Disclaimer: I own no franchise mentioned in this work. Halo belongs to 343, Mass Effect to Bioware.
*IMPORTANT NOTE* I erroneously had the Arbiter directly reference 'Humans' to the Council last chapter. That has been fixed. The Citadel Council does not know that the Reclaimers are Human. Apologies for that mistake on my part. *END IMPORTANT NOTE*
Side note: Some of you may remember how I mentioned a sister ship to the UNSC Infinity that I called the UNSC Eternity. Well, if any of you have read Halo: Warfleet, the new book that just came out about Halo fleets, then you know that the Eternity is now canon. So yay me.
Some notes with this new book called Halo: Warfleet coming out: I will go through at some point here when I get a break from college work to align this story to canon. Seeing as most of what I have is canon anyways (supraliminal communication systems, hyperluminal scanners, etc) it shouldn't change much.
I will post in an A/N what is changed when I do that for those of you who do not want to go back through and re-read. Ultimately, it shouldn't be anything huge, just some weapon mechanics, numbers, and technology names.
Now for Review Responses! If you don't care, skip to the breakpoint below. For responses, later reviews will be listed first, because I'm lazy and can't be bothered to reverse-order them. I'm trying to cut back on the number of these, so to those I don't explicity reply to, thank you for reviewing!
CerberusX: Yes, there are Huragok and Mgalekgolo (Engineers/Hunters). As far as Guardians, I noticed no signs of shielding in Halo: 5 nor any mention of it in other Halo canon, so as much as it doesn't make sense, no shields for them. No idea why.
Me Myself and I: I Really want to write logical interactions for the Council, but canon makes it so hard! They ignored the data about the Reapers as well, as well as showing a disturbing failing in intelligence when Cerberus attacked the Citadel. Sorry if that irritates you, but know that it frustrates me as well.
Uknowndeath 2565: UNSC already had terraforming tech by 2525, as for the other stuff, yes. Of course you can offer ideas, though I'd prefer that in a PM so that it doesn't clog up reviews. Thank you!
Uriil: The Dauntless is one ship. No matter how powerful, it cannot conquer a galaxy on its own.
Excellent, now onwards, to the Chapter!
March 1, 2589/2nd Day of 20th Month, 2458/March 1, 2180
Diplomatic Hangar
Citadel
Considering the momentous occasion, the silence of space seemed almost insulting as the six Elder Demons were led by their Devil onto the station. Thel 'Vadam paid a modicum of attention to the communications between the other delegates, but most of his focus was on the Reclaimers as they exited their oversized stealth transport.
From the Identify Friend or Foe system that was embedded in his armor, the Arbiter could see the highlighted outlines of three cloaked Spartans deploying around the hangar. Considering that even he could not pick out their outline without the IFF tag, there was no way that the soft Citadel species would detect the Elder Demons presence.
As with all the other fighters, the Spartans linked their comms to a single channel. To keep communication clear, the warriors and politicians were assigned different frequencies so that each could discuss information with their peers. As both a warrior and the leader of the Sangheili delegation, Thel was on both channels, a setup which was copied by the Mgalekgolo and Jiralhanae leaders.
Due to the need for private communication, each member of the delegation was equipped with shielding similar to that of starship hangars. This served the purpose of allowing unhelmeted individuals not suffocate in the vacuum of the hangar as well as to prevent the atmosphere of the Citadel from passing their barriers, creating a handy option to mute their voices due to the isolation that their shielding provided.
Even with their communications clear of any interference from the other Warden guards, the Spartans elected to use silent and subtle cues rather than verbal orders. With the efficiency and diligence that was evident in all their actions, the Elder Demons cleared the Citadel diplomatic hangar of threats.
"Clear," one of the armored Reclaimers declared over the political frequency, with the IFF tag '104' being the only identification of the speaker.
This was apparently what their Representative had been waiting for as she exited the human ship clad in light armor and a sealed suit for extra precaution. With all its passengers offloaded, the stealth corvette slowly backed out of the hangar before cloaking as it flew off, leaving it anyone's guess as to where it would be.
Now that all members of the Wardens of the Mantle were present, the large party could begin its journey to whatever fanfare the Council had set up. As a politician, Thel understood why the foreign governing body would have the introduction of the Wardens be a large public event. As a warrior, however, it put him on edge due to the insecurity that inevitably came with public exposure of high profile individuals.
When the Humans joined the rest of the Wardens to form one united group, the Citadel delegation began to make their way out of their viewing box. Their movements did not go unnoticed as one of the cloaked Demons positioned itself right beside the glass, ready to engage at the first sign of hostility. Taking his attention off the Reclaimer highlighted by his HUD, the Arbiter noticed one of the Mgalekgolo brothers sidestepping to follow its leader, allowing it to keep its armored front to the Citadel party.
Thel had to resist snorting in amusement, even if he did approve of the precautions. If the Citadel Council or its members wanted to attack the Warden party, it wouldn't be a pack of politicians that started anything. They would hide behind warriors and ships, relying on force rather than words or intelligence.
Ironically, relying on the possibility of military force over economic or diplomatic ties was exactly what the Wardens had to do as well. With the continued insistence from the Citadel Council on starting something with the Reclaimers, the Wardens had determined that showing how unwise that was would be the most reliable method to avoid such a conflict.
Of course, the difference was that the Wardens could back up their claims while the Citadel species would fumble about trying to find something to attack. Even so, the species on this Council were much more likely to find the Reclaimer's public information data and draw conclusions from that, unlike the Covenant who refused such a tactic in their blind superiority.
As the last of the opposing delegation left their positions, an exit opened to allow the Warden party to leave the hangar. Once all were through, panels closed behind the group and atmosphere began to fill the short hallway that led to what was obviously the other end of a large airlock. The timing for equal pressurization to the other sections of the Citadel was well done as the next door opened just as the group arrived at its threshold.
Immediately apparent was the Asari standing before them, its blue skin distinguishing it from a regular human. Along with this being were twelve Turians, each lightly armed and keeping the space clear of crowds for the Warden party. From their uniforms as well as armaments, it was likely that these were civilian peacekeeping forces rather than military assets.
