Chapter Two: Too Good to Be True
The Nexus was designed to serve not only as the central hub of the Initiative in the Andromeda Galaxy but also as a home to the vast majority of the Initiative's population. Therefore, its design was heavily based on the Citadel which was the home to millions alongside being the center hub of the Citadel Alliance. However, to make the large station easier to transport to Andromeda the Nexus was built up to a halfway point with four massive engine clusters built into modular sections which would help propel the station on its journey to the new galaxy alongside a pair of ODSY Drive Cores. Then when the station arrived at its intended destination the modular sections would be removed, and construction would then resume on the station…(1)
- Taken from the Andromeda Galactic Codex Entry on the Nexus
Bridge
Ark Hyperion
Zheng He System, Heleus Cluster
Andromeda Galaxy
Some minutes later, Sara entered the Ark's bridge as it exited FTL in orbit of a large blue gas giant complete with an escort of SF5 Vanguard Space Fighters (2). Looking around she noticed nothing really changed from when she was last here with her father before the disaster on Habitat 7. However, it looked like the crew were far calmer now or at least gotten used to curveballs being thrown at them since they first arrived in Andromeda. First, there was nothing waiting for them at the Initiative's rendezvous point and no signal from anything when they arrived in the galaxy. Then when pushing on to Habitat 7 they ran into that strange dark matter phenomenon and the disaster on the planet itself followed soon afterwards. Many hoped to themselves that now that they had arrived at the Nexus things would start looking up, but Sara had started to live by her former Commander's famous maxim: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst once more, and mentally prepare herself for the next curveball to come.
"Pathfinder," the soft voice of Captain Nozomi Dunn the overall commander of the Ark called out from her position at the center of the bridge. Sara moved over to the side of the older woman and looked out of the viewport to see the blue-tinted gas of the gas giant passing before them as the large ark pushed through the upper reaches of the atmosphere of the planet. The escorting fighters peeled away from the large ship to take up patrol stations around the large gas giant.
"Captain. I take it you have detected the Nexus?" she asked the woman with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Correct. We detected the station as soon as we exited FTL on the outer edges of this solar system. They are anchored in the upper reaches of this gas giant," the other woman mentioned with a nod to the viewport before continuing on.
"The only reason we managed to detect them through all this is due to the station's beacon and our powerful sensors," she explained eying the gases outside of the ship with a frown on her face.
"They are hiding," Sara said with narrowed eyes making several on the bridge blink in surprise at her words, all but the captain who only nodded in agreement.
"I was thinking the same thing. That is the reason I had our fighters deployed before we all did an inner-system FTL jump to (3) Though I have to wonder what they are hiding from?" the Captain replied with a cautious look on her face.
"Those aliens we encountered at Habitat 7 maybe?" Sara predicted crossing her arms across her chest. She had been surprised that the older woman had deployed fighters but then again, she knew that the captain had once been a member of the Systems Alliance Navy where she had commanded the carrier SSV Allen B. Shepard for a few years. Therefore, she really shouldn't have been surprised that the other woman had launched fighters like she did when she started to become cautious after exiting FTL at the solar system's edge.
"We did detect a single cruiser-weight ship on the other side of the dark matter phenomena from us before it left the system after your team's adventure on the planet," Captain Dunn mentioned out loud with a thoughtful look making Sara nod in understanding. However, before she could say anything else one of the bridge crew turned away from his station.
"We are getting close to the station's beacon Captain," the man reported, and just as he said the last of the thick gas cleared allowing them all a view of the large space station that was supposed to be the home for the Initiative. Both the Captain and Sara blinked in some surprise as they saw the station. Both of the station's ward arm's having their other half fully assembled but as they got closer, they could see them not fully finished being constructed with large patches of hull missing and much of the inner superstructure exposed to space.
"They haven't finished construction. They should be done by now?" the Captain mentioned in some surprise while Sara looked over at the sensor officer's holographic screen and the readings that were being displayed.
"That isn't what I am worrying about Captain. Looks like they are completely dark, no power detected at all," Sara said as she stepped over to the side of the sensor station reading those readings over the shoulder of the sensor officer making the captain turn to look at her in some surprise. The sensor officer could only look back at his captain with a frown on his own face as he nodded at her.
