Disclaimer: I own nothing from either Armored Core or Mass Effect.
A/N: First, I'm going to be answering reviews. It appears some people are mostly worried about humanity's power.
CelticReaper: Yes, there will be more codex info. It will be released at the end of each chapter, either when new technology appears or there is something I feel needs explaining. Or if someone suggests a codex entry that I find interesting enough to pen in. Such as human-alien relations. That's not a bad thing to put in, but wouldn't appear until a later chapter in which humans have established themselves. As far as humans joining them… well, just read the chapter.
Shintouyo: Now, first let me say I understand your concerns, and allow me to explain my reasoning. Firstly, if you want the technicals on humanity's construction of ships, check the codex at the bottom of the chapter. As to the Warhammer 40K argument… I never understood that. If they have whole planets dedicated to building so many ships, I'm honestly appalled they don't have death stars running around. And at that point, I can only assume the workforce must be mostly human to have such slow production in the construction of their ships. However, before the humans made it to space, they had already created a land-based Arms fort that exceeded the destroyer-class Arms fort in size. All they had to do was build space stations , staffed by numerous NEXT-based construction automatons, to mine asteroids around Saturn including its moons, and build their ships for them. Humanity created a very quick construction rate, as building massive constructs had already been perfected. They simply boosted that ability with more space to work in. Lastly, I believe Saturn is perfectly capable of supporting such a force with its asteroids and moons. Assuming they have such materials, there would be more than enough to build three thousand and two hundred eighty one ships. (Humanity's current military ship force) The idea there are not enough resources is just ridiculous to me when I look at Saturn's rings and numerous moons. If you want more details, check the codex.
Valiant Naberius: I know what you mean. It took me months of replaying the game (Mostly because I just loved playing the game combat mechanics) to truly understand what was happening in the story. So, I'm glad that it was my story that actually taught you more about the game. Makes me feel like I'm doing well in getting the facts straight.
Lord Anime: The amount of NEXTs is largely because many were in the Sol system having their NEXTs overviewed for the possible war that they anticipated may happen with the other aliens, not just the Turians. Additionally, the amount of NEXTs are still limited, as one needs to have a special trait to pilot one, as stated in the wikia if you'd like to take a look. Maybe I'll add an entry for Lynxs specifically in the codex. Now, as for the true size of a carrier, you were onto something. In addition to being nine kilometers in length, it is rather boxy and wider. But, not quite to the extent you suggested. The true space saver is new technology with planet Arms Forts. Think of it like mass effect guns. You know how they fold into themselves to become smaller? The Arms Forts employ the same technique. Take the Spirit-class for example, (And you were correct, it is a newer version of the Spirit of Motherwill) with its massive size normally, it would not fit. However, when its cannons, control towers, wings, and legs all fold and press themselves to the main body to be smaller, fitting them is easy for the Carrier-class. When the Arms fort is launched/dropped from the Carrier, the ship is at a suitable height to allow the AF to unfold itself just before it hits the ground. I hope that clears up that concern. And the great wall… you'll have to wait quite a long time before it is mentioned again, to be honest. It was used as a basis for building Spatial Arms Forts, but couldn't be stored in a Carrier-class easily. I have plans for it, but you'll have to wait quite a long time before it appears. Right now, I only hope this will be popular enough to continue and get to that point. As for ships using Assault Armor, think about it. If they did, they're primal armor would be completely drained and have to recharge, leaving them completely vulnerable. Additionally, it is relatively close range. Other allied ships could be damaged as well. In the end, it was deemed to have no use on larger AFs. However, you may see it on a ship in the future. Just wait.
Guest 1: I was waiting for someone to say the humans would be overpowered. Frankly, that is simply not true. To the other alien species, yes, but that would be the case regardless. Before the humans were even in space they were building vehicles larger than the Citadel's largest dreadnaught. As for the Reapers… no. I did the math before writing this fic. The reapers won the war against the Protheans at 48,000 BCE, tacking on the 700 years the Protheans fought after that, 47,300 BCE. The next cycle would start then, when the Reapers leave. Add 2,200 CE to that, and you get 49,500 years that the cycle in which humans and the other species lived. Since they actually prolonged their cycle, it is most likely longer than those before it. But, let's assume that is the average for how long a species lasts against the Reapers. The first cycle starts at 1,000,000,000 BCE according to the mass effect timeline. So, divide 1,000,000,000 by 49,500, the length of a cycle and at least one reaper is made from each cycle. You get about 20,408. So, the Reaper army has at least 20,408 Reapers. That is quite a bit more than humanity, which in this story has a fleet of 3,281 military ships total currently. Not to mention that is 20,408 Reapers at least, assuming they make one Reaper per cycle. It is my understanding a Reaper is made for each species in a cycle, so you can quadruple that number, probably even more than that. Additionally, one Reaper is still larger than a Frigate-class humanity ship, which makes up the majority of the Humanity fleet. And nothing has been able to stand up to a Reaper laser. That thing cleaves through anything in the game, and I can assure you the only thing able to protect against it in this fanfiction is a Kojima shield, and not for long at that. Sure, Kojima cannons are still going to be able to do some serious damage to the Reapers, but that is only one advantage. To me, it seems like the Reapers still have the advantage with all that taken into account. Believe it or not, it is my belief the Reapers took it easy on the humans in mass effect canon. No matter how many times you gain some small victory, the Reapers absolutely believe you will fail. It makes me think they still had a lot hidden up their mechanical sleeves, and I intend for them to bring out those secrets in this fanfiction. The Reapers are very adaptable too; you can be sure they'll be using that to cope with as many advantages humans have as possible and attempt to nullify many. That's not even getting into indoctrination, which I have big plans for. I hope, all of this considered, you will agree the humans are not going to be overpowered when compared to the Reapers. If anything, I believe I am leveling the playing field a bit. As for your second concern, as I stated to another reviewer, Saturn's belt would have plenty. It seems to me many people underestimate just how big things in space are, and there are more than enough asteroids and moons there to support a Spatial fleet of that size. Heck, on the radiated war-torn Earth they were creating numerous NEXTs of huge size and AFs of even bigger size. If they could manage that, then having access to numerous moons and a huge belt of resources without any war to worry about, it would be child's play for them to build ships that big in that amount of time. It seems to be humanity's forte in Armored Core to build massive machines of death. It would be no different in space.
Guest 2: Please read my response to Guest 1, I think that just about covers your concern, more or less.
Guest 3: Thank you, I'm glad you understand and agree with the stance I am taking in Humanity's power. I only hope I can keep you interested in this!
