Codex Entry: Charting Andromeda

Charting the Andromeda Galaxy for habitable planets presents a unique challenge. Observation is limited by light, and given the Andromeda's distance, any observations from the Milky Way are 2.5 million years out of date – enough time for a planet to have altered irrevocably.

Initial attempts to identify settlement sites were made by obtaining Asari astronomical surveys and running them through predictive models. But Jien Garson was unwilling to risk thousands of colonists without solid information.

Eventually, the Initiative obtained promising data from Quarian explorers who claimed to have a Geth array on the fringes of the Perseus Veil. This array was supposedly built from three Mass Relays, using sensors in the combined relay corridor as a form of FTL 'telescope', to observe dark space beyond the galactic rim. Why the Geth expended so much effort to study dark space is not known.

Amongst these observations were near-contemporary surveys of Andromeda. When the Initiative's predictive models confirmed them within an acceptable margin, the Initiative was able to begin identifying 'golden worlds'.

Chapter I – Not conclusive

He started typing, trying a new angle.

'Analysis not conclusive – Too much interference detected.', was written down in red letters on the screen.

He continued typing, trying a new dosage.

'Analysis not conclusive – Too much-'

He tried adding new parameters, switching or deleting old ones.

'Analysis not-'

GOD DAMNIT! , he thought, while his mouth said something much worse. A close-by nurse casted a glance towards him, after hearing that. "Mind your own business!", he raged back.

There he saw a familiar Asari approaching him from the entrance of the Cryo Bay. "You seem to befriend the locals, do you?", Dr. T'Perro asked him with a smile.

"A Cryo Bay is not a Lab.", Kadyszewski replied, still grumpily.

"Perhaps you'll find a better spot on the Nexus – heard they got our energy.", the Asari countered, while stopping in front of him, typing around on a pad she had brought along.

"I'll try.", the human responded, crossing his arms, "Can't be worse than here.", he nodded his head towards the pad, "The reason for your good mood?"

"I hope so.", Dr. T'Perro replied, before turning the pad around and handing it over to the virologist, "This could help us, get rid of the toxin in Alec's body."

Kadyszewski took the pad harshly and started examining the content. His mien started angry, but the more he read the more fascinated it started to look. "An interesting idea…", he muttered, while lowering the pad and starting to look up to the standing Asari, "How did you hit on that?"

"Habitat 7 gave me some interesting ideas.", Dr. T'Perro replied, crossing her arms, "A deadly world, but still fascinating."

"That's what all this here is about, isn't it?", the human responded, before adding after seeing her quizzical mien, "The Initiative. To broaden our experiences."

She nodded. "Indeed.", she continued the conversation, "So you think it could work?"

He typed around on the pad for a moment. "The dosage still needs to be adjusted.", he started to announce his assessment, "Otherwise you could kill him. Also the time of usage and…"

"But it could work…", the Asari interrupted him, not asking this time.

He looked up at her again, before nodding. "It's our best shot.", he admitted, "Although the community of physicians back home wouldn't dare risking it…"

"Thank the Goddess that this is our home now.", Dr. T'Perro countered, while taking back the pad, "I'll try applying it immediately.", she casted a glance at the terminal he was working at, "You got something on the virus yet?"

He snorted. Instead of answering he pushed a button, so that the earlier message appeared again: 'Analysis not conclusive – too much interference detected.' He leaned back. "Guess.", he added.

"Then let's hope getting rid of this toxin will help with the analysis.", Dr. T'Perro said turning around partially.

"Then we are two.", Kadyszewski responded.

"See you later.", she still added, before turning around completely and leaving the Cryo Bay.

He looked at her leaving, his mien starting to become as grumbling as earlier. Then he turned around to look at the terminal, considered his possibilities for one moment and then decided: he did a throwaway-hand movement towards the screen.

He stood up and left this section of the Cryo Bay, going to the Pod Chambers. It took him a while to find the Pod he was looking for and another while till the machines have driven it towards him.

He shoved a seat closer to himself, found in the otherwise empty corridor in the middle of the Pod Chamber. He looked through the Pods Window, where the frozen silhouette of a woman with long dark hair could be seen. He nodded, before checking the Pod Panel, allowing to see her stats: 'Dr. Caroline Kadyszweski, Xeno-Zoologist, Status: Fine'

He nodded again, before sitting down at the seat. He bended forward, not even looking at the pod, before starting to talk: "Hello Skarbie, sorry for coming here so late.", he sighed, "I was busy…"

"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.

Translation from Polish:

Skarbie = my love, honey etc.