AN: Updates will likely be slow for the foreseeable future. I have Covid-19 and am feeling too shitty most of the time to write.
Chapter 51
Shepard clicked "Send" on the message written for Mrs. Winona Baxter, Corporal Ryan Baxter's mother who lived back on Earth. Shepard would not let herself rest until this unpleasant duty had been performed. She knew almost nothing about Baxter's family, he had rarely spoken about them, but she still felt compelled to inform them herself. Unfortunately her duties in the sector were not complete, so a letter would have to suffice.
After showering the bits of Batarian gore out of her hair, she made for the medbay to check on the injured. Almost all of the boarding party had been injured but non majorly. Grak had broken a finger that he managed to set himself and was already halfway healed before Chakwas was able to look at it. One of the plates on Kurg's forehead had been slightly loosened when he was hit by an exploding mech, but it too was healing properly without medical interference. Shepard herself was covered in bruises and scrapes.
"Dr. D'inan, can you take a look at my back? I think I pulled something." Shepard asked.
"Strictly speaking I'm not a doctor yet, but I'd be happy to take a look." D'inan said, gesturing for Shepard to hop up on one of the examination tables. She removed her shirt, and heard a gasp from behind her.
"Hold Still Commander, you have some shrapnel. Didn't you get looked at after the mission? Goddess how are you not in agony?" D'inan asked, as she swabbed the area around the shrapnel with a disinfectant.
"Well I did say it felt like I pulled a muscle." Shepard said, wincing as the chunk of metal came out. D'inan pressed hard on the wound with a folded gauze to staunch the bleeding.
"Woah that felt big, what was it?" She asked the Asari medic
"This." D'inan said, dropping the fragment onto the bed next to her. It fell with a muffled thump.
"Nice one Commander Shepard!" Kurg said, gesturing at the new scar, as he walked into the room.
"Do you mind? I have a half naked woman here!" D'inan said, aghast at the lack of Propriety of the young Krogan
"At ease Doctor. We're marines we've seen each other in less." Shepard said, waving her off. D'inan had spent quite a while getting used binary genders and their sense of modesty only to be confronted with these Human and the Krogan marines who decidedly didn't share it. She continued her work, filing that line of thought away for later analysis.
"How did the other teams make out?" She asked
"Four casualties, including Private Bax... Private Baxter Ma'am." He said, his throat constricting as he said his fallen comrade's name.
"It's hard to lose squad mates, Kurg. Is he the first one you've lost?" She asked. He nodded.
"He is a good man, and a worthy warrior." Kurg said.
"What were you and Grak doing.. after..." She asked.
"Krogan death rite. We don't have gods or goddesses like the other races, but we mark important events when they occur. Next shore leave if we can get our hands on some ryncol Grak, Targ and I will give him a worthy send off! Pretty sure Ryncol would kill you guys though." Kurg said, smiling slightly. Shepard snickered.
"Because of protien chirality, or because it's basically paint thinner?" She asked.
"Yes" Kurg responded this time chuckling.
"As you were, Kurg. Thanks for checking in. It means a lot." Shepard said.
"My pleasure Commander. Dr. D'inan, sorry if my walking in here like that was rude, when Krogan are injured in battle it's customary for us to show off while we're getting patched up." He said.
"Again, Kurg, not a doctor yet, but thank you, I'm still getting to learn how you guys do things around here." She said.
"Ma'am a medical degree is a meaningless piece of paper. You put us back together when we come back from battle, you care for us when we're sick, as far as I'm concerned you're a doctor and I'm not about to let anyone say otherwise. Also no more of this "you people" stuff, you're one of us whether you like it or not." He said smiling then turning to walk out. D'inan's eyes were decidedly watery after that.
"Goddess, I used to think Krogan were so stupid." D'inan said.
"You don't any more and that's what's important. Thanks for taking care of me, doc." Shepard said standing, and rotating her shoulders to test her range of motion. She then put on her shirt and left. She made it halfway back to her cabin when a purple blur collided with her, slamming her into a bulkhead.
"Tali, they said you were busy fixing something vital so I couldn't see you." Shepard said.
