Authors note: This chapter took way to long, but that's probably because life is taking a not great turn right now. I'll spare the details, but it'll probably be a while before this gets another update. Or anything for that matter.
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Salaana K'thikra did regret what she was doing.
Taking a shuttle, going down to the Raloi world and speaking to them, telling them truthfully what was happening and how to prepare, perhaps even using herself as a bargaining piece with the Bataraians to leave. Anything to give the Raloi, to give a race unknowing of just what horror Batarians could unleash on them, a chance to fight back or be prepared.
And it was utterly pointless in all reality, and she knew it.
A single Asari life was by no means even close to equal to a world of easy slave pickings to the Batarians. She had no idea how much trust the Raloi would give her, or if they would not simply imprison her. No, she could not keep the idea from her own thoughts. She was not doing this solely out of the goodness of her heart.
She was doing this to spite her captain, and the Asari Republics as a whole.
The idea of falling back when you could not win a fight was not wrong, but to abandon a primitive race while doing so was. And so was simply watching them, saying nothing to the rest of the galaxy, manipulating the galaxy, making plans generations in the making to other races and unable to be countered simply by the time they took to be completed or even discovered. The Asari republics were the reason the galaxy was in so many different messes. The galactic economy was on the decline, piracy was at an all-time high, the Hannar had split off from Council space and just like the Batarians, had become a rogue state embroiled in piracy.
The galaxy was in a state of upheaval.
The Turian Hierarchy and Salarian Unions were trying desperately to fix the situations with the Hierarchy pushing more and more fleets out to patrol Council space for everyone's safety. The Salarians were trying to break apart cartels before they struck, trying to help the Turians find pirates, trying to help fix the economy any way they could.
And all the while, The Asari republics did nothing. They did not help in dealing with patrols, did not help to fix trade or corruption in the economy. They simply sat, using their ancient by other spices standards companies and business to rake in as much money as they could. The Asari republics was experiencing a massive upsurge of economic growth and expansion while the rest of the galaxy suffered around them, and few realized the Asari were part of the problem with their matriarch and histories.
Or simply did not care about the lesser, shorter lived races, as some Asari referred to the Turians and Salarians.
And she hated it.
Her mother was a Pariah among her people, cast out for a minor crime, while her father had been a Salarian. She had watched her own father die in her mother's arms, had seen what had caused it, and as she was taught, as she learned, she realized that her father had died by no action of her mother, but by what the Asari had done to the Galaxy. Living for a thousand years deadened the Asari as they aged, making them worry only about themselves as they got older, and with that shit came the issue of other races, though by no way that they could notice, not with their lifespans.
But who could possibly upend the entirety of the Asari republics? How could a single person upturn all the corruption in the galaxy and fix things, when the oldest and most powerful Nation in the galaxy had no intentions to fix anything?
"And here I am sacrificing myself out of spite and acting like I am being noble," Salaana said with a sigh as she saw that her shuttle was now through the upper atmosphere of the world. When she had contacted the Raloi they had merely given her a place to land and nothing else. Soon she would meet them face to face and find out her fate. "And maybe I can help prepare them for what is soon to occur."
Salaana was silent as she continued down though the atmosphere of the Raloi home world. Breaching through the clouds she could see it in full. A city built up along the coast of a great sea or ocean. Building of hues jade, azure and orange with long outstretching platforms upon every level giving the building a look not dissimilar from some species of tree's. she could see vehicles of some form shaped faintly like animals, wide winged things with shifting flapping sides, dart-like spears that sored through the air, and even simple shaped blocky object all moving through the air. Though it became quickly apparent that the dart-like ones were combat ships as she soared up to her shuttle and took positions around it on all sides.
She could even see some sort of camera like objet pointing at her shuttle. The message was so clear she dint even need to read t the barely translated garble that appeared on her console. She simply followed the ships down the city's length to a peninsula of landing pads.
Pads surrounded by a number of vehicles of some kind, likely military.
"It seems I will be getting put under guard at minimum," Salaana said with a sigh as she led her shuttle to the pad and landed. And in the next moment one of the dart-like ships landed in front of her shuttle, blocking her view of the pad around.
After a seconds she got up and headed to the doorway of her shuttle. A quick glance told her that the atmosphere of the planet was breathable, and with a deep breath she pressed a key and the scuttle door opened.
