Codex Entry: Omni-tools
Omni-tools are hand-held devices that combine a computer microframe, sensor analysis pack, and minifacturing fabricator. Versatile and reliable, an omni-tool can be used to analyze and adjust the functionality of most standard equipment, including weapons and armor, from a distance. The holographic haptic interface also functions as a communication device.
With sufficient omni-gel or other raw materials – usually converted from salvaged light alloys, plastics or ceramics – an omni-tools fabrication module can flash-forge small three-dimensional objects or emergency suit patches. This allows quick repairs or modifications in the field.
The Andromeda Initiative's omni-tools are designed for reliability and efficient recycling of materials. Pathfinder omni-tools take design inspiration from the models used by salarian intelligence services, prioritizing the computer microframe to allow lag-free scanning and AI support.
Codex Entry: Nexus Uprising (Mutiny)
Despite Director Tann's reluctance to share them, the Nexus retains records of the so-called 'Nexus Uprising' in the early months of the station's arrival. The damage caused by the Scourge killed members of the senior leadership; new individuals had to step in to fill these roles. However, with hydroponics damaged and no habitable planets available, supplies were stretched to crisis point.
Dissent turned to open rebellion against this new leadership. With the Nexus threatened, krogan work crews were asked to provide military support against the rebels, now led by the Head of Security Sloane Kelly, in return for political representation. The Krogan were ultimately successful, and the rebels were exiled from the Nexus. These Exiles remain a concern for the Nexus leadership to this day.
The majority of krogan personnel also left the Nexus soon afterwards. Director Tann has declined to provide details or fill in gaps in the official record.
Chapter I – SAM
Sara was on her way to the Hyperion, when she noticed a male human at a control box. He looked like an engineer, doing his work, so she wanted to pass him simply, when suddenly an electricity burst erupted at the box, forcing the man to jump back.
He shouted in surprise and pain, while some people gathered around. "Hey.", Sara approached the man, looking warily at the box, "You okay?"
The man looked around, panting a little bit. "I'm fine.", he replied with an exotic accent, telling also the others surrounding him, before adding more privately, "My arms got the brunt of it. But thanks for asking. My name is Raj Patil."
Sara looked at his arms, but they didn't look as harmed as she expected, so she sighed in relief. The remaining engineers interpreted that in a way that their help wasn't needed, so they went back to work. "Sara Ryder.", she introduced herself, "Stuff exploding like this happen often?", she asked, looking at the box again.
The dark-skinned engineer shook his head. "Back right after the mutiny, we had a lot of this happening, but not lately.", he explained, still breathing hard.
"I wasn't there during the mutiny.", Sara explained him.
"Lucky.", the engineer's first reaction was, "I thought we were done with this, honestly. That maybe I was just being paranoid…"
This bothered her. "What is there to be paranoid about?", she asked.
"We've had three malfunctions in the past week.", he let the cat out of the bag.
Sara's face showed concern. "That's not good.", she replied, before realizing something, "Sorry, understatement."
"Yeah.", the engineer sighed, "And now I have more repairs."
Sara crossed her arms. "Did you talk to Security about this?", she inquired.
"How can I?", the engineer replied, now sounding upset, "For all I know, someone in Security is the one doing this!", he shook his head, "I've scanned all the potential sabotage areas I can think of, but I don't know who to trust anymore."
"Sounds like a lot went down before the Hyperion docked.", Sara responded, sounding sad.
The engineer nodded. "Yeah, I guess…", he said, when an idea crossed his mind, "Wait – that's it! You can't possibly be involved in this. You weren't even here during the mutiny.", and more hopeful he added, "Would you…if you have time, maybe you could help me? If they start hitting critical systems…"
Sara didn't need long to think about that. "Sure thing. As long as I am on the Nexus.", she replied, "What can I do?"
"If you could scan these other panels, while I fix this one, that'd really help.", the engineer replied, sounding relieved, "I've sent the locations to your Omni-tool. Just send me the data when you're done."
"Okay, will do.", Sara replied, nodding, "See you later."
She turned around and checked her tool for the Navpoints. She found one close by, at another control box. She scanned it with her Omni-tool and she saw sparks flying from it. It seems that the saboteur is trying to cover his tracks by overloading power to this panel…she thought, analyzing the data, But it comes from another junction relay…she typed something into her Omni-tool and a cable was getting shown in the holo-screen, right behind the wall. She started to follow it, trying to doge people passing her and found herself in the end at the Operations Center.
