The Halo Effect: War and Civilization

by free man writer

A crossover years in the works. Civilizations rise and fall but to those that do stand, they prosper. They Expand. They reach out across the stars. But of course, such is a Universal law, War is never far behind. War is a language all civilized races speak and it is war most are familiar with. Co-written with BulletStormX. Halo/Mass Effect with a dash of Star Wars.

4. There's More Than One

Alright you guys, hope you're ready for this one.

Cause I am confident that not many have tried this before nor thought of it. See, when BSX and I were developing this crossover we had to think really long and hard on how to distinguish this from others. We knew this couldn't be a simple one so there was experimentation and ideas thrown around until we began to formulate what is to come.

And I can tell you this, without a doubt, I think this one will be special. I whole-heartedly believe that. The last few stories that I've been writing with BulletStormX and Jebest4781 have been some of the best chapters and work I've made.

Working with them both has allowed me to publish newer stories, explore ideas I've been wanting to try out as well as churn out chapters repeatedly. I think in total with everything I've written combined with Jeb and BSX I've gotten out… like 70+ chapters from multiple stories.

It feels really damn good to have two comrades that I've been able to work with and we've gotten so much done in such a short amount of time this year.

So other than this mushy crap about me being really thankful for the friends I have on this site, let's get on with the show.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.

The Halo Effect War and Civilization Chapter 4: There's more than one

Journal Entry X

Sometimes, we tended to forget just how small we were in the grand scheme of things.

While we were just getting ourselves out of our caves, some had already reached the stars.

While we continued wallowing away in self internalized war, Faster Than Light travel was discovered by a few.

When we were just industrializing, Empires that had been forged centuries prior were enjoying a Millennia of prosperity even with the conflicts that they had faced.

When we had met our allies in the stars, the other players were set.

We just didn't know it yet.

It is astonishing when we look back on just how little we had colonized in retrospect. Many were astonished by our number of worlds though we ourselves were equally as fascinated as them as they were of us. Different reasons naturally yet…

To think of how more connected we were then we had first presumed.

Meeting them among the stars was an eye opener and one of the first steps to our future by looking to the past.

Oh… it appears I've rambled off once more.

End of Journal Entry.

Formation of Councils and Empires

Legends

BCE - Before Current Era

FCE - Formative Council Era

On the other side of the Galaxy, in a world rich with an element that releases Dark Energy which in turn allows for unusual capabilities in terms of technology as well as personal capabilities that an entire species would develop. A special ability if one could call it that.

This special ability was named Biotics which allowed those with an aptitude for it to manipulate and create "Mass Effect Fields" from the element that releases this Dark energy.

As for a deeper explanation of what Biotics are, rather than the scientific term used, it is better to describe what it can do. Biotic individuals can knock enemies over from a distance, lift them into the air, generate gravitational vortices to tear obstacles or enemies apart, or create protective barriers along with a plethora of other capabilities that had been developed over time.

This species for the most part always had a natural aptitude for these Biotic capabilities.

Though the name of the species proper… has been lost to time.

They are all descendants of the same ancestor but as to who or what it was, they are finding it difficult to discover.

What they do know is that this ancestor is a bipedal individual. Two arms and legs with five fingers on their hands and feet.

Their overall body structure is the same yet…

Overtime, or perhaps from the beginning there have been four distinct variations of this species.

Their head pieces.

One possesses semi-flexible cartilage-based scalp-crests that look as though it is slicked back with a singular "tip" wherein all the "strips" meet. "Crest-Heads" was a nickname they had developed in between the four variant species.

Another has something that is referred to as Lekku, two or sometimes four protruding tentacles of sorts that would resemble tails from the head. They had a distinct variety of skin tones from dark blue to searing red and their nickname amongst the others were the "Tail-Heads".

Then there the ones that had Lekku of their own yet were distinctly different from the previously mentioned variant.

These "Lekku" were a part of large crown/horn-like projections from the top of their heads called montrals with patterns upon each of them. These horn-like protrusions upon their heads had also given them a unique passive ability of echolocation which allowed them to sense objects and movement that were in close proximity to one another.

The nickname this variant carried were the "Horn-Heads" or "Crown-Heads".

