Mass Dragon Effect Codex

by raw666

After humanity's encounter with dilithium crystals and later the darkspawn, technology drastically change for the Mass Effect Universe. From human space exploration to an alliance that rivals the Council. The shift of power will determine if the Reapers will be defeated, or the cycle will repeat itself. The times of heroes are upon the galaxy, and nothing will remain the same.

8. Codex: Ships and Vehicles

Codex: Ships and Vehicles

A special note about these codexs for the Mass Dragon Effect story is that they were written for two reasons. Firstly, they only exist in this story, so they cannot be found in the two wikis listed below, with a few exceptions found in the timeline. The second reason is that the original had little detail or will be completely different from the wikis below, such as kinetic barriers and thermal clips. I also include all the various races main Codex, and the enemies the heroes will face more for my benefit to keep track of them. This is not required for Mass Dragon Effect, but for your enjoyment and to see how I built the world's lore. Therefore, I hope you enjoy it.

Codexs websites: wiki/Mass_Effect_Wiki and wiki/Dragon_Age_Wiki

Beta Reader: Albert

Last Update: 12/07/2020

Combat Ranges

In space combat, there are three different types of ranges: short-range, mid-range, and long-range combats. Each range is specified for the type of combat that a ship can engage in, mostly just frigates or larger crafts.

Short-range is within a 10 km radius around the edge of a spacecraft and within the ship's regular and plasma-based lasers range. It is also the preferred range for fighters and fast-moving corvettes as they have a better chance of avoiding enemy fire while doing more damage if possible. Other spacecraft avoid this range unless they are significantly stronger since most craft cannot avoid being hit at that range.

Mid-range is 10 km to 150,000 km from the edge of a spacecraft. It is known as the effective range of most PPCs and kinetic weapons. It is close enough to allow a high chance of hitting moving targets, but the distance gives the firing craft a higher chance of avoiding enemy fire. Most ships often engage in this range during the duration of the battle.

Long-range combat is 150,000 km or greater from the edge of a spacecraft. A targeted ship usually is five to ten light seconds away and maybe up to a light minute away for a stationary/slow target such as a planet or large space station. It is the range for which ships primarily use kinetic weapons, missiles, or in some rare cases, very powerful and advanced PPCs. It also the range at which most combat starts, or the range that frigates usually engage craft that outstrips them, like a heavy cruiser or a dreadnaught. It is noted that kinetic rounds from long-range attacks are generally more powerful with the proper acceleration, but long-distance firing is more likely to be intercepted by a point defense system or avoided.

Missiles Classification

(X) Disruptor torpedoes are small mass effect missiles that are effective against kinetic barriers and fast-moving targets as they disrupt mass effect fields and increase the mass of warheads. Among torpedoes, they are the cheapest to make and are mass-produced enough as they are used on fighters converted to be bombers and most spaceships/warships. During combat, they are often used as a first barrage-type weapon to take down enemy shields or to hit fast-moving ships like corvettes and light frigates.

(X) Javelin Missiles are the slowest and most expensive of the missiles. Their warheads are either dark/plasma energy missiles for more conservative targets to nuclear/antimatter warheads powerful enough to devastate a planet. Javelin Missiles are meant to take down large targets and large ground bases. Nuclear and antimatter warheads are used on targets not located on garden worlds since the use of antimatter/nuclear warheads are forbidden on garden worlds.

(X) Plasma torpedoes are small plasma missiles that use plasma to burn through armor and flesh and are weak against kinetic barriers. They are also the second most frequently manufactured of the missile class, as they are used on fighters converted to be bombers and most spaceships/warships. During combat, plasma torpedoes are often used after enemy kinetic barriers are drained to burn through armor or take out slow-moving targets with weak shields.

