4th February 2156

0100 SET

Aboard the shuttle, Captain Lana Kushner, psychic commando Jason Peterson with flight sergeant Handa Ikemoto on the stick were on their way to the mass relay.

"We hit the relay in 10 seconds captain."

Handa announced.

"5,4,3,2,1, now!"

The telltale lighting bolt, that transmitted the shuttle's mass to the relay hit dead center. All 3 of the shuttle's occupants felt a slight vertigo as they were transported to the other side at extreme speeds. It lasted for a few seconds and there, they saw the ships that belonged to these new aliens, the batarians. They were all destroyer class and looked like they could use some time for serious upgrades. Compared to the Terran Coalition's navy units, these propably couldn't handle an unstealthed light frigate.

"We easily sneaked their security systems, I can easily read their brain waves from here and their ships look like shit. Is it me or do you also believe that things are a bit too easy?" Jason asked, both amused and suspicious.

Lana contemplated for a bit and then said:

"They are propably making the same mistake as the Protheans. Over reliance in element zero and expansion in only one branch of technology. The same applies to the other races from what I saw through the probe. All these aliens wouldn't stand a chance against the Reapers. That is God's honest truth."

Lana concluded.

"With all due and respect captain, I personally believe we should not judge the aliens only by their technology. Maybe they have more potential than they even realise. We could use reliable allies in the coming war." Flight sergeant Ikemoto, the eternal philosopher, argued as politely as possible.

"You are not wrong flight sergeant. However, these aliens, according to our data, are a pretty mean bunch. Slavery and piracy aren't really the most honorable of businesses ventures now, don't you think?" Jason responded.

Lana, while she respected the opinions of her subordinates, didn't really have time for it. She was readying herself to deal with a bunch of aliens who, apparently, weren't really the best sort of people. In the data, she didn't find anything in the files that proved the guilt of that particular group of ships. This Citadel Council outlawed opening of relays, but that was considered a minor offence to Lana's mind.

"Your points are noted, but can you both please shut up so we can get busy with the task at hand?" she said.

Jason raised his hands in surrender and said: " Geez captain, just sharing thoughts about this whole situation."

"Captain, the batarians are hailing us!" the pilot interrupted.

"Put them through flight sergeant."

Lana answered.

He did as ordered and the connection was established:

"This is captain Karn Graksebar of the Adek. To who am I speaking?"

"This is captain Lana Kushner of the TCS Roadrunner. Permission to come aboard? We are 3 people on board."

"Permission granted. Docking bay 6. An escort will take you to my office. Leave all weapons you possess to the shuttle, you can keep whatever armor you wear."

Karn said, his voice professional and authoritative.

"Message received and understood. We are on our way." Lana answered and closed the comm.

After the line was cut, Jason started laughing uproariously.

"Hahahahaha, no weapons they say. Yes weapons I say! Please let me levitate a few of them, we could use a good laugh!"

Lana however had a retort for just this situation:

"I can leave you here and take Ikemoto if you want. I'm certain he'll do a fine job."

Jason's laughter was cut abruptly:

"Can't I even say a few jokes every now and then captain?" he faked being hurt.

They finally reached the docking bay and shortly after, Lana and Jason went to the decontamination chamber, with Ikemoto waiting in the shuttle. Half a minute later, the doors opened. They both saw 4 armed batarians, in full armor. One of them, probably the highest rank greeted them.

"Welcome to the Adek. We will escort you

to captain Karn. I see you followed our instructions and didn't bring weapons. Good to see humans have respect and manners."

he said.

Lana and Jason both tilted their heads to the left, as they learned from the batarian etiquette data pack, to show respect. The batarian guards saw it as a sign of good will and the guard who talked before resumed:

"I see you bothered to study what you received. I really hope an alliance could be created between us."

Jason psychic link showed him that he was truthful and shared his find, telepathically, with Lana. One minute later, they were in front of the captain's cabin. The door opened to reveal a four-eyed humanoid with chitinous, brownish skin, needle like teeth and completely bald.

The room was decorated with weapons and armor, most likely to show he was someone no one wanted to fuck with.

Jason shared through his mental link with Lana: (Gotta admit, he does try to make an impression. Too bad for him I already gained access to his mind. I see that he originally wanted to take humanity as a client state. Our AI spooked him, so he hopes for an alliance. Also, he is not such a supporter of his government. He considers slavery and the caste system obsolete and inefficient.) Lana silently acknowledged.

"Welcome to the Adek humans. You can remove your helmets if you want, the atmosphere is decontaminated."

Karn said.

Both Jason and Lana obliged. Jason revealed his jet black hair, angular, pale, shaven face and Lana her medium length brown hair and diamond shaped, tanned face.

Karn looked intrigued. He thought they looked like asari, but instead of tentacles they had fur on their heads, different skin colour and they were of different genders, male and female, just like the turians, the salarians and the batarians.

"I see you listened to not bring weapons on board. I'm happy that you respect me as the captain of the ship you are currently on. I believe we will get along well." Karn finished.

"Thank you for being a good host. Let's get down to business now, shall we?"

Lana said.

Karn smiled slightly and answered:

"Straight to the point I see. Well, I contacted the Hegemony and they are interested in contacting your leaders. My mission is to, as you say, build bridges so that we both get a good deal. Now, is there anything you want to ask?"

"Maybe a bit about your history?" Lana suggested.

"Very well. We batarians come from planet Khar'Shan. We are an oligarchic government which places high value to caste and social status. We have an embassy to the Citadel, but we don't let them boss us around as they please. So, if they say you should join the galactic community as a client race, do not agree.

They will turn you into a buffer state to protect their own colonies from pirates and slavers, without providing support in case you need it." Karn warned.

Jason found that the batarian was truthful, so he chose to play his trump card. He sent him his answer telepathically: (Don't worry captain Karn. We won't make it that easy for them. I find the fact that you didn't talk about your stance in slavery disturbing, but understandable. So...)

Jason swapped to normal talking:

"Let's talk until we reach an equally beneficial deal, okay?"

Jason smiled to Karn's expression of complete and utter disbelief.