Chapter 13: The First Step to Peace

Contra principia negantem non est disputandum

"There can be no debate with those who deny the foundations"

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ANSWERS TO REVIEWS & AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Sorry for the long wait but I have just started my master's degree and I have been working on my thesis. I know my English writing leaves much too be desired, I am wondering if this is of any use to my writing and if my English improves at all, as always looking for any beta writer if someone volunteers.

In any case, this chapter will focus on the representatives from each faction and species visiting first the Citadel and then the Erebus Nexus.

GrayAngel13, BridgeBurn100, EvilTheLast & Shaitan Elnefi: I'm glad that you enjoyed the chapter, we are still in the diplomatic first contact stage of the story, now the real conflict begins.

PappyOldGuy: As always your words of encouragement are a gift; thank you very much.

Santiago.M.G: In the next chapter I will have an entire part dedicated to some Citadel representatives' visit to a human museum.

CReaper210: Thank you for your praises; and yes, the Alliance PM speech was a little over the edge, I wanted something more decisive yet poetic but the cost of revealing too much was something I have to take into account; so I left it plain and threatening.

Altruism: I share some of Ayn Rand's ideals, not all of them but in perspective we are on a troubled era with populist movements taking power and gaining strength. It's like a new fascism decade, where the neo fascists call themselves progressives, defending dictatorships like Venezuela, Iran or North Korea, all in the name of anti-imperialism, bullshit; in the end Ayn Rand warned about the dangers of mediocre charlatans gaining power and persecuting all other ideas; she had some sense after all.

sugoijack9: Of course, when we reach the stage of the Reaper War, I will start showing the Asari's true colors.

Gingi71: I have received the same critics by others, this is a new timeline but sometimes, the more the things change, the more they stay the same. Constants and variables can repeat across different paths. Cerberus is an interesting concept but my version of the Systems Alliance mixing together with Bioshock will bring up various different ripples in the plot.

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2155.08.12

Council Chambers, Citadel

Widow Nebula

In her 653 years of life Councilor Callis Tevos the unofficial leader of the Citadel Council had never felt so baffled and uncertain about what to do. After Matriarch Seloni sent her report, detailing the encounter and talks with the human Admiral Yao and other representatives of the Alliance with the attachment of a light Codex database detailing the history of the human race, the reaction of the Council and its advisors had been mixed, to say the least.

The Turian councilor Prateus had been frustrated and furious as a result of the unconceivable new defeats the human military had inflicted on them after their declaration of war, yet after reading the Terran Codex he was completely outraged by the acts of the Quarians at providing the humans with information regarding the Council and the doctrines of the Turian military.

He was about to order every Quarian in the citadel arrested and every Migrant fleet vessel forfeited but Councilor Eshael was quick to inform them that every single Quarian had left the Citadel and the Quarian Migrant fleet had moved out of Citadel space. The Salarian Councilor Eshael had reacted with deep concern, especially regarding the Rachni.

At the very least the humans were honorable to a degree, in the last two days since the signing of the armistice ending the so call First Contact War, Turian and Citadel war prisoners had begun to be systematically released into the Council's fleet custody; some were in rough shape but none of them had been tortured or mistreated apparently.

Their reports and interviews confirmed many of the observations and declarations of the humans: an alternate mean of FTL using some kind of wormhole manipulation; a massive energy shield protecting an entire colony settlement and a powerful army and fleet of warships of remarkable scale. Yet most of the turian forces who fought in Shanxi, including the flag officers of the Turian fleet and legion remained in human custody still.

The most interesting issue of the Terran Codex was this 'Erebus Nexus' superstation that according to the Codex was far larger than anything in the known galaxy including the Citadel. She would see it with her own eyes soon enough.

"Councilor Tevos the Terran Alliance diplomatic delegation is about to arrive" the executor officer of C-Sec informed her, through her office communicator.

"Thank you, Executor" she answered, before standing off her seat and marching out of her office.

Arriving at the Presidium docks a few minutes later she encountered her colleagues Prateus and Eshael awaiting for her, in company of two dozen C-Sec security officers forming a receiving line for their upcoming guests, barricades had been placed around the space port to contain the wave of civilians and press who were trampling on each other to get a peek on the aliens that had stir so much in so little time.

In the vast view of the gorgeous blue and purple nebula, stood a colossal ship of human design that stood nearly two kilometers long, surrounded on all sides by at least a hundred turian cruisers and frigates; its shape looked sturdy and angular yet elegant in some way, like a carnivorous silver fish from Thessia. The humans had designated that ship as the fleet carrier SSV Nicola Tesla.

Scanners had confirmed that besides her Point defense weaponry and her cargo of fighters and corvettes, the ship carried no weapons, but its size even longer than the Destiny Ascension was unnerving to say the least.

A single drop ship escorted by two fighters had been deployed from the carrier, and was on its way to the dock, where the Citadel welcoming committee awaited. Shouts and murmurs increased as the crowds outside wrestled with the C-Sec officers keeping them in place, finally in a span of minutes that felt like hours in Tevos' mind the human drop ship landed; it did not looked very different than the small military crafts use by the rest of the races in the known galaxy with thrusters and frame designed to maximize the use of the mass effect technology.

The ramp of the ship descended in a loud clank followed by the sound of steel clad boots hitting the floor as in a clear display of discipline and coordination sixteen soldiers encased in impressive exo-suits (known in the Terran codex as praetorian: Lancers) moved out of the ship in unison and immediately formed two lines with eight soldiers on each facing opposite to the other.

Then from the ship five beings came out:

The one leading the group was a female with yellow fur growing on her head, wearing an expensive-looking black formal suit with a metal pin on the neck. As most human females observed so far, she was good looking by asari standards, having the sharp features of an Asari matron; her name was known to Tevos and her fellow Councilors as it have been included in Matriarch Seloni's report; the Terran Ambassador Anita Goyle.

Following close behind was another female that wore an immaculate white military uniform; this one looked a little younger with paler skin and softer features but her manners were much more disciplined; living for centuries as a politician had given Tevos an insight on the conducts of each type of person no matter their species; with humans so similar to Asari it was even easier: The young woman's gaze was moving from place to place across the Presidium Space Port not in a nervous way but rather a patient and focused reaction, she was looking everywhere and everyone with analytical and clearly calculating eyes; which were of a golden yellow. A cold shudder went through Tevos's spine she was one of those individuals the humans called lilims. A genetic anomaly that gave some humans mind-altering powers according to the reports of Matriarch Seloni and the turian prisoners; these lilims remind Tevos a lot to another genetic anomaly within the Asari species; an infamous type of genetic abomination.

The Asari Councilor's thoughts were interrupted when the lilim's gaze settled in Tevos for a second that felt like a century and the ambient temperature felt as it have lowered several degrees; before the human moved her eyes elsewhere.

Following the two females were two males, one was taller than each of the two females by a full head and a palm; he was nearly at the height level of a turian. It was obvious that he was a soldier; the man was encased from head to toe in pitch black power armor with red stripes on the legs, shoulders and arms. The markings were those of an N7 commando; according to the codex they were an elite human Special Forces group just as tenacious and capable as the turian blackwatch or even the Council specters. His head the only part of his body not encased in steel had a small spot of black fur covering his chin and upper lip. His eyes were of a pale green, yet the most startling feature of his face were a myriad of scars, crisscrossing his pink skin, a reminder of combat experience; a warrior who knew blood as a krogan would say.

The other male was wearing a simple white and black uniform that looked more fitting for a scientist than a military officer; he had a clean shaven head and a carefully trimmed beard.

Yet the last being coming into view, with its large black body, multiple leg and tentacles sprouting from its back made Tevos' heart skipped a beat as a gasp of horror and surprise followed by a chorus of murmuring erupted from the crowds surrounding them. For the first in thousands of year of history a rachni was setting foot on the Citadel.

The C-Sec officers even though they did as ordered and kept their weapons in place looked at the rachni creature with a mix of fear and apprehension, ready to draw their weapons in the event that the monster dared to attack the Council.

She looked at her side; Prateus' changed his footing adopting a more defensive stance, military instinct kicking in his skull. As for Eshael she looked nervous; while Salarians did not sweat nor shiver because of cold or aggressive emotions, the rapid movement of her eyes and dilated pupils were clear signs of fear. The sixteen praetorians lowered their weapons and in a perfect coordination made a salute at their diplomats, in a clear show of respect that surprised even Tevos.

Taking the lead Tevos approached the Terran diplomatic party with Prateus and Eshael following her. The Terran ambassador approached them lowering her head in a sign of respect before putting both of her hands behind her back and standing straight waiting for the council to address them.

"Ambassador Goyle" Tevos began. "Welcome to the Citadel. I am Councilor Tevos representing the Asari Republics; next to me are Councilor Prateus and Councilor Eshael, representing the Turian Hierarchy and Salarian Union, respectably" she stated, the human female smiled in response.

"A privilege to meet you councilors, we are honored to be here, I am Ambassador Anita Goyle, representative of the Terran Alliance government. These are my companions…" she gestured to her group. "Major Brandon Dewitt our security chief, Doctor Isaac Tenembaum our scientific advisor and the ambassador of the Rachni Hive speaking for its chief of state Empress Maia with his interpreter Major Naomi Shokida" she explained, Tevos and her fellow Councilors suppressed a shudder when looking at the black tentacle creature that was the rachni brood warrior accompanying the humans.

"You did not tell us his name?" Councilor Prateus asked with suspicion, looking at Ambassador Goyle and then the Rachni brood warrior, but it was the younger human next to her who answered.

"Rachni do not have names as you would put them Councilor, they communicate one another through a wave of pheromones at short range and a quantum entanglement psi-link at long ranges. They refer to each other by their role in the structure of the hive; only a few of the queens have chosen names for themselves and only for communicating with… other species" she explained, before adopting a deadly serious tone. "This brood warrior here acts both as an independent being and a representative of the Hive's queens and empress, I act as his translator" she finished.

Tevos felt another chill going through her back, this was certainly one of the human lilim operatives described on the Codex, highly evolved beings capable of reading a sentient being feelings and reactions and even thoughts through effort. Looking back to Eshael and Prateus, both of them were also slightly nervous, many of the recently released turian officers had described in great detail their interrogations at the hands of their human captors, especially on the case of lilim interrogators.

