Codex Entry: Turians, Biology
Turians evolved on Palaven, a Milky Way world with a weak magnetic field that leaves it vulnerable to solar radiation. Most life on Palaven has a protective, metal-rich exoskeleton as a natural defense. The thick, plate-like skin of a turian protects him against some long-term radiation, but does not defend against projectiles or energy weapons.
Unlike most sapient species in the Milky Way, Turians are a dextro-protein species, meaning that food for levo-protein species like asari or humans can cause dangerous allergic reactions and vice versa. The only other known sapient dextro species is the Quarians. As well as Palaven flora, turian scientists with the Andromeda Initiative paid the quarian migrant fleet handsomely for plants and fungi that were specially developed to thrive in hydroponic conditions.
Codex Entry: Turians, History
Before joining the Citadel Council that governs much of the Milky Way, the Turian Hierarchy was a formidable power with numerous client species supporting its powerful military. Rapid expansion from Palaven later led to problems with outlying colonies, when isolation and xenophobia led to infighting in what was termed the Unification War.
The Turians made first contact with the Citadel around 700 CE, when the Krogan Rebellions were raging. When the krogan devastated turian colonies, the turians responded by unleashing the salarian-developed genophage against the Krogan. Two hundred years later, the turians were invited to join the Citadel Council.
In 2157 CE, human explorers attempting to activate a mass relay were attacked by turian forces, as unauthorized relay activation was strictly illegal. The resulting conflict, the First Contact War, saw the human colony of Shanxi occupied by the Turians before the Citadel Council negotiated a peace.
Chapter I – Father's Logs
They left the corridor to the Node, moving through the atrium in the opposite direction, where the tram was found. Few stairs up led to the door, where the Bridge of the Hyperion was located, but to their surprise Captain Dunn was standing outside, reading a pad.
"Ryders.", she greeted them, when they approached her. She lowered the pad.
"You're not on the bridge, Captain?", Scott asked, sounding curious.
"We powered it down.", the Captain replied, "Can't afford to waste energy.", she thought about that, before adding, "Though Cryo Bay and SAM Node are exempt. And I told them to keep their hands off Alec's quarters. You two have access now."
That took both of them aback. "Why?", both of them asked, almost at the same time.
The captain smirked about that. "Normally I am for Privacy and everything…", she explained, "…but Alec could have some information hidden there, we could need out here. And as long as he is put out of action, you are the ones with the most plausible reason to enter it anyway. So why bother, hm?"
The Twins smiled. "Thanks.", they said in unison again.
The Captain chuckled this time. The twins said goodbye after that and turned back, going almost the same path as the one to SAM Node. But this time they moved to the end of the corridor, to the earlier closed door. They opened it quickly with their Omni-tools and entered the quarter.
To their left was a huge plant within a traditional pot, while behind it were some shelves with pads, files and even printed books; to their right were two layers of tables with guns and rifles on them, neatly arranged and cleaned; right ahead, at the wall there, was a neatly prepared bed with white sheets, while above the pillow was another shelf, attached to the wall.
Before exploring the remaining room, which extended further behind the shelves with the books, the twins looked around. "Reproductions of Lewis and Clark's journals.", Sara read, after lifting up one of the printed books, "Easy to guess why: they were pathfinders, too.", she smirked.
"Is this…?", Scott asked looking at one of the guns, an older looking pistol.
"Your father's first sidearm.", SAM informed him, sounding as monotonous as earlier, "A memento of his early Alliance service."
"I bet that saw plenty of action.", Scott suggested, checking it out without touching it.
"Alec's first kill occurred in combat during the First Contact War.", SAM replied.
"Back when Turians were the enemy.", Scott remembered his history lessons, "Crazy Times."
They passed the bed to go left, passing some floor lamps, as well like two black sofas with a fitting table in between them, so that the sitting parties could face each other; in front of them a big working desk was found, looking like a command center: four smaller screens at the bottom, two bigger ones above them, one big keypad in the middle of the desk and several computer towers below it, while a comfortable looking seat was positioned at the desk itself.
The Twins passed further plants, ventilators and the rather big kitchen – for such small quarters – to the left of the command center to come closer. Sara casted a glance towards the kitchen and saw an old coffee machine on the table. She smirked and went to it, attracting the attention of her brother. She chuckled, while saying aloud: "The coffee machine Mom got for dad.", before lifting her gaze upwards, "He was so busy designing you, SAM."
"He needed the caffeine.", Scott joined this smirking.
"I did not realize I owed my existence to a bean.", SAM commented that, sounding almost like a surprised kid.
