Prologue , Part 1 : So You Wanna be a Spacer .
• The Broadcast:
"Today marks twelve hundred years since the defeat of the Reapers, and a thousand since the founding of our Glorious Empire-"
• Blue Heaven Station:
"Shut that crap off, would ya?" a Krogan grumbled to the sangheili bartender.
Gene could understand were he was coming from. The Terran Empire might be a utopia for Humanoids, but not for Aliens.
Not wanting to get involved with politics, despite actually liking watching the festivities on the Citadel, Gene just drank his third glass of Twi'lek Spirits.
He'd have to watch how much of this stuff he drank. It had an almost tea like taste, mixed with fruits. Going down far too smooth... he suppose he should feel insulted the bartender suggested this.
As the bartender changed the channel of the TV, Gene allowed his mind to wander. Not like he hadn't heard similar speeches, for each of the 24 years of his life.
This space station, Blue Heaven, seemed to be a collection of the less reputable species of the universe.
There were several of the small, green, and completely mad, Irkens. A group of the war hungry Klingons were gathered around one of the tables. Some Ctarl-Ctarl a few tables down from them.
Although those Tiger people were technically classified as humanoid, and as a result were given more rights and even a seat on the Federation Senate.
But there was no shortage of humans, as there never was. Blue Heaven really did seem like a haven for the most unsavory people.
Gene smiled, this was his kind of town. After being stuck on that ship, for nearly a week, this was so much better. He used to love flying as a kid, but now just being on a ship made him nauseous.
He didn't remember coming down with any kind of space sickness his first time out, but he'd been so young then, too young. It was just supposed to be some fun little adventure every kid dreams about. He had been helping his dad fly his ship, on a journey that was supposed to take over a month... just him and his dad, enjoying the stars.
Gene didn't even know what it was they were transporting. His father was a simple merchant, so it couldn't have been overly valuable... someone thought otherwise.
When Pirates attacked their ship, Gene was thrown inside an escape pod, by his dad, and launched towards the closest planet... which was near a month away.
He landed on a backwater, named Sentinel 3, and was taken in by a hacker. The man was a good guy, a single father, but that didn't stop the police from arresting him a few years later.
Ever since Gene had been taking care of his son, Jim. Waiting for the guy to bust out of prison... he hadn't told Jim yet, kept putting it off... the man died in a prison riot nearly a year ago. Gene took another drink. Jim still occasionally asked to visit him.
Now they were out in space, helping some outlaw that tried to kill them. This wasn't the smartest play but it was his only chance. He wanted to get off Sentinel. He wanted to be a spacer like his father. He wanted to get back at those pirates for what they took from him. He wanted to be an outlaw... and this was his only chance.
For some reason this woman offered him and Jim a place on her crew, even a decent cut of the profits. This was his one and only chance... and he was sitting here wallowing because he had a tummy ache... Even on this space station he was a bit nauseous.
He got up, taking his bottle, and sat at Hilda's table.
Hilda looked up at him, studying him closely, with a smirk plastered on her face. She was dressed in brownish purple armor and an eyepatch. Which Gene could only assume wasn't there for a fashion statement, but who knows with this woman.
Gene chugged down his glass. Then refilled it with the bottle. Before passing it to her, "So what's the deal? We must have passed a dozen stations on the way here. If all you wanted to do was refuel there were cheaper places."
Hilda shrugged, smirk still in place. "I know I can trust Swanzo. Besides I have business here."
"Which would be?" Gene eyed.
"Not much really. Blue Heaven is an outlaw station, I'm in the need of a crew to pull off a job."
"A job?" Gene blinked, thinking it over. "So it's not something you can pull off by yourself... I think it's time you told me just what this job is, enough with the secrets!" he glared.
Hilda rolled her drink around in her glass, the gears in her head obviously turning, before answering, "Alright, I'm going after a certain ship."
"A certain ship?" Gene blinked.
"It's a very special ship, one with enough power to dive into an Ether Stream. It's called a Grappler."
