No Gods, No Kings, No Reapers Terra Athernum

by Icarus636

The dream of Rapture never became a nightmare, under the banner of the UN and Rapture humanity united as one. Now as the Human Commonwealth stands as the only superpower matching The Council in strength and technology, an eternal enemy awakens, but mankind shall not go quietly into the night. HFY fanfic, different humanity, Paragon Sheppard.

4. Chapter 3: We are the Commonwealth

Chapter 3: We are the Commonwealth

Sorry for the delay but my computer was busted and I had to leave it with the technician; also I was investigating a few interesting points to develop, I was not sure if I should go through this plot line, but one of the reasons Crossovers exists is to fully exploit the potential of the characters and worlds, so I decided to dig through the worlds of Mass Effect and Bioshock to see what further developments will make the Systems Commonwealth the HFY faction everyone dreams of. Check the Prologue I had been adding some changes.

Artyom-Dreizehn: For the record, imagine the praetorian armor like a mix between the Crysis's nanosuit and Starcraft's marine armor. The Praetorian armor is living bio-synthetic tissue with armor and mechanic components. Just wait for the next codex, but I will let you know the Bouncer and Rosie armors are for mining, lifting, construction, etc; while other models like the Rumbler are for combat exclusively. Most are three meters tall but there are a few super-praetorians mechs like the Songbird armor.

Johng23: As I said, English is not my first language, if anyone wants to be my beta. Please volunteer.

Chinerpeton: Yes, I know according to studies, human population by 2100 should be around 11.2 billion, however the interest of the Commonwealth is to develop human civilization as fast as possible, colonies have an amazing birth rate with families having four or five children and receiving tax evasion in exchange, and with ADAM treatments life expectancy is of 180 years. Nevertheless you are right I have made some changes to the Prologue, check it if you want to.

Guest: Don't worry, in one point the dark side of humanity shall rise. We all know that terrible situations force people to embrace the best and worst of themselves and sometimes they are both the same.

Guest: Please, the quarians just gave them all the info of the codex and Citadel, and she did not revealed any technology or state secret, just common known information.

The armed forces: Thanks

WBXtreme234: Thanks, and sure

FanGirl: Thanks

CODEX:

The Systems Commonwealth (2109 CE): On July 11th 2054 the Systems Commonwealth was formally proclaimed as the first step towards a truly unified human government and an interstellar society. Faced with the realities of establishing an interstellar dominion and all the opportunities and dangers that presented, the Commonwealth was conceived as the main political body to defend and represent humanity.

The Commonwealth's economy and population are continuously growing as a result of the versatile nature of the ever expanding Rift Gate Network that connects the hundreds of outpost and mining stations; and dozens of colonies established. While the Mass Effect Relay Network is critical to the expansion and control of the Commonwealth's territory, it is the Rift Gate Network that allows for systems not bound by the mass effect relays to be survey, colonized, terraform or exploited.

One of the most striking aspects of the Commonwealth society and perhaps the greatest trait inherited from the Rapturian Society is the implementation of a tiered citizen structure regarding the use of genetic or synthetic augmentations: Tests of intelligence, health and endurance as well as complete fulfillment of certain duties (education, service, and work) grants every citizen limited access to gene-mods and synthetic augs, this system serves not only to avoid the proliferation of ADAM missuses, but also as an effective tool to combat wastefulness or corruption. While advances in technology and production mean that even the lowest tier citizens can enjoy confortable and productive lives, this system also serves to promote duty to the state and responsibility to human society as whole.

As human society evolves into a galactic civilization and most of the former religious and national sentiments had begun to disappear, especially in the oldest colonies, a new group of beliefs had settle on their place. The constant pursuit of freedom, happiness, knowledge and wealth are only match in the hearts and minds of most citizens of the Commonwealth for the value of individual and collective will; and by a new devotion for the "sanctity" of Mother Earth as the core and origin of mankind. This new values had taken shape most clearly in a motto unofficially adopted by the military and the most radical elements of human society, a war cry that shows that as humanity prepares to embark in the greatest journey in its history, it marches forward united in purpose, determined to claim a place among the stars: There are no Gods, There are no Kings, Terra Aeternum.

Planets of the System Commonwealth (2109 CE): While essentially a one world government, the original executive council of the Commonwealth was formed by the most powerful nations of Earth, most of which had their own agendas and visions of the new space dominion of mankind. USA, Russia, China, UK, France, Rapture, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Nigeria and Pakistan, under the oversight of the Commonwealth's parliament, were determined to expand their economies, cultural values and governments into the extra solar colonies, yet none of them could do it alone. Also with the threat of either a massive stellar civil war or a hostile alien power, the military just like most areas of research and development are a joint cooperative effort.

Hundreds of worlds have been surveyed, charted and later claimed first by the Commonwealth's colonization authority and military and then claimed or colonized by one or various nations, as decades pass many of this worlds had begun to request greater autonomy from the Commonwealth as the quick expansion of humanity has enabled most of its citizens to decide their own paths, while for the first time in history most of humanity no longer lives in Earth or in the Sol System but rather in the distant stars.

CORE WORLDS:

-Earth: Capital and home of Mankind, reaching a new golden age, as most concerns regarding poverty, contamination or overpopulation have been solved in a considerable measure. It has a population of 7,5 billion people.

-Mars: While Mars has a very weak magnetic core so the development of an atmosphere is almost impossible several terraforming devices have stabilized living areas of the planet were the air is breathable and plant life has begun to grow. The only true settlement of Mars is the City of Delfos constructed over the location of the Prothean archives.

-Chiron (Alpha Centaury): Earth's first extra solar colony, carrying a population of almost 1,2 billion inhabitants is a planet with a mass almost twice as Earth and a gravity approximately of 1,5 G. Most of its inhabitants came from the three main sponsors of the colonization effort: Rapture, the USA and The People's Republic of China.

-Praxis: An almost uninhabitable world with a gravitational force three times the one of Earth, freezing cold weather even in the equatorial area and a heavy atmospheric pressure with radiation and abundance of nitrogen. All of these traits would have made this planet a poor prospect for colonization if it wasn't for the abundance of Element Zero and heavy metals deposits. Decades of colonization and exploitation had turned Praxis into a heavy industrial center for the Commonwealth. Yet the most remarkable trait of Praxis is its population: 200 million people were brought into the planet by the promises of wealth and the opportunity for a new start were force to subject themselves to extensive ADAM enhancement mods in order to force adaption to the toxic atmosphere, high gravity and radiation storms. Now after almost three generations, the praxians as they call themselves are considered by many as a new species of super humans; harden by the adverse conditions of their home, and the most vocal colony vouching for independence.

-Tartarus System - Hades: Headquarters of the Commonwealth fleet, main docks and industrial center.

-Arcadia: Established by the joint efforts of the European Union and Rapture investors, Arcadia is the bread basket of the central colonies, a garden world with a vast fertile land and almost 120 million inhabitants.

-Columbia: Established by the joint efforts of the US and Great Britain it is one of the most develop colonies, it contains some of the best learning centers in human space and perhaps the galaxy. Its capital Londinium is considered "the jewel of the outer colonies". It has a population of almost 105 million.

OTHER MAIN COLONIES or POTENCIAL PLANETS:

-Eden Prime: One of the most successful colonies, population 49 millions

-Terra Nova: Population 28 millions

-Amanecer: Established as the first joint effort by the South American countries to expand their presence into space and prove their worth to the rest of Earth's nations Amanecer is a vast humid-garden world with a binary star, covered in endless thick green jungles. Most colonies and cities have been built near the coast or in deserted areas as to prevent any alteration in the planet's environment. It is the site of development for some of the most important health and gene therapy programs in the Commonwealth.

-Sinhon: One of the first and most populated colonies in the Commonwealth, a garden world containing a population of 800 million most of Chinese-South Asia origin and others coming from India and Pakistan. While it could be considered a core world of the Commonwealth, unfortunately it is a planet plagued by racial, ethnic and religious conflicts, and one with a very impoverish population, a clear example of how some of Earth and humanity's oldest problems had followed them into the stars.

