Hello boys and girls I have some news you can decide whether it is good or bad, due to unfortunate circumstances I have been forced to leave my job thus I have a bit more free time until the thing that has caused these unfortunate circumstances is dealt with and I find a new job. I can see a good and bad side to this but hey deal with the cards your dealt and all that, also while I remember please remember OC's I need them for the crossover arc which is vital to the rest of the story so please I need them now without further a due-
*CRACK* *THUD*
Yang: oops, I think I knocked him out.
Weiss: so… um… who's going to write the story?
Ruby: I GOT IT.
Integra: this is not going to end well
Rise of the commonwealth-re write
Chapter 12
Terminus Systems
Star date: 12th February 2158
QMFS: Kwib Kwib
Admiral Zaal Koris Vas Kwib Kwib sat in his chair with a purified Turian version of coffee in his hands, he and his ship were on a regular patrol run on the edge of the system currently occupied by the Quarian migrant fleet, he took a deep drink through his 'emergency induction port' (it's a straw) and settled in for the long and hopefully boring shift, boring meant nothing strange was going on, boring meant safe. That's when the alarms blared to life.
The Admiral put down the cup and looked at his sensors officer "What is it?"
"Unknown sir looks like some form of astronomical anomaly" the screen showed a portal about 200 meters high and 300 meters wide, Zaal was about to call it in to the other Admirals when something came out, a ship slightly larger than a Turian frigate, it was not designed like anything found in council space nor the terminus systems, this concerned the Admiral until he was told by his comms officer.
"Sir we are receiving hails audio and visual"
"On screen" now he could get some answers the screen came to life and on it he saw a familiar figure
"Rael what in the name of Rannoch are you doing on an unidentified ship."
"I'm afraid I lost my ship to a combination of mechanical failure and Turian brutality" this irked the Admiral slightly, trigger happy Turian bastards, he thought bitterly before returning to the matter at hand.
"That doesn't explain why you are on a ship that doesn't match any others made in council or terminus space."
"That's because it isn't from council or terminus space, me and my crew were rescued by a previously unidentified race, they saved us from the Turians and helped saved us from our ship before we had to scuttle it." Zaal brought a hand to his chin, he could tell from how his old friend carried himself that there was more going on.
"There's something else isn't there"
"Yes their leader said they would like to negotiate with admirals to form an alliance"
"I see, well I'll inform my fellow Admirals about the situation, what about the ship."
"They said it was meant to be moth balled and so that we could keep it as a gesture of goodwill." Zaal could hardly argue they needed all the ships they could get their hands on.
"Okay a squad of marines and a quarantine team will be sent over to check and cleanse the ship while they do that I want you to come over to the Naaros to explain fully to me and the other Admirals what they intend to negotiate."
"Understood I'll be there ASAP" with that the connection was cut
"XO you have the bridge I'm heading over to the Naaros to her out Captain Zorah"
X
Terminus Systems
Star date: 12th February 2158
(Former)CWS: Right of way
In the depths of the ships systems she watched the exchange smiling at how well things were going she opened a comms channel and encrypted it to the best of her abilities and made sure it was untraceable before she sent the call out, she wasn't kept waiting long. A video link opened up in the cyberspace showing Integra Hellsing
"I trust things are going smoothly"
"Yes Ma'm Rael is about to head over to the Quarian live ship known as the Naaros with the data package that Seras gave him before he left, I am still receiving a strong signal from the portable chip Seras also planted on him"
"Good once you are on the ship make your way silently into the systems and listen in on the meeting, I want to know how it plays out."
"Of course Ma'm, I'll inform you of the decision. May I ask what will happen?"
"If they decide to form an alliance or stay neutral nothing, if they seem to pose a threat then the 1st and 3rd battle groups are a few minutes jump away, I won't have another threat running around out here" the AI known as Cortana nodded her virtual head and closed the link, silently downloading herself into the chip planted on Rael Zorah as he entered the shuttle.
X
Terminus Systems
Star date: 12th February 2158
(Former)CWS: Right of way
Rael put the data package the super soldier gave him and placed it in one of the pockets of his suit. He laid his head back as the shuttle took off, it was a rather short trip from the right of way to the Naaros he silently wondered how the Admirals would react to the data package he had been given having read it over while on the right of way, Genetic experiments, Super soldiers, 5km long dreadnoughts, AI's the Admirals are going to flip when they hear this, but I feel that they may be the only chance for our dying race. Rael would be lying if he said he felt comfortable with the capabilities and use of AI's by his races potential allies, but with everything they could help his people with, he felt that they at least deserved a chance.
