Feared Reverence

by ayab

376 years after the battle between heaven and earth. Two humans have achieved godhood. Using their power to guide humanity to the stars. How will the galaxy react to see a species so advanced yet so primitive? So powerful yet not wanting to use their power. They are what the citadel race aspires to be and hates because of their jealousy.

26. 15

[ Standardized human date: October 21, 2552.

Normandy- Medbay

When Jane opened her eyes the first thing she saw was the white ceiling of a Medbay. Jane then tried to get up but a voice told her to stop.

"Stop right there Commander," A human woman dressed in a medical uniform said.

"Doctor Chakwas, what happened?" Jane questioned, feeling confused about her current situation.

"You've been out for almost 20 hours Shepard, we were starting to get worried. And you know you can call me Karin, Jane." Doctor Karin approached Jane's bed. "What happened to you at the Beacon? Your brain waves were active for a long time almost as if you were in a Genjutsu. What did you see Jane?"

"I saw something else... I don't know for sure what I saw. There were distorted and cut-up images. Many voices speak an unknown language and a deep feeling of despair and death."

"That could be important. If it's like a genjutsu, maybe there is some specific method that causes confusion or incapacitation for a while. Hmmm... Maybe you should consult a Yamanaka to see how it affected your mind more. I have a hunch that whatever you saw is still inside your head, waiting to come out." While she was writing what they were talking about, someone knocked on the door announcing themselves.

"You can come in… Ah! Captain Anderson, did you come to check on her?"

"Of course, Doctor. Jane, it's good to see you awake. Everyone was worried about your fainting but now that you're awake, pass Doctor Chakwas' tests and get some rest. I have things to discuss with you about everything that happened."

Jane, despite still feeling a little weak, was happy that Anderson didn't exclude her from what happened. "I understand, Sensei... Thank you"

Before Captain Anderson left the room he smiled as he always did when Jane said something that was simply obvious.

...

- Command Room -

As soon as Jane's exams were completed and she was released, Doctor Karin took her to the Normandy's control room where they were waiting for them.

When they entered the room after the announcement, Jane saw her team Kaidan and

Jenkins sits around a solid, well-lit table alongside Nihlus on the left side. Nihlus seemed to have already recovered. Officer Ashley was sitting on the right side and Captain Anderson was sitting at the head of the large table. The atmosphere in the room was tense, reflecting the seriousness of the matter under discussion.

Behind the table, a glass wall offered an impressive view of the starry space, giving a dazzling backdrop, but the concentrated gazes of those present were fixed on the center of the table, where a three-dimensional hologram stood projecting the image of Eden Prime.

Jane and the Doctor sat down.

"We are all gathered here to discuss what happened on Eden Prime." Captain Anderson began. "On the date of October 20, 2552 of the human calendar we received an emergency Transmission from the Eden Prime Colony."

"The communications officer made the transmission at 11:17, reporting that all forms of communication that did not use Chakra had been destroyed or shut down by the attackers. The main force identified in the attack was the Geth."

The Colony's hologram disappeared, replaced by an image of a metal humanoid being. "This is a Geth, a race of networked artificial intelligences beyond the Veil of Perseus. Created by the quarians as workers and tools of war, they won a war against their creators. For the next nearly eight centuries, the Geth were not seen in the galaxy. And shortly after we recovered the colony, an orbital bombardment was launched, but the Fuuinjutsu barriers around the Eden Prime colony saved it from facing the worst possibilities"

Projecting a representation of the attack, the hologram showed enemy ships attacking the colony.

Kaidan leaned on the table. "If it's been so long since they've left the Veil of Perseus, why attack Eden Prime? Could it be related to our favorable relationship with the Quarians? Maybe they want to indicate that we will be their enemies."

Jenkins shook his head before speaking. "I don't believe it. It's been many years since we interacted with the Quarians, and this attack wasn't exclusively from the Geth. I saw a Trurian at the Beacon with the Geth."

Anderson nodded, agreeing with Jenkins. "Following the attack, the Alliance reported that several teams witnessed not only the Geth presence but also members of different Council races were involved. This adds complexity to the initial narrative, which suggested a Geth-only attack."

Nihlus, who until that moment had been silent reflecting on the information, responded. "Venix, that is Trurian's name, is also a Specter and known as one of the best… Venix is also known for openly hating humans."

"Why?" Jenkins questioned.

"Venix is a veteran who participated in the Battle of Shanxi, was injured, and returned home shortly before human reinforcements arrived and won the war. His belief that humans are dangerous and the opinion that the Council should have continued the war are not exclusive to him; other Turians and individuals of different races on the Council share similar thoughts. This includes Entropy, a terrorist group responsible for the attempted assassination of Ambassador Venta Tox in Shanxi. However, I never imagined that Venix would join anything like this and engage in an attack on a colony. This revelation suggests the possibility of a broader conspiracy at play," Nihlus responded.

"But this transcends simple hatred. What occurred on Eden Prime was a real threat and could trigger a war," Ashley stated, her voice sounding cold. "I don't know what your relationship is with that Specter, but your testimony could be crucial to avoiding a conflict, as that man seems to want."

"Naturally, I will notify the Council about this! What Venix did is unacceptable. He is collaborating with the Geth and is possibly part of some terrorist group that directly attacked a colony, resulting in the deaths of many people. Additionally, he damaged a Prothean beacon. All of this suggests he has gone rogue. The Council needs to be informed," Nihlus said, visibly nervous.

"Yes, information about the attack needs to get to the Council, and perhaps we can avoid an unnecessary confrontation with the wrong enemy. Furthermore, as you mentioned, Nihlus, I believe there is a possibility that Venix not only damaged the beacon but also managed to steal the contents of the Prothean Beacon", commented Jane.

