The Black Lion - A new Vassal. (Patreon)

Harrison Evans, Skrull Vessel – Earth.

"So... Talos... I recognize your species. I reviewed the records the Kree kept regarding your people in their archives, as well as Fury's little escapades," Harrison said calmly, immediately taking control of the situation. The Black Lion walked throughout the room with complete confidence, carefully observing and analyzing every detail of the alien vessel.

Talos, the Skrull leader, stepped forward, clearly prepared to take the first step in the diplomatic discussions.

Because, at the end of the day...

This was a meeting between two Heads of State.

"Lord Harrison Evans, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Talos, leader of the Skrull refugee community on Earth," the alien said respectfully, both in his words and in his demeanor.

Harrison nodded calmly, returning the respect.

These Skrulls...seemed peaceful, at least for the moment.

Perhaps some sort of agreement truly could be reached.

Especially considering they were enemies of the Kree.

Something invaluable...

Given the current political climate.

Without uttering another word, Harrison activated his Omni-Tool and began compiling all the information recovered from the Dark Aster before transmitting it directly to the Skrulls' communication devices.

They were...surprisingly primitive.

At least when compared to his own devices.

Hacking them had therefore been exceedingly simple, he had done it since they arrive, before the meeting started.

Every Skrull looked down at their respective communication devices in surprise, clearly not expecting to receive a message at a moment like this.

"I've just sent you a complete report regarding the Skrull prisoners we managed to recover from both the Dark Aster and Captain Yon-Rogg's vessels. At the moment they are recovering aboard Olympus Station after experiencing Kree... hospitality. We honestly weren't certain what to do with them, so your arrival has proven...Convenient for everyone involved," Harrison admitted as he carefully watched the refugees stare in complete astonishment and overwhelming hope at the thousands of names belonging to those of their people who had been rescued.

Talos slowly raised his head.

His eyes...

Filled with gratitude.

"You have my deepest thanks... Knowing that more of my people still live is...a blessing," Talos confessed, causing Harrison to nod quietly.

At that moment another Skrull stepped forward.

He was larger than the others, broad-shouldered, with a stern face and a deep frown that made it obvious something was troubling him.

"My apologies, Lord Harrison... In what condition were our brothers and sisters?" the Skrull asked cautiously.

It was evident that he feared the answer.

The Black Lion looked silently at the Skrull for several long moments, carefully considering the most...diplomatic way to answer that question.

Apparently...the Skrulls noticed his hesitation.

"Most of us are warriors, Lord Evans. We know perfectly well what the Kree are capable of. We can endure whatever you have to tell us," Talos interrupted with a grim expression, drawing Harrison's attention.

Taking a deep breath...

The Black Lion answered.

"They were in a truly deplorable state. They had been used as target practice and laboratory test subjects. There were clear signs of torture, and the overwhelming majority were on the brink of death. My Gaia Chambers worked without rest for several weeks to save as many as possible and even so...many of them did not survive," Harrison admitted solemnly.

Harrison watched as his words struck the Skrulls like a hammer blow. They looked at one another in silence, as though silently debating what should happen next.

Talos drew in a deep breath before reciting a prayer in his people's native language, an act immediately imitated by the rest of the refugees.

"I thank you for taking the trouble to save our people. That places us in your debt... and in the debt of your people," Talos said calmly.

Harrison simply nodded as he began walking toward the group of aliens, his gaze fixed upon the imposing and strangely familiar obsidian monolith that stood motionless behind Talos and his people.

"I know very little about your species, but the Kree attacked my planet and my people. Half a million humans lost their lives...

Men...

Women...

And children.

As some humans like to say...

The enemy of my enemy can become a valuable ally," the Black Lion declared while walking toward what he already knew to be the Prothean Beacon that contained the last surviving artificial intelligence of the mysterious alien civilization.

At those words, whispers of approval and relief spread among the members of the Council.

