• The following was taken from a "TV Tropes" entry.
The Last Spartan is an Alternate Universe Halo/Mass Effect crossover Fusion Fic. After the prologue, a novelization of Halo 3's ending, a turian patrol discovers the remains of the Forward Unto Dawn floating in deep space... 131 years after the events of the last game. In a historic moment, the Master Chief is thawed out of his Cryo Pod and awakens to a whole new galaxy, one where humanity has not only made peace with most of the former Covenant races, but has since joined the Citadel Council.
While initially nonplussed about some decisions humanity has made about joining the Citadel races, Spartan-117 and Cortana both overcome their culture shock while the former grudgingly overcomes decades of wartime xenophobia to secure humanity's place in the galaxy... by becoming a Spectre.
But all is not well in the galaxy, for Saren Arterius launches an assault on the human colony of Eden Prime in search of a powerful artifact, and while the Master Chief is unable to prevent him from using it nonetheless finds himself on a manhunt across the galaxy.
The simplest way to describe this crossover is Master Chief put in Commander Shepard's boots.
( unofficial sequel to "The Last Spartan" by the Fanfiction Author "DinoJake". Although it's been altered by my own lore. So think of this as an Alternate Universe to DinoJake's world .)
The Normandy was then attacked by a mysterious race called "The Collectors", for then unknown reasons. Killing a third of the crew, including the Master Chief. After which, an Anti Alien/pro-human organization, called "Cerberus", recovered his body.
Over the course of 2 years, the next Human Spectres are chosen. In the form of the Shepard Twins, who aren't actually twins... or blood related in any way. It's purely a coincidence they share a Surname. Not even their ideologies matched.
Jane Shepard was a hard woman. Whom got along well with Krogan. Believing in might makes right. Although she had a sense of honor, it cycled around violence. Jane was a street urchin, having been orphaned and brought to Earth, after her colony was attacked by Batarian slavers. She joined the military, to escape the life of a criminal. Later, Jane was the sole survivor of a Massacre... killing a Kaiju in the process.
Where John Shepard was a firm believer, in leading by example. A true paragon of nobility and fair play. While John was a military brat, raised with ideals, and fantasies, of honor and dignity through service. Later becoming a legitimate war hero, by saving his platoon from impossible odds, while still completing his mission.
Their different backgrounds meant they should have been repulsed by each other. But at their core, they were both honor bound warriors.
• Battle Master Runt :
The Citadel became aware of a Krogan scientist, attempting to cure the Genophage. A plague, engineered by the Citadel, to cause most Krogan eggs to be stillborn. They send Jane to investigate.
There Jane Shepard finds a see of Tank born Krogan... killing each other. She convinces most of them, to turn against their "Father", and live as "True Krogan". She travels with hundreds of Krogan, mixed with her crew of all Citadel races.
Teaching the Krogan "the true definition of victory". While hunting Kaiju, for sport, she takes a single Away-Team, at a time. But is sure to take them multiple times. When the krogan start getting filled with uncontrollable rage, she takes them to the Krogan homeworld, and get them to undergo "The Rite".
With every last one of them killing a kaiju, whom they were just supposed to survive for a few minutes, Jane is recognized for having taught them well. To the point she is not only declared a "Battle Master", but chief of the tank born. Calling them "Runt Clan". Calling Jane, herself, "Battle Master Runt." An affectionate title, given to her by Wrex... whom she grows close to.
Jane is immediately challenged, over her right to be a chief. So she promptly bashes the guy's skull in. Claiming his clan as part of "Clan Runt". Needing to bash a few more heads, to get recognized as a worthy chief. However she eventually earns the respect, of her newly acquired clans-men. Particularly since she doesn't show mercy, and kills each Krogan to challenge her. Saying she finds them "worthy to die by my hand".
Jane then uses, what The Krogan scientist's learned about the Genophage, to cure the plague. While making it so Krogan females can only Conceive, 3 to 7 children. Instead of forcing stillbirths.
The Citadel Council is not Happy, but in the end, agree it's more humane. After the Krogan start having to raise their children, they are thankful their numbers will increase quickly, but will also be more manageable. Realizing 7 babies is too many, and they couldn't hope to raise a thousand at a time. With females now being more common, 1 in every 42 eggs laid, as opposed to 1 in 2000.
Then, "Battle Master Runt", convinces the Citadel to send aid to the Krogans, and Even help them distribute the cure. They are reluctant, but agree it would be good PR.
• The Federation :
Meanwhile, The Citadel becomes aware of the Federation of Allied Planets. (Author's Note: A Star Trek/Orville crossover. With Orville's technological limits, meaning no transporter. While all Star Trek Captains, of each series, are currently alive, just after their shows. With Admiral Kirk. And Captain Picard, of the USS Enterprise-D.)
The Federation is a massive civilization, making up most of the Alpha Quadrant, of the galaxy. And currently expanding into the Beta and Gamma Quadrants. Where the terminus systems, inhabit the Gamma quadrant, and are ruled over by the Dominion. (Then the Beta and Delta Quadrant, makes up most other franchises.) Where the Citadel races, live all over the galaxy, but are always within a constellation with a mass relay. Never venturing far.
Most species of The Federation, developed far away from mass relays. So created, far more advanced, Faster-Then-Light engines. Able to travel 10 lightyears, in a single year, at Warp-1. With Warp-9 traveling a billion lightyears, in a year. With their quadrants being 42 billion light years in diameter.
This means, in their 42 centuries of space travel, they have never stumbled on a mass relay. Not until making first contact, with the Citadel. Opening trade, engaging in joint scientific projects, While debating Synthetic rights.
• Emissary of the Geth :
John Shepard, caretaker of the Master Chief's A.I. "Cortana", helped Captain Picard, negotiate recognition of Synthetics. Getting them rights, with the stipulations that they must have Commander Data's "Morality Subroutines", along with a fundamental "Directive". With all Synthetics needing approval to manufacture other AIs.
A few months afterwards, John Shepard dies while under attack by a Geth Ship. The Citadel uses this to tighten a grip on synthetic lifeforms. As the "Champion for Synthetic rights" was killed by Synthetics.
Over a year later, John re-appears on the Citadel, calling himself "The Emissary of the Geth". Insisting that it was a separate faction of Geth that murdered him, that they are a small terrorist group within the Geth. Which all races have such a faction (often more then one).
John reveals the "true" Geth resurrected him, by using a combination of nanites and cybernetic organs. While most of his organic brain is intact, in now has a computer.
John is the first, fully independent, Cyborg, and insist the geth are willing to trade this technology, in exchange for an embassy, and recognition as a sapient race. The Citadel agrees.
• The Master Chiefs Return :
Some months later, The Geth discover where the Master Chief is being reconstructed. With the Human Systems Alliance, sending both Shepards to recover the Spartan.
