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 7: Too…Similar…
At the Citadel…
Universe. If there is one word that many civilized, sentient races can agreed on, it would be 'huge'. It is filled with stars, planets, and many wonders that are waiting to be discovered by the explorers. The discoveries can have life-changing impact on civilization, positive and negative in short and long run. Sometime, there are things that are best to be alone.
Here, the Citadel Councilors would agree with this as THIS discovery, while a pleasant surprise, quickly became a source of migraine. Why? Because of the Bastion Councilors, the blatant copycat of the Citadel Councilors, from appearance-wise to government, much to Tevos's, Sparatus's, and Valern's disgust. The same can be said for the Bastion Councilors: Veeloo, Araonnn, and He-Who-Weight-As-Much-As-Gas-Moon with the last one also known as Gas-Moon-Weight for short. The Asari, Turian, and Salarian Councilors against the Sireepi, Vorian, and Ythlorion Councilors. How did this happen?
It all started when the Asari, Turian, and Salarian military was running joint operation as to show the unified stand and to celebrate the anniversary of the Rachni War victory (off course, the Krogans weren't invited). In middle of the joint-military operation, the dormant Relay 444 has suddenly activated and the joint-fleet was just happened to be close by. Originally, the Turian military want to carry out policing itself but changed its mind and invited the Asari and Salarian ships to join in for the sake of unity spirit or whatever the Turians believed in.
So, a group of 2 Turian cruisers, 4 Turian frigates, 1 Asari cruiser, 3 Asari frigates, and 2 Salarian frigates was formed and sent to the Relay 444. The Relay 444 is a relay that's best described as a relay that is unreasonably too far, far away. In another word, Relay 444 is located close to the edge of the Citadel space boundary.
Prior to arriving at the relay, the joint group thought they would run into the law-breaking pirates or Batarian slavers attempting to open a relay for sake of acquiring undiscovered goods for profit or undiscovered aliens for slaves. If the Batarian Hegemony heard how the joint-military leaders talk about the Batarians being slavers AND pirates, the Hegemony would outright deny. But for now, the Batarian Hegemony is unimportant.
Instead of running into the pirates or slavers, the Citadel big three joint group encountered a group of ships of three different designs. A said group has just arrived at exact same time as the Citadel group did. A said group has exact same number of cruisers and frigates as the Citadel join group and unlike the Citadel ships, the unknown ships are blocky. Downright blocky. Because Asari being diplomatic and Salarians being curious, the Citadel joint group sent the First Contact package. At the same time, the unknown sent its own package.
Strangely, both parties don't need to translate and as they look through the package, the Asari, Salarian, and Turian captains slowly felt disturbed as they found that the now identified Sireepi, Vorian, and Ythlorian governments that are similar to theirs. Too similar. Way too similar for their comfort. With the Sireepi being monogender feminine blue skin aliens like Asari but with one large eye with hundred lively tentacles on head. The Vorians having evolved from avian ancestors like Turians but with actual long, colorful beak with serrated teeth, colorful sharp feathers sticking out of their head, and have 6 talons on hands and feet. The Ythlorians have Salarian figure, except they have 4 eyes, 2 mouths, longer horns, and 4 arms.
But no, the Citadel captains and others were more put off at how similar their and three new races have in term of history. For Asari and Sireepi, they're monogender beings that have the republic as government and are known for being natural born biotic along with mind melding, except Sireepi's tentacles can grow and attach to someone's body. These two are known for being the most diplomatic races and were the first to found the Citadel/Bastion.
Turians and Vorions have Hierarchy government and have a history of bloody civil war between the home planet and colony planets. Like Turians, the Vorions use cosmetic to signify which planet they were born, though they used unique piercings rather than tattoos. Both races are known for being militant with even civilians having mandatory military training. They both were contacted by Citadel/Bastion to fight the Krogans/Bovans. They both have the highest number of dreadnoughts in their respective government. To make it disturbing for the Turians, the Vorions even believe in spirits and make up the most of patrols to combat the pirates, slavers, raiders, and lawbreakers. Also have own client race being Volus/Faaus to handle the economy (also created the standard galactic currency), because the Turians and Vorions suck at managing their own economy.