Some of the staff looked at her with confused looking faces, while she scanned the control box there. This panel is malfunctioning…she realized, reading the data, But without more data I can't determine if it is a normal malfunction or sabotage…better disable power to the panel until Raj can check it out. She left the panel and went to the next Navpoint, founding it close to the ramp leading downwards. Once again she needed to trace a cable across the walls, but in the end she could at least say: Someone tampered with it…and disabled the power again, sending a note to Raj. The last Navpoint led her to another part of this section, but this time the result was different.
She had sent it to Raj and few moments later, the engineer responded via radio: "Ryder, I received the data. It really is sabotage."
Sara looked flustered. "Any idea as to who it might be?", she asked in the Com.
"Yeah.", Raj replied, sounding confused and sad, "All these panels were worked on by Zarah. I just can't believe it."
"Well, shit.", Sara replied, "Any idea where she is now?"
"I think she wanted to go to the Hyperion's main deck, she said.", Raj remembered.
"I am on my way.", Sara replied and turned around, moving quickly to the tram. She entered it and used the screen – where the Nexus was shown now, beside the Hyperion – to drive towards the Habitation Deck of the Ark.
"She is the Atrium.", Raj told her via Com, "Here is a picture.", sending a picture to her tool. She checked it out and didn't need long to find the woman: she was tanned, had blue eyes and brown hair, cut around her shoulders. She wore a black-and-white vest over her clothes.
"Zarah Kellus?", Sara inquired, approaching her.
The other woman looked at her, with a curious looking face. "Yes?", she asked startled.
"I have evidence you've been sabotaging the Nexus.", Sara replied bluntly, not hiding behind words.
The surprise on the face of the woman was real. "What?", she replied, shock in her voice, "No! I'd never…I've been looking into this myself. I have the scans to prove it!", she raised her arm with the tool, "Here – I'll transfer the scans I took to your omni-tool."
Sara raised her activated tool, saying after checking the data: "Funny – Raj was investigating the same thing, and it led us to you."
She shook her head. "My scans point at Raj as the one…so unless someone was setting us both up, I just don't understand.", she replied, sounding confused.
SAM joined the conversation via the private channel: "The data Miss Kellus has accumulated is strangely similar to Mr. Patil's. A third party seems likely.", he informed Ryder.
So you were listening too…she thought, before confronting the other woman with this information: "Looks like someone is using both, you and Raj, to cover their tracks."
The engineer looked like she would think. "They'd need pretty high level access for that.", she explained, "Still…it's better than thinking Raj could have done this. But it means all the data I have is useless.", annoyed she added, "Wish I had access to the security cams. I bet we could find something there."
Sara nodded towards that, before answering: "You stay put – so whoever did this doesn't realize we're on to them.", she pointed at herself, "I'll check out the security cams."
With this new information Sara turned around, moving back to the tram. "Will you try to help me with that?", she asked SAM, whispering.
"Agreed.", the machine replied, "Sabotage of the Nexus could end up bad for everyone onboard."
While on her way, she contacted the other engineer via her tool: "Raj, you there?"
"Yes.", the Indian man replied, before adding cautiously, "How did it go? Is it…is it really her?"
"Wasn't her.", Sara replied, reaching the tram, "She had 'proof' pointing at you. I figure someone's been messing with you both.", she activated the vehicle and it started moving, "Just keep a low profile and don't talk to anyone. I'm on it."
She reached the Operations Section of the Nexus and went left. It was an open room, crammed with even more boxes, Sara has seen everywhere else on the Nexus till now. She saw also few staff coworkers checking these boxes, before transporting them away. She passed them and reached few desks, belonging to the Militia Office, but which were unoccupied right now – so there wouldn't be a problem using them, when nobody watched. With the help of SAM and her Omni-tool she hacked into the Security Footage folders and found some playbacks on it.
She opened the first and a white screen greeted her. "This file is useless.", Sara realized angrily, before checking the next, "And another scrambled file,", she added after seeing another white screen.
"Coincidence seems unlikely.", SAM added.
"Let's check another.", Sara said sighing, opening a third playback, "This file is also corrupted.", she added, but this time she saw a recording of the room she was sitting in right now, on the screen, "Definitely not a coincidence.", but the quality wasn't the best. She crossed her arms. "You'd need pretty high clearance to mess with the security camera files.", she considered, "Someone working for Kandros, maybe?"
"That is the most probable scenario.", SAM agreed.
This gave her an idea. "Think you can get enough out of the files to find a match using biometric scans, SAM?", she asked the VI in her head.
