Well, I'm back with another chapter. Nothing really new going on except getting a new computer so that's pretty awesome. I am pretty damn pleased so many enjoy this story though, it really is surprising ha.
Anyway, that's about it. ONWARD!
Chapter Fifteen: Border Tensions
Sera. Irohma Island. 33rd of Heat, 424 A.E.
Abundant, thick jungle seemed to cover most of the island, the thick vegetation rising to the extinct volcano that dwelled in the center of the piece of land surrounded by the Sorano ocean. Shrouding mists still clung to the elevated slopes, soon to disappear as the temperatures would no doubt climb for the day.
Lea Kaliso peered out the transport's window, studying the outline of Alohma, the lone major city that stretched around the naturally curved harbor below. Home to fifty thousand, it was quite small compared to other notable cities in the island chain, but that didn't really matter to her.
She had been honorably discharged after nearly six years of service in the military. Of course, they had asked if she wanted to continue as a Sergeant, to sign on for another two years, but she was sick of it. Lea had served before the war, done her job and managed to come through the meatgrinder in once piece. So after saying goodbye to the few friend's she had left and receiving a handful of medals in some impromptu ceremony, she had left, taking a transport back to the homeworld of Sera.
"Will admit to missing Wrex and Kaga Mumi. Glad they made it through" Thinking of the Krogan and Asari, Lea was positive they were already being shipped to Pandora to serve out the remainder of their time as a construction force. Shrugging at the thought, Lea hoped the best for them.
Watching as the city and island loomed closer, Lea was enamored by the natural beauty of the ancestral island.
"It's not Convel…but it's still home in a way"
The craft settled with a kick up of dirt and wind, easing onto the tarmac near one of the port structures as other minor craft took off with a whine of noise. The engines cut off, finally allowing movement. Quickly grabbing her duffle bags, the heavily laden satchels were stuffed with her disassembled armor and weapons as she hefted them both with a low grunt of exertion.
After all, her gear had been tailored for her. Refitting and reassigning this armor for the next female gear would cost as much as building a new set. So, the military simply let her keep it.
Lea just hoped she would never need it again, but at least she would have it just in case.
Several other men and women moved before her, their haste to leave the craft understandable. Most appeared to be civilians by the way they walked and scrambled. Many gave her thankful looks, the combat veteran easily identified by them.
Finally stepping onto the tarmac, the heat and humidity hit like a wave as the departing passengers quickly walked to the nearest building for incoming travelers.
Low and squat, the structure was a beige building of brick and glass, no doubt matching a thousand other terminals across the Coalition in terms of layout and construction.
The air conditioning inside was pleasant, a cool wave of chilled air as the deluge of passengers went their separate ways. A hanging electronic board displayed departure times for shuttles to other islands, most transports heading toward Noroa, Pahanu, and the main island Kaia with the major city of Autrin.
"LEA!" A shrill scream of joy erupted from the left, the veteran abruptly turning to the sound.
She was ambushed by her two younger sisters and little brother, the three of them nearly tackling her to the floor as they seemed to bounce with excitement.
"YOUR FINALLY HOME!" Rena shouted, the fifteen year old girl overcome with joy, a few tears mixing in.
"You beat those nasty Toads!" Tailin yelled, the young boy of ten nearly in awe of his big sister as he hugged her tight.
"Did you get to meet some Asari!? They're really pretty!" Rea asked in uncontrolled excitement, her smile mixing in with her near adulthood of seventeen years.
"Yeah…yeah I did" Smiling while answering the oldest, Lea hugged them all back, relief coursing through her. She was damn happy that the war had ended before Rea was old enough for service.
Slowly standing once more, Lea found herself enshrouded by a massive hug from her father and mother, both of them showing their relief.
"I'm so glad your safe" Lahni Kaliso whispered, the mother relieved to see her eldest child in one piece.
"So proud of you. You honored our family name and came back safe and sound" Her father said with a husky, deep voice as his massive arms nearly swamping his daughter. With his large, hard frame from years of hard work as a swamp logger on Convel, Aleki Kaliso was intimidating to say the least. Nearly six and a half feet tall and with swirling tattoos across his face, the man was a tank….and also a gentle giant.
"Yeah…yeah I did…" Voice laced with sorrow, Lea tried to push away some of the darker thoughts. So many relatives and friends had died during the Convel campaign…so many fellow comrades in the following years.
"Come. Your grandparents are at the house. We can have a big meal to celebrate you coming home" Smiling, Lahni Kaliso led the way across the terminal to a waiting ground transport.
Stowing her bags in the trunk, Lea climbed in the back to find herself braced against Tailin. Eager with the mind of a young boy, he looked up at his sister like she was a superhero.
"Can you tell us how you beat those evil Toads? How you kicked them all the way back to their homeworld? Did you use your lancer? What are the Krogan like? Did you shoot some aliens?"
His questions came like bullets, one after another with hardly a breath between them.
Setting her palm upon his head, Lea held a strained smile. "Maybe you can ask later, okay?"
"But! I wanna hear about all your adventures!"
"Tailin. That's enough. Your sister had a long journey. I'm sure she's tired" Aleki warned from the driver's seat as he pulled onto the main highway that led to the outlying towns across the island.
Giving a thankful glance to her father, Lea was content to listen to her siblings patter on about civilian life as the scenery of urban dwellings quickly shifted to abundant jungle and homesteads.
Twenty minutes of driving brought them to the minor town of Alae, its population barely a thousand. Surrounded by dense vegetation, the town seemed to thrive despite the humidity and sudden down pour. A quick left turn brought them to a private road, stretching past rows of sugar cane as several field bots floated and tended the crops.
The Kaliso Plantation soon grew into view, the structure of gray stone and glass rising upon a small hillock. Three stories tall, the home was over three hundred and fifty years old with continued habitation by generations of her family.
To the left past a small stream was the maintenance shop and the workers quarters her grandparents still employed.
Just because field bots did most of the manual labor did not mean it was fully automated. Nearly a dozen men and women from the town worked on the plantation, many for years and years.
"Hard to believe there was even a war…" Lea thought to herself, her mind watching the swaying sugar cane as the rain let up. Coming to a stop a minute later, she exited the vehicle, her surroundings feeling surreal.
"Ha! There's my warrior grand-daughter!" An older, larger man in his nineties emerged from the house, his graying temples adding to the wrinkles that pulled at his facial tattoos. Nearly a carbon copy of Aleki, Malosi Kaliso stopped before Lea, his back going ramrod straight. Pulling off a salute, the former Gear sixty years prior showed the respect due. "Well done, Sergeant. Well done"
Lea tried to smile, but only managed to return the salute to the retired officer. "Thank you, sir"
"None of that sir stuff, Lea. He's been retired for decades. Now give your grandma a hug" Sina Kaliso ordered with a stern tone. Approximately ninety five years of age, her hair was graying with flecks of black.
