Mass Effect: Human Effect
Chapter One: Tevos Has An Aneurysm
This story is based on real-life technologies and a bit from the story of trancendant humanity and is pushed ahead a bit and taken minor liberties. This will involve humanity who reached the stars on their own merits and found no Prothean ruins nor element zero on Mars as Earth, a naturally created and not terraformed planet, is far off the relay network that only takes up 1% of the milky way galaxy
After many rewrites and rewrites, I have finally come up with an idea of technologically superior but not overly overpowered one shot all the reapers humanity. I don't want an overly HFY universe but one showing the strengths of not using an element zero, and by extension reaper, tech base that was tailor-made to weaken its users in the long run
Humanity is roughly on par with the Protheans at their height but are far superior in cyberwarfare, electronics, microenginerring, megaengineering, and FTL
2023: the dearMoon Project funded by a Japanese billionaire using SpaceX rockets begins space tourism
2025: Elon Musk sends automated miners and builders to Mars to create an underground base for humans that is protected by being underground and lined with lead walls
2027: the first human lands on Mars
2030: Hydrogen-Boron fusion, which achieves fusion without the immense heat requirement, is created and replaces fossil fuels. This is commonly called "cold fusion"
2035: first permanent human moon colony
2038: solid-state sodium borohydride energy storage is created and replace lithium-ion batteries
2043: using these "salt batteries" magnetic coilguns are created that replace gunpowder weapons
2047: Neutron particle beam weapons and electromagnetic shields are created
2050: based on Erik Lentz's paper, solid-state sodium borohydride energy storage, and Hydrogen-Boron Fusion the first human warp drive is created aboard the UN Enterprise, a rotating spaceship with "artificial gravity" and is sent to Alpha Centauri at 50 light-years per day at what would later be called "warp one"
Europa and Titan are colonized with Titan becoming the center of AI and other electronics research and a massive portion of UEG processing power
2060: the first human colony on Proxima b, called Terra Nova, is created and in response, humanity sees that a supernational force is needed, and the EU, Russia, India, and many other UN nations join the UEG or united earth government
2066 - 2077: The UEG - Chinese/North Korean War:
China and it's North Korean ally see the UEG as a massive threat and declare war. Eventually, after being pushed back to Beijing and Pyongyang, on the date of October 23, 2077, at 9:13 AM, the Chinese and North Koreans launched their nuclear missiles towards vital targets but these were shot down by a prototype American made warship from orbit. Seeing their last defense crumble the Chinese and North Koreans are forced to surrender to the UEG who sets up a democratic government in both states and free their oppressed citizens
2080: not wanting a repeat, the UEG pays a US manufacturer to create an official navy for the UEG, just in case
2090: mining of the Sol asteroid belt begins and gives much-needed materials
The first QEC is created using two entangled particles for communication
2093: the Sirta Foundation creates Medical Salve, a material that acts as an all-purpose medicinal salve combining an anesthetic and clotting agent used and heals various wounds and ailments, instantly sealing injuries against infection and allowing for rapid healing by having the gel grip tight to flesh until subjected to a frequency of ultrasound. It is sealable against liquids - most notably blood - as well as contaminants and gases, is created
2100: using nanobots, regenerative armor is created that begins to be used for armor
2135: first fully sapient AI is created from numerous programs being used in conjunction as "virtual neurons" is created and named Adam. After much talk between UEG philosophers, scientists, and lawmakers it is decided that these AIs named "Machina" are sapient beings and are given rights that both they and the UEG agreed on
2140: the Machina Council is created as a subsection of the UEG Council
A "warp two" FTL drive is created that can reach 250 light-years per day
2142: inspired by Halo, a neuroscientist creates the neural interface to link humans with their technology and AIs for multiple benefits
2150: humanity finally completes the theory of quantum gravity using electo-singularity core and elctro-gravitic field technologies durived from warp drives.
