A Krogan politician sounds both funny and scary.
Til I Change Your Mind (Mass Effect Krogan SI)
- Thread starter Stratagemini
- Start date
out
Sounds like you have a job that needs to be offered to Thane.
Stratagemini
Totally a Fire Ferret.
- Location
- Central Park
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
cut is correct.
Who knows, on the plus side, they may end up having the only empire in recorded history with honest politicians.
- Location
- Somewhere, Maybe
If only because the dishonest ones tend to get shot the most.
Not not just "shot", because in this political arena, actually literally shooting your opponent counts for a lot of political clout.
Wouldn't cut mean that the orders were stopped? Cut as in cut off?
Nope, it's similar to when a paycheck is cut, like that means it's finalized and in the mail (or will be soon)
Not_Interesting
The Munchkin of Megastructures
- Location
- In your walls(the walls between realities)
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So, basically the British Parliament until like 1998 or something? You had to wear a tophat to be allowed to speak, but instead of a Top Hat, it will be Powered Armor and the Speaker Grav Hammer.
Cave_Canem
Miniature Cyberwolf
PMQ's would be a lot more interesting to watch if the PM had to headbutt the MP's every so often.
They politely shoot to maim if you're just being annoying. It's when you're being an asshole or too full of shit, that they start aiming center of mass (Or headshots for marksmen)
- Location
- Somewhere, Maybe
It would be considered bad form to simply murder your opponent, but maimings would still be permissible. If he started aiming for more vital organs, or somehow caught you in the head, then all bets are off, because killing in self defense is a part of the Krogan Constitution. ^^
- Location
- Earth
Anyone not willing to be shot at shouldn't get to decide policies. - Krell, Krogan Diplomat.
CHAPTER 53: The Riddle
Stratagemini
Totally a Fire Ferret.
- Location
- Central Park
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
CHAPTER 53: The Riddle
Two days after Wrex left I stepped into the room on the Friendly Headbutt that I had commandeered as my office to find a visitor examining the wall decorations.
'Mordin. I wasn't aware you were coming.' I spoke up as I strode into the room.
Honestly I wasn't aware he was on board, which was somewhat troubling considering we were in space, Wrex had left two days ago, and I was fairly sure no one else had docked since.
That was troubling, actually. STG assassins and spies were generally much less stealthy.
I hope.
How long has he been on the ship?
This was definitely going to bother me.
'I sent you an email. Besides, I wasn't aware you had a Library.' Mordin replied with a grin.
'My main gift to the University of Tuchanka. It also has university dorms, and lecture halls, and some other amenities.' I admitted.
'Such as Eezo engines and mass accelerators?' Mordin asked with an amused lilt.
'Those are standard issue on any Krogan-made space-faring vessel. And most space-faring vessels of other races as well.' I pointed out, unhelpfully.
'they are, aren't they. Curious how they seem strange on a library. Is it the function? Or the size? Testing needed. How did you make it? STG has all sorts of theories as to when you set it up. They're quite curious as to when you had time away from surveillance to prepare it.' Mordin asked.
'You know Mordin, the nice thing about planning ahead is that you can start your plans in motion before anyone else even knows you have a plan to solve the problem.' I admitted.
Mordin laughed. I got the feeling that he thought I was in on some grand sort of in-joke.
That was somewhat disconcerting.
... What had Mordin been up to while he was out of my sight, anyway?
'Still, a Library! I have heard amazing things about your collection. Every word ever uttered in Citadel space?' Mordin pressed.
'Nothing so impressive. I only have records from since I started recording, and it's just every broadcast. Not every word spoken.' I admitted.
'A vast treasure trove.' Mordin admitted.
'Completely unusable in the short term. There's barely any indexing and the Reapers don't exactly have a lot of transmissions. Also it's hard to tell if information is corrupted in transit or if the library is picking up on unknown species. My Chief Underling in charge of Intelligence Operations just indexed a rather thorough collection of Yahg war chants and recipe books. I probably wouldn't have realized what they were without her expertise.' I admitted.