The last of these variants were the ones that were believed to have resembled the lost ancestor the most.

They, like the rest of their kind, were basically the same in a sense save for their "headpiece". The fur that they possessed or hair as it is called. Long and flowing or short and quaint with usually two shades. Red or blue.

"Fur-Heads" was their nickname.

Now, each of these four were unique and distinct enough for them to be considered their own species yet they were all categorically under the same branch. Much of their genetic makeup was exactly the same, matching one another from 95.2 to 99.1 percent.

Most of their intellectuals round it up to a hundred.

Each child that is born can actually be any one of these four showing just how deeply intertwined they all were with one another. A "Crest-head" and a "Tail-Head" can have a child that comes from either of the two's variations or one of the other two being a "Horn-Head" or "Fur-Head".

Yet there are two specific unifying aspects that categorize all four of these variants under the umbrella of one species.

They are a race of one gender. A race of all females.

Since the name of their ancestor has been lost to time, they had given the four variants their own names of identification.

The Asari. The variant with the crest-shaped head where their skin tone is a variety that ranges from shades of blue to violet and at times teal complexion. They are the most in tune with Biotics as they are the ones who have the most natural born users of this unusual phenomena.

The Twi'leks. The "tail-heads" with a wide variation of skin pigmentation that covers practically every color on the spectrum from red, blue, yellow, green and so on. A unique trait among them is a sort of special communication they are able to perform among their variant to the other four that is special only to them.

The Togruta. The variant with the horn protrusions and passive echolocation, they have a more limited pigmentation then the Twi'lek but have far more than the Asari and the last of the variations…

The Zeltron. Their skin pigmentation is limited like the Asari, though in their terms it's between bright pink to a deep crimson. Their hair is usually blue or red yet some have an extremely rare case of brown. Out of the four, they are what could be described as rather tech savvy yet are also the most sensual. Of the four, they possess a special ability in producing Pheromones that accentuate and amplify their attraction to others with some using Biotics as a means of completely ensnaring the source of their desire completely to them. They are perhaps the most emotionally outgoing of the four.

Some have taken to calling themselves the TTAZ(Togruta, Twi'lek, Asari, Zeltron)(Pronounced Ta-ahz) race for short.

Yes, these four mono-gendered variants all stem from the same world known as Thessia.

They have a long history, as do most sentient species across the galaxy and were among the first within the Milky Way galaxy that achieved space-travel.

Much can be achieved within the life of one of these fine ladies as they all share the secondary uniting factor of their species.

Their incredibly long lifespans.

This entire race has the capability of living upwards of a thousand years, possibly even more.

Many of those that have reached the thousand year mark or are close to it are revered for their centuries of growth, knowledge accumulation and experience.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves for the time being.

Much can be discussed about them when the time comes.

For now, let us delve into the time of expansion and development in other parts of the galaxy.

Within another sector of the galaxy, an ancient race that had just gotten through their long drought of technological stagnation achieves space travel.

Elsewhere, a warrior-based society was expanding within their own territory and means of FTL with colonization of dozens of worlds.

This species that would eventually be given a more distinct name by another species thousands of years later on down the line.

But before then, they were simply called the Sangheili.

Physically imposing beings, they typically stand more than a foot taller than the average human. They are vaguely reptilian in overall appearance, with leathery skin, reverse-jointed legs and sharp claws and teeth. Their large hands have two fingers and two thumbs. Their most distinguishing trait is their jaw structure, which is made up of four separate mandibles attached to their face.

Honor bound warriors, they had lived a life similar to that of the chivalrous knight or ancient Samurai of human history.

They continued to govern themselves until coming into contact with another space-faring species.

This meeting is one of many that would fundamentally shape and change the galaxy in the coming Millenniums.

938 BCE/582 FCE - A species known as the San'Shyuum being led by "Reformist" within their kind arrive upon the frontier world of the Sangheili called Ulgethon. The San'Shyuum utilized technology that is considered holy to both species yet the Sangheili view their usage of the technology as blasphemous.

A collection of heads were sent to the reformist San-Shyuum with the message clear.

This event sparked the War of Beginnings.

