Title: The What-If First Contact
Rated: T (just in case)
Summary: Galaxy is a huge place, right? Well, this story will explore the what-if situations in first contact scenario. How the Mass Effect races react to different race or different version of human? Each chapter is one-shot.
Warning: This is AU Mass Effect aliens races are from different franchises or similar to those in different franchises. They are own by their respective owner(s).
Disclaimer: This story is purely written for fun and not for profit. Mass Effect is owned by EA.
"Text" is speaking
"Text" is thinking or sound without ""
"Text" is screaming
Chapter 5: Against the Clones of Clones of Clones
In the end, the Terrakeran Federation declined an invitation to join the Citadel. Its ambassadors went through storm of insults and few brawls occurred between the Terrakeran bodyguards and the Citadel citizens before reaching to their ship. Within next galactic minutes, the clones' ship left and not a single Terrakeran was seen again.
In response to how the second meeting with the clones, the Councilors held another meeting to discuss what to do with the illegal race. Rather than agreeing to an old Terrakeran's 'We stay out of your and you stay out of our' deal, Valern proposed to send a few intelligence-gathering units to recon the clone race's territories. To determine the capability of military and economy, Valern reasoned.
Sparatus agreed and together, he and Valern persuaded Tevos before an Asari agreed. A race of clones that utilizes a different FTL technology cannot be left alone. For the sake of the Citadel races and for possible future expansion, they must try to obtain the clones' FTL technology.
It took three galactic months before the Salarian Union and Turian Hierarchy finally completed the preparation with the Sanis-class stealth frigates with modified engine that could handle long distance traveling along with the latest technology in communication, scanning, and stealth. If successful, the military may produce more frigates, named after sneaky predator on one of Turian planets, for future recon and intelligence gathering missions.
The next day, the military superiors told the crews on the Sanis frigates that if they get caught by the Terrakerans, the Hierarchy and Union along with the Citadel will deny their involvement. That they will be considered as rouge operatives. After understanding the mission and the detailed procedures, the newly formed the Sanis Eyes group engaged the Relays.
Two galactic months later…
"This is a disaster." Tevos muttered as she sat across from her fellow Councilors, Valern and Sparatus. She could not believe when she read the latest report on another planet fell to the Terrakeran fleet. She mentally cursed the Sanis Eye and the Terrakerans.
When a Sanis-class frigate got caught by the Terrakeran ships and the Terrakerans have sent a transmission to demand the answer, the Citadel along with the Hierarchy and the Union have all denied their involvement and claimed the Sanis Eye is a group of rouge operatives. The Terrakerans didn't believe them and have already launched the attack on the nearest Citadel races' planets.
The first space combat occurred between the Hierarchy fleet of 57 and the Terrakeran fleet of 42 over a Turian planet. At first, the Turian ships had an upper hand with the numbers and strategy of focus-fire. However, they soon learned the purpose of Terrakeran ships' elementary shape. A race of monogender (formerly bi-gender) disfigured clones has managed to create a technology that amplify the firepower of its large ships' main plasma cannon that penetrated through the Turian fleet and desolated around 26% of a planet's landmass.
And this exactly what happen to the 6th planet that Tevos was just reading about. A sixth planet to be burned and it was under Asari Republic's. The other 3 planets, the Terrakerans just launched ground invasion for whatever reason Tevos couldn't think of, other than testing the strength of the planet defenders and to conquest the planets for raw materials.
Sparatus didn't say anything as he could be seen reviewing a recording of Turian infantry combat against the enemies. He couldn't believe the number of clones the enemies could produce to replace their fallen soldiers.
"Not soldiers." Sparatus corrected himself in his mind as he reviewed a recording of a Terrakeran firing its plasma rifle, burning through a Turian's armor and hide. These 'disposable' clones utilized similar tactic that once used by the Krogans, prior the Genophage. Now Sparatus thought about it and began to compare the monogender clones to the pre-Genophage Krogans.
