Review Answers:
Guest - The protags aren't immortal or anything, most are in their late mid 30s to early 40s during the first contact war, which is in 2157 BCE. Since Mass Effect proper starts in 2183, by the time Commander Shepard gains the Normandy the protags will be well into the early late 50s and mid 60s. Here's their current ages if it helps
Satoshi 'Red' Ketchum (Kanto) at journey start - 11 years old, Mt. Silver - 17 years old, PWT - 20 years old, Alola - 29 years old, First Contact War - 40 years old
Ethan 'Gold' Lash (Johto) at journey start - 11 years old, Mt. Silver - 13 years old, First contact war - 36 years old
May Maple (Hoenn) at journey start - 12 years old, First Contact War - 41 years old
Dawn Berlitz (Sinnoh) at journey start - 14 years old, First Contact War - 40 years old
Hilbert Black (Unova) at journey start - 14 years old, PWT -18 years old, First Contact War - 40 years old
Rosa Mei (Unova 2) at journey start - 14 years old, PWT - 15, First Contact War - 35 years old
Callum Delacroix (Kalos) at journey start - 15 years old, First Contact War - 34 years old
Selene Lupin (Alola) at journey start - 11 years old, First Contact War - 21 years old
Gloria Callahad (Galar) at journey start - 15 years old, First Contact War - 22 years old
'The Creator of the Lands, made the ground on which you stand, stand beneath his blazing sun on the world which he has won! Stand against the crashing waves, for this world is his domain!' - A hymn from the Groudon sect of the Arceian religion of Earth
Codex Entry: 'The Upheaval' was the 32 year span of instability in all regions on Earth. The Kanto-Unovan war weakened many regions caught in the crossfires of their war, the disruption of shipping lanes and mass loss of life caused famine and discontent amongst the populace resulting in the creation and strengthening of many gangs in the regions. Famously Team Aqua and Magma were caused by the destruction of housing complexes in Mauville City displacing many families, two being that of Maxie and Archie. The Upheaval was also plagued with gangs meddling with Legendary pokemon. The troubles ended in 2151, when Champion Gloria Callahad separated the Galar League from the Macro Cosmo corporation's control. The seven champions are credited for the end of the Upheaval.
-Excerpt from Kantonian history book regarding modern history
Desolas I
Desolas Arthurius always considered himself reliable under pressure, logical and pragmatic enough to keep a firm hold of any situation before him. He believed himself ready for all theaters of war that could possibly exist, from another Rachni-like invasion, Krogan rebellion, to the reemergence of the Protheans. This, he would realize later, was the naivety of a peacetime general. His group along with ten others had been deployed to aid the Humans in their defense of Shanxi, and the level of destruction that was on display shocked him.
If one wasn't aware of the Human's allies they'd believe that the planet itself was alive and fighting. Almost as soon as their tank landed they were attacked by white Hanar like creatures. He barely registered the acid as it burned through the hull of the tank, but the sizzle of his armor struck fear in his gizzard. He quickly took the rapidly melting vambrace off, throwing it out of the hole in the tank's side, as the gunner tried to fire at the jellyfish creatures.
This was where he truly understood why the Humans needed the Hierarchy's help. The fake hanar that was hit by the mass accelerated round was damaged substantially, but as its last action before hopefully pershing it shot a purple beam at one of the Turian tanks. The beam of acid didn't explode on contact, that perhaps would have been comforting, it consumed the tank and when it died down there were no traces left of it, only sickly purple pools of acid.
As another beam was fired at his tank all he could think was 'This is where I die, there is no honor in a death like this.'. The triggering of the tank's seismic sensors pulled him from these thoughts, and he witnessed a scene that he knew would shape his life for years to come. Erupting from the ground, like a demented Thresher Maw, came a massive giant of what looked like metal. The silver steel glinting in the sunlight as it blocked the beam with its body, the negligible damage it sustained only seeming to anger it, as it unhinged its behemoth jaw and roared.
