4th February 2156

0130 SET

Destroyer Adek

Karn couldn't believe it. The male human talked directly to his mind. Humans were far more powerful than he ever imagined.

Advanced technology and psychics? He was lucky that he preferred to stay as truthful as possible, otherwise the negotiations could go very wrong, very quickly. He knew that no matter what he thought, the human would know it before he even had a chance to explain, so he just went along with it.

"I see that you aren't the biggest fan of your government, slavery and the caste system. Maybe there is hope for you yet." Jason said:

"Also, a little fact about humanity. We also allowed slavery for thousands of years, but a few centuries ago banned it, both because it was cruel and because we found a more efficient alternative." Lana added, after she received everything Jason needed her to know.

Karn however wasn't satisfied. He wanted to know more, to understand:

"What better alternative?" he asked incredulously.

"Easy, automated labour and non sentient AI's. Unlike their sentient AI's counterparts, the do not possess free will or the abitity to think. Perfect for menial labour and completely ethical. Maybe, if an alliance is established between us, we could share our knowledge at the particular subject."

Lana finished.

Karn was already thinking the potential benefits. However, he couldn't just strike a deal like that, he was just a middle man. It was up to the Hegemony to decide.

"If I had a real say in the situation, I would strike a deal right here and now. But, as I am sure your second already read, this matter is out of my hands. I am just a messenger, the decision is up to my superiors." Karn said, his voice heavy and disappointed.

"If you want, I can use my special kind of persuasion, what do you say?" Jason joked.

Both captains said no immediately.

They all shared a bit of a laugh. Despite the gravity of the whole situation, ultimately it wasn't their decision, so no fucks given. Until an alarm sounded...

Captain Karn asked for a report, mere seconds after the alarm sounded.

"What is the problem XO Abakor?"

he asked.

The voice that belonged to the XO was anxious and distressed:

"A turian patrol is coming! At least 30 ships! We can't stay here! Orders captain?"

Leave it to the turians to screw everything up. Just perfect the captain thought.

In front of a recently opened mass relay and a bunch of trigger happy turians after them. The day certainly became more and more interesting.

"We have to get to the other side. Staying here is suicide." Karn ordered.

""Sir? Are you sure these humans can keep up with the turians?" Abakor asked.

"Trust me Abakor, from what the humans showed me, they will do a lot more than that. I almost feel sorry for the turians."

Karn calmed him.

So, all three ships went to the relay, the turian patrol on their tail.

4th February 2156

0200 SET

Turian cruiser Fortitude

"We have them in our sights admiral. They will be in range in about 15 minutes."

Admiral Desolas Arterius thanked his XO and sat down to his chair. The intel he was provided from his superiors were accurate. Batarians opening mass relays, ignoring the laws of the counsil and endangering the whole galaxy. While he was doing his duty, like any good turian, he did feel a bit of satisfaction for enforcing the Council law. And also because he held a grudge against batarians.

"Sir. They are heading towards the relay. They are attempting to use it. Shall we continue pursuing?" he heard his XO call again.

"Keep pursuing. They are not escaping."

Desolas said, his voice cold.

2 minutes later, the 3 batarian ships executed the relay jump. Desolas didn't want his targets to escape:

"All stations, ready to jump through the relay, weapons ready."

Everyone acknowledged the order. If only Desolas knew what was waiting on the other side...

0210 SET

Cruiser Roadrunner

"This is captain Lana Kushner speaking. We have hostiles approaching from the other side of the relay. The 3 destroyers that we came with are friendlies. Ready the guns and the missiles. When the hostiles come, engage only on my say so."

Lana gave the orders to the battlegroup.

After she heard the affirmatives, she opened the tactical holographic interface that allowed her to effectively micromanage the military assets. Destroyers, including the batarians because Karn didn't want to just watch, in the center, flanked by the cruisers and frigates. Good old fashioned pincher move.

"No reason to worry so much Lana. You saw that their technology is terrible compared to ours. We just need to scare them shitless and be done with it." Jason tried to reason with Lana.

"This just came straight from the top brass Jason. If these turians shoot, we shoot back. I'll give them a chance to surrender, but otherwise my hands are tied. If they want to fuck with humanity, it's their funeral. We just arrange the meetings with whatever they worship." Lana answered, emotionlessly.

"Damn." Jason whistled. "This I gotta get on a t-shirt."

Later, the turian fleet finally arrived. 40 ships in total. 6 cruisers, 16 destroyers and 18 frigates. And it was open season...