"It's an intriguing theory," Anderson agreed. "I believe this may be the true intention behind the attack on the colony. If it was just a distraction to cover up the true objective: stealing the information from the Prothean beacon. This would explain why Venix disappeared shortly after succeeding."

Nihlus nodded, considering the hypothesis. "It's a worrying possibility. If this theory is correct, Venix's relationship with the Geth has become even more dangerous. The Geth are a threat in their own right, but the Protheans have left a legacy of advanced knowledge in various technologies. If the information contained in the Beacon is with them, this could be disastrous for the entire galaxy."

Kaidan added, looking serious, "I can understand the theft of the Beacon because of the possible technologies, but there is something I can't understand. How is a Specter like Venix working together with the Geth? What common goal would they have?"

Anderson agreed and continued. "We need to act to find out what Venix and the Geth are after. If we can prove they are involved, we will have a solid case for joint Council action."

...

After the meeting, while everyone left the control room, Captain Anderson, Doctor Karin, and Jane remained. Initially, Jane thought the Captain wanted to discuss his health, but a serious expression on his face indicated there was something more.

Anderson looked at Jane seriously and began, "Jane, I'm sorry for creating this lie about talking about your health in front of others. The truth is, I wanted to have a more private conversation about what you found on Eden Prime."

Jane nodded, understanding the situation. "Yes, I found something that looked human, but it wasn't. Captain, did you find anything in the evidence collection that confirms this theory?"

Doctor Karin looked at Jane before beginning to speak, "Jane, while you were unconscious, we conducted initial examinations on the specimens you brought back from the colony. The results are troubling. The specimens are nothing more than human bodies with technological and genetic modifications in such abundance that anyone would be dead. Furthermore, with the preliminary genetic tests carried out with the identification seals, the results indicate that all specimens were colonists from Eden Prime."

Jane frowned, her expression becoming more serious. "Genetic modifications? Reanimated bodies in what sense, Doctor? Can you provide more details? Does that mean it's the same as Edo Tensei?"

Doctor Karin continued, choosing her words carefully: "The specimens do not appear to bear any resemblance to the Edo Tensei. They are nothing more than reanimated corpses; there is no trace of resurrection, they are Husks with no soul, no thought, or abilities beyond modifications, which appear to be related to improvements in physical endurance and strength. We're still investigating further, but it appears they were created and altered deliberately."

Jane was nervous about the meaning. "This means that someone has the knowledge and resources to perform these modifications on the colonists. But why? What would be the point of this?"

Anderson agreed, looking even more serious. "These discoveries make the attack on Eden Prime even more mysterious. Jane, you understand that someone has created something similar to the Edo Tensei and that this is a danger that the Kages cannot ignore.

We suspect that something really big is about to happen and clashing with the Council is not our intention right now, as this would drain many resources that could be used against the real enemy."

Jane nodded firmly. "I understand, sir, and I think the Kages are right. The Council can be a huge nuisance, but it's not related to this. It would be unwise to enter into conflict now."

Captain Anderson looked at the hologram of Eden Prime and spoke with determination: "We need to understand what is happening, and quickly. We will go to the Citadel to resolve this with the Council. In the meantime, I want you, Doctor, to continue analyzing these things for more information. If this threat proves even more dangerous, we will be ready to act."

...

- Citadel -

As the Normandy approached the Citadel after departing the Widow Relay on the Normandy Bridge, pilot Joker remained vigilant, monitoring the ship's systems. As they approached, a message appeared on the communications screen.

Identification Request*

[For unidentified vessels entering the Citadel territory, transmit your identification codes immediately.]

Deftly, Joker entered the Normandy's identification codes and confidently responded, "SSV Normandy SR-1 Frigate, Identification Codes transmitted. We request permission to land at the Citadel."

[Does Normandy have a specific reason for this visit?]

"We're on our way to the Citadel for a Council meeting." After checking the codes, the message reappeared.

[Normandy, dock 4 is available. Please head there.]

With the authorization to land on the Citadel, Joker activated the Normandy's controls, expertly guiding the ship toward Dock 4. As the ship approached its destination, he turned towards Kaidan, who was keeping an eye on the station.

"Have you seen the new Asari dreadnought? It's no bigger than one of our cruisers." Commented Joker.

Kaidan replied, observing the station. "Yes, I also heard that the Destiny Ascension is the new flagship of the Citadel fleet. It also has the latest torpedo technologies."

"No problem, Normandy can face any challenge." Stated Joker while activating the communication system to transmit a message to engineering. "We are landing at the Citadel. All maintenance personnel, please report to the dock to inspect and perform any necessary repairs on the Normandy."

After giving instructions to the maintenance team, Joker activated Normandy's internal communications system to communicate with the command room where the Captain was.

"Captain, we are at the Citadel. The maintenance crew is already on its way to the dock to perform inspections and any necessary repairs on the Normandy," informed Joker.

Captain Anderson responded authoritatively, "Great work, Lieutenant Moreau. Continue to monitor the situation and ensure everyone follows Citadel protocols while we are ashore."

"Yes, sir," confirmed Joker, as he continued to coordinate inspection operations of the ship's bridge.

...

-Council Tower-

The Council Tower stood majestically, imposing in the Citadel, drawing everyone's attention. Shortly after Anderson's conversation with Joker, he met with his team and Nihlus. Together, they crossed the busy streets of the Citadel towards the Council Tower, where two representatives of the Five Villages were waiting for them, elegantly dressed, at the entrance. The atmosphere was tense, but they maintained serenity.

Anita Goyle was the first to speak out. "Captain Anderson, it's a pleasure. I'm glad you arrived safely."

Anderson returned the greeting, "It's a pleasure to see you too. Secretaries, I know you remember my team and Specter Nihlus."

