Conflict, crisis, no matter the era... and both seemed to be piling up in spades as the dimly lit, circular chamber echoes with murmured mutters and the dull roar of shifting seating. Hued in the dim purple that had been a Sangheili staple well before the age of the Covenant, the majority of the chamber's lighting came from a single beam that was focused down onto the central podium - the gold armor of the Fleet Master almost blinding, and only briefly outshone by the occasional glint of the reflected light from any one of the dozens if not hundreds of Sangheili Councilors that were seated around the edge of the room.
All save one that sat directly ahead of the direction the Fleet Master was facing, Sal 'Narai's ancient, silvered armor setting him well apart of the other Councilors as the Arbiter simply sat in silence as he watched the proceedings unfold.
"These reports. You're certain?"
"Certainty is impossible given the nature of the claims. All of the evidence gathered by the human Spectre corroborates with itself and the claims made. Beyond that I cannot offer anything beyond my own opinions on the matter." Taso 'Kusov responded, the Fleet Master's head turning just slightly to allow the naval officer to directly address the Councilor that had questioned him. His response, clearly, wasn't the one the Councilor was looking for as voices began to once again rise and echo in the enclosed chamber.
Sal withheld a sigh of his own personal discontentment, albeit not with the officer before him. Taso was doing his job, nothing more, and as one of the more accomplished officers that had participated in both the quelled uprising that had earned Sal his own station as well as his time as a Shipmaster during the assault on the Large Magellanic Cloud just over two decades ago... 'Kusov's service record was unimpeachable, beyond question. He would not have forwarded reports without being as sure of their contents as he possibly could be, and that went doubly sure for claims of this magnitude.
No, the issue was with what the reports themselves implied and the fact that no one in this chamber
wanted to believe their contents.
Another war was brewing, inevitable if recent events in Triangulum were to be believed. And frankly speaking it wasn't something that the Spur itself was entirely unfamiliar with as it would've been far from the first conflict where a synthetic creation had turned against its organic creators... although in this case it would seem that they had lost, lost long before even his own peoples' rise to power even before the Covenant had formed, by an order of magnitude. As simple as it would have been to believe that these more "modern" synthetics, the Geth as they had been called, were responsible for the attack...
This other vessel, this "Sovereign", was far beyond what the region's technology should have been. 'Narai was well aware of where his own people stood in regards to the Citadel and its ilk from a technological and naval standpoint. Just one of their heavy corvettes rated as a dreadnought by local standards, but this other ship had far outmatched the one under 'Vadamai's command. No, its capabilities had been more akin to what one would've expected of their own
battlecruisers, and that put it far beyond what every other faction they knew of in Triangulum had to offer. It would've been easier just to attribute its creation to the Geth as the Citadel Council now seemed to be doing... but between its capabilities and their own records of the battle and what the Geth had to bring to the table that was highly unlikely.
"... and we haven't had a report back from Vadamai's detachment in Andromeda as of yet?" Sal muttered, glancing to the seneschal to his left. The other Sangheili's eyes would shift to look to 'Narai, but his head would not fully turn so as to avoid drawing attention as he answered.
"Not as of yet."
'Narai would hold in a small grunt of dissatisfaction, although it was less frustration with any one individual as it was the entire situation. The Kromus were becoming increasingly active in the Spur, spreading their forces thin. Their shipyards remained occupied with the same project that had been started during the "last" war with their kind, something his predecessor had begun with the thought that the conflict would be a much longer one. And while he hadn't been
wrong... the resource shortages for the beast had stagnated its construction, tying up those shipyards and preventing them from replacing lost ships and limiting their ability to repair others. There had been whispers of the Confederation quietly launching an operation to limit Kromus activities in the Spur but without details as to what the operation itself was... there would be no telling when or how it would bear fruit. Zebes was no longer a concern which freed up a handful of ships but it still wasn't enough. And yet with the Citadel and its practices bearing a remarkable resemblance to the Galactic Federation...
when that war came - not
if - they would undoubtedly ask his people to get involved, especially after Taso's superb performance as Fleet Master at the Battle of the Citadel.
But as of right now they simply lacked that ability with the ongoing Kromus War and logistical issues. And with news of Shepard's death no more than a month ago and local governments digging their collective heads in the sand...
Options were limited. And the only ones left were not ideal.
"Enough." 'Narai's iron voice would echo through the chamber, loud and resolute enough that it would immediately undercut the low roar of the Councilors' murmuring and private conversations. It only took a moment more but a relative level of silence would again return to the chamber, during which Sal would stand and the lighting at the center of the chamber would shift from the Fleet Master to himself.
"Fleet Master 'Kusov, we thank you for your report. You are dismissed, and shall remain in command of your fleet - but before you begin your journey back I ask that you speak with me." 'Narai continued, 'Kusov bowing his head and bringing a closed hand to his chestplate before turning to begin walking, leaving the dias and heading towards the exit out of the chamber.
"As for the time being this session is adjourned. Councilors, I may reach out to you individually to request your cooperation regarding related matters of importance over the following days and weeks. I ask that you be ready to respond when I do."Bad ideas were still better than none at all, and as Sal's gaze lowered to follow the Fleet Master out of the chamber... there were a number that came to mind, all of which would be better enacted sooner rather than later.
