Hey everyone and welcome back to Xcom: Human incursion! The response to this story has been truly amazing and it gets me pumped just to write the chapter. Now the real action starts with the prologue of the story! First contact war? Check. Popcorn? Check. Humans? Check. Garrus? Wait what? Anyway, just as a note, I haven't played Mass Effect two or three. I've only played the first one and that was awhile ago, though I do remember the basics of the game. Again, please forgive me if I mess something up. I don't own anything anyone would give a second glance at so please, don't sue me. I beg you, don't sue me.
Here in Xcom, we shoot first and dissect later. Hey, is this recording…?
-Officer Bradford of the Xcom project
NOTE: Before you begin reading this, the first few chapters are a little cringey. The later chapters however do get better so please don't get turned off by these first few. I still have not been able to rewrite any of the first ones as my life is fairly hectic. Thanks. *First few chapters under rewrite*
Act I: First Contact
2109 July 10th 4:36 PM Earth Time
SSV Imperial in Orbit of Recently colonized Human world, Eden Prime, Alliance Species space
Admiral of the 65th taskforce, Broadley Kyle sighed and rubbed his forehead. He looked back down at the documents he was reading on his datapad. The beeping of the datapad getting a priority message had surprised him and had made him knock his cup of coffee on the steel floor of the dreadnought SAV Imperial. He had quickly let out a curse before glaring at his datapad, ignoring the coffee on the floor. He had quickly read it over and sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"God damned relay…" Broadley said before getting up from his chair and walking down to the bridge where two officers stood outside the doors. Instantly, the two guards had stood to attention. Broadley glanced at the two soldiers.
"At ease." They instantly relaxed and looked at Broadley. Broadley nodded at them before entering the room, pushing the doors aside. Broadley looked around the bridge and the operatives that worked here.
The operatives and their respective stations were arranged in columns to the end of the bridge. Bradley's naturally enhanced Psionic abilities had sensed that all the crew was linked to their Neural commands, allowing the Crew to share information among themselves within seconds and activate or deactivate the dormant drones in the bays while giving the drones orders.
Directly in front of him was a Vid screen. The Vid screen showed the vast expanses of space and Eden Prime, the Species Alliances' newest colony world.
"Afternoon Broadley." The ship's AI, Nix greeted him in a Scottish accent. A moment later, an 'AI avatar' appeared standing beside Broadley, the image of an old Scottish warrior wielding an axe, slung on the avatar's back, straight from the textbooks on Earth. The AI avatar wavered slightly as Nix turned to Broadley and nodded in respect. It was a private joke in between the two of them.
"Afternoon Nix, how's the Imperial looking?"
"All is fine Admiral Broadley, all systems are at 100% and the crew is from my observations, content." Broadley nodded, turning to the Avatar.
"Good, we are assigned to investigate a nearby dormant relay that has been acting up lately. Some eggheads from Terra Nova are itching to see what's up. Our top priority is to keep them safe. Though you probably already knew that judging how the security camera in my office was aimed at my datapad so intently." The Avatar wavered slightly again as Nix fixed a sheepish grin to the avatar.
"Yeah, I hope you don't mind me spying on you, it's awfully boring around here. I heard on the Neural link that some guys are playing pong via Link. Sadly, it's only a two-person game." Broadley snorted.
"Pong? I'll have to ask the crew to allow me to join next time." Broadley joked, allowing himself a small joke with the AI. Nix's avatar tilted his head.
"But it's against regulations for Admirals to join Neural Link games." Broadley shook his head and sighed, having forgotten that AIs had almost no sense of humor. The almost being that they for some reason loved to tell their own jokes but were blank to non-AI's jokes.
"Anyway, have the operatives plot a Hyperspace jump to the relay. The Eggheads will be here in a few minutes via Hyperspace jump. We'll escort them there." After a few moments of silence save for the Dreadnought's whirring of engines, Nix answered.
"Done. I'll notify you when the scientists arrive." Broadley nodded.
"Thanks again Nix." Nix nodded and the avatar smirked. "my pleasure, oh wise leader." Before Broadley had time to retort, the avatar vanished. Broadley then took one last glance around the bridge, before turning on his heel and walking back towards his office.
2109 July 10th 4:39 PM Earth time
SSV Imperial Approaching Eden Mass Relay, Alliance Species space
Several other frigates and the one Dreadnought, the SAV Imperial accompanied the small science ships as they made their way to the Eden relay. Broadley sat in his office, linked to the Neural Command set beside his desk, allowing him to see the vid screen inside the bridge, even though he himself wasn't there.
All crew members reported good whilst the small fleet of ships advanced to the relay. Soon however, the computers had begun to pick up some strange readings, mostly radio communication and the like, through the relay, even as it was dormant. These were distinct from the background radiation from space and easily identifiable. The radio transmissions were mostly gibberish however. Perhaps some pirates the navy would have to deal with later.
According to the documents, the science team was to switch on the relay and investigate the strange readings. If they found nothing, they could request to demolish the relay. Within a few days, construction teams would mobilize and the Mass Relay would be dismantled the metal going into ships, structures, etc. The process would take several years if not decades of course.