David "Donnel" Nara intervened. "Yes, I remember your team, Captain. Commander Shepard, Lieutenant Kaidan, Corporal Jenkins. And of course, the Specter Nihlus. It's good to see them again. However, the situation is urgent. We should leave the formalities aside and head to the meeting with the Council. Along the way, we will discuss further about how to act."

They went to the elevator inside the building, where Donnel started the conversation. "The colony of Eden Prime has been attacked. The Ambassadors are already having a meeting with the Citadel Council." The atmosphere became tense. "Many colonists were killed. We don't know what happened. There are rumors that a Council agent was involved. Furthermore, they tried to bomb the colony. Luckily, our defense shields prevented it. This amounts to a declaration of war."

Anita took the lead. "The attack is a problem, but rumors of the Council's involvement could cause a war. What happened, Captain? They were there. Were we attacked by the Council?"

Nihlus, until then silent, intervened. "There was an attack, but the Council is not behind it, ma'am."

Anita, suspicious, confronted him. "So explain the reports. Council species have been seen and even filmed attacking shelters. A Specter like you is involved."

Nihlus clarified, "Tensions exist, but it does not mean the Council desires war. Regarding

Venix, he is a traitor, his actions do not reflect the Citadel."

Donnel, with a sarcastic touch, commented, "A space romance plot. Attack, accusations, and a traitorous Spectre. Very convenient, don't you think?"

Anderson, calm, cut the conversation short. "The ambassadors will have all the information from the Alliance. If there is proof, we will find out. Otherwise, it is too convenient a story for a war."

...

-Council Chamber-

When everyone entered the Citadel Council chamber, they found an atmosphere of tension hovering like a thick cloud.

Human ambassadors ChoKuma and Hana stood before the raised platform where Turian Advisors Sparatus, Salarian Valern, and Asari Tevos sat.

The silence was broken when Sparatus noticed the group entering the room. "Well Ambassadors, I see that your assistants have returned, accompanied by the last guests."

Ambassador Hana turned, fixing her gaze on a person "Yes, they arrived at a great time.

Captain, it's a pleasure to see you, even if it's at such a challenging time."

Captain Anderson respectfully thanked both ambassadors "Madam, I thank you for your words, even on an unfortunate occasion." He then addressed the counselors. "Excellencies, thank you for receiving us so quickly."

Councilor Valern, bowing his head in greeting, saw his gesture echoed among the other two councilors. "That's not a problem, Captain, especially given recent events. Everyone here is curious. Now, please, Captain Anderson, tell us how it all happened, starting from the beginning."

Captain Anderson looked up, focused on the counselors. "As you know," he began, his voice echoing in the room, "the Normandy Frigate has been called upon for a vital mission by the Council. Our destination: the Human Colony Eden Prime, in the Exodus Cluster, Council

territory."

He paused for a moment, watching the Council's reactions before continuing.

"Our mission was to extract a Prothean beacon discovered during archaeological excavations on Eden Prime. With the relevance of the task, we were joined by a Specter appointed by the Council, tasked with evaluating a member of my team for the possible position of Council Specter."

Silence spread in the chamber, a pause filled with anxiety, each person anticipating the unfolding of the narrative.

"When we arrived in the system where the colony was located, we intercepted an Emergency Transmission from the Eden Prime Colony, informing us that the colony was under attack."

Sparatus interjected, raising an eyebrow. "You have intercepted an Emergency Signal from the Eden Prime Colony, but all the colonies in the system deny having received distress calls. How do you explain that?"

Anderson responded firmly, "The colonies did not receive the message because it was sent over the Chakra network, a form of communication unique to humans. During the invasion, all other forms of communication were disabled, leaving only Chakra as the transmission medium."

"Maybe it was planned...", muttered Tevos, his expression filled with concern as he looked intensely at Captain Anderson. "What happened next, Captain?"

Anderson continued, explaining. "I assessed the situation and took the initiative to immediately notify the Alliance, requesting reinforcements. In a matter of minutes, we received the necessary support. The attack and rescue teams coordinated their actions with the local militias, launching a coordinated and effective counterattack. As for the mission, Commander Shepard commanded her team, and was accompanied by Specter Nihlus."

When Anderson finished Shepard continued. "After landing on Eden Prime, we faced the Geths on the way to the excavation. We advanced cautiously and encountered conflicts between the Geths and the rescue teams. Afterward, we followed with a guide to the excavation site, choosing to split the group into two teams. Specter Nihlus led the second." replied Shepard.

Nihlus took the floor after Shepard. "My team was the first to arrive at the Beacon, where I came across the Specter Venix among the ruins." He reported with a gloomy expression. "His presence raised immediate doubts in my mind. He claimed a Council mission, I questioned him and during our discussion, he revealed his alliance with the Geths and the invasion. In the end, we clashed, resulting in me being injured and the escape of Venix." At the end of the report, the counselors expressed disbelief at the narrative.

Valern was visibly nervous. "Venix? Unbelievable. A Specter allied with the Geths? That can't be true."

Tevos, asked with concern on his face. "Nihlus, are you sure about this? Cooperation with the Geths? This changes everything."

As for Sparatus, Indignant exclaimed. "Unthinkable! How could a Specter betray the Council's trust like that?"

Nihlus, firm in his words, reiterated his words, before the advisors: "That is true, advisors. I met Venix at the Beacon, and he revealed his alliance with the Geths. Furthermore," Nilhus added. "Before escaping, Venix appeared to steal vital information from the Beacon. We don't know exactly what, but as we approached the Beacon after Venix's escape. It activated for the last time, showed disjointed messages to one of the members, and turned itself off."

Tevos, still stunned by the previous revelations, now faced something even more complex. "Did the beacon activate? Venix stole information... What? ... Who saw the messages?"

