Above the Supreme

The vents cover was withdrawn and four of the aliens dropped into the room, still looking like the humans they had emulated.
"Souls do not exist, we once believed and then the Collective showed us the truth. There are horrors beyond horrors, but no souls."
"We are beginning to doubt."
"Yes. As for Faust, a class three extra-dimensional being should not be trifled with without experience, but otherwise she is relatively harmless."
"We do not understand the system you have used to determine Humans the largest, did you mean this galaxy alone, not counting extra-galactic holdings? in which case, I agree. However, it does not matter that they are the strongest non-gifted faction, as such 'gifts' exist and are therefore lack of said gift is irrelevant"
"As a result if it being irrelevant, we will treat the humans no differently and are thus compelled to correct. The AIF lacks the number of races the Equestrians hold alone, and we hold more in that respect. It would be advised that you compare 6, Human, Abh, Dolphin, Boskop, Eth'ral and Aeternal to nine, Triarii, Saeva Simius, Corruptelae Insectum, Lance Human, Selkath, Umbrae Populus, Batarian, Asari and Turian... The last three being minorities. Six (though with a single Draconian) to ten if you wish to include Draconians."
"We have higher population levels Collectively as well"
"Our weaponry is superior"
"Our forces are superior"
"We would only place the AIF as the second most powerful faction .. Which is up one space from a cycle ago, when we considered the Equestrians the second most powerful. Our short war proved how weak they are"
"Agreed"

Vents, Abh

The Umbrae Populus again hissed and contorted in an impossible manner before scuttling away into the shadows of the ventilation shafts darkness