A quick glance out into the crowd revealed a multitude of species, each from a member species of the Citadel Council. From the camera drones and shouted questions, it was easy to identify the body as a flock of reporters.
Unluckily for them, the UNSC AIs overseeing communications were automatically filtering out their nonsense, allowing the diplomats to share evaluations of the public reception as well as any other information they deemed relevant. This service was also done to a certain extent for the guards of the Warden party, but more background noise was let through so as to allow identification of a possible hostile element.
With all of these measures established, the group continued forward, their path cleared by the Citadel security force leading them. As they approached the blue humanoid that was waiting to greet them, the two Mgalekgolo leading the defensive cordon split and took up positions to the side of the Asari.
At her nervous glance to the hulking colonies, Lydus huffed in amusement and commented, "If they wanted you dead, you wouldn't need to worry about running."
The Asari glanced sharply at the Jiralhanae Alpha before composing herself and telling the group, "This way. A tour of the Citadel is tradition when meeting new species, both to allow them to see the beauty of the station as well as to allow delegates to meet the average citizen of Citadel space."
"The Citadel was built by the Protheans over 50,000 years ago, though why they abando-"
Completely unaware that her monologue had been cut off by the AI filter, the Citadel guide kept running her mouth about the station and those that inhabited it. Now that the silence was restored for the group, most of the Wardens took to examining the structure around them. Since most were combat veterans of the War itself, analysis of their surroundings came naturally.
While the political assets of the Warden group were idly examining their surroundings to feign interest for their guide, the security forces were far more active. Due to the large spaces that they were being guided through, the communications channel reserved for callouts was filled with position and vector reports as possible threat locations were identified.
Tactical doctrine suggested overlapping fields of fire on every blind spot or any other such issue, but the number of problematic locations was quickly overwhelming those assigned to the task. Even as Red team moved about unseen to cover multiple engagement angles, it still left too many holes for an effective combat response to a threat.
The problem was exacerbated by the Citadel civilians lining the walkway, though at the current moment the crowd was fairly thin. Know that the number of aliens around them would only increase, Chief ordered, "Red team, fall in."
No response came as the three cloaked Spartans moved to cover holes left by the other guards in the formation. By appearing to leave openings in their cover, any hostile would be more likely to engage that location. In doing so, they would give away their position while allowing the cloaked Spartans to survive due to their shields and armor.
Ultimately, all these measures were unneeded as no attack occurred over the course of the tour around the Presidium. Several comments on the reason for the extensive time-wasting tour were thrown about, as the walk from the Diplomatic Hangar directly to the Council Tower would've been sufficient to show off the architecture and admittedly beautiful view of the inside of the Citadel's arms.
Chief's personal opinion was that the long walk served several different purposes. It allowed the Council to prepare for any discussions after having personally seen their counterparts, although most preparation would've been done before any meeting. It could also show off the size of the Citadel, however, this would be rather ineffective for the Wardens due to experience with Forerunner artifacts that dwarfed celestial bodies, let alone the Citadel.
What was most pessimistic, and therefore most likely in the Spartan's mind, was that the tour was supposed to interrupt the planning of new species and perhaps tire out politicians who were used to sitting around rather than fighting. It might also confuse guards if negotiations went hostile and they had to evacuate the Citadel, although this seemed unlikely as the Council did not strike Chief as a political body willing to be near any combat that they ordered.
Pushing the idle thoughts about the tactical applications of walking aside, Chief joined the rest of the UNSC group in the elevator up to the Council Chambers. With thirty individuals in the Warden party, the space was almost completely full, a situation that was not helped by the large size of most members. Even so, everyone managed to fit with a little room to spare as the doors closed and the lift began its climb.
Thirty seconds later and the elevator was still going, leaving the group with a view of the Presidium for far longer than anyone wanted. With nothing better to do after several checks of the area, Chief began picking out specific targets of interest in the skyline of the Citadel as a tactical exercise and not at all to amuse himself.
After precisely 48 buildings were slotted for demolition in the Spartan's simulation of hostilities, the doors leading to the Citadel Council Chambers opened. Due to their position in the cordon from before, the Spartans of Red team were the first to exit, even if no one could see them do so.
The rest of the party waited for the clear signal, which promptly arrived as the Elder Demons finished a cursory scan of the Chambers. Chief discarded any other thoughts and concentrated on maintaining the Warden formation so that all angles were covered. A quick glance around, however, revealed that the main floor of the Council Chamber was clear of any other beings.
As the Warden group made their way into the main area, however, the crowds of Citadel beings became obvious along the balconies to the sides of the main walkway. Most of those present seemed to be reporters and other entertainment industry personnel, but a few clusters were made up of wealthy and affluent individuals, mostly Asari but with some Turians, Salarians, and a few Volus.
Camera drones flew overhead, providing the newsfeeds with more perspectives on what was undoubtedly the event of the century, if not millenia. From the small sizes and gravitational distortions picked up by their armor, the Spartans deduced that the drones ran on Mass Effect, which followed their intel about the heavy integration of the substance into Citadel technology.
Instead of focusing on the civilians, however, the attention of the Warden guards was directed towards the armed individuals standing along the path to the Council. With their augmented sight allowing them greater perception, the Spartans highlighted probable targets among the civilian crowd, with weapons outlined in red and the beings themselves shown in yellow. This ability for identification had been developed off of the Promethean vision modules recovered from the ancient Forerunner forces.
Secure in the knowledge that the warriors knew what they were doing, the diplomatic party of the Wardens made their way up the ramp to the platform in front of the Citadel Council. The visible Warden security stayed at the bottom of the audience platform, still tensed and ready for action while the cloaked forms of Red team took up positions to eliminate the Council in case of delayed hostilities.
It was at this point that the historic shot was taken that would capture the feeling of the meeting for future generations, much as Earthrise had become a symbol for Humanity's first steps into space.
On one side of the gap was the Citadel Council, each dressed in clothes traditional for their species. Valern had his hands at his sides, his body bent slightly forward in obvious curiosity for the Warden species. Beside him stood Tevos, with her hands clasped before her and her back straight, allowing no sign of weakness to show through. This was emulated by Sparatus as well, though the Turian Councillor had his arms crossed and a slightly disdainful look on his face that was visible even from the side.
