I knowwwwww, it's been a while since I last posted. Well I have some news, in the time between the last chapters and now, I have:
- Tasted Tear gas
- Developed a powerful addiction to cold war naval combat
- Watched 'Hunt for Red October', 'Hot Fuzz', and 'Stealth'
- Been threatened by the French Riot Police
- Got lost in Istanbul
- Nearly drowned to death on a Soviet airbase
- Froze my balls off at a nuclear test site
- Waved at a man holding an AK
- Gotten addicted to Shredwave
Two weeks of holiday and continued work obligations as well as modding and NRP running have meant my time to write is rather limited, but please enjoy the fruits of my labour.
One thing I've noticed with a lot of the very best first-contact novelizations… is how bland Humanity is in them. I mean absolutely no offense to the writers, because on reading them, it is clear they are aiming for a completely different story, and to insult or degrade them would be tantamount to me hating chocolate bars because they have cocoa. 'The Meek shall Inherit', 'Iron Heart of Humanity', 'The First War' and many other downright legendary first contacts are all usually the same humanity which is comparable in societal organization to the aliens. I personally think that first-contact novelizations which attempt to depict completely unique forms of humanity (Such as the confident but scarred ones in Semper Vigilo, the AI-esque ones in Transcendent Humanity, and the hyper-nationalist ones in that one where Earth got yeeted by a radioactive asteroid) are a lot more interesting. Specifically, political intrigue, the concept of a cold war, and an actual cold war rather than a bunch of unrelated events leading to an inevitable war. And I definitely prefer a beatable, 'not quite underdog humanity', though an HFY story is always fun.
Naturally, I had to pick a niche that has not yet made mainstream on the Mass Effect community. Of course… this story and how I depict humanity is going to upset a lot of people as the story goes on, especially since it might go directly against the propagandistic preconceptions that every human is built into nowadays. So let me state this:
I have avoided bias where possible and sought to build my idea of a confident, strong, resilient, and moralistic humanity. Hence why I avoided the annoyance of molding history to suit my need, by instead inventing a new and attractive ideological attraction and party in the form of the humanists. As such, I will be scattering historical exerts from my version of humanity to give you an idea of how we got to where we are, rather than shoving a two-page timeline in your face. Please enjoy!
Also unrelated this story coincided with a diversion in my music tastes, so please note that I may use music from anywhere across the spectrum. Except for fascists. Blegh, fascist music is just awful. Imagine singing about a flower when you could be singing about charging to battle on the back of a tank. Also DDR music slaps.
Also god bless the Ukrainians, a moment for them please as they defend their homeland against the fascists in Russia.
Palevan, Primarch Fedorian
Fedorians eyes narrowed as he read the latest report. The numbers where concerning, and something was definitely afoot as he pressed several keys on his omnitool. "Get me through to the Councillor… Now".
"But Primarch. The time on the Citadel is-".
"I don't care if he's with the Armali council. Put me through to Councillor Sparatus".
"Yes sir. Please standby". Fixing the omnnitool to a projector and a hologram projector, he didn't have to wait long before the frazzled blue hologram of the councillor appeared. He was tired by the looks of things, in a military uniform as was his standard, though it was raggedly thrown on and not particularly neat.
"Primarch what is the meaning of-".
Deciding not to dance around the topic, Fedorian folded his arms. "Councillor… Did you greenlight withdrawal of the 12th and 15th Scout Cruiser flotillas without my authorization?"
The question seemed to strike him quite harshly, as he reeled and took a few moments to gather together a reply. "Primarch the Magna colony defensive convoys needed additional reinforcement, I saw it necessary to deploy a set of our cruisers to defend them, and-".
"Councillor I checked the logs. They were only low on escorts because you withdrew the 13th Patrol frigate group to search for the damned Quarians. A group who does absolutely not warrant this strange diversion of our naval attention".
"Primarch… the Quarians have broken numerous council laws, and the most recent incitements of their lack of cohesion with the council has only-".
Fedorian didn't even give him the chance to use the same washed up excuse, instead cutting him off. If one wanted to win a verbal joust with someone like him, quick strikes to overwhelm his typically slimy political answers where how it was done. "Councillor I am ordering immediate redeployment of those ships. You do not have permission or clearance to divert the defensive grid of Haliat for your own purposes, and I will be looking into the withdrawal of the 13th as it is clear they joined the hunt prior to seeking confirmation…"
Even through the flickering blue hologram, he could see Sparatus' facial expressions change significantly. "But…. Primarch… you can't do that. If the Quarians continue to break Citadel law. We need to do something about it. How can we enforce a law if we let those breaking it go free?"
