SfS-34

Salvaging from Strife[]

Chapter 33 - The Whole World Blind (Part 1)[]

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Part 1[]

Commander Montgomery Shepard glanced at the spinning holographic ComGuards emblem floating at the centre of the round table, then slowly panned his face across the room, looking at each of the others with him, Lady Tali'Zorah, Chief Virtanen, and Mrs Oliveira.

"Alright," he began, "We still have a little time before my meeting with Precentor Udina and my aunt. With the Geth attacks spreading through the Terminus Systems, they're probably hoping the research teams on Elysium made a breakthrough. Unfortunately, since I'm a dumb Mech jock, I need you to help summarise the complicated stuff for me, see if we can figure something out."

Mrs Oliveira raised a hand. "Is there really a point? ComStar has access to the same reports, and let's face it, we're on Elysium, Capital of the Skyllian Verge. Every major member of the Star League has a major enclave here on this planet, not to mention all their people in the Initiative. If the data isn't already being analyses by at least six intelligence agencies, something has gone terribly wrong."

"I'm aware, Ollie, but maybe there's something we've all been missing. Because so far, I can't make heads or tails of what Saren's actual plan is."

"He's got a point," Virtanen muttered. "I'd feel a lot better if I knew what's going on myself." More loudly, the Chief Tech continued, "There must have been something big on Nedas, for Saren to be acting like this."

Oliveira shook her head. "Bigger than Noveria and the Rachni?" Her lips were in the process of shaping the next word when she paused and hummed thoughtfully. "Since the server hubs on Nedas were destroyed, it's possible Saren doesn't know how much information was stolen. If he thinks we obtained data on the Geth's military capabilities, or his plans, that could explain why. Pull the trigger now before he runs out of time."

"That's plausible," Shepard agreed. "A shame we obtained neither. Tali, anything new from the Quarian side?"

The Quarian's sigh was long and drawn-out as she stared at him. "Do you know how many times I already said no to every other human today? We Quarians may be the best experts on the Geth, but there's a lot of data, and they aren't exactly in good condition. It will take years to fully restore and analyse all the files, even if Admiral Xen said she had ideas for how to speed things up."

Shepard opened his mouth, but Tali continued talking. "And before you repeat the same questions you asked yesterday, Shepard, and the day before, and… No, there's nothing new on the Black Ghost. And unless you count some old extranet news articles on Saren Arterius, nothing connected to the ex-Spectre either."

"So, the only thing Nedas had on Saren," Shepard concluded, "is his first visit to the Geth."

"Unless you want to include all the the geth runtimes discussing his connection to the Old Machines," Tali half-heartedly offered.

"Hardly." He pulled up the familiar audio file.

"I am Spectre Saren Arterius. You should know who I am. I am here on behalf of Sovereign, the one you call the Old Machine Nazara."

"This is unexpected. The Geth were unaware the Citadel Council knew of the Old Machines."

"No, I am not here on behalf of the Council, Geth. I serve a different cause now."

"It is illogical for you to betray the Citadel."

"You don't need to understand. Organic civilization will soon fall, to be replaced by a new order. Accept the offer, and you will have a place in it."

"The geth require more information. Nazara is no longer responding to our queries."

"Consider me Sovereign's… representative."

Shepard paused the recording. Reaper, Old Machine, Nazara, Sovereign, whatever the correct name, powerful ancient machines that wiped out the Protheans fifty thousand years ago before vanishing. Ridiculous nonsense, and everyone knew it. The files he had given to Garrus had avoided all mention of the subject, for good reason. The Council needed to realise Saren's treachery, and bringing up the crazy topic would have only made that harder.

Oliveira shrugged. "Clever of Saren, really, coming up with Reapers. Robots that destroy all organic life, must really appeal to the genocidal robots." Nods all around.

"Still," Virtanen said, "I'm still surprised the Geth fell for it. I have some ideas how Saren pulled it off." His eyes wandered aimlessly. "Set up a VI that pretends to be a Reaper. Or he made an AI, got his own bootleg Geth, whatever he used just needs to fool the Geth long enough. Then he claims to be the representative, when it's really the Turian that's in charge."

"He's a rogue Spectre," Shepard pointed out. "Probably knows a thing or two about deceptions."

