Mass Effect: Murphy's Law

by TacoWrath

"Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong", the old saying goes. Survivors of a freak accident that took place in 2023, two brilliant scientists are recruited into Alliance Task Force "Cerebellum" to work on cutting-edge technology alongside other talented minds. Little did they know, their work would slowly end up reshaping the galaxy as an ancient enemy emerged from dark space.

117. BONUS - Notable Planets

MURPHY'S LAW - NOTABLE PLANETS

Reach

Location: Klenot Nebula

Classification: Terrestrial

Atmosphere: Nitrogen/Oxygen

Diameter: 14,893 kilometres (9,254 mi)

Day Length: 26 hours

Orbital Period: 379 days

Population: 68,573,901 (as of 2209 Census)

Notable Features: Long Seasonal Periods, Large Mountain Ranges, Home of United Confederation

Reach is a stable, young terrestrial world located in the Klenot Nebula, first discovered by Quarian explorers in 2183 utilizing the Gravity Drive Reach System developed for non-Relay FTL travel. It features large oceans, forests, and mountain ranges, with small bands of deserts and rainforests along its equator. Due to its size and orbital period, seasons last nearly a year on Reach, creating large, month-long storms where the temperate and torrid zones meet. Upon its discovery, it and its neighboring planets were quickly claimed by the Migrant Fleet, becoming their first permanent claim since the Morning War. Work was quickly done to fortify the planet as the whole of the Migrant Fleet moved to the system, beginning mass settlement.

The Battle of the Void and Battle of Reach are considered two of the most pivotal battles of the Reaper War, where the United Confederation's 1st, 2nd, and 4th Fleets engaged and destroyed an entire fleet of 100+ enemy ships in the two separate engagements. The Confederation successfully [[[CLASSIFIED]]], eliminating over half of the Reaper fleet before they arrived. With superior numbers and the combined might of the planet's Orbital Defense Grid, they managed to, for the first time since the beginning of the war, rout enemy forces and completely destroy them. The aftermath created a massive morale boost the Confederation and its allies rode until the war's conclusion.

After the end of the Reaper War, Windham City was constructed to serve as the capital of the budding United Confederation. Named after the creator of the Gravity Drive, human scientist Jack Windham, Windham City has become the cultural, economic, and military powerhouse of the Confederation. Home of the Confederation Congress and scientific development company Mjölnir Titanworks, it has become a location of importance projected to match and potentially outgrow the Citadel itself in the next few decades. With over 11 million people living in the city alone, it is the fastest-growing population center in the galaxy.

Śnieg

Location: Endar Cluster

Classification: Terrestrial

Atmosphere: Nitrogen/Oxygen

Diameter: 5,457 kilometres (3,391 mi)

Day Length: 21 hours

Orbital Period: 329 days

Population: 119,239

Notable Features: Planet-Wide Snow Storms, Large Eezo Deposits, Home of UCNF HIGHCOM.

Discovered in 2185 shortly before the Reaper War, Śnieg was originally written off as a cold, dead rock by passing explorers despite the presence of a stable, if frigid atmosphere. After the war, prospectors discovered high quantities of unrefined Element Zero hidden beneath its oceanic ice sheets. Backed by the then newly-ratified United Confederation, dozens of mining operations began across the planet, leading to a major economic boom for the Confederation. Due to its strategic location, no connection to the Relay network but with major settlements within hours reach of the Gravity Drive, the United Confederation Naval Fleet's High Command was established on the planet, buried deep beneath Mt. Duży, the largest mountain on the planet.

Praetor

Location: Endar Cluster

Classification: Terrestrial

Atmosphere: None (Vacuum)

Diameter: 3,932 kilometers (2,443 mi)

Day Length: 19 hours

Orbital Period: 338 days

Notable Features: Test Site of Project Vivarium

One of many terrestrial worlds discovered in 2185 by quarian explorers, Praetor has a unique orbit that occupies that same habitable zone as Śnieg, though lacking an atmosphere due to a lack of gasses or water involved in its formation. Though it contains some valuable resources, the planet went mostly unnoticed until it was chosen as the testing site for Project Vivarium, Dr. Sean Michaels' initiative for converting lifeless worlds into habitable ones through the use of large-scale terraforming machines. Whether this initiative will be a success or not is yet to be known.

Scorpia

Location: Tau'ri Expanse

Classification: Terrestrial

Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide/Nitrogen

Diameter: 7,209 kilometers (4,479 mi)

Day Length: 23 hours

Orbital Period: 451 days

Population: 280,439 (91,164 in orbital installations)

Notable Features: Large Titanium Deposits, High Surface Temperatures, Geodesic Cities

A hot, hostile world shrouded by clouds of vaporized sulfuric acid, Scorpia was one of the last worlds discovered by Quarian explorers prior to the Reaper War. Lifeless and inhospitable to organics, it was later subject to limited colonization after large titanium deposits were discovered on the planet. Years later, a second, larger wave of colonization took place, taking advantage of colonial charters being offered by the Confederation. This led to the development of large, geodesic cities that dot the landscape, creating stable settlements protected from Scorpia's harsh atmosphere.

Arnhem

Location: Abydonia Prime

Classifications: Terrestrial

Atmosphere: Nitrogen/Oxygen

Diameter: 10,119 kilometers (6287 mi)

Day Length: 31 hours

Orbital Period: 230 days

Population: 12,298,241

Notable Features: Fertile Farmlands, Intense Flooding Seasons, Unique Cultural Center

Initially settled by Raloi colonists during the Reaper War, Arnhem is a highly-fertile garden world, deemed the ultimate solution to the widespread hunger suffered by their people at the time. After the war, Arnhem underwent a large wave of outside colonization, creating a unique culture shared amongst the planet's newer inhabitants and the farmers who originally settled the planet. Though initially viewed as a backwater, its population grew immensely following the defeat of a large pirate fleet in orbit. It was the opening volley in what would later be known as the Pegasus Offensive.

Following the offensive, massive territorial gains were made by the United Confederation in the former Terminus, turning what many once called a backwater into a bustling trade hub on the edge of a new frontier. The colonial charters created to capitalize on the new territory brought business, resources, and people to Arnhem, quickly turning it into the fourth-most populous planet in the Confederation, behind Turviss, Rannoch, and Reach.