Talos was about to continue the negotiations when another Skrull stepped forward and spoke.

"We have lived on this planet for many years, always hidden in the shadows. The man you call Nicholas Fury used us for years, when all we ever wanted was a place we could truly call home. A place where we wouldn't have to hide, where we wouldn't simply be...Tools," one of the Skrulls said passionately.

Curiously, many members of the Council nodded and voiced their agreement.

It was not a difficult situation to understand.

A refugee people who had fallen into Fury's hands.

The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. had made promises he had never intended to fulfill.

And now...he was left with a refugee population on the verge of collapse.

And Harrison knew, courtesy of the memories of the Skrull who had been impersonating Maria Hill, that this particular group could cause considerable damage if pushed too far.

A peaceful solution was therefore the ideal outcome...For both sides.

"Our current situation is complicated and, to be completely honest...we only have two realistic options to resolve it," Harrison said calmly, causing several of the Skrulls to tense for an instant, clearly expecting the worst.

"The first...is to give you and your people one of the Kree vessels we recovered. We've already extracted everything of real value from their databases, so the ships themselves are no longer especially useful to us. I can assign one to you, provide the necessary supplies, and allow you to travel to any part of the universe you desire," Harrison said calmly, quietly amused by the fact that the proposal was clearly not well received by the Council.

And he could hardly blame them.

Talos stepped forward with absolute conviction before answering.

"You could, but we both know that would solve nothing. We would still be refugees and we still wouldn't have a place where we truly belong, we would still be strangers, we still wouldn't have...a home," Talos declared, his voice filled with emotion yet unwavering.

The Skrull leader took another step forward, closing the distance between himself and Harrison.

His features twisted with emotion.

With vision.

With obsession.

It was written plainly across his face.

Something Harrison could genuinely respect.

"We know what you accomplished on Mars. A barren, lifeless world transformed into a Garden World filled with oceans and life." said Talos, the rest of his people nodding behind him, still looking at the Spartans really terrified.

"Your power is immense, as is your reach, we ask for your support and a home. A world for the Skrulls, so that...We never have to hide again," Talos declared resolutely, prompting every member of the Council to nod softly as they looked toward Harrison with unmistakable hope shining in their eyes.

Leaving the Black Lion...With a difficult decision to make.

He could do it.

Truthfully it was not particularly difficult, it could be even called easy, considering the resources he had at his disposition.

With Mass Effect technology, humanity had access to thousands of stars. Current estimates indicated that between the Charon Relay and the Arcturus Relay there were at least two hundred planets suitable for colonization and terraformation.

Assigning one of those worlds to the Skrulls would hardly be a problem.

However...

Harrison knew he could benefit from this situation, the Skrulls could become...

Powerful allies and very useful assets in his Galaxy conquest.

Once, they had ruled a mighty Empire, stretching across thousands of star systems while waging an endless war against both the Kree and the Shi'ar.

The universe was a dangerous place.

And Harrison's highest priority was ensuring that humanity emerged as a powerful Empire capable of protecting its people against the dangers of the Universe.

The Shi'ar occupied Andromeda.

The Kree had expanded throughout the Large Magellanic Cloud.

It was therefore imperative that humanity establish complete dominance over the Milky Way, with the Orion Arm as the fortified bastion, before confronting those expansionist empires.

Fortunately for Harrison, a solid infrastructure already existed throughout the galaxy.

The Citadel...and the vast network of Mass Relays.

Both represented an enormous advantage for humanity.

The reports indicated that the network was immense and that, by making proper use of it, human ships could travel from one end of the galaxy to the other in only a matter of days.

A tremendous logistical advantage.

At least in Harrison's opinion.

Even so...

The Kree possessed thousands of years of accumulated infrastructure, countless experienced admirals, and thousands upon thousands of warships.

And although Harrison himself could effortlessly annihilate entire fleets...

The harsh reality was that he could not personally defend every colony simultaneously.