"A Grappler spaceship!?" Gene's eyes widened, remembering the ship that killed his father.
Grappler ships were originally designed to do construction work in space. It was basically just attaching arms to a starship, but pirates tweaked the idea. Reinforcing them with stronger metals, and making them more quick and agile.
Grappler ships were used for combat now. They helped tear open a shuttle and could keep hold of it for boarding. Some pirates even added weapons for the arms to hold, such as swords and guns.
"If you're interested think it over, but make sure it's what you really want," Hilda grinned. "Cause it sounds to me like you're a bit of a space hater."
"Just mind your own business," Gene snapped, perhaps a bit too defensively.
The last thing he considered himself was a 'space hater'. He loved space. He dreamed about coming out here, and living as a spacer, ever since he was a little boy.
Back then he dreamed about living life out here with his dad, only landing on planets to pick up cargo. His childhood dream, of inheriting his father's cargo business, had morphed into being an outlaw, and hunting pirates, but it still involved living on a ship out in space.
He loved space, he'd get over this little phobia he seemed to have developed, once he got used to being out here again.
• Educational Broadcasts.
Today marks twelve hundred years since the defeat of the Reapers, and a thousand since the founding of our Glorious Empire.
John, Spartan tag 117, the same Spartan that many claim to be largely responsible for the victory over the Covenant, was found after 130 years. Where many had hoped to find his body, the galaxy was amazed, as he was found still alive in stasis.
Many of the species, formerly enslaved by the religious cult's ideals, were seen celebrating in the streets at the return of the Master Chief. Unfortunately that celebration left a bitter taste in many mouths, as 9 months later John Spartan, our Master Chief, was declared dead after an attack on his ship by a then unknown vessel.
However his demon luck rang true, as he appeared back on the Citadel a mere 2 years later, ALIVE and reinstated into the Spectres.
There he teamed up with the Current human Spectres, Jane and John Shepard, no relation. They worked together to investigate the disappearance of Humanoid planets.
Entire worlds, with lifeforms based on the humanoid animal Kingdom, or even the potential for humanoids to evolve, were moved into their own galaxy by the Reapers. No stars, rogue asteroids, or nebulous. Only an environmental bubble, around each world, giving it uniformed lighting and weather. With all worlds in perfect orbit around each other. Then orbiting the Citadel.
A massive Space Station. Made from the raw resources of a million galaxies. With a single Galaxy in the center of the Citadel's ring. Made from all worlds and stars in the universe.
With an hour, on each of these worlds, consisting of 100 minutes. Then a day last 42 hours, spread equally. As the atmosphere lights up for 21 hours, then dimming for an additional 21, to simulate day and night without stars.
Followed by 7 days, in a week, as a singular orbit around the other worlds in the Quadrant.
Then 6 weeks in a month, as the movement of all the quadrants around each other.
And finally, 504 days in a year, as a rotation around the Citadel. Meaning 1 Galactic Standard Year, is approximately 3 Earth Years.
With the Collectors, the very race to shoot down the Master Chief's ship, moving all these worlds together, and organizing them into quadrants based on genre... for the purpose of more easily harvesting their lifeforms. And with the intention of moving everything back for the next harvest cycle. Both plans that were foiled by the Master Chief.
It took us just under a galactic standard year, but due to the United armies of humanity's most powerful species uniting, we were able to beat them back.
Over the course of three years, humanity prepared for the next Reaper attack. We called them 'Reapers' as they symbolized the end of everything. Sapient ships, bent on harvesting all space fairing life, to create more Reapers.
When the Reapers finally did arrive, they easily gathered the worlds of each galactic government. Moving them into their own galaxies, organized into quadrants by race. They were up to a thousand smaller galaxies, when Humanity managed to orchestrate a plan.
The Galaxies united their fleets, and lured the Reapers into a trap. The final battle around the Citadel. There the three human Spectres were able to defeat the Sapient ships.
