You love Mass Effect and you love the classic board game Risk. Now you can get both in the same game with Risk Mass Effect Galaxy at War Board Game. This killer combo has three different game play modes so you will be playing for a long time and having fun. The game has over 250 game p. Led by Commander Shepard, a rag-tag army of the best and brightest soldiers in the galaxy is marshaled against the Reapers to ensure the light of civilization never goes dark now in Mass Effect Risk. Choose one of three factions, each with its own victory conditions, to battle for the fate of the universe. Basically, the war assets you get in single player are multiplied by galactic readiness to calculate EMS (effective military strength). With the free extended cut DLC, you only need an EMS of 3100.
I do not own either the Mass Effect series or the Halo series, they are owned by their respective owners.
'speech'
' radio/hologram/etc. communication'
Ship Names
'thoughts'
You get the point.
'Let Thessia burn we have enough on our plate already!'
-Unknown Turian soldier when hearing about the Asari plea for help
2580/2170 June 10 th , Restaurant on Eden Prime
Fedorian never liked official dinners, always a hidden agenda behind it or a way to win him over to the hosts side. This dinner was no different since the humans could have invited the Asari instead of him if they truly wanted to just talk. Not to mention showing off their new ship which was bloody 4 kilometers long.
'I hope the food is to your liking Primarch, while we cant compare to palaven chefs this is the best we have on Eden Prime' said the human directly opposite of him. President Jonathan Maxwell.
'It is missing a few things but overall, it is a very good meal. However, I am sure me and my delegation weren't invited here to tell you if turian food here is good or bad' he leaned back in the chair as much as he could. 'So what is it that you truly want to discuss mister President?'
The Human expression darkened, almost depressingly dark 'You are correct, I didn't invite you here to have you taste test things for us. The purpose of this meeting is far more Sinister. Harper if you would?'
The Human that introduced himself as Admiral Harper reached for something inside of his coat, Fedorian soon found out what it was, a Paper Envelope, not seen in the galaxy unless you wanted something to be kept top secret. He handed the envelope to fedorian who opened it.
Inside were two things, a paper with something written on it and a data chip. Fedorian took the paper and started to read. 'ThisThis has to be fake, there is no way for it to be true.'
Exhaling smoke the human that handed him the envelope spoke 'It is unfortunately the truth; the data chip holds the recording of the conversation'
The human female Admiral Drescher said 'That is why we are building ships as large as what you saw, we have to prepare for what is to come, even if they cost a Ludacris amount of money to build'
'Howhow many know about this ?' asked Fedorian with a shaking voice.
'Only the ones present here today, everyone else is dead already, even the agents preforming the interrogation' said Harper
'We are telling this to you so that there are at least some people that will be prepared, as much as you can, for something of this caliber. The asari would take to long to convince and even longer for them to actually build up enough strength to fight whatever is coming. The Salarians would want to investigate it themselves, they would spend too much time on it, not to mention fighting a War that we don't even know if we can win is not in their nature. The Krogan would be perfectly suited for it, except they are currently pre-occupied going extinct. The Quarians are already undergoing modifications to their ships as you have seen yourself, even if they don't know about the enemy yet. The Batarians are a bunch we can't talk to. The Turians remained the only sane choice.' Said Drescher.
'And the Sangheili, do they know?' asked Fedorian
'They do' answered Jonathan
'How large?' Fedorian asked once again
'a few 5-kilometer-long ones and one 28-kilometer-long one in construction' answered Drescher
'Spirits. Do we even know if we have a fighting chance? They wiped out the Protheans and Races that came before them if what you are saying is true'
'We don't know, simply speaking we don't even know what we are up against, the VI wasn't very helpful in that regard, all we do know is that something is coming and its coming fast. By our estimates, we have 10 to 20 years at best' said General Williams
'Will the turian people prepare for this?' asked Jonathan
'We are already building 3 new dreadnaughts, building more right of the bat will attract suspicion, questions will be asked. If you want to keep this a secret I don't know if we can if we also start preparing' answered Fedorian
'A Pretext will come; I am sure we will cause enough noise to warrant a construction of new ships' said Harper exhaling smoke
'Can we count on support from the Human side?' asked fedorian
'Not from the government itself, but if lets say, we open up export into the Turian space for our Military contractors we can provide you with weapons and armor through less conspicuous means. Everyone knows a company will never let a opportunity for profit or new clients pass them. We wouldn't be able to sell you our current equipment but we could design equipment for you. No one will ask questions then and both sides end up getting what they wanted' said Jonathan
Fedorian stayed silent for a moment 'We will prepare the best we can'
2584/2174 April 25 th , Palaven, Primarchs office
Fedorian sighed as he finished talking to Sparatus, he started sighing a lot lately. Its been 4 years Afterall, Times used to be easier, before humanity was discovered and revealed some of their secrets to him. Since then Fedorian has been working none stop on building up the Turian military the best he could without causing suspicion.
And staying true to their words Humanity really stirred up something in the backyard. Now a major military expansion would not be question but was actively encouraged. Many of his Generals and Admirals pushed for more cruisers and dreadnaughts after the news of Torfan reached Citadel Space.
But building them was easier said then done. Clearing it out with the Volus was the first step in getting those new ships. Knowing if they could afford them with the recent expenses on Human equipment was no easy task, Afterall they were expensive with the trade tariffs they had to pay. They did promise to get rid of them soon but until that happened Fedorians hands were tied, not knowing if even a single new dreadnaught could be build this or next year.
Times were not easy, and as the years passed he grew more and more anxious of the inevitable. 'Primarch, the volus are here for the meeting' his secretary said over the phone.
'Tell them I will be right there' he said and turned to the door. After this all ends he would retire, he was getting too old for this.
2584/2174 April 26 th , Thessia, Temple of Athame
'Scanning data, please wait a momentScan complete, Radiation matches the one created by Slipspace wormholes' said a distinguishable robotic voice.
' What is thisslipspace you are talking about ?' asked a calm female voice.
'The Data in the beacon states that it is the 11th dimension, a theoretical FTL method, it doesn't look like the protheans managed to develop it however before they disappeared' said a Asari in research garments.
' Anything else of value?' asked the same calm voice
'Mentions of a race called the 'Forerunners' and a research site dedicated to them with a thing called 'slipspace drive'. There is no location attached to it however, we might have to look deeper for it' replied the Researcher
' Do it so, we will be contacting you by the end of the week for any findings. Until then good luck' said the calm voice
'Ofcourse we will work at our best to find the location. And thank you Matriarch Aethyta' replied the Researcher as she turned back to her console. 'Now lets see what you are hiding.
2584/2174 April 26 th , Sur'Kesh, Top Secret STG base Mass Effect Galaxy Map Music
' What about the Radiations bursts?' asked Valern
'Cherenkov radiation, caused by the rift observed to be used as their FTL method, the rift itself, at least in the case of human ships, is caused by creating a blackhole that turns into the rift in a moment's notice. We have no idea how that create it and the Sangheili drives are another matter entirely. Besides the radiation we have no idea what method they use to open the rift' responded a Scientist.
' That's very concerning. This explains how they managed to create such large ships, do we know if they can make larger ones ?' asked Valern
A different Scientist answered this one 'Definitely, the only limitations that we can think of are raw metals and the energy generators. But seeing as we only detect small traces of Element Zero in the 1 kilometer and under ships, I would guess that they don't use element zero as a base of their technology'
' What do we do Dalatrass?' asked Valern looking at the Dalatrass
Dalatrass Linron sat in silence for a moment, thinking, before answering ' With the Turians getting closer and closer to Humanity we only have 2 choices. One is to hope they are stupid enough to give this drive to the Turians and 'borrow' it from them. The other is to get closer to the humans just like the Turians are doing.
We will do both, I want our assets in Turian space to be on extra lookout for Human technology. Valern you and the Embassy staff are too slowly foster a friendly Relationship with the human and Sangheili embassy. You are also permitted to launch your operation Lieutenant General'
' Of course, but what do we do about the Asari?' asked Valern
' The Asari are not going to take the insults thrown their way lightly, the chances of them talking to humans are slim. They will likely use that Beacon they have; did you manage to find out where it is?' said Linron as she looked at the STG agent present
Lieutenant General Vix answered 'The location of it is still unknown, the Asari are keeping it a secret surprisingly well. We managed to bring the number of potential locations down to Thessia and Lessus'
' Keep trying to find it, if we could get our hands on it or at the very least force the Asari to reveal it we will learn much from it. As for you Valern, keep your neutrality in the council as of now, try to postpone any action against Humans, make Tevos slip up and the other Matriarchs will slip' Said Linron and disconnected
2584/2174 28 th of April, Eden Prime, Mass Relay sector UNSC HQ
'Private Jenkins, step forward' said a loud voice. Jenkins wearing his dress uniform stood up from his chair and walked forward to where General White was standing. 'Private Jenkins, for your action during the defense of Elysium and attack on Torfan, you have shown great heroism and selflessness. As such you have earned the Legion of Honor and are being promoted to private first class' she finished talking and gave him a Salute
Jenkins saluted back to her and said 'Thank you ma'am' before Turning back and taking a seat.
'Sergeant Shepard, step forward' said the same loud voice. Shepard also in his dress uniform stood up and walked up to General White. 'Segeant Shepard, for your actions during the defense of Elysium where you rallied a defense force until reinforcements could arrive and your actions on Torfan, you are being awarded the Legion of honor alongside a promotion to Staff Sergeant' She saluted him.
Shepard saluted saying 'Its an honor, ma'am' before turning back to sit. White continued to hand out different medals and promotions for a good hour before the ceremony was over. Major Kyle took Shepard to the side saying that there was something important that he has to hear.
He soon found out what it was as General white approached him. Shepard and Kyle saluted immedietly, with white saluting back and saying 'At ease' the 2 men then relaxed. 'Have you told him yet Major?' asked White
Kyle replied saying 'No ma'am, I haven't yet'
'Good then I shall. Shepard, following your actions on Elysium I received orders from higher up regarding you specifically' shepard was surprised. 'Following that, your company that was supposed to be rotated out to receive some needed RR and some fresh recruits got put on the front lines as an evaluation of you. Fortunately for us, the losses were light thanks to the companies experience and as such the report from Major Kyle was what the higher ups wanted to see
Shepard, what I am about to tell you is not to be told to anyone. You have been chosen for N7 training, the only questions is if you accept it?' Risk: Mass Effect Galaxy At War Edition
Shepard was surprised with the offer, he never thought about getting into the ODSTs not to mention N7s, he like many others heard the stories about their training and their missions. 'Its an honor, ma'am but why me, especially after what happened at torfan?'
'I don't know shepard, command wasn't exactly forthcoming with why they wanted you. Even I don't know why certain individuals are chosen for the project, all I do know is that they want you and that they want to answer fast. So, do you accept?' she said
Shepard thought for a moment before replying with 'I do ma'am'
White said 'Great, pack your things, you are leaving for earth tomorrow at 0500 hours' before she turned around and walked away.
Shepard also started walking to the exit when he noticed in the corner of his eye Jenkins being approached by a officer wearing all black, not thinking to much about it and having to get a good nights of sleep he left early.