Between 938 BCE/521 FCE - As war waged on between the San'Shyuum and Sangheili, the TTAZ species achieved FTL via strange devices known as the Mass Relays. Finding a strange colossal station, the Asari make contact with strange aliens known as the Keepers that maintain the structure now called the Citadel. They quickly establish a working government upon the Citadel.

876 BCE/520 FCE - The Asari make first contact with a new alien race known as the Salarians. The Salarians are a bipedal race of amphibians, with tall, elongated bodies well-suited for their high metabolism, and skeletons composed of more cartilage than those of the TTAZ race. Their heads are long and thin and have a pair of horns protruding from the top of their skulls. Skin varies in color, from bright reds and greens to the more common shades of blue or grey. Their blood is a greenish color.

Intelligent with fast talking speech and an equally fast metabolism, the Salarians soon establish diplomatic relations with the TTAZ race.

856 BCE/500 FCE - The Citadel Council is formed. The Togruta/Twi'lek/Asari/Zeltron and Salarians together colonize the Citadel and establish it as a center of the galactic community, led by the Council. This year is also known as 0 GS, the beginning of the Galactic Standard (GS) timeline.

As a gesture of openness with their new all-female allies, the Salarian Union opens the records of the League of One. Under threat, the League responds by assassinating every member of the Union's inner cabinet; Special Tasks Group operatives then hunt down and eliminate the League.

852 BCE/496 FCE(ME) - The Sangheili-San'Shyuum war comes to an end, and the Covenant is formed with the creation of the Writ of Union. The first Age of Reconciliation begins.

851 BCE/495 FCE(ME) - Sangheili opposed to the Writ of Union rebel against the Covenant. Ussa 'Xellus, a Sangheili that led the opposition created the Ussan faction. He takes with him 400 Sangheili and settles upon a Shield World for sanctuary away from the Covenant.

800 BCE/444 FCE(ME) - Upon the planet known as Duro, the native species named after the planet, the Duros have been space faring for a number of decades up to this point. They are a race of bipedal humanoids with smooth blue-green skin, red eyes, lipless mouths, long thin noseless faces and green blood.

Pilots and explorers, they had rapidly colonized their sector and after some time were hungry for more exploration.

They had uncovered a Dormant Mass Relay on the edge of their sector, sending them straight towards the doorstep of the Citadel.

The Duros Expansion meets the Citadel and establishes diplomatic relations.

795 BCE/439 FCE(ME) - The Duros Expansion joins the Citadel Council due to their expertise in navigating uncharted space and cache of Element Zero leading to economic and technological boon.

789-784 BCE/433-428 FCE(ME) - Taming of the Lekgolo: the Lekgolo are discovered and incorporated into the Covenant.

656-649 BCE/300-293 FCE(ME) - The Volus began exploring and colonizing the stars shortly after discovering FTL.

Sometime after around this year, first contact is made with the Volus. Eventually, the Citadel Council commissions the Volus to draw up the Unified Banking Act, which establishes a standard galactic currency known as the credit and links all galactic economies.

Elsewhere within another undiscovered sector in space, another race was undergoing their own set of conflicts.

This race is known as the Turians.

Typically standing over six feet tall, they have two long, proportionately thick fingers and an opposable thumb on each hand each tipped with talons and a set of mandibles around their mouths. The most distinguishing feature of Turians is their metallic carapace, which contains trace amounts of thulium. This is an evolved trait that acts as a defense against the greater levels of solar radiation that penetrate home world's weak magnetic field.

As the formative years of the Council were occurring, The Turian Unification War occurs. The increasingly isolated and xenophobic colonies on the frontiers of Turian space go to war with each other. After years of fighting, the Turian Hierarchy sweeps in and pacifies the remaining factions. Animosity between Turian colonies continues for decades.

All the while, The Council grants the Volus the honor of being the first non-Council species with an embassy at the Citadel, rather than a Council seat.

In between this time, first contact is made with a race called the Batarians. They are granted an embassy a century later.

A few years later, the TTAZ discovered the Elcor home system and helped the Elcor locate and activate their nearest mass relay. "Within one Elcor lifetime" they establish a regular trade route to the Citadel and are granted an embassy.

