Disclaimer: I neither own or created Gundam or Mass Effect, this is a work of Fanfiction.
Mobile Effect: Prelude
"Well what about Shepard," a soft male voice asked? "She is from the colonies and more immortally she is a Spacenoid. I feel, it will reflect well on the crew."
In agreement a deeper but fluid voiced man spoke up. "Interesting, it says here she was an ace pilot during the war. She is experienced and feared" he mused frankly, as though he was considering her strengths and weaknesses. "But her family didn't approve of her joining Zeon."
Noting the uneasiness in the man's voice the softly spoken person asked "why is that" in surprise?
"Because she is from Riah, Chairman, her family were outspoken critics of the Principality before the war" the fluid man explained sternly. "Especially her brother as he is a keen Federation loyalist and dedicated pilot."
"Yes, but this other Shepard, her twin, he is also a possible candidate." A third voice nearly shouted boldly, the force of his personality pushing the others back, as he descends into a rant. "His leadership of a successful break out from a Zeon PoW-camp caught my eye. He is the kind of man that can adapt to a situation and lead men into battle. Even if he is a Feddie he is to be admired," he added distastefully despite his obvious praise.
"His sister though successfully took out an entire enemy base single headedly and managed to eliminate ten mobile suits before their pilots could even reach them."
"I question her mental stability though," said a fourth, far more gravelly voice. "At Torfan she butchered the enemy combatants and endangered the lives of her men. All things considered her brother's ability to defend Elysium alone proves his leadership and courage over hers."
"She is ruthless I will give her that much," the second voice countered. "But she has shown time and time again that she gets the job done, we need that."
"At what cost?" the gravelly voice asked once more.
However the soft tone finally returned swiftly cutting off any argument. "Enough" he cried. "We will take them both. If you think they can work together?" he asked.
"They need to work together" the fluid man claimed; "otherwise if we can't trust our own family the Alliance is doomed." talking in a way which conveyed deeply held beliefs behind every word.
"I will make the call" the first voice stated causing a murmur of agreement from the gathered men.
In the year U.C. 79 alien visitors using faster than light technology stumbled upon humanity locked in a devastating conflict and brokered peace. Three years following the horrific war mankind's factions gained access to new technologies and have since spread to the stars, bringing with them their war machines and prejudices. Together this new species has upset the existing terms of strategic warfare with their new weapons shifting both galactic politics and strategy.
The races of the galaxy call it the greatest military refit in Citadel history.
Humanity calls it…
A mobile suit.
Marching through the Normandy always left Shepard in a slight sense of awe; the young dark skinned human male could hardly tell this brand new warship was human as he stared around it with his dark warm eyes. The way its halls curved organically overhead and the artificial gravity under his feet always kept him firmly on the ground was a stark contrast to the Columbus-class transports he had served on back in the war. It was brightly lit and had wide open areas, with a crew barely numbering over fifty, unlike the narrow corridors where he and his old squad mates were forced to live uncomfortably on top of one another. The fact that the halls and floors were either padded or covered in a plate form of durable ceramic, rather than sheet metal, still slightly shook him: it was so different, so alien, yet oddly calming. But as he determinedly made his way through the so called CIC, he couldn't help but wonder why the helm and the bridge were so far apart. Still despite its calming nature for some reason the large room unnerved him. Maybe he was just used to confined spaces like his cockpit, he mused.
As he marched up the steps into the long hall that connected the bridge to the CIC, he noted the twelve computer terminals flanking both sides where data analysis, communication crews, damage control and similar duties were all crammed painfully into eight by twelve meter corridor. Indeed the fact this new ship, the Normandy, had such a small crew was another thing that amazed him, it truly was a marvel of engineering, even if it freaked the hell out of him how few people there were on-board from time to time.
As he got half way he could hear over the intercom the voice of the ships helmsmen run through the final pre-flight checks.
"Arcturus relay is in range. Calculating transit mass and destination… all boards are green" he announced sternly as he began the countdown. "Hitting the relay in three… two… one!"
Suddenly Shepard felt an unpleasant sense of vertigo as the decks beneath him shook ever so slightly. He had been told by the engineers that this was the ships 'miracle device' an element zero core that was shifting the crafts mass when it was caught in the Mass Relay's tunnel of zero gravity space or entering faster than light travel. The physics of it still bent his brain somewhat and he didn't know why but every time he went through a 'FTL jump' he felt yesterday's lunch decide to make a return trip up from his stomach. Rubbing his belly and pressing down his plain white normal suit he reached the end of the hall and walked onto the rather compact bridge right into a rather grumpy and alien face.
Nihlus they called him, he was a member of the alien race called the Turian's and he had been dispatched by the Citadel Council to oversee the Normandy's first active shakedown run. He had an avian appearance with hard facial plates and scally blackish brown skin with thick quills sweeping back into a long decorative crest. But for reason like all his kind his red black armour possessed high collar around his neck , a collar that Shepard realised how heavy it was when it hit him in the chest as the alien barged into him to force him aside.
Rubbing himself where he had been hit on his standard issue normal suit Shepard sighed as he tried to get over the shock of seeing the humanoid creature so far removed from what he had expected an alien to look like. Letting the shock pass quickly he entered the bridge and into what was obviously an argument.
"Listen if you remember to zip up your jumpsuit after you take a leak that's good: I just jumped us half way across the galaxy and hit a target the size of Revil's ball. So that's incredible. Plus he is from the council so he has to be up to something" the pilot was saying in a cocky manner as he moved the holographic screens that made up his displays with his gloved hands. "Call me paranoid."
"You're paranoid" replied a man in black hair beside him, a man named Kaiden Alenko, a good man and even better pilot, "the Normandy is a Zeon, Federation and Council initiative they have a right to have someone on board to keep an eye on their investment."
Shepard weakly sighed. This had been the frequent topic of discussion on the Normandy since it had left the Arcturus dockyards five hours ago. He had overheard around several of the crew debate the topic of why an alien was on an Alliance warship. In Shepard's personal view Kaidan's point made perfect sense of course, but it still didn't stop the rampant speculation of the scuttlebutt coming out with all sorts of frantic theories, or snide remarks.
"Or to stop you Feddies from ripping us Zeons a new one," the pilot stated darkly causing a young blonde man to the left of helmsmen, to twitch his mouth up into a smile.
'And there it is.' Shepard thought rolling his eyes, their pilots infamous sense of humour and more importantly the rampant casual racism that was getting the Commander's blood to boil. It was testament to Kaidans ability to stay cool that he did not react to the subtle jab at him or the recently arrived Commander: merely voicing his dismay with a saddened face and disappointed remark as he got back to work. "Rather hash."