'Still not head librarian? No. Not important. Yahg discovery separate documents?' Mordin asked.
'No, apparently some centuries back on one of the nation states on their native planet the popular form of Yahg war chant was to intimidate their enemies by describing how they would cook them. Honestly the prose is quite musical in the native language. But I don't particularly want to hear a live performance.' I explained.
'And is it true it whispers impossible truths into your mind?' Mordin asked.
'That makes it sound like some sort of eldritch location designed to drive curious Salarians insane.' I countered.
It definitely wasn't designed that way. But like the great Human Warrior-Philosopher Bob Ross once said, there are no mistakes, just happy little accidents.
Mordin just stared at me.
'I can't find a trustworthy programmer to fix the sound system's VI indexing issues. So it does tend to play lectures and speeches over musical accompaniment occasionally.' I finally admitted.
'Lectures like your guest appearances on Sesame Street? I'm told they take on a much more sinister tone when paired with Heavy Metal music.'
'Everything takes on a much more sinister tone when paired with Heavy Metal music.' I replied, rolling my eyes.
'Can you give back the STG's researchers?' Mordin finally asked.
'Is that what they were?' I grinned back.
'They were found taking notes in the hallways. What else would you call them? Surely not spies!' Mordin protested innocently.
I laughed.
'Like I replied to the Dalatrass's email; You're welcome to them, assuming you can convince them to leave their cells.' I grinned back.
'Yes. That does present a problem. An interesting counter intelligence strategy. A variation on a honey trap designed perfectly to counter STG. When will you be fixing the VI?' Mordin asked.
'Well, it really is a minor issue isn't it? It really just affects Salarians, and Salarians aren't supposed to be in my Library in the first place. I suppose I'd have to fix it if that changed, say, an alliance against the Reapers? But there's also the issue of Housing space. My Library is quite large, but I can't afford to house the entire population of Sur'kesh. Tuchanka, maybe, but Sur'kesh?'
Mordin snorted at my joke, which was also somewhat disconcerting because I hadn't actually made a joke.
Was this what it felt like to talk to me? I couldn't say I liked it.
'An alliance then? Directly with the Krogan?'
'With Javik's new empire.' I corrected.
'So with you directly then? I believe the Dalatrass intends to exhaust her options before reaching that point.' Mordin smiled.
'Well, my library isn't going anywhere for a few more months. She's welcome to try.' I admitted.
'It's an excellent plan. You turned time into a weapon against all of your foes. Only a Krogan could achieve it within a single lifetime, and most Krogans would die long before it came to fruition, or use it too early. Brilliant. And to think! I had no idea until it appeared!' Mordin complimented, thoroughly enjoying the fait accompli I had pulled off.
'Mostly I wanted a Library that would be able to last for generations in Krogan Space. Or to present a record of our cycle if we lost. The levels of durability and defensive capabilities necessary to accomplish that weren't too far off from what was needed to fight the Reapers. A happy little accident.' I admitted.
'Opportunity meeting a prepared mind.' Mordin agreed.
'You didn't come all this way just to ask me about my Library, did you?' I asked, amused.
Mordin rolled his eyes. A deliberately human gesture.
'The STG was in something of a panic that you were no longer under surveillance. I was asked to remedy that. I didn't want anyone to do anything... rash, to remedy the issue.' Mordin admitted.
'Rash like declare me dead and my death a national holiday?' i asked with a grin.
'Yes. Rash.' Mordin nodded.
'You know, maybe you should be the Salarian counselor. Someone else might be getting it wrong.' I joked.
Mordin gasped, aghast.
'I am a scientist! I deal with data and answers! Nothing so messy and inconsistent as... Politics!' Mordin whispered the final word, horrified.
'I don't know, I think civil service could suit you. I recently came into a governmental position myself by pure chance-'
Modin snorted at my assertion.
'By pure chance! And I'm finding it not much different from my prior work.' I admitted.
'Wandering around the Galaxy making friends, making plots against the Reapers and setting up the revival of the Prothean Empire?' Mordin asked, curious.
