A/N: I'd like to thank hornet07 for pointing out that I wrote the creatures on Eden Prime as being 12 meters (~40 feet) instead of 12 feet. I have corrected that slight (big) error. Sorry for the lateness of this one, life has it out for me. Also, the doc manager keeps eating my formatting. I shall endeavor to make a larger update in future.

Council Chambers, Citadel. Widow Nebula

"So you are saying that there is a newly opened relay in the vicinity of where our fleet went missing?" The asari councillor, Mera, asked calmly.

A bit too calmly in Councillor Tellan's opinion, considering the possible ramifications. "Yes. Possibilities disturbing. Could be new rachni expansion. Also possible that they encountered new species. They may be hostile."

"It is all speculation at this point. We have no indication as to who or what is involved. It may be a simple mechanical malfunction."

Tellan sighed melodramatically. This asari was quite impressive for her ability to deceive herself. "A malfunction that wipes out more than eighty percent of the fleet and then knocks out the communication arrays of the survivors would require us to significantly overhaul all of our ships. That is something we can ill afford in this war."

Mera opened her mouth to respond but Tellan cut her off angrily. "Hiding from the facts will do us no good! The Sixth Fleet is gone and we need to do something about it!"

The outburst was quite unusual for the normally taciturn salarian. Tellan looked down, slightly ashamed. "Forgive me, these past months have been particularly trying."

Mera graciously inclined her head, accepting the apology. The newly formed Citadel Council was in desperate straits as the rachni continued their advance into Citadel space. Space combat was new to all of the combatants. Unfortunately, the rachni were adapting faster than their opponents.

"Rushing off another fleet simply to comb through the wreckage would be counter-productive. We need all our ships patrolling the borders. We cannot allow another breakthrough like the one at Heva."

Before Tellan could open his mouth to respond, an alert from his omni-tool pinged. Opening the message, it would be a considerable understatement to say that he was shocked.

Apparently, the frigate that he had sent out to find the whereabouts of the asari fleet had discovered an active relay. As they were about to leave to report their findings, a massive fleet of ships had passed through. Upon detection of the scout, they had hailed the salarians in the main asari dialect. The captain of the salarian vessel had wisely decided that the situation was above his paygrade and passed it on to the STG, who promptly forwarded it to Tellan.

Rather than explain the situation to his fellow councilor, Tellan simply forwarded the message. Her gasp was all he needed to hear to know that she likely realized the potential of a friendly race.

"Aren't you glad that we salarians did not simply ignore the situation?" he asked rather snidely.

Mera was at a loss for words.

Probably a first for her, Tellan thought, uncharitably.

Conclave Chamber, Earth

"The discovery of a foreign people is the greatest event in human history! We must capitalize on this opportunity!"

Donnel Udina sighed as the debates continued to rage on. The latest speaker was from a small Lodge that originally formed to push miners' rights.

Udina looked over to where the lodgemaster for the Traditionalists sat. Michael Dervan was an unassuming man. Dressed in the flowing robes and tabard of a high-ranking government official, a person unfamiliar with the workings of the Conclave might think that he was simply another lodge member.

The truth of the matter, however, was that Dervan was the kingmaker of the assembly. The Traditionalists were the only neutral lodge in the Conclave. Their placement made them suited to striking deals between the Geneticists and the Purists.

Udina leaned over to his fellow representative from the Rome Polis. "Any word on our official stance regarding this latest...incident?"

"None. Dervan is playing his cards close to his chest." Jon Gateson, a powerful member in the assembly because of his ties to the major shipbuilding companies, murmured back as the speaker continued to rant about the need to make a good impression on humanity's newest neighbors.

"That will cost us dearly. If we don't stake out a position early, it will look like we are siding with one faction over another."

"And if we don't, both sides will seek to woo us over to their viewpoint."

"A delicate balancing act." Udina conceded.

"Can you think of someone more capable than Dervan?"

Me, Udina thought to himself.

Below, the speaker conceded the floor to the Grand Lodgemaster.

"Fellow humans, the purpose of today's meeting is to determine the official course of government in dealing with these newly discovered aliens. We have heard words from both sides of the matter, those advocating isolation until a victor is determined in their war, and those advocating siding with the species that was willing to initiate dialogue. It is the duty of this august body to decide the wisest course of action. We will adjourn for several hours before voting."