The shuttle flew in to the hangar of the largest of the three live ships in the fleet and silently touched down. The door opened and a security and quarantine team made its way inside scouring and cleansing the surprisingly large shuttle, Rael made his way out side and was met with a squad of Quarian migrant fleet marines.
"Captain the Admirals are waiting for you"
"Thank you sergeant" he followed the 4 marines as they made their way through the ship to the meeting room where he would inform the Admirals of perhaps the best hope for their race.
X
Terminus Systems
Star date: 12th February 2158
QMFS: Naaros
Zaal koris Admiral of the heavy fleet looked at his fellow Admirals as they bickered
"What do you mean I can't look at the ship it's ours now" argued Daros Xen the Young admiral in charge of the science ships was a scientific genius but she was also obsessed with it having it take precedence over everything else, even her own daughter.
"I didn't mean it like that but, what I was saying is that we shouldn't strip it to the bone, we need all the capable ships we can get" replied Koral Drax the Admiral in charge of the civilian fleet was reaching his retirement age but still held a slight youthful energy about him that made it clear he had a while to go yet before kicking the bucket, unlike most Quarians.
"Enough both of you we shall decide what to do with this ship after the meeting." Lora Raan said wearily clearly all this arguing was giving the middle aged Admiral of the patrol fleet a headache
"I agree let's focus on the meeting"
"But the captain isn't here yet" replied Xen looking to continue for arguments sake
"I am now Admirals" 4 sets of eyes locked onto the young captain. "Apologies but I had to be searched and cleansed before being allowed in here" the captain made his way into the room unaware of the little chip that was still hidden in his suit.
X
Terminus Systems
Star date: 12th February 2158
QMFS: Naaros
Cortana hid in the systems able to see and hear the meeting thanks to the numerous cameras in the room, she thanked whatever deity was out there that the Quarians attached mics to their cameras.
"Now captain please explain what the leader of this new race proposed."
"She said that she and her race had recently had a brief but surprisingly brutal war with the citadel council."
"We had heard rumors from returning pilgrims of such a thing, there were even rumors that the citadel lost."
"I can assure you that from what I have seen and have been told those rumors are true, the commonwealth, as they call themselves, used tactics and deception to surprise the council and take the citadel, while keeping their respective governments occupied with diversionary attacks."
"Impressive they have my respect" Zaal conceded
"But the reason they want to negotiate an alliance with us is because they feel they need allies, they know at the moment they would either lose or be badly crippled in a war against the council now they know their full strength so they are seeking allies to bolster the ranks, in return we get technology, aid… they have even offered their assistance in the retaking of Rannoch"
Silence filled the room like a thick cloud.
"Can they do it, can they help us" now came the moment of truth.
"They gave me a data package that contains a few things, including some of their capabilities." The Admirals took the package and sent a copy to each of their omni-tools.
"We will look over this information thank you captain." Rael was about to leave but decided to say a few parting words
"If I may Admirals, these people are offering us a new chance at a new life, while I don't agree with a few things about their society, they may be our best hope for the future" the Admirals nodded their thanks uncertainly.
Cortana hummed slightly, it appears that the captain is invested in what we have to offer, I hope the admirals are the same as him.
X
2 hours later
Cortana knew she was hoping for too much given the Quarians past experience with AIs but she had hoped anyway.
"AIs!" exclaimed Karol he was practically radiating anger "Do those fools not realize the danger they are putting themselves in with those things, they need to be destroyed."
"But Karol these people have been able to tame their AIs and have been using them for over a century surely they know what they are doing." Argued Daros
Zaal and Lora remained silent both of them watching the bickering pair while silently contemplating. Eventually Lora spoke
"I have an idea I propose we let the captains of each vessel decide for themselves, we tell all the captains over the comms what the commonwealth has proposed and what they are capable of… and what they posses, and we let each ship and their crew decide which path to take." The Admirals looked at each other and nodded their silent agreement.
Cortana remained silent and once again silently opened up and heavily encrypted vid call to Sir Integra.
"It seems Ma'm that the fleet may splinter, they are letting the captains of each individual ship choose what is best for them and their crews." Integra was silent
"I see, keep me posted I need to make a few calls" with that the line went dead and so Cortana kept he silent vigil of the Quarians.
X
Terminus Systems
Star date: 12th February 2158
QMFS: Naaros
Zaal stood on the bridge of the Naaros as he and his fellow Admirals prepared to make a call to the entirety of the fleet, one that could change the very fate of their species.