-Shambala: A garden world with vast mountain ranges and valleys, the abundance of diverse ecosystems and environments have made this planet one of the most suitable sites for troops training and field tests. Many military exercises and simulations were held in this world by the Commonwealth's navy.

-Karnak: Desert world, rich in mineral deposits; several mining post have been established there.

-Persephone: A frozen world, site of several black sites and the central military prison of the Commonwealth's navy.

2109 – two months ago – New Sparta; planet of Praxis:

The sweet of her brow had already reach her eyes filling them with a small tickling and the bow staff of Diego had left a purple mark in her shoulder.

I could have avoided that, yet I didn't

'Good fight Masha, it seems I am improving.' Diego Cruz, a boy almost fifteen years old and one of her closest friends told her with a warm smile on his face.

'It was a good fight, and you are right, you are getting better Diego' she answered as she smirked devilishly, and adopted a defiant stance. 'But next time, I will not make it so easy for you.'

Diego turned pale for a second. Perhaps I shouldn't have left him win, well there is always next time.

As she turned to leave her data wrist flare for a moment, she looked into it, apparently so Professor Rosembaun had ordered her to go to his office at once. That was never a good sign, the last thing she wanted right now or anytime was to have Professor Rosenbaun poking his needles into her body, checking the levels on ADAM and EVE production, regeneration and cellular resistance.

She headed toward the girls locker room, in there she removed her training clothes and changed into her regular attire for the outside weather, the thermal clothes, gloves and boots feel uncomfortable indoors but were mandatory outside. After she finished putting the rest of her clothes and gear into her backpack she headed to the exit with the rest of the students. Once they were all gathered in the antechamber, the instructor Drill sergeant Yaoi put on his gas mask signaling for the rest to do the same.

Once the door was opened the cold air outside hit them like cold embrace, as she look around she could see that a few of her fellow students them didn't put their gas mask on. It was not surprise, after all the use of the gas masks was more a tradition than a law. All of them were the third generation of praxian, their lungs and bodies have adapted to the praxian environment, none of them were greatly affected by the planet's atmosphere, Masha especially, yet she used the mask as a habit.

Outside as she followed the rest of the students, she checked the holo map in her data wrist and headed for Professor Rossembaun building a few blocks away from her current position. All around her people walked through the streets minding their own business none of them paid much attention on her, she liked that, yet the voices in her head and the smell of different emotions were starting to bother her. She had years of mental training and biological conditioning, but she could never close her psy abilities completely. People didn't say as much as the graffiti on the walls:

There are no gods; there are no kings; Praxis Aeternum

New nation, no colony

We are Praxians; we are the children of the Uroboros

All of this writings had next to them the symbol of a snake biting its tail; the symbol of the praxian secessionist movement, political and social order was starting to boil little by little in Praxis.

Finally she arrived at Professor Rosembaun laboratory, after presenting her card key at the main door she entered the building. Professor Emil Rosembaun's laboratory was not to different than the training center, praxian architecture was almost the same in most cases, a solid structure design to sustained the constant pressure of the winds and isolate the people inside from Praxis cold weather, also almost every building was equipped with an antechamber design to both avoid the escape of heat and prevent the entry of praxian nitrogen heavy air in the inner space. Once inside she removed her gas mask and put down her winter hood, storing her gas mask in one of her backpack's pocket.

For a few minutes she waited outside Professor Rosembaun's office. Finally the reception VI told her to come in, she sighted as she entered the room only to see that there were two other men inside next to Professor Rosembaun, one looked like a businessman wearing a fancy black tie suit, with a pin carrying the emblem of the Commonwealth parliament near the neck; the other was a military officer using the uniform of the Commonwealth's navy.

'Good afternoon Masha I thank you for coming so soon, may I introduce you to Ambassador Rodriguez of the Commonwealth department of state and Captain Sheppard of the Commonwealth's navy' the professor explained. 'Apparently so they are interested in the use of your psy abilities for a dangerous mission' those last words and the aura of professor Rosembaun expressed concern. Masha was surprised for that.

'Professor Rosembaun would you kindly leave us alone for a few minutes' the ambassador asked.

'Of course' professor Rosembaun answered, before he left the room he send a concern glare at Masha.

'Are we secure?' the captain asked to his arm, where a new top of the line data wrist containing a fancy orange holographic gauntlet appeared around it.

'Yes Captain, the room and building have been scrubbed clean for any listening devices or peeping toms' a female voice, most probably an AI adjutant answered.

'Well miss Lutz, I am sorry for all of this but there is an operation to be execute by a special task force of military, diplomats and a scientific team, but we may need your help.' The captain explained, before handing her an information pad. 'The information in there is classified, we have studied your records about the reach of your abilities, yet we have taken a huge risk by allowing you to read them.' He made a pause. 'You should know, you can back away now, but once you read that, you are in this one hundred percent.'

Masha hesitated for a moment, the she took a huge breath before beginning to read the report, about an incident located in a planet recently surveyed and designated as Kaldir. She haven't passed the first paragraph and the first three pictures before pausing for a moment and looking at the two men, she focused her mind into them, both them were carrying truth, that didn't make her feel better. Her eyes keep widen in disbelieve as she reach the part about the quarian Codex history, she continued reading the report about the battle against the batarian pirate group, by the time she got the summarized Codex of the Citadel Council, she was stiff as stone.

'So not only there are alien nations out there, but there is also a coalition of species out there, and if humanity is not prepared, we will be sweep aside by the mists of history' She declared, to the two men.

The Ambassador simple stared at her, while the captain smiled in response.

'Whatever it is the mission, I am in.' she declared with confidence.

'You do not even want to know the nature of the mission?' The Ambassador asked.

'I am tired of hiding what I am, Ambassador Rodriguez, I want to go and see the galaxy, besides I have a feeling that the mission you are preparing is not a military operation but a rather a covert diplomatic deal' she answered. 'Isn't it?'

'You are right ensign Lutz' the Captain declared with confident.

'Ensign?' she asked.

'You will need an honorary rank to participate in this operation' the captain answered. 'Ensign will do for now. Welcome onboard' he extended his hand to her.

She shacked the hand of the captain and listened as both men explained the mission.

After the debriefing end, she asked permission to go to the bathroom.

Once alone in there she look at her reflection in the mirror, a few doubts were creping over her mind, but the chance to see true sentient alien life was something all of humanity has dreamed for decades.

She removed her contact lenses and stare at his reflection once more, her yellow eyes glowing like a Led. She then put her hand on her belly where a creature that has been part of her almost since her birth rested around her stomach, then she looked the place of the bruise from that morning, as expected it has already vanished completely.

The ADAM and EVE of her blood flared with an almost sexual excitement.

I will be hard for them to accept me, but I will prove my worth to them, and if there are aliens out there, then maybe, me and my brethren will no longer be consider freaks or Frankenstein like abominations.

May the Great Chain of Endeavor shall guide our way.

XXXXX

2109 – Quarian migrant fleet:

Commander Daon'Nuzzra vas Alarei stood in his room observing the infinite number of stars in the window. He, just like every other member of the quarian race had live his entire life in a ship traveling through the galaxy, nothing in the void was foreign to him, yet there were days he just could not glimpsed the great empty expansion without felling the same emotions he had as a child, curiosity, humility and the desire for exploration.

The last year had been good for him, he had risen from a simple marine to the second in command of the Alarei, all because of the encounter in CM2 (or as his new found friends had called it: Kaldir).

After leaving the planet, Sura'Leth had been able to restore two of the asari prisoners back to health, they did not tell them anything about the humans or their Commonwealth, only that they had also been attacked by the pirates and that by mere chance and a few doses of good luck the four of them were able to defeat the slavers. A few of the batarian corpses were still on the ship's morgue but most of them had been thrown off the airlock so as to reclaim the ship without any trouble.

Upon arriving on their original destination: Illium, the control tower was surprised upon seeing a batarian frigate in quarian hands, and denied them landing authorization until one of the asari former prisoner talked to them and told them everything that happened.

