I do not own any of the original mass effect characters, they are the property of Bioware.
The Adaan are a species unlike any other. The Collectors had been tasked by the Reapers with creating the Adaan, a super race. The Collectors considered several candidates: Krogans, Humans, Quarians, and Turians. After much consideration, they decided that a mix of races would best fit the role. Humans were to be included given their unmatched genetic potential and ability to thrive in levo environments. The Krogan lacked the intelligence desired; and the Turians were too genetically confined. The Quarians, however, were technologically intelligent, almost up to par with the humans in physicality, but lacked the Humans' warrior drive. Unlike Humans, Quarians thrived in dextro environments. The Collectors combined the Humans and Quarians in a certain way as to effectively create a race of super intelligent super soldiers that could deal with both levo and dextro environments. The Adaan army, the Collectors believed, would be nearly unstoppable.
The Reapers wanted the Collectors to gather thirty of the smartest, most genetically diverse Quarian females and thirty of the strongest, most physically adept warrior human males. Many of the humans were collected among the Vikings and the Celtic warrior clans. From the Quarian and Human specimen, the Collectors created a super race that would await the harvest. To keep the new race from developing space travel, the Adaan were placed in a relay dead zone on a planet called Kera. What would happen next was outside the Reaper's plans.
Year 2158 - First contact with the Adaan
After living 2,700 years on Kera, the Adaan developed a unique technology. They traveled the stars with jumps in between space. This space travel was developed despite the lack of any alien technology being left behind. The hybrid race had long forgotten their Quarian roots; but greatly embraced their Viking/Celtic roots in how they designed their simple and brutal, yet elegant ships. Many of the Adaan ships were gargantuan, often spanning over 5 kilometers. The really large ships, called fafnir class ships, were over 100 kilometers in length. The fafnir class ships were both the acting government ships as well as the capital ships. Each ship was equipped with spikes and high heat harpoons used in boarding battles. The harpoons were high heat bolts that would dig deep into a ships hull, then explode. For close to mid range fire, the ships were equipped with plasma shot that would melt a ships armor and cause massive amounts of radiation exposure. Magnetic propulsion was used for long range fire to propel a depleted uranium and iron slug at 2% the speed of light. The Adaan ships were built with gravity plating that gave the ships the same gravitational pull as their homeworld Kera. Kinetic stabilizers were placed inside the hull to protect the ship's interior from jarring. The body armor and ship armor were remarkable and made of metal, called Lord Steel, that is somewhat heavy, but insanely tough and resistant. To be destroyed, the armor would need to be heated to 12000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Adaan also developed advanced weaponry for use in ground battles. These weapons included magnetically propelled slugs between .22 cal and .90 cal. These weapons were extremely effective, but required the strength of the Adaan or the Krogan to use. The Adaan warriors preferred melee weapons to ranged weapons which could bash and cut normal steel without ruining the weapon's condition. The Adaan warred between themselves in an almost casual manner. There were few all out wars and even these usually did not use ships. The ships were used primarily for the occasional naval battles between different clans. Although the Adaan had lost most of their Quarian heritage, all Adaan spoke Ancient Khellish, Ancient Gallic, and Zurellic.
First Contact
The Lianai
Tala'Nael vas Lianai has had a really bad day so far. First she was sent to the edge of space to discover new mining potential. All that went down the drain when the Lianai was attacked by Batarian pirates.
"We can't take another hit ma'am!", The Lianai's Chief Engineer stated frantically.
"Divert all Power to shields. NOW!", Tala was having a hell of a day and three days after coming into command of the ship no less.
"yes ma'am.", came the reply.
Just as the Chief Engineer diverted power the sensors officer and comm officer Shala'Raan spoke up, "Relay 483 is active ma'am it may be our only way out."
"I'll take it.", Tala stated.
"Yes ma'm"
Her weapons officer then stated, "But, that against Council law."
"Screw Council law.", Tala said, "If we don't do it we die."
"Yes ma'am", came the weapons officer's reply.
Batarian pirate frigate
"Sir, the quarians are headed to the relay.", said the XO.
"Shoot them before they hit the relay we won't break this Council law.", stated Captain Forlan.
"Yes sir, preparing cannons."
The Lianai
"They are charging weapons."
"Then we better hit they relay first."
"Yes captain."
Normal Battle View
Just before the Batarian frigate fired the Lianai hit the relay.
Other Side
Gunnar O'Long was stationed at the artifact that was recently discovered. His people had already found several of these so called relays and destroyed them. The Adaan took great pride in their own technology and did not want to use something that limited. Although many useful discoveries were made they did not desire to abandon their own tech for it. The only parts that were used was an omnitool converted over to their own tech. The dangers of instantly converting tech was too great. If the ones who built it were out there then they would face weapons made to be effective against that type of tech.
Gunnar was curious as to who would build these relays when the Adaan had discovered the hyperdrive powered by a contained black hole. It may take a few days for them to get across the galaxy but while these relays were almost instantaneous, they were also a great weakness. Whoever had this tech would only be able to travel great distances with the relays. In order to protect all five hundred systems that the Adaan controlled the relays were destroyed. This relay in particular was scheduled for destruction.
"Sir, the relay is activating", the Ralk quipped.
"Tell the fleets to fall back to a safe distance and prepare to fire.", Gunnar wasn't going to be caught off guard.
