This is my first fan fiction story I've ever done. I hope you all like and I'm always willing to hear constructive criticisms and reviews, so feel free to share your opinions. The Prologue isn't the best but it'll pick up soon, promise.
Disclaimer. I owe nothing related to either Mass Effect or anything else for that matter. Neither do I owe anything related to the Wizards of the Coast's world of Dungeons and Dragons, the Forgotten Realms, or anything else relating to their awesome company and richly detailed worlds. If I did however, ol FemShep here would have most likely wound up with a harem of Asari 'entertainers' by the time her story was done. Can't blame a guy for dreaming. :P
Prologue; The Skyllian Blitz Begins
In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient space-faring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time.
They called it the greatest discovery in human history.
The civilizations of the galaxy call it…
Mass Effect
It's amazing what humans can do when they set their minds to it. It seems like only yesterday we were taking our first steps out into space. Now, many years later, we consider ourselves friends, if not tenuous allies, with every known alien civilization among the stars. Despite massive leaps and bounds due to the discovery of the Prothean Ruins on Mars, there are still countless planets and star clusters that we've yet to explore in the Milky Way Galaxy we call home.
Should it come as a surprise to us that we haven't found all the life that's out there? No, not when you stop and consider the possibilities of what we have already seen in races like the geth, quarian, asari, krogan, salarian, rachni, and so many more. Even so, we are still considered a young and volatile race, yet the Council saw fit to give us equal representation among the other galactic civilizations. While we aren't actually on the Council, the fact we're allowed an equal chance to speak for ourselves is proof enough of how far we've come. When the attack on Eden Prime came, however, everything changed….
Our story begins not during the Eden Prime assault however, but during the Skyllian Blitz where one woman would be named a hero for her sole effort to defend the planet from imminent destruction from batarian warlords and roving pirate bands. The conflict had been instigated by one man, Elanos Haliat, for the most part. In a way he would be the one responsible for the later very well known Commander Shepard's ascension into legendary status, but even living icons need to start somewhere. This is her beginning.
June 21st, 2176 CE
Elysium Colony
The Skyllian Blitz
40 hours in…
Alexandria Jones Shepard looked down the scope of her Titan Sniper Rifle. The familiar weight in her hands was comforting, despite the situation she and her comrades were in. The ground forces and civilians that had come out to defend their homes with the young military officer were provided an excellent choke-point for the invading forces.
Situated in a valley with high, plant covered walls and a river that ran down the steep hills to the south of them, the area could easily be defended against their enemies. Even so, given the size of the raider group and how well equipped they were for pirate, the odds were against them. Mass accelerator fire was already thick in the air, slamming into the metallic barrier walls the soldiers had put into the dirt on top of the valley's entrance which led towards the colony.
"Get that rail gun back online, now! We need suppression fire on that outcropping or we'll be picked off by enemy snipers!" As if to prove her point, a red laser dot had appeared on her chest but she was quick enough to avoid a huge hole appearing through her middle as the officer ducked for cover. Snapping back out of her hiding spot, she fired back a moment later, grimacing despite the fact her efforts had been rewarded as she scored a headshot on the sniper in question foolishly fired on her.
Explosions rocked the area as the few ships that had gotten past the Alliance military ship, the Agincourt, bombarded the planet or were shot down by the rail guns that lined the colony walls several hundred meters behind Shepard and her soldiers. Shepard had been thrust into leadership when her own CO had been shot on the first day; and that had been forty hours ago, which now felt like an eternity since she had been going nonstop since the battle had begun. Everything had been peaceful, even tranquil when compared to the usual problems that colonies such as this one had. Nothing really ever happened that would require a show of force, but now she and the rest of Elysium were fighting for their lives.
Shepard pulled the trigger and watched as the four-eyed, heavily armed batarian pirate had his grey-green skin on his head excavated by a powerful sniper round. MA fire immediately zeroed in on her position but luckily, no one was able to get close to causing her harm. She waited until there was a lull and popped out of cover long enough to find another target and take another kill shot. This one caused a gory display of alien blood and guts as the enemy's heart was forced out of his back.
"Shepard, status report?"The voice on the other end was the captain of the Agincourt.
Really? He couldn't have picked a worse time to ask for one. The batarians and their comrades were gearing up for another push. Being distracted for even a second could be utterly disastrous, but she couldn't ignore the captain either. She gritted her teeth all the same and fired off two more rounds, the heat gauge on her weapon rising steadily with every shot, and even through her standard issue military grade gloves, Alexandria could feel the heat that filtered from her rifle as she activated her com-link.
Depressing the button with her temporarily free right hand before it shot back down to her Titan Sniper Rifle, making the connection with the ship above, she started a rather quick and almost frantic conversation with the captain.