Starship Classification

(X) Attack fighters are one or two-man vehicles designed for close-range combat that serve multiple roles. Such as escort duty for various other vehicles, intercept small enemy vehicles, perform quick hit and run strikes, or swarm ships/bases. The latter provides cover for heavier ships by confusing enemy commanders (similar to that seen with schools of fish or flocks of birds) or destroy enemy warships through a thousand cuts. They are designed to be fast and maneuverable light vehicles often equipped with either a single or combination of plasma lasers, kinetic weapons, and torpedoes, depending on the assigned mission. They can be modified into bombers, multi-role fighters, or simple interceptors.

(X) Shuttles are small crafts designed to carry personal from place-to-place. Generally, they are not as heavily armed as those made into gunships, though they can be very fast or maneuverable depending on class and mission.

(X) Gunships are heavily armed craft that can carry personal as a shuttle, though its carrying capacity is generally limited in favor of firepower and maneuverability. Armaments often depend on class and type of mission.

(X) Corvettes are small starships that act as yachts or small gunships in the thick of battle. They can act as heavy shuttles and can travel alone on missions. A standard crew complement is 10.

(X) Freighters are ships of various sizes and designed to carry cargo, troops, or function as a luxury liner for company CEOs or military generals. Some have limited weaponry, while others are just as armed as a cruiser depending on the class.

(X) Frigates are small, fast ships that travel in wolf pack flotillas of four to twelve ships and are used to scout out targets and screen for larger vessels. They are often used to take out swarms of fighters or to take down warships of equal or heavier weight using teamwork. They can also land on most planets, which allow them to be used as troop transports or to provide cover for a planetary invasion. Most frigates have a standard crew complement of 60-180. Turian ships are the exception, with a standard crew complements of 300, many of which are soldiers to be used to take ships or be used on-site planetary invasion.

(X) Heavy frigates, sometimes known as light cruisers or destroyers, serve as the next level of firepower and size between a cruiser and a frigate. These ships are designed to be small, fast ships that emphasize firepower while taking on the same roles as a standard frigate. They can land on most worlds as well, with a few classes being as powerful as a cruiser. Though they are generally not as fast as frigates, so they have limited combat range and speed compared to standard frigates. Standard crew complements are around 120-360. Turian ships are the exception, with a standard crew complement of 600, many of which are soldiers used for taking ships or on-site planetary invasions.

(X) Cruisers are the middleweight combatants as they are faster than dreadnoughts and more heavily armed than frigates. Cruisers are the standard patrol units, often traveling in pairs or leading a wolf pack flotilla in battle as they use their superior firepower to take down most ships outside of dreadnaughts. Cruisers are also designed to land on low to medium gravity worlds, like Earth, to repair and deliver supplies. The ability to land allows them to participate in most land base invasions to launch land-based vehicles, as well as to conduct orbital support. A standard crew complement of 750-900 and a standard fighter complement of 18.

(X) Heavy Cruisers, sometimes known as battleships, are ships that serve as the next level of firepower and size between dreadnoughts and cruisers. They generally have 20-30% less firepower than a dreadnaught and are 40-50% less expensive than a standard dreadnaught. Combined with no limit in numbers of heavy cruisers a species can employ makes them a great alternative to dreadnaughts as they are used as command ships when a dreadnaught is not around, can support dreadnaughts, or perform deep space exploration. A standard crew complement of 1,200-1,500 and a standard fighter complement of 36.

(X) Carriers are dreadnought-sized vessels introduced by humans as warships designed to carry a large number of fighters to battle. Often staying at the edge of battle to retrieve fighters, shuttles, and gunships for a fleet if any of their ships carrying fighters are destroyed. They are rarely used in direct battle as their weak armor and barriers make them a liability against even more heavily armed frigates. Therefore, carriers are often used in a support role as they only have enough firepower to defend the large warship against frigates and smaller ships. A standard crew complement of 1,800-2,400, and a standard fighter complement of 216.

