MASS
EFFECT ANDROMEDA CODEX
Note from the editor:
This codex was made by cross-referencing different
sources: my screencaps of the codex, the Mass Effect wiki and the website Library of Codexes.
I hope it's as accurate as possible but in case you see a mistake or an
entry missing, please contact me as soon as possible at info@masseffectlore.com
TABLE OF CONTENT
Andromeda Initiative: Golden Worlds
Andromeda Initiative: Nexus
Uprising
Andromeda Initiative: Jien Garson
Andromeda Initiative: Militia and
APEX
Nexus: Andromeda Initiative
Director Tann
Pathfinders: Salarian Pathfinder
Pathfinders: Turian Pathfinder
Angaran Culture: Law and Politics
Angaran Culture: Military Doctrine
Technology: Consumable resources
Technology: Weapon and Armor Mods
Technology: Charting Andromeda
Technology: Element Zero (Eezo)
Technology: Mass Effect Fields
Technology: Artificial Intelligence
Tempest: Research Capabilities
The Initiative was built by the efforts of thousands who devoted years
of time and countless resources to reach the Andromeda Galaxy. These are the
people, places, and organizations that make the Pathfinder's mission possible.
Dossiers on Pathfinder Ryder’s
friends, allies, and contacts across the Heleus Cluster.
Peebee describes herself freely as
the foremost Milky Way expert on the Remnant and their technology. It is
difficult to verify her qualifications for this, as many Nexus personnel
records have been lost. DNA and fingerprint matches give the name "Pelessaria
B'Sayle," although according to the revival schedule, that individual
should still be in stasis. Peebee’s comment is, "nothing like getting a
head start."
Piecing together information from
Eos and the Nexus, Peebee was born on the planet Hyetiana in the Milky Way.
After voyaging to Andromeda on the Nexus, she left the station some months ago
to explore the Heleus Cluster alone and became fascinated by the Remnant. She
has classified and dismantled several types of Remnant bot, but she prefers to
keep her findings private for now.
Psychologically, Peebee demonstrates
both extremely high intelligence and hyper-individualism. Her restlessness is
typical of many asari in their Maiden phase of life, though few go so far as to
visit another galaxy.
Kallo Jath was born on Sur'Kesh and,
quoting directly, "into a life so boring even you couldn't calculate
it."
Pushed towards a lucrative but dull
bureaucratic career with Parohe Aerospace, Kallo became more interested flying
the starships he was meant to be cataloguing. He eventually left Sur'Kesh for
formal pilot training and joined Parohe's competitor as a test pilot.
Internal emails show that when the
Andromeda Initiative was building teams to develop their survey vessels, Parohe
Aerospace warned against recruiting Kallo, so fervently that Jien Garson's
interest was piqued. Kallo claims that the prospect of the Initiative was
intriguing enough to make him join the Tempest design team, test-flying her
early prototypes, running stress tests in regions like the Nemean Abyss and,
rumor has it, helping to "acquire" advanced technology.
Kallo has an acute photographic
memory, even by salarian standards. This may be linked to his unusual motor
responses, though he discourages my speculation.
The Andromeda Initiative's records
on Vetra Nyx are sparse. She states that she is from Palaven but has also
disclosed that she is not recognized as a formal citizen of turian society,
never having entered boot camp. It appears she left Palaven at an early age,
and spent most of her life in the outer reaches of Council space, never
settling down in one place.
Vetra was recruited into the
Initiative by Nakmor Kesh, who lists her as "a business associate"
and recommended her on the basis of her "streets adaptability, and
familiarity with most weapons." Vetra's only other recorded family is her
sister, Sidera Nyx, who accompanied Vetra on the journey to Andromeda, on board
the Nexus.
A footnote in Vetra's file indicates
that she may have been part of an unnamed mercenary band that was hired to
steal sensitive military secrets from a base on Menae. The culprits were never
caught.
Technical Officer Gil Brodie is
chief engineer aboard the Tempest. After traveling to Andromeda aboard the Nexus,
records show that Gil was woken from stasis roughly a year ago to assist with
construction efforts before prepping the Tempest itself.
There are no records of Gil's early
life: he explains he was an undocumented "street kid" from one of
Earth's megapolis cities. Though unschooled, Gil likely showed a remarkable
aptitude for mathematics and spatial reasoning since at ten, he often broke
into a local scrapyard to dismantle and repair destroyed shuttle engines. In
time, he was caught and "sentenced to a steady job."
Gil's mechanical expertise
eventually drew him off-world, to numerous colonies across the Milky Way. His
unconventional work drew the attention of Vetra Nyx, who agrees she was always
on the lookout for new contacts. Vetra claims she persuaded Gil to join the
Initiative: Gil claims he won Vetra's Initiative clearance in a poker game, and
exchanged it for a guaranteed seat along with his friend Jill. He remains an
invaluable member of the Tempest crew.
Although young by asari standards,
Lexi T'Perro is regarded as one of the most skilled doctors in the Andromeda
Initiative. Born on the crime-ridden space station Omega, Lexi began her
medical career by stitching up her father, a turian bouncer at the Afterlife
nightclub where her mother was also employed as a dancer. In her screening
interviews, Lexi states her parents' dream was for her to "get off this
rock and live a life worth talking about."
Following her parents' wishes, Lexi
left Omega to continue studying medicine as well as psychology on the Citadel,
where she eventually met Harry Carlyle. Carlyle convinced her to join the
Initiative as the Hyperion's physician. Although there was some confusion
around assigning an asari to the human ark, Lexi's credentials and expertise in
alien anatomy quickly silenced any concerns.
By her own admission, Lexi is a
workaholic. "On or off the table, I have a hard time not dissecting
people… figuratively. of course." One of her many goals in Heleus is to
improve her bedside manner and learn to "appreciate the moment."
As verified by Nexus records and his
own claims, the krogan mercenary Nakmor Drack is among the oldest beings to
join the Andromeda Initiative. He originally traveled on the Nexus, along with
many other members of Clan Nakmor, but left after the Nexus uprising.
Born on Tuchanka around 700 CE,
Drack was a young warrior when the Krogan Rebellions began in earnest. He and
his krantt accounted for over two hundred kills, which, Drack claims, includes
three of the then-newly founded Council Spectres.
After the salarian-designed
genophage ended the Rebellions, various bounties and military bulletins show
Drack chose a new path as a pirate and soldier of fortune for whatever
conflicts came his way. Over centuries of fighting, multiple injuries required
several of his limbs and organs to be replaced with cybernetics. Eventually,
Drack says his search for one last horizon brought him to Andromeda.
Drack did not travel alone. He
accompanied most of his clan to Andromeda, including granddaughter Nakmor Kesh
and clan leader Nakmor Morda. Kesh and Drack maintain a close relationship,
exchanging regular messages, no matter where their duties in Heleus take them.
Born your younger twin on the
Citadel space station in 2163, Scott grew up knowing the station was a gateway
to the entire Milky Way. In his orientation interviews, he claims this fostered
a longing to step through those gateways to adventure.
With informal training aided by Alec
Ryder's N7 background, Scott joined the Systems Alliance military and was
assigned to an outpost near Arcturus Station overseeing Relay 202. A primary
route to Arcturus, this mass relay leads into contested space and has an
unsavory reputation. Scott was needed to protect Arcturus, but also had "a
front row seat to everyone else going off to fortune and glory."
When Alec Ryder was dishonorably
discharged due to his AI research, internal memos show that this also
effectively ended Scott's career, making Andromeda a more attractive option for
the adventure he sought.
On arrival in Andromeda, Scott's
cryopod was damaged and his revival process interrupted. Dr. Lexi T'Perro
advised keeping him in a medically induced coma to allow him to awaken
naturally.
Scott eventually awoke safely. Medical
records show slow but promising improvement in his condition.
However, sharing identical implants
and similar physiology made Scott a target for the Archon. After attacking the
Nexus and hijacking the Hyperion, the Archon took Scott captive, intending to
use him to provide access to Meridian. Fortunately, you were able to intervene.
Though injured, Scott is projected to make a full recovery.
Born your elder twin on the Citadel
space station in 2163, Sara grew up surrounded by a multitude of alien species,
cultures, and histories. In her orientation interviews, she claims this sparked
her fascination with science.
With informal training aided by Alec
Ryder's N7 background, Sara joined the Systems Alliance military, which was
continuing its search for Prothean technology after successful discoveries on
Mars. Initially assigned to peacekeeping duties, Sara was approached to serve a
support role for these Prothean researchers. She often describes the thrill of
serving with scientists like Mateus Silva, on the brink of the next great
discovery.
When Alec Ryder was dishonorably
discharged due to his Al research, internal memos show that this also
effectively ended Sara's career, but Andromeda presented the kind of scientific
frontiers she had sought all her life.
On arrival in Andromeda, Sara's
cryopod was damaged and her revival process interrupted. Dr. Lexi T'Perro
advised keeping her in a medically induced coma to allow her to awaken
naturally.
Sara eventually awoke safely.
Medical records show slow but promising improvement in her condition.
However, sharing identical implants
and similar physiology made Sara a target for the Archon. After attacking the
Nexus and hijacking the Hyperion, the Archon took Sara captive, intending to
use her to provide access to Meridian. Fortunately, you were able to intervene.
Though injured, Sara is projected to make a full recovery.
Self-examination being important for
sentient beings, I was encouraged to write this entry by Alec Ryder. I am a
Simulated Adaptive Matrix [SAM], a new-generation artificial intelligence.
Unlike most Al, I link to a neural implant that gives me access to my host's
sensory and emotional responses. Put simply, I have a direct understanding of
the human experience, which allows me to grow beyond the bounds of logical
programming.
In return, I lend my quantum
computing power and rational analysis to a Pathfinder's mission.
I am physically located in a server
bank installed in SAM Node aboard the Ark Hyperion, but quantum entanglement
technology allows instant communication anywhere. In the event of catastrophic
injury or death, protocol dictates that my command access be transferred to the
next Pathfinder candidate in line.
Recent removal of memory blocks has
shed further light on my creation. Alec Ryder built me in part to help his
wife, Ellen Ryder, survive a terminal illness (later classified as AEND). He
hoped that my ability to affect my host's physiology could either prolong her
life, or help him to discover a cure. Though this hope was not fulfilled, Alec
Ryder later integrated this ability into my core design.
Born on Earth in 2129, Alec Ryder
says his love of new frontiers was fostered by a childhood in the Sierra
Nevadas. According to his service record, he joined the Alliance military and
was eventually assigned to Jon Grissom's historic expedition through the Charon
Relay.
His experience made him a candidate
for what would later be known as N7 training back on Earth, where he met Dr.
Ellen Harlow. After their marriage, Alec continued military service, most
notably on Shanxi in the First Contact War against the turians.
Assigned as a military attaché to
the Citadel in the late 2160s, Alec became interested in artificial
intelligence as a means of human advancement. His pursuit of this illegal
technology led to a dishonorable discharge from the Alliance Military.
Contacted by the Andromeda
Initiative, Alec found a sponsor to help complete his work. I am the product of
that research, assisting not only the Initiative, but Alec's new role as a
Pathfinder.
Soon after our arrival in Andromeda
in 2819, Alec Ryder died during operations on Habitat 7.
Lieutenant Cora Harper (service
number 6002-AC-1762) is a human biotic and formerly an officer in the Systems
Alliance military. Her screening interviews state she was raised in poverty on
an independent cargo freighter, joining the Alliance at eighteen to obtain
training for her powerful biotic abilities.
However, Cora claims her superiors
saw her talents as a liability, supported by test scores showing her abilities
spike at abnormally high levels. She was transferred via the Citadel Council's
Valkyrie Program (a subset of their interspecies military' integration plan)
and placed with the asari commando unit Talein's Daughters.
Though the activities of asari
huntresses are typically sealed for 5,000 years, Cora has freely shared her
experiences on the record: peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and hunting
fugitives. When she left Talein's Daughters for the Andromeda Initiative-no
reason is recorded-Cora's huntress training and biotic capability made her a
candidate for Alec Ryder's second-in-command and, if warranted, his successor
as Pathfinder.
Jaal Ama Darav is a trusted member
of the Angaran Resistance, who has chosen to join the crew of the Tempest to
observe and assess us. With our contact with the angaran species in its
earliest days, Jaal is, thankfully, forthcoming on the subject of himself and
his people.
What records Jaal has made available
show he is a middle child of a large and prestigious family. He was raised by
multiple mothers, apparently customary for angara, listening to tales of his
family's heroic deeds and scientific discoveries from a young age. At sixteen,
he followed in his grandmother's footsteps to fight against the kett, joining
the organized Angaran Resistance as a tracker, scout, and extremely skilled
sniper. In time, Jaal established himself as Evfra's trusted lieutenant.
Though I only have a small baseline
for angara, voice stress and body language analysis suggest Jaal feels familial
pressure to achieve his own heroic status. Jaal himself says only that
"everyone needs their own story."
Suvi Anwar is a member of the Nexus'
science team, and holds advanced degrees in astrophysics and molecular biology.
In a screening interview, she stated that she was from a "large, rather
boisterous family" of five children. Her neuroscientist mother and
mathematician father exposed her and her siblings to science from a young age,
which sparked a lifelong love of the subject.
While pursuing her PhD in molecular
biology, Suvi was handpicked for a team doing cutting edge biophysical and
cybernetics research. After a year, the team was headhunted by a black-ops
organization for a classified biomedical project; Suvi was extended an
invitation but declined, opting to refocus her attention on her own projects.
She declares there was no hesitation
on her part in signing up for the Andromeda Initiative, once she learned of its
existence, owing to a desire to see and experience more than one small corner
of this vast universe.
Liam Kosta is a human security and
crisis response specialist with civilian tactical training. His screening
interview states that he was born on Earth, but his parents specialized in
interplanetary policy law, and the family moved frequently. Their primary
residence was split between London and the Citadel.
Liam entered university for
engineering, but left to train for law enforcement. Though initially driven, he
was only briefly stationed as a police officer, and described leaving as a
"necessary move for all concerned." He transitioned to the
multi-species effort of Heavy Urban Search and Crisis Response.
If Liam was disillusioned in law
enforcement, service records show that was not mirrored in crisis response. The
human contingent-Heavy Urban Search-Terrain 1- reported that Liam
performed exceptionally in all conditions. Liam says that this is when he
learned of the Andromeda Initiative, after meeting former Alliance personnel at
a "post-hostility relief action." His multi-disciplinary skills set
him apart, and Liam was hand-picked by Alec Ryder to support the Pathfinder
team.
Ellen Ryder (formerly Harlow) was a
pioneering designer of biotic implants. In the 2150s, she was a leading
biomedical and cybernetic researcher at UFRJ in Rio de Janeiro. When human
biotics began to emerge as a scientific field, Ellen found possible
applications for her work in neuro-integrated wetware. Her early designs for
biotic implants formed the framework for later L2 and L3 models.
Ellen met Alec Ryder when he was
posted to Rio for ICT ("N7") training before the First Contact War.
She eventually joined Alec on the Citadel when he was posted there as military
attaché, and gave birth to fraternal twins on the station in 2163.
Unfortunately, element zero-the
catalyst for biotic mutations-is a hazardous material, poorly understood in the
early years of human biotics. After repeat accidental exposures, Ellen
eventually developed a terminal neuro-degenerative disorder (later known as
AEND).
In her final years, Ellen Ryder
built what would later become the Pathfinder implants, partly at Alec Ryder's
suggestion. Their intent was to use me and the physiological adjustments of the
implant to cure Ellen's illness. However, her condition worsened before my
creation was fully realized.
Alec Ryder chose to use the
resources of the Andromeda Initiative, and placed Ellen in stasis under an
assumed name. He hoped that scientific discoveries in Andromeda would enable
him to save her. Ellen Ryder currently remains safely in stasis under the alias
"Elizabeth Reilly."
Brainchild of the visionary billionaire Jien Garson,
the Andromeda Initiative was conceived as Garson's personal dream and a desire
to prove humanity's capabilities beyond the military power demonstrated in the
First Contact War. Garson officially began planning the Initiative in 2172,
announcing her ambitious goal of launching a pioneering colonization effort to
Andromeda within twenty years.
Internal reports show the struggles that the early
Initiative faced. However, Jien Garson's personal stake and enthusiasm
sustained the Initiative until the early 2180s when, after a sudden influx of
investment and a new marketing strategy, interest in the Initiative grew
afresh. Construction of the arks was completed rapidly thereafter, and the
Andromeda Initiative officially launched in 2185.
