Hey guys, TheDoctor1998 here with another chapter! Last time, the Alliance invaded Khar'shan with the help of various rebels and freed many of its slaves, even going as far as to kill the Hegemon himself by using a planet killer on a planet on the outer edges of the Harsa System.
Now, on with the show!
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11-02-2672
Hegemony's Fury
Interplanetary space
Bahak System
To say that this invasion was brutal was an understatement, Lord Edan Had'dah thought to himself as his ship was desperately fighting like a wounded beast against a force that, compared to the forces attacking Khar'shan, was nothing more than a Yanme'e scout fleet. And considering how Yanme'e drones were biologically and evolutionarily conditioned to see themselves as nothing more than an extension of their queens, it wasn't surprising to see them swarm his fleet with no regard for their own safety.
Honestly, Edan envied those queens to a degree. When the Batarians had to condition their slaves to do the same, they had to put in immense effort to break them to that point, but the Yanme'e were simply gifted with that kind of loyalty from their lower castes due to a simple biological fluke.
Regardless though, Had'dah kept fighting, kept sacrificing his men for the cause. Until a transmission came in from what he thought to be a secured channel. "Attention, all slaver scum." Came the voice of the very creature who gave the Hegemony a declaration of war, the half-jaw who Had'dah had grown to hate. "Your Hegemon is dead, and so are all members of your uppermost caste who did not defect. We are willing to discuss your surrender, if you wish to save your hides."
While Had'dah was quick to dismiss the claim that the Hegemon's bloodline had been eradicated and the man himself murdered, more data was sent across the galaxy. Data showing the Hegemon being tortured, begging for his life like a lowly slave as his limbs were rendered useless. He was simply left there, an armless, paralyzed, dickless, blinded man. Had'dah was about to order a rescue mission when the next set of data came in, showcasing the Hegemon's location. And the destruction of Spekilas, the lifeless planet he was on.
Had'dah then got a message on his omni-tool, one titled "terms of your surrender." In short, it was a link with a text underneath it stating that, if they wanted to survive, he'd have to talk to a diplomat who'd give him the terms. Once he clicked it, the communications of the ship were taken over.
"Hello, Had'dah." A Human said, his face filling the holographic screens. "I am Ambassador Donnel Udina, and I've been given the displeasure of talking to you. If you want to know why you've been chosen, it's simply because you're the highest living authority figure in what's left of your pathetic civilization."
"How dare-" Had'dah started, before getting interrupted.
"Oh, I dare alright. Regardless, here are the terms of your surrender: One, whatever's left of the Hegemony will be contained to one solar system of your choice-"
"Harsa!" Had'dah immediately said, wanting the Batarian homeworld.
"That hasn't been taken over by our forces yet." Udina glared. "And considering we're already in the process of creating a new government on Khar'shan, your capital system isn't on the table." He then smirked, continuing as if nothing happened. "Second, a complete and total abolishment of slavery of any kind. Any slaves you have are to be handed over, and you are forbidden from enslaving any more people in any way, shape, or form."
"But our cultural heritage-"
"Means jack shit to our people." Udina interrupted. "Third, there will be no standing army or navy of any kind. Police forces are authorized, but you can have no actual military. And finally, we will frequently check into whatever system you own using stealth ships and the like, simply to check if you're actually keeping up the agreement. Failure to do so would be considered a violation of this peace treaty, which itself would be considered an act of war."
Had'dah paused, rage shimmering underneath his skin. "Give me some time to think about it."
"Very well." Udina rolled his eyes, purposely tilting his head to the right to insult the Batarian. "But I suggest you don't take too much time, considering we're still at war and your ship is a viable target. Tick tock, Had'dah, tick tock." He then terminated the connection, leaving the Batarians alone.
Had'dah screamed in rage, smashing his console with his sheer fury. He knew he had to accept the offer if he wanted to live, because there was no way the Alliance would let him live if they'd get their hands on him. If he wanted to survive, he had to face the humiliation of going down in history as the Batarian who made what was left of the Hegemony give up almost all territory, all their slaves, and completely demilitarise. He'd be a laughing stock.
Still, as the person who was currently the highest authority among the Hegemony, he at least would have his own solar system to play with. 'Best to choose a system I'm familiar with.' The Batarian thought, glancing on the holographic screens showcasing a Mass Relay. A Mass Relay that, unknown to all but the highest authorities of the Hegemony, was a very special Relay, unique as far as they knew. 'The Hegemony will have its vengeance. Maybe not today, maybe not in my lifetime, but we will return.'