(X) Dreadnoughts are capital ships around 1-1.2 km long mounted with heavy firepower. Most dreadnoughts have mass effect drive cannons 800 m long that can produce enough firepower to function as a nuclear weapon without the fallout of radiation. Most are deployed only for missions vital to a campaign and usually command a fleet of four to twelve wolf pack flotillas in support. They are mighty warships that numbers are limited thanks to the Treaty of Farixen. Under the treaty drawn up by the Citadel, the ratio of dreadnoughts allowed between all races was set, with the turians having the largest number and being the standard to all other governments. The ratio of allowable dreadnaughts each government can construct is as follows: for every 5 dreadnaughts the Turians construct, the Asari and Salarians can construct 3, the Humans can construct 2, and every other government can construct 1. Most dreadnaughts have a standard crew complements of 2,400-3,000 and a standard fighter complement of 72.

The current number of dreadnaughts for the Citadel Council as of 2183 is 50 for Turians, 30 for Asari, and 25 for Salarians.

The current number of dreadnaughts for the Citadel Council as of 2185 is 60 for Turians, 36 for Asari, 33 for Salarians.

The current number of dreadnaughts for the Citadel Council as of 2186 is 65 for Turians, 39 for Asari, 37 for Salarians.

(X) The Asari's Destiny Ascension class dreadnaught is considered a heavy dreadnaught class as it has a crew complement of 10,000 and a fighter complement of 144. It is also noted that it is 1.4 km long, 2.5 km wide, 3 km tall, as opposed to most dreadnaughts with hulls that are 1-1.2 km long, 800-900 m wide, and 380-450 m tall.

Union of Federations: Ground Vehicles

(X) Geth Colossus and Armatures act as hulking tanks on planets, protect strongholds on Federation worlds, or secure hostile territory after being dropped off from orbit.

(X) Long Glider Probe is a long-range planetary drone design for resonance and combat. Equipped with a low power engine, cloaking generator, mass effect weapons, and missiles, allowing soldiers to get a bird's eye view on the ground, as well as the ability to destroy weak targets.

(X) The M-12 Blue Speeder is a small hoverbike that uses mass effect technology to hover and increase maneuverability to perform high-speed chases. Combined with two small mass effect cannons attached to its sides makes it perfect for hit and run attacks despite it being very dangerous operating the vehicle due to its sensitive controls. Controls that lead to a lot of crashes were even simple maneuvers that may result in the pilot's death. Due to this, the Federation manual states that the pilot should keep both hands on the searing bars. Because of these safety issues, they are very rarely used except by Special Forces or scouting missions.

(X) The Atlas Mark II is mechs that serve as the in-between small tanks and infantry in small spaces and, in rare cases, out in the open field. Like the Mark I, the Mark II has two-robotic arms with one equipped with a cannon, along with a tactical display glass cockpit and a rocket packet on its rear for high jumps over difficult terrain and land safely on the ground after being dropped from space. However, the Mark II also has several additions. Like a forward-mounted machine gun turret controlled by a VI and retractable wheels to allow it to speed across the field with the aid of its jetpack. This makes it perfect against standard infantry, though against elite troops with cover and most tanks, the Mark II is not as effective, especially in the open fields. Making them less valuable to the Federation outside of urban combat, but not to others like Cerberus.

(X) The M-080 Truck is an all-terrain truck with dozens of weapon and design variants used by not only the Union of Federations but also every military organization in the Galaxy. The Federation, in particular, uses an unarmed version (M-080J), a version armed with a machine gun (M-081J), and one designed to fire missiles (M-082J). Generally, they are only used on occupied planets and are rarely used during an invasion.

(X) The M-29E Grizzly is a short rage and very common tank that the Union of Federations uses for security tank rather than a tank for battle. The M-29E Grizzly is also mainly used by militia forces or given as gifts from the Federation.

(X) The ND-1A and ND-2A Nomad is a new all-terrain exploration-focused land vehicle that is used to explore frontier worlds. With enhance sensors and an interchangeable four-wheel to six-wheel drive, it can quickly survey a planet for colonization, unlike other models design for transportation or battle. However, the advanced sensor array comes at the cost of its potential armaments or transport compacity. It came in two models, unarmed (ND-1A) and armed with a machine gun (ND-2A).