"Simmer down Joker," a familiarly cool and crisp female voice ordered: one that had caused Shepard's blood to run cold. A woman with piercing black eyes, dark skin almost identical to his and shoulder length purple hair and a long scar snaking down her left cheek and over her lip strode slowly onto the bridge. "Oliver stow that smirk," she barked again "remember we have to be the ones to set the example" announcing her orders in a smug manner glancing at Kaiden as she tightly grasped the helmet of her deep purple normal suit close to her chest.
Shepard instinctively bit his lip as he was overcome by an all-consuming wish of being anywhere else but here right now. The woman beside him drove him mad, and not in a good way like the girls back home, no this woman legitimately made him see red all to often. If he had known she would be here he would likely never have taken the post. '
Still' Shepard lamented, as he absently adjusted his form fitting gloves, if he had to work with her he might as well being the one to make the attempt.
"Commander Shepard," he sternly said to the woman on his left, not even daring to look her in the eye as he spoke, absently slicking back his hair.
"Commander Shepard," came an even stiffer reply from the purple haired women, whose head turned away ever so slightly from the man beside her.
The three men sitting at the front of the bridge looked over their shoulders at this peculiar site as their two superior officers stood awkwardly away from each other.
"O-okay," Joker managed to say to the incredibly awkward situation, before turning back to his control board only to jump as a message suddenly came up through the intercom.
A serious professional voice that could only belong to a lifelong officer barked through catching everyone in the room off guard. "Joker, status report!"
Despite Joker's loud mouth he gave an immediate response. "All boards are green Captain Anderson. We have just cleared the mass relay and stealth systems will come online shortly."
The Captains sharp tone still remained as stoic as ever as he gave orders. "Good find us a comm buoy and link us into the network I want mission reports relayed back to the Alliance before we reach Eden Prime."
"Yes Sir," Joker snorted with a clear tone of mocking sarcasm, "also better brace yourself our mutual alien inspector is heading your way."
"He is already here," Anderson answered his tone darkening: "have Shin and the Commanders meet me in the conference room. Anderson out."
"I think you pissed him off," Oliver commented casually.
"Yeah well he is a Feddie," Joker said frustratingly shaking his head "he always sounds pissed when he talks to any Spacenoid."
"Stow that tone Joker." The Shepards chastised together in perfect unison causing the two of them to glare angrily at each other with bitter hatred.
No audible words passed between them, at least any that the three other bridge crew could see: but when the female Shepard spat on his normal suit and then stormed off they all stared at the remaining pilot who was glowering at her back.
Joker pulled as face as he watched this scene unfold before looking up at the remaining Shepard. "So-o" he began slowly, elongating his words as he spoke with hesitation "Are you two related Kane?"
Not in the mood to entertain him Kane Shepard gave the frank and truthful response.
"Yes, She's my twin."
Commander Shepard. Commander Victoria Shepard: The Butcher of Torfan, Residue, Vic Psycho, she had heard all the names, but now having to share the only title she liked. She had been proud when she had been promoted to Commander and recommended for the Alliance rapid deployment squadron, and the fact 'he' was here, it made her blood boil. 'How did anyone as soft as him get anywhere in the military,' she thought angrily as she made her way down the steps and into the CIC?
Unlike most of the crew the large CIC didn't really unnerve Victoria. Instead she found it practical, and in truth the more space on a ship the further she could be away from her backstabbing excuse for a brother. But as she crossed the deck Victoria's footsteps began to get heavier, each angry thought of her brother made her gut tighten causing that familiar numbing feeling beginning to overtake her. Falling forward slightly she grabbed onto the A shaped console at the centre of the room, she stared up at the holographic map that hovered a few feet above her head and took a moment to compose herself.
'The stars were really quite beautiful' she smiled pulling herself back onto her feet and looking around: thankfully no one had noticed her fall. Taking one deep breath she broke back into her determined stride.
Or she would have.
She only got in three steps before Victoria found herself being blocked by a rather angry face.
"Commander Shepard isn't it," the man asked, holding a data pad in one hand as he hovered between her and a second man who was overseeing one of the navigation terminals.
Taken aback Victoria was unsure how to respond, but as she read the man with his well-groomed blondish hair but thick podgy build, her expression faltered as she realised he was one of the Federation crew members. Needless to say she was not in the mood.
"Yes," she asked for the sake of regulation?
Taken aback by her rather blunt tone, the middle aged man pulled an expression which seemed to indicate both his surprise at her rather hash tone, and his equal contempt that she dare speak to him in that way. Nonetheless he tried to bury the flash of annoyance with a twisted smile, although the attempt merely made Victoria roll her eyes.
"As the head mechanic of all Federation machines on-board I would very much like to see if I could have a look at your machine Commander Shepard… I have always wanted to look at a kamp…"
"No." The man pulled a face at Shepard's remark and looked as though he was going to snap at her.
Thankfully she was saved the trouble as the man hovering behind the insufferable Federation Mechanic was Pressly.
"Let it go," the ageing navigator stated in a tired exhausted tone, uncharacteristic of him, "I already told you, Major Matsunaga is the officer you want, he is the only person on board who can authorise your request so give it a rest Franklin."
Rounding on Pressly the head mechanic now waggled a finger at him causing both Presley and Shepard to exchange exasperated glances. "That's Bidan to you!"
"Why you!"
The conversation quickly descended into a rant between the two officers, both of whom were claiming seniority and clashing over Zeon and Federation procedure. Bidan was quoting the federation regulations from memory and was pointing out how it was absurd that he as a head mechanic should not be allowed access to all the machines. Pressly meanwhile while on the back foot was glowering more and more at the tubby shorter man claiming that the Alliance regulations made it clear that such actions had to be approved by the highest ranked officer of the respective faction on a ship. A fact that Bidan called stupidly complicated: to which Presley insisted was necessary for state security.
Shepard however could only sigh. This was not something she needed. Causing that same nagging feeling to well up in her again, especially as she caught the other Shepard walking past.
Getting herself together she turned to go only for Bidan to round on her again. "Well Commander" he demanded sternly, "can you talk to the Major for me? If we are to work together we should… share our resources."
Snorting, she stormed across the rest of the CIC, barging past her brother, and towards the door to the conference room: spitting over her shoulder. "Yeah that's a rosy idea, but would you Feddies really allow us to looks at those GM's you have downstairs while we are at it?"
Bidan however was not one to give up and rushed after her, slamming into the male Shepard's shoulder.
"Well of course," he exclaimed in a more positive manner "it's fairly simple technology."
"And if you had a Gundam?"
"Erm…"
Kane Shepard had reluctantly dragged himself out of bridge and after his sister, having crossed the CIC and walked past her where Bidan was hassling her over some regulations, in a few seconds. He had decided early on that he liked the idea of sharing resources as it had plenty of benefits, and he supported the technicians working together even if Bidan did come on a little strong with his view. But there was no denning he knew his stuff.
