NOVEL NEXT 47 – Informing the Governments
While the party was taking place, the Spectres, who were tasked with telling their governments, were doing just that.
As the majority of the Spectres were from the Asari, Turian, and Salarian, there was a small game to decide who would be the chosen one to tell them. The rest of the species would be informed by the Council members.
Also, as the news was quite big, the Spectres rushed their job and tried to complete this mission as fast as they could. At this point, not even one day have passed since the meeting took place but they were doing their best to tell everyone in power.
--
SUR'KESH
Sur'Kesh was big and housed an incredible 10 billion Salarians, and in the games and past cycles, it was one of the last planets to fall, as it was very far from where the Reapers typically arrived at the Milky Way.
The Salarians were a strange species; they were 90% male, didn't really have a sexual impulse, their breeding was carefully planned, and they almost had no romantic relationship thanks to that, as their female was expected to breed with the Salarian her clan chose.
The Salarian government, known as the Salarian Union, was weird, to say the least. If compared to Earth, the structure was akin to the noble families in Earth's medieval times, where those in power did all they could to maintain the power in their hands.
There are a lot of processes to maintain that, such as interbreeding, among many others.
There were many clans in the Salarian society, and even those had a hierarchy.
The power was concentrated in the Dalatrass. They were female Salarians who were seen as the leaders of their people. They tend to possess a large influence in Salarian society.
Jondum Bau, the salarian Spectre whom Samael knew, had arrived at Sur'Kesh, the home planet of the Salarians, with bad news. Very bad news. End of the Universe news.
Well, you get it.
The person who was supposed to deliver this news was the Salarian Councilor, but as normal, he passed the responsibility to the Spectres, who by now were getting quite fed up with the Councilor.
The Salarian Spectres played a game, and Bau lost, so he had no choice but to be the bearer of bad news.
He ignored anyone who tried to greet him as he made his way towards the meeting room. He had already called and informed them about his arrival, and he was sure that with the network his people had, they must already be aware of the Reapers or at least that he came with bad news.
Sure enough, when he entered the room, everyone there had faces colored with nervousness.
Immediately, one of the Dalatrass asked him, '' Is the news we received true?''
Thanks to being one of the most intelligent species, their network of information was good, almost rivaling the one the Shadow Broker had. By now, all of those present knew about the contents of the meeting Bau had.
Bau nodded, '' Unfortunatelly, yes.''
The room went silent.
Jondum sighed. He knew things were looking grim for everyone else. If he was honest, based on what he saw and the testimony of Javik, they stood no chance as of now.
The only silver lining is that they have a chance if they unite everyone.
IF...
Just in cue, almost as if waiting for him to think that, discussions started to roll around the room as the Dalatrass from various clans started to discuss.
'' We need to combine our powers, NOW.''
'' Yes, but we can't just stop doing what we are doing too. This is not an immediate threat; we still have time.''
'' We don't -''
Jondum sighed as the meeting turned into a match of interests, and the real problem, which was the Reapers, was mostly ignored.
The Specter only hoped his colleagues had a better time than him.
--
PALAVEN
Palaven was the homeworld of the Turian species. The Turian society focused more on meritocracy than your birth. Anyone, if proved to be competent, could go to greater heights.
There's almost no magnetic field in the atmosphere of the planet, meaning the sun's radiation was bigger and stronger here, making the planet quite hostile to those unprepared.
Housing 6 billion Turians, the planet was one of the first to be attacked in Mass Effect 3.
The Reapers felt the Turians were 'too strong' for their liking, so they decided to prove them wrong. So they attacked the planet in full force. The outcome was to be expected. The planet was mostly in ruins, but EVERYONE fought back.
The Reapers won, but they also suffered great losses.
Well, that is a story about a possible future, and as of now, the planet was safe.
-
Nihlus arrived on the planet and rushed ahead to meet the Turian Hierarchy, the government. Just like Bau, the person who was supposed to deliver the news was the Councilor, who passed the responsibility to the Turian Specters.
Again, just like Bau, he lost the game and was the chosen one.
One thing that was odd to Nihlus was that Saren, one of his companions, simply didn't participate in the game, something that angered the other Turian Spectres.
Nihlus, on the other hand, knew Saren must have a good reason not to participate, so he made sure the others were okay with it too.
