Humanity never developed FTL. The Prothean archives contained no technology, no Element Zero, just a warning. Isolated from the rest of the galaxy for two thousand years, restricted to their only system, how will humanity have changed when they first meet the Turians? AU, alternate history of humanity and First Contact.

When a strange device capable of remarkable feats is found in the Martian ruins, the course of humanity's history changes forever. The resulting leaps and bounds in technology leave humanity well prepared to deal with the rest of the galaxy. AU

The Ethereal assault on Earth was foiled by Colonel Jane Shepard. The Temple Ship taken intact, XCOM gained the capability to strike back against the Ethereals. However, Humans weren't the only species the Ethereals had set their sights on. For they were determined to make this cycle different.