A/N: Note that I've tweaked my description of quarians in chapter 7 to better capture how I imagine them to look.
In the dimly lit command center aboard Mindoir's orbital watch station, Governor Takeshi Goto sighed, as the room buzzed with the discordant symphony of raised voices and heated debates. Gritting his teeth, he huffed through his nose. His pulse climbed, and he suppressed the urge to slam his fist on the console.
"We need to warn Earth!" Lieutenant Jack Harper said. His youthful face was flushed with earnest passion, his eyes bright with the fire of ambition. According to Akira, Harper was an exceptional officer fluent in four languages – but was far too impatient, too eager to prove himself and rise through the ranks. "They need to know what's coming!"
"And how exactly will we do that?" retorted Security Chief Akira, his arms folded into a defiant barricade over his chest. Akira's eyes told tales of battles waged and survived, of his many years as an N7 operative. Undoubtedly, the man had witnessed terrors he could only hardly imagine. "Any message will take years to reach them."
Jack slammed his fist on the table, his eyes blazing with determination. "Well, it's better than doing nothing! We can't just sit around and do nothing while the aliens–"
"Enough!" His voice cracked like a whip and cut through the rising tension. The room froze, and everyone looked at him as though he'd just grown an extra head. He drew in a deep, ragged breath, his heart pounding in his chest. Damn it, he was so sick of this arguing, of the overwhelming scent of fear putrifying the air. "I know all of you are scared. Never in history has anything like this happened. But right now, arguing like children will not solve anything. It will only make this situation worse."
He paused, allowing the echoes of his words to ripple through the silence. "Yes, while an alien fleet is on our doorstep, we still do not know the aliens' intentions. Surely, if they were malicious or hostile, they would have annihilated this station and laid waste to our home already, correct?"
The room fell into a contemplative hush, the previous tension momentarily swept aside by thoughtful introspection.
"So if they want to communicate with us," he continued. "Let us hear what they have to say. And let us not–"
Suddenly, an incoming comm request from the communications center interrupted his speech. He answered it, pressing two fingers to his temple. "Yes?"
"Governor," a voice crackled through the comm, "the alien fleet…it's hailing us."
A chill crept down his spine, slithering like a predator in the dark. "It's hailing us?"
"Yes, Governor," the voice confirmed. "What do we do?"
For a moment, he paused and swept his gaze over the anxious faces of everyone in the room. The weight of their expectations, their fear, settled on his shoulders and threatened to drag him down. "We're coming to the communications center. Once we arrive, patch it through."
He ended the comm request, then took another steadying breath.
"Well?" Harper's voice broke through the silence. "What happened?"
"The alien fleet is hailing us," he said. "As I said, they want to communicate with us. So let us head to the communications center and hear what they have to say."
"Very well," Akira conceded, his voice a begrudging growl.
Jack let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. Let's head there and get this over with."
The group filed out of the command center, their footsteps echoing down the adjacent corridor toward the communications center. Normally, the station's corridors bustled with the organized chaos of duty.
But now, there was only an eerie silence.
One that gnawed at his nerves.
Upon entering the communications center, a young ensign, her face ashen under the harsh lighting, approached them. "Governor," she said, her voice trembling slightly. She saluted. "The aliens…they're waiting."
"Patch the signal through," he ordered, his voice steady despite his pounding heart. He swept his gaze over his team, and their expressions mirrored his own apprehension. Yes, this was it. The moment they had been dreading, and yet also the moment they had been waiting for.
The first time humanity would communicate with another intelligent race.
As the ensign nodded and returned to her station, the room fell into a pregnant silence. A series of commands were inputted, and the room seemed to hold its breath…
Until a familiar voice broke the silence, like the strike of a match in a darkened room.
"People of Mindoir. This is Hannah Shepard, Governor of Seti'a Prime. We come in peace."
His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. Hannah Shepard? The name echoed in his mind and was like a beacon of hope amidst so much uncertainty. The voice was not only human, but also warm and steady, cutting through the tension in the room like a hot knife through ice.
