An Engineer's Guide to the Technology of the Mass Effect Universe


A/N: Creepypasta Express, all aboard.


From: Dr. Em. Gareth von Alte, Lead Researcher, Primary Anomalies, Ache Lamao

To: Col. Nyomba Sahu, Project Security, Ahaltocob

My good Colonel,

We have finished the requested workups on the materials recovered from the site on Noveria. Commander Shepard and her goons wrecked most of it, but we have recovered enough sequenced DNA that recreating a rachni queen is within a ninety percent probability of success.

The decision on whether or not to proceed with that line is up to the HLoS, of course. Attached are preliminary design templates for phase one implementation.

The machinery used to control and alter the queen was too damaged to repair or replicate, but copious notes and design documents were found on-site and we are in the process of examination of these now. Many of them refer to 'nanothreads' and 'Black Pyramids.'

We've already received authorization to work on the second, but we have not received any replies to our inquiries regarding Anomalous Object 44. Given that Benezia is very dead and is the only extant source of information on enhancements needed for Project [REDACTED], I would politely request you immediately pull AO-44 from stasis and transfer the subject to us immediately.

I will liaison with you directly in regards to AO-83 once you have completed your own analysis. Once we've received both, we can begin work on the rachni immediately.

With respect,

Gareth von Alte


From: Col. Nyomba Sahu, Project Security, Ahaltocob

To: Dr. Em. Gareth von Alte, Lead Researcher, Primary Anomalies, Ache Lamao

Doctor Emeritus,

Attached are the primary sensor scans and related nanoprobe core samples from Artifact 5399-B, classified as the corpse of Benezia T'Soni, tagged as AO-44.

Primary summary of the results is as follows:

Body is maintained at a temperature of thirty-one (31) degrees C, by method unknown.

Magnetic fields in excess of four point seven (4.7) Gau have been detected at all times from the corpse.

Cellular decay expected from time of death to stasis immersion not found.

Lividity normal.

AO-44, upon arrival, was missing most of the external bodily layers of skin common to asari, over forty-seven percent of the upper and lower body. The entirety of the chest cavity was vaporized, leaving behind only a fragment of the heavily reinforced spinal column to hold the object together. The left arm and portions of the left hip region were also missing.

The corpse displayed severe battle damage, including several third-degree (tissue) and fourth-degree (burn to bone) level injuries. All flesh was riddled with artificial thread composite materials on the nanometer scale, described by the analysis of Lt. [REDACTED] as far in advance but otherwise identical in function to those created by the [REDACTED] Corporation as described in UI-30923.

(Aside: All known employees and researchers of [REDACTED] Corporation with the exception of Lt. [REDACTED] were executed by Commissariat under the Crimson Protocol, with High Lord approval. All physical assets of the company were seized under the Treasonous Properties Act of 2099 and any anomalous items moved to Site 57-A. A summary of findings is attached as Object Rho-F at datapoint 505.43.12 on Black Network Node 7)

AO-44 regenerates constantly at a rate of (if uninterrupted) point five (0.5) mm per week from all eroded or damaged surfaces. The state of regeneration increases if exposed to any form of energy – sunlight, heat, movement, radiation, or direct contact with any living or dead organic material.

AO-44 must be stored in a stasis tube with a lining of corrosion-resistant nanofabrics tailored to specification nine. Any other materials will be slowly consumed and broken down by AO-44 and used to further repair the corpse.

AO-44 scans indicate the subject is dead, yet no biological degradation has been noted. Core samples and blood samples indicate there is absolutely zero biological activity occurring in AO-44. Additionally, all samples have come back one hundred percent sterile.

Microorganisms that make contact with AO-44 are immediately broken down into amino acid base types unfamiliar to us and used to repair DNA strands within AO-44 cells. Once this is completed, nanothreads inject a substance (AO-44-Alpha) into each cell which seems to be some form of preservative.