"The Pathfinder is correct Captain. I am only detecting the bare minimum of power being generated on the station, enough for emergency life support but that is about it," the man replied making everyone on the bridge start to become a bit worried on what is going on here including both the Captain and Sara.
"Captain, I am not detecting any communications at all outside of automated VI responses to my hails," the communication officer then reported making things even more tense in the bridge as the Ark started to pass through the forward part of the station's ward arms heading towards the circular anchorage section that made up the center of the station. Captain Dunn frowned at this before walking over to the sensor station herself and tapping on the man's shoulder.
"Can you detect if they completed the Ark Docking Bays Lieutenant?" (4) she asked the man who blinked at this before switching to external cameras and after a few moments of searching along the hull of the station before he nodded. At the base of the Anchorage Section on both wards was supposed to be a single dock capable of having one of the large Arks to dock with the station. They were also designed to serve as shipyards if it was needed.
"Looks like only one of them has been completed Captain," the man replied making the captain nod at this before turning towards Commander Lani Reed the ship's primary helm officer and the Captain's second-in-command.
"Lani start docking procedures…" the captain started to order before Sara stepped up beside the Captain and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait, Captain. We don't know if this is some sort of trap by those aliens. Let me take a team over there in a shuttle to investigate before we dock the Ark. We have twenty-five thousand souls to take care of after all and it pays to be careful" she said in a low tone making the Captain look over at her in some surprise before she sighed and nodded at Sara.
"You are quite correct Pathfinder. Go ahead and gather your team. I shall have a shuttle prepped for you," the Captain mentioned turning to nod at another member of her crew.
"You heard that SAM?" Sara asked out loud as she started to head for the bridge hatch.
"Yes, Pathfinder. I have notified the rest of the Team, along with both Ms. Durand and Specialist Carter to get ready for a mission," SAM replied through the bridge speakers a moment later.
"Pathfinder you have any other suggestions?" the Captain asked right before Sara could leave the bridge making the younger woman blink in some surprise before she looked at the captain with a thoughtful look before nodding.
"Yes, Captain. Have half of your fighters move their patrol into the planet's upper atmosphere to see if there is anything hiding out there. Also, supplement them with some shuttles since they have more powerful sensors," she mentioned making the captain close her eyes in some irritation at herself before nodding in agreement with Sara.
"That is an excellent idea Pathfinder," she said before turning to look at another member of her crew, "You heard her Lieutenant. Get it done!"
That said the doors closed as Sara walked off the bridge blocking her from hearing anything else from the bridge and started to head for the ship's armory to prepare for the mission ahead.
Main Armory
Ark Hyperion
With a quick stride, Sara entered the ship's main armory to see the rest of her team getting themselves armored up making she nod pleased but didn't say anything before moving over to her own armor locker. She was pleased to see her backup Spearhead suit was readied for her and made a mental note to get the ship's armorer to start putting together a dedicated Pathfinder Series suit for her use. Then with quick motions, Sara slipped into her armor while her team finished up their own preparations. A minute or so later she pulled her helmet from the locker and turned to look at the rest of her waiting team. Both Marie Durand and Brianna Carter looked a bit uncomfortable in regular Explorer series hardsuits while Cora and Fredericks were quite at ease in their cleaned-up Spearhead series suits similar to her own.
"As I am sure SAM informed you all we have found the Nexus, but it is completely dark with no power outside of emergency life support and happens to be hiding in the upper reaches of a large gas giant from something or another. Therefore, before we risk having the Ark dock with the station, we are going to need to figure out what is going on at the station hence why we are going over there to check things out," she mentioned as she started to move towards the weapon lockers. Not before sadly glancing over at the rock that her dad had placed in one corner of the armory. Shaking herself she turned back to her team and eyed Cora for a bit.
"That said, I'm sorry to ask this of you Cora but I need you to stay here on the Ark in case of the worst happening. If something goes wrong on the station, I really do not want to have to transfer SAM to Captain Dunn or Fredericks," she said with a frown on her face making Cora stiffen slightly at this announcement before sighing in understanding.
"I understand Pathfinder. It is a good idea, but I really wish you wouldn't go yourself, but you are your father's daughter after all," Cora mentioned with a slight shake of her head making Sara huff in some irritation, but it was quite true. She was her father's daughter, and her father was always one to jump feet first into something.
