On the bridge of the MFV Endaara, Captain Rael'Zorah was sitting in his command throne, when his ship jumped out of FTL and arrived in the Alfa Centaari system. One by one, the other ships of his fleet did the same, and in formation, they pressed onward, toward the system's only habitable planet.
According to his tactical display, the other evacuation ships hung in its orbit, clustered together.
Along with a dreadnought of asari origin, retrofitted for speed and stealth. Unlike quarian warships, it was a sleek, dagger-shaped vessel with a glossy, silver hull, etched with gold lumen strips.
Keelah, it seemed the Justicars and their friends had arrived early. His pulse climbed. Ancestors, for the first time, he was about to meet Justicars in person, and a mix of awe and anticipation washed through him.
Perhaps now he'd see if all the rumors he'd heard about them during his pilgrimage were true.
"Captain," said his chief communications officer. "We are being hailed. It is the Athame's Lament."
"Patch them through," he said. "Put them on the forward viewscreen."
His chief communications officer nodded. And then the forward viewscreen came to life with a sharp crack-shwoom. On it, an asari man with a thick, muscular neck and stern, hard features appeared. Clad in an imposing, high-tech suit of silver and gold battleplate, the asari man radiated an air of gravitas and inner-strength. And in his golden eyes, he sensed the hallmarks of centuries upon centuries of experience facing the worst horrors in the galaxy...but also boundless wisdom and compassion veiled underneath.
"Captain Rael'Zorah," the asari man said, his voice deep and powerful. "I am Master Gaiphoro of the Justicar Order. We have been expecting you."
His eyes went wide. Master Gaiphoro had spoken those words in perfect Khelish. He shook his head. Keelah, keep it together. He cleared his throat. "Likewise Master Gaiphoro. It is an honor to meet you.I take it that the Grandmaster and the diplomats from the Terminus Systems are aboard with you?"
"Currently," Gaiphoro said. "The Grandmaster, six of his disciples, and a few volunteers are... preoccupied with the human refugees, providing them aid, easing their fear, anger, and suffering. Most have taken quite a liking to them, but a few are still stubbornly clinging to their passions. As for the Terminus diplomats, they have been growing increasingly impatient. But no more. It is time we meet." Master Gaiphoro opened up his omni-tool, then began inputting commands. "I am sending you the necessary access codes for you to access my ship's embarkation deck. Ensure that Captain Zhoru'Larrik, and the human Hannah Shepard arrive with you."
He nodded. "I will, Master Gaiphoro."
Gaiphoro nodded. "Until then."
And then Gaiphoro cut the link. Amidst the ensuing silence, he sighed. Keelah, no doubt, he was going to have many stories to tell when this was all over.
"Kharo," he said, standing up from his command throne.
"I will take command of the bridge Captain," Kharo said. Kharo saluted. "By the ancestors, good luck."
He returned the salute. "Thank you. And please, hail the Az'khaelon. Inform Captain Zhoru about where he and Khanah'Shepard need to go."
Kharo nodded. "Right away, Captain."
He turned, then left the bridge. As he headed toward his ship's docking bay, and began inputting commands into his omni-tool to contact an available shuttle pilot, his heart raced. With every step, the anticipation within him grew and grew.
He gulped. Ancestors, even now, a part of him could hardly believe that this situation was happening.
Were the rumors true?
Unlike normal Asari, were justicars immortal? Could they truly sunder a grav tank to shreds with a glance, or extract every secret from your mind with but the lightest touch?
Only time would tell. For now, he had to stay focused.
On the bridge of the MFV Az'khaelon, Hannah Shepard was standing next Zhoru's command throne, staring at the asari warship on the foward viewscreen. According to Zhoru, it was just a few dozen kilometers away from the evacuation ships clustered around the planet, Proxima Centauri B.
A lifeless rock humanity had once dreamed of making their first colony, until John Grissom planted the Alliance flag on Grissom's world.
Unlike quarian warships, the asari vessel was sleek and elegant, dagger-shaped, with a silvery hull, etched with bright-gold lumen strips.
Meanwhile, her heart pounded, as she imagined how the meeting would go. She let out a weak laugh. Goodness, she was about to become the first human to make first contact with not just the quarians, but now the asari, and perhaps other species.