"Hi Gramma" Giving the hug, Lea found it pleasant and oddly strange to be in this type of situation. She had nearly forgotten what her grandparents had looked like. The last time she had seen them in person was when Tailin was born…nearly a decade ago. But here she was, living on their plantation as her immediate family dealt with the fact that they were homeless.
But they were family, opening their home to their children and grandchildren after they lost everything at Convel. Sure, there were cousins and nieces across the Coalition, relatives on at least a dozen worlds…but it felt nice to be on the ancestral island among her loved ones.
"Now come inside. I've made a big lunch for our war hero" Her three younger siblings grew excited, loving the matriarchs cooking.
"I'll grab my gear" Lea replied, moving to the back of the vehicle. Retrieving her bags, she slammed the trunk as her grandfather stared at her, his eyes assessing her movements. Waiting on the steps of the home, his face grew sorrowful as Lea approached.
"It was bad, wasn't it?"
Lea paused, then looked into the eyes of the retired colonel. They brimmed with horror, of atrocities and carnage that nobody should have witnessed.
It was all she needed to say between two different generations of Gears.
"I had forgotten what grandma could cook. I'm stuffed" Laying on the bed with her head propped against a pillow, Lea had finally unpacked, letting the tropical air come in through an open window. Hoots and cries of birds and wildlife rebounded, the air laden with moisture.
Clasped in her hands was a black box, the lid open to show a row of medals and commendations she had received. Many glimmered and gleamed, a mixture of silvers, golds and tiny gems from a thankful people and government.
The Spear of Pyrrha.
The Colonial Defense Badge.
Two Planetary Assault Campaigns.
The Pulsar Grindlift.
The Embry Star Second Class. Dragging her fingertips across the last medal, its silver façade was crossed with a decoration of gold, adding to its beauty.
The silence was unnerving. She had been surrounded by hundreds of Gears…aliens from half a dozen worlds. The growl of machinery and yelled commands…and the combat.
Her mind could still hear it all. The yells and screams…thunderous gunfire punctuated by hellish storms of bombardment. Dying men and women howling as their life ebbed in some forsaken ruin on a damned Toad planet.
Slamming the lid shut, she placed the box into the drawer of the nearby nightstand in the hopes memories of war would fade.
Irohma Island, 9th of Bloom. 424 A.E.
"What's wrong with Lea?" Tailin asked, the boy looking out to the back yard of the home. His sister was simply propped up against a tree, looking past the manicured lawn to the jungle beyond. Legs splayed out, Lea was simply staring into the distant foliage past a tiny gazebo, her gaze nearly unbroken.
"She…she saw some really bad things during the war against the Toads. Remember how scary it was when they bombarded Convel?" Rea asked, the older sister setting a comforting hand on her brother.
"Yeah…that was scary"
"Well, Lea had to face that constantly. Along with those horrible monsters. She basically fought the locust to keep all of us safe. I'm sure she saw some really scary things too"
"Oh…is there anything I can do to help?"
"Just be a good brother and be thankful she fought hard to keep us all safe. She walked the same steps as our great ancestor, Tai Kaliso so be respectful of that, okay Tailin?"
A rapid nod came from the boy, his eyes still staring at his sister across the manicured yard.
Lahni heard her two children talking, the mother washing a few dishes at the kitchen sink in the next room. Looking out the window at her eldest daughter, the elder woman shook her head as her husband walked in to take a beverage from the refrigerator. "I don't like her sitting there doing nothing. She should be going to school or finding a man. After all, she hasn't had any children yet and she is of the proper age to provide several children to repopulation efforts"
Feeling a large hand on her shoulder, Lahni looked toward Aleki who had a somber look etched among his facial tattoos. "Give her time. She was fighting those Toad bastards practically from day one. We both followed the news reports and know some of those battles she fought in were atrocious. Just…let her find her way. Forcing the issue now will only lead to anger and resentment"
Sighing, Lahni onca again looked out the kitchen window at her eldest child, Lea still staring off into the jungle beyond the property line. "Alright. If that's what you think is best"
Washing the last few dishes and placing them in the drying rack, Lahni had to believe her daughter would eventually find her way past the memories of the war.
Lea could feel her family watching her from the large house, their stares like knives. Slowly turning her head to the right, she studied the barrier between the plantations edge and the thriving jungle. Repulsor technology shimmered at the boundary like a blue shield, keeping the nastiest animals and predators at least fifty feet away from the property line. Non-lethal, it seemly caused a bit of nausea in the larger animals of the island. The same technology was used near the harbor to keep sharks, leviathans, and other large marine life away from sailing ships and fishing boats.
"Have you been to the tomb yet?"
Lea looked up at her grandfather, the elder looking down at her in concern.
"Not yet. Just…trying to figure out what to do? The things I saw…what I heard…the killing…every time I close my eyes, I see the Toads. The war…" Draping her head downward, Lea just picked at some grass.
Malosi extended a hand, its weathered hide and wrinkles showing age and experience. "Come on, were going to the tomb"
Knowing better than to argue, Lea climbed to her feet and followed behind her grandfather who led the way to the burial site of past generations. Carved into a hill that was enshrouded by jungle, the outlying stone work was already ancient by centuries.
The door was well an oiled slab of metalwork, not a single sound of distress came from the heavy door as the two stepped in. Rows of grave markers lined the walls on both sides, illuminated by soft lighting that flickered on upon their entrance. The crypt was large, with a central row while several side paths led to further relatives of eras past.
Decorations of swirling stonework covered the surfaces of many markers, adding to the weight of family history.
Obviously, they were just headstones and name plaques. None were buried here. To bury a loved one in the soil was to send them to the locust…the greatest disrespect. No, ever since E-day, Serans were burned at funeral pyres, their markers placed later by surviving family.
"So many new names in the past few years"
"Far too many" Lea added with a morose tone. Walking forward, she could feel the weight of her ancestors…of the fallen. Walking forward as her shoes echoed upon the old stone floor, she came to the end of the aisle, her gaze falling upon the statue of Tai Kaliso.
He stood tall, resplendent in stonework centuries old. The carving of his armor…his features and facial tattoos were represented with the same respectful elegance.
Of course she knew who he fought…how he died at the hands of the locust centuries ago. But still, her family paid him honor for fighting during those darkest of times.
"He would be proud of you. Your bravery in the face of the enemy…you took the war to them, just as he did" Waving a hand toward the statue, Malosi then clasped both behind his back. "Whatever you decide to do, make sure you honor his sacrifice. All their sacrifices that ensured we could survive to this day. I will not tolerate my grand-daughter wasting her life away staring at a forest. Find a craft, learn a trade. Ensure you continue to bring pride to our family"
The resolve that commanded Gears decades ago was felt by Lea, her gaze falling to the base pedestal.
