As Shepard and Vakarian continued to swap stories about their peoples, from the Robotech Wars, to Krogan Rebellions, the galaxy beyond moved on. In the Citadel, the Council continued to meet with the batarian embassy, trying to force them to cease their attempts to annex the Skyllian Verge, while offering small compensations in trade for their cooperation. The ambassador, of course, agreed to consider their proposal, while thinking of how best to turn the deal to his personal advantage.
Deep in the Verge, a fleet of ships surrounding a dreadnaught hung in the sky over a beautiful world. At the helm of it stood a general, looking at the reports streaming into his stations. Five and a half dozen formation were now launched and out amid the Local Cluster and the Verge, and he was trying to keep track of them all, to make sure nothing escaped his eye. That would have been easier had one Lieutenant not misplaced a report, which talked of a patrol not reporting in at scheduled check in, so the general knew nothing of the lost formation.
Far away from the events of the galactic stage, in a small system near the galactic rim, there were other meetings. These were of a more frantic nature than those of the Council or the general. Arguments flared up, as politicians, military minds, and even science advisers nearly came to blows. All across the Sol System, people were hearing the news, a new race, encountered near Shanxi. Information beyond that was tightly controlled though, and most, despite the arguments, were merely waiting to hear what came next.
At the edge of the Sol System, inside the former dwarf planet Pluto, now Gloval Station, the Federation Senate was hard at work, going over every byte of data they had. For many, this was the most work they had ever had to put in as representatives of their various political groups. Shouting over each other to be heard, they demanded further answers, or demanded war with the turians over them taking a pot shot at one of their own, and in the cacophony nothing was really being decided.
Deeper still inside the station, in a room that was sealed off to all save a few, five being met. The Conclave, the leaders of the Federation, and the ones who would have the toughest decisions to make. Each member knew that what they decided here would literally change the course of history, and alter how the rest of the galaxy saw them, so they sat ruminating on their own points of view, going over the various reports and data feeds they had regarding this First Contact with life in the Milky Way.
They sat at a circular table, with each one being able to look their fellows in the eye. At one seat was Amanda Hayes, a woman who, despite her size, was one of those with the most human DNA, only her great grandfather being a Zentraedi. Her title was Representative, and she was supposedly the Senate's will on the council, though she thought of herself as more than that, and always approached problems with the utmost caution. Now nervous, but not afraid, she fondled a bit of her long, brown hair, while looking around the table with her emerald green eyes.
To her left was a true Terran, a man with an almost equal mixture of both Zen and Human blood in him. His hair white and his skin a pale purple, where those around him were white, brown, and blue. Alexander Grant by name, this man, represented the union of the two species, and was the Administrator of Gloval Station. His word here, in this great place, the largest facility ever constructed, was nearly law. He was seen as a fair man though, if a bit focused on music sometimes, and never acted rashly.
To the left of him sat a much more grim faced man. Blue skin and black hair were supplemented by silver metal covering half his face, and a green eye that had replaced his organic one. He rarely noticed this anymore, after all, the injury itself was almost two millennia old. He was a pure Zentraedi, one of six remianing among the Terrans, all six being command Zentraedi, designed so they didn't truly age, but merely grew wiser. His name was Breetai, and we was the Supreme Commander of the Federation Fleets.
To his left was another pure Zentraedi, just as old, and a friend to Breetai for many years. Prime Thinker Exedore, with brown skin, red hair, and a short disposition. Standing at only forty five feet in height, compared to the Terran standard sixty feet, he was far smaller of stature, but two thousand years had led him to become one of the sharpest minds in the Federation. Respected among almost all communities, for both his science and his diplomacy, he was content with his lot, and actually smiled at his companions.
To his left, completing the circle, was the oddest member of the group. Called Terran, but lacking blood, he was an AI. Calling himself Collective Amalgam, he represented the wills of all the AI's in the Federation, regularly sampling the mental states of his peers. Still, despite knowing what his kind thought whenever they wanted him to know it, he was an independent entity, his chair a large monitor on which he displayed an image of a wireframe man, sitting down as the others were.
Thus was the circle, Representative Hayes, Administrator Grant, Supreme Commander Breetai, Prime Thinker Exedore, and Collective Amalgam. These were the leaders of the Federation, their words would echo across all the stars the Terran masses controlled, and today, they faced one of the hardest moments of their history, and everyone at the table knew, if they made a wrong move, it could forever damage their people. So they sat there, waiting as Amalgam swept the room for bugs, waiting to voice their thoughts.
"There are no listening devices in the room that the sensors can detect," said the AI at last, facing his peers, as they all let out a nervous breath they'd been unconsciously holding.