"Councilors, shortly after Venix's escape, I approached the Beacon. But before I could react, it activated, a mysterious force pulling me towards it." Jane paused briefly, reliving the moment in her mind. "I heard distant voices, I saw confusing images, but suddenly, I was thrown to the ground, and it all ended with the Beacon stopping its light," Jane replied.

Silence extends in the chamber with all the counselors appearing increasingly tense.

Councilor Valern was visibly shaken. finally breaks the silence. "That's a lot... The revelations are unsettling."

Ambassador ChoKuma, who until that moment had been silent, caught everyone's attention when he stepped forward.

"Advisors Specter Nihlus was an agent, appointed by the Council itself to oversee the mission. He confirms that the attack was orchestrated by Venix. The Alliance is also conducting a thorough investigation in the Colony collecting all the evidence of what happened. I was informed that they would soon share all the information. The Council cannot ignore this indisputable truth."

Sparatus, trying to maintain a calm expression and control of the situation, comments. "That's true, Ambassador, but we need time to evaluate and assimilate this information. I propose a recess to the Council on what has been presented to us."

Tevos, still impacted, agrees. "I agree this is a sensible decision, we need to think about these circumstances, and we must also consider the impact on interspecies relations. The participation of the Geth and the betrayal of a Specter have profound implications."

Valern, recovering, looks up at the ambassador. "Certainly, Ambassador, all of this requires careful consideration."

Valern then addressed Nihlus. "You must stay to help us make this decision."

With a mysterious expression, ChoKuma agreed and everyone left the room, leaving only the Councilors and Nihlus.

...

Outside the Council chamber, Secretary Donnel was the first to comment.

"So that's how it is? We came to the Council to talk about an attack by one of their Specters and they simply asked us to give them time to think?... This is ridiculous! The Alliance isn't going to do anything about it, let's just let it attack one of our colonies?"

Anita, maintaining her composure, tried to calm things down. "Donnel, I understand your indignation, but it may be wise to consider all the variables before acting impulsively." Donnel's impatience was evident. "It would be impulsive to remain inert while our colonies are attacked!"

ChoKuma intervened, his voice firm. "We will not stand by, Donnel. The Alliance will not ignore this. However, we must proceed with caution. We cannot allow this incident to fuel a conflict between the Alliance and the Council."

Hana added with discernment. "We need to be astute. We certainly won't remain passive in the face of this. But we won't be manipulated into a confrontation that someone wants."

As soon as Hana finished her observations, ChoKuma raised her hand to her head for a moment and then removed it. "I'm sorry, but I just received a message from Inokou. The Alliance is sending someone with irrefutable evidence. That person is on the way and will bring clarification." He announced.

Addressing Captain Anderson, he continued. "Captain, I have a request for you and your team. We need you to welcome this person. Your testimony will be crucial to the outcome of this case."

Anderson readily agreed. "Understood, sir. When will the envoy arrive and where should we meet her?"

ChoKuma promptly shared the information "She will arrive later today at Dock Number 5 on the Destroyer SSV White Lotus SR-2, but be careful."

...

-Destroyer SSV White Lotus SR-2-

*Tali'Zorah*

The air around Tali'Zorah seemed increasingly charged with each breath as if Tali's agitation permeated the environment itself. The Quarian engineer was visibly nervous, her body expression despite the outfit, betrayed her and was a clear reflection of her restlessness. The gaze fixed on space revealed a search for serenity amidst the whirlwind of thoughts about the imminent presentation before the Council in the Citadel.

Fixing her eyes into space, Tali tried to calm her agitation, remembering the Geths' attack on Eden Prime. Despite being young and having lived in a Human Colony, she knew that her life and that of many others of her generation had been somewhat different from that of Quarians of centuries past.

She knew the horrors of her species' history, the tales of a cruel war that ravaged her ancestors, of the cruel years they faced being treated with nothing but contempt and abuse from other species.

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about the possible conflict with the Geths, a heavy responsibility that oppressed her at every moment.

Admiral Kazama's voice brought her back to the present. "Are you okay, Tali?" His concern was evident.

Tali took a deep breath before responding, the emotional charge reflecting in her voice. "I... I'm trying to deal with all of this... It was scary, Admiral. The attack on Eden Prime, I was there... And I couldn't do much to help."

Admiral Kazama, experienced in dealing with situations like this, tried to reassure her. "Difficult times challenge us beyond what we imagine. You did what you could, Tali. Don't beat yourself up about it."

Tali hesitated but felt the need to share. "I was lucky to have been born in a safer time for Quarians, with the partnership agreement with the Alliance. This made my pilgrimage safer, seeking opportunities in human colonies. I was in Eden Prime because of that, working as an engineer. It was part of my pilgrimage. I thought everything would end well." She let out a tired sigh. "But then... this happened, and now I'm here, on my way to the Citadel to appear before the Council... I don't know how I can be of any use now."

Kazama nodded, understanding the situation. "You may be young, Tali, but don't underestimate what you did. In the face of attack, instead of protecting yourself, you sought to help others. You faced the Geths, broke into their systems, and extracted valuable information for everyone."

"Thank you, Admiral. I think I needed to hear that."

...

Citadel - Dock number 5

Outside the ship, Tali saw a group of humans waiting for them. As he approached, an older man came forward to introduce himself.

"Admiral, it's a pleasure. I'm Captain Anderson of the Normandy. We've been assigned to escort the witness," the Captain stated seriously.

The Admiral greeted them and indicated that Tali should come closer. "Captain, this is Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, the witness. We believe she may be targeted. Your mission is to ensure her safety."

"Understood, sir. We will ensure the witness reaches the Council safely," Anderson confirmed with his team.