The enormity of it all struck her like a grav train.
"Are you well, Khanah?" Zhoru asked, his fingers dancing across his tactical display. "Your heart is beating much faster than usual."
"Just nervous," she said. She gulped, then pursed her lips. "I don't know...It's just..."
"It's just?"
"I never imagined myself doing any of this," she said. "It all feels so...enormous, and now I'm just wondering-"
"Why me?" Zhoru asked.
Her eyes went wide. Goodness, it was like he had read her mind. "Yes."
"You are not alone, Khanah," he said. "I never wanted nor imagined the life I have now. But the Ancestors had different plans for me, and it seems...for you."
She paused, allowing that statement to seep into her bones.
"You can do this," Zhoru said. "During the meeting, rest assured that I will be right beside you."
A light, airy sensation bloomed in her chest and evaporated her anxiety. She smiled. "Thank you. That...that would mean a lot to me."
"Captain," an officer called out from the bridge. "We are being hailed. It is the Endaara."
"Patch the signal through," Zhoru said. "Display it on the forward viewscreen."
Just then, another window popped up on the forward viewscreen, displaying a quarian officer from the shoulder up. It wasn't Rael. So is this guy?
"Captain Zhoru'Larrik," the quarian officer began. "This is Kharo'Gerrel, the Endaara's second in command. Captain Rael has just left the bridge, and he wanted me to inform you that he needs you and Khanah'Shepard with him aboard the Athame's Lament. Please do not keep him waiting."
Zhoru nodded. "Thank you."
Kharo nodded in return, then cut the link. As soon as the window vanished, Zhoru stood up, then looked at her.
"Let's not keep him waiting," she said.
"Agreed," Zhoru said. Zhoru opened up his omni-tool, then began inputting a few commands. "Stay close to me."
She nodded. "Lead the way."
Zhoru left the bridge, and she followed him through the Az'khaelon's sterile corridors. As she followed him, her nerves rose once again, but then Zhoru's words rang through her head.
"...I will be right beside you."
And she drew safety from his very presence, letting it wrap around her like a warm cacoon. She smiled. Perhaps one day her boys would get to meet him? No doubt, they'd be so excited.
Soon, they finally reached the Az'khaelon's sprawling embarkation deck, a vast, expanse of sleek metallic, metallic surfaces and dynamic holoscreens, bathed in the neon-blue light of countless lumen strips. Ahead was the massive integrity field, separating the local atmosphere from the cold, blackness of space.
Once more, he jaw dropped, and a chill wave passed through her, . Goodness...Everytime she stepped into this place, she couldn't help but feel smaller than an ant.
Eventually, they reached a landing pad with a sleek, black shuttle waiting for them. The side door slid open with a metallic hiss, and she followed Zhoru inside, then sat right across from him.
Meanwhile, her heart thrashed. She took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
The shuttle hummed to life. The forward viewscreen came to life with a sharp crack shwoom, showing the path ahead, and then the shuttle rocketed forward at bliding speed, into the infinite vastness of the stars.
As the shuttle neared the asari ship, she took a deep breath. Goodness, this was it. She was about to become the first human to meet asari, humanity's celestial cousins. The weight of the moment bored down on her and pressed down on her entire being, threatening to consume her.
But through it all, Zhoru's presence kept her grounded. She glanced at him, and he gave her a reassuring nod.
Yes, she could do this.
Soon, the shuttle glided smoothly into the asari ship's embarkation deck. Eventually, the shuttle landed. The forward viewscreen shut off, and she followed Zhoru outside, into the embarkation deck.
Immediately, a floral scent filled her nostrils. And she took a moment to absorb her surroundings. Unlike quarian ships, this one was brightly lit, with sleek, bronze surfaces, glowing with soft blue light, along with sweeping arches adorned with what had to be asari script.
Strangely, the embarkation deck was empty, aside from the group of asari ahead. Two of them, she recognized, were Master Samara and Vysaeris. But the other two...
Goodness, one was a turian, nearly as tall as Zhoru, but far more lithe and slim, and clad in a suit of glossy, blue battle plate. Crossing its minor pair of arms, it wore a matching holographic visor over its two left eyes, and had a massive rifle holstered on its back.