In their interviews, the Turian officers claimed that the Lilims were like normal humans, but you could never lie to them, and every minute you spend with them, they managed to end up knowing more about you, that you knew about yourself. For instances in his report a Turian soldier named Kioren Platinus have described in terrific detail his interrogation by who he suspected to be a Lilim woman: when asked for the location of his homeworld of Palaven, he did not answer, thinking instead in his family back home and his younger sister who could be in danger if he reveal anything; then the human interrogator asked him about his sister even knowing her name and going so as to know facts about his personal life whose content could not have been recovered from computers or espionage. Focusing her mind to nothing and keeping her mental discipline in check, Tevos turned back to Ambassador Goyle.

"Now let's get to the point" ambassador Goyle stated. "Your ambassadors and the Alliance Parliament have agreed on a peace treaty containing several points of discussion: trade, borders, cultural exchange, colonial rights… We will like to discuss several topics" she explained receiving an holographic pad from the other female that she immediately handled it to Tevos, the letters were translated to Asari letters with a small section for Turian and Salarian language.

The information seemed to be in order, with logical and easily admissible demands: Like the establishment of a small demilitarized area between the borders; a clear set of controlled space for each species with areas of expansion; small fees for trade and as expected no technological exchange without direct authorization of the Alliance Parliament.

"Very well, follow us, we can begin drafting the final arrangements for a peaceful coexistence between our peoples" Tevos spoke with as much honesty as she could, while next to her Prateus released a heavy sight.

Two of the exo-suit wearing soldiers known as praetorian lancers separated from their group escorting the diplomatic party, while the councilors guided them through the presidium heading for the Tower of the Council.

"So what do you think of the Citadel ambassador?" Tevos asked, she was very puzzled by the human reactions more specifically the lack of it; the humans looked around at the presidium buildings and parks with curiosity but there was no glimpse of amazement or fascination. The gleaming presidium was beautiful, and it could easily shock any newcomer to the core, as a lingering proof of the scale and might of the Council and how impressive was the Citadel but the Terran Alliance representatives looked interested yet unimpressed at the presidium.

The male soldier in particular looked completely uninterested, as if he had lived there all his life.

"Certainly impressive, the dexterity and ingenuity of its builders is certainly a testament of the power of the Prothean Empire" Anita Goyle answered. "It reminds me a lot of the outer ring of the Erebus Nexus" she added.

"The seat of your joint government is it not?" the salarian councilor asked for the first time.

"Yes" it was the scientist the one who answered this time. "It was built by race we call the Juten, their planet was destroyed by a gravitational shift leaving as the sole survivors of their species those living in orbital stations. As they had no access to FTL technology or mass relays they survived for millennia by building a super space station capable of housing all that was left of their civilization, mining the shattered remains of their planet for resources which they could use to expand and maintain their station. But sadly they became extinct, completely vanishing from the face of the galaxy, leaving only their superstation as the sole legacy of their species."

"Just like the Protheans" Councilor Eshael spoke, her eyes now shinning with interest. "Fascinating, just how two great species capable of so much can end in such a way and have so similar outcomes."

"Galactic entropy some may say, the fate of every apex sentient race on the universe according to some theories" the lilim operative added, looking between the Salarian and her ambassador.

"Let's hope any of us shall not meet a similar fate" the human ambassador retorted. "Yet it took us decades to repair and reshape the Erebus Nexus; saying it was a colossal undertaking would be an understatement" she commented.

"I am interesting to see your capital one day then, besides the Citadel and the former mining station of Omega in the Terminus Systems I doubt there is anything in the galaxy capable of standing in comparison to it" Eshael added.

"Hopefully if these negotiations go smoothly, we can arrange for that" Ambassador Goyle answered, smiling with honesty.

Soon the group arrived at the Citadel embassies, as the great doors of the enormous building opened up for them there was a quick exchange of glances between the Turian Councilor and the human officer Major Dewitt, Tevos was hoping that tangible hostility between the two, would not compromise the discussion.

-.

Half an hour later; Council conference room

"This can't be right" Tevos nearly yelled as she read through the list of products and goods the Alliance was willing to trade.

The price of eezo in Alliance space, when converted to Citadel credits even with a higher exchange ratio was much lower than that of Asari eezo. This could not be, it was no secret that the rich eezo deposits of Thessia and much of the Asari colonies were perhaps the most critical source of wealth for the Asari Republics; a change of eezo prices in Thessia caused for example by either the exploitation of new deposit or the exhaustion of another altered the costs, offer and demand of the entire galactic market share.

Where there is eezo, there is wealth as the saying goes.

With a much cheaper trade of eezo coming from the Alliance entering the galactic market, the Republics could suffer an economic crisis worse than any war in recorded history.

"That is the price of element zero in conversion to your currency Councilor; the prices for other critical resources are included as well" Ambassador Goyle explained, signaling the pad.

Tevos, her fellow councilors and other advisors scrolled down the pad; seeing the exchange rates of other goods; most notably minerals, to their surprise and perhaps relief the prices of the most valuable minerals critical to industry and space travel: Titanium, lithium, iridium, palladium and platinum were relatively equal or not too different from those extracted in Citadel Space.

"But the price of eezo?" Tevos asked in near disbelieve. "How can you keep the price of element zero so low in comparison to other resources?"

"Well that is simple Councilor" the human scientific advisor Dr. Tenembaum took the word. "Most of our eezo is extracted from our colonies of Praxis and Glacies in the Scorpio-Epsilon System; both planets have enormous and rich deposits of eezo; with a thriving industry around it."

"Also as you know the Alliance has an alternate mean of FTL, our rift gate technology and an alternate source of power for our capital ships; not only military but also commercial and civilian. Most of our largest vessels like the Fleet Carrier Nicola Tesla, the very ship in stable hover next to your station, are entirely reliant on the rift jump FTL; they do not require eezo for their construction and operation. Also our extended use of the rift gates above the mass relays, have allow us to spend considerable less resources which among other consequences have resulted in a low demand of eezo, in comparison to the species of the rest of the galaxy of course."

Tevos swallowed the information quickly; she would need to place considerable trading taxes on Terran eezo to prevent commerce with the Alliance from bankrupting the Asari Republics. Other minerals and goods were on a reasonable exchange rate. Yet no technology above simple computer processors or medical products was authorized for sell, military hardware was completely off limits and illegal appropriation of rift gate technology was a valid cause for war.

Having the Alliance as a new trading partner would very likely shake the markets but it could act as a boom to a stagnated galactic economy, yet it was the next item of the diplomatic list that made Tevos took a deep breath in anticipation, for a long discussion.

"The Rachni Hive wishes to reclaim their homeworld of Suen and their home system of Maskim Xul" the lilim interpreter stated, holding one of the tentacles of the rachni ambassador on her hand.

The councilor and their advisors exchanged looks all of them completely against any type of rachni movement into Citadel space, much less the settlement of millions of rachni in the heart of their territory.

"The Maskim Xul System is well within the arranged borders of Citadel Space" the Turian Councilor addressed the terran group. "Ceding the system to the Alliance could compromise the integrity of Citadel Space; also most of our colonists would not like to have rachni in proximity to their planets. In any case why do you want Suen? It's nothing than a toxic wasteland with a side of the planet completely scorched by the sun and the other more frozen than an asteroid."

"Councilor the rachni understand your distrust, they were once used as weapons by the protheans and their lack of perspective and paranoia led into a war with the Asari and Salarians but they are not the same as they once were" the lilim answered. "As for Suen, the planet may lacks both resources and a stable environment yet it is still the homeworld and cradle of the rachni, they want to walk upon it again" she stated looking at the ground.

"The Alliance is willing to place a rift gate in the system to connect the system with the rest of the Rachni Hive, without compromising the integrity of Citadel Space" she added.

Tevos paused for a moment exchanging gazes with their colleagues and advisors; the turian Councilor's face look as he would rather fuck a vorcha female than allow the rachni to claim a system that it was in the middle of Citadel Space and only a few mass relays from both the Citadel and the Krogan DMZ, if the humans could gain the support of both the rachni and krogans; even the turians may not stand a chance. The Salarian councilor instead looked exited, even eager perhaps; Tevos knew what he was thinking, if the humans were to place a rift gate on the rachni home system, it would give the Salarian STG a clear tech sample from which they could reverse engineer the technology; even if they could never get close enough to study it at close, the radiation and energy signatures could give them a glimpse at understanding the mechanism behind the wormhole manipulation.

But having a rift gate inside Citadel Space was like opening the back door of your house allowing an enemy to enter; if another war began the humans would have a considerable advantage with a beach head so close to their most vital systems.

"I'm afraid we cannot allow that ambassador, for better or worse the Maskim Xul System has been claimed by the Citadel Council for almost two millennia; we cannot allow a military danger so deep within our borders" Tevos stated looking at the rachni bug instead of the human lilim.

"We understand Councilor" the lilim interpreter answered. "But the rachni will ask for the permission to perform pilgrimages to Suen under your supervision of course, in order to visit their ancient homeworld"

Tevos and her colleagues nodded, that they could allow within reason.

"Now moving to the next item of the…" Ambassador Goyle began.

-.

2155.08.14

SSV Porphyrion; Alliance prison ship crossing mass relay

A ship the size of an alliance frigate modified to transport prisoners of considerable value and danger, crossed the wave of energy from the mass relay entering into FTL; heading for the very heart of the enemy territory.

Near the cockpit on a long row of seats not designed for Turian anatomy were cuffed together the most high ranking officers of the disastrous turian expedition into Terran Space.

General Desolas Arterius looked around him, between his Turian brethren Admirals Justinius, Victus, Survan, General Orinia, Coronel Nuzzra and his human guards.

"Stand ready we are about to arrive" the human guard ordered them, Desolas recognize him it was the same male human that have performed one of his interrogations while in custody at the prison located in a frozen planet known as Persephone; his rank and name was specialist Jack Harper apparently. Next to him was a golden fur female Eva Core with her cold eyes locked on Superior Admiral Justinius.

"You should be grateful that we didn't have you killed after that stun you pull back in Fujian-Alpha" she declared with hatred to Admiral Justinius. "What kind of admiral sacrifices his entire fleet to save his own hide?"

Her words were not unfounded; many of the officers, sailors and soldiers had been outraged at the risky and selfish retreat of their supreme commander at the height of the battle.

"Do not pretend to understand me human" Admiral Justinius replied with disdain on his voice. "My soldiers were ready to die following my orders; and what? You want us to thank you for killing our brothers and sisters? Where in the spirits are you taking us?" he demanded.