First contact is made with the hanar and another technologically oriented species called the Quarians.

Possessing an endoskeleton, lips, teeth, and two eyes with eyelids and tear ducts, they also have three thick fingers on both hands which include a thumb, an index finger, and a long finger, similar to the middle fingers for the TTAZ species as well as three toes on each foot. Their lower legs are bowed backwards significantly, compared to TTAZ. Aside from hands and legs, their general body shape and sexual dimorphism is similar to TTAZ though only on the female side. Male Quarians, however, appear to lack a third toe.

Both races are later granted embassies.

Within another sector, another race that has been space faring encounters the Turians.

They come from the planet Dorin and are called the Kel-Dor or Kel-Dorians led by their government called the Kel-Dor sages.

The Kel Dors were a tall race, typically of the same height as Turians though slightly shorter at times. Their skin ranged in pigmentation from peach to a crimson red. Most had dark, black eyes, although some were born with silver irises, a mark that was often seen as an affinity for Biotics.

The species had unique facial structures compared to most. Their noses were described as falling short of becoming a beak, with a gaping opening that descended to the mouth, a toothless chasm with drooping fleshy strands. In place of teeth, Kel Dor had an upper and lower hard-palate, visible only when they pulled their lips back. Framing their head were extrasensory organs which terminated in small black tusks.

Due to their home planet of Dorin having a unique atmosphere composed of helium and a gas unique to their world, the Kel Dors were forced to wear an antiox breath mask and protective goggles whenever in atmospheres of a different composition. This equipment protected them from carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen, which were fatal to a Kel Dor. The breathing mask also helped to amplify the Kel Dor's voice, as they were forced to shout to produce any sound when out of their native atmosphere.

At first, relationships were tentative and slightly difficult due to communication being hard to convey but upon learning that both species share many similarities in culture and government rooted in justice, duty and service to the community and one another overall, the Kel-Dor and Turians enter into a formal alliance lasting well into modern times.

648 BCE/292 FCE(ME) - Janjur Qom is destroyed by a natural stellar collapse and High Charity becomes the surrogate homeworld of the San'Shyuum. The Dreadnought that was present at the time of the War of Beginnings is made into the centerpiece of the capital.

Council Era - War and Rebellion (1 CE - 900 CE)

357 AD/1 CE - The Rachni Wars: The Rachni, a species of highly intelligent hive-minded insects, are discovered when a Citadel expedition opens a dormant mass relay leading to their star systems. The Rachni prove to be hostile and begin a war with the rest of the galaxy. Negotiation with the Rachni queens is impossible because they cannot be contacted in their underground nests on the toxic Rachni worlds.

436 AD/80 CE - The Rachni Wars continue. The Salarians make first contact with and uplift the primitive species called the Krogan, manipulating them into acting as soldiers for the Citadel Council. The Krogan prove able to survive the harsh environments of the Rachni worlds and pursue the Rachni into their nests, systematically eradicating queens and eggs.

656 AD/300 CE - The Rachni are declared extinct. In gratitude for their aid during the Rachni Wars, the Council rewards Krogan with a new homeworld. Free of the harsh environment of Tuchanka, the Krogan population explodes.

656-1056 AD/300-700 CE -The Krogan race begins to expand exponentially, colonizing many new worlds. Growing concerns about their expansion lead to the founding of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel. In the year 1049 AD/693 CE, Beelo Gurji, a Salarian operative, was appointed as the first Spectre by the Citadel Council.

During this tumultuous time, the Covenant discovered a race of primitive savages known as the Vorcha and due to their unique biology and aggressive behavior are incorporated into the Covenant.

1056 AD/700 CE - The Krogan Rebellions.

Krogan warlords leverage veterans of the Rachni Wars to annex territory from other races in Citadel space. Eventually the Council demands withdrawal from the Asari colony of Lusia, but the Krogan refuse. A preemptive strike is made on Krogan infrastructures by the Spectres. The Krogan Rebellions begin.

The Citadel Council makes first contact with the Turians and Kel-Dor around this time and persuades them to aid in the war. After the Krogan respond to the initial Turian/Kel-Dor offensive by devastating Turian colonies and an attack on the Kel-Dor homeworld with weapons of mass destruction, the Turians and Kel-Dor vow to stop the Krogan from ever becoming a threat again.