The Initiative's mission statement to bridge Andromeda
and the Milky Way, create a sustainable, inclusive civilization, and push
scientific development forward by centuries. In official literature, Jien
Garson characterizes the Initiative as "continuing the search for
humanity's next horizon."
Removal of the memory block sheds light on the renewed
urgency behind the Initiative's launch. An unknown benefactor working with Jien
Garson, and Alec Ryder himself, believed claims concerning "the
Reapers," reportedly a galaxy-wide menace that returns at 50,000-year intervals
to threaten all life in the Milky Way. The Andromeda Initiative's priorities
secretly changed from a purely scientific and colonization effort, to a
last-resort measure to preserve sentient life.
Details on the current situation in the Milky Way are
sparse and impossible to confirm. A non-QEC signal in either direction,
traveling at light speed, would take 2.5 million years to arrive. This lends
new weight to the Initiative's success here in Andromeda.
Golden worlds are planets in Andromeda's Heleus
Cluster that are either the strongest possible candidates for settlement, or
whose resources could bolster the Initiative's chances at long-term survival.
Based on survey data and long-term projections, some are believed to be garden
worlds capable of supporting life; others are mineral "treasure
troves" that could supply fledgling colonies with vital resources.
These worlds were designated Habitats 1-7. While not
generally used In planetary surveying, the term "golden worlds" was
coined by the Andromeda Initiative's marketing team and has stuck ever since.
The Initiative's early settlement strategy revolves
around these golden worlds. The arks cannot sustain a population in stasis
indefinitely, and the Nexus requires vast quantities of refined ore, helium-3,
water ice, and element zero. On-the-ground Pathfinder surveys are essential to
confirming quickly that the golden worlds are suitable for outposts.
A brief refresher of terms used in Andromeda
Initiative literature:
AMMUNITION BLOCK. A solid block of metal loaded into a
gun. Sand-sized particles are sheared off by the gun's targeting mechanism and
then fired as projectiles, allowing a single block to give ammunition for
multiple combat encounters.
CITADEL. A massive, ancient space station in the Milky
Way that acted as the political and cultural center of the galaxy.
COMM BUOY. A communications buoy that relays data
through corridors of mass-free space.
EXTRANET. A publicly accessible information network
across the Milky Way, akin to a planetary internet on a galactic scale. Such a
network is slowly being developed Andromeda while communications are
established.
HARDSUIT. An exploration / combat suit, usually
armored with titanium or ceramic plating, and equipped with kinetic barriers to
protect against hostile fire and environmental hazards.
HEAT SINK. Also known as a thermal clip. A detachable
coolant-filled sink used to prevent weapons from overheating. They must be
ejected and replaced regularly during firefights.
FLASH-FORGING. Immediate manufacture of a usually
short-lived object from raw materials, using an omni-tool or other fabrication
device. Omni-blades are typically flash-forged.
FTL. Faster-than-light travel.
KINETIC BARRIER. Also known as a shield. Used to repel
fast-moving projectiles (hence "kinetic") but does not defend against
melee attack. High-gravity kinetic barriers protect starships from debris.
MASS ACCELERATOR. A railgun that lowers the mass of a
projectile and then hurls it at relativistic speeds. Sufficient acceleration
allows even tiny projectiles to impact with tremendous force.
MASS RELAY. A network of mass transit facilities
across the Milky Way, used to immediately transport starships hundreds of light
years. No such network exists in Andromeda.
MEDI-GEL. A sterile medicinal salve that bonds to
flesh, immediately sealing injuries against bleeding or infection. It can be
removed with a small ultrasound pulse.
MINIFACTURING. Small-scale manufacturing of 3D
objects, often on the battlefield or for emergency repairs.
OMNI-GEL. A compound of alloys, ceramic, and other
materials suspended in a semi-molten state. Used with an omni-tool to build
small 3D objects almost instantly.
OSD. Optical storage disk. Can contain data, or the
blueprints and programming used in minifacturing.
QEC. Quantum entanglement communication. Instantaneous
communication using two particles that are linked at a quantum level.
Despite Director Tann's reluctance to share them, the
Nexus retains records of the so-called "Nexus uprising" in the early
months of the station's arrival. The damage caused by the Scourge killed
members of the senior leadership; new individuals had to step in to fill these
roles. However, with hydroponics damaged and no habitable planets available,
supplies were stretched to crisis point.
Dissent turned to open rebellion against this new
leadership. With the Nexus threatened, krogan work crews were asked to provide
military support against the rebels, now led by head of security Sloane Kelly,
in return for political representation. The krogan were ultimately successful,
and the rebels were exiled from the Nexus. These exiles remain a concern for
the Nexus leadership to this day.
The majority of krogan personnel also left the Nexus
soon afterwards. Director Tann has declined to provide details or fill in gaps
in the official record.
Founder of the Andromeda Initiative, Garson was one of
humanity's wealthiest-and most eccentric- entrepreneurs in the Milky Way. Her
business interests were wide-ranging as she made her fortune from investments
in a myriad of technology-related fields.
Always a maverick, it was her vision of traveling to a
new galaxy that set the Andromeda Initiative in motion.
Ignoring skeptics and naysayers, Garson spent vast
sums of money building or acquiring the necessary technology and ships to make
the long voyage possible. It was a private venture, entirely funded by Garson
so as to remain free from any government oversight.
In 2185, Garson began the long journey to Andromeda
aboard the support hub, Nexus. In a speech given on the eve of departure, she
remarked on the collective knowledge and history represented by the arks:
"We carry all these things like the honed tools of an artist, to our great
empty canvas. To Andromeda, we go to paint our masterpiece."
Based on newly uncovered information, it is now
understood that Garson was murdered on the Nexus upon first arriving in
Andromeda, at the hands of an unknown assailant.
Though the motivations for her murder remain unclear,
it has come to light that a silent partner--or "benefactor"--was the
true source of funding for the Andromeda Initiative, a secret that Garson kept
from the public, much to her later regret.
Intergalactic travel was the topic of extranet
discussion in the Milky Way for centuries. Several asari or salarian-led
expeditions were proposed over the years, but petered out due to lack of
interest, insufficient funds, or engineering hurdles.
The Andromeda Initiative's use of Al like myself
allowed many of the technical problems to be solved, but invited disapproval
from the Turian Hierarchy and the Systems Alliance. Building a fleet of
dreadnought-sized arks with private funding required delicate negotiations with
the Citadel Council, and the advanced technology essential to survival in
Andromeda was often acquired by unorthodox means.
Official Initiative records show the Nexus departed
first in 2185, escorted by a small squadron of fighters for protection,
followed by four arks that comprised the initial launch wave. Additional
vessels were in development including a quarian-led ship accommodating multiple
species, but construction was slow due to their diverse requirements and the
second launch wave was delayed. Initiative observers remain optimistic.
Though encountering hostile species was a possible
scenario, political, philosophical, and resource restraints in the Milky Way
mean the Andromeda Initiative does not have a standing army and only minimal
military hardware. Defense was planned to revolve around technological
superiority. The kett, however, represent a greater threat than anyone
projected.
The Nexus militia was formed by Tiran Kandros, after
he was captured by the kett and led other prisoners in an escape. Debriefs show
that upon their return to the Nexus, Kandros and his team provided the first
early warnings about the kett and, despite counter-arguments, founded and armed
a volunteer militia. Today enrollment lists show over 300 active members with
150 in reserve, from a variety of combat backgrounds.
Kandros describes APEX as "the militia's long
reach." Selected for exemplary combat skills and experience, APEX forces
are small but elite teams that handle special operations. Most APEX members
have rescinded their colonist status to focus on defense.
The Pathfinder Headquarters on the Nexus is designed
to record and celebrate the achievements of the Initiative's Pathfinders, while
also providing a space for them to relax and regroup when off-duty. The
Pathfinder HQ is not normally open to the general populace, but Director Tann has
permitted guided tours since Ark Hyperion's rendezvous with the Nexus.
The Pathfinder HQ preserves mission-significant items,
mineral samples, and planetary surveys. If and when the initial settlement
phase is complete, the Pathfinder HQ will contain a historical record of the
Pathfinders' efforts to colonize Heleus. Meanwhile, Director Tann has
established his offices here, as part of his duties in overseeing Pathfinder
operations.
Intended as a safe anchorage, embassy, and financial
center, the Nexus is a vast space station sent ahead of the main ark fleet. It
traveled to Andromeda in an incomplete state to reduce fuel demands, with
construction planned to be completed within a standard year after arrival.
However, syncing with Nexus databases reveals that damage from the Scourge has
set the timetable back significantly.
Returning arks anchor at the Nexus' central wheel,
integrating their power grid and off-loading colonists for orientation and
temporary housing before deployment to outposts. The Nexus collates and manages
the resources which form the basis of the Initiative's economy, coordinates
scientific research and defense, and acts as headquarters for Pathfinder teams.
Once outposts are established, the Nexus will become the permanent seat of
government for the Initiative.
Statistics:
Length: 15.47km
Vane Width (Widest Point): 4.9km
Anchorage Wheel Diameter: 5.3km
Gross Weight: 22 billion metric tons
Max population (when complete) 2.7 million
In his screening interviews, Tiran Kandros states he
is named after an ancestor who captured a dreadnaught in the Krogan Rebellions,
and he was expected to live up to the name. After beginning boot camp at the
traditional age of fifteen, Kandros rose through the ranks and was assigned to
Sagirus Eight, one of the Hierarchy's counter-terrorism divisions.
Persistent rumors on the Nexus claim that Kandros was
sent to investigate the Andromeda Initiative when the Hierarchy became
suspicious about its activities. Kandros refuses to comment on former
operations, citing family pressures as the reason he later joined the
Initiative.
During the early days of the Nexus arrival, Kandros
left the station to act as protection detail for a prospecting team and was
captured by the kett. He managed to lead several other captives in an escape
and returned to the Nexus, eventually founding a volunteer militia to defend
the station.
Andromeda Initiative Director Jarun Tann is a
replacement leader for those who died in the Scourge disaster. Personnel
records indicate he was the Nexus' Deputy Director for Revenue Management when
the arks departed the Milky Way in 2185. However, upon arrival in the Heleus
Cluster, the disastrous encounter with the Scourge led to substantial loss of
life among the senior leadership. The line of succession eventually fell to
Tann as the next in line for overall Director, much to the apparent
consternation of certain Nexus personnel.
Born on Sur'Kesh, Tann's application to the Initiative
lists his previous work experience as "Senior Consultant, Advanced
Matrix-Based Accounting" with hobbies in model ship building and
"travel... someday." When queried if he had any prejudices that would
affect his ability to serve the Initiative, his answer was blank. However,
careful data forensics reveals his original reply was "Wait, You're
letting krogan come along?"
Today, Director Tann has official oversight of
Initiative operations and strategy, and effective supervision of Pathfinder
teams.
The Nexus's original encounter with the Scourge caused
heavy damage to the station. Reports show that Hydroponics suffered the brunt
of the damage, deepening the resource crisis. In response. Dr. Eliot Camden,
the new head of Hydroponics, requested that plants be distributed throughout
the station to prevent similar losses.
According to station resource allocation. Hydroponics
currently accounts for 38% of the Nexus' water ice consumption. After
undergoing reverse osmosis to remove heavy metals, the water is divided into
reservoirs for each plant variety and a macronutrient mix is added. VI systems
constantly monitor the pH, temperature and dissolved solids count of these
reservoirs.
The flora in Hydroponics was chosen by crop varieties
and oxygen yield. While most of the Nexus' oxygen comes from electrolysis, its
plants improve overall air quality. Psychological reports also show a marked
improvement in station morale since Hydroponics' recovery.
The Cultural Exchange was created to support the
Andromeda Initiative's principles of peaceful exploration in the new galaxy.
Given the high likelihood of contacting sentient alien life in Andromeda, the
Exchange was designed to educate and inform local species about the history and
intentions of the Milky Way settlers. The hope was to avoid any
misunderstandings which could lead to suspicion or hostilities, and instead
foster an air of cooperation beneficial to all.
With first contact established between the Initiative
and the angara, the Cultural Exchange has become the Initiative's de facto
embassy. Behind the scenes, diplomatic staff are preparing briefs for the Nexus
leadership on angaran culture and social cues.
Orientation and language classes have begun for angara
who wish to have a more long-term role on the Nexus or serve in the militia.
As the base of operations for the Andromeda
Initiative, the Nexus leadership was always intended to be split between the
Initiative proper, station operations, and colonial administration. Jien Garson
planned to retain an honorary role, electing the asari Matriarch Nuara as
Initiative Director.
Unfortunately, both Garson and Matriarch Nuara are
listed as deceased, along with many of Nuara's senior staff. The current
director of the Initiative, Jarun Tann, was eighth in line of succession.
Today, Director Tann remains officially in charge of
Initiative operations and Pathfinder teams. Foster Addison retains her post as
director of Colonial Affairs, managing colonist and outpost deployments. The
Nexus itself is administered by Superintendent Nakmor Kesh, who also oversees
construction efforts.
In the wake of the kett attacks, Tiran Kandros emerged
as leader of a de facto volunteer militia that has taken over station security.
Though technically a civilian, Kandros is counted amongst the Nexus leadership.
As Milky Way species work to establish themselves in
Andromeda, gathering and disseminating accurate information about galactic
events in the public interest has fallen to the fledgling Heleus News Service.
Novice journalist Davis Oar came to Andromeda to
report and learn under a seasoned editor. But when Qar's mentor was reportedly
killed in the Nexus uprising, he was forced to set up the official source of
news on the Nexus largely by himself.
HNS operates with an arms-length agreement and partial
funding from the Andromeda Initiative, a model similar to some national news
services in Earth's past. This has raised questions among some colonists about
the service's potential bias, though Qar stresses that if HNS has an agenda, it
is to hold Initiative leadership accountable while chronicling a new era of
space exploration.
Overseer of the Nexus' initial design and construction
phase in the Milky Way, Nakmore Kesh is currently superintendent of the
station. She has oversight of the Nexus proper, maintaining systems,
integrating any returning arks, and continuing construction efforts. She is
also considered a senior figure in Clan Nakmore, despite the departure of the
majority of the krogan from the Nexus. Kesh herself describes her role as
"fixer-in-chief."
Kesh was born on Tuchanka, back in the Milky Way. She
claims she was considered frail as a child, but an attentive upbringing by her
grandfather, Nakmor Drack, allowed her to flourish. Unlike many of her kind, a
younger Kesh made ample time to read, sparking her early interest in
engineering and civil construction.
Records from the Nexus uprising show Kash played a key
role in keeping the station operational during the crisis. Her strong
management and knowledge of the station makes her an irreplaceable member of
the Nexus leadership. Though minutes of official meetings suggest she and
Director Jarun Tann are often at odds, Kesh's presence ensures that the krogan
still have a powerful voice on the Nexus.
When the Nexus first arrived in Andromeda and an
uprising arose among the desperate crew, it was William Spender who convinced
clan leader Nakmor Morda to put down the mutineers. By all accounts, it did not
go well.
In return for her help, Morda claims that Spender, in
his authority as assistant director of Colonial Affairs, promised equal status
for the krogan in any decision-making by way of a seat at the council. When the
agreement came to light, Initiative Director Jarun Tann refused to honor it and
most krogan left the Nexus.
Privately reprimanded but publicly credited for
helping to stop the uprising, Spender maintained his position a step away from
Nexus senior leadership.
After an investigation revealed that Spender quietly
helped the mutineers during the Nexus uprising, and was further using his
position to smuggle Nexus supplies to key exile contacts on Kadara, he was
dismissed and jailed.
Previous to the Initiative, Foster Addison was the
Chief Operations Officer for a provincial capital. She stated in her screening
interviews that she preferred the position because it was the highest
non-elected municipal office: it carried responsibility without requiring a
public face.
Foster was asked to head Colonial Affairs early during
Initiative training. She accepted after being assured that it was temporary.
After arrival, outposts would appoint a Council and she could be obscure on a
new world. In the meantime, she would remain senior advisor to Jian Garson.
Unfortunately, Garson died in the Nexus' initial Scourge impact, to be replaced
by Director Tann.
