Mass Effect: The Titan

by thecrazytoast

In 2179, an artifact was discovered in a remote star cluster in the Terminus systems. An artifact gathered the attention of several governments and shadowy organizations, placing huge bounties on its retrieval. It is now 2183 and these organizations have become desperate. The body count has grown, and with it, the confusion surrounding the information on who is in possession.

34. Chapter 34

Epilogue

Alliance Navy Headquarters

Joint Military Command

Date: February 21st, 2184

To: Alec Ryder

Andromeda Initiative

Subject: In Memoriam: Martin Winters

Commander Ryder,

I write to you today not merely as an admiral of the Alliance Navy but as a witness to the often brutal and unforgiving march of history. The subject of this letter, Martin Winters, is a man whose story spans centuries, tainted by betrayal, and ultimately marked by a dedication to a cause larger than himself. It is with great solemnity that I share with you the truth of his fate.

Martin Winters, as you may be aware, was not an Alliance soldier. His life, however, was irrevocably shaped by the events of the Second Civil War in 2099—a conflict that tore his home apart and left scars that are still healing. Winters, a man of honor, found himself betrayed by those he trusted most, his former commanding officer, and subsequently used as a pawn in a political game that sought to elevate a corrupt president's power. For his so-called crimes, he was condemned, imprisoned, and cast into cryosleep, an exile that was meant to last for eternity.

Yet, as fate would have it, the truth could not remain buried. The Alliance has conducted a thorough investigation into the events surrounding Winters' imprisonment. We have uncovered irrefutable evidence that exonerates him of any wrongdoing. The charges leveled against him were fabricated, a means to silence a man who sought only justice. He was, in the end, a victim of a government more concerned with power than with the lives it was sworn to protect.

To compound his suffering, Winters' cryopod was discovered by Cerberus, an organization infamous for its unethical practices and disregard for human life. Subjected to experiments without his consent, Winters became yet another casualty of Cerberus' twisted ambitions. Let it be known that the Alliance formally clears Martin Winters of any and all involvement with Cerberus. His actions during his current tenure, which may have been interpreted as crimes, were the acts of a man fighting for survival in a galaxy that had forgotten him. He was not a criminal; he was a hero, fighting to reclaim a life that had been unjustly stolen from him.

I confess that I am uncertain who precisely should receive this message. Martin Winters was a man out of time, a relic of a past that many would prefer to forget. Yet, I believe it is important that his story be known and that his memory be honored. Earth, and indeed all of humanity, owes a debt of gratitude to Martin Winters. Though the galaxy may have moved on, his sacrifice should not be lost to the annals of history.

Should it be that he is truly lost to us, I take comfort in knowing that his name will be cleared, his honor restored, and his legacy preserved. Earth will welcome him home to rest, as he rightfully deserves, among the heroes of humanity. He was a titan of a man, a symbol of resilience and integrity, and it is my hope that his story will inspire future generations to seek truth and justice, no matter the cost.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, Alec. Perhaps it is only fitting that someone like you, who understands the weight of impossible choices, should be the one to know the truth of Martin Winters. May he find peace in whatever lies beyond, and may we, the living, learn from the courage he displayed in the face of unimaginable odds.

Steven Hackett

Admiral, Systems Alliance Navy