2584/2174 15 th of May, Unknown System south southwest of the Serpent Nebula, Surface of unknown planet
'Research log 001: We landed on the planet a day ago and the things we found here amaze me. Prothean equipment in pristine condition, an entire location I could only call a research outpost. Prothean buildings and even ships, all intact. Though I have to note that the Buildings are constructed rather haphazardly, nothing like the Previous dig sites I was at. The ship itself while intact on the outside is a mess on the inside, engine, drive core and navigational computer missing. Some tools are still laying around in it suggesting its components were used to repair another ship. Weapons and research terminals are still in the buildings. We have found a location in one of the Terminals, we presume it to be the main site, the captain the the Nerfana is sending equipment for us to allow us for further exploration
-Doctor Liara T'soni'
'Research log 003: We arrived at the main dig site, the base is huge almost a square kilometer with many buildings even having several underground levels. We have found a large entrance of unknown kind in the center of the site. This is presumably what they were researching here. Equipment is still attached to the doors but from what we can tell it they weren't able to be opened. More equipment was found in the buildings, food, weapons and what we can only presume to be medication. Filled to the brim, we have found several grave like structures on the outer perimeter of the site, all are however missing any type of coffin or body. The remaining equipment and remains of ships suggest that the Protheans had to leave this place in a hurry and couldn't take their things with them. We have currently no idea how any of these structures and equipment are still intact and in this almost perfect state. We will continue our research in the morning
-Doctor Liara T'soni'
'Research log 015: The doors are proving very hard to open, we attempted to use the prothean data on the doors, but even that provided no insight on how to open them or what they are keeping inside. The translators are saying that some of the data speaks of having to find a way to open this 'fortress' as they called it or else they don't know if they can win a war they were fighting. While providing no idea on how to open the door it did provide a theory on what happened to the protheans. No mentions are found on who exactly they were fighting. Our security team is reporting sightings of some flying objects far off in the distance
-Doctor Liara T'soni'
'Research log 020: Attempts to use a cutting laser on the door proved uneventful, the material is highly resistant to kinetic energy as well as heat. We are slowly running out of ideas on how to open the door. More sightings of those flying objects are reported and our security teams is growing restless, they sent out a small scout party earlier today to find these things. A Transport arrived today to retrieve the prothean equipment not needed for our attempts to open the door, most computers stayed as we are still looking through the data to find a way to open the door. More and more messages are found about the desperation to win this war and even some requests for transfer to a planet called 'Eden IV' by a certain security commander 'Javik'
-Doctor Liara T'soni'
'Research log 024: Doctor T'soni was hit by an electric current after she and several others attempted to use biotics on the door mechanisms. Since then she is unconscious on the Nerfan. The Scout party returned finding nothing of notice except a ruined research site 50 kilometers north of here. More ground crews are arriving from the Nerfan and are being send to the different research sites on the planet in an attempt to find any data on how to open the doors. Until Doctor T'soni wakes up, I am taking over as head researcher.
-Doctor Lesia T'loke
'Research log 034: Following my wake up, Doctor T'loke has provided me with the information they managed to obtain from the other research sites. We have gained a basic understanding of where to Doors lead and how to open them. The doors are an entrance to an underground complex covering an area of over 10 square kilometers and almost 3 kilometers underground. Simply said it's a massive facility. From Prothean reports there are 4 ways to open the door. First is having a special access level with you, in what form we are unaware to. Second is to have the Underground facilities central computer open it for you, how to do that we don't know. The Third way to open it is with brute force either from a ship cannon or explosives, the prothean crew requested an antimatter bomb to be shipped to them but the request was denied due to the ongoing war with an unknown enemy. The fourth and final way is an electric current of high enough voltage can force the door mechanism to open. Prothean crews only speculated the voltage required but weren't able to test it due to an evacuation order send their way. We will make preparations to force the door open with the electric current while prothean tech and data is moved onto transport ships in case we need to use the Nerfan's cannon to destroy the door.
-Doctor Liar T'soni'
'Just a moment longerand its send!' yelled a asari standing next to a terminal. Several sparks flew out of the door and nothing happened. That is until, while they were charging the next current the door simply opened startling everyone there. The Guards raised their weapons on reflex and pointed them at the inside. After several tense minutes nothing came chargin at them and turning them into monsters so the guards relaxed.
'Gather everything we need and lets move inside, we have a whole new race to discover!' yelled out Liara and everyone got to work. She never thought she would get this assignment. Being very young by asari standards she was only 97 years old and was handed a task from the matriarchs themselves, even if her Mother wasn't liked by them very much. She couldn't pass up such an opportunity, she was an expert in things prothean related Afterall and who better to pick then her for such a mission, with all the black ink involved.
As they started entering the complex she and others were amazed by the architecture, even if the colors were a little bit bland, with silver as far the eye could see. But as they entered deeper into the hallway that stretched for a good 200 meters, the doors behind them closed causing panic. A message came over the radio 'Are you alright in there?' it was from the security chief.
Liara answered 'We are all fine captain, what caused the door to close?'
' We don't know, it suddenly started to close, we can't find any problems from this side except the terminal that we used to open it being fried' responded the captain.
'The Data mentioned the central computer controlling the doors, we will try to find it. In the meantime, try opening the door from your side captain'
' Will do doctor, be careful we don't know what is down there'
'We will captain, don't worry' as liara finished talking she and the other researchers and their guards moved down the hallway finding a door that opened for them as they got close. It led them to an elevator that started going down as soon as all of them were on it.
'Guess the computer or whoever is in charge of this place wants to talk to us eh?' said one of the guards. Others agreed, nodded or said something under their nose. Liara was no different thinking that this all was to convenient for them, so whoever or whatever was in charge of this place must have wanted to talk to them.
Once the elevator stopped, they got off of it and found a corridor with many small doors on the side and a large one at the end. The smaller ones had a glass window in them to look inside, in there you could see holograms of planets, computers and something resembling a storage crate. Each room behind these doors had doors leading further in but you couldn't tell what was behind them.
As they got closer the door at the end of the corridor opened up for them and they continued to go down there until eventually finding another elevator that took them further down. When they stepped off of the elevator a giant door about 50 meters high opened up to a gigantic room that had a hologram of the star system in the center and a bridge/catwalk going around it. And a single floating metal ball with yellow glowing eye in its center doing something at a terminal.
They stepped further into the room and the ball turned around and started lazily floating up to them. The guards tensed up and pointed their weapons at it. They could hear the ball humming as it got closer and closer before stopping just a few meters away from them.
'Welcome meddlers, may I ask what your purpose is here?' asked the ball
Everyone was silent, dumbstruck really by the floating ball that spoke in their language. The ball itself was silent for a while before speaking again 'Perhaps the language I translated is the wrong oneproblematic' and started to float back to the console as it hummed
Liara broke from her amazement and spoke 'Wait!'
The ball in turn turned around and floated up to liara 'Yes?'
'W- What are you?' she asked
The ball after a moment said 'The same question as last time, very well. I am 384 Ruthless Guardian, Monitor of this outpost. Now who are you and what is your purpose here?'
'A Monitor?' she asked
'Cant answer a simple question, what is it with the Meddlers? Answer my question first, im not going to ask again' said the ball now identified as Ruthless Guardian as his eye changed from yellow to red.
Liara panicked and quickly answered 'uh we are researchers, we came here to find out more about this complex!'
Guardians eye changed back from red to yellow 'Intriguing, but I must disappoint you, there is nothing interesting here. Not for you atleast, now please leave my facility and go back to your ship' he started humming again as he slowly floated back to the console.
'Can you answer our questions first?!' yelled out Liara catching the attention of the Monitor.
'Depends on the questions'
'What is your purpose here?'
'My purpose is to await the reclaimers and help them in accessing the location of the archives'
'Reclaimers? What is a reclaimer?'
'The Reclaimers are the ones chosen to inherit all that my creators left behind as a way of repayment for what my creators did to them and in hopes of them guiding the galaxy to a better future'
'If we are not theseReclaimers, then why did you let us in?'
'Your attempts at entering this facility have been most annoying, that is one of a few reasons, another one is your ship in orbit being similar to the ones used by the reclaimers in the past and finally your genetic makeup is very similar to that of the reclaimers. I couldn't get a exact scan on it unless you were present Infront of me like you are now'
'How do the reclaimers look like?'
'Unknown, that information is locked inside of my databanks with no way for me to access it, all I know is how their genetic makeup looks like. I can only speculate as to why, but I am certain if I saw one I would recognize them immediately'
'And this archive? What is it?'
Guardian stayed silent for a moment before saying 'I am not allowed to answer that question'
'Okayand the protheans that were researching this place before us, what can you tell us about them?'
'The meddlers left after managing to force the door open which they tried for 421 days. The Security staff was moved to a planet they called Eden IV and the research staff to a planet they called 'Illos' they left in a hurry leaving much information behind, allowing me to learn a lot'
Before Liara could ask another question, the ball spoke first 'Now that I answered your questions I must ask for compensation. I would ask for the data on your computer that you have around your arm'
Liara thought for a moment about what it could mean, lighting up her omni-tool asking 'You mean my omni-tool?'
The ball answered 'Yes' Liara nodded and allowed the ball to gain access into her Omni-tool. It took just a fraction of a second before the ball resonated in happiness 'My, this is most excellent, the reclaimers are out there alive! Oh the thing they could ask of me, the reports I compieled in their absence.' It kept on rambling for a while before regaining its composure. 'This information was most helpful, as such I will answer one more question before I ask you to leave, I have protocols that need to be activated and executed'
Liara thought for a moment before asking 'What exactly are you?'
*Research logs correspond to the days spend on the digsite.
2584/2174 April 26 th , Citadel, Presidium
Garrus had the luck to be chosen for the most boring posting on the citadel maybe ever. He had the task of Watching over the Human and Sangheili guards of their embassies, now it wouldn't be so bad if he had good company with him. Unfortunately, he had a fellow turian named Harkin alongside him. Everyone knew that Harkin wasn't the guy you wanted to be with you in case something happened.
Yet here he was, standing beside Garrus having a staring contest with the Human Marines that were assigned to their Embassy, the spirits really didn't like Garrus Afterall. 'Hey Garrus' said Harkin
'Yeh? What is it?'
'What do you notice about the Marines?'
'Well, they wear a combat armor, have a rifle, helmet, Magazines for their rifle on their chest with all of that im sure we stand no chance if-'
'That's not what I mean, look at their faces and how they act towards their 'allies' standing further away from them'
Now that Harkin mentioned it, Garrus took a closer look. Their faces were scared, eyes looked almost dead as if the life in them was sucked out years ago and they didn't exactly hide their distain for the Sangheili guards standing near the Sangheili embassy.
Actually, both sides didn't look like friends but rather like enemies, they were watching Garrus and Harkin as much as they were watching each other. 'Now that you mention it, they look like they went through a meat grinder and barely kept their sanity. If I had to guess it has something to do with the reason, they are so distant to the Sangheili'
'Makes you wonder why they are allies in the first place if that's the attitude they have to each other'
'I bet they have a good reason'
'Imagine if we got chummy like that with the Krogans'
Garrus laughed at what Harkin said 'Never in a million years, they will never forgive us for the genophage' as he said that the door behind them opened and in from the lobby walked a Krogan in blood red armor and red headplate with the most intriguing companion beside him. The Turian ambassador Octavus.
Harkin and Garrus watched as they walked towards the human guards who stopped them checking them for weapons before letting them walk inside. The Krogan begrudgingly left his shotgun with the Humans and walked alongside octavus into the Sangheili embassy, shorty there after they were joined by the human ambassador who walked out of his office.
'Looks like we might see it Afterall Garrus, sooner then you said' said Harkin still surprised by the whole ordeal and Garrus simply sighed.
'What do you think they are talking in there about Harkin?'
'From the display at torfan and the fact that Turians and Krogans are involved I would say something military related. That reminds me Vakarian, how long till your reservist statues runs out?'
'Was supposed to be off the list in 2 years, but with Torfan happening It got extended to 8 years, thanks to my father mine was rather short'
'Lucky, Brutus was going off in 5 months, now it got extended to 10 years. That man will never see the day with his luck'
'Let's hope my luck strikes then so that nothing happens for me and Brutus'
'Let's hope'
Udina was sliding over a piece of paper to the Krogan named Wrex. As he read through it he stopped several times and read through it again and again. 'If this is a joke human, you will pay dearly for it'
'I assure you its not a joke, it's a genuine offer'
'How can I be certain about it, while I enjoyed how you treated the pyjak shitslingers in the council, you are still getting very friendly with a member of said council'
'What my human colleague is saying is true, the offer is genuine, all that needs to happen is you uniting the clans' said the Sangheili ambassador.
'Lets say for a moment that I agree to your proposal, what kind of forces will you commit?'
Udina said 'We can commit one or two Special forces teams to assist in the unification and-removal-of problematic individuals. After the unification is complete the second stage will begind'
'We can provide a few Special operations teams to assist aswell and ofcourse help in the second stage to the best of abilities'
'We cant commit much, even with our militaristic ways order will be questioned. The best we can do is provide patrol routes and leave spots open for drop off missions in the system' said Octavus
'Figures the Turians washing their hands off of this. But besides that, you cant spare any supplies or anything?'