"We've got them bottle-necked for now, sir, but we can't hold them forever. We've got batarian bombers shooting the hell out of us. The defenses on the colony are doing alright for now, but there's just too many, and they seem damned determined to take us apart! We could use some help down here, sir!" Suddenly, she saw a weak point of defense. She shouted at one of her comrades, "You! Corporal Xanatos! Get that wall fortified now!" The soldier didn't waste time on a salute before rallying a crew to get the metallic barrier back into working order. That last run had been too damned close. They were getting their bearings and it'd only be a matter of time before the ground forces would be in dire straits if they weren't there already. "I realize you've got trouble of your own, sir, but if we don't get reinforcements now, there won't be a colony to protect!"
"I realize that, and that's why I'm sending a squadron of our boys down to help you. Give us your coordinates and hold that line, Shepard!"The captain replied, knowing that his order was well on its way to being carried out since he had sent word down to the fighter pilots before calling the Alliance's newest CO down on the planet. Despite the forces aimed against him, the Agincourt's ship defenses and weaponry were doing more than enough to hold the tide above, making things bearable, if nothing else, on the planet below as GARDIAN laser fire and JAVELIN missiles strikes crippled or destroyed the pirates before they could get close to the colony.
Rather than waiting for him to end the conversation she simply returned her com-link back to her ground forces frequency. Her omni-tool was configured to keep her informed of any messages that she may have missed while the two were speaking and thankfully, nothing other than the notification of the wall fortification had come up. She yelled for her communications officer giving him the news and sending the cords a moment later. Luckily, the valley walls had kept the beleaguered forces relatively cool despite the constant barrage of shots raining down on them. As the noonday sun began to shift to beat down upon the battlefield however, it only added further discomfort to the engrossed soldiers and civvies that had a common cause to protect themselves from fates worse than death.
Even before today, batarians were well known for their slavery practices; implanting control chips and other similar devices into their victims' brains without the use of anesthetics to dull the pain such surgery caused. Afterward, the slaves were about as combative as someone that had been lobotomized, walking around like a zombie more than anything. They were all but trapped in their own minds while being remote controlled by their cruel and often sadistic alien masters.
Shepard laid down some suppressive fire, having switched from her sniper rifle to her assault rifle, a Terminator Assault Rifle to be precise. Quick and precise mass accelerator auto fire laid waste to several batarian and a few mechanical soldiers they had brought with them, the skeleton-like machine warriors falling to the MA blasts before exploding in metal parts and bits of circuitry. Keeping the line was all that mattered as she rallied her men, shouting orders over the constant fire from both sides as their air support finally arrived just in time to stop the latest bomber run, the batarian ships falling like flies as Alliance fighters swept over the valley before returning to the battle above the planet.
Today was going to be one hell of a day if things kept up as they had since the start of the attack. And to think, this force had been put together by one man, one hell of a charismatic man at that. He wouldn't be the first of his kind she'd have to worry about, but Shepard wasn't too concerned about the future as the ground forces seemed to be slowing up, the forces they'd been facing seeming to finally get the hint they weren't going to get through the valley. At least, it seemed to be going in their favor at least until she and the remaining soldiers behind the barrier saw what the raiders had in store for them next.
Five large mech-carriers, hovering clamp-like platforms that held five matching curled up battle-mechs: the YMIR or Model 34-A, at least a prototype of what would become common place in the future, were dropped in a literal wall of moving kinetic barrier shields and rocket and mass accelerator fire after they stood and started to move forward. How they got a hold of the damned things was anyone's guess, but there they were, standing a good eight feet tall and wide as an old semi trailer, painted white save for the red tinted optics that passed for the mechs' faces.
The response was devastatingly swift, yet it cost the men and women defending Elysium greatly given the strength of the enemy forces now laying waste to everything in front of them. Luckily, the batarian had been foolish to activate them all at once, and so when they were forced to stop firing to allow their weapons to cool off. Shepard gave the order to unleash Hell as rockets and grenade fire swept down upon the armored units, shredding shields, armor, and the synthetic parts the YMIR were made of. Two fell in that first volley alone while the other three were sorely hurting as the explosions from the destroyed mechs severely weakened them, making them easier targets in the next volley. The cost was great however as twisted, burning bodies surrounded Alexandria and the men and women that were left to stand beside her. This victory, if they made it that far, would be a hollow one for a lot of people, herself included.
With that wave taken care of, the ground assault was slowly starting to reconsider their options and held off, giving the Alliance soldiers and their civilian counterparts time to patch up their wounded and take the dead off the field. Shepard collapsed against the metal barrier that had held up against everything that had been thrown at it and tapped a button on the left side to raise the visor before also undoing the clamps holding the N7 helmet. It had been her CO's given the obvious signs of repair which were clear as day for anyone with eyes that could see, in place, taking it off to breathe without the aid of the damned filters.