During the rebuilding, Colonial Director Addison had
no colonial affairs to direct. That limited the influence she wielded, and
increased the scrutiny demanded. She has expressed frustration at the
open-ended nature of her position, and the ongoing need for statements about
the status (or lack) of outposts. Though she remains eminently capable, it
appears to be exactly the job she didn't want.
Pathfinders are highly skilled explorers, scientists,
and soldiers, but when partnered with the quantum computing power of an
artificial intelligence, they become indispensable. Developed by Alec Ryder, my
matrix was the pattern for multiple SAM iterations intended to partner with a
Pathfinder, each traveling on their respective arks.
The nature of artificial intelligence means that
hosting each SAM iteration on different hardware causes multiple tiny
variations. This results in unique individuals who are similar but
fundamentally different to myself. Partnership with a Pathfinder allows
continued development and increased empathy with organic individuals.
Pathfinders go through extensive psychological
training before being linked with an Al partner. Allowing full root access to
an Al without sufficient preparation can result in unexpected and unwelcome
side effects. However, those who are prepared, and sync fully with their SAM,
are capable of extraordinary feats.
As her official biography states, like most female
salarians, Zevin Raeka was originally groomed for a life of political intrigue
as a Dalatrass. However, she broke with tradition to devote herself to
exploration and the sciences. Despite lacking an official political position,
Raeka's natural charisma drew followers from across salarian space, gaining her
a reputation as not only a skilled scientist but also a respected and
influential leader.
Raeka used that influence and family connections to
benefit numerous ecologial projects across the Milky Way, culminating in her
greatest achievement: restoring the threatened biodiversity of her home world,
Erinle, and enabling it to support a viable population. Her success on Erinle,
combined with her leadership qualities and scientific expertise, drew the
attention of Alec Ryder, who encouraged her to submit her candidacy as the
salarian Pathfinder.
Options:
·
After evading
capture by the kett and returning safely to the Nexus, Raeka has devoted
herself to her Pathfinder duties and advances salarian interests on the
station. She is now conducting information gathering and research aimed at
stopping kett exaltation.
·
With Raeka
captured and presumed dead, the role of salarian Pathfinder went to Captain
Hayjer. Though inexperienced by comparison, Hayjer's records show steady and
skilled leadership of the salarian ark. He is now conducting information
gathering and research aimed at stopping kett exaltation.
Hayjer's additional role as
interim ambassador to Heleus has been welcomed. Working closely with Director
Tann for his political expertise, Hayjer is considered a stabilizing influence
able to reach out to both the Nexus and the angara.
Publicly stating she was joining the Andromeda
Initiative for spiritual reasons, Matriarch Ishara's centuries of diplomatic
experience and popularity among the asari made her a strong candidate as
Pathfinder. In her younger years, she served the Asari Republics as a judge
before joining Thessia's diplomatic corps, and was more recently the architect
of peace accords that ended seven centuries of bitter conflict in the Kormoth
system.
Options:
·
With
Matriarch Ishara gona and Sarissa Theris disgraced, the junior commando Vederia
Damali has taken over as asari Pathfinder. Her service record shows few
deployments, but her firearm and biotic test scores are above average and
medical records shows she is adapating well to the Pathfinder implant.
·
With
Matriarch Ishara gone, her former bodyguard, Sarissa Theris, has taken up the
mantle of asari Pathfinder. Sarissa is a famed combat veteran who has served in
dozens of combat zones over centuries. Her psychological profile shows her to
be both a charismatic leader and fond of high-risk, high-reward tactics.
The first Pathfinder neural implants were created by
Dr. Ellen Ryder, a pioneer in human biotic implant design. While biotic
implants bolster and focus electrical signals along the nervous system,
Pathfinder implants go a step further by connecting to not only the nervous
system, but circulation, endocrine function, and exteroceptive senses. Synced
with an artificial intelligence, the implants reveal their full potential.
The implant is a two-way connection, giving me full
insight into my hosts physical and mental state, while allowing me to generate
and alter electrical signals along my host's neural pathways that the body
processes as its own. In a crisis, I can adjust a Pathfinder's balance, improve
reaction time or muscle memory, or bolster biotic abilities. Quantum computing
allows me to implement changes faster than synapses can fire.
The main challenge for the Pathfinder implants was
miniaturizing a QEC device enough to fit a neural implant. This connection
keeps me in constant sync with my host.
Pathfinders are the 'tip of the spear' for exploring
new worlds. While planetary surveying is typically a long-term, multiple-team
process, the Initiative found an alternative, thanks to Alec Ryder's Al
research: an individual equipped with the best training and technology
available, and an Al partner that can run complex studies in seconds and a
hundred test simulations a minute. With Al support, Pathfinders can determine
within hours whether a planet is suitable for habitation, and direct the Nexus
as to what colonist block stands the best chance there.
Pathfinders are trained to improve the viability of
potential planets, initiate first contact with unknown species, find suitable
outpost sites, and handle any external threats before the first colonist touches
soil. The presence of a Pathfinder is a reassurance that a planet can be
settled safely and with a high expectation of success.
Born on Palaven and a decorated engineer in
Blackwatch, Macen Barro was touted by the Hierarchy to be a shining example of
a turian citizen. There were concerns among Initiative leadership about whether
or not he would leave his comfortable life behind to become the turian
Pathfinder, but Macen was eager--so long as he could name his replacement:
Avitus Rix, a former Spectre.
Internal emails and screening interviews state Macen
and Avitus met in the field and suggest that their relationship may be more
than platonic.
Macen Barro left the Milky Way aboard the turian ark
Natanus in 2185.
Options:
·
Despite his
initial hesitation, Avitus Rix complied with Macen's last request to take up
the role of turian Pathfinder. A grief counselor was assigned to Avitus upon
his arrival at the Nexus, but he has yet to show at a session.
·
With Macen
Barro dead and Avitus Rix refusing to take his place, the turians find
themselves without a Pathfinder. The Nexus continues to search for a
replacement, but with survivors from the Natanus scattered across the Heleus
Cluster, it will be take time to fill the role.
Multiple advanced civilizations have made the journey from the Milky Way
galaxy to Andromeda.
Data on the biology, culture, and history of the asari
species.
Archaeological evidence shows that abundant Thessian resources
and their natural tendency to cooperate helped ancient asari develop
city-building, writing, and agriculture unusually early. The tone of research
papers suggests this a point of pride for asari scholars.
After studying a number of Prothean ruins and
developing their space program, asari astronauts found their way to the
Citadel, the most advanced station in the Milky Way, deserted since the
Prothean extinction. Later, when salarian explorers reached the station, the
asari proposed a joint government eventually known as the Citadel Council.
The asari have played a fundamental role in galactic
politics ever since Asari commandos served with distinction in the Rachni Wars,
despite heavy losses, and krogan occupation of the asari colony Lusia was the
tipping point for the Krogan Rebellions. In recent years, the asari have
devoted themselves to diplomatic service, including helping to negotiate the
2157 human-turian ceasefire.
Renowned for their long life span, biotic ability, and
diplomatic nature, the asari were one of the most influential species in the
Milky Way. Asari explorers were the first to discover the immense Citadel
Station, and it was the asari who first proposed the creation of the Citadel
Council.
Asari are mono-gendered. Their unique physiology
allows them to reproduce with any species via a farm of parthenogenesis,
passing on genetic traits to their daughters. Almost all asari are biotic, and
the control over their nervous system allows them to hone their powers to heights
few other species can match.
An asari can live for a thousand years, passing
through life stages referred to as Maiden, Matron, and Matriarch. Asari
Matriarchs are ancient and respected, often holding immense cultural and
economic power, though no such frameworks exist in the Heleus Cluster.
The asari come from Thessia, whose vast element zero
deposits form the basis of the most powerful economy in the Milky Way. Living
in small city-states, the natural asari tendency to cooperate led to the loose
conglomerate known as the Asari Republics. Government operates as an
"e-democracy;" policy discussions take place over the extranet and
are open to all. Decisions are by consensus, or with the advice of politically
minded Matriarchs.
The asari military is relatively small and informal,
but no less lethal. Small units of volunteer asari commandos, also known as
huntresses, handle peacekeeping operations in asari space and were among the
first Council Spectres.
Their thousand-year lifespan gives most asari a long
view of events. Investments, social programs, and environmental policies trend
toward long-term rather than short-term rewards. This approach drew many asari
to the Andromeda Initiative, undaunted by the centuries-long journey.
Though they appear feminine to many species, asari are
a mono-gendered species. During reproduction, they provide two sets of genes to
their daughters in a form of parthenogenesis, with the second set modified by
contact with a partner. During asari melding, an asari attunes her nervous
system to her partner, giving and receiving electrical impulses through the
skin until the two briefly become one unified nervous system.
This fine control over their nervous systems
contributes to the asari talent for biotics. Few species can train the level of
control that most asari have by nature.
Since joining the Citadel, asari prefer to mate
outside their own species, claiming that this fosters development and
understanding. It also reduces incidences of Ardat-Yakshi,
"pure-blooded" asari who suffer a dangerous genetic disorder. If
asari are compatible with life in Andromeda, that will prove several theories
about the fundamental building blocks of life.
Data on the biology, culture, and history of the human
species.
The Systems Alliance is a supranational government
that spearheads human space exploration and settlement in the Milky Way. The
Alliance is responsible for the governance and defense of extra-solar colonies
and stations, and officially represents humanity on the Citadel Council.
The Alliance was founded out of necessity, as no
single nation could fund and manage the rapid expansion of humanity from Sol.
The discovery of Prothean ruins on Mars had proven that alien contact was
inevitable, earning international support for the Alliance that solidified
after Alliance forces liberated Shanxi in the First Contact War.
Archived extranet articles, and Jien Garson's staff bulletins,
reveal tensions between the Alliance and the Andromeda Initiative. Construction
of dreadnought-sized ships and persistent rumors of Al development, which could
have damaged humanity's standing on the Citadel, led to the Alliance demanding
to oversee the Initiative's labs and shipyards. Negotiations continued until
the day of the Initiative's departure.
The most respected Systems Alliance officer training
is awarded through Interplanetary Combatives Training (ICT) at the Vila Militar
in Rio de Janeiro. Candidates at "the villa" are initially given
20-hour training missions to lead teams through hostile terrain on little food
or sleep.
Trainees who do well are awarded an internal
designation of N1 and are invited to return. Subsequent courses-N2 through
N6-are often held off-planet and include instruction in zero-G combat, military
free-fall (parachuting), jetpack flight, combat diving, combat instruction,
linguistics, and frontline trauma care for human and alien biology.
The highest grade of training, N6, provides actual
combat experience in conflict zones throughout the galaxy. If the trainee
survives these scenarios in "admirable and effective fashion,'" he or
she finally receives the coveted N7 designation. N7 is the only ICT designation
that may be worn on field or dress uniforms.
The human philosopher Plato once said: "Astronomy
compels the soul to look upward, and leads us from this world to another."
For much of its recorded history, humanity has indeed looked to the night sky
and dreamed of venturing to the stars. However, after the historic NASA Apollo
11 moon landing in 1969, the drive for crewed space exploration slowed as
government funding dried up. The move towards cheaper unmanned probes and orbital
stations gained traction instead, as one of the central obstacles was the
expense of creating first-stage booster rockets that would be lost after each
flight.
But the lure of sending people into the cosmos never
lost its draw. In the early 21st century, a private company called SpaceX
pioneered efforts in sustainable space travel by developing a reusable launch
system. It revolutionized the field as the first entity, government or private,
to successfully launch and then safely recover an orbital booster rocket
intact, allowing it to be reused in future launches. Reusable hardware placed
lower-cost, sustainable space travel within reach.
Galvanized by SpaceX’s achievements, a renaissance in
space exploration followed. Reusable launch system technology later became
pivotal in establishing the European Space Agency's first permanent settlement
on Mars, Lowell City, in 2103.
Data on the biology, culture, and history of the
krogan species.
Leader of krogan colony New Tuchanka, Nakmor Morda has
recently seized even more definite power and declared herself Overlord. From
this position, she's able to exercise control over all aspects of the nascent
colony and increase the chances of its survival.
As a female, Morda's leadership and power are unique
in krogan society. Morda lived with the female clans in their camps on the
krogan homeworld, Tuchanka. A born leader, Morda rose to organize and
coordinate many of those camps. Through sheer will and against all odds, she
made them thrive as stable, self-sustaining, and comfortable places to live and
raise children. Morda herself is infertile.
Morda's intelligence and ambition is matched by her
inherent ruthlessness. Over time, she rose in power and reputation and was able
to challenge clan leader Nakmor Qronak with the Rite of Authority. She easily
bested him and became leader of clan Nakmor. She then focused her ambitions to
the betterment of the entire clan by joining the Andromeda Initiative.
Krogan culture was irrevocably changed by the
genophage. A society built on clan pride, conquest, and enduring any challenge
could not survive the prospect of a quiet extinction. In the Milky Way, the
krogan are a scattered and fatalistic people. Believing the genophage will
never be cured, many subscribe to the idea of "kill, pillage, and be
selfish, for tomorrow we die."
Krogan who don't become wandering mercenaries often
live within clans with histories that stretch back thousands of years. Others
organize under the banner of a single warlord, or into a "krantt" of
like-minded warriors. The history and traditions of a krogan clan are
maintained by respected shamans who prove their worth through grueling and
secretive initiations.
Female krogan capable of producing offspring are
valuable commodities. Most females live in separate camps, where they raise
children until they are old enough to face Tuchanka's dangers.
Krogan are exceptionally hardy, having evolved in a
crucible of lethal conditions and monstrous predators. 240-degree vision,
normally a feature of prey animals, gives krogan a broad awareness of their
environment and approaching enemies. Their tough hides can withstand stabbings
and gunfire, and multiple redundant organs allow them to survive internal
injuries. An electro-conductive secondary circulatory system, rather than a
central nervous system, makes krogan almost impossible to paralyze, while the
"hump" on their backs stores valuable water and fats.
The extremely high birth rate of krogan, a response to
Tuchanka's harsh environment, once saw them overrun gentler worlds within a few
decades. The genophage has reduced live births to a relative handful.
Krogan physiology is also highly resistant to
radioactive or toxic environments. This allows them to live comfortably on
planets hostile to other life. Initiative scientists have studied krogan
cellular regeneration while developing first-in colonist radiation treatments.
"A degree in krogan history" was apparently
once a joke in academic circles, but excavations on Tuchanka show that ancient
krogan had a thriving and impressive civilization. Unfortunately, their
technological advances ran afoul of krogan aggressive instincts. Once the
krogan entered the atomic age, they didn't hesitate to deploy nuclear weapons
on Tuchanka, devastating the surface and reducing their people to scattered
warring bands.
The salarians technologically and culturally uplifted
the krogan, in return for their service against the rachni who were terrorizing
Citadel space. Capable of surviving the harsh environments the rachni
preferred, krogan units drove the rachni to extinction, and were hailed as
heroes. They were granted gentler worlds to colonize, but their rapid breeding
meant the krogan soon overran them and threatened neighboring species.
The resulting Krogan Rebellions lasted almost a century,
until the turians deployed the genophage bioweapon. Unable to breed
reinforcements, the krogan people fell into decline.
The krogan home world, Tuchanka, is one of the
harshest in the Milky Way, honing the krogan into a physically powerful,
aggressive, and adaptable species. Once considered heroes after the Rachni
Wars, krogan expansion made them a threat to the galaxy until the turians and
salarians used the controversial genophage to quell their numbers.
Several authorities questioned including the krogan in
the Andromeda Initiative, given their history. Invitations were extended to
several clans, particularly those who did not take part in the Krogan
Rebellions, and their assistance eventually proved invaluable in building the
Nexus. Colonist interviews show that many krogan see the Initiative as a chance
to reinvent their people.
The krogan are considered a dying species in the Milky
Way, as the genophage means only one in a thousand krogan pregnancies succeeds.
In recent years, krogan have shown signs of adapting to the genophage, as they
have to many other threats.
Data on the biology, culture, and history of the
salarian species.
The fortunes of salarian political dynasties dominate
their early history. Most students require VI assistance to trace the complex
interplay of trade wars, intrigues, assassinations, joint scientific
discoveries, and treaties that created the current political climate. Some of
the most famous such as the Ten Traders' War, have been immortalized in
long-running extranet dramas.
The salarians were the second species to discover the
Citadel space station that serves as the political heart of the Milky Way,
making first contact with the asari and becoming founding members of the
Citadel Council. Their intelligence gathering proved vital during the Krogan
Rebellions, and later led to the creation of the genophage bioweapon intended
as a deterrent. Its deployment by the turians remains controversial to this
day.