Reaching the panelled wall that separated from the conference room he found his way blocked by two people standing there and chatting. Smiling to himself he recognised both of them. One of them was Shepard's a subordinate, although Shepard preferred the word squad mate, with a beret and light brown skin, wearing the Alliances new blue uniform that nearly everyone on the ship was wearing. A real fusion of Zeon more form fitting space suits and the federation pocket happy dress uniform. The other person was a fair, but ageing women in the new skin tight grey white doctor's uniform, a person he had gotten to know quite well over the years.
He greeted them both the only way he knew how.
"Corporal Jenkins, Dr Chackwas," he greeted.
As he got closer the two turned and smiled at him greeting him in the same way, with Chackwas merely nodding and Jenkin's giving a rushed salute: but both saying the same thing "Commander" with the utmost respect.
Jenkin's as usual was chomping at the bit and seemed more excited than usual "hey Commander, you don't think we'll be at Eden Prime to long I am itching for some real action?"
Chackwas merely gave a dry retort to this: "I sincerely hope you're kidding Corporal, your idea of 'real action' usually ends with you in the med bay while I fend off the Mechanic's trying to murder you because of the repairs you make them do."
Jenkin's rubbed the back of his neck, but rather then smiling he seemed to have something else on his mind. "Yeah well… thanks Doc. Still it will be fun to see my family, my mother moved out there after the war."
Shepard nodded in agreement. Many people's families had left earth in the last three years. But he quickly realised Jenkin's seemed more on edge than usual, almost unusually high strung. "You seem a little tense Jenkins, is something the matter?"
Jenkins shifted slightly at his Commander's direct if slightly caring tone as he glanced cautiously over at Chackwas who merely rolled his eyes at him and his rather nervous expression. It was uncharacteristic for him as out of most of the post war pilots that Shepard had worked with he was unusually upbeat, so to see him acting cautiously or scared was soothing different. But after glancing around for a few second he leaned towards his officer and whispered, "it's that alien Commander, Nihlus … I have been reading and well he is pretty open that he is a Spectre" saying this as though it was of some form of significance.
"And that is?"
"He can make anyone, anything disappear. He is an elite operative of the Council, with their complete support and deniability on all actions."
Shepard frowned. For some reason that sounded a little too farfetched, who would trust someone with that much power? However considering humanities sudden introduction to the galactic community meant there was a lot he didn't really know.
Turning to Chackwas he asked for reassurance "is that true?"
Shrugging Chackwas merely gave the best answer she could: "as far as I understand yes. From what I have heard they are a shadow organisation given extra judicial power by the Citadel to maintain galactic peace. They deal with threats that are beyond the Council's standard services to target and have near limitless resources… apparently." Shepard nodded as he digested what his friend said. It all sounded very impressive, but Chackwas tone however seemed to indicate that she didn't believe it, and to be honest neither did Shepard: to put that much trust in a single operative was suicide, considering it only took one bad move to end a person's life it was a power no one should really have. If they weren't exaggerating of course.
Jenkin's however still seemed on edge and said so: "protect it at any cost Doc, don't forget that! He could shoot me if I did so much as take drugs or something like that."
"I'd watch what you say Jenkin's around the ship," Chackwas said raising her hand to hush him "if Shin heard you talking like that you would be in the brig for investigation, joke or not."
Jenkin's gave a sarcastic snort, "heh well those Zeon guys were always wound a little too tightly. Still don't know why we are taking orders from him?"
Shepard decided it was time to put his foot down. "Alright simmer down Corporal, we are currently an Alliance Unit, if you didn't like working with Zeeks you shouldn't have volunteered." Frowning at Jenkins he bared himself up to his full impressive height and glowered down at the man, before suddenly changing to a more calm and respectful tone. "Plus Major Shin Matsunaga has been more than accommodating to us to enforce some Federation regulations."
Nodding Jenkin's agreed "sorry commander I'm just really nervous right now, I think with my gun more than… well you know how that phrase goes." His smile began to reach from ear to ear as he bobbed excitedly, "I'll try to watch what I say around Shin from now on."
Still there was something on his mind, something nagging at the back of his head, and without warning Shepard heard it come out, "so Commander what's your deal with the purple haired Zeek anyway?"
Shepard felt his whole body go ridged. 'So much for encouraging cooperation' he thought bitterly, as he looked around for an excuse to get away. He did briefly reminding himself that he could just tell Jenkin's it was none of his business, but that wasn't Shepard's style: Mother had always told him to be nice to his twin, still as he saw the same purple haired Zeon pilot walk past with the same eyes as him he took a step back.
"Excuse me," he said seriously as he marched after her.
"What the heck was that" Jenkin's asked dumfounded turning to Chackwas.
"No idea" Chackwas shrugged. A faint smile coming to her lips.
"What?"
"So your middle name is Leroy?"
"Yeah so?"
"Victoria," the male Shepard hissed grabbing the women's Arm and pulling her towards him and forcing her against the wall so she could not escape.
"Kane," came the serious, no-nonsense reply, her dark black eyes glaring back at him.
The male Shepard shifted uncomfortably on hearing his name: it was hard to hear something which she used to say with such affection come across so bitter. "Listen sis, I know you are not pleased about this after what happened but we are working for the alliance so we need to get past what we did and…"
"What you said," a deadpanned Victoria said flatly. At the same time as Franklin Bidan coming round the corner that second, with his trademark sickening smile.
"Excuse me sir, me and the Zee… Commander were just..."
Kane forced the large blonde man aside easily with one arm, not even bothering to look at him as he glared at Victoria.
"Stay out of this please" he said with a stern voice
Victoria's eyes narrowed, her expression blank, but her cold dark eyes looking at Kane's at the exact same level. She didn't say anything, but for Kane she didn't need to.
"Please Victoria, sis, I am sorry for what I said... but if we are going to…"
Franklin Bidan however was not giving up so easily. He grabbed Kane Shepard's shoulder and tried to pull the much taller man off his equally tall sister. His angry podgy face was growing redder and redder as he tugs did little but cause Kane to swat his arms away.
"Commander Shep… Kane, this is most unprofessional I demand that I be allowed to talk to the Zeek now, she has to authorise me to see her Mobile Suit."
Both of the twin's heads turned to face Bidan. Both of them were clearly angry, but each of them had a different kind of discontent towards the Mobile Suit Mechanic. Kane was more of an annoyed and upset appearance of a person who had been interrupted in something very important. Victoria's expression however could boil Gundanium.
"My name is Victoria, Alexandrina Shepard you jingoistic Feddie fuck," she roared at him breaking free of her brothers grip and raising her fist to whack the annoyingly persistent man. Kane however tried hastily to try and grab his sister again but froze instantly as a deep booming voice cut through the scene.
