The council went on for at least twenty minutes about what an honor it was to be chosen as Spectres and the importance of keeping galactic peace. Their voices boomed throughout the room as they carried on with their show. Galen himself thought it was all bullshit. He twitched hi mandibles and rubbed the back of his neck. He was beginning to get bored and it showed on his face, Vakarian noticed this and tried to no avail to get the other councilors to quicken their speeches. The Asari was especially long winded, she stood there speaking arrogantly and talked down to the crowd of soldiers.

Galen let out a long exaggerated sigh which stopped the Asari mid-sentence. "Yes yes, it is an honor to be here and we are most grateful for the offer. Now can I please see my damn ship, I've been waiting for this for months."

The Asari didn't like that. "You arrogant bastard!" She proclaimed in a shocked voice. Galen thought he heard a few chuckles behind him. "Do you have no respect for tradition?"

"The tradition of the Spectres ma'am is secretive. Special Tactics and Reconnaissance agents are supposed to operate behind the scenes." Galen retorted in the cockiest and most intelligent voice he could muster while half drunk. "You instead have used this as a political ploy, hoping to make the galaxy feel safer under council authority." This brought out hurt looks from all the councilors, including Vakarian. "You may be able to manipulate the civilians but you cannot manipulate me. Now please allow us to do our jobs before you turn Matriarch."

A cold silence fell over the council. Galen worried that he may have overstayed his welcome but he stood his ground. The worst they could do was fire him, in that case he would have become a mercenary. A cough was heard from on of the non-Spectre crew. Galen wondered if it was real or just a desperate attempt to break the silence. Finally Vakarian spoke up.

"Very well Galen, as you all know the galaxy finds itself in the middle of dozens of petty wars. You will end them." The Turian hid his annoyance pretty well. Galen had known him for five years now however and could tell he pinched a nerve by the slight way Vakarian twitched his mandibles. Galen doubted anyone else in the room had noticed.

"Two months ago a rumor that the Salarian Union was recreating the Krogan Genophage reached Urdnot Wrex." The Salarian began to speak. "We have been attempting to stop the spread of these rumors and ensure the Krogan population that they are groundless. Krogan response... problematic."

"Yes, a small KRUC fleet now blockades the Salarian colony of Skal'kus where the Genophage is supposedly being manufactured." The Human spoke this time. 

"Are the rumors true councilors?" Galen asked. Now he was being serious.

"We don not know. That would be highly classified. Even above my clearance. Either way Krogan cannot be allowed to start another war." The Salarian responded. "Peaceful outcome unlikely. Krogan not know for being reasonable." 

"I wouldn't be very 'reasonable' if someone was trying to spread a sterility virus among my people." Galen spoke up with an accusatory tone.

"Not a sterility virus." The Salarian added plainly.

"Anyway, you and your crew are being sent to Skal'kus to resolve the situation. How you do it is up to you." Vakarian said. 

"That concludes this session, I would wish you good luck but I'm afraid you would take it offensively." The Asari said. With that the council turned their backs to the crowd and walked down from their platform.

Galen turned around on his heel to look at his crew, then he motioned to the Hanar to bring him a drink. The pink blob floated out of the room stopping to bump into the Drell Spectre on purpose. Galen chuckled and gave the Drell a quizzical glance. Normally Hanar and Drell got along, he'd have to get an explantion out of the Drell later. Galen's Omni-tool beeped as he received dossiers on all eight of the Spectres standing before him. He quickly glanced over the names and mentally repeated them as he looked over their faces, or flashlight and helmet for the Geth and Quarian. 

"All non-Spectre crew report to the Normandy, Major Claire Moore I want you to go with them and get them situated." Galen said to the oldest human woman. She sure looked like she had been through hell. "And try not to eat any of them." He said with a smile. "Mads Tao and Pai Min I want a report on everything you can find about Skal'kus and the STG garrison ther. We need to find out if they are capable of defending themselves. 

The Hanar returned with a full bottle of Turian whiskey as the Non--Spectre crew began heading toward the ship. Galen popped the top off the botlle and took a long swig. The warm liquid rushed down his throat and gave him almost instant satisfaction. He mumbled to himself that he would have a massive hangover the next day if he wasn't careful, then he took another swig. He returned the bottle to the Hanar and gestured it away. 

"The rest of you go get any gear you need and head to the ship." He said as he began walking down the red carpet leading out of the Council Chambers. He stopped to look over the other Turian Spectre Harken. "That's some ugly ass face paint." He said with a laugh before continuing on his way.