Dunesaber: While you will have to wait and see how the Humans deal with some of the other species, you are correct in that I am ensuring Humanity is strong, with more than enough to back up that statement. Such is the way of those who build massive apocalypse-inducing mechs.
TANNtrum: Human relations with aliens will be detailed in this chapter. Please let me know what you think of the way I had the Humans handle it, I think you will be rather pleased.
ZeroAcception: Lynx pilots are going to be a large presence just as they were in the games, and I was thinking I would just use names from the various games to cover my bases as far as pilots and NEXTs go.
Lord Zaron: Let me assure you, I agree with what you said and I plan to keep Humanity just the way they are. I only hope everyone will stick with me through it and see why I made things the way they are when the time comes. I have plans, hopefully ones everyone will enjoy.
Guest 4: Just let me say, that comment about WH40K made me bust a gut. I don't know why I thought it was so funny, but I did. And maybe it would be cruel to the Turians, but when has being cruel ever factored into the decisions the people in the AC games made? I like to think I am being true to their nature. And you are right… being sorry for the Batarians is never possible, is it?
Ghost88: I am very happy to hear you like the direction I'm taking here! I knew some people would be skeptical about Humanity's strength, but it is nice to see some who like what I'm doing anyway. And I caught that pun you made at the end there. I laughed at that, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. Either way, I hope I can continue to keep your interest, starting with this chapter!
P.S: If you are going to post as a guest, try to put in some name, if you could? Refering to people as Guest 1, 2, etc., is a bit confusing...
A/N: Whew! Sorry about those long-winded responses, but I knew people would bring up those concerns at one point or another and I was just waiting to explain my reasoning. Very valid concerns, and so they had to be answered in a detailed and thorough manner. Anyway, thank you for the reviews, (Especially those who brought up such big issues, I've been waiting for it) its exactly what got me to write this next chapter. I sincerely hope you will all review again, and be sure to tell me any of your concerns in a review or PM. Without further delay, here is the third chapter! The much anticipated meeting between humans and the Council! DUN DUN DUN!
"So they accepted?" Tevos inquired to the liaison they had sent to the human fleet over Palavan.
"Yes! Though they said they were bringing a fleet here. Also the one over Palavan will not move until this whole thing is settled… one way or the other. Additionally, they refuse to meet with you unarmed." Daleria explained as she stood before the council.
"Not very trusting, are they?" Valern observed.
"Well, we did fire the first shot during our first encounter with them." Tevos said as she sent Sparatus a frown. "Maybe if that hadn't happened…"
Sparatus growled, "I'll admit that my men may have acted irrationally to a new species… but what did you expect? They're just like the Krogan! Ready to shoot at the slightest misunderstanding!"
Tevos's frown deepened, "You would have done the same had you been attacked unannounced!" She accused.
Sparatus' mandibles flared in anger but he couldn't completely refute her statement.
Valern rolled his eyes at Tevos and Sparatus' arguing. Honestly, the compromising Asari and militaristic Turian rarely saw eye-to-eye on any one issue. Ignoring the noise, Valern turned to look out the giant window that overlooked the entirety of the Citadel. The Citadel… no matter how many times Valern saw it, it still amazed him how the Protheans had managed to create such a structure. It truly was an engineering marvel. There was no other species capable of building such a structure. Not even these 'humans.'
Valern absently noted the mass relay activating. Passing it off as just a simple civilian ship arriving like so many others, he was about to turn away; that was, until a ship quite clearly not created by any council species came through. Soon many more like it emerged. Valern noted that the humans had apparently arrived for the meeting. He could respect their curtness in arriving under such short notice, and was about to turn to tell the other two councilors it was time to assemble the other species' representatives to gather in the chamber. At least he would have, if he had not been frozen in place from the surprise of one ship that suddenly appeared from the relay.
The ship was absolutely massive. It dwarfed the many other ships around it; ships that Valern knew were already enormous by themselves. It was clear to see it was armed to the teeth. What surprised him was that this behemoth rivaled the Citadel in size. How could any one species create such a thing? Thankfully, Salarians worked quickly. Overcoming the shock, Valern turned to his fellow councilors, wondering what would be the best way to break the news of the large ship arriving to them. He found that he did not have to, as both Tevos and Sparatus were both staring, mouths agape, at the new arrival. Sighing, Valern resigned himself to having to prepare the meeting himself, watching with distaste at Tevos and Sparatus starting another argument on how such a large ship was created without an ounce of element zero. Such was the life of a councilor.
"Check your gear! We'll be landing in thirty seconds!" The pilot of the Overwatch-type drop ship announced as he brought the small vehicle closer to one the Citadel's many docking clamps.
"This place is surprisingly big. Guess we're not the only ones out there with huge machines, huh?" Roy Salaand commented as he stared out the window of the drop ship.
Wynne shrugged, looking rather indifferent towards the whole situation as she checked her Avenger plasma rifle again. "They just inherited it. I'm not too impressed. Though I wouldn't mind shaking the hand, tentacle, or whatever of whoever built this place."
Thermidor chuckled as he watched the two, "Really, Wynne, only you would be so unmoved at the prospect of being one of the first humans to meet extra-terrestrials face to face."
"Our guys on the captured planets already had that privilege. The only difference here is that we aren't pointing our guns at each other anymore." Wynne replied curtly before she then went back to fiddling with her gun, making sure it was properly reassembled before the group disembarked. Currently, Thermidor, Malzel, Wynne, and Roy were the diplomatic team. The rest of the consisted of thirty soldiers accompanying them were simply backup in case anything… unexpected, occurred. Also joining them were some humans dressed in civilian clothing. They, of course, were not unarmed. They possessed hidden weapons and had orders to wander about the Citadel and gather information as long as the peace talks lasted.
An echoing noise issued throughout the drop ship, signaling that the docking clamps had made contact with the drop ship. "All clear! You've got the green light. They're also telling me they've got someone waiting to escort you to the Council." The pilot informed the group just as the airtight doors unsealed themselves and opened up, letting those inside catch their first glimpse of the Citadel up close. The soldiers all stepped out first, giving the 'all clear' signal shortly after, prompting the 'civilians' and Thermidor's hand-picked team to follow them out. Thermidor scanned the large hangar they were in immediately, taking note mentally of anything that stood out. Firstly, just as the pilot had stated, a team of aliens was awaiting them at the end of the dock. It appeared that the Asari Daleria was heading the group, but he couldn't be sure if that was the case considering the limited amount of Asari he had seen. For all he knew the only difference between Asari might be those strange head tentacles somehow.