Several hours later

The Traditionalist Lodge, after resisting the lobbying attempts of the Purists and the Geneticists, cast the deciding votes in favor of initiating contact with the Council. The subsequent orders to initiate contact were passed on to Admiral Hackett, who had just concluded his own meeting with Captain T'lenna.

"Well Udina, faith in our leader restored?" Gateson asked, jokingly.

Udina smiled, but it never reached his eyes. "Tell me, Gateson, what is the funding like for Armak Manufacturing?"

The pained look on Gateson's face was all Udina needed for an opening. Even kings topple, he thought to himself.

First Fleet of AGF, Located just beyond newly discovered relay

"Sir, new contact on the LIDAR. Frigate class."

"Bring us about. Broadsides up. Dispatch Irish Rains and Ocean's Sorrows to close with the vessel, make sure their fields are up and maintain distance max torpedo range. Comms, try and open a channel."

The fleet slowly lumbered into position, the dreadnoughts positioning themselves at the center, their attendant vessels swarming around them, forming into wolf packs and opening the firing lanes for the big guns.

"Contact is responding to our hails. Handshake protocols are different from asari and rachni, sir."

"Probably those other buggers." Presly murmured, just loud enough for Hackett to hear.

Hackett glanced over at his XO. "Developing a case of xenophobia, Presly?"

"Professional distrust, Admiral. The briefs that the ambassador passed out to senior staff indicates that these b-salarians are mostly spooks."

"Noted."

Following a burst of static, the translated voice of the salarian captain came in over the Formidable's speakers.

"This is the a Salarian Union Frigate, on business for the Citadel Council. Identify yourselves and state your business." The captain's voice was different from asari and humans. It was much faster, the words coming in a staccato beat.

"I am Admiral Hackett, commanding the First Fleet of the AGF. We are securing our borders following an incident in the adjoining system."

Hackett continued before the salarian could respond. "We have recovered the crew of a stricken asari cruiser, following an engagement with a fleet of rachni vessels."

The salarian paused for a beat, his mind rapidly digesting and processing the surprising information. "Acknowledged. I would like to speak with whoever is in charge of the survivors."

"Captain T'lenna is the highest ranking officer. She is currently aboard my vessel, engaging in talks with an ambassador. I can patch them in momentarily.

"That would be for the best, yes. Thank you."

Conference Room aboard the Formidable

T'lenna did not have a particular gift for diplomacy, which was why she was a starship captain and not a diplomat, but she did know when someone was bullshitting her.

Ambassador Udvek was a charming host, but he danced around her questions like Maiden at the clubs. She sensed no real malevolent intent, but rather a reluctance to discuss anything of substance.

T'lenna decided to drop the pretence and cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"Why don't you just tell me what in Athame's name you humans want from us!"

The human ambassador smiled wryly at her bluntness, not at all taken aback.

"Perhaps honesty would be for the best. Currently, the esteemed Conclave," here Udvek paused, letting out a slight chuckle, "are running around like headless chickens. The only thing the various lodges could agree on was that some kind of dialogue had to be established. So they sent me, in order to assure your government that we can be both friendly and dangerous. At some point in the future, we shall receive a courier who will inform me, and the admiral, whether we are to continue with being friendly or dangerous."

The ambassador leaned back, still smiling slightly.

T'lenna processed this information for a few moments before asking a question. "What's a headless chicken?"

At this, Udvek laughed out loud, a deep sound that seemed to originate from his gut.

"A chicken is an animal that we bred for food. When you chop its head off, the beast will flail and flop around for a bit before the body realizes it's dead. An apt comparison for the way many politicians act."

"It would seem that some things carry across species well enough."

This provoked another bout of laughter from the human, but before he could say anything further, the intercom beeped, blinking green.

"Udvek here. What do you need Admiral?"

"We passed through the relay and have made contact with a salarian patrol. They are requesting to speak with Captain T'lenna."

"That was fast." T'lenna remarked, surprised at how fast they had made contact. She hadn't even noticed the transit through the relay.

"Patch them through, Admiral."

There was a momentary pause before a chime indicated that they had been connected to the comms signal between the two ships.

"Captain T'lenna, we request an authentication code, Citadel class." The salarian spoke, wariness evident in his undertones. Unnoticeable to someone unfamiliar with the species, such as a human.

T'lenna rattled off the code sequence indicating that she was not under duress.

The salarian captain's next words were far more relaxed, even slightly friendly.

"The Council will need to be informed of these developments, please standby while we attempt communications."