'Too high of a risk, providing large enough quantaties and supply lines for their use would be hard and easily found out' said Udna
'Alright, lets say I unite the clans and you do your things. What is your stake in this, I don't imagine you are doing this because of the good of your heart'
Octavus said 'The Primarch is bolstering defensive lines, creating new fleets and every ship is needed, having your system stop being a DMZ would help that a lot. For what reason he is doing that is unkown to me'
'My government is also preparing for something, no idea what but it has to be something large, I am sure news has reached the wider galaxy of the quarians being spotted entering our space a few years ago. Their entire fleet is undergoing retrofits. Then the friendship with the Turians if you can call it that.' Said Udina
The Sangheili said 'None of us know what is happening but the leaders and militaries has been ramping up production, exercise, size and contingency plans for a good part of a decade now. Whatever is happening requires the Krogans, united and strong'
Wrex thought for a bit 'Alright, ill do it. But I better learn what is going on sooner rather then later'
Hi there, long time waiting and I know a short chapter. My excuse? Im having a bit of a hard time right now finding a school/job with corona running around the block and as such haven't had much time to write.
Lets head onto the reviews, I chose to do them at the end since things in this chapter explained some of the questions you guys had.
Havalt300: That comes due to the massive power difference in basically everything.
Micetto: Ofcourse humans know how dangerous they can be so they have agents assigned to them as to make them behave, and its better to let them in and keep a watch on them then having them pester you for the rest of eternity. As for the Turians well it was explained at the beginning of this chapter. Also yeah, they are on their way to become actual allies
Srosan99: I see where you are coming from, but in my opinion the Council being under the leadership of the Asari are still blinded by the asari strategy of long sight or whatever its called. And a government not joining the citadel at first chance didn't cause much worry of them. Torfan came as a wake up call to everyone especially the Asari that Humanity didn't plan on playing into Citadel Hands. As for a good villain, one must first have a good cause for a villain to become the villain. Torfan again came as a wakeup call for everyone and the gears start turning. As you said in your review and I said in the previous chapter, 'competition leads to innovation' The council being stuck in the same state for close to 2000 years showed little innovation leading to something akin to stagnation in almost ever regard.
Guest: Cole Protocol only works for as long as Humans are the only ones aware of the location of earth. But you know, There was the first battle and the Second battle of earth that made Cole Protocol Pointless since the location was no longer secret.
Cooldude101011: Buying a design is all good but the problem comes in being able to produce the thing you just bought designs for. Its like telling WW2 germany to build the Leopard MBT in 1940, they might have the detailed blueprints but they don't have the technology to build the thing. There is also the Sangheili trying to keep an card against humanity in case they go to war again.
Randomreader: As I explained in another answer they were stagnant for close to 2000 years only innovating when Humanity kicked the Turian ass over shanxi and when Sovereign attacked the Citadel, Torfan and the UEG behaviour is that spark that is needed for the Council races to innovate
DomR1997: No
Roting: I don't know the ass end of Atriox from his face. That is my description of my knowledge on the Banished, I don't know much about them and don't feel as if I could write them in any good way.
I do not own either the Mass Effect series or the Halo series, they are owned by their respective owners.
Hello and welcome to my first Halo x Mass Effect fic I am happy to write this since it's a crossover between 2 of my favorite universes I love the Mass Effect Trilogy even with its ending and I also really like the Halo games (Halo 5 being the exception) this idea has been going around my head since as far back as February but I put it on the sidelines due to other fics and real life but the time has finally come to write this so I hope you enjoy.
2553 March 3rd/2143 CE[1] : The Human-Covenant War official comes to an end after the great schism. The Civilian government is reinstated by the UNSC and the works on rebuilding Humanity are began.
2553/2143 CE April: Civil War erupts on Sanghelios between Covenant believers and the Swords of Sanghelios. UNSC ships arrive at Reach to begin Terraforming.
2553/2143 CE August: Doctor Halsey is reinstated back into ONI service. ONI special forces team arrive on Sanghelios and are ordered to keep the Civil War going.
2553/2143 CE December: The UEG with pressure from the UNSC approaches the Arbiter with a Non-Aggression pact with hopes of technological sharing down the line. The Arbiter accepts the pact as to avoid a possible 2 front war.
2553/2143 CE December 30th: The first UNSC ship arrives at Harvest to investigate if it can be terraformed. They find Harvest glassed beyond any hopes of terraforming it within 80 years.
2554/2144 CE February 12th: a breakthrough is achieved in the shielding technology for ships with the creation of the first human shield generator based on Covenant shielding technology captured over earth back in 2552
2554/2144 CE February 20th: ONI section 3 is tasked with investigating Forerunner technology from the remnants of Alpha Halo and the Ark.
2554/2144 CE March 9th: The Arbiter sends a message to the UEG with a deal detailing the Swords of Sanghelios providing Humanity with technology in exchange for food for his people as the Sangheili face a famine caused by the Civil War and the great Schism. The UEG again under pressure from the UNSC and ONI agree to the deal. Providing the Swords of Sanghelios with Nutrition paste instead of real food until the first crops grown for Sangheili consumption are grown.
2554/2144 CE April: Earth alongside the Inner Colonies are rebuilt with the UNSC navy reaching 5 of its strength before the war, none of its ships are yet to be equipped with Shieling technology.
2554/2144 CE September 1st: Mars experiences a quake revealing a alien construct under the ground. The Area is immediately cordoned off by the UNSC Army and ONI section 3 arrives on scene to investigate. They find out to the dismay of many in ONI that the structure is not Forerunner but are ordered to investigate it further anyway.
2554/2144 CE September 27th: Section 3 finishes the investigation of the Alien structure. They managed to uncover a cache of information in the structures database, they found the race to be called protheans and that they observed humanity for a while before disappearing 50 thousand years ago. The Information cache also held blueprints for an FTL drive and the location of something referred to as a Mass Relay in the Sol system. The FTL method while slightly superior to Human Slipspace drives is limited to Mass Relay and as such mostly rejected by the UNSC. Upon further investigation they also found a Dumb AI in the base center after 5 days of getting information from it the Dumb AI shuts down and all records of the conversation are classified only being told to HIGHCOM and the President of the UEG.
2554/2144 CE November 11th: A Bill suggested by the President is passed in the Parliament increasing UNSC and ONI funding by a margin of 5. The Construction of UNSC Infinity is accelerated with it receiving Highest Priority followed by its Sistership UNSC Eternity. ONI finds the Mass Relay to be Pluto's mon encased in ice. They activate it and begin the mapping of the space behind it with probes.
2554/2144 CE December 16th: The Existence of the Protheans is revealed to the public and civilian expeditions behind the Sol Relay as it came to be known are authorized.
2555/2145 CE April: ONI detonates a bomb in the Camp of the fighters of the Swords of Sanghelios that were preparing for a raid on the Covenant remnants leaders' location, killing majority of the fighters there.
2555/2145 CE June 19th: Following the Bombing of his forces the Arbiter asks the UEG for help once again requesting it provide fighters for his side in exchange for military technology. Humanity refuse but instead propose military equipment to be provided to the Sangheili alongside an increase of food export. The Arbiter accepts.
2555/2145 CE August 9th: The first planet behind the Mass Relays is colonized, named Eden prime after its almost Earth like ecosystem. The UEG increase the budget of the UNSC once again allowing the UNSC to begin construction of new Ship classes. The Essex-class Fleet Carriers[2], the Preston Cole-class of Battleships[3], the Bastion-class of Heavy cruisers and Medusa-class of Destroyers.
2556/2146 CE April: The first hull of the Essex-class and Preston Cole-class are laid down over Mars. UNSC Essex and UNSC Preston Cole are planned on joining the Home Fleet upon their completion.
2556/2146 CE December 24th: picking Christmas as their time for a 'present' an anonymous individual leaks incriminating evidence on ONI causing public outrage over the Spartan program and many of its shadow ops missions. ONI head, Admiral Parangosky is arrested by the UNSC and later sentenced to death. ONI is disbanded and the UNSC begin forming a new Intelligence branch.
2557/2147 CE March: The UNSC forms the Military Intelligence Office with Admiral Jack Harper as its Head. MIO section 3 is tasked with the same thing as its predecessor's at ONI. Shanxi becomes the 2nd Planet to be colonized withing the Mass Relay network. 2nd Essex-class Carrier and Preston Cole-Class are laid down intended for the 2nd fleet. UNSC Ticonderoga and UNSC Eisenhower.
2557/2147 CE April 8th: UNSC Infinity enters service under the command of Captain Laskey. UNSC Navy starts equipping their ships with Shielding technology.
2557/2147 CE December 9th: Colonists on Shanxi discover a crashed space ship filled with weird eggs, they report it to the authorities. The UNSC Military on Shanxi go on full alert and the 2nd Fleet is dispatched to Shanxi.
2558/2148 CE January: The Biological Warfare unit of the Marines is sent in alongside MIO teams inside of the ship to investigate it and recover the eggs. They start investigating the computers found on the ship.
2558/2148 CE April: First colonists arrive on Reach. They set up a settlement in the unglassed northern portion of the planet. The shipyards above Reach are being Rebuild
2558/2148 CE August 8th: UNSC Spirit of Fire arrives at the Ark to a surprise to many in the UNSC who thought the ship to be lost with all hands. The ship is boarded where they find the rampant ship AI which is promptly shut down. They find the crew in cryosleep. The ship is recovered and moved back to earth and the crew awakened.
2558/2148CE August 18th: Celebration is held for the crew of UNSC Spirt of Fire in denying the Covenant access to weapons that could have wiped out Humanity. Captain Cutter is promoted to Rear Admiral for his service after he chose to remain in the Military.
2560/2150CE March 7th: MIO manages to gain access to the Crashed ships computers and find out the Eggs and the Ship belong to a race called Rachni that were involved in a war but didn't survive. The Eggs are the eggs of a queen and her guards. MIO wants to hatch the eggs but are denied by Jack Harper. HIGHCOM and the current President are once again briefed on what happened and the information classified.
2560/2150CE September 1st: UNSC Eternity Enters service it is assigned to the Home fleet. The 3rd Essex-class and Preston Cole-class are laid down, UNSC Enterprise and UNSC Jeanne D'arc respectively. They are supposed to join the 5th Fleet upon completion.
2560/2150 CE December 31st: The yearly population report is submitted. Eden Prime has reached a Population of 10 Million and is chosen as the capital of the Colonies in the Mass Relay network. Shanxi reaches a population of 3 Million.
2563/2153 CE May 2nd: UNSC Essex and UNSC Preston Cole enter service in the Home Fleet. The Sight of the New ships show many on earth how far the UEG and UNSC has come. 80 of the UNSC Navy is equipped with Shields. Mass Effect Galaxy Map
2564/2154 CE May 2nd: UNSC Ticonderoga and UNSC Eisenhower enter service with the 2nd Fleet.
2565/2155 CE January: Work begins on Eden Prime Shipyards as to ease the strain on the Mars shipyards and the recently rebuild Reach Shipyards.
2565/2155 CE April 1st: MIO teams are deployed on Shanxi and Eden Prime to abduct children that were born with weird masses around their spine. They manage to abduct the children and MIO section 3 starts research.
2565/2155 CE November: With the Civil War entering its 12th year the Arbiter is desperate for it to end and asks the UEG for assistance. The UEG agrees after UNSC assures them that if push came to shove, they could take on the remaining Sangheili Ships. The 2nd Fleet is ordered to move and assist the Swords of Sanghelios
2565/2155 CE December: What came to be later known as the Sanghelios offensive involved the frigate and destroyer escort of the 2nd fleet going into orbit and preforming a low yield Mac bombardment on covenant positions in preparations for Marine and Swords of Sanghelios forces attack that followed right after the bombardment concluded. While a controversial move and one that the Sangheili disapproved of, it destroyed key fortifications preventing a successful breakthrough from happening without huge losses. On the 26th the entire remaining covenant Fleet jumped into system and engaged the 2nd Fleet and the Fleet of Glorious Retribution. Admiral Kastanie Drescher and Vice Admiral Steven Hackett earned the respect of the Sangheili Fleetmaster Rtas 'Vadum with unconventional Tactics that ended in the destruction of the Covenant fleet on the 30th.
2566/2156 CE January: The assault on Sanghelios continued with the pocket closing further and further on the remaining Covenant forces on the ground. A Final assault is planned but before it can be executed the covenant forces preform a suicidal assault on the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios lines on the 20th. The assault takes many by surprise and causes heavy casualties on the UNSC and SoS side pushing them back before managing to stop the covenant forces on the 29th.