"Home" the human female simply answered.

"So, you are transporting us to a prison camp in your homeworld of Earth" Admiral Survan asked from her seat.

"Not at all" another human male this one looking younger with darker skin answered.

"We have arrived" the pilot a woman, with black hair and a raspy accent different to that of the rest of the humans declared. "You guys should probably take a good look" she said as the prisoners were conducted off their seats by black clad guards into the open glass cabin at the front of the ship.

Desolas's eyes went wide as he stood from his seat and looked through the huge open window of the ship's cockpit; the all too familiar purple and blue background of the Widow Nebula; with the silver shape of the five arm Citadel in the horizon.

The Citadel how? He though as he looked the fleet surrounding the station, hundreds of turian cruisers stood in formation with the colossal silhouette of the Asari super dreadnought Destiny Ascension at the center of the fleet, there were only half a dozen human ships with a massive vessel longer than two turian dreadnoughts on the lead.

"The war is over turian" the specialist Jack Harper stated.

The turians exchanged gazes as a combination of both relief and concern overwhelmed them, they were not sure how their people would receive them. Either as war heroes fighting for the empire and the Citadel or as war criminals responsible for starting a war that could have taken the life of millions.

There was a good chance that the latter would be, considering that they have acted under Hierarchy's order but without the approval of the Council; not to mention that they have breached one of the most important accords of galactic rules of engagement: bombardment of a garden world.

"Human vessel this is Citadel traffic control you are authorized to land in Dock 3F-15" an Asari voice said through the comms. "Do not deviate from the intended fly plan" the voice added.

"Copy, traffic control" the pilot answered as the ship approached the five arms station.

-.

After the ship landed on the Presidium Space Port, the turian officers were released from their cufflinks and guided to the open hatch by their human escort.

Desolas was surprised to see an entire crowd of people from every species on Citadel space watching them from the balconies and terraces overlooking the space port; there were dozens of her fellow Turians, Asari, Salarians, the short and tubby Volus, the large and corpulent Elcors and even a few Hanars their red-pink bodies hovering with their long legs over the crowd. To his dismay many of them seemed to share little sympathy for them and even less joy at their return. A few even looked at them with some traces of disdain.

He was even more surprised to see his brother Saren amongst the Citadel officers receiving them; relief filled him but his mandibles clenched together upon laying eyes on two humans speaking with an Asari commander; he knew them well General George Williams the commander of Shanxi's garrison and next to them still in his black clad armor was that Special Forces officer who captured them Captain Brandon Dewitt.

The captain of the prison ship addressed the Asari officer while holding an holo pad in his hand. "Matriarch Lindaya in accordance to the article 3 of the peace treaty between the Terran Alliance and the Citadel Council I release these prisoners into your custody."

"Thank you Captain" the commander of the Citadel fleet answered.

As the humans cleared the way for them, several C-Sec officers rushed towards them, a few human guards instantly placed their hands on their weapons but a signal from their commanding officer made them stand down. The C-Sec officers all of them turians instead surrounded a stunned Admiral Justinius, as the remaining flag officer cleared the way.

The executor himself addressed the confused turian admiral. "Admiral Justinius you are under arrest for violating the Citadel Accords and perform heavy mass accelerator orbital bombardment on a garden world."

The C-Sec constables escorted the now newly handcuffed turian officer as the rest of the group began muttering to each other.

Saren approached Desolas, sharing a few words with him explaining the origin of the new scars on his facial carapace, telling him of the fall of both Parvis Marna and Haliat, something that left Desolas without words. The humans have retreated from those systems nevertheless after the signing of the armistice between the two nations.

As the group began to withdraw from the space port Desolas instead moved to have a word with the two human officers, who received him with barely disguised contempt.

"So General Williams, I hope you are enjoying the glory of your victory" he ranted in a tone that border mocking. "It only cost you a few thousand lives."

"Well I don't see your people celebrating their defeats" the general simply answered with a predatory smile. "It was not the Terran Alliance the one which lost three fleets and an entire legion containing more than a hundred thousand soldiers; at the very least we are now in peace" the old general boomed with pride; but said the last word with some level of mockery.

"You know, this is not over General Williams" Desolas threatened with a voice cold as ice, looking down on the far shorter officer; Saren stood beside him looking at the N7 soldier with disdain.

"No, believe me I know General Arterius" he answered. "This is only the beginning" he stated before turning around and following the black clad guards into the ship.

And waiting at the hatch were standing Specialist Jack Harper and Operative Eva Core, both of them looking at Desolas and Saren with ice blue calculating eyes.

-.

2155.08.15

SSV Vienna, docked with the QFV Rayya

Frontier of the Attican Traverse

The Alliance have sent a secret message to the quarians several days ago asking them to meet in secret, in order to honor the friendship forged four decades ago at the frozen world of Kaldir; and finally cement an alliance between the quarians and the humans. While the Admiralty board was hesitant on revealing their secret location and movements, and even more hesitant on allowing the discussion to occur at all; as they feared the Turian and Council retribution if they believe they were in cahoots with the Terran Alliance.

The peace talks between the Alliance and the Citadel have convinced the conclave to invite the human representatives to expose their terms for a possible coalition of independent species forming a united front against the Citadel Council and the imperialistic turians.

A stealth frigate came out of hiding bringing as soon as the transmission was received by the Alliance High Command, surprising the still distrustful aliens; yet the biggest surprise have been the name of the Terran Ambassador who have come within the ship.

It was a historic moment when the children of old friends who have met long ago on a frozen planet where humanity have experienced its first contact with a sentient alien species found themselves standing face to face with each other, old friends who just met. The open plaza on the heart of the near three kilometer long quarian live ship was one of the only areas of the ship not cramped with quarian crewmen, passengers and cargo; and the gathering of dozens of quarians representing every ship and ship in the Migrant Fleet left absolutely no doubt that the quarians were eager to hear the words of the human emissaries.

Completely encased in a zero atmosphere suit after passing through a long decontamination process, Admiral James Su Kwon son of the two legendary crewmembers of the SSV Michigan Missuro Su Kwon and Luna Da Silva; stood next to the quarian captain Shaira'Nuzzra vas Juler daughter of the quarian marine Daon'Nuzzra vas Alarei, decades ago their parents have fought shoulder to shoulder in order to save their fellow crewmen from a gang of Batarian slavers, and now their children were side by side; as a new generation to brace the arrival of a new era.

"Admiral Su Kwon, it's an honor to finally meet you" the admiralty board bid him welcome. "We have seen the reports and records of your victories against the turians, you truly are a master strategist" a quarian admiral complimented through his modulated voice.

The holo recordings and tales of Admiral Su Kwon's battles have filtered into the extranet and few could believe how it was possible for the mighty turian fleet to be so utterly defeated in every engagement. Hundreds, maybe thousands of military analysts from every species including the quarians have been studying the records of the turian-human war to examine every detail about human technology, tactics and military doctrines.

Many were baffled by the terran extended use of fighter crafts and carrier type ships; long standing galactic doctrine placed emphasis on long range firepower, dreadnoughts were the pride of every galactic fleet, a costly endeavor to build and deploy any of them; while still puzzled by the placement of ships of dreadnought scale without dreadnought spinal mounted weaponry, no one could deny the impressive performance of the carrier ships, with their precise bombardment rounds on capital ships and their fighter screens protecting the fleets from other fast attack ships.

The terran wormhole manipulation as the quarian and turian analysts have begun to refer to the use of rift opening jumps also gave the humans a lot of tactical flexibility. On the battles of Alarakh and the Julta System; the humans have repeated the tactics employed on the liberation of Fujian-Alpha:

The battle of Julta System in particular have been a completely one sided battle, Julta held some of the largest orbital docks and shipyards in the entire Hierarchy, it was one of their most defended systems yet the human navy under the command of Admiral Elizabeth Comstock have obliterated the entire system defense fleet and orbital defenses within the spam of minutes. With a fleet centered around two dreadnoughts with one fleet carrier alongside one drone carrier standing against three full turian fleets; Admiral Comstock have ordered their drone fighters to rush into the turian orbital defense grid; planting gravity well beacons right within the planet's orbit and 'behind' the orbital defense platforms, allowing two dreadnoughts and two escort carriers to rift jump into those positions.

With the planet behind them ensuring that any miss shot by the turian ships would be making an impact on the garden world and the orbital defense platforms out of position the turian fleet was left flanked and cornered; the dreadnoughts and alliance bombers made quick work of the orbital platforms and many of their capital ships. Mopping the remaining turian ships have been an easy work; the humans have given a name to the new tactic The Comstock Pinzer; while the turians have granted an infamous tittle to the dreaded human Admiral Comstock: The butcher of Halliat.

The engagement on Parvis Marna have not turned up much different, turian forces have been completely overwhelmed, there was denying it any more, a new superpower have emerged on the other side of the galaxy.

"I am honored to be here admirals I will go straight to the point, humanity and the Terran Systems Alliance owes a debt of gratitude to the quarian people for providing us with Intel and critical data about the other space faring species of the known galaxy" he began.

"As well as keeping our existence a secret all these years; mankind was not ready to enter the greater galactic community forty six years ago but for better or worse we need to be ready now; and we could certainly use allies" he made a pause as he allowed his words to sink into the crowd of gathered quarians who began murmuring with each other and the admirals standing on the podium keeping silence; even though Su Kwon suspected the military officers were still speaking on secure private channels through their helmet coms.

"So you are offering us an alliance between the human… Terran Alliance and the Quarian Migrant Fleet, what are you offering us? And are you not concerned about the reaction of the Citadel Council, helping us would put your ascension process into the Citadel associated races in jeopardy" one of the admirals asked.

"The Terran Alliance is not interested nor is capable of entering into the position of a Citadel associated species" the human admiral answered to a new row of murmuring across the crowd. "As you know the protocol for becoming an associated race of the Council has several requirements including the signing of The Treaty of Farixen, we are not too eager in reducing our number of dreadnoughts to the benefit of the turians after we have just went to war with them, despite the fact that the Alliance Navy relies more on carriers and heavy cruisers or that our existing dreadnoughts are worth three turian second line dreadnoughts" he smiled as he said that.

"Also as you may probably know the Alliance has an overextended use of technologies that are illegal in Citadel Space, like controlled genetic modification and…" he made an uncomfortable pause. "Fully self-aware artificial intelligence" his words caused a storm of murmuring and a troubled exchange of gazes amongst the quarians.

