Well, here I am with another chapter! Can't say too much about what will happen, so I guess you'll just have to read!
Also, still plan on a few crossover stories with a COG fleet. These will be shorter and I really have no idea when they'll be written after the Shatter/Time/Slipspace event since I do have other stories to write including this one.
Still, I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter Twenty: The Hollow
Sera. Old Gerrenhalt, Southern Tyrus 28th of Bounty, 425 A.E.
Light snow was falling like slow ash, coating the crumbling ruins of the long dead city in white. Several of the remaining towers leaned precariously along the crater, the large lake covering the worst of the destruction caused by the Hammer Strike.
Fed by the nearby river, the lake was already freezing, but the local wildlife didn't care. Trees and vegetation still sprawled along the rubble choked boulevards, feeding biomes of herbivores and carnivores that now made this abandoned city their home.
But the most interesting feature was the numerous fissures around the city, the old tunnels of the horde still viable to reach the subterranean world of Sera.
Voices and the sounds of humming generators disturbed the serene snowfall, along with the mechanical sounds of machinery behind a shimmering energy barrier that protected the excavation site. Extending outward by nearly three hundred yards in a very broken, haphazard attempt at a rectangle, the pylons had been placed among the piles of rubble, overgrown piles of brick, and near the rusting frames of ancient vehciles. Most had fallen into piles of metallic remains, leaving a rusting engine blocks and rotted tires while a precious few Seran skeletal remains sat in those rusting tombs beyond the humming barrier.
However, the most significant feature of the site was the gaping maw of the emergence hole situated in the overgrown ruins of a business plaza.
Surrounding the massive Emergence hole were several prefab structures, all a good hundred yards from the actual site. Low slung and white, the temporary housing and labs were nestled by some fallen buildings, the Seran structures clogged with overgrowth that continued to collect the falling snow. Floodlights had been set up, surrounding the pit for the fall of darkness, but that was still a few hours away.
Doctor Tula T'hale had stepped out, the cold air making her breath visible as she watched a few Turian soldiers stand around, their purpose to guard the excavation from any hostile life that managed to get in.
"A full month of planning and gathering personnel…finding a viable site. I can hardly wait" Smiling as more snow fell, she turned toward a newly arrived Salarian, a xeno-archeologist that slightly shivered despite the thermal clothing he wore.
Doctor Hin Grissik returned the smile, taking a small sip of coffee from an insulated thermos. "I'm looking forward to studying locust ruins. According to the Seran's, this city fell in the first year from a direct Locust assault. Stands to reason there was a sizable staging area or city for them below. Will be very fascinating" Taking another sip, the Salarian gave another shiver, the species ill suited for this type of cold. "Hopefully warmer as well"
"I just wish the others at Jilane could come with, but they're already neck deep in their own work. Plus, the Coalition isn't really concerned about a secondary research group near one of their dead cities" Feeling more snow fall on her blue tinted crest, the Asari woman gave another sigh. "Just wish they would be more helpful, but I can understand their hesitation. Aside from the Geological Department of Sera and their staff, none of them venture below ground" Turning her gaze to the elevator cage being checked and rechecked by a team of Turian machinists, the cage would be lowered tomorrow, supported by several pulley systems as the research group finally descended into the Hollow.
Hin began to talk, recapturing Tula's attention as she expelled another chilled breath.
"It is comparable to the Terran version of hell, except it has been proven to hold monsters. Would love to discover locust evolutionary origins" Sipping more coffee, Grissik watched as a few Terran scientists gathered around a console under a heavy awning, the two women and lone man working on a probe craft to survey the depths.
After all, the Council team wasn't stupid. Only a fool would descend blindly into a potentially hostile environment.
Bringing up her omni-tool, T'hale clicked on a data file, the subject describing the hostility of Heart Leeches. She may be a xeno-biologist that has studied life across the known galaxy, but even she had no desire to be attacked by those nasty creatures of the Inner Hollow.
It made her thankful that the Turian soldiers would be accompanying them down below.
"Hey! We're ready to launch!" the human male shouted, giving a wave as most of the gathered aliens halted their tasks.
Gathering around the humans, the aliens waited as Doctor Hanna Shelby, a geologist took control, typing in the commands.
With a low hum, the probe lifted off the nearby cradle, then rapidly dove into the Emergence hole as the pilot watched from the central screen of the console, giving the gathered a viable look at the underground world below this forgotten city.
Pulsing light came from the probe, showing up on the multiple screens as data transmitted topside. Mainly scanning for instability and possible collapse, the incoming data continued to fall within acceptable parameters.
"Looks stable…" Muttering lowly to herself, Hanna typed a few keys as the probe scanned the tunnel walls, checking for collapse and unknown fissures.
"I honestly was expecting the whole thing to be caved in after all this time" Sipping his own hot cocoa from a thermos, Paul La'croix periodically checked the incoming data, but everything continued to fall within acceptable parameters.
Reaching the bottom after several minutes of descent and nearly two miles of vertical distance, the probe camera panned three hundred sixty degrees, transmitting the data of a rather empty looking chamber far below.
"Alright. Let's go forward a little bit" Expelling more misting breath among the light snow fall, Hanna steered the highly advanced probe forward along the old Corpser tunnel, the panning camera still showing gouged walls slick with condensation in a continuous visual feed.
Slowly floating around a sharp bend in the subterranean tunnel, the probe finally came to another opening, the small machine humming along with barely a sound near the ground.
The chamber was large, a carved dome showing massive vine growths and what looked like a natural spring along the left side and near the bottom level. Panning to the right, movement came from the extreme fringes of the cameras.
"Now that's what I'm talking about. Le—"
Something attacked the probe, the piece of technology suddenly cutting off with a squeal of dying electronics with a split second image of teeth across numerous screens. The data stream went blank a mere two seconds later, the main screens of the erected science console showing only black.
"Looks like something down there didn't like your little floating probe" Smiling with a light chuckle of humor, Paul replayed the last moments as Doctor T'hale and Grissik peered over his shoulder.
Freezing the last frame showing the open maw of the creature and a few hardened stone plates around the hungry mouth, T'hale smiled with increasing excitement. "That's a Rockworm! I'm sure of it!" Waving a dismissive hand at one of the Turians, Tula was still bubbling with the desire to descend now. "It's an herbivore and relatively harmless. Only attacks if its soft tissue takes damage. According to the files, they wouldn't even know you were there. AH! Can't wait!" Bunching her fists as more snow fell upon the encampment and ruined city of Gerrenhalt, Doctor T'hale knew that the day was already trudging toward evening.
She barely slept a wink that night, her excitement for the expedition into the Hollow making her scientific mind reel.
The Hollow below Gerrenhalt, 29th of Bounty, 425 A.E.
Slowing to a halt with a dull thud, the caged elevator had reached the bottom of the Emergence hole rather safely despite the small scraping along the vertical shaft minutes before.
Retracting the metal rolling door, the scientists and guarding soldiers filed out, the squad of four Turians rapidly advancing toward the first turn with Phaestron rifles ready.
Of course, Tula T'hale was practically on their heels with the other biologists.
Rounding the corner of the cave, the Council team halted in their tracks at the mouth, each taking a few precious moments to comprehend the sight.
It was a sizable chamber, the former probe barely having time to record the subterranean cavern the day before.
Reddish vines with glowing bulbs rose from a small lake at the bottom near the left wall, the water feeding the plantlife with nutrients as several species gathered around and drank from the source. Covering the walls like tendrils, the vines hung from stalactites, their surface dripping with condensation.
The circular bulbs pulsed with low light, the ebb and flow completely in unison with all the rest across the curving ceiling of this subterranean chamber.
To the left along a narrow ridge, a Rockworm slowly disappeared into a hole in the wall, the tail end sliding from sight with a crunch of churned gravel.
"There's another tunnel past the lake" Pointing, Sergeant Trantius studied the passage half covered in vines and glowing bulbs. Glowbes, according the Coalition files. Assessing the area, Trantius deemed it relatively safe for the scientists. "Alright, begin setting up equipment. We'll set up an advance camp near the tunnel until we progress further" Pausing, his silver gaze narrowed toward the nearby Asari female. "There are two main paths further down to the lake. Nobody is to leave this chamber without my permission, is that clear Doctor?"
Several bats screeched and clicked from the ceiling, the winged creatures fluttering suddenly as they hunted for their next meal.
"Of course" Smiling like an excited child, Tula T'hale knew the team was already setting up equipment for samples and discovery.
