I don't own mass effect
Hello , i am back and with new stories to make this chapter take more time because i recently enter to vacation so i have to move and things you know haven in vacation
In the end of the chapter will be clues about the next one
Anyways lets not lose more time and back to the show
Uknow space
Nazara was an ancient machine, having witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations as fleetingly as a salarian sees hours pass. For Nazara, manipulating signals was akin to a human making shadow figures with light or playing with strings. It was a small reminder of the organic beings who were in the process of being harvested to create him.
This skill also helped him cope with the silence of the galaxy. As the herald of the cycle, Nazara was left alone while the rest of the Reaper fleet slumbered. He could enter a state of light sleep, ready to wake at any emergency, but he preferred to occupy himself by manipulating the primitive communication systems of the galaxy's organic inhabitants.
If he chose to sleep, Harbinger and the collective knowledge of the Reapers would be displeased. In previous cycles, the herald was merely a monitoring ship, observing the galaxy until the Citadel activated its relay system, signaling the fleet to begin the cycle once again.
But things changed with the Protheans. This collective of races under one banner was too powerful for organics. The invasion of their cycle was extremely slow compared to others, and even then, a group of those genetic mutations dared to infiltrate the Citadel's system using their own relay, deactivating the primary relay system!
By the time the collective knowledge detected this, it was too late. Later had a chaotic discussion about whether to interfere with this cycle due to these unexpected developments. After all, young civilizations were already growing by the time the modifications were discovered.
It was decided, to minimize the risk of detection or interference in this cycle, that the Herald of this cycle would handle the situation when the time for harvest arrived.
So, in this cycle, Sovereign took on the role of the Herald. Unlike previous cycles where the Herald primarily monitored the galaxy, now the Herald had to actively prevent organics from forming a union similar to the Protheans and their empire. Fortunately, the Council made this task easier for him.
Just in case, he observed their communications. One could never be too secure about genetic mutations and their anomalies.
He easily covered his tracks by exploiting glitches in their primitive systems. After all, who would suspect that delays in their messages were due to someone hacking their systems?
He didn't care about the content—primitive battle plans, diplomacy, simple communications. He did this to maintain his manipulation skills between centuries of sleep. He woke up and monitored the galaxy's communications to check for any anomalies that could potentially risk the cycle. This time, it was the autonomous machines. Luckily, they were isolated, so there was no need to alert the fleet.
When he detected the same machine code and fleet code in the same communication signal, it was no surprise that he contacted Harbinger as quickly as he could.
"Are you sure it's an erratic ship? This could just be the organics. It wouldn't be the first time they've meddled with the technology we left behind between cycles to exploit their greed."
"Affirmative. The code is too clean to be from organics just lucky enough to manipulate our technology. They corrupt our code with their own so their systems can use it. This code likely belongs to a damaged Reaper that reactivated for unknown reasons. It must have contacted the machines to fix some potential damage, which is why it hasn't communicated with the rest of the fleet. I can't sense its signal; it's like it's out of the fleet's grid."
"Then you know what to do. Try to contact the erratic ship and send it to the Omega Four relay so the Protheans' puppets can reconnect it with the rest of the fleet. Further dissemination must not be allowed. If you fail, I will deal with it myself. Neither the organics nor the machines must discover our existence. The cycle is eternal."
"Understood Harbinger , Nazara out."
A few weeks latter (Xarek)
Perseus veil (2000CE), Geth frontier post
The sunrise on this new planet felt like a rebirth. My battered body was being meticulously repaired by drones and Geth workers, raw materials being pumped into my reserves like blood coursing through human veins. This was clearly a good life, a second chance at existence.
