Councilor wished to discuss the matter of the Justicar Order with them. Tela had picked her targets well and they had all agreed to meet. Now it was time for the discussion to begin.
Although technically only Tela and Tevos were in the Thessian Beauty's luxurious conference room. The rest of the asari were present via hologram, the large conference table surrounded by seventeen transparent images of them. Waiting on the words of the Councilor and Spectre.
"I gathered you all here because you all hate the Justicar Order as much as I do...but there's something you should know...the Justicars moving against the Republics" Vasir boldly announced. Many of the listeners violently twitching at her words.
"I recently went to the main Justicar temple on Thessia in order to plead with Matriarch Abene to help us combat the humans infiltrating the Batarian Hegemony...not only did she refuse but Abene also said that the asari people as a whole had become soft, that the Justicars were going to take over and force us to militarize under THEIR guidance" Tevos informed their audience.
"That's impossible they don't have that kind of authority!" Matriarch Lavoa, who owned a large shipping company and had lost a daughter to the Justicars protested. "They lost all their political power millennia ago! We pushed them out of it!"
Many of other asari also verbally denied it. None of them wanting to believe what Tevos had just said. Tevos just sadly shook her head. "No, the Matriarch told me, and with such conviction it could only be fact, the Justicars LET us take control. They willingly
stepped back and gave us the power."
Matriarch Krakena, who was the oldest one there, had been silent until then. She had been a high ranking police officer on Thessia centuries ago. Krakena had also had more run-ins with the Justicars than anybody else present, including the Order's senior members. Appearing deep in thought since the meeting began, finally she spoke up.
"I believe Tevos. The Justicars genuinely think that the goddess Athame guides their Order. The rest of us are simply sinners in their eyes; unwise and immoral. I am frankly surprised that they didn't try something like this sooner."
Krakena's voice was filled with bitterness. She had lost all too many friends and comrades to the Order over the centuries. Police officers that the Justicars had judged corrupt, or who had simply gotten in the way of Justicars pursuing a criminal. None of the Justicars had ever been punished, they were above the law, and that fact alone had offended the once idealistic Krakena.
"There's also the fact that they expect, and receive, us to submit to their authority whenever they are present. Our laws are disregarded entirely! They only follow their vaunted Code. Everything we've established is seen as nothing by them!" Matriarch Liona, who simply inherited a fortune from her wealthy grandmother shouted. Unlike the rest, she hadn't lost anybody she cared about to the Justicars, but a Justicar had almost executed her for a crime that she had been framed for when she was still a maiden. The Justicars had refused to listen to her pleas, dismissing all her evidence that pointed to her innocence, going so far as to alienate her from all her friends and some of her family. Only the fact that the real perpetrator had been tricked into confessing had saved her. Moreover, the Justicar had refused to apologize. So Liona had never forgiven the Order for what she had gone through.
"But...but if we try to oppose them they'll kill us!" Matron Evilena said weakly. Evilena was a successful author, having written a very popular series of children's books about an ever curious but chronically unlucky maiden. She had never done anything to incur the wrath of the Justicar Order. But some of her older sisters had become drug smugglers, who had been casually killed by a Justicar for their crimes. As a result, the otherwise meek and mild Evilena had a burning hatred of the Order that few could match (nevertheless, she was still not a brave person).
"And if we let them do what they want, we're all dead asari walking anyways" Krakena argued.
"Matriarch Krakena is right. If we let the Justicars take over they will eventually come for us. Their Code is so ridiculously long and complicated that virtually everyone has violated it in some way. Its the perfect excuse to kill anybody who opposes them" Tela said firmly, trying to regain control of the meeting.
"So what's the alternative?" Matriarch Vipos asked calmly. Vipos was one of the most successful drug lords in Citadel space. Working through agents and intermediaries to stay off the radar of the police. Making sure that there was never any solid evidence to link her to any criminal activity (Vasir only knew about Vipos at all thanks to her Shadow Broker connections). But she had always feared that a Justicar would come for her one day.
After all, they could kill her based on (their) suspicion alone.
"We wipe them out first." Tela Vasir boldly answered.