these technologies would be used then or in the future to create true artificial gravity, kinetic shields, kinetic devices (gravity based biotics that are built onto an armor hard suit or on ships), direct matter to energy conversion using singularities, gravity based accelerators, SMACs, wormholes, jump drives, etc
2166: a massive redesign of human starships is undergone to create starships using quantum gravity and it would end up copying the designs from Halo
2175: a "warp three" FTL drive is created incorporating quantum gravity control alongside the original designs to reach 400 light-years per day
2177: PMACs are created that fire a magnetic torus surrounded by superheated plasma which requires both a kinetic shield and a magnetic shield to effectively block
2180: the first wormhole gate is created using quantum gravity but for now it is only big enough for human-sized or small vehicle sized transport
2190: the first steller lifter and Dyson swarm begins construction above Sol
2194: micro wormholes began being used to transport EM-based messages at FTL speeds
The first ship-sided wormhole gate is created between Earth and Titan.
Interstellar Wormhole Gate research begins
2196: SMACs or singularity mass accelerator cannon, are created the use quantum gravity to increase the projectile to near singularity levels and release all its stored energy though an explosion on impact
2199: the first fabricator is invented that can create anything imaginable from basic elements, including biological material
2201: the synthesizer is created that can turn hydrogen into any material, this is installed on the stellar lifters under construction
2202: The first human quantum consciousness transference takes place, these human uploads are designated homo silica or more commonly, uploads.
Using the fabricator genetically and cybersenticlly modified bodies built for certain purposes are created
2204: First contact above the colony of Segari Prime
Relay 314, Turian Dreadnought
Desolas was annoyed, these cowardly Batarian pirates and slavers just kept fleeing through multiple relays but he knew with each engagement he was wearing them down and destroying a significant number of them.
They then arrived at the system holding relay 314
Lieutenant Speara: Sir! The Batarians are activating relay 314, a dormant relay!
Desolas was floored, these fools risked another Rachni war just to escape justice?!
Desolas: Stop them! Do these fools wish for another Rachni war?! Fire everything!!
Lieutenant Spearta: were too late for that sir, but we can still go through the relay and prevent them from opening more and minimizing the risk to only a single relay
Desolas: then do so, we can only hope a new Rachni doesn't exist beyond this relay and stays farther along the network. Take us through relay 314
Lieutenant Spearta: yes sir!
Segari System
The Segari System was a minor colony of the UEG with only a token PDF and was not expecting much of anything to happen, this would change.
Batarian Ship
Batarian Lieutenant: Sir we're through the relay, a trinary system with main-sequence stars, and… a garden world with primitives?
Batarian Captain: maybe we can turn this around and capture some slaves then cryo our way through conventional FTL?
Batarian Lieutenant: Sir! The relay is active! The Turians have come through!
Batarian Captain: "Ugh" he complained as a Turian mass accelerator round tore through the remainder of his ships
Turian Dreadnought
Lieutenant Spearta: sir, the remaining Batarian frigates have been destroyed
Desolas: Anything else in the system?
Lieutenant Speata: yes actually, there are some primitives with pre eezo ships orbiting the 4th world. Two frigates and Six Corvettes
Desolas thought first contact with a law-abiding race would bring him much fame but he would receive even more if he made them a client race so he decided that he would offer these primitives the chance to serve the great Turian hierarchy. Surely they would see the advantages
Desolas: send the first contact package, we'll make a new client race of these primitives
Lead PDF ship
Lieutenant Cyberii (AI): sir, the moon around the 12th planet just exploded!
Captain Willams: What do you mean it just exploded?
Lieutenant Cyberii (AI): just that! It exploded! New readings are showing a metal object that appears it was inside the moon and...Alien Ships! This is a first contact!
Just as he said that a new fleet of ships came out of the relay and destroyed the others
Lieutenant Cyberii (AI): a new group of ships just emerged from the object! They destroyed the others, maybe they were some kind of pirates?
Captain Williams: try and send out a first contact message, also tell the UEG council about this!