Behind them was the rest of the Citadel diplomatic party, waiting for the Council to give them permission to meet the Warden politicians. The beings at the back of the Council platform were arranged in several lines, with the Ambassadors up front and guards directly behind them. Several other miscellaneous personnel made up the very back, pushed to that position due to their low importance in the coming meeting.
The rotund form of a Volus was at the very front of the first line so that the short being could easily see the new aliens. Beside him was the Hanar Ambassador, who was accompanied by a Drell bound to it by the Compact. Both were studying the Warden group, although their expressions were unreadable due to the Volus' mask, the Hanar's lack of a face, and the Drell's training and experience at the Hanar Ambassador's side.
Next in line was the Human Ambassador, but unlike the first three beings, his expression gave away hints of both anger and fear at the sight of the opposing politicians, though only those with extensive experience with Humans could see it. While the Systems Alliance Representative at least tried to school his expression, the Batarian next to him made no such effort. The two lower eyes of the Ambassador were focused on the Human next to him while his upper eyes were glaring at the Warden party.
It was obvious that the Batarian was irritated with the newest member of the Citadel as well as the Wardens. Everyone in Citadel space knew that the Batarian's had been trying to attain a Council seat for centuries and already faced competition from the Volus and Hanar. More species meeting and establishing relations with the Citadel Council might threaten what the Batarian's saw as their rightful due.
Last, largest, and yet the easiest to miss was the Elcor Ambassador standing the farthest away from the camera. As was common for the species, no expression crossed his face as he eyed the new species.
With all the Ambassadors for the members of the Citadel Council prominently displayed at that moment, it wouldn't be until later that people began to examine the line of guards behind those figures. Most of the security team was made of armored C-Sec officers who had been selected to escort the Citadel group back to the Chambers after they saw the Wardens in the Diplomatic Hangar, which made the Systems Alliance team stand out even further.
Instead of Citadel Security, the Alliance guards were true soldiers, each proudly displaying the N7 logo on their armor. As the elite special forces of the Systems Alliance military, much interest had been placed on the few snippets of video that showed the human warriors in action.
Only one of the N7 guards was not concealed behind a helmet and every being in Citadel space who watched any news easily identified the woman as the Butcher of Torfan from Alliance propaganda clips. Some questions were brought up about the Asari standing beside the human, but most ignored that oddity in favor of the large group of aliens standing before the Council.
Even with the angle of the shot, it was obvious that most of the new species were large. A towering figure with what looked like worms for a body dominated the group, its highly decorated armor becoming an instant artistic inspiration for many in Citadel space. Unknown to them, the Forerunners glyphs carved into the metal were battle poems sung by the Mgalekgolo as a sign of repentance, regret, and honor for rejecting the Covenant.
Due to its height, the Mgalekgolo stood at the very back of the Wardens, providing both protection and an intimidating presence for the group. With the ramp leading to the Citadel Council too narrow to allow the entire group to walk abreast, the Hunter had easily agreed to fall back for more space at the front. This had also worked for the Huragok, who was now floating near the Mgalekgolo's head and was obviously restraining itself from disassembling one of the Eezo-powered camera drones.
Lydus had positioned himself in front of the Mgalekgolo leader, letting the camera get a good shot of the sneer across the Jiralhanae Alpha's features. This left the Arbiter to stand at the side of the massive Lekgolo colony, though the ornate golden armor covered any expression of the Sangheili leader. The Unggoy Chancellor standing before the Arbiter was also concealed behind a mask, creating an instant comparison between the Unggoy and Volus for their size and alternative atmospheric requirements.
Even with the Unggoy leader's large methane tanks, the form of a Yonhet was visible between the Chancellor and Jiralhanae Alpha. As the Representative for the entire Allied Species of the Fringe to the High Senate of the Wardens of the Mantle, the neutral expression that the Yonhet was wearing would become a common sight at negotiations.
What was most prominent about the Wardens, however, was the figure leading the group. Unlike the others, the being was not clad in ornate armor or other fancy clothing, but instead had on a simple suit. Several plates covered key areas such as the shoulders, chest, crotch, and legs, but most of the suit was merely fabric. A helmet concealed any features of the being, but even so it was noticeably smaller than most of the other Warden species.
So it was that a meeting thirty years in the making was finally begun. The two most powerful factions in the galaxy, meeting face to face for the first time. A news event like no other, excusing the use of dozens of camera drones around the Council Chambers.
As it had always been and as it would always be, the Asari Councillor would be the one to start the Council's Contact with the new species. Tevos directed her attention to each individual species of the Wardens, taking a second to try and figure out which unknown was the representative of the fabled 'Reclaimers' while the crowds quieted down.
Considering the position of the smallest figure, it was likely that the being was the leader of the Wardens and thus a 'Reclaimer'. This would've been an easy deduction, except Tevos couldn't help but compare the large figure of the Arbiter to the being and be disappointed. If this was the race that had defeated the Sangheili, Jiralhanae, and Unggoy, then there would be little problem in forcing the Wardens to heel.
Before the last vestiges of noise had quieted down to allow Tevos to speak, however, the foremost alien stepped forward slightly to put it apart from its peers. A distinctly feminine voice began, "Councillors, I shall start off this gathering by saying that the Wardens are appreciative of your patience with our caution. Much time has been spent coordinating and planning for this moment, and we hope that stable relations can be established between this body and the Citadel species."
"Indeed, and welcome to the Citadel!" Tevos said, concealing her irritation at the break from tradition by the new alien. Such arrogance, to speak before the hosts could introduce themselves. Pushing her emotions aside for the moment, the Asari continued, "I am Tevos, Representative of the Asari Republics on the Citadel Council."
"We have already been introduced by the Arbiter, Councillors," the being interrupted, anticipating the introduction of Valern and Sparatus. Before Tevos could react and try to direct the meeting back to its traditional path, the Warden member continued, "While the Council has learned much about the Unggoy, not much has been revealed about the Council by your representative. Perhaps the introduction of Citadel members might better serve all in attendance here."
Mutterings spread from the audience at the words and the implication that the Arbiter had already known the Councillors. Even if they already know the species with a Council seat, asking to be introduced to member species was unusual.