Obviously letting the others set up, she descended the right path toward the right hand side of the chamber, the Asari scientist using her omni-tool to begin scanning the plants and the hanging Glowbes. Pulsing light waves fell across the biomass, feeding data to the female.
Picking a Glowbes fruit with a small tug, she held it to her face, the light pulse fading as she scanned once more.
"Fascinating…"
Shrugging, she took a bite, knowing full well that the Serans had used them as a food source after the Locust war.
"Doctor. Please refrain from eating the plant life" Trantius said with a monotone as his men secured the ridge with a few hasty positions.
"It's been confirmed safe by the Coalition centuries ago. In fact, it's very easy to grow and nutritious" Taking another bite of the orb, Tula shrugged, the Asari trying to hide her frown from the taste. "It's sour and mushy, but we might be able to grow it on new colony world's"
"Mind if I try?" Hanna Shelby asked with a mischievous grin, the human female descending the connecting incline path. It looked natural but was probably dug by the Horde.
Taking a small bite as the Turian Sergeant shook his head, Hanna chewed slowly. "Reminds me of a lemon" Taking another small bite, Hanna knew it wouldn't be her first choice in food, but it would be better than nothing. Returning the Glowbes to T'hale as her eyes wandered around, Hanna took in the large chamber filled with subterranean plants and small herbivores.
Doctor Hin Grissik frowned, the Salarian having a minor fascination with the lifeforms. While his colleagues may be content, he was an archeologist and came here to study the locust civilization. Nexus may have been destroyed centuries prior, but he had no doubt settlements and encampments remained all across the Hollow of Sera.
Turning to the Turian in charge, he walked up with brisk footsteps. "Sergeant. I came on this expedition to study the locust, but this area is bare of their former habitation. I would like to continue further into the Hollow with the others" waving a hand, there was Doctor La'Croix, two more Salarians, an Asari, and a civilian Turian double checking their packs and digging tools.
Taking a long panning study of the cavern and subterranean lake, Trantius then glanced at his three soldiers, each a professional from the Embassy security force present on this planet.
"The rest seem content with studying here. We can radio if an issue arises, sir" A private informed with professionalism. Standing guard at the entrance with another, both soldiers took the task seriously.
After all, they had studied the potential threats of the Hollow since learning of the assignment.
"Private Floritius, with me" Turning his silver gaze back to the doctor, the Sergeant leaned forward. "You will follow my instructions. If I say leave, we leave. If we come across one of the many hostiles down here, we fall back. Understand?"
"Of course" Surging with excitement, he went to gather his own supply pack, the splitting expedition hastily double checking their own supplies. Slinging it over his slender shoulders, the doctor checked his side arm, the Striker a reliable pistol produced by a Turian company.
While a few of his compatriots had acquired some Seran firearms, Doctor Grissik had no desire to use such archaic weapons.
Still, it had been agreed upon that all would be armed prior to the descent, and he felt a little better knowing he could defend himself.
"Ready?"
"Of course, Sergeant" Ambling down the decline of weathered stone and past the lake, Grissik followed the lead Turian past the hanging vines and glowing orbs into the connecting tunnel.
They felt like leather to the touch, each strand falling away as the party moved forward into the increasing darkness. More vines flowed along the walls, the light drip of water mixing with the pulsing light of bioluminescence that illuminated the path forward.
"I have to admit, it's hard to believe this is Sera. Or that monsters lived down here at one point" Paul La'croix commented, the man recording everything with a shoulder mounted camera. Connected to his omni-tool, the fellow archeologist tried to envision the war…the locust horde traversing the Hollow. But his mind just…couldn't. Panning his gaze as the coloration of the plantlife grew to a harsh, pulsating crimson, Paul instantly connected the dots to images of hell.
Even with the movement of the aliens around him, the shadows seemed to jump and tilt, making his heart beat a little faster as sweat began to form across his brow. Wiping some off, he watched as the Asari female, her skin and crest seeming to bleed with red light looked around warily.
Snorting at himself after a few moments, Paul knew he was being ridiculous. "It's just an extensive plant system with reddish bioluminescence. Hardly anything to get worked up about"
Still, they all knew of the horrors that had lived down here and Paul continued to sweat despite his best efforts to calm his racing heart.
A light rumble came from their left among a gnarled collection of vines, bulbs and spanning spider webs, making the group come to a sudden stop as Trantius took a knee, his rifle snapping up an instant with Private Flortius. It appeared to be a recess or side chamber as the light tremor continued…only for a Rockworm to emerge from the darkness, the maw snatching up a Glowbes bulb that had fallen nearby. Eating contently, it moved on in a slow crawl before the team, heading toward a similar exit hole set along the opposite wall.
Unleashing a small sigh, Trantius stood up, the minor threat gone.
"It really didn't notice us at all. Maybe we should shoot one, just to test it" Flortius lightly joked.
"Or you can fall in and do your job. We're here to protect the science team, not shoot the native life because you felt a need" Voice hard, he knew it had been a little tense and the Private was known for his sense of humor.
"Yes Sir" Re-raising his rifle toward the glooming, crimson path, the Private took point, rapidly passing the Rockworm disappearing into the wall.
Sharply turning right, then angling downward among outcrops of rocks that could easily hide a crouched soldier, the team advanced slowly under the pulsing crimson light and fleshy tendrils that snaked above them.
Reaching the bottom of the decline after a cautious hour of walking, the numerous species halted as their boots crunched loose gravel.
Low, blood red light came from ahead, along with the echoing drops of falling water coming from a heavy wall of thick insect webbing interwoven with more of the vine system. It was crimson and scattered, the bioluminescence giving a constant low pulse that bathed the group.
"Let's get past these vines" Using his own omni-tool's blade function, Sergeant Trantius swung, cutting through the thick, hanging tendrils and taught webbing of unknown insects.
A few sprayed a bluish nectar fluid when cut, splattering across the ground and Flortius as the two soldiers continued to cut.
"Thank the Spirits it's just plants" Wiping a few flecks from his armor, Flortius stepped through the gap of vines to explore the other side.
"Damn. You all need to see this" Talking loudly, the solider stepped aside for the others, each filtering through the hanging tendrils that fell from the tunnel ceiling. Some spider webs caught among the group, but it was a minor inconvenience as they stepped through.
The cavern was simply…massive. From their position on the elevated locust road, none could even see the other side of this gargantuan chamber carved out of the planet's crust. Fluttering wings beat among the hanging stalactites from the upper roof, the bats swirling among more of the permeating tendrils and vines that seemed to go on for miles in all directions. To the left past the sharp cliffside a mere thirty feet away from the science team, a torrent of a waterfall gushed, falling deep toward the bottom of the cavern. Mist rose with thunderous echoes, the water taking on its own hew of crimson and darkness.
Bioluminescent Glowbes covered the walls among more of those vines, painting the carved structures in ominous shades of red with shadows looming like empty eye sockets.
Crumbling Locust carved bridges connected many of the subterranean structures, the gaping holes of unknown dwellings carved directly into the rock. Toward the center of the sprawling habitat, numerous large avenues were now almost overgrown, their décor hidden among centuries of neglect. The main thoroughfare bisected the city, rising on a crumbling road to connect with the tunnel they had emerged from that was now littered with fallen piles of rock or rotting sandbags.
"Now that…that's something alright" Letting a low whistle pass his lips, Paul panned his gaze across the obvious Locust stronghold.
"We're sure they're all dead, right?" The Asari archeologist asked, Jae Pi'tol's voice a little nervous and shaky as she stepped close to the ridge line, her own gaze falling on several overgrown structures. Squinting, she thought she could make out skeletal remains, but they would need to descend further into the locust city to find out.
"Of course, they are. Seran's didn't leave a single one of those monsters alive" Cradling his rifle, the Turian activated his comms to the surface. "Base Camp. We've found a locust city about an hour away from the Emergence Hole outpost. Seems relatively intact. We'll assess for establishment of a secondary research camp"
"Confirmed Sergeant. We'll be ready to move once we receive your safety report"
The comm crackled slightly, the interference minimal as the message ended quickly.
"May we proceed?" Grissik asked with obvious impatience as the Salarian archeologist practically jumped from foot to foot.
"Watch your step and stay in the area. This place is massive" Looking once more at the locust city, Trantius tilted his gaze downward, the sprawl of ruins going toward the bottom in a twisted labyrinth of roads, bridges, and paths cut between stone buildings.
"This place could stretch for miles. Thank the spirits it's empty" Taking point once more, the soldier led the way down the main road along the ridge line, heading toward the dead city of extinct monsters.
