Yes, part of this was posted before. Has been edited to fit the new storyline.
UPDATE AS of 8/22/2021: Yes, you may have gotten an email saying there's a new chapter. Editing the older story. Edited and re-added a chapter, now chapter 18, called 'Across the Galaxy.' I debated added it, but it seemed like a fan favorite so...ya
Aboard Citadel Station, 2186 Citadel Calendar, 11:52
"-it's an ugly planet, a Reaper planet! -" the Asari reporter was interrupted as a UNSC Marine had to push by her carrying another wounded comrade on a liter. "UNSC Marine and Spartan forces of Marine Expeditionary Force One and Spartan Ninth Fleet Detachment aided by Geth infantry of the First Outersolar Assault Corps, and Turian forces of the forty-third marine division are making their way towards the Cypris Airfield, now under Reaper occupation for three months-"
Flashes of orange light in the background of the battlefield less than fifty-meters ahead blinded the camera for a moment as UNSC marines headed forward to reinforce the frontline.
"Thank you, Keri." The show host said as it cut back to the studio. A young female Human with Asiatic features sat behind a pristine white desk. A light red background sat behind her, filled with pictures of the ongoing battle, "Citadel News Network has just received a flash update. With the UNSC Infinity absent from the Palaven theater, a UNSC spokesman -Lieutenant Alec Ryder- confirmed 'Battlegroup Cinder' of the UNSC Fifth Fleet will be reinforcing the Menae theater. Diana Allers will have the composition elements after the break. I'm Amy Wong with CNN."
Councilor Tevos wondered what would happen if they knew. If the billions of people in Citadel space knew that one of their own core worlds was destroyed in a fiery blast by their saviors.
Instinctively she took all the blame for what had happened. However, another part of her blamed her fellow peers, more so than usual. Briefly, for a moment, the Council all thought that the emergence of a second form of the Human species was merely an asset that could be controlled through Shepard. And in the end, Lord Hood was tired of reminding the Council the UNSC had their own will. Tevos really didn't get it through her head until Matriarch Gendina sided with the Fleet Admiral. Who could blame Gendina? The Council's life was on a timer. And - Tevos was disgusted she had to remind herself of this - the galaxy was at stake.
The Councilor tried to hold it all together, this form of unity among the Citadel… And in the end, it only led Tevos specifically to a state of apathetic impartiality. Like a judge, trying to reign in magistrate justices and a jury who refused to listen. It was only a matter of time before the power of the court was overthrown, and the definition of justice changed when the playing field was altered.
The Council was now just an obedient administrative, bureaucratic and logistical branch under Lord Hood. Civilian fleets, logistical supply lines, and the general bureaucracy of government ensured infantry got to the fight and the fleets were positioned where they needed to be. But the Council would be out of the limelight.
So, in a way, nothing would change. At least from her perspective. She's sure Councilor Sparatcus and Udina would describe it as some sort of coup as their military leaders aligned with Lord Hood. But a coup implied they were in power in the first place.
She tried to...ensure that this wasn't a struggle for power. Well, in a way it was. But for different reasons than what is shown in conventional history. This was a struggle for power because each opposing force was trying to do what they thought was right. But she could never see herself destroying a planet, killing billions for…what seemed like to cover an ancient 'Forerunner' artifact.
And yet they claim the UNSC was protecting them against a greater threat, one they wouldn't understand.
"We'd understand if you'd explain," Tevos said to herself. What other ancient horrors could await the rest of the galaxy?
In the public eye, the UNSC had inexhaustible resources. The UNSC had come to save them all.
Their very last point of leverage was, has always been Commander Shepard. And now, he was away. But before she did anything she continued to watch CNN, Westerlund News, various other forums, watching every newscaster focus on the UNSC as they charged headfirst into battle. UNSC Marines and soldiers taking heavy casualties for what they had no stake in, at least no stake in for now.
She was sure that if Commander Shepard was in the same position as the UNSC he would've also stripped power away from the Council, handed it over to Admiral Hacket and any sensible military leader a long time ago. Commander Shepard… Well, he's always been a controversial figure. Both the right and left-wing had acknowledged his heroics and unquestionable military record but he was not made for politics.
Frankly, a mere political thorn.
But, maybe there was another route. The Systems Alliance and the Turian Hierarchy (though less so) were the last organization left to have any sort of maneuverability. In terms of the hierarchical command structure, the Turian Hierarchy and Systems Alliance were integrating well. At least, that's what she heard. It didn't take long for Tevos to notice the classified briefings and reports had stopped coming her way.
