Okay, does anyone know what The Council is?

I don’t like drawing attention to myself on the extranet, but my neighbour Farlon wants my help with this and to be honest I owe him. Well, I say he wants my help, I'm mostly doing this on my own initiative, but it's based on something he told me. And I think CDN might hold the answer, you know? It’s been a couple of months since I found this place and it’s been… well, interesting would be the right word, I suppose. I still don’t know how or why so many varied and, er, unique people became members here, but once you get past the fact that half of you seem to think killing people is normal, you’re not a bad lot. (That’s not an excuse for any youngsters reading this to think they shouldn’t have adult supervision, by the way). To tell you the truth, I’m lonely and you people are interesting; it’s like a cross section of the craziest, most vibrant part of the galaxy dragged kicking and cursing into the light, and I kept finding reasons to stick around. I know I should have left as soon as I cleared up that initial mess, but I didn't, and I'm running out of excuses. So, I’m here and I want to do this for Farlon because he’s a friend.

No offense on that "craziest" part, by the way.

Basically, between you regulars there’s a lot of knowledge about the state of the galaxy, and I mean its real state, not just the face of things you see in the news, you know? Farlon’s been hearing stuff or something, he isn’t telling me much, but it’s about some organization called The Council. Yeah, that’s all he's given me. The Council. I asked him what sort of council, he couldn’t say. By which I mean he doesn't know, not that this is some secret information, though no-one seems to know much beyond the name for some reason. Apparently part of the local Hierarchy forces (not a large part, though, far as I can tell) are tracking a Protectorate citizen who they think has involvement with this Council. The guy's the important part, but apparently they're asking around for information or something? He (Farlon, I mean) doesn’t have an account here, because he’s much more sensible than I am, but I mentioned the site as part of a conversation last time I was getting creeped out by DDS. Apparently -- and this makes me look like an idiot -- DDS is a legitimate network that broadcasts pretty much everywhere (though why its CEO has a personal connection to the people here I don’t know, and that still worries me). Either the entire galaxy is in on this cult thing, which I really don’t need to start considering right now, or I got the wrong end of the stick again. Is it any wonder this place confuses me? I’m getting on in years, I don’t really pay attention to the outside galaxy. I keep my head low in case the family starts wondering why I’m not receiving my daily meddle and comes looking for me. Right, sorry, Council. Yeah, anyway, Farlon thought that based on my description of this place and its, er, pretty unique mix of regulars, there might be someone here who knows something. I think he might have been joking but I thought I’d try and see if there is because I really do owe him and if he gets something to present to his superiors maybe he’ll get, I don’t know, a firm handshake or whatever it is turians get when they do well. So: does anyone know of any (presumably ominous, no doubt ridiculous) group called The Council? Anyone?

If not for me, then for Farlon. He’s doing his civic duty or some such and you know turians, they’re relentless and disciplined and well-intentioned and it stresses me. If anyone’s heard anything let me know.

There are eight hundred and fourty seven organizations, including the seat of power in C-Space, going by the name 'the council'.

Specify.

I don't know, maybe you say it in a more ominous tone than usual?

Look, I know I'm not being very helpful and so your helping me isn't going to be easy, and I understand that, really. I was just wondering if anyone here knew anything about some new organization going by that name, active on the Citadel? I mean, I'm sure the Hierarchy guys will find something, but given the sort of people we have here I had this vision of...

...okay, it was a bit foolish. But I thought maybe given that there are posters here with links to all sorts of organizations and lifestyles that maybe give them insight into all the little social nooks and crannies that other people might miss, someone might be able to offer something?

I mean, this forum is an eezo-mine of alternative lifestyle experience.

I'm pretty sure it's obvious what they are.

That is the fucking weirdest way to describe professional mercing that I have ever heard.

What's your budget?

Er, by which I mean "the people on this forum have a tendency to be involved less in the go-about-your-business-at-home-or-in-the-office lifestyle and more in the shoot-things-in-dark-allys-for-money-or-kicks lifestyle -- which I'm not at all saying is an invalid one, by the way. Daughter's Eyes, I forgot how touchy you people can be about the way you're described. I tried to avoid anything too provocative!

Er, well...I don't want to pay people to find out, I just wondered if they knew. As it were. I don't mean to waste the time of you, er, professionals. The turians will sort it out, I'm only asking because I thought there was a chance someone here might know something. Although, if you think you really can find out, I could tell Farlon to get the local Hierarchy authorities to contact you or something.

It's probably some society of three criminals meeting out of one of their bedrooms, I don't think it's important. I just wanted to put out feelers among the..."professional mercs" and the like.

Hardly any such thing, these days.

Perhaps the mysterious organization should get a unique name, because everyone is just going to confuse them with the Citadel, which are the four people sitting in a tower pretending to do stuff.

But yeah, never heard of them.

Welcome to the board Mr Phraag!


Ha ha, this is gold! Our Salarian administrator may want to consider putting it in the about page!

Also can you provide context about this Council thing? As the other posters pointed out, this is the less specific name for an organization this side of "those shady guys".

Maybe that's the point; maybe they thought they were being clever and it would be funny? Whoever they are. And if they even exist. Look, I didn't come up with the name, no-one seems to know if it's an actual organization or what. Or even if it's actually called that - it's just a minor lead they're investigating or something. Again, I just thought that if they were real and if there is some new group declaring themselves The Council for whatever reason, someone here would know about it.

What do they do? Also is it the real name of your friend that you provided? Because he's investigating them you may want to edit it out.

Oh, nothing like that. As far as I can tell, they're pretty much openly asking around, encouraging people to share information. It's just a potential lead, I think. I don't know how it all works, but I know Farlon wouldn't have been telling me about it if people weren't supposed to know. This isn't anything high-profile or anything.

Kid, your friend wants to merc it on up, tell him to do some time with a real fucking army instead of looking for a stupidly named shadow fucking conspiracy thing that's probably three kids on Omega having a circlejerk in their mom's attic.

If he didn't screw up his service too bad, then we'll hire him on. It's not that fucking hard.

Goddam, was wondering when one of you bastards would show up here. And you'd know, being a special fucking cupcake and all, right?

'Cupcake'. Small cake that tastes just as good as a regular cake without half the hassle.

We do the same job you do with a fraction of the numbers. Seems about right.

Depends on the cupcake.

Depends on the job.