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11-02-2672
Face the Galaxy Headquarters
Citadel
Widow System
"Breaking news from the frontlines of the war between the Systems Alliance and the Batarian Hegemony!" The Asari host said, slightly panicking. "Hegemon Torsek, leader of the Batarian Hegemony, has been killed by the Alliance."
"In a stunning turn of events, the Systems Alliance utilized a nuclear weapon capable of destroying planets." The Turian host continued. "They have utilized it on the lifeless planet Spekilas, the final planet of the Harsa System, which also had various military installations of the Hegemony. Including a bunker where the Hegemon was hiding."
"In addition, footage has also been leaked on both the Extranet and the Waypoint of the Hegemon being tortured prior to his death, though the footage has been doctored to protect the identity of the assaillant." Tiala revealed. "For the sakes of some of our younger viewers, we will not be showing the video, and urge people who cannot handle such things to avoid it if they can."
"Joining us for this interview, directly from the front lines, is Fleetmaster Rtas 'Vadum." Nara revealed, the camera zooming out to reveal the holographic form of the half jawed Sangheili. "Fleetmaster 'Vadum, from one soldier to another, may I ask just why your people decided to go this far?"
"You're a soldier?" The Fleetmaster asked, somewhat amused.
"All Turians go through boot camp, Hierarchy law." Nara quickly explained. "Stuck around the intelligence division for some time before I found my calling for the news."
"If this is your true calling, who am I to deny it?" Rtas nodded. "But to answer your question, similar to Torfan and Theshaca, Spekilas will be a statement to the wider Universe. Everyone will remember it as the tomb of the final Hegemon, and that he died begging for his life, like so many of the slaves that lived and died under him and his ilk."
"I'm personally more concerned about the how." Tiala stated. "As in, how did your people destroy Spekilas? We know how you destroyed the surface of Torfan, and how you ignited Theshaca, but how did you turn Spekilas into an upcoming asteroid belt?"
"While I am not knowledgeable on the exact science behind it, nor would I reveal it if I was, I do know that this weapon was created by our Human allies during the Great War. They call it the NOVA bomb, a nuclear weapon powerful enough to tear planets in half." The old Sangheili sighed. "I remember an old Sangheili colony, the planet Saepon'kal, was destroyed by one. It was a natural garden world, and it got destroyed because of the Covenant's hubris, as our forces had taken one of the NOVA bombs for study, not knowing what it was. Half the planet and its moon were destroyed, simply because the weapon detonated somewhere between the two bodies. It is, by far, the most destructive weapon in the known galaxy, barring some of the weapons used by the Forerunners during their war against the Parasite."
"W-what's stopping you from just using it whenever you want on a garden world?" Tiala stuttered, wondering in the back of her mind just how many times the Alliance would shock the galaxy with the kind of destruction they can wield.
"The same thing that's stopping your people from doing the same with more conventional nuclear weapons, antimatter weapons, asteroids, or any other weapon of mass destruction." Rtas explained. "We have enough restraint not to use it on biospheres, or on the innocent. Lifeless worlds like Spekilas containing only enemy combatants, however, are fair game. That being said, if we're facing an existential crisis such as the Parasite, we would do whatever it takes to annihilate the threat. That includes using NOVA bombs on our own planets and yours, if the need arises."
"But how did you know that there weren't any innocents on Spekilas?" Nara asked, trying to get back on topic. "I am well aware of ONI's abilities, but I am a bit curious."
"Simply put, there were various infiltrators within the Hegemony." Rtas explained. "I will not reveal their identities unless said reveal would protect them from vengeance of the Hegemony freed slaves, but they were key in identifying the Hegemon's location and subsequent elimination."
"But did they have to torture the Hegemon?" Tiala asked, a tone of criticism lacing her voice. "While I'm sure that many agree that Torsek was a horrible being, and that his death is a good thing for the galaxy, I don't think that torturing him was the right thing to do."
Rtas was silent for a moment before he spoke again. "Do you know what our operative found the Hegemon doing? He wasn't ordering his forces, he wasn't making sure his people were unharmed, he wasn't doing anything to assist the war effort on the Hegemony's side. No, the only thing he did was fulfil his own sick pleasures of the flesh using his slaves. Our operative found him raping a new slave, a girl who was begging for him to stop."
"By the Goddess." Tiala breathed, starting to feel ill.
"What's more, our operative also found a pen filled with slaves of all space faring species on your side of the Relay. They were all naked, with the exceptions of the Quarians and Volus, who instead were forced to wear suits designed to reveal their assets to the worlds." Rtas breathed, taking a moment to calm himself. "Were I there myself, I would've done far worse to that monster. Some of them were children. The only bright side of that situation was that the Hegemon's slaves were the only slaves on that damned planet."
