A/N, so here it is, the first real chapter. Covering the intro to mass effect. I tried to twist it up some but I do have use some of the dialogue from the game. I am skipping Eden Prime though. My descriptions aren't the best so bare with me. And if anyone could help beta read for me, let me know.
Captain David Anderson looked at the stars as he stood within Arcturus Station. He was there with Donnel Udina, the Human ambassador to the Citadel Council. They were there to discuss the candidates for the first Spectre to represent the Systems Alliance. Spectres are the right hand of the CItadel Council, the main government in the known parts of the galaxy. "So, what about Jackson?" Anderson asked.
"Earth born, no record of his family," Udina said.
"Didn't have one, he grew up on the streets," Anderson said.
"He killed many unarmed prisoners during the assault on Torfan. He's nicknamed the 'Butcher' by those as a result," Admiral Steven Hackett said.
"I have two other suggestions," Anderson said. "Two I think would fit right up our ally. The first is Sarah Shepard," Anderson said as he showed the image of a young Human woman with red hair and green eyes wearing black armor. "Born a spacer to a military family, descendant of the famous war hero Captain Jack Shepard from the First Contact War. Youngest recruit into the N7 program and a gifted biotic."
"She represents the best Humanity has to offer," Hackett said. "I approve of her as our request," he said and Udina and Anderson.
"However, there is one other person I like to recommend, who is a cousin to Sarah," he said as he showed the image of an Asari with light blue skin, wearing red/silver armor with a sword on her back. "Athena Shepard T'Sarr, daughter to Jack Shepard and first Asari to enter the N7 program. I put forward my recommendation to her as well, after the Skyllian Blitz and heroically saving lives on her own until Alliance command. Trained under Asari huntresses at the age of 50, became an N7 candidate years later. She is one of the first to be born to a union between Humans and Asari and represent the relationship between both species. I recommend her to also represent the Alliance."
Silence filled the room as Udina scoffed. "Anderson, we need a Human to represent Humanity and the Alliance, why would you recommend T'Sarr?"
"Weren't you listening, Udina?" Anderson said as he raised his voice at the ambassador. "T'Sarr is one of the main reasons why Humans and Asari governments have a good relationship, her father is a famous war hero, and her mother, well officially info on her is classified, by both governments."
"Fine," Udina begrudgingly said. "We'll test her on the Normandy's next routine mission to Eden Prime. Her and her cousin."
"The Council is also sending a spectre of their own to watch over them," Hackett said. "If all things go according to plan, they should work out well and we both get our Spectres."
"Fine," Udina said. "I'll make the call…."
Line Break
Athena T'Sarr was feeling normal today, at least normal for an Asari raised in Human space. She was a little over a hundred years old, young by Asari standards. Her father was a famous Human war hero, Jack Shepard. Her father was a good man, always caring and helping others, it was what he did best. He was a military guy through and through but his family came first to him, her and her mother. They met during the diplomatic mission when an Asari ship crashed on Earth, he saved her from Batarians and the two fell in love over time.
The Asari were a mono-gendered race, though they have the appearance of females and eerily similar to that of Human women Generally blue or purple skinned. Asari can live up to a thousand years. The Asari can have children with any race, whether be Asari or others like Turians or Humans. The Asari were the first to discover the Citadel centuries ago, a giant space station built by the Protheans, an ancient race of beings that vanished fifty thousand years ago.
The Salairans were the second species to discover the Citadel. They are amphibians, warm-blooded by nature due to their homeworld. After the Salarians discovered the Citadel and met with the Asari, they formed the Citadel Council, a government that represents all in the galaxy as more races discovered the Citadel. During the Rachni Wars, the Salarians uplifted the Krogan to help fight them in extreme conditions. The Krogan were given rights to expand to other worlds but soon they expanded aggressively and annexed worlds that were not theirs. After a failed peace meeting, the Krogans declared war and rebelled against the Council. The Salarians invented the Genopgage, a biological weapon designed to sterilize the Krogan and prevent their rapid expansion.