"That won't last forever here, so I suggest we just drop all pretense and lay our thoughts on the table as they are now," suggested Hayes as she ran her fingers through her hair, straightening it, as the others nodded.
"I say we send the SDF-3 to their homeworld. Their first action was an unwarranted attack on a vessel that they hadn't even known the intentions of. That sort of people only understand force," said Grant, pushing a button to bring up a galaxy map on the surface of the table. A single star shone on it, Palavan's primary of Trebia, according to the data the AI T'Pol had provided in her transmission.
"I would propose a more cautious approach. We have the advantage of time at the moment, and it wouldn't do to leap into a battle that would waste lives. I feel an embassy in an ambassadorial ship, sent to this, Citadel, to meet with the Council would be the best approach," said Exedore, and a button push from him brought up another space, this time a massive nebula, focusing on a single star in it that contained the massive structure as the turian computer had pictured it.
"Normally, I would agree with Grant. The sort of military who's allowed to use a shoot first, ask questions later, policy is one that lacks proper oversight from its government. Still, I will throw my vote behind Exedore's plan first. Our fleets can evacuate our colonies in only a fortnight, and it is doubtful that these turians have the might to withstand the power of Gloval Station," said the blue skinned man, nodding at his friend. The others at the table seemed a little surprised at the military man's agreement with him, considering they often had heated arguments regarding proper expansions of both population and science, but Amalgam quickly took his own turn to speak.
"Given that, I will say, my own thoughts align more with Grant's. These people, their history is a long police action over the 'lesser' races of this galaxy, and includes many laws that literally ban artificial life. While I haven't gone over every byte of data yet, their history, both ancient and recent, suggests they will brook no dissent on what they deem right. I therefore must suggest a show of force to demonstrate we are not to be trifled with," said the AI, and everyone turned to stare at him.
"Really, AIs are illegal?" asked Exedore, pulling up some of the data they'd been sent. Amalgam was able to quickly turn the data to the relevant passages, and waited as they all read through it.
"Would they really go so far?" asked Representative Hayes looking through some of the punishments for AI development, including things that would have an effect on an entire culture, for something that could be started by only a few.
"They have already done so, given their treatment of another race, these quarians, and they've literally got a shoot on sight order for any ship of the geth they find," said Amalgam simply, turning their displays again, so they could see the orders plain as day.
"That is most disturbing. Currently almost a twentieth of Federation citizens are AIs, and that's not even considering how much industry depends on your people," said Grant, thinking about his job, and how much harder it would becoming running a station the size of a dwarf planet without the assistance of intelligent computers.
"And yet, we do not know how they would react to a culture that already has such citizens in its ranks. I say a peaceful approach would be best, approach them as brothers, and perhaps we will find them more accepting than the records on a military ship would imply," added Exedore, and every eye and sensor turned to Hayes, as she read over the section before her, including a rather thorough description of what was to be done with any geth found outside their home.
"As the deciding vote for this. I say we split the difference. We want to show military force, let us send a cruiser with the turian prisoners on board to the Citadel. Fly the flag, and tell them we will not be bullied. If they insist on a confrontation, it wouldn't take long to Fold in the New Macross, and show them the folly of a war with us," she said, and all three of the men in the room nodded. A cruiser, over a mile in length, was a match for mass with most of the turians' known dreadnaughts designs. It would also be able to provide a direct Fold beacon for the SDF-3 if worst came to worst, and the ensuing gunship rescue would be more than enough to show their might.
"That sounds reasonable. I would, of course, like to send a more peaceful vessel, but if Amalgam is correct, we will need to protect our non-biological citizens from their bigotry," said Breetai, already going over in his head which ship would be appropriate to send.
"Hmm, this information on the treatment of AIs does indeed change many of my own plans. Still, a bit of saber rattling shouldn't provoke them too hard. I should like to accompany the ship personally however. This new technology sounds positively fascinating," said Exedore, pushing a few keys to bring up some of the schematics they'd been able to uncover, including for a so called mass effect engine, something that would improve the speed of a ship in real space by more than an order of magnitude.
"I would feel better sending a command ship, but a cruiser would be less intimidating. I agree to this plan," said Grant after a few chin stroking motions.
"This would satisfy my concerns, as long as the diplomat in charge is aware of the position of the AIs," added Amalgam.
"Indeed, if this is to work, we must send a diplomat capable of bargaining in full confidence with them. It wouldn't do to send someone who could be unduly influenced," said Breetai, and Hayes nodded beside him.