True power lay with the Citadel Council, not the client races that hung in the background. Of course, that was how the Council wanted it, as it allowed them to make connections with new races at First Contact. Using those connections, the Council races could acquire any new technology much more easily than the client races as well as make cultural connections to draw the public opinion of the new species to support the Council.
Knowing that, Tevos replied, "The Citadel Council has traditionally introduced itself and given the opening statement as the host of first talks between new species. While we are glad that you are familiar with the names of those on this Council, it is best to make sure that all present know who they are speaking to. Even if citizens of Citadel members know of us, that does not mean that the Wardens would know us as well."
"The Council will be conducting these talks," Sparatus said, picking up from the end of Tevos' statement. "While member species of the Citadel are welcome, they are not involved in First Contact nor in establishing relations with the Citadel. Once a race has an embassy on the Citadel, other members may begin correspondence in an official capacity."
"I understand the Council being the main body for discussions for new species, however, the Wardens have now been in contact with the Citadel for decades. Warden leaders merely wish to meet the Ambassadors they will be treating with as our association with the Citadel and its members is developed," the being countered.
"A quick acknowledgement of each member of the Citadel is proper, of course," Valern answered. He continued, "Citizens back on your worlds will be quite curious if the leading figures of the galaxy do not name themselves, as I am sure that your citizens are curious about the Citadel. An introduction of each representative in your group would be welcomed once the Council and its members are announced."
The speaker accepted the suggestion as she replied, "As you wish. From what the Wardens have learned, each Council species has a specific set of skills that help the Citadel. There has been interest in the individual roles that each member of the Citadel plays."
"Indeed. To begin, I shall first introduce the Council, even if the Arbiter and others have told you about us before," the Asari Councillor began.
When no argument came from the Wardens, Tevos resumed, "The Asari Republics are the central government of the Asari, who found and inhabited this station. We are generally seen as the most culturally dominant race of the galaxy, with many Asari standards spread throughout Citadel territory."
"The Salarian Union is the primary leadership of the Salarians, the scientists and mathematicians of the Citadel due to our excellent learning abilities," Valern stated, nodding slightly at the foreigners.
Sparatus glanced over the Wardens as he said, "The borders and territories of the Citadel species are patrolled by ships from the Turian Hierarchy. Challenges from the Krogan and Geth have proven that Turian discipline and resolve win any battle, keeping all citizens under our protection safe."
"The Council represents the best that the Citadel can offer newcomers to the galactic stage," the Asari Councillor stated, picking up from the end of her Turian colleague's statement. "All species that have a seat have contributed in meaningful ways to the establishment of the Council on new worlds and the introduction of new species. This position also comes with the responsibility of helping maintain order and peace across Citadel territory with contributions to patrols and other such activities."
"Each member of the Citadel may work to gain a position on the Council as well, and every species is encouraged to be involved in the galactic community. All members keep an Embassy on the Citadel in exchange for agreeing to several treaties that maintain and facilitate galactic peace."
"Currently there are six members of the Citadel, with one being from your own galaxy." At the statement, Tevos motioned towards Ambassador Udina of the Systems Alliance. She then gestured to the Volus Ambassador to step forward before the Asari resumed, "This is Ambassador Din Korlack of the Vol Protectorate. The Volus play a large part in managing the Citadel's economy through their extensive system of banks."
"The Hanar are represented by Ambassador Xylemin of the Illuminated Primacy. He is accompanied by his Drell, a species that does not have a government or Ambassador to the Citadel. Both of these members are concerned with spiritual questions rather than the physical world. All discussions with the Hanar and Drell will be through the Primacy alone due to their close ties."
While neither the Hanar nor Drell behind it had shown any inclination to acknowledge their introduction, the next figure was not nearly so hesitant. The Systems Alliance Ambassador stepped forward calmly and tried to stare down each individual member of the Wardens, with most of his focus on the lead figure.
The Asari Councillor ignored this and persisted, "Ambassador Udina is the representative from the Systems Alliance, a government from your galaxy that is formed by the Human species. Due to their status as a new species, they have not yet found a proper role to fulfil in Citadel culture. Perhaps their journey of discovery could help the Wardens as well."
"The next member of the Citadel is the Batarian Hegemony, represented by Ambassador Jath'Amon. Batarians providing mercantile and transportation services to many Citadel businesses." At the attention, Jath'Amon turned both his eyes to the Wardens and deliberately tilted his head to the right. Since this was a cultural practice amongst the Batarian people that was supposed to show superiority, the gesture was lost on the foreign dignitaries.
"Representing the Courts of Dekuuna is the Elcor Ambassador Calyn. Elcor mainly keep to their own worlds, but several are seen around wider Citadel space as artists, merchants, and educators," Tevos finished with a gesture to the last member of the Citadel. "Now that the Citadel Council and its members are known, the Wardens may present their leaders."
The leader of the Warden politicians paused briefly before starting, "Mahola Yote Rupni represents the Lekgolo colonies and is the primary contact for all discussions with its race, although they do not have a leadership or official government." At the gesture from the Reclaimer, the massive form of the Mgalekgolo flared its spines and rumbled slightly but otherwise did not move.
"What role do the Lekgolo fulfil in your society? I imagine warriors, by their size and armor," Tevos commented.
"Mgalekgolo, which are Lekgolo in the forms you see them in now, are generally warriors and shock-troopers. The vast majority of Lekgolo, however, are devoted to more cultural pursuits such as poetry, philosophy, and meditation," came the response.
Several cautious looks were directed at the Mgalekgolo's warrior form from the guards around the Council Chamber while the civilians and Council looked on in equal parts fascination and confusion. The figure ignored the reactions and waved towards the Arbiter as she continued, "The Arbiter of the Swords of Sanghelios and leader of the Sangheili people. They have traditionally been warriors, as this Council knows from their previous meeting, but this is changing as the Sangheili become independent from the past."
"Leading the Jiralhanae Alpha Tribe is Lydus. As is obvious by the title, the Jiralhanae are tribal and tend to be fighters, at least those that are not on one of their worlds." Neither the Arbiter not Lydus reacted to being called out, instead continuing to examine the Citadel Council and its members. The Council seemed slightly irked as their polite acknowledgement of the Warden species were ignored by the two, but they had little time to dwell on it as the speaker moved on in her introductions.