Meanwhile, the other alien was what she could only describe as a shifting mass of silvery mycellium and glowing blue lights, hovering about a foot above the ground.
He tilted her head and squinted her eyes. What...What is that?
"Follow me," Zhoru said. "And stay close."
She nodded, then followed Zhoru as he approached the group.
"Hannah," Samara said. She bowed. "Welcome to the Athame's Lament."
Master Vysaeris bowed. "The others are already waiting. Time is short and we have much to discuss."
Briefly, she glanced at the turian, who was looking down at her with its cold, reptilian gaze, studying her as though she was some kind of exotic creature. She gulped. Goodness, if Zhoru were not here, she had no doubt that it could tear her limb from limb with ease.
She exhaled. Get it together. You're safe. These are your friends. "Of course..." Without warning, the other alien morphed its shape into an androgynous humanoid with big, blue eyes. "Mind introducing me to your friends though first?"
"Oh, of course," Samara said. She looked at the turian, then nodded.
"My plates vibrate with great willingness to cooperate with your kind, in harmonious war-making, against the Citadel triarchy, human," the turian said, its translated voice deep and robotic, devoid of any emotion. "My kind lacks the signifiers with which you identify individuals. But you may refer to me by the asari signifier, Castis Vakarian." The turian extended one of its major arms. "I extend my arm in greetings."
Reluctantly, she shook the turian's hand. Goodness, this was so awkward! "It...it's a pleasure to meet you, Castis."
"Castis is one of our greatest operatives," Vysaeris said. "He used to be the commander of the elite Hes'tatim...well, until the Primarch forced him to -"
Castis let out a low chittering sound, and then a reptilian hiss. "My plates resonate with great sorrow and fury with such recollections." Again, Castis looked at her. "It is not a song-story to be sung now."
A song-song? Vibrating plates? Goodness, it seemed that turians had far less in common with humans, than asari or quarians. She took a deep breath, then looked at the other alien, who was staring at her like some kind of lab specimen.
"And who is that?"
"We are the guardian node," the alien said, its body pulsing with blue light, its voice melodic and echoing through the air.
Her mind went blank, as she stared at the alien, with her mouth agape. She shook her head and blinked a few times. Goodness, was this a weird day. "Gaurdian node?"
"It is a mobile node of the Zhan'Shairho," Vysaeris said. "A... biotically-active, mycelial network that encompasses an entire world precisely 1732 light years from here."
"Our currents of time and fate have crossed at this moment," the guardian node said. "And collectively may our strivings bring ruin and death upon the violators."
She blinked a few times. The violators? No doubt, it meant the Thessian Empire but still...
"I don't fully understand what you are," she said. "But I can see the conviction in your eyes. Yes, together we will triumph."
"Your sonic utterances resonate through our network," the gaurdian node said, "and we mark you as a supporter. Now may we commune in the place of consensus and formulate plans for further along the flow of time."
"Then there is no time to waste," Zhoru said. Zhoru looked at Master Samara. "Lead the way."
Samara nodded, and then they followed the group outside the embarkation deck. Along the way, she took in her surroundings, and once more she marveled at the sophisticated technology all around her. Everywhere she looked, the sleek, bronze walls pulsed with blue light. As they walked passed crew members going about their duties, they soon found themselves in a long corridor, filled with statues and animated murals of liquid metal.
Who were they? Most of the statues were of asari in baroque battle plate, striking heroic poses, wielding energy-based swords and halberds. Were they fallen justicars?
Perhaps soon she'd find out.
At the end of the corridor, they passed through a large circular door, into a conference room filled with grav-chairs surrounding what she presumed was a holo-projector in the center.
As soon as she stepped inside, a warm, blissful sensation coursed through every ounce of her being, and instinctively, a part of her knew that it was coming from the asari sitting in the grav chair right across from her.
"Hannah Shepard..." the asari man said, standing up. Clad in simple white and gold robes, over his armored skin suit, the man looked much shorter and frailer than anyone else in the room. His skin was a dark shade of blue, and at first glance he seemed so...ordinary.
Until she met his gaze.
Her eyes watered, and she exhaled, hardly able to breathe. The asari man's golden eyes overflowed with boundless wisdom, with overwhelming gentleness and compassion. In his presence, she couldn't help but feel utterly exposed, as though he could do as he pleased with her mind, and yet at the same time...
