Rebirth: The Mass Effect. Book 1. part 6.3

Chapter 6.3 The solution is to find Garrus.

I went over to Captain Anderson. Ashley was being venomous at the Council, and Alenko was gloomily making excuses for some reason. Ambassador Udina looked gloomily at the captain, shook his head.

"It was a mistake to invite you to this meeting, Captain." He said gloomily. "You have too much in common with Saren. The Council questions your motives."

To which I heard a beautiful canonical answer:

"I know Saren! He and the Geth have a common goal: to destroy the human race! Danger threatens every colony of ours! Every world we control is under threat. Even the Earth is in danger!"

I do not know, does the captain really think so, or is he just trying to set us up in the right way? I mean, me, Ashley, and Kayden. So you don't need to configure these two. Ashley already sincerely and fiercely hates Saren for being involved in the death of her squad. Alenko, like a weather vane, rotates after the official version of the Alliance, and now there was a command to hate.

"How do you know Saren?" I asked.

The captain clenched his hands into fists and unclenched them, and began to pace slowly in front of us.

"I once worked with him on an assignment. Then things went badly. Very bad. It's not worth talking about it now. But I know what he's really like. He must be stopped."

"What's the next step?"

"He's a Spectr," Ambassador Udina said reasonably. "This means that he is theoretically inviolable. He needs to be exposed somehow."

"What about Garrus?" Kayden asked suddenly. "That investigator from the C-Sec. We saw him arguing with the director."

Anderson and Udina exchanged glances.

"Exactly. He also asked for more time to investigate." Ashley added. "It looks like he's found something."

Ashley is a smart woman. For all her dislike of aliens, she got Garrus' hint right.

"He's worth talking to. Perhaps he can provide some clues." Udina nodded in agreement. "I have a friend at the C-Sec. He'll help us get to Garrus. His name is Harkin."

Anderson grimaced.

"Forget about him. Harkin was fired a month ago for being drunk at work. I wouldn't waste time on it."

For the first time, I was in solidarity with the captain. Harkin may be able to help, but...

"You won't have to." Udina muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't want the Council to use your story with Saren as an excuse to distrust us. Let Shepard handle it.

"I'll do it, sir," I replied clearly, looking at the captain with devotion.

Anderson nodded in agreement.

"This is the best option."

"I have urgent business, Captain. I'll meet you later in my office." And with these words, the ambassador went to the elevator. That's great. The first stage has been completed. Now it's time to beat Anderson up and go in search of Vakarian. Ideally, without Kayden and, especially, Ashley. The only thing I needed in the company was a militant xenophobe. I need Garrus, and I don't want to spoil the first conversation with some xenophobic prank that Sergeant Williams is good at.

"Commander, Harkin is probably drinking in Cora's Lair. This is a small bar with a dubious reputation in the lower part of the residential sectors."

"I'll go there immediately, sir." I informed him, and the captain nodded approvingly. "Captain, you were familiar with Saren. What happened then?"

The captain sighed heavily, but nevertheless replied:

"Twenty years ago, I carried out a mission in the Skillian Region. Saren and I had to find and destroy a known terrorist. Saren destroyed the target. But at the same time, many innocent people died. And they didn't mention it in the official records. But I've seen his methods. He has no conscience. There is no doubt. He could have killed thousands of civilians to end the war."

"Me, too." I said dryly.

Kayden's face fell, and Ashley blinked in surprise. Yes, yes, that's the kind of cute monster I am. What did you expect from Butcher Torfan?

"I know how the world works, Commander." the captain said with displeasure. "Sometimes we have to make unpleasant decisions. But only if there is no other way. Saren didn't even try to look for other options! It's ruined. He loves violence and murder! And he knows how to cover his tracks."

Even so? Let's see what I learn about Saren during our personal meeting. No matter what Anderson is telling me now, I'll only know the truth when I see the legendary Spectre live. He won't be able to lie to me or conceal anything, unless, of course, His Highness Sovereign Nazara intervenes in our sweet little feud, he won't be remembered by nightfall.

"Captain, it seemed to me that Ambassador Udina was not getting along well with the Council." I asked cautiously.