EECKG e-scans of the corpse indicate signals equivalent to asari brainwave activity in the forward and 'seaward' nodes of the brain. Specifically, these node sites correlate to immense mental strain, pain, and horror. Additionally, metallic substructures within the brain and tied into the spinal region of AO-44 have been identified as possible receiving antenna.

AO-44's containment chamber is placed within redundant stacked isolation chambers and Faraday cages, inside a magneto-fluid disruptive cyclical storage facility.

It is currently my belief that AO-44 is not biologically 'alive,' but is not technically 'dead' either.

It is currently my belief that AO-44 is attempting (whether voluntarily or not) to repair itself to full functionality, with the express intent of reviving Benezia T'Soni.

It is my current belief that, given the method of her death and based on additional information gathered from the corpse of Saren Arterius, as well as statements recorded and made by Baroness Sara Shepard prior to the latter's death, that AO-44 is suffering from Third Stage Thanoptis Syndrome, which was called 'indoctrination' by Dr. Thanoptis during primary interrogation.

Thanoptis Syndrome is an anomalous condition consisting of a hypersonic somatic component, a memetic-cognitohazardous 'transmissible' element of undetermined carrier and emissive capacity, and a universally infective Class Omega black nanoware agent tentatively classed as Reaper Substance 6. The result of TS is broken into stages. Stage Three subjects are not in control of their own bodies and in many cases suffer hypoxia-like deleterious effects.

Regardless, in life, AO-44 was one of the most frightening combatants alive, and whatever happened to make her augmented only improved that. I should not need to remind you she killed six Spectres, several dozen other heavily armed combatants, and stood off one of the most skilled blade-mistresses in the galaxy, as well as a Phase 2 Commissar, a powerful biotic, and Sara Shepard in close quarters combat.

And was not defeated.

Based on this, your request for cessation of stasis containment and transfer of AO-44 to your project is denied.

I have already run this up the chain of command, and both Admiral Vandefar and Colonel Hathar feel it is unwise. Director Colqua's inquiry into the necessity of further research has been denied.

The projected result of removal of AO-44 from containment and exposure to a non-secured environment has been full physical restoration in six days, eleven hours, and thirty minutes. Given the sensor readings from the brain and the fact that Benezia was reported to be 'struggling' against a possessing presence that had commandeered her body, any use of Procedure Tammuz-6 is… unwise.

I am willing to discuss particulars only in-person, as the conversation would, by force, require violation of the restrictions of Thaumiel-level or possibly Gehinom-level intelligence and reports.

Until then, AO-44 is to remain in stasis lockdown at all times, with multiple redundant security measures that will hurl the asteroid containing it into a black hole if containment is breached. We already had one bad scare with the survivors of the AIS Team that hit Black Site 6; I will not allow another on my watch.

Sincerely,

Colonel Nyomba Sahu


From: Director Sandra Colqua, Primary Anomalies, Ache Lamao

To: Col. Nyomba Sahu, Project Security, Ahaltocob

Colonel,

I was disappointed to discover that you denied transfer of AO-44 to my project team. While I understand your concerns regarding possible complications from researching the subject, I assure you I am not foolish enough to allow a complete recovery of the subject.

Additionally, I was under the impression from the initial briefing that AO-44's rate of regeneration was measurable in nanometers and not millimeters, and that estimates of the object's revival was on the order of thousands of years, not six days.

While I understand the need for some level of obfuscation given the… unpleasant discoveries at Sirta, I do not think either project is served by such reticence to cooperate.

For the moment, however, I have been told that, as you mentioned to Doctor von Alte, the HLoS have declined future investigation into AO-44. That being said, we still have not received your initial analysis and observations on AO-83. I would appreciate this report at your earliest convenience, as it will be important to determine what level (if any) of emphasis we should put on such objects in connection with the rachni project.

I will be in contact with Admiral Vandefar at the end of the month, and I would hope to have the report in-hand by that time.

Sincerely,

Director Sandra Colqua


From: Col. Nyomba Sahu, Project Security, Ahaltocob

To: Director Sandra Colqua, Primary Anomalies, Ache Lamao

Director,

I understand your concerns in regards to AO-44. However, the primary reason for denial of research is that the rate of regeneration surged from the low baseline set at recovery of the corpse, to the current levels after the initial analysis bombardment.