On their landing they were received by a security group of asari commandos, a medical team to check on the remaining asari prisoners and a crew of journalist who were ecstatic to hear the news about the fact that a group of four quarians had outfoxed an entire pirate crew, gaining control of their ship and finally releasing twenty Asari Republic citizens from a lifetime of slavery.

The news went through the extranet quickly and upon their return to the migrant fleet, Daon'Nuzzra, Sura'Leth, Kael'Traen and Ranna'Shiun were received as heroes. Not only they had brought a brand new frigate to the fleet with all its cargo and equipment as a pilgrimage gift but they had also proved their worth to the fleet and the worth of the quarian people to the galaxy, with their actions. Even though there were some tensions regarding the idea that the pirates may seek retribution for the ship and the dead crew, everyone knew pirates were a ruthless batch who may be more ashamed and disgusted at their fellow criminals for allowing themselves to be defeated than at the quarians for outsmarting them.

The mood of celebration did not last long, the day after their arrival, he and his companions presented a report with the whole truth, detailing their first encounter with the humans, the attack of the slavers, the rescue mission and their departure of the planet after the farewells.

The conclave and the admiralty board decided to honor the request of the humans to remain isolated from the galactic community. Deep inside Daon could not blame humanity, the Council may see itself as the great overseer of galactic peace, order and civilization and a beacon of liberty against the savagery of the Terminus systems; but quarians, krogans and many others see the Citadel Council for what it truly was: an arrogant oligarchy determine to maintain their supremacy in the galaxy while they pass judgment on the other races.

Yet a new power was about to rise in the horizon, one not bound by the mass effect technology, the relay network, or genetic and technological limitations. A nation still in its infancy yet powerful and full of potential, and now hungry for allies.

XXXXX

January 19th2109 – Eagle Nebula, CNS Shroud

CNS Shroud

Designation: Commonwealth's stealth frigate

Mission: Infiltrate in Council Space/ establishing contact with the Quarian Migrant fleet

Crew: 48

Six months after the events of Kaldir, Lieutenant commander Missuro Su Kwon and Lieutenant Luna Da Silva had been given a particular mission: Track down the Quarian Migrant Fleet and offer them an alliance. If humanity was going be prepare for anything when they were to enter the galactic stage then they needed allies, and the quarians were in need of aid, he doubted they were going refuse this offer.

They had been able to hack into the extranet with the help of the ship's AI and discovered the current location of the migrant fleet, however this was not a simple mission, they were traveling through uncharted territory and capture was not an option, humanity was not ready to reveal itself into any alien superpower.

The two of them were not sure about the nature of this operation, despite the fact that Missuro felt proud to be there, onboard the first Commonwealth's stealth ship, a prototype designed to reduce emissions during travels allowing it to become invisible to sensors. While they were traveling through the Citadel Council control space he doubted they could be detected.

Luna had spent two months studying the engines and systems of the Shroud. It was amazing; The Shroud's IES (internal emission sinks) stealth system was her most notable feature.

For the Citadel Council, it was assumed for centuries that starship stealth was impossible. The heat generated by routine shipboard operations is easily detectable against the near absolute zero background temperature of space. The Shroud, however, is able to temporarily "store" this heat in lithium heat sinks deep within the hull.

The IES stealth system has a few limitations however: The system doesn't work during FTL flight because this blue shift the Shroud's emissions beyond the sinks' ability to store, and even while out of FTL, any visual scan (i.e. looking out of a window) will reveal her. However, this is rare since most ships rely on scanners rather than visual contact and spotting another ship in space is difficult. The Shroud can go to 'silent running' for around 3-4 hours, or drift passively through a system for days before having to vent and give away her position. The stored heat must eventually be radiated, or it will build up to levels capable of cooking the crew alive.

The development and construction of the frigate had taken three years, originally the ship was to be finished by 2110 but after the first contact in Kaldir the Commonwealth's naval command had her construction accelerated in order to launch the mission as soon as possible. After testing her system and performance one month before departure, the Shroud was finally ready to boldly go where no human had gone before.

In the CIC Commander Su Kwon began observing the holographic map of the Milky Way detailing the locations, relays and territories that the quarian codex has provided them. He was thankful the expansion of the Commonwealth hadn't put them in conflict with the Citadel or the Batarians as the location of Earth was relatively close to the coordinates of the Krogan's homeworld and Turian's space. On one point of the map there was a triangle indicating the location of the Shroud and in another was a yellow circle indicating the last known position of the Quarian Migrant Fleet.

'Thinking about the mission Commander Su Kwon?' a soft sweet voice interrupted broke him out of his thoughts, and Missuro looked behind him to have his gaze locked with the golden yellow eyes of the sixteen year old girl next to him.

For a few moments Missuro felt a cold shiver going down his spine, Ensign Masha Lutz look like a normal teenage girl in a navy cadet white uniform, her black hair made a delicate contrast with her pale pink skin and her white clothes, but her golden eyes almost shinning like a small glow tell everyone what she was, and not even her warm angelic smile could prevent her deep gaze from making him uneasy. She was a lilim or Kori Lilith (child of Lilith), also referred to as a "little sister". Ever since the discovery of ADAM slugs there had been misuses of ADAM to enhance one's body and capabilities, not one more known and widespread than the one of the Splicers, individuals whose continuous misuse of ADAM resulted in their bodies and minds twisted and deformed, losing most of their rational thinking and humanity. But splicers were not sterile, many of them had given birth to children that unfortunately have inhered the unstable genome of their parents, as a result of that, most of those children died shortly after being born, the ones who survive managed to do so because of the use of ADAM symbiotic slugs implanted in them which helped them healed and achieved a stable genetic structure, those children were known as Lilims.

Most lilims were female as the unstable genome did not adapt well to the male Y chromosome. As a result of the continuous fabrication of ADAM by their bodies lilims had incredible cellular regeneration ability, and a remarkable set of powers that even plasmids could not replicate. The most common and well known ability was the lilim mental bonding, they were in a way telepaths, although scientist claimed that they actually possessed an organic quantum entanglement communication ability that did not only work among themselves but with other beings. Lilims were able to "scan" your mind to know when you were lying, what you were feeling and with enough training they could know what you were thinking, some of them could control not-sapient creatures taming an entire wolf pack or walking through a Chiron flesh eating worms nest without being attacked. Because of all of that and more, the Commonwealth's high command has assigned Masha Lutz as an aid to the Shroud's contact mission; her role was to scan through the quarians conscience and determine whether their intentions were truth or have ulterior motives. Missuro would have requested an adult lilim however High Command believe the less aggressive probing of a teenage lilim would be better, as an adult lilim may have different allegiances and reasons to sabotage the mission, while Masha Lutz was considered one of the most talented Lilims in record.

The Commonwealth's population had not been informed of the events of Kaldir yet, only the navy's high command and the higher echelons of the military and parliament knew about it. The existence of the Citadel Council and the other alien races of the galaxy could send shockwaves across the Commonwealth, mankind state as an interstellar civilization was still very young, and there were still people alive who remembered the time when alien life was still theoretical.

'I am fine Ensign Lutz' he answered as a smile appeared on his face. 'I am just thinking about the friends I made in Kaldir, I just hope that they are well and ready to hear our offer at least.'

'I see' she answered as her smile and golden eyes turn into a sad expression. 'I have been reading the extranet files regarding the quarians. I feel bad for them, losing their planet and their colonies to their own creations, being abandoned and cast out by the rest of the galaxy and force to live the entirety of their lives in a barely functional group of starships.'

'Yes it is true' he muttered. 'Their history is like a chapter of Battlestar Galactica, that old science fiction series'

Curse you Nadia Marrash for sending me that collection of pre FTL era television series

He said nothing but the girl heard it anyway, and she erupted in laugh, with many in the CIC looking at them for a moment. 'I am more of a Game of Thrones kind of girl; the book The Winds of Winter was amazing especially.'

'I prefer A Dream of Spring actually' Luna interrupted them coming through the door and positioning herself right next to Masha.

