This story takes place in an Alternate Universe that is vastly different from the original Mass Effect universe. First and foremost is that all races basically shares the same planet, second all races have their own civilizations and culture that are based on the real world and third is that it all takes place in a Victorian era esque setting.
1.
"Are we there yet mother?" A man in his mid twenty asks this question of his mother.
"No we still not there, but it will not be long before we do." An elderly woman that seems to be his mother just answered his question.
Then the both of them hear a loud thud followed by a momentary shake. This causes the both of them to be surprised by the events and prompt the young man to open the carriage window to ask the driver what just hit them.
"Bosa what did we just hit?" The man asks his Prothean chauffeur.
"I don't know sir, it's too dark to see, but I think it's just a rock." Bosa answers his employer's question the best he can.
The man then nodded and said in returns. "As long as we don't hit anything living Bosa and make sure we don't hit anything next time."
" Yes, sir of course!" The Prothean answered.
The young man then replied with a smile and then he closes the window behind him. The carriage the three are on are currently heading to the countryside to attends a party with dignitaries from both the Human Confederacy and the Asari Republic to celebrate the two country tenth anniversary since they signed a defense treaty with each other.
He then reaches for his breast pocket in order to takes out his pocket watch and then flips it open to see the time. "I just hope we're not too late. Because I don't know what the penalty will be for getting late to a party." He said before he closes the pocket watch.
"Oh dear, don't be silly. You're not in the academy anymore. You don't have to think that you can be punished for anything." The mother assures his son that they will be just fine if they were a little late.
"If you say so mother, but I don't think I'm suited for this sort of occasion." He humbly states his opinion.
"Nonsense. How could you even think of something like that!" His mother was furious when her son demeans himself like that. "Look at how handsome you look in your military uniform." The mother pointed at her son's grey naval officer uniform. "And you are just as handsome as your father was..." The mother was right. The son is a picture of perfection. A black crew cut hair, blue eyes, a jaw so sharp you can almost cut anything with it and even with the military uniform on he can't hide his well toned body. His mother is not so far off. She also has black hair and blue eyes, but the hair has start to turn gray on some part and her face may have shown some wrinkle despite this she is still quite beautiful for considering her age.
But when she starts comparing his looks with that of her husband she then starts to sob.
"Mother please don't cry." The son leans forward to stop his dear mother from crying.
"I'm sorry it's just that you look so much like your father and he would have been proud to see you like this." She said to him as single tears starts trickling from her left eyes, which she quickly wipes it clean and resumes as if nothing happened.
The son then returns to his seat to ask her another question regarding family. "You know what would make me happy mother is that my sister could also come to see me." The son asks his mother about his sister.
The mother's sad expression was replaced immediately with those of dismay when she hears about her daughter. "What about her?" She coldly retorts at her son. Pretending not to know anything about her, but he knew she does.
Her son meanwhile knows better and decided not to pursue it because she seems to still have not forgiven her, still he cannot help but to wanting to know more about his sister especially where she is now? The atmosphere between the two remains tense and quiet only the clopping sounds the horses outside made filled the room. He cannot stand this but no matter how much wanted everything to stop so he can better ask his mother but the carriage just keeps on moving towards their destination.
Few minutes have passed and the two still haven't talked to each other. The mere mentions of his sister just made his mother quiet all of a sudden. The son then tries to make small talk so he won't have to endure this silence from her after all these long years without even seeing her, but to his surprise his mother break the silence first.
"So how was naval school? Is it everything I told you it will be?" Her mother asks with a smile on her face.
The son caught off guard by her question, but then he decided to respond to her almost immediately. "Yes, it is exactly as you just said it will be."
"So, what part of it did you like the most?" His mother probably asking about which class he liked.
"Oh there's plenty, but what I like the most was theoretical application." He almost turns a smile when he mentioned that.
"Hmm... I don't think I remember that class when I attended." The mother was puzzled.
"It's a new one actually. This class was recently commissioned by Admiral Hacket. The class was intenede to teach new officers to apply military theories and put it into practical use in times of war and also to found uses for it even during peace." The son tried his best to explain his new subject to his dear mother.
"You got to give it to Hacket all right. Only he would have the gumption to create an experimental class. Like this." His mother gives her opinions to him.
"I guess he does." He slightly laughed at that. "But I assures you mother that it was not a waste time. I learn much from that class."
"To tell the truth I was half expecting you to love the shooting practice." His mother jokingly said to him.