She had no doubt that he would never harm her.
"I am Nu'adu," the asari man said. "Grandmaster of the Justicar Order."
Looking away, she took a deep breath, and tears rolled down her cheeks. What...What is happening to me? Damn it, why was she feeling this way? Once more, she looked at Nu'adu, only to find him just an arm's length away.
The Grandmaster put one hand on her shoulder, and his touch was so delicate and precise, as though he was handling a flower. And without hesitation, she surrendered. "Breathe, Hannah. Breathe. I know this must be very overwhelming for you, but that is nothing to be ashamed of. Allow these sensations to take you, to flow through every atom of your being."
A profound sense of bliss and calm settled over her mind, and she burst into tears of joy. Suddenly, she felt reconnected to the universe, and the past and future evaporated in her mind. There was only the now. The beautiful present moment. "Okay...Okay."
As she took deep breaths, Nu'adu smiled. "I have heard much about you, Hannah. And I see the quarian admirals chose well. You are a woman of great courage and compassion, quite the mother to your sons, and oh...a dutiful leader as well. Yes, I am very much looking forward to working with you, to starting a meaningful dialogue with the rest of humanity."
She smiled, then wiped away her tears. Goodness, she had only just met him. But already, she trusted Nu'adu completely. "Likewise."
Nu'adu held both of her shoulders. "Then let us begin." He pointed toward two empty grav chairs, right next to where Rael was sitting. "We have much to discuss."
She and Zhoru went toward the empty grav chairs, and when they sat, she took a moment to scan her surroundings. Seated around the room were what she presumed were other Justicar Masters, asari men and women, clad in matching robes, and either amored skin suits or gleaming, silver-gold armor. Castis, the guardian node, and a few aliens of species she couldn't recognize sat amongst them.
But amongst the attendees, three figures stood out.
Two of them were asari women, the first with neon, facial tattoos and a suit of gold-black armor, the other with makeup and a beautiful, white-gold dress. And the the last one was a krogan, clad in practically tank armor.
"Zhoru," she whispered, as a massive justicar in silver-gold armor stood up and began inputting commands into his omni-tool. "Who are those three?"
Zhoru pointed toward the asari with neon tatoos. Sitting with one leg draped over the arm of her grav chair, she was lounging in her seat, like some carefree goddess. "That is Cyrina T'Loak. One of the Arch Reaver's adoptive daughters."
"The Arch Reaver?" she asked. Goodness, who was she? Yet another enemy to worry about?
"We will tell you at a better time," Rael said.
Before she could ask about the others, the holo-projector came to life, showing the Sol System, and the massive Justicar began to speak. "Brothers and sisters of the Remnants, at this moment, we stand on the edge of a pivotal moment in galactic history. Terra and the Armory are no longer myths. The Citadel Triarchy is scouring the galaxy in seach of us, and when they find us...the galaxy will never be the same."
The massive justicar glanced at the Grandmaster, who nodded. "So before we reveal ourselves to the humans and bring them into a new age, we must first sort out the differences amongst ourselves..." The justicar looked at the three stand-out attendees. "And our allies."
The massive justicar said that last word with such distrust and disdain.
"Cyrina T'Loak," the massive justicar said. "Stand and make the Freehold's conditions known."
Cyrina's lips curled into a wolfish grin, and she stood up slowly, her every movement radiating power and confidence. She paced around the chamber like a lioness surveying her territory, meeting the gaze of each attendee in turn. When her gaze met hers, she grinned, like a predator eyeing vulnerable prey.
Nonetheless, she held her head high. With Zhoru sitting beside her, she wouldn't dare try anything.
"For too long," she began, in perfect English, "the Freehold has been ignored and marginalized, feared and hated by the 'civilized powers' of the galaxy, simply because of what we must do survive. But no more! With Terra and the Armory finally discovered, it is time for the Freehold to take it's rightful place in galactic affairs!"
Cyrina paused, letting her words hang in the air. The tension in the room rose. But nonetheless, every justicar in the room remained unreactive.
"Therefore, my mother's conditions are simple. First, we want in on your little alliance with the humans and the quarians, and for us to be recognized as equals, not sidelined as outcasts. Second, we want access to the Armory and all the technology within. And finally..."