He rolled his eyes. This again. He didn't know what had happened to the strong-spirited, capable Councillor who first took on the Turian seat 40 years ago, but for years now the Turian had been getting brash, toxic, and even some might say radicalistic. The two had clashed more and more over Fedorians policy which continually sought to strengthen the Hierarchies position, believing they were too reliant on the Volus and Asari.
"The quarians were kicked from the Council 300 years ago. Entirely unfairly if I might add. They are not a Citadel species, and as such we do not have jurisdiction, and they have not openly broken any laws. If they have any sense they will stay far away from the rest of the galaxy and finally settle down".
"But… that would be in violation-".
"If you are about to say the words "Of the council's edict banning the quarians from settling worlds dedicated to other Citadel Species, then I will order a comprehensive review into your councillorship, In my view the Quarians have more than paid, and wasting resources tracking down the fleet would hurt us far more than just letting them escape. I'm withdrawing the ships".
He waved off the call, hanging up before the councilor could respond. From across the room, a single shadowy figure gave a snort of humor, scrolling down on his own omnitool. Entirely unnoticed throughout the course of the discussion, he stood, moving towards the table. "Castis. So do you think he's corrupt?".
"Unquestionably so Sir. You've seen the reports. And-".
He leaned back. "Reports from the Shadow broker would never be accepted by the Citadel Council as proof. And we don't know how many allies Sparatus has of the upper echelons in the hierarchy". Castis nodded, folding his arms and staring the elder right in the face. "We know he's at least got the Vice-Executor on his side, the Primarch of Haliat, and three high ranking Admirals. Likely including Desolas".
"How in the spirits did it get this bad?".
"Simple… Do you want my honest, unfiltered opinion Primarch?". Fedorian threw an annoyed glance in his direction. That he was asking for permission was strange in-of-itself. Castis was a blunt and honourable Turian, and wouldn't shy away from speaking the truth never mind the inconvience. "Speak Castis… you've never needed my spirits damned permission before".
"We're weak… We're stagnating. For over a millenia the Turians have been the galactic defenders. Fearlessly pushing out into the unknown no matter the cost. Considering our position… we've gotten complacent, too self-assured in our own superiority to continue. I would even go so far as to say we're less powerful now than when we joined the council. While our ships and guns and tanks get better every year… that warrior spirit that pushes our species to throw themselves in the line of fire for a cause is beginning to run dry, and it's only a matter of time before someone pokes it and finds out just how bad it's gotten. Krogan, Batarian, hell even the Quarians. By all accounts the battle of the Asteroid should have been an easy victory. Instead, it was a costly slog against a far more devoted force".
He fixed Castis with another glare, "You're implying the Quarians are our enemies".
"Not implying they are our enemies, merely stating that from the average Turians point of view… the Quarians where our foes in that one battle. Many however completely disagree with the battle in the first place". He grunted over that, adjusting some of the reports on his desk and his eyes drifting outside the window to the Capital of Cipritine, the towers of steel and titanium glinting in the rising Palevan sun.
"Castis…"
"Yes sir?".
"I'm pulling all Turian ships involved in the search back. But I want to know why the 13th was needed. Who's the Rear Admiral?"
"That would be…. Hang on…. Admiral… Adrien Taiga?".
He knew that name. It was one that occasionally made the rounds of the upper-level government. "I know him. He's a firebrand and one hell of a commander. Singlehandedly responsible for defeating a bataria- I mean… terminus raider squadron headed to Magna. Though I know half the admiralty hate him".
"With all due respect sir. They hate him because he speaks the truth. The Hierarchy is far too rigidly organized, and it's only a matter of time".
An eyebrow raised… "Send a communication direct, I want him headed straight here for a personal debriefing. I'm beginning to suspect they wanted him out there for more than just extra ships".
"You think something is rotten sir?".
"Yes. I think someone on one of the council's saw that proposal, and greenlit it because he shot down several proposals last month, and that is bound to make him a few enemies. If he wasn't so stubbornly devoted to the fleet he'd be Primarch of Pheiros right now".
"I'll send the order sir".