Sometime after the dual species join the galactic community, the Volus are accepted as a client race of the Turian Hierarchy with the Elcor falling under the Kel-Dor Sages.

Around this time, a Krogan by the name of Nakmor Drack is born.

1066 AD/710 CE- Realizing that the Krogan will never give in as long as they can replenish their fighters, the Turians unleash a Salarian-engineered bio-weapon known as the genophage on the Krogan. The Krogan population starts its decline. Kel-Dor and Turian relations greatly strained due to the use of the Genophage with the former finding the action a serious breach in justice and duty as condemning a species to eventual genocide is no better then what they had inflicted upon them. Though tensions were raised, it was difficult to dispute at the time. Salarians discretely held a meeting with the two species revealing that the Genophage was not a sterility weapon just a birth rate monitor. They make the argument that this will not kill the Krogan outright but keep a manageable enough population where they won't be as large a threat as they were.

Both sides are pacified and overtime, relations between Kel-Dorians and Turians return to normal.

1112 AD/ 756 CE - The Yanme'e and Geonosians are incorporated into the Covenant.

1156 AD/800 CE - The Krogan Rebellions end, though scattered Krogan insurgent actions continue for decades. The Turians fill the military and peacekeeping niche left by the decimated Krogan.

The Kel-Dorians versed within the abilities of Biotics by this point have developed a multitude of esoteric and properly unique capabilities. Multiple academies are opened to those willing to learn, becoming disciples or the Kel-Dorian sages called them, Padawans underneath veteran Biotic users to expand their abilities with Biotics.

The Citadel Conventions are drawn up in the wake of the conflict.

Council Era - Expansion (900 CE - 2157 CE)

1256 AD/900 CE - The Turians and Kel-Dorians are granted seats on the Citadel Council in recognition for their service in the Krogan Rebellions.

1342 AD/1183 CE - The Kig-Yar are discovered and form an alliance with the Covenant.

1552 AD/1196 CE - The San'Shyuum begin searching for lifespan augmentation methods.

2111/1755 CE(ME) - An Asari Matrons' three daughters are diagnosed as Ardat-Yakshi. Two accept exile, but the third flees. This Asari by the name of Samara renounces the ways of the TTAZ Rangers, takes the oaths of the TTAZ Justicars and pursues her errant daughter for the next 430 years.

2142/1786 CE - The Covenant incorporate the Unggoy into their society

2238/1880 CE - An ambitious Asari by the name of Aria T'loak with an equally dangerous and well versed Biotic Red skinned Twi'lek simply named Talon arrives on Omega, a space station in the Terminus Systems regarded as the region's nominal capital. Aria is hired by the station's warlord as an enforcer and quickly becomes one of his most trusted lieutenants. Talon becomes the most renowned Assassin in the Council galaxy.

2251/1895 CE - The Geth War

The Geth, machines created by the Quarians as a source of cheap labor, become self-aware. Fearing a Geth uprising, the Quarians begin dismantling them. The Geth revolt against their Quarian masters. In the resulting conflict-known to the Geth as the Morning War-the Geth systematically drove the Quarians from their own worlds. The surviving Quarians are reduced to living as spacefaring nomads aboard the Migrant Fleet. Contrary to expectations, the Geth do not venture outside the former Quarian systems into wider Citadel space, instead isolating themselves from the rest of the galaxy behind the Perseus Veil. As punishment for creating the Geth, the Citadel Council closes the Quarian embassy on the Citadel.

2277/1921 CE - The Geth begin construction of a mega-structure designed to house and simultaneously run every Geth program in existence. Completion of the mega-structure, which would allow the Geth to maximize their collective processing capacity, is the long-term goal of Geth civilization.

2336/1980 CE - The Drell made first contact with the Kel-Dor around this time. With their homeworld Rakhana severely depleted and no spaceflight capability, the Drell were poised for a massive population crash by 2025 CE. Agreeing to help, the Kel-Dor mount a large-scale rescue operation and evacuate the entire Drell population to their various colonies, over the following decades. The Rakhana eventually would perish and be considered lifeless.