Cyrina began inputting commands into her omni-tool, and a galaxy map sprang to life. On it, she zoomed toward a particular region to the galactic east. "We want expansion rights to the Salusian Expanse. With a foothold here, we can raid and strike at imperial scum where it hurts the most."
Cyrina closed the hologram, then looked directly at her, Zhoru, and Rael. "Agree to these terms, and my mother will do everything in her power to make sure you don't become the Ascendant's next species of pets."
She looked at the Grandmaster and the massive justicar, then grinned, letting out a sarcastic giggle. "Like it or not, you need us. Our admirals are just as good as any the quarians have, and we've been fighting the imperials for centuries. We know all of their little tricks." She let out a relieved sigh. "That's all."
Cyrina's bold words hung in the air as she returned to her seat. The massive justicar's expression was unreadable, but a subtle tension rippled through the chamber.
After a moment, the other asari in the elegant dress stood gracefully. "While the Freehold's martial prowess is formidable, their methods leave much to be desired..." she began, her voice melodic but firm.
She leaned over to whisper something Rael's ear. "Hey Rael, who is that?"
"That is Lady Valensia T'Shala of the Free Colonies Alliance," Rael said, keeping his voice low. "Supposedly, her family is very powerful, one of the few to have escaped the Ascendant's purge."
"The Justicars walk a path of discipline, honor, and nobility, Cyrina. We cannot condone the wanton violence and lawlessness that you espouse. However..." She paused for effect. "We recognize that desperate times call for...difficult alliances." Valensia glared at Cyrina. "If the Arch Reaver is willing to be flexible, to restrain the ways of the savages who follow her, then we will be willing to work with you as equals."
Cyrina bristled at Valensia's words, her fists clenching, her eyes glowing an ugly shade of red. Her predatory grin faded into a snarl. And for a moment, she braced for Cyrina's outburst.
But then the massive justicar stood up and glared at her. "Now is not the time for debate," he said, his voice booming, powerful enough to rattle her bones. "For now, rest assured that we are not inflexible, that the threat the Ascendant poses with the Armory in his hands means far more than any worldly concerns like territory or wealth."
Cyrina backed down. Reluctantly, she settled back into her chair.
"Thank you, Master Gaiphoro," Valensia said. She cleared her throat, then continued. "The Free Colonies Alliance wishes to join your alliance. In exchange for access to the Armory, we pledge our considerable economic and military resources, and will be more than happy to offer you the most lucrative trade deals and commercial contracts. As we all know, war is inevitable and also very, very expensive." She bowed, looking as graceful as a swan. "That is all."
"Thank you, Lady Valensia," Gaiphoro said. "Now, may the representative of the Urdnot Khanate please stand and make your term s known."
The krogan attendee stood up, and she couldn't help but marvel at its sheer size and bulk. It was at least a head taller than Zhoru, though probably not as fast.
"I am Urdnot Ghor," the krogan rumbled, his voice deep and robotic, filtered through a translator just like Castis, "emissary of the Great Khan, Urdnot Wrex. And our terms are simple..."
Ghor opened up his omni-tool, then typed in a few commands. The galaxy map came to life once more, then zoomed in on a cluster of systems, which glowed a bright red. "Your enemies will be our enemies...provided you aid us in cleansing these systems of all life."
Several audible gasps rippled through the air. And the chamber descended into a jumbled mess of arguing voices.
Cleanse them of all life? But why? What could warrant slaughter on such a cosmic scale?
Gaiphoro stood up. "Silence!"
Her pulse spiked, and she nearly jumped out of her seat. Gaiphoro's voice was like a canon blast, loud and powerful enough to cut through the chatter with total ease. Good thing he's on our side.
"Urdnot Ghor," Gaiphoro said, "please...elaborate on your terms. The wholesale slaughter of entire systems is not something we can condone...unless it is absolutely necessary for our survival and the greater good."
The krogan let out a rumbling croak, like a dinosaur from one of those parks on Earth, supposedly filled with resurrected species. "I believe you will find our reasons more than adequate."