"We were aware of your use of AIs admiral, but we were not expecting that your species would have… well survive so long by keeping active fully self-aware AIs alongside you, there are multiple Council's laws against the development and use of artificial intelligence and the quarians know better than anyone the dangers of allowing your own creation to achieve consciousness and surpass you" one of the other admirals declared.

"Our AIs are not the geth admiral" Su Kwon countered. "But in any case we understand your mistrust of synthetics or of any type of support the Alliance can provide the quarians you will be able to discuss any of those subjects soon if that is your wish" he made a pause smiling wide and taking a deep breath.

"In a couple of days the Alliance government will celebrate a peace summit on our capital the Erebus Nexus; we have sent an invitation to all of the Citadel races as well as a few outside the Council's oversight and we will grant an invitation to the quarian people to attend the summit" he allowed a pause in order to allow his words to take impact.

Murmuring erupted from the benches filled with quarian ship representatives, as the admirals exchanged looks.

"What subjects will be discuss in this summit?" one of the admirals asked.

"We have already set a basic agreement of diplomatic relations with the Citadel Council; including borders and trade, but our leaders want to meet with the representatives of any mayor power and cement our cooperative relations with the other species" the human admiral explained. "More than anything it will be a cultural exchange moment, where we will formally introduce ourselves to the greater galaxy" he added.

"If you accept the invitation you are to send an envoy ship through the relay 314 into the Fujian-Alpha System where a recently placed rift gate will lead the ships into the Jotunheim System" he finished.

The quarian admirals exchanged gazes and again it looked as if they were discussing with each other through a private channel.

"Very well, we will prepare a diplomatic delegation to speak with your leaders" the admiralty board conceded, as Admiral Su Kwon smiled and nodded.

-.

2155.08.18

ARH Cybaen about to cross the rift gate in orbit of Shanxi

Fujian-Alpha System, Lambda Expanse

Nerves were something Asari matriarchs didn't usually experienced on a daily basis, living for a thousand years left few things remaining to be dreaded or excited about. But she and her fellow ambassadors had an ominous feeling on their guts, upon laying eyes to the ripple of energy growing until becoming a tear on the fabric of time and space; like a quantum singularity contained by the silver ring that was the rift gate. They have already passed through a small size portal inside the super dreadnought but this was something completely out of scale.

She lowered her gaze and focused on the holographic map detailing the small fleet of ships from every space faring species on this side of the galaxy: the Cybaen contained the Council delegation but every mayor power have been invited as well and all of them have rushed at the chance to talk with the human leaders and received preferential treatment at commerce or diplomatic relations.

A volus cruiser (well a modified turian cruiser) contained a diplomatic envoy alongside a large number of bank executives and representatives of large corporations, a small Elcor freighter served as the transport for the envoys of The Courts of Dekuuna; the hanar religious and diplomatic party with an escort of drell operatives were on a small hanar frigate and to the surprise of many, the quarians, krogans and even the batarians have been invited as well; even though the latter were seen with suspicious and barely disguised disdain by all of those present, including the humans.

Receiving the confirmation signal from their human escort the fleet moved forward towards the rift gate with some apprehension from all of the helmsmen and the ship crews. As the ships crossed the threshold their sensors and systems were overwhelmed by a wave of gravitational anomalous readings, static energy and quantum fluctuations. Many of the Council analysts were hopping with all their hearts that those readings would be a first step towards the reverse engineering of the rift gate technology.

But the rift crossing was nothing compared to what received them upon arriving at the other side. Sensors and the sight from the very windows were almost incapable of convincing the passengers of every vessel that what they were seeing was real.

"By the goddess" Matriarch Seloni exclaimed upon seeing the camera views and the holographic display, at the display several levels of zoom out were needed to show the full scale of the superstation.

"This is…" the turian ambassador stuttered. "Is the Erebus Nexus…? The human station capital?" he asked without breath, his lowered chin practically risking hitting the floor in profound surprise.

"The outer ring of the station has a diameter of 122,7 kilometers, making a circumference of almost 400 kilometers long, 385,5 to be precise" an Asari technician exclaimed almost without breath. "There is a large asteroid contained within a smaller structural ring; even through all the heavy metals contained in the asteroid the sensor can detect that there is an energy signature completely out of normal scale within it. It's like a neutron star, but without gravimetric signatures, I don't know how is this possible" she explained looking at the computer screens with disbelieve.

"It's like a twisted over scaled merging of the Citadel and Omega" the Salarian ambassador said.

He was not wrong; there were similarities to both the Citadel and Omega, eight large protrusions sprouted from the outer ring; not too different from the arms of the Citadel, according to the codex the humans called them pylons. Smaller asteroids were also connected to the structure holding the two rings and main facilities, it looked as if they were being used as construction yards and dry-docks for human ships.

The structural arms serving as the framework for the station; held several rift gates connected together like a web of different size rings, with ships entering and exiting all those that were active. Hundreds of human ships hovered around the station, both military and civilian.

As soon as the final ship of the diplomatic fleet crossed the rift gate the singularity broke and the tear closed while a message arrived every vessel detailing the docking flight plan intended for them.

Jhana Seloni had a million questions about every detail not included on the Codex send to them; she was hopping the humans would be open enough to answer some of them.

-.

After docking and disembarking the diplomatic delegations were gathered up together in an open plaza at the outer ring; Jhana looked around the contained environment reminded her of the Citadel Presidium, but while the lush presidium was composed of small parks, artificial lakes yet also tall shining buildings like the embassies and most critical corporate offices the Erebus Nexus outer ring was primarily covered in parks, crop plots, artificial lakes and small water channels; a completely green plain, that feed the station's population and served as relaxation site for visitors and inhabitants alike.

Artificial sunlight shone above their heads with the roof structure projecting a fake blue sky, the sensation was warm on her skin. The smells were also slightly similar to those on the fields of Thessia even though there was none of the eezo in the air of the human station unlike that of her homeworld; the gravity was similar to that of the Citadel as well, a comfortable 1G imitating that of the human homeworld of Earth generated by the station constant spinning around its axis.

On the large park where the diplomatic parties were gathered, the krogans with their large bodies stood out from the rest; representatives from clans Urdnok, Jorghal, Nakmor and weyrloc seemed eager and inpatient as they could be; yet their eyes and manners showed that they were also impressed by the station size and splendor.

A large number of terran guards were next to them ready to intervene in the case any krogan were to do something reckless; also their guards were different to the 'normal' human soldier, their armors were blue with gold and white trimming, shining and immaculate, also as not one of them used helmets it was easy to see the diverse racial differences within the humans; skin tones, eye colors, height and hair colors.

The quarian delegation was small but a large number of human guides and advisors stood next to them, it was clear that the terrans wanted to bring the suit rats into their camp; based on everyone's first impressions of the Erebus Nexus and the rift gates, it was certain that whatever the humans were selling the quarians would most likely buy it.

With their chubby and short bodies the volus were hard to miss, they crowded the human guides with questions; the Elcor and Hanar instead remained quiet looking between their representatives and the terrans surrounding them.

And finally the batarians also kept quiet yet they spoke between themselves with arrogant comments and sassy glares at the human female escorts.

"Honored guests" a human male in a black expensive looking business suit called for them drawing their attention and signaling to a group of hovering platforms big enough to carry them. "Please follow us; we will take you to the Parliament building" he explained.

The different parties climbed into the hovering platforms; when everyone was onboard the vehicles started flying across the ring, slow enough to give the visitors a great view tour of the circumferential environment; lakes and artificial rivers cut through the crop rectangles, forests and green pastures; there were tall buildings on the edges of the ring which offered a great view of the parks and agricultural zones, most likely they were the apartments and offices with the highest price on the station; homes to politicians, executives, corporate and military officers.

There were also suspended railways with trains traveling through them, giving the circumferential shape of the ring and the absence of flying cars, most of the inhabitants may be moving by train alone.

"Beautiful" one of the Asari delegates exclaimed looking at the artificial green landscape but her expression turned from amazement to a mix of confusion and fascination upon seeing a flock of black birds flying above the fields.

"You have birds inside the station?" she asked one of their guides. Having animals free to roam a contained environment was naïve and stupid; they would multiply, spread diseases or consume everything without predators and regulatory means to keep them under control; driving the contained ecosystem into collapse.

"Those aren't birds" the human guide answered. "They are drones shaped like birds that are meant to pollinate the crops and plants as well as keeping watch over the readings of temperature, humidity and bacteria; within the atmosphere" he explained.

"Having them shape and acting like birds helps to show, a more natural scenery" another added; the Asari nodded in response.

As the platforms crossed another stretch of the ring, the shape of a large complex of buildings came into view, a massive architectural triumph stood in front of a central plaza with a gigantic fountain in the epicenter surrounded by statues, sculptures and most striking of all, hundreds of different flags; a whole kaleidoscope of colors detailing the multiple nations that made humanity. The platforms landed in an open area next to an enormous garden with rows and rows of flowers perfectly aligned next to each other.

Crowning the plaza was a fountain with a metal sphere depicting the human homeworld of Earth with its oceans and continents. While the parliament building casted a long shadow over them when the artificial sunlight was directed behind it.

The Terran Parliament was an over one hundred story building, a palace of white and black marble, shinning steel and reflective glass. Layer over layer of shapes and materials made a magnificent frontage that transmitted to all the meaning of the Parliament as a place of power; a paradigm of the style humans refer to as Neo Deco.

On the main entrance hundreds of soldiers and military officers stood in formation, with a few officers wearing formal uniforms mounted a top large four legged beasts, horses as they were called; an honor guard serving as a welcoming committee.

After crossing the front gates the different groups came into the main hall; for Jhana it felt similar to the Citadel Embassies' entrance, with the VI hologram Avina receiving all guests. The place reminded also her to a museum as well with various screens showing videos of pass critical events in the history of the Alliance; alongside commemorative plaques carrying names of those long gone, a statue made of copper was near the center; beneath it in a was written 'Julian Francis Xavier' 'First Prime Minister of the Terran Systems Alliance' with a phrase beneath it, written in multiple human languages 'coalescerent in caelum – United beneath one sky'.