Walking towards the Council tower alongside the humans, Tali remained attentive, visibly worried.

"Madam?" Tali turned when she heard someone approaching, finding one of the human men beside her.

"Are you... talking to me?" Tali murmured, confused, unsure if the approach was meant for her.

"Yes, Richard L. Jenkins, but you can call me Jenkins. It's a pleasure", he introduced himself, extending his hand to shake her. "I see you're nervous, but don't worry! We're all here to ensure your safety," Jenkins assured confidently.

Surprised by the human's friendly attitude, his words made Tali smile, calming her down a little. "Thank you for the words. I feel calmer now. You can call me Tali." Jenkins, realizing he had cheered her up, spent the next few minutes asking questions to distract her.

Suddenly, Captain Anderson made a stiff expression, indicating a problem.

"We're being followed," Anderson whispered to his team as he discreetly increased his pace.

"Kaidan, did you see anything suspicious?"

"Yes, we have two situations. A group and an individual," Kaidan replied after pretending to talk to Jane. "Four individuals in the group: two Turians, a Salarian, and an Asari. And behind them, a Krogan."

"Let's take them to a more isolated location. Fighting here in the middle of the station will put passersby in danger," Jane whispered.

"Right. Better to take them to a place with fewer people around," Anderson replied, guiding them to a small alley that served as a shortcut to the Council tower. "You guys know what to do."

...

Only the echo of footsteps resounded in the alley. The four assassins advanced silently when a volley of gunshots broke the silence. The group reacted promptly, organizing themselves behind the Asari member, whose biotic shield rose to protect them.

A sudden light appeared beneath them, revealing small luminous papers.

"Get away!" shouted one of them, and quickly everyone moved away before the explosion.

After the bang, one of the Turians in the group undid the biotic cocoon around him and ordered. "Back off! Seek open space!"

The team ran to the entrance of the alley, the team's Salarian carrying the other Turian who was bleeding profusely from his right side.

Behind them a voice ordered.

"Don't let them escape!"

When they arrived at the entrance to the alley, they unfortunately encountered two problems. Where there had once been an entrance there was now a massive wall of rocks blocking the way. And in front, an imposing Krogan with a hardened appearance. Wearing impenetrable-looking armor, he awaited them, giving them a challenging look.

Seeing that they had no other choice, the Asari and the still-unharmed Turian positioned themselves in front of the other two, ready to engage in combat.

The large Krogan, stopping in front of them, smiled at their defiant attitude. "Oh! So you'd rather fight me, huh? Well then get ready, I won't make it easy for you." He declared, charging at the two with a roar. Unleashing a frantic and chaotic battle.

As the blows echoed and the biotics clashed, two sneaky figures took advantage of the distraction and approached silently walking along the walls above them. Reaching the injured assassins and neutralizing them quickly.

The fight ended with the Turian incapacitated and the Asari fell, while the imposing Krogan dominated the situation, pressing his weapon against the Asari's head lying on the ground.

"I know you guys are there." He spoke while still looking at his target immobilized on the ground. "You guys can be good with stealth but to reach my age as a Krogan you have to be much smarter than you are strong."

His words echoed in the silence of the alley but were interrupted by an insistent sound. knock-knock-knock

Footsteps advancing towards the Krogan, a mature human man emerged.

"I see that my team's meeting with these four has one more guest. So who are you?" Asked the human.

"Now, if I'm a guest, is that how you treat me? I thought you should introduce yourself first", Krogan replied with a sarcastic touch.

"Yes, I think you're right, how rude of me. Let me remedy that. Captain David Edward Anderson of the Alliance" The human introduced himself, followed by a subtle provocation.

"Urdnot Wrex, mercenary and bounty hunter," Krogan replied, emphasizing his name. "I imagine you want to know why I'm here?" Upon receiving confirmation from the man, he continued: "My mission was to capture these four."

Anderson raised an eyebrow at the coincidence; It turns out that a Krogran had a target who was trying to kill his witness. Anderson narrowed his eyes. But on the other hand…

"If you don't believe me, feel free, I'm leaving this place," he said, stretching his arms towards the bodies of the killers to drag them and was about to leave the area when Anderson stopped him.

"Hang on." Wrex stopped his heavy steps and stretched his arms towards the pistol on his hips. "Our conversation has ended Human."

"No, not yet." Anderson wouldn't let him leave. There must be a reason why he was hired to catch those killers.

"Oh, is that so? I thought a human like you would be satisfied knowing that he doesn't need to lift a finger towards his enemy. After all, your species is famous for that." Wrex snorted.

"Thank you for praising our intelligence capabilities. But I like to think that a Krogan like you also knows that we humans place a high value on information. And you currently have information that can further my goals."

The Krogan narrowed his eyes, considering the human's words.

"Okay, human. Let's talk."

...

-Council Chamber-

The Turian guard rang the door intercom, announcing: "Advisors, the ambassadors have arrived with the Normandy officers."

From the other side, a muffled voice replied: "Very well. You may come in!"

The ambassadors entered accompanied by Anderson, Shepard, and Tali, meeting the Advisors on the elevated platform, next to the Specter Nihlus.

Tevos, imposing and calm, greeted them and took the floor: "Ambassadors, the recess is over, and our decision has almost been made. However, with the witness you brought, that could change."

Valern, with a stern expression and a discerning look, added: "In addition, we were informed by C-Sec about your visit to headquarters, accompanied by a bounty hunter, and about the attempted attack they suffered."

Ambassador Hana, with calculated serenity, replied, "It is true, Counselor. When we brought the witness, assassins were sent to prevent his arrival at the Council."

"Yes, we received the report from C-Sec. The detective in charge also shared the details of the interrogation," Sparatus stated in his authoritative voice. "In the end, they admitted to having been sent to murder the witness on Venix's orders, and that only makes everything more worrying."