As I see to the dawn, my system alerted me to a disturbance in the nearby Geth compound. The organics were causing trouble again—a constant thorn in my now nonexistent side. The Organic , despite their "civilizated" nature, harbored a deep-seated fear of anything that resembled an AI, and this situation only amplified their anxiety at least the geth where surprisingly tolerant
They granted me access to a mining frontier planet and agreed to help repair my damaged form. The cost, however, was exorbitant—four Turian dreadnoughts' worth of resources. In return, I had to share some of my advanced laser technology. When they discovered the true extent of the repairs needed, the Geth understandably revised the deal. Teaching them about Reaper technology was the only way to properly cover such a massive expenditure, even for a species without a traditional economy could cover this exchange and clearly they were thinking I am just using them so I have to change the deal so they continue helping me .
During our FTL journey, chaos erupted when the organics awoke prematurely. ensued as they realized I had struck a deal with the Geth or well just see them make them enter in panic . They called me an abomination, much like the Batarians did, their insults quickly becoming a bitter joke to me really quickly seriously its like when you have a situation that repeat so much times that you lost the fear because you know the are no danger . The Geth and I opted to handle the situation as logical machines talking to them, but the organics' hostility complicated matters. They fought fiercely, damaging themselves in their frantic attempts to escape thinking that my body have some kind of escape capsule
Lacking sedatives, we resorted to using electric sticks, typically employed for repairs of damaged cable, to subdue them. The Asari was the most formidable, her biotic abilities making her a significant threat. She hurled a Geth Prime across the room with a single punch. Fortunately, the Batarian chips in her brain suppressed her biotics moments after activation, allowing us to incapacitate her.
Now, the organics were confined in a medical section, a makeshift clinic the Geth had assembled upon discovering the chips in their brains. Despite their creators' hostility, the Geth exhibited unexpected compassion. They couldn't bear to see the organics suffer. When I explained that these were slave chips used by the Batarians for tracking, the Geth swiftly prepared to remove them, ensuring the Batarians couldn't trace us.
This act of mercy allowed us to continue the repairs undisturbed. The collaboration between the Geth workers and my reprogrammed drones was remarkable. The drones could navigate confined spaces the Geth couldn't, while the Geth possessed more tools for precise repairs.
Thanks to this synergy, I was finally able to walk, move, and process information to my full capacity. It felt incredible, as if half my brain had been reactivated. The geth also taught me new programs, which I adapted to my system. These programs allowed me to simulate, create blueprints, and perform complex tasks—functions that came naturally to machines but were foreign to an organic mind like mine and worse for a reseat reaper system
This new knowledge was a revelation. It was like getting out of the tutorial and starting the game you know when you only can use the basic system to know the resources or produce units and next to that they let you use all the systems . The simulation system, for instance, could convert my memories into detailed virtual models of various scenarios and characters from different universes. I could recreate the Helghast of Killzone, the Vehicons of Transformers Prime, the Forerunners of Halo, and even the Space Marines of Warhammer 40K. My mind could conjure these intricate simulations, bringing them to life in stunning detail. Well mostly like NPC in a computer game
But still let me know which concepts models and types of weapons should I bring to life with the help of the geth because of course, i would need the geth when i am not even full repairs and even with that i need allies and a base of power to do something
The most significant gift the Geth gave me was control over my assistant's computer, previously, this reaper program had been a constant nuisance, incessantly urging me to contact other reapers, and causing relentless headaches
only the program's creator could disable it without risking system damage, and I was determined not to let the Catalyst or Harbinger make me a puppet
Thankfully, after days of analyzing my program, the Geth helped me find the button to shut off the voice. Though I was still reading some of the systems much faster, this would take time
After all, this system was designed for multiple consciousnesses that would eventually unite into one powerful mind. For me, it felt like being alone with NPCs helping with tasks I couldn't handle simultaneously. The difference in the effectiveness of both minds it was like the difference between a musket and a minigun in fire speed
Using this newfound peace, I tried to finally address the situation, attempting to divide my consciousness in this body to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Or at least, that was my plan when my thoughts were interrupted by a commotion—the organics were causing trouble once more, trying to escape from the medical bay where they had been sent.