"Spirits." Nara gagged at the news before composing herself. "Well, for what it's worth, the Universe is a much better place without that piece of filth."
"On that, we can agree." Rtas nodded.
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12-02-2672
Citadel Tower
Citadel
Widow System
"This is getting ridiculous." Tevos sighed. In her multi-century long career as the Asari Councilor, she'd never have expected the madness that came after the activation of Relay 314, or the Beachhead Relay as it's now known. The new technologies, a rival coalition of interstellar civilizations, how easily the combined might of the Council species was swept away by the combined might of the Alliance, and now everything involving the dying Hegemony.
"Planet killers!" Sparatus raged. "They've got spirits damned planet killers!"
"We heard you the first time." Milnori said, rubbing her eyes.
"What are we supposed to do?!"
"Nothing." Tevos said simply. "We now know what they're capable of doing this, and they're still adhering to our treaty involving WMDs on garden worlds. The mere fact they didn't use this on us during the First Contact War shows that they know some restraint, restraint that they were less willing to use against the Hegemony."
"Couldn't have put it better myself, Councilor." A Human voice broke through, walking up to the stage. "My apologies for my late arrival, Councilors. I had to do a little diplomatic manoeuvring involving what's left of the Hegemony. I'm sure you know how that goes."
"And who are you?" Milnori asked, her eyebrow raised.
"Ambassador Donnel Udina, permanent replacement for former Ambassador Goyle." The Human introduced himself. "Though, I should mention that I am not the only one here today, as there's someone who'd like to introduce himself."
After Udina stepped aside, a green skinned Batarian walked into the room. While his outfit was definitely something luxurious and professional, it was clear that it wasn't any standard Hegemony fashion. "Greetings Councillors, I am Salom Garsur, formerly the leader of the Batarian Rebelion, and currently the acting Prime Minister of the Free States of Khar'shan."
"The Free- Are you a successor state to the Batarian Hegemony, then?" Tevos asked, quickly composing herself after her little slip.
"Correct." The Prime Minister nodded. "Currently, whatever's left of those still loyal to the Hegemon and the Hegemony have accepted a peace deal of sorts, leaving them isolated into a single system with several sanctions while the others are currently building up a new government." He then started looking more serious. "That being said, there is something important that we need to discuss."
"I assume you wish to reopen relations with the Citadel and rejoin under this new government?" Milnori stated.
"On the contrary." Garsur said, narrowing his eyes. "Your people have done nothing to free the Hegemony's slaves for over two thousand years. Yet, the Systems Alliance has done just that in less than a percentage of that time. No, the people of Khar'shan have no desire to rejoin the Citadel, Batarian or not."
"Batarian or not?" Sparatus asked. "Are you saying-"
"I am saying that the freed slaves who are not Batarian have, for the most part, no wish to return to Citadel Space." Garsur answered. "You abandoned them to some of the worst fates imaginable. Worse, you were actively allied to the very people who were stealing and torturing your own. Even the Turian slaves have lost any and all loyalty to the Hierarchy, let alone Citadel Space as a whole." He took a breath, calming himself. "That being said, there are still some individuals who wish to return. Mostly because they wish to reunite with their families. And unlike the Hegemony before us, we will not rob them of the ability to choose their own destinies."
"I see." Tevos said, slightly troubled. After all, Turians were notoriously loyal to whatever group they belonged to, including the governments they were citizens of. If the Turian slaves, of all people, lost any loyalty to the Citadel, it painted a pretty poor picture when it came to relations. "I suppose that means you won't accept any military patrols going through your borders like the Hegemony did prior to them leaving the Citadel?"
"You are correct, Councilor." Garsur replied. "That said, even if we were willing to allow you access within our territory, your own prior agreements would prevent you from doing so."
"Any agreements we had with the Hegemony do not carry over to the Free States." Sparatus said, not wanting to give the man any leverage.
"It's not an agreement between you and the Hegemony." Udina interrupted. "It's an agreement with us." He then stepped up, Garsur allowing him to take the reins in this conversation. "I am happy to announce to the galaxy that the request from the Free States of Khar'shan to join the Systems Alliance as a member state has officially been granted."
"And I am happy to announce our collective gratitude towards the Alliance." Garsur replied. "Both for aiding us where the Council failed, and for allowing us a seat at your table."
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16-02-2672
UNSC Infinity
Slipspace
En Route towards Beachhead System
Noola'Xen nar Rayya was looking out of the window of her room. She was in the medical ward of one of the most advanced ships in the galaxy, and if the situation were different, she'd have spent ages geeking out over every little detail she saw. From the advanced medical devices, to wondering just how the hell the Forerunners managed to create an FTL drive of any kind that could reach these kinds of speeds, and even the weapons to some degree. Hell, she'd even examine the Huragok a bit, despite her own distrust of the artificial creatures.