Again, Ghor typed in a few commands into his omni-tool, and the galaxy map zoomed in on one of the systems marked for annihilation. "These worlds are not what you presume. They are not fledgling colonies of soft, fragile creatures, but places of madness and unending horror, places the Architect keeps secret even from the Ascendant and the Primarch."
Finally, the hologram showed a sprawling complex of pristine, pearlescent walls glowing with soft blue light. Within the complex, tall, lanky aliens with hooved feet, and elongated, three-fingered hands walked to and fro, carrying holographic data slates. Most of the aliens were clad in high-tech e-suits of interlocking white plates, and above automated drones were whizzing through the air.
What's so horrifying about this place? Yes, at first glance, it seemed like she was watching footage from a thriving colony, with technological marvels far beyond anything humanity could devise.
But then the hologram flickered and she nearly puked.
In some kind of lab, a few of the aliens were monitoring what had to be a krogan child bound to some kind of machine. Non-stop, the child twitched and wailed. And soon, the aliens began to cut open its innards with a red-hot laser.
The hologram flickered, and now it was showing a few of the aliens monitoring a rabid krogan from behind some kind of transparent wall. Beyond it, the rabid krogan was roaring its throat bloody, bashing its head against the wall of its cell, until its skull was a mess of blood, bone, and brains.
The hologram flickered once more, showing what had to be a hideously bloated krogan female, surgically bound to a machine that pumped her full of drugs. The alien scientists seemed pleased when she roared and gave birth to a malformed monstrosity, an unholy amalgamation of krogan and...something else.
Cyrina puked. Valensia shrieked. And yet the justicars remained unreactive.
She looked away, and her stomach churned. Oh, god. Make it stop.
"You've made your point already!" Cyrina spanned. "So damn it, shut it off!"
Ghor laid his reptilian gaze directly at her, Rael, and Zhoru. "No. Not until you see this."
The hologram flickered once again. But this time, it showed a prison complex filled not only with Krogan, but also quarians, asari, turians, and other aliens she couldn't recognize. Huddled together in cramped cells, the quarian and asari prisoners were wore white jumpsuits, along with what had to be control collars around their necks. Most were thin and emaciated, with livid rashes covering their bare skin.
"No..." Rael whispered, his voice breaking. "This can not be."
Meanwhile, Zhoru scowled, then huffed through his nose.
"See what the Salarians have become!" Ghor shouted, his voice dripping with acid, as he showed horror after horror, from bio-weapon tests, to vivisections without anesthetic. "See the horrors they will inflict upon your people, should we continue to allow these worlds to exist!"
Finally, Ghor shut off the hologram, then swept his gaze around the room, as though to gauge everyone's reactions. The room grew thick with nerve-racking tension.
But then Nu'adu stood up, a biotic corona engulfing his body. "Urdnot Ghor."
The Grandmaster's voice was so soft and smooth, and yet so authoritative. In an instant, the tension in the room evaporated and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Whilst the Salarians have indeed lost themselves along the darkest path," Nu'adu continued, "and their experiments can not be allowed to continue, we can not lose ourselves in the process, and drink from the sweet poisons of anger, of hatred, of vengeance." The Grandmaster clasped his hands behind his back. "I know your Khan very well, Ghor, and unlike the other warlords of the Terminus Systems, he is the only one dedicated to not repeating the mistakes made during the Krogan Rebellions. He never sanctioned this unless he was convinced that this was the only way. Am I correct?"
Ghor's scaly features twitched as he met the Grandmaster's gaze. For a moment, the krogan seemed taken aback by Nu'adu's calm authority.
"You speak true," Ghor finally conceded with a respectful bow of his head. "My Khan takes no pleasure in this. But his realm is one besieged on all sides by the Citadel Triarchy, by the Weyrloc Dynasty, by the Red Horde. We lack the means and resources to conquer these worlds and dismantle these facilities. And after centuries of patience...we have had enough."
"I understand your Khan's position," Nu'adu said. "When lost in darkness, the quickest and easiest path is very enticing indeed...until you see that it was only an illusion, a trap that only leaves you even more lost than where you began." Nu'adu approached Ghor, meeting the krogan's gaze without flinching. "Let me speak to him, Ghor. He has valued and listened to my counsel before. So I can show him a better way."
