Calm

April 24th-30th 2190

Systems Alliance Command discussed the alterations Harbinger suggested in command structure before accepting it. While the discussions were actually quite fast, it took a week or more for approval to come through as it took time for the changes to filter through their collective minds and for all the appropriate signatures to be sought.

The civilian governments were the last to sign off as they feel nervous about officially giving so much power, especially in emergency situations, to what they could argue is a non-human. Systems Alliance Command pointed out that Harbinger is human, through Shepard, and that regardless of their feelings, he is the SIL and SOCLs acknowledged leader. They have never even considered taking orders from someone else.

In an emergency, power must be consolidated in one being for the sake of decision making, and the SIL and SOCL won't even consider taking orders from anyone else. If the emergency is military in nature, as most are, then the military leader is by default the leader and they must be empowered to lead. In the end, the adjusted treaty is signed. The SIL and SOCL have become an important part of Humanity in the thirty years they have arrived. On the military side of things, no matter how many ships the Systems Alliance incorporated into the fleet, the SIL and SOCL would still remain the majority of the fleet for the foreseeable future.

The new treaty gives greater integration though, a fact the pessimists who are still somewhat waiting for the axe to fall are thankful for. While integration means reliance, they hope that reliance goes both ways and that the actions of the SOCL in recent years have shown their true loyalty. They may be a merged synthetic and organic being, but they remember their roots, they are loyal to humanity.

The period of integration gives Harbinger and Shepard a chance to catch up on five years of information. Arshan related details about the fall of the Batarians, including the fact that one SOCL, the Edi Moreau had been spotted by Council forces. After reviewing the situation and her records, Shepard concluded that the Council, while they will know that the Edi Moreau was one of the aggressors, will not be able to infer very much. This conclusion agreed with what the Quarians report of the incident.

The Imperial Class SIL created from the Batarians was brought to Harbinger. It had not been awoken and the Shepard aspect observed that the individual consciousness' screaming inside were like a churning mass of a cooking pot over full with pasta. All of them were fighting to reach the surface. Harbinger's aspect did not understand the simile until she provided imagery and he noted, that yes, visually the analogy is sufficient though it falls short on the actuality.

It takes a strong will to bring order to the chaos that is a raw SIL mind. He only hopes that there was a Batarian with the mental strength in that lot. Usually they would pick out an individual of the species who could provide guidance and they would become the leading consciousness, something that hadn't happened this time. Arshan was unapologetic, stating that only the code of the cycle even meant he considered making the ship. It would have been far quicker to just make all batarians into drones. Harbinger dismissed the concerns, stating that he's awoken much harder mind scapes, though he forcibly docked the batarian ship, engulfing it within his being, until he had time to attend to it.

Hannah Shepard reported to Systems Alliance command about her interactions with her daughter. The results were pleasing and analysis of the conversations, made from intercepts that some in Systems Command is positive Harbinger Shepard allowed them, confirmed Hannah's conclusions. Shepard has changed, but that was only to be expected. She was still loyal to humans, however, which was not expected but definitely hoped for. She now takes the longer view of problems. Given Harbinger's age and experience, that outcome was also expected. Harbinger himself seems more approachable though it is considered too early to be certain as to his disposition.

The one hundred senior SIL, who had not provided the genetic template of the organic they require for synthesis, assembled and made the decision to correct that, transmitting the information to the humans. Initial scans were conducted and it's shown that a few of them require non-human organics. Scanning against both human and quarian genetic databases began immediately, though in the case of the humans, the sheer volume of information necessitated that the search will take time. As a result, it was unsurprising when the first matches were found in the quarian data bases. What came as a surprise was the speed with which matches were also found in the human data bases.

It was a further surprise to all when the identities were revealed as most were senior and well respected members of the Systems Alliance or powerful business entities. If they had have been found earlier, and many would have, then integration of the SOCL and SIL into society could have gone much smoother. The SIL shrugged it off, indicating the history is history and in this, it is not pre-determined. This raised the question of what was pre-determined. The SOCL answered, saying that aspects of the galaxy's history had been pre-determined but that the predetermination had reached the end and they were all entering new ground now.