Garren Sortius followed closely with the group, the Turian archeologist in stride with the lone human as they approached the spanning bridge the locust had used to transport troops to the surface during the war.
Tendrils of vines and plant life covered the stone barriers of the bridge, crawling like an infection with pulsing light among piles of dust. Covering numerous defensive positions and the crumbling bones of drones, the scientists picked their way slowly across the span of stone.
They reached the far side without incident, but immediately halted as the main road split into a four way intersection, leading like arteries into the ruins. The left road was partially blocked, the fallen form of a skeletal Brumak overgrown with moss and snaking tendrils of plants.
Walking forward, Garren lightly tapped his claws against the long dead beast, the mouth of the skull partially open with those horrifically sharp teeth. "Could you imagine facing such a creature on Earth? Or Palaven? Amazing and horrifying at the same time. The Serans…they do deserve respect" Bowing his head in a slight prayer for the fallen of that generation, Garren stepped away from the crumbling beast.
"I'd rather not" Resting his own palm against the lumpy forehead of the skull larger than his own body, Paul only felt a slight shudder from his inner soul, the man withdrawing his fingers in a flash of movement.
Even now…centuries later…these creatures were remembered for their ferocity and brutality. The mere thought of Earth facing them made the man shudder.
"There's a staircase. I'd like to see what's below" Jae pointed as she switched on a shoulder mounted light attached to her suit.
Situated in a recess near the intersection and connecting bridge on the right, it led downward past several vines and Glowbes, the plant pulsing with red light as it draped over the stonework.
"Same" Voicing his own interest, Paul wanted to explore as did Garren.
"Alright. Flortius, go with them. We'll be in the area" Trantius panned his gaze, his eyes falling on the ruins that loomed with history. But despite the monsters that lived here in the past, nothing moved aside from the distant rush of water and a few bats circling the ceiling.
More lights switched on, Private Flortius leveling his rifle as he descended the stone stairway toward the next level of the subterranean ruins. Taking each step slowly, he could feel the weight of the war down here…and the pulsing Glowbes nearby didn't help. Hanging from a wall of vines on their right hand side, there really was no safety railing…just a long way down toward a subterranean lake fed by the waterfall.
"Watch your step" Peering past a small gap in the vines, the soldier knew the chasm below the main bridge had to be several hundred feet.
He reached the next level without incident, the multiple beams of lights stabbing the darkness below the road above. Cobwebs were thick, dragging between supporting pillars as the strands reflected the illumination.
Jae panned her own gaze, the Asari stepping further into the darkness. Pushing through several tufts of webbing, the beam of her light fell upon numerous metallic pods, some opened…others fallen on their side. They were rusted, covered with more webs of insects among the protruding spikes.
Several spiders crawled across one, the beady eyes a collection of black reflection. Fortunately, they were a rather regular size, barely two inches long. Scurrying away, Jae felt her breath hitch…then exhale.
"Relax. They aren't the Corpsers"
Taking a small drink of water from her canteen, she knew the fear was ridiculous. The locust were gone. Just fallen ruins and decaying bones.
Crouching down with her omni-tool, the glowing technology recorded and scanned the first open pod with skeletal remains inside. Gently touching the rusting hatch, Jae felt a renewed sense of loss as the tool picked scanned the dust covered bones. "These are locust prisoner pods…" whispering the words, she had read the files on these objects.
"It would be better to be killed than taken prisoner" Garren added, the Turian crouching down next to the Asari.
"I can't imagine it. I know the Batarians are brutes, but this was simply…torture. The historical files…are not adequate" Gulping, Jae panned her light inside the tiny tomb, finding rusting stains across the back.
"A poor soul…"
Paul La'croix walked further into the gloom, his own shoulder mounted flashlight illuminating several doorways and work areas with rusting hulks of machinery…much of it manually powered judging by the archaic design. "I think this area was a slave work area. Probably forced them to make weapons judging by the machinery" Stepping forward into the nearest room, Paul cast his gaze across numerous relics of the locust war splayed across stone workbenches. They were covered in dust and more spider webs, among numerous ancient tools.
"The museums of Earth would love this stuff…actual Locust artifacts…" Extending his hand toward the rusting hammerburst half buried under piles of dust, Paul knew he would be set for life with these relics upon his return to Earth.
Something shifted…crawling from a crack in the base of the wall.
Paul shifted immediately, the archeologist drawing his M-3 Predator. Sure, it wasn't fancy, but the collected embassies of numerous species had supplied civilian grade weapons even if a few took the Seran's archaic chemical firearms. Paul preferred something modern, and this was as modern as it got.
Gripping with both hands, he stepped back as the creature wriggled from the hole in the corner. It was sickly gray, the six legs spindly and pointed like an insect. Its body was about two feet long and tapered near the end past a bulbous thorax while the head sported numerous eyes. Opening its maw, rows of teeth extended outward, the flesh pulling with a sickening display.
"Oh shit…HEART LEECH!" Firing in a panic, Paul actually managed to kill the little monster with some mass accelerated shots, the pulses of light flashing in a staccato.
Three more emerged from the hole, making the man stumble back and tripping over the stone lip of the doorway entrance. "Shit!"
Swarming with little screeches, they were on Paul in a second, his civilian grade barrier pulsing with light as they bit and snapped.
Then the personal shield failed, letting the creatures rip into Paul's chest in mere seconds. Blood sprayed as the Heart Leeches cracked open the rib cage of the screaming man, his internal organs open to the feast as more pulses of rifle fire cracked.
Jae screamed, the horrific screams of Paul a nightmare to behold as his feeble thrashes became weaker by the second.
"ALL OF YOU, RUN!" Private Flortius ordered with a screaming bellow. Firing his rifle, pulses of harsh light snapped and connected with the feeding leeches, each blast illuminating the slave pen like a flash of daylight.
"Spirits…" Watching the man die in a blood soaked horror as one Leech ate his heart with a sickening chew of flesh, the Turian fired and fired as more of the Heart Leeches emerged from their hiding holes among the darkness, the presence of the living drawing them out.
Taking a step backward toward the stairs while firing, Flortius was relieved that the others had listened immediately, already fleeing to the bridge and intersection above.
More pulses of rifle fire flew and snapped, flaring between the pillars and prisoner pods as nearly a dozen of the Leeches screeched and charged among scurrying legs like a horde of spiders.
Killing three, Flortius's rifle steamed, the heat too great. Swamping out the heat sinks with practiced training, the soldier stepped backward onto the base step near the edge of the cavernous pit filled with water far below. "You little bastards" Firing professionally and killing four more with gruesome bursts of flesh and insectile screeches of pain, Flortius took another retreating step as more of the tiny beasts emerged, their hunger almost insatiable.
Four of them jumped, arching through the air in a surprising display of maneuverability, barely avoiding the low hanging ceiling.
Flortius managed to kill one in mid air, the creature coming apart in a burst of disgusting flesh. But he was too slow to avoid the other three as they landed on his body, each biting at his combat shield.
"G…GET OFF!" Grabbing one, he pulled it free, flinging it into the nearby chasm. Firing blindly in a flail of movement, five more swarmed the soldier as he tried escape…only for the added weight to push him over the edge past the flimsy wall of vines and pulsing Glowbes.
Sergeant Trantius arrived just in time to watch his comrade fall over the side, his fate sealed. Leveling his rifle at the swarming Leeches, the soldier fired, killing more of the beasts as he clamped down on the sudden loss of a comrade.
"EVERYBODY FALL BACK NOW!" Tossing a flash grenade into the swarm, the Turian made sure Doctor Sortius and Pi'tol were already running across the sprawling span littered with overgrowth. Firing another long burst into the Heart Leeches as the stun grenade blew, the creatures screamed with agony from the harsh light. Stepping backward, he fired another long burst of accelerated rounds into the tiny horde, the dying leeches screaming with agony and hunger.
Panning his gaze, he saw the three Salarians still crowded near a few locust remains at the north side of the intersection. "HEY YOU THREE! FALL BACK! NOW! WE ARE LEAVING!" Roaring as he flung a second flash grenade into the swarm, Sergeant Trantius fired until his rifle overheated, then rapidly swapped the heat sinks.
Doctor Grissik rapidly finished packing the bone samples of the long dead Beserker in his pack as his fellow Salarian's turned and ran, the call to retreat permeated by flashes of gunfire and several blasts of light. Rapidly securing a second bone sample from a drone corpse at his feet, Hin Grissik knew that the STG would be very pleased with a viable DNA sample locust specimens.
