Mass Effect: Frontier

by Walkeroflonelyroads

It's not easy to blaze a trail when carefully-crafted plans go out the window. Yet, that is the exact situation the colonists aboard the Nexus find themselves in when their arrival at the Heleus Cluster is marred by unforeseen circumstances, challenging everything they know. The frontier that is Andromeda remains open - if they are able to rise to the occasion.

6. MIA

Insufficient facts always invite danger.

- Mr. Spock, Star Trek (1966)

---

An incident happened today. The kind where people just up and disappear without a trace.

The Nexus collided with… something. Singular impact, but it was strong enough that people nearly lost their balance in the halls. Science said it wasn't an asteroid, or space debris, or an alien spaceship. No confirmation just what the hell we hit.

The collision – if we could even call it that – tore through the outer hull, vented two compartments to space, newly-constructed. Both compartments had Kesh's people in them, setting up power lines. They were suited up, thank fuck, so the rescue crew managed to grab most of them and winched them to the airlocks without having to deal with popsicles.

Most of them. Four personnel remained unaccounted for out of nineteen total. Despite the rescue crew eyeballing everywhere, and Ops sending out a signalling ping in a ten-kilometre radius around the Nexus, the four were nowhere to be found. They just… disappeared. Not helping was that their biomons flatlined – suit damage, or worse, I don't know.

First set of M.I.A. reports I had the misfortune of reading through and signing off on. I've seen some shit in the Verge, but to get spaced so hard that you disappear from sight or scan? That's… new. I couldn't even mark them as K.I.A., since… well, no bodies.

Received a couple of reports regarding the families of those who vanished; they're demanding answers. I instructed the deck crews to go easy on them, directed them to the Crisis Centre. Can't imagine what it's like for them, not knowing what happened to their loved ones.

I'm just glad I came to Heleus alone.

Garson called for a meeting after the incident – briefed her on the whole situation, since Kesh spoke very little. She looked rattled, and frankly, I can't blame her. The Director told the Council that none of the Arks have responded to the Nexus' homing beacon, and the QEC's been silent since arrival. Some good news, though: Science said they've found Hab One on the long-range, and the prelims sound promising.

I'm still disturbed by this. Hopefully it's a one-off thing. Hopefully.

I need a drink.

AUDIO LOG 0008 (PERSONAL)
DESIGNATION: L-04-LAETOLI
ID: DIRECTOR KELLY, SLOANE J. (SECURITY)