Above Nova, Axel had boarded his new command ship, one of the Forerunners Fortress-class vessels which they had discovered within a few of the Forerunner Shield worlds. Its size was massive as it is approximately 50 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide.
The hull was divided into three sections with the foremost section of the ship featuring a massive hemispherical structure that was 10 kilometers in diameter. The dome's hollow core served as living space for hundreds of thousands of Imperial soldiers.
Below the dome was the mid-section composed of layered platforms supporting landing bays and weapon mounts. The aft section of the ship was a long "tail" covered in gun emplacements and other forms of energy weaponry.
Other Fortress-class vessels varied in design and came in different shapes and sizes. The largest Fortress-class vessel that they had acquired was around 100 kilometers long and had far more destructive capabilities. Axel didn't plan on going to war anytime soon which is why he chose the smallest of the Fortress-class vessels to meet with the Quarians.
He was also going to use it as he ventured through the Galaxy. Ever since coming to the Galaxy he had been focused on establishing the Ascendency and had no time to actually explore the Galaxy himself which is one of his main reasons for coming to this new Galaxy.
So, in addition to meeting with the Quarians, he planned to also take his ship and visit some of the worlds and stations within the Galaxy.
Above Nova, Axel's ship which he named the 'Celestial Voyager' had initiated its slipspace jump to the Hades Nexus which lies in the outer reaches of the Attican Traverse, near the edge of the galaxy and bordering what is considered to be geth territory.
The jump took a few seconds before the ship arrived at its destination, the Pamyat system which is within the Hades Nexus. Omni had picked up the location of the Quarian fleet stationed above the planet Komarov.
"Sir, they are stationed above the planet Komarov, just as predicted," Omni informed Axel. "They are unaware of our arrival."
Axel nodded; his eyes focused on the holographic projection of the Quarian fleet. It was an impressive sight, a sea of spaceships floating within the void of space. Approximately 50,000 ships were grouped together above the planet while on the surface, small mining teams were mining for Iridium, Platinum, and Palladium to use for the fleet.
"Sir, 10 fighters are heading to our location" reported Omni.
Axel nodded as he figured they must have detected the fluctuations in space caused by the slipspace jump.
"Keep the shields ready, but do not engage unless I say so," Axel commanded. Outside, he watched as fighters drew closer to his ship. Tiny and swift, they looked more like insects compared to the massive size of his ship.
He knew these fighters were not a threat, but merely a reactionary force sent to investigate a strange phenomon which they had never detected before.
"Omni," Axel spoke while still looking outside the window, "Open up a communication channel."
"As you wish sir." Omni responded. A second later, a screen that only Axel could see through his neural link had opened up in front of him which signaled that he was now broadcasting on all nearby alien frequencies.
"This is Emperor Axel of the Imperial Ascendency," he spoke, his voice laced with a sense of authority and serenity. "I have come in peace to discuss an alliance with the Quarian leaders. I request to be escorted to your commander."
As he said this, he could see the initial hesitation of the fighters as they faltered in their flight paths, undoubtedly startled by his sudden appearance and proposition.
"Emperor Axel," came a wary voice over the comms, a Quarian, judging by the accent. "We were not informed of your... visit."
"My apologies for the surprise," Axel responded. "I assure you that my intentions are peaceful and genuine. The Imperial Ascendency seeks a diplomatic dialogue with your distinguished people."
There was a pause from the other end, long enough for Axel to suspect that they were consulting with their superiors about his unexpected proposition. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the voice returned.
"You are cleared to proceed to the Migrant Fleet, Emperor Axel," it said. "Escort Alpha will guide you."
Axel watched as four ships broke away from their flight formation and positioned themselves on either side of his colossal vessel. They began to lead the way towards the Migrant Fleet that was stationed above Komarov.
"Omni," Axel called. "Follow their lead. Let's not scare them with our advanced navigation systems."
"As you wish," Omni replied, as he adjusted the course accordingly.
The journey to the Migrant Fleet was short due to its proximity to their current location. As they approached, Axel found himself admiring the intricate design of Quarian ships. They were known for their craftsmanship and resourcefulness, a trait that was evident from their vessels.
