A/N: So I've got a bunch of half-written chapters, and I really wanted to post something. So I sat down and finished this one. This is something I'm working on, a purely Mass Effect AU, no crossover. It's based off the premise that the Protheans destroyed most of their tech before they were conquered. As a result, most of the galaxy developed along different technological paths. I know stuff like this has been done before, but I'm doing my best to create a unique story with diverse tech bases and rich cultural backstory. If you see any errors in spelling, grammar, or sentence structure, please notify me.

Diverse Effect-Prologue

[Date Unknown, Location Unknown]

"Well, what about Shepard? She's Integrated and a Spacer. Lived aboard starships most of her life…" Udina brought up one of several dossiers with a flick of his index finger, the holographic projection hovering in the air between the three men.

"Military service runs in the family," Anderson supplied, "Both her parents are in the Navy. Her mother is the executive officer on the UNHS Kilimanjaro."

"She proved herself during the blitz. Coordinated the colonial militia and the automated defenses single-handedly. Held off the enemy until reinforcements could arrive." Hackett recalled with approval, "The Hero of Elysium… Hell, I gave her the medal myself."

"She's the only reason that colony is still standing," Anderson added respectfully.

"We can't question her courage," Udina admitted hesitantly, he found this whole process tedious.

"Humanity doesn't just need a Spectre," Anderson spoke with confidence, "They need a hero, someone they can look up to, and Shepard's the best we got."

"I'll make the call," Udina subvocalized a command, and Shepard's dossier was saved to his cybernetic implants. The connection was terminated, and he found himself sitting in his office in the Presidium. Elsewhere in the galaxy, Admiral Hackett was no doubt writing up transfer orders.

Ambassador Udina had a feeling that things were going to change very, very soon, and not just in a political sense.

In the year 2157, 12 years after the invention of a functioning Alcubierre drive, the United Nations of Humanity (UNH) made hostile First Contact with the Turian Hierarchy in the Shanxi system, a result of poor judgment on both sides during attempts at communication. Since then, Humanity has taken great strides, integrating itself into the diverse galactic community.

[2183 CE, Arcturus Station]

Commander Amelia Shepard made her way towards Docking Bay 6, her transfer orders in hand. Outside the ceiling-to-floor windows to her right, the starscape of the Arcturus system was visible, glimmering with ancient starlight. She passed many other UNH personnel on her way, some walking at a sedate pace, others practically sprinting. Yes, Arcturus station was anything but quiet. It was a central hub of activity for both military and civilian affairs, being the biggest station in the sector. Many ships could be seen departing from the many landing bays. Soon, Amelia would be on one of them.

Rounding the corner, she nearly ran into a taller, imposing man with tan skin. She recognized him on the spot. This was her new Commanding Officer, the war hero Captain Anderson. She did her best to make a good impression.

"Captain Anderson, sir!" she snapped to attention, "Commander Amelia Shepard, reporting for duty!"
She held out the transfer orders. The transfer orders were encoded symbols printed on bamboo paper, but Amelia had cybernetic implants in her eyes and brain that read the symbols, decoded them, and displayed the actual orders in an Augmented Reality overlay. Anderson had similar augmentations, and accepted the order. He briefly looked them over, but his HUD already told him that the orders checked out. Not that he needed to confirm it; he ordered the transfer himself. He folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket for recycling later, and looked his new second-in-command over. She was slightly shorter than him, had messy red hair, pale complexion... and cat ears, complete with a tail. So she was one of those BodModders...
"Commander," he began, clearly not impressed, "When I read your service file, they didn't mention... those." he gestured at her feline ears and tail.
Shepard looked at him in confusion, "Sir? I don't understand. My Bodmods are registered and approved, and they are in my service file."
Anderson sighed in exasperation. He must have missed that bit, "Alright. As long as they don't get in the way of your duties, I will… tolerate them." If they were truly registered and approved, then they wouldn't get in the way. He simply found them to be rather unprofessional for a military vessel.
"Welcome to the UNHS Normandy," he led the Commander into the nearby airlock, "I've heard good things about you, Commander."
"And I, you, Captain," she smiled politely, "I look forward to serving under you."

"Decontamination complete," the Normandy's VI chimed as the inner doors slid open, "Logged, the Commanding Officer and First Officer are aboard. Navigator Pressly is relieved."