But that was the old Noola, the dead Noola who lived another life. The Noola who wasn't an idiot to trust the wrong bosh'tet on Omega. The Noola who wasn't captured and sold into slavery. The Noola who didn't lose her virginity in a bunker while being raped by a monster.
Now, she was simply laying there, staring out of the window. She had to admit, the esoteric FTL the Alliance used was a beautiful one, as she saw the fluctuations in spacetime right in front of her eyes.
She heard someone walk into her room and looked over, still jumpy from her experience. It was Sari, the Cybertronian who managed to get her and the others out of that hellhole. The old Noola would've screamed in fear at the sight of a member of her species, or aimed her gun at them. But now? Well, she can't exactly do that kind of thing with the person who got her out of a situation where she prayed for death, now can she?
"Hey there." The Cybertronian smiled. "So, how are you doing today?"
"A bit better." She then looked at her suit, the same near invisible one "gifted" to her by the owner who sold her to the Hegemon. "I just wish you guys had a suit that'd fit me." The Quarian then looked down at herself. "At least the Humans have a good sense of fashion with this "sundress" thing."
Sari had to agree with her there. The Quarian's pale purplish skin meshed quite well with the tan cloth. "I'm sure we can find something at Beachhead station, considering the number of Quarians that live there."
Noola hummed, glancing out of the window again. "I do enjoy feeling the sunlight on my skin, though. Reminds me of that time I went to the observation deck on the Rayya when I was still in my bubble."
"Your bubble?" Sari asked, amused.
"Well, you know how we Quarians are basically immunocompromised?" Noola asked. Receiving a nod, she continued. "Simply put, prior to our deal with the Alliance, we didn't have the resources to create environmental suits for every child in the fleet. Instead, we get put into sterilized bubbles for the first few years of our lives, and get our first suits when we enter puberty. At this point, even if we get the resources to make them, suits for children are simply impractical."
"Yeah, I can see your point." Sari nodded, sitting beside the Quarian. "So, heard about what happened to the Hegemony?"
"Somewhat." Noola shrugged. "I think the Hegemony was mostly destroyed or something?"
"What's left of them surrendered." Sari nodded. "They're confined to the Bahak System, can't use slavery anymore, can't have a military, and are basically left to rot there. And the rest of the Hegemony, which is basically the rebels and slaves, have formed a new government and joined the Alliance. So it's possible to find some kinder Batarians where we're going."
Noola started hyperventilating upon hearing that. The thought of meeting some Batarians caused the cold grip of fear to clutch at her heart. She couldn't see, she couldn't think, she couldn't think, she was about to die, she could only see and feel him, she-
"Hey hey hey." Sari gently yet firmly said, gripping Noola's hand. "Stay with me here. Tell me five things you can see."
"W-w-wha-" The Quarian stammered.
"Just tell me five things you can see." The Cybertronian repeated.
"Y-you, my b-b-bed, the monitors, the d-door, and Slips-space." She quickly said, glancing at each thing.
"Now tell me four things you can feel." Sari continued.
"M-my suit, y-y-our hand through the s-suit, the b-b-bed through the suit, my d-dress through the suit."
"Three things you can hear."
"Y-your voice, t-t-the people outside, the r-rustling of my sheets."
"Two things you can smell."
"M-my breath and the sterilized air."
"One thing you can taste."
"The aftertaste of my breakfast." Noola finished, feeling a lot calmer. "W-what was that?"
"A trick the Humans came up with to deal with panic attacks." Sari smiled sadly. "Don't know the exact psychology behind it, but it seems to work with most species. Guess you Quarians aren't so different in that area, at least."
Noola started hugging her knees, sniffling. "I'm sorry, I'm such a mess." She chuckled humorlessly.
"It's understandable." Sari nodded. "You went through something awful, and both trauma and triggers are bound to happen." She was silent for a moment, continuing with some hesitation. "Was it me mentioning the Batarians?" Receiving a nod a few moments later, she continued. "I promise, they're not going to hurt you, and you don't even have to interact with them if you don't want to."
"Okay." Noola practically whispered before chuckling. "You know, if someone told me a few months ago that one of your people would be comforting me, I'd have called them insane."
Sari just nodded. "I know how the Quarians tend to feel around my people. The Quarian district at Beachhead Station isn't exactly welcoming towards Cybertronians, despite the fact we're not actually AI."