"And now you know what humility feels like.", Sara added, grinning.
Then she heard a static, but only for a moment. She moved her hand towards her head immediately, holding it. "SAM?", she asked, sounding unsure, "What was that?"
"An eidetic trigger.", the AI replied in the private channel again, "Related to your father and portions of my memory array he locked."
"What triggered it?", Scott inquired, joining the conversation.
"I'm not sure.", SAM replied, "It puzzles me as well, but locating them will unlock my memories. One of your father's memories is accessible now.", he needed a moment, before he continued, "The blocks your father put on my array are opening. I can recall specific memories which Alec wanted you two to see now."
Suddenly the vision of both of them blurred. What…?, they asked in unison, but couldn't do a thing about that. A picture was starting to take shape: they were in a room, standing at the spot of only one person and in front of them was a woman with a tanned skin and blond hair in a braid; she held something in her hands and she was talking to them, with an authoritative voice: "…Alec, your recommendations will never fly.", she shook her head, "Artificial Intelligence?", she went forward and seated herself at a table, they were sitting at as well, only on the other side.
"It's our best option.", the voice of Alec Ryder answered, emitting from the position the twins were sitting.
"If the Council gets wind of this…", the woman answered, looking away, "…it'll set humanity's standing back decades. You're over-reaching."
"Ambassador Goyle, I'm the military attaché on the Citadel.", Alec Ryder replied, "My mandate is clear: Find an edge for Earth."
She leaned forward. "And AI is your answer?", she asked, sounding skeptical.
"We need to catch up.", Alec replied, sounding in a rush, "The Asari, the Salarians – they're centuries ahead of us."
Her mien looked as if she was considering it. "But it's illegal.", another voice joined the conversation. Without wanting to, the twins started to look to their side, where another man was standing, watching this conversation. He looked young and ambitious, with dark skin and black hair, while moving closer to the two.
"Their rules, not ours.", Alec replied, "Why deny Earth an advantage?"
The young man stopped behind the Ambassador, looking like a bodyguard. She on the other hand put her arms on the table, both hands together. "Define this advantage.", she inquired.
"It will set us free.", Alec explained, as if he has prepared these words, "We're prisoners of our five senses. There's a reality greater than ours that we can't perceive – but AI can."
She didn't look convinced, leaning back again. "How?", the young man in the background asked, not sounding convinced either.
"By augmenting our own abilities, and adding a few new ones.", Alec replied.
"Well, none of that stopped those Geth from revolting.", the young man countered, as refusing as possible.
"Because they were separate from their creators.", Alec argued, sounding desperate now, "But AIs and humans interfaced directly, experiencing the world together, benefits both.", he looked at the Ambassador, "There's no creator to revolt against."
Her face was unforgiving. She casted a glance back towards the young man, who shook his head only. "I'm sorry, Alec.", she began, sounding compassionate, "We can't take the risk. I appreciate your work, but your request will be denied.", she stood up and left the room with the young man, following her.
Alec sighed, in frustration. Only his breathing was heard for few seconds.
"Alec?", another, female voice was heard suddenly, as if it would be another scene. He turned his head towards the voice, looking at the screen of a terminal. Another woman was seen there: she had black, rather short hair, civilian clothes and a sad voice.
"Ellen.", Alec replied, sounding stressed, "What did the doctor say?"
She shook her head unconsciously. "He told me to appreciate the time I have left.", she replied, sounding as sad as she looked, "There's no cure, Alec. It's terminal."
"Not on my watch.", Alec replied, sounding stubborn.
One moment later the picture blurred away and it became black for a moment. When they could recognize shapes again, they realized that they were in their father's quarters again – and separated.
"Woooh…", Scott reacted first, "What was that?"
"You experienced the memories of your father via your implant.", SAM explained, sounding apologetically, "I'm sorry. I was so eager to see them myself, that I started them without your consent. But you don't need to worry: they can't harm you."
"Okay…", Sara replied now, "When you do it next time, please ask first."
"I will do.", SAM answered, sounding relieved, "This memory was from the time when your father was posted on the Citadel. How was it?"
The Twins needed a moment to think about that. "Wow...", Sara reacted first this time, "Hearing mom again…"
Scott nodded. "I never knew that's how dad found out.", he replied.
"Alec was a stubborn man.", SAM added.
"It's how Dad was wired.", he responded.
"He didn't like to lose.", Sara added, "In any situation."
"And it would seem that included me.", SAM realized.
"Nobody wanted to listen.", Scott remembered aloud, "The idea of you scared people too much."