2566/2156 CE February 19th the UNSC and SoS forces launch an all scale attack on Covenant locations bringing in again frigates for tactical bombardment and large-scale mechanized spearhead attacks that break through the strong defenses of the Covenant forces. Lieutenant Anderson of the 8th ODST brigade manages to take the covenant leader Jul 'Mdama prisoner when he and his squad were dropped into the covenant HQ. That evening Covenant forces were in full retreat and at morning the next day surrendered. Marking the end of the Civil War on Sanghelios.
2566/2156 CE February 28th For his service Vice-Admiral Hackett is promoted to Admiral and put in charge of the 5th fleet. Lieutenant Anderson is promoted to Lieutenant Commander for his actions in capturing the Covenant leader. Following his action, the N7 program is launched its task is creating highly specialized and lethal Special Forces teams. Anderson is chosen as the first candidate for N7 training.
2566/2156 CE October: The SoS is reformed into the Sangheili Sovereignty with the Ungoy, Kig-Yar and the Lekgolo joining them for protection. The Arbiter chosen as the leader approaches the UEG with a request for an Alliance which the UEG accepts. Spartan-class Battlecruiser is designed and 5 Hulls are immediately laid down with more being planned.
2566/2156 CE November 7th: The Spartan V program is launched, aiming to be more efficient like the Spartan II program but as large as the Spartan IV program, All UNSC service members are checked if they meet the requirements for the program and so far, only 500 have been found.
2566/2156 CE December 31st: A new Mass Relay is opened leading into a system with yet another perfectly colonizable garden world. This sparks concern in the UEG and UNSC as every mass relay they have opened so far led to either systems rich in minerals and Element Zero or to a Garden World named Elysium. The opening of new Mass Relays is prohibited and patrols in the Mass Relay colonies increased. The Yearly population report is filled. Shanxi reaches a population of 10 Million. Eden Prime reaches a population of 20 Million
2567/2157 CE February 8th: UNSC Enterprise and UNSC Jeanne D'arc enter service in the 5th Fleet. UNSC Graf Zeppelin and UNSC King Arthur are laid down they are supposed to enter service in the planned 13th Fleet.
2572/2162 CE April: The 2nd Fleet is relocated to the Eden Prime; it is supposed to act as the fleet responsible for the defense of the Mass Relay colonies. Work also begins on Arcturus Station[4], the only system leading into the Sol system by the use of Mass Relays.
2572/2162 CE May: Plans are drawn up for a new Fleet Carrier and Battleship. The Everest-class Fleet carrier and the Avery Johnson-class Battleship. 2 of each Hulls are immediately laid down as the construction of the Essex-class and Preston Cole-class are being halted after the 5th ship of the class leave the shipyards. UNSC Everest and UNSC Avery Johnson are designed to join the 8th fleet while UNSC Kilimanjaro and UNSC Jacob Keyes are joining the 9th Fleet. The Sirta Foundation the inventors of Biofoam invent Medi Gel, it is quickly adapted by the Military and civilian sector.
2572/2162 CE July: The Citadel Council creates an exploration fleet tasked with mapping out the Skylian Verge and surrounding systems. UNSC HIGHCOM is briefed that so far 1000 Individuals have been found and volunteered for the Spartan V program and that the N7 special forces are numbering in at 2000 Members reaching the N2 rank with only 200 Completing the N7 training. The construction of the 13th Fleet also begins.
2574/2164 CE June: UNSC Graf Zeppelin and UNSC King Arthur enter service with the yet incomplete 13th Fleet. The Last hull for the Essex-class and the Preston Cole-class are laid down. The 5th and last vessels are called UNSC Formidable and UNSC Julius Cesare.
2574/2164 CE July 10th: Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood passes away in his sleep a ceremony is held for him and his service to the UEG and UNSC. He is Replaced by Admiral Kastanie Drescher as the head of the Navy and the defacto head of HIGHCOM
2574/2164 CE December 31st: The Eden Prime shipyards are completed and immediately start pumping out ships for the UNSC Navy as well as private use. The Yearly population report arrives and Eden prime has reached 35 Million while Shanxi has reached 19 Million. The Economic Report also arrived showing a increase in mineral and heavy metal production leading to cheaper metals used for Military use. Increasing the amount of mining and military jobs by 6 million leading to an economic boom as all other sectors expanded due to the 2. Arcturus Station is 10 complete
2576/2166 CE January: Citadel Expedition have found a dextro World which is colonized by the Turrians later on after finding the Quarian fleet trying to set up a colony there and the Turian 30th Patrol fleet having to force the quarians to leave.
2579/2169 CE August 5th: The Citadel Exploration Fleet arrive at their last objective Relay 314. In their 7 years they have uncovered 9 garden worlds 2 of which were dextro based 3 were given to the asari and 3 were given to the Salarians while the last one was given to the Batarians. Relay 314 is opened and the Exploration Fleet jumps.
2579/2169 CE August 7th:
Being chosen for the task of leading a citadel exploration fleet would be a great honor for everyone it was a great experience. But being stuck for 7 years on the same job quickly lost that prestige and it became mondain. Only finding garden worlds for colonize and no new Civilization like many hoped they would. Matriarch Benezia however knew why she was chosen for this job; it was to get her to stop being a metaphorical thorn in the very real ass of the Matriarch council. But even if the task was mondain and she knew the real purpose of her job at least Benezia was happy that her daughter was allowed access to the freshly discovered prothean Ruins that Benezia found on her mission.
Today was the day her mission would end and she would be back to throwing a wrench into the plans of the Matriarchs back on Thessia. Relay 314 while being the last Relay in the that they were supposed to investigate it gave them much trouble refusing to open many times until the Salarians finally managed to make the relay think that the master command from the Relay hub came to open. She had to give them credit it was a nice trick. They had to wait a day before the ice on the other side cleared as was Citadel regulation. And they were now on their way into the new system. 'How much longer till we make it?'
'2 Minutes Matriarch'
'Good when we drop out I want scanners up immediately and start making preparations if we find any planets for ground based exploration'
the same officer replied 'Yes matriarch' and moved over to a console.
2 Minutes came and went and they dropped out of FTL the bridge crew immediately went to work doing as Benazia commanded. 'Matriarch, Captain Tiberius is hailing us'
'Patch him through' the officer nodded and did as he was ordered. The Face of a Turian appeared on Benezia's screen. 'Yes captain what is it ?'
'Matriarch, orders came through, in 3 days we will have to stop protecting your ships, we have been ordered to rejoin the 27th Patrol fleet. A destroyer will come to replace us in a week' of course just at the last system the turians had to turn back. Something was off, then returning through all the now opened relays with no protection was just begging to be attacked by pirates
'I understand Captain, thank you for your protection of me and my ships' the Turian nodded and disconnected. The bridge returned to the silent humming off engines and the pinging of consoles as the crew kept scanning. For a moment at least because not even a full minute after she had disconnected the Captain, the sensors officer spoke.
'Matriarch, we have found a garden world in the system' 'that's great then bring us in further' 'we cant matriarch'
'why is that ?'
'there are over 120 ships in orbit of it. 100 are heading our way as we speak'
'Ships? What kind of ships?' 'from the looks of it, Warships, the largest being 5.2 Kilometers long.' Asari normally had blue or purple complexion, but Benezia was white at this moment and she wasn't the only one everyone on the bridge also went pale or stared in disbelief.
She stared with her mouth open at the senor operator and didn't notice the incoming hail from the Turian cruiser that served as their escort. After a moment she regained some of her composure and answered the hail 'Y- Yes captain?' she said in a shaky voice the captain was arguing in the background
'What do you mean they just disappeared? Matriarch, we have to get out of here now !'
'We cant captain we have made first contact, escaping could be viewed as a aggressive move' 'Matriarch, they are sending 100 warships our way, 2 of which are super dreadnaughts longer then the destiny ascension I do not care if its first contact or not, at this moment the safety of the entire expeditionary fleet is my most important objective and I am ordering you to retreat.'
Benezia's sensors officer yelled '4 cruisers just jumped between us and the relay, we are cut off !' Benezia looked back at the captain who also received the same information. Even if he was a turian, he wouldn't pick a fight with 4 cruisers while he only had 1 cruiser at his disposal. Now he would listen to her and let her talk their way out of here.
'Looks like we aren't going anywhere captain, now let me handle this and maybe we will have a new race on the citadel soon.' The captain begrudgingly accepted and disconnected. 'Communications, transmit our first contact package on all frequencies' the communications officer nodded and did so.
Now came the hard part of waiting in anticipation and horror as the 100 ships encircled the small exploration fleet. 2 hours of waiting later her communications officer perked up 'Matriarch, we are being hailed, video and audio' Benezia swallowed a lump that was in her throat and accepted the hail, she was going to meet these new aliens, when she came back the matriarch would eat from her hand.
[1] I Chose CE to mean Council Era but in reality, its just the Mass Effect Timeline so for example if we take the Mass effect Reaper invasion happened in 2186 so technically speaking it would take place in 2186 CE
[2] Essex-class Fleet Carrier
Length: 5,225 meters
Height: 752 meters
Width: 661 meters
Armor: Titanium-A3 4.5 Meters
Shielding: 2 Series 102 mk.2 Hahn-Kedar energy shields
Armament:
- 1 Miniaturized SMAC
- 300 Archer II Missile pods
- 150 Rapier Missile Pods
- 30 Onager MAC cannons dispensed across the whole ship length with 15 on each side
- 900 CIWS PD Gatling Guns dispensed across the whole ship length with 450 on each side
- 100 AA Guns dispensed across the whole ship length with 50 on each side
- 4 Avenger Class Nuclear devices.
- 120 Lance Missile systems with 60 on each side.
Complement:
- 8000 Navy personnel
- 600 Marines personnel
- 200 ODST personnel
Ariel Vehicles:
-300 F-45 Katana Multi Role Fighters.
-50 D79-TC b Pelican Dropships
-75 Longswords
-250 SOEIV drop pods
[3] Preston Cole-class Battleship
Length: 5,290 meters
Height: 790 meters
Width: 620 meters
Armor: Titanium-A3 5.5 Meters
Shielding: 2 Series 102 mk.3 Hahn-Kedar energy shields
Armament:
-2 Miniaturized SMAC aligned under each other at the front
-2 Cruiser sized MAC cannons aligned on each side of the SMAC
- 350 Archer II Missile pods
- 225 Rapier Missile Pods
- 60 Onager MAC cannons dispensed across the whole ship length with 30 on each side
- 800 CIWS PD Gatling Guns dispensed across the whole length with 400 on each side
- 80 AA Guns dispensed across the whole ship length with 40 on each side
- 8 Avenger Class Nuclear devices
- 200 Lance Missile systems with 100 on each side
Complement:
- 7800 Navy personnel
- 600 Marines personnel
- 200 ODST personnel
Ariel Vehicles:
- 25 F-45 Katan Multi Role Fighters
- 10 D79-TC b Pelican Dropships
- 250 SOEIV drop pods
[4] Arcturus Station is a new Arcturus class station designed to act as a naval anchorage and a sector administration station. Standing at 10 Kilometers in length 1.5 Kilometers in Height and 2 Kilometers in width it is protected by 10 ODPs and a small fleet of 1 Battleship 8 Heavy cruisers 2 Light carriers 20 destroyers and 60 frigates. So far it is the only Arcturus class station in existence.
UNSC Navy in 2579:
13 Main Fleets with each fleet having between 90-150 ships
15 Patrol Fleets each with a cruiser at its head ranging between 20-30 Ships
6 Quick Response Forces each with a Battlecruiser at its head ranging between 50-70 ships.
Home Fleet with UNSC Eternity at its head with 250 or more ships depending on the situation.
4 Reserve Fleets with a battlecruiser at its head with 70 ships (Only active during Wartime or during times of high tension)
20 Flotillas permanently stationed at points of interest each with a cruiser at its head ranging between 30-40 ships
Each colony has a defense fleet the smallest defense fleet being 2 destroyer and 6 Frigates. A Defense fleet can contain up to a battlecruiser and 2 cruisers.
More fleets are in service in the UNSC Navy but arent included in here due to their homogeneous use.