Shanxi, Settled World, Yan'an, Class 1 Colony
Yan'an was the first major city on Shanxi, a fairly standard arrangement as where most Human cities. The entire space was oriented as a series of circular districts. Each district concentrated a large hospital and cultural hub towards the center for public events. Immediately surrounding that. Schools, emergency shelters, kindergartens and the local Trade Union and militia headquarters. Then around that a ring of large apartment blocks. Most typical apartment blocks on colonized worlds used either steel or concrete panels to make short term housing. The concept of suburbs didn't really exist. Mainly because the sprawl created by their positioning necessitated personal transportation, which was highly inefficient, and took up unnecessary strain on the industry. Cars did exist, they were vital for agricultural settlements, but if you lived in a settlement larger than a few thousand, there was really no need, given anything over 8,000 had a built-in railway connecting it to all other settlements, as well as frequent trolleybus systems.
Outside of the apartments, where parks, and green spaces. Including community gardens, rivers, plazas, and playgrounds, as well as dog parks. A ring of various amenities from shops, to restaurants, to cinemas, theatres and cafes. Generally anything you might fancy doing one afternoon. Then on the outer layer, where the industries and workplaces. The arrangement meant it was just a 10 minute walk to get to anywhere in particular, and a reasonably efficient tram system was useful for other transportation needs. As the cities grew, they generally merged and where given subway and underground transportation systems, which doubled as air raid shelters thanks to their reinforcements.
Shanxi however, was far smaller. Three main rings, with a fourth under construction as well as a proper colony administration office which would serve as the electoral roll system. Once the colony reached a population of 50,000, they were due to start electing their first delegates to the Council of Colonial Affairs, and became semi-independent, allowed to set it's own goals and policies. It also received a large funding boost to begin construction on an orbital defense grid, raising the defensive capabilities from "Whatever the Alliance Navy can spare", to "6 Plasma lances, 4 Missile stations and an orbital hangar anchorage".
It was an important goal for many colonies and was viewed as the make-or-break goal for a colony. Shanxi was on 20,000, but as the closest colony world to the Quarian fleet, it had been chosen for an ambitious purpose, a joint colony world between the two races, with almost 90,000 Quarians agreeing to settle the world, as well as the 25,000 already on the colony. The system would immediately be much larger, and the new apartments where desperately needed. It had also practically tripled the colonies economic capabilities, and the large central administration was needed for a joint council to run the planet, with proportional numbers of humans and quarians. It was also a political manoeuvre on the part of the Humanists against the Firmists, who had seen a boost to their voting base after the first contact.
As one of the many transports touched down, Lia'Vael could hardly believe her luck. The world was stunning! Through her filters, she could just about smell the incredibly unique freshness of the air, and the almost-immediate impact of it's much warmer temperatures. The apartments where brutalist, with concrete walls occasionally covered in pretty caricatures of graffiti to bring some spirit to them, but they were the first buildings the Quarian race would legally own since their kicking from the Citadel some 300 years ago. As she proceeded towards one of the larger blocks, she noted the wide open doors and ground-level reception, 2 humans were sitting comfortably chatting nonchalantly. One was clearly a foreman or maintenance specialist as he wore a thin blue jumpsuit. The other was a soldier or enforcer, with one of the human police caps on, and he greeted the quarians warmly.
"Name?".
"Lia'Vael nar Ulnay".
"Ahh! Lia'Vael… Lia…. Is that 'ae' in Latin alphabet?"
He showed her the odd human symbols, and she just about recognized them from her human ID pass. "Yes, that's correct".
"Good. You're on floor three. You've got an apartment to yourself, block 304A. Here are a set of keys…." He passed over a small card of some sort. "It's compatible with the identification system on your omi- omni- glowing arm tool computer". He gave up trying to pronounce the name, and smiled, "Welcome to Shanxi".
She nodded, "Thank you kindly Sir". Proceeding up the well-crafted stairs she marvelled at how spacious it was. They were thousands of times better than the ladders and corridors on any fleet ship. Getting to the third floor, she moved down the sparse corridor, coming to a solitary metal door. Flicking her wrist near the handle, it clicked green, before opening.
Inside… she was treated to the biggest shock of her life. The room was absolutely enormous. In fact… there were five rooms! All easily larger than several quarters on the fleet. A proper, fabric bed set in one. Actual wooden and metal contraptions lay around. A fully served food area ready, and while the cupboards were bare, there was more storage space here than anywhere. From across the hall, she could hear a Quarian couple step into their own room, even larger, and gasp. Their child, still rolling around in her bubble, running around excitedly and exclaiming. "It's so big! Mama look it has its own viewport!".
