Mass Effect: Different Past.
Author Notes: I love Mass Effect! It's an awesome story with a great cast. But as much as I loved the story, certain aspects of the story just never clicked for me; the first contact war, the way the council screwed the Quarians, genocide of the Rachni (Totally get them screwing over the Krogan) and the Systems Alliance need to appease them (and no, I'm not a Cerberus lover, I just think it's too much work for such a little reward). In the end, I decided a wanted a story with a stronger Alliance and pretty much a universe where the council didn't have everyone over a barrel. Then I read Mass Effect; A new past by Bombsquad (fanfic, if u haven't read it, you should. it's brilliant), the evolution of that version of the Alliance was great and the story just flowed. Anyway, on to the story.
Disclaimer; I don't own mass effect or any of its cast. All owned by Bioware. All hail the mighty Bioware!
Rise of the Systems Alliance.
2038: Third World War triggered due to scarcity of resources and perceived dominance of western powers. World political arena fractures into three main factions; The Socialist Coalition (Russia and China), The Western Alliance (the majority of Europe and The United States of America) and The African Federation.
2043: War brings humanity to the brink of self annihilation. Cease fire talks begin.
2048: Due to massive planetary wide destruction, terraforming of radiated areas is successfully attempted.
2050: As terraforming was merely a stop-loss measure, humanity looks to the stars for its salvation.
2051: United Space Initiative founded with the mandate to find viable means of space exploration and colonisation.
2070: Research into viable space faring technology pays off with the successful launch of Ark I and terraforming of the moon for colonisation.
2074: Advancement in space engine design allows for greater distances to be travelled, making planetary colonisation a reality.
2077: Missions to colonise nearest planets and their moons green lit, with Luna colony serving as launch site. Venus and Mars first to be reached and colonised. Mars's moons soon follow.
2078: Systems Alliance replaces United Space Initiative as the head of humanity's frontline space exploration efforts.
2080: Signs of alien intelligence discovered on Venus. System Alliance cover up so as not to discourage colonisation efforts.
2081: N7 Special Forces program established to deal with "whatever the hell is out here with us" in the words of General George Anderson; first commanding officer of the unit. Recruits gathered from the cream of the crop of Alliance forces to undergo physical and mental reconditioning. Program attached to Alliance Intelligence Division.
2085: N7 marines active in operations against pirate forces based on and around the moons of Jupiter.
2087: Numerous other alien relics found. Alliance again covers up discoveries and uses found technology to advance human technology
2088: AI technology research finally pays off. Use limited to colonies and capital ships.
2094: Venus Prime Colony suffers massive damage due to failure of environmental controls. Lives lost numbers in the hundreds.
2095: Expedition to explain "Bermuda Triangle" reports near Martian Colony Beta launched.
2097, SSV Charleston, en route to Mars colony
"So, any idea what it is they've found on the dust ball?" 1st Lieutenant Peter Stanford asked his commanding officer as they walked towards the hangar to meet the rest of their squad.
"Some sort of structure in the desert, won't know what exactly it is till we get there and break it open. Local forces were ordered to secure the area around the site and prevent it being disturbed. Our job as always is to do the dirty work of going in, doing recon and then opening the door and let the science boys work their magic" replied Lieutenant Commander Wes Crown. Both were members of the N7 Special Forces unit stationed on the Charleston.
"But why us? We're due for some R&R after the Jupiter op." Stanford stated.
"True. But the captain says the brass wanted a unit with experience in dealing with, shall we say "exotic" environs. That's us and Klaus's boys, and we were closer" replied Crown.
"So it's definitely alien then" Stanford said as they entered the lift that would take them to the hangar.
"Yup. And early signs say it's something different. For one thing, it's not completely dead. It seems to have been causing the "Bermuda triangle" problems in the area for some time. Doesn't seem to have active defences, but wouldn't be the first time we've thought that, only to lose men to an unseen booby trap. So command doesn't want any mistakes. Hence; us."
"Active and possible working alien tech? See why the brass might be getting excited. Men won't be too happy about this. They were looking forward to that R&R. Ah well; they'll just have to suck it up."
The lift opened to reveal the hangar and the rest of the squad. Gunnery Chief Erica Valdez, who acted as the team sniper was sitting on a crate, checking the sights on her pistol. Valdez was an exceptional shot and arguably one of the best snipers in the forces. Next to her on her right was the team medic and resident smartass Corporal James Smith trying to get her attention and being pointedly ignored. On her left Gunnery Chief Lao Teng was talking to the team's Tech Specialist Services Chief Thomas Cohen about improving the stability of his machine gun. As they noticed their commanding officer enter the hangar, they immediately came to attention in a straight line.