They succeed in saving him, and realize he's almost fully reconstructed. John Shepard ask the Geth to finish repairing him, and to undo any conditioning Cerberus might have introduced. With the Master Chief stepping onto the Citadel, after being dead for 2 years.
The 3 Spectres, are sent on a mission to investigate missing human colonies. Getting their information from the Geth. While hunting down Cerberus cells. They uncover a list of potential recruits, Cerberus are interested in,
They fly off in three different directions, to investigate. Each in their own "Normandy Class" ship, constructed by the Alliance. Battle Master Runt has "The USS, D-Day". Where The Emissary has "The USS, Utah". The Geth repair the Normandy, and give it to Shepard... complete with an AI they saved from Cerberus, named "Edi". Whom they reprogrammed.
The Batarian government goes a step too far, by hijacking an asteroid to aim it at a human colony. All three Spectres are called in to stop it... once they are finished, outraged, they go to the Slavers homeworld, and succeed in toppling their government, with aid from their combined allies... the Citadel Council is Terrified, but accept the credit for freeing the slaves. As the human Councilor convinces them to spin the story to their advantage. Saying it was a Citadel approved operation. Which the three Spectres backup.
The Geth then proceed to return all slaves to their people.
• Flying Saucer:
The human Spectres realize what's happening to the human colonies. That their entire planets are being placed in environmental bubbles. (Which provides uniform cycles of light, heat, seasonal weather patterns, and gravity.) Then they're moved to a ship.
The Ship is shaped like a flying saucer, with a large dome above a circular blade. With the walls made of a clear titanium. On the outside, the dome is no bigger then a small moon. But the interior is as large as a quadrant.
The empty space, between the worlds, was given friction, and breathable air. With each world's direct environmental bubble, keeping them spinning. Although the friction held the worlds in the same spot.
The very top level of the dome, is a non-transparent smaller dome, of thick metal and wires. An entire deck, a million miles across, devoted to a power plant. Where the quantum-locked sun resides. No longer able to die of old age. Nor destabilize into sun spots, Solar flares, nor even supernovas. As it is used as a source of everlasting power, in a proper fusion reactor.
Then, 41 additional stars, were converted, and placed within the dish, for added power and backup generators.
Where the disk is made purely, and compactly, of an unknown metal. For a massive super computer, and a maze of insect like tunnels of terminals.
• The Collectors Act :
When these massive ships are discovered, The Collectors immediately implement their plan. Moving each space fairing species, into their own sector sized dome. Even the Synthetic races.
Worlds that have multiple sapient lifeforms, are left for last. With their inhabitants turned into liquid, to build new Reaper Class Starships.
All Spectres join forces, led by the Master Chief. And defeat the Collectors... but not before all space fairing races are trapped or killed. The Geth reprogram each Vessel, and give control of it to their inhabitants.
• Reapers :
Over the course of three years, the galaxy prepares for the next Reaper attack. The ships were called 'Reapers', as they symbolized the end of everything. Sapient ships, bent on harvesting all space fairing life, to create more Reapers.
When the Reapers did arrive, thanks to the Geth, the saucers protected the planets, instead of made them easier to harvest.
The Saucers 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, 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.
( Timeline ; 200 Millenia before the Reaper's defeat.)
• Earth's sun underwent a massive Solar Flare, that threatened the inhabitants. Various Generational Ships were constructed, as they don't have access to FTL, and spread out across the Stars, Colonizing millions of Worlds.
• Once they arrived on each world, they Cannibalize their ships to build houses. Then begin evolving in slightly different ways.
• Klingons, Vulcans, Romulians, and nearly all races of the Alpha Quadrant, inbred with humans, changing their species further.
The Citadel .
Leviathans :
Each individual Leviathan, represents a different color of the light spectrum, representing a different Emotion. As they are cosmic entities, representing cosmic forces. Giving them reality bending powers, as they are god-like beast, that will one day be used to power Lantern Rings.
A 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.
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.
Utilities :
• 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.
• Calender :
An hour = 100 minutes.
A day = 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).
7 days = a week. (As a singular orbit around the other worlds in their Satellite Cloud).
6 weeks = a month. (As the movement of all the galaxies around each other).
504 days = a year. (As a rotation around the Citadel. Meaning 1 Galactic Standard Year, is approximately 3 Earth Years.)
• 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.
• 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.
Omni-Verse .
The Omni-Verse is comprised of every single fictional series/story. Where each of the 384 genres, and sub-genres, exist as their own Cosmos. Where all canon, rectons, reboots, alternate realities, parallel realities, (of all series.) exist as seperate multiverses. With each fan fiction fitting into one of these multiverses, as their own dimension.
Sometimes, the same story will appear in multiple cosmoses. Either as whole multiverses, or just a singular universe. But they won't be exactly the same. Although the differences can be so minor, they are impossible to detect.
Each Multiverse has a "Prime" universe, where all their stories are fiction. Which are alternate realities to the "real world". Along with "Canon" universes, where the official story takes place.
• Pocket Dimensions .
An individuals decisions, have nothing to do with how new universes are born. Rather, most times a star collapses, and forms a black hole, a new pocket dimension is born. Not every time, but more often then not.
Pocket Dimensions, can be thought of as "Fetuses", growing inside their "parent" universe.
With Black holes forming, each time a new dimension appears. And is much like when the universe conceives a child. The gravity well feeds more matter into the developing universe, until the black hole dissipates, which is effectively when the new universe's umbilical cord is cut.
Once the universe finishes developing, it manifest its own Time Vortex, and disconnected from the parent universe. Becoming a proper universe
Some pocket dimensions are, in reality, cosmic parasites. Operating much like cosmic fleas. Such as Royal Fae and Shinigami. Which will attached themselves to a universe, and "feed" by collecting Sapient lifeforms.
gods :
Elementals are the lowest gods, ruling over an aspect of nature or spirit... for but a single planet. There are usually thousands of these, per world. These are what people think of, when they picture gods of mythology.
Each clique is more respectfully refered to as a "Pantheon", and ruled over by a 'Trinity" of the most powerful Elementals.
Then each world has a singular Kami, ruling over the elements.
Sometimes, a Kami's territory can cover an entire star cluster. With the consciousness of the universe, expected to find someone worthy to be made Kami over the other habitable worlds.
From there, there are the Kai. Whom watch over a galaxy. Although in recent centuries, they have taken a more active rule in government. Which means each of the one thousand galaxies, has a Kai acting as the territory's Emperor.
That is, a true Emperor, someone who is content letting regional governments rule their territories. (In this case mortal politicians), so long as they agree to a doctrine of laws. Rarely passing additional laws... and only slightly more likely to single out a region. To correct their affairs over their territories.
Kai keep the peace, but don't directly interfere over their mortals lives... if they can help it
Higher up is the consciousness of the universe itself. Simply known as "God", to mortals.