Given the information provided by Lt. [REDACTED] and his expertise with nanothreading, it was decided that any further tampering is simply too dangerous to contemplate at this time.

As to your other request, we've reviewed all of the artifacts and primary anomaly scans from Artifact Set 7732-Z-Rho, codenamed 'Black Pyramid,' flagged as AO-83. I apologize for the delay, but as you will see, we had to take a great many precautions in investigating the item.

Please note the inventory taken by the inserted observer agents on Noveria indicated the recovery of four such devices. We have only been able to account for three. The location and status of the fourth is unknown – it is possible it was given over to an unknown third party at some point prior to recovery cataloging.

As neither Project Ahaltocob nor Project Ache Lamao had assets on-site at Noveria until sixty-eight hours after the event, it is also possible that Citadel investigators took possession of the device.

Along with AO-83, we have taken the bodies of three asari Triune Unity cultists that seem to have been affected by the device, as well as two more killed in action. The three corpses were already autopsied and analyzed by, based on materials covered from Noveria, Benezia's own forces. Research notes and the contents of data drives recovered from the site have been filed as AO-83 supplemental at datapoint 501.7.11 on Black Network Node 4.

The delay in obtaining these corpses (it has been forty-seven days since the end of the Benezia Incident) has been explained to me as necessary obfuscation. The Council is unaware of their provenance and believes them destroyed.

Primary summary of the results is as follows:

The device itself is composed of an anomalous metallic substance that does not correspond to any known or theoretical material. Sampling devices and destructive testing (nanoprobe, laser probe, drill, E-0 directed penetration, kinetic chisel, explosives, direct hit from tactical nuclear device, direct hit with M/AM torpedo spread) were complete failures.

Spectrographic analysis is inconclusive. Material analysis via chemical or bombardment methods inconclusive. Materials have superficial resemblance to materials recovered at Eingana (particularly Series 9, 11, and 15), and thus have been tentatively classified as related to the Gehinom-level anomalies codenamed 'Reapers.'

Device emits radiation in exotic waveband spectra and is exothermic at thirty-nine (39) to forty – one (41) Celsius. The exotic energy emitted is not of a type we can easily typify. Exposure to film time delay indicates that emission rates are not aligned with expected time/emission curves, with a slight possibility that the waves themselves are either symmetry-broken or out of phase with our normal flow of time.

Two of the three devices are dark and inactive, although still emitting energy. The third device (removed by Black Network Operations Team with authorization 45030-Pizarro) had counter sunken bas-relief panels displaying unknown symbology glowing with red light.

This device is now with your project. I advise caution.

As no form of energy scanning or physical interaction had the slightest effect on any of the devices, we cannot speculate as to purpose, construction, or even age. Initial density testing would indicate that, despite the light weight of the devices when carried, they may actually be some phase-shifted or stabilized form of degenerate matter.

Further analysis, including but not limited to utilization of devices derived from the Mars Archives or other Pizarro or Tammuz Protocols, is not recommended at this time.

Secondary analysis is based entirely on reaction to the device.

Long-term exposure testing to battery Alpha (lobotomized humans), Beta (sedated humans), Charlie (unrestricted humans), and Delta (cybernetically enhanced humans) shows minor differences. Group Alpha had zero deviations from control group, as did Delta. Both Beta and Charlie showed small variations in brain chemistry at six hours and lesions consistent with TS in just under forty hours.

Please note: this is much faster than expected rates of Thanoptis Syndrome based on information from Doctor Thanoptis. Also note that the unidentifiable memetic-cognitohazardous 'transmissible' element of undetermined source that is hypothesized to be the cause of TS may be the exotic waveforms from the pyramid.

Examination of AO-83-A, -B, and -C (asari corpses) revealed a great deal of concerning information. All three asari showed heavy lesions in the brain consistent with late state TS. All three asari showed increased muscle mass, heavier iron concentrations in the bones, enlargement of the asari electrical organ, and moderate to severe internal bleeding from several sites in the digestive and respiratory tract.