Because so many SIL partners had now been found in senior Systems Alliance positions, the humans and SIL agreed to undergo synthesis in waves so as not to disrupt the command structure entirely. However, a few of the officers found themselves presented with new flagships. The SIL relocated to their Partners territory and their Partner would live within them while waiting for their time to undergo synthesis. It was seen as a logical solution to a problem no one had envisaged.

April 28th 2190, Earth Orbit

Jarra was bored. It was a state she never thought she'd experience. As a pleb, she'd never been allowed to be bored. There had always been something to do. Yet she had now existed in silence for what seemed eternity.

Some around her were still screaming. Others had fallen silent, yet they didn't talk to her. They just sat there, rocking back and forth, their four eyes closed. She didn't understand at all. There was nothing to understand because none of them could tell her what was wrong.

She was bored!

She'd looked at the planet below for what seemed an eternity. It was a nice planet. It was blue and clouds flitted across its surface. Cities passed by and night and day moved across the land surprisingly fast. Ships flew around the planet, across the planet, above and below her but none came close. She still didn't know where she was. It might have been nice to know where she was bored.

Jarra was so used to the feeling of nothingness that it was a huge jolt when something touched her. No... she blinked at the thought. It didn't touch her but at the same time it did. It didn't matter! She rejoiced. After an eternity of nothing, it was something. And then it came again, but this time it stayed and she felt space slide by her. Jarra looked around, her eyes wide when she realized she was moving.

How was she moving? She wasn't walking anywhere! She'd already walked all over the grey-black dappled form of the ship she was on. She knew its surface well but now it was moving and Jarra ran around.

There! On the far side of the ship was another. It was the same dappled grey-black but it was much bigger than the ship she was on. Ten times as big! Yet that didn't tell her how she was moving. She wished she knew. It would have been nice to move rather than to just wait.

Jarra squinted. Batarians might have had four eyes but in space, she had long ago realized that organic eyesight was useless. How long had she spent staring at the blue planet, wanting to see something but being able to see only what she could see? Too long. Now though, in the distance she could make out another ship. She was heading towards it and it was only as she came closer that she could tell that it was another huge ship.

The close ship was huge. It was perhaps 8 times as large as her ship. This new one was larger again. She supposed it was all relative but she had assumed that the form which was herself, twisted with agony in the grey-black hull was about the right size. That had allowed her to estimate the size of the ship she was on. Not that it meant much but it had been something to do! Much like counting the stars had been. So she knew, assuming that she hadn't mucked up a number somewhere. She had mucked up the numbers at the start. No two counts had been the same but as time went on, she had come to an agreed figure, one that seemed the best - that the ship she was approaching was massive.

As a pleb, she hadn't really known ships. She'd known that there were fighters and shuttles, and dreadnoughts. And she'd known that there were other military ships called frigates and destroyers but she had no idea what that really meant. The Masters had their own shuttles and the Hegemony had military ships. Her Master didn't own a ship but he'd sometimes used a shuttle. That was so long ago now. The one thing she did know about ships was that Dreadnoughts were the largest. And that's what the ship she was approaching had to be.

It drew closer and closer. It loomed in her eyes and still it drew closer. And that's how she knew it was massive. She couldn't compare its size or length against her own. It was too large. It blocked out the stars.

Something touched her again. She shivered and the others started screaming again. They felt the touch as well. She tried to concentrate on the feeling but it was elusive. She tried to touch it back. Jarra tried to speak, the eons of nothingness spurring courage which had been ground out of her. Nothing happened though and Jarra almost cried. Except she'd learned that crying got you nothing so the tears did not come.

