#udina

[neb-art-zeke]

My credits are on Anderson

[shadoedseptmbr]

the other story that got almost as many votes in the poll was the second entry in The Devil You Know series that i'm writing with @alchemist-after-dark, Devil in the Details

so have a teensy little preview:

“I want you on the ship.” Anderson’s voice was flatter than usual, a sign that he was going to take no shit from his superiors. She stared out the office window towards the stream of skycars as Hackett and Udina bickered on screen.

“Operational Alien Liaison for the Alliance. We’re towing a turian and that krogan in our wake, already. Telos wants us to go after that matriarch’s daughter. Keeps me out of the command loop but gives me some leeway, shows the council we’re cooperating but gives the Alliance the appearance of full authority if the brass gets shirty.” Hackett’s cleared throat got an innocent look, “Other brass, sir, you’d never get shirty.”

“Delightful.” Udina muttered.

“Elegant enough solution, Commander. Keeps you a little freer for other missions, if we need you.”

“That work, Captain?” C’mon, boss. Give a little.

His rumbly bass conceded. “It works.”

[callmeshin]

Okay, but I genuinely think it's lazy writing that we don't get to see the All Human Council in Mass Effect 2 if you choose to kill the Council at the end of ME1. I can understand why we wouldn't see them if you choose Udina as the first Human Councilor but ... like ... IDK.. But what makes it stupid is that we don't even hear about them in Mass Effect 3? It's genuinely almost as if there never actually was an "All Human Council" in the first place?? And hell ... you can still technically have an "All Human Council" and still choose Anderson as your choice for the first ever Human Councilor if you go ... like ... 100% Renegade.

With all of that being said, why have this as an option if you're going to completely disregard them in ME3?? Were they ... like ... completely thrown out because the entirety of the Citadel did a big ass petition and threatened to remove them via a Universal Citadel Constitution or something?? Why doesn't Udina mention any of this in ME3 since he's all pro-human and talks about how the Council refuses to listen to them??

Now I could be completely overlooking information but it just makes zero sense to me at the end of the day if you were to kill the Council and go the 100% Renegade route having an All Human Council. I'm just saying.

[brekkie-e]

Cowards being too scared to hate Kaiden these days is a real shame ngl

[everyoneonthenormandyisgay]

Udina when Shepard picks Anderson to be the human councilor after he's been a dick to them the ENTIRE game

[mercyshepard]

[amaraeshepard]

Normandy Launch Party - Part One

Earth, Canada, Vancouver Alliance Military Command 2183 AD

It began as a slow boring gathering of both pompous and sincere politicians and military officials from both the Human Alliance and the Turian Hierarchy. It had been less than thirty years since first contact, and the war that followed, but here they were, together in the early summer sunshine toasting each other and enjoying the beginnings of a hopefully long lasting alliance.

Three stories up from the party, Amara watched as both races played the game of politics in thier own way. She leaned over the balcony and noted that there were two camps on each side. The for and against.

Those Humans for the alliance for the races, mingled with those Turians that felt the same way, while those uncomfortable or worse stayed around the edge of the large stone tiled patio.

Even now you old racist bastards will find a way to fuck this all up.

Her attention drifted to one of those she knew hated anything not human, though he hid it well, Donnel Udina. He was the current ambassador to the Citadel, the center of galaxy politics, and hated the fact that Humans still had no real say or power there. He fought for every scrap of power he could get, though Amara had a feeling that he did so for personal gain more than for Earth. But then again, she never liked the man.

Regardless of her feelings towards him, it was those he stood with that caused her curiosity to spike. Anderson and Hackett were standing close and locked in conversation with the political weasel. Something was going down and she was to far away to read lips. From what she could tell, it was a heated discussion with Udina not liking what he was hearing.

Not surprising. He was probably complaining again at how Anderson, Captain Anderson had chosen her for his XO. She had known Anderson - Well, David for years. He was one of the few men that her grandmother trusted with her life, and Amara's life for that matter. He was the one that had inspired her to follow in her fathers footsteps and become a soldier, not through his words, but his manner. He was just a good person. She wanted to be like that.

Over the years she had come to see him as a second father to her. Not to replace her own that had passed away when she was a child, but a mentor figure that understood her and would advise her when she asked.

The real question, was what were they talking about. She would find out, of course, she usually did. She had the soldiers heart from her fathers side of the family, true, but she also had the politicians social soul from her mothers. She could read people naturally and if she wanted, usually change the narrative and make situations work for her. It had helped her move through the ranks as well as in training, N7 and otherwise. It was, she mused, probably one of the reasons she was still alive. She knew how to break people and how not to let herself break.

. . . Even in places like Akuze.

"Naji? What are you still doing up here?" A deeper, rougher female voice than mine sounded from behind her. The voice sounded cold to many, but to Amara, it was one of the few places she felt she could find home in.

Standing straight, Amara Shepard smoothed the form hugging cream cloth of her dress over her skin. Watch time was over, she would have to go down there and lose herself in the sea of pomp and ceremony. At least she would be able to get a drink, maybe meet some of the crew.

"Naji?"

Amara smiled towards the older woman and nodded approvingly at her blue attire. Alliance blue was in fashion as of late, and her grandmother made it look good. Not bad for a woman nearing her seventh decade.

