If you recognize it, I probably don't own it. Mass effect belongs to BioWare and Microsoft.

here are some important stuff.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

~"AI"~

*Sound Effects*

POV/Location/Time Change.

There's this new issue with the website where I have to post the chapter twice for it to be finally posted. It's really annoying. Oh and sorry incase the editing is bad, I did it on my phone.

Interlude

Quarian Migrant Fleet

The Admiralty Board and the Conclave were in an uproar, not with discord but with anticipation. Captain Rael'Zorah stood before them, his posture proud yet measured. The Quarians had spent centuries drifting among the stars, exiled from their homeworld Rannoch, and enduring the indignities of their weakened immune systems and reliance on their suits. But today, Rael had returned with news that shook the very foundations of the galaxy.

"Honored members of the Admiralty Board, esteemed Conclave," Rael began, his voice resolute, "I stand before you with information that will change the fate of our people. We have made contact with a new species—humans, part of the Sol Confederation, and their power is unlike anything we have ever encountered."

A murmur swept through the room, the glow of masked eyes widening behind environmental suits. Rael continued, "They are not part of the Citadel, and they have no need to be. The turians recently found that out the hard way."

Rael's words stilled the room. Everyone had heard whispers of the conflict, but few knew the true scale of what had transpired. Rael's hands tightened behind his back as he recounted the moment.

"I was aboard one of their research vessels when it happened," Rael explained. "The turians, with a fleet of over a thousand ships, opened fire on the humans without provocation. The result was... staggering. The humans lost only one ship, and even that loss occurred because its shields were down while conducting experiments. The reactor was hit. The turians, however, lost more than 800 ships in a matter of minutes. It was over before we could even fully comprehend what was happening."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. The Admiralty, hardened by decades of tactical and military discussions, now faced the realization that there existed a species far superior to anything the galaxy had known.

"And these humans," Rael said, "are not just technologically superior. They are open to trade. I have secured a preliminary agreement to purchase advanced weapons, the likes of which we could use to retake Rannoch."

A ripple of excitement surged through the assembly. Rael raised his hand for silence, his voice becoming even more urgent. "But it is more than weapons. They have the technology to repair our damaged immune systems. If we can maintain good relations with them, we might not need to live in these suits forever."

The Conclave members, stoic and weary from years of debate and diplomacy, felt a wave of hope wash over them. Rael's announcement wasn't just about survival—it was about reclaiming their dignity, their future.

"And perhaps the most surprising part," Rael added, "these humans have made it clear that if any of our people wish to join their Sol Confederation as citizens, they are welcome. They do not view the Citadel Council with the reverence many do. In fact, they openly reject the Council's authority, stating their superiority in terms of technology, military power, and governance."

Another murmur spread through the assembly. To stand independent of the Council, to not fear their sanctions or disapproval, was a bold and unprecedented position.

With a final, determined tone, Rael concluded, "We stand on the edge of a new era for our people. The humans have extended a hand of friendship, and I believe this is our chance to secure an alliance that could one day see us return to Rannoch, stronger than ever before."

The room was filled with a buzzing tension, delegates whispering to each other about the implications. The Admiralty Board, after a brief consultation, announced a vote.

It was unanimous. Rael'Zorah would be promoted to Admiral.

As the meeting adjourned, the weight of what had been shared lingered in the air. The Quarians had long been adrift, their future uncertain. But now, with the might of the Sol Confederation at their backs, a path to retaking their homeworld seemed like a real possibility.

The Conclave had moved to the next, more pressing question—one that would determine the Quarians' future for generations. Should they extend an immediate hand of contact to the humans, or wait for the Sol Confederation to make the next move? The debate was fierce, as voices rose on either side. Some argued for patience, fearing that any premature outreach could be perceived as desperation. Others insisted that seizing the initiative would show the Quarians as proactive and worthy allies.

But Admiral Rael'Zorah had heard enough. His duty in the Conclave was done. He rose from his seat, nodding to his peers, and silently left the chamber. His steps, though measured, felt heavy, the weight of the past few weeks crashing down on him. He hadn't even had time to process it all—the sight of the turian fleet being obliterated, the unimaginable power of the humans, the potential future for his people. The faint glow of the ship's corridors guided him as he made his way to the waiting rooms.

When he entered, his heart skipped a beat. His wife stood there, her posture tense but relaxed as soon as she saw him. Beside her, their daughter, Tali, was playing, chasing a small drone as it hummed through the air. A warmth filled him, one that no battle or council session could ever evoke. He was home.