"I know, I'm sorry, antimatter containment is tricky on a good day and we almost lost it. That would have been disastrous. You're ok?" She said, patting her hands all over Shepard's torso.
"I am.. Andy didn't make it." Shepard said.
"Oh Keelah, no." Tali said, her hands covering her mouth in disbelief. Shepard said nothing, however Tali could see her lip begin to tremble very slightly.
"Captain's cabin now." Tali said, ushering her down the hall towards their shared domicile. By the time the door closed behind them the dam burst and Shepard was unabashedly sobbing. Tali just stood there holding her, stroking her back rhythmically. She began humming an old Quarian tune in an attempt to soothe her beloved. It was going to be a long night.
On Earth, the Prime Minister, Admirals both Human and Quarian, Herald the Geth platform, and holographic representations of Bakara, Wrex and Rothschild were in a meeting, discussing the recent engagement.
"Where is Gatatog Uvenk?" Hannah Shepard asked.
"There is an uprising in the south, Clan Weyrlock decided to try some clever shit while our attention was near the Earth/Batarian border. They forgot about Uvenk's legendary vigilance. Right now he's about waist deep in dead idiots, lucky bastard." Wrex grumped.
"Need any assistance? I'm not keen on killing Krogan but we stand by our allies." Shepard offered.
"Those pyjaks aren't Krogan. They're not even pyjaks, Uvenk will handle them, and their younglings or anyone with enough of a brain to not join him will be brought into Gatatog." Wrex explained.
"Prime Minister Shepard, do you have any news of the Batarian attack?" Bakara asked.
"The Batarians were repelled, but it was a close thing. We lost some good soldiers, as did the Asari who jumped in to assist. We did however capture the Turian dreadnought. I've asked Ambassador Vakarian and Ambassador T'Soni to join us, they should be here momentarily." She said.
"I was pleasantly surprised that the Asari came to our aid." Admiral Zorah said.
"I'm not, the Asari have been aching for a reason to strike against the Batarians for centuries. Most of the slaves the Batarians take are Asari." Wrex said.
"Will this get them in trouble with the Council?" Hannah asked.
"I honestly don't know. We can ask Ambassador T'soni when she arrives." Admiral Xen contributed.
"Your daughter continues to impress, Hannah." Bakara said to the Prime Minister.
"I should be more objective, but goddamn I'm proud of that girl." Shepard said, beaming.
"Even without the Asari she was holding strong against a vastly larger force, and casualties... Well one casualty is too many, but given the scale of the conflict we lost surprisingly few." Admiral Gerrel said.
"Your daughter will outrank me soon." Raan said, grinning at Shepard.
"I wouldn't bet against her." Shepard said, immediately after a tone sounded that announced the arrival of Ambassadors T'Soni and Vakarian.
"Greetings Admirals, battlemasters and Prime Minister. Forgive me, I am unaware of which honorifics to use with our Geth colleagues." Castis said.
"The Geth requrie no honorifics, Vakarian Ambassador. Simply 'Geth' will do." Herald said.
"Please have a seat, Ambassadors." Shepard said, having stood as they arrived, along with everyone else. They were seated, and got down to business.
"Ambassador T'soni, first and foremost, I ask you to please convey our sincerest gratitude to the Asari Republics, their assistance was vital in defending our space against the Batarians." Shepard said
"We were honored to be of assistance. It's my understanding that the only reason we arrived before the Turians was because our space is closer." Benezia said.
"That's correct. Four dreadnoughts and a task force of cruisers and frigates made it in right after the Alliance reinforcements arrived, I wish we'd been able to arrive earlier." Castis said.
"Not at all, we greatly appreciate the effort. I am concerned, however, that this will affect your governments' standing with the council." Shepard said.
"The Council should be more concerned with their standing amongst our governments. Their actions as of the past decades have been increasingly erratic and not in the interests of any of the client species." Benezia said.
"I agree wholeheartedly. They make more concessions to the Batarians than they do to the Volus or Elcor, whom contribute immensely to the galactic economy. Volus banking and Elcor diplomacy have been critical in building and distributing our influence throughout the galaxy." Castis said.