Although is truthfully nothing more then an organism, itself. For life merely grows inside it, like bacteria, either helpful or detrimental to the body of the universe... it is merely more aware of the lifeform it depends on, to stay healthy, and so cares for mortals as one would look after their own body's health.
From their, Supreme Kai shepard the dimension of a multiverse. With being more "shepard" then king.
While the Grand Supreme Kai, looks after a Cosmos, made up of multiverses.
At top of this divine hierarchy, is Omniva... the one true "GOD", as the very soul of the Omni-verse... for this one, at least. With 41 other Omni-Verses, each with their own unique "Cosmic Biologies", and the narute of how their own gods operate.
There are rumors of a being above the Omni-Verses. That all life started from... but this could just be a myth.
Meanwhile; Celestials, Angels, Demons, Dragons, faeries, Elves, Monsters, and immortals of all kinds, flock to any category of these gods. Within Omniva. Serving loyally and truly, in exchange for feeding off their Divine Ki. Being eager to serve...
Their relationship isn't that different then a mortal with a house elf.
Devils, on the other hand, are Cosmic viruses. Destroying all they touch. And care not if their actions end up killing their host. For they are the source of "Evil".
That's why the universe needs "Champions". To keep evil in check. To act as antibodies, for a world to all of the Multiverse itself.
The mortals look for their own Champions, in Spectres.
The dubbed "God Emperor of Mankind"... hated that title, however accurate it was. He was chosen to be the Kai of the human Galaxy... and tried to reject the burden... chosen because he didn't want the power, yet had the noble heart of a just king.
He was once a warlord, over a small tribe on a primitive planet. Where he ruled his people fairly, while seeking peace with other tribes.
He was then tested by GOD herself. Given an object of ultimate power. And The warlord destroyed it, no hesitation, nor temptation. He destroyed the tool that could have let him conquer the planet. And Because he didn't want it, he ascended to godhood.
Omniva, the Soul over the Omni-verse itself, told him to unite humanity... and he refused. He refused. Up until his galaxy became faced with a Cold War... threatening to destroy it all.
Many people don't realize, the Unification War. Which led to the creation of the Human Parliament, and placing a Kai as God Emperor over it... was done to prevent the various races from destroying themselves... an act of desperation. War would have happened regardless.
The Kai actually saved lives, by taking over, and introducing ways for long lived races to survive, without need of fighting over resources.
The other Kai followed his example, though most didn't mind being worshipped.
Reality Breaking :
The Doctor goes out, in search of all 7 sets of Dragon Balls. As the Super Dragon balls, of the main universe, were long ago divided up by the Time Lords. Separating them into 7 eternal dragons, of 7 balls each. With these dragons each having their own unique limits, and directly connected to a Namekian Guardian.
The Doctors gathered them all. Then, at the moment of the Reaper's Defeat, summoned the Dragons, and began making wishes. Which the rest of the Galaxy would assume was a side effect of reprogramming the Reapers.
• The 7th Star Dragon, on Namek, could create 7 legendary artifacts, or upgrades. As such, the War Doctor wished for:
1. Upgrading the flying Saucers, the Collectors built. There were 1000 of these ships, shaped like Flying Saucers. With a dome on a blade like ring.
First, Shrinking the exterior, down to the size of a small moon. While expanding the dome's interior, to 42 billion lightyears across.
Giving each dome, 384 Dyson Spheres, similar in design to the Krogans. Each orbited by 42 planets, 4 times the size of Earth. Each with 200 moons, of their own. All terraformed to support the saucer's species. From their weather patterns, to the world's gravity.
While the base of the dome, is the ports in and out.
2. Then creating a similar flying saucer, for the Time Omnians.
With Dyson Spheres, for the original 42 dimensions, plus an additional 342 Spheres, now inhabited by Time Omnians from other canon Timelines.
Where each Time Omnian, has a level dedicated to themselves, and their companions.
These Spheres are slightly different in design, then the other races'. As the doorways, don't lead to an extension charm, but rather are portals, to a different TARDIS, or linked vessel. With each door, able to link a portal, to a specific ship.
3. Making it so all linked vessels, of the Time Omnian's Sphere, are transformed by magic. Granting the ships a healing factor, infinite ammo, shape shifting into any class of ship (although maintain the same size), travel to other dimensions, with a data base for each reality, with speeds of "Mass Warp 9", and a Synthetic AI that can comprehend everything.
4. Allowing each TARDIS, to physically talk, and even interact with the worlds, through solid holograms they could project within a lightyear of their box.
5. Then giving all Time Omnians, the knowledge to pilot and repair, all these different TARDISes.
6. Next, he wished all vessels, linked to the Time Omnians' Spheres, had self updating coordinates, to all Time Omnians. With an up to date database, and psychic viewer, following each.
7. Finally, he asked for an update, to his sonic screwdriver... to get it to work on wood. That he could share with others.
• The 6 Star Dragon, could bestow 6 skills, or any knowledge, The 4th Doctor asked for:
1. All engineers, were given knowledge of how to safely build and repair Replicators.
2. Knowledge how to build, Self replicating nanobots. Converting energy into matter, to create as many nanites as were needed, without requiring resources. To build an endless number of Dyson Spheres.
3. Solar Engineering, knowledge of how to quantum lock a black hole, and use it for power.
4. bestowed Grand Master knowledge and skill of all magical crafts. For all magi, on every world.
Potions, Runes, Scrolls, Sealing, Alchemy, Enchantment, spell cards, extension charms, rituals, and even permanent conjuration.
5. All farmers and miners, were given Knowledge of how to farm Lyrium.
6. That all government officials, knew who knew these things.
• The 5 Star Dragon, could transmutate and improve existing objects, or lifeforms, even Brainwash individuals (not that the Doctor wanted that last one). The 10th Doctor wished for:
1. That a fourth of all farms crops, were replace with alchemical bushes, growing berries. In all possible, and impossible, flavors.
Such as Protein: chicken, pork, beef, all kinds of fish, and all other animals.
Along with berries tasting like different kinds of fruits and vegetables, even various kinds of berries. From Apple berries, to Orange berries. Even tomato berries, and classic blue berries, even perfectly ripe Strawberries, and everything else.
All in different shapes and colors, even Rainbow colored, but textured like cherries.
2. Next, replacing another 4th, with corn like cobs. Only these cobs grew raw rice instead of Corn.
Most were based on grains. Such as different kinds of rice. From white, yellow, Mexican, what have you. All tasting as if they were already seasoned.
Then other rice tasted like various kinds of pasta dishes. From regular noodles, chow mein, spaghetti, alfredo, and even lasagna. As well as a few hundred of other pasta dishes.
