September 2nd, 2174
13:39
Eriadu, Juka-System
Eriadu-City [Capital]
Main Plaza, Hotel Corusca
"...and I promise when I get elected, I will make sure that Eriadu's voice is heard in the parliament! I will make sure that those in the parliament who would like to see us under the heels of aliens in the name of mutual cooperation to line their own pockets will not get away with their schemes! For a strong humanity!"
Hearing the mix of smattering applause and derogatory slurs hurled at the candidate, I couldn't help but look over the crowd assembled before the podium placed at one end of the plaza. The people's mood was heated, and a single spark could ignite it into a bonfire if mishandled.
Thankfully, I was out of the way if that happened, but my place at the window of the hotel's wonderful restaurant gave me a good enough overview.
"It seems like the people of Eriadu are really engaged in politics," I commented to my opposite. "Normally, I would applaud them for being so interested in it, yet somehow, this doesn't seem normal."
"Most of the time, you would be correct, but this time, the race for the parliament seat is more heated and contested than ever. The two candidates are both widely popular," my opposite explained.
"Both? Or just one?" I questioned, staring my opposite in the eyes. "While the other has some very loud and extreme supporters."
"What could you possibly be trying to imply, Mr. Denebren?"
I waved my hand toward the crowd outside the restaurant's window. "If one were to check the passports of all people present, how many would state that Eriadu isn't the planet where they are allowed to vote?"
"Are you accusing the candidate of the Terra Firma party of something?"
"If I wanted to accuse him of something, this wouldn't be it. There is no law against traveling to different planets to support a candidate of your choice. As long as that support is moral. It is unusual for a candidate you can't vote for, but not illegal. So, that is no crime I could accuse him of. At most, I could speak against dubious practices in an election, and my word would have quite an impact on the candidates' chances to get voted into office, but since both top candidates are from parties different than mine, I will not."
"And yet, you are here, not a week away from the day the vote is being held."
"I simply heard that there is a moon in this system with vast untapped resources. Don't forget that Ad Astra isn't just a ship-building company but a mining one as well. That was one of our first, too. One that is immensely profitable. So, why shouldn't I come here to secure this potential goldmine for my company?"
My opposite gave a look that told me my statement wasn't completely believable. I shrugged my shoulders in response to the obvious disbelief. I wasn't lying. At least not completely.
There was a moon in the system with untapped resources, and I had come here intending to make a bid to have my company be the one to start mining them. It simply wasn't the only reason, and I left the actual negotiations to my employees. The only thing I would have to do in that business was to put my signature on whatever contract they were coming up with.
There were advantages to owning a big company that had enough employees to warrant branches dedicated to negotiating contracts that were beneficial to the company but wouldn't exploit the systems and people we were negotiating with and leave them better off economically than ever before.
I had never been a fan of exploitative contracts since they would hurt my company more in the long term. Of course, a single contract could net the company more money than two or three combined if the terms were wholly in the company's favor, but I hadn't been aiming for a handful of contracts since I took over from my father.
I wanted as many as possible.
People were far more willing to negotiate with me when they knew they would get a cut of the profits that wouldn't leave them one step away from having nothing at all.
Furthermore, having a good reputation had the added benefit of people coming to us with opportunities, so we didn't even have to look for them in the first place.
"If that is the explanation you want to go with, be my guest," replied my opposite with a slight sneer. "Yet, if you think that your presence can get the candidate of the Alliance Humanus party back into the race, you are mistaken. That is not possible. The candidate is so far back in any survey that it would need a blatant manipulation of the vote to get him into office."
"Now, why would I do that?" I asked with a grin, knowing that my opposite's thoughts went in the wrong direction.
"Wasn't that the party you belonged to when you were a minister? It is no secret that you want to return to politics in the near future, and if you managed to turn around a hopeless situation into a glorious victory for your party's candidate, it would give you a perfect opening to return in triumph."
My grin only widened as I heard the words coming out of my opposite's mouth, and I couldn't help the amused snort when a glare was sent my way.
"I am not here to support one candidate or another. There's nothing for me to gain by speaking for one of the two top candidates. Getting the Alliance Humanus candidate up there with the other two would need more than a few nice words from me in the short time that remains. You're right about that."
"Then why are you here?" The question would have broken my nose if it had been a physical entity, so hard did it come out of my opposite's mouth.
"As I said, I am here for business. I never lied about that. Had a meeting with the planet's governor about that and all."