"Governor Shepard?" His voice barely rose above a whisper. The collective gasp in the room was tangible, like the sharp intake of breath before a plunge into the dark. A human? Here? Now?
But how?
With humanity's current understanding of Mass Effect technology, it still took years for ships to travel between star systems. Unless…
He shook his head. Goodness, what in Earth's name was happening?
"Yes, Governor Goto," Hannah Shepard's voice rang through the comm again, clear and confident. "We are here to help."
Help. The word hung in the air, and the tension in the room eased slightly.
"But how?" Jack blurted out, his voice a mix of confusion and suspicion. "How did you get here? And how did you know we were here?"
There was a tense silence. Then Hannah Shepard spoke again. "About a month ago, the people of my colony made first contact with an alien race – the quarians. They came to us, looking for a new home, seeking to coexist with us. And now, we're friends. Allies." Hannah's voice stumbled slightly before regaining its composure. "Just before they contacted us, they also discovered something…horrible coming not just for your colony, but for all of humanity. So as I said, we're here to help, to protect you from the coming Silent One invasion."
The room fell into a stunned silence. An alien race? First contact? An impending invasion? It was almost too much to take in.
"Governor Shepard…" he said eventually. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and his lips pressed into a thin line. Even now, his heart was thrashing in his chest. Stay strong. You have a duty. "We are grateful for your assistance and are ready to cooperate in any way necessary."
Another pause ensued.
"Thank you, Governor," Hannah's voice was filled with the promise of friendship, of a potential alliance. "Rest assured that we're committed to doing everything within our power to ensure your people survive what's coming. And I'm looking forward to meeting you in person. Expect a shuttle to dock at your station shortly. Signing off."
As the communication ended, his muscles loosened up. And a sigh of relief escaped his lips. For the first time since the alien fleet had arrived on their doorstep, his people had hope. Yes, humanity was not alone. And it seemed they had found friends, allies willing to risk their lives for a common cause. Together, he had no doubt they would rise against whatever was coming.
"I don't buy it," Harper said.
"You don't buy it?" Akira shot back, his eyebrows knitting together in disbelief. "Why?"
Harper held his gaze, his eyes pleading. "Governor, this is too convenient. This sudden alliance, the timely intervention. It's probably all just a scheme to exploit our desperation."
A murmur of agreement buzzed through the room. And his heart clenched. Yes, admittedly, Harper's point wasn't without merit.
Akira scoffed. "Don't tell me you're buying into Maxson's nonsense. We all know he was a paranoid lunatic who saw threats in every shadow."
Harper stood his ground. "It's not nonsense." Harper clasped his hands behind his back. "Maxson might have been an extremist, but he wasn't entirely wrong. He was, in his own twisted way, quite a visionary." Harper's gaze met his. "Consider this, Governor. Why would an alien race – a species which likely thinks and behaves nothing like us – want to coexist with humans? Why didn't they just exterminate the colonists on Seti'a Prime and take the planet themselves?"
Akira let a frustrated sigh. "We went over this already. If they wanted to harm us, they would have already. And let's not forget…their tech is probably centuries ahead of ours. So they wouldn't need some 'grand scheme' to subjugate us."
"And there you go," Harper said, "ascribing human motives to aliens" Harper shook his head. "Typical." Again, Harper's gaze was on him. "Governor, this is definitely a ploy. So we need to prepare the colony's defenses. We might go down fighting but at least–"
Akira let out a dismissive laugh. "You're overreacting, Lieutenant. Stand down."
"No, I will not!" Harper said. "The fate of humanity is at stake here and–"
He huffed through his nose. "Enough, both of you!" Damn it, his words came out harsher than he intended. He sighed and massaged his temples with his fingers. "Lieutenant, while I understand your concerns and agree that we should remain cautious, I will not allow any rash decisions that could lead to our deaths. Is that clear?"
Harper looked conflicted, the uncertainty in his gaze battling with his conviction. Eventually, he dropped his gaze to the ground. "Yes, Governor."
"Good," he said, straightening his back. "Now, let's give our guests a warm welcome. And Akira?"
