Chapter 10

"Welcome Envoy of the Galactic Imperium to the Citadel we are the governing body of the Citadel known as the Council and we hope that your Empire will join us on the Citadel so we can learn more about your race," Said the Asari Councilor

"Yes we hope to be able to exchange our races culture and other things including tech if you would be willing," Said the Salarian Councilor

Serena listened to the Salarian councilor and observed the other councilors and she could tell that they each had their own agendas for wanting to friend the Galactic Imperium but the Asari councilor appears to not have any ulterior motive and it was the other Councilors that seemed to have ulterior motive so she would take note of this and report it to the Emperor once she returns.

After finishing her observation and listening to the councilors Serena looked at the councilors and began her negotiations "My name is Serena I am the diplomat sent by the Emperor to engage in negotiations with the Council and come to some form of agreement that will benefit the both of us" Said, Serena

"I too wish to come to some sort of agreement so shall we get down to business," Said the Asari Councilor. Serena nodded and the Council began their negotiations

"First we would like to explain the Citadel council and how it works before we enter negotiations, The Council is an executive committee composed of representatives from the Asari Republics, the Turian Hierarchy, and the Salarian Union. Though they have no official power over the independent governments of other species, the Council's decisions carry great weight throughout the galaxy. No single Council race is strong enough to defy the other two, and all have a vested interest in compromise and cooperation" Explained The Asari Councilor

"Each of the Council species has general characteristics associated with the various aspects of governing the galaxy. The Asari are typically seen as diplomats and mediators. The salarians gather intelligence and information. The Turians provide the bulk of the military and peacekeeping forces" Explained the Turian Councilor

"Any species granted an embassy on the Citadel is considered an associate member, bound by the accords of the Citadel Conventions. Associate members may bring issues to the attention of the Council, though they have no input on the decision. The most recent Race to join the Citadel was The human Systems Alliance which became an associate member of the Citadel in 2165." Explained the Salarian Councilor

"And the last thing that I will explain is the Citadel conventions, The Conventions regulate the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction. A WMD causes environmental alteration to a world. A bomb that produces a large crater is not considered a WMD; a bomb that causes a 'nuclear winter' is. The Conventions graded Weapons of Mass Destruction into tiers of concern; Tier I is the greatest threat to galactic peace." Said the Asari councilor she then explained the different tiers of WMD's

"And with all that done how about, we get to the negotiations," Said the Asari councilor

Serena nodded as she was trying to remember all of the things that the council said so she can make an agreement that best benefits the Galactic Imperium.

"First we would like to offer the Galactic Imperium to establish an Embassy on the Citadel and in order to do that you must sign the Treaty of Farixen which limits the number of dreadnoughts a single race can have and the reason for this is because of their destructive power." Said the Asari councilor

Hearing what the councilor said Serena already knew that the Emperor wouldn't agree to any of this since it would be like restricting their power and why should they have to restrict their power just because other races feel threatened.

"The Imperium would love to agree to your offers but unfortunately we won't restrict our fleet power just because other races feel threatened or so no other race is more powerful than the other races." Said, Serena

"If you will not abide by council rules you cannot establish an embassy on the Citadel," said the Turian councilor in a serious tone. When he first heard of a new empire that has formed in the Terminus systems he was skeptical since he had a small foothold in the Terminus systems that was secured by a spectre who was a Turian. He had used this foothold to gain information on the terminus systems and what was going on.

The Asari councilor didn't want to make the relationship between the Council and The Galactic Imperium worse since she wanted to learn more about them and leaving such a large empire unchecked would be bad for the Galaxy. In the end, she had decided to make a proposal.

"How about we allow you to not sign the Treaty of Farixen and instead just establish an embassy," Said the Asari councilor

"We cannot allow that as every member of the Citadel has signed the Treaty and if we suddenly let them off without signing it will cause other races to speak out and cause instability in the Galaxy," Said the Turian councilor

"I agree to let them not sign the Treaty because weakening one's military is something that will always raise concern and with their vast territory they will need the extra ships, "Said the Salarian councilor. He thought that for the Imperium to have conquered the Terminus Systems they must have a fleet that is either technologically advanced or they have a fleet that is slightly larger than that of the Council races.

The councilors had argued for a couple of minutes before it was decided that the Galactic Imperium will be exempt from signing the Treaty. Serena had stayed and talked more with the council until it was time for the meeting to be over then she returned back to the Imperium to report to Emperor Xavier.