As for the rest of the Citadel militaries, Matriarch Gendina was still referring to Tevos and the civilian government in all her briefs. But maybe it was for practical reasons. Asari militaries relied heavily on the logistics of the micro-republics on Thessia. It'll take some weeks at a minimum for the UNSC to even begin to figure out how to utilize these small commando teams and fluid assault teams, if there was any need for them at all. These Spartans acted as a substitute for the commandos, and ODSTs were another substitute for the small, maneuverable Asari armies.
But it looked like the UNSC was in need of an espionage arm, if not...cannon fodder for areas they didn't want to risk their own troops.
"Councilor…" one of her aides said as she knocked and stepped right outside the door, "Councilor Udina would like to see you."
Tevos nodded. It's not like there was anything on the agenda today.
This was going to be good.
Without warning, Councilor Udina in his usual fashion stormed in without greeting or interruption. He stopped short of Tevos' desk, arms crossed, a very heated expression on his face.
"This is an outrage!" Udina shouted. "They can't do this! The political audacity to completely subvert and=."
"an outrage to who? To you? Or your people?" Tevos rubbed her forehead. She sounded tired.
"To the Citadel! To a civilian government-" Tevos pretended to listen as Udina continued because at this point he was grasping at straws. For him, there was no true moral reason.
"There is no more civilian government, at least for the Systems Alliance," Tevos interrupted. "That died with Earth. What happened here Councilor was a coup. A rather peaceful and silent one."
"A coup our military commanders had no choice but to join," Udina replied. "I've just spoken to Admiral Hackett and Anderson…"
"And they'd tell you what you wanted to hear, Councilor…" Tevos said as she rubbed away a dull headache that began to form. "They just don't want to be on the sidelines. They don't want the UNSC to sweep away any evidence. They don't care about you."
Udina shook his head, "you're taking this rather lightly."
"I'm being realistic." Tevos changed the channel to a Turian propaganda channel. Though they weren't as...transparent as the other news channels, they still were giving credit to the UNSC. "Once the strategic situation changes, and they muster their forces to retake Earth, think how many human lives will be saved.…"
Tevos thought to herself for a moment, leaned back in her office chair as she observed the career bureaucrat, "in fact, the UNSC could've made the situation a lot worse for us. Why didn't they go public with this? Why didn't they oust the Council? Why not announce their take over, that they're the good guys, make a speech that the Reapers will be defeated?"
"Removing the Council? It would be too far in the eyes of the people," Udina replied.
"Have you not been paying attention to our approval numbers?" Tevos asked, "even before the war they were dropping like a rock as more Systems Alliance separatists supported and joined Cerberus. The UNSC is the last driving force on our side of the galaxy. If they play it right, they could make every Citadel citizen hang on their every word."
"More than likely not enough true political players in their organization to make that happen," Udina said as he grabbed a seat, placed it in front of Tevos' desk, and sat down. "This is how fascism rises."
Around three hundred years ago the word 'fascism' had lost all meaning to Tevos when every opposing force used it to describe their enemy. "No, this is how a stratocracy rises. This is how a hero saves the day," Councilor Tevos corrected.
"Heroes who are trying to kill us!" Udina rejected, "They try to blow up your own world, and yet you defend them?" Udina went silent for a moment, glancing at the propaganda channel as they neglected to show the overall casualties.
"Have you heard what Shepard has done?" Udina suddenly said. "The UNSC is in arms… The Commander and his crew have run off with that Spartan group to Sanctuary to save that AI…"
She already knew the play, "Matriarch Gendina informed me Shepard was ordered by Lord Hood. They went with Lord Hood's backing"
"What?" Udina yelled.
"See? They don't care about you," Tevos began, "at this point, we should do what's necessary to preserve our species, not our political clout-"
"I've spoken to Councilors Sparatcus and Valern," Udina said…
"The UNSC's presence in the past month has freed up dozens upon dozens of Spectre squads…" Udina said, "as I said, there are few players in the UNSC. I've spoken to some Spectre teams. Avitus Rex will lead the operation. If we time this right-"
"That would come in the form of Asari commandos?" Tevos finished. "And if they come into contact with UNSC troops, or even our own troops under UNSC command, which they most likely will, what is the plan?"