Zaal started "People of the Quarian migrant fleet today is a day that will change our very species, a few hours ago the captain of the ship Raaya returned with his crew in a ship never before seen in council or terminus space, a ship belonging to a new race" People stopped working families stopped to listen, the fleet was silently listening to the transmission broadcasting on the speakers.
Daros continued "They have come to us with an offer for an alliance, they can offer us amazing new technologies, protection and aid from threats… a way to retake our home world" murmurs started throughout the fleet as what was just said sunk in.
Karol followed on "But there is a danger, this race uses AIs to a massive degree in their society, the same monsters that drove us from our home world in the first place, admittedly they appear to have mastery over them and have been using them for over a century but an AI is still an AI." Shocked, fearful and angry started up louder than the previous ones at the thought of this race blatantly using AIs like they had so long ago.
Lora finished "This decision is too big too daunting for me and my fellow Admirals to make alone for this reason we ask the following of every single ship captain, consult your crew and find out their opinion, when you have reached a decision if you wish to enter an alliance with the commonwealth head towards the relay and form a group there if you wish to find your own way make stay at your current position you have 7 hours to decide. Thank you everyone Keelah salai" The Quarian people were silent as the implications of this choice sunk in, nobody could believe what was happening but they accepted it was a necessary evil.
X
Terminus Systems
Star date: 12th February 2158
QMFS: Naaros
Cortana remained silent as the Admirals finished their speech, then she opened her private comm channel to Sir Integra.
"Have the Quarians made their decision?"
"They have, the captains of each individual ship with the consultation of their crew are choosing whether to stay independent or forge an alliance with us, they have 7 hours."
"I see inform me when those who are forming the alliance are on their way."
"Of course Ma'm" Cortana cut the link and a strange feeling of apprehension worked its way into her core processor.
X
7 hours later
Cortana watched on as a fleet of 47,000 ships held orbit near the Relay, a surprisingly large number, more than Cortana had dared hope for. The remaining 3,000 ships were maintaining orbit around a large gas giant in the local system, they would remain for a few more hours to gather themselves together before leaving and heading who knows where, the 47,000 ships who would forge an alliance with the commonwealth made were waiting a safe distance away from the relay finalizing a few final details before leaving the system.
Cortana felt the comm ships comms channel open and she tapped into it, it was Admiral Lora Raan making an announcement.
"People of the Quarian fleet, today we make a major step into the unknown we make way to a nearby commonwealth system to meet a people we know nothing about in the hope they can help our dying race, for those of you who are staying behind I wish you the best of luck Keelah salai" with that the large fleet of ships made for the relay and Cortana opened a comm channel to Integra
"They are on their way Ma'm"
"Excellent, your work is finished their Cortana make your way back to the commonwealth systems"
"Yes Ma'm" piggy backing on the signal that linked her to the commonwealth cyberspace she left the Quarians ship systems and made her way home.
X
3 hours later
Terminus Systems
Star date: 13th February 2158
QMFS: Talrons
It had been just over 3 hours since the Majority of the migrant fleet left the system leaving the remainder here alone, Koral Drax Admiral in charge of the small remainder of the Migrant fleet was looking at a picture of his daughter on a data slate. It showed her in her little bubble since she was too young to have a suit, she and his wife had gone with the majority of the fleet to start what they felt was a better life, but for him he couldn't get past the AIs there was too much bad blood for that to be possible.
He was about to order the small fleet to leave when he heard his sensor officer call for his attention.
"Sir unusual anomalies detected, they match the commonwealths form of FTL" Koral looked at the screen and it did indeed show the portals, out of them came a large number of ships… warships. A transmission was heard over the radio
"This is Rear Admiral Archer in charge of the commonwealth 1st and 3rd battle group, this is a courtesy call, you have in your possession sensitive information pertaining to the commonwealth, since you are not associated with the commonwealth in any way you have been deemed a threat, say your prayers to whatever gods you believe him you will be meeting them soon"
Koral felt his stomach plummet, I knew the data package Rael gave us had too much information on it. Koral looked at the slate in his hands and kissed it through his visor as the sensors registered weapons fire and a beam of highly accelerated particles pierced his cruiser and ruptured it's eezo core, the ship exploded in a flash of light shortly followed by the rest of the small fleet.
As the commonwealth scavenge crews made their way through the wreckage they found an intact data slate… showing the image of a young Quarian in a bubble.
X
Yang: jeez Ruby dark much
Ruby: he he sorry, I thought it would be a good twist
Me: uhghgargh
Yang: you okay
Me: gather the candy canes we must defend the toffee fortress from the unicorns
Yang I think I might have broke him
Weiss: you don't say.