His Chief Tech scowled. "I'm just saying. It's still a gamble, flying into Geth space like that. And what if the Geth wizened up and started demanding more proof? Even the Davion Fox wouldn't have tried something that ambitious without some backup."

Shepard didn't quite pay attention to what Tali said next about Geth intelligence. There was something… "Tali, Virtanen, how advanced was the Geth tech on Nedas?"

"About the same as those on Therum?" "Good stuff. The Great Houses would probably build brand new institutes to reverse-engineer it."

"Would that be enough to build something like the Black Ghost? Or the Vampire Spikes?" Even as Commander-in-Chief, he lacked the clearance to read the unredacted reports, but enough eyewitness accounts had spread from Coromodir to Elysium, not to mention what information High Lady Arano and the Argo could provide.

The Quarian and human looked at each other. Virtanen spoke first. "You're the Geth expert. I'm just good with Mechs and Dropships."

"It's possible." Tali spoke hesitantly. "Something the size of the super-dreadnought. As for the Spikes, it's not something I know. I'll pass the question on to the Admirals."

"Please do."

"Shepard," Oliveira had a distant look on her face. "Who else but the Geth could have built those? The high-tech stuff simply wasn't on Nedas, probably concentrated on Rannoch or in some special facility."

"Just wondering." A countdown timer appeared, overlaid onto the ComGuards hologram. "Meeting's about to start."

The holographic emblem vanished, replaced by the grim face of Precentor Kamea Shepard.

"Nephew, Lady Zorah, others," his aunt perfunctorily greeted them, "Blake's Blessings on you. Precentor Udina will be with us shortly. I sincerely hope your pet Turian isn't listening in."

"Liaison Garrus Vakarian is a reliable associate, Precentor."

"His loyalty is to C-Sec, the Turians and the Citadel. You would do well to remember that." Her eyes flicked sideways. "Just as Lady Tali'Zorah's is to the Migrant Fleet. While we're waiting, Lady Zorah, I question if the Quarians have not been completely forthcoming about the data from Nedas."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"There are gaps in what the Normandy Initiative has received. For starters, it seems we are missing anything related to Geth programming, or the Quarian's home system."

Tali crossed her arms. "The Admiralty is permitted to classify and withhold data they deem sensitive. I don't see your Star League sharing Sol's defences, and the Geth code is too dangerous to share freely."

"You underestimate humanity, my Lady. ComStar especially is more than capable of handling dangerous technology responsibly. Humans died on Nedas for that information, and we will not be treated as junior partners to the Quarians."

Best to intervene before things went out of hand. "Easy now," the Commander said before Tali could reply. "Precentor, I'm sure you could schedule a meeting with the Quarians Admiralty about this. I thought ComStar is supposed to be diplomatic and neutral."

"I have little patience for niceties at the moment, given the current state of the Terminus Systems and the confirmed existence of more Geth dreadnoughts besides the Black Ghost. Lady Zorah is no longer your employee, Commander Montgomery Shepard, she is here on behalf of her Admiral father. Have you not considered the possibility they are hiding vital information about Saren? I wonder what secrets are known only to that Turian, the Geth and now their makers."

"Lady Tali'Zorah was on Feros, she went to the Citadel with us after that disaster," Monty listed, "and she's been part of the Normandy Initiative since Therum. I trust Tali," he emphasised, "to do what is right by us and the Migrant Fleet."

His aunt's reply was dry and flat. "How amusing, that a lifelong mercenary is so trusting."

Her hologram jumped sideways, and Precentor Udina came into view. "-as though it's our fault their Spectre went crazy. Ah, Commander, I hope I didn't miss anything important." He glanced around. "Never mind, I don't have enough time for this. How is the situation on Elysium?"

"Stable." The few Geth that had entered the Skyllian Verge so far had retreated quickly, scouting parties. "Some of Normandy's forces are still recovering from Nedas, but we can deploy to counter Geth attacks."

"That is good to hear, but you won't be doing that soon. The Normandy Initiative will defend Star League worlds, just as the Quarians are protecting their Migrant Fleet first. The Turians finally decided to share some intelligence with us, and fortunately, it seems our own intelligence was on the mark. The situation looks worse than it is. Geth are raiding where they can, but they're mostly avoiding the actual Terminus Systems fleets and defences that would pose a threat."