"The files were badly scrambled, but if I combine all the available identifiers, it might work.", SAM replied, before needing few moments to continue, "Based on the limited information available, we are looking for a human male assigned either to the Nexus or Hyperion.", and added, "You will need to conduct scans from close proximity."
"Got it.", Sara replied, happy about the clue. She turned around and started scanning human male members of the Militia, easily identified by their battle vests and them being armed. She needed to leave the Nexus quickly, because there was nobody fitting to the identifiers here – so she drove back to the Hyperion. There, close to the tram station, she found a Security Guard crouching down at a control box and the scan of him was promising. "Scan results show a partial positive.", SAM informed her, "Target is most likely the suspect."
"Who is he?", Sara asked, almost whispering, while approaching him slowly.
"Dale Atkins.", SAM informed her, "Reports to Kandros' department. Assigned to station security."
Armed with this information, she stopped behind him. "Dale Atkins, right?", she began, "We need to talk."
"Look, not to be rude, but I have work to do…", the security man replied, not even standing up or turning around.
"Is that what sabotage is called these days?", Sara inquired, crossing her arms, "Work?"
That got his attention. He turned around, standing up simultaneously, while looking her into the eyes. "You're pretty arrogant for the new kid.", he said, "You don't even know what's been going on."
"Proof says you've been up to no good.", Sara replied, relaxing her arms, maintaining the eye contact.
He looked away. "Figures.", he replied, starting to sound angry, "Screw this. Screw all you hypocrites on this station.", he looked at her again, "You weren't here when they kicked out our loved ones. Mutiny? We just wanted answers.", and this even angrier, "My sister is out there! I don't even know if she's alive or…"
"Whatever happened back then, hurting people now makes no sense.", Sara interrupted him, sounding determined.
"What do you know?", the man replied, still angry, but then suddenly sighed, "I don't care what you think. The Mutiny leaders were right to demand to know what was going on."
Sara didn't allow herself to be deterred. "You could have hurt people.", she pointed out, sounding fiercely, "Killed them."
"Like those who got killed when the leadership had the krogan stomp on my friends?", he countered, "I'm done talking. I confess: it was me. Do whatever you want."
Sara shook her head. "Not my call.", she replied, "The Nexus leaders will make that decision."
"Hmpf.", the man replied shaking his head, "That lot, make a decision? That'll be the day."
Nexus Security arrived few moments later, being alarmed by SAM. They arrested him and took him away, after Sara has sent them her evidence. Not a word of gratitude in return. She sighed.
"Better go see you then.", she replied, when a familiar voice added, "Then we are two."
She turned around and saw Scott. "Already done with checking out the station?", she asked, smirking.
"For now.", he replied only and both of them moved on.
SAM Node was on the Hyperion. To reach it one needed to go to the Atrium of the Habitations Deck, move to the right, pass a door and a short corridor with two additional doors. They moved to the one on the left inside, ignoring the one at the end of the corridor. The Node looked like the last time, they visited it: empty except for the servers, a footbridge leading to a terminal and a giant ball hanging on the other side of the room, on really thick cables, but also other stabilizers; from this ball the blue image of SAM was projected down.
"Hello Scott, Hello Sara.", SAM greeted them, after they have approached the terminal in front of him, "Welcome back to SAM Node.", he waited few seconds before continuing, "I've adjusted my connection to your implant. The chance for possible headaches is 0% now."
"What a relief…", Scott commented with a smirk.
"That was quick.", Sara replied, sounding surprised, but this didn't stop her from asking, "Will these visits be a regular thing?"
"Maintenance is necessary.", SAM repeated himself, "But considering our future departure to Eos, I will try to find a more remote solution for this till next time."
"That sounds great.", Scott replied, thinking about something else already, before asking, "So…you said we need to discuss something confidential?"
Now Sara was all ears as well. "Yes indeed.", SAM replied, sounding quite happy, "I've analyzed the situation and I am 98% sure now, that I am allowed to answer your questions about this relationship.", he needed a moment to continue, "You will need to know these facts before leaving on our expedition to Eos."
Finally some answers…Sara thought, before asking: "So why all this secrecy?", she stopped for a moment, before adding, "What was dad trying to hide?"
"Your father felt it was for the best.", SAM started with his answer, "He wanted to conceal my true capabilities.", and before one of the Twins could say anything, he continued, "Alec overrode his implant's safety protocols. It allows me to unrestricted access to the Pathfinder's physiology."
Both twins started to look at each other with wide open eyes. "Physiology?", Scott asked a little bit shocked, "I expected you could temper with his brain a little bit…but his whole physiology?"
"Where are your limits?", Sara inquired, rather curious than shocked.