Turian Dreadnought 5 minutes later
Lieutenant Spearta: Sir, we got a translation but there is something unusual.. about the first contact message
Desolas: that being?
Lieutenant Spearta: it showcases hundreds of planets…
Desolas: How?! These primitives don't even have access to mass effect yet! They can't have FTL!
Lieutenant Spearta: do you have any alternative explanations sir, these were far too descriptive and intricate to be a fabrication. Somehow these aliens have discovered a different form of FTL that doesn't use mass effect or element zero. In other words, these aren't primitives were dealing with but a full-fledged advanced space-faring species
Desolas: how advanced could they possibly be?!
Lieutenant Spearta: they have air cars, sir. These aircars don't use thrusters and they have no access to mass effect, they must have found some other way to control mass that doesn't use element zero
Desolas was annoyed but admitted she had a point "and if they can control mass somehow without eezo they can replicate mass effect"
Lieutenant Spearta: exactly
Desolas: fine.. contact the council, they need to hear about this..
Lead PDF ship
Cyberii (AI): I have discreetly hacked into the ship and have gained access to the extranet, their Internet equivalent, and have learned much, we do not want to join this society and I have forwarded this information to HIGHCOM
Lieutenant Williams: "excellent." he said sarcastically
The Council Chambers, The Citadel
Sparatus was board, he was in a council meeting about eezo trade routes when he got a ping on his omnitool with a condition 577-2-1 and 96g-2 which meant first contact with a new species and a request for contact with the captain of the ship who discovered them
Sparatus: excuse me councilors, an important thing has just come up and I must share it
Tevos: what exactly?
Sparatus: a condition 577-2-1 and 96g-2
Valren's eyes widen in surprise and excitement at that
Valren: then we must send diplomats and military personnel immediately, this is big, the first contact with a new species and it was peacefully done
Tevos: a first contact situation? That hasn't happened since the Yagh but at least they are peaceful unlike them
Valren: I approve this captain's request
Sparatus: as do I
Tevos: what request?
Sparatus was about to explain Turian protocols when Valren spoke up
Valren: 96g-2 is a priority request for a Captain of the Turian hierarchy to speak to the council directly and 577-2-1 a peaceful first contact situation with an advanced species
Sparatus: exactly
Tevos: in that case, I agree to his request as well
A holographic projector turned on and displayed captain Desolas who stood at attention
Desolas: Sir! Captain Desolas Arterius, 4th pirate suppression fleet ready to submit my report!
Sparatus: at ease Capitan, explain what happened and why a pirate suppression fleet captain made first contact with a new advanced species?
Desolas: sir, I was chasing some Batarian pirates and slavers who retreated through multiple relays until we reached relay 314 which they activated
Valren: these pirates activated a dormant mass relay?!
Tevos: ugh typical Batarian stupidly
Sparatus: and these advanced species were in the system connecting to relay 314?
Desolas: yes sir, the relay was encased in a small moon, they likely didn't even know about it, not to mention these aliens have somehow found an alternative to element zero
Tevos: what do you mean an alternative to eezo?!
Desolas: they somehow can control mass without eezo, their ships had no element zero and yet in their first contact message there were aircars
Valren: perhaps they just figured out a way to mask element zero emissions?
Desolas: I don't think so, there were no element zero emissions on the colony, masking element zero emissions on a ship maybe, but nobody does so with literally everything.
Sparatus: how?
Valren: that is fascinating
Tevos just sat there but privately she was extremely upset and distraught about the potential end of Asari supremacy based on eezo
Desolas: councilors! We have confirmation! Some of the Batarian wreckage bounced off some sort of kinetic barrier of theirs!
Valren: we must send people immediately
Sparatus: agreed
Tevos: yes I agree, can you put them through?