"Yes?"
"I want three armed guards beside us at all times during the coming meeting," he said. "I won't have us taking any chances."
In a shuttle that had launched from the Az'khaelon, Hannah Shepard was sitting on the edge of her seat, staring at the distant speck outside the viewport that was Mindoir's orbital watch station. Beside her, Anderson was running a hand over his shaved head, his eyes reflecting the same mix of anticipation and anxiety she felt. And across from her, Zaeed and Shun were engaged in a quiet conversation, their voices barely audible over the hum of the ship's internal processes.
She took a deep breath. Yes, she was about to meet Mindoir's Governor, a man she'd only spoken to through a comm link. And now, she'd have to reveal truths to him and others that would shatter their understanding of humanity's place in the universe.
She gulped. Would they trust her? Would they trust the quarians? Were they even ready for an existence in which humanity was not alone?
"They're in for quite the surprise, aren't they?" Anderson said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," she said, her fingers tracing over the intricate micro-circuity constituting her omni-tool. Two days ago, the quarians had finally given her one, and Zhoru had taught her how to use it. "I just hope they're ready for it."
"No matter what happens," Zaeed said, his gruff voice filled with a rare hint of uncertainty, "remember that we have your back."
"Indeed," Shun said, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the hilt of his sidearm. "We won't let them try anything funny."
"Thanks," she said, offering them a small smile.
Soon, the pilot's voice echoed through the shuttle. "Docking with the station now. Prepare to disembark."
"That's our cue," she said. The others followed suit. With a hiss and a clank, the side door of the shuttle opened, revealing a decontamination chamber bathed in harsh, white light.
As she stepped inside, a cool mist enveloped her. The decontamination process was quick and thorough, a series of scans and cleansing sprays that left her skin tingling. Closing her eyes, she took a moment to steady her nerves. Yes, this was it.
The moment of truth.
Finally, the decontamination process ended, and the door slid open, revealing Governor Goto, along with a group of officials and three armed guards. Goto was a tall man, his face lined with age and worry. And his companions were a mix of military and civilian personnel, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright fear and restrained hostility.
Especially those of the armed guards, and a young officer – likely in his late twenties – who carried himself with the authority of a general.
All four seemed ready to gun her down if she made the slightest hostile move.
Play it cool. Nice and easy now. She cleared her throat and stepped forward, extending her hand for a handshake. "Governor Goto…It's a pleasure to meet you in person. I apologize for throwing you into so much chaos today. But I'm afraid that time is short and we have a lot to discuss."
Governor Got looked at her as though he was seeing a ghost, then accepted her handshake. "Indeed we do, Hannah. Indeed, we do." Goto gestured towards a corridor. "Shall we move our discussion to a more private location?"
"Yes," she said, "let's do that."
Governor Goto nodded. Then she and her companions followed him and his team down a series of corridors. The station was a maze of metal and glass, the walls adorned with digital displays and holographic maps. Tension choked the atmosphere, and a palpable sense of unease replaced the usual hum of activity.
Finally, they arrived at a conference room. A large, circular table dominated the space, surrounded by high-backed chairs. As everyone took their seats, Governor Goto took a deep breath. "Now…how about you start at the beginning."
"Yes," the young officer said, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Explain how you got here from lightyears away."
"Why you and your companions are wearing such…advanced gear," said another officer. Unlike the young officer, he seemed a lot more humble, restrained, and experienced.
"Along with more details about these…aliens you spoke of," Goto said, his gaze steady on her. "The quarians."
A tense silence ensued. Each of their stares bore into her, and their doubts and fears hung in the air. She took a deep breath, then looked Governor Goto in the eye. "I know all of you are confused. In your situation, I'd be just as suspicious as you right now. So okay…let me start from the beginning."
She cleared her throat, then input some commands into her omni-tool. Soon, a hologram of the quarian fleet. "Now, as I said before, about a month ago, my people became the first to ever contact another intelligent species. Before meeting us, they had been wandering the galaxy for centuries, looking for a new home, for a place to rebuild their civilization after they unwittingly created a machine hive mind that brought them to the edge of extinction. The Geth."