0220 SET

Turian cruiser Fortitude

"Sir! The sensors detected ten more ships! They don't match any known type or make! A new race probably." the ship's XO said.

A new race. That complicated things. The hunt for batarians just turned into a first contact with another race. Nonetheless, he had his orders. Eliminate or capture the batarians who illegally opened the relay.

Besides, he had numerical superiority and the might of the whole turian fleet in one call if needed. There was no way he would buckle to this new development.

"Sir! One of the unknown ships is hailing us!" his XO said.

"Put them through sergeant." Desolas answered.

A few seconds later, the hologram of a asari-like creature was revealed. It wore military uniform and appeared to be the leader of the battlegroup.

"This is captain of the Terran Coalition Lana Kushner of the Roadrunner. You entered human territory without permission. You have 5 minutes to leave or we will open fire." Lana ordered.

Desolas was speechless. This human, as she called herself dared to threaten an admiral of the turian fleet? With a smaller fleet and likely more primitive technology nonetheless. While her bravado almost impressed him, he didn't react to threats lightly. He would give the humans a chance to surrender however:

"This is admiral Desolas Arterius of the turian fleet. Give us the batarians and you will be taken prisoners. I swear no harm will come to you. Come to your senses, this is not a fight you can hope to win"

Desolas refused. There, that would put the arrogant human to her place.

"So be it. My superiors ordered me to eliminate you should you refuse to retreat.

Only your ship will be left floating."

Lana said, an air of finality and disappointment on her voice as she cut the line.

"Sir! Four of their ships just vanished! The sensors can't pick them up!" his XO said.

Suddenly, 4 of his ships just exploded in brilliant balls of flame. None of the other enemy ships made a shot.

"WHAT IN THE SPIRITS NAME JUST HAPPENED?" Desolas asked, shocked by this sudden catastrophe.

0230 SET

Cruiser Roadrunner

"Ma'am, 4 targets destroyed. We are running stealthed. Permission to re-engage?" Captain Koslowski of the frigate Striker asked.

"Permission granted captain Koslowski. Good hunting." Lana said, then continued:

"All stations. Move to engage. Fire at will, leave only their lead cruiser standing. Captain Karn, you can sit back and relax if you want."

"And lose the chance to knock the turians down a peg? I can't in good conscience allow that captain. Just give me a target and my boys will take care of it." Karn said.

"Alright then. Sweep their frigates, leave the heavy hitters to us." Lana answered.

The turians used their mass accelerators, but the nanocurtain shields, the ultimate combination of nanoswarm and iron curtain technology, capable of both extremely fast replenishment and able to soak up nuclear warheads without breaking, weren't depleted by a single percent.

10 more turian ships were destroyed in less than a minute. Kinetic barriers were no match for spectrum turrets, tesla rods and plasma launchers. They cut through shields and hulls like they were butter.

The turians, despite their remarkable discipline, were in a state of disarray. Such destruction in so little time was something unheard of. It dwarfed both the rachni wars and the krogan rebellions in scale and efficiency. In the end, only the cruiser Fortitude remained, surrounded by both the remains of the destroyed turian ships and the enemies. A devastating loss without inflicting any casualties upon them.

0235 SET

Cruiser Fortitude

"Sir. They are all gone." the XO's voice was filled with dread and despair.

Admiral Arterius was devastated. All this loss because of him. That wasn't war, that was a massacre. 39 casualties by only 13 ships, which all survived intact.

"Sir, they are hailing us." his XO said again.

Desolas got out of his trance and ordered to put them through. After a few agonizing seconds, the human female from before showed up.

"I warned you admiral. Now they are all dead except you. I present you 2 choices.

Either you retreat and tell the Council not to ever come here again, or I blow you up to smithereens and send your carcass to them."

Lana warned.

Desolas didn't really gave a better choice:

"Alright captain. We will retreat."

He said with finality.

When he left, the human and batarian ships erupted in wild cheers. Everyone was alive and the turians were kicked out.

"Captain Lana, I want to thank you for saving my ships and crews and for giving a lesson to these turians. Any help I can offer to the negotiations is yours."

Karn congratulated.

"Thanks for the assist. I hope we work again sometime." Lana said.

They both exchanged handshakes, after Karn learned its meaning and he went back to Adek.

"So Lana. Now that we got some time to ourselves..." Jason started, only to be hushed by Lana.

"I have to write a new report Jason..."

Lana then smirked and continued:

"...later."

Jason smiled and they both headed to her quarters for some one to one.

AN

Finally! Fighty time, fighty time, fighty time, blood, blood, blood.