"'Worrying' is an understatement to describe everything that's happening," Tevos said, frowning. "We've received every report the Alliance has gathered about the attack. First, there was the attack on Eden Prime, and then we discovered that the geth are part of it, along with several Council species, acting at the behest of one of our most capable agents. Furthermore, it seems that you humans have one more test to 'deal the final blow'."

Hana started to respond, but ChoKuma intervened, giving her a look, which got the message. She had the skills to deal with people who always wanted to be in control, making them underestimate her, which ended up being costly. With the Council, it would be no different.

However, unlike Hana, ChoKuma had another approach to dealing with situations, he knew that now was the perfect time to act. It was time to put pressure on counselors and put them against the wall.

"Advisors, I know all of this is still hard to believe," stated ChoKuma firmly, although internally he scoffed at this statement, as the visual video evidence, showing an entire colony and an Alliance fleet attacked by Venix, was more than enough. to prove what happened. "But that's why we're here, isn't it? To resolve it and reach a conclusion. That's why I want you to meet our witness, Tali, who you agreed to hear."

Tali approached, standing in front of the Councilors, the most powerful figures in the Citadel. Although nervous, she remained firm in the face of their questioning looks, introducing herself and beginning to narrate what happened on the day of the attack.

"Wait, miss! Are you claiming that while you were taken along with other colonists to the shelters, the group that attacked them was made up of Geth and other races?" asked Valern, interrupting the narrative.

"Yes, Councilor. We were attacked not only by Geth, but also by Asaris, Salarians, Batarians, and a Drell. They were calling the shots, not the Geth." She replied.

"Tali, please keep telling us what happened," Tevos asked, paying attention.

"I managed to recover some files from a Geth memory core from some of the Geth we took down, and this is what I found." Tali activated her omni-tool and projected the recording.

"Eden Prime was a huge victory. The beacon brought us one step closer to finding the Conduit."

"And one step closer to completing the Cycle."

"Yes, the Cycle must be completed."

"The voice on the recording... I recognize it. It's Venix." said Sparatus, visibly stunned.

"I recognize it too," Valern stated coldly. "How did you get those files from a Geth memory core? Everyone knows they destroy their memory cores when they are destroyed."

Tali explained. "Usually, that's true. Generally, their bodies, weapons, and even ships self-destruct. But sometimes, if you're quick and know how to look, you can get lucky and recover small fragments of data. We Quarians know how to do this."

"I see," said Tevos, reflecting on the voice he had heard alongside Venix's. "I don't know what Venix was thinking, Ambassador, but you can be assured that this Council had nothing to do with it. We deeply regret everything that happened. With all the evidence provided by the Alliance, our initial decision will remain the same. We will revoke Venix's Specter status and we will begin an investigation to find out what caused him to do this."

The other counselors confirmed the decision. Councilor Valern typed into his omnitool the order regarding Venix and the investigation, then looked at the humans below. "It's done. But I propose we investigate this ourselves."

ChoKuma's eyes narrowed. "No," he said firmly, his voice thick with hostility.

Tevos tried to intervene: "Ambassador, I know this is difficult, but I believe it would be better if we dealt with this..."

He interrupted her, "The Alliance will be involved in this investigation, Councilors. We will not sit idly by. We will find that son of a bitch. We'll hunt him down with or without you, and when we find him, we will extract the truth. We will make him regret having survived long enough to meet us."

Tevos, nervous, tried to continue arguing and looked to her companions for help. Councilor Sparatus coughed hard, drawing attention to himself.

"I propose an agreement for this, where the Alliance and the Citadel work together," he suggested.

Valern continued when he noticed Tevos trying to speak: "I agree. This is a delicate situation and we must work together. After all, we are still facing a group made up of several species, commanded by a former Specter who also controls the Geth. It will be necessary to make some concessions." Tevos, seeing that they had come together, closed her eyes and sighed in defeat, nodding her head in agreement.

ChoKuma smiled at this and decided to accept. "If we are going to work on this, I propose that the Alliance send a ship after Venix. That way we can remain discreet. I think the Normandy is perfect for this since it is a joint project between our governments. Since it is an Alliance ship, we can use your coordinates to open a nearby portal, and the Normandy will have help at its disposal."

Sparatus continued his suggestion: "The Normandy as a ship will be perfect, but we also know that its hunt will be in Council space. Therefore, I think we should have someone who represents us accompanying this mission at all times, and what better than a Specter to hunt another." He spoke seriously and turned to look at Commander Shepard. "Commander, I know you were being evaluated by agent Nilhus and because of all this we didn't even touch on the subject, but Nilhus told us what happened and how you acted. Therefore, I think the best solution would be to transform you into a Specter and have her as our representative." "An...acceptable compromise," Valern said slowly, as Tevos also accepted the suggestion.

"Very well, that seems acceptable to me." ChoKuma nodded satisfied with that conclusion, but he still had one last trick left. "There is one more thing to discuss regarding the recording, councilors," he stated.

"'One more thing'? What would that be, Ambassador?" Valern asked, confused.

Smiling, ChoKuma replied, looking at Tevos. "Although we belong to different species, the facial expressions of humans and asari are very similar, and since the recording was heard, I know that Councilor Tevos didn't just recognize Venix's voice in the recording, she knows who the other person is or distrust anyone."

Hearing this, Tevos was scared, but he knew he couldn't pretend. She knew that if the humans had time, they would be able to identify whose slightly distorted voice was talking to Venix.