2 Infinity-class Supercarriers
5 Essex-class Fleet Carriers
5 Preston Cole-class Battleships
2 Everest-class Fleet Carriers (Being Build, supposed to be finished by 2580 with more being planned)
2 Avery Johnson-class Battleships (Being Build, supposed to be finished by 2580 with more being planned)
15 Spartan-class Battlecruisers (Last 2 are being build, supposed to be finished by 2581)
*Edited because i wrote down the wrong date for half of the years
I do not own either the Mass Effect series or the Halo series, they are owned by their respective owners.
'speech'
' radio/hologram/etc. communication'
Ship Names
'thoughts'
You get the point.
'Let Thessia burn we have enough on our plate already!'
-Unknown Turian soldier when hearing about the Asari plea for help
2580/2170 June 10 th , Restaurant on Eden Prime
Fedorian never liked official dinners, always a hidden agenda behind it or a way to win him over to the hosts side. This dinner was no different since the humans could have invited the Asari instead of him if they truly wanted to just talk. Not to mention showing off their new ship which was bloody 4 kilometers long.
'I hope the food is to your liking Primarch, while we cant compare to palaven chefs this is the best we have on Eden Prime' said the human directly opposite of him. President Jonathan Maxwell.
'It is missing a few things but overall, it is a very good meal. However, I am sure me and my delegation weren't invited here to tell you if turian food here is good or bad' he leaned back in the chair as much as he could. 'So what is it that you truly want to discuss mister President?'
The Human expression darkened, almost depressingly dark 'You are correct, I didn't invite you here to have you taste test things for us. The purpose of this meeting is far more Sinister. Harper if you would?'
The Human that introduced himself as Admiral Harper reached for something inside of his coat, Fedorian soon found out what it was, a Paper Envelope, not seen in the galaxy unless you wanted something to be kept top secret. He handed the envelope to fedorian who opened it.
Inside were two things, a paper with something written on it and a data chip. Fedorian took the paper and started to read. 'ThisThis has to be fake, there is no way for it to be true.'
Exhaling smoke the human that handed him the envelope spoke 'It is unfortunately the truth; the data chip holds the recording of the conversation'
The human female Admiral Drescher said 'That is why we are building ships as large as what you saw, we have to prepare for what is to come, even if they cost a Ludacris amount of money to build'
'Howhow many know about this ?' asked Fedorian with a shaking voice.
'Only the ones present here today, everyone else is dead already, even the agents preforming the interrogation' said Harper
'We are telling this to you so that there are at least some people that will be prepared, as much as you can, for something of this caliber. The asari would take to long to convince and even longer for them to actually build up enough strength to fight whatever is coming. The Salarians would want to investigate it themselves, they would spend too much time on it, not to mention fighting a War that we don't even know if we can win is not in their nature. The Krogan would be perfectly suited for it, except they are currently pre-occupied going extinct. The Quarians are already undergoing modifications to their ships as you have seen yourself, even if they don't know about the enemy yet. The Batarians are a bunch we can't talk to. The Turians remained the only sane choice.' Said Drescher.
'And the Sangheili, do they know?' asked Fedorian
'They do' answered Jonathan
'How large?' Fedorian asked once again
'a few 5-kilometer-long ones and one 28-kilometer-long one in construction' answered Drescher
'Spirits. Do we even know if we have a fighting chance? They wiped out the Protheans and Races that came before them if what you are saying is true'
'We don't know, simply speaking we don't even know what we are up against, the VI wasn't very helpful in that regard, all we do know is that something is coming and its coming fast. By our estimates, we have 10 to 20 years at best' said General Williams
'Will the turian people prepare for this?' asked Jonathan
'We are already building 3 new dreadnaughts, building more right of the bat will attract suspicion, questions will be asked. If you want to keep this a secret I don't know if we can if we also start preparing' answered Fedorian
'A Pretext will come; I am sure we will cause enough noise to warrant a construction of new ships' said Harper exhaling smoke
'Can we count on support from the Human side?' asked fedorian
'Not from the government itself, but if lets say, we open up export into the Turian space for our Military contractors we can provide you with weapons and armor through less conspicuous means. Everyone knows a company will never let a opportunity for profit or new clients pass them. We wouldn't be able to sell you our current equipment but we could design equipment for you. No one will ask questions then and both sides end up getting what they wanted' said Jonathan
Fedorian stayed silent for a moment 'We will prepare the best we can'
2584/2174 April 25 th , Palaven, Primarchs office
Fedorian sighed as he finished talking to Sparatus, he started sighing a lot lately. Its been 4 years Afterall, Times used to be easier, before humanity was discovered and revealed some of their secrets to him. Since then Fedorian has been working none stop on building up the Turian military the best he could without causing suspicion.
And staying true to their words Humanity really stirred up something in the backyard. Now a major military expansion would not be question but was actively encouraged. Many of his Generals and Admirals pushed for more cruisers and dreadnaughts after the news of Torfan reached Citadel Space.
But building them was easier said then done. Clearing it out with the Volus was the first step in getting those new ships. Knowing if they could afford them with the recent expenses on Human equipment was no easy task, Afterall they were expensive with the trade tariffs they had to pay. They did promise to get rid of them soon but until that happened Fedorians hands were tied, not knowing if even a single new dreadnaught could be build this or next year.
Times were not easy, and as the years passed he grew more and more anxious of the inevitable. 'Primarch, the volus are here for the meeting' his secretary said over the phone.
'Tell them I will be right there' he said and turned to the door. After this all ends he would retire, he was getting too old for this.
2584/2174 April 26 th , Thessia, Temple of Athame
'Scanning data, please wait a momentScan complete, Radiation matches the one created by Slipspace wormholes' said a distinguishable robotic voice.
' What is thisslipspace you are talking about ?' asked a calm female voice.
'The Data in the beacon states that it is the 11th dimension, a theoretical FTL method, it doesn't look like the protheans managed to develop it however before they disappeared' said a Asari in research garments.
' Anything else of value?' asked the same calm voice
'Mentions of a race called the 'Forerunners' and a research site dedicated to them with a thing called 'slipspace drive'. There is no location attached to it however, we might have to look deeper for it' replied the Researcher
' Do it so, we will be contacting you by the end of the week for any findings. Until then good luck' said the calm voice
'Ofcourse we will work at our best to find the location. And thank you Matriarch Aethyta' replied the Researcher as she turned back to her console. 'Now lets see what you are hiding.
2584/2174 April 26 th , Sur'Kesh, Top Secret STG base Mass Effect Galaxy Map Music
' What about the Radiations bursts?' asked Valern
'Cherenkov radiation, caused by the rift observed to be used as their FTL method, the rift itself, at least in the case of human ships, is caused by creating a blackhole that turns into the rift in a moment's notice. We have no idea how that create it and the Sangheili drives are another matter entirely. Besides the radiation we have no idea what method they use to open the rift' responded a Scientist.
' That's very concerning. This explains how they managed to create such large ships, do we know if they can make larger ones ?' asked Valern
A different Scientist answered this one 'Definitely, the only limitations that we can think of are raw metals and the energy generators. But seeing as we only detect small traces of Element Zero in the 1 kilometer and under ships, I would guess that they don't use element zero as a base of their technology'
' What do we do Dalatrass?' asked Valern looking at the Dalatrass
Dalatrass Linron sat in silence for a moment, thinking, before answering ' With the Turians getting closer and closer to Humanity we only have 2 choices. One is to hope they are stupid enough to give this drive to the Turians and 'borrow' it from them. The other is to get closer to the humans just like the Turians are doing.
We will do both, I want our assets in Turian space to be on extra lookout for Human technology. Valern you and the Embassy staff are too slowly foster a friendly Relationship with the human and Sangheili embassy. You are also permitted to launch your operation Lieutenant General'
' Of course, but what do we do about the Asari?' asked Valern
' The Asari are not going to take the insults thrown their way lightly, the chances of them talking to humans are slim. They will likely use that Beacon they have; did you manage to find out where it is?' said Linron as she looked at the STG agent present
Lieutenant General Vix answered 'The location of it is still unknown, the Asari are keeping it a secret surprisingly well. We managed to bring the number of potential locations down to Thessia and Lessus'
' Keep trying to find it, if we could get our hands on it or at the very least force the Asari to reveal it we will learn much from it. As for you Valern, keep your neutrality in the council as of now, try to postpone any action against Humans, make Tevos slip up and the other Matriarchs will slip' Said Linron and disconnected
2584/2174 28 th of April, Eden Prime, Mass Relay sector UNSC HQ
'Private Jenkins, step forward' said a loud voice. Jenkins wearing his dress uniform stood up from his chair and walked forward to where General White was standing. 'Private Jenkins, for your action during the defense of Elysium and attack on Torfan, you have shown great heroism and selflessness. As such you have earned the Legion of Honor and are being promoted to private first class' she finished talking and gave him a Salute
Jenkins saluted back to her and said 'Thank you ma'am' before Turning back and taking a seat.
'Sergeant Shepard, step forward' said the same loud voice. Shepard also in his dress uniform stood up and walked up to General White. 'Segeant Shepard, for your actions during the defense of Elysium where you rallied a defense force until reinforcements could arrive and your actions on Torfan, you are being awarded the Legion of honor alongside a promotion to Staff Sergeant' She saluted him.
Shepard saluted saying 'Its an honor, ma'am' before turning back to sit. White continued to hand out different medals and promotions for a good hour before the ceremony was over. Major Kyle took Shepard to the side saying that there was something important that he has to hear.
He soon found out what it was as General white approached him. Shepard and Kyle saluted immedietly, with white saluting back and saying 'At ease' the 2 men then relaxed. 'Have you told him yet Major?' asked White
Kyle replied saying 'No ma'am, I haven't yet'
'Good then I shall. Shepard, following your actions on Elysium I received orders from higher up regarding you specifically' shepard was surprised. 'Following that, your company that was supposed to be rotated out to receive some needed RR and some fresh recruits got put on the front lines as an evaluation of you. Fortunately for us, the losses were light thanks to the companies experience and as such the report from Major Kyle was what the higher ups wanted to see
Shepard, what I am about to tell you is not to be told to anyone. You have been chosen for N7 training, the only questions is if you accept it?' Risk: Mass Effect Galaxy At War Edition
Shepard was surprised with the offer, he never thought about getting into the ODSTs not to mention N7s, he like many others heard the stories about their training and their missions. 'Its an honor, ma'am but why me, especially after what happened at torfan?'
'I don't know shepard, command wasn't exactly forthcoming with why they wanted you. Even I don't know why certain individuals are chosen for the project, all I do know is that they want you and that they want to answer fast. So, do you accept?' she said
Shepard thought for a moment before replying with 'I do ma'am'
White said 'Great, pack your things, you are leaving for earth tomorrow at 0500 hours' before she turned around and walked away.
Shepard also started walking to the exit when he noticed in the corner of his eye Jenkins being approached by a officer wearing all black, not thinking to much about it and having to get a good nights of sleep he left early.
2584/2174 15 th of May, Unknown System south southwest of the Serpent Nebula, Surface of unknown planet
'Research log 001: We landed on the planet a day ago and the things we found here amaze me. Prothean equipment in pristine condition, an entire location I could only call a research outpost. Prothean buildings and even ships, all intact. Though I have to note that the Buildings are constructed rather haphazardly, nothing like the Previous dig sites I was at. The ship itself while intact on the outside is a mess on the inside, engine, drive core and navigational computer missing. Some tools are still laying around in it suggesting its components were used to repair another ship. Weapons and research terminals are still in the buildings. We have found a location in one of the Terminals, we presume it to be the main site, the captain the the Nerfana is sending equipment for us to allow us for further exploration
-Doctor Liara T'soni'
'Research log 003: We arrived at the main dig site, the base is huge almost a square kilometer with many buildings even having several underground levels. We have found a large entrance of unknown kind in the center of the site. This is presumably what they were researching here. Equipment is still attached to the doors but from what we can tell it they weren't able to be opened. More equipment was found in the buildings, food, weapons and what we can only presume to be medication. Filled to the brim, we have found several grave like structures on the outer perimeter of the site, all are however missing any type of coffin or body. The remaining equipment and remains of ships suggest that the Protheans had to leave this place in a hurry and couldn't take their things with them. We have currently no idea how any of these structures and equipment are still intact and in this almost perfect state. We will continue our research in the morning
-Doctor Liara T'soni'
'Research log 015: The doors are proving very hard to open, we attempted to use the prothean data on the doors, but even that provided no insight on how to open them or what they are keeping inside. The translators are saying that some of the data speaks of having to find a way to open this 'fortress' as they called it or else they don't know if they can win a war they were fighting. While providing no idea on how to open the door it did provide a theory on what happened to the protheans. No mentions are found on who exactly they were fighting. Our security team is reporting sightings of some flying objects far off in the distance
-Doctor Liara T'soni'
'Research log 020: Attempts to use a cutting laser on the door proved uneventful, the material is highly resistant to kinetic energy as well as heat. We are slowly running out of ideas on how to open the door. More sightings of those flying objects are reported and our security teams is growing restless, they sent out a small scout party earlier today to find these things. A Transport arrived today to retrieve the prothean equipment not needed for our attempts to open the door, most computers stayed as we are still looking through the data to find a way to open the door. More and more messages are found about the desperation to win this war and even some requests for transfer to a planet called 'Eden IV' by a certain security commander 'Javik'
-Doctor Liara T'soni'
'Research log 024: Doctor T'soni was hit by an electric current after she and several others attempted to use biotics on the door mechanisms. Since then she is unconscious on the Nerfan. The Scout party returned finding nothing of notice except a ruined research site 50 kilometers north of here. More ground crews are arriving from the Nerfan and are being send to the different research sites on the planet in an attempt to find any data on how to open the doors. Until Doctor T'soni wakes up, I am taking over as head researcher.