The image of the light brown hair blue eye woman and the black hair golden eyes teen smiling together left Missuro thinking for a moment. He and Luna had begun a relationship shortly after the incident in Kaldir and seeing her next to the sixteen year old super evolve girl, made him think for the first time of how Luna would be not a girlfriend, but perhaps as his wife and mother with children of their own in some near future.

Soon his thoughts were interrupted when Captain Alexander Sheppard entered into the CIC.

'Officer on deck!' the navigator shouted. Instantly everyone included the lilim girl stood up and saluted.

'At ease, everyone' the captain begun, his rusty yet confident voice putting everyone on edge.

Missuro and Luna had heard about Captain Alexander Sheppard before, the right hand of Admiral Dewitt, a military career man, determined, strong willed yet charismatic and intelligent, exactly the type of person you send to a top secret mission with the unknown as a field of operations.

'In order to avoid any Council's patrols, or putting any unnecessary stress over the IES stealth system we will be taking a slow journey through the Eagle Nebula. If everything goes according to plan, we should be arriving at the coordinates of the Quarian Migrant Fleet in approximately six hours.' he made a pause. 'You all have performed admirably and you were all chosen for this mission because you are the best humanity has to offer.' His voice lace with confidence and pride was reflected in the faces of everyone present. 'Today we write our chapter in history, the choices you made, the actions you take shall define you.' his words were marked in fire in the soul of Missuro.

'There are not gods; there are no kings; only the indomitable will of the human spirit and the infinite potential of our ingenuity shall give us a bright future. Terra Aeternum'

'Terra Aeternum!' Missuro shouted.

'TERRA AETERNUM!' Everyone shouted in response.

XXXXX

An hour had passed since then, Commander Missuro Su Kwon and Lieutenant Luna Da Silva had retreated to their quarters, meanwhile Masha Lutz for some reason she could not fathom stood in the observation deck watching the endless black ocean through the window, deep in her mind she was sensing a faint voice like a whisper calling to her. As the minutes passed and her training and conditioning allowed her to hear it better; the whisper had become a long old song. Focusing the reach of her mind Masha begin to hear the sadness and sourness of the notes, it was like a cry of desperation and surrender, but there was also a whisper of hope, that could be hear between the notes.

When the content of the song became clear as both a cry for help and a long distant memory Masha decided it was her duty to find that lost spirit, no matter the mission, after all she was onboard the CNS Shroud for a reason. Arriving at the CIC she almost demanded to the captain for a general scan of the nearby systems to find the lost singer.

Despite his reservations, Captain Alexander Sheppard agreed to scan for anything out of the ordinary, although his face expressed concern and distrust upon hearing Masha's opinions and conclusions of the "voice".

After a few minutes of continued scanning, the Shroud's computers revealed the location of a single alien craft in the vicinity; a most certainly derelict ship floating in space, apparently adrift. The hologram in the CIC blinked for a moment before zooming in a distant point of the nebula with a green circle in the coordinates.

As they approach the alien vessel, the sour note of the song lingering in Masha's brain became so audible and sad that the girl needed to make an impossible effort to avoid becoming enraptured by it and reduce herself to tears.

When they were less than a mile from the derelict vessel the ship's scans confirmed what they could see through the cameras: It was an old, probably ancient starship of alien design, for all they knew it may have been adrift in space for decades if not centuries.

Even though the captain was hesitant to deviate from the original mission, the chance to salvage any usable components or information from that ship could make it a worthy risk. Generally upon encountering a damage vessel floating in space the common thing to do was to send a squad of engineers aided by a small group of praetorians, but in this case that was too risky and they didn't have the time to take apart that tin can of a ship, so he assembled a squad composed of his three praetorians units onboard and a dozen repair and salvage drones to break into the derelict ship.

Generally this is how most Alien terror movies begin. An old derelict alien starship lost to time filled with ancient knowledge and terrifying monsters waiting for someone to wake them up.

The salvage team was assembled in the lower level of the cargo hold, after the room was depressurized; the group jumped forward with their jump packs propelling them into the alien ship's hull. As their mag boots glued them to the surface the Bouncer Praetorian leading the group made a routine scan of the hull trying to find the best place to cut an opening. After a few minutes of hesitation he activated his omni drill and cut a perfect circle in the hull, big enough to allow him and the rest of the group into the ship, one at a time.

XXXXX

Meanwhile in his quarters, Missuro Su Kwon was enjoying his time off duty, he lay exhausted with his eyes close and his head resting in the pillow, next to him lay Luna with her magnificent naked body snug up in his sheets. The sex had been good and fulfilling, the sweet pleasure of two soulds becoming one in a warm and wet embrace.

Luna had once heard about gene-mods focused to improve sexual proficiency, but right there right now, they could not possibly imagine any way to improve that moment.

'Are you awake?' she asked in hush tone, looking back to Missuro while still covering her breasts and body with the sheets.

He simply opened his eyes and looked back to her.

My god, why does she always have to keep her hair short or tie up in a bun, she looks SO beautiful with her hair long and untangled.

The brown locks had turned almost black because of the sweat damping it.

'I believe we should take a shower and dress up before our next shift comes, Commander Su Kwon.' She said in a soft voice, and then she stood up and abandoned the bed and sheets, revealing her magnificent round ass and beautiful body as she walked towards the bathroom. Missuro followed suit.

Completely oblivious to the operations happening outside the ship, the world for Missuro Su Kwon and Luna Da Silva was reduced to that room, the warm embrace of the falling water and the intoxicating placer going through them.

XXXXX

After almost an hour of scanning and salvaging cargo and components the survey team returned to the Shroud, carrying what remains of valuable on the ship, passing through quarantine at their return. Masha could hear the faint song coming from one the crates, when the sensor detected organic live signs in several of the crates a lot of nerves were put on edge. According to the engineer team the crates were cryogenic pods designed to keep the alien being inside in stasis.

When she found the crate from where the voice came, she almost opened it up herself but thankfully despite her youth she knew the protocol regarding possible contaminants or dangerous alien organism. The science team took the crate to the lab and scanned the cryogenic pod revealing that inside the container lay an egg almost one thousand years old yet still containing a small level of neural activity.

Once it was determined that the egg hold no danger or was at any risk it was carefully transfer to the Shroud's cryogenic container. Despite her doubts, Masha approached the cryogenic container, laying her hand in the glass window watching the egg inside, with her mind focusing forward she began hearing the song again, its notes had change, it was no longer so sad, nor lonely.

She knows I am here, but how do I know it is a she?

She focused her mind into the egg, reading words, images and smells that the egg was sending her.

'Be careful with that Ensign Lutz' one of the scientists warned her. 'According to our readings and research by cross-reference with the Citadel Council Codex the ship from where we found those eggs was a Rachni vessel.'

'Rachni?' she spoke out loud, Masha had read about the Rachni in the Citadel Codex, a race of collective, incredible adaptable and intelligent insects that almost destroyed the Citadel Council more than a millennia ago, according to the codex if hasn't been for the Krogan the rachni would have spread and wipe out all life in the galaxy.

'Yes, I don't know if it was the right decision to bring those eggs onboard, but the department of genetic research or maybe the Tenembaun Foundation will be quite pleased that we found such an interesting specimen to study' the man answered before leaving her alone.

Her eyes returned to the window and the egg inside. Part of her was wondering if the right thing to do was to put the egg in an incinerator and send the last of the Rachni to the eternal night, but she could hear the song inside and she knew that this being was a fully sentient soul, and most probably the last of its kind, maybe she deserve to live.

'Don't worry, you are safe, here' she whispered. 'We will take you to a new world where your people may begin again, and me and my sisters shall act as ambassadors and interpreters keeping the peace, and understanding. There won't be another rachni war.' She stated in a whisper.

'My name is Masha Lutz, welcome to the CNS Shroud.'