Shaking her head to let her hair fall out of the damn piece of scrap metal, blinking her crystal blue eyes tiredly at the scene around her as a stray breeze ruffled her short raven-black hair that barely touched her shoulders. Alex, as she friends called her, was well above average height at six foot, one inch, something that always got her picked on as a child growing up on Alliance ships and stations. While fairly lean, she was covered in wiry muscles and was incredibly strong, and she knew it. Her face was angular and well defined, with strong cheekbones, making for a lasting impression even before someone took in her imposing physique. Alexandria looked up to the single sun in the sky and closed her eyes, needing time to catch her breath.
To think, she had just a month ago turned 21 years old, and already she was leading a planetary defense against such odds, and so far, they'd been lucky in actually holding out. They couldn't take much more of this though, but the looks of gratitude from those that had followed her and the open amazement they were still alive after two days of this was a bit shocking to see, considering what they had had to endure. It was the first prolonged lull since all this had begun, yet despite obvious signs of battle stress, exhaustion, gunshot wounds, smoke inhalation, and the loss of comrades; brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, sons, and daughters, they still looked to her in thanks for leading them out of this Hell so well. Since if not for her, they wouldn't have lasted nearly as long as they had, if had lasted at all.
"Shepard, you've done good soldier. Reinforcements have arrived and are now mopping up the last of the batarian pirates. You and your teams will be relieved soon. Congratulations, ' ' ' Shepard."Unable to believe it, word quickly spread like wildfire that they had held out long enough for aid to come to them at last. Cheers immediately went up around the camp as the captain's words sunk in for Alexandria.
"Lt. Commander, sir?" she asked, unable to help the surprised tone that filtered through the com-unit, which the captain heard above Elysium.
"Indeed. If not for your sole efforts, we would have lost Elysium. Your leadership abilities are unquestionable after today. I'll personally attend your promotion after what you've done here. Get some rest, Lt Commander Shepard, you've earned it."With that, the captain of the Agincourt cut off the communication line, and Shepard couldn't help but smile to herself, glad that she had managed to make such a difference here. It'd be two years before they actually finished the gangs off that had started this attack, but that was a tale for another time.
Despite the news of her impending promotion though, it still left a foul and sour taste in her mouth considering what it had cost the people here. She didn't feel like she deserved to be commended, not for this. Honestly she wasn't sure what she felt but it sure as Hell wasn't a sense of accomplishment since the captain wasn't down here on the ground to see the looks of sheer emotional anguish and horror, or smell the bodies of the dead and dying or the fires that had consumed some of them. And that wasn't even mentioning the sounds of the dying or critically wounded which probably wouldn't survive the night without immediate aid, and some would probably die anyway.
No, if anything Alexandria would have gladly traded her own freedom or her life for that matter if it meant these people didn't have to suffer. On the other hand, once the shock and battle fatigue as well as her adrenaline overload which had left her shaking from the eventual crash she knew had been coming, she knew that if not for her, everyone from the oldest man to the youngest child would have been at the mercy of these monsters, these slavers and pirates, who would have done unspeakable things to them if they had been given a chance.
Balancing the good with the bad would take time, but for now time was on her side since what she had accomplished here would be nothing compared to what was coming down the road, but that was a whole other ball game a lifetime away from the here and now.
And that chapter is done. Review, critique, or just leave a happy little comment of congrats for such an opening lol. I'll let you decide and here's hoping more follow. Next chapter promises something a bit different from the usual ME fare you'd probably come to expect.
As per a reviewer's request, I am now adding a dictionary of sorts at the bottom of every page from here on out with terms, items, and organization, among other things, definitions at the need arises.
Mass Accelerator; A mass accelerator propels a solid metal slug using precisely-controlled electromagnetic attraction and repulsion. The slug is designed to squash or shatter on impact, increasing the energy it transfers to the target. If this were not the case, it would simply punch a hole right through, doing minimal damage.
Accelerator design was revolutionized by element zero. A slug lightened by a mass effect field can be accelerated to greater speeds, permitting projectile velocities that were previously unattainable. If accelerated to a high enough velocity, a simple paint chip can impact with the same destructive force as a nuclear weapon. However, mass accelerators produce recoil equal to their impact energy. This is mitigated somewhat by the mass effect fields that rounds are suspended within, but weapon recoil is still the prime limiting factor on slug velocity.
Prothean; The protheans are an extinct alien race which mysteriously vanished over 50,000 years ago. The protheans arose from a single planet and developed an immense galaxy-wide empire encompassing many other spacefaring species. Not much is known about them, but many of their artifacts, ruins and technology have apparently survived the ages.
The protheans have been credited with creating the Citadel and the mass relays, feats of engineering that have never been equaled and whose core mass effect field technology forms the basis of contemporary civilization. Prothean artifacts, therefore, have immense scientific value and are seen to belong to the whole galactic community.