"Truth Cora. Why don't you observe the mission from the ship's bridge," Sara mentioned making the slightly older woman nod in understanding before making her way towards the door but before she did, she looked back at her and the rest of the team.
"Good luck Sara," she said before she was gone making Sara shake her head with a smirk on her face. She looked over at the rest of the team who had remained quiet at this and started to open her mouth to order them to move out when the door opened once more, and a pair of men entered the room both already suited up in Explorer suits. The first she was surprised to see was Doctor Henry Carlyle who was finishing up tightening up some of his armor plates while the second man was younger and was wearing a slightly modified version of the Explorer suit complete with a large red cross on the center of his chest plate. He held his helmet in the crook of his armor and pretty much stood at military attention a step behind the old doctor.
"Doc? What's up?" Sara asked with a confused look on her face.
"The captain thought it would be best if you had some medical support therefore I had myself and Mister Omundson here suited up. Besides with much of the Pathfinder Team still in my med-bay, I figured you could use another couple of trained guns on your side," the man mentioned with a nod at the man at his side. Sara nodded at this for it did make sense for they did not know what was happening onboard the Nexus.
"Besides Alec here is not only a trained medic but an intel specialist so he would be quite useful on this mission," the Doctor continued on making Sara look over at the younger man in a new light.
"I take it then Mister Omundson that you are also former Alliance military as well?" she asked the man eying his military-like stance.
"Correct ma'am I have been trained as an N4 Field Medic though I have also been trained in intelligence gathering like Doctor Carlyle mentioned," the man replied with military precision making her silently whistle in some appreciation at this. She then turned to look over at Fredericks who had silently moved up behind her.
"Robert please grab Scott's Omni-Tool from his locker since it would have a dedicated scanning module like mine besides it also has a link with SAM which would be quite useful," she ordered the man not even blinking at him being behind her making the man nod before moving towards Scott's locker while Sara turned to look at the two men.
"Well I definitely could use a couple more trained guns on my side so welcome on board. Get yourself armed and ready we really don't know what we will find on the station," she ordered the two men before finally pulling out an M5 Phalanx Pistol and an X5 Ghost Assault Rifle (5). Both of which she checked thoroughly before collapsing them and placing them onto her suit's storage hard points. As she did so Fredericks had come up with Scott's omnitool in hand.
"Ah. Thanks, Robert," she thanked him with a smile before moving over to the medic who equipped himself with a couple of weapons from the arms locker.
"Mister Omundson like I mentioned this Omni-Tool has a dedicated scanning module allowing for dedicated scans and also sports a direct link to SAM which will help with the scanning," she mentioned holding it out to the man to take.
"Yes. That would help," the man mentioned with a small pleased smile on his face. Sara could only nod at this before turning her attention to the rest of the team.
"Alright everyone let's move out," she ordered as she started to move towards the opposite door leading towards one of the ship's large hangar bays where their shuttle awaited them.
Initiative Shuttle 203 "Francisco Pizarro" (6)
On Approach to Nexus Anchorage Ring
A few minutes found the small team of six inside one of the Initiative's small Glacier Shuttles as it approached the large Anchorage Ring of the Nexus which like the Citadel sported much of the station's docking bays including numerous entrances into the ring itself where landing pads were spread out above the Presidium-like inner ring which sported large parks, trees, and large apartment-like blocks for much of the station's crew. The shuttle's pilot, an Asari matron who had reminded Sara of Joker, had quickly brought them out of the hangar and past a few of the fighter patrols that started to expand from the Nexus and the Ark holding station in front of the larger station. They then found one of the large entrance locks leading into the interior of the Anchorage Ring and from there into the Ring itself.
Sara and the rest of the team were then able to see inside the darkened ring itself seeing that much of the construction here in the ring was finished with much of the apartment blocks finished though much of the planned greenery was not in place just yet. They also noticed that the station's Hydroponics Section which was supposed to feed the entire station and its population looked to be damaged in some way.
"Pathfinder I shall place your team on that closest pad to the Atrium (7)," the pilot, one Lisana T'lesso (8), reported from the shuttle's cockpit as she flew towards the area of the Ring known as the Atrium which sported the central hub of the station's various trams and where much of the Rings Landing Pads were located at along with several of the docking bays. It was designed to serve as the overall entrance to the station and therefore looked the part. However, as they approached Sara could see that it wasn't finished construction with various stacked crates and parts strew around the area. Sara frowned at this as she looked over at the worried looks on her team's face.