"Oh, that's too mother. Although I'm not that much of a shot compared to my sister though... Oops?" The son accidentally mentioned his sister.
His mother didn't say anything, but instead just stares at her son. The two continue not talking about anything until the carriage grind to an immediate halt followed by their driver saying. "We're here." Then the Prothean steps down from where he seated to let the occupants out. The driver then proceeds to help the mother off first by extending his hand. "Right this way my lady." The mother then allows the Prothean to take her hand so he can help her gently off the carriage. When her foots are firmly planted on the ground the Prothean then politely bow to lady to send her off and then the Prothean proceed to do the same to the son.
"Right this way sir." He offers his hand to the son.
"No, thank you Bosa. I can get off on my own." The son politely refuses the Prothean's offer of help.
"Very well sir." He then steps aside and put both his hands behind him as he watch the son descend from the carriage all by himself.
When the two finally off the carriage the Prothean then he shut the carriage's door behind them and get up back to where he seated so he can find place to park the carriage.
"I will take my leave, my lady." The Prothean tips of his hat to the lady before he leaves to park the carriage somewhere in the back.
The two now left stood standing in front of the Asari embassy. The strange architecture of the embassy caused the son to comment on it. "What a strange building the Asari have."
"Its Asari what do you expect. They prefer form over function." The mother retorts to her son.
And she is right the Asari embassy have something that no other human buildings have a curve for once. The son ponders on what made such species to build their building like this and how did they managed to create it. Seeing such odd building reminded him that the world is still a large place and it is a sobering thought to have.
"So what are you waiting for dear, let's go in." His mother said to her spaced out son.
This causes the son to quickly drop whatever he was thinking about and follow her to the embassy's door. The door to the embassy was guarded by two asari. When they walk closer to the two the son in addition to the two asari strange armor he immediately notices and recognized the strange weapon they have. It was an air gun. An exotic firearm that does not require gunpowder to propel the projectiles. He knew what it was immediately after seeing the gun's pneumatic pump and they also wore black leather armor that cover their torso, arms but not the area around the elbows and shoulders, their armor also exposed their thigh. In addition to that they also have skirt and leather boots.
"Do you have an invitation?" One of the Asari guard that approaches them said this.
"Of course." The mother rummages through her purse for her invitation. "Here." She then gives it to her.
"Admiral Hannah Shepard of the Confederate Navy. Yes, you may come in, but before you do can you tell us who the young man behind you is?"
"He's my son. John Shepard." Hannah explains to the two.
The Asari looks at John for a few moments and notices the sidearm in his holster. "I'm sorry, but your son cannot enter the embassy without relinquishing his gun first."
"That's unfortunate. John my dear you have to leave your gun here." His mother tells his son to do what the Asari just said.
Shepard knows for a fact that he has to surrender his gun before he can attend the function, but this is one request that he have a hard time with complying and it is not because he have to surrender his gun which are considered an inalienable right in the Confederacy, but is that he have to surrender this one particular gun. For him it is not just any gun, it is the gun he receives during graduation. A gun that is only given to the class Valedictorian. He took the gun out of the holster so he can take a closer look at it. It is a six-shot revolver with an ivory grip and the grip are beautifully adorned with diamonds. Short to say it is not just something you give away to someone you don't know.
"C'mon just give the nice Asari the gun." His mother whispers to him.
And so with a heavy heart and great reluctance. He decides to part way with his sidearm (for the moment at least.) He gives the gun to one of the Asari guard and then he removes his holster which is also specially made to hold the gun.
"All right, Hannah and John Shepard the two of you may come in." The Asari said to the two of them after she receives the gun.
"Thank you very much." Hannah and her son John then enter through the embassy's door to attend the party.
Inside John finds himself like a fish out of water. All his military training in the academy never prepares him for what happens next. He might have been taught basic etiquettes, but he is not sure if it will work on foreign dignitaries. He is afraid that one slip up and he will cause an international incident and subsequently his career. His instructor told him that whenever he get nervous pictures the other person naked. It might help if not for the Asari wearing next to nothing. This should not have surprised him. The Asari after all are famous or infamous for their open display of sexuality which are in stark contrast to Human prudishness. The Asari attending the party all wear sexually revealing outfit where the Human wore something more modest like his mother in a blue evening gown.
Even though this is technically a party there is not a lot of merry making going on, the differences in culture may contribute to this. The Asari sees human as being that represses them self emotionally while the human sees the Asari as Vulgar being that engages in casual debauchery. This causes both side to hold themselves back in fear of offending each other customs and it is especially troubling when the two sides are supposed to be ally.