"Above us is Less Dead than Most as the Representative of the Huragok to the Wardens of the Mantle. Like the Lekgolo, the Huragok lack a central government and will deal with Citadel species on an individual basis."
Sparatus interrupted, "Its name is 'Less Dead than Most'? Is that not mockery?"
"Are all Huragok named in such a way?" Tevos asked before an answer could be given as she attempted to clean up for the Turian Councillor's lack of filter. She agreed with interrupting the Warden speaker to show that the Council was in control here, but the blatant skepticism that bordered on taunting would not help.
The figure paused before replying, "Huragok, or Engineers as they are often called, do not have names. Descriptions for individuals are given when a new one is created, mostly so that other species can have a label for each Engineer. Considering that these descriptions are given by the Huragok to their own, we respect their decisions. I will point out that most Huragok are named in regards to how well they float rather than how alive they are, but the general concept is a name that describes an individuals qualities."
"Yet they are alive, correct? You mentioned that the Huragok are 'created', which is much different from being born. This has disturbing implications," Valern stated as he examined the Huragok floating above the rest of the beings in the Chamber.
A deep voice drew everyone's attention as the Arbiter replied, "The Huragok are no more dead or alive than any other species present today, Councillors. You have nothing to fear from them, and they will largely ignore you, as they do with most species."
"This Council will determine what is a threat or not. Artificial Intelligence is banned in Citadel space, as the Unggoy well know from their talks with our Spectres. Have they not informed you of this stipulation?" Sparatus inquired, glancing between the Unggoy and the rest of the Warden members.
"All members of the Wardens have been informed about the Citadel Council's issues with Constructs," Thel replied. "Let such talk wait until all parties are introduced."
Tevos nodded in reluctant agreement as the being continued, "Chancellor Dafpuk is the leader of the Unggoy Republic and will continue the relations that were established under former Chancellor Fupklaz. Unggoy are skilled in production and manufacturing, though they do maintain a military and are forming a distinct culture." The Unggoy twitched his head in the direction of the Council and shifted around a bit at the attention.
"All those in the Allied Species of the Fringe are represented by Premier Dretya of the Yonhet. The Fringe includes the Yonhet, Sharquoi, and several other species that have banded together to join the Wardens. What each species excels at varies greatly, from manual labor to hauling cargo. Inquiries relating to relations with the Fringe and those under their banner may be directed to her," the figure said, leading to the Yonhet leader to bow slightly to the Citadel Council, not in deference but in a greeting that was common amongst their people.
With all other individuals introduced, the Council could already deduce that the leader was one of the 'Reclaimers' that had proven so elusive. Seeing an opportunity to play up the public's interest in the last member of the Warden's diplomatic party, Tevos asked, "What of yourself? You seem to lead the Wardens of the Mantle, yet you have failed to introduce yourself. Will the citizens of both our galaxies be unable to see the Reclaimers and Council meeting face to face for the first time?"
"Hiding behind a mask is no way to lead on the galactic stage, after all," Sparatus quickly added, getting a glance from Tevos and hidden glares from both the Unggoy and volus Representatives for his comment.
While those were fairly sharp words, Tevos wasn't too irritated by their addition. If the Council played this right, they could create the impression that they were revealing the leading race of the Wardens. Even if the Reclaimers tried to rebuke it, to the public it would seem that the Council held the upper hand on the newer species, as they always did.
A few seconds passed as the figure examined the Council before blatantly looking past them. Judging by the gaze and where the lesser species of the Council were standing, Tevos figured that the being's stare was being directed at either the Humans or Batarians. Considering the Batarian Hegemony's penchant for attacking other species, it might be them, but the Systems Alliance had originated from the same galaxy, giving them a fair chance as well.
Eventually, the being brought its gaze back to the Council and replied, "Of course, Councillors. I must point out, however, that we do not lead the Wardens of the Mantle, at least not with orders or commands. We will provide guidance if requested, defend members if needed, but our word is not law. Such is true of all members."
"As for our species, there are several different titles that have been applied to us. Our allies have come to call us Reclaimers, for reasons that are much too long to get into at this time. Enemies have called us Vermin, Heretics, and a variety of other insults, though they have never seemed to agree which one we really are."
The being continued, "All of these are labels given to us, though, with no regard for what we call ourselves. You may already be familiar with this, but our species does not excel in one particular regard. We aren't warriors, politicians, or scientists. We are all of these things, and more."
"We are Humanity." At that statement, the speaker reached up and removed her helmet, revealing the typical human characteristics that had heretofore been ascribed to citizens of the Systems Alliance.
As the Council, its members, and the Citadel citizens in the Chamber reacted to this revelation, the Arbiter softly grumbled, "Must you be so dramatic?" Since the statement was voiced over the diplomatic comm channel, only the Warden politicians could hear it, but several audible exhales of amusement showed that the sentiment was shared.
Ignoring the comment from the Sangheili leader, the human continued, "My name is Victoria Mousset, Ambassador of the UEG to the Citadel Council and Representative of the UEG in the Wardens of the Mantle in this First Contact situation."
"Presence of two major governments unlikely, Humans from Systems Alliance have shown no sign that any other members of their race survived their conflict. Explanation?" Valern asked, having gather his thoughts more quickly than his two colleagues.
"The UEG is not affiliated with the Systems Alliance or any of its organizations, Councillor," Mousset stated firmly, making sure to establish that fact as soon as possible. She continued, "While I do not know what the Systems Alliance has told you, I can assume that they were unaware of our continued survival. Therefore, please keep in mind that there is a disparity between the UEG and SA in regards to our history after their withdrawal."
Sparatus inquired, "You think we should believe anything said by you rather than the representatives of the humans who have spent years working with this Council?"
"Believe what you want, Councillor, but acknowledge the facts when they contradict those ideals. By allowing the Sangheili and Jiralhanae onto your station, as well as continuing talks with the Unggoy, the Wardens are certain that the Systems Alliance did not warn you of what they fled from."
Tevos interrupted before the Ambassador could finish, "The Citadel Council was told within minutes of first meeting the Systems Alliance diplomats that they had left behind their homeworld due to a government that suppressed the rights of those it led. All predictions from the Alliance have indicated that they believed themselves alone in the galaxy, the last of their race that escaped extinction."