"Alright Miss T'lesso put us on that large central landing pad please," she ordered the pilot who only nodded at her before following the orders and brought the shuttle above one of the large central landing pads right below the Atrium. As she did so the doors slid open letting Sara and her team exit the shuttle onto the landing pad which was strewn with several crates along with some debris of some sort.
"Hyperion this is the Pathfinder we have arrived on the Station's Atrium and starting our search," Sara reported quietly to the distant Ark as she stepped out of the shuttle behind her team as they secured the landing pad.
"Understood Pathfinder. Good luck," came Cora's voice from her radio making her smile at the familiar voice before waving her team forward.
Central Plaza
Atrium
The Nexus
After almost an hour of searching through the lower levels of the Atrium the Pathfinder team finally found themselves in the Central Plaza of the Atrium with the station's main Tram Station was centrally located along with various other facilities including the Initiative's Cultural Center and Science Center. The former was organized mainly in case they did end up making contact with local space-faring species while the latter was a series of large labs set aside for the use of the Initiative's Science Team. There was also a huge bio-lab and a series of small shops on the main level of the Atrium that could be used to sell stuff to incoming visitors or colonists as they were prepared for their stay on the station.
However, as the Pathfinder searched around this floor, they found nothing to indicate what was going on with the station just like the lower levels. Though Alec Omundson with SAM's help did manage to find some indication of a series of firefights that had happened in the lower levels and as they reached the Central Plaza of the Atrium, he managed to find more indications of more firefights that had happened including some blood stains. This all made the team tense and wondered what had been happening at the station since their arrival months ago.
They suddenly noticed some source of light that was in front of the station's main Tram Station and as the team cautiously approached, they noticed it was some sort of holographic figure that was quite familiar to many members of the team.
"Is that Avina? From the Citadel?" Fredericks asked in some surprise as they approached the holographic figure to see if the figure happened to be an asari. The others could only stare in equal surprise including Sara for this was the last thing she expected.
"Correct Specialist Fredericks. When the Nexus was constructed the leadership of the Initiative managed to get permission from the Citadel Council to copy Avina entirely and to place her onboard the station as the main greeting VI to make the colonists a bit more comfortable when they first arrived on the Nexus," SAM's voice explained over their radios making the team relax slightly at this explanation.
"I wonder if she has any information on what is going on here," Brianna Carter mentioned out loud as she stared at the holographic figure of Avina as it turned at their approach.
"Welcome to the Nexus. I am Avina. How may I help you today," the VI terminal spoke up as they came close to the terminal. Sara sighed at this before turning to the holographic figure of the VI.
"Yes, Avina. Do you have any information on what the current status of the Nexus is?" she asked the Virtual Intelligence knowing most likely she wouldn't know what was going on.
"I'm sorry I do not recognize the question. Would you like to know the history of the Andromeda Initiative or exploration of the Andromeda Galaxy," the VI replied making the entire team groan out loud. However, Fredericks looked at the VI terminal in some thought before he turned to look at Sara.
"Ma'am you do remember what happened at the Battle of Citadel and how the Commander was able to get the needed information from Avina about Saren's location," he mentioned making Sara look over at him in some confusion.
"Yes. She used her Spectre Codes to bypass Avina's current warning messages and access the Citadel's interior sensors," Sara replied making Fredericks nod at her.
"What if they just replace the Spectre Code Access with that of Pathfinder Codes," the man explained making Sara blink at this before looking over at the VI who was politely silent as they discussed.
"SAM?" she called out loud with a frown.
"The Specialist is quite correct Pathfinder. Using your Pathfinder codes, you can use Avina to access not only the station's internal sensors if they are online, but the station's central data core as well," the AI reported making Sara sigh in some relief before turning back to the Avina Terminal.
"Okay then pass Avina my Pathfinder codes SAM and let's see what we can access," she ordered with a deep sigh.
"Understood. Complying," SAM replied and a moment later the holographic figure of Avina seemed to straighten in a stance of attention.