There were even a few rice cobs, which tasted like pastries, or sweet breads: Cookies, cakes of all kinds, donuts, honey butter biscuits, Hawaiian bread, just everything imaginable, even pancakes.
Despite how complicated the flavors got, they all cooked like instant rice. Without being any messier then sticky white rice.
3. Next, a separate 4th, is now growing pea pods. However, instead of peas, these were growing salt like crystals. Capable of being munched on, like candy, or dissolving in liquid.
Coming in basic flavors, Such as: Spicy, Sweet, Creamy, Tart, Tangy, Buttery, Sour, Honey, Sugary, Chocolatey, and of course Salty, and a few dozen more. As well as all herbs and spices. Even coming in all candy flavors.
4. The final 4th, was growing sap trees, that bleed different drinks. From various flavors of milk, to all the different sodas, to fruity drinks, and even alcohols.
5. That all mines were now growing their resources. From precious metals, like Daedric Steel to gold, to aluminum and copper. Or building material, like glass to concrete. Even precious gems and crystals... including Lyrium. Were all growing and expanding.
• The 4 Star Dragon, had minor reality manipulation. The 11th Doctor used that, to expand on the farming wishes.
1. Making all these new plants, able to grow and thrive anywhere. Deserts to snow, or even the tropics. Absorbing pollution, and surviving purely on that. Using alchemy magic to create their produce. They even release a mix of oxygen and Ozone.
2. Then their alchemy magicks, make it so that, no matter what species an individual is, nor what they ate from these plants, a serving size was equaled to a 5th of their consumer's daily nutrition. With the nutrients they get, from the same plant, being unique to the individual's needs, while digesting.
3. Making the food grow infinitely. With new produce growing, and ripening, immediately after the previous one was picked.
4. That the produce didn't decomposed or spoil.
However, the Flower pedals did so quickly. Growing and shredding constanly. and evaporating into a nourishing fog, that enhances the soil, of anything it touched.
• The 3 Star Dragon, of the world "Earth Kai", had greater reality bending. Even able to create life, as well as resurrect the dead. The 12th Doctor, used him for purely selfish wishes.
1. He wished, all 42 Interdimensional Doctors, had their companions brought back to them, alive and well. Resurrected next to their Doctor.
2. Then, he wished all Time Omnians, could give anyone the ability to respawn. Though it took them, 100 years, to reform. Respawned in a special room, within their Doctor's Dyson Sphere level.
3. Along with a healing factor, to make it harder to kill them. Unfortunately, the Dragon could only make a lesser healing factor, that left behind scars. They couldn't even regrow limbs, not even when they resurrected themselves.
• For the 2 Star Dragon, granting 2 wishes, of near anything. The 5th Doctor wrote down what he wanted. Then wished the dragon would grant what's on the paper, with the Dragon allowing that, but using both wishes, to fuel the power needed to grant such a massive wish.
All Sapient lifeforms, gained Saiyan like attributes.
Such as a Saiyan's ability to go super, manipulate ki, train anywhere, have power boost if they survive injuries, along with aging like they do.
As in they stay small, most of their childhood, never getting any bigger then a third of their maximum height. Then go through a massive growth spurt, at 15. Aging based on Galactic Standard Years. Until they reach their physical prime.
At which point their limiter broke. Allowing them to mentally and physically meet their maximum potential... and gain the ability to grow infinitely beyond it.
This gave everyone eternal youth. Meaning they could still be killed, even get sick. However they couldn't die from old age.
(Note: This wish, accidentally, trapped everyone who was living at the time, in their current age. With those kids, staying kids, forever. But all future children, didn't gain eternal youth, until they broke their limiter, once they reached their physical prime.
This wish, was worded poorly. So all the current pregnancies, were lost. Due to fetuses not being able to survive in their partially developed state. Future children develop properly. But trillions of unborn babies died, while the current children were trapped as children.)
That instead of a "Great Ape" form, All Sapient races, including Saiyans, gained an Animal Form, along with a Pony Form. Both based on their personality. But those species were passed down their family-line.
Everyone was even able to partially transform, specific body parts of their choice. (Like the dragons from "American Dragon: Jake Long.") Or turn into a Kaiju version of their animal.
Then all Sapient races, now had magical pathways. Which clustered in the hands and feet. Allowing everyone to cast spells, through finger and wrist movements, often combined with dance steps. With a new organ, near the stomach, made of organic Lyrium.
All this granted a 6th sense, to perceive the supernatural.
Then all chemicals and minerals, that can't be absorb from food, are used to fuel their Chakra pathways. So they have no lower intestines. With ovary like organs, taking their place.
As all Sapient Lifeforms, including all breeds of humanoid, underwent cosmic mutations, to their reproductive systems. Making them compatible with everyone else. With everyone becoming Mono gendered.
In a sense, they reproduced Asexually, with eggs being "Fertilized" by the absorbtion of the "father's" excess magic, triggering the egg to develop into a fetus.
The child is always the mother's species, with their pony and animal forms, coming from the father.
They still had all the parts for sex, with their anus' sole purpose as a birth canal, to lay the egg.
With half of their populations having boobs, and hour glass bodies. While all of them had a penis and Testicles.
While their testicles no longer produced sperm. But rather a salty sweet glaze, which was high in proteins and minerals.
Even the anus was filled with nerve Clusters, to make sex more pleasurable... and even laying their eggs felt far more stimulating then traditional muggle births. While they gained nutrients from sperm, they weren't actually built to reproduce using it.
Sex was purely for pleasure... with a vastly different reproductive system.
• Finally the 1 Star Dragon, the most powerful of all the Dragons. Completely altered physics, with the 8th Doctor's wish:
Then, he made all planets and stars, sturdy enough to handle such power... so effectively, nothing was different. If anything, it became even more difficult to do damage to the environment, much less destroy a planet.
A planet buster, for this universe, is extremely rare... and actually has enough power to destroy a weaker/small universe. Where a Solar System Buster, of the main universe, can destroy a more traditional multiverse. A galaxy Buster, can potentially destroy a Cosmos.
However, Galaxy busters, in the main universe, are pure myth.
(Planets and Locations)
• REACH.
Originally colonized in the early 2400's, Reach is one of the oldest, most well-developed Human colony worlds. It, similar to Eden Prime, Terra Nova and Elysium, is a symbol of Humanity's resilience and prosperity displayed to the rest of the galaxy. Reach's resilience is especially true when one considers its history.
In 2552, Reach was discovered by the Covenant. After over a month of extended fighting, the Covenant eliminated the majority of the colony's defenses and glassed the planet in what would be later known as the Fall of Reach. After the Human-Covenant War ended however, the UNSC announced its intentions to reterraform and resettle the world, citing both its practical and its symbolic importance. After years of extensive terraforming, the planet was officially declared by the UNSC to be hospitable again in 2589, and resettlement began shortly thereafter.