"He's just confused."

Is this Udina or something? Confused? Well, yes, that's the case.

"And what made him confused?"

"The Council insists that human's should be part of the galactic community." The man replied with displeasure. "But there is no help from him!"

I wonder what kind of assistance they want?

"And what do they want?" I voiced my question.

"They want us to expand and control unstable regions. Such as the Skillian Edge and the Attic Traverse. But when we face difficulties, they don't want to help us!"

That's how? I wonder what kind of difficulties are we talking about? Is he talking about the fact that the Alliance has spread across dozens of colonies, to which he has only two or three patrol ships? They don't help so well! There's nothing to breed colonies if you can't protect them from your neighbors! And apart from Batarian slavers, no one attacks impoverished villages. If you help, they'll sit on your neck and dangle your legs. They're already trying to sit down.

As far as I remember, when the Hierarchy arrived at the Citadel, they did not complain that they were missing something there. They went to war with the Krogan at the request of the Salarians, won it, and then for a long time refused to join the Citadel Space, believing that the forced use of the gene pool developed by the Salarians was a disgrace to their honor. But they used it anyway, because the alternative was the complete annihilation of the ENTIRE race. The choice was made, and General Mercury, who made it, resigned after the victory and disappeared without a trace.

"Is that the only reason?"

"Not quite. Everyone knows that it's only a matter of time before people join the Council. However, our ambassador believes that this should happen as soon as possible. And I agree with him."

"Maybe we could join the Council faster if we cooperated more with other races?" I asked cautiously.

"You bet! If we do everything they tell us, they will welcome us into the Council with open arms. The problem is that we're not too happy with it."

Yes, who would doubt that you are not satisfied with this. It's necessary to obey some kind of xenos. Yeah...

"I kind of understand them. They don't want us to dominate the Council. It is based on cooperation and alliances. But we must protect our interests."

So we are not satisfied with cooperation and alliances? Give US EVERYTHING AT ONCE? And just because we're so exceptional? Good logic.

"Is it that important? Joining the Council?" Ashley asked.

"The Council makes all the most important decisions in the Galaxy, and we must obey them. We don't have a strong navy or allies to go against the Council. By gaining a seat on the Council, we will have the opportunity to influence its decisions and protect our own interests. We won't have to dance to their tune to get our way!"

It's amazing not to get up! We don't have a fleet, we don't have friends, we don't have ANYTHING, but we will try to get the rights! And they're also unhappy if stronger races get punched in the face. Amazingly simple! Why would they do that all of a sudden?

Lovely! I love my native race.

"Take, for example, the current situation. If we were on the Council, we would have sent the Citadel flotilla to deal with Saren. And the problem would have been solved."

I wonder if the dear captain has ever wondered whose ships this flotilla consists of? He gave it away beautifully! We would have sent a flotilla. Is she yours? Do your people serve on her ships? No? Oh, yes, there are Turian ships, what a pity.

I stood there and didn't know what to say to the captain. No, I understand his logic, but I don't accept it. Perhaps because I was more than once a member of a race that was at war with this very humanity? People's opponents may be different, but people themselves don't change. From world to world, it's the same...

Are we that hopeless?

I hope I will meet an adequate human civilization again. Doubtful, but I would really like to. Captain, there's not much time. If you don't mind, I'll go find Officer Vakarian.

"Go ahead." Anderson nodded in agreement.

"Ashley, Alenko, rest until morning."

"You're not going alone, are you, Shepard?" Ashley asked suspiciously.

"Also, how will I go! And no arguments! You, Ashley, are xenophobic. No offense, but I won't take you to the Lower City with me until you get over your complexes. You, Alenko, are a military man to the core, and it shows. So..." I spread my hands.

"And you?"

Taking off my jacket, I gave it to a stunned Alenko, tousled my carefully coiffed hair, hid the gun, tore off the patch from the sleeve of my T-shirt, quickly turning into an ordinary civilian dressed in paramilitary clothing.

"Captain."

I easily ran down the stairs and went to the elevator. The recipient's military bearing slipped easily, exposing old habits of movement. There were three stunned stares at my back.