Both have capabilities of replenishing the number with high birth rate or cloning. Both have a number of dreadnoughts, though the Terrakerans' dreadnoughts are bigger. Both wage psychological warfare to determine the enemies' strength and resolve. It's a shame that Genophage can't be repurposed against the clones, because their samples couldn't be obtained.
A Turian Councilor watched a clone's head get shot by a Turian soldier to avenge his comrade. A clone with holes began to dissipated, leaving nothing. The Citadel races' military has attempted to capture the clones alive, however these damnable unnatural beings also have suicide feature that quickly dissolve their body.
"We've lost another battlegroup to them." Valern spoke, breaking Sparatus's attention away from a recording.
"Just now?" Tevos asked tiredly.
"Yes." Valern confirmed, "And thanks to their FTL, the same fleet immediately invaded another planet. The clones are hitting hard and fast."
"With their ships and the numbers of clones, some of Union military are asking us to consider uplifting the Genophage and set the Krogans against them as a last resort."
"WHAT! Are they insane?" Sparatus snapped, "They'll turned on us and help those clones to win!"
"That is why they asked us to consider it as one of the last resorts, Sparatus." Valern calmly said.
"Then, what about the Batarians?" Tevos suggested, "We could…look other way while they exercise their 'cultural rights'."
"Tevos! Are you suggesting asking the slavers for help? They have some of our peop-"
"I know." Tevos said, feeling slightly aggravated. She and other two Councilors have been flooded with the reports, paperwork, and number of meetings. While Tevos has live for long time, even she is not immune to headache.
"It seems we will have to wait for the remaining Sanis Eye to find anything about the enemy's weaknesses." Valern stated, "Until then, we will have to keep assuring the public and maintain the morale."
Tevos and Sparatus both muttered their agreement and resumed reviewing the reports. Just now, more clone ships crossing into the Citadel races' territories. How many ships do these cursed clones have?
Several months later…
"Mind telling us again, Spectre Saren? About the…Collectors?" Sparatus questioned a Turian Spectre named Saren Arterius.
"Certainly, your honor." Saren respectfully replied before explaining the detail about the supposedly myth known as the Collectors, "It's all started when I was in middle of the mission of…"
Saren proceed to explain how he met the Collectors, who expressed their interest in helping the Citadel races. Being skeptical, Saren asked the Collectors for their reason to help the Citadel races against the clone aggressors. The Collectors told Saren to inform the Citadel that they are interested in the clones' body.
"And I asked them if they have capability of capturing them alive without setting off their suicide feature. They said yes and showed me this." At this, Saren produced a small insect-live thing to before the eyes of three councilors.
"And that is…?" Valern's voice is laced with question.
"A way for us to capture the clones. This little thing here can come in thousand like a swarm and placed a stasis force field around the clones to 'freeze' them." Saren explained, "That is what the Collectors said. As matter of fact, the Collectors have already captured few clones and has gifted me with one of them."
"Really?" Sparatus's eyes could be seen gleaming with interest and Valern look excited at the prospect of a captured clone.
"Yes, allows me to show you." Saren lifted his Omni-Tool to produce an image of a clone still frozen, due to multiple small insect like objects on body. The Councilors felt content at the sight of a frozen clone being strapped to a surgical table. Saren continued, " IT is currently in secured location with the scientists working on breaking down ITS genetic codes."
"That is excellent news. But until we have viable counter to the clones' number, we still have to deal with them and their ships." Valern pointed out, causing Saren to respond.
"Ah, yes. About the cannon fodders. The Collectors told me that they are capable of cloning-"
"CLONING? Are you suggesting that we use clones to fight clones? Preposterous! Ridiculous!" Sparatus interrupted, "We don't need to resort to cloning to fight those things! Beside what the Collectors going to clone? Krogans?" Sparatus scoffed.
"No. Me." Saren's smooth answer, catching a Turian Councilor and other Councilors off-guard.
"Excuse me? You?"
"That's correct, your honor. Please, allow me to explain and I can assure that it will make sense." Saren requested politely to the Councilors. "Please. I too want the Hierarchy and the Citadel to emerge victorious. You all know me that I am fiercely loyal and willing to die for the cause."