"Right." Noola nodded. "Some kind of natural evolution, right?"
Sari just nodded. "Maybe, though there are theories that some super ancient species predating even the Forerunners created Cybertron and whatever's going on in the core. Nobody really knows, but there are mechanical animals roaming the planet and diseases that affect the non-organic of Cybertron. I know there's a disease out there that devastated the ancient Cybertronian Empire, but it has to have gone extinct by now."
"A disease devastated your people?" Noola asked, suddenly feeling a lot more understanding.
"Cosmic Rust." Sari shrugged. "According to the documents and the few people still alive today who experienced the plague, it ravaged the colonies when it was discovered, eating away at any form of metal. Especially living metal, like some kind of microscopic scraplets." The Cybertronian shuddered. "In the end, we had to destroy the one Space Bridge connecting Cybertron to the wider Universe, cutting ourselves off while our colonies died. It took us millions of years, just to get back to this point."
"Wait, you said there are people alive today who saw the plague?" Noola asked. Receiving a nod, she continued. "Just how long are your lifespans?!"
"We're biologically immortal." Sari said. "With proper maintenance, a limitless supply of Energon, and just a little bit of luck, it'd be possible for a Cybertronian alive today to experience the Heat Death of the Universe."
"Keelah." Noola blinked. "And here I thought the Asari and Krogan had ridiculous lifespans."
"Can't say what it's like, though." Sari shrugged. "I'm still about 25 years old."
"Wait, does that-"
"No, I'm not a child soldier." Sari rolled her optics. "We age at about the same rate as most species until we become adults. Yes, I am still young by my people's standards, but I am both physically and mentally an adult."
The two of them simply kept talking about various topics after that, as the Infinity headed towards Beachhead Station.
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16-02-2672
SOS Seeker of Truth
Slipspace
En route towards Eywa System
To say that recent events were interesting was an understatement, the Arbiter thought as he walked through the halls of his ship.
After the raid on Torfan, he had volunteered to personally return the Na'vi to their homeworld as the Infinity and the rest of the fleet went further into battle. While there was some level of distrust from the less advanced species, it was clear to them that, at least, the Alliance was their best hope of getting home.
Thankfully, once contact was forcibly made with the Na'vi, it became a lot easier to break the language barriers separating the blue creatures from the rest of the galaxy. Especially when it was discovered that the Huragok can connect with life from Eywa'eveng in the same way they can connect with each other. Once Floats Slower than Others became aware of how Na'vi biology worked, it used its own abilities to mimic that quirk of evolution.
And to make a long story short, as the Humans say, Floats Slower than Others effectively managed to both download the Na'vi tongue into the translators and upload various languages into the Na'vi who volunteered.
Speaking of which, he was currently approaching the first Na'vi who volunteered. Netiri, if he remembered correctly. "We are making the final approach to Eywa'eveng." The Arbiter told the Na'vi woman.
"Good." Netiri sighed, looking at the eddies of Slipspace through the observation deck. "I will be glad to return home and leave this insanity."
"I understand." Thel nodded. "What the Hegemony wanted to do to your people was, indeed, a horrific crime."
"I'm not talking about that." Netiri glared. "I'm talking about you people. You have weapons capable of destroying entire worlds! No people with any respect for nature would make such things!"
"But it is our respect for life that we use and keep them for." Thel countered. "There are horrors in the void that can only be stopped with such brutality. To let them fester would mean the end of all things."
"The Parasite, yes?" Netiri asked, receiving a nod. A moment of silence passed before the Na'vi broke it. "We have old legends. Dreams and visions from Eywa, and ancient history depicting demons falling from the sky, twisting the very soul of Eywa. And that Sky People, wielding weapons of light and giants of steel fought against them, taking as much from Eywa as they could before cleansing our world and returning us."
"You speak of the Forerunners." Thel said. "They have done the same for all the other worlds. Those visions from Eywa are likely memories of them saving what they could from your world before they cleansed it and all the others." The Sangheili then got an alert on his communicator. "I suggest you look outside for this. As far as we know, you will be among the first of your people to see your world from this angle."
The two looked out into Slipspace before the eddies gave way to the regular Universe. Outside, they saw a moon filled with life orbiting a familiar gas giant. Eywa'eveng, orbiting Naranawm. The sight was enough for Netiri to forget all troubles, if only for a moment. "It's beautiful." She whispered, looking at the continents that make up her world. If she focused, she could even recognise a few landscapes where she made her home.
"Indeed it is." The Arbiter nodded beside her.
A moment of silence passed between the two before the Na'vi broke it. "What is going to happen with my people?"
