WARNING: This is my first fanfiction, so there is a high probability that I will mess up somewhere. In that case, please leave a review stating where and what I did wrong, and I will at least try to correct it.
Summary: What if? A very big question when it comes to history. In this case, the question is what would happen if humanity had done things differently? What if they hadn't discovered the Prothean facility on Mars? What if their technology had gone in a completely different direction, only discovering Element Zero after interstellar travel? AU
AN: I've already said it in the summary, but I will state it again anyway. This is a VERY AU fic. Humanity will be extremely different from the ME universe, and this will cause some massive differences in the timeline and such. Also, this first chapter is only a timeline and tech info for to establish what humanity is like. I will be uploading the first actual chapter very shortly (read a couple minutes) after I upload this one, so sit tight if it isn't already up yet. I also promise that there won't ever be another infodump this size ever again.
Timeline:
2032: European nations put forth a proposal to the UN to unite the space programs of all UN nations to, hopefully, accomplish more.
2033: The UN accepts the proposal, and the United Nations Space Agency is created.
2038: On its 5 year anniversary, the UNSA announces plans for a manned mission to Mars. It will take many years and billions of dollars, but they are determined to get it done.
2046: Dr. Wilhelm Schoen creates the first "nano-bots". Although they are not true nano-bots, being just over a millimeter long, they are a step in the right direction.
2051: The first true nano-bot is created. The UNSA buys hundreds of tons of them for use on the Mars mission.
2053: It is announced that a launch date has been chosen for the mission to Mars. While the exact date is not announced due to the rising popularity of "earth first" terrorist groups, it is said to be in early 2055.
April 14, 2055: The first manned mission to mars is launched, with a crew of 5. It uses the latest in electromagnetic shielding, medical nano-bots, and plasma propulsion technology.
2056: The lander touches down on Mars, specifically in the Noctis Labyrinthus. The first words of Capt. Frank Shepard were "What? No evil aliens trying to rip my head off? That's boring."
2056-2057: After 2 months on Mars, the mission returns to earth. It is later revealed that there were at least 7 assassination attempts made on various crew members within a month of returning.
2059: Using the latest in medical nano, doctors have successfully created a "cure" for aging. While not perfect, it is estimated that the average human can now live up to 350 years.
2060-2075: A quiet time period, containing three more missions to Mars and continued development of various technologies, especially in the computer and nano-bot industries. Nano construction techniques quickly become quicker, cheaper, and more efficient that traditional factories, causing and upsurge in countries producing their own goods. Many developing countries try to shut this down due to the majority of their income being in cheap labor for factories, but they are unsuccessful.
2077: China withdraws from the UN, stating that there are "too many cultural differences to overcome for us to stay". It is unknown the real reason for the withdrawal.
2078-2080: various other East Asian nations withdraw from the UN, citing the same as China. It is believed they are being pressured by the Chinese for some reason.
2081: In a surprise move, China militarily conquers most of East Asia. Many people are worried about this move, as only South Korea, Japan, and Singapore are left unconquered. The UN Security Council quietly approves of a series of orbital strike satellites being launched under the guise of a science mission. The satellites are highly classified.
2084: Chinese military forces cross the border into South Korea. The UN promptly responds, sending troops and aid into the small country. In a highly classified meeting, the UN Security Council decides to move orbital strike satellites over China and the front line.
February 14, 2085: China launches a series of nuclear missiles into various UN nations. Most are stopped, however two missiles made it through, one hitting Moscow and the other hitting San Francisco. In retaliation, the UN Security Council approves the launch of orbital strikes on key Chinese strongholds and precision strikes on political centers.
2085-2087: After the orbital strikes, the Chinese war effort fell apart. The UN moves into china, dismantling the government and demilitarizing the entire country. The region is put under direct UN supervision "until the current humanitarian crisis is ended, and the nations can support themselves".
2087-2100: The entire East Asian region undergoes a surprising transformation. With UN supervision, a series of new countries form, creating an entirely new level of stability in the region. Some of the new countries include a reunited Korea, Tibet, South Mongolia, and East Turkistan. Surprisingly, the entirety of the region is completely democratic and all end up rejoining the UN. In other spheres, there are two more missions to Mars, and development starts on the first true AI.
