Harbinger
Special care had been paid in the previous cycle, not to the dominant Prothean's, but to the Densorin species. And while it was true, on taking stock of available data, that the Prothean had proved to be more capable than the usual species harvested in the cycle, ultimately they held to the determined path of the harvest and could be accounted for. The Densorin however, had been developing aberrant technologies and certain aspects of those paths had seen early experimentation and development, even if they had been largely unrefined when it had come time for their ascension.
Messages and data packs flowed through the network as engagements took place. A previously unknown subspecies of humanity, Grim/Karodth was emerging from hiding after nearly being destroyed. Available data indicates a three phase development in a section of humanity history referred to as The Lost Century.
Initial state, doomsday preparation cult under the belief that humanity would destroy itself due to nuclear and biological warfare. Solution, isolation in fortified bunker-domes beneath the rock under the Antarctic ice sheets. Remaining records suggest they were discovered after they had already started to develop along the archetype of 'Mad Scientists.' Potential cause; isolation induced insanity.
They refrained, from records, from the early clashes as the powers of the time probed and tested each other. Alliances formed eventually with regional powers whose goal was to be left alone. Eventually drawn into conflict, deployed unconventional chemical and biological weaponry (note, Smilex, Corpus, Scarlet Rot, Shoggoth and T-Virus appear in human records as existent in fictional entertainment modules), though evidence suggests a more conventional conflict, and said weapons were realsed from containment afterwards to justify the invasion. The Grim staged a fighting retreat off world to Mars.
Second state marked by increasing paranoia and recklessness, as early settlements on Mars overrun by dominant Earth powers that would soon be destroying each other. Existing records come largely from remaining allies on Earth and from Orbital League powers. Largely speak of increasing oddities among the Grim, of additional settlements and colonies setting up in the outer reaches of the solar systems, and of an increasing level of certain exotic radiation.
Monitoring of Antarctic and Martian sites, including observation of Reaper Drones, indicates non-Euclidian geometry, and drone exposure to Corpus virus indicates development of Indoctrination through alternate mechanisms, similar to destroyed Thorian. No element zero detected in these sites, even as spacial and temporal anomalies are detected, the shifting of space seeming to respond to data interface with the environment. Ten instances of holographic projections of Husk memory fragments, despite such no longer being accessible or used, indicating alternate retrieval mechanism.
Second state ended with second joint attack by Earth based powers to 'finish the job,' only for The Grim to have abandoned the inner sphere. Records indicate research into technologies to make swift travel into the outer reaches, before final phase of the Lost Century began.
Records of final phase fragmentary. Indicate existence of Chronal Weaponry and Dimensional Shunts and Overlaps. End of the war... inconclusive, local records indicate that physics was briefly reset in the Sol system and time fractured. Human consensus, The Grim did not survive the forces they unleashed, as they and the majority of their structures did not exist after the end phase. Records indicate multiple sets of memories, of radically different events occurring.
Theorists propose that Grim attempted to utilize principle from entertainment module titled Elder Scrolls (reference, Elder Scrolls Skyrim A Hundred and Fifty Years Edition is available at most gaming platforms) labeled 'Dragon Break' where time was deliberately destabilized and certain quantum uncertainty principles used for every permutation of every possible event to occur before attempting to collapse the waveform in the desired configuration.
Unknown how to induce or resolve. Analysis indicates radical transformation of all involved parties and different technological developments.
Transmission from Australia. They are still in possession of giant mechanical fighting platforms.
Indications; more Aberrant technology may be in possession of human forces, along with emerging anomalous presences.
Tentative conclusion; The Grim subspecies merely retreated beyond conventional detection range, and will prove annoying to harvest.
Liara T'Soni
She wanted a drink, as she looked at The Vaults of Morvac. It was not a Prothean ruin, even if that would be a lot easier to wrap her head around. No, instead if was the vault of mad scientists that named it after an older science fiction franchise. Or, based on the fragmentary records of the time, it was where they stored the remains of what they could find of their cyber-warfare weapons. Largely they had to treat it like an active biological hazard as well, because as one joker (and not Jeff) put it, what was a sentient brain but a complicated organic computer.
She wanted to complain and say that there was plenty of differences... and yet as the Reapers showed, once a species reached a level of logic where it looped into a sort of madness, well, come of their conclusions might lay along similar paths. Still, even as Tali got them access to the vault... she just hoped that they would survive to give Shepard that lapdance they had promised him. Which, as the vault opened, twisting and shivering... she was not really surprised when it was a dark void before her, one that erupted with tentacles as she shot them.
They were dragged into the depths, even as she noted that they were not tentacles, but roots, like the damn Thorian. Which really, as she flexed her biotics... she paused, the gravity warping to reveal that the 'root' was transparent and the star like things inside of it resembled the constellations of Thessia. And then, she and Tali saw him. He was a human. Or at least appeared to be, as he smiled, as they were suspended from the roots. "Good evening ladies. I'm the interface for the little cyber-warfare and recoirds system here, but in truth..."
He smiled, and it was a terrifying thing. "Well, I'm something of an Anti virus specialist myself, comes with being a Doctor and all." He paused. "Oh, and as for why my makers combined a search engine with an anti-virus system rated for war?" He chuckled, and something about it teased nervous smiles and laughs from them. "Well, knowledge is power, so guard it well. But, it seems you ladies have a little problem, and I do like to help as I can."
Which of course, is when she noticed, that they were in a surgical suite, even as books and crystals sorted themselves onto the nearby shelves. "Now, don't you worry." The smile, as he took out a sonic scalpel was not reassuring. "I'll just reset any mistakes I make. You can trust me, I graduated top of my class!"
And there was in fact, a graduation certificate, the school in question being 'The Miskatonic University of Mad Science.' And so, she had to ask the important question. "Are you even a medical doctor!"
The man blinked. "Only for infomorphs, but I don't see why that matters, while messier you biologicals are so much less complicated."
She blinked, looking at the doors of the Vaults of Morvac. The sealed shut gates. "Tali." Her tone was defeated. "Do you have a HUD display showing a local minimap and goal tracker along with progress bar, complete with lore dossier?"
Tali, that sweet little cuddlebug, nodded. "Yes. Yes I do. Well, Jon did say that this was a mad science vault, so..."
She shrugged... even as metal parts were lifted into the air, assembling themselves. "Tali. Are you assembling those with your mind."
Of course, there was also the fact that she appeared to be getting the history (in tabs) of everything that she was looking at, stored in a nice little databank. "I think, that we were experimented on Liara." It was said in a detached tone, the one that was 'I need my version of coffee, because I am so done with this.' "I wonder if I can disassemble a husk?"
It was... something even as she wondered what next... and then a new mission marker popped up in her new HUD. Well, time to get to work.