"Everything happens for a reason"
Clenching her fist, Lea's faced hardened as she felt the ancestors looking down upon her. "I fought too hard and too long to wallow in pity. I may not know what to do yet, but I'll figure it out…for all of them. That's a promise"
Behind her, Malosi remained stoic, the tiniest smile pulling at his wrinkled lips as his granddaughter began to find her resolve.
Pandora. The new land route between New Haven and Thessa. 10th of Bloom, 424 A.E.
"Damn it's hot" Private Donnelly complained, the Terran wiping flecks of sweat from his brow. Still in full gear, he considered re-helmeting, allowing the temperature controls of his armor to cool him, but thought better of it. While damn advanced compared to most Terran armors, the helmet vision could be more expansive for his tastes.
Especially if one considered the hostile predators of this planet.
"Don't complain, yah? I come from Rio De Janeiro. It's like this all year" Ricardo De'Silva responded from nearby, the swarthy south American taking the humidity in stride. Stepping up to a smaller tree, the Terran flipped the switch of his lancer to on, creating a harsh whine of teeth before digging into the wood with a spray of sap and dust.
Soon, the tree fell with a crash into the jungle, crushing several low grown plants as several more troopers swarmed the fallen trunk to carve it up into smaller chunks.
A rifle shot rang out, then a small burst from the other side of the work area flashed along with a shrill, reptilian howl of agony.
Urdnot Wrex grinned at the kill, the large Krogan stepping forward toward the fallen beast. "Heh. Another Vaciraptor, good meat" Glancing down at the now dead land predator, the beast looked very similar to the extinct dinosaurs of Terra. Seven feet long from snout to tip, its front claws and teeth were razor sharp while a patchwork of green scales ensured it could blend in with the surrounding jungle.
Already, dozens of men and women had been attacked by these beasts among the C.A.G. unit, but most had simply been wounded. Only a few Salarians had been killed, their bodies simply going into shock from the bite wounds of the alien dinosaurs.
Of course, there were rumors of some capable of eating a Krogan whole, but they were unconfirmed at this point.
"Hey Gronn! Got some meat! Carve it up!" Wrex hollered as several nearby Krogan grinned at the coming meal.
Being Krogan, it hadn't taken long for them to figure out Vaciraptor meat was…delicious. Stepping back as the dead reptile was retrieved, Wrex studied the assembled men and women carving a path through the thick forest.
Their task wasn't glorious, hell it probably wasn't even necessary with Seran technology. But the COG was making sure that the first wave of volunteers for the war put in the full time…even if that meant cutting down trees for a highway between New Haven and the Asari city of Thessa along the Eastern Coast.
"Getting their money's worth at least. Plus, two more months of this then we can all claim a plot of land" Smiling at the thought, Wrex had done his research about Seran Colonial laws.
There was some good stuff in there. Homestead starter kits, no taxes for three years, and the size of the claimed plot was good. Nearly a quarter mile of land could be his and his alone…depending on the local topography.
"Maybe a meat farm? That would be good" Wrex thought out loud as more trees fell. Ripping lancers tore into the branches of the fallen, spewing fresh dust and curses. Looking further backward along the cleared future lanes of the land route, Wrex studied a small group of Asari and Turians talking with a few Seran's.
No doubt discussing the topography and construction goals.
"Or maybe a sugar plantation? Make some of that Vectes Cherry Rum the Asari love? Or Java? Get some Salarians addicted" Wrex chuckled at that part, thinking of some twitching little Salarian going crazy for the caffeinated drink.
A flare of flame burst from his left, an armored Turian unleashing a torrent of napalm into a dense cluster of plants. "Watch out! Flytraps!" The avian yelled in warning above the work noise as a three limbed tentacle plant withered and flared with dying flame. Its maw was large, big enough to swallow a most adults whole if they stumbled into its grasp.
Two more Terrans rushed forward, their backs laden with a fuel tank and scorcher weapon clutched in gloved hands. The two males spurted more flame and fire at the northern edge of the work zone, earning fresh, leathery screams from more deadly 'flytraps' as their hide withered and cooked like roasted leather.
"You think the Serans knew about the carnivorous plants, flesh ripping dinosaurs and Blood Pythons that live on this planet when we signed up?" Vorge asked, the other Krogan striding up as more gunfire ripped into the forest, killing a small horde of the Vaciraptors that screamed under the onslaught.
"If they didn't, they do now" Wrex chuckled in response as he breathed in the thick, moist air. "Kinda reminds me of Tuchanka where everything tries to kill us. Only difference is the jungle. Bet those first Asari were shocked by the man eating plants" Laughing at the thought, the two Krogan shared in the humor.
"Threat eliminated! Continue the work! I want another half mile cleared by sunset unless you want to work in the dark!" A Turian barked, the officer in charge of this work sector striding along the barely carved roadway as males and females grumbled.
Wrex simply nodded, picking up his lancer to begin carving into a marked tree in the path of the new road. Hearing a low crack and groan of engines, he looked behind him as two bulldozers pulled the severed trunks of trees from the soil, their roots ripped free. Shrugging, Wrex went back to work, satisfied that in two months, he could claim an unspoiled, healthy plot of land for himself.
System COG-1533. The border along Asari Space. (84 l.y. west of Borra Borea)
Captain Michaelson sat in his command chair, staring out the bridge window at the nearly dead system beyond.
His Battlecruiser, Flintlock and more specifically, himself, were in command of a destroyer squadron comprising of sixteen vessels. Of course, they were tasked in other systems to deploy the new sensor network among the border systems, just like this one.
A lone, red dwarf burned across the expanse, holding three dead worlds in orbit while a roiling halo of an asteroid belt swept through some whisps of stellar gases.
The population of the system was minimal, a mere twelve hundred asteroid miners, orbital farmers and smelters. Living on the craggy moon of the third planet, the settlement was one of hundreds that had fed the war with raw materials, metals and vital necessities.
Just because there was no garden world did not mean minerals couldn't be extracted and exploited for the Coalition.
Bringing up an image of the moon with a quick tap of his fingers, Michaelson found most of the station dug into the moon itself, save for the domed and shielded crop farms that dotted the surface. Self-reliant, the population mined their own water, grew food, nearly all the essential needed to achieve self sufficiency.
There were even bars and a couple cinema's.
Of course, that could be said of any mining colony, outpost or, orbital station.
"Are we ready for deployment?" Michaelson inquired.
"Sir. At your order" A crewman replied with punctuality.
"Then deploy"
It was hardly worthy of fanfare as a decompressed loading bay along the port side opened, allowing two tethered crewman to guide the sensor buoy into position.