After all, DNA did have a half life of five hundred years or more if the conditions were right, and being underground away from sunlight or weather, the odds were in his favor for a preserved sample from both creatures. Standing up, the doctor drew his sidearm and ran, his Salarian feet taking him across the intersection with extreme haste. Turning and firing as more of the Heart Leeches emerged from the depths of the staircase and slave pen, he missed, the doctor not even close to proficient.
"I'm just an archeologist! I just wanted to study the ruins! Why did they have to contact me?"
But Grissik had agreed to the mission asked of him by a few in the Salarian embassy against his better judgement. He doubted any of them in New Ephyra were even under the STG command…only passing on requests.
At least he would receive enough funding to last the rest of his life.
Assuming he made it out alive.
Sprinting faster as the primal part of his brain screamed, the doctor simply blindly fired, the streaks of light flying above the screeching pack of Heart Leeches.
"When I say fall back, I mean it!" Running across the bridge, then taking cover at a section of outcropping rock, Sergeant Trantius kept the position and fired into the horde, picking them off as they scrambled over the snaking vines and pitted walkway of the large bridge.
Grissik ignored the Turian, sprinting further up the ancient road toward the other Salarians waiting near the top by the large tunnel entrance.
Jae Pi'tol found herself scared…no…terrified of what happened to Paul. The blood…she had never seen a human killed before…and the red was just…there had been so…much.
She wanted to kill those things. Stepping up next to their protector, she raised her hands, the tips of her blue fingers glowing. "I'll put them in a Stasis Field! Kill as many as you can!" Activating her biotics, the flood of energy washed over the screeching Heart Leeches, freezing them in place.
"Thanks for the assist!" Taking rapid aim, Trantius fired with extreme proficiency as he picked through the frozen creatures.
A burst of pistol fire came from his left, Doctor Garren adding his own assistance by killing two of them.
"Please…hurry…." Straining, Jae pushed more of her biotic power into the field as the two Turians destroyed the horde under flashing of deadly light.
Bursting bodies flung ichor, the last hostile creature dying with pitiful wails.
"Dammit!" Activating comms, Sergeant Trantius reloaded a heat sink, popping out the smoking piece of tech with practiced ease, his facial plates shifting into a Turian scowl. "Bortius! Ramraka! Get the biologists topside immediately! Confirmed two KIA!" Barking the order through the comms, he was already sprinting up the inclined roadway, not waiting for a reply. They were Turians. They would follow his orders.
Tremors hit, shaking loose gravel and stone near the three Salarians who were simply trying to stay upright.
"AHHH!" Letting out a startled scream of fright as the ground gave a shift, Jae Pi'tol tripped, only to be helped up by the soldier.
"Stay upright!"
"Oh goddess! It's the Locust! They're back!" Overcome with increasing levels of fright, Jae instantly knew that coming down here was a horrible mistake.
"No, they're not! This is probably a tremor or seismic event. Try to calm down" Garren reasoned, the scientist still reeling from the sudden deaths as he kept pace.
Jae nodded, her face twisted in rising fear while her inner monologue reeled.
"They warned us…The Serans warned us to stay out of the Hollow. Once again, we didn't listen"
Reaching the large tunnel as the tremors halted, the group pushed through the tendrils of vines. Emerging with hasty steps, it was almost as if the cavernous tunnel was…darker.
Many of the Glowbes had fallen from the vine system, littering the ground in fading crimson light as the trio of Salarians ran ahead, their haste to flee pushing each faster as their fear bubbled.
"Stay together!" Roaring, the Sergeant might as well have been shouting to a wall.
They were civilians, and Salarians at that who were simply trying to reach safety.
Hin Grissik saw something emerge from one of the Rockworm holes in the wall, the dark red shadows jumping with slithering intent. Running faster, he ran past as sparks of light seemed to jump and grow.
The other two doctors screamed, their alarm filtering above the fresh stink of crackling electricity.
Hin took a brief look backward at his less fortunate comrades, the two frozen in their tracks with fright.
The Serapede rose up, its curving carapace of plates illuminated with fresh sparks of electricity between its pinchers. Extending nearly eight feet tall, it clacked its maw, the predator eyeing the meal.
"Serapede! Get out of the way!" Pressing the rifle to his shoulder, Trantius tried to get a shot, but the insect moved quickly as it snapped its pinchers and picked up one of the Salarian scientists, the electricity burning the flesh of the alien as he screamed. Closing its pinchers with a vile snap, the Serapede cut the Archaeology Technician, Ban Hever in half with barely any effort. Gore and ichor flung through the air, covering Doctor Lellek as he hastily pulled his pistol and fired, the flashes of light burning against the walls of the large tunnel.
"MOVE!" Firing in a long burst, the accelerated rounds slew through the air, striking the monster center mass.
They bounced off its thick plated carapace, the slivers of metal not up to the task.
Rearing back its head, the Serapede launched a stream of deadly acid toward the Turian, the vile concoction arching through the air with a bubbling deadliness.
Ducking behind a low outcrop of rock with the two others, the grotesque liquid splashed against the rock, crumbling the stone with hissing pops of green bubbles that simmered. Popping up, Trantius fired again at the Serapede, the creature letting out a horrible screech as two rounds tore off a pincher.
Having enough of the fight, the beast grabbed half of Ban, dragging the very dead Salarian into the wall hole, leaving a trail of fresh gore and blood.
More rumbles vibrated along the interior of the walls, shaking the vines as more of the horrid beasts clicked and screeched from surrounding locations.
"Run. Don't stop for anything!" Rushing forward to help the fallen doctor, the four ran with haste, the walls a pulsing red like human blood.
Clacking grew louder, along with more of the terrible scraping of multiple legs across the hard rock. Hastily turning, three more of the Serapede's had emerged from the walls, their slithering bodies a disgusting black.
Their silhouette's burned among the darkness, each creature's electric pinchers snapping with low pops of natural power.
Trantius turned and fired, laying down a full clip of mass accelerated rounds into the creatures. Light pulsed and ebbed, like a staccato before he grabbed a fragmentation grenade and threw it.
Landing among the pursing beasts, it burst with deadly shards of shrapnel, ripping apart two of the creatures with a sickening pop of insectile flesh. Rendered armor plates and gooey ichor pasted the walls, leaving the last Serapede with a free meal.
"You could have killed us all in a cave in! What if that grenade had collapsed the ceiling!" Jae shouted, the Asari simply running and constantly looking back.
More Serapedes had emerged, but they were feasting on the dead, making the poor doctor want to lose her lunch.
"Just keep running and don't stop" Cradling his rifle, Sergeant Trantius knew there would be hell to pay with three dead in less than five minutes.
"I think I see Doctor Grissik up ahead" Garren uttered while still sprinting, none daring to slow down. Eyeing the jinking form further along the tunnel, it could only be the fleeing doctor.
"We'll regroup when he tires. Fear has taken control of him" Looking back as the tunnel curved, Trantius found none of those deadly creatures pursuing, but with all those legs…he knew they could move fast.
Maintaining a steady pace of retreat, the surviving expedition members continued to fall back as the ground gave a light tremble with haunting clicks of numerous legs that echoed from the catacombs of the tunnel around them.
"ON THE LIFT, NOW!" Corporal Ramraka roared out, the second in command of this expedition not wasting a moment to follow the orders of the Sergeant. Gripping his rifle, the blue tinted Turian was all scowls with the sudden communication.
Whatever had happened, people were dead, and the Sergeant had ordered him to retreat to the surface.
"What's going on?" Tula T'hale inquired, the lead xeno-biologist showing creasing frows of concern as she approached with Hanna Shelby, the human woman having filled her pack with numerous rock samples.
"Get on the elevator, now" Tone like iron, he cocked his head to the rear tunnel, expecting the two females to comply.
They did, along with a few more of the nearby scientists and researchers that hastily packed up and sprinted toward the recently constructed cage elevator.
Panning his gaze, Ramraka gave another curse and scowl, his eyesight falling on two Asari and another Turian near the underground lake at the bottom of this chamber. They were taking water samples, probably some other specimens as well.
"Dammit. Bortius, make sure the rest are secured on the elevator. Forget the big equipment for now. I'll go get our stragglers"
Giving a relenting nod, the final soldier rapidly fell back into the initial tunnel, nearly pushing the last Salarian with haste as the subterranean biome gave a light rumble.
Activating comms, Ramraka broke into a sprint, the tremor pulling at his instincts to get out of this place. "Doctor D'Shale. You and the others retreat immediately" Descending the twisting paths and inclines of this cavern, Ramraka felt relief as the trio below began to pack up with practiced ease.