-Doctor Lesia T'loke
'Research log 034: Following my wake up, Doctor T'loke has provided me with the information they managed to obtain from the other research sites. We have gained a basic understanding of where to Doors lead and how to open them. The doors are an entrance to an underground complex covering an area of over 10 square kilometers and almost 3 kilometers underground. Simply said it's a massive facility. From Prothean reports there are 4 ways to open the door. First is having a special access level with you, in what form we are unaware to. Second is to have the Underground facilities central computer open it for you, how to do that we don't know. The Third way to open it is with brute force either from a ship cannon or explosives, the prothean crew requested an antimatter bomb to be shipped to them but the request was denied due to the ongoing war with an unknown enemy. The fourth and final way is an electric current of high enough voltage can force the door mechanism to open. Prothean crews only speculated the voltage required but weren't able to test it due to an evacuation order send their way. We will make preparations to force the door open with the electric current while prothean tech and data is moved onto transport ships in case we need to use the Nerfan's cannon to destroy the door.
-Doctor Liar T'soni'
'Just a moment longerand its send!' yelled a asari standing next to a terminal. Several sparks flew out of the door and nothing happened. That is until, while they were charging the next current the door simply opened startling everyone there. The Guards raised their weapons on reflex and pointed them at the inside. After several tense minutes nothing came chargin at them and turning them into monsters so the guards relaxed.
'Gather everything we need and lets move inside, we have a whole new race to discover!' yelled out Liara and everyone got to work. She never thought she would get this assignment. Being very young by asari standards she was only 97 years old and was handed a task from the matriarchs themselves, even if her Mother wasn't liked by them very much. She couldn't pass up such an opportunity, she was an expert in things prothean related Afterall and who better to pick then her for such a mission, with all the black ink involved.
As they started entering the complex she and others were amazed by the architecture, even if the colors were a little bit bland, with silver as far the eye could see. But as they entered deeper into the hallway that stretched for a good 200 meters, the doors behind them closed causing panic. A message came over the radio 'Are you alright in there?' it was from the security chief.
Liara answered 'We are all fine captain, what caused the door to close?'
' We don't know, it suddenly started to close, we can't find any problems from this side except the terminal that we used to open it being fried' responded the captain.
'The Data mentioned the central computer controlling the doors, we will try to find it. In the meantime, try opening the door from your side captain'
' Will do doctor, be careful we don't know what is down there'
'We will captain, don't worry' as liara finished talking she and the other researchers and their guards moved down the hallway finding a door that opened for them as they got close. It led them to an elevator that started going down as soon as all of them were on it.
'Guess the computer or whoever is in charge of this place wants to talk to us eh?' said one of the guards. Others agreed, nodded or said something under their nose. Liara was no different thinking that this all was to convenient for them, so whoever or whatever was in charge of this place must have wanted to talk to them.
Once the elevator stopped, they got off of it and found a corridor with many small doors on the side and a large one at the end. The smaller ones had a glass window in them to look inside, in there you could see holograms of planets, computers and something resembling a storage crate. Each room behind these doors had doors leading further in but you couldn't tell what was behind them.
As they got closer the door at the end of the corridor opened up for them and they continued to go down there until eventually finding another elevator that took them further down. When they stepped off of the elevator a giant door about 50 meters high opened up to a gigantic room that had a hologram of the star system in the center and a bridge/catwalk going around it. And a single floating metal ball with yellow glowing eye in its center doing something at a terminal.
They stepped further into the room and the ball turned around and started lazily floating up to them. The guards tensed up and pointed their weapons at it. They could hear the ball humming as it got closer and closer before stopping just a few meters away from them.
'Welcome meddlers, may I ask what your purpose is here?' asked the ball
Everyone was silent, dumbstruck really by the floating ball that spoke in their language. The ball itself was silent for a while before speaking again 'Perhaps the language I translated is the wrong oneproblematic' and started to float back to the console as it hummed
Liara broke from her amazement and spoke 'Wait!'
The ball in turn turned around and floated up to liara 'Yes?'
'W- What are you?' she asked
The ball after a moment said 'The same question as last time, very well. I am 384 Ruthless Guardian, Monitor of this outpost. Now who are you and what is your purpose here?'
'A Monitor?' she asked
'Cant answer a simple question, what is it with the Meddlers? Answer my question first, im not going to ask again' said the ball now identified as Ruthless Guardian as his eye changed from yellow to red.
Liara panicked and quickly answered 'uh we are researchers, we came here to find out more about this complex!'
Guardians eye changed back from red to yellow 'Intriguing, but I must disappoint you, there is nothing interesting here. Not for you atleast, now please leave my facility and go back to your ship' he started humming again as he slowly floated back to the console.
'Can you answer our questions first?!' yelled out Liara catching the attention of the Monitor.
'Depends on the questions'
'What is your purpose here?'
'My purpose is to await the reclaimers and help them in accessing the location of the archives'
'Reclaimers? What is a reclaimer?'
'The Reclaimers are the ones chosen to inherit all that my creators left behind as a way of repayment for what my creators did to them and in hopes of them guiding the galaxy to a better future'
'If we are not theseReclaimers, then why did you let us in?'
'Your attempts at entering this facility have been most annoying, that is one of a few reasons, another one is your ship in orbit being similar to the ones used by the reclaimers in the past and finally your genetic makeup is very similar to that of the reclaimers. I couldn't get a exact scan on it unless you were present Infront of me like you are now'
'How do the reclaimers look like?'
'Unknown, that information is locked inside of my databanks with no way for me to access it, all I know is how their genetic makeup looks like. I can only speculate as to why, but I am certain if I saw one I would recognize them immediately'
'And this archive? What is it?'
Guardian stayed silent for a moment before saying 'I am not allowed to answer that question'
'Okayand the protheans that were researching this place before us, what can you tell us about them?'
'The meddlers left after managing to force the door open which they tried for 421 days. The Security staff was moved to a planet they called Eden IV and the research staff to a planet they called 'Illos' they left in a hurry leaving much information behind, allowing me to learn a lot'
Before Liara could ask another question, the ball spoke first 'Now that I answered your questions I must ask for compensation. I would ask for the data on your computer that you have around your arm'
Liara thought for a moment about what it could mean, lighting up her omni-tool asking 'You mean my omni-tool?'
The ball answered 'Yes' Liara nodded and allowed the ball to gain access into her Omni-tool. It took just a fraction of a second before the ball resonated in happiness 'My, this is most excellent, the reclaimers are out there alive! Oh the thing they could ask of me, the reports I compieled in their absence.' It kept on rambling for a while before regaining its composure. 'This information was most helpful, as such I will answer one more question before I ask you to leave, I have protocols that need to be activated and executed'
Liara thought for a moment before asking 'What exactly are you?'
*Research logs correspond to the days spend on the digsite.
2584/2174 April 26 th , Citadel, Presidium
Garrus had the luck to be chosen for the most boring posting on the citadel maybe ever. He had the task of Watching over the Human and Sangheili guards of their embassies, now it wouldn't be so bad if he had good company with him. Unfortunately, he had a fellow turian named Harkin alongside him. Everyone knew that Harkin wasn't the guy you wanted to be with you in case something happened.
Yet here he was, standing beside Garrus having a staring contest with the Human Marines that were assigned to their Embassy, the spirits really didn't like Garrus Afterall. 'Hey Garrus' said Harkin
'Yeh? What is it?'
'What do you notice about the Marines?'
'Well, they wear a combat armor, have a rifle, helmet, Magazines for their rifle on their chest with all of that im sure we stand no chance if-'
'That's not what I mean, look at their faces and how they act towards their 'allies' standing further away from them'
Now that Harkin mentioned it, Garrus took a closer look. Their faces were scared, eyes looked almost dead as if the life in them was sucked out years ago and they didn't exactly hide their distain for the Sangheili guards standing near the Sangheili embassy.
Actually, both sides didn't look like friends but rather like enemies, they were watching Garrus and Harkin as much as they were watching each other. 'Now that you mention it, they look like they went through a meat grinder and barely kept their sanity. If I had to guess it has something to do with the reason, they are so distant to the Sangheili'
'Makes you wonder why they are allies in the first place if that's the attitude they have to each other'
'I bet they have a good reason'
'Imagine if we got chummy like that with the Krogans'
Garrus laughed at what Harkin said 'Never in a million years, they will never forgive us for the genophage' as he said that the door behind them opened and in from the lobby walked a Krogan in blood red armor and red headplate with the most intriguing companion beside him. The Turian ambassador Octavus.
Harkin and Garrus watched as they walked towards the human guards who stopped them checking them for weapons before letting them walk inside. The Krogan begrudgingly left his shotgun with the Humans and walked alongside octavus into the Sangheili embassy, shorty there after they were joined by the human ambassador who walked out of his office.
'Looks like we might see it Afterall Garrus, sooner then you said' said Harkin still surprised by the whole ordeal and Garrus simply sighed.
'What do you think they are talking in there about Harkin?'
'From the display at torfan and the fact that Turians and Krogans are involved I would say something military related. That reminds me Vakarian, how long till your reservist statues runs out?'
'Was supposed to be off the list in 2 years, but with Torfan happening It got extended to 8 years, thanks to my father mine was rather short'
'Lucky, Brutus was going off in 5 months, now it got extended to 10 years. That man will never see the day with his luck'
'Let's hope my luck strikes then so that nothing happens for me and Brutus'
'Let's hope'
Udina was sliding over a piece of paper to the Krogan named Wrex. As he read through it he stopped several times and read through it again and again. 'If this is a joke human, you will pay dearly for it'
'I assure you its not a joke, it's a genuine offer'
'How can I be certain about it, while I enjoyed how you treated the pyjak shitslingers in the council, you are still getting very friendly with a member of said council'
'What my human colleague is saying is true, the offer is genuine, all that needs to happen is you uniting the clans' said the Sangheili ambassador.
'Lets say for a moment that I agree to your proposal, what kind of forces will you commit?'
Udina said 'We can commit one or two Special forces teams to assist in the unification and-removal-of problematic individuals. After the unification is complete the second stage will begind'
'We can provide a few Special operations teams to assist aswell and ofcourse help in the second stage to the best of abilities'
'We cant commit much, even with our militaristic ways order will be questioned. The best we can do is provide patrol routes and leave spots open for drop off missions in the system' said Octavus
'Figures the Turians washing their hands off of this. But besides that, you cant spare any supplies or anything?'
'Too high of a risk, providing large enough quantaties and supply lines for their use would be hard and easily found out' said Udna
'Alright, lets say I unite the clans and you do your things. What is your stake in this, I don't imagine you are doing this because of the good of your heart'
Octavus said 'The Primarch is bolstering defensive lines, creating new fleets and every ship is needed, having your system stop being a DMZ would help that a lot. For what reason he is doing that is unkown to me'
'My government is also preparing for something, no idea what but it has to be something large, I am sure news has reached the wider galaxy of the quarians being spotted entering our space a few years ago. Their entire fleet is undergoing retrofits. Then the friendship with the Turians if you can call it that.' Said Udina
The Sangheili said 'None of us know what is happening but the leaders and militaries has been ramping up production, exercise, size and contingency plans for a good part of a decade now. Whatever is happening requires the Krogans, united and strong'
Wrex thought for a bit 'Alright, ill do it. But I better learn what is going on sooner rather then later'
Hi there, long time waiting and I know a short chapter. My excuse? Im having a bit of a hard time right now finding a school/job with corona running around the block and as such haven't had much time to write.