Barely the size of a ground vehicle, the sensor buoy was an ugly, angular piece of technology ripe with sensors, antennae, and deep space telescopes. A dull, gray material, it had a stamped number along one side, marking its place during assembly.
"Activate it" Michaelson ordered as the young woman at comms started to type, sending the encrypted signal to the sensor.
A minute later, a shimmer of protective shields surrounded the buoy, ensuring the minimal protection from spatial radiation and debris.
It wouldn't do much against naval fire, but it was enough to protect it from minor, natural hazards found in the vacuum of space.
"Buoy is active, sir. All systems green and nominal"
"Very well. Plot a course for COG-One Five Three Five. And keep me appraised of our squadrons progress"
"Sir"
Leaning back, Michaelson simply waited as Flintlock transited the swirling blues of slip space, entering the different dimension to continue her task in the next system marked by fleet command.
Gulan System. 15th of Bloom, 424 A.E.
The Salarians had been cautious, sliding into each system on the burning engines of low sub-light. While the upgraded FTL drive did make long jumps effective outside of the relay network, all it would take is emerging near an unknown outpost or research base to warn the Coalition of their intrusion.
Thus, approaching from the edges of interstellar space was the most logical approach, giving the stealth craft ample range and warning in case of discovery.
Still, the gathering of data was slow.
Most of the border systems had been sparsely populated with simple mining operations or a few orbital stations. The last system only had a hydrogen refinery in orbit of a gas giant, the long range scans giving an estimate of maybe a hundred inhabitants. There had been a few freighters docked, but the Salarians had elected to stay near the systems edge before slinking away to this current system.
Agent Texs blinked rapidly, watching as the pilot used the minimal thrust to enter the upper atmosphere of the burning orange of the gas giant at the outer system. Thirty eight moons orbited the parent planet, some a spewing hell of magma and ash while others glittered with frozen water ice.
Sensors and cameras had detected an outpost on the ice moon, possible a research facility or a labratory. Either way, the continued course needed to be altered before discovery. Hence the dive into the orange clouds of the large giant.
"Have we been detected?" Whispering the words, he could feel the tenseness in the air as his tiny ship continued into the upper clouds.
"Negative. No increase in communications from the seventh moon. Have escaped detection for now" the pilot replied quickly, his slender fingers tapping minute adjustments across a glowing keyboard.
"Excellent. Begin long range scans of system" Texs ordered with a rapid, clipped tone.
The silence was welcome as his fellow agents quickly worked, the males falling into a familiar state of inputting computations and assessing data.
Long range sensors swept the collection of worlds, a low level pulse of waves fed into the ships main computer. Minutes passed rapidly, the crew quickly digesting the incoming information.
"Agent Texs! Long range sensors indicate substantial communications coming from inner system! Possible colony!" The agent nearly brimmed with excitement, his body language displaying raw eagerness at the discovery.
"Emerge from the atmosphere and concentrate long range cameras and sensors" His voice clipped, Texs waited as his agents sent new commands to the exterior arrays that decorated the hull. Slipping from the reddish clouds of the gas giant, the stealth ship maintained a low presence among the gases and elements around them.
"Confirmed! Garden world with matching Coalition comm signatures. Amount of traffic suggests a young colony"
"Display all data"
The fellow agent nodded quickly, transferring the acquired data to the nearby holo-graphic table in the corner. Small compared to major military vessels, it was still large enough to get a detailed representation of the Seran world.
"Hmmm. Large supercontinent among the Eastern Hemisphere. Three subcontinents to the West with numerous archipelagoes. Appears to have a diverse biome"
"Population estimate?"
"Minimal. No higher than ten million based on available data" Typing quickly, subsequent scans tried to glean more information, but the distance was a problem. "Should we move closer to the system center?"
"No. Risk of discovery will increase. Best to return to interstellar space and study data. Greed for all knowledge may spell doom for mission. Retreat to safe distance immediately"
His agents complied, letting Texs study the Seran world with a knowing smirk.
"Not a core world, but a discovery nonetheless. A rewarding day"
Slinking away on minimal thrust, the stealth ship moved toward the edge of the system, the lead agent quite satisfied with the unveiling of a Coalition world after nearly a month of surveillance.
Gulan System. 18th of Bloom, 424 A.E.
A rupture of spatial distortions appeared several million miles from the colony, disgorging a lone destroyer. Angular with harsh lines, Shroud was really no different from the hundreds of identical Coalition vessels that supported the fleets.
One of many detached from the 1st fleet and her parent battle squadron, the warship and her crew had a duty to perform.
Captain Bernadette Cole sat patiently in her command chair. Letting her bridge crew go about their standard tasks. Her skin was a modest brown, pulled into a tight ponytail tucked underneath her naval cap. Her lips were full, mixing with a soft nose and pleasant cheeks that led up to warm eyes of hazel.
Suppressing a yawn at this late hour, it wouldn't be prudent to show rising exhaustion, especially among several fresh crewmen that just rotated in.
A woman of a mere twenty five years, she had earned command in the last months of the war, her bravery and ingenuity keeping the ravaged Mantle in the fight against the four eyed butchers of Reach. Promoted to second in command of the rebuilt Cruiser, she had participated in several battles against the Toads as well before being slotted for her own chance to command a ship.
Frankly, the losses the navy had endured during the war were extremely heavy, and dedicated officers were needed to replace those killed or wounded in battle. During peacetime, she probably would have been waiting another six of seven years to take control of the Shroud.
But her she was, pulled from patrol to help establish a sensor network along the border.
"Last one. Let's get this buoy deployed and linked into the net. Hopefully we can earn a little shore leave after this mission is completed" Voice filled with warmth, it made her bridge crew smile at the possibility of some time off. Sure, they weren't being shot at by Toads or Batarians anymore, but that didn't mean weeks on patrol was a walk in the park either.
At least it broke up the constant jumps between systems, watching and looking for some potential incursion.
"Plus, when the Border Sensor Array goes up, it will make incursions from the Council or unknowns impossible without us knowing…hopefully anyway"
Drifting toward the Western edge of the system, Shroud simply floated among the void as Gulan's main star burned brightly like a beacon.
The deployment of the array went smoothly, the floating satellite already brimming with protective barriers as its sensors went to work.
A crewman at his station stirred, the young, red-haired man hitting a few key strokes at his station. "Ma'am? I'm getting something from the array"
"Already?" Voice filled with concern, Bernadette didn't like the fact that something was detected eighty light years inside the border inside a colonial system.
"Affirmative. It's faint, but the B.S.A. is picking up faint traces of Element Zero. Possibly drive discharge"
"Can you track it?"
"…Affirmative, ma'am. Drive trail leads to interstellar space"
"Follow it. And inform Commander Strand of the situation" Crossing her legs, Bernadette forgot the late hour as the possibility of an unknown threat coursed through her thoughts. The fact they whomever it was had been at Gulan scared her, bringing about memories of Reach and that horrific slaughter.