As his admittedly large group began to walk to the end of the dock, opting to leave ten soldiers behind to guard the ship, Thermidor noticed with some amusement that even their drop ship exceeded the size of the alien's drop ships. More concerning than that however, was the amount of armed personnel at the dock. The leader of ORCA was no fool and knew that on an average day there was simply no way this many guards were needed. However, this day was anything but average. It didn't take a genius to know they were there due to their arrival, apparently fearing the possibility he and his group were hostile.
It was actually rather flattering, in a way.
Finally reaching the procession of aliens waiting for them, Thermidor stepped to the front, holding out a hand to shake as a gesture of goodwill. Daleria apparently got the hint, accepting his handshake with grace and a smile. As she did, Thermidor took the opportunity to take inventory of her group. It looked like a mix of a few Asari and Salarians, but was predominantly Turians. Thermidor guessed that was due to the fact the Turians were the militaristic arm of the Citadel species, and were better suited for combat in case they tried to do anything. Not that they would. Even if things didn't go well, Thermidor would leave with a fake smile and then give voice to his displeasure once he was safely back on the Whale.
Despite this, Thermidor smiled, "I appreciate the welcome. I'm here for the meeting with the Council, as I'm sure you are aware."
"That's right." Daleria confirmed, "Just follow me. Your entourage may accompany you as well. And, as per your request, the Council has agreed to allow you to keep your weapons."
Thermidor nodded, noting the way she had talked. From her pattern of speech, it suggested the Council was allowing them to keep their weapons, as if they were the ones calling the shots. Did they not remember they had Palaven at gunpoint? Nonetheless, Thermidor spoke once more, "Also, I have brought some civilians along with me. We thought it might be a good idea as a sort of trial project to see how the Citadel operates from such a standpoint. That said, I have to ask if they have permission to tour the Citadel?"
Daleria smiled at him again as she answered, "Of course! I assume you have a way to contact them once the meeting is over?"
"I do." Thermidor confirmed as he waved at the soldiers disguised as civilians away, all of them immediately dispersing in different directions to cover as much ground as possible. "How long will it take to arrive at the council?"
"Not too long, though I would say about ten minutes. While we are close, it is a large space station." Daleria seemed proud of that fact.
"We know the feeling." Thermidor commented. He had to force himself not to smile as he saw Daleria's gaze drift to the Whale before turning back to him, motioning him to follow her as the journey to the Council began.
Saturn. Second to only Jupiter in size, it was one of the most important planets the humans possessed, despite being uninhabitable. No, what made Saturn so important were the rings and moons that surrounded it. Here, humans had found minerals critical to the power they now had. It was, in essence, humanity's war machine.
Various construction ships prowled about the belt, many attached to asteroids quickly digging out minerals using automatons that made it so easy. Other ships were just outside the belt, where one could see the shape of one of humanity's terrifying Spatial AFs being constructed. The most astonishing thing about this was the fact humans were not very involved, at least personally, in the construction of these machines. Instead, tens of thousands of Excavators were responsible for it, all controlled remotely by dumb AI residing in the many space stations that dotted the space around Saturn. If there was one thing humanity had learned from the wars on Earth, it was how to build machines of war quickly and efficiently. Now, with an entire planet dedicated to construction, it was faster than ever. And every day more Excavators were built, and thusly ships were steadily being built faster as time wore on.
Of course, due to this productivity, combined with the desire humans had for more room, many stations around Saturn were dedicated to civilian life. Some humans, a surprising many, preferred living on these stations. In addition, many who served in the military would stop at these places, having come to Saturn for repairs on ships they served on or retrofitting. Such was the case of one John Shepard, currently residing on Distant Comet Station, a civilian space station known for being an excellent place to relax and unwind, and thusly popular for military after many days of hard work aboard AFs. Accompanying the NEXT pilot were both Takafumi and May, all waiting for their NEXTs to have their various parts checked. While they didn't have to often, it was advised that NEXT parts were checked every six months in case there were any hidden problems. NEXTs were complicated machines, and had to be taken care of accordingly.
That, and if you accidently damaged your NEXT, the price tag was rather hefty.
"So, how do you think the meeting will go?" May asked her two NEXT partners, as they all walked into a restaurant to sate their appetites. It was almost dinnertime, and as the three had been walking around the space station for the better part of the day, an early dinner was in order.
"Hard to say." Shepard commented as they sat down at a table, "We still don't know how the other species act, and have very limited experience with the Turians. Let's hope they remember that it's their planet at risk."
"Hm…" May seemed to consider this, even while a waitress came by and took the Lynx's orders, promising their food would be ready soon. When she had gone, May began speaking again, "The public seems pretty happy."
"What did you expect? It's been nothing but victories for us." Takafumi pointed out.
May rolled her eyes, "I know, I know, but still. I guess I just expected something… different. It's almost like nothings changed at all." She admitted.
Shepard smiled, "There's nothing wrong with that. People suffered so much from the pre-space wars… I think it's nice to see them so carefree. It shows they have trust in us to take care of it."
"How touching." Takafumi laughed.
"Shut up, Takafumi." Shepard said, though still smiling.
"Hey! Look who it is!"
The trio sitting at the table turned to see two other Lynx pilots walking in their direction, stopping at their table. Shepard greeted the two, "Hello to you too, Risaia, Jan, what brings you two this way?"
Risaia answered for the two, "Same as you guys. We're having our NEXTs checked out, and just happened to notice you three. Thought we'd give a quick 'hello' before we went on our way."
"Say, what do you guys think about the meeting between Thermidor and the aliens?" May asked, curious about the two pilots' opinions.
"Doesn't matter if we come to an understanding or peace talks fall through. Given what we've seen so far, I'm not too worried about war. Unless those Turian things have been hiding bigger and better guns somewhere, they shouldn't put up too much of a fight."
"That's just one species, Jan." Risaia pointed out, "I can't imagine they're all like that. And stop it with that talk of war. We've had enough of that to last several lifetimes. Wouldn't it be best if we could work together with the aliens?"
Jan rolled his eyes, looking at the woman beside him with disbelief, "That would be nice, but I'm trying to be realistic here. You saw how those Turian assholes acted. They follow a shoot first ask questions later policy, and now they're paying for it. Seriously, did you know that they only fired at us because we apparently broke a law of theirs by using that Mass Relay? A law we had no way of knowing, might I add, and had no obligation to follow as we weren't a part of their government… or whatever it is they are."
"Well, maybe some of the other species think that way too." Risaia suggested.