"Your presence here indicates that you survived the catastrophic fighting that was destroying your species. From what the Alliance historians have described, entire planets were destroyed by the conflict. That will not be allowed to happen again," the Asari declared forcefully. Though it was slightly heavy-handed, Tevos felt that her own words on that subject would be much more suitable than whatever Sparatus would say instead.
"Speaking of events that you have no knowledge of is a sign of foolishness, Councillor Tevos. The conflict that Alliance described was not a product of fighting between human factions but the war that broke out after First Contact with the other races of the Wardens. Instead of joining in the fight to preserve Humanity, the founders of the Systems Alliance fled, leaving us to fight on our own," the UEG Ambassador said, glaring past the Council to meet Udina's eyes.
Her attention was drawn to Valern as he spoke, "Retreat is sometimes the best option. By letting their old regime die, the Alliance believed that they would allow your race to continue to exist. That same action also brought them into the ranks of the Citadel, for security and new ideas."
"Merely a delay, not a victory. As it is, however, this will need to be sorted out between the United Earth Government and the Systems Alliance," Mousset said.
"Humanity cannot have two different governments representing the species on the Citadel Council. A prerequisite for membership in the Council is the unification of a species under one goal or alliance," Valern argued.
"Which is why this needs to be determined, Councillor. Since the SA and UEG are separate entities at this time, this will still be treated as a First Contact," the human replied.
Tevos nodded and agreed, "The Systems Alliance is a member of the Citadel Council, with the protections and benefits that come with it. As a different organization, the UEG is not privy to those advantages."
"Nor are we beholden to their limits, Councillor, whatever they may be," Mousset declared. "All members of the Wardens of the Mantle are bound to defend a member in the case of attack, whether through military or humanitarian aid. The only limits on members are those that prevent an unwarranted and unprovoked attack without consulting the body as a whole."
"Perhaps moving back to the standard procedure of First Contact would help each new species understand why the Council had encouraged the limitations that it has," Tevos proposed.
The UEG Ambassador conceded, "Due to our unexpected survival after the Systems Alliance was founded, it is assumed that there are many questions that can cleared up with a recitation of the recent history of the UEG and other species of the Wardens. I assume that the Council wishes to speak first?"
"We have no issue with doing so," the Asari responded. As she began speaking, the Warden politicians ignored the explanation of Citadel history. The Unggoy had already shared the history that had been told to them by the Citadel Representatives, which was supplemented by ONI's information acquisition.
After a short time of simple observation, the Arbiter keyed the diplomatic comm channel, "The cowards from the 'Alliance' have heard this story already."
Victoria Mousset turned her head slightly at the Sangheili's words before focusing on the Alliance Ambassador. After a few seconds of watching Udina slowly drop from feigned interest to boredom, she replied, "Of course they've heard it, they met this Council years ago. Why does that surprise you?"
"It is not that they know the details that is strange but that the traitor would already know the words to the Council's tripe," Thel explained.
"You think the cowards speak nonsense?" Lydus inquired.
Thel huffed and answered, "Details mean nothing without context. They tell what has happened, but not why it occurred or what has been done to prevent such issues in modern times."
"How do you know that the human already knows this speech?" the Unggoy Chancellor asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Observe how he stands, how he looks at the backs of his masters in annoyance. The Council echoes words that he has heard before, shown by the subtle movement of his jaw as he mutely repeats the blue one word for word," the Arbiter answered.
As Councillor Tevos neared the modern day with talk about the Geth threat, the UEG representative asked the Sangheili, "You truly believe them cowards and traitors, regardless of their species?"
"My respect for your kind comes from the Devil's actions in his defeat of the Parasite and False Prophets. Every Reclaimer who stood, fought, and died to break the lies that trapped us has earned that right. Those who fled failed their allies, shamed their kin, and lost their honour," Thel explained. "They may yet be redeemed, but until then, they are not Reclaimers in the eyes of the Sangheili people."
"Understood. We shall deal with them if they have proven unworthy of the attention of the Swords of Sanghelios," Mousset said.
The Sangheili leader's response was forestalled as Tevos finished her summary of the Citadel's history and said, "Now that the Wardens have a direct and credible version of the history of the species that make up the Citadel Council, I am sure that you will have little issue understanding the agreements that have been declared for galactic stability."
"So it would seem, Councillor. However, the Wardens of the Mantle also have a history with these issues. As is right in a momentous occasion such as this, the Wardens will share their history just as this Council has done," Ambassador Mousset replied.
At the acquiescence of the Council to her statement, the human surprised them by stepping to the side and allowing Lydus to come forward. As the Wardens knew from their dealings with the Elder Jiralhanae Alpha, there would be little tolerance for interruptions, disturbances, or diplomatic protocol. Thus, it was no surprise to them when the Jiralhanae leader sat down at the front of their group.
As was the case in many societies, Elders in the Jiralhanae tribes were seen as the keepers of history, telling the stories of their ancestors and presiding over festivals and traditions with words of the past. The Alpha had volunteered to cover the history of the Covenant to show the Citadel that the Jiralhanae were not the unthinking idiots that had blindly followed Truth and the other False Prophets. Since he had already attempted to warn the Council by telling them the mistakes of the Covenant, the Arbiter had easily ceded the responsibility to Lydus.
No other species had argued against this. The Unggoy had been asked to not share information about the Covenant or Wardens during their talks with the Citadel, which would make it odd if they were to present that information now. They were also hesitant due to their limited political experience as they continued to build an independent society, though they anticipated questions about their specific role in the Covenant from the Council representative when they returned home.
It came as a surprise to none that the Huragok would not speak of the False Prophets and their lies. While the Mgalekgolo could have spoken, their rumbling speech was seen as too intimidating to be used in discussing such a delicate topic with the foreign government on the Citadel.
Unlike the Wardens, however, the Council was not expecting the sudden break from usual diplomatic posture and looked confused at the Jiralhanae before them. It was quite obvious that they were unsure of how to react to the lack of formality that Lydus displayed.
"History has taken on many forms through the Cycles," the Elder Alpha began, ignoring the Citadel Council and focusing on his oration. "The events which led to our presence here today are not completely known, for as the fighter cannot know the whole battle, even the most diligent Elder cannot know everything."