By uploading the Master Chief's Artificial Intelligence assistant, "Cortana", into the Citadel Mainframe. She was able to take direct control of all the Reapers, reprogramming them into a more passive state. All the Mass Relays were destroyed as a result of this.
However, thanks to reverse engineering Reaper tech, all individual ships were outfitted with their own Mass Warp drive. Allowing individuals to jump over whole quadrants in mere hours. From anywhere in the universe.
However, humanity continued to struggle and fight each other. Until our glorious Emperor, a merciful and divine Kami, united all of mankind into a single government.
CODEXes: The Citadel and the Terran Empire.
Timeline ; Humanity's rise and Fall .
• In the 31st Century, Earth's sun underwent a massive Solar Flare, that threatened the inhabitants. Various Generational Ships were constructed, and spread out across the Stars, Colonizing millions of Worlds.
• Humanity spreads out across all of space, when they meet the Leviathans. Each representing a different color of the light spectrum. Which gives them reality bending powers, as they are the godlike beast, that will one day be used to power Lantern Rings.
War breaks out.
It ended when Tenza exposed themselves to the Leviathans. A race of god killers equal to there own.
The Leviathans were unable to compete with an army of creatures, just as powerful as themselves. So the Leviathans recognize the Tenza, as lifeforms equal to themselves. The Tenza uses that to negotiate peace, officially claiming humanoids as the Tenzas own "servants". As they use humans to care for their children.
The Leviathans back off, with apologies, and write up treaties with humanity. Recognizing them as the property of the Tenza.
• Over the course of 5 Billion years, humanity interbred with countless races. When it became apparent that pure humans were going to disappear from the galaxy, they transplanted their history into a genetic message.
• The Engineers:
Mala'kak had a thriving Empire, priding themselves on being the direct-most evolution of humanity. However, they joined forces with the Forerunners. Destroying most Sapient life in the Galaxy, in order to starve a race of parasites, called "The Flood".
However, there were several plans to preserve the species. Such as collecting thousands of each species, before activating their weapon to destroy all Sapient life. Then depositing them back on their homeworlds.
A few decades later, with the Forerunners and the Mala'kak being the only space fairing creatures left... the Mass Effect Reapers, a race of self aware space ships, attacked. Harvesting the remaining survivors, but leaving the other races alone, given they were no longer technologically advanced enough.
It's been roughly a billion years since then. With humanoids only evolving in the last 200,000 years. While they weren't exactly the same, across all worlds, they did have many similarities.
As their genetic message, containing the Mala'kak's history and their Warning of the Reapers. the humanoids evolved in similar patterns. Due to a subconscious need they developed similar cultures, even giving many of their cities similar names, along with similar media. Some worlds even developed similar histories, compelled to develop in a pattern fitting the figures and stories of Earth.
It even became common place, for individuals of historical significance, or mythological importance, to manifest on a few worlds.
Though clearly not exactly the same, as their was diversity in how they evolved. Such as the large differences, between Terrans and Vulcans.
• Emperor's Origins :
In the present era, after the defeat of the Reapers, The Emperor of Mankind, is none other then the same Emperor from "Warhammer 40k". But from well before his corpse was strapped to the Golden Throne.
He is currently a whole and Healthy Kami. A mortal who has unlocked divine ki, and extended his life indefinitely as a result. However, he can still be killed.
The Emperor hates gods, particularly gods of chaos. Often seen battling any that dare enter his galaxy.
He also has a "humanity first" agenda. But he does not believe aliens are inherently "evil". Even trading with them, engaging in diplomatic talks, and willing to obey the Citadel. Although he does frown on inter species couples, it is not illegal within Terran Space.
• The Unification War.
• Over the course of a year, after the Reapers were defeated, the Emperor grew more and more unsatisfied, with the squabbling between the various humanoid races. Until he finally revealed himself to the humans of Sol 3. And reorganized them into an Empire.
• At first, the Emperor tried to unite these races peacefully. However a Rebel faction developed, Calling themselves the "Independents" or "Brown Coats". With all out war erupting between all space fairing humans.