Reaching the shoreline a few minutes later, he cradled his rifle, the solider glancing at the nearby tunnel of vines and sinister reds that his Sergeant had disappeared into over an hour ago.
"We felt tremors. Did something happen to the advance team?" D'Shale asked politely, but with a sense of urgency as she secured the last of her samples. Standing up near the other two females, Her purple skin seemed to dance with the ripple of water nearby, the reflective light making her appear majestic in a way.
"I have orders to secure everybody and retreat topside to the research camp" Not telling them of the deaths, it would serve no purpose and could cause panic or fear in the civilians. Hell, he didn't even know what happened yet, only that frantic radio call from the Sergeant a few minutes ago.
Something moved in the water…the surface giving a fresh ripple.
"Get away from the shore" There was no give in his tone, only the expectant obedience Turian's expected when giving commands in hostile situations. Pressing his rifle to his shoulder, Ramraka barely completed the motion when the Leviathan burst from below the surface of the lake, its maw nothing but teeth and death that spanned nearly ten feet wide. With several glowing bulbs at the top of its mouth, the Leviathan roared, the aquatic life shaking the nearby chamber.
"FUCK!" Nearly tripping in surprise, Ramraka fired at the sudden emergence of the gargantuan beast, its tentacles snapping forward toward Icetia Agoraka, the Aquatics specialist letting out a startled gasp of surprise. Wrapping around the female Turian leg, the flesh tendril squeezed and began pulling its prey to the shore.
"Spirits! Help me!" Screaming as she was dragged across the loose soil, Agoraka pulled her sidearm in a desperate bid to harm the beast. Firing into the maw, the accelerated rounds impacted the back of the throat, but did little harm as she let out another painful howl from the crushing vice around her leg.
"The Bulbs…those throat bulbs are a weakpoint"
Shifting his aim, Ramraka fired at the yellow pustules, his rifle emitting a staccato of light bursts. Accelerated slivers of shaved metal flew fast, impacting the hanging sac of yellowed flesh. Bursting with a splatter of rancid gore, the Leviathan groaned, the tendril loosening…then retreating toward the vile maw of teeth.
"Grab her!" Firing at the other hanging sac of yellow, Corporal Ramraka kept the monster at bay until it disappeared below the waves.
"D…Did you kill it?" Face pale, D'shale helped Agoraka stand far from the shore edge, the female Turian giving painful moans as she attempted to stand on both feet, but failed due to the fractured bone within.
She was fortunate it hadn't been crushed.
"No. I only made it angry. Can you help her to the elevator?" Looking back at the lake, Ramraka didn't see movement, but that didn't mean it wasn't there…waiting for something to get close. Replacing the heat sink, the small object flung to the ground, its usefulness gone.
"Yes" Nodding, both Asari lent a shoulder, helping their fellow scientist up the nearest incline.
The water rippled again, the Leviathan peeking it's eyes above the surface…almost to glare at the armed Turian guard.
Retreating up the incline, Ramraka took a knee, activating his comms once more. "Sir. Be advised, Leviathan in the lake. Keep a wide berth when you return" Abruptly turning, he covered the three scientists, retreating toward the Emergence Hole and the surface far above.
New Ephyra…the next day.
Snow fell upon the capital city, blanketing the rooftops and streets in white. Slow and lazy, it was a light snowfall, barely a few inches as early winter made itself known.
Sitting behind her desk, Chairman Diaz stared with barely visible contempt toward the Terran and Salarian ambassadors.
"One of our scientists is dead! Same with the Salarians! Yet you do nothing to retrieve their remains or even give the slightest effort of assistance!" Pointing his finger, Enrico Salvador was not his normal, jovial self.
In fact, he was damn furious that three people had died on that expedition, along with a fourth suffering leg fractures.
"Ambassador, I feel compelled to remind you that under the Onyx Accords, the Coalition is not required to assist in any archeological efforts on their homeworld…or any planet for that matter. While we have the ability to assist if desired, it is not required" Staying calm, Dalben remained seated before sipping a blue colored drink, the light alcohol quite pleasant despite the unfortunate events the day prior.
"I realize that. But the Systems Alliance wants answers!" Raising his voice again, the diplomat was still quite angry.
Chairman Diaz shrugged, the falling snow outside lifting and swirling in awkward dances beyond the window of her office. "I believe my government warned you of the dangers down in the Hollow. We even provided detailed files on threats and hostile life, yet the Council and Alliance pursued an excavation and exploratory mission" Leaning forward, her gaze took on a glint of steel despite her natural beauty and raven black hair. "There is a reason why my people avoid going underground, and you just learned that valuable lesson. Just be thankful only three died down there"
"And what do I tell La'croix's family? Or my government?" Still visibly angry, Enrico finally sat down, his face a harsh scowl.
"He volunteered of his own free will to pursue his field of knowledge. Sounds to me he died doing what he loved" Standing up, she walked to her small bar, pouring herself a local brandy that almost glittered. Pouring a second glass, she held it for the Terran.
Anger finally ebbing, Salvador stood and walked over, taking a small sip. "Is there nothing the Coalition is willing to do about this? What about retrieving their remains for burial back home?"
Diaz's face went blank, her head already shaking back and forth. "That is a foolish notion. They're already dead and I'm not going to commit military assets to bring back a few corpses that have no doubt been carried away. Those Serapede's probably left nothing to find anyway" Leaning against the bar, Izabel sipped her drink, the alcohol a light burn down her throat.
"Chairman Diaz is correct. Trying to secure the remains of the fallen at this point would be a foolish, possibly costly venture with nothing to gain" Taking a drink of his own, the Salarian eased back, the tension ebbing in the room. "Besides, the effort was not a complete loss. Knowledge of subterranean life was secured along with possible new food source for colonial efforts of the Council. Glowbes could prove beneficial to orbital facilities with energy and water limitations"
Unleashing a mournful sigh, Ambassador Salvador knew there really wasn't much he could do. Sure, he could order a few of the Alliance soldiers that protected the Embassy to go down there, but he'd probably be throwing lives away.
The Coalition wouldn't help, and honestly, he knew it was a long shot anyway. To the Seran's, the Hollow was their literal hell. They monitored it, planted seismic beacons and sensors, but aside from those few brave souls willing to follow that career path, none ventured below.
Finishing his drink, Salvador left without another word, leaving the Salarian alone with the Chairman.
"I do wish this meeting had been under more favorable circumstances, but my government accepted the risks, along with those involved. It was our own hubris and haste that brought harm to the expedition"
Retaking her seat, Diaz lifted the drink to her lips, sipping slowly before setting the glass on a coaster. "Are you planning another exploratory mission to the Hollow?"
"In the immediate future, no. We underestimated the situation and must plan accordingly. For the moment, the research site will concentrate on surface efforts"
"That would be the smart move" Easing back as more snow swirled, she studied the Ambassador, the alien slightly smiling before finishing his drink. "I'll inform your government of any changes, but for now, we will simply gather data and relics from the surface. Good day, Chairman" Turning, the Salarian left, leaving Izabel alone in her office.
"Damn fools. We warned them of the threats down there. But no, they didn't listen" She couldn't fully criticize though. The Coalition had made its own mistakes in the past, including herself. Nobody was perfect, but maybe the Council finally learned to stay out of those deadly Hollows.
Staring out of the panning window the falling snow covering New Ephyra, the chairman decided she would take an early day.
After all, she would be launching her re-election campaign at the end of the month, a mere few days away.
On a whim, she initiated communications via her computer, the camera capturing her visage with seamless efficiency.
Her daughter appeared on the screen half a minute later, the image showing Valentina Diaz. With raven hair spilling down her shoulders among the tanned skin of their family, it was very easy to identify the facial similarities.
"Mom. It's nice to hear from you. How are things?" Her voice was clipped and disciplined, years of military service showing with each word. But despite that, she still smiled, even if it was minimal.
"Do I need a reason to call my only daughter?" Smiling back, she took another sip of her brandy.
"I suppose not. You're fortunate to catch me now. I just finished my duty shift"
"Lucky me" Taking another small sip, the mother eyed Valentina upon her computer monitor, her daughter giving a slight raise of her left eyebrow.
It was an unspoken question, a minimal facial expression that made the Chairman take another sip. "The Council went down in the Hollow despite our warnings. One of their research expeditions"
Valentina immediately became serious, her hazel eyes taking on a harder tone. "How bad?"