"As that is the case, I propose myself for the position. As Representative of the Senate, I could deal in full confidence with them, and as a member of the Conclave I have the authority to make treaties. Hopefully, if I make them aware of that, and the fact that I could call in the big guns, they'll be less likely to try any strong arm tactics," said the woman, and all three men and the AI looked at her for a moment, before solemnly nodding their heads. It wouldn't due to send a low level bureaucrat with no authority, and while Representative Hayes was a valuable chip to just hand an enemy, if worst came to worst, she would have the backing of an SDF at a moment's notice.
"So, a cruiser, with two members of the Conclave aboard, but with the SDF-3 waiting to swoop in if things become dicey. Is this plan approved? Vote," said Amalgam, and the desk in front of him glowed green a second later, showing his consent to the plan. The others on the Conclave all reached forward, and soon, the entire table top was shaded in the same color.
"Motion passes. Breetai, if you would provide us with a cruiser, we'll need to leave right away to Shanxi. If we can, I would like to get those turians off world the day after they arrive, to avoid any unfortunate accidents," as she said this, all three men at the table looked down at their heavy boots, and nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. A few minutes later, they all left, Exedore and Hayes to prepare for a trip, Grant and Amalgam to the station's Command and Control Center to continue their duty of running it, and Breetai to contact a cruiser for transport.
OoOoO
"Captain Sheridan, you have a message from Gloval Station," said a voice in the dark, and suddenly a man in uniform hopped up, his hand going to his belt and the shiny bit of silver he kept there. He let his hand drop as he realized where the speaking voice was coming from. Blinking a little, the man went over to the wall and pushed a button to turn the lights on in his relaxation chamber, before going to the monitor. On it was displayed the face of one of the ships many lieutenants.
"Anyone important?" asked Sheridan as he tried to clear the fog from his head, meditation was supposed to be a good way of keeping your mind sharp, and Sheridan liked the idea of it, even if he sometimes found it hard to focus coming out of it.
"Supreme Command Breetai," said the lieutenant in the same way you might say the name of one of those pompous wind bag senators.
"Patch him in right away then," said Sheridan as he straightened his uniform, wondering what the master of the Terran Military would want with him. Luckily, it took a few seconds for the blue skinned man's face to resolve on his monitor, and by the time he was staring into that green electronic eye, he looked at least somewhat presentable.
"This is Captain Tron Sheridan of the Agamemnon, how may I be of service today?" asked Sheridan as he snapped off a salute to the man in the monitor. Breetai returned the salute in a quick fashion, and the captain went to a rest pose as he waited for orders.
"As time is moving quicker than I'd like, I'll get right to the point. Are you aware of what's been happening around the Shanxi colony?" asked the Supreme Commander, and Sheridan had to think for a few moments, before shaking his head.
"I'm afraid the news we've been getting has been rather oblique sir. Something is happening there, I'm aware of that, but the details are rather sketchy," he admitted, and Breetai nodded at him, stroking his chin.
"Indeed. Then I shall be brief. The Frigate, Phoenix, while reactivating the Sling Shot discovered in the system a few weeks ago, made first contact with a micronian race called the turians," Sheridan, a trained captain in the Terran military, was still unable to hide a look of surprise as it crossed his face for a moment at the announcement. After all, they'd been hoping to run into someone out in the Milky Way for almost a decade now.
"Are they the ones who built the Slings?" asked Sheridan after a moment, wondering if he was being deployed for battle against those people, who's devices were said to have more power in them than the entire Terrana fleet.
"Negative. They're simply a race that makes use of them," he said, and Sheridan didn't even try to hide the relief on his face at that news.
"However, there was an altercation and the turians are now on their way to Shanxi with the Phoenix, they'll arrive in a few days. By the time they're there, I want you and your ship, along with a diplomatic embassy on site. From there, you'll be launching to a station called the Citadel. I trust you'll be discreet on the mission, without antagonizing the aliens," said Beertai, a simple statement of fact.
"I'll be sure to walk softly around the little people, Supreme Commander," acknowledged Sheridan.
"Good, come to dock with Gloval Station to pick up the embassy, and then set out as soon as you can," and with those words, Beertai cut the transmission, leaving the monitor dark for a moment, before the symbol of the Federation, a picture of Earth, started to spin in the monitor. Quickly, Sheridan went over a mental list of what he was going to have to do, while exiting the relaxation chamber, and heading off to the bridge to inform his crew their simply patrol mission was about to becoming something a lot more important.
(Author's Note:
While researching for this chapter, it was brought to my attention that Exedore's height is listed officially as 46 feet. That's relatively tall, of course, but it comes with an oddity of him being only about three quarters the height of a regular Zentraedi, especially when compared to Breetai, who's height is officially 13.54 meters, which comes out to only 45 feet. As such, average height for the Terrans, and Breetai's own height is changed to around 60 feet for this story.)