"We've made attempts at meaningful contact with the Elcor, however visiting their planet is problematic due to our physiology. Humans and Krogan can survive for short times on Dekuuna, but Quarians would suffocate if they stepped foot onto the planet. As for the Volus, they are willing however their agreements with the Council forbid them from diplomacy with foreign entities." Admiral Korris said.
"Would the Geth be willing to represent the Alliance on Dekuuna?" Shepard asked Herald. Herald looked at her blankly for a few seconds
"The consensus would be willing should the Elcor accept a Geth ambassador. Truthfully, we were not expecting to be trusted with such a task." Herald said.
"You are one with us, Geth. You are as much a part of the alliance as Humanity, Quarians, Rothschild or the Krogan. Get used to it." Shepard said grinning.
"We are... honored, and grateful." Herald said.
"The honor is ours, Geth. Now back to the Batarian situation, this is the third time they have encroached on our space. This is the third time Alliance blood has been shed on our own territory. We cannot allow this to stand. Admiral Gerrel, what is the status of the fleet?" Shepard asked.
"The fleet stands currently at thirty-two dreadnought class with five more under construction, ten supercarriers with three more in the works, nine hundred cruisers, a hundred of which are new heavy cruiser class ships that just got out of shakedown, nearly three thousand frigates and innumerable fighters drones etc. There are currently four battlecruisers in service, including the Mayhem." Gerrel said.
"Admiral Raan, how is our personnel situation?" Shepard asked.
"Standing forces number twenty-five million active soldiers, however that will nearly double once the current batch of Quarians and Krogan finish the abbreviated training process in the coming weeks. There are more than a hundred million currently ready to report for training and recruitment centers are overwhelmed all over Rannoch, Tuchanka and Earth." Raan reported.
"Spirits." Castis said.
"What? That can't compete with Palaven's forces." Shepard said.
"No of course not, every Turian civilian is conscripted, but the rate at which you're recruiting is unbelievable." He elaborated.
"The races of the Alliance are all hard workers eager to serve. I wouldn't be surprised if the rate increases. Admiral Xen, Admiral Chambers, what is the status of Earth, Rannoch and Tuchanka's automated defense grids?" Shepard asked.
"Earth and Rannoch are nearly complete. Tuchanka is at thirty percent, we've only been at work on it for a few months but the Krogan work force are making up the difference. We anticipate it will be operational by year's end." Xen said.
"Excellent. We can deploy a heavy defense force in orbit around Tuchanka until it is completed." Shepard said.
"What's our next move, Prime Minister?" Chambers asked.
"Well that's part of why I wanted Ambassadors Vakarian and T'Soni to attend. What, would you estimate, would be the council's response if we were to launch a retaliatory strike on Batarian space?" Shepard asked.
"Most likely a lot of self-righteous admonishment, condemnation and little else." Castis said.
"And their response to a full blown invasion and sacking of Kar'shan?" She asked, her tone disturbingly even and emotionless.
"Goddess, you can't be serious." Benezia said.
"We aren't just retaliating against repeated encroachments against our sovereign space, Ambassador. The Batarian Hegemony's slave trade is an abomination which no civilized race should abide. We intend to end it." Shepard said. Benezia looked around the room and saw similar cold expressions on the Quarians and Krogan.
"Ambassadors, I don't know if you've ever been present when slaves held by the Batarian hegemony have been freed, but I have. Watching intelligent, beautiful, noble creatures being so broken down and demeaned... Keelah it was Awful. After freeing that first slave ship, there were children with grievous, infected injuries refusing medical attention and insisting they were healthy because they were afraid of what our doctors would do. They're worse to their own people than to the other races. Billions of Batarians are slaves simply because they were born into it. Millions of Turians and Asari, and thousands of Humans, Quarians, Krogan, Salarians and Ancestors know what else all live in bondage, and work themselves to exhaustion hoping for a quick and painless death." Raan said.