Due to this action, the Drell swear everlasting debt towards the Kel-Dor with the species taking them under their wing. Much of Kel-Dorian society and culture is incorporated into their own way of life.

Many Drell Sages rise during this time.

Aria T'loak assumes control of Omega after defeating the space station's previous warlord in single combat. She mockingly bestows the title "Patriarch" on the broken Krogan, and uses him as a reminder to her enemies of her power. Talon is her right hand enforcer and secret lover.

2370/2014 CE - The Citadel Council discovers Batarian Slaving operations being conducted against multiple species across the Citadel space.

They are stripped of their embassy and banished from Council space.

Slaving raids begin to be openly conducted by the Batarians though they are mostly beaten back.

2433/2077 CE - An Asari that would come to play a pivotal role in the coming 26th century and held in the same Generation as the "Greatest Generation" by the name of Liara T'Soni is born.

2443/2087 CE - A Togrutan and Twi'lek that would later be a part of the "Greatest Generation" were born around this time.

2481/2125 CE - The Yahg, an intelligent pre-spaceflight race, are discovered on the planet Parnack. Ambassadors representing the Citadel Council arrive on the planet and attempt to open diplomatic contact. After the ambassadors are killed by the predatory Yahg, the Council ceases all contact with the Yahg and declares Parnack off-limits.

Not long after the Yahg are discovered, one Yahg is captured for the most influential individual in the realm of information known as the Shadow Broker, to study. With the Broker's assistance, the Yahg rapidly ascends within the Broker's organization as "Operative Kechlu". Eventually, the Broker becomes wary of "Operative Kechlu" and attempts to have him terminated, but the order is sent too late. The Yahg assumes the mantle of the Shadow Broker and directs the organization for the next sixty years.

2492/2136 CE - The Jiralhanea are discovered and incorporated into the Covenant.

2495/2139 CE - Saren Arterius is born.

2499/2143 CE - While on the fringes of a patrol, several Turian and Kel-Dorian ships encounter a set of pirates that attack their fleet. Knowing they are from the neighboring system of Terminus. Chasing them off, the fleet chooses to pursue and eventually follow this ragtag group of pirates to an asteroid field.

Engaging in a brief skirmish, one of the ships struck what appeared to be a frozen asteroid.

Only it wasn't any ordinary asteroid.

The ice around the asteroid began to come apart, seemingly "activating something" within the frozen rock.

Spots of light began emanating from this strange asteroid, evaporating the ice around the rock. The Turians and Kel-Dorians who saw this later described it as some sort of rocky growth, as if they were looking at a fleshy unidentifiable piece then a ship.

The strange object began rotating in the middle of the skirmish, rotating faster and faster with much of the fighting ceasing. After it gained enough speed, it began to spray thermal fire that melted through ship defenses with ease catching many off guard.

Those that remained were ordered to pursue at all cost.

Though it was difficult slightly to navigate through the lawless Terminus System, the frantic rate that the Turian/Kel-Dor fleet moved about put many off guard and unnerved leaving them alone entirely.

When getting to the edge of the galaxy, so to speak, all efforts in pursuing the unidentified ship were halted and abandoned.

The report ended with a Turian Captain stating, "Any ship that wants to commit suicide in that great void is not worth our trouble".

2502/2146 CE- Thane Krios is born

2504/2147 CE - In a joint collaborative effort in mapping out more of the galaxy, a team of top scientists led by Duros and Salarians were attempting to discover other sentient life via communication and radio waves.

Though unsuccessful for a majority of the project, one team reportedly made contact with an unknown frequency that seemed to stem from what the Council had dubbed Frontier/Wild Space.

Upon learning that this was true, many had attempted to get into proper contact with this unknown species. After several weeks of monitoring what appeared to be communication waves, it stopped, abruptly cut off.

Attempts were made at re-establishing contact or monitoring of this unusual radio/communication but all resulted in failure.

This was dubbed the lost contact mission.

Many within this team hope to one day in the future establish proper contact with this species in wild space.

2508/2152 CE- Thane Krios is submitted for training as an assassin.