Tevos began to respond quietly and soon spoke normally, gathering the strength to do so. "I know who it is... That person... It's Matriarch Benezia who's talking to Venix." She hesitated for a moment, looking away for a few seconds, before looking back at those present. "Ambassador, you know how influential Matriarch Benezia is. Hearing her voice in such a suspicious conversation with Venix is worrying, but I believe this can be investigated. So I think we are done for now."

"Okay, we're done… For today."

...

[Standardized Human Date: October 22, 2552.

-Unknown Location, Alliance Space-

In the large room where the Kages traditionally debated government issues, the atmosphere was charged with tension. The leaders, immersed in their thoughts, waited for the meeting to begin.

Realizing the weight of the moment, Kagome sighed and decided to take the lead in the discussion. "The meeting of the 406th Kage is now underway," she announced seriously.

"So we're not going to do anything at all?" questioned Yusuke, his voice sounding almost like a whisper, as disheartened as he was about the situation.

"Of course not!" Gray exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table. "I propose to hunt down this

Venix, make him pay for what he did and, as a bonus, find out who is behind it all."

Boruta, until then with his head down and his hands resting on it, raised it when he heard Gray's words. "So we are moving forward to say that the Council did not cause this in the end."

"We are not idiots Boruta," Inaba replied with a sneer. "It's more than obvious that it wasn't the Citadel. They wouldn't risk everything after so long."

"Inaba is right. They wouldn't be so brave and foolish." Kagome agreed.

"And?" Yusuke questioned from across the table. "What does this change? One of our colonies was attacked, we recovered it, but we lost 7 thousands colonists. Council or not, the difference is minimal."

"Yusuke... I know..." Kagome stopped, sighed, searching for the right words. "I know this took us by surprise, but we can't shoot down. We are Kages, Yusuke. We are stronger than that. Sometimes not everything ends well."

Angrily, Yusuke retorted. "And how should we be then? Happy that some idiots attacked us and threw us against the Citadel? Or happy that they tried to ruin our opportunity to turn Jane into the first human Specter? Our chance to have one of our own among the Specters, even if Jane is more of a fighter than a spy. But in the end, she was still a ninja and could have been useful."

"We still got it, Yusuke, even if it wasn' admittedly in the best of ways..."

"Of course, it's not! We just need to be attacked! And now, what, Kagome, what? We should leave it as it is for the Citadel to sort out." Gray cut her off, laughing disdainfully at the thought of the Council's ability or courage to do this.

"Watch your words, Gray," said Kagome coldly, small grains of sand floating around her. "I know you're angry, just like the rest of us, but I won't accept you continuing to talk like that."

Gray smiled arrogantly, and the room's temperature dropped considerably. "Oh! Really,

Kagome? Are you angry, is it because of you or because I talked about your beloved Citadel? It seems like you only care about that..."

" ENOUGH!!!" Boruta's hand hit the table so hard that it broke. Everyone turned to him, his face was red with pure anger. "You're going to stop this right now and act like the damn adults you are! Or I'll drag you out of here myself."

Seeing that his words had taken effect, he turned to Gray. "Stop being an idiot. You control yourself better than that. What happened? Did you decide to take Yusuke's place in this? Even though now he's acting weirder than he normally is"

"Hey!" protested Yusuke, but his words fell on deaf ears.

"And you, Kagome, what are you trying to do with this facade of calm and understanding? You are one of the fiercest people I know. You are just as angry as the others. Don't hide it just to try to help us," continued Boruta.

Embarrassed, Kagome lowered her head. "You're right, but what do you want? Do you want me to scream to show you that? I have to control myself and try to make you guys stay focused on what's most important."

"I know you're always optimistic, Kagome, but you can do this and still show your anger. Saying how we should crush these bastards with a smile on your face and murder plans in your head," Boruta recalled, highlighting how she could say the scarier things and seem harmless.

"It's good to see you're back, Boruta," Inaba said happily. "In the end Boruta is right, you are not acting like yourselves. Cool down and think," said Inaba, happy to see her friend come out of his depressed state and put others in their place.

After a few minutes of silence, someone spoke.

"I... I'm sorry, Lady Kagome. My reaction was childish and not in keeping with the behavior of a kage. I would also like to apologize to my friend for being an idiot," Gray said, in a sincere gesture.

"Hahaha, it's okay, my friend. I also apologize." Kagome said, happy.

"Oh! How beautiful," Yusuke scoffed, clapping his hands, but stopped when the others looked at him, expecting something. "Alright! I apologize, even though I had a good reason

for it."

"No matter the reason, we must focus on the most important thing," Inaba interrupted. "What are we going to do? That is the question we must answer."

"Yes, that's the most important question, isn't it? Listen, I know you're angry, but we know the Council wasn't to blame." Kagome began. But when she noticed her colleagues trying to speak, she silenced them with a firm look.

"But we were still attacked. Therefore, I say we must prepare for war. Reinforce the defenses of all our colonies, especially those near Relay 314, we must be prepared. And also reinforce human settlements in colonies of other species. "

"Maybe... We should intensify our missions in the Terminus system", suggested Boruta, thoughtfully. "In the end, I doubt the pirates of Terminus don't know anything about this, especially the Batarians. After all, they hate us, and that hatred only got worse with the civil war and our helping Liber Vitae to end slavery."

"Of course, they hate us, after all, with the victory of Liber Vitae, the Hegemony would lose its strength and it would be easier to fight the slave traders", said Gray, smiling.

Kagome nodded. "That's true, but we need to stay focused on what we must do now. Reinforcing defenses is crucial. But we can also send more agents to infiltrate and obtain new information."

Boruta agreed, adding. "Intensifying our missions in the Terminus system may be risky, but it could be the key to discovering more about Venix and who else works for him. We cannot ignore the possibility of connections to the Batarians or any other criminal group in Terminus."