"I know we're not telling you anything you don't know here, however we cannot... no we refuse to sit by and allow it to continue." Shepard said, anger seeping into her voice. Benezia looked over at Castis, who after a few seconds nodded.
"Prime Minister, Admirals, Battlemasters, we are merely ambassadors, and cannot promise the cooperation of our fleets, but we can promise to plead with our governments to lend aid to this campaign." Castis said. Shepard looked shocked.
"Ambassadors, we would not ask that you put yourselves in such a position. The most we were hoping for was that your people would not interfere." Shepard said.
"No, Prime Minister, for too long these atrocities have been ignored. It is to our great shame that it took the leadership of a younger, wiser race to show us how our complacency has contributed to so much suffering. There have been elements amongst the Asari, and I assume the Turians as well, that have wanted desperately to make this move. Our peoples have been victimized by these monsters for centuries." Benezia said
"I wholeheartedly agree. In the last two hundred years the Turian hierarchy has narrowly avoided civil war over our compliance with the council over this and other issues. Personally and I dont' speak for the Primarch, the time has come." Castis contributed.
"Thank you, your peoples' assistance in this would be most welcomed, and we would in turn support yours against Council retribution." Shepard said, the other leaders nodding at that.
"It would be my pleasure to help finally end this atrocity. If you'll excuse me, I'll arrange for transport back to Thessia immediately, this is not the kind of discussion to have over council-controlled FTL communications." Benezia said.
"I too will be returning to Palaven to speak with the Primarch at his earliest convenience." Castis said.
"When you return please talk to our engineers about setting up QEC communication in your offices tied directly to your own homeworlds. They are secure enough that not even Rothschild could eavesdrop." Shepard said. They both thanked her and left.
"Well that went a hell of a lot better than I expected." Shepard said, letting out a breath.
"It seems the Human penchant for the youth putting their elders in their place is making itself known again." Korris said, smirking.
"What do you mean?" Shepard asked.
"Your history. The old establishment had grown fat, corrupt, and was victimizing the less fortunate to benefit the wealthy minority, it took the young generation to kick them in the ass and show them the error of their ways. You're doing it again, except this time the establishment is all of us." Korris said, gesturing at the Quarian and Krogan contingent.
"I have no desire to disrupt galactic politics, I just want our people safe, healthy, happy and free." She said, looking concerned. Bakara reached out an held one of her hands.
"Hannah, none of us think you're trying to take over the Galaxy, but if there is one thing you've learned from all of our stories, is that all of us will never be free, safe or prosperous in the face of the status quo. Change is desperately needed, and we had no idea how to look for it until Humanity and Rothschild showed us." Bakara said. Shepard smiled and squeezed her hand, grateful for the counsel of her friends.
"One other matter to discuss, what to do with the captured Dreadnought." Shepard said.
"Spoils of war, I'd recommend folding it into one of the fleets. " Admiral Gerrel said.
"Of course you'd want a new toy to play with." Xen said, smirking.
"No comment." Gerrel said grinning.
"Well we can't possibly release it to the Turian Hierarchy, if we did they'd be in violation of the farixen treaty.
"I had a thought about that.." Wrex said.
"Oh this ought to be good." Xen said, grinning in anticipation. Wrex smiled.
"Let's give it back to the Council." Wrex said.
"What?!" Admirals Korris, Gerrel, Zorah, Chambers and Hackett all said at the same time and in the same tone. Wrex paused a minute to laugh at this.
"Well It's their ship, it's only right to return it to its rightful owner. Of course, after we've made a few... adjustments and repairs." Wrex said.
"Go on..." Shepard said, liking where this was going.
"I've been reading up on your history. I'm thinking we should gift the Council with a 'Trojan Horse.' Put holoemitters in every room on board, tie into it via a hidden QEC point somewhere deep in the engineering section. Then Rothschild, and Geth, you guys can hide in the computers. We deliver the ship, and after a while they let their guard down and boom Rothschild you come up with some of that sick shit you like to do." Wrex said.
"Oooh please can I can I can I huh huh huh?" Rothschild said bouncing up and down excitedly.
"Well, I mean it's only right to return their missing property..." Hannah said grinning.