'Wrangling unruly Asari students as a guest lecturer, actually. But your version works too.' I smiled back.
'Hmmmm... Yes in retrospect that makes sense. Training on unreceptive Asari for use on Asari politicians. Actually... Many Asari students now Asari politicians. Or underlings...'
That plural was a bit disconcerting. Who was Liara hiring to help run my Library? Salarians were obviously a non-starter right now, but she couldn't have decided to stock the moon with her old classmates, could she? Cronyism is just as bad as Nepotism! Liara should know that!
'Something like that.' I admitted. 'And the other reason for your visit?' I asked, politely.
'I learned a good friend had access to every musical performance ever broadcast in the past millennia or so including early pre-contact radio and television performances of Gilbert and Sullivan, and didn't tell me.' Mordin stated guilelessly.
'You want a job?' I asked, more shocked than I should have been.
'Just the opposite! I want to retire, and you seem to have created the perfect Salarian Retirement community. A giant completely unindexed trove of a substantial percentage of all knowledge in the universe.'
I blinked.
Well. Put that way, that's exactly what I did, didn't I?
'And your work?' I asked, heavily implying the Genophage with my brow ridges.
'No longer requires my direct assistance.' Mordin replied.
'Are you sure? No one else might get it wrong?'
'Not possible at this point.' Mordin replied.
That was weird to hear out of Mordin's mouth, but Mordin probably knew best. I had to take him at his word, but I really hope this didn't end up impacting the Genophage cure. Still, Mordin was probably a lot safer holed up in my library than he'd be in that tower, and much more capable of teleconferencing in once I got Jacob's crew to set up a QEC between my library and the Friendly Headbutt. With a QEC between the library and Tuchanka, the new Krogan capitol by dint of not actually having a capitol before, there wouldn't be any real problems with him instructing scientists on the ground. It was a compromise, but a good one that allowed Mordin to make sure that others had the knowledge they needed to deal with the Genophage instead of just him. So on the whole I really had no reason to deny him his request...
Well, there was the whole honey trap thing, but Mordin didn't seem worried about it. So...
'I'll contact the Chief Underling in Charge of Intelligence Operations for the Enkindler Empire. She's currently the defacto head librarian. You'd be retired under her command. She can probably use some help managing the whole project anyway.' I decided.
Mordin nodded. 'I look forward to seeing Ms. T'Soni again, then.'
Worrying that. But I suppose I can't expect the Salarians to have completely failed to infiltrate Javik's new empire.
Or to read their email...
'Anything else?' I asked.
'Nothing pressing. You don't mind if I stay onboard until you reach Rannoch, do you? I'll make my own way to your library once you land.' Mordin replied.
So he probably snuck inside on Wrex's shuttle and hid the entire time then? Unless that was just what he wanted me to think.
Either way would be exceptionally impressive. I almost wanted to ask Mordin how he did it, but there was no point in asking if I wasn't going to plug the security hole, and asking now would just reveal it to more people.
It would ruin the magic of the trick too.
'I will take my leave.' Mordin decided heading out my door.
I wonder if he would be staying hidden for the rest of the trip? Well, I guess I would find out soon enough!
Idly I adjusted the music in my suite to play the soundtrack from a broadway sho
w from the late 20th century.
'See the moon slink down in the sky darling. Let your fantasies fly darling. Life is cold, and the game is old!'
_______________________
Author's Note:
The Scarlet Pimpernel is an underrate Musical. It's also really in Mordin's wheelhouse being a show about over dramatic spies with secret identities. The soundtrack is glorious from the first part of Madame Guillotine onward. The Riddle is a great song, and I hope everyone listens to it.
Mordin's an amazing spy but he doesn't get to do enough fun spy stuff. It's fun to write a chapter where the readers know what's going on beneath the obvious but Krell does not. I hope it came across okay.
Two days after Wrex left I stepped into the room on the Friendly Headbutt that I had commandeered as my office to find a visitor examining the wall decorations.
'Mordin. I wasn't aware you were coming.' I spoke up as I strode into the room.