He approached them, and though his face was hidden behind the visor of his suit, his heart shone through in his movements. He embraced his wife, wrapping his arms around her as tightly as his suit allowed. "I thought I would never see you again…" His voice trembled slightly, betraying the stoic exterior he maintained in the Conclave. "When those turian ships appeared... I thought it was over. I thought I would die out there without seeing you and Tali one last time."

His wife held him close, her voice soft as she responded, "Rael... you're here now. That's what matters." She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her own eyes shimmering behind her visor. "But I was afraid too. When we received news of the turian attack, I thought... I thought I would lose you."

Rael looked down at Tali, still absorbed in her game, blissfully unaware of the dangers her father had just faced. The Admiral knelt beside her and extended his hand, gently patting her head. "Tali'Zorah," he whispered, his voice softer now, "I'll do everything I can to make sure you never have to live in fear. One day, we'll walk on Rannoch together. Without suits. Without fear."

Tali looked up at him, her bright, innocent eyes curious. She didn't fully understand what her father meant, but the promise of something better lingered in her mind like a dream.

His wife knelt beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You did something incredible today, Rael. Securing the alliance with the humans… if what you say is true, they could be our greatest hope. But..." she hesitated, "what happens now?"

Rael sighed, standing slowly and turning toward her. "The Conclave is debating as we speak. Whether to reach out to the humans first or wait for them to come to us. It's a delicate matter. Too delicate. If we misstep, we could lose their goodwill. But if we do nothing, we might be overlooked in the chaos that is sure to follow between the Council and the Sol Confederation."

His wife nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "And what do you think? Should we make the first move?"

Rael stared out of the window, the stars twinkling in the vastness of space, offering no answers. "I don't know," he admitted. "These humans... they are beyond anything we've ever known. Their military, their technology, their sheer power—it's terrifying. But they're also open. They welcomed us aboard their ships, treated us with respect. They didn't look down on us as so many others do." He paused, his thoughts drifting. "I think... I think we should act. Show them that we are ready to be partners, not beggars."

His wife watched him closely, then smiled. "I trust you, Rael. You've always done what's best for our people. Whatever happens, you're not alone in this."

He turned to her, his hand reaching for hers. "I know. And that's what keeps me going." He glanced at Tali again, his resolve hardening. "For you and for her. I'll make sure our people have a future."

As he held his family close, Rael knew that no matter what decision the Conclave made, his path was clear. He had seen the power of the Sol Confederation firsthand, had witnessed the destruction of the turian fleet and the unshakable confidence of the humans. And he knew, deep down, that the Quarians could not afford to wait. They had been wandering for too long, surviving on the edge of extinction. Now, for the first time in centuries, there was a chance to truly live again.

The humans were their future. And Rael'Zorah would make sure the Quarians had a place in that future—no matter what it took. For his wife, for his daughter, for their dream of building a house on the beaches of Rannoch…

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University of Thessia

Liara T'Soni stood in front of the holoprojector, her voice passionate as she wrapped up her lecture. The audience was sparse, but her energy never faltered. This was the culmination of nearly five decades of work—work she had poured her heart and soul into. Her topic, the extinction of the Protheans, was one that had haunted her thoughts for years. But today, she was diving even deeper, into a theory that few dared to approach.

"As you can see," Liara gestured toward the display, a series of Prothean artifacts glowing softly on the screen, "these sediments and statues suggest that civilizations much older than the Protheans once existed. And like the Protheans, they too vanished, leaving behind only echoes of their existence. But I propose a different theory. I don't believe the Protheans simply left, ascended, or vanished into the void. No." She paused, letting the gravity of her words settle over the room. "I believe they were wiped out. Killed by another species, far more powerful than them."

The room was quiet, save for the gentle hum of the holoprojector. Liara's eyes scanned the audience, gauging their reactions. There were only a handful of people present—most of them her students—but she could feel the skepticism thick in the air.

She pressed on, switching the holoprojector to display an ancient ruin, barely recognizable as an Inusannon artifact. "I've spent my life studying the Protheans, but the more I dug, the more I realized that their extinction wasn't unique. It was part of a pattern—a cycle. Civilizations rise, they flourish, and then they are violently cast down. The Protheans were simply the latest victims in a long line of galactic powers that have been systematically erased. And I believe this cycle has been repeating for millions of years."

