The Shadow of Old Transgressions (Homeworld/Mass Effect Crossover Quest)

"Greetings Lorian, Station. We had heard that you had recently been attacked and wished to learn more about your current situation."

"We did have some recent trouble in the cluster. We would be happy to tell you more in exchange for more information about the rest of the galaxy. The Taiidan communication networks have been erratic lately."

You get to work exchanging rumors and hearsay with the Salarians. They don't really have any information you don't already know. Apparently Aegle managed to stop the T-Mat attack before they suffered from more than a few Barnacle probes. Still this is just a cover. While you are keeping the Salarians talking, Laverna and Ulysses launch stealth probes to approach the station.

When the limpets touch down they quickly find access ports and run through a string of access protocols looking for a way into the station's networks. The process is quick, but Laverna is still careful. Of all the members of the Taiidan Republic the Salarians tend to have network defenses that are actually worth the name.

Still it only takes her two minutes to crack their encryption and begin accessing their main systems while Ulysses looks for more general information on the station's more physical defenses just in case. By the time you have started talking about perhaps trading a container of resources for a bit of cartographic data, Laverna has found the lab where the hyperspace core is being studied and Ulysses has taken control of the station's main guns.

It seems the Salarians aren't entirely aware of what they have beyond it being related to hyperspace somehow. They have been taking sensor readings and according to the research logs the lead scientists are debating whether they should attempt to open it manually or try to find an access port.

It all seems very sensible, which makes your job harder unfortunately. You can't just tell them they're messing with things beyond their understanding that will get them killed if they're being this careful. And unfortunately salvaging derelicts has a long legal standing behind it.

Still the fact that they don't know exactly what it is gives you an advantage. Bentusi are known for acquiring artifacts so if you ask if they have anything unique they would probably trade it as long as you offer something more immediate in exchange.

You consider your options. Engine improvements are always useful, as are armor techniques. But both aren't very applicable to a space station even if they would be useful to the colony in the long term as they expand. Ion cannons are always a good option, and you have a range of different levels from your work with the Irunese.

Then it hits you. Of course you have a technology that exotic, new, and which you want to trade to them anyway, the anti subversion modules. You had intended to give this away, but what kind of Bentusi would you be if you couldn't spin the situation to your advantage.

"Have you found any interesting artifacts recently? We would be willing to pay for progenitor relics."

You of course know they don't have any progenitor relics, but as you hoped the temptation has them stretching the truth. "We did have salvagers bring in several pieces recently. What are you offering?"

"We have developed a new defensive module from analyzing the wreckage of the battle at the Grand Conclave. We would be willing to offer it to you for the pieces and 10,000 RU."

What follows is a bit of dickering as you expound on the abilities of the anti subversion module and the Salarians attempt to match it with various pieces of salvage. With your in depth knowledge of the station's manifests you are able to determine exactly what they are willing to part with and drive a bargain to just below their limit.

In the end you are able to acquire the Hyperspace Core, several pieces of recovered archives from Aegle, and four thousand RUs in return for the Anti Subversion modules. You'd feel a little bad about doing this to them if the Salarians weren't trying to sell you Bentusi Wreckage as Progenitor artifacts. Still you decide to throw in a compact power generator as well. You do want them to be able to use the anti subversion modules after all.

As a tug pushes the container with the resources and the core out to you and you deploy your own cargo barge to deliver the components you promised in exchange. You are ready for some kind of interruption, but everything goes smoothly and you soon have the core secured in your cargo bays. Though it's so large that it fills your holds completely and Laverna has to take the resource containers.

A quick series of jumps and you arrive back at Irune with your precious cargo. You contact Gallus, "We managed to recover Aegle's hyperspace core. Will this be sufficient?"

"I'll need to integrate with it and calibrate it to the new vessel we're building, but still I believe it should work. We have already started construction of the frame. I believe you know which shipyards the Irunese have set aside for this."

"Yes, we'll be there shortly."

True to your words a short tactical jump as you at the shipyards where the new harborship is being constructed. You can see that construction has only just begun, but even so the frame is already so large that it has been moved out of the shipyards themselves and is being constructed in the open void by teams of resource drones and Irunese worker tugs.

Gallus, Iuno, and Aurora hang in space nearby directing the work, and soon your entire fleet is in contact once more. The children frolic around the construction site as you discuss what to do next.

"The frame is well under way, but it is the easiest part of a harborship to design. There are still many components that need to be developed and installed. I can do them myself, but your assistance would speed the process greatly."

Gallus sends over several requirements. Examining them you can easily see how the assistance of yourself and your friends would be beneficial. The question is whether you can afford to wait. You also want to scout out the Grand Conclave. Your meeting with the Taiidan at Tureth has reminded you that you have not checked in with them in some time.

[ ] Leave Aurora behind
Aurora is an expert on construction and logistics. She could help develop the systems of the harborships and ensure that construction goes smoothly. Of course then she wouldn't be available to repair and maintain your fleet.

[ ] Leave Iuno behind
Iuno is no more technically savvy than the average Bentusi, which is to say still a genius by flicker race standards, but she would provide more benefit by liaising with the Irunese and ensuring that they are willing to provide sufficient resources to see the harborship to completion. But then she wouldn't be available to talk to the galactic council.