• The Unification War lasted a full 42 years, until The Emperor felt the only way to end the killing, was to demonstrate his power.
To force compliance, The Emperor proceeded to rain fire from the skies, to terrify the Rebels to submit... it worked... and resulted in all of humanity worshiping him as a god. The fact the Emperor made Earth habitable, by literally snapping his fingers, only encouraged this belief... despite how he discouraged the notion, himself.
Treaties were signed, with the Emperor recognized as ruler over all of mankind. While the aliens, now trapped in his territory, became second Class Citizens.
• The Emperor created a Parliament, with representatives from every space fairing humanoid world. With an elected Chairman. While the planetary governments, were largely left to their own devices.
The Parliament was designed to act independently. With the Emperor largely being a figure head, whom had veto powers.
• After The Unification War, the "God of Mankind", forced the humanoids from the former "Federation of Allied Planets" to surrender all their technology. Then traded it to the Citadel, along with all the Federation's Starfleet officers and ships. With the Space Forces reorganized into a branch of Starfleet.
This was largely a bribe, so the Citadel wouldn't send in the Reapers to de-throne the Emperor. Which the Citadel Council accepted, but wrote up their own treatie, requiring the God Emperor to recognize Citadel Authority.
• Present Day of the Terran Empire:
The Humanoids have established a well balanced government. Where each planetary government, was given their own seat on a Senate. As well as an additional Senator, per species, to represent all of their race's interest.
Prior to the Empire, due to their sheer abundance, Humanoids were once seen as the pest of the Galaxy, and an invasive species at that.
The Terran Empire is a union of humanoid species. Designed to protect the rights of humanoids, and defend them against persecution.
The Empire is made up of thousands of space fairing species, all descended from the Mala'kak. These governments remain largely independent, but must obey the same doctrine.
Creating new laws is very difficult, as they must get a 90% majority vote to be added to the doctrine. While new laws have been added since the Doctrine was written, it is very rare.
The Systems Alliance Fleet, is a union of the humanoids' militaries, like NATO.
The Empire enforces their laws for all humanoids, even if they have never officially been read into the Empire. The Empire claims jurisdiction over all forms of Mankind.
This includes protecting non-space fairing humanoid worlds, while secretly observing them for anthropology studies. As the Empire is forbidden from directly interacting with the more primitive worlds, by Citadel Law.
The Terran Empire still has a seat on the Citadel Council, and by extension are expected to honor the rulings of the Citadel. With trade agreements for races across the thousand Galaxies, that were created by the Reapers.
Since the Reaper Invasion, Humanoids became a more respectable Animal Kingdom. If aliens have a dispute with any humanoid civilizations, to individual people, they contact the Empire.
The Empire is largely a benevolent government, but they do claim jurisdiction over all humanoid races, and enforce their laws on them. However, their laws are few, and they largely let the human worlds govern themselves, while giving them better resources and defense.
Most new Humanoid governments, are resentful that the Empire just claims jurisdiction over them... but all inevitably come to appreciate the benefits.
• Leviathans :
6 billion years ago, the galaxy was ruled by a race of god killers. The Leviathans (from Mass Effect) were the size of Starships, and were originally ocean dwelling beings, with an appearance similar to Earth's giant squids, but much shorter tentacles.
They have the means to fly, and even survive in space, with no need of a starship.
The Leviathans viewed themselves as the ultimate lifeform, with superior telepathic powers. They would invade the minds of all other species they encountered, and make them want to serve them. However the creatures they enslaved still retained their personalities and much of their independence.
These "Lower" lifeforms were viewed largely by the Leviathans as pets. Something to spoil and pamper, however they still were expected to assist their masters with various task the bulky body of a Leviathan was unsuited for.
They viewed these "Lower lifeforms" much as how humans view "service animals". Complete with the mindset that Sapient life was inferior to themselves, and therefore needed the guidance and protection of the Leviathans.
The Leviathans once had a massive Empire, stretching across the whole of existence. However they wanted easier travel, and so merged the existing, billion galaxies, into one massive galaxy.