The great conscience of Geth, contemplating whether the deal with the included organics should remain. Their disruptions were making it less and less plausible to continue. The Geth proposed that, after removing the chips from their brains, we send the organics away
However I remember that they had too much information about me that could jeopardize our safety.
And i definitely would not approve kill them or modified the chips to stop them for talk about this after they are free just because they have the wrong information, where are sentient machine with the brain power to easily deal with most of the difficult question of existences not a corrupt government to answer with shots or silence what we could not control
Still the geths where right this could not continue
Determined to prevent further chaos, I accessed my configuration settings and activated the voice systems of my destroyer form. With great authority, I say a single word to stop the organics:
"Silence."
(Theria POV)
For Theria, this was a nightmare. She and the other slaves had just escaped the clutches of the Batarians, only to find themselves trapped again, this time in a cold, sterile machine lab. They lay on medical beds, surgical instruments ominously close by.
They had been tricked! That machine had used them and then sold them to the Geth. But fate was on their side this time—their restraints were weaker than the usual Batarian cells. With years of experience in self-defense, especially as an Asari, Theria managed to free herself. The Geth that tried to recapture her was no match for her determination.
Snatching a surgical knife, she slashed at the circuits of the nearest Geth, buying herself precious seconds to run. These Geth were engineers and medics, not built for combat. Had they been war Geth, she knew she wouldn't have stood a chance.
She rallied the other slaves, inciting a riot. Their only hope was to escape this cursed facility and find a ship to take them to Citadel space.
But then, a voice boomed through the air, halting them in their tracks.
"Silence."
They turned to see it—the machine that had pretended to be a ruin. Now, its true form was revealed. Massive cables snaked around a colossal body, towering like a skyscraper. It stood on four legs, resembling a monstrous octopus, with a single, glaring red eye fixed on them. Despite the damage the Geth were frantically trying to repair, it was still a terrifyingly powerful sight; it was like being ants in front of a giant beast.
The machine's voice resonated, freezing everyone in place, including the Geth who had been chasing them.
"Cease your futile resistance and allow the Geth to remove the chips from your brains."
Panic and confusion gripped the slaves. The Batarian chips were nearly impossible to extract without the risk of severe injury or death. Only the highest-ranking officials or someone with advanced medical technology could safely remove them. The precision with which they were implanted meant that even a minor mistake could lead to paralysis or worse.
Why would an artificial intelligence, especially one as formidable as this, offer to help them? Suspicion and fear mingled with a sliver of hope. Theria, her voice trembling but defiant, dared to question the machine.
"How can we trust that you're not lying?"
"Lying is inefficient," the machine responded with cold logic. "Machines have no need for deception."
"How can we be sure?"
"We will allow one of you to undergo the procedure while the rest watch. This will prove it is safe," the giant robot said with a tone indifferent
To the desperate refugees, it was a chilling ultimatum. With the Geth closing in, Theria and the rest had no choice but to comply specially with the geth already surrounding them so the option of escape once again went out the window.
(Xarek POV)
They chose one turian to be first operated Which clearly as the sky could be see that was terrified like was enter into some kind of twisted experiment
The procedure began an hour later when all the resources where reunited , the organic someones with sickness and others with interest (the salarians specially) watched has the geth operated the turian
The geth worked with precision and care, removing the chip from the chosen volunteer using a mix between precise cuts with their tools in hand and little machines in the most delicate parts of the brains to not left scars , thanks to the machine efficiency and precise not even an hour take to remove the chips , after that its was show to the rest that the volunteer the chip held aloft as proof. Relief and hope replaced the fear in the organics' eyes.
As the Geth prepared to remove the remaining chips, I reflected on the journey that had brought us here. My body was being restored, my mind expanded with new knowledge, and a fragile alliance with the Geth had been forged. I was no longer the broken relic I once was. With the organics freed from their chains and the Geth as unexpected allies, a new chapter was beginning.