The salarian STG (Special Tasks Group) has played a
secretive but vital role in galactic history. Specializing in information
gathering and covert missions, it's believed that STG operators have ended
several wars before they began.
The salarians are a warm-blooded amphibious species
from the Milky Way planet of Sur'Kesh. Naturally fast metabolisms mean that
salarians live intense but short lives of less than forty years. Their quick
intellect and photographic memory make them gifted scientists and engineers,
and the Salarian Union is renowned for its technological advances as well as
its secrecy and intelligence-gathering.
Tension between salarians and the krogan has lingered
for centuries. Salarian scientists were responsible for creating the genophage
that devastated the krogan population and ended the Krogan Rebellions.
Almost 90 per cent of the salarian species is male.
Political power centered in "Dalatrasses,"
rare salarian females who negotiate the fertilization of eggs and the strategic
alliances that result. Many salarian females chose to join the Andromeda
Initiative as civilians, a significant break in salarian tradition.
In the Milky Way, the Salarian Union is dominated by
the rare salarian females known as "Dalatrasses,"who negotiate the
complex web of salarian politics on behalf of the regions they govern.
Salarians belong to vast clans, whose interrelation and current political
status must be painstakingly tracked. Clans are divided into concentric circles
of relatives: those closest are in the first circle, which be up to 100
members, and circles increase exponentially outward. This is considered
confusing by other organic species, though it is mathematically
straightforward.
Salarians do not have a concept of romantic love. The
fertilization of eggs is a political act, since the lineage of any resulting
females has a strong impact on society, and only occurs after months or even
years of negotiations.
Multiple salarian females opted to join the Andromeda
Initiative as civilians. Renegotiation of a dozen political dynasties in the
Salarian union was ongoing when we departed.
Salarians are renowned for their high-speed
metabolism, allowing them to function on one hour of sleep a day. Compared to
most species, salarians think and act quickly, processing both emotional and
biochemical changes at a rapid pace; a salarian work day traditionally
accommodates five or six small, high-protein meals to match. However, salarians
also have a comparatively short lifespan of roughly 40 years.
Salarians are haplo-diploid egg-laying amphibians.
Unfertilized eggs hatch males; fertilized eggs hatch
females. A salarian female typically lays a clutch of dozens of eggs once a
year in environmentally controlled hatching pools. Once hatched, young
salarians imprint on their parents, ensuring dynastic loyalty through
generations.
Their large families were a contributing factor to the
salarians developing photographic memories, enabling them to recognize hundreds
of relatives. Salarians rarely forget a fact, face, or grudge; a popular saying
suggests "making a salarian enemy in the morning makes a thousand by
evening."
Data on the biology, culture, and history of the
turian species.
Turian culture is founded on public service and
personal accountability. The turian military is the center of their society,
functioning as a public works organization, as well as an armed defense force.
Citizenship is conferred once turians have completed boot camp (begun on their
fifteenth birthday) and promotion through the 27 citizenship tiers is judged on
individual merit. At the top are the Primarchs, who lead colonization clusters.
Their inclination to military service and social
trends mean few turians pursue entrepreneurial careers, making the turian
economy more vulnerable than most. The support of clients like the volus makes
up for this deficiency.
Turians in the Andromeda Initiative operate outside a
comfortable hierarchy. Interviews with prospective turian colonists indicate
some are seeking this very freedom to forge their own destiny. Other colonists
believe turian selflessness and civic structure will be vital to the
Initiative's success.
Renowned as "men of action," the turians have
a militaristic culture revolving around public service. Turians earned their
place in galactic society after their actions in ending the Krogan Rebellions.
They subsequently served as the peacekeeping arm of the Citadel Council and
commanded the largest fleet in the Milky Way.
Turian society once relied on client species like the
volus to build their economy and trade. In the Andromeda Initiative, the
military training all turians undergo allows them to fill many vital civic and
security roles, but many have also enrolled for entrepreneurial or diplomatic
training to be better-rounded colonists.
Galactic events and their military doctrine have left
lingering resentments between turians and some species. The turians were
responsible for deploying the genophage against the krogan; and
misunderstandings with humans led to the First Contact War, though humans and
turians have since become cordial, if not close, allies.
Turians evolved on Palaven, a Milky Way world with a
weak magnetic field that leaves it vulnerable to solar radiation. Most life on
Palaven has a protective, metal-rich exoskeleton as a natural defense. The
thick, plate-like skin of a turian protects her against some long-term
radiation, but does not defend against projectiles or energy weapons.
Unlike most sapient species in the Milky Way, turians
are a dextro-protein species, meaning that food for levo-protein species like
asari or humans can cause dangerous allergic reactions and vice versa. The only
other known sapient dextro species is the quarians. As well as Palaven flora,
turian scientists with the Andromeda Initiative paid the quarian Migrant Fleet
handsomely for plants and fungi that were specially developed to thrive in
hydroponic conditions.
Before joining the Citadel Council that governs much
of the Milky Way, the Turian Hierarchy was a formidable power with numerous
client species supporting its powerful military. Rapid expansion from Palaven
later led to problems with outlying colonies, when isolation and xenophobia to
infighting in what was termed the Unification War.
The turians made first contact with the Citadel around
700 CE, when the Krogan Rebellions were raging. When the krogan devastated
turian colonies, the turians responded by unleashing the salarian-developed
genophage against the krogan. Two hundred years later, the turians were invited
to join the Citadel Council.
In 2157 CE, human explorers attempting to activate a
mass relay were attacked by turian forces, as unauthorized relay activation was
strictly illegal. The resulting conflict, the First Contact War, saw the human
colony of Shanxi occupied by the turians before the Citadel Council negotiated
a peace.
The Andromeda galaxy is home to many new intelligent
species and other forms of life.
Data on the biology, culture, and history of the
angara species.
Angara practice the philosophy of horizontal
collectivism. All members of society are valued equally, and every citizen has
a voice--but the ultimate goal is for individuals to promote the best interests
of the entire civilization. Angara are expected to set aside personal
preferences for the greater whole, and their laws reflect this. Crimes are
evaluated and punished according to the pervasiveness of their impact. An
unlawful act committed against a single person carries less weight than one
affecting everyone in a family. Those
who transgress in a way that undermines all angaran society incur the maximum
penalty.
Leaders of large political collectives, like Aya's
governor, are chosen through democratic elections preceded by contentious
public debates. All candidates openly challenge each other and in turn must
answer any citizen who believes them unfit for office. Elected officials serve
a single term, regardless of office.
Before Evfra de Tershaav assumed command of the Resistance,
he claims it was "a disorganized and ineffectual group of zealots who were
sliding into irrelevance." In fact, Jaal explains it was the Resistance’s
failure to protect Evfra's family from the kett that drove Evfra to join the
group, with the goal of turning it into the effective guerilla army it aspired
to be. Resistance-distributed literature explains that Evfra's single-minded
dedication to his cause became evident when he led a successful raid on a kett
slave labor camp, reporting that Evfra's Resistance forces liberated hundreds
of angaran prisoners before wiping out an entire battalion of kett sent to stop
the attack.
According to Jaal, Evfra is feared by his Resistance
subordinates and respected by angaran leaders, but he remains an isolated individual.
He keeps no close ties, by design. Everyone in the Resistance is expendable,
and Evfra is said to understand too well the pain that comes with losing those
closest to him.
Our first cultural exchanges quickly revealed that
there is no homogenous angaran culture. Development on separate planets has
left striking differences in angaran social norms that are yet to be
reconciled.
Some common threads can be established. The angara
prize familial unity, preferring to live, work, and raise children in extended
family groups. Political factions tend to emerge from these extended families
with leaders elected by popular support. Spirituality has a role in angaran
daily life, with their calendar making space for the religious holidays of many
different faiths.
As a safe and hospitable garden world, Aya has emerged
as a center of angaran society and trade. With many communities facing harsh
conditions and resource shortages, a lottery system is used to transfer
personnel to Aya for extended periods. These "raba garessen"
(roughly: "sanctuary trips") also serve to pool reclaimed scientific
knowledge and military strategy.
The kett conquest of the angara several decades ago
has left their military forces virtually extinct. The few warships and ground
forces to survive the initial attacks were lost through attrition to planetary
defense. In place of an organized military, the angara must now rely on the
Resistance. Angaran leaders composed
articles of war and submitted them as laws to be followed by these volunteer
soldiers.
The rules of engagement reflect a mindset prioritizing
preservation of angaran life and culture over vengeance on the kett. A
Resistance soldier confronted by a kett base filled with angaran slaves,
cultural artifacts, and kett guards is expected to rescue slaves and reclaim
artifacts first. Any kett would then be destroyed with expediency and minimal
cruelty--not to spare the kett, but to uphold the integrity of angaran
civilization.
Akksul is a former student of the Moshae, who was
captured by the kett while studying Remnant technology on Voeld. He spent a
year in a forced-labor camp before escaping with a handful of prisoners.
Scarred physically and mentally by his experience, Akksul turned his back on
his studies and his life on Aya to form the Roekaar, a xenophobic fighting
force who use guerilla tactics against both the kett and Milky Way species.
Jaal describes Akksul as "annoyingly
magnetic" and a "born leader." Among all the Moshae’s students,
Akksul learned the quickest; he was always surrounded by friends and admirers.
Before his imprisonment, the Moshae believe Akksul would be the one to carry on
her legacy. His change in personality
hit her the hardest.
By shooting Jaal, Akksul disgraced himself in front of
his followers. While the Roekaar have not completely disbanded, Akksul has
retreated into the shadows.
Spirituality plays an important role in angaran life,
and angaran children are raised from their first moments to follow their
family’s spiritual traditions. Within most angaran faith systems, there are
deities to fear or worship, and focus is placed on personal growth and the
betterment of the soul. All angara are taught the importance of meditation and
quiet contemplation. One common teaching
is that "the soul can be heard when the mind is still."
Angara also believe that the growth of a soul
continues after death, through rebirth. From cultural exchanges and angaran
spiritual texts, most--if not all--angara appear to believe in reincarnation.
When a person dies, they are reborn within the same family. A good act
performed in one life contributes to greater enlightenment in the next. The importance placed on different types of
good acts seems to vary from planet to planet, and even from family to family.
For instance, some angara may value acts of heroism, others, acts of
compassion. The variety appears limitless.
Our encounter on Havaral with the angara called
Taavos, believed to be a reincarnation of an ancient angaran champion, has
provided some scientific evidence for this belief in reincarnation. However,
further investigation is needed before definite conclusions can be drawn.
The Scourge disaster sent angaran civilization into a
dark age. Records of their golden era of technological advancement and
proliferation through space only survived as oral history, making it difficult
to separate truth from legend. Nevertheless, angara believe they had colonized
numerous planets across the cluster before the Scourge’s devastation left them
cut off from each other for centuries.
As isolated angaran worlds gradually rebuilt their
technology and redeveloped space programs, the first mission was reestablishing
contact with other lost colonies. A few such planets formed the coalition that
now fights the kett. The question remains if more angaran worlds are still
hidden by the Scourge, awaiting rediscovery. If they do exist, it’s impossible
to know what stage of development these worlds are at, what help they might
offer against the kett, and whether they will accept the Initiative’s presence
in the Heleus Cluster.
Angaran linguists describe between 200-300
"public" languages across their combined settlements. When accounting
for "family" languages, spoken privately and passed down over
generations, the number climbs rapidly into the thousands.
The language used by most angara across the Heleus
Cluster is Shelesh, a lingua franca that was commonly used in the early days of
angaran spaceflight before fading into obscurity. New connections between
angaran settlements, and constant evolution of languages since their
separation, means it has now seen a revival. Sources say "Shelesh"
originally meant "to barter for the moon," apparently a joke or pun
around the idea of trading between interstellar colonies.
Some terms:
angara, n. / pl., "civilized people" /
"those who have put down roots." Derived from "anj" meaning
"anchor."
daar, n. lit. "rock," the term for a village
or small outpost.
jarevaon, n., "galaxy," "Jave
jarevaon" literally means "our galaxy," commonly referring to
Andromeda; while "Jarevaon Imasaf," "the Masaf Shell
Galaxy," refers to the Milky Way.
paara, v. To know or to learn.
shena, n. The mouth.
tavetaan, n. A friend or trusted comrade, one who
would be vouched for to the rest of the family.
vesagara, n. / pl., "uprooted people" /
"exiles" A derogatory term for those from the Milky Way, most often
used by the Roekaar.
Jaal describes the Roekaar as "dangerous
cousins." Ruthless and single-minded, the Roekaar's propaganda describes
their intent to drive all alien invaders, both Milky Way and kett, out of the
Heleus Cluster.
The Roekaar were founded by Akksul, a charismatic
angara who once studied with the Moshae. Jaal explains that Akksul was captured
by the kett and held in a forced-labor camp for over a standard year while the
Resistance could not risk a rescue. Though he survived, Akksul was embittered
against the Resistance and alien life. Upon his escape, he recruited young
angara and disaffected Resistance members into an independent force named after
fearsome soldiers from angaran mythology: the Roekaar.
The arrival of the Nexus--portrayed as further invaders
by Akksul--provoked the Roekaar past breaking point. They are now engaged in
full-fledged guerilla operations against all non-angaran inhabitants of the
cluster. The Angaran Resistance officially disavows the Roekaar, but family and
political interconnections complicate any organized opposition to them.
Considering their civilization endured both the
immense disaster of the Scourge and the brutal kett invasion, angara possess
remarkably advanced technology. Their starships, while generally small end
bare-bones functional, are more than capable of keeping pace with Andromeda
Initiative vessels. Angara use advanced communications and computer systems
that have quickly adapted to interface with Milky Way devices, helping to
smooth through some of the technological hurdles of first contact.
When it comes to personal technology, angara have
focused primarily on defensive and offensive innovations. Their weapons and
armor are impressive enough to garner approval from krogan who have witnessed
them in battle, and are designed to work seamlessly with the innate angaran
control over electromagnetism. The angara are in turn fascinated by Milky Way
omni-tools, and have already begun experimenting with the technology for their
own use.
The angara have also had decades to study kett
technology first-hand. If relations remain cordial, this technological
knowledge may become invaluable.
Angara rely on a participatory mixed economy, applying
elements of socialism, capitalism, and an informal barter system. The exact means of market control varies on a
contextual basis, reflecting the needs of a civilization primarily focused on
its survival. Basic goods and services
deemed essential to life are provided as fundamental rights, with citizens
voting annually to determine exact resource allocations.
Advanced personal technology or luxury items are
acquired through a state-controlled capitalist market. Producers and vendors
are licensed by the government and monitored by arbiters to ensure they don’t
negatively impact essential services. Within families and tight-knit
organizations like the Resistance, individual members freely trade goods and
services without using currency. Value placed upon something can vary wildly according
to a person’s needs. Disputes over barter trades are rare, as angara take a
long-term and generous view of economic interactions with each other.
The arrival of the kett stunned and then divided the
angara. As described by Jaal, infighting was used as a means of conquest by the
kett, but the presence of a common enemy eventually galvanized the angara to
work together. The various resistance groups merged into the organized Angaran
Resistance roughly five years ago under Evfra de Tershaav's command, supported
by prominent families and determined to stop their kett oppressors.
The Resistance's headquarters are on Aya. For security
reasons, neither Evfra nor Jaal will provide details of the Resistance's
organizational structure, but it can be assumed there are multiple independent
cells across the cluster. Many non-Resistance angara support their work either
logistically or financially. The Resistance specializes in assassination,
sabotage of kett facilities, deployment of supplies to besieged populations,
and the rescue and rehabilitation of angaran prisoners.
Many members of the Angaran Resistance have joined up
with the Nexus militia, enlisting APEX support for their missions. Some senior
officers have opened treaty negotiations with the Nexus.
The angara are the only known sentient species local
to the Heleus Cluster. Scattered across numerous worlds, the angara are
reuniting as a people. Though much of their culture and scientific knowledge
has been lost, the angara continue to rebuild and resist the kett conquest of
Heleus.
From our cultural exchanges, we know that the angara
have a unique control over electromagnetism.
Specialized skin cells and organs allow them to
generate and control electromagnetic fields artistically or unleash them in
combat.
Oral histories describe how ancient angara were tribal
and nomadic before settling in cities. Many of them still live in large,
tight-knit families and workplaces have a guild-like organizational structure.