A minute later, a gaping maw in the universe formed, the swirling blues and arcs of turbulent electricity crossing the event horizon as Shroud pushed through in pursuit of the threat.
System COG-783. 112 ly North West of Gulan 21st of Bloom, 424 A.E.
Three days of hunting… tracking the dissipating trial of element zero to this system and its central asteroid belt.
Sliding above the system plane, Shroud hung above the broken debris of an asteroid belt, her sensors striving to find the elusive prey.
Scattered about the dead system of heat blasted worlds were four more war vessels, each a standard Baird class as they attempted to close the net.
Even the lone mining facility dug into one of the larger asteroids lent their sensors, despite only being a civilian grade.
"They're in there…somewhere" Bernadette whispered to herself, her mind almost willing the unknown craft to make a run for it.
None of the bridge crew spoke, their concentration focused on scanning and identifying the threat. It was nonsense if one thought about it. There was no way any spoken words or noise would startle a hidden craft thousands of miles away. Yet, the crew remained silent as the destroyer continued to send sensor pulses into the craggy mass of spinning rocks and cosmic dust orbiting a dim, red star.
A crewman at a sensor station to the left stirred, his body language immediately shifting. "Ma'am. We might have something"
"Magnify" Cole ordered with a short bark, her tenseness easing into the men and women around her.
A floating rock jumped into focus among several overhanging screens, the lopsided potato of rock and iron ore spinning lazily. Pockmarked with impact craters, the asteroid was only three and a half miles long and quarter wide…hardly a worthy effort to mine.
Zooming once more as more cameras and external sensors were brought to bear, a small craft became identified in the bottom of a shallow crater, its surface a near reflective black of alloys.
"Ma'am. Sensors confirm it's a Salarian Stealth craft"
Captain Cole scowled then clicked off a near curse of the amphibian species. "Salarians. Probably snuck in right after the war" Steeling her gaze, there was no room for interpretation.
The Council knew that any craft of theirs inside the Cog illegally would be fired upon, no exceptions.
"Fire and destroy that vessel. We may get lucky and they haven't transmitted their findings yet"
"Though I doubt it"
"Yes ma'am!"
Adjusting her uniform, Bernadatte Cole felt no mercy or regret as her ship fired a lone, thirty kiloton fusion warhead against the asteroid, destroying the small craft in a circular ball of fusion fire. As an added effect, the asteroid itself broke in half, spinning away as the embers of fire and heat dissipated among the stellar debris around them.
"Comms. Inform the fleet that the Citadel Council has invaded our sovereign territory. Prioritize the search for Salarian Stealth craft"
"Ma'am!"
Easing back into her command chair, Cole couldn't believe the audacity of the Salarians as her frown deepened. "They can't even detect a full batarian fleet seizing an Asari world, and yet they make the foolish attempt to spy on us? They must really think highly of themselves"
The alert went out across encrypted naval channels, bringing threat alerts to a war standing as the 4th, 5th, and 1st fleets were called to action. While still in transit, they would be near the Asari borders within the week, showing a resolve to defend from any hostile.
Sera. New Ephyra. 26th of Bloom, 424 A.E.
Once again, Izabel Diaz found herself at the head of the large table in the war bunker beneath the streets of New Ephyra. Looking over to Stratton, her pursed lips showed the displeasure she currently felt.
"What's the current situation?"
Typing a few quick commands, a floating representation of the Western Coalition appeared along with the separation line with Asari Territory.
"Chairman. So far there have been seven confirmed actions against the Salarians as our B.S.A. becomes more effective, identifying hostile drive signatures. All of the craft have been destroyed, but it is assumed that some of their observational data was sent to an orbital station. Meanwhile, we have deployed the 4th, 5th and 1st fleets along the Asari border. The 2nd is holding at Reach in case the Council plans on circumventing our border and striking that world"
"It just doesn't make sense though. I just don't see how the Turians could approve this type of action against us. Especially considering we did fight side by side in several ground engagements" Hanna Salton voiced from further down the table, the Minister of Colonial Affairs showing visible worry.
"It is possible that this is the Salarians alone. Or a joint venture with the Asari. The S.T.G is hardly under the control of the main Salarian governement and they might have just done this on their own accord. It's very possible the main governing body of the Council isn't even aware of this unlawful breech of our borders" Kentrelli voiced, the older male offering possibilities of reason.
"Regardless, we have to assume the worst. Have our fleets detected any Asari naval movement?"
Stratton nodded, the naval officer's features a firm line. "We have confirmed increased movement and deployment in several sectors along the border, including near our newest gained territories. The Asari seem to be gathering near Vio'shelek in response to our own movements. As for the Turians, they appear to be maintaining a standard posture for the moment"
Tapping a finger as was prone to her habit, Izabel knew the Coalition could ill afford another costly war, especially with the three largest galactic powers. There was a chance the Turians would refuse if the Salarians were the aggressors, but if the Cog attacked the Asari or a fresh incident occurred, the conflict would be hard, long and bloody.
Avoiding that was a priority.
"Make sure that none of our vessels cross the border. Remain on our side at all costs. If the Council wishes to test our resolve, then they'll have to be the instigators of an invasion. In the meantime, I'll make a call to councilors. Hopefully a solution can be reached" Voice crisp with command, Diaz mentally shook her head at this latest problem.
"Damn Salarians. All they had to do was wait for things to cool down"
Rion Glacia (System KC-238) Five light years from the Coalition Border
Ensign Hela Misava picked at her food in the mess hall, the need to eat suppressed by the overwhelming worry and fear many of them felt. Looking out of the nearby window of the heavy cruiser, Avon's Flare, she could see the freshly acquired world of tundra, glaciers and green bands spinning below.
Eyeing her own reflection in the reinforced glass nearby, She could feel her youth at only two hundred and ten years old. Having joined in the navy in the last year of the war, she had avoided the big battles, something the azure skinned female was thankful for.
Some of the veterans of those battles spoke of the terrible firepower the Toads brought against the council, how they were all humbled at Vio'shelek.
Reasserting her gaze toward the half glacial planet as several destroyers and light cruisers drifted by, she admired its chilled beauty.
An advanced colonial party had already established a preliminary settlement on the surface near the equator, the garden world a worthwhile prize to the suffering of her species during the war. Hopefully in the next half year, a proper colonization effort would be launched, bringing a new world into the Republic.
But that forward thinking was distracting as the communications officer picked at her salad, the green leaves and vegetables covered with a light sauce for taste. A few pieces of meat were on a separate plate, the fish a necessary piece of nutrition.
The rampant word of possible war with the Serans had everybody on edge, and nobody knew the exact cause why.