"Enough!"
The three figures froze on hearing the voice, Kane dropping his sister and Victoria snapping her arm back to her side as if she hadn't been doing anything. Slowly both of them, Bidan included, glanced towards the strong but commanding presence.
"You are members of this Alliance's military act like it" stated the tall human man with a well-groomed beard and blue black hair. Marching towards them the figure, like most of the Normandy's personal, were mildly shorter than the Shepard's but with every step he carried himself with the gravitas of someone who was wise beyond his years, and skilled beyond measure. Indeed as Kane could feel a touch of nervousness as he looked at the commanding officers unnaturally clean and white normal suit.
Both Shepard's saluted the man in sink, instantly falling into a perfect line as he strode past them towards Franklin Bidan.
"Sir yes sir," they cried. The man however simply moved past them and bent down a little to look the mobile suit mechanic in the eye.
"Don't you have vital work that needs doing," he asked in a very matter of fact tone, one of his blue black eyebrows rising as he inspected the blonde man.
"Major Matsunaga I was hoping that you could…"
"No," his flat tone radiating all of his apathetic feelings for Franklin's ideas in a single word.
Straightening up and turning his back on his two subordinates he nodded at them and motioned them to follow. Franklin momentarily stunned by his dashed efforts took a second to realise what he was seeing. Realising it was all over, for now, he hurried back around the screen only to bump into three rather confused deck officers, Pressly and Dr. Chackwas who had all been listening intently to what had transpired. He got a few glares from the Zeon crew members as he made his way to the lower decks.
Major Matsunaga however seemed to have dropped the issue for now and beyond a choice statement of: "Let that be the final blow you two have against one another. I want to see better team work in the future." He hardly said anything else to two of them as they entered the conference room. Still the two Shepard's eyes swerved and narrowed as they gave each other a mutual expression of dislike.
It was not over, far from it.
The conference room was a well-padded oval shaped area, making it feel like you were standing inside the interior of a grey padded egg. Eight seats were arrayed around the room and a holographic terminal stood way at the back away from the entrance. The holo terminal was being used, portraying a picture of an idealistic sunset, and viewing the picture was Nihlus.
"Ah Major Matsunaga I hoped we would have time to talk before we reached Eden Prime… and the Shepard's as well, good," he said with the familiar echo like speech of the Turian's.
"Nihlus…" the major asked taking a position near the centre of the room, "I thought the Captain called us?"
Nihlus slowly turned away from the screen and began to move towards the three humans, "he will be here soon; it will give us time to talk."
Still despite trying to sound casual, the stiffness of how he spoke showed his deep military nature. And it sent alarm bells off in the back of the female Shepard's mid. "About what" Victoria said suddenly tilting her dyed head as she looked the Turian up and down, trying to get the measure of him.
"Eden Prime, this planet we are going to… I hear it's quite beautiful, I would like to know more about it?"
"Can't say," Victoria said frankly as if it was nothing "I have never been. Kane?"
Taken aback Kane was not expecting his sister to actually address him by his first name. "Um… well it's one of our more progressive colonies, primarily focused with producing crops to deal with the post war food shortages on earth, created by the heavy climate changes brought…" Kane stopped himself realising he was going to bring up the colony drop of Operation British; he bit his tongue and continued. "Brought about by the heavy fighting."
Shin looked over his shoulder, his expression remained blank but his eyes seemed a little less stern.
Nihlus however either didn't notice or didn't care about his choice in words and continued as he usually did "yes, it has become somewhat of a symbol for your species hasn't it. A conjoined effort by your Zeon and Federation forces to work together." His reptilian green eyes lingered on both the Shepard's as he talked. "I can admire that."
"Admire?" Asked Kane in surprise, causing Shin to glance at him with his expressionless face.
"Yes, your species may be newcomers but you have made quite an impact: your weapons of war have been highly sought after if I am not mistaken, despite their obvious critics. But still the galaxy can be a very dangerous place." That last sentence seemed to hang in the air, creating an unsettling feeling in the gathered human, the Turian's rigidity always catching them off guard.
Shin however had finally decided to join the conversation. "Is that a statement or a threat?"
Shin's straight to the point attitude caused the ridge of the Truian's fore head to rise up in a similar place to where a human eyebrow would be, the mandibles which covered the gaps between his upper and lower jaw parted in some undecipherable alien gesture. Victoria didn't like it, especially since he was being so coy.
Suddenly aware of the sound of footfalls from behind the three humans glanced back at a short haired, dark skinned human male walking in, dressed in a dark, leather like gold and blue uniform. He looked the part of a man leaving the prime of his youth, but none the less carried himself with the position of a man who knew command. Instantly Kane and Shin's arms rose to salute, Victoria's following only a second later as the brother and sister both said out the same words. "Captain on deck." Then once again glowered distastefully at each other.
"That's quite all right" the Captain said waving his hand for the three of them to be at ease, "I think it's about time we told you what is really going on."
Nihlus nodded in agreement his tone changing from coy to business orientated "this mission is far more than a simple shakedown run."
"That was obvious" Victoria said with a sly smile, while Kane remained respectfully quiet.
"We are making a covert pick up on Eden Prime, colony expansion has found something big," Anderson explained raising his hands to emphasises the seriousness of the situation. "That's why we need the Normandy and its stealth systems." He said in the same to the point, straight to business tone he always carried.
Shin too adopted this formal tone as he asked the all-important question. "What is the cargo?
"A Prothean beacon" Nihlus explained, "made by the same people who built the data cache our explorers were looking for when we stumbled across your species. The same species nearly all galactic technology is built off of."
"Didn't they die out like 50,000 years ago," Victoria asked rather abruptly "what's the hell a thing like that doing on Eden Prime?"
Shaking his head Anderson could only shrug as he replied "we are not sure but that's something for the archaeologists to work out. All that matters is getting that beacon."
"The Normandy's controlled Minosky effect and stealth drives should allow us to touch down on the planet without picking up to much attention from there we transfer it to the Citadel and your Alliance gets in the good books with the Council." Nihlus said with a little more cock sure attitude than seemed reasonable.
"And why is that important?" Kane wasn't sure why but there was something strange abut all of this. "And wouldn't it be more practical to use the joint defence fleet to escort the beacon?"
Anderson shook his head "we need this done quietly Shepard otherwise either Zeon or the Federation will claim responsibility for finding the beacon. I understand it upsets you Shepard" the captain said raising his hand to stop Kane blurting out "but the fact of the matter is the Alliance needs this, both Zeon and the Federation are on the brink of casting off the Alliance altogether. They have infringed directly on colonial assets and are carving them up."