"Pathfinder Codes accepted. How may I help you today, Pathfinder? Note 9" the VI spoke in a more respectful tone of voice making the gathered team to sigh in some relief.
"Avina, can you currently access any of the internal sensors on the Nexus?" Sara asked going right to work on trying to see if anyone was currently on the station.
"Negative Pathfinder. The station is currently in low-power mode therefore power is routed to Emergency Life Support, the remaining active Cryo-Stasis Pods on the Station, and several other minor systems to keep the station's current awake population alive. There is no power currently routed to the internal sensors," the VI answered making Sara frown at this but could only nod for a while it didn't answer her questions on where the station's population was located it still gave the impression that there were people on the station.
"Okay. Let's try something else. Avina can you currently access the station's main data-core?" she asked continuing on with her questions on what was going on here.
"Affirmative Pathfinder. I currently have a single direct data line to the station's main data core," Avina answered making the team let out some sighs of relief at this while Sara could only nod in some relief at this answer.
"Very well Avina. Please access the data core and give me a rundown on what has happened with the Nexus since arrival in the Andromeda Galaxy," she ordered the VI while the rest of the team behind her leaned forward in anticipation of the answers to their numerous questions.
"Why don't you ask that of a real person over that of a Virtual Intelligence Pathfinder?" came a harmonic-like voice of a turian from behind the team. With a few curses, the team whipped around with weapons extending in their hands. From the darkness from the nearby Main Tram Station a trio of figures stepped forward with a blue and white-armored form of a turian at their head.
-o-Chapter End-o-
Post Chapter Notes:
Well, the second official chapter is now done. I must say that this is the first major divergence of the story in that instead of going right up to the Nexus and docking with the station the Hyperion instead sends over a small team to discover what is going on with the station. That is something I always thought was kind of dumb for Captain Dunn to do for they just got themselves damaged from an unknown space phenomenon, lost their Pathfinder on their first mission to an unknown planet, and while there encountered an unknown hostile alien race. You would think that they would be a bit more cautious when they arrived at the Nexus. Hence my reasoning for Sara and Captain Dunn to send over a team to investigate what happened with the Nexus.
We also get briefly introduced to two of my original characters: Brianna Carter, based on my Female Soldier character in Andromeda Multiplayer, and Alec Omundson an N4 Field Medic/Intelligence Specialist who is heavily based on Aric Jorgan from Star Wars: The Old Republic game who is named after the character's voice actor. Brianna won't be a major character all that much in this story, but Alec will go on to become one of the new members of the Pathfinder team. I did say I was going to expand the team a bit.
Well, that is about it for these notes. I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter and I shall see you all in the next chapter.
Chapter Annotations
Oh boy. A couple of things that I really did not like about the Nexus have been changed in this story. First, its travel configuration which looked to me quite fragile therefore I reimagined it a bit. In this story, only half of the ward arms are finished along with the central ring. Attached to the ring are the mentioned four engine clusters which were removed when they arrived. Secondly, in the game one major mission of the Pathfinder Team was finding new planets to place outposts onto them which would be expanded into full-on colonies. What I didn't like was that much of the population of the Initiative was expected to settle at one of these outposts when they had a massive station to live on. Therefore, in this story that is changed with a vast majority of the population going to be living on the station while the outposts will support the station and its population. The outposts will later be expanded to full-on colonies later on when they have enough of a viable population. Hence, there will be no real search for a new 'home' in this story when they already have brought a home with them.
See Background Codex Entry
I have mentioned before that I never understood that in the game the Hyperion ends up happily moving to the Nexus and docks with it. Another matter I never understood is that the Hyperion did not have its fighters out escorting it. We know the Arks have fighters embarked therefore why in the world didn't they have them out escorting the ship? Here they are a bit more cautious and have the fighters escorting the ark.
Another thing I really did not like about the design of the Nexus was having the Ark ships dock nose first in the center of the rod-like extension that ran through the middle of the wheel-like Presidium area. Hence, I have that changed where there are dedicated large-sized docking cradles built into the ends of the Ward Arms for the Arks to dock with when they arrive at the station. This allows an easier time with unloading any supplies the arks were carrying and the stasis pods onto the station. Later this also allows the Arks to be either converted for another purpose or deconstructed for needed materials. They also can double as dedicated shipyard facilities with some modifications.