From the balconies and top floors were crowds of journalists and press officials with drones hovering around the hall, taking videos and readings of such a critical historical moment. But Jhana and many of the Citadel party were not interested in them; their eyes were fixed on a two crystal cylinders each of them containing the bones of a type of alien none of them have ever seen before: One of them would make even a krogan or elcor look puny its bones conforming a body being at least four meters tall; while the other was of regular humanoid size its shape being somehow familiar to Jhana.

Many of the guests crowded around the glass cylinders curious about the two beings contained inside, whoever or whatever they were; suddenly a holographic human female appeared next to them, her skin was a light tanned tone yet her clothes looked as something tribal and ancient, certainly revealing as many Asari smiled at her, enraptured by her luscious body, yet their smiles disappeared in an instant.

"Welcome honored guests to the Terran Alliance Parliament I am LAKSHMI, overseer AI of the Erebus Nexus; I see you are curious about the pavilion honoring the elder races; that helped cement the Alliance's Journey into the stars. The protheans and the Jutens" she explained gesturing to the two glass cylinders.

Everyone exchanged aghast looks; the quarians and Asari above all upon speaking with a fully sentient AI yet their trains off though were stop dead on their tracks when the mention of the protheans hit them. Jhana now knew why the smaller skeleton looked familiar; its shape was similar to those paintings on the Temple of Athame in Armali, Thessia.

"It's heretical to keep the remnants of an enkindler's body as a trophy in such a way" a Hanar religious envoy declared to the AI, his body shinning with each word. "It's thanks to the enkindlers that every species on the known galaxy including the humans is able to sail through the void. Their greatest achievements the mass relays and the Citadel have shaped the galactic civilization" the hanar stated.

"We do not mean to disrespect the legacy and memory of the protheans, preacher Sarude" the AI answered identifying the hanar's name and tittle. "The protheans achievements and failures are lessons to be learned; having the bones of a prothean soldier we found on a dig site in the seat of our government is a way to honor and pay homage to the debt of gratitude we owe to the protheans" she explained turning towards the prothean skeleton container.

"Our studies of prothean civilization and history have uncovered a treasure trove almost as valuable as their technology" she made a pause. "And with all due respect preacher, our records of the history of the Prothean Empire determined that it wasn't the protheans those who originally built the mass relays" a confused gasp came from all those present.

"At least not all them, space faring races came before the protheans and constructed the first mass relays; the protheans with the help of a synthetic race known as the reapers just carried on with the work and built new mass relays connecting the entire galaxy and building the Citadel as a nexus for the entire relay network, their imperial capital as they called it. But the rebellion of the synthetic reapers ended with the protheans and every other space faring nation they have inducted into their empire as subservient races eradicated. Leaving their ruins for the young civilizations to build upon" she finished before adopting a more serious expression.

"And before any of you ask; yes I am an AI created by terran hands, conceived through advanced code and neural scans of selected and voluntary human subjects. There are three AIs overseeing operations on the Erebus Nexus: ODIN handles defense, intelligence and security; RA handles energy production, maintenance and industry; while I, LAKSHMI handle Health, education and social wellbeing" she explained. "Any of you have any other questions?" she asked.

One of the quarians shyly asked. "What about the Jutens what is the importance of them in your history for you to include them in a… monument to the elder races?"

The AI hologram moved to the larger skeleton; the monstrous creature looked even bigger than a Yagh; with very long arms and legs; its head was similar in shape to that of a turian with a very large mouth containing a row of sharp fangs; six fingers protruded from each hand similar to human hands, but their length and width was more akin to the digits on turian and quarian's limbs; two pair of eyes were on their faces, with a larger eye above and a smaller bellow on each side.

"This particular specimen was given the name Rosetta by the archeological team. The Jutens were the species who built the Erebus Nexus's framework; their planet was left uninhabitable by a gravity ship in their solar system; without FTL technology they meshed all their orbital space stations together in one huge superstation, expanding it generation after generation by mining and harvesting the asteroid field that was created by their planet's destruction."

"The construction process lasted for at least eight thousand years; and they were forced to survive with whatever resources they could get from their mining and recycling operations. Because of the size of their remnants we have called them Juten, the name derives from an old human Nordic dialect that means giant; but based on our studies the archeologists and paleontologists have theorized that the original jutens were not so big and tall as those found; and that generations living in artificial gravity's environments altered them; their bones and muscles stretching by the lack of gravitational limits. But the lack of radiation containment on their housing and prolong exposure to a zero G environment produced serious damage to their physiology, organ systems and reproductive cells; leading them to extinction" she finished.

"In any case we the Terrans owe a debt of gratitude to both the protheans and jutens not only by the material relics they left us but by the lessons their history has given us" she stated. "Now please follow our guides who will lead all of you to the Conference Hall"

As if on cue the terran escorts signaled them to follow while the hologram of the AI LAKSHMI vanished into thin air and a cloud of photons. All the guests followed their escorts while Jhana heard one of the batarians speaking under his breath about the prothean skeleton possessing six eyes, as he arrogantly scoffed about how having multiple eyes marked the superiority of one species over the others with only two eyes.

Covered by wood and noble metals the conference hall of the Parliament looked fit to be an Asari great palace or a concert hall; the three ambassadors from the Citadel sat on a small desk directly facing the Alliance Primer Minister Natasha Ferro who was seated on the very center of the main elliptical desk surrounded by her cabinet.

Next to main podium where the desks belonging to other high ranking representatives like the ambassador for the semi-independent Praxian Directorate, the Rachni Hive and the Synthetic Assembly. In the rows of seats forming a semi-circle around the center sat the speakers from all Earth nations and colonies alongside military officers, scientific advisors and industrialists. The representatives of independent and Citadel associated races were placed in the closest seat rows as witnesses the relationship between the Council and the Terran Alliance would be the centerpiece of this meeting; the relations with their races would come later in a more private type of meetings.

-.

The discussion between the Citadel ambassadors and the Alliance leadership did not last long; most of the arrangements detailing the borders with areas of expansion for the different nations, as well as the formal diplomatic and business relations have already been arranged by Ambassador Anita Goyle and the Citadel Council.

As the Alliance could not and would not join into the Citadel list of associated species; their position would be that of an Observant Independent Power with no requirement in signing the Treaty of Farixen or other Citadel agreements besides the signing of the charter of rights of sentient species and the Citadel Accords detailing the rules of war, treatment of war prisoners and prohibition to conduct heavy orbital bombardment of any garden world.

There was also the trouble of opening an embassy on the Citadel, as the right to possess an embassy on the Citadel was reserved only to those species which have already completed their ascension process, a process which was created following an Asari lifespan so the operation of bureaucracy to earn admittance into the select group that was the Citadel could be that of decades if not centuries. The last race to gain an embassy in the Presidium the Batarians had to wait for a hundred years before receiving the OK from the Council. And opening an embassy on the 'seat of galactic power' was more than formalizing relations with the three main races and their associated species it was recognizing the authority of the Council in all galactic affairs.

In the end it was decided that each superpowers would open not an embassy but a consulate in each nation's capital. The Terran Alliance was to open a consulate on the Citadel while the Council's species would jointly open a consulate on the Erebus Nexus; both sides recognizing the authority and legitimacy of the other in their respective side of the border.

The final issues of the meeting derived into the trading arrangements between the various corporations and the most efficient trade routes. Those planets located on the borders of each power would serve as trading posts; for commercial ships, within the Alliance border those planets selected as trading posts would contain a rift gate in order to allow any Citadel ship with appropriate authorization to travel through the confines of the relay non-connected Terran Space.

The most conflictive issue of the new peace treaty was the 'southern border' of Terran Space their colonies closest to Batarian Space; the "generous donation" of colonial rights to the undeveloped portion of space known as the Skyllian Verge from the Council to the Terran Alliance as "a gesture of good will" would certainly put the humans at odds with the Hegemony just as the Council intended. A poisonous gift if there was any.

The Batarians present have protested against it and the Alliance Parliament declared in response that they were not very interested in colonizing the Skyllian Verge as they have already had a hundred undeveloped colonies within their space; a trading arrangement and a more official set of border between the Batarian Hegemony and the Terran Alliance would be discussed later.

After the official talks were finally over the ambassadors and the Prime Minister with her cabinet placed their signatures on the Treaty and ended any further official conflict between the humans and the Citadel species.

With an end to meeting all the guests were conducted outside the conference hall into a large meeting hall for a feast celebrating an end to the war and the beginning of hopefully a new era of peace, with humanity finally unveiling itself to the rest of the galaxy. The huge hall provided a magnificent view of the plaza through an entire glass curtain wall; long rows of tables covered with all types of food filled the hall around a medium size fountain with a detailed sculpture in the center.

-.

For the quarian captain Shaira'Nuzzra vas Juler the feast on the Parliament's great hall was a party that she would never forget; mostly because she had never been in an actual party or feast. In the migrant fleet resources were scarce most of the time and during the pilgrimage there were few opportunities where you could get invited into a feast truly worthy of the name even if you found and made alien friends capable of helping you.

To the surprise and joy of Shaira and her crew, there was a large table with dextro amino acid food coming from a human colony with a rich dextro based environment; apparently while they humans were a levo based species they have found and kept several dextro type plants and organisms for scientific purposes.

A human guide close to them gestured with his arm towards a group of fried purple eels. "You should taste the morganic eels; don't worry they are not toxic, not one of our turian war prisoners complained about them; the turians are efficient guinea pigs and completely clueless about what the morganic eels eat" the man smirked before releasing a laughter that was shared by the rest of the human guides.

While Shaira did not know what a guinea pig was, she looked towards the other dextro based guests enjoying their meals; it seemed the humans were sincere. The Turian delegation which have arrived in the Cybaen, were still distrustful of the human yet they were devouring a feast of dark purple color eels covered with a yellow sauce with true gusto.

"They are especially delicious with mustard" the guide added.

Quarians were not accustomed on eating meat so Shaira and most of her crew shyly approached the dextro marked table where fruit containers stood: yellow, purple and dark blue fruits and vegetables called for them. Eating them was not easy, they needed to have them processed into a paste and sterilized before swallowing the mashed paste.

She ate first not as a right of captain but as a duty to put her life and stomach in the line for her crew; yet even behind her face plate her eyes shone with joy upon receiving the exquisite taste on her tongue. The rest of the crew followed her way, the morganic eels with mustard came next and there were no words to describe how exquisite they had a salty, oily taste mixed with the spicy and sour flavor of the mustard sauce. Her crewmen have never tasted something so good.