2100-2115: Overpopulation starts to become a problem on earth. With medical nano-bots being able to cure most diseases (even cancer), and slowing aging, people simply aren't dying as much. Plans are made to help alleviate this problem, from terraforming Mars to creation of habitats in orbit of Earth. Also, the first cerebral implants are designed and injected into people using nano-bots. These implants allow for people to directly interface with computers via their mind.
2117: The first AI, named "Adam" is officially online. This is signaled by it asking the question "Am I alive?" It is said to have the intelligence of the average 8 year old.
2118: After 10 months of being online, Adam has already "grown up". Based on a series of tests and conversations with the AI, it is estimated that he (as the AI has a male personality) has the mental development of a 30 year old. Having unlimited access to the internet, he also has unofficial doctorates in everything.
2120: In a fit of boredom, Adam creates another AI. He names her Eve in the same vein that he was named. With Adam's assistance, Eve "grows up" in a matter of weeks.
2120-2130: AI technology starts to become commonplace, and after a couple years, AIs are firmly ingrained in human society. Further development of specialist AIs, who focus on specific tasks is initiated.
2131: A series of AI are commissioned by the UNSA to help in the development of various projects.
2133: After 2 years of development, the UNSA reveals in a press conference that they have finished the designing of a series of orbital habitats and space elevators. They will use centrifugal force to simulate gravity.
2135-2150: The orbital habitats are launched a piece at a time, and the elevator cables are dropped without problems. Also, a series of unmanned missions to Mars are launched with basic terra forming equipment to start changing the climate of the planet. It is later revealed that many of the "earth first" terrorist organizations are infiltrated and taken down in this time period.
2152: The first people move into the orbital habitats. It is praised as one of humanities greatest achievements.
2155-2180: More orbital habitats are built, in depth terraforming of Mars begins, and the first private company sends a mining probe to the asteroid belt. This is praised as the start of humanity's Golden Age.
2179: With numerous AIs assisting, the UNSA very quietly begins work on a Faster Than Light drive, based off the principles laid down by Miguel Alcubierre in 1994 (AN: Yes he is a real person and did hypothesize a way to achieve FTL travel).
2180-2200: Many companies start to mine asteroids, bringing in raw materials in the thousands of tons for nano-bot factories to make just about anything out of. Mars becomes terraformed enough to start planning for settlements. While people wouldn't be able to be outside without a suit, it is nowhere near as bad as it was.
2200-2225: The first settlement on Mars is created, and a few years later, populated. People there have to exercise more than people on earth due to the lower gravity, but the people who move there say it's a small price to pay. Cold fusion is made a reality, and most of the world switches over to what is called "the ultimate in clean energy". The design for an FTL drive is finished, however the power required is massive and the project is put on a back burner until better power options are created.
2228: A student studying for a doctorate in physics writes a paper on a theoretical way for an object to convert its own kinetic energy into useable energy. The UNSA seizes the opportunity and immediately starts work on an actual prototype, as this could be the answer to the FTL energy problem.
2230-2240: The prototype works, and priorities again quietly shift back to the FTL drive. A new type of ship is created, with the public believing it to be a manned mission to the Jovian Moons (which is somewhat true as that is the ships first destination). The ship is then built in orbit due to its size and complexity.
2243-2244: The ship, called the Enterprise after an old science fiction series, sets off with a crew of 20 people and 3 AIs, one of which is completely devoted to making sure the FTL drive is in working order. The crew puts itself into suspended animation, as the 10G acceleration of the craft would crush them otherwise. It accelerates to 90% the speed of light, using the Jovian moons as sling shots to help increase velocity and change course. The ship then activates its drive, and reaches Alpha Centauri in under 5 days. The crew is woken by the AIs, a small celebration takes place, the existence of Alpha Centauri Bb is confirmed, they turn around, use the Centauri A as a sling shot again, and go home. The entire trip takes 8 months.
2245-2275: With the unveiling of an FTL drive, money is poured into the space program from both governments and civilians to make it better. Another two ships are created, and all three start to look around out stellar neighborhood for planets to possibly colonize.
2276: Specialists in quantum mechanics find a way to communicate using quantum entanglement. Current units are too massive for ships, but work is progressing.