Of course, every single one of my words was accompanied by a grin that slowly brought my opposite to infuriation. One more push and my opposite would probably start to scream at me in the middle of the restaurant, and I somehow felt the incomprehensible need to do just that.
Yet, there was something I needed to do, and that was to create a feeling that was closely related to anger but would cause a quite different reaction.
Fear and dread.
"Maybe there was one thing I mentioned that could impact the election. It shouldn't normally. I simply mentioned that my company and I are closely watching the elections of those planets we associate with since an election scandal could hurt our reputation, which is one of our main selling points."
The moment my opposite processed my words was obvious. The rapidly palling face, the wild look, and the sudden deep breath.
"Is something the matter?" I asked with overblown worry, mocking my opposite. "You suddenly don't seem well. Should I call a doctor, or do you simply need to lie down for a moment?"
"I... I... I should go. I remembered that I still have an appointment to go to."
"Let me guess," I tipped my index finger against my chin," with the candidate of the Terra Firma party? I know you're a member of his campaign team from outside the party. If something were to come to light that would put the candidate in a bad light, I am sure you already know who he's going to blame. After all, how could he order or ask others to do something that could endanger the whole party and elections across the Alliance territory? It would simply be the work of a fanatical supporter who took a joke he uttered in private as what he actually wanted."
The more I spoke, the more my opposite paled. Something I did not expect to see since their skin was already white as a sheet.
"Of course, if there isn't anything anyone could find that would hint to this election being manipulated by one party or another, then the whole scenario I just described would stay simply that: A scenario."
I gave my opposite a kind smile and jerked my head toward the restaurant exit.
"Go," I said. "I take care of the bill since you have an appointment to catch, right?"
I watched as my opposite almost ran out of the restaurant, and after the door closed behind them, I waved one of the waiters over to my table and ordered a cup of coffee with a slice of their best cake and the bill.
As I waited, I leaned back in my chair and turned my head so I could watch the chanting crowd outside.
I wondered how the people of Eriadu would react after witnessing such a huge crowd of supporters and then seeing the next poll where the candidate of Terra Firma would probably fall down more than a few points.
The chuckle that escaped was light and startled the waiter, who had brought me the coffee and cape since it came suddenly and without warning.
Yet, I simply couldn't help it.
After all, a few words were enough to send an adult running in a panic.
When Ms. Abernathy arrived a few days ago in my office and asked for my help, I thought it was to ensure she won the election here on Eriadu by helping her boost her popularity and votes.
That hadn't been the case.
Instead, she asked me to ensure that the election process was free from corruption and foul play, a request nobody had asked me before. Most would come to me and ask for help to win, yet she asked me to make it fair.
Of course, in the end, it would amount to the same thing since she was ahead of her opponent in the polls and the number of votes. Nevertheless, the way she asked for my help made me eager to give her my help for fewer conditions than otherwise.
I would have done it either way since having a new parliament member owing me a favor or two was an opportunity too good to pass up, but going about it this way was novel enough to ensure that the favor wouldn't be something I would hold over her head for long.
It also helped that I liked her as a person more than the candidate from Terra Firma and that the policies she wanted to pursue during her time in the parliament were far more beneficial to me and my company than the course Terra Firma was currently on.
That was the reason why I was here personally instead of sending one of my employees to do the job.
Besides, I was getting bored on Terra Nova anyway, and the chance to wreak some havoc on someone's plan sounded like a good idea to have some fun. Furthermore, I hadn't visited Eriadu yet, and the opportunity to scratch the itch to travel sounded nice as well.
Perhaps I should make a tour through Alliance territory and visit all the places where Ad Astra had holdings and the colonies I hadn't traveled to yet.
The government may have restricted my ability to travel outside the Alliance, at least as long as I complied with them, but they couldn't do anything if I stayed inside the territory.
Yes, I decided while taking a sip of my coffee, that sounds like a good idea. After all, right now, there is something of a lull in galactic events, and I have the feeling that it won't be long before something happens that prevents me from traveling through the galaxy for a long time.
Besides, what good is having a starship if I don't use it to explore worlds I could only dream of before?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 10th, 2174
09:21
Citadel, Widow-System
Presidium
Councilor Tevos walked through the scanning area, the door in front of her opening after the devices didn't detect any weapons on her person.
Not that she needed any to be deadly. No Asari was ever unarmed.
In her youth, she had been an Asari Commando and could quite literally flay someone with her mind alone if she so wanted.
She walked into the secured room as if it belonged to her, the hem of her gown slightly dragging behind her on the floor. The two lightly armed Salarians to each side of the door were given only the barest of glances before the Asari Councilor banished them from her mind.