Before her was an array of Raloi, bipedal Avians with plumage upon their backs and arms, most wearing what looked like some equivalent of body armor, while a few wore much more flowing robes that looked light and free moving. Those in armor were pointing what she could only assume to be primitive weaponry at her, so as to not seem threatening she raised her hands to the skies slowly to show she had nothing in them. "Can you, understand me?" She asked slowly, knowing that translators took time when they were new or just learning a language. "We spoke before I entered atmosphere."
The robed Raloi let out squeak that was much higher pitched than a Turians squawk to Salaana's ears, and in response many of the armed Raloi stepped forward and surrounded Salaana. Then let out shrill chirps to her, gesturing towards a vehicle by the robed Raloi that opened a second later.
"I understand, I will not resist," Salaana sai as she slowly walked toward the robed Raoi, the armed ones never moving their guns away from her. As she approached the robed one she watched it climb in to the vehicle and found herself almost pushing in after.
The inside if the vehicle was simple. A couple oddly angled benches, likely designed for the Rai themselves foremost, as well as what looked like a primitive screen of some kind. There were also five more of the armed Raloi, one by the door by her, and the other four to either side of the robed one.
"Yuu, Call from sky, your kind," The robed one said, its tone and words broken, but able to be picked up by Salaana's translator. The Raloi then tapped something ,and rough image of the Asari Republics ship appeared on the screen.
"Yes, that is the ship I was on."
The image change to the ship, showing it at a different angle. "Andabon."
"Pardon?"
"Vealve."
"um."
"Escape."
"Oh," Salaana said in final understanding. "Yes, it left. It abandoned you to your fate."
The Raloi seemed to understand and tapped again, changing the screen to show the unknown alien ship. It showed it in three pictures, one simply floating in space, one while firing its strange guns, and a third that made Slaana gasp, of the ship crashing into one of the Batarian frigate's. "What, this?"
"I . . . . Do not know. They are an unknown alien even to us."
He Raloi made a noise that was something between a chirp and a squawk and stood up, slamming a limb, one that appeared to have feathers across the entire length of its surprising length, to the wall. The image change again. "Ally, enemy?"
Salaana looked at the new image in utter confusion for what it showed was an entirely new ship, similar to the unknown aliens one, but seemingly larger and sleeker in design. It was an impressive thing of artistry, but what scared we was the ship that was behind it. Almost triple the size, a huge cylinder of dark materials, a shape that reminded her of the rumors of collectors.
"I, I don't know."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"It is suggested to brace as we shall be leaving the Celestial Currents in mere moments," the Termenin's AI said as it holographic form stood near the wheel of the Termenin.
Skrikt glanced at the Hologram and then to Jack, who merely let out a light chuckle. "I'd do as the Lass says my friend. The ship knows what is up after all.
"Your Ai is so lifelike," Skrikt said as he seemed to lower his body closer to the deck, his many legs spreading out as he did. "I am Curious how that is, and how our own might be upgraded to be so effective."
"Our construction likely differs much, but such a thing would likely fall under the official plans between our politicians," the AI responded simply.
"Aye, but how much would you like having more to speak to?" Jack asked with an odd smile on his face.
"It is not known what you are speaking of XM Dee," the AI said before blinking out of sight.
"That AI, is rather, strange," Skrikt, said as he shook his head, Mandibles waving a bit as he did. "How long till we leave this scintillating field of currents?"
"Well," Jack looked at the ripples of color surrounding them. "If you watch the ripples you can eventually learn that the colors will tell you. And we'll be out in three."
"Minutes?"
"Two . . . one,"
As soon as jack said one the entire ship shivered and felt like it would buckle, huge pulses of kinetic force pressing against them from every direction as the ship slipped out of the Celestial Currents. And then, all of those feelings were simply gone as if they had never been there in the first place, and they found themselves in space they did not recognize, near a bright blue and green planet with an unknown look.
Skrikt seemed to literally shake off some nausea as he stood back up. "Curious. And much more efficient than the way our ship moves currently. Yet another thing for our kind to aim to get given from you."
"Well that'll b for the suits to deal with, as we have something more important to do," Jack said as he stepped up to the rail and looked down at the deck of the Termenin. "Alright you blubbering fools, we've arrived, first one to find the Caracal gets a drink on me at port!"