She input more commands into her omni-tool, and now the hologram was showing a few of the brutal, horrifying scenes Rael had down her of The Great Betrayal.
The room fell deathly silent as everyone watched on, in horror.
When this information reached the Sol System, she had no doubt the Alliance would cease and then ban all research into artificial general intelligence.
She cleared her throat, then input more commands into her omni-tool. Now, the hologram was showing her home, with the quarian fleet hanging in its orbit. "When they came to us, they were desperate and on the brink of annihilation. But instead of attacking us and taking our home for themselves, they chose to make peace with us."
She input more commands into her omni-tool and the hologram showed footage of the first time she'd met Rael and shook his hand. As typed away once more, the hologram showed scenes of quarians and her people working together, making the colony a better place. "They chose to help us and improve and save our colony from future collapse." She gestured towards the gear she and her companions were wearing. "They chose to share their knowledge and technology. And now, they want only to bring all of humanity into a new age in which we are the closest of friends and allies, united against countless existential threats to us all."
Governor Goto's eyes widened. He leaned forward and steepled his hands. "Existential threats to us all?"
She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes."
Briefly, the Governor and his team whispered amongst themselves in Japanese. Then Goto looked back at her. "Please…continue."
She nodded. "Not too long ago, the quarians discovered that the Silent Ones, some kind of colonial super organism…" Again, she typed away at her omni-tool. And the hologram changed, showing a view of the Silent One armada amassing on the other side of the nearby relay. Everyone let out a collective gasp at the sight of such a massive force. She then typed more commands into her omni-tool, and the hologram zoomed out and then in on the system with the relay from which the Silent Ones would pass. She pointed a the relay. "...will be invading human space using this mega structure only four light years away called a mass relay. And…" She sighed, then gulped. Here goes nothing. "I'm afraid that your colony will be the first world they will sack and harvest for biomass."
Goto and his officials exchanged glances, their faces deathly pale. Again, they murmured amongst themselves in Japanese. And then Takeshi cleared his throat. "And what exactly do you need from us?"
She took a deep breath. "We need you to work with us and help evacuate the colony immediately. If you stand by and do nothing, then the Silent Ones will harvest every last man, woman, and child on your home and do the same to all of humanity, world by world."
Another tense silence ensued. But soon, Goto and his officials shattered it, arguing viciously in Japanese.
A knot twisted in her stomach. Yes, she had expected resistance. But a reaction like this? Nearby, Anderson placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and his silent support was like a beacon of strength amidst a storm of dissent.
Eventually, Goto managed to calm them down.
"Hannah…" Goto said.
"Yes?"
"Right now," Goto said, "be completely honest with me. Right now, are the quarians watching us?"
She sighed. "Yeah, they are. But if you want, I can ask them to give us some privacy."
"You can do that?" a young officer asked.
"I doubt it will mean much," "she said, her voice steady. "But yes, I can."
"Do it," Goto said, his voice firm.
She nodded, then activated her omni-tool and sent a quick message to Rael, asking him to ensure that they'd have privacy for the rest of the meeting. It was a small gesture, but hopefully, it would help build trust.
As she finished, she looked up to see all of them watching her with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. And she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for them. Yes, she was thrusting them into a world they never could have imagined, and their fear was more than understandable.
Soon, Rael replied, telling her that they were not watching the meeting anymore.
"Done," she said. "Now, we have complete privacy."
Goto sighed, then pursed his lips. "Very well." The Governor cleared his throat, then looked her right in the eye. "Hannah, while everything you told us is…profound, to say the least. But why should we trust them?"
"And most importantly," a young officer said. "Why should humanity trust them?"
She paused and looked at each of them in turn. Yes, she'd have to choose her next words very, very carefully. She took a deep breath. "Your concerns are perfectly valid, and you have every right to be skeptical. So let me answer your questions as frankly as possible."
She straightened her back, then looked Governor Goto in the eye. "Humanity should trust the quarians because we need each other to survive in this ugly, terrible galaxy."