"Nana Kali." Amara stepped from the railing and into an embrace. "You look lovely."

"Psh, save the sucking up for a lover. We have to make ourselves seen my girl."

Taking her grandmother Kali’s arm in hers, Amara put on her Shepard mask, and led them to the elevator. It wasn’t a physical mask, but it was one none-the-less. It kept the world away from the girl she was and close to the woman she had to become. The survivor. The soldier. The woman who had survived hell and was more than willing to do it again and again. The first Biotic to not only survive, but excel through her N7 training. The woman who as her grandmother had proclaimed - Got shit done. The woman called Commander Shepard.

Part two Part Three

[chooh2]

'Boutta pump some iron 🏋️ maybe punch an ambassador 👊

[laelior]

Imagine Shepard, in the midst of a chaotic battle against an apparently invincible foe, making a tactical decision to keep the Fifth Fleet in reserve to save their strength for when it matters.

Imagine choosing to put a civilian on the new Council, thinking that putting a military officer on the Council would be sending the wrong message.

Then imagine being dead for two years and coming back to find that the anti-human and Terra Firma types both grabbing on to this and interpreting Shepard's choices through their own agendas.

[edenprime]

The main galactic power players, post-war:

First of all, the krogan. At the very least, the krogan must get a seat in the council. If a named/old character has to be the one to hold it, it should be Bakara. Wrex should rule a unified Tuchanka. Their help was instrumental in holding Palaven, and as a consequence, humanity and the turians. I can see all three peoples become closer allies. Tension would remain, especially between the turians and the krogan, rightfully so. However, I can see the Hierarchy, under Victus, finally start to pay reparations for the genophage.

An initial offer is made to get turian workers to Tuchanka, to help physically rebuild the planet's main cities. This is completely vetoed by the krogan leadership, obviously. These guys were doing secret operations like a year ago to disable a gigantic bomb they had buried in their planet to destroy them. They agree on raw materials + monetary compensation until krogan population reaches pre-genophage and post-industrialization, but pre-expansion numbers. A surviving Shepard that keeps working as a Spectre would totally mediate the negotiations as an impartial observer. It is also yet another show of cooperation between all three peoples.

Now, the asari... would they get any sort of penalty for hiding the Athame beacon? Would it all get swept under the rug due to corruption? Would it be purposefuly "forgiven" due to the galaxy-wide destruction? Let's be real - if they had revealed the secret as soon as the Alliance and its allies started building the Crucible, they would've defeated the reapers much sooner. Hell, maybe Thessia would've been spared - it's attacked after the Crucible plans are found on Mars, with enough time to spare to give Alliance officials (including one very annoyed human spectre) the information.

Even if they didn't know that the beacon held information on how to destroy the reapers, it was known that a weapon of prothean origin was being built, and they had information that came straight from the protheans. If the matriarchs had any common sense, they'd start offering asari help to rebuild say...the Citadel. The keepers were basically reaper tech, right? So it stands to reason that they would've died with them, too. Now, if the others had any common sense they would refuse the generous offer and get their hands on it first (when both humans and turians call dibs, Done-With-Your-Shit Shepard says it should be the asari, under strict council supervision).

Salarians! They did not withhold crucial information, but they actively tried to sabotage the biggest war alliance by trying to ruin the cure for the genophage, and withholding support when they didn't get their way. To save face, the STG could try to make it seem like it was the Dalatrass acting alone, have her replaced, and profusely apologize. They are not formally penalized, but their political influence is definitely diminished. Again, the krogan are now among the most influential species, and the humans and the turians didn't get any help from the salarians, either. The asari chose to stay impartial in that mess, and look how it turned out for them. As such, they'll both need to keep a low profile until things have significantly cooled down.

The quarians would have no interest in joining, I believe. They'll be high on the thrill of getting their planet back. They'll need to completely reorganize their entire society, so galaxy-wide politics would take a backseat for a while. They are used to self-sufficiency and ostatrization for everyone else, so I can't see them being too keen on them, too.

Unfortunately, I don't think the "secondary" species/worlds would get much more influence or power. Some of them, like the volus and the elcor contributed a non-insignificant ammout to the war effort. However, allowing the volus into the council would be a conflict of interest: they are a client race to the turians, so unless they became completely independent for a long while, they wouldn't get that seat. Since elcor made a similar contribution, it would be unfair if they got it and the volus didn't, so no more seats for anyone. The drell don't even have their own planet, and the overall contribution from them and the hanar was not significant enough to change much of their status. Of course, all of these are excuses. The big power players are just not keen on sharing, just like before. After all, politicians will be politicians, and a sense of unity only goes so far.

[luckyspacerabbit]

[spacevixen2024]

If it weren't for that pesky Council...

[thyredwarden]

i think they got married while i was away

[gethprime]

Anderson? What are you doing here? I didn't send-

[niriaveil]

do you think doctor chakwas sends anderson routine health reports on shepard just so he can have peace of mind

[fictionisthebetterreality]

At least we threw one hell of a party. Probably the last one.

Last one until you finish kicking the reapers asses, you mean. Because that's the plan.

-

Mass Effect 3 - Citadel DLC