The transmission is put through but instead of the pilots it is UEG HIGHCOM
Representative Anderson: greetings I am president of the UEG high council and I greet you in the name of peace and cooperation
Tevos: thank you president, I am Tevos, the representative of the Asari Republics
Sparatus: I am Sparatus, representative of the Turian hierarchy
Valren: and I am Valren, representative of the Salarian Union
Tevos: we would be happy to invite you to the Citadel to integrate your species into the Citadel
Representative Anderson: of course we can meet you at your Citadel but you might find some of our "cultural heritage" disturbing and no we don't practice slavery
Tevos was worried they already knew about the Batarians but since they said they didn't practice slavery then what laws of theirs did the fundamental disagree with? Furthermore, they said "meet with" not "join" so she was slightly worried they were going to refuse
Valren: which laws does your culture disagree with?
A hologram pops up in the same room as Anderson
Cortana: greetings councilors I am Cortana, the counselor of the Machina AI council of the UEG
Tevos: you use AIs?!
Sparatus: destroy it before it turns on you!
Valren: you must do so! Before you go the way of the Quarians!
Representative Anderson: and here's one of our cultural differences, we consider AIs to be sapient beings and equal members of the UEG
Valren/Tevos/Sparatus: What?!!
Cortana: I don't know what bad science fiction you got this idiotic idea from but the falt of the Geth rebellion lies with you
Valren/Tevos/Sparatus: WHAT?!
Representative Anderson: it was illegal to create AIs before the Geth and your propaganda made the Quarians think the Geth had to be destroyed instead of treated as living beings or rather living being considering they are a collective intelligence
Sparatus: we will never allow such a suicidal species to join the Citadel!
Representative Anderson: then we will not join, it wasn't like we were planning to join anyways I agreed to meet you nothing more
A few seconds passed as his words sunk in
Sparatus/Tevos/Valren: WHAT?!
Sparatus: how dare you?! Nobody has ever refused to join the Citadel!
Tevos: think of what we could do for your people
Valren: or improve your technology
Representative Anderson: we will be the first, your Citadel is nothing but an elitist oligarchy consolidating power for the three council seat races.
Tevos: just a minute-
Representative Anderson: the topic of uplifting aside you have left the Krogan with no future but to die out, no wonder they are the way they are now
Valren: are you insinuating-
Anderson: not to mention the Krogan rebellions were started when the Krogan annexed an Asari planet, tell me would you do that if it was say, an Elcor or a Volus planet and it didn't have the potential to spill over and affect you?
The silence was deafening but it all too clearly gave an answer
Anderson: then we have the genophage, instead of helping their society grow into a better direction you left them to die.
Tevos: we didn't many have tried-
Then we have the Batarians, Turians aside you spineless fools don't have, what is the term? Quad, you don't have the quad to take them out simply because some of you may die and that idiotic excuse of "stabilizing the terminus" as if anything they destabilize it even farther. Then there is the excuse of "cultural heritage" you should have revoked from them the moment a single non Batarian slave was taken, how can you sleep at night knowing your own people are being used and worse by what is essentially a slaver ring that took hold of the Batarian people and never got kicked out. Also there are other species you have wronged by I have made my point.
Sparatus for the first time in this meeting was agreeing and then turned to look at his fellow councilors
Sparatus: yes councilors, tell me the answer to that excellent question?
Tevos: …
Valren: we thought it was a-
Sparatus: a small price to pay for peace. Yeah yeah, every Turian councilor has heard these stupid excuses and I as my predecessors had, found myself agreeing with the Human's mindset. They are right you know, you don't have the quad to do what needs to be done
Cortana: getting back on track the UEG also makes extensive use of genetic engineering to the point a large portion of our population would be illegal. Then there is the treaty of Faxien, which we have broken many times over. Then the citadel conventions as while we use antimatter based weapons it is only in space and we additionally make use of nanobot based weapons
Valren: could you share that technology?
Cortana: why should we? We made everything by ourselves without your Protheans, your stagnant society would learn nothing but how to construct them, just as you did when finding Prothean ruins
Valren: what exactly do you mean?
Anderson: You all know the consequences of uplifting, yes?