Shepard raised an eyebrow at that, "What do you mean?"
Risaia smiled, happy someone was considering her point of view, "Well, this is some coalition of multiple species, right? From what the codex we've been issued says, there are three species that rule over the others. If I was one of those species, I would feel like that's pretty unfair. Maybe they like what we're doing, standing up to the council when they didn't have the power to. I don't know… I was just thinking maybe some of those species would join us."
"Sympathizers, then? Maybe…" Shepard mumbled, seeming to agree.
Jan frowned, "Yeah, they'll just betray the government they've followed for who knows how long to join up with the new species that suddenly popped up. Give me a break." The man looked like he was about to say more, but was interrupted when a ringing noise was heard, Risaia and Jan looking down at their watches, the source of the noise. "Well looks like our NEXTs are ready. We'd better go."
Risaia nodded in agreement, "Yeah, you're right. See you guys around." With that the duo walked out of the restaurant, their place beside the table replaced by a waitress bringing the trio their food.
As soon as she had left, Takafumi spoke, "So, what do you guys think?"
"Well, I think it would be great if we could all get along. Shepard?" May smiled.
He seemed to ponder the question a moment before answering. "I agree, it would be best if we could have peace with these aliens. Given a choice, I'd obviously choose the path that led to less fighting and saving the most lives." He took a bite of his food, swallowed, and spoke once more. "But, it doesn't really matter what I want. It's up to Thermidor and his team. We'll just have to wait and see what the result is."
And hopefully it would end without humanity entering another war.
It had, just like Daleria had said, taken approximately ten minutes for them to reach the Council chambers as their docking location hadn't been far from the Council chambers. Most of the trip had been spent in an elevator though.
It was amazing these species were so diverse and advanced and yet the elevators were so slow.
Thermidor and his party stepped into the Council chamber and took a moment to look around. It was rather awe-inspiring; the room was designed in such a way to make it so. In every way, the light shifted just right, all with a massive window overlooking the space station. Thermidor realized, it was all to make the three councilors that much more impressive, as they were gathered just before the window, Thermidor and his group coming to a stop at a precipice below them. Thermidor noticed a small chasm separated them, a garden of sorts at the bottom. All around them other alien officials were gathered in balconies along the walls, looking at them with varying expressions; the short, suited aliens seemed to be mumbling to one another, sparing a glance at the humans every now and again. It was wholly impossible to ascertain what the floating jellyfish aliens were thinking, and it was almost just as difficult to tell what the bulky aliens that vaguely resembled gorillas thought. Asari and Salarian alike seemed to be staring at them with suspicion; Turians appeared to prefer outright glaring.
It was the Asari councilor that finally broke the silence. "Humans! I am pleased to see that you have agreed to make peace."
"That depends on what happens here, actually." Thermidor said, subtly reminding the aliens where they stood. They couldn't appear submissive or weak, and this council needed to understand that it was still on thin ice.
"Human, might I ask what you think you're doing, bringing that here?" Thermidor eyed the Turian councilor, face impassive. The Turian did not share his subtlety, however, and it was clear to see that he was not a fan.
Thermidor had a good idea what he was referring to, but decided to play ignorance. There was only one thirty three kilometer ship in the human forces… but the Council did not need to know that. "I'm sorry? To just what are you referring to?"
Sparatus would have none of it, "You know exactly what I am referring to! That ship!" He shouted, pointing to the Whale.
Thermidor waved a hand dismissively, "I hardly see the problem. That is just a Fortress-class ship. It is only natural one would be present during an event such as this." Thermidor offered a slightly peeved look, "Of course, I was under the impression we would be talking about more than just our ships."
Tevos shot Sparatus a glare before addressing the humans again, "I apologize for my colleague's behavior. I am Tevos, the Asari councilor. To my left is Valern, the Salarian councilor. To my right is Sparatus, the Turian councilor."
Thermidor nodded, "I am Thermidor, leader of ORCA, organization which governs all of humanity. This is my partner, Malzel." Thrmidor motioned to the man to his left, "We are the ones who will be here to engage in peace talks. I only hope we can reach some form of agreement that will be mutually beneficial for all parties involved."
Tevos nodded, "As do we."
"My partner handles most political concerns. He will be the one to arrange the agreement." Thermidor nodded to Malzel, the man stepping forward.
Malzel wasted no time, "To begin, we would like to know why we were attacked, unprovoked, during first contact."
Sparatus spoke up at that, "You were breaking Citadel law!"
"Of which we had no idea existed, and therefore could not have known. I'm sorry, but you have to understand that we don't find that to be an adequate reason for instigating an attack." Malzel countered.
Sparatus was seething, but Valern spoke up before the situation could escalate. "Please allow me to explain the actions of the Turians you encountered. Many years ago a similar situation occurred, in which a mass relay was activated and a new species, the Rachni, was encountered. This species was immediately hostile, and spawned the Rachni wars which ended with their defeat when we uplifted the Krogan. This spawned another conflict in which the Krogan rebelled and attempted to take over other worlds. Eventually they too, were defeated. The actions of the Turians were an attempt, albeit a poor one, to ensure that never happened again."
Malzel was silent for a few moments, "…I suppose I can understand that. Even so, it was too rash of an action."
"That it was." Tevos agreed, shooting Sparatus a small glare while the Turian remained silent. "Please understand. No matter how much time has passed since those events, scars of war are still left behind. There is always the fear of the past repeating themselves and sometimes drastic measures must be taken to avoid such events. Granted, that doesn't excuse the attack that you were greeted with and for that we apologize."
"No, no… we understand more than you might think, councilor. "Malzel said, a wistful smile making its way to his lips. "Humanity bears the scars of their own wars, which is why we hope to avoid war as well. I maintain that the Turians' response to our presence was reckless, but I understand the reason for your attack.
The councilors nodded in response to Malzel's words, Tevos and Valern smiling at finding the human so diplomatic and agreeable while Sparatus still seemed to be scowling. Or at least from the way he stood, that's what Thermidor could infer. It was hard to tell since those plates that made up the Turian's face made it hard to discern an expression. Still, Thermidor also smiled thinly as he listened to Malzel talk with the aliens. Things seem to be going well so far, and if Malzel kept it up they could find a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
"No fighting." Thermidor thought hopefully. "It seems that's what these councilors earnestly want. That's good…"
"One thing, human." Valern spoke up once more, glancing at a datapad he held for a moment. "There is the issue of the worlds you humans commandeered during your attack."
"An issue?" Malzel asked, noting the way the alien spoke disapprovingly.