(X) The M-35B Mako is a modified version of the old M-35 Mako used by the Human System Alliance. Like the old model, they are heavily armored vehicles with mass effect/plasma cannon, machine gun turret, and they drive on six wheels. However, unlike the previous model, the quarians and geth modified the engine's mass effect core to make it run like a sports car. Only a few vehicles like the Hammerhead can outrun it, and its ability to operate in any world makes it a must for any ground forces and ships as large as a frigate. Due to advances in technology, both the old and new versions of the Mako are widely used by several factions across the Galaxy, including various military and mercenary factions.

(X) The M-44B Hammerhead is a fast-moving hover vehicle with self-guidance missiles, machinegun turret, and mini-thruster engines for turbo speeds. Its high rate speeds allow them to surpass any ground vehicle within a planet's atmosphere. At the reduced cost of armor to the point that a soldier equipped with a powerful handheld weapon can destroy it. Especially the earlier models as they had weak kinetic barriers, making them easy to shoot down. The latest design includes enhanced kinetic barriers that make it harder to shoot down, but it still cannot take too many direct hits, so tight areas are not recommended. However, despite its shortcomings, the Hammerhead still serves as a fast-moving tank for scouting purposes and softens an enemy entrenchment before the main force attacks the enemy. Combined with its high speeds and advanced thruster allowing it to jump over large hurtles, most ground vehicles cannot jump. Making it necessary for ground forces and ships that can hold more than one ground vehicle.

(X) M-53A Varren Tomkah is a modified version of the old Krogan vehicle, the Tomkah, and acts as the Federation forces' heavy tank. Like the old Tomkah, the Varren Tomkah is a six-wheeled vehicle with heavy armor, but that is where the similarities end. The Varren Tomkah is a more heavily armed tank with kinetic barriers, two larger mass effect cannons, and four machine gun turrets that act as point dense (one on top for the forward attack, one on each side, and one on the aft of the vehicle). It also has missile launchers on each side that can fire a barrage of missiles to wipe out a large number of enemies and even enemy air or spacecraft. The only disadvantage is speed, as the tank is slow compared to many tanks, but it is still fast enough to stay ahead of an orbital bombardment.

Union of Federations: Space/Air Vehicles

Standard Ship Equipment: field equipment, rations, thermal clips, and spare weapons

Standard Additional Equipment for Frigates and Up: medical bay, light research/manufacturing lab, probes, stored perishable consumables, shuttle bays, and support crafts (land vehicles and/or spacecraft)

Standard Additional Equipment for Cruisers and Up: hydroponic bays, fighters, fully stocked medical bay, and large research/manufacturing labs

(X) XM3 class skycar is a short-range civilian and military vehicle used by a variety of needs found in several different galactic organizations, both militarist and civilian. Generally, they are not armed, but they can come in various uses in both commercial and militarized transport.

(X) UT-47 Kodiak class troop shuttlecrafts are two different versions of drop shuttles. Type A is a standard military drop shuttle used by several galactic organizations, and Type B is equipped with stealth capabilities, including a stealth drive and a cloaking generator. Shuttle squadrons are often split up by Greek letters or planet names, and individuals by number (e.g., 1-36). It can carry up to 12 personal sitting down and up to 48 standing up.

(X) UT-52 Java class cargo shuttlecraft is a heavier version of the UT-47. Twice as large and powerful, it is designed primarily to carry a large amount of cargo, including personnel and vehicles, at the cost of speed and maneuverability. Shuttle squadrons are often split up by Greek letters or planet names, and individuals by number (e.g., 1-36). It can carry up to 24 personal sitting down and up to 96 standing up.