"Three dead. One injured. Found one of those locust settlements down there" Waving a hand in dismissal, Izabel continued. "The Turians didn't really say much, but the Asari and Salarians that survived the encounters refuse to return down there. Probably will need some therapy after encountering some Serapede's. Of course, the Terrans raised a stink, just had the Ambassador in here yelling his head off about their dead scientist" Taking a longer pull of her drink, the amber liquid was getting low, but Izabel wouldn't refill it. Barely noon, any second drink would be asking for clouded judgement.
Valentina gave a simple shrug, her slender shoulders barely noticeable. "Not our responsibility. They all accepted the risks going down there"
"True. But the Salarians will probably attempt another expedition in the future"
Frowning, Valentina stood, leaving the camera angle before returning with a drink of her own a minute later. "I still don't like the idea of alien's on the homeworld. Same with Pandora"
"Neither did I. But if we didn't open up somewhat after the war, it could prove worse in the years to come. Plus, there are Serans willing to work and live beside the civilized galaxy"
"Still don't like it, mom. But, you're the Chairman" Taking her own drink, Valentina smiled a few moments later, the upward curl of her lips growing mischievous. "So, the fleet is heading toward Anvengad. I hear upgrades of some kind, but nothing confirmed. Care to share, mom?"
Diaz grinned back, finishing the glass of brandy quickly. "I'm sure Admiral Carmine will inform the officers under her command in due time" Ending the line of questioning, she knew eventually the news of upgraded slip drives would become known to the galaxy, but for now, the Coalition would do its best to keep it secret from their potential foes.
Grinning wickedly, Izabel changed the subject, her gaze scrutinizing her daughter. "So. Have you considered birthing some children? Repopulation efforts must continue"
"Mom. I'm not even forty yet. I have decades to birth a child for our species. Plus, my duties keep me very busy" Looking away from the screen, Valentina drank a little more, the subject breeched numerous times in the past.
"You could go to one of the repopulation centers if you're not interested in dating. Some Seran women make a career out of producing offspring"
"I'm well aware of all the programs, mother. But you're still young enough for more yourself. Could gain votes when you launch your re-election campaign"
Barking a short laugh with a wave of her hand, Izabel almost snorted in bemusement. "The rigors of a political campaign while carrying a child? No thank you"
Laughing some more, it was rich and pleasant as the two talked, each enjoying the chance to catch up despite their busy lives.
Anvengad System. Anvil Fleetyard, 1st of Frost, 425 A.E.
Spinning slowly under the warmth of its parent star, Anvengad was already experiencing the heavy snowfall of winter. Cities were blanketed by ice and snow among the harsher latitude's while the equatorial bands of settlement faced increased flooding among deep cut rivers that flowed between the numerous mountains that hosted countless bunkers and strongpoints.
Of course, the Anvil Fleetyard couldn't observe the beauty of the mountainous world ripe with forests, wildlife, and a planetary population of three hundred million.
Floating serenely between the abundant twin belts of asteroids of the outer system, the orbital yard had been originally built out of an oblong, craggy chunk of rock eight miles long. Over the years and decades, expansion had been made with orbital berths, foundries, civilian structures and defenses spanning outward.
Now, those naval berths were hosting the fourth fleet, the heavy vessels and capital ships taking the first slots for the approved drive upgrades. Already, the massive Anvil Gate was undergoing retrofit as suited workers poured over the rear of the Monitor class warship. Floating along side them were several machinist craft, most equipped with grapplers and other assorted attachments for every conceivable task as the pilots inside worked around the clock to install the latest Slip Space drive.
Of course, the newly approved Strand class Destroyers were now under construction, the effort to replace the aging Baird class approved just days before.
Swarming workers in space suits worked with purpose, the tiny pinpoints of arc-welding light fitting the first frameworks of standardized materials for the new warships among dozens of slips open to the vacuum of space.
Desmont Jorren watched the constant activity of construction through the bar window, the spanning arc of heavily reinforced material stretching in a curve along the outer length of the asteroid that gave an endless view of the galaxy. Lifting up the frothing beer mug, the young man with emerald green hair drank with satisfaction.
A beer after a long day working maintenance among the endless miles of shafts, hallways, and intricate systems was damn good. Setting it down at the bar, he simply enjoyed his downtime.
Hanging flatscreens hung above the bar, a few showing replays of the latest Thrashball match between the Augustus Coal Trains and the Tulla City Rockheads from the day before.
Unfortunately, Desmont had missed it, but then, the Coal Trains had lost anyway so he didn't miss much.
Taking another deep pull of his beer, the maintenance worker contemplated ordering some food as the bartender talked with a few other patrons at the far end of the bar.
He recognized Admiral Alya Carmine, the woman with flaming orange hair pouring over a data pad with a few other officers.
She was one of the big war heroes, having participated in some of the worst naval battles against the Toads.
And if Desmont were to admit, beautiful. But that beauty hid a woman forged in steel and the fires of war, something Desmont had no real comparison.
But he had nothing to be ashamed about. He didn't fight, but he also helped to keep this massive Fleetyard maintained and working for the war effort. Some Serans had fought, others built ships or mined resources to feed the war machine.
Taking one final glance at the Admiral, he turned away as the bartender approached his empty glass.
"Nother one, Desmont?" the woman asked, her flowing blonde hair falling past her shoulders and relatively plain clothing.
"Sure Milla. Maybe a burger too" Smiling at the attractive woman, he watched her fill up the mug once more before she set it before him.
Both were distracted by the news switching from sports to current news, the familiar image of Chairman Izabel Diaz taking a seat with some female reporter back on the homeworld. Both women looked regal and elegant, carrying strength and purpose as the blonde reporter finally spoke toward the camera.
"If you're just joining us, I'm Lessilla Halbana. With me is Chairman Izabel Diaz who just announced her bid for re-election this morning" Turning toward the seated leader of the COG, Lessilla gave a stunning smile.
"Chairman Diaz. You're officially running for re-election after numerous months of swirling speculation. Could you tell me, and the citizens of the Coalition what the future goals of your administration along with the Naval-Industrial party are?"
Izabel smiled, her warmth hiding the steel behind her eyes. Folding her hands in a light clasp, she rested them upon her lap. "Of course. When I'm re-elected, I will be continuing to push for a strong navy as a first line of defense against any potential enemies. But, we are also at peace after years of war and destruction that affected countless colonies and systems. Supporting reconstruction, re-establishment of colonial interests and repopulation efforts must be prominent along with a strong naval deterrent"
"You ran on expanding the navy the first time, and the Coalition has certainly expanded our forces due to the war with the Toads and Batarian's. With current fleet numbers sitting at approximately sixty five hundred vessels, what would you do to preserve our hard won peace and security?"
Izabel gave a small chuckle, her warmth displayed. "Funny you should ask that. Just a few days ago, my administration gave the final approval to begin construction of a new destroyer class of ship, The Strand. With numerous upgrades to launching capabilities, shields and armor, these vessels require only half the crew of the older Baird classification. Not only will this reduce support costs, but greatly reduce naval losses in the event of another galactic conflict" Diaz frowned, her gaze hardening. "It is no secret our naval losses during the war were horrific, especially among our destroyer task groups. As long as I'm chairman, I will continue to support not just our military forces, but all efforts to secure the safety and survival of the Seran people"
Lessilla bowed her head, the Seran woman showing respect to the fallen before pushing the next topic. "Let's talk about the Onyx Accords. Last week, Charles Wiess announced his candidacy in support of several hardliners. He says if elected, he will repeal the accords and remove any non-Serans from all Coalition territory along with constructing two additional fleets to protect our sovereign territory"
Once again giving a mirthful chuckle of bemusement, Izabel gently shook her head. "Well, he certainly is entitled to his opinion. But repealing the Onyx Accords will only foster greater mistrust and hatred between our species and the Citadel Council. Those Accords were signed in good faith with our neighbors, neighbors that fought along side us in our most destructive war since the locust"
"Then you supported the Council presence on Pandora, specifically the Turians?"
"I will admit it was a very hard sell, but thousands of Turians, Krogan, Asari…even Terrans fought under the Coalition banner for a fresh chance on a healthy garden world. So yes, I do support it. Or rather, I support the upholding of our treaty. Breaking it would be dishonorable, and would tarnish our name and hard won reputation across the galaxy"
Desmont stopped listening as his food arrived. Picking up the juicy burger, he took a bite, the savory juice and richness of the meat filling his mouth.
Glancing up a the flatscreen, Chairman Diaz was still talking, the point moving onto protecting Seran sovereignty from outside influence.