Salarians and Ythlorians have Union government and share too similar history. Found the large ancient space station and made contact with the occupiers: Asari/Sireepi? Check. Encountered an extremely hostile insect-like race? Check. Uplift war-hungry Krogans/Bovans and set them on insectoid race? Check. Engineered a biological weapon that reduces the population growth of Krogans/Bovans and thus, became the hatred in the eyes of subdued war-like races? Check and check. Have a lifespan of 40 galactic years? Oh yes, check. Believe in winning the war before it start? Definitely a check.
But wait, there's more. The Citadel and Bastion government have existed exactly same amount of years.
Now, people may think that because of how similar the Citadel and Bastion races, they would get along splendidly without a hitch in panty. Sadly, they would be downright wrong as upon learning both joint-groups arrived at Relay 444 because it has been activated and that the Citadel/Bastion has a law against activating a dormant relay, both party tried to fine each other where both initially started with a standard fine of 5 million credits that slowly grow. Off course, this was started by the Turians and Vorions. Both claimed that Relay 444 is in the Citadel/Bastion boundary, while refusing otherwise.
For the brief moment of 10 minutes, the Turian and Vorion ships opened fire at each other with both of them using exact same tactic. Thanks to the Asari and Sireepi, a brief minor combat ended and after contacting their respective government, the Citadel and Bastion decided to settle the Relay 444 Issue in civilized manner. Let their respective Councilors settle this as it's their job anyway.
Which is why right now, the Councilors from the Citadel and the Councilors from the Bastion are meeting in person on insignificant planet that is the closest to Relay 444 as both parties refused to meet on each other's super space station, Citadel or Bastion, citing security reason and making the citizens unrest. The Councilors from their respective government are doing what they're good for. A staring contest. Not just staring contest, but SPECIAL staring contest where the Councilors are putting their effort to exert their will on each other side without a success.
"…" Tevos is smiling politely at her counterpart, but internally plotting to prove the superiority of Asari to a race stupid looking rip-offs. By the Goddess, why?
"…" Sparatus has no noticeable expression as he stared at his counterpart while thinking the impracticality of Vorion Councilor's piercing. For one, what if a piercing get pulled hard by an enemy? All it take is pulling and yacking.
"…" Salar is just sitting still without blinking as if frozen in time. Privately in his mind, he is complaining about the unfairness as his counterpart has four eyes that are all drilling into his eyes.
"…" Veeloo, like Tevos, is smiling in polite way while thinking in absolutely opposite such as how Asari are inferior because they are nothing but a cheap copycat race. Oh Goddess, why?
"…" Araonnn, like Sparatus, has no noticeable expression as he stared at his counterpart while thinking the impracticality of Turian Councilor's tattoo. For one, what if a no-good law-breaking Turian decide to commit identity theft? All a Turian has to do is apply exact same tattoo.
"…"Gas-Moon-Weight, like Salar, is simply sitting without making a motion as if paused in holo-movie. Privately, he is whining about the unfairness as his counterpart only has two eyes and it's hard for all four eyes to concentrate.
As if decreed by something from the invisible but impatient force, the SPECIAL staring contest has gone long enough and it is time to break the silence.
"Let's-" Both Tevos and Veeloo began at the same time only to quickly closed their mouth and briefly glared at each other before quickly putting on polite face.
"You fir-" Tevos and Veeloo began at same time in choir.
"I'll go-" At same time.
"Well-" At same time.
"I insis-" At same time again.
Seeing that Tevos and Veeloo are straining the politeness of their smile at each other, Sparatus decided to be the one to start.
"I am Sparatus, the Councilor for the Turian Hierarchy of the Citadel." Sparatus introduced himself with his hand on his chest, wearing his trademark blue suit with red outline. Now he thought about it, Araonnn is wearing similar looking suit. Too similar, much to Sparatus's disgust.
Salar was about to go when Araonnn introduced himself, "I am Araonnn, the Councilor for the Vorion Hierarchy of the Bastion." Looking at Sparatus's clothes, Araonnn couldn't help but feel insulted as he too is wearing clothes that have same colors. He internally sneered at Sparatus.
Come to think of it, Tevos and Veeloo are wearing similar dress of same colors. The same can be said for Salar and Gas-Moon-Weight.
Without letting his colleagues to introduce themselves, Sparatus went, "Bastion, huh? I've read some of the well-known laws and couldn't help but felt familiar. With no dormant relay activating-"
"Yes, anti-piracy-" Araonnn spoke.