Huge amounts of natural light poured in through the wide plexiglass windows with electronic dimmers. As she closed the door behind her, the room was almost silenced by the soundproofing. And it was there, as she contemplated just how much it was the humans had given them. How much hope even this relatively modest apartment was… that Lia'Vael, and hundreds of others… broke down into tears.
Codex Entry: The Anthem of the Humanist Alliance Army, 'Forwards Armoured Division'
When, upon, the morning wind, blows away the dreams.
And, where the sun rises, our steel, armour gleams.
You'll hear our division, charging forth in ranks.
And on our guns and tracks, charge, forth the Tanks!
Even where, the forests stand, we charge ahead.
The clouds, of whirlwinds behind us, in glory of the dead.
Even, if old Terra shakes, she will be at peace.
That is what we fight for, till, our enemies cease.
Whereupon our rows of tanks, suddenly break.
This day upon our ranks, the earth itself will shake.
And until, after the assault, we fight through rain, mud and sand.
And on the yell of our comrades, Huraaaa! For our homeland!
Codex Entry: 12th January 1949, Audio Recording from Office of the Nigerian First Minister
"Please place your hand here… Good. Now… First Minister, are you ready to take on the banner of the humanist leadership?".
"I am indeed, and it is with a profound sense of responsibility that I undertake this solemn duty."
"Please state your pledge"
"I, as first President of the Humanist Party, solemnly pledge to serve the people of our nation, and to uphold the principles upon which our party stands. In the spirit of our party, I vow to champion equality, to uphold justice, and to fight tirelessly for the dignity of our citizens. Our conviction is that every individual has an inherent worth and potential that must be recognized, nurtured and allowed to flourish.
In accordance with this belief. I pledge to work relentlessly to eradicate disparity and injustice, to promote fairness and opportunity for all, regardless of their race, religion, gender or social standing. I promise to promote collective decision making and democratic governance, as our party's guiding principles are rooted in the power of the collective, the strength of unity, and the enduring belief in the potential of each individual
My allegiance is to the people, and to the principles of humanism. A belief in the power of humanity, in the potential of each individual and in shared responsibility we have towards each other. As your First Minister, I pledge to dedicate my service to these ideals, and to work towards the creation of a society that honours, respects and uplifts its people.
This, I vow to you today, and to the generations that will follow. For it is in the spirit of unity and with the power of humanism, that we shall forge a path towards the stars. Glory… TO THE ONES WHO LOOK FORWARD"
- Swearing in of the First leader of the Humanist Party, 3rd Humanist Party Congress, Lagos, 1949
Codex Entry: The Founding of the Humanist Party
The first of the major parties that were dedicated to a human cause, the Humanist Party combines a heavily progressive attitude with incredible hostility to imperialism, subjugation and oppression of any kind. It was founded in 1943 during the depths of the Second World War, and Nigeria, on gaining its independence from Britain in a bloody rebellion, became the first Humanist state. It was elected in a Humanist cabinet in 1948 and swore in the first President in 1949. The move shocked the Western and Eastern worlds combined, as the state immediately began playing both sides of the cold war off of each other.
The Soviet bloc wanted to secure distant allies and vital rubber supplies in the Cold War, whilst also outwardly being for anti-colonial movements, whilst the West attempted to prevent the further adoption of anti-colonial movements into the Warsaw Bloc, attempting to maintain close relations with their former colonies, as there were concerns it would cause a domino effect that might bring the rest of the European colonies down (Which of course it eventually did). The Nigerian state was the first, followed by Cameroon, Central Africa and Guinea. It is somewhat ironic that the movement to unite humanity would rise from the subjugated masses of the oppressed and colonized, though it would take close to 200 years to spread across the world.
The next big change for the humanists came as they spread across Africa, abolishing outdated systems, taking away control of industry from large corporations, and slamming them back with a revolutionary fervour that triggered dozens of civil wars and larger conflicts. This includes the Ghana Civil War, between the West African backed 'Humanist Liberation Front' fighting against french backed Ghana Republic troops, which had been summoned as French forces were crushed by the revolutionaries. This civil war is largely responsible for the collapse of French and British colonial rule in west Africa.