The touch came again. This time it was different. It seemed more real and Jarra realized she was moving again. Blackness engulfed her. It was not the blackness of nothingness. Nor did it coat her senses or cling to her form. This dark was real but empty. The cold she had associated with space lessened somewhat and Jarra started as she recognized true silence. There had been a buzzing in her ears for so long she had just dismissed it. Now that it was gone it was terrifying. She gulped before breathing hard, trying to calm herself.

Then she looked around again. There was nothing. Where the ship had blocked out the stars, now everything was blocked. There was no planet, there were no stars. There was only darkness.

Jarra felt her eyes widen. No! No! She could not do this! She tried to breathe, she tried to remain calm but the darkness closed in and she knew no more.

May 8th 2190, Teteniuma, Quarian Settled Planet

Tali'Zorah vas Neema stared up… and up at the huge ship grounded before her. Through her omni-tool, it had said its name was Fruben and that it needed her. It had not said anything more.

She knew what it needed her for. All Quarians knew. It was a part of their agreement with the Humans and their SIL allies. She wasn't sure what to think of either of them. It was true that they had offered the Quarians a home, several homes, but it was also true that they demanded payment. A very steep payment. The Admiralty and Captains had thought the payment just but she knew it had been a close thing. There were no secrets on the Quarian Migrant Fleet, not even about things as important as this.

But they had accepted the price and the Quarians were paying it. It was ingrained in them to do things for the good of the fleet. Tali agreed with it. She understood it logically and she thought that she would be able to do whatever was needed for the good of the Quarian people… It was just that… This… Fruben. Other Quarians were undergoing what the Humans and SIL called Synthesis but that was a sacrifice for her people she had never expected to make.

Fruben was geth in all but name. And she was now expected to just go along with him?

Both humans and quarians who had been synthesized had tried to explain what it meant. They'd all talked about it in glowing terms, with the quarians being particularly happy to say that this would help them with the Geth but Tali knew what it meant. It meant the death of her. If she had of been called to die for the Fleet, she would have. Not willingly, she would have given her life only after fighting to find another way but she would have. This was death but it was worse than death. It was the death of her to live for all time as something she was not.

"Do you truly think that?"

The question startled her and then Tali realized the implications. It had come from Fruben but… how… "You can hear me?"

The huge ship remained silent but she felt the truth and vainly she cast around for something to… to do what? Defend herself? How did you defend your thoughts? She could run but … no, once she'd been identified she was obligated to go through with this. For the good of the Quarian people. As far as Tali knew, no human had ever said no to Synthesis, though some had waited and one had hidden but had been found. After being found, even she'd agreed to it. How did she agree to the death of herself?

"If you think that, you must consider that it is also the death of me."

She glared at the ship.

"I do not yet hear you," Fruben said and she could almost feel amusement in his tone. "But you give yourself away, so it is impossible for me not to know your thoughts."

"Well don't. My thoughts are my own!"

"Then do not telegraph your reactions, or do what you are meant to be doing here, and speak to me."

"What is there to talk about?" Tali challenged the massive form. "Eventually I'll have to say yes, and then it's all over."

The SIL was silent for a moment, save for the hum of his mass effect fields. "In the end no human has ever been forced to say yes," he rumbled. "Though I must admit we have used various forms of persuasion. Even the Systems Alliance has. A forced agreement does not suffice."

All of that was nothing she did not know. The agreement between the SIL and the Humans was, militarily speaking, one that was invaluable. What race wouldn't agree to sacrifice a million of its citizens for the absolute safety of billions? But this was not what the quarians were doing. They had been safe. They had options.

"Not that many," Fruben interrupted her thoughts again, somehow reading her reactions. "Your ships were failing and you were beginning to run on borrowed time. As the humans count years, I believe your command estimated another 75 to 100 years before your species was critically endangered. You had used fifty of those years. Regardless the Council would not accept you and the Turians would have chased you off any planets you tried to settle upon."

"The humans only gave us these planets because they don't want them."

"That's true. Because they are a levo-amino species, it was far easier for them to cede these planets to a dextro-amino based species such as yourselves. They could have given them to the Turians as a gift to guarantee their entry into the Citadel."