Precentor Udina grimaced. "At least those a few relays away from the Perseus Veil. The bulk of their heavy ships are locking everything down close to the Perseus Relay."

"Well," Mrs. Oliveira said, "it's a good thing the borders to Geth space are only sparsely inhabited. But that still meant trading outposts, mining bases and countless other small settlements are at the mercy of the Geth."

Precentor Udina looked annoyed at the interruption. "Those aren't of concern to us." His face darkened. "Unfortunately, the situation isn't that rosy. Geth fleets, including dreadnoughts, have begun attacking larger colonies near the Perseus Veil, instead of bypassing them. The Citadel Council was very keen to emphasise they had populations in at least the millions."

"Keelah," Tali cursed. "Shouldn't we help find and evacuate survivors?"

"Nonsense," Precentor Udina grunted. "We cannot risk humanity's defences becoming overstretched for the sake of a few dozen aliens. As much as it pains you and me, Lady Zorah, we know how the Geth fought, both the Quarians and in the Aurigan Reach. And there's still no sign of the Black Ghost and Saren. I'm sure the Commander would agree we should preserve our strength for when he is found." Shepard nodded. "Incidentally, any luck there?"

Tali replied, "Still nothing from the Nedas data, Precentor. It seems the Geth were successful in wiping anything related from their servers."

Might as well voice his guess. Shepard spoke, "Actually, I've been thinking. It's possible the Black Ghost isn't Geth after all. What if Saren had the Black Ghost before he met the Geth?"

"Are you suggesting Saren built a super-dreadnought in the Terminus Systems?" Precentor Udina scoffed. "Preposterous."

"No, Precentor, I'm suggesting Saren found a LosTech derelict in the Terminus Systems. A Prothean dreadnought."

Part 2[]

Terminus System Colony, near Geth space

Even within the spaceport's control tower, there was no getting away from the automated broadcasts. The next one was due to start any moment. Fernando sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"My fellow sapients, it is with great regret that I make this announcement. The Geth have laid siege to our system and isolated us from our allies. I will not hide the facts. Our system defences, though extensive and well-equipped, are insufficient to repel the marauders. We must prepare for the worst. Know that I am here with you, and that we will stand together, no matter what comes."

He turned his translator off. The now unintelligible Asari voice was much more bearable. It was a recorded message anyway. The governess' personal shuttle had taken off five hours ago.

The floor shook, and Fernando took another sip of wine from the bottle. Not as though his overseer was around to care. Probably lying dead on the tarmac, trying to storm one of the last transports off-world. He wondered if the Volus was surprised when the people with guns refused to give up their seats.

A sudden hissing sound from behind Fernando sent his chair tilting too far back. From his new position on the ground, a cold wet stain spreading across his chest, he belatedly recognised the sound as belonging to the control room door. And that there was an unfamiliar Turian pointing a shaking pistol at him.

The alien shouted something at him. Fernando stared blankly back with wide eyes, before remembering. Slowly, making sure the Turian could see his hand, he pressed the toggle.

The Turian stepped closer, mandibles twitching erratically. "What did you do? Answer me!"

"I just turned my translator on, pal." Was he slurring? He hadn't drunk that much, had he? "What do you want?"

The shout made Fernando wince. "Answers!" The Turian made a wild gesture with the pistol before pointing it at him again. "Where's the rally point?"

"What rally point?" The pistol muzzle seemed to move in time with his own pounding heart.

"The resistance! I can fight, so tell me where they're gathering! I warn you," the pistol shifted away from Fernando, "I'm not afraid to shoot!"

There was a single beep, followed by a tinny, flat message from the pistol. "Safety on."

Fernando rolled across the ground onto his stomach. He focused on untangling his legs, then got on all fours, before wobbling to his knees. "You don't know how to shoot, do you?"

It was interesting, watching the Turian deflate and sag. "Just, just tell me where the safe locations are."

The wine bottle was empty. Fernando felt for the edge of his workstation and hauled himself up. "If I knew that, you think I'd be here? No, I don't know anything. Just," he stretched the next few words, "sitting here, waiting to see what the Geth do."

The Turian staggered backwards until he slumped against the rear wall. "Nothing?" He asked weakly.

"No way off-world, no way to call for help, and nowhere to hide. Sorry." He spotted movement at the door. A second Turian face peeked out at him. "You're not alone."