"Councilor... What are you planning?" Tevos whispered. And Tevos guessed she'll experience another coup today, and there's nothing she could do now but… She already knew where this was heading. She debated informing the UNSC. The consequences would be absolutely unknown. She couldn't believe that Udina believed he was pushed to desperation. If he thought this was desperate…
"This will help us get back on our feet. We could save billions of lives..." Udina replied.
"And save billions of lives..." Tevos again, finished, "from the UNSC."
"At the very least make us understand why they nearly destroyed Thessia…"
"And who's to say they're done?" Tevos turned back to the television and used her Omni-tool to flip through every news channel she could think of. Each one was only discussing the various war fronts involving the UNSC. "Notice anything?"
Udina picked up on it, "no one is discussing Thessia…"
"Information blackout," Tevos said. "More than likely approved and enforced by Asari High Command. Shepard stopped them only once."
"Which could mean-"
"Thessia is the process of being destroyed," Tevos said, "once it is, no informational blackout will keep it hidden…And that's possibly why the UNSC hasn't ousted us. At least one possibility. They either need someone to soothe it over or, more likely, someone to blame."
"How would they blame us?" Udina asked.
"Well…" Tevos said as she thought for a moment, "not us. One way would be to blame the artifact. The UNSC was trying to stop, the Council intervenes in a misunderstanding…"
"That could never work…" Udina said. "We could provide direct counter-evidence, testimony from Commander Shepard."
"Which is why we're okay for now..." Tevos pleaded.
"For a moment, let's say we actually have the higher hand…" Udina moved on, not even wanting to think about that. "Do you think whatever the UNSC is trying to hide...is worth losing all of their own public support?"
"That implies two things," Tevos answered carefully. "Losing public support will also dissipate their military support. In the future when a group of Asari soldiers kills a group of UNSC marines in some form of vengeance, it'll be the least of the UNSC's worries. Theoretics is one thing, but once Thessia is actually destroyed..."
"Which in essence answers my question…"
"It concludes this thing is far more dangerous and powerful than we could ever possibly know," Tevos said. "That's what you're not looking at. The UNSC would not just blow up a planet for no reason. This isn't about sanitization."
"So you are trying to justify the death of billions of your own people?"
"I'm trying to understand the reasoning, Councilor," Tevos calmly said. It's not as if these billions of people were dying right now in this war. "If we want to facilitate true communications this will certainly not help."
"Do you truly believe the UNSC will ever see us as equals?" Udina asked.
No. But sometimes playing the game is the best way to achieve some sort of progress, be it even against the will of the UNSC. Shepard was already en route to try to work something out. He wouldn't work against the Council, despite the passively hostile history.
"Councilor...?" Tevos pleaded.
"Hierarchical military structure guarantees a quick passing down of command, but it'll buy us time. We have the opportunity. If we-"
"Udina..." Tevos said. "What am I about to hear?"
This was a drastic step. She wasn't even sure what Udina and the other councilors were planning to do. Subvert the UNSC, learn what they could, and then what? Confront them? Intel on how to maneuver?
Would Shepard not keep them in the loop and help them, as he always has?
In any event, Udina had to know Tevos would be the...reasonable one. The one with the most doubts. The one who might go to the UNSC out of pure principle. Udina wouldn't approach her without one-hundred percent confidence that she'll say yes.
"What have you done, Councilor?" Tevos whispered.
"What we had to do, Councilor, to ensure our people are safe…" Udina replied.
He opened up his Omni-tool, inputted some commands. Somehow, Tevos' office door closed and locked shut. Her holo-television was deactivated. Councilor Udina then pulled out a pistol from under his coat, aimed it right at Tevos.
She had no idea what to say. All she could was put up her hands. The gesture was...habitual.
"You're a lot more sympathetic to the UNSC than I thought," Udina said. "Every time we spoke to the UNSC, I had always thought it was your usual compromising attitude and Asari charm that forced you to display some sort of appeasement towards them."
He now seemed scared, as if Tevos had a gun on him instead of the other way around. He was sweating, and his aim was shaky.
"Donald," Tevos whispered. "Just put the gun down. Okay? I won't call C-SEC, we can just talk about this."
"Spartacus and Valern agree with me," Udina said as he stepped back and placed the Omni-tool in front of him. "This isn't just a Human-versus-human issue."