"We expect them to be returned to the Turians." Valern stated abruptly.
"Of course." Malzel nodded. "We'll have all colonized worlds returned to you."
"Not just the colonized worlds. All of them." Sparatus added balefully. "Those are Turian worlds, not yours. It simply won't do for you to have them."
Thermidor shifted uneasily. He didn't like the direction this conversation was heading…
"With all due respect, councilor, those worlds were won fairly in war conditions. It is our right as victors to do with captured planets as we please." Malzel stated, his tone level and diplomatic. "We are more than willing to return the civilian world, but most of the worlds occupied were military outposts. We took care to avoid as many civilian casualties as possible given the circumstances, but we were hoping to keep the border worlds we encountered just outside Turian space."
"For what reason do you need these worlds, human?" Valern asked, cutting in before Sparatus could speak again.
"We only have two planets in our system capable of supporting life, not counting the few moons we've managed to terraform and place Eco-Domes on. The first planets we captured we prioritized because they were empty and were capable of supporting human life. Three planets, councilors. Is it not too much to ask that we keep those?"
"We would be willing to discuss it after other matters are settled." Tevos said, shooting Sparatus a look. The Turians mandibles flared for a moment, but he stayed silent.
Thermidor watched the proceedings and found himself growing uncomfortable. There was something about the way the councilors spoke, the way they held themselves… something was really starting to put him on edge.
"Listen to these guys." Wynne muttered bitterly from behind Thermidor. "I think they forgot the position they're in. They have no right to make demands of us."
Thermidor frowned. That was it. That's what was bugging him. The aliens were talking down to them and making demands despite the situation. You wouldn't be able to guess that with how they composed themselves and how they seemingly agreed with Malzel's words, but that discussion about the planets and the way they had requested their planets to be returned, almost like it was a given.
"Willing to discuss it after other matters are settled, huh?" Thermidor frowned. Still, he wouldn't get involved. He trusted Malzel to see this through to a peaceful resolution.
…Hopefully.
"There is also the issue of your ships." Tevos suddenly spoke.
"Our ships?" Malzel asked, surprised by the Asari's statement. "I wasn't aware there was an issue councilor. We brought our ships here as an escort and we've given our words once matters are settled here we'll remove our ships from Turian space and retreat from Palaven. I don't see what that has to do with-"
"It's not about that, human." Valern interrupted, holding up a hand. "They are far above regulation size."
"…I'm sorry. Regulation size?" Malzel asked incredulously. He turned back and found Thermidor and other members of their party had an expression to match his own.
"All species must follow the rules of the Citadel, and no ships can be the size of that ridiculous ship." Sparatus motioned to the Whale. Malzel frowned when he noticed that the Turian's voice actually sounded smug. "You will have to decommission that and any ships over one kilometer in size. Also, you may not possess that many kilometer long ships, maybe only several…"
"I'm sorry, but we will not be decommissioning our ships." Malzel cut it.
"Excuse me?" Sparatus paused and glared at the human diplomat.
"Councilor, what you are asking is for us to throw away our entire fleet. Years of work and labor and you want us to just throw it all away? I'm sorry, but that isn't something we are willing to do." Malzel said. "Besides, that isn't the issue here. We're here to negotiate peace and agree to end hostilities between us, are we not?"
"We are." Tevos assured the man. "However, as a species of the Citadel, you must-"
"We are not a Citadel species!"
Tevos fell silent as Thermidor made himself heard, his words echoing throughout the Citadel chambers. Humanity's leader stepped forward, posture strong and commanding, eyes full of fire and without an ounce of fear in them. Conviction. Determination. Leadership. The man expressed all these qualities with the way he stood and spoke.
This was a leader that would make sure his species would not bend its knee to another.
"We are not a Citadel species." Thermidor repeated, tone solemn as he glanced at each member of the council. "You seem to misunderstand that fact."
"Thermidor, what are you doing…!" Malzel hissed quietly, frantic as he tried to calm his friend.
"What I have to do." Thermidor replied, just as quietly.
Humanity would not be pushed around. He would show the aliens that.
"But if you are to be a Citadel species-" Valern tried to begin, before Thermidor cut him off.
"Again, that is what you seem to misunderstand, Councilors. For whatever reason, you're under the impression that we came here in order to join you." Thermidor said loudly so that everyone could hear him. "Let me tell you now that we have no intention of joining your group. Humanity has no wish to serve under you."
"We did not mean to imply that." Tevos interjected. "All we want is for-"
"All we want? Aren't you trying to make this all about what you want, Councilor?" Thermidor accused, barely able to keep the anger from his voice. "You are in no position to make demands of us. If anything, we should be the ones demanding."
"Human!" Sparatus thundered. "You have no right!"
"Don't we? We still have our guns pointed at your world, Turian. One word from me and those guns fire." Thermidor replied to the seething councilor. "However, despite the disrespect shown to us, I'm willing to let things go. I believe that your wish to maintain peace was genuine, and if given I choice I will always choose the path that leads to less bloodshed."
"Please, why don't we all just-" Tevos tried to salvage the situation, but Thermidor wouldn't let her get a word in.
"My ships will withdraw from Turian space and the civilian worlds and military outposts we captured, but we are keeping the planets on the border space that were empty. Those planets are now under ORCA control and leadership. We'll also release the prisoners captured during the battles and return them to you."
"This is an outrage!" Sparatus shouted.
"Is it?" Thermidor returned, glaring at the councilor. "Humanity will follow its own rules, not yours. We will leave your systems alone, but any free planet or system is fair game. There is far too much that can be gained in new systems to ignore."
"Human… do you intend to go against the whole of the Council races?" Valern asked.
"No. As I've already said, I wish only for peace. However, we will not serve under you. We will not be a Council species. Humans will be a separate power in this; so I do see the need to treat one another civilly. We will not go to any of your home worlds. Likewise, none of your people may visit the Sol system without clearance. To do so will be considered an act of war, and will be dealt with accordingly."
"Please! There is no need to be so rash!" Tevos put in, trying to regain control of the situation. "I'm sure we can reach an agreement where the humans can join the Council if only-"
"Don't you understand? I already stated, very clearly, we have no intention of joining this joke of a Council!" Thermidor said, his voice raising before he calmed himself down. "Now, I will be open to trade agreements and communication on further details, and as stated, will be withdrawing the human fleet from Palaven. The war is over, assuming you do nothing to instigate us. This meeting is finished. I hope you all understand that ORCA will be another power. Not one that listens to you, but one you will have to work with and talk to. Not impose your will upon."