"After this, dad moved us back to Earth to care for Mom.", Sara joined the memory, "Wonder why he wanted us to see this?"
"Perhaps it was the beginning?", SAM suggested.
"Of what?", Scott inquired.
"Unknown.", SAM finished, "But I see that some private audio logs of your father's terminal are available now."
The Twins looked at the terminal. And I thought we got into this situation by chance…Sara thought…but Dad planned this? Was he preparing for death? They turned around and moved to the desk. They connected their tools to the terminals and after clicking themselves through some menus and unrelated stuff, they found some recordings. They were divided into General Logs and Private Logs. They tried to open the General Logs first and got three data sets: Milky Way Departure, Asari Archaeologist and Final Entry.
They chose the first one and their father started talking in the terminal: "The day is finally here.", and a dramatic break followed, "We're pushing off from Earth. We'll jump through a few relays first, then we hunker down for the long trip across dark space. It's daunting thinking about all the hopes and dreams aboard the Hyperion.", he made another break, sounding as if he was thinking, "I certainly have my own.", and then he added sadder, "I wasn't the husband or father I should've been. Here's hoping 600 years can change a man."
The Twins brandied looks once again, before pressing the next option 'Asari archaeologist'. But instead of playing another log, another menu opened, with only one option: Dr. Liara T'Soni. They pushed this button as well: "SAM, this is a reminder about Dr. Liara T'Soni.", their father recorded, "She's an asari archaeologist I corresponded with a few years back.", he started to explain her, "She's got experience studying ancient cultures. Make sure the team gets her research. Could be useful in Andromeda."
"I know her.", Sara realized, "She's an expert on Protheans."
"I've loaded Dr. T'Soni's research onto your tools.", SAM informed him.
"Let's check them out later.", Scott interfered, returning to the previous menu, "Want to know what else father has to say." He pushed the button with the label 'Final Entry'.
"Dunn's agreed to a scouting mission on Habitat 7.", he reported, "I'm gearing up now. Don't know what will happen down there yet, but I hope for the best…Wish I would have been able to tell my children how much I love them…. Better prepare for the tough part: Kids, if anything happens to me, there are…things you're going to find out. I hope you'll understand."
They didn't say a word about these last words, their father had recorded. But their miens told a whole other story.
"…that were the General Logs…", Sara started to use the terminal after few seconds of silence, "Let's check the Private Logs."
"Should we for real?", Scott asked, not sure about this.
"The encrypted log, which was decoded, can be found in this file.", SAM informed the two, "It seems your father wanted that you two see them."
Both of them thought about this, but in the end Scott nodded. Sara opened the file and there were four Logs, but with exception of one, all of them were labeled 'Encrypted Log' and were numbered consecutively. When they tried to open them, only a blocked noise was heard, so they pushed the only other one, called: 'Ellen's Disease'.
"Amazing how life can change in an instant.", their father started talking once again, "Suddenly my career doesn't matter. This incredible woman I've been married to all these years…she's facing the end.", he took a breath, "All I think about are the times I wasn't there for her. Well, that's going to change – it occurs to me that SAM might be more than I ever imagined.", and here it stopped suddenly.
"He wants us to know his thoughts about Mom's disease…why?", Scot asked confused.
"I don't know.", Sara replied, shaking her head, "It sounds as if he is heading somewhere with these logs…only where?", she sighed, " The only thing for sure is that we will need the other three encrypted logs to shine the light on this matter."
"But we don't know how this memory triggers…", Scott reminded her, "When this has something to do with familiar stuff…well we are as far away from the Milky Way as possible."
"I don't think these things need to be so familiar.", SAM joined the discussion, "I have no history I know about with this kitchen. Perhaps the triggers are connected to progress and not location."
Scott crossed his arms. "So when we move on, we'll get the triggers, eventually?", he inquired.
"It's only a hypothesis.", SAM replied.
"The only one we have right now.", Sara sighed, "And I thought worrying about his wellbeing is the only thing dad lets us worry about right now."
Scott didn't respond to that first, studying only her face. Then he took a deep breath and said: "There is nothing else here. I don't know about you – but I had a loooong day."
As if this has triggered it, Sara yawned. "You're right.", she agreed and they turned around, "Much to process. Perhaps few hours of sleeping will help with that."
"And when we wake up, we get introduced to the Pathfinder's ship.", Scott grinned and they both left the quarter behind.
"Mass Effect Andromeda", all copyrights reserved for Bioware and Electronic Arts
But the changes are mine.
Author's comment:
I hope you liked this chapter.