Honestly I wasn't aware he was on board, which was somewhat troubling considering we were in space, Wrex had left two days ago, and I was fairly sure no one else had docked since.
That was troubling, actually. STG assassins and spies were generally much less stealthy.
I hope.
How long has he been on the ship?
This was definitely going to bother me.
'I sent you an email. Besides, I wasn't aware you had a Library.' Mordin replied with a grin.
'My main gift to the University of Tuchanka. It also has university dorms, and lecture halls, and some other amenities.' I admitted.
'Such as Eezo engines and mass accelerators?' Mordin asked with an amused lilt.
'Those are standard issue on any Krogan-made space-faring vessel. And most space-faring vessels of other races as well.' I pointed out, unhelpfully.
'they are, aren't they. Curious how they seem strange on a library. Is it the function? Or the size? Testing needed. How did you make it? STG has all sorts of theories as to when you set it up. They're quite curious as to when you had time away from surveillance to prepare it.' Mordin asked.
'You know Mordin, the nice thing about planning ahead is that you can start your plans in motion before anyone else even knows you have a plan to solve the problem.' I admitted.
Mordin laughed. I got the feeling that he thought I was in on some grand sort of in-joke.
That was somewhat disconcerting.
... What had Mordin been up to while he was out of my sight, anyway?
'Still, a Library! I have heard amazing things about your collection. Every word ever uttered in Citadel space?' Mordin pressed.
'Nothing so impressive. I only have records from since I started recording, and it's just every broadcast. Not every word spoken.' I admitted.
'A vast treasure trove.' Mordin admitted.
'Completely unusable in the short term. There's barely any indexing and the Reapers don't exactly have a lot of transmissions. Also it's hard to tell if information is corrupted in transit or if the library is picking up on unknown species. My Chief Underling in charge of Intelligence Operations just indexed a rather thorough collection of Yahg war chants and recipe books. I probably wouldn't have realized what they were without her expertise.' I admitted.
'Still not head librarian? No. Not important. Yahg discovery separate documents?' Mordin asked.
'No, apparently some centuries back on one of the nation states on their native planet the popular form of Yahg war chant was to intimidate their enemies by describing how they would cook them. Honestly the prose is quite musical in the native language. But I don't particularly want to hear a live performance.' I explained.
'And is it true it whispers impossible truths into your mind?' Mordin asked.
'That makes it sound like some sort of eldritch location designed to drive curious Salarians insane.' I countered.
It definitely wasn't designed that way. But like the great Human Warrior-Philosopher Bob Ross once said, there are no mistakes, just happy little accidents.
Mordin just stared at me.
'I can't find a trustworthy programmer to fix the sound system's VI indexing issues. So it does tend to play lectures and speeches over musical accompaniment occasionally.' I finally admitted.
'Lectures like your guest appearances on Sesame Street? I'm told they take on a much more sinister tone when paired with Heavy Metal music.'
'Everything takes on a much more sinister tone when paired with Heavy Metal music.' I replied, rolling my eyes.
'Can you give back the STG's researchers?' Mordin finally asked.
'Is that what they were?' I grinned back.
'They were found taking notes in the hallways. What else would you call them? Surely not spies!' Mordin protested innocently.
I laughed.
'Like I replied to the Dalatrass's email; You're welcome to them, assuming you can convince them to leave their cells.' I grinned back.
'Yes. That does present a problem. An interesting counter intelligence strategy. A variation on a honey trap designed perfectly to counter STG. When will you be fixing the VI?' Mordin asked.
'Well, it really is a minor issue isn't it? It really just affects Salarians, and Salarians aren't supposed to be in my Library in the first place. I suppose I'd have to fix it if that changed, say, an alliance against the Reapers? But there's also the issue of Housing space. My Library is quite large, but I can't afford to house the entire population of Sur'kesh. Tuchanka, maybe, but Sur'kesh?'
Mordin snorted at my joke, which was also somewhat disconcerting because I hadn't actually made a joke.
Was this what it felt like to talk to me? I couldn't say I liked it.
'An alliance then? Directly with the Krogan?'