Initial sectional autopsy and necropsy indicates these sites are infested with nanoscale materials, possibly related to the black-nano substance described by Doctor Thanoptis. There is also limited nanoscale replication of materials as noted in UI-30923.

All scans of AO-83 related victims (asari or human) indicate that a solid steel wall over a third of a meter thick does not stop effects of the process. Additionally, gross sectional analysis of a fresh corpse deposited within five meters of the active pyramid and left for seventy-two hours shows conversion to huskified form in sixty-five hours, eleven minutes.

Additional scan information is impossible to obtain at this time. The active unit has been removed by orders of the High Lords and remanded to Project Ache Lamao, and I trust you will share any additional findings with us.

Requests to cross-test AO-83 with AO-44 (Benezia T'Soni) will be denied.

Requests to proceed to level three live behavior testing is also denied.

Recommendations: Given the likely relation of AO-83 with GOI-545 ('Reapers') and likelihood that complete conversion would result in uncontrolled creation of additional beings like AO-44, the devices should be rendered inert.

All three devices should be flash-encased in point five (0.5) meters of charged particulate foam, then sealed inside containers of titanium, specifically drums (series four). The drums should be filled with inert material that blocks or weakens most emissive activity, such as lead. Drums should then be inserted into isolation chambers built into Remote Hot Lab storage site Alpha ('Sheol') and monitored remotely. Recommendations for Alpha storage should incorporate level six Faraday cage devices and magnetic disruptive fields at all times.

Under no circumstances do I recommend any further experimentation with these devices.

While I understand you have been tasked with replication of the rachni and that these devices were involved, my gut feeling is using them will only result in a catastrophic failure of containment regardless of preparations for such.

All sub-files have been transmitted to your systems, Director. Please reach out to me with any further concerns.

Sincerely,

Colonel Nyomba Sahu


From: SYSTEM_ALERT – CLEARANCE THAUMIEL TRANSMISSIBLE CONTENT

To: Adm. G. Synthia Vandefar, Project Director, Ahaltocob

Re: Report Request

Admiral,

Provide a summary of GOI-545 research materials, tech assessment, and threat summary at the earliest possible date.


From: Adm. G. Synthia Vandefar, Project Director, Ahaltocob

To: HLoS-THREAT ASSESSMENT, High Lords of Sol

Gracious Lords,

Our review of all materials forwarded to this project in relation to GOI-545 ('Reapers') is now completed. You may review, at your leisure, the bulk of the materials themselves, but summary communiques cover the relevant points for my assessments.

Our initial assessment is as follows:

One: GOI-545 is a highly advanced race of either pure AI or possibly cybernetic origins, with estimated societal age in excess of sixty million years. This is based on both strata-defined archaeological recoveries of distinctive materials used by this GOI, as well as fragmentary information from chemical analysis of damaged materials.

Addendum: GOI-545 appears to operate for short spans of time at intervals of thirty-five to fifty thousand years, and maintains neither an extant presence nor permanent habitation on any world. The paucity of archaeological evidence of their existence lends credence to the theory by Dr. Liara T'Soni-Shepard that GOI-545 is removing such material on purpose.

Two: GOI-545 has technology we are currently unable to comprehend, much less replicate or devise counters to. This includes, but is not limited to, hydromagnetodynamic weapons systems capable of destroying dreadnoughts with a single shot, phased energy shields with a rating in the zeta range, FTL speeds three to four times that of even high efficiency scout engines, the ability to jump to any relay from any point in space, and advanced nanocomposite and materials technology.

It is likely, based on certain information given to us by Major-Commander Shepard, that most if not all mass effect technology, including mass relays and the Citadel, are also of GOI-545 origins.

Three: The most powerful weapons systems we have on-hand, Kyle-class degenerate matter torpedoes, are the only weapon so far that has shown to have an effect. Likewise, only the 'Ancient'-class weapons of the asari dreadnought did any significant damage to AO-77 ('Nazara').