"My family. I'm trying to get them somewhere safe." The pistol hung loosely from his slack arm. "Rena, you can come in."

There was a third Turian, much shorter and thinner than Rena, clinging tightly to the female's side. His eyes widened when he saw Fernando. "Are you a Mechwarrior?"

A laugh escaped Fernando. "Hardly, kid. Here." His colleague wasn't coming back anyway. He dug through the drawer and fished out a small packet stashed at the back. The kid caught the dextro snack, and began nibbling at it. "Only a few get to sit in a Mech. I just work here. I'm Fernando."

"Regus. Dad, I'm tired, are we safe here?" 'Dad' patted his shoulder and looked at Fernando.

"Here's as safe as anywhere else," Fernando offered. He tugged at the uncomfortable stain on his chest. "Don't know what the Geth are blowing up, but they've left most of the spaceport intact." Apart from the passenger terminals, but the Turians should have seen the craters. "Haven't seen any Geth either. How's stuff in the city?"

'Dad' shrugged, choosing an empty chair at random. "We came from the Eezo mines. But on the radio, it doesn't sound good. Riots, looting. There were rumours ColSec had prepared shelters." He sounded apologetic. "I'd hoped those were true."

Fernando grunted as he sat as well. "Five million people waiting for the Geth to kill us all, sounds about right." Question was whether the Geth just did it from orbit or liked doing things in person. He glanced at Regus, to see the boy asleep on the ground.

Rena timidly asked, "Do you know what they did on Coromodir?"

"Nah, I've only heard stories." He shivered. "Don't think it's true they turn people into Geth." The next automated broadcast started, and he ignored it. "It's funny. My folks came from New Vandenburg, not that far from there. When the Calderons sold us independent Taurians to the Star League, my parents decided to leave the Concordat, and now here I am." He was rambling. "All the way across the galaxy, and the Geth and Star League still ruin my day as if my parents had stayed on New Vandenburg."

His ears finally noticed. He shut up. The broadcast was different. Not the placating empty words of the absentee governess, or useless warnings and outdated announcements. The voice was robotic, lifeless. Like the Geth.

"- will comply with the new Element Zero quotas. Failure to comply will be rectified with replacement. Resistance will be rectified. Sabotage will be rectified. The first Element Zero shipment will occur in seven point two hours." A pause. "Attention, this system now under Geth command. You serve the Geth. You exist because we allow it, you will end if productivity is beneath cost of population replacement. The required quota for Element Zero is…"

Laughter. Fernando was laughing. The Turians were watching him and the corners where the speakers were mounted, but he didn't care. He would live, with a tyrant as bad as the Star League ruling over him, but he would live after all.

Part 3[]

Citadel Tower, Citadel

Once again, the Council Chambers were crowded. Many dignitaries were there in person, but there were also rows of holographic figures, representatives who'd refused or been unable to enter the Citadel. And while Citadel Councillor Sparatus and his two fellow Councillors, standing on their elevated podiums with the only area of empty space around them, were the centre of attention, drifting words from the many smaller discussions on the fringes merged into an incessant background murmur.

"The representative from the Free Rimward Hierarchy is next."

A turian stepped forward out of the crowd.

"The Free Rimward Hierarchy will not cede its independence to the Turian Hierarchy or the Citadel Council. However, we would be grateful for assistance from the Citadel, and are amenable to reopening diplomatic ties as a sign of reconciliation."

Turian separatists who had broken away from the Hierarchy centuries ago, now come back to the Turian Hierarchy to demand help. Sparatus kept his voice neutral. "I presume you expect financial assistance, and export of military equipment?" For free went unsaid.

The representative cleared his throat. "Actually, Councillor, the Free Primarch requests a non-turian naval deployment, to assist in deterring geth raiders."

That caused a minor stir. Councillor Valern leaned forward to speak. "Interesting. Are your own ships no longer capable of defending your systems, after losing just one cruiser?"

The representative kept his face blank. "Our self-defence fleets have taken some losses. But we are more than capable of fending off Palaven." He directed that sentence at Sparatus. "However, we cannot spare the resources to protect the refugee convoys passing through our systems. The Free Primarch hopes at least one member of the Council is interested in protecting civilians."

