24Author's note: I'm sorry for the delay, I completely forgot to upload this chapter.
The dalatrasses of Surkesh play a pretty significant role in the functioning of the Salarian Union, but their significance extends beyond mere governance. Despite appearing unified to outsiders, intense competition exists among these influential figures. They vie for control over political agendas, vie for potential mates, and engage in other power struggles. The list of contested matters among the dalatrasses could go on forever.
Mundi, well aware of the situation, received a message from his dalatrass informing him that the anticipated supplies, which should have arrived days ago, were now delayed. The reasons cited included manufacturing issues and technical problems, in which he knew could cause various problems like for example affecting inventory management and operational efficiency.
Mundi was well aware of the intricacies of dalatrass politics, he had an advantage. His mother held that esteemed position, granting him firsthand knowledge of the inner workings. He recognized the familiar patterns: the excuses, the fabrications, and the subtle deceptions. To the trained eye, these maneuvers were obvious.
Shaking his head in reluctant acceptance, he got back to work.
Grabbing a power tool, and tweaking its settings, he finished installing the new and refined shield generator on a standard corvette that was now slated to be put into mass production.
He knew, of course, that a war would arise, it is of no surprise really. If you read your daily news, you would find loads of evidence to the start of tensions between the council and the Krogan empire.
With the war in its 2nd month, military personnel were rabidly conscripted, him included.
Having a manufacturing degree and a decent amount of knowledge on engineering, he was met by a recruiter for the engineer core, in which he was to help build military vessels and all that.
He was currently on a union production world, or for non-military inclined people, a world where military and civilian necessities are produced. The world itself was relatively isolated from the rest of the union, only being recently colonized not even a decade ago. So, you can imagine the amount of work that was shoved in his direction when he arrived.
His job, while it may seem necessary, that assumption would be wrong. Engineers in the union are not particularly respected or well liked for that matter, they're often regarded as mere implementers of others' designs. While that may be true, Mundi still prides himself on his work.
His mother, while proud of him, still wishes that he would have gone into a more respectable Career, like for instance: The STG. Thier reputation, and their importance to the union are well known, and it is something his mother has wished for him to pursue for some time.
Anyways, falling back into reality, he got up off his personal rest chair within his quarters, and, with little hesitation, walked towards the communicator by the side door of his room. He pressed a button on its panel, causing it to light up and beep in response.
"The defensive utilities are just being finalized sir; their installation should be done by the end of the week." He started, words steady, and with little effort he casually grabbed his omni tool, almost like he was looking at a script and froze, seemingly seeing something on his omni tool's screen, prompting him to continue. "And sir, I would appreciate a heads-up next time when command calls for delays. I had to find out about it from my Omni tool, really?" he added, shoulders sagging as a barely audible sigh escaped him.
From the crackling static, a voice emerged on the other end of the communicator. "I appreciate the work your crew has done and thank you for the heads-up," it said. The voice paused; the sound of food being slurped faintly audible. "And yes, I apologize for not informing you sooner, but I've been swamped with orders lately," the voice continued. "You know how it is."
With an understanding sigh, Mundi got back to work.
...
In a dim, isolated room, barely discernible in the shadows, a figure sat on a small, unadorned chair. Its insect-like body emitted a voice akin to an insect's chirp, its feminine qualities evident. "The overminds plans have failed, my Hive-Kin, it is up to us to correct the mistakes that our predecessors have made, and bring the overminds glorious plans to fruition, no matter the consequence"
With a psionic communication, the message was sent throughout the hive, The psionic link became saturated with the higher-thinking Zerg, inundating the hive consciousness with diverse ideas on how to rectify the Overmind's plan.
Few were acceptable, clearly thought out by lower ranking Zerg. Some, while ambitious, were genuinely genius.
Shaking her head, bringing her back to reality, she brought out her new biological enhanced omni tool. Its function basically that of the hierarchy's basic civilian grade Omni tool, but in the form of Zerg bio-tech. While the omnitool function itself is not needed, its function is done better by the zergs natural psionic link. The Overmind and Zerg planners considered it advantageous to acquire advanced and essential technology for trade with the hierarchy.
She thought it unnecessary and an inefficient use of the collective's time, but she had no authority to question the overminds clearly influenced mind.
Her focus returned to her purpose for being here, 'here' being on an isolated world relatively close to the old TOC's borders. The world itself is not unlike any other Zerg world, organic like splotches of zerg produced Creep fill its landscapes, with biological nerve like protrusions, aimed at the sky, occupying regions of prominent creep infestation.
Their function being that of Psionic conductors, making it possible for the zerg to communicate no matter the distance. These conduits, their usefulness evident, were only developed a mere 80 years ago, with the discovery of the mass relays only further emphasizing their utility.
Walking through the corridors, the halls, pulsating as if they were alive. She proceeded until she reached her desired destination. A doorway, its organic nature evident by its skin like texture, she stopped near the entrance and quickly brought her hand towards the interface on the door's side. With a simple input of psionics, the door opened, clearly recognizing her psionic signature.
Within the room lay vats of various sizes, green like ooze fill their interior. Bulging sacs of amniotic fluids lay resting within, fetuses of young Turian's are seen inside.
The room resonated with the rhythmic beeping of monitors, creating an audio backdrop that hinted at its lab-like purpose.
Various zerg are seen running about, their psionic markers flaying in un-needed distress. With a casual psionic flare, she got their attention.
"The test subjects ordered by the overmind are to be brought to Char within the next solar cycle, their importance to the continuing of operation: Doppelganger is not to be understated." her voice echoed out, sending with it a psionic command. Thier orders given, non-needed zerg scattered out of the room, and into the halls to prepare their transformation into a leviathan, readied for space travel if needed.
She walked towards the vats; her eyes filled with malevolent curiosity. Her claw, once rested behind her back, was brought to rest on the surface of the vat, and with a psionic burst, the young Turian fetus bounced happily, almost like he was filled with life for the first time in forever.
Thier gestation rate is unacceptable, she thought darkly. Her fingers danced idly on the reinforced glass of the vats.
"This will not do" she murmured to herself within the dark confines of the laboratory.
...
Within the council chambers, Arissa found herself surrounded by masked assassins, quickly so as not to be foiled by lesser beings, she brought out her sheathed Eezo blade and was prepared to do battle.