Thermidor let his words hang in the air for a moment, staring at each one of the Council members. Sparatus looked furious, Tevos expression was worried and Valern's face was calculating and interested. Either way, Thermidor was far from satisfied with how the meeting had turned out, but he hoped he had made his point to the assembled aliens and where humanity stood.
"We will be leaving now. Good day, Councilors." Thermidor began walking away, flanked by the rest of the ambassador team, but not without one final, parting comment, "Believe me, all I want is peace. War is the last thing any of us want. I had hoped the Council was a coalition of species all working together in an equal manner, but I see I was mistaken. However, you're free to continue doing things how you wish and for the sake of peace you will leave us alone and allow us to do the same. ORCA is a democracy that believes in equality for all. We cannot have that here, and thus, we will never join you."
His piece said, Thermidor turned on his heel and stormed away with the rest of his party following after him.
Malzel stayed behind for a few extra moments, placing a small disk down on the podium they stood before, "This is a data packet on how to contact and communicate with us on any further points. It can be used to open up negotiations to create more peaceable relations between our species… or to declare war. It is up to you to decide, Councilors."
As they rode the elevator down, Thermidor spoke quietly to Malzel. "…I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Malzel smiled at Thermidor, his voice assuring. "You were right to speak out. You've shown that humanity won't be submissive and are a prominent presence in this galaxy. I could see it… the Council has done much to secure control over the other species. They've done their best to maintain order. They're worried about the new power in the galaxy… one that is capable of challenging their position."
"Yes, but I don't-"
"I know you don't wish to fight, and despite everything I don't think they do either." Malzel said. "But we've rocked the boat and shown them what Humanity is capable of. This is a new step for humanity, albeit a shaky one. We'll just have to see what the future holds."
"…That we will." Thermidor smiled slightly as they rode the elevator. "That we will…"
"That was… certainly something." One of the three Volus ambassadors observed, watching as the human entourage stormed out of the Council chambers. The Council itself stood stock still; it seemed they were having trouble realizing that they were not doing the stepping for once. No, it was them who were being stepped on. The Volus could relate, but held no sympathy for them as the Volus had been the ones the Council had selected to step on.
"Perhaps… we should try… contacting the humans." Another suddenly suggested, causing the other two to turn to him with surprise.
"What?" One of them shook his head, "The humans… you saw how they… acted. Do you really think… they would listen… to us?"
"Yes… I do." The Volus confirmed.
The third Volus seemed to consider this, "Would you care to… explain your reasoning… Din Korlack?"
"These humans… they speak of equality." The Volus began, "We have given much to the Council… yet… we have not been offered a seat… in return. While it… is true that we've been… given much and have a place here… perhaps it is time… to invest… in other pursuits." He explained.
"You believe the humans… would be better allies?" One of the Volus asked.
Din sighed, "For a long time… we have been stepped on… by the council. I am… sick of it. I cannot be… the only one who feels this way." As Din looked up at his colleagues, they could see even through the suit he felt strongly about this. All three certainly felt that the Council had treated them unfairly. Perhaps it was time to take a chance. A leap of faith.
"Din… if the Council caught wind of this…" One of the ambassadors began.
Din shook his head, "They… do not have to know. If we enter human space… and do not show hostility… I feel they will… give us a chance."
The two other Volus ambassadors were silent for some time, considering the pros and cons. In the end, it they decided it was well worth it. Despite their long association with the Council, they had yet to receive what they truly wanted. They still lacked a seat on the Council despite their contributions and didn't have any real say concerning matters that affected Council space. They were well aware that the other species looked down on the volus. If they did nothing, it would always remain that way. However, if they had a chance… to be treated as equals…!
"Very well… Din. You will be… in charge of this mission. You will… meet with the humans… the Earth Clan. Good luck…"
"I understand. Let us… arrange it as soon as possible." Din suggested.
With that the three left the balcony overlooking the Council chamber, to set in motion events that would, with luck, finally benefit the Volus. If the Council wanted to refuse the humans, they could do just that. The Volus, on the other hand, were gifted merchants. They knew a good opportunity when they saw it. And this was a chance none of them wanted to pass up.
-One Month later, over the human colony of Selaris-
"This is the Piercing Arrow, reporting back from scouting with the 6th patrol group." An officer said as the Cruiser-class ship eased beside an orbiting space station. The planet, Selaris, was planned for colonization as its atmosphere was close to pre-war Earth and terrain was rather easy to build structures on. Far easier than Kalton, a planet in the same Solar system closer to the sun that was planned to be a military stronghold thanks to its mountainous terrain and plentiful resources. This solar system was just two jumps away from Earth, a trip that in total only took a few hours, give or take a few minutes.
The fiasco that was relations with the Council had finally settled down, and the Citadel and ORCA were now in a tentative agreement. The Citadel, being a hub of galactic community, allowed for human presence on the station but they were not given an embassy. Not that humanity was too broken up about it, as their lack of an embassy on the Citadel showed that they were a species separate from the Council's system. Not only that, but Home systems were off-limits, though there were exceptions recently established that allowed for trade. Naturally, humans withheld their military technology, and although the Citadel did not have many advantages over the humans, they kept the ones they did close to their chest. Overall, peace had been achieved in a way.
"Piercing Arrow, this is Orbiting Star, we read you loud and clear. Please stand by for docking permission." A transmission from the space station ordered.
"Affirmative, Orbiting Star. Awaiting permission." It was silent for a minute, before another transmission came from the station.
"Piercing Arrow, we have just registered an unknown jump in-system from Relay 431. Can you investigate?"
While this was surprising, but there was protocol to follow. "That's an affirmative. Piercing Arrow and the rest of the 6th patrol group will move to investigate. Send us the coordinates." The officer requested. Immediately after the console pinged, confirming that the coordinates were sent. With a few button pushes, the coordinates were set for the whole patrol group as the single Cruiser and five Frigates began moving in the direction of the 431 Relay.
"Why are we changing course, officer?" The commander of the Cruiser inquired.
"We got an unidentified use of the 431 Relay, sir. Orbiting Star wants us to investigate." The officer explained.
The commander, Jared Soloman, nodded at that. "I see. Do they have any other details?"
"Negative, sir. We're going blind." The officer answered.
Jared nodded, "If that's the case I want Kojima shields up and cannons primed. Prep the missiles, cybernetic warfare systems prepared. If this is some stunt by that Council…" The military and public were all well aware of how the meeting between the Council and the humans went, and most everyone agreed it was smart to take a strong stance against those bigots. Draw a line in the sand that could not be crossed, so to speak. However, there were many who had hoped that making active, cooperative peace with aliens could see more progress. As things were, that could not happen.