XXXXX

After leaving the derelict ship position and resume with the mission they have reached a relay that according to their Intel was link to the coordinates of the Quarian Fleet. Captain Sheppard was in the bridge observing the holographic representation of the relay, while the man next to him was drinking a cup of coffee. The Bridge crew was maintaining their standard routine while the ship 'ran silent' using only minimal energy for sensors and IES stealth system. Only minimal staff was seated at their consoles as Captain Alex Sheppard waited along with them.

For all of them, this was their job, and they did it with the precision and skill that the Commonwealth Navy expected of them. But for a State Department Diplomat like Ambassador Hector Rodriguez, you could only be so patient for so long.

'So Ambassador, I hope our ship isn't getting too small for you.' Captain Sheppard said with a smile. Ambassador Rodriguez put down the cup, looked up and smiled as well.

'Not yet Captain, not yet. I hope your crew isn't too nervous about the fact that they're sneaking around in this alien coalition territory.' Ambassador Rodriguez replied as the captain checked the scanners log while the Ambassador sipped at his coffee.

'They are honor to be part of it Ambassador; it's not very often that a Commonwealth's Ship more importantly the first stealth ship is sent to lay terms for an alliance with an alien species. We are making history right now.' Captain Sheppard answered.

'Good to know your people feel that way, Captain.' Rodriguez said with a smile. After a week, travelling it was clear that the initial nerves or excitement had mostly vanished.

'Well Ambassador, if the Migrant fleet doesn't appear within the day, I propose we attempt to locate another Mass Relay they might use.' Captain Sheppard suggested. The Ambassador nodded in response.

'I believe that we may have to Captain. But our mission is to contact the Migrant Fleet and the Quarian government. We would have to seek out another relay or begin actively searching for the Migrant Fleet. I think that our best bet is to remain here Captain, our AIs intromissions into the extranet had been providing good information.' Hector Rodriguez replied.

'Yes they have Ambassador, but we cannot simply linger here forever. The Migrant Fleet is somewhere out there, and lying in wait for it is not the best use of our time. 'Captain Sheppard replied.

'I understand, for now we just need to be patient, if we make an agreement with the quarians then we will have quite a good story to tell our grandchildren. I have two sons and a daughter, the oldest is sixteen; they live in New Sparta, Praxis. What about you captain?'

'A boy and a girl, both of them are twenty years old, twins. My wife is also in the navy only that she is a scientist, they are on Earth…' Their conversation was cut off when the sensor grid, lit on like a Christmas tree, and a proximity alert sounded all across the CIC.

'Captain, the Mass Relay is activating to receive incoming vessels.' The Sensor tech said calmly as his eyes remained glued to his display hologram. With a few gestures he brought up the image on the main tactical display. Captain Sheppard and Ambassador Rodriguez turned to look at the main display screen. No one was particularly excited over this information; numerous vessels had passed through this Relay while the Shroud had been waiting. But as several vessels dropped out of FTL around the Relay, it was easy to see that they weren't ordinary ships.

'Vessel Types?' Captain Sheppard asked, leaning into his command terminal and tapping a few commands on his board, bringing up a smaller hologram in front of him. Ambassador Rodriguez examined the information with the Captain.

'Types match Quarian flotilla frigates. Weapons systems are offline, however all ships are heavily armed. ID tags claim them to be Quarian.' The Sensor officer answered.

According to the codex it was certain they were right, only quarian ships possessed a ring constructed as the main head of the ship's body with a long tail ending in the propulsion systems.

'Good, it seems our waiting is over.' Ambassador Rodriguez said with a slight smile on his features. Captain Yan nodded and zoom his display holo closer in on the vessels.

'Standard defensive screen, they're checking to make sure that the Relay is safe for the rest of the Fleet to move through the Relay. According to the Intel gathered it takes days for the entire Migrant fleet to move through a Relay, and the Quarians are experts at moving the Flotilla safely through the network.' Captain Sheppard said with a nod.

'Well Captain, time to carry out our orders.' Hector Rodriguez said and Captain Sheppard drew a deep breath before sighing. Quarians were migrants and vagabonds, but they were well armed and had twitchy trigger fingers when it came to defending the Migrant Fleet. You didn't sneak up on them unless you wanted them to start firing when they found you. Alexander Sheppard didn't doubt that finding a cloaked Human vessel appear in front of their picket line would result in more than a few surprised comments.

'Shut down the IES stealth system and hail them.' Captain Sheppard said calmly, not calling the ship to Battle Stations or ordering the shields to be raised. Doing so might be provocative, and he certainly didn't want that.

XXXXX

QFV Idenna - Quarian migrant fleet, vanguard cruiser:

'Captain Riyum!' the sensor technician called loudly. 'I have contact, unknown vessel bearing 193/411/94 and closing! Range one hundred kilometers.'

Captain Koret'Riyum vas Idenna approached the console, and began to observe the unknown ship that had just appeared out of nowhere.

'Battle stations, raise kinetic barriers, but don't prepare weapons yet' he shouted to the bridge crew, who quickly acted as order. 'Identification?' he asked the technician.

'Unknown IFF, it is a frigate of some kind, but we don't have any records of any similar design' the technician explained, behind his helmet his eyes show that his expression has change from nervous to curious. 'No shields or weapons charging Captain!' he supplied looking at the energy readings, his voice much more relieve.

'Vessel is hailing us Captain.' The Communications officer said from his console.

'Open a channel. '

'Done Captain.'

'This is Captain Koret'Riyum vas Idenna of the Migrant Fleet; state your business here before we regard you as hostile." Captain Riyum said forcefully as he looked out at the vicious looking ship hanging in space before him.

'This is Captain Alexander Sheppard of the Systems Commonwealth Vessel CNS Shroud, I mean you no harm. I have on board Ambassador Hector Rodriguez of the Commonwealth government. We are on a mission of peace.' The hologram of the alien male that appeared in the middle of the bridge shocked every quarian in the room. It was astonishing just how much similar that human was to an asari or a quarian without the environment suit.

'Greetings, captain. Just what is this mission of peace?' He asked coolly, noting the position of the other ships in the detachment, moving in close to surround the human vessel, weapons at the ready. In a flash the hologram of the human captain was replaced by the one of another human male, once again Captain Riyum's eyes blinked in surprise, the resemblance to his kind or the asari was amazing.

'Hello Captain, I'm Ambassador Hector Rodriguez. The Systems Commonwealth wishes to extend an offer of friendship and more to the Quarian people.' the alien man began speaking. 'A few months ago; one of our ships the CSV Kalypso made contact with a crew of four quarians and engage in combat with a gang of batarian slavers. My people is relatively new as a space faring civilization in comparison to the rest of the races in the known galaxy, that incident in fact was our first contact with another advance alien species, as a result my government would like to form an alliance with the quarian people in order to improve our technology and understanding of the galaxy, as well as helping each other to establish new colonies and stand ready for any aggression from other species.'

Everyone in the bridge exchange looks, all of them had heard about the first contact with the humans in the frozen planet by a group of pilgrims and their escort. According to the stories tell by the group, the humans were in possession of remarkable wormhole and mech technology, but their current state as a young space faring power made them not to keen in revealing themselves to the Citadel Council, just yet. Something every quarian could understand as they have very few reasons to be fond of the Council that has always refused to help them.

'Just what do you mean by alliance Ambassador?' Koret asked and the alien smiled slightly, showing a line of perfect white teeth in his mouth.

XXXXX

After the rest of the Migrant Fleet crossed the relay, the Shroud was docked with one of the large liveships in the alien quarian fleet, and the negotiations officially begun. The tension between both parties was reduced after Lieutenant Da Silva and Commander Su Kwon met with their old friends from Kaldir.

Ambassador Rodriguezz held the talks with members of the admiralty board and representatives of the Migrant Fleet Conclave in the Rayya, when they asked for a tour of the CNS Shroud; he allowed it with certain limitations. The quarian delegation was shocked when they informed them about the extended use of AI by the Commonwealth, almost as much as they were when they show them the capabilities of the rift portal technology.