The rest of the delegations were also enjoying the feast, the Asari in particular were eating a delicacy known as fried octopus; a large sea creature with long tentacles fried in hot olive oil and covered by a layer of flour and fried bread crumps.

"Now this is delicious" a Salarian commented pointing to a bowl of boiled eggs covered by salt and spices. "Never ate boiled eggs like this, Klixen eggs are too acid to eat and the pod crab eggs are far too small to enjoy" he explained as he took another boiled white egg into his mouth.

"I agree" another Salarian commented, this one enjoying a fried amphibian creature leg covered in bread crumps and flour; fried frog legs they called the dish.

A human guide laughed and commented something to another guide under his breath. "Octopus for the Asari, frogs for Salarians… it's a shame we cannot give fried chicken to the turians; we would make cannibals out of them".

The other guide smirked in response.

As for the other guests invited they seemed to be enjoying the party; with the three krogan representatives gulping plate after plate of meat like a pack of hungry varrens. The elcors and drells complimented the food and the human hospitality; while the volus and hanars crowded around the guides and human representatives the formers with questions regarding commerce and financial agreements and the latters with religious questions regarding the protheans and their extinction.

The batarians above all the others mostly kept to themselves watching everything and everyone around them with a mix of greed and disdain; as they devoured the food they grabbed from the table they made rude comments about the appearance and shape of the human females with their similarity to Asari. The human guards escorting them seemed eager at finding an excuse to kick them out of their capital then they found it.

"Your ideals are heretical human" one of the hanar preachers openly declared to one of the Alliance senators. "You are disrespectful of the legacy of the enkindlers by claiming that they have been exterminated by machines rather than ascending into a greater plain of existence" the hanar spoke.

"My people are the direct chosen of the enkindlers; our entire world is covered by their ruins and we have never discovered any record of your reapers" the hanar said.

"And have you found any record of their disappearance?" the human countered. "Or any record about the construction of the mass relays, considering how large undertaking would be to build a single one, much less an entire network"

The hanar remained quiet for a moment. "No we haven't but that doesn't change the precept that we hanars were once the favorite ward of the Prothean Empire, they kept watch over us with much more care and resources than any other race"

"Maybe they just liked your taste hanar" a Batarian joked approaching the group. "There are records found in Prothean ruins at Batarian Space about the protheans discussing the delicacy of Salarian raw livers; maybe they preferred you boiled or fried" the Batarians laughed.

"This one does not like your words Batarian" the hanar countered in a tone as hard as he could muster.

"Well this one does not like you, tentacle preacher" the Batarian countered smiling.

"This one does not think you are worthy of the wisdom of the enkindlers four eyed barbarian" the hanar mocked, extending his poisonous tentacles in a threatening stance.

"This one does not think your kind is worthy even as slaves" the Batarian countered putting his hand on his side arm; all the humans guards and guests tensed up. "What worth the protheans could have found in your species other than a tasty meal?" he laughed.

"This one doesn't believe a people of slavers and criminals is even capable of understanding the vision of the enkindlers"

"This one shall kill and eat you" the Batarian draw his gun and so did the rest of his entourage; most of the guests and human guides released a gasp of panic; as a single human female with golden eyes and her body shinning with the blue aura of biotics approached the group her eyes narrowed in anger.

"And this one have just lost her patience" the woman said, flexing her hand forward as a telekinetic shockwave hit the Batarians; just as a biotically controlled wave of water from the fountain covered them.

Then the suspended body of water was frozen solid, encasing the half a dozen Batarians in ice with only their heads outside the mass of ice, looking between the human biotic and the solid iceberg that held with a mix of fear and confusion.

So those are the rumored plasmid elemental powers of the humans, many thought.

"Get them out of our Nexus" the lilim ordered, as the biotic aura around her vanished.

"Yes major Shokida" someone shouted as the guards rushed to comply rounding up the Batarians after breaking them out of the ice with blasts of fire from their hands; the soldiers also possessing their own plasmid powers. While the young human biotic have turned her heels and moved into the crowd of gathered terran officers.

Thankfully the feast continued without any other issue other than a brief fright when two praetorian guards were forced to pin down one of the krogan envoys who tried to start a brawl with the turians and another krogan having a mild intoxication for eating dextro food.

After a brief toast called upon by one of the members of the parliament referred to as senators in celebration of the end of the war, the multiple delegations were called upon for separate meetings.

The quarian Admiral Duer'Kozuol vas Narthrel alongside Captain Shaira'Nuzzra vas Juler have been called for a private meeting with Senator Jack Wynand representing a human nation known as Rapture; taking a deep breath Shaira crossed the metallic doors following their escort feeling that this meeting could very well decide the future of her people and their place in the galaxy.

-.

A day later

Parliament building, Erebus Nexus, Jotunhen System

Meeting of the leadership

"¿Can someone explain to me why we invited the batarians and krogans?" the german senator asked.

"We needed to show ourselves to the rest of the galaxy, including the krogans and those wretched batarians" another senator declared.

"Our people will not be happy, the press and social media will say that we are making deals with slavers and dictators" the senator from Poland added.

"The peace we have signed shall not last for very long; another war will come sooner or later" Admiral Elizabeth Comstock commented. "Especially since the 'gift' the Citadel Council has bestow upon us as an olive branch" she added.

"¿You are referring to the colonial rights of the planets in the Skyllian Verge, admiral?" the Rapturian Senator Jack Wynand asked, exchanging gazes with the admiral of the Second fleet, both understanding each other in perfect complicity.

"Yes" she answered as the admiral of the first fleet took the word.

"The council intends to drive us into war with the Batarian Hegemony" Admiral Yao explained. "They do not intent for the Batarians to win; the turians couldn't beat us after all; they just expect them to bleed us and for us to bleed them" he finished.

"Inviting the Batarians here also served another purpose" the minister of defense began. "They like the krogans and turians respect strength, I doubt most of them would seek a lasting war with us if they believe they are unable to win. Those who are arrogant and stupid enough to challenge us may serve us as tools to pit our enemies against each other" he explained holding his hand on his chin.

"In any case" another interrupted. "¿Are we even colonizing the planets on the Skyllian verge?" she asked.

"Elysium looks like a promising candidate for colonization so does a few planets within the verge" the minister of colonial affairs answered. "The point is ¿Are they worth it?"

"Perhaps we can give a few of colonies in the Skyllian verge to the Rachni Hive; attacking us is one thing, attacking both us and the rachni is another. The Batarians will be forced to back off, but that would create a lot of resentment within their government and people if they are feed with nationalistic propaganda" an advisor suggested.

"Ahh please" Field Marshal Yuri Rudek one of the highest ranking officers of Land Force Command exhaled. "Have you study our history regarding the twentieth and twenty first century with military dictatorships lead by delusional individuals who claimed they were building heaven on Earth only to fall into cesspits of corruption, poverty and misery under the leadership of bloody clowns like Idi Amin or Hugo Chavez"

"The Batarians are a decadent nation, a paper tiger of an empire" he continued. "Their homeworld is clouded not in mystery but in pure lies, they claimed to have a population of 15 billion with an economy rivaling that of the Asari" the man scoffed.

"If we go to war with them we will crush them, but it would make us look like ruthless conquerors to the rest of the galaxy" he explained. "But if we isolated them from resources and maintain a purely defensive approach; forcing them to throw lives and hardware against our defenses; they are sure to collapse sooner or later. Then we can give 'aid and support' and slowly bring them into our side"

Many people nodded in agreement to the Field Marshal analysis.

"Well we have an entire workforce of synth androids without AI high thought; we can gain a foothold in the Batarian Hegemony by convincing them to replace their slave caste with synthetics; the galaxy would be applauding us for finally helping the primitive Batarians to evolve out of their tribal ways" the Minister of synthetic affairs suggested. "But the Synthetic Assembly may not agree to it and the various corporations like Cyber Synergy and Porter-Minerva's Advanced Software will not like the idea of making deals with a slaver dictatorship nor risking the chance for one of them to build a monopoly within an alien nation" the minister explained.

"Very well enough about the Batarians; we have enough enemies" the Prime Minister Natasha Ferro cut in. "What about possible allies; Senator Wynand, how did the quarians react to our offer?" she asked looking at the Rapturian Senator.

"Hard to tell, I am accustomed to see another individual face to face before making deals and discussing about business" he smiled. "In any case we have offered them colonial rights to the planet Morgan 04, which has a rich dextro based ecology as well as several zero atmosphere planets and small moons with moderate resources. I have spoken with the CEOs of various corporations; many are interested in inducting quarians into their workforce."

"Ryan-Fontaine Industries, Mc Donald Star Engineering and Langford Terraforming amongst others are willing to bring quarian engineers for a phase of instruction into our civilian not restricted technologies before hiring them" he explained.

"So we need to introduce the quarians to our technology before they can actually be of help to us" the North American Senator Andrew Rios scoffed. "Why are we even wasting our resources and time with the quarians? What help can they provide us? Their entire population is smaller than 20 million, their economy is non-existent and their only trading card is a fleet of thousands ancient starships that they can barely maintain and do not hold a candle to the ships of the Citadel races much less ours".

"You are not wrong Senator Rios" Jack Wynand answered. "But the quarians are some of the best engineers of the galaxy; they have survived for three centuries in a flotilla of ancient ships that they have been able to maintain and refit with very few resources; their methods and perspectives when introduced to our technology may aid us in reducing our waste of resources and improve the efficiency of our navy and industry".

He made a pause. "Senator in most great battles of the First Contact War the Alliance fleet achieved victory even when outnumbered because our ships and their crews are of the best quality and are all state of the art; but every ship loss was a massive loss in resources while every sailor and soldier dead was a massive cost of manpower, experience and academic knowledge. Having the Migrant Fleet and the Rachni navy on our side will help to cut off our quality over quantity shortcomings"

"Also we are borrowing a page from the Asari, thinking on the long term" he continued. "With training and instruction teams of quarian engineers could push our navy and industries forward in a few decades. Also it would cement our place in the galaxy as a force for peace, equality and progress; we won't face our enemies alone" he finished.

Everyone nodded thinking on the words of Senator Jack Wynand; above a politician the man a cunning businessman, many say that it was because of that trait that he always got the job done. He was a young promising senator born and raised in the colony of Hera just like Admiral Elizabeth Comstock, word was that they had been childhood friends and he had earned his position as representative of the Rapturian Objectivistic Republic by his political expertise, charisma and his ties to the largest corporation on the Alliance: Ryan-Fontaine Industries.