Salarian; The second species to join the Citadel, the salarians are warm-blooded amphibians native to the planet Sur'Kesh. Salarians possess a hyperactive metabolism; they think fast, talk fast, and move fast. To salarians, other species seem sluggish and dull-witted, especially the elcor. Unfortunately, their metabolic speed leaves them with a relatively short lifespan; salarians over the age of 40 are a rarity.
Salarians are known for their observational capability and non-linear thinking. This manifests as an aptitude for research and espionage. They are constantly experimenting and inventing, and it is generally accepted that they always know more than they are letting on.
Asari; The asari, native to the planet Thessia, are often considered the most powerful and respected sentient species in the known galaxy. This is partly due to the fact the asari were the first race after the protheans to achieve interstellar flight, and to discover and inhabit the Citadel.
A mono-gender race—distinctly feminine in appearance—the asari are known for their elegance, diplomacy, and biotic talent. Their millennia-long lifespan and unique physiology—allowing them to reproduce with a partner of any gender or species—give them a conservative but convivial attitude toward other races. The asari were instrumental in proposing and founding the Citadel Council, and have been at the heart of galactic society ever since.
Batarian; A race of four-eyed bipeds native to the world of Khar'shan, the batarians are a disreputable species that chose to isolate itself from the rest of the galaxy. The Terminus Systems are infested with batarian pirate gangs and slaving rings, fueling the stereotype of the batarian thug. It should be noted that these criminals do not represent average citizens, who are forbidden to leave batarian space by their omnipresent and paranoid government.
Despite several disagreements with the Citadel and simmering hostility toward humans, most batarians prefer profitable pursuits such as drug running and slave grabs to out-and-out warfare. They have a reputation for being shrewd businessmen and merchants, though in more lawless regions of the galaxy like Omega, negotiations with a batarian are likely to be conducted at gunpoint.
Krogan; The krogan are a species of large reptilian bipeds native to the planet Tuchanka, a world known for its harsh environments, scarce resources, and overabundance of vicious predators. The krogan managed to not only survive on their unforgiving homeworld, but actually thrived in the extreme conditions. Unfortunately, as krogan society became more technologically advanced, so did their weaponry.
Four thousand years ago, at the dawn of the krogan nuclear age, battles to claim the small pockets of territory capable of sustaining life escalated into full scale global war. Weapons of mass destruction were unleashed, transforming Tuchanka into a radioactive wasteland. The krogan were reduced to primitive warring clans struggling to survive a nuclear winter of their own creation, a state that continued until they were discovered by the salarians two thousand years later.
With the help of the salarians, the krogan were "uplifted" into galactic society, and lent their numbers and military prowess to bring an end to the Rachni Wars (see below). Ironically, after the rachni were eradicated, the rapidly-expanding krogan became a threat to the galaxy in turn, starting the Krogan Rebellions and forcing the turians to unleash the genophage. This genetic "infection" dramatically reduced fertility in krogan females, causing a severe drop in births secondary to prenatal and postnatal death and, ultimately, population, eliminating the krogan numerical advantage.
Geth; The geth ("Servant of the People" in Khelish) are a race of networked artificial intelligences that reside beyond the Perseus Veil. The geth were created by the quarians, as laborers and tools of war. When the geth became sentient and began to question their masters, the quarians attempted to exterminate them. The geth won the resulting war, and reduced the quarians to a race of nomads.
The history of the geth's creation and evolution serves as a warning to the rest of the galaxy of the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and to the legally enforced, systematic repression of artificial intelligences throughout galactic society.
Quarians; The quarians are a nomadic species of humanoid aliens known for their skills with technology and synthetic intelligence. Since their homeworld Rannoch was conquered, the quarians live aboard the Migrant Fleet, a huge collection of starships that travel as a single fleet.
Approximately three hundred years before the events of Mass Effect, the quarians created the geth, a species of rudimentary artificial intelligences, to serve as an efficient source of manual labor. However, when the geth gradually became sentient, the quarians became terrified of possible consequences and tried to destroy their creations. The geth won the resulting war and forced their creators into exile. Now the quarians wander the galaxy in a flotilla of salvaged ships, secondhand vessels, and recycled technology.
Rachni; The rachni are an extinct insect-like species that threatened Citadel space roughly two thousand years ago during the Rachni Wars. Intelligent and highly aggressive, the spacefaring rachni were driven to expand and defend their territory. They were eventually defeated and completely eradicated by the krogan, who had been uplifted by the salarians for their combat prowess and physical resilience to directly confront the rachni in the harsh environments of the rachni worlds. The accidental discovery of the rachni led to the Citadel races curbing their rapid expansion, in fear of being plunged into another galactic war.