This is a weakness that must be explored. However, our current operations are exposed and will likely be a primary target in any conflict. Given the vulnerability of our mining operations, I recommend setting up secondary production facilities in isolated systems and publicly declaring the Kyle project shut down.

Four: GOI-545 technology is unsafe to utilize or research in any fashion. All elements of it appear to be constantly emitting a waveform emission connected to Thanoptis Syndrome. Despite over seven months of attempts, we have neither been able to block nor reverse this exposure – the only safety is distance.

Addendum: If research must be conducted, it should be via remote control mechs with zero VI/AI and with Class 11 hazard precautions. We have already noted seventeen cases of stage one Thanoptis Syndrome in the tech teams working on items recovered from the wreck of AO-77.

Five: The implications of GOI-545's technology level are made more troubling by the very high possibility that AO-77 ('Reaper' warship 'Nazara') was not a unique device and was attempting to somehow summon more of its kind to our galaxy.

In light of the findings above, I am unsure at the current juncture of the proper actions to take. My team is moving with alacrity to attempt to find countermeasures of any kind to the issue, as well as assist with the examination of the FTL engine given to us by the Council (AO-91), since most of the tech team studying it is now suffering TS or is insane.

I realize this is of little use, gracious Lords, in attempting to devise a strategy for dealing with this menace, but empty promises do not make us any safer.

I can state with confidence three actions we should undertake immediately:

First, creation of scanners and devices that can detect Thanoptis Syndrome. It is clear now that at least part of this GOI's playbook is the use of coerced assets, and given the damage done by Benezia and Saren, keeping an eye out for any additional agents is wise.

The Citadel is in the process of including such sensors at key locations and I recommend the same. These should be incorporated into any study or research facilities working on GOI-545 items, on all command-level systems, and on all government structures linked to the chain of command or the High Lords.

Second, I would strongly suggest creation of a task force of prepared operatives. Based on exposure testing, Colonel Sahu is confident that full conversion human cyborgs with sealed environmental systems have the highest resistance to conversion by GOI-545 technology. Utilization of such assets to recover or destroy additional technology finds would be important.

Finally, before utilizing any technology derived from study of GOI-545, it should be tested extensively with penal populations to ensure there is no latent ability to cause additional cases of Thanoptis Syndrome.

In regards to the materials we have on-hand (AO-44, AO-83, and AO-91), I cannot recommend further study of the first two. Benezia's corpse is a ticking time bomb, given our scan results, and the Black Pyramids are both cognitohazardous and completely impenetrable. Unless the intent is simply to stick them in a lab somewhere to determine how badly things can go wrong if they are unconstrained, I cannot perceive any possible value in further study.

The FTL engine, while dangerous to research, should provide technical results that are free of such issues.

I'm aware there is a great deal riding on this research and the argument that if we do not understand the enemy we cannot defeat them. I have been a scientist all my life, and I have striven to adhere to both the scientific method and a rational viewpoint in all my endeavors.

So, it is with reluctance, but sincerity, that I admit this technology frightens me. That our best and brightest cannot grasp it. That there is a level of, and I hesitate to use this word, malevolence inherent in every line, every design, every outcome of what this technology does.

Based on what we know of GOI-545's motivations from the words of Major-Commander Shepard, I cannot recommend the use of any of this technology in pure form and only the greatest of restraint and caution in researching anything related to GOI-545.

With reverence and submission,

Admiral Synthia Vandefar, KoUE


From: Adm. G. Synthia Vandefar, Project Director, Ahaltocob

To: Lieutenant Jason Valthez, Researcher, Ahaltocob

Lieutenant,

Review the preceding materials and prepare a summary of the best methods of countering or destroying a nanothreaded creature. Please keep in mind this position paper will more than likely determine the path of research involving these things.

Sincerely,

Admiral Synthia Vandefar, KoUE


Jason Valthez read through the back-and-forth emails and then set his padd down, shaking his head. "Rachni?"