4th February 2156

0005 SET

Destroyer Adek

The AI flickered to life and addressed the surprised captain and his crew:

"Greetings, my name is Yolanda, I am talking to the behalf of the Terran Coalition. Could you please direct me to the leader of this vessel?

"I am Captain Karn Graksebar of the batarian Hegemony. What race do you represent?" he asked.

"I represent humanity and their government, the Terran Coalition. My job is to help facilitate relations between humans and other intelligent species. Would you be interested to talk to my superior?" the AI named Yolanda asked.

"You mean you never met any other intelligent species before?" Karn asked.

"No. You are the first. Everyone will be jealous when they learn that I was the one who made first contact. So, will you please talk with my superior?" Yolanda said.

Karn weighed his options. A new species with highly advanced AI technology and who knows what else could be a very useful ally, or at least a trade partner for the Hegemony. However, AI's where prohibited by the Citadel Council, and allying with a race that used them so freely could cause a galactic incident. But, the possible benefits and rewards outweighed the risks, so Karn finally said:

"I would like to meet your superior as soon as possible. Can she come through the relay with a shuttle to board my ship?"

"Excellent! I will send my captain the message immediately! I left you 3 translation data packs for our 3 most spoken languages. My superior speaks all 3 of them, but she prefers English. I also left you an etiquette data pack for appropriate behaviour. I took the liberty to make a copy of yours too..." she jovially said, only to be interrupted by captain Karn.

"Wait. How did you do it? The system you are in is isolated." he asked.

Yolanda sounded confused:

"It is?

Karn turned to the direction of Grafin, the communication specialist.

"The AI bypassed the blocks! The system didn't even detect the intrusion! There was nothing I could do sir!" she nearly screamed, fearful because of her failure.

"Please be lenient to her captain Karn. There wasn't really anything she could do. Your systems currently have 1538 bugs, 69 security flaws and 19 unsecured access points. Even one of our non-sentient AI's could bypass them with minimal effort."

Yolanda finished.

Karn was frustrated, so he did the most logical thing in his mind:

"Let's focus at meeting your superior. I'll deal with the rest later."

"In the meantime, would you like me to fix the issues?" Yolanda offered to help:

"No, no, thanks for the offer, but no." Karn said hastily.

4th February 2156

0030 SET

TCS Cruiser Roadrunner

Lana saw the whole scene through the AI's sensors hidden in the probe. The whole debacle and the data gathered showed her who they were dealing with. A corrupt government that funds pirates and slavers for profit, a Citadel Council in which this batarian Hegemony is a member only because of nessesity and an obsolete system of castes that allows slavery as something natural wasn't the most pleasant to deal with. She also learned about the Citadel, the other races, (asari, turians, salarians, krogan, hanar, elcor, quarian, drell, vorcha and the batarians themselves), gained access to star charts, ship classifications and many other useful intel. Finally, Lana concluded:

"Like taking candy from a baby. Brenda, get a shuttle ready and call Jason to tag along. We need to show these batarians what psychic superiority really is."

she said, a grin forming on her lips.

"Hohoho, they will have the shock of their lives captain." Brenda said amused.

She barely finished her speech, the doors slid open and Jason Peterson, the battlegroup's psychic commando, entered the captain's quarters.

"You require my services captain? I would be most pleased to assist with teaching these batarians a few lessons about humility." he said.

"I see your link is working as good as always Jason. Which means you already know what I know and the mission at hand."

Lana said, not appearing annoyed by the intrusion in her mind.

"Of course captain. You can count on me."

Jason answered.

"While I hate to interrupt you 2 lovebirds, the shuttle is ready to go." Brenda announced, her toned both annoyed and amused.

Brenda always liked to annoy couples that way. She claimed it was because infatuation could be counter productive for the crew. Lana however had just the thing to counter the smart-mouthed AI.

"Awww, are you feeling jealous Brenda?" Lana retorted.

"I can still report you both for infatuation you know." Brenda shot back.

""Then I would also have to tell about your relationship with a certain ensign Thomas, ain't that right? Unless you're just friends."

Lana said, smiling in front of Brenda's holoprojection.

Brenda huffed and said nonchalantly:

"Touché captain."

Both Lana and Jason laughed and went to the shuttle. After salutes were exchanged, they were on the way to the relay, ready to meet the batarians.

"So what do you think about our hosts, Jason?" Lana asked.

"Why ruin the surprise captain?"

"Why so cryptic my subordinate?"

"I keep the secret for your pleasure ma'am!"

4th February 2156

0050 SET

Destroyer Adek

"Captain, shuttle on sight!" XO Abakor announced.

Karn went from his state of thoughtfulness to full alert.

"Tell them to access docking bay 6. Get a guard detail ready. They may be only 3, but I don't want any other surprises. Escort them to my cabin and leave the rest to me."

Karn didn't want to appear weak in front of the humans. He studied the etiquette data pack and installed all the language packs to his omni-tool. He slightly raised his office chair slightly higher to show he was the boss. From the anatomy data, he saw humans had only one pair of eyes, so he could make them feel uncomfortable, which could turn the negotiations in his favour. He psychologically readied himself for the meeting and waited in his spartan, but well decorated office, with weapons, armours, cultural artifacts and a carpet which was old family heirloom. All in to make an impression to his guests.

Only if he knew how pointless all these preparations were...

AN

In the canon Mass Effect universe, we know the batarians as shrewd businessmen and tough negotiators. Captain Karn is no different. But how will he deal with a psychic commando, who can read him like an open book, and a no-nonsense captain of a Terran Coalition cruiser?