"At ease, marines" said Crown. "Due to new orders, R&R is going to be delayed awhile. We've been directed by command to one of the Mars colonies. Apparently they've discovered what appears to be an alien structure. You have a question there, Smith?"
"Sir, when you say R&R has been delayed, does that mean delayed till further notice i.e. military code for forget it or just delayed till this op is finished?" said Smith.
"Smith, shut up" responded Stanford.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. As I was saying, the structure appears to be intact. And unlike previous alien artefacts encountered, it's giving off energy readings. I don't think I have to underline how important recovering any and all tech from this structure could help the Alliance, so I won't. This is what we've been trained for and we've also dealt with. ETA to Mars is 30 hours. Get your gear ready for deployment. Any questions? , and Smith isn't allowed any for being a smartass."
"How did they find the structure in the first place?" asked Cohen.
"Scientists were trying to solve a mystery in the area and stumbled across it. Just glad they didn't go in and mess with something they shouldn't have. Remember Venus."
At the mention of Venus, the team shuddered. What appeared to be an alien vessel looked to have crashed on the planet and the scientists who found it had let their curiosity get the best of them and had unleashed some sort of life form that nearly destroyed the colony. Had the squad arrived any later, the body count might have been higher.
"Still have the scars" muttered Teng.
"What's the dress code? Full assault, Hazmat, recon or regular armour" asked Valdez.
"Good question. We don't know yet. No one's risking going in yet, they're waiting on us. We go in with Hazmat to be safe and change accordingly" responded Crown. "Any more questions? No? Then, Dismissed."
As the team walked away to get ready for the mission, Teng turned to Cohen "Think this is gonna be the big one?" "Don't know, but it's got potential. I mean all the other sites just gave us basic tech we were already on our way to acquiring ourselves anyway. Be nice to get something new" said Cohen. "Still. Can't wait to see it".
29 hours to Mars
"All right people, get in line. 1 hour to party time. Gear prepped and ready to go?" asked Stanford.
"Yes sir!" was the reply.
"AI ready?" Stanford asked Cohen. "Packed and ready" Cohen replied. The use of AI's was pretty much restricted to capital ships and colonies. That was the official story anyway. N7 forces had been using them since the advent of the technology, the benefits of them in combat missions being just too good to pass up. While it might take a human tech several minutes to take over an enemy system, an AI could do in a fraction of the time and obtain all the necessary information from said system.
"Sitrep, LT." Said Crown.
"Team is good to go. Just give the word" stated Stanford.
"Good to know. Can't wait to get this mission on the way. Something about this one just seems different" said Crown.
Stanford chuckled "You always say that before every op. And yet nothing special happens".
"Law of averages means I'm gonna get it right eventually" laughed Crown.
Captain Lucius Jeffers was on the bridge looking at Mars through the viewport and couldn't help but smile. This was why he signed up with the Alliance, to be able to see worlds like this, he thought. Who would have thought a century ago that humanity would be able to accomplish what it had so far. True, it might have come about as a result of humans nearly destroying themselves, but the salient point was that it had happened and humanity was moving forward as a species. Some were beginning to say humanity had entered a new golden age with all the medical and technological leaps that had been achieved courtesy of the Alliance. Well, the alliance and some long gone aliens, (not that the general public had to know that. Alliance brass totally bought into "the less they know, the better" way of thinking.). That line of thought brought him back to the reason his ship was there and not en route to Luna base. He was actually glad it had been an Alliance science team that had found it and not a private firm, which would have made a cover up that much harder. As it was all he had to do was drop his N7 marines for a recon on the site and then move on for R&R. He had just begun thinking what he would do for his shore leave, when his comm. badge beeped.
"Unit ready for deployment" said Commander Crown.
"Very well commander. On my way." He replied.
As he entered the hangar and looked on the N7 unit, Jeffers was glad they were on his side. Everything about their state of the art armour was designed to intimidate the opposition, whoever they might be. He didn't know what had been done to the soldiers recruited for the program and a part of him didn't want to know if reports of the survival rates were to be believed. All he knew was that whatever had been done had made the survivors the most lethal beings in the forces with or without their armour.
"Officer on deck" snapped LT Stanford. And the entire unit came to attention.
"At ease" said Jeffers. "Mission is a go. Get in, recon and get out. You know the drill. Brass wanted the best, that's why you're here. That is all"
"Move out" said Commander Crown.