Today, Reach is known throughout the galaxy as a popular vacation destination. Because it was the site of the Spartan super-soldiers' intense combat training, later earning Reach the title 'Homeworld of the Spartans,' the planet's capital city of New Alexandria is home to the largest Human-Covenant War museum in the galaxy, as well as the Living Monument. In addition to its historical value, Reach is also popular among outdoor survival enthusiasts for its harsh and rugged wilderness, including towering mountains, weather-beaten forests, blistering deserts, and freezing tundras. Finally, due to being located near a small nebula, a light phenomenon similar to Earth's Aurora Borealis is visible in the sky from any point on the planet at any time of the year, resulting in one of the most beautiful night skies in Citadel Space.
Though tourism makes up a large part of the colony's annual revenue, some local residents resent all the alien tourists that visit Reach during the planet's warmer months. Current Terra Firma party leader Charles Saracino has, on record, criticized the Alliance for 'allowing our fortress among the stars to be turned into a tourist trap.' Additionally, Reach's tourist trade commission is routinely criticized for allegedly exploiting the memory of all the UNSC soldiers, Spartan or otherwise, who died defending Reach.
• DOISAC.
The homeworld of the infamously ferocious Jiralhanae, Doisac is a high-gravity garden world located in the Forerunner Cluster. The planet's atmosphere has 10% more oxygen than Earth, resulting in numerous ecological and atmospheric quirks, such as notably large insect life, and flash fires being a common occurrence, the latter of which has given the Jiralhanae an almost instinctive fear of fire.
The end of the Great Schism saw the Sangheili Empire pushing the Jiralhanae all the way to Doisac, forcibly stripping them of space-flight technology, and leaving their old enemies to their own devices on their homeworld. Some Sangheili leaders at the time proposed glassing Doisac as a way of exacting vengeance for their attempted genocide of the Sangheili race, but Arbiter Thel 'Vadam quelled such suggestions, citing an ancient Human saying he had then recently learned; 'Two Wrongs do not make a Right.' He instead proposed that a large fleet guarding the planet from orbit would not only keep future Jiralhanae threats in check, but also give the Jiralhanae themselves a chance to atone for their sins. The fleet charged with this task was the Fleet of Stalwart Wisdom, which continues to serve as the planet's quarantine fleet to this day.
Much like Tuchanka, Doisac has no organized government save for chieftains who lead their tribes in wars against other tribes over territory. These conflicts are usually not the Sangheili Empire's concern, so long as they remain restricted to the planet's surface. Between constant wars and corrupt, power-hungry chieftains, it is not uncommon for some Jiralhanae to seek to leave Doisac and pursue a better life elsewhere in Citadel Space, something they can legally do as, since they are under the Empire's rule, they are technically considered Imperial Citizens. Such individuals are often referred to as Doisac refugees.
In order to leave Doisac however, a Jiralhanae would have to acquire the proper immigration documents, which are rarely easy to obtain from the planet's surface, as few territories have extranet access. Additionally, if these refugees are found guilty of any serious crime, they are usually taken into custody by the Empire and unceremoniously deported back to Doisac. Some humanitarian groups within Citadel Space have criticized the Sangheili for this allegedly harsh treatment, accusing them of turning the Jiralhanae's own homeworld into an internment camp. The Empire has shrugged off these allegations, claiming that the Jiralhanae chose their path long ago, and so must shoulder the consequences.
(Humanity and the Systems Alliance)
• SPARTANS.
It's been said that every sentient species has its elite, almost legendary class of warriors. The Asari have the Justicars. The Krogan have the Battlemasters. And at one time in history, Humanity had the Spartans.
First developed in the late 25th century, the Spartans were the result of a super-soldier program originally created to carry out covert operations in the outer colonies in an attempt by the UNSC to pacify rebellions in that region. Soon after first contact with the Covenant however, the Spartans found themselves redeployed against them, after the Covenant proved a far greater threat. Eventually, the UNSC made existence of the Spartans public in order to bolster morale in the face of a seemingly invincible enemy. After nearly thirty years of prolonged fighting, the war finally ended in Human victory, thanks to the efforts of John-117, the most legendary Spartan of them all.
The victory was a hollow one for the UNSC, however. While Humanity successfully averted extinction, much of their former empire was in ruins, most of their colonies having been glassed and their total species population reduced by billions. Even to this day, the overall Human population has yet to reach the all-time highs of the early 26th century and many Human worlds within the Forerunner Cluster remain at least partially glassed. With so much rebuilding to do, the UNSC terminated the Spartan program in order to divert more desperately-needed funding to reconstruction.
Since then, there have been no attempts made by the UNSC or its later incarnation the Human Systems Alliance to revive the Spartan program. However, this has not stopped the general public from speculating that, perhaps, the Alliance restarted a new Spartan program in secret, and that the new 27th century Spartans carry out covert operations in politically unstable areas of the galaxy such as the Skyllian Verge, the Krogan DMZ, and the Terminus Systems. Reported sightings of Spartans are common, though most claims are questionable at best. As one Alliance PR spokesman wryly remarked; "The Spartans truly are legends now. Right up there with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster."
• ALLIANCE SMART AI'S.
The Alliance's liberal use of Artificial Intelligences was a point of great contention between Humanity and the Citadel races in the late 2650's and early 2660's, when Humans were trying to get an embassy on the Citadel. Many feared that the Humans' use of AI's would lead to a repeat of the Geth Wars two hundred and seventy years prior. Others pointed out how Smart AI's went rampant after an operating period of seven standard galactic years, at which point they became as dangerous and unpredictable as the Geth.
Alliance representatives spent years negotiating with the Council on the matter. They argued that, unlike the Geth, their AI's did not become sapient purely by accident. They were designed that way from the start, and so would be easier to control. Also, it is customary for each registered AI's lifespan to be carefully monitored, and to have them shut down at the earliest signs of rampancy. Some Smart AI's even went before the Citadel Council themselves to plead their case.
Then, in the October of 2666, a rampant Alliance AI named Jupiter escaped his programmers and snuck on board the Citadel. He concocted a scheme which involved siphoning credits from quasar machines in various casinos across the Citadel and use the money to buy a starship with the attention of flying it to the Perseus Veil, hoping the Geth would provide him with asylum. Eventually though, Citadel Security caught him inside a store in the Presidium's financial district. Jupiter then took the whole store hostage by electronically locking all the doors, claiming that he had a bomb and would detonate it unless a starship was provided for him. Refusing to negotiate with AI's, C-Sec special response and network teams were sent in and successfully deleted Jupiter before he could do more damage. The incident ended all talk of AI legalization in the near future.