"Little is known about the time before, when the Forerunners ruled our galaxy. While they are gone, however, their creations remain as a testament to their power."
Before the Jiralhanae could continue, Valern interrupted, "Forerunners? This name is unknown." The Jiralhanae Alpha showed obvious irritation at the interruption but kept his silence.
"An ancient race, much like those that you know as Protheans in that they disappeared many Cycles past, their legacy lost to the Void," the Arbiter replied.
With the question answered, Lydus resumed, "These creations came to be seen as worthy of religious devotion by a race known as the San'Shyuum. They declared that all Forerunner artifacts were holy, and any who would desecrate them would be destroyed."
"Bolstered by the might of ancient technology to expand their species into the Void, they quickly began to spread. Eventually, they met the Sangheili, who were just beginning to establish themselves off their homeworld. After a period of conflict, they formed the Covenant, an alliance of the two species that was devoted to the worship of the Forerunners."
"This tribe of two was the group that the Arbiter of the Swords of Sanghelios discussed with this Council before. At first, each species was equal, with the Sangheili providing the strength while the San'Shyuum gave direction for all in the Covenant. Without the Sangheili, the Prophets would not be able to protect themselves, and without the San'Shyuum, the Sangheili would not have direction," the Elder stated.
Several of the civilians around the chamber obviously recognized the similarities to the Citadel Council's interdependency as the Arbiter noticed glances being thrown between Lydus and the Councillors. Both parties ignored this as the Alpha continued, "Over the Cycles, more came under the banner of the Covenant, though it was never by choice."
"The Unggoy were enslaved and put to work as fodder in the field of battle as well as labor for creating machines to strengthen their masters. Colonies of Lekgolo were forced to serve due to their lack of ships to defend against the technology of the Prophets. No thought was given to the desires of the Huragok when they were taken from their home. Many Jiralhanae tribes were destroyed before the Alpha surrendered to the superior forces of the Covenant."
At the mention of such flagrant abuses of sentient rights, Tevos immediately saw an opportunity and interjected, "Two species were able to oppress so many others? This 'Covenant' would never have been allowed to continue had they met this Council, for it would have surely blocked any species from joining the Citadel community."
Lydus looked slightly irate as his narration was broken once again but kept his voice level as he replied, "In the Jiralhanae tribes, domination is achieved through strength, and the Covenant was stronger than us. When that was no longer true, the tribes broke from the whole. Even so, Councillors, all was not peaceful. There were rebellions and revolts, mainly from the Unggoy and Mgalekgolo who disagreed with their place in society."
"While none of these were successful, it gave hints of the instability of the Covenant, signs that were ignored by those who did not want to see them. Ultimately, Councillors, no matter how badly you may judge the Covenant, know that it kept peace between its species for thousands of Solar Cycles. The few battles that broke out were quickly resolved, preventing a greater war from occurring," the Alpha finished.
"Yet the Arbiter informed us about a conflict with the Reclaimers that apparently destroyed the Covenant. That does not fit with the Council's concept of keeping the peace," Sparatus argued.
The Elder Jiralhanae nodded at the Turian in acknowledgement and responded, "Indeed, and it was the largest war that our galaxy has seen in a long while. It was fought between the Covenant and the Reclaimers and changed our knowledge of the Forerunners to the point that the religious practices of the Covenant were realized to be worthless."
"Do not mistake this as some great war for honor, glory, or freedom, Councillors. It was the product of lies from the False Prophets, created for the sole purpose of destroying those who had the right to the legacy of the Forerunners. At the end, even with all its might, the Covenant was defeated by the corruption that had led to its establishment," Lydus finished, letting silence fall in the Council Chambers.
After a few seconds, Valern spoke, "Many questions remain on the other species mentioned as well as the full record of events. Not enough time in First Contact to share those, but why do the species of the Wardens stand together with their enemies today?" Behind the Salarian Councillor, Ambassador Udina raised his head slightly, highly interested in the answer for obvious reasons.
"The goal of the Wardens of the Mantle is to prevent the mistakes of the past from repeating," the Arbiter answered. "Peace and self-determination have become essential goals for many members due to the conflict and domination of the Covenant."
Sparatus replied, "Sovereignty of independent states is a respected value, and this Council has taken up the responsibility of maintaining peace between them. To help do so, the limitations that were mentioned earlier are not limited to Citadel members. In the interest of preserving good relations between us, the Council wishes the Wardens to join the rest of the community, both here and in your own galaxy, in accepting these accords."
"I am sure that these agreements are greatly beneficial to all species of the Citadel, however, the Wardens will need to examine and discuss these treaties before any agreement or compliance can be guaranteed," Ambassador Mousset said, taking up the lead once more. "Before we proceed, however, I am sure that members of the Citadel would be greatly interested to hear our own history."
Seeing that the Council had been satisfied for the moment by the general history of the Covenant, Lydus stood and moved back to his previous position. Once more the UEG representative made her way to the front, taking the place of the Alpha in speaking to the Citadel Council.
"To begin, Councillors, I wish to preface this monologue with the warning that not all of our history is known nor understood. In fact, the vast majority of human existence is still a mystery, with written records only reaching back about 10,000 years at the oldest, though most ancient writings are around five to six thousand years old," Mousset began.
"My point in saying this is to inform you that the United Earth Government does not know why we were chosen to be the Reclaimers. It is extremely likely that the Systems Alliance is not even aware of the Forerunners in any meaningful capacity, and if they are then they do not know much more beyond that they existed. I will answer your questions as I can, but Humanity may be asking the same questions that you will pose and therefore I will not be able to give you any answer," the Ambassador explained, glancing between the Councillors and Udina.
At their nods of acceptance, she continued, "The first hundred thousand years or so of modern Humanity was spent mucking about in the dust, attempting to survive on our world. We don't know much of this period except that we outlasted it, as our only records are cave paintings with depictions of primitive hunting and gathering. Our ancestors passed knowledge down through oration, telling stories of the past as they migrated to wherever food could be found."
"About twelve to thirteen thousand years ago, Humanity discovered agriculture. With this came the end of our status as a migratory species as settlements and communities were built. Thus, our species turned from surviving to, well, maybe not thriving, but at least not on the brink of extinction if there was a drought or some other natural calamity."