Lets head onto the reviews, I chose to do them at the end since things in this chapter explained some of the questions you guys had.
Havalt300: That comes due to the massive power difference in basically everything.
Micetto: Ofcourse humans know how dangerous they can be so they have agents assigned to them as to make them behave, and its better to let them in and keep a watch on them then having them pester you for the rest of eternity. As for the Turians well it was explained at the beginning of this chapter. Also yeah, they are on their way to become actual allies
Srosan99: I see where you are coming from, but in my opinion the Council being under the leadership of the Asari are still blinded by the asari strategy of long sight or whatever its called. And a government not joining the citadel at first chance didn't cause much worry of them. Torfan came as a wake up call to everyone especially the Asari that Humanity didn't plan on playing into Citadel Hands. As for a good villain, one must first have a good cause for a villain to become the villain. Torfan again came as a wakeup call for everyone and the gears start turning. As you said in your review and I said in the previous chapter, 'competition leads to innovation' The council being stuck in the same state for close to 2000 years showed little innovation leading to something akin to stagnation in almost ever regard.
Guest: Cole Protocol only works for as long as Humans are the only ones aware of the location of earth. But you know, There was the first battle and the Second battle of earth that made Cole Protocol Pointless since the location was no longer secret.
Cooldude101011: Buying a design is all good but the problem comes in being able to produce the thing you just bought designs for. Its like telling WW2 germany to build the Leopard MBT in 1940, they might have the detailed blueprints but they don't have the technology to build the thing. There is also the Sangheili trying to keep an card against humanity in case they go to war again.
Randomreader: As I explained in another answer they were stagnant for close to 2000 years only innovating when Humanity kicked the Turian ass over shanxi and when Sovereign attacked the Citadel, Torfan and the UEG behaviour is that spark that is needed for the Council races to innovate
DomR1997: No
Roting: I don't know the ass end of Atriox from his face. That is my description of my knowledge on the Banished, I don't know much about them and don't feel as if I could write them in any good way.
I do not own either the Mass Effect series or the Halo series, they are owned by their respective owners.
Hello and welcome to my first Halo x Mass Effect fic I am happy to write this since it's a crossover between 2 of my favorite universes I love the Mass Effect Trilogy even with its ending and I also really like the Halo games (Halo 5 being the exception) this idea has been going around my head since as far back as February but I put it on the sidelines due to other fics and real life but the time has finally come to write this so I hope you enjoy.
2553 March 3rd/2143 CE[1] : The Human-Covenant War official comes to an end after the great schism. The Civilian government is reinstated by the UNSC and the works on rebuilding Humanity are began.
2553/2143 CE April: Civil War erupts on Sanghelios between Covenant believers and the Swords of Sanghelios. UNSC ships arrive at Reach to begin Terraforming.
2553/2143 CE August: Doctor Halsey is reinstated back into ONI service. ONI special forces team arrive on Sanghelios and are ordered to keep the Civil War going.
2553/2143 CE December: The UEG with pressure from the UNSC approaches the Arbiter with a Non-Aggression pact with hopes of technological sharing down the line. The Arbiter accepts the pact as to avoid a possible 2 front war.
2553/2143 CE December 30th: The first UNSC ship arrives at Harvest to investigate if it can be terraformed. They find Harvest glassed beyond any hopes of terraforming it within 80 years.
2554/2144 CE February 12th: a breakthrough is achieved in the shielding technology for ships with the creation of the first human shield generator based on Covenant shielding technology captured over earth back in 2552
2554/2144 CE February 20th: ONI section 3 is tasked with investigating Forerunner technology from the remnants of Alpha Halo and the Ark.
2554/2144 CE March 9th: The Arbiter sends a message to the UEG with a deal detailing the Swords of Sanghelios providing Humanity with technology in exchange for food for his people as the Sangheili face a famine caused by the Civil War and the great Schism. The UEG again under pressure from the UNSC and ONI agree to the deal. Providing the Swords of Sanghelios with Nutrition paste instead of real food until the first crops grown for Sangheili consumption are grown.
2554/2144 CE April: Earth alongside the Inner Colonies are rebuilt with the UNSC navy reaching 5 of its strength before the war, none of its ships are yet to be equipped with Shieling technology.
2554/2144 CE September 1st: Mars experiences a quake revealing a alien construct under the ground. The Area is immediately cordoned off by the UNSC Army and ONI section 3 arrives on scene to investigate. They find out to the dismay of many in ONI that the structure is not Forerunner but are ordered to investigate it further anyway.
2554/2144 CE September 27th: Section 3 finishes the investigation of the Alien structure. They managed to uncover a cache of information in the structures database, they found the race to be called protheans and that they observed humanity for a while before disappearing 50 thousand years ago. The Information cache also held blueprints for an FTL drive and the location of something referred to as a Mass Relay in the Sol system. The FTL method while slightly superior to Human Slipspace drives is limited to Mass Relay and as such mostly rejected by the UNSC. Upon further investigation they also found a Dumb AI in the base center after 5 days of getting information from it the Dumb AI shuts down and all records of the conversation are classified only being told to HIGHCOM and the President of the UEG.
2554/2144 CE November 11th: A Bill suggested by the President is passed in the Parliament increasing UNSC and ONI funding by a margin of 5. The Construction of UNSC Infinity is accelerated with it receiving Highest Priority followed by its Sistership UNSC Eternity. ONI finds the Mass Relay to be Pluto's mon encased in ice. They activate it and begin the mapping of the space behind it with probes.
2554/2144 CE December 16th: The Existence of the Protheans is revealed to the public and civilian expeditions behind the Sol Relay as it came to be known are authorized.
2555/2145 CE April: ONI detonates a bomb in the Camp of the fighters of the Swords of Sanghelios that were preparing for a raid on the Covenant remnants leaders' location, killing majority of the fighters there.
2555/2145 CE June 19th: Following the Bombing of his forces the Arbiter asks the UEG for help once again requesting it provide fighters for his side in exchange for military technology. Humanity refuse but instead propose military equipment to be provided to the Sangheili alongside an increase of food export. The Arbiter accepts.
2555/2145 CE August 9th: The first planet behind the Mass Relays is colonized, named Eden prime after its almost Earth like ecosystem. The UEG increase the budget of the UNSC once again allowing the UNSC to begin construction of new Ship classes. The Essex-class Fleet Carriers[2], the Preston Cole-class of Battleships[3], the Bastion-class of Heavy cruisers and Medusa-class of Destroyers.
2556/2146 CE April: The first hull of the Essex-class and Preston Cole-class are laid down over Mars. UNSC Essex and UNSC Preston Cole are planned on joining the Home Fleet upon their completion.
2556/2146 CE December 24th: picking Christmas as their time for a 'present' an anonymous individual leaks incriminating evidence on ONI causing public outrage over the Spartan program and many of its shadow ops missions. ONI head, Admiral Parangosky is arrested by the UNSC and later sentenced to death. ONI is disbanded and the UNSC begin forming a new Intelligence branch.
2557/2147 CE March: The UNSC forms the Military Intelligence Office with Admiral Jack Harper as its Head. MIO section 3 is tasked with the same thing as its predecessor's at ONI. Shanxi becomes the 2nd Planet to be colonized withing the Mass Relay network. 2nd Essex-class Carrier and Preston Cole-Class are laid down intended for the 2nd fleet. UNSC Ticonderoga and UNSC Eisenhower.
2557/2147 CE April 8th: UNSC Infinity enters service under the command of Captain Laskey. UNSC Navy starts equipping their ships with Shielding technology.
2557/2147 CE December 9th: Colonists on Shanxi discover a crashed space ship filled with weird eggs, they report it to the authorities. The UNSC Military on Shanxi go on full alert and the 2nd Fleet is dispatched to Shanxi.
2558/2148 CE January: The Biological Warfare unit of the Marines is sent in alongside MIO teams inside of the ship to investigate it and recover the eggs. They start investigating the computers found on the ship.
2558/2148 CE April: First colonists arrive on Reach. They set up a settlement in the unglassed northern portion of the planet. The shipyards above Reach are being Rebuild
2558/2148 CE August 8th: UNSC Spirit of Fire arrives at the Ark to a surprise to many in the UNSC who thought the ship to be lost with all hands. The ship is boarded where they find the rampant ship AI which is promptly shut down. They find the crew in cryosleep. The ship is recovered and moved back to earth and the crew awakened.
2558/2148CE August 18th: Celebration is held for the crew of UNSC Spirt of Fire in denying the Covenant access to weapons that could have wiped out Humanity. Captain Cutter is promoted to Rear Admiral for his service after he chose to remain in the Military.
2560/2150CE March 7th: MIO manages to gain access to the Crashed ships computers and find out the Eggs and the Ship belong to a race called Rachni that were involved in a war but didn't survive. The Eggs are the eggs of a queen and her guards. MIO wants to hatch the eggs but are denied by Jack Harper. HIGHCOM and the current President are once again briefed on what happened and the information classified.
2560/2150CE September 1st: UNSC Eternity Enters service it is assigned to the Home fleet. The 3rd Essex-class and Preston Cole-class are laid down, UNSC Enterprise and UNSC Jeanne D'arc respectively. They are supposed to join the 5th Fleet upon completion.
2560/2150 CE December 31st: The yearly population report is submitted. Eden Prime has reached a Population of 10 Million and is chosen as the capital of the Colonies in the Mass Relay network. Shanxi reaches a population of 3 Million.
2563/2153 CE May 2nd: UNSC Essex and UNSC Preston Cole enter service in the Home Fleet. The Sight of the New ships show many on earth how far the UEG and UNSC has come. 80 of the UNSC Navy is equipped with Shields. Mass Effect Galaxy Map
2564/2154 CE May 2nd: UNSC Ticonderoga and UNSC Eisenhower enter service with the 2nd Fleet.
2565/2155 CE January: Work begins on Eden Prime Shipyards as to ease the strain on the Mars shipyards and the recently rebuild Reach Shipyards.
2565/2155 CE April 1st: MIO teams are deployed on Shanxi and Eden Prime to abduct children that were born with weird masses around their spine. They manage to abduct the children and MIO section 3 starts research.
2565/2155 CE November: With the Civil War entering its 12th year the Arbiter is desperate for it to end and asks the UEG for assistance. The UEG agrees after UNSC assures them that if push came to shove, they could take on the remaining Sangheili Ships. The 2nd Fleet is ordered to move and assist the Swords of Sanghelios
2565/2155 CE December: What came to be later known as the Sanghelios offensive involved the frigate and destroyer escort of the 2nd fleet going into orbit and preforming a low yield Mac bombardment on covenant positions in preparations for Marine and Swords of Sanghelios forces attack that followed right after the bombardment concluded. While a controversial move and one that the Sangheili disapproved of, it destroyed key fortifications preventing a successful breakthrough from happening without huge losses. On the 26th the entire remaining covenant Fleet jumped into system and engaged the 2nd Fleet and the Fleet of Glorious Retribution. Admiral Kastanie Drescher and Vice Admiral Steven Hackett earned the respect of the Sangheili Fleetmaster Rtas 'Vadum with unconventional Tactics that ended in the destruction of the Covenant fleet on the 30th.
2566/2156 CE January: The assault on Sanghelios continued with the pocket closing further and further on the remaining Covenant forces on the ground. A Final assault is planned but before it can be executed the covenant forces preform a suicidal assault on the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios lines on the 20th. The assault takes many by surprise and causes heavy casualties on the UNSC and SoS side pushing them back before managing to stop the covenant forces on the 29th.
2566/2156 CE February 19th the UNSC and SoS forces launch an all scale attack on Covenant locations bringing in again frigates for tactical bombardment and large-scale mechanized spearhead attacks that break through the strong defenses of the Covenant forces. Lieutenant Anderson of the 8th ODST brigade manages to take the covenant leader Jul 'Mdama prisoner when he and his squad were dropped into the covenant HQ. That evening Covenant forces were in full retreat and at morning the next day surrendered. Marking the end of the Civil War on Sanghelios.