She held her breath, waiting for Ghor's response. The krogan's scarred features were unreadable, his black eyes fixed on Nu'adu. After a long, tense moment, Ghor dipped his head, then huffed through his nostrils. "You speak the truth. So when I can...I will set up the appropriate comm channels."
She let out a sigh of relief, then smiled. She did not doubt that Nu'adu would find a way.
As the tension in the room dissipated, however, an uneasy feeling still lingered in her gut. First, she had witnessed the horror of the Silent Ones, and now she had witnessed the horror of the Salarians and their gruesome experiments, their abominable ways of treating their prisoners.
She looked at Rael and he was slumped in his chair, helmet in his hands. She could not imagine the horror he must had felt witnessing what the Salarians had inflicted upon those quarian prisoners.
"Rael..." she said. "Rael, are you okay?"
"I do not blame the krogan for wanting those worlds cleansed of all life," Zhoru said. "In Urdnot Wrex's position, I would want Sur'kesh itself burned to ash. Keelah, even the Ascendent would be disgusted at their crimes."
"Agreed..." Rael said, sitting up straight. Rael took a deep breath. "Agreed."
As Ghor returned to his seat, Nu'adu addressed the attendees. "Now that we have voiced our terms, I believe now is the perfect time to begin drafting a proposal with care and consideration for all our interests. I believe now-"
Before Nu'adu could finish his sentence, an alarm blared, and the glow of the walls shifted from blue to red. Without hesitation, Gaiphoro stood up, then answered an alert on his omni-tool. "Report."
"Master Gaiphoro," a voice said on his omni-tool, "the Silent Ones have arrived at the edge of the system. We need to leave now!"
Gaiphoro nodded. "On the way."
Gaiphoro closed his omni-tool, then began to address the crowd. "Attention, all within this chamber!" His voice commanded everyone's attention. "All personnel report to battle stations. Brother Var'hada and Sister Vaelin, escort our guests from the Terminus Systems to their chambers. And the rest of you - Hannah, Rael, Zhoru, and Master Nu'adu - follow me to the bridge."
Her heart thrashed, as she followed Gaiphoro toward the bridge. Along the way, Zhoru and Rael opened up their omni-tools, then began spouting out orders themselves.
Eventually, Gaiphoro strode onto the bridge, with her and the others clos behind.
"Status report!" Gaiphoro barked.
The asari woman at the helm turned, her expression tense. "The enemy is on an intercept course, charging weapons."
Gaiphoro's jaw clenched as he sat in his command throne and opened up his haptic display. "Plot a course to the Sol System. Raise power to shields, and then get us out of there."
The asari woman saluted, thumping her chest with her fist. "As you command."
As Gaiphoro's crew carried out his orders, Gaiphoro looked at Rael and Zhoru. "My friends, I'm afraid I must take temporary command of your fleet. Do you consent?"
For a moment, Zhoru and Rael hesitated, as though complying to his request would make them lose face in the eyes of those under their command. But soon they relented.
Both quarians opened up their omni-tools, then typed away before closing them once more.
"Done," Zhoru said.
"Done," Rael said. "Now...get us to the Sol System."
Gaiphoro nodded, and his hands were practically a blur as he manipulated his tactical display.
Amidst the chaos, the Grandmaster put one hand on her shoulder, and it was like a soothing balm to her soul. "Rest assured that we are in safe hands, Hannah. Master Gaiphoro has centuries of experience as an Admiral, and was almost granted the title of Warmaster of the Old Republic."
She raised her eyebrows. "Until?"
"Until the Ascendant snatched the position away from him," Nu'adu said. Nu'adu laughed. "Ah, All-Mother help us, political maneuvering was never one of his strengths."
She nodded, taking some comfort in the Grandmaster's words. Soon, the ship was moving at full burn toward the jump point, with the rest of the fleet and the evac ships in formation along with it.
The whole time, the Silent One Armada chased after them at full burn, nearing closer and closer.
"Here it comes," Nu'adu said, soon as the ship engaged its FTL drive, about to jump out of the system. "Mere hours from now will be the moment the quarians brought you here for. Are you ready, Hannah?"
For a moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl. Briefly, she looked back on every decision she had made up to now, of how her life had changed forever in mere days...
"More ready than I'll ever be," she said, and then the ship jumped out of the system.
Straight toward her destiny.