"Eventually, these early groups grew large enough to meet others, forming relations and exchanging goods. As the surplus of food from farms outgrew the demand of the population, individuals became able to pursue other activities, such as art or masonry. Thus, human civilization was formed," Mousset declared.
"Soon, however, they encountered problems. What were the rules that governed how they lived? One place did things is such a manner, and another in a different way. Faced with such difficulty, Humanity invented writing, inscribing stone tablets with the laws and punishments for breaking them."
Several seconds passed as the human paused before resuming, "I cannot overemphasize the effect this had on our species, Councillors. Suddenly, there was a system to allow ideas to circulate amongst different people. It is identified as one of the most monumental developments in human history and has allowed our species to progress off the ideas preserved by those who had died centuries or even millennia before."
"Thus, we continued to grow, discovering new technologies and creating new ideas. Civilizations rose and fell, wars broke out and were settled, and religions began to spread. Ancient Greece, India, China, and many others greatly advanced our understanding of logic and rational thinking, expanding the knowledge of Humanity. Many societies have used the concepts they created, including architectural styles as well as government structures."
"Even though we had discovered these things, however, Humanity did not apply them in a practical sense. They existed to allow us to examine the world and ourselves, but not to question the established ways. That all changed in what we call the French Revolution. In a societal change that has few equals, the ruler of the country was overthrown and logical thought was applied to, well, everything."
"Following this was the Industrial Revolution, which changed Humanity once again. We moved from hand-made items to machine-made, allowing precision engineering and mass-production. Work went from home-based to jobs, allowing change to almost every aspect of human life," the Ambassador told the Council. While most civilians around the Chamber were listening intently, Mousset could detect faint hints of apathy in the visage of each Councillor as they listened politely to history they obviously didn't care about.
Being human, this rudeness only encouraged the UEG representative to continue wasting their time as she continued, "Suddenly, we were inventing new technologies faster than ever before. Unluckily, morals and strategies were left behind with this advancement, leading to a bloody century of genocide and two World Wars."
"Eventually, Humanity learned and larger states began to tolerate, if not particularly agree upon, differing ideologies. With this began the Long Peace, a period of 200 years without direct conflict between the major powers of Humanity. During this time we developed electronic communications that allowed near-instantaneous interaction, along with a database to store the entirety of Human knowledge in a digital format."
"At the end of this period, there were a series of interplanetary wars that led to the unification of Humanity under the UEG. Now, with all states supporting this single organization, we expanded into our home system, colonizing moons and planets. Even with this expanded space, our increasing population soon caused issues."
Mousset glanced around before explaining, "Without the help of Protheans, Forerunners, or any other alien life form, Humanity discovered a method of interstellar travel. Within several decades, we began colonizing other planets, leading to the creation of the Inner Colonies and eventually the Outer Colonies."
"After another two centuries of this peaceful expansion and discovery, the Insurrection began. Looking back after our conflict with the Covenant, those that led this revolution did have significant and well-founded reasons to want change. The methods they undertook to achieve this, however, were unacceptable."
"What tactics are so reprehensible that you would specifically mention them here?" Sparatus asked.
As the attention of those in the Council Chambers shifted back to Mousset, she answered, "Strategies and attacks that this Council has banned. A nuclear weapon was detonated in a city on an Inner Colony, killing several million. Stealing ships and raiding civilian merchants. Attacks against the people that they claimed to be helping rather than against the opponent they hated."
"Even so, some credit must be given to these terrorists, as their actions caused the military of the UEG, the UNSC, to prepare for serious combat. If the Insurrection had not begun, then Humanity would have been much more unprepared to defend itself against the Covenant."
"The attack by the alien alliance came at First Contact, destroying the Outer Colony of Harvest and preluded the greater assault against Humanity as a whole. As our worlds fell, the Enemy came closer to finding our homeworld. Only luck saved us, as well as the inherent corruption in the Covenant leadership," the Ambassador said.
Mousset took a second before finishing, "After the war, Humanity was unsure of our position. Previous enemies had become allies, our interstellar empire was in ruins, and billions lay dead. Whereas before the UEG had ignored the demands of the Colonies, they were forced to listen to prevent the entire state from shattering into pieces."
"When the offer came to us to join the Wardens of the Mantle, the UEG easily accepted. Even if public opinion was critical of the move, no one could deny that the shared protection would assist in the recovery, allowing the UNSC to focus on rebuilding worlds rather than wasting resources on the edge of our territory."
"Now, nearly forty years after the end of the Covenant War, Humanity is well-off. Fleets guard our worlds, allies stand by our side, and we can focus once more on our curiosity rather than our survival. As such, Councillors, the UEG is curious as to why this Council wished to mount an assault against the Reclaimers, whether you knew that we were human or not," Mousset informed the Citadel species, looking pointedly at each of the three Councillors.
The UEG representative could detect hints of their confusion, leading her to explain, "The Citadel Council has claimed to the Unggoy, Jiralhanae, and Sangheili that the guidance of the Council is the best solution to their problems. By these assertions, the Citadel is the true power of the galaxy, providing protection for its members and peace for its territory. The Wardens of the Mantle are unconvinced."
"We want to know why the Council is better. Ultimately, the question that the UEG wishes to ask is what makes the Council powerful? Is the belief in the Council by member species what makes it the ruling body of the galaxy, or is there some facet of the Council that we are missing that makes it the best regardless of which species are on it?"
Mgalekgolo are well known to recite War Poetry before, during, and after battle. They kept most of their culture throughout their time in Covenant, which apparently includes meditation. They had little need for religion, which I think implies a rational examination of their world, rather than blindly following the San'shyuum.
I know I skipped over a bunch of human history. Why that is on the story-side of things will be explained next chapter, but outside of the story, I simply felt that a full, in-depth retelling of human history would be boring.
Hope that this chapter was good, I've read over it three times. This section with the major meeting between the Citadel and Wardens will last at least through next chapter and perhaps even longer. Lot of stuff to cover. Next chapter is in production and will be out soon, hopefully. I know what I want to do for the next couple chapters, so just need to find the time to write them.
Thanks for reading, GL and TC.
-evevee