2566/2156 CE February 28th For his service Vice-Admiral Hackett is promoted to Admiral and put in charge of the 5th fleet. Lieutenant Anderson is promoted to Lieutenant Commander for his actions in capturing the Covenant leader. Following his action, the N7 program is launched its task is creating highly specialized and lethal Special Forces teams. Anderson is chosen as the first candidate for N7 training.
2566/2156 CE October: The SoS is reformed into the Sangheili Sovereignty with the Ungoy, Kig-Yar and the Lekgolo joining them for protection. The Arbiter chosen as the leader approaches the UEG with a request for an Alliance which the UEG accepts. Spartan-class Battlecruiser is designed and 5 Hulls are immediately laid down with more being planned.
2566/2156 CE November 7th: The Spartan V program is launched, aiming to be more efficient like the Spartan II program but as large as the Spartan IV program, All UNSC service members are checked if they meet the requirements for the program and so far, only 500 have been found.
2566/2156 CE December 31st: A new Mass Relay is opened leading into a system with yet another perfectly colonizable garden world. This sparks concern in the UEG and UNSC as every mass relay they have opened so far led to either systems rich in minerals and Element Zero or to a Garden World named Elysium. The opening of new Mass Relays is prohibited and patrols in the Mass Relay colonies increased. The Yearly population report is filled. Shanxi reaches a population of 10 Million. Eden Prime reaches a population of 20 Million
2567/2157 CE February 8th: UNSC Enterprise and UNSC Jeanne D'arc enter service in the 5th Fleet. UNSC Graf Zeppelin and UNSC King Arthur are laid down they are supposed to enter service in the planned 13th Fleet.
2572/2162 CE April: The 2nd Fleet is relocated to the Eden Prime; it is supposed to act as the fleet responsible for the defense of the Mass Relay colonies. Work also begins on Arcturus Station[4], the only system leading into the Sol system by the use of Mass Relays.
2572/2162 CE May: Plans are drawn up for a new Fleet Carrier and Battleship. The Everest-class Fleet carrier and the Avery Johnson-class Battleship. 2 of each Hulls are immediately laid down as the construction of the Essex-class and Preston Cole-class are being halted after the 5th ship of the class leave the shipyards. UNSC Everest and UNSC Avery Johnson are designed to join the 8th fleet while UNSC Kilimanjaro and UNSC Jacob Keyes are joining the 9th Fleet. The Sirta Foundation the inventors of Biofoam invent Medi Gel, it is quickly adapted by the Military and civilian sector.
2572/2162 CE July: The Citadel Council creates an exploration fleet tasked with mapping out the Skylian Verge and surrounding systems. UNSC HIGHCOM is briefed that so far 1000 Individuals have been found and volunteered for the Spartan V program and that the N7 special forces are numbering in at 2000 Members reaching the N2 rank with only 200 Completing the N7 training. The construction of the 13th Fleet also begins.
2574/2164 CE June: UNSC Graf Zeppelin and UNSC King Arthur enter service with the yet incomplete 13th Fleet. The Last hull for the Essex-class and the Preston Cole-class are laid down. The 5th and last vessels are called UNSC Formidable and UNSC Julius Cesare.
2574/2164 CE July 10th: Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood passes away in his sleep a ceremony is held for him and his service to the UEG and UNSC. He is Replaced by Admiral Kastanie Drescher as the head of the Navy and the defacto head of HIGHCOM
2574/2164 CE December 31st: The Eden Prime shipyards are completed and immediately start pumping out ships for the UNSC Navy as well as private use. The Yearly population report arrives and Eden prime has reached 35 Million while Shanxi has reached 19 Million. The Economic Report also arrived showing a increase in mineral and heavy metal production leading to cheaper metals used for Military use. Increasing the amount of mining and military jobs by 6 million leading to an economic boom as all other sectors expanded due to the 2. Arcturus Station is 10 complete
2576/2166 CE January: Citadel Expedition have found a dextro World which is colonized by the Turrians later on after finding the Quarian fleet trying to set up a colony there and the Turian 30th Patrol fleet having to force the quarians to leave.
2579/2169 CE August 5th: The Citadel Exploration Fleet arrive at their last objective Relay 314. In their 7 years they have uncovered 9 garden worlds 2 of which were dextro based 3 were given to the asari and 3 were given to the Salarians while the last one was given to the Batarians. Relay 314 is opened and the Exploration Fleet jumps.
2579/2169 CE August 7th:
Being chosen for the task of leading a citadel exploration fleet would be a great honor for everyone it was a great experience. But being stuck for 7 years on the same job quickly lost that prestige and it became mondain. Only finding garden worlds for colonize and no new Civilization like many hoped they would. Matriarch Benezia however knew why she was chosen for this job; it was to get her to stop being a metaphorical thorn in the very real ass of the Matriarch council. But even if the task was mondain and she knew the real purpose of her job at least Benezia was happy that her daughter was allowed access to the freshly discovered prothean Ruins that Benezia found on her mission.
Today was the day her mission would end and she would be back to throwing a wrench into the plans of the Matriarchs back on Thessia. Relay 314 while being the last Relay in the that they were supposed to investigate it gave them much trouble refusing to open many times until the Salarians finally managed to make the relay think that the master command from the Relay hub came to open. She had to give them credit it was a nice trick. They had to wait a day before the ice on the other side cleared as was Citadel regulation. And they were now on their way into the new system. 'How much longer till we make it?'
'2 Minutes Matriarch'
'Good when we drop out I want scanners up immediately and start making preparations if we find any planets for ground based exploration'
the same officer replied 'Yes matriarch' and moved over to a console.
2 Minutes came and went and they dropped out of FTL the bridge crew immediately went to work doing as Benazia commanded. 'Matriarch, Captain Tiberius is hailing us'
'Patch him through' the officer nodded and did as he was ordered. The Face of a Turian appeared on Benezia's screen. 'Yes captain what is it ?'
'Matriarch, orders came through, in 3 days we will have to stop protecting your ships, we have been ordered to rejoin the 27th Patrol fleet. A destroyer will come to replace us in a week' of course just at the last system the turians had to turn back. Something was off, then returning through all the now opened relays with no protection was just begging to be attacked by pirates
'I understand Captain, thank you for your protection of me and my ships' the Turian nodded and disconnected. The bridge returned to the silent humming off engines and the pinging of consoles as the crew kept scanning. For a moment at least because not even a full minute after she had disconnected the Captain, the sensors officer spoke.
'Matriarch, we have found a garden world in the system' 'that's great then bring us in further' 'we cant matriarch'
'why is that ?'
'there are over 120 ships in orbit of it. 100 are heading our way as we speak'
'Ships? What kind of ships?' 'from the looks of it, Warships, the largest being 5.2 Kilometers long.' Asari normally had blue or purple complexion, but Benezia was white at this moment and she wasn't the only one everyone on the bridge also went pale or stared in disbelief.
She stared with her mouth open at the senor operator and didn't notice the incoming hail from the Turian cruiser that served as their escort. After a moment she regained some of her composure and answered the hail 'Y- Yes captain?' she said in a shaky voice the captain was arguing in the background
'What do you mean they just disappeared? Matriarch, we have to get out of here now !'
'We cant captain we have made first contact, escaping could be viewed as a aggressive move' 'Matriarch, they are sending 100 warships our way, 2 of which are super dreadnaughts longer then the destiny ascension I do not care if its first contact or not, at this moment the safety of the entire expeditionary fleet is my most important objective and I am ordering you to retreat.'
Benezia's sensors officer yelled '4 cruisers just jumped between us and the relay, we are cut off !' Benezia looked back at the captain who also received the same information. Even if he was a turian, he wouldn't pick a fight with 4 cruisers while he only had 1 cruiser at his disposal. Now he would listen to her and let her talk their way out of here.
'Looks like we aren't going anywhere captain, now let me handle this and maybe we will have a new race on the citadel soon.' The captain begrudgingly accepted and disconnected. 'Communications, transmit our first contact package on all frequencies' the communications officer nodded and did so.
Now came the hard part of waiting in anticipation and horror as the 100 ships encircled the small exploration fleet. 2 hours of waiting later her communications officer perked up 'Matriarch, we are being hailed, video and audio' Benezia swallowed a lump that was in her throat and accepted the hail, she was going to meet these new aliens, when she came back the matriarch would eat from her hand.
[1] I Chose CE to mean Council Era but in reality, its just the Mass Effect Timeline so for example if we take the Mass effect Reaper invasion happened in 2186 so technically speaking it would take place in 2186 CE
[2] Essex-class Fleet Carrier
Length: 5,225 meters
Height: 752 meters
Width: 661 meters
Armor: Titanium-A3 4.5 Meters
Shielding: 2 Series 102 mk.2 Hahn-Kedar energy shields
Armament:
- 1 Miniaturized SMAC
- 300 Archer II Missile pods
- 150 Rapier Missile Pods
- 30 Onager MAC cannons dispensed across the whole ship length with 15 on each side
- 900 CIWS PD Gatling Guns dispensed across the whole ship length with 450 on each side
- 100 AA Guns dispensed across the whole ship length with 50 on each side
- 4 Avenger Class Nuclear devices.
- 120 Lance Missile systems with 60 on each side.
Complement:
- 8000 Navy personnel
- 600 Marines personnel
- 200 ODST personnel
Ariel Vehicles:
-300 F-45 Katana Multi Role Fighters.
-50 D79-TC b Pelican Dropships
-75 Longswords
-250 SOEIV drop pods
[3] Preston Cole-class Battleship
Length: 5,290 meters
Height: 790 meters
Width: 620 meters
Armor: Titanium-A3 5.5 Meters
Shielding: 2 Series 102 mk.3 Hahn-Kedar energy shields
Armament:
-2 Miniaturized SMAC aligned under each other at the front
-2 Cruiser sized MAC cannons aligned on each side of the SMAC
- 350 Archer II Missile pods
- 225 Rapier Missile Pods
- 60 Onager MAC cannons dispensed across the whole ship length with 30 on each side
- 800 CIWS PD Gatling Guns dispensed across the whole length with 400 on each side
- 80 AA Guns dispensed across the whole ship length with 40 on each side
- 8 Avenger Class Nuclear devices
- 200 Lance Missile systems with 100 on each side
Complement:
- 7800 Navy personnel
- 600 Marines personnel
- 200 ODST personnel
Ariel Vehicles:
- 25 F-45 Katan Multi Role Fighters
- 10 D79-TC b Pelican Dropships
- 250 SOEIV drop pods
[4] Arcturus Station is a new Arcturus class station designed to act as a naval anchorage and a sector administration station. Standing at 10 Kilometers in length 1.5 Kilometers in Height and 2 Kilometers in width it is protected by 10 ODPs and a small fleet of 1 Battleship 8 Heavy cruisers 2 Light carriers 20 destroyers and 60 frigates. So far it is the only Arcturus class station in existence.
UNSC Navy in 2579:
13 Main Fleets with each fleet having between 90-150 ships
15 Patrol Fleets each with a cruiser at its head ranging between 20-30 Ships
6 Quick Response Forces each with a Battlecruiser at its head ranging between 50-70 ships.
Home Fleet with UNSC Eternity at its head with 250 or more ships depending on the situation.
4 Reserve Fleets with a battlecruiser at its head with 70 ships (Only active during Wartime or during times of high tension)
20 Flotillas permanently stationed at points of interest each with a cruiser at its head ranging between 30-40 ships
Each colony has a defense fleet the smallest defense fleet being 2 destroyer and 6 Frigates. A Defense fleet can contain up to a battlecruiser and 2 cruisers.
More fleets are in service in the UNSC Navy but arent included in here due to their homogeneous use.
2 Infinity-class Supercarriers
5 Essex-class Fleet Carriers
5 Preston Cole-class Battleships
2 Everest-class Fleet Carriers (Being Build, supposed to be finished by 2580 with more being planned)
2 Avery Johnson-class Battleships (Being Build, supposed to be finished by 2580 with more being planned)
15 Spartan-class Battlecruisers (Last 2 are being build, supposed to be finished by 2581)
*Edited because i wrote down the wrong date for half of the years