Fortunately...

The solution was actually quite simple.

One he had obtained from none other than Athame and the Asari.

The Nexus Council.

Harrison and his Lionesses had spent entire days analyzing the vast ocean of information they had acquired.

Turian military doctrine.

Salarian intelligence.

Every major civilization throughout the Milky Way.

Each one possessing thousands of years of experience in interstellar warfare.

Yet at the same time...

Every single one of them technologically inferior to Humanity.

A solid galactic infrastructure already existed.

One that...

With proper care...

Could be transformed into an Empire powerful enough to make even the Kree hesitate.

And the key...

Lay with two particular species.

One possessed a colossal fleet numbering over fifty thousand ships.

The other...

The most lethal—and utterly insane—soldiers Harrison had ever encountered.

But...One step at a time, Harrison thought to himself as his Omni-Tool projected a complete stellar map of the Orion Arm, displaying hundreds of thousands of stars before highlighting one in particular.

"The Tau Ceti System, One of our primary terraforming candidates, less than twenty light-years from the Arcturus System, where I intend to construct Humanity's future galactic hub. It would take me no more than a month to terraform the planet It is yours and your people's," Harrison declared calmly as he watched every Skrull present stare at the projection with unmistakable hunger and hope shining in their eyes.

Talos did the same.

Then slowly shook his head before looking directly at Harrison with cautious suspicion.

"And what will the price be? I have lived long enough to know that no one gives anything away for free, Lord Harrison," the Skrull leader asked to the young mage's satisfaction.

"The price is simple, that this colony and your people...Become, legally, citizens of the Empire, with every right and every obligation that such citizenship entails," Harrison declared firmly.

The Skrulls were far too valuable for him to waste an opportunity like this.

Harrison had expected protests.

Perhaps outrage.

Instead...

He was met with thoughtful silence as the Skrulls began discussing the proposal among themselves in their native language.

Hermione was already working on a universal translator.

Unfortunately...

It was still in its early stages.

Harrison managed to recognize a handful of isolated words.

Opportunity.

Home.

Duty.

But he was unable to follow the conversation in its entirety.

Several minutes later, Talos stepped forward once more before speaking.

"We are...willing to negotiate your terms. We are desperate. Our people have been devastated and this colony and protected by your fleets and your human soldiers...may very well be our last hope," Talos admitted while his wife gently took his hand, silently offering her support.

Harrison nodded elegantly, though inwardly he felt an immense sense of relief.

With the Skrulls on Humanity's side...

Infiltrating the governments of the Nexus Council would become significantly easier.

"Excellent! I will personally assign an Ark to the Skrull people. According to current estimates, it will return from Veridian in approximately three months.

That should provide enough time to gather your people and prepare them for the journey.

I know your numbers have been greatly reduced, but in return I expect your support during special operations throughout the galaxy.

We have a great deal of work ahead of us in our war against the Kree," Harrison declared with determination, causing every Skrull present to stare at him in obvious surprise.

"What is it?" Harrison asked curiously, never pausing his work as he continued manipulating data through his Omni-Tool.

Talos slowly shook his head before answering.

"It's just...we expected much longer timeframes...Years, if we're being honest. To see that you're willing to uphold your side of the agreement in only a matter of months...it is...a breath of fresh air. For years we've grown accustomed to surviving on scraps to be completely honest," Talos admitted bitterly.

Harrison let out a quiet snort, silently cursing Fury's incompetence before replying firmly.

"Well...Things are going to change, I lead not only Humanity. But also the Mutant kind...and the Jotnar, so you can bet your green asses that we're going to have plenty of work ahead of us," Harrison said with a faint smile as he watched excitement spread across the faces of every Skrull present.

Immediately afterward, Talos nodded firmly before asking,

"What do you require of us, Lord Harrison?" he asked, already prepared to receive his people's next mission.