John didn't know how to react to all of this and just stood there, that is until someone pulls him away. "C'mon lets go meet up with Hacket." Hannah said before he pulls his own son by the arm.
John was slightly irritated that his own mother is still treating him like a child, but he appreciated her action nonetheless. The two then search for Hacket's location among the crowds of dignitaries and VIPs. The two continue searching until they were hailed by a graying old man with a prominent scar on his face and he also wears the same Naval grey dress uniform John had albeit with more medals and ranks than he has. "Over here you two."
"There you are you old goat." Hannah said to Hacket and standing beside him are another four people that John haven't met yet.
"Mrs. Shepard good to see you." Hacket then hold her left hand and planted a kiss on her knuckle.
"Always the charmers aren't you?" Hannah was positively charmed by Hacket's gentlemanly conduct towards her.
"For you, always and it seems you brought your son in here." Hackets said this to her.
"Yes, I believe you met him already?" Hannah shows her son to him.
"Met him? I was there when I gave him the Valedictorian status." Hacket answers her.
"Sir! I thank you for giving me that great honor!" John salutes him.
The whole room's attention then shifted towards John. The guests stop whatever they are doing to witness a man in a grey naval uniform saluting his senior officer. This cause Hacket and the other in his group to take notice of the stare they received.
"At ease soldier we're not at the academy anymore." Hacket said to John so he would stop saluting so he can't bring attention to the group.
"Yes, sir!" He then stops saluting as ordered.
The guest then resumes staring at each other awkwardly at the drop of his hand. Hacket then take another looks at John and cannot help but to smile a little at his antic, because John reminded him about him self when he was young. "Ah, I forgot to introduce you to my companions earlier." Hacket pointed to the four behind him.
"Shepards I want you to meet my best friend Anderson." Hacket first introduce him to Anderson. Anderson is an imposing dark skinned man with an even more imposing voice and he also wears the same grey naval dress uniform. "Nice to meet the two of you." Anderson said when he introduces himself by stretching out his hand to him. Shepard can feel strong grip the man seems to have.
"And this beautiful lady next to him is Kahlee Sanders." Hacket continues the introduction by introducing Kahlee Sanders a blonde woman with blue eyes and she also wears the same grey dress uniform. "Nice to meet you too." Kahlee said while she also introduces herself to John.
"And that grouchy old fellow over there is Matthew Williams." Hacket pointed at a man roughly the same age as John's mother. He has a black hair that are starting to turns gray and he seems to be wearing a different color dress uniform than the rest. His dress uniform color is green which means he is in the army as opposed to the navy. "Don't listen to the old goat. I'm only grouchy when I have to listen to him." Matthew introduces himself.
"And finally this lovely little lady is his daughter, Ashley. "Hi, there. Nice to meet the two of you." The young lady is around the same age as John, she's also a brunette like her father and she has her hair tied up in a bun, but unlike her father she doesn't wear the army green dress uniform. She wore the navy grey.
When they finally done with the introducing themselves to another. Hacket said this to the group. "Forgive me if I come across as boorish, but I would like to speak personally with Shepard. If everyone else does not mind?"
The group just nodded in unison and leaves the two alone when asked. Hacket then resumes the conversation by saying this to John. "So, do you bring the gun with you, son?"
John knew what gun he meant. "Yes, I did sir, but the guard outside has taken custody of my firearm for the moments." He tells Hacket the truth.
"Asari..." Hacket tone changes into that of loathing when the word Asari escaped his lips. "What right do they have to separate a man from his gun?" Hacket voices his complaint, but not loud enough so that others won't hear him.
"With all due respect, sir. We're in their embassy. Which means we are technically in their country and that mean we have to follow their rules?" John politely point it out the reasons why to his superior.
Hacket smiles when he said that to him. "Son, I'm just voicing my opinion. No need to take it seriously."
"Of course sir, I mean no disrespect." John slightly bows to him.
"The right to bears arm aside this is still a pretty dreary party." Hacket commented on the party.
"I notice sir." John reply.
"Even though we have established defense cooperation with them ten years ago. Our relations still remains quite strained. Due to our difference in values and not to mentioned. Not so long ago we used to be rival fighting for control over the Nautillus Sea. Speaking of which Shepard I'm going to give you some pop quizzes as to proof to yourself that you're worth of the title Valedictorian." Hacket proclaims this to Shepard.