"Science teams, you have a go, good luck with the relay."
"Thank you Admiral Broadley, though I have no doubt, my team will get the job done." The supervisor of the science team replied. As the science ships made their way to the relay the combat ships, five in total, four standard Alliance frigates and one standard Alliance Dreadnought positioned themselves in a defensive stance around the relay.
2109 July 10th 4:51 PM Earth Time
Indomitable approaching Relay 314, Turian Space
Septus Paplianus, admiral of the Indomitable was not having a good day. Septus had been forsaken to garrison his new Dreadnought on some backwater Turian planet in the middle of nowhere. In the briefings, there had been word of some new pirates and the mass relay 314 acting up. The Hierarchy had started to patrol this way, even if there was nobody here, in Septus' opinion.
Septus scowled thinking about it. He was patrolling the border with merely ten frigates. He had a general distaste to frigates; he hadn't ever seen the need for any. Deploy a couple of dreadnoughts with several fighters and your enemies (which had been only a few pirate ships for Septus) were good as dead. Septus wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. Spirit's knew how he attained such a high position as an admiral.
Septus was consulting with fighter pilot when the ship comms flared to life.
"Admiral to the bridge, admiral to the bridge." Septus scowled again as he marched down to the bridge, ignoring the polit. 'This better be important.' Septus thought as he entered the bridge.
"Sir, our sensors are picking up some activity near the relay." An officer whom Septus had never bothered to learn the name of said.
"What do you mean?" Septus inquired, suddenly intrigued. This was something to do at least.
"We're picking up several signatures near relay 314. It seems that someone is activating the relay sir." Septus snorted.
"Pirates?" Septus grunted, moving to the officer. "We don't know sir. They don't carry any recognized signia." The officer told him.
"In any case, they broke Citadel Law. Pirates or otherwise." Septus said. "Should we hail them?" The officer asked. Septus shook his hand, waving his hand aside. "No. I'm no mood to listen to some Batarian or Terminus system pirates make up excuses. Prepare weapons and shields." He said. "Bring us into the relay and be prepared to engage any hostiles." Septus said.
2109 July 10th 4:53 PM Earth Time
SAV Imperial protecting scientists observing Eden relay in Alliance Species Space
"Sir, picking up multiple contacts approaching the science team from the relay." Broadley tuned into what Nix was saying. "Alliance?" Broadley inquired, turning to the Vid screen.
"No sir, they're not marked as any Alliance ships in my data banks. They also don't appear to have any Pirate signatures. In other words, I don't know who they are." Broadley made the equivalent of a puzzled expression on the Neural Command.
"Pirates perhaps?" Broadley asked. Nix sighed. "Either that or first contact. Personally sir, I'm hoping it's the first." Nix said. Broadley nodded, deep in thought. "Judging by their trajectory and speed, we won't make contact for another hour."
2109 July 10th 4:53 Earth Time
Indomitable Approaching unknown contacts near relay 314, Uncharted Space
Septus watched as his small fleet closed in on the unknowns which had broken Citadel Law. "We'll be in weapons range in a moment sir." An officer told Septus who nodded, mandibles flexing. "Bring us in. I don't want them to get shots off on us." He said.
Another five minutes passed. "We're in weapons range now sir." The Officer reported. Septus nodded. "Fire the main guns, port side." He ordered.
"Yes sir, firing main guns…now." Several Mass Effect slugs traveled through the space between the ships with ease, hurtling through millions of miles of cold empty space. But only a few hit the Alliance ships by the relay, not carrying defenses of any kind.
The rest of the slugs however that had went to the Ships protecting the ships by the relay had only caused light damage to the hulls of the ships. Septus grinned as the slugs connected, noticing the aliens didn't have any visible shields of any kind and the smaller ships by the relay were all out destroyed.
Septus scowled however when he noticed that the slugs had done minimal damage to a few ships. Whatever these new aliens made their ships out of was tough, but not unbreakable. But then the aliens retaliated and Septus's hope for winning the battle fell.
2109 July 10th 4:57 PM Earth Time
SAV Imperial moving too engage hostile unknown ships, In Species Alliance space
Kyle Broadley watched in shock as most of the science vessels were destroyed before his eyes. "Science team, do you copy?" Broadley hurriedly asked over the fleet comms. No response. Nix was also seemingly in shock, (Part of his emotion program) the aliens had just destroyed civilian ships, unprovoked nonetheless! Kyle Broadley quickly sniffed out his emotions, as they tried to dictate what to do.
"All ships!" Broadley said firmly over the comms.
"Protect the remaining science team and get them enough time to hyperspace out of here! All combat able ships are to fire at the enemy frigates and dreadnought! Take them down and show them that the Alliance navy is not to be messed with!" Various officers replied a 'yes sir' over the comms and the Imperial shuddered as the main Laser cannon fired, slicing into an alien ship, causing various secondary explosions and destroying the ship.