The Citadel was made from a trillion black rocks, worlds incapable of ever supporting life, and given Earth Norm gravity, in artificial environments throughout the inside of the Station.
While there are shops and apartments, all throughout the levels of the Citadel's Arms, the ring at the center, was designed for the operations of government.
Such as: the embassies, a Senate chamber for the "lower species", and various other government offices, including Security. It also had Academies, to train children with atypical manifestations of magic... AKA "Superpowers", "Quirks", "Bloodline Traits", or "Classes".
While the inner Ring of the Citadel was used for docking space ships. There was even an entire floor dedicated to amusement parks, as The Leviathans, wanted to make the aliens they indoctrinated comfortable.
Throughout the billions of floors of the Halo Rings, and even within the Citadel itself, were several Artificial environments, to grow food and provide water. There are various machines meant to purify and maintain the Citadel's water supply. As well as machines to artificially create water, air, and nutrient rich soil.
While the gravity outside the Citadel was strong, inside was Earth Norm, regardless of mass.
This is due to the Leviathans having an advanced understanding of magic and science. They were able to greatly alter the mass of an object, to be comfortable regardless of size.
Although the gravity is powerful enough to keep all the galaxies in orbit. It does not affect ships with their own artificial gravity.
• Galactic Language :
The Galactic Standard language for the Citadel races is a mix of English and Japanese (but all written in the American style and spoken with American grammar). This is because that is the native language of the Leviathans. However thousands of other languages do exist throughout the Universe. Having evolved from their language.
• Reapers :
The Leviathans once used their natural indoctrination magic to enslave the galaxies, but realized that their servants kept building Synthetic Lifeforms. Which would inevitably turn on the "lesser beings". So the Leviathans built an AI of their own. This was meant to study the phenomenon, and discover a solution.
The solution the program created, was to build an army of Starships, made out of the essence of the sentient lifeforms. Entire civilizations would be converted into new self aware ships, AKA Reapers.
They left various technologies behind, to guide future species to develop the way they wanted them to, then drove the Leviathans into hiding.
It is said, the Reapers actually created the Mega Galaxy. During the first paradoxical war, at the beginning of the universe. However, most respectable scholars do not believe this "Time War" ever happened... despite Legends and myths about such an event existing in every culture.
• Citadel :
The Citadel is an ancient deep-space station, the size of a trillion worlds. Made of a "Ring", and 5 "arms" called "Wards".
The Citadel has two complex modes of travel. With public transportation consisting of faster then light turbo-lifts. And then tunnels for more personalized hover vehicles.
The Embassies are held within the Presidium, the Citadel's inner ring. With the outer shell being where ships park, with the crew having to go through Citadel Security, or "C-Sec", to legally progress into the station itself.
The Citadel Tower, in the center of the Presidium, holds the Citadel Council chambers. Council affairs often have far-reaching effects on the rest of the galactic community. Their various decks, have been built into cities, populated by near a trillion inhabitants, from races across the galaxy.
The Citadel is virtually indestructible. If attacked, the station can close its arms to form a solid, impregnable shell. For as long as the station has existed, an enigmatic race called the keepers has maintained it.
The Citadel was formerly believed to be constructed by an ancient race called the Protheans. But now it is known, to have been constructed by a race of Sapient spaceships, called "The Reapers".
Numerous species now call the Citadel home. With it serving as the political, cultural, and financial capital of the largest galactic community, the Citadel. Other governments have settled their capital on stations, in orbit around the Citadel.
With most species, having an embassy on the Citadel, in addition to being part of another intergalactic Government.
This is only possible, as The Citadel has pledged to stay neutral, between Interplanetary conflicts. With their military only stepping in for Galactic threats, and as domestic police. While the Citadel Council often acts as a neutral third party, during diplomatic discussions or disputes, to promote peace.
• Citadel Council :
The Council is an executive committee composed of representatives from the 42 most influential species of the universe.