"Ugly, terrible galaxy?" Goto asked.
She nodded, then typed away at her omni-tool. "I hate to say this, Governor, but the galaxy is not a safe, friendly place. It is full of monsters, who bring misery and suffering to billions on daily basis, and the Silent Ones are just one on many." With her omni-tool, she then showed Goto holograms of the galaxy's three most powerful tyrants.
Of the Ascendant, the Primarch, and the Architect.
Of the three, the Ascendant looked the most striking and majestic, with his flowing, blue cloak and his suit of baroque, high-tech armor that teemed with interlocking gold plates and artificial muscles. Chiseled, his features practically shone with angelic beauty, and even as a static hologram, he seemed to carry himself with divine grace.
But goodness, his eyes…
His eyes were soulless.
Yes, his gaze carried an undercurrent of raw power, of an eerie coldness that froze her blood to ice. Under it, she couldn't help but feel as small as an ant, exposed with all her weaknesses splayed out for him to stab at.
Hopefully, she would never have to meet him in person.
"There is also the Citadel Council, a triarchy of brutal, totalitarian regimes that will not hesitate to crush us under their thumb and plunder our colonies." She manipulated her omni-tool and now she was showing a hologram of a monstrous krogan in a hulking suit of red power armor. "Along with the Krogan, a savage, hyper-violent race that would enslave and brutalize us all without a second thought."
She leaned forward. "Sooner or later, the Citadel Council is going to find us – especially if we keep expanding – and when they do, we will face our greatest struggle yet. An all-out war to preserve our identity and independence that we have no hope of ever winning without the quarians help, and vice versa."
A long, uncomfortable silence ensued, with the hum of the station's systems like static in the air.
Eventually, Governor Goto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Hannah…I have no doubt you believe everything you just said with all your heart. But all of this…" Briefly, the Governor looked at the ground. "It is so much to take in and process, like a raging torrent of bitter, cosmic truths that none of us ever expected to hear within our lifetimes. And so…"
"And so?"
"And so I need to meet the quarians in charge of all of this," Goto said. "I need to feel what they are like in person and to hear anything they have to tell us personally. All so I can make an informed decision."
Gritting her teeth, she huffed through her nose. She had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but she could understand his need for reassurance. "If you want to meet the quarians leading this mission, then very well." With her omni-tool, she sent a comm request to Rael."
And soon Rael answered. "Khanah? What is happening?"
"I need you and Captain Zhoru here immediately," she said, "they want to talk to you two."
"We'll be there shortly," Rael said before cutting the comm link.
"They're on the way," she said.
Takeshi nodded, then stood up. "Then let's greet your alien friends."
She stood up, then nodded. "My thoughts exactly."
Everyone then left the conference room and headed towards the docking bay. Soon enough, she received a message on her omni-tool from Rael, telling her that they were on the way, and on the same shuttle. And eventually, that shuttle docked with the station.
As Rael and Zhoru went through the decontamination cycle in the adjacent chamber, she took a deep breath, trying to still her thumping heart.
Finally, the chamber door opened, revealing Rael and Zhoru. And for what felt like hours, Governor Goto and his team just stared at them amidst a pregnant silence, as if they were seeing the impossible first hand.
"Governor Ghoto," Rael said eventually, breaking the silence, "it is an honor to meet you." Rael extended his hand for a handshake.
For a while, Governor Goto just stood there in stunned silence, as though doubting the reality of the sight before him. But eventually, the Governor accepted Rael's handshake. "The feeling is mutual, Mr…"
"Rael'Zorah," Rael said, "Rael'Zorah vas Neema." Briefly, Rael glanced at Zhoru. "And my colleague here is Captain Zhoru'Larrik vas Az'khaelon, our expert on the Silent Ones and how they wage warfare."
For a while, Goto and his team stared at Zhoru with a mix of awe and fear, as though they were standing before a demi-god of myth and legend. Nearby, the armed guards tensed up and gripped their weapons tighter. Momentarily, her pulse climbed. Don't do it. But then Zhoru's helmet sunk into the neckline of his armor, revealing his face.