2510/2154 CE - A Jiralhanea that would carve out a piece of the galaxy for himself by the name of Atriox is born.

2511/2155 CE - Saren Arterius is promoted to active service in the Turian military at the age of 16.

2514/2158 CE(ME) - A Turian that would one day come to play a pivotal role within the galaxy at large as well as one that would be a part of a group of individuals later dubbed the "Greatest Generation" by the name of Garrus Vakarian is born.

2515/2159 CE - Saren Arterius becomes the youngest Turian to be inducted into the Spectres.

2521/2165 CE - A Quarian by the name of Tali'Zorah Nar Rayya who would be a part of the "Greatest Generation" is born.

2525/2169 CE

A lone Asari stood at the front of a building within the Citadel with a slightly forlorn and sad expression.

She held a datapad in between her hands and she sat upon a bench with her head down.

She had been waiting here for some time by herself now and she was getting slightly anxious.

Many citizens passed her by, not giving her a look at all which she was rather pleased about. She wasn't all that good with crowds as of this moment.

She honestly would rather be in a cave right now, excavating the lost history of-

"Liara!" A loud, familiar voice exclaimed from the crowd.

Blinking, Liara T'soni looked up in time to see a Togruta with orange skin running towards her with a Twi'lek that had a shade of deep blue.

Smiling happily at the sight of the two, Liara got up in time as she was nearly tackled back down to the bench by the two who had jumped at her with flying hugs.

Straining slightly, Liara laughed lightly a moment later and embraced the two back in a warm hug.

"Ahsoka, Mission." Liara said kindly. "I've been waiting for you two."

"Sorry Liara." Mission Vao, the Twi'lek said straight away with a sheepish expression.

"Ahsoka and I got a bit nervous before coming here and got a little hungry as well."

The Asari chuckled lightly at the answer she got. "You both were nervous, so you chose to eat it away? What kind of response is that?"

"Our kind of response." Ahsoka Tano piped up with a puff of her chest and hands on her hips. "A good stomach is a full stomach to get you through the day."

"I thought it was an empty stomach is a hungry stomach to strive for more?" Mission said with her Togrutan giving her a flat look.

"That's what Master Secura told us when it comes to learning." Ahsoka reiterated.

"So are you two ready?" Liara asked anxiously.

Both girls gazed upon their Asari friend with hesitant expressions before nodding with confidence.

"It's time." Ahsoka said with a determined face. "My mother always told me the time would come and Aayla taught me much in the academy but it's here where I can learn the proper skills for Biotics to become a proper Ranger for our people. She recommended us to Sage Master Plo Koon! Can you believe it?"

"Plo Koon?" Liara asked in open astonishment. His name was known very well amongst many proficient Biotic users with him being one of the few to attain the distinction of mastering the extremely rare ability of Biotic lightning.

Mission Vao shook with excitement.

"It's gonna be amazing." She said, bouncing on the spot. "I can't wait to learn under him."

"Well I wish you both luck." Liara said with a slightly saddened smile, something her two dearest friends easily picked up on.

"Ah Liara." Ahsoka gave her an understanding look. "We're not gonna up and stop talking to ya. You're still our best friend, you know that right?"

"Yeah." Mission chipped in with a wide grin. "What would you do without us? Who else can pull you away from your caves when you need fun?"

Liara found herself chortling a moment later.

Though the three of them were maidens for the most part by their species standards, Liara was older than the two by ten years. It wasn't much when you consider their thousand year lifespans yet they looked up to Liara as if she were their older sister.

They had been together for nearly 50 years up to this point and now was the time for them to start branching out and getting out into the greater galaxy at large.

Mission and Ahsoka were always the more adventurous of the trio whilst Liara preferred her studies of ancient texts and societies.

But they had resolved themselves to always stay in touch with one another no matter how far apart they would get and always remain steadfast friends and sisters.

"Good luck you two, again." Liara said, going in for a tight hug. "I hope I hear all about your wild adventures and accomplishments all over the galaxy."

"And good luck to you, Liara." Ahsoka said, hugging her tightly with Mission.

"Yeah, we better see your name all over those science channels about the crazy discoveries you've made." Mission stated.

"Those are scientists, Vao. I'm an archeologist."