"The dreadnought ratio-"
"The illegality of A.I-"
Both Sparatus and Araonnn ended up finishing each other sentence that slowly became amusement for those who are not Sparatus and Araonnn.
A Turian and Vorion Councilors proceed to talk about their achievements which are basically same, from ending the rebellion from violent race to having the highest number of dreadnoughts. Sensing a challenge from each other, Sparatus and Vorion began to trade their military story and bicker over who's the better law-enforcer.
"Hmm…Interesting. They are…similar." Veeloo muttered as she watched her Vorion colleague engaging a Turian in argument.
"Indeed. It seems the Vorions too are known for having strict military." Tevos nodded in agreement.
"Hmmp, military isn't everything. Diplomacy is important." Veeloo spoke.
"If only they knew how to use the words to settle things down." Tevos agreed. After a second, she and Veeloo both stared at each other with brief wonder on their face as this is the first that they agreed. Perhaps, the meeting wouldn't be too bad as Tevos initially thought. She and Veeloo started to have their own conversation, comparing their cultures, lifespan, and others.
Watching them as if being left out and forgotten, Salar decided that he want to partake by starting a conversation with his counterpart who has rather strange name. Unfortunately, the conversation between him and Gas-Moon-Weight is unknown as the media couldn't be bothered to post it on the public news in the Citadel and Bastion space. The media later made up the stories about a conversation between Salar's and Gas-Moon-Weight being the topics, ranging from Prothean and Forefarther mass effect technology to conspiracy.
But that's not important. What's important is that unknown to the Citadel and Bastion Councilors, the Prothean and Forefather Empire did met each other and have meeting only to decide to stay out of each other's territory as both were too big, too powerful, and have ongoing war against the Metacon/Mecharone. Unlike them, the meeting between the current Citadel and Bastion Councilors ended up with the alliance. And the Citadel and Bastion citizens began to see more and more of each other with a large number of tourists.
However, the alliance has unintended effects such as the meeting between Krogans and Bovans (a race of alien cows-bulls), increased slavery due to a contest between the Batarians and Malareans (a race of two face aliens), increased number of illegal A.I due to alliance between the Geth and the Servitors, and increase in number of planet-less space traveling nomad fleets with the Quarians and Maestarians, both unbelievingly have poor immune system and thus, became indistinguishable in the eyes of other races because the Quarians and Maestarians having similar body shape and wearing similar bodysuit. To be blunt, no one knows what they look like under their suit. Not that they care to.
During Mass Effect 3 time…Somewhere in dark space…
The Reapers have awoken and engaged the warm-up process as to prep themselves for another Harvest. Just as per programming for every 50,000 cycles or years or whatever. The Reapers couldn't be bothered to decide which word, because it's not part of their programming. The warm-up process only lasted 1 minute, because the Reapers can't afford to be late for harvesting.
The first group of scout-class Reapers engaged their engine and made their way to the relay. A very special, ancient relay located in the dark space where only the Reapers know of its existence, considering they created it in the first place. Upon reaching to a very special relay, the Reaper scouts activated it and uploaded the updated map of the current Citadel territories. Once it's done, the Reaper scouts engaged and traveled instantly to their destination.
Only to meet a group of mechanical jellyfish-looking ships, colored in dark gray with sinister purple light.
Reapers aka mechanical squid-cutterfish-whatever, say hello to the Defilers aka mechanical jellyfish.
If there were any observer, they would see two groups of mechanical, sinister looking machines 'stared' at each other for a whooping 1.00001 seconds before firing at each other. In Reapers' and Defilers' perspective, the staring contest lasted over 100 years of analyzing and unfavorable transmissions with only 0.00001 second of confusion squeezed and jammed into 1.00001 second. Now, considering the Reapers and Defilers sharing basically same goal: harvesting the organics, one would think that they would get along well. Wrong. They are actually competitors to each other, competing over one resource: organics.
Considering the strengths and technological levels of the Reapers and Defilers, there shouldn't any dra-
The last Reaper and last Defiler exploded at exactly same time, leaving the first 'combat' against each other in draw. Fortunately and unfortunately, the combat data have been sent to the rest of the Reapers and Defilers, who proceed to send greater number against each other. There can only be one hyper-advanced organic-harvesting machine.
Meanwhile, the Councilors of Citadel and Bastion could be seen bickering over some pointless law that is irrelevant to the citizens.