A/N: Spoilers abound, so don't read if you aren't done with the game yet.
I just finished my first playthru of ME:A and something I really enjoyed in the game was how it occasionally advanced different storylines by using e-mails, messages, and other written communications. I loved how I got to know more about the crew by reading their musings and thoughts in those messages: Gil's poker notes were hilarious. Jaal's e-mails were adorable. I also loved the InfoBoard and how the exchanges among the crew members offered us little glimpses into their day-to-day on the Tempest.
This story is told via e-mails and the crew's info board. It may occasionally jump into good old narrative, but it will likely stick mostly to moments of downtime and reflection between various missions. The idea for this story came from Liam's tendency to send Ryder "vintage" media from Earth as attachments to his missives to her, Lexi's posts on bonding and staying healthy, and a conversation...in Prodromos?...with someone who asked whether or not the colonists should bother teaching the next generation about their history or start anew.
Teach the history, was my reply. ;-)
I hope the different chat channels as I've written them don't get confusing. FF gives me limited formatting options with the characters and spacing, which is frustrating. I tried to imitate the e-mail and info board format from Andromeda while also combining the style of different chat channels in various other games (oh, the joys of juggling 'group chat' and 'private messages' while trying to mute bad murloc jokes in general chat).
Oh, and this begins early on when the crew first gets together. And Ryder has the hots for Jaal. I thought their romance was so sweet and heartfelt.
I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1: "Welcome to Your New InfoBoard v 3.4"
"Writing, the art of communicating thoughts to the mind through the eye, is the great invention of the world...enabling us to converse with the dead, the absent, and the unborn, at all distances of time and space."
― Abraham Lincoln, Speeches And Letters Of Abraham Lincoln, 1832-1865
A Thank You from a Scholar
From: Elanor Osei
To: Sara Ryder
Dear Pathfinder,
Thank you so much for your support regarding securing the teaching of our history in Andromeda. As a token of appreciation for that and for restoring my missing files, I wanted to send you a copy of my research. My particular field focuses on humanity's first forms of digital record keeping. There are vids, different eras of music, and newsreels for you to explore. You will find a complete archive of late 19th, 20th, and early 21st century media at your disposal. Please enjoy…and share!
Sincerely,
Dr. Osei
Sara Ryder stared at her computer screen.
"SAM—can you create a new channel on the Crew InfoBoard for me?"
"Of course, Pathfinder."
"And add the entire crew. Make sure you give them access to Dr. Osei's files."
"Done."
"Dr. T'Perro wants me to come up with bonding activities for the Tempest? She'll get bonding activities."
Ryder began to type furiously.
Bonding Activity (Mandatory)
Ok, everyone. The good doctor has requested that we engage in activities that will encourage us to learn more about each other. This is what we're doing: everyone picks a song they liked from the database and gets to share it with the rest of the crew. [Ryder]
[Comments]
^I can't believe you are actually listening to me for once. [Lexi]
^^Sounds like fun! [Suvi]
^^^Sounds like torture. Literally. [Drack]
^^^^There seems to be a problem with the database. There are no Salarian songs—only human ones. [Kallo]
^^^^^No Salarian songs? Really? [Gil]
^^^^^^I cannot tell if you are being sarcastic. [Kallo]
^^^^^^^Hardly! That was merely relief. [Gil]
^^^^^^^^…And there's my answer. [Kallo]
Bonding Activity Follow Up (Still Mandatory)
All right. It's been two days and no one has posted anything. I trust it's because you are all so busy listening and sorting through the files? [Ryder]
[Comments]
^Yeah. That's it. [Drack]
^^Who'll go first? Or shall I choose a volunteer?[Ryder]
Bonding Activity: Final Warning
Damn, people! Fine. Liam, you're first. Post something by the end of today. [Ryder]
[Comments]
^Shit. [Liam]
^^Is that the proposed theme?[Gil]
^^^Hey, Gil! You're hilarious! You're posting AFTER Liam! [Ryder]
{Invitation to "Ryder" to join private InfoBoard Chat Channel from "Peebee"}
*Say yes! {Peebee}
/Accepted
*You won't regret this! {Peebee}
/"Ryder" has joined the private InfoBoard Chat Channel "No Dicks" moderated by "Peebee"
*Hi ladies. Thought I'd create a safe space for our snark. {Peebee}
**I must have hit accept by accident. {Cora}
***Bye. {Peebee}
/"Cora" removed from the channel.