And the guards relaxed as the Malukor extended his armored hand toward the Governor for a handshake. "Greetings, Governor. I look forward to working with you and your officers."
A relieved sigh escaped her lips. Oh, thank the stars that quarian faces, although alien, still looked familiar and often pleasing to human eyes. Indeed, otherwise, the guards might had opened fire on him.
Goto shook his head, then accepted Zhoru's handshake. "Likewise, Zhoru. Likewise." Goto cleared his throat. "Now, shall we discuss the matter at hand?"
"Agreed," Zhoru said.
Rael nodded. "Yes, let us continue your discussion where you left off."
The Governor nodded. "Very well. Follow me."
Soon, everyone returned to the conference room and took their seats. "Now that we're all here," Governor Goto began, looking at Rael, "how about you tell us what your kind's plans are with my people and all of humanity?"
"Yes," the younger officer chimed on. "What exactly are your intentions?"
"And the Silent Ones..." somebody said, "what else can you tell us about them? Do we really have to abandon our home to them? Why can't we defend ourselves here?"
"Yeah, why not?" another voice asked. "The public won't just accept this."
The room erupted into chaos, with Goto and his team talking over each other, as they asked countless questions directed at Rael and Zhoru.
Gritting her teeth, she clenched her fists. "Hey, hey, hey!" she snapped. The room fell silent. "One question at a time. There's no way we can ever make progress if we're all–."
"Khanah…" Rael said.
She looked at him. "Yes?"
"All is fine," Rael said. "Zhoru and I have this situation under control. So please…sit down."
She sat down, then sighed. "Alright, go ahead."
Rael stood up and placed his hands on the table. As he looked at Goto and his team, his posture radiated confidence. "All of you are afraid, and that is perfectly understandable. Just hours ago, you were living in peace and blissful ignorance, believing that your kind was likely alone. And now, my colleague and I are the first intelligent aliens you have ever met in person. So allow me to put your concerns to rest."
Rael took a deep breath. "Now, regarding my kind's intentions with your people and your species as a whole, rest assured that we want only the best for humanity, for your kind and mine to become the closest allies, united as equals against our countless common foes." Rael paused, letting his words sink in. "In the long run, such a partnership is the only way our species can survive in this galaxy. And so today, I've come to your world with an evacuation fleet as our first gesture of goodwill, and will not stand by and do nothing while the Silent Ones harvest your people."
"Indeed," Zhoru said, standing up. He activated his omni-tool and a hologram appeared before them, displaying a star map. "And while we admire your willingness to defend your home, a last stand will only end in disaster."
With his omni-tool, Zhoru zoomed in on a particular system, showing a fleet of quarian warships. "Seven centuries ago, I fought in a war against them that shook the very foundations of galactic civilization."
The hologram showed the fleet engaged in a vicious space battle, exchanging missiles and energy lances with a Silent One fleet. It flickered again, then flashed through views of utter devastation, of nightmarish hellscapes of fire and molten slag, with Silent One constructs slaughtering or harvesting everything in their path. One was so large it seemed to blanket the entire sky, and with powerful anti-gravity fields, it was tearing out chunks of the planet the size of entire city blocks.
Along with streams of screaming innocents into its dark, red-lit interior.
The sight sent a terrible chill through her insides. And nearby, everyone looked just as disturbed, dead silent, with the images cast long shadows across their faces.
"I've seen the worst of what they can do," Zhoru continued, his voice echoing in the hushed room. "In that war, the Silent Ones slaughtered billions and stripped entire worlds of all life. In the end, it took the united effort of all galactic civilization just to contain them to a now forbidden region of space." Zhoru looked at Goto. "So I'm afraid you have no choice but to temporarily evacuate your home."
Goto's face hardened and his reflected the grim reality of humanity's current situation.
"Temporarily?" The Governor asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Explain."
Zhoru nodded, then input commands into his omni-tool. Once more, the hologram shifted and showed a massive armada tucked away in the Kuiper Belt of the Sol System. "As we speak, my people have fleets lying in wait, not just in your home system…" With his omni-tool, Zhoru zoomed out the hologram, showing a star map, "but across all of human space, ready to ambush the enemy once we lead them into a trap of our choosing."