Harrison simply looked the Skrull leader straight in the eyes before answering, his tone firm.

"Simple, the Kree will return, they were humiliated and defeated and their pride will force them to respond sooner or later, and we will be ready. Our technology is superior. Their plasma cannons are incapable of penetrating our shields, and our laser weapons cut through their hulls like wet paper. However...they possess one enormous advantage. Numbers," Harrison declared solemnly as he manipulated his Omni-Tool once more, projecting the Large Magellanic Cloud beyond the borders of the Milky Way.

Thousands of worlds.

Hundreds of billions of Kree.

And at the center...

"Hala..." Talos whispered, fury and hatred burning in his eyes.

"We need a fleet and quickly, your people's mission will be simple. Obtain ships for us," the Black Lion declared firmly before replacing the image of the Magellanic Cloud with that of a fascinating alien species, obtained from the Asari archives.

"These...are the Quarians," Harrison said naturally, allowing the assembled Skrull leaders a few moments to study the projection with obvious interest.

"They are a species blessed with extraordinary engineering talent. They have wandered throughout the galaxy for more than three hundred years and most importantly...they possess a Migrant Fleet consisting of more than fifty thousand ships. The plan is simple, I want your people to observe them, study them and gather every piece of information necessary for me to successfully annex them into the Empire by offering them something they have been denied for centuries...A home," the Black Lion declared, causing every Skrull present to nod with unmistakable determination.

Harrison changed the projection once more, this time displaying the galactic map together with the last known position of the Migrant Fleet before transmitting the coordinates directly to Talos.

"That is the Fleet's last known location, for this mission, I will authorize the deployment of a Shadow-class Stealth Vessel, designed using technology recovered from Hydra's Helicarriers, you will use it as your command center for intelligence gathering and covert operations." the gaze of the Black Lion moving along every single one of the people present in this place, all of them were looking at him with determination in their faces.

"You will have complete operational freedom, find the Quarian Fleet for us. We need the means to stand against the Kree," Harrison concluded firmly.

When he finished speaking, Talos studied the new mission with unwavering determination.

Apparently every member of the Skrull Council was genuinely excited by the opportunity to become truly useful...

Rather than continuing to hide like frightened rats.

Talos looked toward his people.

Each one nodded in silent agreement.

Then the Skrull leader turned back toward Harrison and continued.

"Consider it done...Emperor Harrison." said the Skrull, nodding his head, gesture that the rest of the Skrulls imitated.

"You have given us the most precious thing imaginable. Our dignity.New Skrullos shall rise...As the homeland of the Skrull people, loyal citizens of the Terran Empire.

The birth of the brotherhood between Humanity and the Skrulls.

As equals.

As brothers," Talos declared firmly as he extended his hand.

Harrison did not hesitate.

He clasped Talos' hand firmly and nodded once.

Sealing the alliance between both species.

And, at the very same moment...

Stepping into the detection range of the imposing Prothean Monolith, which, the instant it sensed the presence of a human...

Activated on its own.

"Attention...Authorized User Detected...Initiating First Contact Protocols," the strange artifact announced, instantly putting every Skrull, every Spartan, and Harrison himself on alert.

"Oh, for the love of...Just what we needed," one of the Skrulls muttered as he immediately drew his weapon and aimed it directly at the towering monolith.

Harrison simply raised a hand, signaling the Skrull to lower his weapon.

"Easy.I know exactly what this is. It's a pleasure to meet you...Prometheus," Harrison said calmly as the monolith illuminated from within, gradually revealing the digital image of a human figure, who regarded Harrison with unmistakable interest.

"Authorized User Confirmed...Connection to the Citadel successfully reestablished...Updating User Credentials...Welcome, Emperor Harrison.

I am Prometheus.

Prepared and awaiting duty.

We have much to discuss,"

the artificial intelligence declared.

Harrison simply smiled.

Everything...

Was proceeding exactly according to plan.