Liara took a deep breath. This was it. Her grand theory. "I believe there's a galactic cover-up—a deliberate cleansing of history, designed to ensure that no one ever discovers the truth of what happened to these ancient civilizations. And that is what I have dedicated my life to uncovering."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "So… this concludes almost half a century of work."

The silence that followed was heavy, and for a moment, Liara hoped that her audience would at least consider the implications of what she had just presented. But then, from the front row, a voice broke through the quiet.

"While your methods appear sound, Dr. T'Soni, we investigated a similar conjecture centuries ago and discarded it."

Liara blinked, caught off guard. She couldn't place the voice at first. The hall was large, and despite the empty seats, the acoustics made it difficult to pinpoint the speaker. Finally, her gaze fell on an asari sitting with an air of arrogance in the front row. Her posture was rigid, her expression sharp.

"Sorry, you are…?" Liara asked, masking her frustration with a polite tone. She had faced skeptics before, but something about this woman's demeanor irked her.

"Dr. Unnesnea, Dean of the University of Asteria," the asari responded, her voice laced with superiority. The way she said it, with just enough emphasis to remind everyone present of her prestigious position, made Liara bristle.

Liara nodded, her own expression neutral. "I see. And could you be more specific, Dr. Unnesnea?"

Unnesnea leaned back in her chair, her voice dripping with condescension. "It is common knowledge that the Mass Relays were constructed by the Protheans around fifty thousand years ago. Unless, of course, you're one of those Extranet conspiracy theorists who believe otherwise."

The jab landed, and Liara stiffened. It was clear that Unnesnea wasn't here for the content of the lecture—she was here to tear Liara down, to assert her own intellectual dominance. Liara took a calming breath. She had dealt with this before.

Unnesnea continued, "Without the Mass Relays, no civilization, no matter how advanced, could ever hope to traverse the vast distances between stars. Without interstellar travel, they would be doomed to their home systems, and eventually, their civilizations would collapse under the strain of resource depletion. Take the Drell, for example. They reached the limits of their home system and faced extinction. Why should these so-called ancient species be any different?"

Liara's mind raced. She had expected pushback, but this was a direct challenge to the foundation of her work. She straightened, refusing to let Unnesnea's arrogance rattle her.

"With respect, Dr. Unnesnea," Liara began, "I believe, the Protheans did not invent the Mass Relays. They discovered and utilized them, much like we and the other Citadel species do now. The technology predates them, and we know this because the Protheans left records of their own discovery of the relays. As for interstellar travel, we cannot assume that every advanced civilization needed to rely on the same methods we do. The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. These ancient species may have developed entirely different technologies, ones we can't yet comprehend."

Unnesnea scoffed, leaning forward with a predatory smile. "Ah, the classic 'unfounded speculation' defense. I see you're doubling down on a theory with no concrete proof. If these civilizations were so advanced, where are they? Why do we find only remnants and ruins, rather than functioning technology? I think it's clear that your conclusions are based on wishful thinking rather than hard evidence."

Liara clenched her fists behind her back, maintaining her composure. "Archaeology is often about interpreting fragments of the past," she said calmly. "We may not have all the answers, but that doesn't mean the questions aren't worth asking. The ruins we've found, like the Inusannon, suggest that these civilizations were wiped out, not by natural causes, but by something deliberate. We cannot dismiss the possibility of an external force—a threat that transcends time."

Unnesnea waved a dismissive hand. "Or it could just be the natural cycle of civilizations rising and falling. Hubris, over-expansion, internal strife. You're romanticizing their downfall. Not everything has to be a grand galactic conspiracy."

Liara's jaw tightened. "Perhaps. But if we refuse to look beyond what we already know, we will never uncover the truth. The Protheans disappeared without a trace. They didn't just collapse—they were wiped out. And if we don't understand what happened to them, we risk repeating their fate."

Unnesnea stood, clearly done with the debate. "A fascinating story, Dr. T'Soni. But until you have real evidence, it remains just that—a story."

With that, she swept out of the room, leaving Liara standing alone by the holoprojector. The room was silent once more, but this time, it was a different kind of silence. The kind that follows a challenge, a moment of decision.

Liara glanced back at the image of the ancient Inusannon ruins, her determination renewed. She wasn't deterred by Unnesnea's arrogance or the skepticism of her peers. The truth was out there, buried beneath layers of history and time. And she would find it—no matter how many doors were slammed in her face.

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Palaven

Plalven's sky was a hazy orange as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting long shadows across the Vakarian household. Inside, a young Garrus Vakarian sat at the feet of his father, his wide eyes reflecting the curiosity and confusion that only a child could possess. He tugged on the hem of Castis Vakarian's armor, trying to process what he'd been hearing from the older children in the settlement.