He heard the radio come alive with chatter, his ears still ringing from the challenging roar of the metal behemoth, "Turian Squad, this is Ranger-General Haggen, go to the rendezvous coordinate while our air support covers your retreat!" He felt the tank accelerate as the babble from the radio continued, their leader apparently understanding the alien language. Loud cracks sounded as some form of projectile was fired at the invaders, he could faintly make out the visage of a stealth fighter with a purple fin that resembled a tail.
"Damn, not even fully deployed and we've already lost good soldiers." He heard the female Turian next to him mutter, "Spirits watch over us, as we stare into the abyss." He couldn't help but shudder at the old prayer, something he'd only heard referenced during stories about the Krogan rebellions. He could still see the metal giant looming in the distance, its red eyes seeming to glow with its power.
"Turian Squad, go to these coordinates and prepare to assist the third platoon." Desolas heard his captain acknowledge the order and relay the message to the rest of the convoy.
"Alright boys, let's show the Humans how Turians wage war!"
John Shepard Sr I
John coughed as he kneeled behind the earthen barrier, the unmistakable smell of smoking gunpowder pouring from his rifle doing nothing to help him. Shanxi had become a warzone just as expected, the Ultra Beast nearly trampling each other to get to their targets, but his platoon was holding. Barely. While they approached the battle with a ferocity and valor above their training, they were still only civilian trainers, conscripts with no actual military training beside that from their trainer journey. He watched as Chanseys carried away injured trainers and pokemon, some mutilated beyond any healer's ability to repair.
He looked around at the smoldering ruin that was Maroon town and knew that the budding city would never fully recover, any thought of saving the city was quickly fading the longer the Ultra Beasts continued their assault. The buildings would be rebuilt, perhaps as tall as the clouds even, but the scars in the land itself, in its aura, would forever bear the damage from the Ultra Beast. He hurriedly covered his head as a pillar of concrete and metal was sent hurtling into their fortifications, the psychics only stopping it soon enough to not take out most of his trainers.
"Get fire on that Guzzlord now!" he roared and some of his soldiers fired their rifles at the creature that was more mouth than body. The suppressing fire from the human being supported by multiple attacks from nearby Pokemon, in particular a Hyper Beam from a Tyranitar sent the Guzzlord careening into a nearby building. "This General Shepard, we need air support asap, Guzzlords are entering the field!" He barked into his radio as he reloaded his rifle and resumed firing on an unlucky Xurkitree that entered his field of vision, the rounds punching holes in the frail creature.
"Denied Shepard, more men will be sent to reinforce you but Air Support is pinned down stopping a Nihilego swarm." Shepard cursed as he pulled a trainer next to him down as a stinger from a Naganadel whizzed past their heads. The boy looked at the spot in shock and fear, Shepard could only pat the kid on the head and remind him he was still alive. Shepard let a pokeball from his belt fall to the ground releasing his oldest partner, the large blue tortoise with rehearsed ease settled into cover alongside Shepard and the boy as it unleashed high pressured torrents of water, rippling completely ripping through some of the less water resistant Ultra Beast, and forcing others back.
"Kid fall back until you regain your bearing," the young man looked ready to argue until Shepard ordered a Chansey to see the boy to the infirmary. That boy was hurried away by a Chansey, the Conkeldurr acting as its guard watching their backs as they retreated further into Maroon town. He heard the ground rumble as a Pheramosa swarm found themselves trapped in a sinkhole created by the ground types earlier that day. "Get fire in that sinkhole, send them to Giratina!" On that order a squad of Charizard and Salamence took to the sky, their approach covered by the ground troop's supporting fire, and unleashed their flames on the trapped humanoid bugs. Cheers erupted at that victory, which seemed to stagger the Ultra Beast having lost one of the driving forces of their charge. This was short lived as the ground trembled, almost like Regigigas had decided it wanted to take part in this battle. He watched in dread as the massive wall-like creatures forced their way to the front, a horde of Stakataka had decided to join the frey.