They had fought side by side against the Batarians and Klor'vian's, which should have earned a substantial amount of trust and camaraderie.
"By the Goddess Athame, what is going on? The entire squadron was pushed into this system with extreme haste, our new engines barely given time for testing. Orders to defend against a possible Seran invasion and conquest fleet. The Turian's ate just as puzzled. Why are they doing this? Do they want another war so badly?"
Hela took a drink of water, her fear of war rising. This was a garden planet system. Not only that, but it was believed to eventually become a junction, trade world between the Asari, Serans, and hopefully in time, the Klor'vians now that they cast off the mantle of religious tyranny.
A few crew members strode by, talking about the rising threat of conflict with the Serans. Their tones were mirthful and full of bravado, but the underlying stress betrayed their fears as the three Asari left the mess hall.
"If they wanted to take this system, this battle squadron would not be enough to hold it. The Seran navy can bring horrific firepower on their enemies" The inner monologue made her shudder, Hela instantly thinking of bursting fusion warheads, massed firepower and searing lances of Hammer of Dawn fire cutting her ship to pieces.
She didn't even want to think about the horrific strength of the monitors, warships that put everything the Asari could field to shame.
Even the Turians were wary of those monsters.
An alarm blared a minute later, dipping the mess hall into a pulsing crimson red that seemed to bleed against the light blues of the bulkheads around her.
The call for battle-stations.
Hela jumped up, forgetting her meal as the alarm blared throughout the war ship, causing a scramble of crew through the corridors.
She hoped it was just another drill, preparing them for the possibility of military action. But she had to treat it like the real thing. Running as fast as she could, Ensign Misava sprinted to her station on the bridge, not daring to dawdle.
Five light years away just inside the Coalition border of a worthless, dead system, a full squadron of the 6th fleet conducted the same drills, waiting for the inevitable Council invasion to crush the Cog in a war of conquest.
Widow System. The Council Chambers 27th of Bloom, 424 A.E.
Councilor Procus held the data pad, already having read the situation. Letting it fall with a light toss, he studied Tevos and Junisa with a weariness who sat at their respective podiums in the hallowed chamber.
"Well, now we know that they will fire without question"
"Indeed" Junisa replied curtly, the Salarian more upset the agents had been identified and killed more than the actual losses. The S.T.G. was supposed to be the best at infiltration, gathering intelligence and working in the shadows, but the Seran's had found every vessel.
At least, that's what he was told by a lead agent.
The fact their espionage had failed so quickly and spectacularly was a fresh point of worry.
"Obviously, the efforts of your agents need to be halted. Even if I had supported it, the fact is their discovery has made thing worse. Our militaries are on high alert, same with the Serans. If an incident were to tip them towards war, all our recent gains would be swiftly taken. This doesn't even include the diplomatic fallout against a sovereign nation" Tevos warned, the Asari diplomat surpassing her own anger.
"The Serans could be valuable trading allies in the future. Not only that, but intermating with them will increase our genetic diversity as well along with joint colonial efforts near Nueve Thessa. We cannot afford to ruin the goodwill gained from sharing a common enemy"
A soft chime sounded, the holographic lights of the nearby pedestal along the left chamber swirling with a dance. Moments later, the shimmering visage of Izabel Diaz formed, the azure blues of pixels giving a soft glow.
"Councilors"
"Chairman Diaz. We were just starting to discuss a solution to this unfortunate incident" Tevos greeted with a low smile, the Asari trying to appear warm and welcoming.
"The solution is very simple. Any current or future attempts to infiltrate Coalition territory will be met with force. We have proven capable of detecting Salarian stealth ships despite their best efforts to remain hidden. We will stand down our military when those offensive operations have ceased"
Junisa stared toward the Seran, blinking rapidly. "Chairman. Please understand that I had no inclination of this subterfuge. The S.T.G. is outside my purview of responsibilities, but I will begin an investigation immediately to discover the guilty parties"
Procus held in a silent cough of judgement. Everybody knew that any investigation by Junisa would simply be damage control. To say the Salarian Councilor had no inclination of the mission was laughable.
Still, as the premier military power in the galaxy, the Turian had to put in his own efforts. "Chairman. Despite this situation, perhaps the time has come for the Seran people to reveal their territories to the galaxy" Holding up a clawed hand to prevent any sudden outbursts, Procus continued. "My people greatly respect your military history of ages past and current capabilities. Your warriors that have fought some of the bloodiest conflicts in galactic history. But now your enemies have been defeated. Either broken or declawed to the point of ineffectiveness. Surely the ancient nations of your homeworld traded maps and knowledge freely?"
Izable scowled, a light ripple of light distorting the image for a moment. "That is true. Our enemies have been defeated…until the next threat appears" She looked to the side, a momentary distraction taking her attention before reverting her gaze upon the three councilors, her eyes betraying a hint of sadness. "Victory Day is the day after tomorrow. The victory and extinction of the Locust and Lambent will be celebrated. It is my sincere hope that this most hallowed celebration of my people will not be marred by continued conflict and mis-trust" Taking a renewed breath, her image flickered as her gaze hardened, the hint of sorrow gone. "The exchange of territorial knowledge will be discussed in the coming Accords. But those will not take place until all invasive efforts of the S.T.G cease. Good day, Councilors"
Her image blinked away, the pixels of light falling like rain in a dissipation of energies.
"I believe the Serans have given us a solution. Councilor, conduct your investigation and keep us informed" Procus finished with a heavy scowl. Standing up, he left the chamber knowing that some hapless, young agents would no doubt take the fall to ensure a continued peace.
"At least it didn't turn into a full shooting war. Those people have lost too much already"
Tevos was the last to leave the council chamber, the Asari diplomat intent on continuing talks with the ambassador to try and smooth things over.
Pandora System. 29th of Bloom, 424 A.E.
Celeste V'toll had elected to stay with a third of the Asari, intent on helping to create a Seran colony that accepted all. Not that she had much choice.
Her career as a navy officer had been, to put it mildly, torpedoed to pieces. While she hadn't been charged with the opening of a relay due to the emergency of the time, she had nonetheless broken one of the highest laws which lead to millions of Seran war dead.
Deftly aware of how much she was hated on Reach, how her own people threw her to the side, and her limited skill set, Pandora was really the only place she could stay.
That, or become a dancer at Omega. A prospect she immediately hated.
So, she had resigned, electing to help build up the growing colonial city of Thessa. It was progressing nicely, carved into the jungle at a rivers mouth that fed into the Eastern Ocean of this deadly, jungle planet.
Staking a claim along the far curvature of the bay, her homestead was a modest, two story structure large enough for a single adult or couple with a single child. She had a pier that extended into the shimmering bay beyond while a fishing boat floated from moorings. Fishing wasn't glamorous, but it paid well and her people were not complete vegetarians. They needed a staple of meat as well and aquatic life provided that. Hence, she caught and sold her catches at the nearby market, earning a stable living among a life of solitude.