"Very well, Spectre Saren." Sparatus calmed himself down and look at Tevos and Valern who both gave their permission.
"My gratitude." Saren proceed to layout the detail given by the Collectors about how the Collectors will clone him and ensuring the Saren clones' loyalty to the Citadel government and almost one galactic hour later, "And while this doesn't help with the fact that our enemies still hold the advantage in space combat with their numerous ships and their technology to burn the planets, the Collectors actually the ships that they are willing to 'loan' to us until the war Is over."
"That is marvelous news! With the Saren clones and the Collector ships, we could drive those things back to their territories and strip their power!" Tevos excitedly exclaimed.
"Not so fast, Tevos. This seems to be too good to be true." Amazingly, it was Sparatus who said it, "Beside the clones' body, what else do the Collectors want? They can't be content with those bodies."
"…They're asking for the planets. They required one planet of decent size to build the facility and ten planets for their expansion as they only have one gigantic space station."
"Very well. We can grant the planet they want now and give them some of the clones' planets as a reward."
Almost three galactic months later…
The combined fleet of Asari Republic, Salarian Union, and Turian Hierarchy is still struggling to hold off the Terrakeran ships. The worse scenario has been realized when the Terrakeran fleet appeared and headed toward the Citadel, which is amazing, considering that the Terrakeran ambassadors knew the location.
The combined fleet of 458 Citadel ships, plus 174 Quarian ships that just arrived in time as reinforcement, could be seen firing rounds after rounds of shells at the advancing 652 Terrakeran cubic ships. In response, the cubic ships fired volleys after volleys of plasma projectiles, burning and melting the shield and armor of the Citadel defending fleet, reducing the number. The ships on both sides continued to trade blows after blows.
Countless debris of destroyed ships could be seen gloating in space with many fighters engaging in knife combat with the Citadel fighters against the rectangular shape gray fighters. If one searching for a holovid of insect swarm fighting rivaling swarm, this is it.
On Destiny Ascension…
"Someone tell those three ships to target that thing on left for us to unload our firepower!" An Asari Matriarch Lidanya ordered as the Asari's largest dreadnought currently tanking the attack from two enemy ships' plasma volley.
"We need someone to distract that right enemy ship! We cannot getting burn!" Matriarch Lidanya continued to give out the order. "Someone! Give me a status of the hangars and the left wing!"
"They're still putting the fire out, ma'am!"
"The armor integrity is still dropping!"
"Ma'am! The scanner detected 300 ships just arriving at the relay!"
"What? Our reinforcement?"
"Unsure, ma'am! Their design doesn't match ours and the enemy ships!"
At this, Matriarch Lidanya growled and was about to order something when an officer called out, "Ma'am! About a fourth of the enemies is heading toward the new arrival! They're attacking them! Ma'am, I just received a visual confirmation that the new ships have just fired some sort of red beams!"
In space…
157 Terrakrean ships fired their volleys at the unknown ships that resemble squids. In retaliation, the new ships glowed in red color and fired numerous red beams. At the same time, the new ships released the circular fighters with red glowing dot that proceed to swarm toward the Terrakeran ships, whose number has been reduced by 17. The enemy fighters that accompanied the ships engaged the circular fighters, trading blue shots against red shots.
Another volley of red beams struck the Terrakeran ships with 23 unable to withstand the firepower. The cubic ships began to form the dreaded 'Burn Net' formation with the big ships being in the center of small ships. The squid ships fired more red beams, taking couple smaller ships down.
When completely formed, the bigger ships finally fired heavily concentrated plasma beams that melt through several squid ships while the others moved in evasive manner. The remaining squid ships split in two groups to flank the enemy's burning net formation.
Now in basically knife range in the Navy's point of view, the squid ships fired their close range weapons, causing the Terrakeran ships to break off the net formation to scattered formation. Compared to the Citadel races' navy, the squid ships have superior firepower, armor, and kinetic barrier. Within next galactic minutes, the squid ships have annihilated the majority of the cubic plus shape ships.