"An ambush?" Goto asked.
"Exactly," Zhoru said, "and once we rout the force they sent to conquer this region of space, we will use the time we gain to reconquer your home for you and to either destroy or disable the mass relay through which they will arrive."
"And of course," Rael added. "My people will be more than happy to help you rebuild your settlement."
Amidst another silence, Rael and Zhoru's words hung heavy in the air.
"So we are the bait for your trap?" Governor Got asked, his voice steady.
Rael met Goto's gaze. "It might sound perilous. But know that we are all in this ordeal together and that our survival depends on unity and cooperation."
"It is our best chance," Zhoru said.
Governor Goto sighed and ran a hand through his silver hair. His gaze was distant, lost in thought. "Very well. It seems we have no choice. We will do whatever is necessary to cooperate with you and begin an immediate evacuation."
The room buzzed with a mix of relief and apprehension.
"So this meeting is over," Governor Goto said, his voice heavy. "I can only hope we won't regret this, that trusting you will not be a mistake."
"It will not," Rael said. "Just wait and see."
Zhoru nodded. "The result of your choice will be made clear soon enough."
"Yeah, you've made the right decision," she said, her voice filled with pride. "You may not believe me. But future generations will look back at this moment and call you the Hero of Mindoir."
"That is if we survive Hanah," Governor Goto said, his voice laced with a bitter chuckle. "Anyways, there is no time to waste. We have an evacuation to plan."
She nodded and her heart swelled with resolve. "I couldn't agree more."
Captain Han'Gerrel vas Neema sat in the command throne of his dreadnought, the MFV Khargos, studying the ship formations on his tactical display. Through the forward viewscreen, the inky blackness of space stretched out before him, dotted with distant stars and the looming presence of the Mindoir relay.
He drew in a deep breath, and his chest tightened. Yes, finally, Rael had arrived at Mindoir. The evacuation was about to begin. And the fate of his people teetered on a knife's edge.
Momentarily, a knot twisted in his stomach, and the weight of the situation bore down on him like a mountain. Yes, the future seemed so precarious and uncertain, shrouded in a murky fog teeming with dangers ahead.
But he had faith in his best friend.
And no matter the outcome of the coming weeks, months, or years, he would stand beside him until the very end.
He exhaled sharply, then refocused his attention back on his tactical display. Yes, for over a week now, his trap had been meticulously set.
His squadron, positioned light minutes away from the relay, with a field of debris and ship-killing mines in between, would be the center of the coming battle. With the most resilient and powerful ships, his ships would engage the enemy first and bombard them with super-heavy railgun slugs and barrages of disruptor and warp missiles, as the Silent Ones struggled to close the distance. Meanwhile, Captain Shala'Raan and Valo'Reegar would hold the reserves, commanding the left and right wings respectively. And at his command, they would emerge from their hidden positions and unleash their full firepower on the enemy's flanks and rear.
With luck, they would deliver a crippling blow and force the enemy to scatter and retreat. And hopefully, his combined squadrons would regroup and continue to harass the Silent Ones from the shadows.
But only time would tell.
After all, no plan survived contact with the enemy and–
"Captain, incoming readings from the sensor probes!" his chief sensor officer called out. Briefly, she paused, her voice catching in her throat. "Keelah…They're coming through! I repeat. They're coming through!"
An ice-cold sensation raced down his pace and his pulse spiked. Gripping the armrests of his command throne, he leaned forward, keeping his gaze fixed on his tactical display. "Attention all ships. All hands to battle stations!"
The battle alarm blared all across his ship, and the bridge burst into a whirlwind of activity, with everyone scrambling to their appropriate stations or typing away furiously, readying the ship's appropriate systems.
Meanwhile, he steeled himself for the coming battle. Yes, this was it. This was the moment they had been waiting for. He took a deep, calming breath, then recited his clan's motto. "Stand firm, stand proud. For we are the wrath of the ancestors…"