A protective wall hugged the property to the dirt road, tall enough to prevent some of the hostile species that called this planet home as Celeste stepped out of the doorway, the coolness of air conditioning replaced with the smells and sounds of a newly settled world. The air was heavy with moisture, meaning rain would no doubt arrive in the next few hours, not that it mattered today.
"If I had known about those damned Vociraptors, maybe I would have gone dancing on Omega" Celeste complained, the shrieking cries of the beasts echoing in the distance.
At least the city had a dedicated security force and perimeter defensive barriers to keep the truly horrific creatures away from the population. Still, it was smart to carry a weapon. A Talon pistol sat in a holster along her right hip, loaded with gravity rounds as she started to walk along the roadway toward the main settlement two miles away.
More unknown and hooting cries came from the nearby jungle, along with a harsh buzzing of what was starting to be called a buzzbird. They were mostly harmless, but when startled or provoked they could easily use their razor sharp talons to rip flesh.
While she had no desire to harm native life, her life was more important as more animalistic cries slew through the air past some outlaying farmsteads and homes built by other Asari.
Seeing a few other colonists on the road, Celeste ignored them as she rose her omni-tool, electing to follow recent news.
Most of it was local, like how the Serans had established two more minor cities further north in recent weeks.
Celeste found those efforts extremely impressive. She had watched a few videos of the efforts after a long day of fishing and catching with a bottle of Vectes Cherry Ale. All beginning settlements had a standard, identical layout. Prefabricated housing, workshops, schools, a fusion plant, sewage facilities, food fabricators…everything a starting colony would need. Mixtures of Seran and machine workers worked non stop, bringing a full settlement to readiness in barely two months.
A story blipped about the massive construction effort between New Haven and Thessa, the project foreman talking about the coming elevated rail line that would be carved out next year after the main hi-way was finished.
Of course, that meant more clearing of jungle and habitats for the native life, which Celeste found a bit concerning before mentally shrugging.
The Serans had elected a slash and burn tactic for where they needed to develop, figuring that the damage was minimal at this point. Environmental protections would come later.
Finally arriving at the transport hub among the soft blue lines and pulsing lights of shops and stores, Celeste climbed aboard the designated atmospheric shuttle to take her toward New Haven. Other Asari flitted aboard, each taking seats as many talked about the rampant celebration taking place at the planetary capital.
A small pulse of energy and inertia told the passengers the craft had lifted, a warm hum emerging from the engine as the pilot steered them past Thessa to begin the flight over unbroken jungle below.
A mere hour passed, most of it filled with news stories that filtered in from Reach and the Citadel about the border incident. It made her nervous, but all those thoughts were pushed to the side as Celeste stepped out of the atmosphere transport with the other passengers, the swampy, humid air of New Haven really no different than Thessa.
The Serans were celebrating Victory Day, their most important holiday over those dreadful locust. And while this city was still blissfully young, they made sure to celebrate despite the military escalation plaguing the Coalition and Council.
People were animated, young couples with children roving the central square of the city as music blared, an upbeat tempo that was enhanced from a nearby stage.
Celeste could easily see the government center standing six stories tall at the far end of the plaza, the rapidly constructed structure now displaying fifty foot long tarps of their greatest war heroes.
The scowling, watchful gaze of Marcus Fenix as he held a lancer among a backdrop of flame and ruin. August Cole, his large frame fluttering in a light breeze as the tarp wavered. Victor Hoffman, the long dead war hero almost jutting out his square jaw while he clamped down on a cigar.
Anya Stroud, Dominic Santiago, Damon Baird and Richard Prescott were all present, their images large enough for all to see as music continued to play among the throngs of colonists.
"Make sure to give thanks! VICTORY DAAAY! WOOOO!" A young woman with orange highlights among blonde hair shouted in cheer, draping a necklace of flowers over Celeste's crest. Running off with drink in hand, the former captain found the sight of joyful, celebrating Serans an odd sight.
They were normally so stoic, hard working and ready to assume the worst. But today, it seemed like all the troubles of the recent years had melted away.
Ducking into a nearby bar, it wasn't much better as the establishment was crowded with all manner of aliens who seemed to partake in the celebration as well. To the side, a Seran was playing billiards with a Turian, the two talking and joking jovially. At a booth, three Krogan sat, chowing down on slabs of meat and large tankards of ale. The next over, a pair of Quarians sat, talking with an assumed Terran if Celeste had to guess.
She had no doubt that most of them had served in the war since that was the only viable way Krogan or Turians could be here, same with Terrans or Quarians.
Finding a spot at the wrap around bar, she was pleasantly surprised to find it constructed of a hard wood deep with polish and sheen. Ordering a drink, Celeste lightly smiled at the community of it all.
"What a remarkable sight to witness" A nearby Salarian stated, the slender alien drinking something brown with glowing orange swirls from a glass as he slowly smiled, watching the interactions. "A mixing pot of different species and cultures, all together for a day of celebration. Many say the Serans are fascist or racist, but I fail to see it. They are merely cautious, an earned trait from their very bloody history"
"They are paranoid about their world locations. Even after a few years, we still only know the official locations of Reach, Pandora and the latest colonies. I wish they'd just come to an agreement since I doubt the Asari are going to launch an invasion" Celeste voiced, only to receive a waving finger from the Salarian.
"Ah! But paranoia well founded. Catastrophic losses during the Locust war. Hostile first contact. Hostile third contact. Asari were the only species that didn't immediately wage war and they are presumed to be much larger than the Coalition. Add Turian's and my own people, Terrans and they could easily see potential enemies everywhere! But today they celebrate their survival and ancient victory!" The Salarian finished his drink, raising his glass to the bartender as his inebriation climbed. "Another of these wonderful Java-rum drinks!" Watching it be refilled, Celeste turned away as she eyed a few Serans talking with a pair of Asari in the corner of the bar. The two blue skinned aliens seemed to laugh at a joke, finding the two males pleasant company.
"Wonder how long until the first Asari advance our genetic code, mating with Serans? I will admit some are pleasing to look at"
So far it hadn't happened yet, but Celeste figured it was only a matter of time on Pandora. Shrugging, she enjoyed her drink as the celebrations pulsed across Pandora and the rest of the Coalition of this most vital holiday.
Maroon Sea Cluster, Vostok System 5th of Reap, 424 A.E.
A burning, red dwarf cast its short arm of warmth across the five planets of the system, spewing stellar particles through the star system.
Briefly surveyed by the System Alliance a year after contact, they had found the system to be an inhospitable place of hellish planets, deadly acid atmosphere's, and rampant carbon dioxide. To make matters worse, the system was on the fringe of the galactic core with its abundant star formation, massive nebulas of gases, and pulses of radiation.