It took almost two days of talks between Ambassador Rodriguez and members of both the Quarian Conclave and the Admiralty Board before a small group of terms could be established. The initial offer made by the Ambassador of providing the quarians the position of "ally state" of the Commonwealth with their services as "experts" in element zero technology, fields like biotics and the political state of the galaxy in return for full rights of colonization to a planet in Commonwealth's space with a dextro-protein base ecosystem was rejected as the quarians did not trust humanity yet, and many of them were determined to one day defeat the geth and return to their homeworld: Rannoch.

However it was not a secret for the conclave and admirals that the conditions onboard the migrant fleet was deteriorating, all of their ships were old and in a ruined state, without any full scale installations and raw materials as well as technology to repair them, in only a few centuries or decades the fleet and its population would suffer.

Finally a new set of terms were achieved, an alliance that could benefit both humanity and the quarians even more than the original treaty. The quarians were to send a survey and diplomatic team to see the exo-planet XD-29 offered by the Commonwealth as their new home, if the planet was consider suitable as a quarian colony; then a great number of their people were to settle there. While the quarians were to have full rights to the planet, a joint human-quarian group of orbital stations were to be constructed in orbit, and while millions of quarians will migrate to the planet, not all of them will permanently settle in there. The Migrant fleet will continue its nomadic journey only that this time they were to have a base of operations where to rest and repair their ships from time to time.

In exchange for the control of the planet and the investment made by the Commonwealth in the maintenance of the quarian fleet; the new quarian colony was to serve as a Commonwealth client state, and the migrant fleet as an ally state.

This agreement consisted in the creation of Quarian semi-independent state in the colony of XD-29, connected to Citadel Space by a rift gate located in the non-claimed system of Kaldir where the first contact took place months ago. A defensive outpost will be positioned there to protect the rift gate set in place, connecting Citadel and Commonwealth space.

XD-29 would be a quarian administrated planet, under the oversight of the Commonwealth.

The migrant fleet instead was to continue its path through every charted system, while also serving as an intelligence gathering service for the Commonwealth: Every update on the political and social state of the galaxy will be send to the Commonwealth's high command and every new technology discovered by the quarians or the Citadel was to be analyze and share with humanity.

Quarians could made their pilgrimages in Commonwealth space but those either in Citadel, Traverse or Terminus space could act as secret intermediaries and agents of the human government and institutions to find and bring anything of valuable to not only to the flotilla but also to the Commonwealth.

Finally despite the fact that human technology was certainly much more advance, a limited technological exchange was put in place.

As the talks carry on, a young teenage girl accompanied the diplomatic party dressed as one of the escort marines, scanning and listening to almost 18 million voices and thoughts, surrounding her.

XXXXX

January 28th2109 – CNS Shroud

'I thought these talks were never going to end.' the Ambassador sighted as he talk with the Captain in the CIC.

Next to them, the super evolve golden eye girl, was looking to the ceiling seemingly lost in her thoughts, and then she turned towards the two men.

'I was actually surprised to see that those aliens confined to their suits are much more "human" that from what I expected.' She remarked; both the captain and ambassador raised a brow to that last remark.

'What do you mean by that Ensign Lutz?' Captain Sheppard asked, putting aside his cup of coffee.

'I have scanned their fleet I have heard the voices in their thoughts, they are a people filled with emotions: guilt for their mistakes in creating the Geth; resentment against the Council for their refusal in providing them with aid; a burning hatred for their own creations and most of all a strong sense of fraternity, loyalty and trust in each other because of their secluded society.'

Both men looked at the little girl and felt a strong curiosity and surprise for the girl's abilities. Lilims were still a rare sight in the Commonwealth society, and most people believe that their remarkable talents were just rumors. But a lilim like Masha was maybe the closest thing the Commonwealth and perhaps the galaxy has to Psychic, her ability to find that derelict ship with the frozen alien eggs had been proof of that.

'So do you thing we can considered them allies or gain their trust in the long term, Miss Lutz?' this time it was the ambassador who asked.

'I am not sure, for now I can't assume anything. My skills aren't as sharp as the ones of my older brethren, but when we stood next to them inside the central liveship I could sense their emotions and main thoughts as clear as colors in the distance.' She began to explain. 'However when the news of an alliance offer and the colonization of a new world spread across the fleet I could feel a new group of emotions taking place: distrust, excitement, caution yet most of all, hope. The best we can do know, is to see how the situation evolves when the diplomatic party arrives on XD-29 and determines if the planet is suitable for colonization.' She declared with some level of confidence.

'I agree' Captain Sheppard responded. 'As a wise man once said: standing our ground doesn't mean standing alone. The quarians were the first space faring civilization encounter by humanity and soon they may become our allies, hopefully they may be the first of many.'

'I agree Captain' Commander Missuro Su Kwon cut in taking a place next to the group. 'I have to say it was good to see Daon, Sura and the rest of the group from our first encounter in Kaldir. I am not so sure that "friends" is the term I would use but both me and Lieutenant Da Silva have some level of respect for them.'

Both Captain Sheppard and Ambassador Rodriguez nodded to Commander Su Kwon last comment, while the young girl next to them only smiled.

XXXXX

Almost half a day had passed and the Shroud had taken a route through un busy segment of space in order to avoid detection, the route have been provided by fleet command as part of the plan for deployment and retreat, while the Captain was asleep, Commander Su Kwon had taken the night shift on the bridge.

As he tasted his third cup of coffee, the sensor grid lit up and the signature of an alien ship was marked in the holomap before being quickly replaced by the female shape of Meridia the Shroud's AI.

'Commander the ship sensors have detected an unknown ship less than a light year from our current position, it has an unknown profile and seems to be sending a distress beacon. While it is not our orders to intervene, it is fleet protocol to answer to any distress call and this ship is very close to our original secure Rift beacon position for departure.' She explained.

'Understood.' He answered, as he sent a message to the captain's communicator.

By the time the Captain and the rest of the senior officer had gathered in the CIC, they have already closed the distance between the Shroud and the unknown vessel.

'So, we found another derelict vessel?' The captain asked the group.

'Unclear Captain, that ship seems operational but doesn't match known profiles nor possessed any FTL propulsion system according to our scans' Meridia begun explaining. 'According to my preliminary readings that ships is emitting strong AI heuristics, while the vessel itself it is thousands year old.'

'Seriously, thousands of year old? Fascinating' Luna added. Meanwhile, the captain seem to be in deep thought.

'Do you thing is possible they have detected us?' he asked Meridia.

'Inconclusive, our IES stealth system is active and we are too far from the vessel for any optical detection, however the alien ship communication system is still broadcasting what my reading is interpreting as a distress beacon. One thing I can say for certain is that there are no life forms onboard, the ship lacks any vital support systems or artificial gravity.'

All the officers looked each other and then the captain.

'Maintain position for now, I will contact the admiral and await new instructions, for now keep surveying and scanning the ship, but while we are in stealth mode we are still vulnerable to optical detection so maintain distance' the captain answered. 'Commander Su Kwon you have the conn'

After a few minutes the captain returned, as soon as he took his position the hologram of Meridia appeared next to him.

'Set course for the vessel, prepare the survey team.' Everyone nodded in response.

When the salvage crew boarded the alien ship, the tension onboard the Shroud began to flare again. Just when they were about to return home, the unknown launches another piece of uncertainty their way. But after a few minutes of scanning the ship, the crew reported no passengers alien or otherwise onboard, only an huge system of supercomputers, that seem to have been running for centuries, although the lack of atmosphere or gravity inside the ship had allowed most of the equipment to remain very well preserved.

In order to discover the origin and purpose of the ship, the captain ordered Meridia to connect with the main server. Connection with the ship was established and almost half an hour had passed when Meridia presented her report.

The alien ship was an Ark, a virtual world designed to main a population of virtual entities inside a virtual world.

Approximately 8,000 years ago, the virtual aliens faced an imminent crisis: their homeworld's star was about to go supernova. To survive, the virtual aliens built a starship equipped with a network of supercomputers. One billion virtual aliens transferred their consciousnesses into the supercomputers, which contained an entire virtual world for them to inhabit for the duration of the crisis. With a purpose-built AI piloting the ship and maintaining the virtual world, the virtual aliens departed their home system and began a millennia-long sojourn across the galaxy.