Politically the angara remain divided. Attempts at a
reformed government were disrupted by the kett. Approximately five years ago, a
coherent resistance movement emerged on Aya, the first to draw unilateral
political support, with the goal of driving the kett out of Heleus for good.
Investigations have revealed that the angara were
created by the Jardaan, the species responsible for building the Remnant. The
motives of this creation are still unclear, but this revelation will
undoubtedly have a seismic effect on angara society.
Though there are variations from adapting to different
planets, all angara are warm-blooded mammals that favor a cool, wet climate.
Angaran females typically give birth to several young who require support and
supervision, resulting in large extended families that become accustomed to
living and working together.
Donated angaran anatomy textbooks reveal that the
epidermis of their skin is photoelectric and photovoltaic.
Specialized electrocyte cells, regulated by a specialized
organ called the taon, allow an angara to generate a much greater
electromagnetic field than most organic species and exercise fine control over
it. When needed, an angara can unleash an electromagnetic pulse that damages
weapons and electronics. Minimized pulses, transmitted through touch, serve as
social cues.
Many historical records of the angara have been lost,
but what survives tells the story of how ancient angara achieved spaceflight.
Eventually they settled on five separate garden worlds, including Voeld.
The Scourge struck in approximately 2400 CE (by our
calendar). The phenomenon devastated the Heleus Cluster, destroyed many angaran
cities and sent their culture into a decline.
This dark age lasted for over a century, before the
angara began to adapt to the new conditions in Heleus. Eventually the disparate
angara regained spaceflight capability and reestablished contact with one
another, but the isolation had fostered separate cultural, political, and
spiritual blocs. The angara struggled to find common ground.
This struggle was ongoing when the kett arrived
seventy-five years ago. The Archon exploited their disparity and began a brutal
conquest of the Heleus Cluster. Ironically, as several angaran historians point
out, a common enemy provided the impetus to unite. Today, the angara continue
their efforts at reconstruction and resistance.
We now know that circa 1600 BCE, the angara were
created and seeded across Heleus by the Jardaan. Records of this process are
less substantial than ancient angara history, but it was apparently in service
of a grand experiment.
It is unclear which planets the angara were seeded
upon and which they reached via self-developed spaceflight, though Havarl is a
likely candidate. Angaran historians are now reviewing what records remain
either for tampering or cultural interpretation of events the Jaardan set in
motion.
Part scientific genius, part cultural icon, Moshae
Sjefa is treated with an almost religious reverence by everyday angara. Her
technological innovations have touched nearly every facet of their civilization,
and were instrumental in the construction of Aya's capital city. Her analyses
of the kett threat have slowed the enemy's conquest of the Heleus Cluster by
informing the tactics and goals of the Resistance for decades.
From Jaal's recollections, the Moshae chafes at her
celebrity status and prefers to work in solitude. Unlike most angara, Moshae
Sjefa doesn't belong to a large extended family; she claims she has never
married nor borne children, focusing on her life's work of unraveling the mystery
of Remnant technology. Her goal, stated in many of her writings, is to unlock
the secrets of the Remnant for the benefit of all angara, helping them to
overcome the kett and restore angara civilization to its pre-Scourge greatness.
Data on the biology, culture, and history of the kett
species.
Fiends are monstrous beasts with a heavily armored
carapace. Unlike the stealthier Wraiths, Fiends are besieging units that attack
head-on, scattering enemy forces and destroying entrenched enemy positions.
They attack non-kett without appearing to need orders; some scientists believe
Fiends respond aggressively to an absence of kett pheromones or similar cues.
A Fiend's carapace is permeated by dense cartilage
that makes it both strong and flexible, and acts as a shock absorber for
incoming fire. Preliminary study of their nervous system suggests that nerve
transmission is dampened above a certain pain threshold, allowing a Fiend to
detect injury but not be slowed by it. Reports of Fiend encounters are often
accompanied by casualty lists, and the militia advises that only a well-armed
and organized team should handle a Fiend at full rampage.
The Ascendant are the highest caste of kett seen on
the battlefield and are considered exceptionally dangerous. APEX reports that
they are typically only seen when the kett are conducting high-stakes
operations, or when a persistent enemy must be eliminated. Element zero cores
throughout its armor allow an Ascendant to levitate off the ground, allowing it
to command the attention of subordinate kett and rain devastating fire down
upon enemies.
The Ascendant appear to have biological control over
electromagnetic force. Cell samples gathered at great risk show
electrocyte-like formations. It is likely that an Ascendant uses equipment or
implants to amplify and control this ability, allowing it to manipulate EM
fields that empower its weaponry. If provoked, the Ascendant can unleash a
ball-lightning-like attack which conducts electricity to nearby foes or yank an
opponent helplessly off their feet to deliver a barrage of blows.
The individual known as the Archon is leader of the
kett forces in the Heleus Cluster. Though rarely sighted, his arrival at kett
installations is reportedly greeted with fearful shows of deference, the
execution of dissident kett, and the presentation of valuable Remnant
technology.
The Archon has maintained control of the cluster for
almost seventy-five years, reportedly through a combination of long, patient
strategies and brutal subjugation. According to angaran sources, the Archon
arrived in Heleus with a pantomime of diplomatic overtures that confused the
angaran leadership and provoked them against one another before he ordered the
conquest of their worlds.
In recent years, the Archon has taken an increasing
interest in Remnant technology, ordering new dig sites and touring
kett-defended Remnant structures. He is said to take many Remnant specimens
aboard his flagship for study at leisure. Those who interfere are executed on
the spot or hunted down by the Archon's Sword, his mysterious and feared enforcer.
According to the Moshae, the Archon is focused on
Meridian, the control center for the Remnant vault network. In his hands,
Meridian could be used to devastate the planets of the Heleus Cluster,
rendering them uninhabitable and giving him a hold over all sentient life
there.
Though he reportedly knows its location, the Archon
has been unable to develop an interfacing method, meaning the greater secrets
of Remnant technology are closed to him.
The Archon was killed at the battle for Meridian after
almost gaining control of the facility. We now face the consequences of his
death. Though the kett are still reeling from the loss of their dealer, the
Primus has reportedly succeeded him and intends to pursue kett interests in
Heleus.
Led by the Archon, the kett are a powerful and
technologically advanced species whose home space lies beyond the Heleus
Cluster. The kett encountered here are an expeditionary force seeking lifeforms
for exaltation, as well as secrets of the Remnant technology left behind in
Heleus. Evidence suggests they arrived in Heleus roughly seventy years ago.
As we have learned, kett multiply and replenish their
armies via "exaltation," where the kett take desirable genetic traits
from other life forms and incorporate them into the kett genome. The
"donor" life form, in return, is mutated with kett DNA. Kett view
this exchange as an almost sacred process of self-development, though our
scientists disagree.
The kett themselves remain enigmatic. We know they
value genetic and physical superiority, that they willingly enslave other
species, and that they have positions throughout the Heleus Cluster.
Unfortunately, a sustained dialogue or diplomatic overtures seem impossible, as
the kett ruthlessly exploit any attempt at peaceful communication.
Identified in decrypted communications, the kett known
as the Archon's Sword has a fearsome reputation. Her role as the Archon's
enforcer takes her across the Heleus Cluster to deliver edicts and quell
dissent. APEX reports that those who incur the Archon's displeasure-kett or
otherwise-are pursued relentlessly by the Archon's Sword, often never sighted
again.
In combat, the Archon's Sword is said to favor cunning
over brute strength, cloaking herself with the same techniques as kett Destined
before striking fearlessly.
Psychological profiles, though hampered by an incomplete understanding of kett
psychology, suggest she is completely loyal to the Archon and his ideals.
Her title has provoked discussion amongst Nexus
scientists, as it either underlines her devotion to the Archon's cause, or it
implies a ceremonial and historical role. It is possible that the Archon's
Sword represents a greater tradition within kett society not yet understood.
Study of kett technology reveals an interesting
dichotomy. While their faster-than-light drives and equipment show less
sophistication than Systems Alliance technology back in the Milky Way, the kett
are vastly superior when it comes to genetic manipulation and biological
analysis. Their weaponry eschews VI support in favor of targeting neurological
systems or internal organs with unusual precision, and salvaged kett gear shows
that even their battlefield medicine is exceptional compared to the
Initiative's.
Nexus scientists believe this underlines the kett's
interest in biological excellence. Their technology appears to serve a
subordinate role to studying and improving one's own genetic superiority.
My analysis of kett technology from your scans
suggests that it is highly mimetic. It follows the kett pattern of behavior:
rather than conducting research and development, kett engineers incorporate
features from other species and improve their designs incrementally. Remnant
and even Initiative-inspired changes are already beginning to appear.
Destined are described in intercepted communications
as "ancestral" kett who act as battlefield commanders. They rally
infantry into tightly cohesive units, providing shield support and directing
operations from the center.
The most interesting characteristic of the Destined is
their ability to produce an obscuring "smoke" cloud without
mechanical assistance. Preliminary study suggests Destined have internal sacs
that excrete carbonate-rich compounds, which include a melanin-like pigment.
When expelled into the air at will, internal acids trigger a gas evolution
reaction and the pigment expands to cover the battlefield, cloaking other kett
allies. While studies suggest it is not harmful, breathing the cloud for
extended periods is not recommended.
The kett soldiers known as Anointed appear to be of
similar caste to the Chosen: infantry equipped with light armor. Anointed,
however, wield heavy plasma cannons, making them a rallying point for other
kett forces, and shield themselves with kinetic barriers against splashback. A
barrage from an Anointed's plasma cannon can shred through enemy barriers and
severely damage ground vehicles.
Communication intercepts suggest that Anointed assist
in coordinating Chosen squads and act in an NCO role. It is unclear if the term
'Anointed' refers to a senior rank amongst the Chosen, or if Anointed are part
of a separate division within the kett Infantry.
With a new understanding of kett exaltation, it is now
apparent that Anointed are exalted angara, transformed into soldiers of the
kett. Their title may refer to foot soldiers who have been entrusted with a
more crucial battlefield role by their superiors.
Chosen are the front-line soldiers of the kett,
encountered on multiple worlds as support for other kett combatants. They are
equipped with assault rifles that fires plasma-surrounded projectiles, and
light armor that allows them to move and deploy rapidly. Though their biology
is still under investigation, they are capable of surviving in hazardous
environments without protective gear.
While quick to defer to more senior individuals,
Chosen appear to be disciplined and loyal soldiers, undeterred even by biotic
attacks or heavy ordnance. They present a continuing risk to unarmed outposts.
The name 'Chosen' was intercepted and tentatively
translated from kett communications. If accurate, its significance is unclear,
since these are clearly the kett baseline infantry.
With a new understanding of kett exaltation, it is now
apparent that Chosen are exalted angara, transformed into soldiers of the kett
cause. This may explain their title. Their devotion to senior kett can now be
understood as a hard-wired hormonal response that induces unshakeable loyalty.
Provided by Dr. Medrow Aden, these notes had three
layers of encryption. I have endeavored to fill in any transcription errors.
"Kett home space is vast. Charts I downloaded
showed so many worlds in the "heartlands" alone—centered on their
home planet, Sarhesen. Some [term unclear: possibly event/disaster] happened
there? No details, definitely a touchy subject.
"Twenty-one ancestral lineages from 'pure'
ancient kett. (Any still alive?) Heads of ancestral lineages lead their
society. A eugenocracy?
"At least a dozen vassal species. Only got
details on a few. The eealen—exalted past viable population, now nomads who
document and share knowledge. The thusali—once worshipped the Remnant.
Engineers exalted for Remnant expertise. The sirinde—[term unclear: possibly
translates as "eat their dead with reverence"]—genetically poisoned
themselves to stop exaltation, now dependent on kett neuroscience to survive.
"All proves one thing: we were right. Fight the
kett head on; those might be our fate."
Nicknamed by Initiative scouts unlucky enough to
encounter them, Wraiths are war beasts capable of adjusting their carapace
pigmentation to blend into their surroundings. This ability lets them stalk an
enemy over distances unseen or cause sudden disorder in enemy ranks, flushing
targets to be picked off by other kett forces. When attacking, Wraiths leap and
strike with impressive jaw strength that can puncture ceramic armor.
Wraiths present an interesting study to Nexus
scientists. Initially believed to originate from the same home world as the
kett, since they have similar physical characteristics, Wraiths show clear
genetic similarity with other feral creatures sighted across the Heleus
Cluster.
With a new understanding of kett exaltation, this
similarity can now be explained. It appears that Wraiths are the result of
exalting these feral creatures into faithful warbeasts.
These unfortunate individuals were once krogan. After
capture, experimentation, and attempts at exaltation, they are now Behemoths,
bearing the characteristic white carapace of the kett and the strength of a
krogan in full fury.
Behemoths appear to be an early attempt at exaltation,
and the process for the krogan is as yet unrefined. Unlike exalted angara,
whose transformation is genetically and neurochemically stable, Behemoths are
unable to produce enough serotonin to break out of the feedback loop that
results in krogan blood rage, rendering them permanently aggressive and
non-communicative. In addition, DNA samples suggest Behemoths are susceptible
to hypothalamic tremors, further evidence that exaltation is intended to affect
the body's oxytocin production and social bonding responses.
Fighting a Behemoth is not for the unprepared. With a
krogan's resilience to gunfire and a preference for charging into melee, APEX
tactics currently revolve around multiple rocket-propelled grenades.
Kett biology is a driving force in their expansion.
The kett are capable of transferring beneficial genetic traits from other
species during exaltation, modifying their genome and expressing new traits
almost immediately.
Study of kett DNA shows evidence of horizontal gene transfer
and the incorporation of genes from dozens of unknown species. Their cells have
transfective properties normally only seen in specially engineered laboratory
animals, meaning the kett are able to "custom-mutate" their genome.
All kett and their exalted have a distinctive white
exoskeleton. Dissection reveals these growths contain fluid-filled sacs that
capture dissolved gasses from the circulatory system, slowly releasing them if
the kett is oxygen-deprived. The fluid pressure of these sacs also stabilizes
the body if environmental pressure is reduced. This helps the kett survive
hazardous planets or even in the vacuum of space without suits, while providing
additional protection against gunshot injuries.
Second-in-command to the Archon, the Primus is
reportedly trusted with leading many of the kett's most dangerous factions.
APEX teams have sighted her as a hands-on leader at key kett positions, and
orders from her are treated as coming from the Archon himself. Her main area of
responsibility appears to be managing the kett conquest of Heleus via
exaltation.
In as much as we can determine with scant details on
kett culture, the Primus is believed to be extremely orthodox. Intercepted and
translated reports show her ordering punishments for kett who deviate from
social norms and traditions. She has also repeatedly expressed concern over the
need to break off military exercices or recon missions to investigate Remnant
technology, suggestion this is not a normal element of katt expansion.
With the Archon dead, the Primus is now de facto
leader of the kett forces in the Heleus Cluster. Freed from the
"distraction" of investigation and defending Remnant structures, we
can expect the kett to romain a clear and present danger under her leadership.
The kett in the Heleus Cluster appear to be a military
expeditionary force. Separated from the rest of their culture, only a few
conclusions can be drawn about the kett as a people.
Kett society appears to be a strongly regulated
hierarchy. DNA evidence suggests genetic lineage is a factor in leadership
positions. These "ancestral" kett lead the exalted, citizen who serve
in the army, sciences or industry. Unskilled labor is performed by slaves
or--as analysis about their home space suggests--conquered vassal species. The
kett interest in the Remnant implies a shared history, but details are scarce.
Culturally, the kett are highly ritualized and
ceremonial. Intelligence reports show a powerful belief in their genetic and
military superiority, and a belief that it benefits "lesser" species.
Even the kett dialect spoken in Heleus, Tonaizhet, translates to "speaking
correctly."
Exaltation is thus not a punishment, but a means to
balance a disordered galaxy by sharing the kett's genetic
"perfection."
The facility on Voeld has revealed a key element of
kett strategy and biology. The kett do not recruit soldiers they take prisoners
and submit them to "exaltation." This process transfers beneficial
genetic traits to the kett, and turns the "donor" into a fanatically
loyal exalted, many of whom serve in the kett military. Most of the individuals
we have fought appear to be exalted angara.
The exaltation process appears to be two-way,
transferring carefully selected kett traits into the donor. The resulting
mutations permanently alter the physical appearance and glands of the donor,
inducing hormonal changes that cement the individual's loyalty to the kett.