"And if your species looks set for another civil war the Citadel will be forced to step in," the Turian stated the way he talked becoming more and more ominous.
"And that will result in a bigger war, yada, yada, yada," sighed Victoria bitterly, clearly annoyed at being left in the dark.
Nihlus however did not seem to find her dismissive remarks of conflict funny in the slightest. "I think you fail to understand the gravity of the situation" the Turan aid stated getting closer to the purple haired pilot: "The Citadel will force your race into economic and political isolation and let you wither and die. It doesn't need to fire a shot to break you. But as much as it may not seem like it the Citadel does want your Alliance to succeed."
"And what if I said Seig Zeon," Victoria said with a grin squaring up to the Spectre. "I am Zeon through and through."
"Enough" Shin barked causing Shepard to back down out of instinct, "I love Zeon to Victoria but getting into needless battles will just cripple us, the Captain and Nihlus are right."
Nodding again Anderson went to stand between Victoria and Nihlus "the Alliance needs this, by securing the beacon we can prove our effectiveness and legitimacy, if we can do that we can represent both Zeon," he pointed at Victoria "and Federation" and then at Kane, in equal measure, allowing the tension that had been building up to relax.
"Rosy ideals," Victoria spat bitterly.
At this Kane snapped. "Oh will you give it a rest already." taking a few steps towards her only for him to be blocked by the imposing force of the Major. Anderson tried to protest, and Nihlus just stood back to watch.
Suddenly Joker's voice came over the coms "Sir incoming message for Eden Prime" causing Anderson to order it to be patched through.
And suddenly the idyllic image of Eden Prime was gone and in its place was the noise of gun fire and explosions. The frame now showed a mobile suit heads up display, somehow patched into a comm buoy grid, which showed the planet burning. The small green trees and rolling hills were covered in craters and the fields of crops were here and their sprouting small independent fires. Mobile suits both Zeon and Federation were running into view, side by side, as streaks of blue light flew all around them. A white pink Zaku could be seen on the screen briefly a strong women's voice trying to give a frantic explanation: "We are under attack taking heavy casualties heavy..." and explosion shook the women's signal as she went flying "they came out of nowhere" she managed to say before her mobile suits chest erupted in supernova of charred serrated metal and its shattered remains of its magnetic frame. The force of the mobile suits explosion threw whoever was filming the scene mobile suit off its feat and to stare up into the sky.
A deep blood red cloud filled the sky, as meteors seemed to be raining from the sky, with flashes of dark red lightning crackling into and out of existence. And at the centre of it all was the outline of what looked like a colossal hand stretching out to grab the ground.
The pilot got his mobile suit to his feet and looked around at the wreckage: the Normandy's spectators observed the figure grabbing his machine gun and enter into a slow jog as he moved away from what the camera's had shown to be a complete bloodbath.
"This is Ensign Bernard Wiseman… they're all dead, I am all that's left… I… send help…"
And with that the signal went dead, only the crackle of static as whoever was attacking jammed or destroyed the source.
For a moment the gathered soldiers in the conference room merely stared at the static which was on screen. Nihlus seemed to be the most shocked, or was it intrigued, Kane still couldn't tell. But this nervous hesitation did not last as he soon turned to Captain Anderson who dolled out the orders like a conveyer belt.
"Joker ETA!"
"About 6 minutes out, and unless Eden's defence fleet is still intact we are the only Alliance, Federal or Zeon ships in the area."
"Right get us there in four. Shin, Shepard and Shepard get down to the launch bay and tell Oliver and Franklin to start up the Rang conveyer and get the suits ready I want standard teams on the ground as soon as we enter drop levels. Kane get Jenkins, Christie, and Kaiden ready. Victoria gather Crown and head down to the launch bay. Major your with me we need a strategy.
"Anderson get my suit ready as well, I am going down too." Nihlus said in a deadly whisper as he marched to the door with the two Shepards, "this is not a coincidence."
Codex
Humanity
The most recent species to join the galactic community after the Council brokered a ceasefire to a large scale civil war. Humanity have become well known for their industrious ability, building six Kilometre long space colonies and massive walking war machines known as Mobile Suits all prior to the introduction of Element Zero technology.
Despite their recent arrival to the galactic scene humanity have received significant attention due to their early successes in the colonisation of the hostile of the Attican Traverse and stronger of average military. Having only recently coming out of a war which resulted in up to half of their population being decimated their ability to fight back despite the challenges faced has earned them recognition across the galaxy.
Humanities society is still heavily divided from the results of the War of C.E. 2179, polarised between the two major factions of the conflict, the Earth Federation and Kingdom of Zeon. United officially under the Alliance, Humanity has taken to the stars and has attempted to show a united front, but internal political infighting has hampered their growth despite them earning a string of early military successes.
Timeline
U.C. 79 September 10th: The research vessel the Lucen enters the Sol system following an incomplete map to a supposed Prothean data cash. The map unfortunately was corrupted and the exact planet of its origin forces the crew of the Lucen to begin scanning for clear signs of advanced technology throughout the system.
U. C. 79 September 11th: The Lucen discovers the Charon relay, and leaves it inactive. The crew notice significant background noise while scanning, it is initially put down to a mechanical malfunction.
U. C. 79 September 12th: The Lucen crew begin to notice that the incoming static that had been picking up was actually primitive radios waves.
U.C. 79 September 14th: 10:12: After contacting the Citadel, the crew of the Lucen is given the green light to investigate the possibility of advanced life in the solar system. They follow the signal to its strongest point, the third planet from the sun.
U.C. 79 September 14th: 15:51: A Principality of Zeon cargo ship from Axis detects an unknown object while entering the outskirts of the Earth sphere. They attempt to investigate but the object moves beyond their effective radar range. Their report is put down to a mechanical error, but a routine diagnostic detects no issue.
U.C. 79 September 14th: 17:41: A Federation patrol near Luna 2 spots an unknown ship off its starboard bow, attempts to dispatch fighters to pursue, but are quickly called off as the ship rapidly moves out of range. The Report
U.C. 79 September 14th: 18:51: The crew of the Lucen decides to recover some debris and computer wreckage from the war that is floating around the solar system, due to their scanning equipment suddenly crashing due to unknown means. During the salvage operation the crew recover two human pilots: Jon Grissom from the Earth Federation and Jack Harper from the Principality from Zeon.
U.C. 79 September 15th: The Citadel Council okay a melding by two of the Asari crew mates to develop an understanding, while the crew attempt to reverse engineer the language from recovered equipment: the event leads to both pilots reacting violently and are detained however valuable date was gained bot from the Asari and tech crew.
U.C. 79 September 18th: By cross referencing gathered data and the limited understanding from the melding the crew are able to establish a rough translation device. The attempts to communicate with the human crew has a more positive result.