In short, it was a place nobody wanted to live, exploit, or develop.
Which is why it was the perfect place to establish an S.T.G. base on the far side of Nodacrux's tiny moon. Established on the dark side, the base was small, dug into the rock while the poisonous planet turned slowly nearby.
If it wasn't for the Maroon Sea Relay, there was little doubt even the Salarians wouldn't have bothered establishing a base just outside Asari territory.
It was here that the dying transmissions of discovered stealth craft had gone, a rapid burst of communications that downloaded into the base's computer. A fact that did not go unnoticed by the arriving destroyer and the assault ship carrying a full company of standard Salarian marines.
Agent Nenon Foss was already thirty three years old, nearing the retirement age of any Salarian. Already, he could feel his sharp mind taking longer to process information that just a year ago, was at his mental fingertips.
There was no doubt he would have been replaced if the turn of events had played out differently.
The Serans turned out be exceptional at detecting intruders of the vast territory they controlled, and now he could understand why.
One of the stealth craft had managed to observe the deployment of a sensor array, which in turn led to its hasty destruction and death of crew. But not before they sent off the vital information.
While the inner workings were still unknown, it was easy to assume that the COG were establishing a whole network based on the S.T.G. losses. If that was the case, he doubted that any future attempts would succeed.
"Paranoid, not stupid"
It was something that he would have liked to pursue, perhaps leading to a minor breakthrough in sensor technology, but those ideas were crushed as his large eyes hastily read the top level report displayed on his computer from an unknown source.
He was being labeled as a rouge commander, leading this outpost in unsanctioned activities against their heavily armed neighbors.
Nenon knew he would be killed when the 'official' strike team arrived to eliminate the threat and his fellow co-conspirators.
Of course he felt a pang of regret for the younger agents inhabiting the site, but their deaths were necessary. With an official action against his 'rouge spy cell' and all their deaths, the Salarian Union could ease tension and bring the Serans to the table, bringing about diplomacy to reveal the hidden population centers and territories of the Coalition.
In the end, the sacrifice of his group was a necessary cost to ensure greatly desired information.
The proximity alarm soon blared, bathing his office a crimson red. A rumbling explosion rocked the outpost, no doubt the suited marines already breeching the outer airlock.
He didn't expect much of a fight. They were intelligence, not front line troops. That, and only two dozen inhabited the hallways and rooms of this enclave.
Echoes of gunfire soon proved him right, the dying screams of his men quickly cut off.
The door to his office was locked, not that it would do much. Picking up the Scorpion pistol laying nearby, he stood as the gunfire and dying screams of his men grew more pronounced.
Taking one last breath as the enemy gathered beyond his door, Nevon couldn't help but smile.
They would gain much from the coming treaty with the Serans, even if it was just information.
The door exploded inward with a sudden bang, four suited figures flooding the room with rifles drawn.
"Surrender immediately!" One barked, his suit a matted black of reflective plates and light armor.
"I think not. For the cause!" Firing his Scorpion, the surge of light and mass struck one of the soldiers, killing immediately as the body crumpled.
The rest opened fire, slivers of accelerated mass driving through Nevon as his slender body jumped and danced with impacts. Falling backward into his chair, the old spymaster died.
"Secure his computer. All relevant data about the activity of these…traitors will be given to the highest levels" Captain Jezeno ordered with a rapid, clipped snap as his company scoured the compound for any, and all data pertaining to the near outbreak of hostilities between the Salarians and the Serans.
Sera. New Ephyra 8th of Reap
Izabel sat in her office, letting the last rays of sunlight pour through the tinted windows as the skyline of the city buzzed with air traffic. A strange mixture of gothic architecture and shimmering towers of glass, she always found it beautiful.
Proof of everything their species had survived.
Of course, she couldn't gaze out of windows all day. She had a government to run and people to look after. Turning, she studied the man in her office, a veteran of the war and now, heading up the rapidly expanding Division of Naval Intelligence, or the D.N.I.
Before first contact, the needs of intelligence had been relatively low with centuries of peace and prosperity. But with multiple species out there, some more hostile than others, the Cog had a great need for agents, espionage, and counter intelligence.
"So, what's your opinion?"
The unnamed man looked up from the data pad, the contents a full download from the Councilors this morning. Raising his brow, his unremarkable features and black hair just making him look like a random man, either from Terra or any of the Seran colonies.
He was really unremarkable by nearly all appearances.
"It could have been a rouge cell. The S.T.G. isn't known to share plans or even trust others. They're known to fully commit to the cause of gathering intel, flipping agents, assassinations…take your pick. If this Nevon Foss had gone of the deep end, it's likely he corrupted his whole base with his ideals. That, and he was nearing retirement age for a Salarian. He could have seen the chance as one final, mission to secure his legacy"
"Or…?" Izabel pushed, her tone suggesting her own suspicions.
"Or they set the whole thing up, making this Nevon the full guy. If it meant bringing us to the table to finally discuss the new set of accords, I can see the S.T.G. hitting one of their own bases as a ploy to fool us"
Diaz gave a weary sigh, the burning red of dusk seeping into her office. It cast long shadows across the furniture, making it glow a dazzling gold at this time of day. "But even if it was a ploy, there is no evidence of it, is there? By every measure, this old agent went against his masters in some costly scheme that put everybody on edge"
"That's true. The Salarians and the other races have been forthcoming in sharing the operations data. Nothing seems out of the ordinary…but it's too ordinary for my tastes"
"Still. I can't keep the fleet on high alert over a now dead rouge spy cell. The Council will stand down if we do and I really have no desire to fight a new war against the combined might of those three species" Nodding, she waved the agent away, knowing that she would have to accept the fact she might be fooled by the Salarians at this very moment.
"What choice do I really have? War or negotiation with the most likely revelation of our full territory?"
Izabel knew that there was growing sentiment in the House of Sovereigns to share those maps, that the time has come to stop jumping at shadows.
Sending a call to Stratton after the agent left, the order was quickly passed to stand down along the border with the Asari. With that done, she headed to the small bar in the corner, a luxury of alcohols and spirits from nearly every world of the Coalition.
Filling a tumbler with a low level of a blue, glowing rum, the Chairman watched as the twin moons of Sera rose, bathing New Ephyra in their serene light. Deep in thought, she took a sip of the alcohol, the rough burn sliding down her throat.
Shrugging, she simply enjoyed the view with drink in hand.
"I can contact the Council tomorrow. It's too beautiful to waste a night like this with politics" Easing back into her chair, Izabel took another sip, watching the hanging orbs of Nido and Nema against the velvet darkness of the night sky.
Well, I think that about wraps it up! This will most likely be my last posting this year so I hope everybody has a great Christmas and New year!
Hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Thehappy