While Rapture was still a small nation on Earth, her weight on the Alliance economy far exceeded that of her population and territory. Some of the largest industries and conglomerates had an origin in Rapture like Mc Donald Star Engineering and the Tenenbaum Foundation which produced bio medi-gel.

"What about the krogans? Are we considering the…" the Chinese senator was cut off by the voice of the Prime Minister.

"Out of the question" she declared. "The quarians and the rachni are one thing, the krogans are far too unpredictable and disorganized; they lack any central government or authority, developing a cure for the genophage also will not only turn the entire galaxy against us but it could turn some of the krogans to challenge us, be it tomorrow or five centuries from now" the chief of state gave her final word.

"As a to help them and gain some good will we can offer them colonial rights to a few minor colonies; to help them rebuild as for their lack of reproductive means we can provide them with in vitro means of conception for a price; which allow us to control their population growth" she explained her eyes looking at the ceiling as in deep thought.

"Yet in any case all of these plans are based on the certainty that our most immediate rivals the Turians, Asari and Salarians will not manage to crack our rift gate technology" the Praxian Senator, one of the most military minded politicians in the room interrupted.

"As the old saying goes Si vis pacem, para bellum; if you want peace prepare for war" he declared. "We need to improve our capabilities, expand our military industrial complex and start taking measures for every scenario, from our enemies obtaining Reaper technology to them developing rift gate FTL means".

"I agree" Admiral Comstock answered. "But there is also another concerning topic to discuss, there is a disease festering within our own borders; the GHI, the Grand Human Imperium and their leader Atlas" she declared as everyone expressions turned somber.

"Our people and our neighbors do not know that the First Contact War was the result of Atlas' schemes thankfully; we had them believe that it was the stupidity and corruption of a single man the Chinese representative Mateusz Joeng whose actions were the trigger to the conflict that lead to our unveiling to the rest of the galaxy" she made a pause looking at the ground. "A lie perhaps, but a necessary evil in our struggle to survive and secure our place in the galaxy maybe the first of many"

"We need to hunt down Atlas and his organization; they are no longer a nationalistic, xenophobic, moralistic group they are simply terrorists" she declared.

"I suggest we deploy an elite task force capable of infiltrating the GHI and take down their operations one by one, as well as preventing them from rebuild before cutting the head of the snake: Atlas"

"I am in agreement with you Admiral Comstock" the Prime Minister declared her face a mask refusing to show any emotion while the Rapturian Senator shared an intimate exchanged of gazes with the Admiral of the Second Fleet. "I imagine you have some suggestion for this task force"

Elizabeth Comstock the Butcher of Halliat smiled. "Yes I do" she said as a single file was uploaded into every data tool in the room, a single file with a name at the front:

Cerberus Initiative

-.

-At the same time

Council Private Conference Chambers

Citadel, Widow Nebula

On the other side of the galactic board there were also discussion regarding the future of humanity and the Alliance.

"Today on Citadel news, we mark a historic moment in galactic history as a new alien civilization has entered into the galactic stage" the asari anchorwoman made a pause. "The event also marks the first time in Council Era in which a space faring civilization is granted a unique position as an observant independent power; given the Terran Alliance refusal to sign the Treaty of Farixen or deactivating their fully self-aware AIs"

"The reaction through the galaxy has been the most diverse and extreme in recent era, since the arrival of the Alliance's navy on Citadel Space and the reports provided by the Council detailing the disastrous short war between the Turian Hierarchy and the Terran Systems Alliance. Since the subsequent cessation of hostilities the extranet has been bursting with diverse opinions and theories regarding the entry of these newcomers into the greater galactic community"

"The two greatest trending topics on the extranet forums are so far the distressing concern regarding the survival of the Rachni species with their role within this new power on the galaxy as well this unknown method of FTL used by terran vessels" she made a pause as the screen turned to show the recording of the USC fleet carrier arriving at the Widow Nebula through a raging storm of energy that looked like the unholy offspring of a wormhole and a gravitational storm.

"The scientific community remains baffled about the 'rift portal tear' as Alliance representatives have called it as well as the absence of a single atom of element zero in the leading human banner ship. For millennia the civilizations of the galaxy have constructed their modern societies around the eezo dependent FTL method and the mass relay network even the Council laws were drafted under the assumption that Mass Effect technology was the only logical progression of technology."

"Even though the peace treaty signed by the Council and the Alliance has left an open door for a peaceful coexistence with the humans, an atmosphere of uncertainty has spread through every corner of Citadel space. No matter their intentions, the Terran Alliance remains an anomaly, a new power in the galactic map, free of the constrains of the Mass relay network and undoubtedly powerful." A tense silence was maintained by the anchorwoman.

Tevos, Prateus and Eshael watched as every channel reported the same, STG extranet reviews said the same without the sugar coating:

The Turian Hierarchy was on the verge of a political breakdown, the humiliation of their defeats at the hands of the humans had been a heavy blow in the Hierarchy's prestige and national pride, many were asking for the head of the Primarch, a few were asking for a renewed offensive against the humans and finally there were those who had been calling for a change in the standard and predictably tactics and doctrines based on superior firepower and attrition base warfare and now they had found themselves being heard for the first time in decades.

The markets had shifted and almost collapsed overnight with the panic provoked by the revelation of the chaotic war the Turians had gotten themselves into.

And finally in both the Salarian Union and Asari Republics a silent panic attack was happening in every segment of society for the 'return of the rachni' as the trending topic titles described the revelation of the new rachni organized civilization living in association to the Terran Alliance as a client species. If they actually had the Rachni on their side, then the Alliance was a power with a nearly unlimited source of cannon fodder and cheap labor.

"So?" she asked her colleagues. "Any suggestions in how we can conduct our relationships with our new 'allies'?" Eshael and Prateus turned to her.

"Faaar too many variables" the Salarian Councilor simply answered. "Keeping peace until we can achieve a state of technological parity seems critical, but human accelerated rate of expansion and development… problematic" she made a pause.

"Projections and simulations show the Terran Alliance economy surpassing our three economies combined within six decades, not to speak of the Rachni Hive. AI open development makes their industry and intelligence services remarkably efficient; genetic manipulation makes it difficult to force on them any kind of virus or plague capable of deposing them of their ability to wage war" she made a pause not paying attention to the shock gazes of Tevos and Prateus, who could barely believe what she was saying; talking about biological warfare and maybe even genocide so casually.

The female Salarian released a short sight before continue speaking.

"Most critical of all, expansion and movement not constrained by the limits of normal FTL and mass relays; far too many variables" she looked back at Prateus, narrowing her eyes. "Turian's defeat on human colony both on the ground and in orbit, evidence of a well-equipped and experienced military; human defensive doctrine employs the use of shielding against orbital bombardment, impressive endurance strategy. Human offensive doctrine seems to focus in lighting counter attacks, bypassing enemy strong points, cutting supply lines and sowing chaos and confusion by disrupting communications and targeting headquarters all in an effort to weaken the enemy before attacking in force with superior firepower and numbers, also using technology and advance tactics to limit casualties."

"In short, we will be dealing with a lot of disadvantages if they decide to attack us in force" she finished.

Prateus released a long sight, before shifting on his seat.

"I've also seen the simulations; most of our tactics regarding space combat are designed around the limitations of normal FTL and the capabilities of our ships; we do not know the certain limits of human ship combat endurance or the full capabilities of that monstrous super dreadnought they have waiting just beyond the relay 314" P rateus added.

"What are you suggesting then Councilor?" Eshael asked Prateus in a tone that bordered on an ironic voice.

"Considering we are in this disaster because of your kind and your damn Turian arrogance and pride" she added.

"My kind?" he nearly shouted. "If it weren't for my kind, it could have taken decades or even centuries before we've discovered the humans; and they have known about us for decades because of those damned suit rats; at least know we know about their existence now and we have a chance to stop them from becoming too powerful and threaten our supremacy."

Tevos bow rose upon hearing his words, he had a point and we was speaking with honesty; for the wellbeing of their respective peoples the Council needed to maintain its supremacy on the galaxy.

"Then we do what we must" she said in a cold tone surprising both Eshael and Prateus. "Facing the Alliance now would be an economic, politic and even military disaster, and facing them in the future without a guaranty regarding technological parity will be worse; we must think on the immediate long term."

The gears on her mind began to turn and soon she was drawing a long plan to counter the Terran Alliance by whatever means necessary.

"The humans have only been space faring for little more than a century, their culture is still young, they are full of contradictions and internal conflicts" she made a pause adopting a dead serious look.

"But they are unique; they are an anomaly with a powerful fleet and armies to defend them. They are expanding and growing too fast, but only among 6% of their population works on the military according to their codex, they are a sleeping monster, and we must do whatever it takes to keep that giant from awaking" she explained as both Prateus and Eshael nodded in understanding.

This galaxy belongs to us, I am not going to let anyone or anything to take it away from my people; not the Humans, not the Protheans return, not those imaginary Reapers

-.

CODEX:

-The Praxian Directorate: The colony of Praxis in the Scorpio-Epsilon System achieved a state on semi-independence in the year 2124; while being a mostly autonomous nation with a status similar to the countries on Earth they are still part of the Terran Alliance Parliament, economy and military. Being the eezo richest planet within Human Space makes it one of the mayor economic players in the Alliance economy; like Thessia (the Asari homeworld) much of the praxian existent ecosystem adapted to the eezo in the soil and water with fauna and even flora developing biotic powers.

Yet the environment of Praxis is closer to that of Tuchanka's than that of Thessia or Earth; with cyclonic electric storms, hurricane like winds and a soil poor in bacterial life; as well as a gravitational force almost four times that of Earth, similar in strength to that of Palaven. Terraforming operations working for decades have made the planet much more amenable to humans and most organic life, but the planet's first colonists were forced to subject themselves to bio formation: genetic modification improving the strength of their lungs against eezo and other harmful particles in the air; cells more resilient to radiation as well as muscle and bone density adapted to the 3,5 G of the planet. Because of those traits Praxians are seen as some sort of super humans by much of humanity while a sense of superiority has filled much of the Praxian youth.