U.C. 79: September 18th: The White base arrives at Side 7, and project V is discovered by Char Aznable. The events of Mobile Suit Gundam begin.
U.C. 79 September 19th: Deciding to open relations with the more dominant space faring faction of the conflict first the Lucen crew stage a few appearances along beaten Zeon supply roots before making contact with the lightly armoured ship the Jotunheim. Initially the Zeon commander in chief Gihren Zabi dismisses the report as a miscommunication, but after a prolific jump into the Solomon defence grid and sending a direct contact request through, the commanding officer Admiral Dozle Zabi, while initially shocked, opens direct communication with the research team.
U.C. 79: September 20th: The next day the crew of the Lucen open communication with the Earth Federation by jumping to Luna II and playing a roughly translated greeting. The message is immediately passed onto general Revil. Meanwhile the crew of the Lucen are tasked by the Citadel to gather information on the species while holding small scale talks with both parties for the next month until an official diplomatic mission can arrive.
U.C. 79 September 21st: a Federation delegation is despatched to meet with the crew of the Lucen, the Principality do the same.
U.C. 79 September 22rd: Char Aznable is forced to return from the front and reinforce the security of the Zeon delegation. Despite his protests he is forced to give up his chase for the White base.
U.C. 79 September 24th: The Diplomatic groups meet the Lucen at the same time, with the Asari crew members acting as mediators: the pilots Jon Grissom and Jack Harper are returned to their respective sides.
U.C. 79 September 25th: The diplomatic teams are moved to the Riah Republic, and humanities introduction into the Galactic community begins.
U.C. 79 September 30th: A fight breaks out between Zeon and Federation officials and Riah forces and forced to separate the two. The crew of the Lucen only look on in horror as the days meeting descends into a row.
U.C October 8th Garma Zabi is forced to give up the chase on the 'Trojan horse' after mounting losses and the crew escaping over the Pacific Ocean.
U.C 79 October 22nd: The Citadel official delegation arrives in the Earth sphere and meet up with the crew of the Lucen.
U.C. 79 October 23rd: The first offical meetings between humanity and the Citadel are held.
U.C. 79 October 25th: A incident occurs when the Hanar portion of the delegation walk up and leave mid-way through a speech made by a Zeon diplomat, who advocated Spacenoid supremacy over Earthnoids. The Scandal is met with extreme anger from the Zeon delegation, although the Hanar refuse to apologise to 'mass murdering barbarian's.'
U.C. 79 October 26th: The leader of the Hanar delegation is dismissed and the Asari delegation apologise to Zeon representatives on behalf of the Hanar. They also offer the Zeon tours of a security warship they brought with them, leading to long talks between the two parties. During the same day the same Zeon delegate who gave the speech was recalled to Side 3 by Gihren Zabi himself.
U.C 79 October 28th: Garma Zabi is despatched by his father from Earth by his father to oversee the important delegation at Riah, amid fears that Gihren's appointed officials are upsetting the Citadel representatives.
U.C. 79 November 1st: The Salarian representatives arrange secret backroom deals on their ships for Zeon and Federation more representatives to meet: Garma Zabi attends and the talks quickly move towards mutually agreed upon peace. However issues are raised over the causes of the war, and ways of elevating resource issues.
U.C. 79 November 4th: Wishing to see how humanity conducts warfare, Turian and Salarian representatives are taken to earth by Zeon forces for a field demonstration. Federation officials protest this, but reject a counter suggestion that they give the same delegates a tour of Luna II. The Turian's are taken down to Earth via Zanzibar and are secretly moved to the most secure Zeon location on Earth, Odessa. It is said the Turian officials laughed at the first Mobile Suit they saw, wondering how anything that large was practical.
U.C. 79 November 7th-10th: Taking advantage of mounting losses created by the White Base, the Earth Federation launches a massive attack against Odessa at the black sea. Fighting is fierce and Garma Zabi manages to coordinate a well-orchestrated defence, however is ultimately ground down under huge numbers. Garma Zabi takes to the field in his own mobile suit to ensure the escape of Turian officials via HLV, and thankfully escapes. However due to Zeon being unable to guard their evacuation of the region, the Zeon retreat rapidly turns into a rout and thousands of soldiers are captured.
U.C. 79 November 12th: To apologise for the incident at Odessa, Federation concede for the Turian officials to tour Luna II.
U.C. 79 November 16th: In secret Garma Zabi proposes the idea of peace to his father, who encourages his son to peruse the idea: and is intrigued by Salarian offers of colony worlds outside of the Sol system. At the same time the Federation civilian government begins private talks over peace, with terms being settled by the Citadel council.
U.C. 79 November 18th: The civilian government of the Federation begins secret talks with Salarian and Asari ambassadors on Riah amid the promises off world business, colonisation and economic opportunities.
U.C. 79 November 28th: Using data collected during their time in the Sol system the crew of the Lucen, under orders from the Citadel defence forces, activate the Charon relay connecting Sol to the Mass Relay network.
U.C. 79 November 29th: The battle of Jaburo begins, ending in a decisive Federation victory.
U.C. 79 December 2nd: The crew of the white base meet Citadel representatives of Riah. Captain Bright is asked for his personal opinion on the war, which he declines to comment on.
U.C. 79 December 5th November: The crew of the white base engage with Zeon forces outside of Riah's neutral zone. The fighting is observed by Citadel delegates, and is heavily criticised. Asari politicians quickly raise the issue publically for the need for peace and species wide unity if humanity is to ever be accepted into the galactic community. The Asari's speech gains widespread approval across the Earth Sphere.
U.C. 79 December 6th November: A leak in the Citadel reveals humanities discovery to the galactic community, leading to pressure for information by the news networks. Despite the sudden flurry of activity, and the knowledge that a Citadel delegation were meeting with the 'factions of the Earth sphere' there was a total absence of information on humanity: leading to demand for more.
U.C. 79 December 7th: In an address to the people of Earth the Citadel delegation begged them to lay down their weapons, for the galactic community
U.C. 79 December 8th: While public support swings in favour of peace, the Federation and military leaderships grow cold towards the Citadel delegations. Gihren Zabi gives his famous Seig Zeon speech, mere hours later and the Federation military petitions the civilian government to pull its delegation from talks on Riah. To counteract this the civilian governments of Zeon, Riah and the federation appeal to the Citadel Council to intervene in the One Year War, amid fears of it spiralling out of control. The request is rejected.
U.C. 79 November 12th: Senior Salarian Ambassador Valern returns from earth to the Citadel to reinforce the need for Citadel intervention, stressing the 'numerous advantages' peace in the Earth Sphere would have not only for Humanity, but the Citadel as well.