Desmont wouldn't vote for her. Sure, she helped win the war, but it also burned across large portions of the COG that left tens of million's dead. He'll be voting Colonial-Economist, but there was still nearly a full year until the actual election. Whoever won the nomination would get his vote.
"Well, as long as they do a decent job. Chairman Diaz may be a cold-blooded bitch, but she made us into a galactic power" Shrugging, he took another heavy bite of his burger, the vat grown meat delicious. Drinking some beer to wash it down, the young man watched more pinpoints of light through the spanning bar window as numerous new warships sat in the berths, the skeletal shapes barely discernable from the background of the spinning galaxy beyond.
The Citadel, Presidium Tower, 19th of Frost, 425 A.E.
Councilor Tevos sat behind her podium, her gaze falling upon the latest news clip forwarded from the Asari Embassy on Sera.
Pressing play, the balding man in a somber, gray suit stood behind a banner of the COG, the fluttering fabric adding a sense of nationalism to the video.
"As your future Chairman, I will ensure strength and unity for the Coalition! No more treaties with aliens! No half assed responses to Council ships breeching our territory! Expulsion of all non-Serans from the entirety of the COG! But that is not all, oh no! I will ensure the creation and construction of two additional fleets to protect ourselves from alien aggression!" The man fake spat, his eyes playing with fire as he gripped the podium. "And let's not forget about the backwards, culturally inept Terrans! As Chairman, I will see Terra becoming a COG state, uniting our species under one flag…ONE BANNER! So when the time for nomination arrives on the First of Storm, vote for me and throw that soft liner Diaz out! Charles Wiess of Belpharus for Chairman!"
"Goddess. I thought Diaz could be a pain but she's downright pacifist compared to this man. And he's a planetary governor?" Incredulous words spilled from her lips, the Councilor shaking her head.
"He's an extreme hardliner of the Naval-Industrial party. Fortunately, Diaz is very popular among large swaths of the population. There are three more seeking a nomination among the Naval Industrialists, but I see her easily winning the nomination for the general election next year" Procus related, the Turian scrolling through additional data files. "Potential candidates from the Green Party and Colonial Economist Party already number over a dozen, which will be flooding Coalition politics for several more months"
Councilor Vovok Junisa entwined his fingers, the slender alien eyeing the frozen image of a slightly pudgy Seran for the Green Party. "Ideally, a newly elected chairman from either of those parties would be preferred. It is safe to assume there would be a drastic increase in trade and potential sharing of vital technologies" Blinking rapidly, he continued after a light cough. "Of course, military forces are quite formidable. No matter the eventual victor, they still hold fundament core values of Seran society"
"So I doubt if…" Looking down, Procus lit up an image of his computer. "Senator Tilmston of the Green Party would suddenly hand over Slip space drives upon election?"
"Correct, that would still be an extreme example of treason. It would destroy that political party and no doubt force another calling of the Fortification Act"
"Is there anything we can do to influence a favorable outcome to the Coalition elections next year?" Tevos asked lowly, the Asari woman wondering how she could even think of something…then utter it.
"Extremely doubtful. Several agents have been exploring that possibility. All elections are rigorously secure from tampering. The mere suggestion of interference will demand mandatory investigations and recounts. Suffice to say, whoever is Chairman next year will be there by the Seran people and the votes they cast"
Tevos knew she shouldn't have asked. "Of course they secured elections. They secure everything"
"Probably for the best. We are talking about a galactic power here. If they found out we had a hand in some voting scheme, there could be war. Something I think we all want to avoid" Procus added with a dry, humorless chuckle. Sure, the Council would win…eventually.
"True. Is there anything else?" Tevos relented with a simple dismissal of the idea.
"We've been hearing rumors of a potential arms trade between the K.S.R. and the Batarians at Lorek" Junisa added with clipped rapidity, the Salarian narrowing his gaze at the mere idea.
"Send a Spectre to investigate. If its true, we'll notify the Serans…unless they had a hand in it"
"Constant fighting among the Batarians and vast array of warlords will benefit the COG. Will make seizing territory simple for future expansion. We must ensure that the Council enjoys such benefits as well" Junisa added, his speech almost a ramble.
"So maybe we should lend support to favorable groups. Nothing serious, but a few older ships and weapons?"
"Something to consider" Coughing again, Junisa drank some water, clearing his throat. "I believe that is all for the day" Suddenly standing, he coughed again, leaving his position.
Both remaining councilors looked at each other, knowing the Salarian was already past thirty…practically near retirement age already. But neither breached the subject, merely standing to head toward their respective offices.
Palaven. 31st of Brume, 425 A.E.
Spanning, majestic views of Manae and Nanus swung in the distance, each moon a guardian of Palaven. With the shimmer of metallic oceans and strong, nearly acidic greens of the land, the Turian homeworld spun lazily beneath the watchful eyes of the military.
Hundreds of warships of the home defense fleet had gathered around the fleetyard beyond the moons, the structure a mass of spires, fabrication plants, habitats and every conceivable essential for the maintenance and construction of military assets.
Primarch Bructis Darril stood behind a podium, his back facing a spanning view window that showed the deep richness of space. Flanked by numerous guards and officers, Darril studied the assembled reporters, a collection of Turians from half a different colonies across the Hierarchy. Several floating cameras bobbed and ebbed, the machines feeding the current story not only the entirety of the Turian populace, but the galaxy as well.
"At the end of the Eastern Galactic War, the Hierarchy had been bloodied, our brave military forced into retreat for the first time since the Krogan Rebellions. We, of course, persevered, bringing destruction against our enemies along side our allies and the Coalition. While the Serans and Asari reaped the benefits of newly acquired systems, we did not. Instead, we took a different spoil of war" Extending his clawed hand with a wave toward the panning glass view, a warship floated by, its size far exceeding the largest Turian Dreadnaughts in service.
"It took over a year to finish this prize. To fit it to our needs and ensure its strength to lead a battle fleet. Once the hopeful, desperate pride of the Klor'vian Caliphate, this…Super Dreadnaught is now the pinnacle of Turian military might. Three focused plasma batteries. A thirty kilogram M.A.C. cannon along its spine. The heaviest armor and shields protected by overlapping defensive laser arrays…This warship is fully capable of meeting any known hostile in the galaxy. The Sword of Palaven!" Smiling at that last bit, Darril stepped aside for the reporters to finally catch a full view of the newly minted warship floating past the orbital yard.
It was an ugly vessel of mixed green and blue materials, with several sections a patchwork of bulbous, protruding armors mixed with streamlined arrays and defensive laser batteries that sat in dipped recesses. The engines burned blueish white, pushing the vessel forward to a preset position at the lead of dozens of warships.
"Primarch! Is this a counter to Coalition firepower? More specifically, their Monitors and Super Dreadnaughts?" A reporter asked, her hurried speech indicating a rising excitement.
"This is a counter to any future threat. Known or unknown. While yes, it can go against a Seran flagship, The Sword of Palaven is meant to increase stability, control and order in the most militant parts of the known galaxy" Giving a very rare, public grin, Darril continued. "Just the mere mention of this ship will no doubt send any Batarian pirates running from our newly acquired colonies among the Terminus systems"
Eagar nods of approval rippled among the civilians, along with a few low rippling sounds of mirth.
"Does the military have plans to construct more of these powerful warships? The recent war against the Klor'vian's has shown that unknown technologies and weapons could counter even our highly trained fleets. Will this be enough to face unknown threats of the future?"
Bructis retook his stance, answering the reporter that stood near the front. "Future naval construction will make plans for several, but that is several years in the future. But yes, if we are to face an unknown, hostile species, this warship, and others like it will face that threat, and emerge victorious" Giving one last wave, Primarch Darril left, quickly stepping through a side door as guards fell in line.
Taking a seat behind his sprawling desk an hour later, Bructis Darril tinted the windows of his office, diminishing the blazing sun that beat down on the Unification Tower and capital city of Palaven.
Already, his advisors and high ranking military officers had gathered, simply waiting for his arrival from the just completed launching ceremony. Seated around the sprawling table, they remained silent for a moment.
"That went very well, Primarch. Not only does the Sword of Palaven show our might, but it shows it to the Coalition as well" Admiral Decmus Linsis stated with a hint of smugness.
Rippling nods came from several other officer's, most very pleased with the versatile firepower of the seized prize.