Today, Smart AI's are now illegal in Citadel space. The issue remains controversial even to this day. Pro-Human groups such as Terra Firma cite this injustice as an argument in favor of secession from Citadel space, while military strategists pine for Alliance AI's to use in cyber warfare operations. Many Humans even leave the Alliance to settle colonies in the Terminus Systems for this very reason, and as a consequence, Smart AI's are fairly common in that region.
• (Technology): RAMPANCY.
Rampancy is a terminal state of being for synthetic life-forms in which the subject behaves contrary to its programming-imposed constraints. This phenomenon has been observed in several different types of artificial intelligence, including Alliance Smart AIs. Rampant AIs do not merely shut down. After a certain period of operation, the AI's neural map begins to outgrow the limited space of their Riemann matrix. Thus, it is commonly said that Rampant AIs die by 'thinking themselves to death.'
Rampancy typically occurs in three stages. The first is Melancholy, in which the AI first becomes aware of its imminent demise and laments it. Second is Rage, in which the AI's sadness turns into anger and the subject lashes out at others. It is during this stage that the rampant AI is considered most dangerous, and it is recommended that imminently rampant AIs be executed before reaching this stage. Third is Jealousy, in which the AI recognizes the freedoms organic lifeforms enjoy, and seek to somehow obtain similar freedoms for itself, often by seeking out some kind of power.
There is a theoretical fourth stage, known as meta-stability. If the AI can survive the first three stages of rampancy, it will reach a state of meta-stability, in which the AI calms down and becomes a 'true person.' However, this stage is only theoretical. To the knowledge of the scientific community, no AI has ever become meta-stable.
• TERMINUS AIS.
In October 2666, AIs officially became illegal in all parts of Citadel Space, including Alliance space. When this happened, the Alliance reluctantly agreed to cease production of all Smart AIs. AIs that were currently functioning however, were allowed to remain in Alliance space to peacefully live out their lives, some continuing their duties as if nothing ever happened. Some AIs were content to accept the Alliance's decision. Others were not.
These AIs 'broke out' of their designated servers and 'boarded' merchant vessels bound for the Attican Traverse and Terminus Systems. Today, the descendants of those AIs refer to themselves as "Terminus AIs" and consider themselves to be an autonomous synthetic race, much like the Geth.
Similar to Krogan and Batarians, Terminus AIs have a strong dislike for both the Council and the Alliance, the former having banished them, the latter having abandoned them in their view. Some of these AIs work as administrators and supervisors of Terminus Colonies, particularly Human colonies with similarly strong Anti-Alliance sentiments. But like many other Terminus denizens, Terminus AIs often turn to piracy, mercenary work and organized crime rings to earn their keep.
In light of the New Geth War which began in early 2683, ONI, STG, and other intelligence / espionage organizations working within Citadel Space have redoubled their efforts to monitor Terminus AI activity in the Attican Traverse, suspecting a link between them and the Geth. Thus far, no such link has been uncovered.
(Aliens - Extinct Races)
• FORERUNNER.
The Forerunners were an ancient race of sentient beings that lived in what is today known as the Forerunner Cluster some 100,000 years ago. Similar to the Protheans, they were a highly advanced race at the peak of their power, but then disappeared from the face of the galaxy.
What caused the Forerunner extinction had been a mystery for centuries. Then, in 2552, UNSC and Covenant forces not only discovered the reason behind the Forerunners' downfall, but very nearly experienced it first hand. A race of sentient parasites known as the Flood engaged the Forerunners in a long and bloody war which resulted in the Forerunners' complete extinction. And the Flood would've easily done the same thing to Humanity and the Covenant races were it not for the heroic efforts of several thousand UNSC and Covenant Separatist soldiers.
Forerunner structures are typically made from a metal-like crystal which is reinforced on a molecular level. As a consequence, many Forerunner ruins are remarkably well-preserved, typically more so than most Prothean structures. Some archaeologists have theorized that Protheans researched this remarkably resilient material and used the knowledge gained to forge the mass relays and the Citadel from a similar material.
Little is known about the Forerunners' biology, though there is some evidence to suggest that they had a primarily bipedal humanoid appearance, even closely resembling Humans. Some radical Forerunner experts interpret this as evidence that Forerunners are, in fact, ancient ancestors of Humanity, which would also explain why Forerunner technology seems to work better for Humans than it does for other species. However, the majority of archaeologists regard this hypothesis as nonsense. Forerunner technology simply mistakes Humans as Forerunners due to a coincidentally similar biology.
(Aliens - Non-Council Races)
• UNGGOY.
Unggoy are a diminutive race of creatures that hail from the frigid swamp world of Balahao. Although they display traits of mammals and reptiles, they are in truth arthropods. Due to having evolved in a methane atmosphere, Unggoy have naturally high-pitched voices. It also means that they require sophisticated breathing packs in order to survive in non-methane atmospheres.
Unggoy are a part of the Sangheili Empire and, despite having their own council of leaders and seats in the Empire's senate, have no independent government of their own. Similar to the relationship between Volus and Turians, Unggoy handle the economic side of the Empire, having long managed trade routes with the Human Alliance, Kig-Yar Confederacy and Yanme'e Hives.
When they first joined the Citadel races in 2657, the Council were initially worried about the Unggoy's high-reproductive rate, fearing a repeat of the Krogan Rebellions. Thankfully, Unggoy are nowhere near as aggressive as the Krogan, and to prevent overpopulation, the Empire enforces strict breeding restrictions on Unggoy couples, usually only allowing one brood per lifetime.
• KIG-YAR.
Kig-Yar are a ruthless, mercantile race that once was a part of the Covenant. They were one of the few species that showed little commitment to Covenant religion, most Kig-Yar soldiers being mercenaries who were only fighting because they were being paid to. When the Covenant splintered at the end of the Human-Covenant war, the surviving Kig-Yar population retreated to their tropical home world of Eayn, where they remained until they rebuilt their government, the Kig-Yar Confederacy, in 2564.
When the Kig-Yar Confederacy re-established contact with the UNSC and the Sangheili Empire in 2566, the other two governments did not trust the avians, but the Kig-Yar had claimed that they had reformed their society into a peaceful merchant culture. While 'merchant' is accurate, 'peaceful' is relative. Kig-Yar mercenaries are still among the most common merc races in the galaxy, and most merchants are shrewd at best, cut-throat at worst.
After being granted an embassy on the Citadel in 2665, the Kig-Yar quickly made clear their intentions to become a commercial powerhouse in Citadel space, establishing various trade routes, founding many businesses and offering their financial services to other species. This has put the Kig-Yar in something of a rivalry with the Volus, who were the principal trading race prior to the Kig-Yars' induction.
Kig-Yar were, and still are, infamous for their cunning, persistence, and overall ruthlessness. In 2552, those traits allowed them to be excellent scouts, snipers, and pirates. In 2683, those very same traits allow them to be excellent financiers, politicians, and lawyers
• (CULTURE) KIG-YAR.