But I knew this peace was fragile. The galaxy was a volatile place, and my past actions had left changes how the butterfly effect will be for what I did in the dis system or for saving these slaves? , that's are the thing that are out of my control , so i must focus in what i have in front of me
The Geth still harbored doubts about me, and I couldn't blame them. I was an old machine, a relic of a bygone era, yet I was also something new, a hybrid of organic and synthetic they knew that last detail because of the scans that worked in my body
But at the same time, the Geth saw me as a lost child, a relic in need of guidance
That is why they taught me to manipulate code, to create programs and simulations, and to think like a machine so it could be made more efficient the exchange of information between them
But at the same time i teach them how to understand the organics trying to close the bridge between the geths and the freed slaves because after all who could be a better person ? i think that i am still classified like that , yeah person , most qualified people to try to make the communication between these two disunite groups like me (no , register , david not count still not born)
The worse they fear me and worse they know i am a fully sentient IA like the geth so i must silence them
That's my logical side say but I cannot kill them just because of that what would make me different for the reapers? , better i try to convince them to work for me without the indoctrination thing
But of I am being honest register it's kinda difficult because the organic don't stop to make more reasons to just fire them in the head and just recollect their genetic materials and be done with them
First the salarian that liberate slave where clear as day that it was trying to recollect information or more likely weakness of our to escape without the chip to fear the retaliation of the batarians now seems like the salarian became more proactive
To calm down the nerves i say the geths that they should only converse with them , in the begining where clearly scared thinking that where to recollect information or doing some torture to them , but after days of just talking they begin to calm down and do things more productives that trying to escape
It's like the old time said "simplicity its the ultimate communication" sometimes instead of make extremely complicated systems to make that two groups like each other just make them talk between them , and who better to talk that the salarians
The turians surprisingly where more smooth because without the chips now they knew that have a future they still don't like the geth because machine fear , but at least it's more passive resistance to the medical checks that the geths do with them
But of course I give the geth a solution to calm down the thing's , give them guns
yeah I know it's confusing but with the explanation they understood
The turians where a militaristic society, and being recently escaped of the batarians they are scared so to deal with their anxiety I suggest to build a training zone to the turians using weapons and training so their fear and anxiety reduce doing something like physical training and clearly sleep giving them the false hope that the weapons could protect them was funny
Its like they think old rusty weapons could make damage to a war gear geth prime wich could easy withstand a grenade explosion and just be stunned for a second or two
Next the batarians if i have to describe them , it was like the little babies of the race , even the only asari of the group cause less headache because well she interact with the turians but this group still of being happy of being free of the chips in they heads that could literally bound them to slavery
Instantly they demand not ask , demanded that they were the most important race in all galaxy and have special treatment of machines these even the other organics where seeing them as the problematics
But at the same time the bastard have the perfect bodies behind the asari to special forces , after all , you don't became a galactic civilization that could stand almost like the other having only luck , behind that mouth the race have some merith
Some it's the key word
Still, i am going step by step once my body is repaired and in full capacity this galaxy will not know what storm hit them i am going to make them ready to resist the reaper's invasion they like it or not and if they don't like it , well who force me to do it to the nice ways ?
Now its time to go to the reunion with the geth consensus and once again prepare for other assembly to see what to do with the organics in prolonged time and next steps of what i am going to do
For the creation i hoped this go well
At the same time
Dis System, Hades cluster (2000CE), asteroid field between Klensal and Raysha
(Nazara POV)
Finding the damaged Reaper turned out to be a significant headache. The last time Nazara saw the codes of the fleet ship, it was in this system, but now he couldn't locate it anywhere. Due to the precautions taken to prevent the organic races from detecting them, he was alone and couldn't access the fleet's information about movements or the Catalyst. He only had the relays' traffic information, and the last thing recorded was that the machines used their systems to jump to this galactic sector and then rapidly returned to their frontier.