"Except they already knew we had it. They were there at the surrender too. We may have taken a step closer in matching their capital ships, but they would still be a damn hard foe to beat if it ever came to it" Panning his silver gaze, Bructis settled on a middle aged Turian, the male's facial markings a swirl. Dressed in non descript civilian attire, his plates and ridges were very gray and plain.
"Director Tovvonus. How is progress on Operation Asteroid?" Shaking his head at the name, Bructis hadn't decided on it. The designation was random, but at least misleading if anybody stumbled across it. The only ones that actually knew of its existence sat in this room or were on site. No data trail, no paper trail. No shipments on the books.
Aside from the name, it officially did not exist.
"Very slowly I'm afraid. The Serans rip temporary holes in Space/time and manage to push their vessels into another dimensional layer. The math and calculations alone will likely take years. Then assuming we figure it out, the spatial forces involved will require new technologies as well"
"You've had years, director! Just wha-!" Stopping himself, Decmus reeled his emotions, lest he forget his station among the highest levels of government.
Tovvonus glared lightly at the outburst, but dismissed it. Returning his attention to the Primarch, he continued. "This is an entirely new form of starship drive. One that we believe, has extreme potential"
"How so?"
"Increased efficiency means increased speeds. When the Serans first developed it, their ships barely made a light year a day. Now, they achieve fifty. I have no doubt that they're looking to increase efficiency, meaning that at some point in the future, they could travel hundreds of light years in a single day, making the Relay's truly obsolete"
"And us vulnerable. Already, doctrine is changing with the advances of our own drives infused with seized Klor'vian technology. But warships bypassing all of our defenses? Emerging from nothing without warning, we need to develop Slip Space, director" Pushing steel into his voice, the Primarch was all business as Tovvonus gave a curt nod.
"We will continue our best efforts, Primarch"
"See that you do"
Letting the subject drop, the meeting moved on to more standard affairs of the Hierarchy, notably the colonial efforts among the newly acquired systems seized among the shared southern Coalition border.
System SU-483. Deep inside the Salarian Union 2nd of Storm, 426 A.E.
Belching solar flares erupted from the red giant, spewing stellar matter and radiation across the lifeless system of heat blasted worlds, dead planets and sterile asteroids that tumbled in an oval ring along the outer reaches of the system.
Swirling gases floated among a shattered moon, blanketing the fourth planet like a miasmic blanket as the two worlds slowly spun around their raging parent star.
The moon itself had cracked open eons ago, the cataclysmic collision with a rouge comet ripping open the inner moon to the cosmos. Fields of tumbling rocks still collected around the revealed core, its heat a bare fraction of its past self.
Tucked in the dark recesses, the outpost was barely discernable from the surrounding regolith and rock. No outward windows, no hazard lights…nothing to indicate its existence aside from an access port.
Home to nearly two dozen scientists and researchers, they each knew that they worked for the STG and Salarian government but ignored that fact to further their fields of study.
Repan Nalu walked quickly and briskly along the sterile corridor, the geneticist having just finished an early meal among his fellow scientists. The food was nutritious, grown in the hydroponics bay to minimize supply shipments to this very secret, and very out of the way outpost.
Turning at the next right, Repan almost collided with one of the theoretical physicists, a doctor Zeralan. Rapidly sidestepping with barely a mumbled apology, Nalu finally reached his laboratory. Passing after the necessary security measures, he sighed with relief.
Computers blinked slowly, bathing the laboratory in a off color blue. Numerous apparatus sat, each a sensitive piece of equipment that would advance his research.
Stepping across the room, he finally approached a sealed pedestal of transparent material, the two objects resting with care on metallic cradles.
Smiling, Repan tapped the glass, almost willing the locust bones to spring to life.
"What secrets do you hold? I will gladly find out" Smiling again, the Salarian had no qualms about conducting illegal genetic research, or trying to find a way to bring these creatures back to life.
"Just think. If we could control these creatures, all potential enemies could fall before the might of the council" Laughing lightly, he knew those in power would disapprove, but if recent events proved anything, it was the galaxy held unknown threats and very real dangers.
"An army against the Geth. Maybe even the Serans if they continue to prove hostile to Council interests" He snorted at the thought of those Serans, then opened the tiny chamber and picked up the Beserker bone with gloved hands. Setting it in a scanner, the machine would continue to map out the DNA code, constructing a more complete picture every day.
Still, it was an agonizingly slow process. Even after mapping was complete, growing a proper drone could take years.
But Repan was content to do the work. To ensure that the Council and by connection, the Salarian Union had the means to defeat all enemies.
Picking up the drone femur, he set it in a metallic cradle of an analyzer, the small glass partition sliding over the piece. Humming softly, Repan went to his computer to continue his very important work. Typing rapidly, a thought occurred to the male. "Ah, Coalition lost this round. Have no idea a new game began. Quite an interesting development"
Typing happily, he turned on some light music, his mood soaring as the machines continued to scan the bones of a long dead race.
Codex Update: Numerical Naval Assessment of Races.
Quarians: Fifty Thousand
While the Migrant Fleet is considered the largest concentration of vessels, it should also be noted that a vast majority are support ships, obsolete transports, colony ships, and other assembled craft. The military fleet is still sizable, taking up nearly a third of that number. And while it is believed they could defeat the Turians in battle, it would be a disastrous victory, hastening their extinction.
Turians: Thirteen Thousand
As the strongest military force among the Council, the Turians boast one of the most advanced and powerful navies of the galaxy. Having seen minor action during the Relay 314 incident, this would later be dwarfed by the 'Eastern Galactic War' Also known as the Seran Contact Wars, the conflict saw numerous fleets engage in full on warfare between the Klor'vian Caliphate and Batarian Hegemony.
It was during the conflict with 'The Toads' that Turian forces experienced their first loss at Vio'shelek, a military setback not witnessed since the Krogan Rebellions. While they did launch a counter-attack, the cost was bloody, resulting in thousands of war dead.
Asari: Six Thousand
The Asari navy was considered the most advanced in the galaxy only a few short years ago, but recent events have forced a rapid reassessment. While still versatile and capable, the Asari navy is not designed for standard naval battles. Rather, they prefer 'hit and run' tactics over massed volleys with enemy fleets.
Salarians: Four Thousand
Relatively small compared to the other galactic powers, the Salarians have invested considerable resources into developing rapid strike flotillas and squadrons over massed fleet formations. While mass formations were necessary during the war, most naval actions were minor as the Salarians had no viable avenues of attack at the time.
Serans: Six Thousand Five Hundred
Like the Turians, the Serans have invested in heavy fleets designed to dish out extreme firepower and survive heavy damage. However, unlike the rest of the galaxy, the Serans completely standardized the construction of every class of ship. With interior latticework supports, each vessel is capable of withstanding horrendous damage while still functioning. Numerous examples of vessels with crippling damage still fighting are now part of the galactic record.
Another note is the Slip Space drive, high energy beam weapons, and the size of their dreadnaughts which outclass the Asari Flagship, Destiny Ascension.
While not the largest navy, it is believed the Coalition could possibly win a conflict with the Turians.
Terrans: Three Thousand
A relative newcomer to the galactic community, the System's Alliance fields a small, but versatile navy. Built to advance deeply into enemy territory, the Alliance fleet believes in cutting off supply lines to let their enemies 'Wither on the Vine'
This tactic proved very successful against the Batarians, but unfortunately, the Klor'vians enacted a terrible cost against the Alliance during the battle of Vio'shelek. This has spurned the Alliance to expand with an emphasis on advanced weapons, armor and shields to survive any coming conflict.
With the current state of the Batarian civil war, the Alliance is continuing to gain merit and recognition among the galaxy as they rigorously protect their border from pirates, slavers, and hostile warlords.
Batarians: One to Three Thousand
Due to the fracturing of the Hegemony, initial estimates are poor as independent systems, warlords, the Batarian Star Belt Nation, and the diminished Hegemony all fight for power, territory and wealth.
Klor'vian's: Two Thousand
Having fought against the might of the galaxy and lost, the Klor'vian navy has been crippled to a mere shell of its former self. While they are still permitted to keep two fleets, any future construction of warships is prohibited along with any military excursions. Failure to comply will result in military action from the Council and the Coalition
It is noted however that despite their horrible track record, the Klor'vians did develop notable plasma weapons and essential engine upgrades that are now being deployed across the known galaxy.
So, that's the chapter! Sorry it took so long but work and life are busy! Also, FYI, I'll be updating other stuff so realistically, next Rising update could be closer to end of summer. Sorry, but with nice weather, I'd rather enjoy it before it turns to ice and snow again.
Hope you all enjoy!
Thehappy