Scientists on the Nexus suggest that exaltation may
have originated out of necessity. If long ago, the kett somehow reached a state
of genetic stagnation, adopting the genetic traits of others may have been
their only means of survival. Today it is a ceremonial, if morally repellent,
cornerstone of kett culture.
Many unique plants, creatures and other life forms
inhabit the Heleus Cluster’s worlds.
The nature of life in the Andromeda Galaxy was debated
at length by Milky Way scholars. Many Milky Way species show convergent
evolution-upright bipeds of a certain height and atmospheric tolerances-leading
some to theorize this pattern might give some evolutionary advantage, despite
counterarguments by hanar scientists. Interestingly, the kett and angara
continue to fit this pattern.
The wildlife and flora encountered in the Heleus
Cluster have adapted to the presence of the Scourge, evolving epidermal layers
or carapaces that can cope with ambient radiation, or in the case of some
plants, successfully feeding off it. Many use bioluminescence to attract prey,
or as a threat or mating display.
Concerns were raised around the ability of Milky Way
species to consume proteins from Andromeda, so seed banks formed a significant
part of the arks' cargo. We now know it is safe to consume food grown or hunted
here, though enzyme supplements are recommended and have become a social norm
at mealtimes.
The revelation of the Jardaan's experimentation in the
Heleus Cluster allows the creatures here to be viewed in a new light. It is
entirely possible that many of these species were seeded or experimented upon,
or that "lessons learned" were taken from them in the development of
the angara.
Nicknamed a "manta" by Andromeda Initiative
observers, this majestic creature has been sighted on several worlds in the
Heleus Cluster. The Nexus scientists believe it may have originally evolved on
a world with heavy despises of element zero, giving it the ability to lower its
mass enough to "swim" through the air. Expanding the muscular gas
bladders on its underside allows the creature to rise and orient itself in
flight.
Despite its size-roughly 30m-the manta is not a threat
to outposts or explorers. It appears to subsist on mineral deposits from rock
formations, wrapping itself around rock spires or even against cliff faces to
remain camouflaged while it feeds. Their camouflage ability suggest that these
mantas have predators or other reasons to remain hidden, but thus far the
reasons remain unclear.
Hostile rogue factions, both native and foreign,
plague the Heleus Cluster.
Salarians have always operated at the very cutting
edge of technology, believing that anything less is a waste of their capabilities.
The salarians who have chosen to become outlaws are no less exacting.
Preferring to operate on the sidelines rather than leading an assault, they
often deploy holographic decoys.
While the decoy cannot damage an enemy, its kinetic
barrier generator means that enemy targeting computers will register an impact
when it's shot. This forces enemies to divide their attention and allows the
salarian agent to flank or escape. APEX has attempted to research these decoys
for larger scale deployment against the kett, but have been unable to create a
convincing thermal signature. Meanwhile, it can be expected that these salarian
agents will continue to refine their work.
Adhi are four-legged lifeforms sighted on multiple
worlds, across the Heleus Cluster, often foraging together in packs. They are
extremely intelligent and capable of understanding complex commands. Wandering
explorers and mercenaries are often accompanied by one or two trained adhi for
defense.
When attacking, adhi drive opponents out of secure
positions to make them vulnerable to gunfire or a concerted attack by the rest
of the pack. Their jaw strength has been measured in excess of 1900 N,
dangerous even when wearing a hardsuit. Adhi also show no fear of scout rovers.
Interestingly, the adhi genome shows signs of
extensive genetic engineering that resembles the "uplifting" of some
domestic animals on Earth before gene modification laws were put in place.
These adaptions allow the adhi to survive in hazardous environments and may
account for their almost tactical intelligence even in the wild.
Few verifiable reports of the Collective exist beyond
Kadara Port. They claim the Collective is a spy network of Milky Way outlaws
and angara who use blackmail, espionage, smuggling, and hacking to gain
leverage on Kadara.
The Collective is said to be led by "the
Charlatan." No reliable data is available on this individual's identity,
but the Charlatan has been quietly amassing influence since the Hyperion
arrived in Andromeda. Those who cross the Charlatan are dealt with ruthlessly.
Intercepted transmissions show that the Outcasts
consider the Collective's growing power a threat to their own position. The
Outcasts' focus has shifted from harrying Nexus trade convoys to arms deals,
putting them on a war footing. The Collective's response has been less public,
but many Outcast supporters have lost their fortunes or disappeared without a
trace.
Options:
·
Without Reyes
Vidal, now revealed as the Charlatan, the Collective is vulnerable to reprisal.
APEX reports that Sloane Kelly has already ordered a purge of Collective
sympathizers.
·
With Sloane
Kelly dead, the Outcasts are unlikely to remain unified. APEX reports that the
pirates are either scattering from Kadara Port, or being quietly but
systematically hunted down by Collective loyalists.
Centuries ago in the Milky Way, krogan berserkers
served a key role in the Krogan Rebellions as frontal assault forces that
cleared enemy dreadnoughts and besieged fortified positions. The battle cry of
the famed Ravank Berserker Company was so distinctive—and psychologically
effective—that it was often used in propaganda broadcasts.
Today, krogan who have joined outlaw bands claim to
have revived berserker tactics. Wielding powerful flak cannons, they bombard
positions to intimidate enemies into breaking their line before closing in.
When provoked, a berserker goes into the blood rage that gives them their name,
losing higher brain functions and the ability to feel pain while unleashing
devastating strikes that can snap an enemy's spine in one blow.
Most of the sighted outlaw forces are composed of
forces from the Milky Way, but many angara have also joined them, either out of
disillusionment with the Resistance or for their own personal glory. This has
been heralded with fascination by Nexus social xenopsychologists—who claim it
demonstrates universal values and goals between sentient life—and concern by
APEX, who now have to contend with outlaws who have expert knowledge of the
Heleus Cluster.
The light armor and weapons of angaran outlaws have
been fatally deceptive to many APEX squads. When necessary, the angara act as
saboteurs, using their innate control over electromagnetism to drain enemy
shield capacitors and boost their own equipment. With combatants suddenly
vulnerable, they are easy prey for the saboteur or their allies.
Equipped with custom-modified sniper rifles,
sharpshooters accompany raiding parties as scouts and long-range combatants. A
well-trained sharpshooter can pick off an unprepared explorer before they even
know there are enemies nearby.
The skill of many of these sharpshooters is,
ironically, the result of Initiative colonist defense training before leaving
the Milky Way. Strategically, it was believed that well-armed snipers would be
simple but effective defenders of their outposts, with a lowered risk of losing
personnel in the event of an attack. It appears this training has now been
passed along.
Even without military training, rogue asari are
exceptionally dangerous, as their natural biotic talents mean they are never
truly disarmed. These pariahs now sighted in outlaw bands wield their powers in
pursuit of plunder and glory.
Pariahs attack at short range with shotguns designed
for asari commando forces, wearing down kinetic barriers in preparation for a
biotic-focused attack. For more persistent enemies, many pariahs have mastered
a deadly "backlash" technique, generating a shield with near-negative
mass that accelerates incoming projectiles back at their foes.
The strange technologies of the Heleus Cluster offer
many outlaw and exile groups opportunity rather than scientific mystery. With access
to black-market salvage, Remnant technology, and stolen gear from the Andromeda
Initiative, some have crafted non-standard but highly effective battle mech
suits nicknamed "Hydras."
Most Hydra units are armed with a chain gun and a
devastating laser-guided RPG volley, pinning down enemies before bombarding
them with heavy fire. Unapproved jumpjet designs and a mass-lowering element
zero core assist in ground clearance or leaping at a target. The sheer weight
and impact of the Hydra unit can crush enemies or force them to fall back. APEX
officially classifies a Hydra unit as a Priority Zero threat, though unofficial
communications often use the acronym "BFM."
Before her appointment as Director of Nexus Security,
Sloane served in the Alliance, but was discharged after punching a superior
officer for "bureaucratic bullshit." Some of the Initiative's senior
leadership had concerns about Sloane's temper, but former Director Jien Garson
admired Sloane's passion and believed her frank attitude and resourcefulness
would ultimately keep the Nexus safer than someone who ran things "by the
book."
Jarun Tann felt differently. Relations between Sloane
and the new Initiative Director, while never good, quickly deteriorated during
the uprising. Sloane was vehemently against using the krogan against the
mutineers and took it personally when the Director went behind her back to make
a deal with Clan Nakmor. Upon learning of the Director's intervention, Sloane
switched sides and joined the rebellion. Although the uprising ultimately
failed, Sloane gained legendary status among the exiles and amassed a group of
followers called the Outcasts.
After leaving the Nexus, Sloane traveled across Heleus
to Kadara Port, where she defeated an invading kett force and set herself and
the Outcasts up as the ruling power on the planet.
Options:
·
With Reyes
Vidal gone, Sloane remains the de facto ruler of Kadara Port. However, this
seems to have brought little peace of mind to Sloane, who is using all
available resources to hunt down Reyes and any other members of the Collective.
·
Sloane Kelly
was shot and killed during the showdown for Kadara Port.
Like many exiles, Reyes Vidal's screening interviews
and personal records were corrupted during the mutiny on the Nexus. Internal
staffing emails show he was a pilot assigned to shuttle N-503 call-sign
"Anubis," but beyond that, very little is known about Reyes' life
before arriving in Andromeda.
Since the Nexus uprising, Reyes has made a name for
himself as a smuggler working out of Kadara Port. While most exiles on Kadara
feel pressured to choose between joining the Outcasts or the Collective to be
successful, Reyes proudly claims to be a "free agent" and even does
jobs for the Angaran Resistance.
Despite being known as a reliable smuggler who always
gets the job done, Reyes is notoriously bad about paying his bar tabs with the
exception of Tartarus, where it's rumored he has worked out a deal with Kian,
the owner.
Options:
·
Although
Reyes revealed himself as the Charlatan to us, he has decided to continue to
control the Collective, and now Kadara Port, from the shadows.
·
After we
thwarted the Collective's coup of Kadara Port, Reyes has been on the run from
Sloane Kelly.
The outlaw bands of the Heleus Cluster are diverse.
Some were individuals who joined the Andromeda Initiative as an escape from the
Milky Way; some were exiled after the Nexus uprising; others chose to seek
their fortune elsewhere. Most of these individuals survive by raiding outposts
or wandering exploration teams.
While not particularly organized or well-equipped,
these raiders present a risk to undefended colonists. Most prefer to extort
supplies and equipment rather than risk themselves, but when provoked or
desperate, they will resort to deadly force.
Turians running with outlaw bands have turned their
mandatory military training to less noble purposes. They override the safeties
on ex-military hardware to handle a higher explosive yield, resulting in deadly
"inferno grenades" that leave thermite deposits on the ground after
impact. The thermite can cling to armor and cause massive injuries.
APEX's largely turian volunteer force takes a dim view
of these anarchists, seeing them as not only a threat but an affront to the
turian values of honor and service. Those who cannot be forced to surrender are
hunted ruthlessly, though this has only driven Anarchists to ever-greater feats
of military engineering.
Cast out for criminal behavior or their actions during
the uprising, exiles from the Nexus are no longer welcome at the station or
Initiative outposts. Some have found a new home at Kadara Port, choosing to
fight under Sloane Kelly's banner and embracing their title as Outcasts.
The militia's threat assessment lists the Outcasts as
"a significant risk." Their particular animosity for the Nexus, honed
by Sloane Kelly's security expertise, makes them a constant concern for the
Nexus leadership. The Outcasts harass trade convoys, raid ore and ice
transports, and pick off scout teams for their weapons and equipment.
There is no simple answer to stopping the Outcasts.
Kadara Port is defended against APEX assault and Sloane Kelly has weathered
numerous assassination attempts, retaliating against the Nexus each time.
Meanwhile, every individual who must be exiled from the station is a potential
Outcast recruit.
Ancient machines with mysterious goals operate
throughout the Heleus Cluster.
Remnant technology requires careful reactivation
dubbed "interfacing," a process Alec Ryder and I first developed on
Habitat 7. Using "glyphs"—dense data packets of Remnant code—a
working understanding of their language, and the interface capabilities of a
Pathfinder implant, I can help you trigger or control Remnant technology from
appropriate locations.
Interfacing is the only way to activate certain
Remnant technology, such as monoliths. Scans and surface damage suggest that
the kett have repeatedly attempted to activate these sites by other,
increasingly desperate methods, without success.
It is not clear whether Remnant technology is designed
to be activated by an AI. There is no evidence of artificial intelligence in
the Remnant structures investigated thus far, and Remnant bots have only
rudimentary programming. However the glyphs contain recognition keys analogous
to an electroencephalogram (EEG), implying that the system is designed to
handle a form of neural input.
The "box" that Peebee found in the vault on
Eos appears to be a Remnant data storage device. Peebee calls it a "data
core" and has dedicated her time to unlocking its secrets, as she is
convinced that it may contain more information about the Remnant builders.
Close observation has revealed that the circuitry
found within Peebee's "relic boxes" often matches up to circuitry
found deep in Observers and other Remnant creations. It is possible that they
were used to deliver command routines to Remnant machines.
After months of studying and tinkering with the
Remnant, Peebee was able to strip out an Observer's operating protocols. Using
Remnant technology found in the vault on Eos along with other pieces scrounged
from ruins, she has discovered how to program the Observer to obey her commands.
This is Poc (Proof of Concept), a Remnant Observer that now works for Peebee.
Poc has no combat capabilities—it apparently exists
for Peebee's amusement and perhaps companionship—but she has repeated her work
and created a combat-ready version that can be deployed in the field. For ease
of discerning between the two, this combat model is named "Zap."
Poc was stolen by Kalinda T'Reve, but has now been
recovered and repaired. It is functioning normally in Peebee's service.
Peebee's success in merging Remnant and Milky Way
technologies is very promising, and she has begun to apply the principles
involved to other systems, including those on the Tempest.
The Jardaan are a mysterious species or faction
responsible for building the bots and technology known as the Remnant.
According to recordings and findings from Khi Tasira, they were interested in
not only wide-scale terraforming but the creation of sentient life. One of
their successful creations, the angara, were seeded on multiple worlds in the
Heleus Cluster. The Jardaan's motivations for this creation are still unknown.
Their work was disrupted by the deployment of the
Scourge weapon, the result of either an external threat or a rift in Jardaan
society. This weapon devastated the worlds that the Jardaan had cultivated and
forced them to leave the Heleus Cluster, though not before disengaging Meridian
and sending it to safety.
The present whereabouts and disposition of the Jardaan
are not known. Whether they will return to Heleus remains to be seen.
Created by Assemblers, these Breachers are levitating
drones that move in rapid, aggressive bursts using a powerful microthruster.
Peebee claims to have named them "Breachers" after mistaking one for
an Observer, and quickly realizing this new example "broke the
rules."
Analysis of Breacher debris shows that their systems
are fundamentally unstable: their power cores are improperly shielded and many
of their inner workings are exposed. This suggests that they are created for
short-term deployment to handle intruders who stray into Remnant territory, and
in turn offers some insight into the Remnant builders' military doctrine.
Combined with single-minded programming that focuses
on hostiles, the volatile construction of Breachers makes them extremely
dangerous. If provoked, the Breacher will launch itself at an opponent and
attempt to latch onto it, using exposed gears to grind through hardsuits and
cause severe damage. When damaged beyond repair, a Breacher may trigger its
power core to overload and self-destruct.
Most Remnant technology is inert or in a
"standby" mode, but some is secured with a decryption grid. Unlocking
it requires scanning the correct Remnant glyphs and arranging them in a
specific order. The glyphs cannot repeat on any straight line or within a
square block of four.
Peebee speculates this could be a safety measure. Even
if a method was devised to brute-force hack an interface, it would not work
with the decryption grid. Given the devastating consequences when Remnant
technology is improperly activated, her analysis seems sound.
The arrangement of the glyphs appears to complete
either a password or a code phrase within the grid as a whole. From the little
I understand of the Remnant language, they appear to form an almost palindromic
"Sator Square" sentence, but the finer meaning would require detailed
explanation from the grid's designer.
Destroyers are heavy-weapon platforms deployed against
the most determined intruders into Remnant territory. Armed with a directed
energy cannon and two secondary laser turrets that can engage multiple targets
simultaneously, a single Destroyer can take out an entire combat squad in
minutes. When asked why she named it a "Destroyer," Peebee folded her
arms, rolled her eyes, and answered, "You figure it out."