At their nods, he continued
Anderson: you were all uplifted by the Protheans, you are imitative, not innovative
Valren: hmm historical data does support such a claim, one I have never considered before
Tevos: surely you can't be agreeing that us finding Prothean ruins was a bad thing?!
Valren: that is exactly what I am saying, how much element zero technology do we actually fully understand? In but 200 years we have surpassed, does that not tell you anything?
Sparatus: we haven't been surpassed! We are the Citadel council! We are the most advanced-
Anderson: No, you have been surpassed
Valren: anything else?
Anderson: yes actually, did the Protheans terraform worlds? Because the planets we have seen that would classify as garden worlds are much more diverse than ones you have found
Valren: hmm possible but terraforming worlds is not easy
Anderson: It will be for us when we finish our greatest achievement in about a year
Valren: and what would that be?
Anderson: our stellar lifters, star miners, were building our prototype right now, afterwards we will spread them all throughout our territory
Valren: we have experimented with such before, it was easier to just find planets
Cortana: easier and more effective? or simply easier? Stars are massive, the returns far outweigh the costs
Valren: hmm, you may be right about that
Tevos was internally screaming about the upcoming change coming to the galaxy
Anderson: Furthermore, we will not tolerate the Batarians' flimsy excuses and third part actors, if they attack we will go to war. We will annihilate them
Tevos: you would destroy the Batarians?!
Cortana: the ruling class most certainly, but we highly doubt the average Batarian is a monster like their leadership, so no, just the hegemony.
Valren: you are aware these meetings are public right?
Anderson: yes we are aware
Sparatus: when it comes to that I'll be the first to let you know the Turian hierarchy will support you
Tevos: you would help a non-council race take over a council race?! Also, what do you mean when?!
Valren: surely you can understand the Batarians will do this, it was honestly only a matter of when not if they pissed someone off enough to have someone do this to them. As such I'll be the first to let you know the Salarian Union will support you, we have numerous models in which we attack them
Tevos just looked around in exasperation and a tinge of fear at her fellow councilors
Tevos: you do realize if we do this we will be at war with the Terminus afterward
Anderson: and what a loss the Terminus systems will be
Sparatus: exactly
Valren: we have many situations for that as well
Anderson: we will send our shadows, our espionage divisions, to help the STG and our fleets to help the Turian Hierarchy
Sparatus: very well
Valren: acceptable
Chora's Den
Wrex: Ha, I like these humans, if only the rest of my race actually saw the big picture as we did
The Quarians Migrant Fleet
The Fleet was in chaos, it was as simple as that. Two major factions arose within the fleet which was to go to war with the Geth to control them and the other to open diplomatic relations with the Geth and the UEG.
The only thing universally accepted however was they would never join the Citadel again after how they treated them and that they had enough of waiting around and being treated as "suit rats"
Eventually, the Quarians had a schism between the civilians and the military with the fleet splitting apart with one continuing to roam as nomads and scheme against the Geth. While the other swallowed their pride and preconceived notions for a better tomorrow
Peace faction: The Heralds of Rannoch
90% of the Civilian Fleet
15% of the Protection Fleet
Admirals
Shala'Raan vas Tonbay, Admiral Zaal'Koris vas Qwib-Qwib, Rael'Zorah vas Alarei (after his daughter convinced him)
War faction: Rannoch's Warriors
10% of the Civilian Fleet
85% of the Protection Fleet
Admirals: Daro'Xen vas Moreh, Han'Gerrel vas Neema
The Geth Collective
The unknown race has been identified as humans and their equal status Machina AIs
Effective star mining technologies would accelerate megastructure build speed by 60,000%
Humans displaying mindset of defensive creators during morning war
Organics and synthetics living together clearly possible.
Council propaganda theory accuracy 99.28%
Reason for council propaganda inconclusive, more data required
Monitored creator response 75% peace 25% war
Peace faction heading towards Perseus Veil after escaping fire of war faction
...
Consensus reached, the Geth will ally with the UEG and Creators peace faction