'With Javik's new empire.' I corrected.
'So with you directly then? I believe the Dalatrass intends to exhaust her options before reaching that point.' Mordin smiled.
'Well, my library isn't going anywhere for a few more months. She's welcome to try.' I admitted.
'It's an excellent plan. You turned time into a weapon against all of your foes. Only a Krogan could achieve it within a single lifetime, and most Krogans would die long before it came to fruition, or use it too early. Brilliant. And to think! I had no idea until it appeared!' Mordin complimented, thoroughly enjoying the fait accompli I had pulled off.
'Mostly I wanted a Library that would be able to last for generations in Krogan Space. Or to present a record of our cycle if we lost. The levels of durability and defensive capabilities necessary to accomplish that weren't too far off from what was needed to fight the Reapers. A happy little accident.' I admitted.
'Opportunity meeting a prepared mind.' Mordin agreed.
'You didn't come all this way just to ask me about my Library, did you?' I asked, amused.
Mordin rolled his eyes. A deliberately human gesture.
'The STG was in something of a panic that you were no longer under surveillance. I was asked to remedy that. I didn't want anyone to do anything... rash, to remedy the issue.' Mordin admitted.
'Rash like declare me dead and my death a national holiday?' i asked with a grin.
'Yes. Rash.' Mordin nodded.
'You know, maybe you should be the Salarian counselor. Someone else might be getting it wrong.' I joked.
Mordin gasped, aghast.
'I am a scientist! I deal with data and answers! Nothing so messy and inconsistent as... Politics!' Mordin whispered the final word, horrified.
'I don't know, I think civil service could suit you. I recently came into a governmental position myself by pure chance-'
Modin snorted at my assertion.
'By pure chance! And I'm finding it not much different from my prior work.' I admitted.
'Wandering around the Galaxy making friends, making plots against the Reapers and setting up the revival of the Prothean Empire?' Mordin asked, curious.
'Wrangling unruly Asari students as a guest lecturer, actually. But your version works too.' I smiled back.
'Hmmmm... Yes in retrospect that makes sense. Training on unreceptive Asari for use on Asari politicians. Actually... Many Asari students now Asari politicians. Or underlings...'
That plural was a bit disconcerting. Who was Liara hiring to help run my Library? Salarians were obviously a non-starter right now, but she couldn't have decided to stock the moon with her old classmates, could she? Cronyism is just as bad as Nepotism! Liara should know that!
'Something like that.' I admitted. 'And the other reason for your visit?' I asked, politely.
'I learned a good friend had access to every musical performance ever broadcast in the past millennia or so including early pre-contact radio and television performances of Gilbert and Sullivan, and didn't tell me.' Mordin stated guilelessly.
'You want a job?' I asked, more shocked than I should have been.
'Just the opposite! I want to retire, and you seem to have created the perfect Salarian Retirement community. A giant completely unindexed trove of a substantial percentage of all knowledge in the universe.'
I blinked.
Well. Put that way, that's exactly what I did, didn't I?
'And your work?' I asked, heavily implying the Genophage with my brow ridges.
'No longer requires my direct assistance.' Mordin replied.
'Are you sure? No one else might get it wrong?'
'Not possible at this point.' Mordin replied.
That was weird to hear out of Mordin's mouth, but Mordin probably knew best. I had to take him at his word, but I really hope this didn't end up impacting the Genophage cure. Still, Mordin was probably a lot safer holed up in my library than he'd be in that tower, and much more capable of teleconferencing in once I got Jacob's crew to set up a QEC between my library and the Friendly Headbutt. With a QEC between the library and Tuchanka, the new Krogan capitol by dint of not actually having a capitol before, there wouldn't be any real problems with him instructing scientists on the ground. It was a compromise, but a good one that allowed Mordin to make sure that others had the knowledge they needed to deal with the Genophage instead of just him. So on the whole I really had no reason to deny him his request...
Well, there was the whole honey trap thing, but Mordin didn't seem worried about it. So...