"I prefer not to sir, but if it's your order I can't refuse it anyway." John retorts back.
"Good, you know the first rule of being a soldier. You can questions your order, but you can't disobey it. All right first question. Why did we decide to ally ourselves with the Asari?"
"Because of the Turian, sir." John keeping it simple.
"Yes, because as we fought each other. The Turian used that opportunity to strike us when we are at our weakest and declared war on both of us. They took the island of Zesmeni from the Asari and from us they took Horizon. Seeing the new threat posed by the Turian both side then agree to a limited alliance against the Turian. " Hacket explains to John. "Now next question. What deals are included in our agreements?"
"Sir, the deals included opening trade and political relations, military assistance in times of war, sharing the Nautillus sea which includes exploitations of resources and joint patrol in the entire sea."
"Very good. You do paid attention in class. Our agreement with the Asari made our eastern front secure. So we can focus more on protecting and expanding our interest elsewhere. Also one last question there is a separate agreement signed between our two governments and it is considered to be more controversial than our alliance with them. Can you tell me what that is?" Hacket's tone changes into his serious one.
"Of course sir, it's called the Emancipation treaty. It's a treaty to end the slavery of the Prothean in the Confederacy and it's a part of the Arcturus Accord and the Asari will only agree to an alliance with us, if we agree to sign it."
"As much as I despise the slavery in our country. The treaty has done more harm than good. It effectively divided our people between the abolitionist and the non-abolitionist. The north and the south. Of which I suspect was their intention in their first place."
"I'm sorry sir, but I though ending slavery was supposed to be good?" Shepard seems to be confused at what Hacket just said.
"If only it was so, but the truth is just not that simple. You might think that slavery is evil but that's only because you were born in the north. Slavery are hardly practiced in there, scant a few state that do. While in the south things are different in there. They see slavery as their god given right. When we signed that deal, the whole south threatens to secede from us. It is not until we signed the Watson compromise to guarantees slave ownership in every southern state below the canal."
"But won't the Asari will just notices that we went against their deal with the compromise?"
"You make it seems that the Asari have the luxury to deny our agreement. The truth is they need this deal more than us. Considering that they are closer to the Turian. They only added that treaty so that they can sell the idea of our alliance to their populations and besides they at least manage to at least get half the country to renounce slavery. That's something to tell to their citizens."
"Even so sir, I would prefer to think that this alliance would last."
"Then I envy you. Most of us would agree that after the Turian threat ends we would be back at each others throat in no time."
"There's nothing wrong with holding on to a little bit of hope, sir. Although I do hope that we need not to go to war if it comes to that."
"You and me both son. You and me both." Hacket put his hand on the young officer's shoulder and stare at him directly in the eyes to show how much he really meant it.
"I hope so sir. I learn much about the Asari way of warfare in the Academy and from what I learn they are not pushover."
"And speaking of war John I read your thesis."
"Really sir. You actually personally read my thesis?" John was surprised to hear that the great Hacket himself took the time off to read his thesis.
"Yes. I even like it so much I want you to create a special unit based on your thesis." Nothing could have prepared John for what Hacket just said.
"Are you sure sir? I mean it's all still theoretical at this point." John tries to convince Hacket otherwise.
"No, I won't have it. I read it and your theory are sound." Hacket is adamant about his decision.
"If you say so sir." Like a good soldier John may voice his disapproval, but he cannot disobey his commanding officer.
"Oh and I almost forgot John. You will be put under Anderson's fleet on his special ship." Hacket reveals where John will be stationed at.
"I'm honored sir." Again John is pleasantly surprised to hear that not only that his theory will be adopted by the navy but he will also have the privilege to serve under Admiral Anderson.
Hacket then extends both his hand to grabs nearby champagne glasses for both of them. "Cheers." He said to him before they lightly tap the two glasses together and then the two took at the same time small sip from it.
& that is the end of the 1st chapter & I will continue this if I have ten comments on my box but if not then I have some time writing some other stuff.
Also if any of you were wondering I based the races on variety of cultures and civilizations:
Human for example are based mostly on the United States, because 'Merica that's why. Although their capital is pretty much an expy of London. Their government is a democracy, but only land owning citizens can vote.
The Asari are based on ancient Greek republic where unlike the human one everybody can vote.
The Turian are just outright Roman in everything.
The Batarian that will play an important role later on are based on East Asian culture.