Besides the fact that they posed no significant threat to her, the Salarians would never attack her so openly or when most of her trusted aides knew that she was meeting them. If they decided to plot an attempt on her life, Tevos expected them to either rely on an undetectable poison in her apartment, a "mistake" during a medical procedure, or a sniper when she was out in public for an event.
Perhaps it was a bit morbid of her to imagine how she would orchestrate her own assassination, but she hadn't risen to her position without making some enemies, even among her own people.
And Asari were patient.
They could wait decades to avenge a slight or to get someone out of their way. Tevos should know. She had been on both ends often enough.
Her feet brought her to a table where two Salarians were already waiting for her, a pot of steaming tea in the middle and an empty cup in front of the chair pulled back by the Salarian Councilor who stood up to greet her.
"Thank you for coming, Tevos. It's good to see you," said Councilor Mart, a slight smile gracing his lips, something Tevos returned without hesitation.
"It is my pleasure, Mart. It sounded like you wanted to discuss something important."
"It is," replied Councilor Mart while sitting back down and gesturing to the other Salarian sitting at the table to introduce her. "This is Dalatrass
Lova, an envoy sent by Dalatrass Narra. She has come to share some information with the upper echelons of the Asari Republics, which are concerning, to say the least."
"Dalatrass Lova," greeted Tevos, lowering her head respectfully in the direction of the Salarian before taking a moment to observe her new acquaintance.
Her face's skin was mostly a deep purple, while the area around her nose was a lighter shade without anything like the black freckles that were all over Mart's face. Instead, the Dalatrass skin seemed more leathery, and deep wrinkles were around her eyes, telling Tevos that she was dealing with a Dalatrass nearing the end of her natural life span.
After being the councilor for the Asari Republics for so long, Tevos had met quite a few Salarian Dalatrasses, especially since some of them decided to become the councilor for the Salarian Union. Yet, it wasn't usual to meet one outside the territory of the Salarian Union unless they decided to hold that particular office. So the Dalatrass' presence here on the Citadel had to be for an important reason.
"Councilor Tevos, it is nice to meet you," the Dalatrass returned the greeting politely. "The Salarian Union is grateful to have a staunch ally like you on the Council."
"The Salarian Union and the Asari Republics have been allies since we found the Citadel and created the foundation of our current galactic community. While our respective governments haven't seen eye to eye on all matters, we have always done our best to direct the galaxy toward a brighter future, and I, for one, am grateful to have taken part in this."
To say that the Asari Republics and Salarian Union haven't seen eye to eye on some matters was the understatement of the century. Hidden from the public and, more importantly, the Turian's eyes, the two of them have come to blows within the shadows more than a dozen times in the last five hundred years.
Events where hundreds died and had been declared accidents or natural disasters had been acts of a shadow war the Asari and Salarian led behind the scenes.
Nonetheless, both parties knew not to cross the line into open warfare or to air their grievances with each other openly since they had to present a united front toward the rest of the galaxy as the two founding members of the Council. To show anything else would only invite more discord among those they wanted to lead.
"Yes, our two governments have always strived toward such a future, and I have news that could help us ensure the future we envision," replied Dalatrass Lova.
"Could you please explain what you mean? I would like to know what information the Salarian Union discovered."
"The STG discovered that the Batarian Hegemony is gearing up for an immense operation against the Alliance. Of course, they are acting through intermediaries like slavers and pirates, but, as always, it is a paltry excuse. One that not even the most simple Vorcha believes anymore."
"And what does the Salarian Union intend to do?" asked Tevos. "Councilor Mart introduced you as an envoy of Dalatrass Narra, so you probably speak with her voice. Do you want to warn the Alliance, and if so, why did you ask me for this meeting. Something like that doesn't require my help nor the one of the Asari Republics."
"The humans already know about the Batarian's plans, I am sure about that. Their intelligence service, the AIS, is quite competent. Most of the STG are equally frustrated and glad to have a worthy rival again besides the Asari since they have been running circles around the Turian for centuries. So no, we don't intend to inform the humans about anything."
"Now you have me curious. If not that, what are your plans?"
"We want to change the timetable of the raid and ensure that it is more successful than the AIS intends to allow."
"The humans want the attack to happen," asked Tevos, the words leaving her mouth before her mind sprang to the correct conclusion as to why they would do so.