"Father, are the humans really that strong?" Garrus asked, his voice carrying a mix of wonder and doubt. At four years old, the boy's mind was already wrestling with the complexities of the world.

Castis looked down at his son, a small smile playing at the corners of his mandibles. He had been expecting this question. After all, the news of the disastrous battle with the humans had spread quickly across the Hierarchy, and every turian family had heard some version of the story. But Castis had insights few others did, thanks to his brother Hurabius, who had been there on the front lines.

"Yes, son," Castis said, his voice steady but warm, "they are the strongest military in the galaxy."

Garrus' eyes widened further, his mandibles twitching with excitement. "Stronger than even the Hierarchy?" His tone carried disbelief, as if the idea was too large to fit into his young mind.

Castis chuckled softly, nodding. "Yes, stronger than even the Hierarchy."

Garrus furrowed his brow, thinking hard. His young friends had spoken about humans, but not with the admiration he was hearing from his father. "But my friends say the humans are cheaters and liars. That they used tricks to defeat our fleet."

Castis' expression grew somber. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder, guiding him closer to sit beside him on the floor. "Your friends don't know the whole story, Garrus. A lot of people are saying things like that because they don't understand what really happened. But I do."

Garrus looked up, his bright blue eyes filled with questions. "What really happened?"

Castis sighed, gathering his thoughts. He wanted to explain this carefully, not just for the sake of the truth, but because Garrus was still so young. He needed to understand that strength wasn't just about who had the biggest fleet, but about honor and respect, too.

"The truth is, the battle didn't happen the way people are saying," Castis began. "Yes, the Hierarchy fleet lost badly. But it wasn't because the humans cheated. It was because some people in the Hierarchy made mistakes. Captain Ugleas, one of the captains, wasn't an honorable man. He took bribes, made bad decisions, and led our forces into a fight they weren't ready for by firing on the human ships when the Admiral was talking to the humans. That's why we lost so many ships."

Garrus blinked, absorbing the information. "So... it wasn't the humans' fault?"

"No," Castis said firmly. "The humans fought with honor. They were stronger, yes, but they didn't cheat. Your uncle Hurabius was there, Garrus. He was Admiral Bokinus' personal assistant, and he told me himself—if anyone knows the truth, it's him."

Garrus shifted closer, his interest piqued even further by the mention of his uncle, who had become something of a hero in his young mind. "What did Uncle Hurabius say?"

"He said the humans treated him and the other captured turians with respect," Castis explained, a sense of pride in his voice. "They didn't mistreat our people. In fact, they made sure they were safe, even after the battle. Hurabius told me that the humans are more like us than we think."

Garrus' mandibles twitched again, this time in curiosity. "More like us? How?"

Castis smiled softly, appreciating his son's growing understanding. "They value strength and honor, just like we do. They don't fight for the sake of fighting—they fight to protect their people, to defend what's important to them. And they respect those who fight with courage. Your uncle told me that, after the battle, he spoke with some of the human officers. They talked about duty, about loyalty to their people. It's not so different from the way we think, Garrus."

Garrus sat quietly for a moment, his small brow furrowed as he processed everything his father had said. "But... if we have so much in common with the humans, why did we fight them?"

Castis paused, reflecting on how best to explain such a complex issue to a child. "Sometimes, people make bad decisions. Captain Ugleas didn't just make mistakes on the battlefield—he made the mistake of starting a fight that shouldn't have happened. The humans didn't want to fight us. But once the battle started, they had to defend themselves. And because they were stronger, they won."

Garrus' face scrunched up as he thought about it, and then his eyes lit up with a new thought. "So... are we going to be friends with the humans now?"

Castis chuckled, ruffling his son's fringe. "I hope so, Garrus. I really do. It's going to take time for the Hierarchy to accept what happened, and for people to understand that the humans aren't our enemies. But if we can work together with them, I think we could be stronger than ever."

The little turian grinned, the idea of powerful new allies sparking his imagination. "Do you think I'll get to meet the humans one day, Father?"

Castis smiled, looking down at his son's eager face. "Maybe you will, Garrus. Maybe one day, when you're older, you'll get to see what they're really like. And maybe then, you'll help make sure we don't make the same mistakes again."

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A/N

Hello! So here is a glimpse at what the other members are doing at this time. The ages are a bit altered for plot purposes.