The Turians were encountered during the Krogan Rebellions. They are an avian-like species with a strong military force. The Turians pushed the Krogan back and unleashed the Genophage with the Salarians help. As a result, the Turians were granted a seat on the Council, becoming the third species to be a member of the Council. Years after the Batarian-Human War, a group of Human explorers without official orders from the Alliance tried to open a relay known as Relay 314. The Turians found out and opened fired on them, causing a brief war on the planet Shanxi. The Asari and Alliance intervened where it is found out that the explorers are part of Cerberus, a rogue splinter cell within the Alliance. The Alliance and Turians brokered peace and declared Cerberus an enemy of Citadel space. Though the war led to some animosity between some Turians and Humans
The Turians and Humans later cooperated on a project and created the SSV Normandy, as a way to improve relations between the two species. That's how it all began.
She stood there watching the Normandy leave Arcturus Station from the bridge of the ship. She smiled as she sees it leave the system and enter the Mass Relay. "Hopefully this mission is just a simple routine one," she said to herself.
"Hey, you okay?" a voice said to her and she turned and saw her cousin, Lieutenant Sarah Shepard. "You seem spaced out."
Athena shrugged. "Its okay, just watching the stars and planets as we enter the Relay. How long should we be ti'll Eden Prime?"
"Not long, according to Joke," Sarah said as she patted Athena on the shoulder.
"Hey Shepard's," a voice called out to them. "Captain Anderson is requesting you two in the briefing room, better head there," Joker, the ship's pilot said.
"Well, let's go see," Sarah said as they walked by the Galaxy Map and waved to Doctor Chakwas and Jenkins.
They entered the briefing room and saw the Turian Spectre, Nihlus, there waiting for them instead of Captain Anderson. "Commander Shepard, Lieutenant Shepard, I was hoping you two would get here first," the Turian said, "It will give us a chance to talk."
"Talk?" Athena asked, confused. "We were supposed to meet Captain Anderson.
"He's on his way," the Spectre assured. "I'm interested in this world we are going to, Eden Prime. I've heard it's quite beautiful."
"They say it's a paradise," Sarah said.
"Yes….a paradise. Serene. Tranquil. Safe. Eden Prime has become something of a symbol to the Alliance, hasn't it?" Nihlus said. "Proof that Humanity can not only establish colonies across the galaxy, but also protect them. But, how safe is it really?"
Sarah and Athena looked confused at the Spectre. "Are you trying to scare us, Spectre?" Athena countered.
Nihlus smiled and turned to the Asari Commander. "Ah yes, I know about you, Athena Shepard T'Sarr, the first Asari N7 operative, you must be pretty proud," he said.
"Yes, I am," Shepard said as she smiled.
Just then, Anderson entered the room. "I think it's time we tell them what's really going on," he said.
"This mission is far more simple than a shakedown run," Nihlus revealed.
"I could already tell," Athena said.
"We're making a covert pick up on Eden Prime, that's why we needed the Normandy's stealth systems," Anderson revealed.
"What's the payload, Captain?" Athena asked.
"A research team unearthed some kind of beacon at the dig site. It was confirmed to be Prothean of origin," the Captain revealed.
The Protheans were the creators of both the CItadel and the Mass Relay and vanished fifty thousand years ago. "This is big Shepard, Prothean technology jumped our's ahead by three hundred years. But Eden Prime doesn't have the facilities to handle something like this. We need to bring the beacon back to the Citadel for proper study," Anderson said.
"Obviously, this goes beyond mere Alliance interests. This discovery could affect every species in Citadel space," Nihlus said.
"Are we expecting trouble?" Sarah asked.
"I'm always expecting trouble," Nihlus said.
"There's more," Anderson said. "Nihlus isn't just here for the beacon, he's also here to evaluate you two.
"What's going on, Captain?" Athena asked.
'"The Alliance has been pushing this for a long time. Humanity wants a larger say in shaping interstellar policy. We want more say in the Citadel Council. With the Asari helping us after all these years, we are finally able to prove ourselves, that's why I recommended you two. You two represent both what the Alliance has to offer," Anderson revealed.
"Why me?" Athena asked, confused. "I'm not Human."
"I know, but part of the reason is your own history, who your father is and what he represents in the Alliance, you share his ideals and skills as well. You father is Human and that makes you part of the Alliance in my eyes, Athena," Anderson assured. "It took a lot of convincing to get Ambassador Udina to agree to you."
"Transmission from Eden Prime, sir, you better see this.", Joker said over the comm.
"Well, let's see," Athena said.
Soon, the routine mission will be anything but routine.
