Prologue:

Councillor Rayna couldn't help but feel contempt. Sitting across from her was a Batarian, flanked by a arrogant looking Cardassian and a demeanor less Salarian. Behind them four armed and armoured Vorcha and a Krogan Warlord stood at perfect parade attention.

'Those Vorcha could give Asari Commandos run for their money…' she wondered to herself.

Only a few years previous that very thought would have been a joke at best, insane at worst. But times had changed, with the Citadel council being left behind. Unfortunately twenty years of total war, hundreds of millions of lives and colonies had been their introduction to the new Galactic order.

"Psht… On behalf of the Citadel Council… Psht... Emissaries, i welcome you to the Praesidium…psht."

That was Tuk Hul, the most powerful individual in Citadel space. And he had spoken before her. A not so subtle way establishing himself as leader of the council.

A Salarian life time ago. The Volus had been granted a council seat. The Salarian contingent had warned that such an action would destabilize the Galactic balance. And ramblings about Volun economic imperialism.

'Those treacherous lizards' Rayna quietly fumed to herself.

At the time it seemed as if the Salarians were being unreasonable. Besides, the Volus were the undisputed masters of Galactic banking. And their continued exclusion from the council was starting to hurt everyone's bottom line. In addition the petulant Batarian Hegemony needed to be dealt with. War wasn't cheap...

Had Rayna understood the gravity of the situation then, perhaps she would not have been so flippant…

Regardless, Tuk Hal was out doing her again. It was an unspoken rule that the most influential Councillor begin proceedings. That had always been an Asari. But the war had changed everything.

"Yes the council looks forward to put this nasty war behind us. Please if there is any way we could..." Even as she attempted to meekly assert herself. Rayna was cut off by the sudden movement of one of her colleagues.

Tuk had turned his entire neck-less head to stare at her. A sign of Volun irritation.

"Please… save us the faux welcome. We are still enemies. And will remain so until your surrender" The Batarian emissary Vorhess. Spoke with a booming and dismissive voice. His body language held the swagger of a victor.

"Psht… civility is always preferable… Psht... during diplomacy Emissary… Psht". Responded Tuk.

"Riiight…" Vorhess let his sarcasm hang uncomfortably for a moment.. "The Salarian-Terminus Hegemony has sent me to negotiate peace, and serve as the first Hegemonic Resident to ensure continued peace. I suggest we cut the varren shit and get right to business… 'honorable councillors'". The Batarian practically spitting the last two words at the once mighty Council.

The war to end all wars had changed everything...