U.C. November 13th: 13:20: Citadel approves an intervention taskforce to the Sol system to secure peace, but only if talks break down. They also open a press release on the limited knowledge of humanity. It becomes the first mention of mobile suits on the galactic stage.
U.C. 79 December 13th: 18:00: Operation Cemballo begins. The Federation military push up the timetable amid fears of the growing peace movement, and begin a day earlier than expected. They begin a policy of 'ending the war by Christmas,' and surge towards Solomon.
U.C. 79 December 14th: Operation Rubicon is launched.
U.C. 79 December 18th: The civilian government of Earth and Zeon representatives begin to form a treaty with the approval of Degwin Zabi, in secret. The negotiations are overseen by the Citadel, and they introduce policies to the treaty to help with humanities 'integration into the galactic community.'
U.C. 79 December 21st: General Revil refuses to postpone the assault on Solomon at the request of the civilian government. He is famous for waving at one of his subordinates to cut of the communication mid-sentence, which was later blamed on Minovsky interference.
U.C. 79 December 24th: 9:00-19:00: The battle of Solomon is fought and won by the Federation forces in a single day. The battle sees the death of Dozle Zabi and the end of Operation Cemballo. Plans for operation Star One begin immediately, to strike at the Zeon homeland.
U.C. 79 December 24th: 18:00: The 'Christmas treaty' is signed at the Republic of Riah, between the Principality of Zeon and Earth Federation government: ordering an immediate ceasefire across the Earth Sphere, standing down on all military operations, and the formation of the so called 'Alliance' to represent mankind on the galactic stage. The terms of the treaty recognise Zeon as independence, with Zeon conceding all claims to its captured Earth territory.
U.C. 79 December 24th: 20:00: General Revil orders all forces to proceed to A Baoa Qu.
U.C. 79 December 24th: 22:10: Gihren Zabi orders all available forces to intercept General Revil and retake Solomon.
U.C. 79 December 25th: 1:20: The citadel Taskforce under the command of General Victus jumps into the Earth Sphere and positions itself between the two fleets. The so called 'Victus gamble' proceeded with the Turian commander claiming that the Citadel would support whichever side did not break the treaty. Reluctantly both commanders called their forces off.
U.C. 79 December 25th: 7:00: The Earth sphere wakes up to peace and there is mass celebration across the Earth Sphere.
U.C. 79 December 25th: 10:10: Bernine Wiseman surrenders himself to Christina Mackenzie. Operation Rubicon ends in failure.
U.C. 79 December 28th: The Federation begins to remove its forces from Solomon in accordance with the Christmas treaty. It criticises Zeon for not enacting the removal of troops from Earth yet.
U.C. 80 January 1st: The Principality of Zeon begins to remove its forces from Earth and all space forces past Solomon and Granrda: the process is slow and Zeon ask for an extension on the time it would need to pull its forces out. General Revil refuses to provide an extension on the time limit, but offers HLV's to remove Zeon troops from earth. General Victus gets permission from Revil to use a limited number of Citadel ships on earth to help with the removal of Zeon ground forces. Zeon however does not immediately respond. Later during the evening delegates from the Riah Republic, Earth Federation and Principality of Zeon leave with the crew of the Lucen for the Citadel as part of a more important delegation to educate mankind in galactic politics. Meanwhile in the Earth sphere the 'Alliance' is officially founded and is staffed by volunteers from all three major factions in the earth sphere.
U.C. 80 January 2nd: Several Zeon space divisions and dozens of Zeon earth based regiments go dark and disappear from the grid. Zeon fails to report the incident to the newly formed Alliance or to the Federation.
U.C. 80 January 4th: All Federation forces removed from pre-war Zeon territory. Zeon finally accepts the offer for additional HLV's and Citadel response to remove its remaining forces: with at least 45% of its ground forces still being on the planet. A day before their time limit would expire.
U.C. 80 January 5th: 20% of Zeon forces remain stuck on Earth and Zeon demands additional time to remove its remaining ground forces from the planet. The Federation government refuses to allow the extension, blaming it on a Zeon conspiracy, although the Zeon military claims the forces as AWOL under Citadel pressure.
U.C. 80 January 7th: The Citadel establishes a research institute on Mars to search for the Prothean data cache.
U.C. 80 January 10th: Zeon offers manpower to the researchers on Mars and 'security' to assist with the excavation of the Prothean ruins.
U.C. 80 January 15th: The Federation round up and detain multiple Zeon outposts and imprison its members. Zeon protests and the Alliance is called on by the Council to settle the issue.
U.C. 80 January 31st: A memorial is established at Loum by both Federation and Zeon politicians.
U.C. 80 February 4th: The Alliance decrees for Zeon to pay reparations to the Federation for its failure to remove its troops in time. The Alliance also orders the Federation to release all captured personal: although the Federation insists many Zeon forces are still believed to be missing.
U.C. 80 February 14th: With the help of the Citadel Zeon establishes a mining colony on Mars under the Mars Zeon Mining company (MZM) and opens it to extra solar investment.
U.C. 80 March 1st: Side 1 declares independence from the Earth federation and declares itself the Zarn Union: it however offers trade discounts to the Federation but petitions the Alliance for protection. The Alliance agrees and dispatches Citadel forces to protect Zarn.
U.C. 80 June 1st: As per the Christmas treaty the Citadel begins the retrofitting of various existing Human space craft selected by their national governments for extra solar travel. Zeon elects largely freight and transport ships while the Federation puts forward largely military ships for retrofit.
U.C. 80 April 29th: Through Citadel Support humanity settle 4 extra solar colonies which are renamed: Elysium, Mindior, Shanxi and Demeter.
U.C. 80 July 3rd: Side 6 Declares itself independent from the Earth federation.
U.C. 80 July 8th: Side 6 Re-joins the Earth Federation after a patrol fleet makes a 'stop' on the colony. Further attempts at independence by the colonies are frequently quashed by Earth Federation garrisons. The Alliance does not interfere as no request for assistance was made.
U.C. 80 August 27th: Excavators discover the Mars Prothean ruins.
U.C. 80 August 12th: Construction begins on Arcturus station and the Alliance first and second fleets are formed from volunteers from the three major Earth sphere powers.
U.C. 80 September 1st: The first independent colony ships from Zeon carry off the initial refugees they are required to rehouse for war reparations. They establish them on the worlds of Sanctum, Therum and Yandoa.
U.C. 80 September 25th: The Alliance imposes a tax on the trade of all its member military equipment and bans the public sale of Mobile suits to non-governmental organisations.
U.C. 80 October 9th: The first alien tourists arrive in the Earth sphere but are only allowed into select places.
U.C. 80 November 28th: The Alliance unveils its first commissioned warship built at the Luna space dockyards: it is the first human warship to be built from the ground up around an element zero core.