Dalatrass Lova seemed to recognize the realization on Tevos' face when she answered: "You have come to the same conclusion. They want to garner sympathy and understanding among the galaxy's citizens to strengthen their political position before they inevitably strike back. It is a tactic we both have used to push through certain laws in the past. Furthermore, this counterattack will weaken the Batarians immensely, giving the humans the undeniable dominant position in their corner of the galaxy while keeping their power intact."
"And you want to make sure that doesn't happen," concluded Tevos.
"It will happen no matter what we do," replied Dalatrass Lova with a shake of her head. "All of our projections show us that humanity will attain a position of power that is only below those on the Council. The only reason why we will stay on top is because we had more time to establish ourselves in the galaxy and because we created the galactic society in its current form. It is only a matter of time until humanity grows powerful enough to make their ascension to a Council species a mere formality."
"How long?" asked Tevos, her eyes narrowing.
"At the current pace? Half a century, at most," replied Dalatrass Lova, her answer thick with the same apprehension that Tevos felt.
"That is too fast." Tevos knew since the humans established their embassy on the Citadel that they would become a member of the Council one day. This young species showed all the important characteristics necessary for it.
Diplomatic, economic, and military prowess paired with a diverse and deep cultural background.
Everything that the current Council members had, too.
Yet, it was too fast. The Asari hadn't gained enough influence over them to subtly direct them onto a path beneficial for the galaxy.
Even their usual approach of sending Maidens into the territory of the newly discovered species to slowly subvert their culture with Asari ideals wasn't showing the anticipated results.
On the contrary, many Maidens were deeply fascinated by the multifaceted human culture and began to bring it back into Asari territory.
Furthermore, there was another point that had to be addressed.
"And what about the Batarians? They won't take that lying down."
Once upon a time, the Batarians had been considered to take up a Council position since they showed many of the preconditions, too.
Yet, their so-called cultural heritage of keeping slaves and their unwillingness to move past such a barbaric custom kept the Council members from seriously considering any of the myriad petitions to join the Council. Furthermore, the ability of the Batarians to genuinely cooperate with others and their capability to commit to the safety of the galactic community was questionable as well.
In the end, it had been decided to keep them away from the highest position of power as long as they showed no intention to change. A stance that the Batarian ambassadors were well aware of but chose to ignore while continuing to petition for a Council seat.
"The Batarians will probably leave the Citadel in protest after we deny their call to censure the humans. Something they will undeniably try to push through," interjected Councilor Mart, taking part in the conversation for the first time since Tevos sat down at the table. "They always play the victim or aggrieved party whenever they overestimate themselves and get put in their place. Just like they always threaten to leave the Citadel if they do not get what they want. I am sure they will try to do the same this time, too, not understanding how much the situation has changed with a new superpower in their front yard."
Tevos understood what Councilor Mart meant by that. The situation had changed. That much was true. One of the reasons why the Council had tried to placate the Batarians whenever they pulled the "Leaving-the-Citadel"-Card was that the Hegemony performed as a buffer between Citadel Space and the Terminus Systems, preventing many of the less savory elements from the wild part of the galaxy from coming into their corner of the galaxy.
Besides, the influence the Batarians had over the Terminus Systems kept it relatively calm despite the numerous factions within.
But with the humans now being able to take over the role as a buffer instead of the Batarians, they lost a big bargaining chip. The loss of the Batarians as a calming factor over the Terminus Systems wouldn't affect any of them in a major way. The other side of Citadel Space, which was connected to the Terminus Systems, was secured under the watchful eyes of the Turian Hierarchy, and the Batarians had not much influence over that part in the first place.
The only thing that would happen would probably be increased pirate and slaver activities, something the Alliance would have to deal with as part of their obligations to the Citadel.
Those circumstances would work well to help limit the growth of the Alliance as they would have to commit more resources to keep their borders secure in addition to the suddenly potentially hostile state next door that wasn't bound by any Citadel laws anymore.
Of course, a war could break out due to the rising tensions between the two species, yet Tevos was confident that with Turians and Salarians helping humanity in small ways and the Asari swooping in at a point in time when the humans expended an appropriate amount of resources to negotiate a peace treaty, the situation would be easily controlled in a manner that benefited them.
"Very well," said Tevos, "should it come to this, I will follow your lead, Mart. Now, please enlighten me on how you intend to use the future attack on the Alliance to our advantage. I am sure you already have come up with more than a dozen scenarios, and my time today is sadly limited, so we have to work quickly to select the most appropriate."
Her words were greeted by matching smiles from the two Salarians, telling Tevos that her estimation of there being a dozen potential scenarios fell short badly.