No fan of Mass Effect may have forgotten these news bulletins regularly broadcast, which contribute to the sound ambiance of the Citadel or Omega, and are a constant in the trilogy since its very first part. In ME1, these news can be heard when taking the elevators, and are directly related to the consequences of Shepard's side missions; in ME2, the player has access to multimedia kiosks at Zakera Ward, while in ME3, lots of public screens continuously broadcast news from the front, likely to worsen even more the distressing atmosphere of a galaxy at war. In ME2, the sound background also includes advertising spots (broadline announcements on Illium, or targeted advertising at the kiosks of Zakera Ward).
I have reconstructed the alternation of galactic news briefs and advertising clips, here below, after editorial materials prepared at first as a support for the free RPG Mass Effect: Nouvelle Ère. I'm collaborating indeed from time to time on the development of this game in French language, which takes up the universe of Mass Effect the way it may have evolved in 2205, twenty years after the victory over the Reapers. These short news or commercial interludes were intended to liven up and intersperse the rules booklets, in order to create a Citadel atmosphere that wouldn't be only based on graphic material. As a matter of fact, all of the news and ads below are relevant to the Citadel, or at least are intended for a Citadel audience in Year 2205 CE.
Usual disclaimer: Most of the technologies, corporations, species, places, and background events used below, are borrowed from the fantastic universe developed in the video games by Bioware, and in the books by Mr. Drew Karpyshyn.
– Translation of a novel previously published in French: Please forgive the fact that English is not my native language... –
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* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
A brief ceremony was held this morning on the Presidium, attended by the ambassadors of the Council races, in order to mark the twentieth anniversary of the departure of the Andromeda Initiative, and of its brave explorers. Of course, this relatively discreet celebration should by no means compete with the galaxy-wide festivities scheduled for the next year, intending to commemorate the Victory over the Reapers, and also to honor the billions of victims who never saw this day. The preparations are well on track everywhere: on Thessia, on Palaven, and obviously on Earth, especially in the City of London, where everybody knows the decisive battle was given. I just let you enjoy the footage from our reporters on those spots... Invitations to these ceremonies have been symbolically presented to the batarian New Hegemony, and to the quarian Migrant Fleet as well. However, these tokens of goodwill have remained unanswered as yet.
* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
Negotiations are progressing well toward the official opening, in the next few months, of an embassy representing the raloi people on the Citadel. This avian species native of Turvess, need I point out, is the latest spacefaring race that may have been contacted within our galaxy. The already appointed ambassador, the Honorable Viralun Ser-Kedjet, is still holding at the moment the inferior status of representative – which does not prevent him from being already routinely invited as a distinguished guest in all of the poshest parties on the Citadel. The Presidium jet set is actually in a fever of 'Raloimania', similar to the mood set when the young and then little-known humankind integrated with the Council commonwealth, just forty years ago. This fashion of the moment does not seem, however, to have flourished among our fellow citizens in the Wards...
* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
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-–- Do you feel like changing your horizon? broadening the scope of your known space? starting a new life at the far end of the Galaxy? Rahayyan Spacelines serves at unbeatable prices all of the major destinations in the Terminus Systems. Daily flights to Omega from the Citadel. Recent openings of space lines to the latest colonies of Salarias II, Optima Legio, and New Hawaii; learn now about the availabilities and required vaccines. Our prices crush all the competition! * Thanks to Rahayyan Spacelines, the far end of the Galaxy is at your door!
Rahayyan Spacelines is a division of Elkoss Combine. -–-
* The storage of baggage and meals abord are billed as extra charges, and so are the aircon and life support systems specific to each species. Rahayyan Spacelines does not cover the risks associated with FTL flight incidents, life support failure, or pirate attacks.
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* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
Tragic discovery! A new body stripped of all of her organs has just been found in an unoccupied apartment of Tayseri Ward. Nelia Amaris, an asari citizen from Lusia, was declared missing four days ago. She is the sixth confirmed victim over the last two Standard months, whose death can be related to 'The Vivisector'. I recall that this nickname is a reference to another fearsome serial killer who plagued the Citadel some twenty years ago, an elcor diplomat also infamously known at that time for collecting his victims' organs. (1)
The C-Sec doesn't seem to follow any particular lead at the moment: «No comment!» is the redacted version of the angry answer from Executor Septis Savenus, when asked about this matter. Anyway, the C-Sec may also experience difficulties in suppressing the outbreaks of violence resulting from these murders: some vigilante groups have indeed conducted several punitive raids already, against the small community of vorcha squatters settled in Bachjret Ward, that the rumor has overhastily blamed for such atrocities.
* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
A score of Humans manifested yesterday in front of the C-Sec main precinct at Zakera Ward, in the name of the Daneel Lobby, militantly in favor of the recognition of the Geth and Artificial Intelligences as full sentient beings. The Daneels had come to protest against the arrest of Professor Lysenko, charged with conducting illegal research on the AI. These demonstrators unfortunately met face to face with a little delegation of young quarian pilgrims: for their part, the Quarians were here to request the release of one of them, that they allege was unfairly detained after a routine identity check. The hostility between those two parties of irreconcilable opinions quickly turned violent, having the C-Sec officers constrained to jail the main leaders of both groups. Regrettably, one of the young Quarians passed away during his custody, for health reasons yet to be specified; the C-Sec declined to comment on the matter. The quarian pilgrims present on the Citadel have announced that several demonstrations of public tribute in the Wards were planned already, for the days to come...
* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
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-–- You are not salarian, and the Drells' eidetic memory has always been your distant dream? Just get implanted with a Synthetic Insights graybox! Based upon our patented and time-tried technology, our new models now have space enough to store a whole asari life! Our 'Elephant's Memory' brand for Elcors can also render the pheromones, and our 'Tribute-to-the-Enkindlers'-Eternity' design for Hanar the ultraviolet spectrum. All of the memories of your life will be saved forever, either for yourself or your descendants. Who would refuse such an opportunity to leave one's mark in this galaxy? Certified painless delivery in any one of our many clinics in the Wards, as well as in our latest Premium Center recently opened on the Presidium Ring itself. The most prominent celebrities on the Citadel already rely on Synthetic Insights to preserve their innermost secrets. What about you? -–-
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* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
Celebrity gossip: Sha'ira the Consort is reported to have been seen more and more often lately together with Ambassador Thax Vigar, the official representative of Tuchanka at the Citadel, which didn't fail to fuel the anger of the krogan clans opposed to the ambassador's policy of cooperation with the Council. Gatatog Jorag, the leader of the krogan traditionalists, is thus accusing him no more and no less than to be, quote, «the willing puppet of an infamous asari witch's mind control, besides being already the well-behaved watch varren of the so-called Council of the feeble and decadent sub-species»! Ambassador Vigar maintained his usual calm when kindly inviting his detractor for a head to head encounter, with guns back: a double entendre worthy of a skilful diplomat, when we know that the krogan males usually resort to the "head to head" confrontation in case of difference of views!
* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
A great fundraising gala will take place tonight at the Dilinaga Concert Hall, on Tayseri Ward, under the patronage of the Michel-Chakwas Foundation for War Refugees and Orphans. All of the tickets have been sold since long, which confirms, if need were, how eagerly all of those who matter on the Citadel wish to be seen during the events organised by this trendy charity. Both initiators of this noble project, Doctors Karin Chakwas and Chloe Michel, will of course grace this evening with their presence. Let's just bet that our so nice human ladies, who shall celebrate next month their fifteen years of life together, will give once more the best of themselves to encourage even more generosity among their rich donors.
Also take notice of the presence of a very special guest: Mr. Conrad Verner, the well-known millionnaire and philanthropist. This benefactor of the very first hour shall be accompanied by his inseparable wife Jenna, darling of the Citadel's tabloids. Doctor Verner, I recall, made his fortune by patenting a revolutionary engineering process for the mass effect generators, following his work on the Crucible Project.
* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
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-–- Are you looking for a place where to relax after a rough day in the Citadel transit? Chora's Saloon, entirely redecorated after a new change of ownership, will be pleased to welcome you in a warm and casual atmosphere. From the most subtle thessian liquors to the most violent volus alcohols, from the most common terran beers to the most exotic hanar beverages, anyone should find at Chora's the suitable propellant to reach for the clouds of felicity, or for the mists of oblivion. And for the viewing pleasure, young asari performers from the most famous dance schools of Serrice will make you discover the sensuality of the Thessia nights, without even leaving your armchair; for their suggestiveness is as great as their suits are minimal! Oh yes, Chora's Saloon is truly the paradise of each and every sense, just as says the most respected of our fellow citizens: «I'm Prime Admiral Shepard, and this is my favorite lounge on the Citadel!» * -–-
* Prime Admiral's voice is non-contractual, may have been replaced with Shepard VI's, version 7.0.
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* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
Now for the financial news: The Citadel Stock Exchange reports a new severe fall today in Eldfell-Ashland Energy's share price. These sequential setbacks seem to owe less to the corporation's net balance by itself, than to the disconcerting personality of its new CEO: Aishwarya Ashland, the heiress of Jonah Ashland's business. Aish, as the tabloids use to dub her, has been in the spotlight already through her many escapades and resulting arrests, either by the C-Sec or various terran police departments, for dangerous piloting, indecent exposure, and possession of red sand – among some other charges! And her new responsibilities do not seem to have "smacked some sense into her", as the Humans say... At the rate things are going, many experts assess that it shouldn't take more than one Standard year for EAE, once the flagship of the Human colonial expansion, to become just one more division of Elkoss Combine.
* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
And finally, our art chronicles... Always eager to prove to the Galaxy the universality and transversality of the terran cultural heritage, the famous director Francis Kitt takes up a new challenge: a complete redefining of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, performed by a volus ballet company! «The light effects over the reconstituted atmosphere of ammonia, give to this Lake an absolutely transcendental touch!» the artist claims. «Positively laudative: Season after season, our dear Francis keeps on stunning us.», Yoth Urrum states for Dekuuna Fine Arts. «Pfew, that's old hat!», the critic Beselna T'Rudis sniffily hits out by contrast. As sharp as usual, our dear Beselna... Anyway, for those that novelty and creativity put off, many seats are still available for the preview showing of the latest Blasto: "Blasto XXIV: Read my lights, darling!"
* CNN * ↂ Citadel News Network ↂ * CNN *
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(1) 'The Vivisector': although this name was not used ingame, it is a reference to an investigation Garrus Vakarian had led for the C-Sec, which he recounts during the hunt for Dr. Saleon in ME1.
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