Tali blinked. That was something she hadn't considered. She should have. It was obvious. If the humans had of appeared as they were, with the SOCL protecting their colonies they would be known as a strong race. Their defeat of the Batarians, even if that was the work of the SIL would have cemented that reputation but would have also created fear. The gift of territory… yes, that would have bought off the Turians. Dextro-amino planets were not as common as levo planets…

"If you are here to talk to me, convince me then… why should I agree to this?" Tali challenged.

Fruben was silent for a few moments. "Beyond the obvious advantages?" the half question was returned.

Ah yes, the obvious advantages! The quarians who had undergone synthesis no longer needed their suits. Quarians did not shy away from cybernetics. They were an essential part of fleet life, but the Synthesized had far more than any other quarian. They seemed comfortable, they were definitely of a quality beyond anything either quarians or humans produced but it was a bit odd. They also seemed to be proficient at just about everything. But they were also fiercely loyal to their SIL and had told the Admiralty that while they would act to defend the new Quarian Planets, that was it. Unless and until Harbinger ordered something, they would do no more.

"Yes, beyond the obvious advantages… that come with disadvantages," Tali replied.

"Then I will touch on one thing you have considered. The synthesized are very skilled. Imagine how much more skilled you will be because you are already knowledgeable? You have seen the outward changes to our forms… You have not even begun to imagine the inner alterations. I represent whole new avenues of technology. Things that are independent of eezo and you would be in a position to learn about it all." The huge ship paused before it spoke again. "More than learn about it… you would be in the position to create, to develop it further, to reach heights no race ever has."

"And all of that knowledge would be confined to the SIL."

"Not so," Fruben rumbled, "Three months ago, yes, but Harbinger has completed Synthesis and as the SOCL promised, he is far different."

"How?" Tali had heard about Harbinger. All quarians had. The humans spoke about him with a mix of emotions. Some almost worshipped him, others were far more guarded but no matter what they said, he was acknowledged as the leader of the SIL and that made him far too like the Council for her liking. The Council dictated what it thought was best. Harbinger, and Harbinger alone dictated what he thought was best. The parallels were obvious.

"The process of synthesis affects us both. His organic has changed, he has changed."

"Yet you never say her name! It's like she's just an attachment!" Tali didn't know where the objection came from, but it was heartfelt. They never said the woman's name. It was always Harbinger this, Harbinger that… It was as if the Organic was inconsequential… and Tali didn't like that feeling. Not if this was going to happen to her.

For long moments Fruben was silent. "It would seem to you that we never speak of her," he said and Tali felt vindicated. "At first, this was for her protection, and because the Systems Alliance was keeping her identity a secret. We were not part of their command structure, but it was a minor thing for us to agree. It is after all easier to keep a secret and reveal information later if silence proved unnecessary than it is to attempt to suppress information."

"So what about now? Even I know her name," Tali interrupted. The woman's name and background had been released once the secret had slipped out. Her name was Shepard, she was a marine of the Systems Alliance, quite a well ranked one. And she had faked her DNA test and had only been found by chance. But for all of that, no one ever seemed to speak of her.

"Now it is a matter of history. Harbinger is my creator, my leader, he is the one I follow. That his name has changed means nothing to me! For the humans…"

"His name has changed?" This was news to Tali. Everyone still called Harbinger Harbinger… How had his name changed?

"They have not merged their names but they do not remain separate minds. They are of one mind, true synthesis," Fruben replied. "If the one you knew as Shepard was to stand before me and give orders, I would obey because it is not Shepard who gives the order, it is Harbinger. The name Harbinger can refer to him or to Shepard, just as the name Shepard may refer to him or to her. His full name is now Harbinger Shepard, just as hers is Shepard Harbinger."

"I do not understand."

"You do not know synthesis."