'I'll contact the Chief Underling in Charge of Intelligence Operations for the Enkindler Empire. She's currently the defacto head librarian. You'd be retired under her command. She can probably use some help managing the whole project anyway.' I decided.
Mordin nodded. 'I look forward to seeing Ms. T'Soni again, then.'
Worrying that. But I suppose I can't expect the Salarians to have completely failed to infiltrate Javik's new empire.
Or to read their email...
'Anything else?' I asked.
'Nothing pressing. You don't mind if I stay onboard until you reach Rannoch, do you? I'll make my own way to your library once you land.' Mordin replied.
So he probably snuck inside on Wrex's shuttle and hid the entire time then? Unless that was just what he wanted me to think.
Either way would be exceptionally impressive. I almost wanted to ask Mordin how he did it, but there was no point in asking if I wasn't going to plug the security hole, and asking now would just reveal it to more people.
It would ruin the magic of the trick too.
'I will take my leave.' Mordin decided heading out my door.
I wonder if he would be staying hidden for the rest of the trip? Well, I guess I would find out soon enough!
Idly I adjusted the music in my suite to play the soundtrack from a broadway sho
w from the late 20th century.
'See the moon slink down in the sky darling. Let your fantasies fly darling. Life is cold, and the game is old!'
_______________________
Author's Note:
The Scarlet Pimpernel is an underrate Musical. It's also really in Mordin's wheelhouse being a show about over dramatic spies with secret identities. The soundtrack is glorious from the first part of Madame Guillotine onward. The Riddle is a great song, and I hope everyone listens to it.
Mordin's an amazing spy but he doesn't get to do enough fun spy stuff. It's fun to write a chapter where the readers know what's going on beneath the obvious but Krell does not. I hope it came across okay.
Last edited:
- Location
- Somewhere, probably Earth
I am shocked and disappointed Mordin wasn't sitting in a swivel chair with an albino creature of some sort being pet in his lap named Mr. Bigglesworth, turned away from the door just so he could dramatically spin around when Krell came in.
"Ah, Mr. Nakmor. I've been expecting you."
"Ah, Mr. Nakmor. I've been expecting you."
Stratagemini
Totally a Fire Ferret.
- Location
- Central Park
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
He got distracted by Krell's record collection.
We do?!?!?!?!?
Stratagemini
Totally a Fire Ferret.
- Location
- Central Park
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
Well, I have been dropping hints. So I guess it's up to you if you know or not?
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Madame Guilliotine is one of the best opening numbers of all time.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Does Krell charge guests for looking at the library?
Stratagemini
Totally a Fire Ferret.
- Location
- Central Park
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
Of course not! Krell is a big supporter of free public education. He went on Sesame Street. What kind of monster would betray the principles of Sesame Street? Would you lie to Elmo?
*quietly updates playlist*
Heh, I was kind of expecting that Mordin was pre-setting (possibly precuring???) All the stuff to cure the Krogans before the reapers show up so that when they do there's less time wasted fixing trivial matters and more time countering the reapers ... at least I could see mordin considering the cure being done in the middle of the invasion to be a waste of time when it can trivially be done beforehand ... but that might just be me
Heh, I was kind of expecting that Mordin was pre-setting (possibly precuring???) All the stuff to cure the Krogans before the reapers show up so that when they do there's less time wasted fixing trivial matters and more time countering the reapers ... at least I could see mordin considering the cure being done in the middle of the invasion to be a waste of time when it can trivially be done beforehand ... but that might just be me
Stratagemini
Totally a Fire Ferret.
- Location
- Central Park
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
Do you have the story Title on there?
It's 'Til I Change Your Mind' by Teddy Swims.
I do now,
I have heard quite a few new songs through this that I would never have listened to otherwise
Mr. Mica
Capitalism cannot fix Global Warming.
- Location
- Earth
Can i take the time to reiterate how much I love this story.
I love the themes, I love the references, I love the characters, I love the chaos, the confusion, and the battle of smugness. I love the drama, and the music, gosh the music.
I love the themes, I love the references, I love the characters, I love the chaos, the confusion, and the battle of smugness. I love the drama, and the music, gosh the music.