"Were it not for this situation, we'd have merely observed you as you developed, not making contact until you either reached out or managed to create the technology to reach other worlds yourself." The Arbiter answered. "However, thanks to the actions of the Hegemony, it'd be practically impossible to go on doing so. More than half of your people have been taken, from all over your globe. The cultural contamination is too great to wipe away. So, we will remain in contact while protecting your world to the best of our ability."
"You aren't going to disrespect nature, are you?" Netiri asked, suspicious.
"The most that we are likely going to do, if your people allow it, is build a few bases." Thel answered. "That said, we will do our best to respect the balance of nature on your world. In the case where we need to move plants around, we will likely simply replant them somewhere out of the way without harming them."
Netiri hummed. "How are you going to bring us back home?"
"We'll ask a few volunteers to go down and explain the situation to those of your people that managed to get away from the raids." The Arbiter explained. "After that, we'll bring each of your people back home."
"Good." Netiri sighed. "My father would be relieved." Though, secretly, she wondered just how she could explain this to him. 'Maybe I should start by saying that these Sky People are not the ones who took us.'
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17-02-2672
Ruins of the First Hegemon
Khar'shan
Harsa System
To say that the City of the First Hegemon was in a bad state was the greatest understatement ever uttered on Khar'shan. This city, once so vast and decadent, was now nothing more than an empty ruin. The Khar'shan War really did a number on this city, with not a single building being considered habitable.
Once it was the seat of power of the greatest slave empire in known galactic history. Now, it was a city of ghosts. Though, there were two Batarians walking through the ruins, passing the broken form of the Holy Pyramid to gaze upon what was left of the Palace.
One of the two was the former leader of a rebellion turned Prime Minister, the other the last living member of the bloodline that terrorized large swathes of the Batarian people for thousands of years. "It is a pity." Prime Minister Garsur said, looking over the ruins. "Had things gone different, this city might have been a true symbol of greatness."
"Better to leave it in ruin, if you ask me." Bakira disagreed. "I personally think this place should stay as it is, a monument to our people's greatest shame, and the destruction that freed us all."
A beat of silence passed. "You know, when you first contacted us, I couldn't believe that someone of your bloodline would stand by us. I mean, as far as I knew back then, you had a life of perfect luxury."
"Hardly." Bakira scoffed. "Even as a member of the uppermost caste, I didn't have much to say just because I have a pussy instead of a dick. And if my cousin wanted something, like put me in his harem…" She shuddered, memories she'd rather forget playing in her head.
"Quite." Garsur nodded. "In my defense, though, it wasn't exactly as if us lower castes knew about that tidbit of information." He breathed slowly, another beat of silence passing. "So, what are you planning to do now?"
"I dunno." Bakira shrugged. "To be honest, I expected to die in the attack. Probably would've been a good thing too, if you ask me. This cursed bloodline must end."
"Perhaps." Garsur nodded. "Or perhaps this will be a chance to remold it, turn it into something the Hegemons would've hated."
Bakira pondered this for a moment before shaking her head. "No, this bloodline ends with me."
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17-02-2672
UNSC Infinity
Slipspace
En Route towards Beachhead System
Sari and Noola were walking through the corridors of the Infinity, both having gotten the message that the supercarrier had almost reached its destination.
"Come on Noola, you don't want to miss this!" The Cybertronian eagerly smiled, gently guiding the Quarian to the observation deck.
"I've been there before, Sari." Noola laughed. "Pilgrimages these days tend to start on Beachhead Station."
"Have you actually seen it from the outside?" Sari asked, with silence being her only answer. "That's what I thought, so come on." She smirked, continuing to drag Noola along.
When they reached the observation deck, it became clear that Sari wasn't the only one who had this idea. The deck was filled with people, both off-duty crewmembers and former slaves who wish to get away from what was once the Hegemony, all staring out of the heavily reinforced windows into the eddies of Slipspace. "Why does this ship even have windows in the first place?" Noola asked.
"Something about it having positive psychological effects on the people on board." Sari shrugged. "Besides, there are blast doors designed to close around the windows at the first signs of trouble, alongside some kind of shield around the windows to prevent the atmosphere from leaking out if something goes wrong. Same kind of shielding as the hangars use, if I remember it right."
Before the conversation could continue, a big hole opened up in Slipspace just ahead of the Infinity, which it immediately went through. The system they entered was a well known orange dwarf system that, for millennia, was only known as System 314. While there was a ton of raw materials that could be useful scattered throughout, the distance it had from the rest of civilized space and the lack of garden worlds made it somewhat unfeasible to colonise it. But things have changed in the last 15 or so years.