^I WAS JOKING! Let me back in! [Cora]
^^I'm guessing that wasn't intended for public chat? [Gil]
*****Fuck! They're on to us! {Peebee}
/"Cora" has joined the private InfoBoard Chat Channel "No Dicks" moderated by "Peebee"
^^^I am confused. I did not understand your joke. Could you please explain? [Jaal]
****Damn, Peebee. Do you have to be so trigger-happy all the time? {Cora}
^^^^Hmmmm! Are you on a private channel, by any chance? [Gil]
^^^^^No. [Cora]
/"Gil" is now co-moderating the private InfoBoard Chat Channel "No Dicks"
******Girls, girls…You should know better than attempt to create a private channel right under an engineer's nose! {Gil}
/"Gil" removed from the channel.
/ERROR
/"Gil" cannot be removed. "Gil" is a co-moderator.
*********GRRR! Get out, Gil! {Peebee}
********No can do. It's a secret channel! I want in with the cool kids. {Gil}
*********I was trying to do work, but this nonsense keeps interrupting and flashing on my datapad screen. {Vetra}
^^^^^^The concept of a joke is very different among angarans. [Jaal]
**********Poor Jaal is so confused now. I wonder who will come to his rescue?...Ryder? {Gil}
***********HAHAHAHA {Peebee}
************Hahahahah! {Vetra}
/PM from "Ryder" to "Lexi"
^This is all your fault. {Ryder}
^^The crew is bonding. I don't care how. {Lexi}
/End of PM
*Here's the deal, ladies. Either let me stay here or feel my wrath. {Gil}
**Nope. {Peebee}
^^^^^^^Really, Jaal? Could you please explain how jokes work in angaran culture? Like, give us a complete, detailed history? [Gil]
*Noooooooooo! {Peebee}
**Damn, Brodie. You're ruthless. {Vetra}
***I can still nip this in the bud. Just say the word. {Gil}
^^^^^^^With pleasure. Angaran humor is accessible and physical, as we are a very emotionally demonstrative people. Let's see…I think the earliest forms of angaran humor are from Voeld and revolve around the weather. In fact, there are clever sayings that always begin with "It's colder than…" [Jaal]
****I'm going to ask him for examples. IN SHELESH! {Gil}
*****Peebee! {Cora}
******Wrap this up, please. I need to get back to my supply orders. {Vetra}
*******Fine! You can stay. Now make him stop! {Peebee}
^You know what, Jaal? I don't think Cora was really joking—I think she just mistyped something. [Gil]
^^Oh. I see. But would you still like to know about angaran humor? [Jaal]
^^^Maybe another time? [Gil]
^^^^Of course. Anytime. I'm happy to be of aid. [Jaal]
/PM from "Ryder" to "Jaal"
^I would love to hear all about angaran humor, Jaal. [Ryder]
^^I am so happy you wish to know! [Jaal]
^^^And I am always happy to learn more about you. [Ryder]
^^^^About me?[Jaal]
^^^^^AND YOUR PEOPLE! [Ryder]
^^^^^^Sorry—I accidentally hit the caps button. [Ryder]
^^^^^^^I wasn't panicking or anything. [Ryder]
^^^^^^^^ I think you just taught me something about human humor. [Jaal]
^^^^^^^^^Oh? [Ryder]
^^^^^^^^^^^Yes. You just made me smile. [Jaal]
/End of PM
Ryder pushed away from her desk for a moment and drew a deep breath while lightly patting her hand over her chest.
"Everything all right, Pathfinder?" SAM asked. "I am picking up an accelerated pulse."
"I'm feeling great, SAM."
*You know, since I am now a bonafide member of this group, I think we should discuss a new channel name. {Gil}
**Fuck you. {Peebee}
***I can't. {Gil}
***** "No Dicks." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ {Gil}
******Hahahahaa! {Vetra}
*******Hahahaha {Cora}
********Hahahahaha {Lexi}
*********That's so cute! How did you do that? {Suvi}
**********New name now, or I will start adding random people to your secret channel. {Gil}
**********You wouldn't dare. {Peebee}
/"Dutch" has been invited to join the channel.
**********FINE! I'll change the name! {Peebee}
/Invitation to "Dutch" has been canceled.
/ Welcome to private InfoBoard Chat Channel "Tits and Ass" moderated by "Peebee" and "Gil"
***********Thank you! Much better. {Gil}
************You're the 'ass' in this outfit. {Peebee}
*************Just sayin'. {Peebee}
"What have I unleashed?" Ryder grumbled, shutting off her monitor.
"I am assuming that was a rhetorical question."
She frowned at the shimmering pinpoints of blue light swirling over the base next to her keyboard.
"You know what, SAM?"
"Yes, Pathfinder?"
"You're posting after Gil."