"Ready, sir. Should we activate a Kojima jump to the location?" The weapons officer inquired.
"Yes. Be sure to keep your distance; we're still running in blind here." The commander ordered. At that, all six ships disappeared in a bright green light, appearing at the relay in less than a minute. What greeted them was surprising.
A single ship, clearly alien in make, was simply waiting by the Relay. As soon as they had jumped in, the ship turned to face them, though did not raise shields or prime any weapons according to power scans already being done on the ship. It was then an even more unexpected event occurred. A transmission was broadcast on open channel, the cruiser and its five Frigates intercepting the signal. What issued forth was very different from what the Council had said to the humans that day.
"My greetings, Earth Clan. Please first understand… that we mean no harm… and that we are not here… under orders from the Citadel." To their confusion, the sentences were interrupted with what sounded like intakes of breath from inside of a suit. "This is an ambassador ship… from my species… the Volus. My name… is Din Korlack. I am here to… hopefully broker an agreement of sorts with the Earth Clan." The commander had heard enough.
"Send a transmission for video contact. Thermidor already stated what we should do in case this was to happen." Jared ordered.
"Earth Clan?" One of the officers nearby wondered.
"It has something to do with Volus culture. They refer to other species based on their source world rather than the name of a species itself." Jared offered to the confused officer. "Of course, you'd know that if you had read up on the codex entry as it required for all soldiers on duty, wouldn't you?"
"S-Sorry sir!" The new recruit stammered and Jared shook his head in amusement.
Humanity was well aware of other species' customs and culture now thanks to the fact they had access to codices and other such information. Omni-tool technology was a useful thing, indeed.
"Should we alert Thermdior, commander?" His communication officer asked.
"Let's make sure they're the genuine article. It'll be easier to do that when I can see their face." The commander decided, getting a confirmation from his officer before a screen appeared over the view port, and what appeared to be a suited, rather short alien appeared.
"I… am pleased to see… you are willing to talk with us. I am Din Korlack… ambassador for the Volus." The alien spoke.
The commander nodded, "I am Jared Soloman, commander aboard the Cruiser-class Spatial Arms Fort Piercing Arrow. Excuse me for being frank, but is your intention of peace genuine? After what happened at the Citadel…"
The Volus seemed eager to put any doubt out of the way, "Of course, that is… perfectly understandable. We are prepared to… go to some lengths to prove our offer… is genuine. I would like… to meet with your leader Thermidor… before too much is said. For now… if you wish, you can board… our ship and see for yourself. We have no intention… of being hostile." Din explained.
Jared considered this for a moment, "Would I be permitted to bring armed soldiers as well?"
The Volus nodded, "Certainly. It is our hope… to promote trust and cooperation… as soon as possible."
Jared stood from his chair, "This seems to be a generous offer, and a very trusting one on your part. If you are ready, I and a team of others will take a drop ship over to visit."
"Excellent! I will be sure… to direct you to the hangar. I will… prepare a tour of the ship… as well." The Volus said, before the transmission cut out. The Volus ship simply sat right where it was. The only difference was an opening on the bottom of the ship, likely the hangar the Volus had spoke of.
"Keep the shields up, but put weapons on standby as a gesture of good faith. Have a group of soldiers ready for me in the hangar. I'll be in contact. Send a transmission to Thermidor detailing that the Volus ambassador wants to speak with him." The commander ordered as he walked out of the bridge, on his way to the hangar.
Maybe there was hope for a genuine alliance between the humans and another alien species.
"So you believe they're honest about this?" Thermidor asked Jared as the two walked through just one of the many hallways that spanned the inside of Orbiting Star.
"I do." Jared confirmed, "They greeted us with no indication of any hostility whatsoever, allowed me and a group of armed soldiers onto their ship, and even gave us a tour. All the while the Volus ambassador was telling me about how ridiculous he thought the Council was in how they greeted us, saying that the Volus did not share their selfish ways. Said they even sympathized with us. I'm still not totally sure though; he said he wanted to speak to you before really getting into the heart of the matter." Jared explained.
"Hm… I'd say they deserve a meeting after all that. Where has it been arranged?" Thermidor inquired.
"Their ship is docked with the station right now, and the Volus ambassador, Din Korlack, agreed to meet with you on our terms along with two other Volus. He's waiting in a simple meeting room, under supervision of course. Malzel already arrived as per your orders twenty minutes ago; he should already be waiting." Jared detailed as the two finally made it to the room. Thermidor turned to the commander.
"I want you to stay out here. Malzel and I will meet and talk with the Volus ambassador ourselves." Thermidor announced.
"Yes sir." Jared snapped a quick salute, before heading to the room where he could watch the proceedings. Thermidor didn't hesitate in opening the door, surprised to see Malzel already talking with the Volus ambassador.
"… So I can tell you… I was surprised when the Hanar started trying… to attack my secretary. They are not made… for fighting out of water, of that… I can assure you." Apparently the Volus had just finished telling a comical story to Malzel who was chuckling lightly.
Turning around at the sound of the door opening, Malzel greeted the leader of ORCA, "Thermidor, good to see you made it. Now we can begin the meeting."
Taking a seat beside Malzel and across from the three Volus, Thermidor spoke, "I take it you are Din Korlack?"
"That I am." The Volus said, nodding his head slightly in greeting, a gesture Thermidor returned. "I cannot express our gratitude… for you agreeing to speak with us."
Thermidor nodded, "I thought it was only right. I noticed I didn't exactly have an opportunity to speak to the Volus about what they might think of that whole fiasco. Or any other species aside from the Council races for that matter."
The Volus shook his head ruefully, "And what a fiasco… it was. I knew the Council was foolish at the worst of times… but I didn't think they would reject the Earth Clan after witnessing what you can do…" The Volus admitted. "Speaking of the Council… I would ask that this meeting… be kept from them."
Malzel raised an eyebrow at that, "Can we ask why?"
"Of course, of course." Din was quick to agree, "As you may have guessed… the Council places themselves above certain… other species."
"Yours included?" Thermidor spoke.
"Yes. We are not… one of the main Council races and… do not have a seat on the Council. We have an embassy… but are a mere associate race despite the many contributions we've made." Din confirmed. Thermidor noted that the Volus' voice sounded bitter and angry. "If they were to catch wind of this… before an agreement between the Volus… and the Earth Clan was reached, there may be… negative repercussions for us."