What was once an abandoned backwater system that was only mildly interesting due to the presence of an inactive Mass Relay was now a bustling hub of activity, with a spaceborne city floating relatively closely to the sole Relay in the system.
This was Beachhead Station, a bustling metropolis in space that put even the Citadel to shame. Its construction took a few years, but considering the scale, it was definitely impressive.
On the outside, the station was surrounded by a truly gargantuan ring. 100 kilometers in diameter, and 10 kilometers thick in all directions. Filled to the brim with both weapons and shipyards of all kinds. Most of these shipyards were for civilian use, which mostly consisted of construction and transportation of the civilians throughout both Citadel Space and the Systems Alliance, but also held various mining companies that were determined to strip the Beachhead System and its neighbours dry of any resources.
A smaller portion, though no less important, held various military hangars, capable of repairing and retrofitting all but the largest of ships in the galaxy. Even then, there were more than enough drones designed specifically to do that job outside the hangars themselves, as Noola could see from a Sangheili Supercarrier.
Another district on the shipyards was under the direct control of the Migrant Fleet, and was in fact the first section of the station built. Even now, both Sari and Noola could see ships belonging to the Fleet dropping in and out of FTL for repairs and allowing pilgrims to leave and rejoin their people. Noola could even remember the Rayya, one of the Liveships and one of the biggest ships of the Fleet, entering these hangars not too long ago for some long overdue repairs.
Inside the ring, though, is where things got interesting. The inner part of the station was, in effect, a gigantic disk with cityscapes and even landscapes on both sides, held together with nothing more than the excellent engineering capabilities of the Alliance and their gravity control systems. The station even rotates to simulate a sunrise and sunset on both sides, "flipping" over to generate a day-night cycle.
On one side of the disk was the district created for the "standard" species, the species who could easily survive in each other's biospheres, such as Humans and Asari, and any other levo species from an oxygen based environment. This "upper" portion also houses most of the embassies of the Citadel species, and the Alliance officials that are tasked with diplomatic interactions with them.
On the other side was the "lower" portion, divided into multiple districts to facilitate easy habitability for other species. While the majority of it was made for the dextro species, with the portion closest to the Quarian shipyards being dominated by farmland, there were other districts for the even more exotic species, such as the methane breathing Unggoy, or the ammonia breathing Volus, or the extremophile Glacius, or the machine-like Cybertronians, all enjoying the light of Beachhead's light as the standard species on the station enjoyed the view of the stars. Or vice versa, in a few hours.
And in the center of both sides of the disk was a massive city, some of the towers many kilometers high, in the styles of all the nations of the Alliance. The sheer length of these towers almost made the station look like a fat spinning top.
As the Infinity headed towards Beachhead Station, the rest of the First Fleet following it, Noola couldn't help but stare at the engineering marvel. True, she's actually been inside the Quarian shipyards before, but she's never actually seen the station from the outside.
"Pretty impressive, huh?" Sari said, looking at the station.
"Impressive?! This place could be the solution to any overpopulation problem that we can have!" Noola exclaimed.
"There are a lot of your people who permanently live here, supporting the Fleet." Sari nodded. "Come on, let's get you a new suit." She smirked, guiding Noola towards the airlocks.
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17-02-2672
Omatikaya Hometree
Eywa'eveng
Eywa System
To say that times were tough on Eywa'eveng was like saying Naranawm was big. An obvious fact that everyone on their world knew.
When the Sky People came, they caused nothing but pain and destruction. Entire tribes were decimated, and so many people were missing, taken by those monsters. Any tribe that the Omatikaya Clan contacted said much the same, with no corner of Eywa'eveng being untouched by the devastation.
When Eytukan te Tskaha Kamun'itan performed Tsaheylu with the Tree of Souls, trying to see what was happening, the leader of the Omatikaya Clan was shocked. Eywa herself was in pain, feeling the pain of her people across Eywa'eveng. All tribes across the world, great and small, were touched by the evils of the Sky People.
His tribe, too, was greatly harmed. Men, women, and children alike were taken by these monsters. While the bodies of some could be found, many were still missing, even after the weeks where they were rebuilding.
Including his own daughter.
Eytukan could still remember the heartbreak both he and his mate felt when Seze came back on her own, clearly in a state of panic. When he performed Tsaheylu on her, he could see why. Sky People had taken his eldest daughter.
Unlike his mate and eldest daughter however, he didn't have the luxury to grieve the loss of his youngest. No, as the leader of his clan, he had a duty to make sure they survived even this disaster.
"Chieftain!" One of his hunters yelled, grabbing his attention. It was Tsu'tey, one of his peoples finest warriors and the one to whom his eldest daughter was promised. "The Sky People have returned!"