The starship's AI was asking help as the energy source keeping the ship and the virtual world running would began to dwindle in a few decades.

After consulting with the admiral again the captain ordered the deployment of the gravity well generator and established communication with the nearest rift gate to focus on their position.

Both ships took position as a ripple of energy begun to appear and growing until a tear in the middle of the fabric of space and time.

Captain Alexander Sheppard looked around him at his crew one last time, the only one who returned the gaze was Ensign Masha Lutz. Finally they were about to return home, a year ago the only proof that humanity was not alone in the universe had been the ruins of a civilization from fifty thousand years ago and a few planets inhabited by primitive alien races. Now humanity had learned about the existence of a vast alien coalition of species that had existed for thousands of years and they have made their first diplomatic agreement with another space faring civilization; they had found a group of eggs belonging to a powerful insect-like race thought long extinct and they were bringing with them a ship filled with all that remains of another long extinct highly advance species.

Captain Alexander Sheppard's log, January 28th 2109 of the CNS Shroud:

We are coming back to Commonwealth's space, with our new allies and new found cargo. For now, no one can tell what the future shall bring, yet there is always a light in the horizon to guide those lost. The Quarians, the Rachni, the Virtual Aliens, all great civilizations much older than humanity yet all brought to the edge of extinction for their own mistakes or the will of nature.

It seems we may have encountered a distinct group of allies, I can only hope we may be doing the right thing, to ensure those peoples may return to strength; to make sure they will be able to make up for their mistakes; to forge united as one, a new era of peace; and so as they could stand together with the human race against anything the void may unleash against all of us.

XXXXX

Timeline:

2110 – A quarian cruiser carrying a diplomatic party crosses the Rift gate in Kaldir and reaches the planet of XD-29. After a few months of discussion and survey efforts, the Admiralty Board declares the planet suitable for colonization. Rename Rannoch Nova, more than half of the population of the Migrant fleet is settled on the planet which is granted to the quarian people entirely.

-Later that year the events of Kaldir and the Shroud mission, as well as the existence and history of the Citadel Council are revealed to the public. Reaction is mix: all around the Commonwealth, riots, public demonstrations and open debates spread like wildfire. A quarian delegation is invited to talk with the leaders of Earth nations and colonies; their presence is met with overwhelming positive reaction. A few months' later panic and fear gave way to curiosity, fascination and new fields of cooperation. For many the existence of the Citadel Council and other alien powers is more than enough reason for the parliament and prime minister to rally and unite the different factions and tiers of human society, in purpose and cooperation.

-A group of orbital space stations are constructed in orbit of the new quarian colony with the help of human engineers and investment of both several corporations and the government.

-The Rachni eggs are taken to the secluded semi-arid planet of Nar-Sara for study. Ensign Masha Lutz came with the team, in order to act as an "ambassador" and interpreter.

2111- After several reparations and discussions about how best to proceed; the Virtual Alien's Ship is taken to a planet known as Rodin site of the Cyber front Corporation main facilities of Epsilon, where most of all AI related research and technologies are develop.

-In the facilities of Rodin, one the VA entities is uploaded into a synthetic body, becoming the first of the VA to being able to openly inhabit the real world.

-Ambassador Shir'Na'Su of the VA entities present himself to both the Commonwealth's parliament and public, requesting further aid of humanity to transfer the rest of his people entities to new bodies.

-The rachni queen now located and studied in the planet Nar-Sara breeds an entire colony, in both the parliament and department of health debates rage on about to either continue the study of the rachni or eradicate them. Masha Lutz and several other lilims psy operatives begun to act as interpreters for the queen and her brood, and openly vouches for the liberation of the rachni of the facilities of Nar-Sara, so as they can rebuilt their race again.

-Later that year in an emergency summit celebrated behind closed doors, the higher echelons of the government and military, alongside several key figures of industry, culture and science, discuss not only the fate of the rachni but also the new integration of the quarians and VA entities into the Commonwealth society.

2112- The rachni queen and her hive are liberated from the facilities in Nar-Sara and they are offered complete control of the central continent of the planet, after a successful evacuation of all the non-essential human personal. While no ships are allowed to descend into the planet without authorization and a fleet maintains watch from orbit, it is the new Order of Interpreters composed of several lilims psy operatives who are task with maintaining order and good relationship with the rachni. The Rachni queen herself taking the name "Maia" after the Greek goddess of rebirth thanks humanity's role in rescuing her and allowing her species to flourish.

-The design of a bio engineer body based in the original anatomy of the VA entities is completed in the laboratories of Rodin; a full scale production of bio engineer synthetic bodies to serve as the new containers for the "souls" of the VA is to begin within the end of the year.

2113- The Quarian migrant fleet returns to the colony of Rannoch Nova, new settlers begin to stay in the planet, while several of the quarian ships are subjected to maintenance and refitting in the new orbital installations on the planet.

-Some tensions began to flare between the quarians and humans about the freedom provided to the rachni, the overextended use of AIs by humanity and the aid provided to the Virtual Aliens Entities, however for the most the relationships between the System Commonwealth and it's new client state the Quarian Protectorate remains in good terms.

-After almost two hundred VA entities are uploaded into their new bodies, Ambassador Shir'Na'Su begins to discuss with the Commonwealth leadership for colonization rights over the planet Rodin, in order to start again, citing the cases of the Rachni and Quarians as an example; offering in exchange their services as a client race and further access to their technology.

-A Quarian, VA and human team of scientist and engineers meet in Acturus station to establish a technological exchange, while nor quarians nor VAs are allowed access to the human Rift portal technology, the new developments of computer processors, kinetic barriers and drive cores, are broadcast to the rest of human society as one of the first joint developments achieved by the cooperative efforts of the three species.

2114- The colonies of Praxis and Shinon, homes to some the fiercest detractors against the Commonwealth and the integration of the aliens, formally request their independence. While some opposition exists, most of Earth's colonies decide to remain loyal to the central government. Despite having most of the military and population are on their side, the Parliament fearing the dangers of an internal unrest or even civil war in the face of alien threats finally allows the planets Praxis and Shinon to achieve a state of independence under the terms: "three countries, one nation, one human race": establishing Earth and the rest of the colonies as the United Federation of nations, while the new Praxian and Shinonan states are reformed as the Praxian Directorate and the Republic of Shinon. Despite the new autonomy, the three nations are subjected to the central rule of the Commonwealth's parliament which acts not only as the mediator between the three but also as the governing body of mankind and the main representing entity to their non-human allies.

2115- Several investments allow for the Epsilon facilities in the planet Rodin to be upgrade and expand. By January 11 2016, almost a million VAs entities have been uploaded into their new bio-synthetic bodies, as the fabrication of new synth bodies continues; the Commonwealth's parliament formarly recognized the new alien state and grants almost complete control of the Rodin system to the VAs entities. Shir'Na'Su former ambassador now recognize as the leader of the VAs entities declares the planet of Rodin their new home, and inspired by the human myth of the Talos construct he declares his people a new species and nation: the Talosians, renouncing their former identity in order to begin anew.

2116- The Commonwealth and their new alien allies initiate an expansion across uncharted space, surveying and charting new systems, planets and anomalies.

-In September 18 2116, the CNS Hawking a survey ship begins to survey the system of Juttenheim site of a colossal star with almost 3000 times the mass of Earth's sun. In one of the many planets in orbit, the greatest discovery in human history since the prothean ruins is uncovered. In a massive asteroid field formed thousands of years ago by the clashing of two Earth like planets, an alien construct monumental in size is found. A spider web like construct, of almost 110 kilometers of diameter with a group of asteroids capture and attached one to the other by an endless network of support beams, with a massive 14 kilometer long asteroid in its center and a ring like structure in the circumference of the web, sprouting out of the ring structure are twelve like petals surfaces known as pylons: Four mayor size pylons with a length of 35 kilometer and 15 km width are located in each cardinal point of the ring, with the remaining eight pylons of 18 kilometers tall and 8 kilometer width, serving a similar role to the wards of the Citadel.