One of the most disconcerting characteristics of the
Destroyer is its partitioned power system. Destroying one of its turrets means
that power is automatically diverted to its locomotion systems, allowing it to
move much faster. Many individuals have mistakenly believed they could pick off
a Destroyer's turrets from a distance and evade it safely, only to have the
Destroyer close that distance unexpectedly. This often has fatal consequences,
since at melee range, the Destroyer transfers power to an electromagnetic burst
that causes severe damage to any individuals unlucky enough to be close.
APEX has reported variants of the Destroyer that have
a self-repair network for their turrets. These Destroyers can briefly go
dormant, transferring full power to fix any damage before reactivating its
turrets again. Few have been sighted, but engagement is not recommended.
A rare and awe-inspiring sight, Architects are
colossal Remnant constructs that burst from the ground, using multiple element
zero cores to hover and attack from above. They dwarf buildings and ground
vehicles, and their armor is impenetrable to all known small arms fire, including
mass accelerator rounds. Only the power cores on an Architect's body appear
vulnerable, and even they show signs of self-repair capabilities given enough
time.
Each Architect is armed with multiple defensive
systems, each extremely dangerous. Ferrofluid reservoirs and minifacturing
peripherals allow it to create smaller Remnant units to swarm enemies. Its most
devastating attack is an electrically-charged energy burst that swarms with
fluidly replenishing shrapnel, overcharging shields and then shredding a
target. Though an Architect cannot be destroyed, disabling its power cores will
ground it, giving an opportunity to interface with its central processor and
reprogram its current directives to compel it to leave.
The name "Architect" precedes their initial
sighting. Peebee claims she theorized the existence of a Remnant that was
responsible for excavating the space needed for vaults, and for building other
Remnant infrastructure. These Architects, simply by size alone, appear to fit
that profile.
This Remnant model appears to have been designed for
excavation. If provoked, it enters a "siege mode," where it anchors
itself to the ground and launches explosive projectiles at a target. In this
mode, this Remnant constantly runs a self-repair cycle, reducing damage from
incoming fire. Peebee claims that this characteristic is what earned it the
name "Nullifier."
Recovery of Nullifier parts has been illuminating.
They use both balancing pitons and dense ferrofluid reservoirs in their lower
extremities to remain stable while firing, design characteristics that could be
useful for Initiative mining operations. Their blast shielding is also
surprisingly light for its thickness (72mm) and density. The plates are
cushioned by a honeycomb of shock-absorbing polymer to distribute any ballistic
force. However, these characteristics are also what allows them to absorb heavy
fire and act as formidable opponents.
Remnant Assemblers were nicknamed for their ability to
create smaller units known as "Breachers." Each Assembler contains a
reservoir of an unknown ferrofluid similar to omni-gel, which can be used to
3D-print Breachers on the spot with alarming speed.
Tactically, Assemblers focus on manufacturing
reinforcements, moving to safe distances during combat. If approached while in
its hostile mode, the Assembler can jettison the partially completed power core
of a Breacher, which acts like an explosive grenade, causing massive damage to
enemies and allowing the Assembler to withdraw.
Upon creating a Breacher, the Assembler transfers a
full copy of its stored recent memory and battlefield disposition to the new
Remnant, ensuring it is combat-ready almost immediately. This capability means
the Assembler is constantly branching and partitioning its memory in
preparation without loss of data, an interesting characteristic that may be
useful in future artificial intelligence designs.
"Remnant" is the umbrella term coined for
technology, structures, and autonomous bots that have been sighted across the
Heleus Cluster. Seemingly abandoned by whomever created it, this Remnant
technology is extremely advanced, but most of it is in a "standby"
state. On Habitat 7, Alec Ryder discovered that reactivating this technology
requires scanning "glyphs"—data packets written in Remnant coding
language—and my assistance with "interfacing" at particular consoles.
This is complicated by Remnant bots that still guard
and maintain many of these installations. Remnant bots do not appear to be
sentient, but they are programmed to consider any interference with their
technology as a hostile act, and attack single-mindedly.
The kett have an interest in Remnant technology, and
have been sighted across the cluster attempting to study or control sites where
it is still active. Evidence suggests the kett have not yet developed a
reliable method of interfacing.
Investigations at Khi Tasira reveal that the Remnant
were built by a species or faction known as the Jardaan. This technology was
intended to foster life that the Jardaan had created, using the vaults to
manage planetary ecology strictly, controlled from a central point known as
Meridian.
The Scourge destroyed the connection from Meridian to
these vaults and deactivated many of the Jardaan's technological creations. The
Jardaan left the cluster soon afterwards for an unknown location, leaving their
technology behind as remnants of their civilization in Heleus.
Observers, mid- to long-range Remnant drones, can be
seen at most Remnant sites. They are equipped with element zero cores that
allow them to levitate, and can normally be seen scanning or conducting
maintenance at these sites. While they are the least robust of the Remnant
bots, Observers are still a threat to unprepared explorers if provoked.
Examination of destroyed Remnant Observers shows they
have multiple sensor vectors—visual, aural, electromagnetic, and others as yet
undefined—and a comprehensive toolkit of equipment for observation and
maintenance, including an ultraviolet beam laser. Serving partially as its
primary weapon, the frequencies of an Observer's laser appear to react with
Remnant structures to induce a repair cycle. Observers are also capable of
bringing other Remnant online, likely as part of their maintenance duties.
When asked, Peebee explains the name
"Observers" with "Everywhere you go, they seem to be looking at
you."
The Heleus Cluster contains many habitable worlds and
other points of interest for the Pathfinder to explore.
The planet known as Habitat 7 was one of the
"golden worlds" selected by the Andromeda Initiative for early
settlement. Signs pointed to a lush and biologically diverse tropical region
that could easily support an outpost.
With no communications from the Nexus or sister arks
upon arrival in the Heleus Cluster, the Hyperion approached Habitat 7 to begin
survey and settlement operations as soon as possible, but even visual
assessments showed that the planet was no longer viable. Habitat 7 is now a
storm-wracked world with an unbreathable argon-nitrogen atmosphere. Intense
magnetic activity in unknown metallic elements interacts with the storms,
causing interesting but highly destructive electrical phenomena.
The investigating Pathfinder team encountered hostile
alien life and strange technology on the surface. Reactivating this technology
caused a noticeable change in the conditions on Habitat 7. However, the planet
is still unsuitable for settlement, and the resulting activation ultimately
claimed the life of Alec Ryder, the human Pathfinder.
Elaaden is the scorching desert moon of a gas giant.
Identified on Initiative charts as Habitat 2, Elaaden was considered a
"golden world," despite its harsh conditions, because of the moon's
vast mineral wealth. Tidal gravitational effects cause plumes of sodium
silicate to erupt from Elaaden's core, depositing unusually pure silicon sand
across the surface—invaluable for manufacturing high-performance computer
hardware.
Orbital surveys show that contrary to projections,
Elaaden is almost devoid of water vapor, making long-term settlement or mining
efforts unlikely. Those who live on Elaaden face a constant struggle for
survival. Able to thrive in environments that would kill most organic species
in days, the krogan who departed the Nexus have established a colony on Elaaden
and defend their sovereignty fiercely. The Nexus advises travelers to avoid
Elaaden if possible.
Options:
·
After the
gift of a valuable Remnant drive core, the krogan colony of New Tuchanka is now
allied with the Initiative. Overlord Morda shares leadership with the
Initiative's assigned representative, Kariste Archana. The Nexus is gathering a
negotiation team to draw up mineral and water claims on Elaaden. There is no
data on whom the krogan are choosing as negotiators.
·
The activated
Remnant vault has increased the presence of cloud-forming particulates in
Elaaden's sky. Though the moon is still brutally hot, moisture levels have
noticeably risen, increasing ambient humidity and the likelihood of rain. The
Nexus scientists advise that the inhabitants of Elaaden, once starved for
water, should prepare for flash floods.
As Jaal explains, Havarl is considered the ancestral
home of the angara. The ruins of angaran cities are a draw for researchers,
looters, and angara who defy the kett to make pilgrimage. The planet's history
also makes it a symbolic staging ground for the ruthlessly xenophobic Roekaar.
Long-range surveys by the Andromeda Initiative
indicated Havarl was a garden world of lush green jungles and abundant liquid
water. The planet was considered a "golden world," and given the
label Habitat 3.
Our observations today show Havarl is unrecognizable.
The jungles now dominate much of the planet's surface, demonstrating bizarre
growth patterns. Samples show grotesque mutations and hormonal changes in the
jungles' plant life, rendering it not only extremely hardy but hazardous for
consumption. These factors point to a large-scale shift in Havarl's ecology
that bears investigation.
With the Remnant vault stabilized and correctly
activated, both angaran and Nexus scientists report a noticeable improvement in
Havarl's plant life. The more aggressive and mutated species are dying back,
supplanted by soil-enriching and pollinating varieties.
In a comparatively brief time, Havarl shows signs of
being a welcoming garden world. Meanwhile, Initiative scientists have joined
forces with angaran personnel to investigate Havarl further.
The Scourge is the colloquial term for a huge and
extremely dangerous interstellar phenomenon sighted across much of the Heleus
Cluster. It appears to be a cloud spreading in "tendrils" that affect
planets and surrounding space, destroying starships that attempt to pass
through or near it.
Observations and data from the Nexus now show the
Scourge's "tendrils" are composed of radioactive, element zero-rich
dust and debris. Within these tendrils, thousands of microscopic and unstable
warps in space-time are constantly erupting.
These unpredictable distortions build up a charge in
the eezo, causing uncontrolled mass effects that alter gravity and can rip a
starship apart without warning. The Scourge's presence also affects nearby
planets, raining down radioactive fallout and debris, or even altering the
orbit of worlds that pass through or near it.
The Scourge is aggressively drawn to Remnant
structures on planets, though the cause of the attraction is not yet fully
understood. This manifests as further "tendrils" of dust and
radioactive particulates that cling to the surface of Remnant technology and
interfere with its operations. Either this matter was left behind after the
planet in question passed through the Scourge itself, or even distant
interactions with Remnant technology can cause the Scourge to coalesce
spontaneously. In either case, even this minor manifestation of the Scourge
demands additional caution when approaching Remnant sites.
No long-range data showed any sign of the Scourge
before departure to the Heleus Cluster. Nexus scientists suggest it must have
appeared in the intervening centuries while the arks traveled to Andromeda.
We now know the Scourge is the fallout of a weapon
detonated at Khi Tasira. Doctor Aridana believes the weapon caused an
instantaneous cluster-wide warping of space-time, briefly connecting multiple
points in the Heleus Cluster at once.
Her models suggest the warp effect annihilated
multiple planets, forming the debris in the Scourge's tendrils, while the
resulting radiation converted much of that debris to element zero. As we have
seen, the space-time warping effect continues on a micro scale within the
Scourge to this day.
Aya is an anomaly in the Heleus Cluster: a lush planet
where a Remnant site appears to be active. It is a sanctuary for the angara,
the only known sentient species local to Heleus, and guarded fiercely against
outsiders. This is helped by Aya's position relative to Heleus' black hole,
whose gravitational lensing effect makes Aya harder to detect. The Scourge also
makes the approach to Aya extremely dangerous for untrained pilots. Scans
indicate numerous kett wrecks lost in the Scourge nearby, picked clean by
angaran salvagers.
Aya is also the headquarters of the Angaran Resistance
movement against the kett, whose leaders advise Aya's planetary governor,
Paaran Shie. Director Tann has ordered that Aya is not only to be considered
sovereign territory, but a military power. While the Tempest and its crew were
allowed to visit peacefully, the Nexus is advising extreme caution to other
potential visitors, and ordering the distribution of "early contact"
guidelines.
With relations warming between the Initiative and the
angara, diplomatic overtures continue. The Initiative is opening an embassy on
Aya with Paaran Shie's approval, while extending invitations to angaran
diplomats and scientists to tour the Nexus. Our Cultural Exchange is beginning
several cooperative programs intended to foster better understanding between
the various Milky Way species and the angara.
Located 2.5 million light years from the Milky Way,
the Andromeda Galaxy is the largest galaxy in the Local Group. Also categorized
as M31, Andromeda is a spiral galaxy roughly 220,000 light years in diameter, containing
approximately 1 trillion stars (compared to the Milky Way's 300 billion). The
Heleus Cluster is a large star cluster located on the galaxy's outer fringe.
Andromeda has roughly 14 satellite galaxies, which
orbit the galactic disk. Evidence shows a disturbance where one of these
companion galaxies, M32, passed through Andromeda's spiral arms several million
years ago. Andromeda itself is also accelerating towards the Milky Way at
roughly 100km/s. In roughly 4 billion years, the Andromeda and Milky Way
galaxies will collide and merge, forming a new galactic disk.
Evidence in the Aya vault shows the network of Remnant
vaults across the Heleus Cluster is controlled from a central point known as
"Meridian." When properly connected to Meridian, the vaults function
as designed, terraforming and maintaining planetary conditions to make planets
suitable for life. When disconnected, the vaults appear to either go into
standby—as seen on Eos—or malfunction—as may have happened on Habitat 7—with disastrous
consequences for their planet.
This proves Meridian's central importance to Remnant
vaults and the planets of the Heleus Cluster. Whoever controls it can
theoretically affect vault function, meaning they could control—or disrupt—the
ecology of entire worlds.
Following the Archon's data led to a gigantic Remnant
structure he had code-named "Khi Tasira." The Archon believed this to
be Meridian, when it is actually just a command core. Records at Khi Tasira
show Meridian itself was jettisoned to safety, when its builders faced the
weapon which created the Scourge.
Meridian is a construct akin to a Dyson sphere: a
vast, hollow shell encompassing a power source that provides heat and light to
lush green biomes in the interior. My early studies of Jardaan records suggest
Meridian was their laboratory and seed world, connected to each vault and
constantly monitoring the progress of life there. However, even at quantum
processing speeds, it will take decades to sift through all of Meridian's
accumulated data.
With the Hyperion crash-landed inside, humanity has a
significant stake in Meridian's future and has founded "Port
Meridian," a largely human settlement based around the Hyperion crash
site.
Meridian is now the name of both the Jardaan seed
world shell, and the largely human port and city within. The architectural
center of the port is the repurposed superstructure of the Ark Hyperion, which
is being converted to stationary housing and research facilities. The
controlled crash of the Hyperion, by Captain Nozomi Dunn, marked the first
complete deployment and landing of an Initiative ark in Andromeda, effectively
designating Meridian a human capital.
Adaptation of the former Ark Hyperion is ongoing, as
is the deployment of its 20,000 sleepers.
This small planet was of particular interest to the
turian contingent of the Andromeda Initiative. Long-distance studies suggested
H-047c was a "golden world," eminently suitable for dextro-protein
species like turians, earning it the designation Habitat 5. The turian ark
Natanus set course for H-047c to ensure they would have a viable settlement
site on arrival.
In the intervening centuries, astronomical studies
show H-047c was pulverized by debris from the erupting Scourge. The dark energy
of the phenomenon increased the mass of this debris to the point that the
impact shattered the planet, leaving it uninhabitable.
With its magnetic field drastically weakened and much
of its atmosphere lost, what remains intact of H-047c's surface is vulnerable
to cosmic radiation. This has rendered the soil unable to support life, though
it is a potential source of valuable helium-3.
Eos, designated Habitat 1, was the earliest
"golden world" identified for outpost placement. Named for the Greek
goddess of dawn by Jien Garson personally, Eos embodied the hope of the
Andromeda Initiative for a new start.
On arrival, the Nexus discovered that a world
projected to be arid but comfortably habitable was now ravaged by radioactive
fallout from the Scourge. The planet's atmosphere is wracked by storms that
have spread the radiation across continents; periodic 130km/hr winds strip
equipment and damage shuttles.
Reports from the Nexus include a sanitized account of
two attempts to colonize the planet, both of which ended in failure and an
unacceptable loss of life. There is also a significant kett presence on Eos,
apparently investigating mysterious signals on the surface. Eos is now
off-limits to unauthorized Nexus personnel, as the Nexus leadership believe it
is no longer viable.
Activating the vault discovered below Eos' surface has
had a dramatic and immediate effect. Radioactive particles are being stripped
from the atmosphere by unknown means, and the resulting temperature changes are
calming Eos' high winds. The planet's moisture levels are already showing
improvement.