Though they have no official power over the independent governments of other species, the Council's decisions carry great weight throughout the galaxy. No single Council race is strong enough to defy the others, and all have a vested interest in compromise and cooperation.
Any species granted an embassy on the Citadel is considered an associate member, bound by the accords of the Citadel Conventions. Associate members may bring issues to the attention of the Council, though they have no input on the decision.
• Prime Directive :
As part of an intergalactic treatie, for all Citadel races. Only planets capable of traveling faster then light, have colonized other worlds, or are capable of sending a real time transmission outside their solar system, are permitted to be contacted.
There is to be no trading or interaction with these civilizations, outside global disasters. With no interference in how their world develops.
Even with space fairing races, their culture must be respected, so long as it doesn't directly contradict Citadel Law.
• Citadel Space :
Citadel Space is an unofficial term referring to any region of space controlled by a species that acknowledges the authority of the Citadel Council. At first glance, it appears this territory encompasses most of the universe. In reality, approximately 42% of the stars have been explored.
With the help of "Reaper" tech. Each Ship is outfitted with it's own personal "Mass Warp Drive", which allows them decrees their mass, while bending space, allowing them to travel several million times faster then light.
With this, it's possible to get from one side of the universe, to the other, in 42 years. Which is what allowed them to explore nearly half of the universe.
• Extranet :
There are many magical buoys in between Solar systems, which send out a Wi-Fi broadcast for the Galactic Extranet. Most races don't discover how to access the signal until they discover such a buoy. The Extranet is completely free to access and use.
The Extranet didn't exactly work like the Internet. There was no "Web Browser" rather there was a communal App store which sold Citadel approved Apps. Channel Apps, Station Apps, Chat Apps, Map Apps, Calendar Apps, Fan Art Apps, even Porn Apps of each race and much more. All these Apps are available in the Galactic Standard Language, to all species aware of the Greater Galaxies.
Each production studio for shows had their own "Channel App", which uploaded dozens to thousands of shows by that studio.
They are posted by season, not episode. Depending on how well the first season does, is if it gets renewed for additional seasons. Then the show receives a contract for an agreed upon number of seasons, which can be extended but not dropped. All these shows of every App are free. You just had to sit through a few commercials during the beginning and middle.
Music Apps are called "Stations" but work differently then Channel Apps. The music was organized by genre, but you could search by artist. Listening to them, and similar artists. These Apps didn't have commercials, as the closest thing to them was the screen giving the song's name, the band, and the Album.
You could buy the song directly, as it played, or follow a link to the album and buy songs from it individually, or the entire album. The point was that once you bought it you could listen to it whenever from your library, even putting it into a custom playlist.
The App also had a bunch of Audio dramas seperated by genre, which you could search by series, and even rate like a Channel App, but with no commercials. However it only had one season up at a time and posted the episodes weekly instead of all at once, but that meant there was a lot more new content.
The current season was always free to listen to for a year, a new episode being posted every week. Whenever you left a comment on an Episode, you could give it a thumbs up or down, by tapping the appropriate button, and those would be tallied up, to give a rating for each episode and the season as a whole. Previous seasons could only be listened to, if they were purchased.
• Galactic Powers .
The Citadel acts as a neutral third party, and trade union, most races listen to. A Type of "United Nations" between the various species of the universe. Whom guides planets towards inter-galactic governments, with like minded civilizations.
Even having the Reapers, now under Citadel Control, move the worlds into their own galaxy, within their joint intergalactic government's boarders. Placing each world into their own environmental bubble. To run by the same galactic calendar.
• The Terran Empire. (Includes human-like races from all franchises).
• The Federation of Allied Planets (Without Humanoids. Like Vulcans, Bajorans, and other human looking races.)
• The I'Borg.
• The Cybermen.
• The Synthetics Democratic Union.
• The Dominion.
• The Jedi Council.
• The Sith Empire.
• The Revanist.
• The Frost Demon Empire.
• The Mobius Federation.
• The Magical Union.
• etc.