2279: While examining the new "Quantum Coupled Communicator" or QCC, an AI realizes that it may be possible to recreate the phenomenon without the particle "anchors" on either end, and instead send a true signal through the link. The physics is above most of the heads in the field, and only a couple humans truly understand it.
2280-2295: Development of QCCs continue, and it is eventually revealed that power could also be sent through the link. With the devices getting smaller and smaller, it was finally decided to mount one on a starship. The resultant increase in power the ship received (as it was receiving all its power from a massive set of fusion reactors on earth) meant that it didn't need to accelerate to 90% the speed of light before it went FTL. It made a round trip to Alpha Centauri in under 3 days.
2295-2350: Humanity expands at a rapid rate, colonizing over 30 planets. Technology continues to develop. AIs get faster, nano-bots get smaller and have more functions, ships get bigger and faster, and life goes on.
2354: While on a survey mission, a deep space mining company stumble upon a new element. Science vessels are immediately dispatched to figure out what it was. The results are astounding. The newly named "Element Zero" was capable of creating fields around it that affected mass based on the type of charge applied to it.
2355-2360: A test ship is designed and built, using an "Eezo Core". It is determined that the modern Alcubierre Drive is much more effective, as the Eezo drive could only go 3 light years a day while the latest Alcubierre Drive could go 70. However, scientists couldn't ignore the fact that Element Zero was extremely useful for Slower Than Light (STL) travel as an inertial compensator.
2360-2370: Through extensive research and space-time manipulation, scientists artificially recreate the effect of Eezo in STL travel. The new inertial compensators are an instant hit, as previously the only way to get anywhere fast was through FTL travel.
2373: A new sensor outpost in Martian orbit, designed to find ships based on the imprint left by their inertial compensator, gets strange readings from Deseado Crater. After analysis, the readings match up perfectly with the original Element Zero core, which was in a museum on earth. Fearing a terrorist group was creating its own ship, the UN sent in special operations troops to examine the area. They never expected to find alien ruins.
2375-2380: The ruins are slowly excavated, with people being careful not to damage anything whatsoever. After months of digging, they finally have the entire structure cleaned out. After a few weeks of examining physical objects, the decision is made to examine the computer systems. A team of highly specialized AIs is deployed into the computer, and they begin to extract all the data they could find (and hack what they couldn't get to). After cleaning out the system, the AIs started to repair, decipher, and translate the data. It is estimated that without the help of the AI, it over 85% of the data contained within would be lost. After 3 years of work, the AIs finish. The result was humanity learning of the Protheans, their empire, their war with the Reapers, and their overly complicated plan to end it all.
2379: In a massive press conference, the UN Security Council announces the existence of the Reapers, and declares them a threat. In response, the UN decides that it needs a more centralized leadership, and is reorganized into the Human Systems Alliance. The first act of the SA is to start research into space warfare.
2380-2475: The SA thrives under the new leadership, with almost everyone agreeing the change was worth it. The first warships are produced, using mass accelerator technology for weapons. As improvements are made, naval designers start to experiment with both particle weaponry and nuclear warheads. The resulting weapons were so powerful, that it was decided that large warships simply weren't the effort to mass produce, as they were killed too easily in the long run. With the invention of the micro inertial compensator making fighters more effective, designers finally found what they believed to be the perfect fleet.
2477: Today.
Codex
F/A-753 Peregrine: The Peregrine fighter is the primary fighter for the System Alliance Military. It has a nano-hull, allowing it to change into a number of shapes depending on the situation, from a rocket to a glider. It is armed with 2 P-177 Particle Accelerators, and room for up to 30 light or 18 medium missiles, with a standard load being 16 light and 10 medium missiles for the navy, and 14 medium and 10 light missiles for ground forces. It is also able to carry external ordinance packages on launch. Due to the nature of the hull, it has no set dimensions, however the standard combat configuration is 22.5 meters long, 17.8m meters wide, and 4.5 meters tall. It has a top acceleration of 35,000Gs.
Gryphon-Class Frigate: The most common type of ship in the Alliance Navy, the Gryphon-Class frigate is 264 meters long, 115 meters wide, and 41 meters tall. It has 2 light particle cannon turrets (1 ventral and 1 dorsal), multiple point defense turrets, and a series of medium missile launchers. It has 1.3 meters of armor, one shuttle, a crew of 55, and numerous escape pods. Unlike their Council counterparts, these frigates regularly engage enemy capital ships. Acceleration is about 16,500Gs.