As the shuttle made its way to the surface, Crown was glad it wasn't a hot drop with someone trying to kill him before he had even made it to the ground yet. "Approaching drop zone" announced the pilot. "Final checks, people. Its party time." said Stanford. The squad duly checked they had everything required and gave the thumbs up. "Let's go" said Crown. With that the unit headed for the back of the shuttle and got in line to jump out. Because of the interference created by what had now being identified as the alien structure, the shuttle could not drop them directly at the site, so they would have to go in on foot. "Go. Go. Go" said the co pilot and starting with Commander Crown, the unit dived out of the shuttle. Courtesy of the armour, a parachute was unnecessary as the team hurtled to the ground "Impact in 3, 2, and 1. Impact. Alpha team successfully deployed. Proceeding to primary target" stated Crown. The team hit the ground running. "Spread out and remain in visual contact at all times. Alpha 2 take point. Everyone else, formation 3". After a few minutes of running, Stanford said "Have visual on target. Anyone picking up anything on scans?" A series of negatives was the reply. The team came to a halt in front of what seemed to be the entrance of the structure.
"Let's break her open. Alpha 5, you're up" said Crown. Cohen stepped forward and as he approached the front of the structure and made to touch the structure, it retracted upwards to show a downward corridor. "Well done, 5." said Crown. "Wasn't me Alpha 1." Cohen replied.
"Site's definitely not dormant. Send in the drone, 5." said Crown. This was definitely different, thought Crown. So far they hadn't encountered a live site. While the others still had tech that could be reverse engineered, none had been powered up when they had been found, even the vessel found on Venus had been powered up by a jury rigged generator.
"Drone giving the all clear. Atmospheric readings coming in... All good, breathable air, no radiation detected. Looks like Hazmat not needed, 1". Cohen said. "Right. Lose the Hazmat gear. Let's go in. Alpha 4 take point." said Crown and Teng stepped forward hefting his machine gun "4 on point" he said.
The team followed Teng down the corridor until it opened into what appeared to be an inner courtyard with three entrances. "Split up or take it one at a time?" Stanford asked Crown. "Narrow passages could only take one of us, one at a time anyway. Split up. Alpha 6 and 3 stay here and secure the room. Alpha 2 with me, we'll take the first corridor. Alpha 4 and 5 second corridor. Move out" said Crown.
Smith and Valdes moved to secure the room, with Teng and Cohen heading towards the second passage, with Teng taking point. Crown and Stanford headed for the first corridor, with Stanford on point. Once they were alone, Smith turned to Valdes and asked "Who do you think will meet their grisly end first? My money's on 4 and 5." "Nah, with Alpha 4 on point with his "little friend", nothing's getting past him" replied Valdez. "See your point. Sucks to be Alpha 1 and 2 then." joked Smith.
Crown had to say he was a bit disappointed with the site. When it had opened up, he had hoped to see... okay, he didn't know what he had hoped to see, but at least it would have been nice to at least find something. All he and Stanford had seen had amounted to zilch. "See anything?" he asked Stanford. "Nada. Looks like u were wrong again 1." Was the reply, Stanford was about to say "maybe next time", when over the comms they heard "Holy crap! What is that thing? Alpha 1, you are definitely gonna want to see this".
Cohen was in love. The moment he saw the craft, he felt like he finally understood all that poetry he read at school. He was never going to look at another vessel in the same way ever again. "On our way to you Alpha 4. Sit tight." came the commander's voice over the comms.
"Sounds like they found something" said Smith to Valdes.
"Sounds like" said Valdes. She looked to her right to see the commander and LT jogging past her and into the second passage way. As much as she wanted to follow her commanding officer and see what could be humanity's greatest discovery, she was a professional and would wait her turn. Besides it wasn't going anyway yet and neither was she.
As he saw the ship, Crown couldn't help but smile. "Law of averages Alpha 2, Law of averages" he said to Stanford. "Alpha 5 set up the drone to watch this beauty. Then let's check out the rest of this place."
The unit moved to the third passage and saw a structure in the centre of the room. "Look likes a computer terminal. I'm gonna set up the AI. Looks like we get to use her after all." Cohen said. As he attempted to set up the uplink the room lit up and the entire squad went on alert.
"What did you do 5?" asked Crown. "Nothing. Haven't even set up the AI." was Cohen's reply.
"Alpha 1, this place just lit up like a Christmas tree. What's going on?" Valdes asked over the comms.
"Don't know yet Alpha 3 will keep you updated. Just hold position. Alpha 5 give me something" said Crown.
Cohen really wished he could. He hadn't even touched the damn console yet and the alien base seemed intent on showing him up. Just as he was about to initiate the AI upload, a green glow washed over him. Too intent on his work to care, he finally stopped when he heard Teng say "5? You might want to see this". He looked to see what appeared to be a humanoid looking hologram speaking gibberish. The hologram seemed to flicker and then said in perfect English; "Welcome to Installation 5. I am Morlec. How can I be of assistance to you?"