While Gunnar did not expect an arrival through the relay, it always demanded extreme caution. Every active relay was always accompanied by a fleet of thirty ships or more. Each relay defense fleet consisted of ten frigates, twelve destroyers, two carriers, and one leviathan. The frigates were about two and a half kilometers in length, the destroyers twice that, the carriers forty kilometers, and the leviathan fiftyfive kilometers. All in all a fair fleet nothing like the ones protecting the colonies or the mines, they thought it was big enough.
"Sir, one object coming through."
"All ships prepare to fire, but hold until I give the order. This is a first contact situation and we will handle it delicately while holding them at point at least at first.", Gunnar looked around and demanded, "is that understood?"
"Yes sir", came the fleets reply.
Tala POV
"We just exited the…. kellah."
Everyone on the bridge was speechless. The sight before them was something out of a dream or a nightmare. The ships were massive, the smallest were bigger than any dreadnaught known. The largest were only comparable to a space station. The design was something else entirely. They had a blocky shape and massive width. Whoever they were they a massive amount of ezzo in order to build ships that huge.
"ma'am, I'm not reading any ezzo in ships, but that's impossible. The sensors must be broken.", her sensors officer was starting to shake.
"They are hailing us", Shala informed almost whispering it in fear.
"Well answer", Tala pointed out the bridge,"Do we really want to keep the giants waiting."
The voice that came through seemed to be a series of gruffs and rough coos. Then it came again but in a guttural yet smooth voice. Tala was going to reply when she heard it.
"Head away from the relay slowly and then contact us back in whichever language is necessary. If you do not comply we will open fire.", Tala and the whole crew heard it. The voice spoke in fluent and crisp ancient Khellish.
"Do as he says.", Tala was afraid of what would happen even if they did speak one of their languages and better than most Quarians at that. They didn't seem in the least bit Quarian, everything was wrong. Where was the hospitality, the smooth shapes or the lack of resources. Maybe they will help with the geth. No, just because they speak the old language doesn't mean they have or want anything to do with the geth.
Once they had moved far from the relay Tala was ready to send a message.
"We have moved far from the relay are ready to make first contact. We have invaded your territory will proceed however you wish."
Gunnar POV
Gunnar heard, but it was not as fluent as he would have spoken it, but it was well sid none the less. He was trying to think of the best way to proceed. He had no idea who they were but there was a nice planet that would work it was uncolonized.
"Proceed to the planet at these coordinates and drop a shuttle with your captain and an armed guard in the hour. Are these terms acceptable?"
"Yes"
"Good, I will land first and then proceed after me."
"Understood."
One Hour Later - Planet Elkonsi
Gunnar stood inside his shuttle which to the Quarians seemed to be a frigate. He awaited the call.
"They are here." Good lets meet these people.
Gunnar stepped out of his drop ship onto the planet. When he hit the ground he noticed the aliens in front of him. Every one of them seemed small and weak. The males had an almost sickly look to them, but the females had bodies the likes he only wished most Adaanian women had. They were down right gorgeous looking, and the suits they wore only made them look more seductive. 'Yes, this is a race I believe we will enjoy.'
Tala on the other hand was dumbfounded. These people look like male variants of the asari given a few differences. They are huge easily over two meters and those muscles. The armor may be making up the bulk. Their armor is beautiful, and it looks carved almost and metal. I wonder if they can take off the helmets.
Seemingly answering her Gunnar took his helmet and his strong face was shown. He had dark brown hair that was cut to a wide strip going down the middle of his head. His beard was also dark brown and braided with iron rings in it. His skin was grey and he had black lines on his face along with eyes also like an asari. His eyes were hazel and spoke of brilliance and determination.
"Why have you come into the territory of High King Gorl of the Adaan and my father?", Gunnar asked setting the precedence in the meeting.
Once again the Quarians were taken back by the way he spoke ancient Khellish with such grace and feeling that he must have been raised speaking it. "We entered this area while running from pirates. Our ship is badly damaged and we will not be able to make it home like that."
"Then enter into the docking bay of my ship. We will take you there and we can speak more along the way. Being the expedition leader affords me that ability."
"That would be very kind of you but the relay path goes through Council space and you will not be welcome there."
"Where is your home located and don't worry about it just tell me."
"Four thousand light years from here."
"Then it will be a two day trip. We have to destroy the relay first though."
"WHAT! YOU'RE GONNA DESTROY OUR ONLY WAY HOME!"
"No, we do not use these relays. We destroy everyone we come across. We can travel at two thousand light years per day. Traveling to your home will be easy, but the defense of my people must come first."
Tala looked around at her crew who were frozen in place staring at Gunnar. She couldn't accept this they destroyed any Prothean tech they came into contact with. "No, don't destroy it all our tech is based on that tech. Our ships can only travel twelve light years per day without the relay."
"That tech is dangerous and not our own we want nothing to do with it. We have colonized over three hundred systems without it. It is useless to us and is a tactical weakness."
The Quarians didn't know what to say. The people before them shunned ezzo and had discovered a better system. They had to act on it for the fleet. "Fine, take us there."
"Fleet, destroy the relay"
Writer's Input: I would appreciate it if any readers who would like to see this story continue could review and tell me how you think the first contact should play out. Know that I have an idea of where I want to go, but I want input none the less.