"Get Hydro Pumps on them now, don't allow them to advance!" quickly the lines reshuffled as Water type pokemon came to the forefront and unleashed torrents of water on the beasts. Shepard grit his teeth as the Stakataka continued their vanguard, if only a bit slower from the crashing waters. "Aura Users, fire the spheres!" The few trainers and pokemon that used technique created the globes of energy and lobbed them at the feet of the advancing creatures. The explosion of Fighting Aura destroyed ground and shattered metal where they landed, staggering the advance of the Stakataka. The smell of ozone was his only warning to what happened next.
Faster than he or any other trainer could react, bolts of lightning ripped from the sky. The force of them hitting their earthen barricades threw every trainer that made the frontline back a number of feet from their cover. Shepard could barely see straight, if at all, and the ringing in his ear from the cracking of thunder further disorientated him. He could feel his muscles tense against his wishes, did he get struck? He couldn't remember. He could feel dust enter his mouth as he tried to breath, a labor that was much harder than he remembered it being a couple seconds ago. Was he moving? He could feel skin reacting to something, like pebbles dragging along his back, it was annoying.
He felt something be put in his mouth as he was forced to chew, the striking flavor of mint waking his senses. He coughed nearly choking on the hard thing in his mouth, spitting the intruder onto the ground, the sight of a yellow diamond greeting him. 'A revive? Was I that near unconsciousness?' I looked at the Nurse who scowled at me, probably not a fan of me wasting precious medicine.
"What's the sitrep?" I asked, my body protesting as I tried to sit up on the ground. I could still smell ozone, even this far away from the lightning strike.
"General, we are losing a lot of ground, the trainers are beginning to break." I looked around and saw nothing but carnage. Many trainers that stood alongside me weren't moving, perhaps a small mercy compared to some who did survive the encounter. Screams, groans, delirious calls to men and women not among us could be heard. I felt air blow on my face and looked at my Blastoise, the sight nearly broke my resolve. He was missing an ear, the wound bleeding profusely but the stalwart creature largely ignored it. The most notable damage was the missing piece of its undershell, and the signature water cannons on its back. On hung loose, perhaps beyond repair.
"I'm sorry my friend, rest for now." I tried to return him but as it was sent into the ball it also rejected, coming right back out. He wasn't going to retreat it seemed. "This is General Shepard, we need support, any support asap!" The radio silence seemed to drag on impossibly long. The thumps of the advancing Ultra Beast's feet hitting the ground only grew louder by the second. 'I need to order a retreat, if we are going to make a last stand we need to be ready,' I brought my hand forward to begin to issue the order, the shame I knew to come I would have to endure.
"General Shepard, this is General Vintus Lacioni of the Turian Hierarchy, my squad is in range, give us targets to fire on!" the robotic voice of a Rotom spoke from my radio and I felt a sense of relief.
"Fire on the Stakataka, stopping their advance will allow us to regroup and take out the frailer Ultra Beast!" he received an affirmative reply and got to regrouping his forces. His Blastoise roared challengingly at the incoming enemy, his cry seeming to rally the remaining pokemon, as he was soon joined by a Tyranitar who fired a Hyper Beam at the Stakataka. A torrent shot from the one good pump on its back, however this seemed to do little to stop the advancing Ultra Beast. Shepard led what remained of his men, a force that began this war 300 strong in trainers now a motley crew of perhaps 100, maybe less. His eyes widened when he saw a Xurkitree shining brightly, clouds beginning to gather overhead,
"Fire on the Xurkitree now!" He leveled his rifle and fired, just as a loud boom was heard and the form of a Stakataka shattered like a brick wall met by a sledgehammer.
Guzma I
Guzma didn't particularly like being off planet, then again he didn't particularly like anything either. Team Skull was his passion project, one he royally fucked up by dealing with that crazy bitch Lusamine. He could still feel the affection for the woman deep down in him, how he hated that so much. How he could easily toss aside any notion of love for his biological parents, yet the blonde lunatic still held some semblance of sway over him. Maybe that's why he was here, maybe that's why agreed to the stupid request from her children to assist the Champion's efforts here. 'Meri warned you that old hag was trouble, now look at you, on some radioactive dust bowl of a planet playing police, Guzma what is wrong with you!?'