November 30th: As part of a wars game scenario the Alliance takes part in joint military exercises with other Citadel races in the Widow cluster. The new Alliance warships were found to fare badly against competing Citadel designs but mobile suit tech was demonstrated for the first time to most Citadel races. Alliance forces were asked to leave early due to Minosky particles upsetting many of the Citadel militaries long range targeting systems and scanners.
U.C. 80 December 5th: The Alliance force a Earth Federation patrol off of Zarn after it becomes apparent of a plot by the commanders to back a pro-federation coup within the colony.
U.C. 80 December 25th: To commemorate the end of the 'Zeon War for independence ' the new Prime Minister Gihren Zabi announces the name change from the Principality of Zeon to the Kingdom of Zeon to better demonstrate its nations independence.
U.C. 80 December 31st: General Victus and his forces tenure in the Sol system ends in an elaborate ceremony and the Alliance bids them a fond farewell.
U.C. 81: January 1st: The Alliance elects its first Chairman by a slim majority of 57%.
U.C. 81: February 14th: Through political work and arranged trade deals between the Alliance and the Citadel Council the planets of Bekenstein and Eden Prime are opened up for human colonial development in return for steep exclusive trading rights and military deals between the Citadel and Alliance. The development of the first Human-Turian mobile suits begins.
U.C. 81 February 20th: The Citadel ends its deal of retrofitting human vessels for FTL travel.
U.C. 81 February 23rd: The Federation unveil their first Element Zero warship to the public, two out of the original tendered donated to the Alliance as a gesture of good faith.
U.C. 81 March 12th: The Federation are allowed to assist with the development of the new Extra Solar colony Terra Nova.
U.C. 81 April 2nd: The Federation accuses the 'Principality of Zeon' of enacting illegal military operations on Earth, the Kingdom of Zeon denies any involvement or knowledge of such activities. This leads to an alliance investigation.
U.C. 81 April 6th: The Alliance confirm that Zeon forces are operating on earth and seem to be the forces who disappeared after Zeon failed to remove all its troops by 5th of January U.C. 80. They demand an explanation from Zeon.
U.C. 81 April 14th: A public T.V announcement from Colonel Otto Eichmann is broadcasted across the Earth sphere by the 'Invisible Knights of Zeon' demanding for the surrender of the corrupt Federation government to Zeon.
U.C. 81 April 15th: Degwin Zabi makes a public statement disowning the 'Invisible Knights of Zeon.'
U.C. 81 July 14th: Zeon forces on the moon rebuff an assault on their Mass Driver facility by the Invisible Knights preventing them launching a Nuclear strike against the Earth.
U.C. 81 July 16th: The Federation government publically thanks the 'Kingdom of Zeon' for preventing the strike.
U.C. 82 March 8th: The Federation recalls one of its element Zero ships from the Alliance after one of its other models is damage due to a navigation error. They neglect to replace the warship once theirs is fixed.
U.C. 82 March 20th: Zeon refuses to relinquish its newer mobile suit models to the Federation and claims it is under no obligation to provide the Alliance state secrets which could be accessed by hostile nationals.
U.C. 82 May 4th: The Zeon colony of Therum petitions the Alliance to take over the garrison on the planet amid 'fears' of pirate attacks. The request is rejected due to strained manpower.
U.C. 82 August 15th: Alliance forces storm Von Braun and the headquarters of Mars Zeon Mining amid allegations of illegal mobile suit deals to non-government organisations. No proof is found and the Federation and Zeon accuse the Alliance of overstepping its authority. There is an immediate call for an end to the restrictions on mobile suit sales.
U.C. 82 September 22nd: The 'Raid on Mindior:' The pirate raid ends with the capture if 5000 human civilians before Alliance forces can arrive. Accusations of negligence are levelled against the Alliance by the Federation and Zeon. Pleas by the Alliance for the Citadel to intervene are turned down due to a lack of evidence.
U.C. 82 September 24th: The Alliance attempts to primitively strike at a pirate base but is ambushed on route. While no leak was ever found it is suspected that someone tipped the pirates off.
U.C. 82 November 3rd-4th: Battle of Elysium 'The Skillian Blitz': A massive pirate fleet assaults the Alliance planet of Elysium and attempts to capture and enslave the population. Mobile Suit ground forces prove their worth with Minosky technology blinding attacking armour divisions and landing forces, while Mobile suits eliminate attacking raids across the planet. A lone mobile suit allegedly holds the planets capital city from 200 attacking armoured vehicles. The crippling landing party results in pirate forces bombing the planet with kinetic strikes from orbit for three hours through midnight, until they are driven off by Zeon space forces who respond. As with Mindior Zeon deployed a garrison force to defend the colony.
U.C. November 9th: The Alliance asks for ships and forces to combat the pirate raids from its various member states: donations are small and considered not enough to effectively protect the human colonies. While they ask for additional support Zeon and the Federation refuse to commit additional resources as to better protect their 'own interests.'
U.C. November 25th: Federation space mobile suit forces defeat a pirate raid on-route to the planet Terra Nova.
U.C. 82 November 30th: Occupation of Shanxi: The pirate raids reach a crisis point as in response to the Citadel decision and the threat of human expansion into the Attican Traverse pirates attack and occupy the planet of Shaxi for four days until expelled by Zeon relief ships.
U.C. October 1st: Alliance space forces fail to force the Batarian blockade to leave Shanxi orbit and are driven back.
U.C. 83 October 3rd: Liberation of Shanxi: Zeon space forces capitalise on their victory at Torfan and use Torfan as a lunching point against the now weakened Batarian space forces who are captured and crushed. They deploy a military garrison o Shanxi.
U.C. 82 December 23 -24th: Battle of Torfan: Tracking attacks back Admiral Delaz leads a Zeon strike force against Pirate forces at Torfan leading to a near total destruction of space pirate forces who were unable to combat the sheer quantity of mobile suits deployed. Like with all their victories Zeon garrison the moon bases as a military installation.
U.C. January 29th: The federation respond to the colony to another request from Therum for additional protection and deploy a garrison to the world within firing distance of the Zeon garrison, leading to massive investment from the Federation.
U.C. 83 May 24th: The Turian – Human ship the Normandy finishes construction.
U.C. 83 May 26th: Colony extension on Eden Prime uncovers a Prothean beacon, the site is locked down.
U.C. 83 May 27th: The Normandy is deployed to recover the Prothean Beacon
Author's notes
Hello, I would just like to welcome you and thank you all for coming a reading through my first chapter of my new crossover. I would also like to give a shout out to everyone on the Spacebattle's forum page I set up to help with the planning of this fanfiction. I owe them a lot and I will be continuing to update both here and there as well.
Please offer your ideas, input and feelings on the story: I will listen to them all and I love feedback to bits.
Have a great day!