"They'll still probably throw you into the same channel." Mission countered and Liara was hard pressed not to disagree.

"You're probably right." Liara admitted, sharing a laugh with her friends.

After speaking with them over various topics and such, Ahsoka and Mission wave their friend goodbye as they face the academy of the Biotic Sages and entered the large building moments later.

Liara lingered there where they had said their goodbyes for a few moments until she herself departed.

While on her way to her destination, she brought up her datapad and turned on the screen which revealed to her the contents that would be the focus of her objective.

It was a group of young and up and coming intellectuals being recruited by elder explorers, scientists and archeologists that were gearing up for a long 3 decade excursion to begin the process of expanding their knowledge of the rest of the galaxy.

While much was found within their corner of this galaxy, a majority of this collection of stars, planets, dust and dark matter still had yet to be explored.

There was an entire frontier out there waiting to be discovered.

And she would be a part of the group that she firmly believed would discover new relays, new systems, new planets and above all else. New sentient life.

If only she knew… just how much of a wakeup call the Citadel would be facing in the years to come.

The Stage is set.

The coming decades of tumultuous changes and conflicts.

The factions have been set.

Humanity, Wookiees, Mon Calamari, and Kaminoans under the umbrella of the UNSC(United iNtergalactic Space Command).

The Citadel and all of its species. The TTAZ(Togruta, Twi'lek, Asari, Zeltron), Salarians, Turians, Kel-Dorians, Duros, Volus, Elcor, Hanar, Drell, and Keepers.

The Empire that is thousands of years old up to this point, the Covenant. The San'Shyuum, Sangheili, Unggoy, Kig-Yar, Jiralhanea, Lekgolo/Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e, Geonosian, Huragok, and Vorcha.

With the remaining outliers of the Quarians, Geth, Krogan, and Batarians.

All of these different species.

All of these different ways of life, culture, beliefs and government.

All would eventually meet and clash.

Though there were some years out in regard to certain organizations, their meetings are Inevitable.

So, this one was a lot easier to be done simply because much of it was already pre-planned and made months in advance by myself and BulletStormX.

We had essentially written out a rough outline of our story overall that would get more comprehensive and detailed as the chapters came out and time went on.

It was difficult but it is paying off in dividends.

BSX: As I said before, making the timeline to where the Halo timeline correlates to the ME timeline took days to work out and compare notes to finally get what you see here.

FMW: So as you all saw, yes, the Twi'leks and Togruta are in the story though I bet none of you would have guessed that they were gonna be a part of the Asari species. I kind of correlated that to their unique head designs. The Zeltron were added as well due to their sensuality and skin pigmentation being similar to that of the Asari to a degree as well as them playing a slightly subtle important key role later on down the line. Like way later. Now you're probably wondering why we chose to have the Twi'leks, Togruta and Zeltron be all female. Well, when you think about it, who are some of the most famous members of these species? Come on, take a moment. Yeah, exactly, mostly females.

BSX: The Kel-Dor and Duros were the choices me and FMW narrowed down too for importance of what they contributed to the story such as the Kel Dor being the ones to uplift and save the Drell population from extinction. A lot more Drell are running around now. The Vorcha being integrated into the Covenant made sense to both of us since half of the Covenant are bloodthirsty savages(not all of them).

FMW: And as for the Geonosians, they may have been one of the last minute add ons before the start of this story but when you compare them to the Drones(Yanme'e) they were another obvious choice for the Covenant.

BSX: As you saw Mission Vao and Ahsoka along with previous timeline hints of SW characters, that means we're bringing all characters from different eras and time periods of Star Wars history. I mean ALL of THEM, both legends and canon characters will be making appearances here and there. As for who they are, you'll have to wait and see.

While you guys won't be getting all of the Star Wars characters you know and love, with the variety of species we've chosen you guys will be getting a huge swath of them in the coming chapters.

So thanks again everyone for reading this gargantuan undertaking.

We'll try to update as frequently as we can either once a month or once every two weeks depending on other stories and schedules.

This, like Spirit Unto Dawn has been greatly planned out and you guys will see a grand finale when the time comes.

Until then, stay tuned for more.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.