Those crew with the telescopes to actually start looking around, or close enough to computer consoles, vigorously began looking, and barely ten second later a crewmember up on the main mast called down. " Capt'n, XM Dee, I can see the Caracal," He called as he pointed toward their two o'clock angle. "Two clock at 27000, Looked to be crashed into an unknown ship that is suffering Solar damage. Two other ships nearby as well, same style, heading away from the Caracal with minor Polaron Damage. Looks like they are aiming for the planet!"
"Alright, you heard him, head us to intercept them!" Captain Kurwa called out from the deck himself before looking to Jack. "Mister Dee, you have operational control for this battle as it is your plan."
"Understood captain," Jack said with a failure of a salute. "Termenin, can you contact the Caracal at this range?"
The Termenin's AI reappeared and nodded. "It shall take just a moment XM Dee. . . . . . . . . . . I Apologize."
"No good?"
"No, I have contact, but the Caracal's AI is heavily damaged. All I am managing to get currently is an estimated time till Dark matter systems fail and Crew are suffocated, and that the ship they engaged is believed to be slavers likely aiming at the nearby planet, who have only just made satellites."
The entire ship went silent, the Ai's tones could cover the whole ship unless specified otherwise after all. The silence lasted a full minute until one of the crew called out. "XM, Unknown ships turning on intercept course with us, 26000 and closing."
"Well, you all heard our lovely AI, these are slavers that our fellows challenged to protect others, so even if we can't save our own, we'll still take up their torch! Man the Guns and prepare for combat!"
"FOR THE CARACAL!" The crew let out a bloodcurdling roar as they went to work, giving Jack a chance to turn to Skrikt, who already was holding a devise in one hand.
"My captain has heard the call," Skrikt said with a nod. "What would you have our ship do?"
Jack Dee Smiled. "Well, what did you say your ships weapon complement was again?"
Xxxxxxxxx
'or, the Ca , .. cal!'
Harper groaned as Consciousness slowly came to him. His body ached, and as he shifted a spike of pain lanced across his shoulder and arm making him grab at it, only to find no arm. His eyes shot open and looked to his left. He was still in the aurora turret, but the entire left side was crushed inward and pieced of metal shrapnel and spikes were sticking into it, including one particularly long one that was still glowing orange from its heat that was currently sitting where his left arm should have been.
"Fuck, how am I not dead?" Harper asked himself as he painfully shifted his body to the right and grabbed at his shoulder again. It hurt, but not as much as he expected now, and he realized why as the flesh of his shoulder felt hard and crisp. "Shit, that explains it. Cauterized on impact I guess," he grunted as he crawled out of the mangled chair and to the door to the turret barely a foot behind him.
He flipped the latch and slammed his good shoulder against it, expecting it to be stuck, and instead found himself falling face first onto the deck of the Caracal. And promptly wished he hadn't. The deck was covered in a hundreds of small pinpoint burn marks, and dozens of crewmembers laid on the ground unmoving. A couple fires burned and the deck itself was crunched upward in irregular places. Looking up he could see both masts had been destroyed and were completely unseen. Only the bridge by the wheel seemed untouched by all but a shouldering plume of acrid smoke.
"F-fuck. Is anyone else, alive?" Harper called out hopefully as he painfully got to his feet and began walking down the deck.
'or, the Ca , .. cal!'
Harper stopped as he heard a noise and then quickened his pace to the wheel. Barely a meter behind it was a gaping hole that he could see down into the depth of the ship through, and beside the wheel, beside the pilot who was missing his upper half, was a sparking and static covered image of the Caracal's AI. "Computer, repeat message."
'or, the Ca , .. cal!'
Harper stared for a second before realizing he couldn't understand it, though it did sound like a recording, rather than the AI itself. "How many crew life-signs are still positive?"
The Ai did not speak in response, but instead raised its hands and showed nine fingers, before the fingers started to disappear in static.
"Dam, only, I need to find them and-"A flash of light cut Harper off, making him look behind the Caracal. He saw the two remaining slaver ships burning away from him, but he also saw a sight that made him smile. Another alliance ship, bigger than the caracal, as well as another large bulky ship sort of shaped like a cylinder. What made him smiled though was the barrage of Polaron shots striking the one aliens ship, while a barrage of missiles followed, gouging into its side before it exploded. " Reinforcements. . . .we, did it, we, protected this planet," Harper said with a smile before turning back to the Ai. "Caracal, Activate, medical mode, blinkers."