[ ] Leave Ulysses behind
Ulysses can ensure that the harborship's armor and weapons are well built and ready to stand the test of anything the Wraith or T-Mat can throw at it, but you'd miss his firepower sorely if you ran into any fights on your scouting run.

[ ] Leave Laverna behind
Laverna is an expert engineer with a specialty in strike fighters. She could ensure that the Harborship's hangars are well and truly equipped. She could also fit it with the swarm sub modules to allow Gallus to direct even more acolytes in their defense than a normal harborship. But then you wouldn't have her to direct your own acolyte and dervishes.

[ ] Stay behind yourself
Of everyone in your fleet you're the best at hyperspace math and quantum geometry. You would be well suited to helping Gallus calibrate the hyperspace core. But you need to lead the scouting mission yourself.

[ ] Don't leave anyone behind
Gallus and the children are safe enough in the Irune system and you don't believe there is any particular time pressure to build the harborship as soon as possible. So instead of leaving anyone to help your entire fleet will venture out into the rest of the galaxy.

Core Space

Arak System
The Grand Conclave

Your fleet exits hyperspace into a much more chaotic system than you expected. Where before there were steady lanes of traffic watched over by Taiidani guardians now the Arak system is awash in ships. You count thousands in enormous varieties. There are military fleets shepherding convoys to the grand conclave. Several groups of mixed vessels appear to be building temporary habitats. More professional looking groups are expanding the system's defenses. And there are even more warships everywhere patrolling. You see several large debris fields to show that it isn't just for show.

Your Bentusi codes are enough to expedite your arrival, but even they aren't enough to overcome the sheer number of ships currently being processed. As such you have several days to scan the system and prepare your plans with the other members of the fleet. In that time you see a steady stream of more refugees arriving and at least one battle between a Taiidan fleet and a small force of T-Mat barnacles.

Judging by the sensor readings you think the Grand Conclave is safe enough from similar incursions. Indeed they could probably hold off a few starships. But a reef ship would cut through them. You aren't too surprised. The flicker races don't have any experience with the T-Mat and the new defenses are clearly being optimized to deal with the Void Wraith's heavy usage of missiles.

Such musings don't occupy you for too long however as you do eventually make your way to the front of the queue and dock with the Grand Conclave. You and your friends are far larger than the last time you were here. So instead of docking in the ambassadorial bays you end up on a docking spine meant for large warships. It somewhat amuses you to get such a tangible reminder of how far you've come in your quest to protect the galaxy.

Nevertheless Iuno might be in an entirely different vessel, but she still releases an envoy to meet with the ministers of the galactic council. Or rather just one minister, as she manages to avoid getting tangled up in that bureaucracy again by requesting a meeting with High Minister Telassa. There is almost a diplomatic incident when the Kushan insist on providing an honor guard for the envoy against Taiidan treachery. You had almost forgotten they were fighting. Fortunately Iuno is able to convince them that it won't be necessary by pointing out that the Envoy was simply a drone and an ambush would present no risk for her.

Once you do finally have your meeting with High Minister Telassa the elder asari stateswoman looks as poised and elegant as she did before. But the envoy's cameras can see new lines around her eyes. The signs of stress and worry. They only deepen as you tell her of the T-Mat and their threat to the whole galaxy.

"I was afraid the Void Wraiths had returned when we started receiving word of lost colonies. Now you are telling me this is an entirely new threat when we are already stretched thin against the Exiles." She sighs, "I will offer you what aid I can, but I have to ask for yours in return. There are too many refugees here, and more coming with every day. We simply lack the resources on the Conclave itself. Could the Bentusi arrange for more aid. I know your resources are vast."

It occurs to you suddenly that she thinks you are an elder. The new vessels and anonymity of the envoys hiding your identity entirely by accident. Iuno makes some noncommittal agreements and the high minister gives you access to the Taiidan's strategic information before the meeting comes to an end.

You are left with a number of pressing issues. Unfortunately you do not think you will have time to address them all.

[ ] Help with the Refugees
You personally don't have any resources to spare, and frankly you don't think the rest of the Bentusi do either given the sheer scale of the T-Mat attack. But you could see about contacting nearby civilized planets that might have supplies to spare, and if necessary escort some convoys to help alleviate the crisis at the Grand Conclave.

[ ] Go Searching for Void Wraith Activity
You haven't heard anything about the Void Wraiths recently, but you're sure they're still out there. Even with everything else going on you feel it would be a good idea to search for their fleets and megaliths so you don't get blind sided by a major Void Wraith assault later.

[ ] Try to Broker Peace Between the Kushan and Taiidan
The Kushan's grudge is millennia old and they don't seem the type to forgive easily, but the war is draining resources and war potential that could be much better used against the T-Mat or Void Wraiths. Or even just against pirates. You aren't sure exactly how you would stop the fighting, but you'll never get closer if you don't start.

[ ] Find Bentusi Sentinels and Help against the T-Mat
Now that you don't have any non combatants in your care you can more confidently help with the ongoing war of your own people. You're sure you and your friends can deal with Barnacle groups easily enough and even add a decisive punch against a Starfish.

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[ ] Work on the Fleet
-[ ] Pick a Research Project.
One of the Bentusi characters can perform research on something for the fleet. Except Aurora as she has already been picked in this side mission.

Pick a Codex/Interlude
[ ] Write In
Pick something you'd like to know more about.

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Quest Note: My apologies for the impromptu hiatus. Hopefully I can keep things moving now.