The leading ships signalled them to halt. They were met by a larger fleet of Quarian ships that surrounded them cautiously. Tension filled the void as hundreds of eyes watched them, distrust radiating from them.
"Emperor Axel," a different voice resonated through the comm link now. This one held authority; it was confident yet respectful. "I am Admiral Naema'Rafal vas Zaedor of the Quarian Flotilla."
"Admiral Naema'Rafal vas Zaedor," Axel replied. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
"We've set up a docking bay for a small shuttle, Emperor Axel," the voice of Admiral Naema'Rafal continued. "We will await your arrival."
"Thank you, Admiral," Axel responded. He could sense a touch of surprise in the Quarian's voice, most likely due to the sheer size of his vessel. "A shuttle has already been prepared, Sir" informed Omni.
Axel nodded and proceeded to the hanger bay of the ship where a shuttle was already prepped and waiting. As he entered the shuttle, he was followed by 6 Honor Guards. 2 of them were Sangheili while the other 4 were Spartan-IIs.
Moments later the shuttle departed and headed for the location that was given to them by Admiral Naema'Rafal vas Zaedor. The trip to the designated docking area was a brief one.
As his shuttle approached the Quarian fleet, he watched through the viewing screen as the squadron of ships parted to afford them passage.
"Approaching docking bay," Omni announced, steering the shuttle through the open hangar doors.
As they settled into position and the engines powered down, Axel rose from his seat and walked to the doors of the shuttle.
The moment the shuttle door slid open, he was met with an array of sights and sounds that were distinctly foreign yet fascinating. A crowd had gathered to meet him, some standing at attention while others darted about in a frantic rush of activity.
"Honor Guards," Axel addressed his entourage without turning around. "Stay vigilant but non-threatening. We are here as visitors." Axel knew how intimidating his Honor guards liked to appear, especially towards the new races within the Galaxy. They saw them as small and weak compared to them.
In response to Axel's command, they changed from warriors ready for battle into a protective detail on a diplomatic mission.
Axel took in the sight of the Quarian leadership assembled before him, a group of ten individuals, each wearing suits of varying styles and colors that signified their roles and ranks. At the forefront stood a figure whom Axel guessed to be Admiral Naema'Rafal.
"Emperor Axel of the Imperial Ascendency," she greeted, her voice coming through the speakers of her suit. "It is an honor to have you among us."
"The honor is mine, Admiral Naema'Rafal," Axel replied.
"Your presence comes as a surprise, Emperor. We are not accustomed to such... unexpected visits from other species in the Galaxy. We live in isolation, after we lost our homeworld so long ago" She continued as her voice showed signs of generations of regret.
"I understand, Admiral," he responded diplomatically. "I apologize for any alarm that our arrival might have caused. The Imperial Ascendency respects the sovereignty of all species within the galaxy. Our intention is simply to open communication and begin building bridges of cooperation, mostly with those species who have been wronged and left to fend for themselves by the Citadel Council."
His words hung in the air, punctuated by a silence that lasted for several heavy moments. The Admiral, and presumably the rest of the Quarians present, was contemplating his words carefully. Axel guessed there were some who found his proposition too good to be true. After all, the Quarians had long been marginalized and ostracized on a galactic scale.
"Your words promise much, Emperor Axel," Admiral Naema'Rafal finally broke the silence, her tone guarded but not outright dismissive. "But forgive us for our caution. We have been deceived before."
"I understand," Axel replied aware of the history of the galaxy. "Trust is earned and rarely given freely. We are prepared to prove our intentions through actions."
The Admiral nodded slightly at that response. She then turned and gestured toward a small group behind her. "If you would accompany me, Emperor Axel, we can discuss your proposition in a more suitable setting."
Axel complied and followed her lead as they walked away from the docking bay towards a decontamination point to ensure that they didn't bring any dangerous pathogens aboard the ship. As they walked through the narrow corridors of the ship, he took note of how efficiently everything was organized.
They finally reached a large room that was presumably used for important meetings. A long table dominated the center of the room with holographic screens at various points. Admiral Naema'Rafal took a seat at the head of the table, gesturing for Axel to take the one opposite. The Honor guard took their place behind Axel while the Quarian security guards took their own place beside Admiral Naema'Rafal.
With everybody seated the meeting had begun.