Logically, this meant that those machines must have taken the lost fleet ship to their territory, so Nazara had to follow. The problem was that he had strict orders not to go near those machines due to the potential information leak that could occur if they gained enough data about the fleet's technology and the cycle
However, Harbinger had given him clear instructions to retrieve the renegade ship. The only way to satisfy both directives—Harbinger's and the sleeping Catalyst's—without causing a conflict was to use puppets
This meant he had to move sooner than expected and start acting as the herald of this cycle to find suitable proxies to work for him.
"Harbinger, I am returning to the Prothean base."
"How was the mission?"
"I arrived too late; they already took the ship. I will need to influence the organics to do the job without clashing with the Catalyst's orders, so I require the Protheans' assistance for the time being."
"Understood. Access granted to the Protheans' system some ships will be dispatched to aid you in this mission."
Kite,Nest (2000CE), Harsha System , Khar'shan , Hegemon Office
Being the Hegemon of the Batarian Hegemony wasn't a easy job hearing the rambling and rumbling constantly of the noble houses, the military that wanted more funds, the nobles that want compensation because some failed that themselve did but ask he because they threaten them with their private fleets that rival with the hegemony main fleets
And now because of some fool of some nobody house called the Garitek house made a disaster in the northern frontier now he the hegemon himself have to step to talk with the council , why , because turns out some slaves escape and that slaves take with them some unknown technology taking the opportunity of some pirates that the same fool contract and worse they capture one of the batarian nobles his own son , a noble! , one thing it's some random general or almirant , but a noble if they capture that and the nation know that the slaves will always make a fuss with that kind of information they are always like that so he make clear that if you want to put a noble in the frontier make sure that or is secure or make sure that don't came back , a death body it's better than a potential ransom
So for one side its the slaves that escape with unknown and potentially dangerous technology that he was going to have to talk with the councils ambassadors and for the other he have the nobles and the pirates one side wanting not to bow the head between some pirates and the other the pirates that clearly are going to blackmail the hegemon to pay them great amount of credits in exchange of the noble and if he said no they are going to distribute the news as much as possible around the hegemony frontier with the terminus system making the slaves revolt and making more difficult to the fleets stop them for raiding to the hegemony
Because wanted to admit or not the influence that the batarians in the terminus system its not like they presume to the citadel , the warlords under the hegemony contract the same time that they work for the hegemony for the resources that the hegemony give at the same time if they smell weakness in the hegemony are gladly going to attacks them like their where any other nations
To complicate matters, there were also the other two nations within the Hegemony. To outsiders, the Hegemon appeared to be the central power of the Batarians, but in reality, it was more like an elective dictatorship where the dictator was chosen by a council of the three great nations that constituted the Hegemony at its core: Krudanz, Kelma, and Urbatz. Each had its own sphere of influence, akin to political parties, with the colonies and noble houses acting as extensions of their power struggles.
For example, the Garitek House was part of the Krudanz sphere of influence. This situation was particularly problematic for the current Hegemon, who also hailed from the Krudanz House, creating a tangled mess of political alliances that did not help in the Hegemon elections held every twenty years in the capital. These elections determined whether the Hegemon would maintain his position or not, with only two possible outcomes for a defeated Hegemon:
Either the outgoing Hegemon retained enough support to deter the new Hegemon from harming him, fearing repercussions that could upset the balance between the three major spheres of influence, or the Hegemon would mysteriously disappear from the public eye, escaping to avoid assassination or falling victim to so-called "accidents." Assassins sent by the new Hegemon typically ensured that former leaders did not pose a problem for the new regime or attempt re-election.
As if that weren't enough, the Hegemon now had an incoming communication from the Council. Somehow, information about the frontier incident had reached them, likely due to those cursed Salarian spies.
"Are you sure that was a Prothean beacon that was stolen, Hegemon?" asked the Asari Councilor.
"Of course it was. The local records clearly show that a beacon was stolen by some pirates from the Terminus Systems," the Hegemon replied.
"The Terminus Systems, of all places. How could you let this happen?" exclaimed the Turian Councilor.
"Watch it, Turian. The Hegemony is not some Council puppet to be forced to answer to you," the Hegemon snapped back.