The Ai seemed to freeze for a moment before suddenly becoming whole and uncovered in static. " I'm sorry, sir,"
Harper opened his mouth to speak only for the hologram to disappear with a spark, and a second later an explosion ripped out of the hole in the ships behind him, sensing him to the ground as the ship seemed to shift and shutter.
"Crap, Ai's gone, I need to find those still alive, before the Dark matter system dies," Harper gasped out as he got back to his feet and spared another look to the battle unfolding behind him. "please finish them off in time to save us."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Well, those missiles of yours are pretty effective," Jack dee said with a respectful nod as he watched the Alconian ship's barrage bore into the ship that the Termenin had barraged with its guns. The explosion was much bigger than he expected, but it was pretty boring as explosions went.
"Nettle missiles," Skrikt said with a nod. "Designed to bore into Asteroids, and burst within, making ore easier to access."
"Pretty useful for a mining tool. But if they are mining tool why do you have so many?"
" . . . . Our people, could not trust that the void would be wholly safe."
"Fair belief," Jack said as he pointed at the last alien ship, one of its strange blue projectiles narrowly missing the main mast. "Are you all Yellow bellied weaklings?! We are still being shot at! Turn us about, prepare the next barrage, give them a full fusillade!"
"AYE!"
"And what about the aurora, is it charged yet?!" Jack roared, the Termenin AI appearing beside him holding a video screen in her hand showing the inside of the turret.
"Almost there captain, just give the word and I'll make sure they get bathed in sunlight!" the crewman in the turret called out loudly, likely not realizing he was on direct camera.
"Good man, fire as soon as I give the word!" Jack commanded as he tuned to Skrikt. "How many more volleys does your ship have?"
Skrikt was silent for a moment, likely communicating with his captain, before nodding. "Two volleys are ready to fire."
"Well then, considering the ships size, fire them both when ready," Jack said as the Termenin began firing once more Polaron shots sailing across the void in an unending cacophony of destruction. The shots seem to be getting stopped by some sort of barrier, but after a moment, as he could see the Nettle missiles soaring past the Termenin, the shield on the alien ship broke. "Fire the aurora!"
A horrendous hissing noise came from the ships bow as the aurora fired, sending a person sized sphere of glowing energy toward the alien ship. It struck it on the nose perfectly a few seconds later alongside the continuing fire of polaron rounds and unfurled into a wispy coat of shimmering energy that reached halfway down the alien ship before dissipating. The alien ship in response seemed to start going haywire. It listed to the side as some internal system exploded, sending a plume of blue flames out its side.
And then the missiles struck and bored onto its long side, the ship quickly becoming enveloped by internal explosions both red and blue.
"Is that it?" Skrikt said, sounding almost upset.
"Let's not tempt fate," Jack said as he looked to the Termenin's hologram." What do sensors say, complete destruction?"
"Yes sir, Complete destruction confirmed. I have also detected complete loss of the Caracal's AI, and detect a handful of life signatures therein."
"Captain, if the Caracal has living crew-," one of the crewmen called out in horror and worry.
"Then of course we save them if it is safe," Kurwa said as he looked to Jack, who merely nodded. "Full speed to the Caracal for rescue operations, now! That planet and its people can wait, our people take precedent!"
"Captain," Jack said as he walked down from the wheel onto the deck. "That ship the Caracal is resting against is still partly whole and seemed to utterly shut down by the Caracal's aurora. Permission to lead a team into the enemy ship?"
"My captain requests the same,"' Skrikt added.
Kurwa looked a Dee, and then to Skrikt and nodded. "Granted."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Salaana gaped as she watched the grainy video if what was happening in the void around the Raloi Home world. A second strange unknown alien ship, and a great massive other ship of an utterly unknown design, and in mere minutes it seem like they utterly annihilated the two Batarian vessels and then moved toward the crippled last one as if nothing had even fazed them. The technological difference was great, making it clear that these unknown aliens did not use Mass Effect based Technologies, but even so the capability was surprising.
Salaana could not even hear the Raloi leader as she stared at the screen, a single question repeating in her mind.
Just how was the Citadel Council, all Citadel races, going to react to this?