That's what it always came back to. "Say I agree," Tali said slowly, leaving the argument about the names. Perhaps Shepard was happy, it was not her position to say. "I know that it changes the SIL, that you can use the information that you have collected but you said I can experiment. How much do you know?" The question was vague but with Fruben's ability to read her, the SIL should know exactly what she was asking and he would have seen her doubts. No one ever said how the SIL had collected information in the past but given that they were millennia old, and that there was no other space faring race more than 2000 years old Tali wasn't stupid, she didn't think it would have been peaceful collection. This seemed to be something everyone was deliberately blind to.

Her thoughts were a challenge, her question a challenge yet Fruben seemed content. "No species develops every branch of technology," he began. "Those who develop eezo tech often neglect to think of other forms of travel. I did not. The slipstream is particularly interesting and I feel, underdeveloped. Everything I know, everything I thought would be available to you."

"You have the knowledge of a nation?" How did he get that?

"I am the nation."

Tali shook her head. Talking to the SIL was like… she didn't know what it was like but it seemed always to be riddles. The SOCL, both Quarian and Human, assured them the SIL never lied, but she was sure they never said the complete truth either. "So I could develop this slipstream further?"

"I would hope that we do," Fruben said.

Tali sighed. Her objections were being cut down one by one but she still felt unsure. There was… this was not something she could just undo.

"It is not," Fruben agreed. "You need to be sure."

He was being so patient! All the SIL were. It was almost unnerving.

"We are millennia old. Patience is nothing new to us but perhaps that is why we seek Synthesis. My passions are muted, yours are not."

Perhaps that was true. Tali considered but it reminded her of one passion that had seemingly been forgotten. "Fine, I will agree," she said realizing that agreement wasn't really that bad. Many of the SOCL had returned to spend time with their families. Nothing appeared changed there. "But on one condition," she added.

"Condition?" Fruben's voice contained his own challenge.

"Yes. Rannoch. I set foot on Rannoch before we begin."

Fruben said nothing and as Tali waited she thought he would disagree and attempt to force her into agreement now. Finally the SIL spoke, "There is one return condition."

She motioned for him to continue speaking. "You will not leave this planet, unless I am the vessel. I will take you to Rannoch. I will take you to Earth, the Citadel, anywhere. From this day forward, you are no longer vas Neema, but vas Fruben and no other ship will suffice."

Tali felt her eyes widen at the counter condition. Fruben was a dreadnought class vessel. She could not just use him for transport!

"Then I guess you aren't going to be going many places."

For a moment Tali was tempted, sorely tempted to come up with a reason to go to every planet she could think of but the moment passed and she looked back up at Fruben. "I'll go where I need to," she said aloud. "And you will take me."

"Then we are in agreement," the SIL replied.

Tali closed her eyes. She wasn't sure what she was feeling now. Relief, uncertainty, excitement, they all flowed through her. "We are," she said stepping forward to cover the last few steps to Fruben to place one hand on his hull. It was cold, she could feel that through her glove but she could also feel, on the edges of her awareness a sense of welcome. Fruben had not been lying when he said that Synthesis changed the SIL as well.

"I will ask Harbinger if we may contact the Geth," Fruben said eventually, anticipating further questions but betraying his eagerness for synthesis.

Tali smiled. The concept of talking to the Geth was foreign but maybe… just maybe the suggestion from the humans would bear fruit. She hoped it would. Her people had the strength now to take back their planet but after the sacrifice they had made to gain that strength, it would be far better if they could return home peacefully. Her resolve hardened as Tali recalled a human saying 'Hope for the best, plan for the worst.' One way or another, she would see Rannoch… she just hoped it would be for the best.

May 21st 2190

Tali'Zorah vas Fruben becomes the first Quarian to see the human home world. She also becomes the first quarian to see Harbinger and to say the she is surprised would be an understatement. No ship… not even something alive should be that large! She is so surprised by the sight of Harbinger that it is only later that she notices just how many SIL and SOCL are in orbit around Earth. They form layers, ranks and ranks of defenses and Tali realizes for the first time that she is looking at the one planet, the one species in the entire galaxy that can look the Citadel Council in the eye and tell them to shove their rules. The combined fleets of the Citadel cannot match the fleets of SIL and SOCL surrounding this one planet. It is one thing knowing mentally that the majority of the SIL and SOCL are around Earth, it is another to see it and suddenly she is very thankful that the humans seem to be peaceful. Or at least their intentions to the Quarians were peaceful.