(X) A-61A class gunships are a heavily armed craft that is used by a variety of military organizations to destroy enemy forces on the ground. Along with dropping off a complement of up to twelve troops or a ground vehicle. The gunship squadrons are split by Greek letter or planet name, and a unit number for the individual ships. It can carry up to 8 personal.

(X) F-72 Phoenix class attack fighters are modified versions of the F-62B Trident class Attack Fighter from the Human System Alliance used by the fleet. It is a fighter that can be modified to be a torpedo bomber, attack fighter, or interceptor. Too many species, the Trident, and its successor, the Phoenix class, is considered the gold standard for fighters. A number have tried to steal Phoenix class fighters for their own use or buy the older Trident variants as a start of a formidable fighter squadron. Fighter squadrons are often split up by color and individuals by numbers (e.g., 1-12).

(X) Swarm class drop fighters are a modified geth fighter designed for planetary combat and a drop-off fighter/shuttle hybrid. It can fly in a hot zone to drop personal behind enemy lines and can be modified to act as breaching pods to attack another ship. As its legs can attach to a ship, and an elite squad can infiltrate the ship by cutting through the hull where the legs attach. It can carry up to 36 personal.

(X) Razor-Back class corvettes are a small starship used as a long-range scout for a planet/space station or a diplomatic carrier. It has enough firepower to drive away small spacecraft should it become under attack. It has a standard crew complement of 2-10.

(X) Far Child class frigates, also known as gunboats, are modified Quarian Frigates that serve primarily as fighter and warship screeners. It can take out whole squadrons or shoot down shuttles and corvettes easily while being able to unleash devastating borage attacks to light enemy ships that penetrate the line. About half of the frigates in a wolf pack flotilla are Far Child class frigates. They are named after important politicians, military officials, diplomats, and famous families from all members of the Federation. It has a length of 273 m and a standard crew complement of 120.

(X) Terra class attack frigates, also known as assault frigates, are modified Human System Alliance frigates. They serve as the heavy hitters against other frigates, stations, and ships above its weight class while being proficient enough to screen against most fighter squadrons and corvettes. Most frigates have no chance against Terra Class ship, and a squadron of four to six could take down a cruiser, especially if engaging at a close range. About half of the frigates in a wolf pack flotilla are Terra class frigates and named after famous battles from all the members of the Federation. It has a length of 217 m and a standard crew complement of 120.

(X) Spirit class stealth frigates were the original stealth crafts built by the Federation and Council races and were later replaced by the Federation's Specter class heavy frigate. Though they are no longer officially in service, several were kept in storage or modified for other types of services, both militaristic and scientific. Those used for the military operation are given the name of famous battles from all members of the Federation, and scientific vehicles are named for environmental conditions like Tempest. It has a length of 175 m and a standard crew complement of 60.

(X) Servant-I class dropships are modified Geth Collective Frigates designed to be either heavily armed freighters or as troop transports with enough firepower to destroy a large number of enemy ground troops and vehicles using its molten plasma cannons. During an invasion, they can hold up to 200 soldiers along with 300-folded geth ready to invade or reinforce territory with 5-10 support vehicles and gunships. They are given a number by the Geth as a designation. It has a length of 195 m and a standard crew complement of 90 of either geth units or organic personal.

(X) Servant-II class dropships are larger versions of the Servant-I class dropships and are used similarly as either a freighter or troop transport. During an invasion, they can hold up to 600 soldiers along with 900-folded geth ready to invade or reinforce territory with 20-40 support vehicles and crafts. They are given a number by the Geth as a designation. It has a length of 390 m, a standard fighter complement of 12 Swarm Class Drop Fighters attached to the hull, and a standard crew complement of 240 of either geth units or organic personal.

(X) Garden class heavy frigates, also known as heavy assault frigates, are larger versions of the Far Child class. They serve a similar fashion as fighter screeners but with enough firepower to take on several squadrons. Due to their more impressive armament, they are sometimes a part of a wolf pack flotilla, especially within larger fleets. They are named after important politicians, military officials, diplomats, and famous families from all members of the Federation. It has a length of 365 m and a standard crew complement of 270.

