Chapter 4
"Very little, I'm afraid you've got us at quite the disadvantage." Admiral Gerrel said.
"Let's remedy that shall we?" Hannah Shepard said, grinning. "Well at least to the extent we can in a quick conversation. More than a hundred years ago, our people were embroiled in a great worldwide war over resources. It got so bad that there was a limited nuclear exchange, and a few of our biggest cities were lost forever. Despite the exchange being limited, however billions of people died to conventional fighting, disease, famine and everything that comes with a world war. Some countries had their population reduced to the thousands.
Then, the wisdom of youth prevailed, and when the children of the ones waging this war decided enough of them had died they overthrew their forebears and created new governments all over the world. Over time these small governments came together to form the alliance we are today. During that time we took all of our resources and focused them on advancing ourselves, fixing the damage we'd done to our planet and exploring the space outside of it. We were determined to learn from the mistakes of our past, and though it was painful and difficult, we learned that when we work together, there is little that can stand in our way.
One of the biggest hurdles we jumped was energy, that what started the war after all, but now that people couldn't afford to dismiss branches of science because they were less profitable, or proved important people wrong, old ideas were dug up and explored and we eventually harnessed antimatter, it powers most everything we use today. " She said, pausing to drink some water. She looked across the table and noticed Daro'Xen furiously taking notes on her omni-tool. That one must be an engineer too she thought, remembering the picture her daughter had sent her yesterday of her hanging out with her engineer friend.
"Before you ask, yes. We will happily share our antimatter reactor technology with you. Some of your ships look like they are having trouble maintaining attitude control let alone life support and propulsion. Give us the word and we can begin installing portable mini reactors on the outer hulls"
The admirals could have cried at that point. Until now, the other races only ever came to them with problems. Move your ships out of our system, we're tired of feeding your pilgrims, your ships are ugly and taking up valuable dock space. This was the first time someone had come to them offering help or solutions.
"We don't wish to impose..." Admiral Gerrel started, causing Daro'Xen's head to jerk to the left to glare at him, scandalized, but also causing the prime minister to smile and hold up a hand to interrupt him.
"Those who are in a position to assist should do so without hesitation." she repeated. "Sorry, Admiral Gerrel, but a transport full of reactors is already inbound." She continued, grinning again. At this Admiral Noran broke down and began openly weeping. Immediately concerned, Hannah asked "What's wrong, Admiral, is everything ok?" she asked.
"Keelah you people never stop giving do you?" she said, "Sorry, I did not mean to sound like I was complaining. I'm old, Prime Minister. I stopped counting at a hundred years, and that was a long time ago. I've watched our people suffer over and over again, even after the Geth there were four hundred million of us that were off world or had escaped during the war, 300 years later and there are but 17 million of us clinging to life on these rickety second-hand space junkers. I'm sorry. I am overwhelmed and extremely grateful to you and your people." she concluded. Prime Minister Shepard reached out and grasped the old Admiral's hand to comfort her and said "How about we take a quick break. I asked our chef to prepare a dinner for us, and it's just coming out of the sterilizer." she mentioned as an indication on her PDA blinked . Everyone agreed and a recess was taken.
"Keelah, are you sure you're not hurt?" Tali said, wringing her hands, she was terrified this amazing human that had taken her under he wing had been seriously injured defending her. Jane let out a good-natured laugh, replying
"Tali, you see this badge on my shirt? It says N7, it's a badge only worn by soldiers who have proven themselves through completing an extremely difficult training program back in the home system. Training so hard that no class has ever graduated 100% of its candidates, hell no class has had a 100% survival rate in 50 years. If I can handle that I can handle being punched in the face by a jerk." She explained.
"If you're sure then." she said, still concerned for her new friend's wellbeing.
"Ok, so now that our engineering department has gone a staggering upgrade. "she said smiling at Tali who began blushing furiously under he helmet. "We need to get back to work Tali, this next part I need you to keep quiet around your people for now, ok?"
"If something will endanger my people, I have to let them know shepard, I couldn't keep that kind of secret even for you." She said, immediately clasping her hands over her mouthpiece as she realised what she'd suggested with that last bit. Shepard sensing her discomfort chose to ignore it, despite the warm feeling building in her chest.
"It's nothing dangerous tali, it's just something that the Prime minister is going ot offer to your people that isn't common knowledge yet."
"Oh.. ok." she said still trying and failing to forget her faux pas.
"So Sector 7 on the station is completely uninhabited, there are 1700 housing units along with a medium sized medical facility and a large food storage/preparation block that we are going to be activating. Most of it will be automated, but Tali I'm going to need you to take a couple of our squadmates and reprogram the fabrication systems to build quarian-compatible cleanrooms for the domiciles and medical facility." Shepard said.
"Ok, can I ask why?" Tali asked. Shepard grinned.
"The flotilla's ships are mostly in reasonable shape but some of them are hanging on by a thread. The idea is to bring the healthy ships into orbit around Earth and evacuate the unhealthy ones onto the station. We are inviting your people to live with us."
Tali froze in place, Shepard reached out an arm and grasped her shoulder, afraid that the girl would topple over from stopping so suddenly.
"What did you say?" Tali asked, her voice quiet and devoid of emotion. This rattled Shepard.
"Uh, we want to invite the Quarians to live with us. Like until you guys find a planet, or even just permanently."
"Why?" Tali asked, this time her voice wavering
"Why not?" Shepard replied "You guys need a home. We have a big one, way too big just for us. If you're up for it though I was going to ask if you could stay on the station and become a permanent member of our squad, the guys seem to like you well enough and OOF" Shepard was interrupted by a purple blur ramming onto her chest and holding on for dear life. Tali had foregone any illusions of maintaining her dignity and allowed herself to sob uncontrollably into the taller woman's chest, thankful that her helmet was there to stop her from covering the poor woman's uniform in snot and tears.
The remainder of the squad all grinned, some wiping happy tears away as they walked off to give the girl a few minutes to collect herself. Shepard excluded of course as even though she managed to guide Tali over to a bench to sit down she had still yet to disentangle herself from the inconsolably happy Quarian. "Keelah oh yes, Of course, oh I never thought.. Keelah!" she uttered, her fumbling over words only endearing the young Lieutenant to her. She was fairly sure tonight when she undressed for bed she'd see a large Quarian-shaped bruise adorning her chest, but at the moment she couldn't care less.