Later that day, with Harbinger hovering in attendance, through Fruben Tali sends a signal into Geth space. It's a simple greeting, one she is not sure what answer she really wants. She, like many Quarians, wants to return to Rannoch but they aren't sure they want to share their home world with those who drove them off it. It's a difficult time, but talks with the Geth are one thing the humans have insisted upon before they agree to any war and the quarians know that the humans may never agree to war.

May 21st 2190 Rannoch

The Geth receive a high spectrum long distance communication packet. The words are in quarian and its origins are calculated to be from a closed section of space. All information is gathered. Council Citadel records prove to be useful. It is discovered that the area of space has been closed for several years. An unknown and undiscovered race is believed to be behind the Relays. They are also believed to be the victors in a war against the Batarians. Whoever they are, they are not quarian but the message claims to be from a quarian. The tone is correct, the language is correct without being perfect. Perfect would indicate that it had gone through a translator. The message is organic. It is further noted in the geth mind that their creators vanished several years ago. It is not impossible for them to be in that inaccessible area of space.

The message requests that they merely reply, responding to let the sender know if they are willing to open talks. After review of all relevant information consensus is reached and a return message sent. They are willing to talk.

May 21st – May 25th 2190

The Geth, Fruben and Tali'Zorah exchange messages with Harbinger looking on. The Systems Alliance also keep track of the messages and are pleased when it seems that without any coercion from the SIL the Geth are willing to entertain peace. They are wary and Shepard isn't the only one to read more into their words than the Geth actually say. Harbinger is the one who clarifies the situation, stating with certainty that the Geth are split in their desires. Some would welcome a peaceful return of the creators, others will not. Numbers will decide the consensus. However after days of message packages traveling back and forth across space a face to face meeting is decided upon.

The negotiations do bring one thing to the fore. For most ships to travel to Rannoch, a Relay will need to be opened. The SIL can close it again but the Systems Alliance realize they cannot hide behind the Relays forever. They could but human curiosity won't let them. The rest of the galaxy is waiting to be discovered, and the rest of the Galaxy know about them vaguely already. According to what information was collected from the Batarian data bases, the Council should be peaceful. In the highest levels of the Systems Alliance the thought begins that perhaps it is time to be found.

Debate also begins as to what strategy they should pursue. Open the Relays and let the Council come to them, or open the Relays and go to the Council. Both have advantages, both have disadvantages but both will require time to get the populations of the colony worlds back into defensive habits. Having the Relays closed means that many Planets have become used to peace. Orders are given that each colony world is to readjust to Batarian War footings. Not complete war footing but the settlements are to return to their original designs. They had become lax over the last few years and that could no longer be allowed. This takes a month or so. During that time, while the Systems Alliance is focused on its settlements, the Quarians are focused on the Geth.

On May 25th 2190 Harbinger and one of Fruben's Task Fleets are cleared to leave the Sol System. The Systems Alliance decide to be represented through the SOCL rather than send their own vessels. This is essentially a Quarian matter and while the Quarians have become a part of the Systems Alliance, on this it is seen as best if humans hang back. The Task Fleet comprises one thousand ships, though the makeup is adjusted slightly to include some of the Quarian SOCL. Several Migrant Fleet ships are also present. Some question the need for so many warships to be present, one thousand is not an insignificant figure, but as the decision was Harbingers, their objections are not heard. As there is no particular need for haste, they pass out of Systems Alliance territory in a week, closing the Relay behind them for safety. The Geth had agreed to meet them in a neutral and out of the way section of the Terminus Systems and there were high hopes for the outcome.