Several Alliance ships joined in, sending plasma and laser shots to the enemy. Broadley frowned however as he noticed the plasma being blocked by what looked like a shield. However, Broadley was satisfied as the lasers went perfectly through the shields, cutting through the hostile ships.
2109 July 10th 5:00 PM Earth Time
Indomitable firing at provoked targets in Uncharted Space
Septus blinked in surprise. The alien ships had just annihilated several of his frigates with one or two hits, completely by passing through their shields using energy weapons for spirits sake! Septus watched as another Frigate was destroyed by Alien lasers. The alien's plasma weapons however only hit the Turian ship's shields, while draining them significantly. Septus grinned though when what looked like an Alien frigate collapsing under the pressure of multiple Mass Effect slugs. That's when Septus got an idea.
"All remaining Hierarchy ships lock and fire on my command at the furthest right frigate, we need to pick off these ships using concentrated fire." The patrol fleet, or what was left of it, aimed their Mass Effect cannons at the furthest right frigate, all the while, multiple Hierarchy frigates fell to Alien lasers and plasma fire radiation seeping through the ships. After a moment, the Mass Effect cannons were in the position to fire.
"All ships fire!" Septus's own ship shuddered and groaned slightly as the Mass Effect was launched through space. Under the combined pressure of multiple slugs hitting at the same time, the Alliance Frigate collapsed and secondary explosions went off, causing a complete annihilation of the ship.
2109 July 10th 5:10 PM Earth Time
SAV Imperial hiring at hostile contacts in Alliance Species Space
"That's the last science vessel!" Nix hurriedly said over the ship comms. The SAV Imperial, while currently fine, was next in line in the Alien's genocide as all other Alliance ships had either pulled out or were simply destroyed under the alien's concentrated fire. There were however only a few of the alien's frigate and single dreadnought.
"I want us Hyper spaced out of here and at Eden Prime yesterday!" Broadley shouted, watching as the alien's guns rotated towards them.. Nix found that going back in time to yesterday would be theoretically impossible but threw this piece of confused knowledge to the back of his consciousness as he powered the Hyper Space engines in an attempt to pull out of the battle.
"How long will it take for us to Hyper Space us out of here?!" Broadley asked in a rush. "A minute sir-."
"A minute is not good enough, we'll all be dead by then, how long will it take for us to reroute all power to the Hyper Space engines?" "It will shorten it down by thirty seconds-."
"DO IT!" Broadley shouted. The Mass Effect cannons fired, screaming silently towards them.
"5 seconds until Hyper Space jump." The first Mass Effect slug connected with the ship, causing minimal damage along the port side.
"Stand by, Hyper Space jump commencing." Broadley sighed with relief as his ship entered Hyper Space, on its way to Eden Prime. Broadley rubbed his forehead.
"God damnit, a first contact gone wrong…" Broadley sighed.
"The Alliance will want a full report, I might as well get started on one now… In the meantime, I want you to evualte the damage done to the ship by that slug." He told Nix.
2109 July 10th 5:12 PM Earth Time
Indomitable by relay 314, Turian Uncharted Space
Septus grinned as the final Alliance ship left the battle in some sort of FTL, but Septus didn't care. They-He had won the battle against someone, new species or not! Oh how happy his superiors would be!
It is to be noted that Septus Paplianus was relieved of duty with the following day.
A/N: This took a LONG time to write and I'm so glad I finally finished this chapter. As for some of you questions, Let me answer some.
Lone Guardian- First of all, thank you. Now as to why the countries would destroy the Zudjari tech. Their smart and am not going to use technology they one, have next to no idea how it works and two, the US destroyed Zudjari technology in Bureau for the same reason so I thought I should go with that. The Terra Novan colonists lost the location to Earth because 1. That was not their mindset at the time they made landfall and later on, until after the war. And 2. After a while of FTL traveling from planet to planet in search of a place Humanity could live, Earth got lost in the data and had to be unscrambled.
Unknown- Thanks bro.
Coloured walker- Thank you for acknowledging this is an AU. Zudjari aren't psionic in this because I wanted some diversity in terms of Psionic and Biotics
Guest- Thank you!
Korpa- With collaboration of several world super powers, they were able to properly research stuff. South America did not fight in the Zudjari war at all since Zudjari wormholes didn't open there. As for the second part of your review, I couldn't really make that out, sorry.
Critizar- Noted. As for the agreement for China backing out, not everyone agreed to building and launching nuclear arms yet that still went through. As for the third part of your response, thank you and noted.
Timedraven- The answer you seek is above you… XD
Guest- Noted.
Omacoo1- Thanks man, as for the Turians, I guess you have your answer now XD
Dragon Order- Thank you, that helps a lot and it has been changed accordingly.
As for the possibility of the Codex, if people like this, I will do a Codex, if not, forget about it.
Edit: (12/30/15) I fixed some more grammar issues that seriously needed to be fixed. Also changed it so the Indomitable was in Uncharted Space, not Turian Space and Alliance space at once.
Edit (6/2/17) Complete rewrite. Now it's not complete shit.