Epilogue Cont.

Andromeda Initiative

Pathfinder's OfficeDate:March 3rd, 2184

To: Jien GarsonFounder and Director, Andromeda Initiative

Subject: Mission Report – Retrieval of Artifact

Director Garson,

I submit this mission report with a mixture of both accomplishment and regret. The mission to retrieve the Artifact, which we believed could offer significant advancements to the Initiative, was initially a success. The team, led by Athira Kyrsan and Martin Winters, successfully navigated an uncharted system and secured the Artifact. Their efforts were exemplary in navigating hostile territory and unknown risks to secure what we believed to be a critical discovery.

However, shortly after retrieval, an incident involving Martin Winters led to a change in plans. I believed the Artifact may pose a potential threat, and I requested that Athira Kyrsan take it to Illium for further study to determine its safety. Given the volatile situation and the uncertainty surrounding the Artifact's nature, Athira complied with his request.

Unfortunately, on Illium, the team was intercepted by a Colonel of the Turian Military. During this encounter, a member of Athria's team tragically lost their life while heroically attempting to keep it in their possession. Determined to retrieve the Artifact, Athira devised and executed a daring plan, soliciting the assistance of several Quarians to mount an assault on the Colonel's vessel. Despite overwhelming odds, the attack succeeded, and Athira's team reclaimed the Artifact.

At this point, however, Martin Winters took the Artifact to the surface of the planet, acting on his belief that it was too dangerous to be transported further. While the exact nature of his reasoning remains unclear, I believe Winters saw something in the Artifact that warranted immediate action. His judgment, though unconventional, was driven by his concern for the safety of the Initiative and all involved.

On the summit of a mountain, Martin made his final stand against the Turian Colonel. Despite his best efforts, he was ultimately struck down in the ensuing firefight. In what I can only describe as an act of defiance, Winters destroyed the Artifact, preventing it from falling into enemy hands.

Martin was recovered shortly after. While we no longer have the Artifact to study, and therefore cannot confirm if it was indeed a miniature hypercomputer as we had hoped, Athira's initial analysis suggests that the device may have posed a grave danger. There is speculation that it could have interfered with the Initiative's operations. In light of this, I am inclined to believe that Martin Winters did the right thing in destroying it, though we will never know for certain.

We now await the likely repercussions from the Systems Alliance and the Turian Hierarchy. The death of a Turian officer, combined with the destruction of a potentially valuable artifact, will almost certainly lead to political fallout. I am concerned about the pressure this might place on the Initiative, particularly in light of our delicate position between various galactic powers.

While the mission achieved its goal in some respects, the loss of the Artifact, and the broader implications of these events will weigh heavily on us in the coming days. I will remain in close contact as we prepare for any diplomatic fallout that may arise.

Thank you for your continued leadership as we navigate this challenging situation.

Alec Ryder
Pathfinder, Andromeda Initiative

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Andromeda Initiative

Founder's Office
Date: March 20th, 2184

To: Alec Ryder
Pathfinder, Andromeda Initiative

Subject: Re: Mission Report – Retrieval of Artifact

Alec,

Thank you for your thorough report on the mission, as always. I've had time to reflect on what you shared, and like you, I'm deeply saddened by the loss of life—both from Athira's team and the broader tragedy surrounding the Artifact. We always knew there would be risks involved, but it never makes the loss any easier to bear. Please extend my deepest condolences to Athira and her team. They've shown incredible courage under impossible circumstances.

I also want to express my appreciation for keeping me informed about the potential political fallout. However, I'm surprised—but relieved—to say that the situation has taken an unexpected turn. It seems the Turian Hierarchy has officially disavowed the Colonel's actions. From what I've been told, the Alliance found evidence aboard the wreckage of the Turian ship that proved the Colonel had been acting alone, with intentions of igniting a new Human-Turian conflict. With both sides in agreement, the matter has been quietly dropped, and there will be no political blowback after all.

I have to admit, we dodged a bullet. That said, I believe we should avoid missions of this scale and danger moving forward. While we came out of this relatively unscathed on the political front, it's a reminder of how high the stakes can be. Let's proceed with more caution in future endeavors.

As for Athira and her team, I hope they take the time they need to recover from this ordeal. They've shown remarkable strength and resilience, and I have no doubt they'll be ready for the next phase of their journey when the time comes. I'll be keeping an eye on their progress and look forward to seeing them thrive once again.

On a brighter note, it's good to know that amidst the chaos, we've gained something valuable. The team's training and experience have created a set of capable "backups" for our mission to Andromeda, just as you always hoped. If we encounter any challenges ahead—and I'm sure we will—it's reassuring to know that we have a strong foundation to fall back on.

Thanks again, Alec, for everything you've done. Let's keep moving forward.

Jien Garson
Founder and Director, Andromeda Initiative