Everyone the Spectre had invited fell silent at that. Although they had all dreamed of doing what Tela suggested, this was the first time that they had heard somebody seriously suggest it out loud. They all hated the Justicars, but all of them unconsciously took the Order's untouchable status for granted (to one extent or another).
"But how? They're our people's greatest warriors!" Evilena exclaimed.
"Yes but there are only about a hundred Justicars. We can easily take them down through sheer numbers alone." Tela confidently argued.
"But WHO will fight them? They're almost universally feared and revered throughout the Republics" Krakena stated sadly.
"Credits are a great motivator to even the most cautious of mercenaries." Tela replied cooly. "Collectively, we all have the funds to organize more than a battalion of mercenaries alone. Whether they be an organized company, or simple freelancers." Tela withholding the fact that she could probably make a request to the Shadow Broker for some of his own elite forces.
"You're forgetting just how much the average asari loves the idea of the Justicar Order. They have been spoon fed exciting stories of brave Justicars battling against overwhelming odds to defeat the forces of evil their whole lives. If we try to wipe out the Justicars all too many people will rise up to defend them or avenge them if we succeed" Vipos pointed out.
"Which is why we will attack secretly and without warning and pin the blame for wiping out the Justicars on somebody else" Vasir countered.
"And just who can we 'pin' for such a plot?" One of the Asari, her identity concealed by her use of an Avina avatar and voice modulator, asked "Whoever is blamed must not only have the resources, but motives and audacity to make such an attack not only plausible, but believable."
"The humans...they certainly have the resources and ruthlessness to do it" Tevos replied, finally entering the conversation after letting her lover dominate the discussion for a few minutes.
"But why would the humans care?" Vipos asked. "Even if they know of the Justicars and their order, which they very well may not, what would their motives be?"
"Why would they care about the batarians? their powerful, ruthless, and treacherous enough to do something like this...believe me it would be well within their capabilities" Tevos explained, thinking about her own capture and imprisonment at human hands (still bitter over her treatment by the UNSC soldiers).
'And if they knew the Justicars were trying to force us to militarize they might ACTUALLY do something like this themselves' the Councilor admitted to herself.
"Yet, as far as their actions have gone, they have not done anything without reason" Vipos countered. "They have disavowed those in the Hegemony, the brief war with them was retaliation for their Colony, they at least claimed Impera was an independent action and even turned over some people for use to execute, and the sacking of the Turian home system was to rescue their savior."
"Do we really even need to explain?" Krakena questioned. "The people are already frightened of the humans, despite all their reparations. We simply tell the people it was the humans, but offer no explanation as to why. Just allow the people to come to their own conclusions and theories."
Vipos pursed her lips as she considered the explanation. It wasn't an unfeasible idea. Simply giving the people a target and letting them draw their own conclusions, the people would do the work for them. Silently, she nodded, signifying her dropping the issue.
"Well, if we are all agreed on this course of action…" Tevos started, only to be interrupted as they all started shouting, how none of them had agreed to actually work together, others at how those arguing against lacked courage and/or guts.
Tela simply sighed as the battle of egos raged, only to be distracted as her omnitool gave a distinct 'ping', instantly drawing her attention. It was one reserved for select individuals. Opening up the message, she recognized the alias used by the Shadow Broker.
The heading read, "I've heard of your recent activities, and can assume you're eventual course of action. I believe what I have found will be of considerable use to you." Below were a series of attachments, video recordings by the looks of it. There was also a postscript: "I hope you are successful in your endeavor. I would relish the expanded business opportunities."
Not liking the sound of her other employers words, she opened the files, only to smile as what would have otherwise been chilling content.
"Hey!" The Spectre shouted, the squabbling ending abruptly. "Before any of you start thinking of just how you might survive the Justicars if they come to power, you should probably take a look at this." She tapped her omnitool, the video now playing for all of them, including Tevos.
It shows a scene from the Presidium on the Citadel. They watch as Justicar Taiba was pulling a matriarch out of a fortress like building. The corpses of many guards scattered around the two asari, having attempted (unsuccessfully) to keep the Justicar out, Taiba had shown neither forgiveness nor mercy to the matriarch's defenders.