Eytukan looked outside, and true to Tsu'tey's word, there they were. Flying machines, creations of Sky People, descended down to the surface of Eywa'eveng. These ones, however, looked much different from the flying machines used by the previous Sky People.
The previous craft were, to his eye, shambling constructs made from pieces not designed to work together. These ones, however, were blasphemous works of art, sleek and purple. That gave him somewhat of a pause, though he still ordered the warriors that were left to arm themselves.
Before his people could take to the skies, however, the Sky People's leading craft stopped in front of the Hometree, and shot a beam of blue light down to the ground. A beam that gently allowed a very familiar individual back onto Eywa'eveng.
"Neytiri!" Mo'at, his mate, yelled at the sight of her youngest, rushing ahead of the other Na'vi to embrace the daughter she thought lost. "How in the name of Eywa did you get back here?"
"I had some help, mother." Neytiri answered, nodding towards the craft above them.
Lowering from the machine like Neytiri was another Sky Person, though this one looked vastly different from the four eyed ones, as it was a reptile with a strange lower jaw. "Hail, Chieftain Eytukan te Tskaha Kamun'itan. I am Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, leader of the Swords of Sanghelios, and I extend to you my greetings, and my regret that we were unable to help the people of Eywa'eveng in their time of need." The Arbiter looked at the various faces of the Na'vi, knowing that their looks of fear, confusion, and gratitude at seeing their loved ones returning were mirrored across the moon. "We have much to discuss."
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17-02-2672
Omatikaya Clan territory
Eywa'eveng
Eywa System
Floats Slower than Others was, in a word, bored. Bored, bored, bored, bored.
When it joined the Seeker of Truth, it was under the impression that it'd find new technologies from these Na'vi. Nobody ever told it that they were a Tier 7 species!
Granted, it was fun for it to connect to the Na'vi. While Huragok could do the same thing with one another, this was the first time a Huragok did this with an organic, as they're typically incapable of doing something like this. All Floats Slower than Others needed to do is twist its microscopic cilia to be compatible with the Na'vi organ that allowed for such a connection.
While it was fun to download and upload information with the organic, Floats Slower than Others quickly grew bored again once its task was complete. It'd optimized the systems of the Seeker of Truth for the umpteenth time after they'd left Torfan, and things were starting to get stale.
Wandering around the Hometree of this clan was all fine and dandy, but there was just nothing to do here. Playing around with the smaller Na'vi was fun for a moment, but both the distrust from the bigger Na'vi and its own boredom quickly set in again, causing it to wander around the wilderness. Still within view of both Na'vi and Sangheili, but far enough to momentarily satiate its boredom.
But then it saw something that grabbed its attention, a strange tree. Floats Slower than Others quickly deduced that, like the Na'vi, this tree possessed organs capable of connecting the user's neural tissue with others, like all beings on this world seemed to have. The Huragok became curious, as was in the nature of its kind, and floated towards the tree.
Thinking nothing of it, Floats Slower than Others started interfacing with the tree in the same way it interfaced with the Na'vi, and quickly found a treasure trove of information. Where it previously could only feel the memories and consciousness of one individual, now it can feel the presence of countless creatures. People, plants, animals, they were all connected to one another on this world.
But the Huragok was quickly noticed by the organic network. First, individual lifeforms noticed it, its presence alien in every sense of the word. Plants, animals, people, all that noticed it reacted to it in equal parts wariness and curiosity.
And then the network itself seemed to notice it, its collective consciousness turning all its eyes towards the singular Huragok, the one part that was both connected and separate from it. Floats Slower than Others quickly started to get overwhelmed, something that it only recently understood the concept of due to its own efforts to upload information into the Na'vi.
This presence was vast, like a mountain staring down a singular insect. Yet, as vast and overwhelming as this intelligence was, there was no trace of hostility or malice from it. It knew that it could crush the Huragok if it wanted to, and that there was nothing the Huragok could do to protect itself, but not even the smallest effort was made. In fact, Floats Slower than Others would liken it more to a being gently holding a butterfly without harming it, observing it with a love for nature.
And then, Floats Slower than Others heard a voice, equal parts powerful and gentle, reverberating through its mind.
"Hello."
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And that's a wrap. The Khar'shan War has wrapped up as quickly as it erupted, and a new government arose from the ashes, with the remnants of the Hegemony being contained to a single system to wallow in their failures. Also, a few scenes about trying to fix what the Hegemony had broken.
In addition, a Huragok made contact with a mysterious presence on Eywa'eveng, seemingly within all forms of life on the planet in some fashion.
TheDoctor1998 here, signing out!