Thermidor smiled, "Well… it's not like we have any obligation to tell them anything. I don't see any reason to start just so they can ruin something that may be very beneficial for both our species."
The Volus seemed to be very pleased with that answer, "I am glad… that we see eye to eye. It appears… this will be a very good meeting yet." Din then pulled a small device from his suit, explaining its purpose, "This is a hologram projector… I have the details of my proposal on this… so that it will be easy for all of us to view it." He then placed it on the table, turning it on. Thermidor was surprised to see a planet appear over the device.
"A planet? Why are you showing us this?" Malzel asked.
Din was quick to explain, "This is a planet on the border… between human and Volus space. Right now it belongs to us… but… we would like to offer it… to you."
Thermidor was stunned, to say the least. "You're giving us a whole planet?" He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "What's the catch?"
Din shook his head, "No catch. We're not using it… it's simply collecting dust. Our only hope was that it could be… an experiment. A trial project of sorts."
"A trial project?" Now both Thermidor and Malzel were interested.
"Yes… to see how the Earth-Clan and Volus… can interact with one another. It is on the edge… of Volus and human space… so it is in an ideal position for that. A place where Earth-Clan and Volus can work, and coexist." Din said, seeming pleased. "It could pave the way to a better… future between our two species. It is not as if… we expect to be fully trusted immediately."
Malzel and Thermidor both considered this deeply. In all honesty, there was no reason to reject this offer. Thermidor decided to see just how far out this olive branch extended, "What of the planet's security? Would we be admitted to have our ships guard it?"
The Volus nodded, "Of course, legally this planet… will be yours. We only hope… Volus would be allowed to live and do business on it… freely. The Volus also do not have… a large military force. We had hoped… you would be taking that role."
Thermidor traded glances with Malzel. That was all it took for the two to decide it would be foolish not to accept this offer. It was probably going to be the best deal they would get with aliens, and seemed to be extremely tilted in their favor. It was about time some changes were made. Hopefully, this would see humanity advance even more, and the Volus apparently wanted to be right there next to them.
Thermidor smiled to Din, "I'd have to be a fool to refuse such an offer. ORCA would be pleased to do this with you. Who knows, maybe it will go beyond just this in the future."
Din sighed in relief, leaning back in his chair now that the most formal proposition had passed, "That is exactly what we hope for… Thermidor. We look forward to a very… prosperous future for both Volus and Humanity."
And what a future it would be.
CODEX – Entry No.2 Subject: HUMANS
Saturn: A human-controlled world, it is located in the Sol System. It is the true engine behind Humanity's war machine, serving as a production and management base for the hundreds of AFs currently in use. As the surface is not suitable for human life, sixty separate space stations make up for the lack of such necessities. In addition to these, there are currently two hundred ten separate construction platforms, most dedicated to producing ships for humanity's growing fleets. The twelve that are not are used for this purpose build space stations, and the rare occasions in which a Dreadnaught-class or higher is involved. This is all made possible by Saturn's belt and many moons, which are rich in resources humans require for manufacturing. It is estimated that it will take over a thousand years, at the least, to exhaust these resources. In compensation for this, humans have begun inspecting the uses of the belt surrounding the solar system.
ARGIS Construction Platform: Of the two types of spatial construction machineshumans have created, the ARGIS Construction Platform is the smaller one. The ARGIS type is responsible for the construction and upkeep of Frigate-class, Destroyer-class, Interceptor-class, Carrier-class, and Cruiser-class platform is also capable of housing approximately nine hundred AFTER Construction Automatons, as well as one dumb AI each. There are currently one hundred ninety eight ARGIS Construction Platforms in use.
ENCOMPASS Construction Platform: This is the larger of the two types of construction platforms used by humans. The ENCOMPASS type is responsible for the construction and upkeep of the few Dreadnaught-class ships in service, while eight of these platforms worked together to construct the Whale. They also build various space stations as well as additional construction platforms. Overall, these platforms are dedicated to more civilian pursuits than the ARGIS type, which builds largely military supplies. This platform houses two thousand AFTER Construction Automatons, as well as five dumb AI. There are currently twelve ENCOMPASS Construction Platforms in operation.
AFTER Construction Automaton: One of the few designs created by humans based on NEXT technology. Each holds a small Kojima Core, and is about an eighth the size of an average NEXT. These automatons were built as versatile construction units, to work in both space and the surface. They became essential for Humanity's incredible rate of expansion, so that Humans would not be at risk working in hostile environments. Additionally, these automatons are controlled remotely by dumb AI, overseen by a small team of humans. This method of construction has seen amazing results, producing Humanity's formidable spatial fleet in only a few number of years.
OVERWATCH Drop Ship: A military vehicle, it is a staple in the transport from troops to vehicles, even going so far as to be able to transport a NEXT quickly and efficiently. Seeing its first live-fire combat in the First Contact War, the drop ship proved itself capable in handling various operations, dropping troops off in critical positions even while under heavy fire. The OVERWATCH is also capable of limited support, sporting high plasma-explosive missiles and plasma energy auto cannons. It is equipped with Kojima thrusters on the front and back, and both sides. This is necessary to perform evasive maneuvers on short notice, a must-have when picking up or dropping off its cargo. In the end, the drop ship became a vehicle loved by pilots everywhere, resilient enough to have some of the more sentimental pilots put their own emblems on their ship as so many NEXT pilots are so fond of doing.
Avenger Plasma Rifle: Standard issue among the military of ORCA, most soldiers possess this assault rifle. As all firearms are in the ORCA military, it is equipped with plasma magazines, rendering kinetic shielding useless against it. The rifle is rounded on the top, capable of being equipped to sport a scope if a soldier prefers the more accurate single or burst shot as opposed to the fully automatic option, all of which this gun is capable of firing. Various other additional devices can also be equipped to the gun to make it more versatile in combat, such as extended magazines or an under slung grenade launcher. This gun was put into service three months after Humanity expanded into space, first introduced by the Rayleonard Corporation.
A/N: And that is the second entry for the ever-expanding codex. Remember, if you want any specifics on certain tech, say so in a PM or review and I might toss it into the next entry. Anyway, sorry that it took so long to upload, but I had things that needed taking care of that I would rather not talk about. It is great to see such a strong response to this, though! Seriously, only two chapters and over forty reviews! Thank you fellows so much! I hope that this chapter satisfied you, my esteemed readers! The next chapter should be out soon. Just between you and me, I've already started writing it… so! Please review, though no flaming if you please! Until next time!
This is Kirbboy, over and out!