The Turian Spectre made his way through the buildings on the planet until he arrived at his destination. He entered the meeting room and was immediately given the order to speak.
'' We heard about the meeting. Tell us, is it bad?''
The Spectre had already explained to his government that there's a code Red. And a code Red is trouble. So they were already expecting it and just wanted to know how big it was.
Nihlus sighed, '' You will not like it...''
For the next 30 minutes or so, the Spectre retold the content of the meeting and what he knew. He also relayed the information that LD would help, etc.
When he finished, grave expressions were on the faces of those present. They weren't dumb, this was a fight they could not win as of now.
'' ... We will need the Krogan's help.'' One of the Leaders said.
'' Not only from them. We will need funds from others to start preparing the necessary equipment.''
'' The volus will help with that.''
Different from the Salarains, the Turians had already started to prepare. If anything comes out of it, only time will tell.
--
THESSIA
Homeworld of the Asari, the planet houses 5 billion souls. The planet was attacked by the Reapers in Mass Effect 3. They fought back but ultimately lost to the machines.
The government is called the Asari Republic. There's not really a power structure, as the Asari culture doesn't rely on that. Political debates might happen at any time, and the making of decisions happens when there's consensus or when a Matriarch intervenes.
Those so-called Matriarchs were Asari older than 1000 years old, and they were the closest the Asari people had to a leader. There are various Matriarchs scattered around the galaxy, but they rarely appear to the public or intervene.
Anyway, one unknown Spectre Asari was relaying the information to the Matriarchs, who were also on a holographic call with Tevos.
One of them, Matriarch Benezia, who some might know as Liara's mother, asked the Councilor, '' Is this true?''
Tevos nodded, '' Unfortunately, yes.''
All those present got quiet.
'' This is bigger than anything we have ever faced, so I ask you to start to prepare. How I don't know.'' Even the Matriarchs didn't know where to begin.
Soon, a discussion started to strategize for the defense of their planet, if necessary.
Tevos suddenly called Benezia, '' Can I talk to you for a moment?''
Benezia found the situation strange but relented, '' Sure.'' Soon, they went away from the meeting, and the Asari made sure no one was around, '' You can speak now.''
'' I have a person who knows how to fully unlock the contents of the beacon we have.''
Benezia paused. The existence of the beacon was one of the most guarded secrets of the Asari, so for someone to know about it and not tell others was weird.
'' Can I ask who is the person who knows it?''
'' His name is Samael. He is a human... Also the captain of the ship your daughter is on right now.''
'' Oh?'' Benezia's interest was piqued. The humans were a fairly new species, so she didn't have much chance to interact with them. And her daughter was working for this human.
Tevos saw through that and snorted, '' Don't think he is easy. He is far more formidable than normal, and he is also the Owner of LD.''
Benezia wanted to talk about Liara, as she hadn't interacted much with her for some time now, but when she heard LD, she got serious. '' So you're saying that LD knows about the beacon and chooses to stay quiet ... why?''
'' Well, they have a living Prothan, so I doubt they would need the beacon.''
'' True... What did they ask for in return for helping us?''
'' ... Nothing.''
'' Nothing?''
'' Yes.'' This was something that bothered Tevos too. Samael could've asked for money, fame, or many other things, but he just asked for the normal. To help against the Reapers.
In Tevos eyes, this was nothing, as this was something the Asari as a whole would do anyway.
'' Hmmm. Did he give a timeline for when he could come?'' Benezia was now more curious than ever.
'' He didn't, but I can ask him to hurry.''
'' Do that... Well, if that is all, we have to return to the meeting. We do have a lot to discuss.''
'' WAIT!'' Tevos suddenly shouted. '' I have something else to talk about. It's serious too.''
Benezia looked around once more and concluded that no one was around, '' Tell me.''
'' There's something called Project Andromeda...''
--
The same scene was happening on other planets, with the Councilours doing the jobs ( surprise!).
By the Council's calculations, in a few days, all intelligent species would be aware of the Reapers existence.
The boogyman from fairytales was real and, knowing that, might cause a lot of people, even those in power, to panic or act in a shortsighted manner.
The ramifications of telling them about the threat so early would only be revealed later, but save for some, the majority of the species acted like the Salarians, choosing to ignore the bigger threat and focus on the now.