He sighed and adjusted his glasses on his head, one of the last remaining relics from his time as Team Skull's leader. He supposed all wasn't too bad, big bad Guzma had turned a new leaf. He had new allies, and in the end his goal for Team Skull was achieved. The youths of Alola that didn't fit the mold now had a home, had friends they could count on, none would suffer like he did. Selene made sure of that. There goes his thoughts drifting to the champion again. The girl annoyed him, not as much as Hala's idiot grandson, or Gladion, but she definitely annoyed him.
She was the reason he wasn't sitting in an international prison right now, oh how Agents Looker and Anabel wanted to arrest him for bringing the Ultra Beast scurge down on the world. The sour look on the Sinnoh man's face as Selene explained my role in stopping Giovanni during the Rainbow Rocket siege on Aether Paradise. If looks could kill Guzma would have died twice over, but the Agent relented, not like he could challenge a Champion's authority anyway. Her 'help' did come with the caveat that he attended 'therapy' sessions with Kahuna Hala, or was called Elite Four Hala now? Either way the old man was a pain, not to mention that Kakui now acted like we were best friends again. The damn move maniac always found himself coming to check on my progress, this usually resulted in us getting into a battle.
He smirked as he thought of their last bout, his Golisopod laying that annoying Incineroar out cold with his Liquidation. "Yo boss, it's getting pretty active out there man, Ion think the locals like us being here." he looked at one of his former associates. She, like most of his former crew, still stuck around him. They even repped the red x on his old insignia that he sported these days, honestly it was endearing though he would never show it to his group of misfits. He looked outside the base supplied by the remaining Turians and what she said was true. A large number of Krogan were outside, blustering and roaring at the 'new intruders' as they called us.
The Turians looked concerned and he couldn't blame them, from what he's seen these last few days these Krogan were walking tanks. More redundant systems in place than Metagross, but he doubted they could survive without a head. He and Golisopod might end up testing that theory soon enough. "Tell the boys to get prepared, we might have a riot on our hands soon."
"The Citadel oversteps itself again, how many times must the Krogan endure the disrespect of species barely worth more than a Pyjak!" the assembled Krogan roared in agreement, "I, Uvenk of Clan Gatatog, will not stand idle as another species puts their boots to our necks, Clan Gatatog will not spit on the history of the Krogan by not meeting this invasion of our planet with blood and smoke!"
"Charismatic one ain't he?" Guzma said to the Turian General next to him who nodded.
"Not many Clan leaders could unite this many different clans under one goal, this Uvenk is dangerous to Galactic peace if he can spur the Krogan clans to come here armed." He pointed to the different colors on the armored Krogans, "Look you have some Weyrloc, Quash, Ravanor, even Urdnot and Jurdon standing together, this is concerning."
"How do you want to handle this, would beating this Uvenk guy stop this?" the General nodded slowly.
"Yeah the Krogan won't follow a Warlord who got humiliated in single combat, but the only species who can match a Krogan hand to hand is an Elcor, and we don't have an Elcor here sadly." Guzma smirked as he told his group to get their pokemon ready for potential crowd control.
"I'm pretty sure my Golisopod could crack that carapace, just be ready to back me up should things get out of hand." Before the General could protest, Guzma walked forward, shocking the Turians and Krogan.
"Hey shellhead, you talk a real big game for a guy who doesn't even come from one of the more prominent clans on this planet, I'm surprised Urdnot and Jurdon let some third rate clan leader string them along on this suicide mission." Guzma could feel his old swagger return, the confidence that made him the boss of Team Skull, the embodiment of destruction, "Then again I guess a nobody has to climb the rung at some point, but you chose the wrong time to try, you want a battle well you can fight destruction in human form!"
He could hear the dissatisfied grumbles amongst the Krogan, Urdnot and Jurdon clansmen looking at Uvenk in a new light, waiting for his response to Guzma's challenge. The green plated Krogan didn't disappoint as he roared in fury and marched towards Guzma, his hand resting on his shotgun.