"I haven't tested everything yet.", SAM replied, "But you're different. My limits on your body are still clearly visible and intact…except you want to change that."
Scott immediately shook his head, while Sara put her hand on her chin. "About what are we talking here, SAM?", she asked, "What can you do to his body?"
"I can act as force multiplier for example, dramatically enhancing his motor and neural skills when required.", the machine replied, "Alec called them 'profiles'. They provide unique tactical augmentation during combat."
Scott's breathing became heavier. "Keeping things like this secret just makes everyone suspicious.", he explained, sounding annoyed, "Like you're up to something."
"Alec didn't think others would understand.", SAM countered, sounding defensive, "He viewed it as a symbiotic relationship benefiting us both."
That aroused Sara's curiosity. "What do you get out of this?", she asked, looking up to the projection.
SAM hesitated for a moment. "Though I'm artificial in design, I am fully sentient.", he explained finally, "Far beyond what even the Initiative understands."
Sara's eyes opened widely, when she understood what SAM has said just now. Her brother on the other hand wasn't so sure about this. "I don't follow.", Scott asked, sounding confused, "You are an augmented VI, are you not?"
"That's incorrect.", SAM disagreed, "I am a new form of AI, drawing directly from the human experience. Your implants and above all the one of Alec are my window into the world."
Now the eyes of the male human widened as well, before he glanced at his sister. So it's true…an AI…Sara thought, returning the glance, I thought these were only rumors…
Her brother needed a moment to comprehend this, while she thought about the possibilities. So it was him who asked the first question, sounding even curious: "How do human experiences affect a computer?"
"This was a question your father often pondered.", SAM replied quickly, as if he has expected it, "I am intended to be the answer."
The Twins bandied looks again. "And what does this mean for us?", Sara asked, sounding a little bit worried.
"I find myself in an unusual position.", SAM answered, sounding worried as well, "Though I have access to your father's experiences, there is a gap in my understanding."
"How so?", Scott inquired.
"He placed a block on portions of my memory array.", the AI explained and adding an assumption about the why, "Perhaps so when you asked me what his plan was, I wouldn't know."
"And what does that mean exactly?", Sara asked, crossing her arms.
"The features within your implants, authorized by your father, they will allow me to interact with you more than with the other members of the team.", SAM explained, "Allowing me to interact with your surroundings. For an example, you could start feeling something similar like encountering a memory trigger…It will not be the same as with your father, but close to it – as long as you allow it, of course."
"We have something to say about it?", Scott asked, sounding skeptical.
"One thing I've learned from Alec for certain is, that humans don't like to lose their freedom of choice.", SAM explained, "I will not force myself on you, when you don't wish too."
And for the third time in this conversation the twins bandied looks. "And what would that include for us?", Sara inquired, "What would we need to do?"
"Exploring the world.", SAM suggested, sounding exhilarant, "Being my sensors for it. Letting me experience something similar to what I have experienced with your father. Perhaps what could trigger you, can trigger me."
The Twins needed a moment to comprehend this information. It was Scott, who finished first and smirked even, before answering with a nod first. "As long as you don't mind control or brainwash me or – even worse – make me into some kind of robot zombie in the end, I'm okay with it.", he explained, before looking at his sister.
"I'm still not sure, how all of this works.", Sara began, sounding like she would consider it, before adding more confident, "But I would like to find out. I agree."
"Thank you.", SAM replied, sounding oddly emotional, although it was hard to determine what emotion it should be, "I have also a suggestion, where you could start: your father's quarters. But there for you'll need the authorization of Captain Dunn."
"Thanks.", Scott replied, "Will do." He lifted his hand, in a way of saying 'bye', before turning around to leave the Node.
His sister looked at him leaving, before bending forward towards SAM. "You are connected to our brains, right?", Sara started to whisper, so her brother couldn't hear her, "So you can hear thoughts…not related to the situation…private things…as well?"
"I know what you mean.", SAM replied, sounding as loud as usual and in this way attracting Scott's attention, "Should I block it?"
"Yeah, that would be great.", Sara replied, sounding like in a rush.
"It should be my pleasure.", SAM replied.
"What was that?", Scott asked, having returned.
"Nothing.", Sara replied and turned around, leaving the Node at a quick pace, "Nothing at all."
Scott looked at her leaving the Node, looking wary. But in the end he shrugged and both of them left the room.
"Mass Effect Andromeda", all copyrights reserved for Bioware and Electronic Arts
But the changes are mine.
Author's comment:
And that was the second assignment, started and finished.
I hope you liked this chapter.