Sparatus began to speak, then silently watched an asari shove her way roughly through the ranks to join the turian. "If any Citadel ships join the Hierarchy, my Matriarch will take it as an act of war," she declared while exchanging glares with the turian beside her. "Given the good relations between our Terminus Republic and the asari Republics of Citadel space, I urge you to deny his request."

"Perhaps," Councillor Tevos suggested, "the two of you should follow the example of the Batarian Hegemony and Human Star League and agree to a truce."

"With all due respect, Councillor," this diplomat was at least polite, "those turian warlords have been throwing their ships at our worlds for years. And if you support them, my Matriarch will have no option but to conclude the Council is planning to annex the Republic by force using a proxy."

"Your Matriarch enslaved those turian colonies, and we won't forget that. As for the idea of a truce, if the humans cannot keep peace in their own Star League, I do not see their ceasefire with the batarians working."

"The temporary armistice between Katherine and Victor Steiner-Davion was signed only two days ago," Precentor Udina interjected loudly, a chorus of the other human ambassadors echoing him. "It will take time before all the commanders stand down."

One of the humans added, "The Dragon desires harmony in the Star League. If one of the other members defies the will of the Dragon, the Draconis Combine shall enlighten them as to the error of their ways!" ignoring the annoyed glares from the others around her.

The turian representative spoke again, but not to the Council. "Don't pretend you and the batarians are doing this selflessly."

Sparatus turned his eyes towards the batarian ambassador, and as expected, the four-eyed alien responded, "Our Batarian Hegemony is merely offering to extend to independent colonies economic assistance and the protection of our military."

Sparatus wondered if any of the arguing people still remembered the initial petition from the turian separatists.

An encrypted message silently popped up on his podium's display. The admiral understood her orders, and all checks and preparations were complete. Sparatus looked to his side, catching the eyes of Valern and Tevos, who had received the same message. Tevos nodded slightly.

Finally.

He slammed an override, briefly muting the still shouting Udina. "Over the last few days, the Citadel Council has studied and deliberated the geth menace. The Council has come to a decision." Sparatus announced, as all eyes focused on him. "The Citadel Fleets will enter the Terminus Systems, with a mandate to repel the geth and restore peace."

He paused briefly, awaiting the initial response. Brief silence, followed by dozens of voices trying to talk simultaneously. A shout of "You're planning to conquer us!" broke through the unintelligible mess. Another cry of "Saren's working for you. You planned this with the geth!" was met with scattered acclaim.

Valern took over from Sparatus, silencing the uproar. "Up until now, the Citadel members have left the Terminus Systems in peace. It was preferable to another galactic war after the Krogan Rebellions. However, now there is war in the Terminus Systems, and so the Citadel members will act."

Tevos spoke next, "The geth are clearly planning the extermination or subjugation of all organic life. And if the Citadel permits them to rampage through the Terminus Systems, the threat will only grow. The Citadel Fleets cannot stay on the defensive in Citadel Space."

Valern resumed, "This is not meant to be a war of unification. The Terminus Systems will retain their sovereignty after the geth threat is resolved. However, it is clear an active Citadel presence in the Terminus Systems is the most effective option."

"Make no mistake," Sparatus continued, "your cooperation will be welcome, but not a prerequisite." He made a mental note. The turian separatists would receive the assistance they desired. "If Terminus warships attempt to interfere in Citadel operations, or Terminus colonies refuse to provide support to Citadel forces without good reason, the Citadel Fleets have orders to do what is needed. I hope that will prove unnecessary."

"As a sign of our commitment," he concluded, "the Destiny Ascension will join the vanguard as flagship, to force the geth back behind the Perseus Veil. She departs the Citadel at the end of this Council session. You are welcome to watch its departure."

Part 4[]

????

Follow the trail. Any Spectre knew that. And even if he understood none of it, the ancient Prothean technology had parallels to the technology he knew. After all, they had evolved down the same desired path.

This dormant Prothean facility, buried within the ruins of this dead, lifeless, world, it was the enigmatic location of his visions. And though it silently refused to reveal its secrets, he would discover its purpose, one way or another. There was no alternative.

There was something important here, something that would explain what the Protheans had done. So he'd followed the trail, the data relays and power conduits running through the facility and back up to the surface, seeking the answer.

And now he stared at the solution.

At the statue of the mass relay. One that was not a statue after all.

"I've seen this before," he muttered to himself.

This one in his visions, and its twin with his own eyes.