Patton-Class Destroyer: Destroyers fill in the same role as Council cruisers, a medium combatant. The Patton-Class is 612 meters long, 278 meters wide, and 104 meters tall. It has 4 dual particle cannon turrets (again split between ventral and dorsal), again multiple point defense turrets, and again, a series of medium missile launchers. It has 3.5 meters of armor, two shuttles, a crew of 180, and escape pods. Acceleration is about 15,000Gs.
Longbow-Class Missile Destroyer: The Longbow-Class is a unique ship. It's based on the same hull as the Patton-Class, and is mostly the same, however it only has 2 light particle cannon turrets with the extra room being devoted to heavy missile launchers.
Caesar-Class Heavy Cruiser: The Caesar-Class is the primary heavy combatant of the Alliance Navy, at 1.2 Kilometers long, 546 meters wide, and 218 meters tall it is a monster ship. It has 12 dual particle cannon turrets (6 ventral, 6 dorsal, laid out in an eclipse rather than a line), tons of point defense turrets, and numerous medium and heavy missile launchers. They have 8 meters of armor, 5 shuttles, a crew of 425 including a ground element, 2 light tanks, 2 APCs, and tons of escape pods. Acceleration is at 14,000Gs.
Los Angeles-Class Assault Carrier: These ships are essentially Carriers with more guns. They will stay back, with the normal carriers, and provide protection. They are 1.3 Kilometers long, 590 meters wide, and 231 meters tall. It is armed with 8 dual particle cannon turrets (4 ventral, 4 dorsal), tons of point defense, a few heavy missile launchers, and 6 squadrons of Peregrine fighters (72 total). They have 5.5 meters of armor, 8 shuttles, a crew of 500 including pilots, crews, and a ground element, 2 light tanks, 1 heavy tank, 3 APCs, and escape pods. Acceleration is at 13,700Gs.
Avalon-Class Carrier: Carriers are the heart of the fleet, being in some ways the most powerful ships in the Alliance Navy's arsenal. While the ships are 1.5 Kilometers long, 697 meters wide, and 303 meters tall, they only have 4 dual particle cannon turrets (same as a destroyer). Instead of lots of cannons or missiles, they have 10 squadrons of Peregrine fighters (120 total), which is devastating. While most fighters exit out the hanger doors for combat, the advanced strike squadrons are typically launched out the 4 mass accelerator rails that run the front third of the carrier. They have 4 meters of armor, 10 shuttles, a crew of 550 including pilots, crews, and a ground element, 3 light tanks, 2 heavy tanks, 3 APCs, and lots of escape pods. Acceleration is at 13,700Gs.
Mule-Class Supply Ship: Modern supply ships don't actually carry all that many supplies. Instead they carry raw materials that nano-bots then use to create everything from food to missiles. The current Mule-Class ship is 934 meters long, 456 meters wide, and 207 meters tall. It has .75 meters of armor, no heavy weapons (only point defense), 3 shuttles, 2 mining bots, a crew of 250, and escape pods. Acceleration is at 13,000Gs.
Particle Weaponry: Particle weapons use high energy particles accelerated to high fractions of the speed of light. They are extremely powerful, especially since they pass straight through kinetic barriers.
Missiles: Modern missiles come in three sizes, light, medium, and heavy. Light missiles are only found on fighter craft and are primarily used against other fighters. The current light missile, the SRAF-28 (Short Range Anti Fighter) or Black Widow is the first to be a nuclear weapon, with a variable yield of up to 1.5 megatons (TNT equivalent). Medium missiles are used in both anti-fighter and anti-ship roles, and can be found on ships of all sizes. The current MRGP-14 (Medium Range General Purpose) of Brown Recluse has a variable yield nuclear warhead with a maximum yield of 6.5 megatons (TNT equivalent). Heavy missiles are used exclusively in an anti-ship role, being very large and not maneuverable enough to catch a fighter (though some may get caught in the blast radius). The current LRAS-26 (Long Range Anti Shipping) or Tarantula has a variable yield nuclear warhead of up to 15 megatons.
Cerebral Implants: These are nano-grown implants within the empty spaces of the human brain. They allow for internet access, AI interaction, and much more all from ones mind.