See Background Codex Entry
One major thing I am adding to the story is that while the small shuttles really only have numbers as names it didn't stop them having names given to them by their crews. In this case, I am having many of the Initiative shuttles to be named after maritime explorers and early space explorers. In this case after the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro.
The Atrium is my own created name for the reworked Commons area of the Nexus. It covers the main meeting area and the edges of the docking sector of the Nexus. The Central Plaza is the main central area of the Atrium where all of the shops are located at along with the Cultural Center and science labs. The Vortex will later be added to the plaza out of a converted lab just it is from the game itself. However it will not be the only recreational facility in this area.
New Crew Member Spotted! Yes. This is the same pilot we find on Vloed who claims to be the best pilot in the Asari Republics. I have her onboard the Hyperion just because if Lexi was onboard then I am sure a few other Asari found themselves onboard the ship for some reason or another. In this case due to being romantically involved with a human.
Pathfinder Codes is going to be similar to having Specter codes in the first Mass Effect games with it mostly seen in the Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC. They will allow access to locked doors throughout the Nexus and its outposts, allow access to a VI like Avina, and other different ways.
Background Codex Entry
Andromeda Galactic Codex
Andromeda Initiative – Ships and Vehicles – SF5 Vanguard Space Fighter
One of the only armed combat craft included in the Andromeda Initiative inventory is the SF5 Vanguard Space Superiority Fighter. A variant of the aging F-61 Trident Fighter of the System's Alliance Navy the SF5 takes the basic hull design of the old F-61 and expands it slightly before adding advanced top-of-line systems and weapons to it to make a superior combat fighter. It was introduced by the Andromeda Initiative to serve as the main defender of the Initiative in its entirety along with its relatively unarmed scouts ships and Ark Ships along with its people.
The SF5 is designed from the get-go to not only serve as a general fighter craft but to also serve in an interceptor or light fighter bomber role as well when required. To do this the SF5 is equipped with a heavy vehicle-grade mass effect drive which powers the entire craft giving it vastly superior maneuverability and speed while also possessing decent kinetic barriers for a fighter-sized craft. For weapons, the fighter is equipped with a pair of lightweight MAC-F10 Mass Accelerator Cannons built into the front-end pylons and a pair of modular bays on the craft's underside for different missile weapons like disrupter torpedoes or non-combat devices like probes. Finally, the ship is equipped with a lightweight short-range FTL drive allowing a fast response to a variety of different locations in a solar system.
Overall, the Initiative sported over two hundred of these small craft spread across the Nexus itself, and the four Arks of the first wave of the Initiative. They are organized loosely in twelve-craft squadrons with the vast majority of the squadrons being carried on board the Nexus while three squadrons on each of the Arks. Another couple hundred or so Vanguards are carried disassembled on the Nexus in case they are needed for any reason while another couple further squadrons of Vanguards are said to be carried on board the Second Wave Arks.
Andromeda Galactic Codex
Andromeda Initiative – Weapons, Armor, and Equipment – X5 Ghost
"The Ghost is basically an Avenger with the power and kick of a Mattock…"
- Quote from Initiative Security Director Tiran Kandros, Circa. sometime in early 2820AD
Before the launch of the Andromeda Initiative from the Milky Way Galaxy the leadership of the Initiative would directly order their own dedicated variant of the popular M-8 Avenger assault rifle from the Elkoss Combine. This variant would become the X5 Ghost and is separated from the basic M-8 rifle by several notable modifications done to the basic design of the rifle. These modifications allowed the Initiative to use them in a variety of different environments and sports additional sensor functions to help in exploration missions. It is also designed to be more easily maintained onboard the Arks and the Nexus itself. As well as the ability to easily configure for the use of different species that take part in the Initiative.
The X5 would go on to be the primary assault rifle of the Andromeda Initiative Security Forces and exploration teams including the Pathfinder Teams though some members of the Pathfinder teams would have their own personally customized weapons. Later after the Nexus Uprising and the formation of the Initiative Militia, the X5 remained as the primary weapon of the Militia's Nexus Security Branch. The Militia's elite APEX Combat Teams would instead use a variety of different customized weapons including custom-built X5 Ghosts, older customized M95 Mattocks, or other such rifles depending on the personal preference of the individual APEX Team Member.