Since becoming an independent nation colony the Praxian government has been organized through a stratocracy; an assembly of government representatives, scientists, military officers and corporate executives that served in the Praxian General Assemby, the legislative body of the Praxian Directorate while the executive and judicial branches are made up by the Praxian High Council and the Praxian Supreme Court. The position in the stratocracy is given through merit, with its members are required to have long standing successful track record in every area of the Praxian society. Enjoying a state of significant importance within the Alliance economy and government, the Directorate has a powerful voice in the Parliament, alongside its own marine corps, Special Forces Division and even a small flotilla with ships displaying the praxian flag alongside the Alliance's insignia.

The Praxian flag is a white and yellow snake biting its own tail in a purple field; the Uroboros symbol represents the Adam slugs discovered by Doctor Brigid Tenembaum centuries before in Rapture, -whose properties were harvested to developed the first gene-mods and plasmids- symbolizing the adaptation and evolution the Praxians were forced to endure in order to claim their world. In a way the Praxian Directorate represents a military inclined ideal of the objectivistic dream of Rapture; with plasmids powers being much more liberally given and bought, for example: Construction workers can obtain the Telekinesis plasmid or electrical engineers can buy or receive the Electroshock plasmid.

Lilims make a percentage of the population much higher than that of other human colonies as the initial genetic modification bordering on eugenic tampering produced a lot of genetic anomalies within the natural born children. The lilims have mostly integrated well into the praxian society, in other planets mostly on the frontier of human space there is still a lot of distrust and racial tendencies towards lilims as their psi-powers are feared through the inhabitants of the Alliance and beyond. Within Praxis however lilims both male and females live in almost perfect harmony with the rest of Praxis' citizens; keeping several support groups known as lilim cabals where they can work to control their abilities and use them for the benefit of Praxis and all of mankind.

Some lilims are born sterile given the abnormalities in their genetic code, but others have been able to start families and sire children born with some of their abilities, but most second generation lilims as they are referred to are born with a lower psi-output than that of their parents and they possess none of the regenerative abilities of pure lilims as they cannot be 'fuse' completely with an Adam slug.

-.

-Lilims and The Order of Interpreters: Pure lilims are the ultimate combination of two highly evolved organisms: a human child sired by splicer parents (individuals whose 'addiction' to gene-mod therapy has produce serious damage to their bodies and genetic structure) and an Adam Slug (a slug native to Earth oceans with an impressive level of adaptation and regenerative abilities); the slugs are implanted into the infant's digestive organism, where they laid upon and can achieve a state of symbiosis if the genetic matching is suitable and if the infant's body adapts to the slug rather than experiencing a rejection where the host's immune system attacks the symbiote.

With the Adam slug becoming a part of the host's body lilims gained a remarkable ability to regenerate most wounds; an accelerated healing factor is not completely positive, lilims are far from being immortal and the healing is not selective: in one occasion for example a lilim child fell from a balcony breaking several bones and it was necessary to break her legs several times as the accelerated healing had fuse the leg bones together in deformed angles.

The symbiosis with the adam slug also gives way to a natural predilection for plasmid powers; with the body constantly producing Eve (a substance similar to eezo in saline proteins) the natural fuel of plasmids, lilims are capable of unleashing plasmid techniques with a power output and a level of control unlike that of any known plasmid user. While for normal plasmid users the plasmid powers are 'just another tool' not unlike that of a gun or a blow torch; for lilims plasmids can become an extension of their bodies and wills.

Yet it is their psi-connection the most notorious and unique quality of any lilim; a sort of psychic perception and connection that gives lilims the ability not to read minds as rumors and wives tales tell it but to perceive emotions and feelings in other beings like an enhanced empathy as well as projecting their own will on their minds. Lilims can communicate with each other through what many theorize is a sort of organic quantum entanglement communication similar to that of the rachni queens; while their perception and transmission of both knowledge, though, emotion and even orders are similar to sensory ability believe to have been present in the long extinct protheans: as knowledge, skill and though can be turned into a biological marker capable of being read by enhanced senses.

The most well-known lilim organization in Alliance Space is the Order of Interpreters; cabals of lilims working as just like the name implied, translator for the rachni queens and hives with the rest of the Alliance, they also serve as advisors for rachni brood mothers and Empress Maia herself.

The Order has a military arm as well, known as the Valkyries: a Corp of militant lilims trained in enhanced plasmid combat that may represent some of the most dangerous and skilled individuals on the galaxy.

-.

-The Synthetic Assembly: Ominously referred to as the 'singularity' at times, the Synthetic Assembly is a large conclave of fully sentient AIs whose chairmanship falls into the oldest and most advanced synthetic intelligences sired by humanity. Their purpose is to act as the maximum authority regarding synthetic and transhuman rights for the Alliance people as well as serving a mediator and advisor for the government in all AI related affairs.

They often have the last word in the assignment, retirement or commission of AIs within military and civilian positions.

-.

-Humanity and the Terran Systems Alliance – Preliminary report for the Citadel Council, based on the historical data received and turian war prisoners' interviews: Human civilization first evolved on their homeworld of Earth, a medium size garden world orbiting a standard single star. The conditions at the diverse yet stable environment of Earth so similar to the Asari homeworld of Thessia (other than the lack of eezo deposits on Earth) may serve to explain the striking similarities between the two races (not only in body appearance but also in common amino acids in both species organisms), perhaps even the genetic matching between the two species.

Unlike many other races, humans have an incredible wide range of racial, genetic and cultural diversities. While in other worlds a single evolutionary chain of the main species tends to compete or grow its way up to the position of apex predator of their race, eradicating the others, just like in Earth the Homo sapien species led the Homo Neanderthals to near extinction. In the humans case the presence of diverse environments on their homeworld and a constant evolutionary history based in competition but not always supremacy allowed for the development of a single species containing an entire kaleidoscope of cultures and ethnic groups.

The diverse societies and different nations across human history makes the history of the species one of never ending war and strife; but the constant struggle and exchange between one group and another that also led to an impressive rate of technological leaps and social changes across a relatively short history (Asari first develop written language 30000 years ago and developed an industrial revolution nearly 20000 years later; while human's widespread use of written language is only 6000 years old and industrial development is barely 400 years of age up to the development of FTL barely more than a century ago. In retrospect, had the humans achieve written language at the same time as the Asari conditions suggest they now could have been space faring for more than 20000 years).

It was not a single empire or a powerful nation that came to define humanity's ascension into the stars but a small cabal of scientists, artists and industrialists lead by a man known as Nikola Tesla that built a secret complex and haven in an isolated region of the Earth's South Pole (the Helios Complex) where their new technologies and knowledge were to be preserve in the case on an uncertain future, believing that their still divided and primitive societies were not ready for them yet. History would later prove them right with the outbreak of World War II.

When the humans first divided the atom, and discovered that their own self-annihilation could be almost certain, a large community of them exiled themselves to the Helios Complex of the Atlantis Project in the Antarctica, led by an industrialist and scientist known as Andrew Ryan the complex grew into a large secret city and promising society where some of the best minds of their species could work hidden from the most conflicted and totalitarian nations of their planet. Cut off from any restrain to their ideas and work be it religious, political or even moral.

The city known as Rapture, later consolidated as the Rapturian Objectivistic Republic became ground zero for a never ending wave of technological developments that were advanced even in comparison to some technologies use by Citadel species.

Even technologies and developments considered illegal by the Council have become widespread: Nowadays fully self-aware AIs help to maintain cities, stations and ships through the Alliance, with even a charter of rights and duties provided to almost every synthetic life form on their space.

Genetic and cybernetic augmentations can be seen on almost every level of human society, specifically in the military where most troops, soldiers and sailors receive gene therapy treatments to improve their strength or stamina and some even receive advance cybernetic implants to improve their memory and brain processing speed. While many races in Citadel space would not hesitate to call those practices acts of barbarians and an irresponsible tampering of the very essence of the natural and sacred form of a species; humans make use of a 'tier citizen structure' where every individual no matter their status in human society must prove themselves 'capable and worthy' of receiving those augmentations, also apparently all augmentations are voluntarily.

Humanity's search of perfection and self-improvement has given away to a small sub species of humanity: the Kori Lilith or Lilims, females and males with abilities unique among the races of the galaxy, and perhaps the very first indication of a new step on human evolution.

The discovery of an ancient complex of Prothean ruins in the nearby world designated as Mars became the spark that allowed both the unification of the Human race and the ascension of the race into a space faring civilization. Unlike the rest of the advance species in the known galaxy, the humans developed their space faring dominion not only through the mass effect technology and the relay network but also through the use of an alternate mean of FTL known as the Rift portal trans-dimensional tear.

An ever growing network of ring like structures (rift gates) are constructed and repositioned across their space serving as the gateways through the traffic and communications travel back and forth through human claimed space. It is this method of FTL and connections that represents the greatest concern for Citadel analysts, as humanity has claimed its dominion over hundreds of planets and systems, giving them a much larger area to harvest resources, spread their infrastructure and relocate their population.

While for the rest of the galaxy, the space between the mass relays is too far and too vast to explore and exploit without cost, and even normal FTL system to nearby system consumes time and resources that most races are not capable of affording on the long term. The Rift gates are apparently cheap to build and maintain, and it seems they are far more versatile and efficient than the mass effect relays.

In the human year 2109 a single human ship the SSV Michigan, made contact with a quarian crew and were engaged in combat against a group of Batarian pirates and slavers, marking humanity's first contact with another sentient space faring race.

In a noteworthy turn of fate, the human government and people perhaps inspired by the secrecy of the city of Rapture during the so called Cold War, agreed to maintain their growing dominion on a position of isolation and secrecy preferring not to reveal the human civilization to the greater galaxy unless it was on the time of their choice and on their terms. By mere chance or fate, Humanity found an ally on the oldest enemy of the civilized galaxy, the rachni when a human ship recovered an intact rachni queen egg on a derelict ship.

After the discovery of a massive ancient alien construct orbiting a long dead world, with a massive scale of 120 kilometers of diameter, even surpassing the Citadel in size that they later dubbed the Erebus Nexus, the governments of Earth and her colonies completed the transition into a coalition government and a new super nation, the Terran Systems Alliance.

While the Terran Alliance is considerable young compared to the Citadel Council their scale, technology, economy and military makes them a force to be recon. We are facing an emerging power; through the first contact war all that turians have achieved is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill it with a terrible resolve.

-.

As always I do not own Mass Effect or Bioshock; Mass Effect is property of EA games and Bioware; while Bioshock is property of Ken Levine and Irrational Games.