-Initial hypothesis theorized the purpose of the construct as a massive mining space station. However as further studies are committed, it is determined that the inhabitants of one of the broken planets of the Juttenheim system manage to survive the destruction of their world by escaping into space, however without FTL technology, their only hope was to survive with what they had, using their ships, stations and broken pieces of their planet to build the super structure. Even though they have survived the destruction of the planet and for hundreds maybe thousands of years manage to live on by harvesting the asteroid field around them and expanding their station, their extinction was certain. Maybe just like the quarians, their bodies and immune systems have degraded too much, or maybe there was a massive failure around the habitat ring that prevented them from saving themselves. In any case, "the Spider Web" as the construct was nicknamed became a nexus of studies, operations and developments for the Commonwealth.

2117- In the firsts joint project performed by the Commonwealth and its alien allies the reconstruction of the Juttenheim's construct begins. The quarians and talosians offer their technical aid and some of their best engineers in the repairs for the vital system; while thousands of Rachni workers under the oversight of the second Rachni queen Nafash and Lieutenant Masha Lutz begin repairing the bulk of the construct mechanical body; and the human repairs crews handle the repairs over the support structure and the repurpose of the outer ring.

The ring structure being 8 kilometers width, 500 meters thick and with a circumference of 345,5 kilometers is turned into a super massive hadron collider with neutronion reactor cores in four cardinal points. The energy input generated by the ring is so massive that it is capable of powering up multiple rift gates connected to any point of Commonwealth space.

2118- After almost 15 million of talosians are uploaded into new bodies and the repairs on several areas of the Juttenheim's construct are finished, leaders of the humanity, the quarians, the talosians and the original rachni queen with her lilim interpreter are gathered in the central control tower. The documents regarding the extinction of the protheans from the Mars Archives are revealed to all, convinced that the best way to protect each other and future generations from following the same fate, Prime Minister Augustus Sinclair alongside the alien leaders decide to reform the Systems Commonwealth into a new Multi Species Democratic Federation.

-Also despite the quarians suggestions against it, a new charter granting full rights to fully sentient synthetic life is signed by the Council.

2119- After the completion of the first alpha rift gate in the Juttenheim's construct on august 14° 2119, the System Commonwealth has its parliament, leading council and main institutions transferred into the alien construct. Rename as the Erebus Nexus, the station serves as the newly inaugurated capital of the recently formed Unified System Commonwealth. Taking a role similar to the Citadel, several Rift gates are constructed connecting the station not only to nearby rift gates but also to every core world of the Commonwealth including: Earth, Chiron, Praxis, Nar-Sara, Rodin and Rannoch Nova.

-A quarian admiral when questioned about his opinion claims: "Right now my people have a new world, and today we have a council seat in a new Citadel."

2120- Construction continues on the Erebus Nexus, turning the four main pylons into fully habitable wards using the lessons and technologies used in the construction of Rapture to develop the buildings and habitable areas, yet the economy of the Commonwealth begins to suffer the effects of the massive investment that the Erebus Nexus project have taken on the national reserves.

-In a nearby system of the Erebus Nexus, a desert planet containing a native species is discovered. Yet unlike other primitives' civilizations or the species of the Commonwealth, the Kashani civilization had not yet develop FTL technology but seem to be only a few decades or generations away. However they were running out of time, the entirety of the Kashani population live in the North and South Pole of the planet yet the deserts were advancing to them, it seems either years of industrialization or a change in weather patterns had lay way to a collapse of the planet's biosphere.

-Even though one of the main directives of the Commonwealth was the preservation of independent civilizations to advance and progress without outside interference, honoring the actions of the protheans eons ago over the human civilization, the situation of the Kashani species was an unique case: while the kashani had not develop FTL technology yet, several artificial satellites were orbiting the planet in a clear evidence that the kashani had potential for becoming an space faring civilization, also the steadfast decay of their planet's environment could condemn their entire civilization to extinction before they could achieve FTL or colonize other worlds.

-The parliament and the newly inaugurated High Council convened an emergency session, in another close vote, held after a series of emotionally charge debates, it was determined that even though the uplifting of a primitive species could bring troublesome consequences and ethical conflicts, the failure to save an entire species from extinction would be far worse.

2121- A Commonwealth's joint task force is landed in the planet of Muin-Saku and establishes contact with several of the Kashani clans, offering the Commonwealth's aid in building an infrastructure capable of sustaining their remaining living space and further expanding into space. While some conflicts and opposition begin to appear from the most radical clans, most of the Kashani accept the Commonwealth's aid and diplomatic relationships are established.

2128- The talosian population uploaded into their new bio engineer bodies reaches the 200 million, meanwhile construction in the Erebus Nexus continues and the newly constructed terraforming devices and infrastructure in the planet Muin-Saku prevent further decay and expansion of the deserst.

-The Kashani established their first extra solar colony in the nearby garden world of Faron-Sha, transferring several of their citizens to the new world. Later that year the new unified Kashani government the Kaish-Guile, request Commonwealth membership.

2129- The Kashani are granted an embassy in the Erebus Nexus and a seat in the High Council.

-With new technologies, industries and colonies in operation, the five member species of the Commonwealth initiate a massive infrastructure and military development.

2130- The census of population is completed: 24 billion humans, 21 million quarians; 320 million talosians (only those uploaded into the bio engineer bodies, or those born after); 500 million Rachni (workers and warriors, with 18 queens) and 3 billion Kashani.

-Each species begins building their own fleets, as long as they agree to obey the orders of both the parliament and High Council.

2132- A new wave of expansion and colonization are authorized by the High Council, however limits are put in place, in order to avoid revelation to the Citadel Council, and possible conflict.

-The Colony of Shanxi is founded

2134- The construction of a new generation of jointly operated warships, codename Project Yigdrasil begins. One particular trait of these new warships is the use of organic components in their subsystems, like a neural network synthesize from ADAM cells and using EVE and eezo as an energy transfer fluid to enhance energy base weapons and both kinetic barriers and taquion shields.

This has been the longest chapter I have ever written, I am sorry if this chapter was too slow and too repetitive but I thought it was best to give context to the story. One of the reasons I begin writing this Crossover was to fully exploit the poorly develop and unexplored contents of Mass Effect and Bioshock, here are a few notes of my observations and intentions:

-The Systems Alliance from Mass Effect is a poor prospect for a future human society; most of humanity seems to be forgotten, there are no observations of Asian, Latin-American, Arabic or African culture; the government of the Alliance is an American inspire democracy with a capitalist economy, even its symbol only shows North America. I wanted to fully develop the troubles and conflicts as well as the many traits of humanity in the Systems Commonwealth.

-Many races are poorly develop and explore in the Mass Effect universe: The quarians are not as fully explore as they could be; the Rachni are seen as an old fear and idea than a race and society to be explore and others like the Virtual Aliens, Raloi and many others only appear in the CODEX.

-I know many would think that the Erebus Nexus is a very far fetch idea, but when many imagine an alternate humanity for the Mass Effect universe like in so many Halo Crossovers, is the use of an alternative FTL method to the Mass Effect Relays, the most common base for an Original Faction. It is interesting to observe the imagination behind the Mass Effect technology: Artificial gravity, inertial dampers, and FTL are explained; not to mention that the relationships between the Reapers, the mass relays and the Citadel is the core of the mass effect universe. The Erebus Nexus and the Rift Gates are a counterpart to the Citadel and the Mass Relays respectively and they will have a role to have in the future war against the reapers.

-The Kashani are my own Original Species they are based on the Kushans, and their planet and society is based on Kharak from Homeworld. I will explain them and the Talosians in further chapters, but I add Kashani not only to complete the five member confederacy of species that is the Commonwealth. But also to explore a concept many sci-fi IPs failed to do so; humans in Earth have many diverse cultures and societies; so why is every turian, asari and salarian pretty much the same? The Kashani are a race with many clans and nations that will have a further development in next chapters.