Yusuke pondered for a moment before speaking up, "What about resources? If we are preparing for a wider conflict, we need to ensure enough supplies, both for our defense and to help the most affected settlements in colonies that are not ours."

"We are partially covered by this, as in recent years we have had a huge increase in recruitment into the army from Shanxi, not to mention the significant advances in weaponry we have developed. With preparation for a future war, our technology always advances," Inaba noted with confidence. "Kagome, you are in charge of the latest studies in weaponry. We need to know how they are progressing so far."

Kagome took the word seriously. "We thought about developing plasma weapons for personal use, but they are difficult to adapt due to the dangers they pose to their users. They cause damage that gets worse depending on their size. However, with current advances, we have managed to reduce the amount of plasma discharge heat to an acceptable level. At least it won't melt anyone within 1 meter other than the target. We've also reduced the strength of the recoil, but it would still be too strong for anyone without excellent Chakra control so it doesn't crack the bones. For that reason, we fit it to be used in the gun turret of the newest Mako model. The Major M35 in that thing we wouldn't worry about broken bones. However, that strength came at a cost. The new Mako is heavier than the old versions, although it now has greater armor to resist Plasma."

"Amazing, Kagome. Despite being heavier, the new Mako model is still viable for the battlefield, and you've solved one of plasma's biggest problems, something the Citadel has failed to do in all its years." Yusuke said remembering that the biggest challenge in developing plasma weapons was related to the excessive heat they generated. The discharged plasma was hot, and only the best combat armor could protect from such temperatures, but for a short period of time. They only lasted a few shots before overheating, limiting their use. With kinetic pulse technology, weapons could be weaker than plasma weapons, but they still cause great damage. They fired a pulse composed entirely of energy, resulting in a truly unlimited number of shots. This led all other species to consider kinetic pulse weapons as the best choice, abandoning studies of plasma weapons altogether.

"How did you do that? I know they tried to create vehicles with cannon turrets to shoot plasma before, but even the armor couldn't handle it and they couldn't control the area of damage", Gray asked Kagome.

"The issue was challenging, Gray. Unlike other races, we came into contact with plasma due to Plasma Release, an incredibly rare kekkei genkai. It took us a long time to advance in our studies, but now we understand how this technique originates plasma and we managed to replicate it in weapons using specific seals that combine the natures of water, lightning, and fire simultaneously", explained Kagome. "Of course, it's a complex and expensive process, which is why I chose to use them as cannons in the new Makos."

"Hmm, interesting: a new destructive weapon that melts our enemies in a different way than the classic fireball", commented Gray, sharing a smile with Kagome, which left the others little goosebumps. "For my part, I am testing the latest version of the flying Raijin FTL, installed on the Normandy for our other ships. This will be a great advantage with the latest reduction in accumulated Chakra we need to travel to a star system without a mark. Now, we can do this in four years using normal sealing crafting with people who have average Chakra reserves. If we use people with large reserves, the time can be cut in half. Furthermore, if they are small ships, this time is even shorter. Now, in two days, we can create a marking point for thousands of ships to pass through every day."

"Okay, what else?" Yusuke questioned, raising his eyebrow.

"What do you mean 'what else'?" Looking confused, Gray asked.

"Gray, I know you well enough to realize that you not only improved our FTL, just like that time about your plan to relocate all the relays from our main worlds," Yusuke noted.

"Yes, but I did that. I removed all relays from systems where we had colonies and space

stations."

"Yes, you did that, but you also created a minefield around these displaced relays, which will cause great damage to anyone who tries to use them to attack us," Yusuke pointed out. "So I asked 'what else?' because I'm sure you did something nasty."

"Oh, that... Well, you're right, haha." The smile on Gray's face was described as predatory. "Do you know how dangerous and difficult it was in the past to learn the Flying Raijin? It took a lot of knowledge since opening a door in space-time without a physical lock to go to is not the smartest idea. There was a risk of opening a hole in the fabric of space. Anything nearby could be pulled in and destroyed, and with ships, it was no different because of the portal that was created. But with today's technology, it is more accurate; anything close to the portal is no longer damaged or destroyed."

"Yes, it took a while to perfect, and now we can pass through many ships through the same portal," Yusuke said, trying to understand his friend. "But what does that mean... Gray, you didn't do it."

"Exactly, I discovered a way to use it to bring hell to the enemy."

"You turned an old portal flaw into a weapon?" Yusuke smiled at the confirmation, his friend was really scared when he wanted to be.

"I guess now it's my turn," Boruta spoke.

"In fact, for my part, I haven't invented anything as drastic as the plans of our two resident little psychopaths. I can only say that our spy network is now on par with the Shadow Broker, with agents infiltrating many governments." Revealed Boruta.

"Yusuke and I, as we have the largest enlistment numbers, are responsible for training many new units in recent years, and we have formed some truly impressive teams", explained Inaba, looking at Yusuke, who confirmed, on the other side, the excellence of the teams that they had built over time. The plan they devised years ago was bearing valuable fruit.

"That's great, we have a solid foundation to prepare against our enemies. However, we have a problem now," Kagome said, leaving everyone confused.

"What's wrong, Kagome?" Gray asked.

"Our table, look! It's broken, who's going to fix it now?" Kagome pointed out, directing everyone's attention to the piece torn to pieces on the floor and then to the culprit, who cowered in shame.

...

Author and Editor's Note: This is an open invitation for you to ask questions about the universe and settings. We will only respond if the question is an RPG that you are an alien asking questions of the human ambassador. Time limit one week

The questions will be:

-About the Government.

-About Religion.

-About History. -About the Society -About Culture.

You can submit questions about these subjects only.

There is also the chance to choose the 10 best questions from readers without the need for interpretation.

I also want to know if you want an extra chapter with a special theme chosen by you, with the person with the most votes winning.