(X) Genesis class heavy attack frigates, also known as heavy gunboats, are larger versions of the Terra class. They serve in a similar fashion as heavy hitters but with enough firepower to match a smaller cruiser. Due to their more impressive armament, they are sometimes a part of a wolf pack flotilla, especially within larger fleets. They are named after famous battles from all the members of the Federation. It has a length of 290m and a standard crew complement of 270.

(X) Specter class heavy stealth frigates are large frigates with enough firepower that a single frigate could take down a cruiser, while a wolf pack of Specters can take down a dreadnaught. Add in a stealth drive, and tactical cloak creates a nasty surprise attack on the ship's targets. It is fortunate for the Federation's enemies that only 18 have been made to date. They are also named for famous battles like the attack frigates. It has a length of 260 m and a standard crew complement of 180.

(X) Liberty class cruisers are large ships designed to combine several ship designs of old ships. Like the Alliance folded delta wings engines and the thick neck/head, the Geth dropship's body and tail, and Quarian's closed ring head and long thick neck are also present. The combination creates a unique design with a highly efficient mass effect core, greater than average ship velocity, a powerful array of offensive and defensive weaponry, and powerful defensive capability with thick armor and powerful shields. These ships are often named after cities or geth servers. It has a length of 720 m, a standard fighter complement of 18, and a standard crew complement of 800.

(X) Enterprise class heavy cruisers are larger, bulkier versions of the Liberty class heavy cruiser focusing on speed, armor, shields, and firepower. They are extremely powerful ships, often used by the Federation to explore space or lead fleets alone or portions of a fleet under a dreadnaught. They are named after important scientists, explorers, exploration vessels, and warships such as the USS Enterprise. It has a length of 860 m, a standard fighter complement of 36, and a standard crew complement of 1,200.

(X) The Monolith class carriers are one of the larger vessels in the fleet designed to be fighter carriers. Their architecture design is based on an earth whale with its square winged fighter bay attached to each end. To see a carrier, an enemy knows they are soon to be swarmed by fighters. However, they still have limited firepower and depend on the protection of a fleet. They are not completely defenseless as they have enough firepower to take down fighters, frigates, and light cruisers on their own. They are often the most protected ships in the fleet and the last to retreat as they collect fighters launched to engage the enemy. They are named after large bodies of water or land. It has a length of 1.05 km, a standard fighter complement of 216, and a standard crew complement of 1,800.

(X) Unity class dreadnoughts are the large, thicker, and more heavily armed versions of the Enterprise class heavy cruiser. They are designed to take down a fleet or siege planets with impressive firepower while providing defensive cover for their own fleet. In comparison, only the Asari Destiny class dreadnoughts, Sovereign, and the Turian's Condor class dreadnoughts can match or exceed the ship's firepower and defense. They are named after mountains or volcanoes. Currently, the Federation has a limited number built due to the Treaty of Franxi, and Krogans are not allowed to have them. Though negotiation in 2183 allows the 10 incompleted dreadnaughts to be completed as the Krogans were officially allowed to rearm. See Union of Federations: Military Doctrine and Fleet Sizes on current numbers. It has a length of 1.2 km, a standard fighter complement of 72, and a standard crew complement of 2,400.

(X) Quarian Live Ships Mark-II is the largest class of movable space-stations/colony ships and is based on the original Quarian Live Ships the quarians used as exiles before settling down. They housed the populations that escaped the Morning War and were successfully used as refugee ships. They were lifesavers that the Federation decided to use as a base design for a new ship that will act as either long-range colony ships or emergency evacuation ships. Live Ships are generally lightly armed and depend on their fighter compliment and other ships to survive in battle, and thus not meant to fight one. It has a length of 2.85 km, and height is 2 km, a standard fighter complement of 48, and a standard crew complement of 1,800-9,200 with the ability to carry up to 3 million.