A THIRD set of updates to the original! That's right, I'm so incompetent I had to redo it YET AGAIN. Expanded notes on every aspect of the Systems Alliance, from ships, weapons, and armor to government, complete orders of battle, and more terms. Now updated (May 2021) with tactical considerations, plus the March 2020 updates.

Shepard is not dealing with the arrival of the Reapers, and the following events well at all. Joker tries to be there for her.

"The galaxy is going to try its best to forget you. I know that now. But I never will." The events between Mass Effect 1 and 2, as told via C-Sec Officer Garrus Vakarian's communication logs. Continues the storyline from "Access Granted: SSV Normandy SR-1" - but can be read as a standalone by anyone who is familiar with the events of the games.

Fate played as much a role in Shepard's defeat of the Reapers as did his skill. What if fate had different plans? Did you know that the Shepard on Mindoir was born as a twin? What if both had survived the raid? How would the Reapers have dealt with TWO great heroes instead of one? It's time to find out just how much better and worse things get with TWO Shepards fighting a war.

Human Systems Alliance fan lore

Liara T'Soni knows about humans. She lectured on Shanxi the day after Turians made contact, after all. Kate Shepard knows about asari. She trained with Serrice City Guard, after all. She crawled singles bars on Thessia with her unit. Neither is ready for who she meets in a mineshaft below the surface of a fiery world, or the war to come. (FShep & Liara, Multiple POV, Asari culture)

The Charlatan and the Pathfinder have an undeniable attraction, the type that renders a selfish, reckless passion in a person. The type that forces them into a tug of war between their desire and their responsibilities. The type that leads to blood and betrayal and a grief-stricken turian out for vengeance...

Deployed to patrol the Turian Fringe Systems the HNV Invictus is badly damaged and is forced to blind-jump with a damaged FTL drive, it's crew survived the ordeal, landing on 'humanity's doorstep the crew is rescued and the Invictus is scuttled, Humanity learning of the Hierarchy moves to put its best foot forward by bringing their wayward sons and daughters home. Alternate FC Fic.

Due to a drive core malfunction, a human vessel arrives just in time to save the Council Envoy from the yahg. What happens when humanity enters the galactic stage not as the race that got attacked by the turians for breaking a law they weren't aware of, but as the race that saved a turian platoon from certain death? M for wartime violence, pre ME1 - ME3, no OP humanity.

Against all odds, Shepard and the crew of the Normandy have defeated the Collectors. Understandably, they wish to commemorate this triumph with a party. Shenanigans ensue.

The Reapers are gone. Shepard is dead. And as Garrus tries to put down an old enemy, and Javik plans to put himself down, fickle fate lands them on the same planet. A 50,000 year old failed mission and an insane mercenary thought to be dead have combined into a deadly powder keg that they'll have to work together to defuse. Somehow.

Omega's reclamation comes at a heavy price. What other challenges must Aria face upon her newly reinstated throne? / Obvious Omega DLC spoilers, paragon.

The war is over! Shepard was buried alive and recovered in a strange state of unconsciousness. She will have to take a long trip, retracing her last four years, through the memories of Liara, sometimes wonderful sometimes frightening. Her unlimited love, their invincible bond, will be the only things can keep her holding on that irrevocable promise ... "I'm always coming back"!

The Reaper war is over, organics have won. Another war has already begun, with all alliances broken up due to the loss of comms, mass relays and guidance. Kaidan and the remaining Normandy crew must figure out how to get home. Shepard is injured, Gemma is lost and Kaidan is heartbroken. Can a happy ending become of all this loss and destruction?

FemShep's investigation of Cerberus' nefarious activities, while she struggles with questions about her own identity. This story is not super canon-y, but it fits with the story, especially if you aren't too personally attached to your version of the characters. It aims to fill in the gaps and is told from Ash's POV. Rated T for blood-curdling swears. FemShep/Ashley (slow burn).

The Number #1 Bestseller from Casey Nova, the author of self-help hits "Does Her Malyk Like You?", "You Don't Have To Be HER Forever Girl: Not Asking For Too Much From Asari Partners", the travel guide "Thessia For the Thickheaded", the memoir "A Black Girl Goes Blue", the historical romance "Serrice Serenade" and the up-coming thriller "In a Nos Astra Minute".

After landing the opportunity of a lifetime to train under a notorious general, Castis Vakarian dreams of political aspirations - but a chance encounter with a bounty hunter makes him question what he really wants.

While on the mission of Operation Overlord, the extent of Cerberus' war atrocities becomes clear to Miranda. She knows she owes Jack an apology for being so insensitive. Relationship grows during canon through Mass Effect 2 and 3.

Join the Andromeda Initiative, Work for the great Alec Ryder, Make the first Human Pathfinder's Team, Settle Humanities new Home World, and hopefully get a promotion. These were all on Lieutenant Cora Harper's to-do list. Falling in love with The Pathfinder was never part of the plan. Then again, neither was his Son.

Commander Hayden J. Shepard of the SSV Normandy recruits an elite recon squad to cross a turmoiled galaxy in a desperate race to stop the return of an enemy who holds no mercy. To prevent this outcome, Shepard must act outside the limits of the law without remorse and hesitation. Her only imperative is to preserve the safety of civilized life in the galaxy - at any cost.

"Ask yourself, if put in a situation where you were going to die regardless, would you go down fighting to protect, or at least the illusion of protecting your loved ones, or would you run away?"

After dealing with the Collectors, Shepard takes the Normandy to the Citadel so the crew can have some much needed shore leave. She and Joker decide that maybe staying aboard the Normandy is a better idea than going out. Set between the fall of the Collector base and before the Arrival DLC.

Commander Shepard is the sole survivor with a synthetic sole, among other augmentations due to the Akuze incident. She's suppressed her emotions and ignored persuasions to retire in her willingness to continue her tour of duty, relying on medication to help with her nightmares and the phantom pains that have persisted. People think it's determination. It's just a distraction.

The Crucible has been fired. The crew of the Normandy, having crash landed on an uncharted world, scramble to repair their ship and reestablish communication with the Alliance Fleet. Uncertainty weighs heavily on the crew, especially its quarian engineer, who wonders if she will ever see her home, or the man she loved, ever again.

This story is different from my others because of the lack of mythology. It begins when she is five years old and ends up a duct rat in the underbelly of the Citadel's Wards - and will continue past ME3. It will have all the main characters and some of my own. Remember, I'm not an editor, there will be typos. The story is for mature readers only.