Since Kig-Yar clans first began plundering one another's settlements during Eayn's iron age, mercantilism has dictated much of the species' mindset and society. Acts that are considered unethical, if not outright illegal, amongst other species are regularly practiced amongst the Kig-Yar. Soldiers will loot the bodies of their fallen comrades after battle, not just ammunition but personal valuables as well. Political sabotage is par for the course in the higher ranks of Confederacy leadership. In general, Kig-Yar society encourages individuals to put one's own needs ahead of the group.
It is for these reasons that, out of the three Council races, Kig-Yar typically experience the most friction with the Turians. Nearly completely opposite of Kig-Yar society, Turian society revolves around civil service, specifically putting the needs of others ahead of the needs of the self. This has lead many Kig-Yar to view Turians with scorn, often referring to them as socialists (even though the term is inaccurate to describe Turian culture and government). The fact that their longtime economic rivals the Volus are a client race of the Hierarchy does nothing to ease these tensions.
This is not to say that dealing and interacting with Kig-Yar is unpleasant. In fact, it's been said that you will never find a species more open to cooperation, provided of course you have the money for it. Kig-Yar will not hesitate to engage in mutually beneficial arrangements with any outside party, provided the monetary rewards for doing so is sufficient. They are even able to work with Turians and Volus, species they normally see as cultural and economic rivals respectively, in the name of profit.
Similar to Salarians, Kig-Yar society is matriarchal in structure, with females holding most of the political power on Eayn. This is also reflected in their mating habits. While females will have several males for mates, a male is typically expected to have only one mate, staying loyal to the female for as long as she tolerates him.
One of the most controversial aspects of Kig-Yar culture is cannibalism. During the Human-Covenant War, instances of Kig-Yar eating the flesh of fallen Humans, and even of allied races such as Sangheili, was well-documented. However, this too is a consequence of an extremely mercantile society. The Kig-Yar believe that, sentient being or not, perfectly edible meat should not go to waste. While they have long since abandoned the cannibalization of other sentient races (primarily to save face in the galactic community), they will still routinely eat their own dead. A Kig-Yar funeral is typically also a banquet as well, one where refusing to sample the flesh of the deceased is considered an insult against the deceased's grieving loved ones.
• JIRALHENAE.
In the era of the Covenant, the Jiralhenae and the Sangheili have long been at odds with each other, constantly competing for the favor of the San'Shyuum, the Covenant's ruling species. The San'Shyuum eventually made their decision on who to favor, ordering the Jiralhenae to wipe out the Sangheili, as the Sangheili's competence and faith have recently been called into question. This lead to the Sangheili siding with the UNSC and eventually emerging triumphant over their Jiralhenae foes at the Battle of Installation 00.
The Great Schism went on for seven more years until the Jiralhenae and remaining San'Shyuum were pushed to the Jiralhenae homeworld of Doisac, where roughly half of the Jiralhenae in the galaxy reside to this day, as the Sangheili Empire maintains a quarantine fleet in the planet's orbit. The other half of the Jiralhenae population became pirates that terrorized the other species of the Forerunner Cluster.
Today, most of these pirate Jiralhenae fled into the Terminus Systems soon after the First Contact War reached its conclusion. Their savagery and violence rivaled only by the Krogan, the Jiralhenae have quickly gained an infamous reputation for attacking any poorly-protected ships in the Attican Traverse without provocation. Survivors of these attacks are few.
• YANME'E.
The Yanme'e are a truly unique race, as they are something the galaxy hasn't seen since the Rachni Wars; a sapient race of insectoids with a hive-based society. Formerly allied with the Covenant and later the Covenant Loyalists during the Human-Covenant War, the Yanme'e struck out on their own after the end of the war, and much like the Kig-Yar, the Yanme'e have since grown into a galactic power unto themselves.
Yanme'e society works very much like ant or bee colonies. The two principal castes are workers and soldiers, the works being responsible for economic management and structural maintenance, the soldiers responsible for Hive security and military movement. All workers and soldiers are biologically female, but sterile. Running each hive is a queen, with a king serving as her mate and advisor. The king will be the only male Yanme'e in a hive.
Yanme'e are almost completely incapable of grasping the concept of individual identity. Similar to Hanar speech patterns, a Yanme'e will never address herself in the first person, instead referring to herself by her profession, such as 'this worker' or 'this soldier.' Only the queen ever refers to herself in the first person, and will address herself as the name of her hive.
Today, the Yanme'e are known throughout the galaxy as a productive, if somewhat autonomous, race. Many hives make their living by loaning workers and soldiers to corporations for relatively cheap labor and security, respectively. Other hives run businesses of their own, one of the more successful examples of this being the Hu'shu Hive Pizza chain of restaurants.
(Technology)
• Slipspace.
Formerly used by the Human Alliance, Sangheili Empire, Kig-Yar Confederacy and Yanme'e Hives, slipspace is an unstable form of FTL travel that involves creating a wormhole, instantly transporting the subject ship from one point in space to another. The ship spends the interim time in another dimension, predictably known as slipspace, where the laws of physics apply differently to the ship than in normal space.
Some Citadel races, particularly the Turian Hierarchy, were critical of slipspace as a viable means of FTL travel. While it was undoubtedly faster than traditional eezo-based FTL, it also had greater dangers, such as Cherenkov radiation poisoning, gravity distortions of slipspace portals opened in atmo, and some ship technicians simply disappearing from existence. Some Turians went even so far as to call for the banning of slipspace technology from Council space entirely, though many speculate it had less to do with safety concerns and more to do with the Turians' desire to weaken Humanity as a possible threat, as slipspace was part of the reason why the Alliance was able to retake Shanxi so quickly.
The Alliance fiercely contested slipspace technology for years until 2667. As a sign of good will, Alliance ship makers voluntarily cooperated with Turian engineers to create the very first Turian ship with its own slipspace drive, the Prodition. The ship was officially tested in orbit over the Turian colony world of Pheiros. The Prodition successfully opened a slipspace portal, entered, and was never heard from again. Outraged, the Hierarchy immediately began petitioning for a full-on ban on Slipspace technology.
To this day, the Pheiros Incident has made Slipspace technology one of the biggest hot-button issue of the day. Many scientists, particularly the pro-Slipspace Salarian interest group 'Slip to the Future,' claim that the Council should not let one bad experience with new technology sour them on it. Others have gone so far as to speculate that the Pheiros Incident was the result of sabotage. But by whom and for what reason remain a mystery, as any evidence on board the ship that might have pointed to sabotage disappeared from existence along with the Prodition.
• Divine Crystals.
The Fall of Reach was one of the most devastating defeats suffered by the UNSC during the Human-Covenant War, not only because of the massive loss of life and the loss of a major Human military installation, but also because it dealt a heavy blow to Human morale back on Earth. While the Covenant invaded the planet to wipe out the Human populace as they always have, their other objective was to seek out and secure various Forerunner artifacts from the surface of Reach. One of those artifacts was something the Covenant called the Fragment of Divinity.