"What do you mean?" Tevos wasn't sure if submitting to this person's reason was the best tactic, but her six-hundred years of political experience told her this was the best thing to do.
"You've seen what the UNSC has done, what they're trying to do…" Udina said. "Our Spectre teams think they can find a way to strike at the UNSC's heart. And along with this if we swiftly remove Lord Hood and the other admirals here..."
"By the Goddess, Donald..." Tevos tried to move. Udina gripped his pistol tighter and motioned her to move back to where she was. "Even if the UNSC is an enemy, there are ways to deal with it. And you need the full strength of the Council. This isn't the best move."
It was as if Udina's suit was tightening, beginning to suffocate him. "We're past that point, Councilor. Those Spartan teams that were deployed against Cerberus? Blue Team, or whatever! If only you saw what they can truly do, what else the other Spartans did against us... But the worse atrocity, trying to destroy Thessia? You sit here and justify it?"
Tevos didn't say anything. This rhetoric, this tone, wasn't natural. "Who got in your ear, Councilor? Who's 'us?'"
When she said it, there was really only one other player left. Tevos spoke, "what did the Illusive Man say to you?"
"Oh, it wasn't the Illusive Man at first," Udina said. "At first it was Admiral Osman…"
"Admiral…?" Tevos thought for a second. "ONI? How did they get into contact with you?
"Only when she got me connected to the Illusive Man, I learned what ONI was doing, and it pales in comparison to what the UNSC has done!"
"According to the Illusive Man, of course," Tevos tried to think of her options. Her receptionist would just think Udina and Tevos were just beginning to discuss the shadow of the political world. And of course, there were sound dampers in these rooms. Goddess damnit.
"Cerberus knew about the UNSC, about this other Humanity…" Illusive Man said, "they witnessed Reach turn into glass. Onyx transform into Sentinals. They saw the Halos…. Cerberus was there, at the Ark."
Tevos had no idea what he was talking about anymore. It sounded like the ramblings of a mad man. She had a personal defense firearm (at the behest of Spartacus) under her desk. She just needed to find a way to calm him down, to make him allow her to sit down.
"And ONI…" Udina said. "They were there, at Shanxi. They were always in the Shadows."
"Okay, Donald…." Tevos calmly said. "I believe you, okay? I wasn't trying to justify the actions of the UNSC. I was only trying to understand, okay?"
"You're only alive because we still need you," Udina said, sounding slightly more coherant. "Our Spectre teams inform me that while stealth is viable, more than likely it'll immediately disapparate immediately before or after their objectives are complete. I need an Asari commando battalion-"
"I'd have to go through AHC. They won't-"
"Find. A disgruntled Matriarch. Make her let you borrow a commando battalion, division, if possible."
And the worse thing was Tevos could probably find a-many of disgruntled, conservative Matriarchs in AHC or in the echelons below... But...
"Udina, please..." Tevos said. "Think about this! Whoever replaces Lord Hood-"
"Fleet Admiral Harper? No... No, we target all of HIGHCOM."
"How...How...?"
"We know. They know where Earth. Always has. They know everything. How do you THINK THE MASTER CHIEF CAME BACK TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING? BY MERE CHANCE!? IT'S BECAUSE THE ILLUSIVE MAN ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN!" Udina cried. "He knew Captain Florence would activate the rings. ONI knew. THIS WAS PART OF THE PLAN!"
"Okay, Donald…" Tevos said. "Why though? What was the plan? Who's making you do this? Is it ONI? Or Cerberus?"
Udina's arms relaxed a little. His aim slightly lowered. "There's only been one answer, Councilor. One from the very beginning. You don't know it, the UNSC doesn't know it."
"Okay," Tevos said. She gently reached out her arm and made a relaxed motion like she understood what he was spouting.
"What must happen must happen. A lot of people will die, Tevos," Udina said. He activated his Omni-tool. "Tens of billions. But it must happen."
"Is this what the Illusive Man has told you?" Tevos asked. She slowly lowered both her arms. Udina seemed to let it happen.
"No. But this is what I have been shown." Udina said. "The Reapers know it too. That's why they are the antithesis of life itself. That's why they're also trying to stop this."
"Stop what?"
"The Reclamation," Udina pressed a button on his Omni-tool. Nothing seemed to happen. "... You will give me that Commando support."
He heard him unclick the safety.
"Okay. Okay... Just don't shoot. I will," Tevos said. She had to get word to Lord Hood.