To the cheers of the Citadel races and possibly dismay of the Terrakerans, the squid ships moved in position to reinforce the Citadel's defense, furthering reducing the number of Terrakeran ships. Together, both Citadel ships and squid ships were able to send the surviving clones' ships, numbered in 67 away, retreating.
Later…At the Citadel…in the room with the Councilors…
"This is strange." Sparatus commented as he and other Councilors just finished communicating with the Saren clones.
"The Saren clones, Sparatus?" Tevos asked.
"Yes. Although, we were fortunate that they arrived just in time and drove off the clones. I still don't feel right with using the clones against a race of clones." Sparatus admitted.
"They are…necessary. Better than using the Krogans." Valern inserted own opinion.
"Yes…Better than using the Krogans." Sparatus agreed.
Time skip…in the beginning of Mass Effect 3…
"-and thus, it is my honor to give this incredible, brave Turian a brand new class of medal of honor…The Ceremonial Beloved Medal of High Honor and Sacrifice!" Tevos announced as she smiled at the cameras while wearing white ceremonial dress. With her are Sparatus and Valern, both in ceremonial outfit, and the hero himself. Saren Arterius.
With the aid of numerous Saren clones and squid ships dubbed as the Reapers by the Citadel races and the Terrakerans, the combined effort of the Hierarchy, Union, and Republic was able to claim many planets and reached to the enemy home world known as Earth. Together, they managed to bring the number of Terrakerans down to a mere 50,000 something before dumping the surviving clones into new construct prison, where they would be guarded by the Saren clones.
Now, many planets formerly belonging to the Terrakeran Federation are filled with the Citadel races saved for few planets being given to the Collectors, who for unknown reason never claim them.
Anyway, back with Tevos, who presented a large, shiny medal before Saren, who stood straight and let Tevos to pin a medal on his chest armor. Saren, with his cybernetic addition visible, turned to proudly display a medal, causing the large audience to give wild applause.
With Tevos moving back to stand next to her fellow Councilors, Saren stepped forward to address the audience and the cameras. His natural and cybernetic eyes could be seen scanning, taking in scenery before him. He has done it. He has saved the Turian Hierarchy and the rest of Citadel races. He has avenged the death of his older brother as well as his mentor.
It would be the unforgivable historic moment in the Citadel history and his statue will be constructed. Now, to give the speech. Sadly for Saren and others, the Reapers' patience ran out and they have assumed control.
"It was my duty to-ugh!" Saren went still with his head facing downward, drawing concerned and confused looks from the crowd including the Councilors. Within next seconds, Saren's head went up to show red glowing eye and in completely different voice that would install fear in all organic beings.
"The time to harvest you all is now!" Saren spoke monotonously and the area immediately became darker, causing the crowd to look up. To their horror, the Reapers are already pointing their weapon at them and fired.
The Reapers have begun harvesting and the galaxy is filled with terror of the organic space-faring races, including the Rao'li who didn't destroy their satellites in time. The Saren clones, once seen as the heroes, turned on and betrayed the Turian Hierarchy and the Citadel as they gunned down both military and civilians, including the Terrakeran clones.
Author: If Terrakerans remind you something, it may be because you play Warframe computer game (owned by Digital Extreme), specifically the Grineers, a race of clones after clones after clones.
I want point out the differences between Terrakerans and Grineers. For obvious one, Terrakerans consisted of all females, after the males just died off (for sake of story). Two, Terrakerans have more various differentiation than the Grineers in term of height, weight, body mass, etc. Three, Grineers shoot kinetic projectiles and flame and maybe, radiation while the Terrakerans shoot plasma and nothing else. Four, the ship designs as Grineer ships are rounder than Terrakeran ships.
As for the name Terrakerans, I just dump 'kera' between 'Terra' and 'ns' before calling it done.
Yes, the Reapers and Saren clones pulled Order 66, an order used by Darth Sidious in Star Wars (created by George Lucas and own by Disney)