"Oh goddess, that's Matriarch Vendula!" Matron Evilena exclaimed in shock.
Matriarch Vendula was one of the most powerful and corrupt businesswomen on the Citadel. She was the CEO of Elegant Solutions, a Defense Contractor for both the Thessian Military and the Citadel Security Forces. Their products were as much pieces of art as much as they were instruments of war. It had been what the company prided itself on. Matriarch Vendula had used her position to sell many of these products to not just legal entities, but the Terminus systems as well. Drawing a hefty profit from Private Military Companies such as the Eclipse, and Thessian Sisterhood, before the former's fall from grace that is. There had been rumors that she used those shipments to smuggle everything from Red Sand and Element Zero to slaves and military contraband. All the while paying off much of C-Sec to look the other way, or eliminating those who wouldn't fold. All those that had attempted to find even a shred of proof of her corruption had mysteriously disappeared or were found floating around the Citadel.
Still, despite her role in the Defense Industry, she was a surprising conservative in the political field. And was one of the most vocal against asari militarization to the surprise of most. Those who knew better realized that should the asari militarize, Vendula would have been forced to share the defense contracts that her company had almost monopolized from the Asari Republics. Something both her greed and pride would never had allowed.
Except perhaps for the Councilor herself (and of course Tela Vasir) everybody at the meeting would probably consider Vendula a peer, or even more powerful. So it was shocking to watch as the Justicar forced the matriarch to her knees. Ignoring the CEO's begging and pleading.
Despite the distance between the camera and the Justicar, they could clearly hear Justicar Taiba's words. "Matriarch Vendula. You have abused and exploited your position, using your power to supply others with the means to end the lives of others, funneling the poison of the Terminus and ending those who would stand against your corruption. By the Code, the sentence for your crimes is death." Taiba stepped up to the still pleading Matriarch, placing a hand on her chin, the other on the top of her head. "May you find peace in the Embrace of the Goddess." With a sickening crack, Taiba twisted, snapping Matriarch Vendula's neck and dropping her.
Everybody attending the secret meeting stared at the screen in shock.
Justicar Taiba had meant to send a message with the public execution of Matriarch Vendula. Attempting to push her mistress's agenda forward. But the Justicars had no idea that those Tela Vasir had gathered had received a very different message from what they intended.
Showing that the Order would now move against anyone it considered an enemy and/or sinner. Which considering the strictness of the Code and the Justicars fanatical devotion to it, would probably apply to everybody at the meeting (and perhaps beyond).
"All right..all right...now the Justicars have shown us our fate if we allow them to remain in power...are any of you willing to accept that?" Tevos asked her audience.
None of them were, they all eventually agreed to join the conspiracy against the Justicars. They were committed now, it was the Justicars or them. And as far as they were all concerned, the days of the Justicar Order were now numbered.
"To sought after power, is to sought after ruin."
-Unknown.
Author's Note:
(aDarkOne)
I realize that we never see any fat asari in the games, but considering how similar the asari are to humans, I think it's reasonable to assume that they could become fat, or build up their muscles like a human bodybuilder.
I figure most asari may be beautiful and relatively slender, but that that's just a generalization. Like Han Chinese being shorter than Caucasians. Yes there's some truth to the stereotype, but its not a hard and fast rule, there are plenty of exceptions.
Besides, I think the asari are more interesting if they can get fat or become bodybuilders.
And this is my (albeit shared) story.
(Follower38)
Quite honestly, I find it a refreshing dose of reality, and to an extent, humorous to have a non-lean asari. Whether that be somewhat heavy, like here, or more ripped than the Stallone. Expect a lot more breaks from canon or presumed fanon, in this story, as we have been doing this entire time.
I must give quite a bit of credit to aDarkOne for a lot of this story. Without him, I have no doubt that this story would never have become as good as it is now. So, please, thank him. (Sorry man, but you deserve the praise).
To all of you readers, please leave a review. Especially if you haven't yet. I don't mind what I call ghost readers, those who fav or follow but don't review, but I'm asking for it. Don't worry, it's like before. We'll keep writing, whether or not you ghost readers review or not.
For those of you who feel we are neglecting humanity, to quote Riddick. "Just wait."