"You speak boldly, tell me the name of the one I will kill, I will name my next son after you, perhaps he will inherit your audacity." Uvenk snarled as Guzma continued to smirk.
"Guzma Bromley, but you misunderstand, I have a champion of sorts, it's him you'll fight not me." Uvenk looked at Guzma with disgust.
"You are a craven pyjak, send your krantt to their death if you wish." I scoffed as we created some distance between us and I sent Golisopod from his pokeball. Uvenk looked at the behemoth of a creature in slight apprehension, Golisopod stood just as tall as most Krogan, taller than some, but the six arms with razor sharp claws at the end of each would put any would-be attacker on edge. The Turian's watched in interest, they knew of the pokemon that fought alongside the humans, interacted with them in the short time they were on the planet, but to see one readying itself to battle a Krogan warlord was new.
"Alright Golisopod, this is your battle, put him down." the crustacean chittered and nodded before turning to Uvenk who stared at him, trying to find the best attack path. Slowly the two creatures circled one another, until Uvenk charged to make his first move. Golisopod brought its two forearms together as a shield, which Uvenk gladly smashed into with his headplate. The dull thud could be heard around the plains, many Krogan surprised that the creature withstood the impact only being shifted back a couple inches. Uvenk was surprised as well, so much so he didn't notice his smaller arms swipe at him leaving a gash across his face. Pieces of krogan hide clung limp on the small claw as Uvenk roared in fury as he swiped at Golisopod's face. The pokemon dodged the blow but we barreled into the ground by a shoulder tackle from the wroth Krogan warlord.
Uvenk mounted Golisopod, and began ramming his head into the armor of his arms, hoping to crack the unbelievably durable carapace. Golisopod smashed his arm plate into Uvenk's head stunning the warlord and flipped him off into the dust. Golisopod chittered angrily as it extended its black claws even further and charged Uvenk looking to run the Warlord through with his claw. Uvenk to his credit rolled away as the claws hit the ground, penetrating the packed dirt. He regained his footing and rammed his head into the side of Golisopod, the weaker side armor cracking under the Krogan's force.
Uvenk roared in pain as Golisopod's smaller claws pierced his chest, holding him in place like an anchor. Uvenk glared into the star shaped eyes of the creature that dared battle a warlord, a begrudging respect he had to give it. Uvenk felt his fury mount as his blood boiled, and with strength he never possessed before he rammed his plate into the face of the creature causing it to loosen its hold as it went away to recover from the surge of pain. Uvenk could no longer feel the pain in his chest, or even the dull ache that was on his face, he just felt anger. Hot and plentiful, ready to fuel his nearing victory.
He once again charged the creature, his bloodlust leading the way as he ignored the feeling of something penetrating his chest, and grabbed one of the smaller arms intent to rip it off. Then he froze. He felt fear. He felt something was about to go really wrong. In the back of his mind, behind the anger fueled bloodlust he felt a claw. The claw that had found a groove in his headplate and was beginning to cut away at the sinew and muscle that held the treasured weapon in place. A primal fear filled him at that point, something from before when the Krogan were still primitive. He tried to pull away, but the smaller claws had latched into his chest. He tried to trip the creature but that merely made the pain in his plate more unbearable. He tried to lift the creature, to slam it into the ground to coax it to let go, but the fear and pain was sapping at his strength. Finally as he feared, the plate gave way and hit the ground with a dull thud. He was plateless, dishonored.
He roared in fury at the creature as he tried to push it back, to disconnect it from himself, but its arm plate slammed into his naw exposed temple and he fell to the ground like a dead pyjak. Clan Gatatog roared in fury intent on charging the creature themselves but a booming voice rang out stopping them.
"Stop, you would dare profane our ancient traditions, how our ancestors must weep to see aliens beholden to Krogan law more than their own kin." out of the crowd came another Krogan, dressed in the red armor of Clan Urdnot, "The rite of challenge was issued, and accepted, it is now done." He turned to the growling krantt of Warlord Uvenk, "Collect your Warlord, we leave this place with what little honor we have left." he scoffed.