As soon as she set foot inside the ship, Amelia could tell that it was state of the art. Computers lined the ceiling, and two rows of crewmen were seen in "trenches" on either side of the walkway, operating consoles that only they could see. In fact, any screen Amelia saw was only visible to anyone with implants. In her case, she was what most people called "Integrated". Integrated were Humans who had taken the ultimate step, and installed Augments into nearly every part of their body. She was up to her eyes in cybernetics, figuratively and not so figuratively. She could feel her Neural Interface linking into the ship systems, and it felt a bit like an extension of her body.

Almost instantly, she was shut out by another presence.

From the cockpit to her left, a slightly annoyed voice made itself known.

"Hey, don't go poking around the Normandy's systems," the Normandy's pilot grumbled, "She doesn't like that."
"That's Joker," Captain Anderson informed Amelia.

"Joker?" she asked in confusion, "Is that his name?"

"No, it's just a nickname," Joker rotated his chair around to face them, "Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau at your service, Commander. Nice Bodmods."

"Thanks," Amelia grinned, "Nice Augments."
They were nice too. Joker had cybernetic eyes which only someone with a trained eye could spot. Or someone else with cybernetic eyes as well, such as Amelia. Joker also sported a few Augments that helped him interface with the Normandy's systems. He also had a Medical Exoframe. There were other, less obvious Implants that Amelia could spot. He was a fellow Integrated though, that much she could tell. You could only really be called an Integrated when you surpassed a certain amount of cybernetic implants, and they both qualified.

"You too," he swung back to face his console, "I'd love to chat, but I need to finish up these preflight checks. See you later Commander."
Anderson led Shepard away from the cockpit, past the CIC, and into the conference room. She was almost surprised to see a Turian waiting there.

"Commander," Anderson began, introducing her to the Turian, "This is Nihlus Kryik, he's-"

"A Council Spectre," Shepard finished under her breath even as Anderson said it himself. She already knew, her HUD had identified Nihlus for her, displaying some relevant information next to him.

Nihlus turned to face Shepard, his red complexion and white facial markings a bit intimidating, "Ah, Commander Shepard," He nodded in acknowledgement, "I've heard great things about you."

"Likewise," Shepard replied almost breathlessly. She'd never met a Spectre in person before. All she really knew about them was from movies and the Extranet. In other words, she knew nothing.

"The Hierarchy is eager to see what this ship can do," the Spectre continued, "We invested a fair amount of research and credits into its development." Nihlus idly rested his hand on the pommel of his service sword, which he earned from his previous career as an officer in the Turian military. Amelia idly wondered how it would measure up to her own custom-forged N7 Infiltrator sword.

"You won't be disappointed, Nihlus," Anderson replied enthusiastically, "Optical camouflage, thermal dampening, texture buffers, the works. All of the Normandy's stealth systems will get a workout on this shakedown run."

"Glad to hear it," Nihlus gave the Captain the Turian equivalent of a grin, "I'll get acquainted with the ship, I will talk with you later, Captain, Commander," and with that he walked off.

A bit miffed, Amelia turned to Anderson, "Wait, why's a Spectre on a simple shakedown run?"

"As he said, the Turian Hierarchy has an invested interest in this ship," He supplied neutrally.

"But why send a Spectre? Surely-" Shepard was cut off by Anderson's stern gaze that clearly said, we'll talk later.

"Go change out of your civvies," He gestured to her N7 hoodie, black cargo pants, and black/red tennis shoes, "Not just your uniform, I want you in full combat-gear, Commander."

Amelia nodded, a bit confused, "Yes, sir."

As Anderson left the conference room, Lieutenant Moreau's memorable voice echoed over the PA system, mostly for the benefit of their Turian guest, since audio feeds could be transmitted to the crew's cybernetics.

"We are now leaving Arcturus station. Switching over from external to internal power, inertial dampeners online. Quantum Thrusters and Antiproton engines engaged, everyone brace for acceleration."

The Normandy pushed itself out of the docking bay carefully, swinging about to turn away from Arcturus station. The ship's four sizable Antiproton engines gunned, flaring up with white light as antimatter collided with matter, creating an explosion of sizable magnitude that the ship directed in a burst out the rear thrusters. The small stealth Frigate leapt forward, the engines cooling down as it coasted on a trajectory towards the Arcturus Relay, beginning its journey to Eden Prime, and straight into history.

[Greetings, you have new entries in your Galactic CodexTM! Please select which entry to view!]

[UNH-History]

[UNH-Military]

[Council-Political Structure]

[Turian Hierarchy-History]

[UNH-The Shanxi Incident/First Contact Skirmish]

A/N: So vote on which entry you want me to include with the next chapter.