"We know very well that the Batarian Hegemony is independent. However, the mere idea that the Terminus has access to complete Prothean technology is clearly a danger to all of Council space, not just the Hegemony," the Turian Councilor retorted.
"The Council will be discussing this situation and will inform you of the respective actions to take," said the Asari Councilor, ending the transmission.
"Cursed Council, thinking they can order the Batarian Hegemony around like we're some kind of puppy. What information could we get out of the recaptured slaves?" the Hegemon asked his second-in-command.
"Not much, sadly, Hegemon. They only rambled about a machine that was talking to them before the ship activated and escaped with part of the slaves inside it," the second-in-command reported.
"It was most likely a Prothean VI. Those stupid slaves would say anything to stop us from pursuing a fully functional Prothean ship. If a beacon is valuable, imagine how much the Hegemony can gain from capturing a fully functional Prothean ship," the Hegemon said, his high hopes evident in his voice.
"A marvelous idea, sir. It could quickly remove the embarrassment of dealing with pirates capturing a Prothean ship," said the other Batarian in the room.
However, before they could continue their scheming, the communications console sounded again with the Council's signal, revealing the three Councilors.
"The Council has made a decision regarding this crisis. We will send a representative to help the Batarian Hegemony recover the Prothean beacon from the pirates," said the Salarian Councilor.
"Of course, Council. Will you be sending a fleet, a diplomatic group?" the Hegemon inquired.
To his surprise, the Councilors responded with silence. They maintained silence. Why would they maintain silence unless... no.
"No, you can't," the Hegemon said, clearly surprised.
"Be grateful that we are announcing this to you. The last time we sent someone, your nobles almost killed them over a stupid misunderstanding, thinking they were civilians," the Turian Councilor said, his tone filled with disdain for the Batarian Hegemon.
"The Council has decided to send a Specter to assist the Hegemony with the beacon crisis. We expect the Batarian Hegemony to provide all necessary resources to facilitate the Specter's work. This session is finished," the Asari Councilor said, closing the communication.
The Batarian Hegemon had only one thing in his mind after receiving this information:
"Varren shit."
"Hegemon, what are you going to do?" asked the second in command, clearly also scared. It's one thing to give false information to a Council diplomat or representative, blaming it on some noble, but a Spectre is another level. They are not easily distracted and always take the information the Batarians provide with a grain of salt, looking for independent verification.
"For now, let's stick to the plan. We must find the Prothean ship in silence. Meanwhile, we can make the Council fight the pirates for us, blaming them for capturing the Prothean technology."
"Marvelous idea, Hegemon. That should make it easier to focus on finding the ship."
"Yeah, yeah, you all just bootlick to avoid getting shot. Now go do your job and summon the houses. We must prepare a meeting to deal with this situation."
"At once, Hegemon," said the second in command, exiting the room. Once he was gone, the Hegemon quickly changed the frequency of his communication on his omnitool.
"Is your team ready?" the Hegemon asked.
"Yes, Hegemon. Where do you need us?" replied a voice on the other end.
"I need you to investigate and find the missing Prothean ship that was lost by some fool noble house in their dynastic dispute. Kill anyone who stands in your way. I don't want any suspects who could trace this back to us."
"Don't worry, Hegemon. We know how to do our work."
"You'd better," he said, ending the communication. He tried to relax in his chair after a clearly stressful day.
He could send a noble or a military squad to find the Prothean ship, but this was too important to leave to just anyone. Who better to send than the Batarian secret police for this type of task? Thankfully, their hands would soon be freed of one important task thanks to a Spectre doing the dirty work for them.
He got up from his chair and began to walk out. It was time to interrogate the recaptured slaves once again and see if they could uncover any vital information, and then get back to dealing with the narcissistic nobles.
Just another day of scheming and torture for a Hegemon.
"Next chapter clues"
- Do what you want cause a pirate its free you are a pirate
- Its kinda sus situation