"Guzma Bromley, you have gained respect this day, but also many enemies. I wish you well in the battles to come." Just as quickly as the shaman came forward he left, the other Krogan warlords begrudgingly following shooting looks of contempt at the gathered aliens. Guzma sighed as he took a spray-on potion from his former grunt and began tending to his partner. The Turian general and a Salarian STG agent came to stand next to him, both looking at Golisopod in slight apprehension.
"This is a short term solution, the Krogan are proud, won't take the introduction of a species capable of beating them handily well, adjustments to defenses will need to be made, STG informed of growing unrest." the Salarian muttered mostly to himself as he also studied Golisopod in a new light. The Turian general looked more apologetic.
"The Krogan won't take this well, Uvenk wasn't highly regarded but he was a warlord nonetheless, Humanity might gain an enemy in the Krogan the longer you all are stationed here." Guzma figured as much, what was one more enemy when you are already fighting an existential threat.
"Well thankfully we have the Turians in our corner, isn't that right."
Tevos I
Tevos's day had begun so well, she woke to news that her favorite Blitz team beat their regional rival, she enjoyed a delicious breakfast with no urgent calls coming to her. She was enjoying a rare moment of peace. In the back of her mind she knew this moment of serene silence wouldn't last, she couldn't lock herself away in her suite and ignore the happenings of the galaxy. Oh how she desired to do so though, the thought of leaving the citadel on a supply ship and exploring the galaxy again, the allure of adventure she hadn't fully depleted during her maiden years. A foolish idea, her place was on the Citadel, her purpose was to ensure the prosperity of the Asari Republics and the greater galaxy.
She pulled up the latest news on her omnitool, frowning at the countless protests that had sprung up around the Citadel, decrying the Turian's actions as a breach of Citadel procedure. She personally agreed, the Humans while somehow spacefaring, were still primitive in many ways. Their form of government so inherently unstable she was sure that should it remain as it is they would be no better than the Vorcha clans, they had no chance of becoming an extrasolar while so fragmented on their homeworld. Their habit of animal fighting would surely be one of the first things they'd have to forgo, the activity was nothing short of cruel and would be outlawed alongside Varren pit fighting.
She watched as a Salarian civilian rambled on about how unsafe it was to remove so much of the Tuchanka peacekeeping force, how involving the citadel in a war between what many believed to be a primitive war between two powerful nations on the planet would only lead to making a new Krogan menace. In a way she agreed, these Ultra Beasts surely couldn't be that dangerous, the Endless Dawn fleet had been ambushed and taken damage fitting that situation. To believe these human tales of extra-dimensional invaders was unlike the Turians, she more so believed they simply wanted revenge for their lost people and were hoping to gain a client race out of the ordeal.
She brought up a tab that the Turians had sent to their councilor, showing pictures of the planet and its cities. She wouldn't deny that the humans were ingenious in their own way, they had supposedly achieved something thought impossible by the greatest minds in both Asari and Salarian space. Their teleportation technology would indeed prove to be a boon to the universe, especially if it could be improved by the Salarian and Asari tech teams, she wondered if the Grand Temple's prothean archives had information on this tech hidden away. Then there was the wormhole tech they possessed, the Salarian councilor had been drooling at the mouth get any information regarding the tech, She was sure he had STG oppertatives on Tuchanka watching the Humans that now garrisoned the planet alongside the Turians, hoping to snatch one up for interrogation.
She herself couldn't believe it when she heard of it, but the fact that the Humans had been in diplomacy with the Turian leadership directly gave validity to its existence. There had been no signs of the Endless Dawn fleet going through any Mass Relays and somehow what remained of it now rested in Palaven shipyards. These Humans were going to inadvertently change the galactic balance of power, and she didn't know how she wanted to go about it.
Whenever the galaxy stabilized one thing would remain sure, the Protheans had chosen the Asari to lead the new galaxy into prosperity, and the Asari would lead as destined.