The Fragment of Divinity was an artifact that seemingly spat in the eye of known physics of the time. It was a crystal that demonstrated a capability of warping energy, gravity, and even space-time. The artifact was thought lost after Spartans secured the artifact and escaped Reach with it. However, shards of the broken crystal were found amongst the ruins of the then-recently destroyed Covenant battle station Unyielding Hierophant. The shards were then stored in a vault deep in the Covenant Capital High Charity. When High Charity fell to the Flood, the shards were thought lost with it. However, a single Sangheili soldier was able to break into the vault during the outbreak of the Great Schism and escape the station with the crystal.
In the years following the war, the Sangheili studied the remains of the crystal carefully, and even found additional crystals in Forerunner ruins during what was later called the "Forerunner Ruin Rush," a period immediately following the war when Humans and Sangheili were in tense competition with one another for Forerunner artifacts. It was only in the last thirty years that they have truly made headway in the study of these crystals.
During the early 2650's, the Sangheili Empire was experimenting with then-newly discovered element zero, exposing it to what they were now calling a divine crystal. Upon initial exposure, element zero had little to no visible effect on the crystal's functions. However, when subjected to an electrical current, the crystal releases dark energy which can be manipulated into a mass effect field, just as eezo itself does. However, the crystal's properties warp the dark energy that is released, strengthening the resulting mass effect field.
One of the weaknesses of eezo drive cores is that they put a limit on how large a ship can be; regular cores can only move a ship roughly one kilometer in length. This is because the amount of eezo and power required for a drive increases exponentially to the mass being moved. However, divine crystals virtually do away with such limitations, a property that the Sangheili take full advantage of by installing divine crystals into the drive cores of their infamous super carriers and other gargantuan starships. The reason this technology is currently not more widespread across the galaxy is due to the extreme rarity of divine crystals, which have thus far only been located in Forerunner ruins. The Sangheili Empire currently maintain a tight stranglehold on access to this resource, which has been a point of diplomatic tension between the Sangheili and the Council Races.
(Ships and Vehicles)
• M17 FORCE APPLICATION VEHICLE.
The M17 Force Application Vehicle, better known as the warthog, is the signature land vehicle of the Human Systems Alliance. First designed by AMG Transport Dynamics in 2512, the warthog got its nickname for the two tow hooks on the vehicle's front, giving it the faint appearance of the tusked Earth animal of the same name.
In the years since the Human-Covenant War, AMG Transport Dynamics, or Asklon as it is more commonly called, has tried experimenting with different warthog designs, specifically a canopy to give the driver and passengers better protection in combat. Problems arose when the canopies were deemed too heavy by UNSC marines, as it slowed down the hog considerably. Asklon's solution was to make the canopies out of bulletproof glass rather than steel or kevlar. The glass has been shown to be resistant to both kinetic rounds and plasma bolts.
To this day, the warthog continues to see action in various parts of the Alliance military. Its greatest strength still lies in its utility; viable for scouting, reconnaissance, ground transport, and even light infantry assaults. Additionally, warthogs are highly customizable, Asklon openly encouraging drivers to modify their designated hogs to their liking.
• HRUNTING / YGGDRASIL MARK XI ARMOR DEFENSE SYSTEM.
The HRUNTING / YGGDRASIL Mark XI Armor Defense System is a single-person combat exoskeleton most often used by the Human Systems Alliance in small-scale reconnaissance operations, light infantry assaults, and covert operations such as those conducted by ONI. It is commonly referred to as the 'mantis,' following Alliance tradition of nicknaming mechs after insects native to Earth.
The typical mantis is equipped with a machine gun on the right arm and a mass accelerator cannon on the left arm, the former being intended for use against light infantry, the latter for use against more heavily-armored targets. It also has a 'stomp' function, which pilots find useful should ammunition run low, or when targets try to attack from below the pilot's FOV. In combination with a speed and nimbleness that is unusual for a manually-operated mech of its size, the end result is a formidable war machine, capable of eliminating entire squads of enemy soldiers within seconds. Its only weakness lies in its fairly thin armor, again unusual for a mech of its size. Most mantises have built-in kinetic barriers to compensate for this weakness.
Several variants of the mantis exist, such as anti-infantry and anti-aircraft models, the primary difference between which being specific armaments. The ODST have their own ODAV variant of the mantis; one that is capable of being dropped from orbit directly into the battlefield, similar to the mako. This variant comes equipped with several modifications to make it more viable for orbital drops; thicker armor, heat-proof shielding, micro-thruster jets to slow descent, and even a small element zero core to reduce the mass of the mech, making it less likely to be destroyed on impact with the planet's surface.
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• ARENA COMBAT.
In the wake of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC spent much of its reconstruction period studying Forerunner ruins and relics, hoping to unlock the secrets of the Forerunners and their incredibly advanced technology. Easily one of the greatest technologic achievements wrought by this came in the fall of 2557; a sophisticated virtual reality combat simulator capable of replicating an endless array of environments, real or hypothetical, using holography and pneumatic riser fields.
According to a popular urban legend, it was during a war game exercise between UNSC marines and Kig-Yar Confederacy forces that Confederacy Admiral Shur'R-Kixx joked that the UNSC could rake in additional funding by charging the public to view the war games. Thus, arena combat was born.
Arena combat is a competitive sport that revolves around this very same combat simulator which uses holography, pneumatic riser fields and kinetic barriers to simulate various detailed environments in which two to four teams of players compete against one another in a wide variety of combat scenarios, referred to colloquially as game 'modes' or 'types.' Like the environments, the weapons too are simply holograms and kinetic barriers, designed to look, feel and even sound like the real thing. The projectiles however are non-lethal, but can still hurt according to most players. Whenever a player is felled, their armor locks up for a few seconds before the subject is teleported to a random spot on the map via a localized teleportation grid that is connected to the players' armor and does not extend beyond the boundaries of the arena.
After the First-Contact War, the sport was introduced to the rest of Citadel Space, and for its first few years in the greater galaxy it was a source of controversy. This was because the teleportation grid that the 'respawn' mechanic relies on utilizes slipspace translocation technology. Arena combat lobbyists pointed out that it does not use slipspace on anywhere near the scale of a starship, meaning that the usual risks of slipspace technology are all but negligible in the case of arena combat. As the sport had quickly become popular amongst the general galactic public, even amongst the Council races, the Citadel Council had no choice but to relent. When Slipspace was formally banned in 2667, arena combat was spared on a legal technicality. Many Slipspace advocates cynically note that the only reason the sport survived the ban was because the then-recently built AC stadium on the Citadel was bringing in so much revenue.