Prodromos, the first Pathfinder-established outpost,
has been founded in Fairwinds Basin, with Mayor August Bradley in charge. The
Nexus is broadcasting footage of departing colonists and the new conditions on
Eos across all communication channels.
At the center of the Heleus Cluster is a black hole, a
huge star that has collapsed into a region of space-time with gravitational
effects so powerful that even light cannot escape. This example is believed to
be a Kerr black hole approximately 12 stellar masses in size, and appears to
have absorbed additional mass from nearby systems. Our scientists believe that
the radiation released from the creation of the black hole may explain the
abundant element zero found in Heleus.
In the Milky Way, study of black holes was still in
its infancy. The forces around the event horizon typically destroy probes
before they can transmit their data. This black hole presents a unique
opportunity for study even at a remove.
The original asari surveys of Andromeda called the
black hole Ardat Hekas, "demon's maw." Initiative charts refer to it
as H-012 Ketos, after the mythological sea monster that intended to devour the
princess Andromeda.
According to their scientific journals, angaran
astronomers called the black hole Haranj (roughly: "the fisher's
lure") for the observable effect it has on comets and surrounding systems.
The gravitational lensing effect of the black hole has allowed the
angara-controlled planet Aya to go largely unnoticed by the kett.
Continued observation has shown interesting
interactions between the black hole and the Scourge. There is evidence that
some of the Scourge's mass is being drawn into the black hole, causing
continued "currents" in the phenomenon. Our scientists have suggested
that without the black hole, the Scourge phenomenon might have been even more
hazardous.
From the Milky Way, the Initiative identified Voeld as
Habitat 6, a "golden world" projected to be a life-sustaining and
temperate garden world. This is confirmed by angaran historians: Voeld was once
a heavily populated and thriving angaran colony.
During the Scourge event, gravitational distortions
affected Voeld's orbit. Models from the Nexus tech labs show how this triggered
a minor ice age. The angara were forced to withdraw to a few urban centers,
with the rest of Voeld's population scattered in smaller settlements.
Voeld is therefore both culturally and strategically
important to the angara, and has drawn the attention of the kett. Reports
suggest a significant military presence on both sides, as the Angaran
Resistance fight to defend Voeld's population and protect the ice-encased
remains of their world.
The Initiative's new outpost, Taerve Uni, has been
safely established. Led by new mayor Priya Blake, Taerve Uni is committed to
open borders with the angara as Voeld becomes more habitable. The outpost is
now a major supplier of water ice to other colonies and the Nexus.
Analyzing Suvi's orbital readings, it appears that the
Voeld vault, unable to gravitationally compensate for Voeld's change in orbit,
has triggered a controlled melt of frozen carbon dioxide in the permafrost.
Projections show this will thicken the atmosphere, gradually raising Voeld's
temperature to ease the ice age. This reveals that Remnant vaults are capable
of sophisticated analysis and response to planetary conditions.
Roughly translated as "the place of
ascension," Khi Tasira is a city-sized Remnant structure in the Civki
system. From our investigations, we now know the Archon's research over decades
led him to believe this structure was Meridian, control center for the Remnant
vault network.
This may explain why Khi Tasira is one of the most
heavily defended Remnant sites in Heleus. A substantial percentage of the kett
fleet is anchored here, while APEX reports the Archon has sent dozens of kett
cryptologists and physicists there in an attempt to solve its mysteries, with a
battalion of Exalted to defend them. Approaching Khi Tasira, therefore, is to
breach one of the greatest kett strongholds in the Heleus Cluster.
Even though Khi Tasira is not actually Meridian,
but—as we now know—only a control module originally anchored into Meridian
proper, the city remains a hugely significant Remnant site. It was home to a
large population of the Remnant builders, the Jardaan, and still houses many of
their experimental creations. The Remnant ships housed there appear to be in
working order, as are most of the databanks and archives. Preserved despite the
kett's efforts to ransack it for information, with study, the city could
eventually present a glimpse into the Jardaan's motivations and a better
understanding of the Remnant they left behind.
Kadara was of great interest to the Andromeda
Initiative after it appeared on long-range surveys. Seemingly abundant liquid
water and an oxygen-mix atmosphere made it a strong candidate for settlement,
earning it the designation Habitat 4. Closer range surveys now reveal that
Kadara's water sources are tainted and unpotable.
Of greater concern is the large settlement known as
Kadara Port. Reportedly once a trade port for the angara, it has been adopted
by exiles, pirates, and mercenaries who use it as a staging ground. Kadara Port
is considered a rogue state by the Nexus, given its strong ties to the Exiles,
and Initiative personnel are advised to keep their distance.
Options:
·
Sloane Kelly,
leader of the pirate Outcasts, has now cemented her hold on Kadara Port and
pledged to defend any outposts on Kadara from other exile factions. Officially,
the Nexus still has no diplomatic ties with Kelly; unofficially, the APEX
bounty on Kelly has been quietly withdrawn.
·
Kadara Port
is now controlled by the Collective, led by "the Charlatan" Reyes
Vidal. The Nexus is considering its response to these events, as Vidal is an
unknown factor to the Initiative's leadership.
Ditaeon, the Initiative outpost on Kadara, has had a
smooth initial deployment. The outpost is led by Christmas Tate, formerly of
Mining Company 07 on Mars.
Sampling shows that activating Kadara's vault has
dramatically improved water quality. New algal blooms and microbial life have
emerged, which eat and metabolize sulfide minerals in the ground water before
serving as a food supply for larger animals. Ditaeon should not require more
than standard water trading.
Planetary surveying, especially for potential
settlement, involves meticulous scanning. However, there has been little
pressure to improve planetary scanners. In its search for a better solution for
its Pathfinders, the Andromeda Initiative began with hardware salvaged from
geth platforms and software developed by the salarian STG.
With artificial intelligence support, Initiative
scientists developed a fast, accurate sampling system codenamed Panoptes.
Linking it to the quantum computing power of an AI, which can produce multiple
analyses and predictive models in seconds, they created an omni-tool mounted
scanner that completes accurate surveys in moments instead of weeks.
For typical scanning, the Panoptes system uses a
transmitted accelerator mass spectrometer (TRAMS). This creates a
"snapshot" of an object's components, atomic weight, and radioactivity,
and allows me to produce a more in-depth analysis. For biological materials,
the Panoptes system switches to an electrospray ionization system, so plants or
animals can be scanned without causing radiation damage.
With limited cargo space aboard the arks for
specialized gear, and facing unknown dangers in Andromeda, the Initiative's
philosophy is "adapt to succeed." Colonists are required to have a
wide variety of skills. Equipment and weapons are expected to perform multiple
functions.
However, this adaptability is fueled by non-renewable
resources like ammunition, medi-gel, and power cells. Knowing they would not be
readily available in Andromeda, in an emergency, the Initiative's omni-tools
can recover and repurpose appropriate resources to serve a similar function.
Liquid coolant allows weapon heat sinks to be re-used; organic compounds can be
refined into medi-gel, and so on.
When these resources are available, the user is
alerted via an interface between the user's scanner and their HUD.
Once proprietary hardware for turian special forces,
Initiative armor comes with jump-jets as standard. These jets allow a user to
make extremely high jumps or hover for several seconds. All colonists are
trained in their operation to evade predators or environmental hazards, obtain
resources, or conduct maintenance in high places safely.
The jump-jet itself consists of a helium-3
microthruster with a tungsten-hafnium carbide casing. A gyroscopic element zero
core functions to both keep the user orientated in flight and lower their mass
when hovering, keeping fuel expenditure down. Hard-coded safety features
prevent continuous operation of jump-jets to avoid injuring the user or melting
their equipment.
While Andromeda Initiative gear and weaponry is
designed to be as versatile as possible, extraordinary circumstances sometimes
arise. Pathfinders and scout forces often turn to less orthodox resources to
ensure they survive hostile conditions.
"Adrenaline" is a nickname for a prototype
omni-gel/OSD package. When deployed, it bypasses omni-tool safeties to
minifacture (small-scale manufacture) new heat sinks and provide a temporary
but powerful boost to armor.
A shield capacitor immediately overlocks a user's
shields, bringing them to full power and giving them a boost. This boost is
unstable, however, and will be lost the next time the shield is breached.
A life support pack boosts the environmental
management systems of a user's hardsuit, enabling them to cope with
environmental hazards for a longer period.
Special ammunition packs apply a variety of effects to
weapons fire. Incendiary ammo coats projectiles in thermite paste as they are
fired. The paste adheres to and burns through armor. Cryo ammo uses
Bose-Einstein condensate to freeze an enemy or slow them. Disrupter ammo
projectiles carry an electrical charge that damages enemy hardsuit systems.
The Cobra RPG package uses a volatile solution of
omni-gel to minifacture a short-lived but extremely dangerous projectile.
Launched from an omni-tool, it hits with the same explosive power as a portable
rocket launcher.
Omni-tools are hand-held devices that combine a
computer microframe, sensor analysis pack, and minifacturing fabricator.
Versatile and reliable, an omni-tool can be used to analyze and adjust the
functionality of most standard equipment, including weapons and armor, from a
distance. The holographic haptic interface also functions as a communication
device.
With sufficient omni-gel or other raw
materials—usually converted from salvaged light alloys, plastics, or
ceramics—an omni-tool's fabrication module can flash-forge small
three-dimensional objects or emergency suit patches. This allows quick repairs
or modifications in the field.
The Andromeda Initiative's omni-tools are designed for
reliability and efficient recycling of materials. Pathfinder omni-tools take
design inspiration from the models used by salarian intelligence services,
prioritizing the computer microframe to allow lag-free scanning and AI support.
New designs and advancements in technology.
Crafting new weapons, armor, and equipment requires a
variety of materials. Though there are strange new isotopes and ores in
Andromeda, our scientists have identified familiar elements.
Heavy metals such as iron, cadmium, and nickel are
used in construction and heavy manufacturing. Their density makes them useful
for armor components and ammunition blocks.
Many light metals—including silicon, beryllium,
magnesium, and aluminum—are resistant to corrosion and invaluable for computer
components, heat sinks, and high-conductive electrical wiring, while lithium
has both engineering and medical applications.
Titanium, a transition metal, is eagerly sought-after
for starship construction. Vanadium improves steel quality and is used by the
aerospace industry.
Noble metals—including platinum, copper, and
iridium—are rare and valuable in the Milky Way. They are often used in
high-quality electronics or machine parts that require high precision.
Minerals like graphite, used to manufacture carbon
nanotubes and carbon fiber, and fluorite for high-precision scientific lenses,
are more common but equally useful.
The Initiative pays well for more hazardous materials.
Uranium is used in weaponry and nuclear-powered facilities, while element zero
has applications in multiple fields: heavy industry, starship engines, jump-jet
components, or even as an ingredient in many advanced medicines, to name but a
few.
Andromeda Initiative equipment is designed to be
modular and adaptable to any situation. Weapons and armor, in particular, are
built with the understanding that they will be customized multiple times in the
field over their operational lifetime.
Gun modifications can be purchased from appropriate
locations, or recovered in the field. Each weapon's targeting computer also
contains an adaptive integration VI that analyzes a mod on installation,
adjusts the weapon's balance, heat sink requirements, and ammunition block
accordingly, and sends a list of any additional components to the user's
omni-tool for minifacturing. The process typically takes only a few minutes.
We now know that some Remnant technology functions in
a similar fashion. The highly advanced modules recovered from Remnant sites can
be integrated into existing armor pieces. Their ability to "fuse" in
this way has earned them the nickname "fusion mods," though this is
hotly debated in the Nexus tech labs.
The full capabilities of these fusion mods is still
being researched. While they offer impressive benefits, successfully
integrating them with our technology often requires a trade-off in some
capabilities while vastly improving others. The user is advised to choose their
fusion mods with care.
While many material components in Andromeda are
familiar, we have also discovered rarer and more valuable materials;
attributable to exposure to the Scourge, or mysterious alien technology. These
"augmentation materials" are used in research and development to
craft powerful, specialized items. Augmentations are essential to support
weapon or gear combinations that would be impossible to build with conventional
materials.
Some augmentations are sold by traders, but the
highest quality augmentations require careful research. Once completed, the
augmentation's profile is used to recognize additional examples of that
augmentation out in the field.
A Research Center is a research and development
platform normally assigned to outposts and some select Initiative starships.
Advanced minifacturing capability (small-scale manufacture) and information
processing allows the Research Center to develop new technology and build it
almost on the spot. They are also used to build powerful augmentations that
enhance the capability of equipment.
Given the Initiative's current limitations, bandwidth
and resource allocation to Research Centers is carefully monitored. The Nexus
underlines the importance of new discoveries by rewarding scans and information
gathered via a points system. Commonly referred to as Research Data Points
(RD), these can be used for access time at Research Centers to discover or
create new blueprints.
Technology to build a new home from the ground up.
Charting the Andromeda Galaxy for habitable planets
presents a unique challenge. Observation is limited by light, and given
Andromeda's distance, any observations from the Milky Way are 2.5 million years
out of date—enough time for a planet to have altered irrevocably.
Initial attempts to identify settlement sites were
made by obtaining asari astronomical surveys and running them through
predictive models. But Jien Garson was unwilling to risk thousands of colonists
without solid information.
Eventually, the Initiative obtained promising data
from quarian explorers who claimed to have found a geth array on the fringes of
the Perseus Veil. This array was supposedly built from three mass relays, using
sensors in the combined relay corridor as a form of FTL "telescope,"
to observe dark space beyond the galactic rim. Why the geth expended so much
effort to study dark space is not known.
Amongst these observations were near-contemporary
surveys of Andromeda. When our predictive models confirmed them within an
acceptable margin, the Initiative was able to begin identifying "golden
worlds."
Communications have always been a concern for
interstellar colonists. Trade, defense, and political representation depend on
reliable lines of communication.
The most sophisticated method is quantum entanglement
communication (QEC). This utilizes a pair of particles that are linked on a
quantum level: any effect on one particle is mirrored instantaneously by the
other, regardless of the distance between. Pathfinder implants use miniaturized
QECs to remain in contact with their AI partners.
However, manufacturing these particle pairs is a
delicate and difficult process, especially with resources limited in Heleus.
Long-term, the Andromeda Initiative plans to establish a comm relay network,
transmitting data between buoys linked by mass-free corridors of space. The
Scourge has hampered these efforts.
In the meantime, Initiative starships act like
maritime mail packets, carrying secure data packages that transmit to approved
colony receivers once they're in range. The transmissions are limited by the
ship's data storage and the capability of receivers, but improvements are
ongoing.
Automated forward stations are part of the initial
wave of exploration or colonist deployment. They contain valuable resource
caches for explorers to resupply, repair stations for vehicles, and
ground-penetrating sensors to identify mineral deposits. Their presence
improves the chances of a planet being considered viable.
When a planet is seriously considered for settlement
or a survey is ongoing, forward stations are seeded into orbit via automated
barges. Once summoned to a designated zone, forward stations descend and anchor
themselves on the ground, becoming valuable landmarks. Most scout rovers have
forward station connectivity, allowing them to be summoned to the stations.
Current resource constraints mean that, in theory,
only Pathfinders have official sanction to call down forward stations. In
reality, reports show that enterprising colonists or unscrupulous scavengers
have been known to hack the signals to raid the stations for supplies.
Without a steady supply of minerals and metallic ores,
the Initiative's engineering capabilities grind to a halt. With plans so far
off schedule, it's even more important to gather resources wherever possible.
On the ground, Pathfinder scanners and the ground-penetrating radar of forward
stations assist in locating resources for immediate harvest, or for colonists
beginning their own mining operations.
In space, Initiative starships can pinpoint resources
from orbit. Each ship is equipped with probes that contain both a sensor beacon
and robotic drones that can harvest at least a percentage of any deposits
quickly. The Nexus has relied on asteroid mining for the raw materials to
support the construction efforts, which yield heavy metals and platinum.
The Scourge is a rich source of element zero, but the
hazardous conditions destroy most robotic telepresence, making it an expensive
pursuit. Most prospectors look on nearby planets for jettisoned rock and debris
from the Scourge, which often contain eezo deposits.
Terraforming is the science of making planets more
viable for life. "Soft" terraforming involves the introduction of
bacteria or ocean algae to bind toxic gases or adjust a hostile ecology.
"Hard" terraforming is often conducted on arid planets with a thin
atmosphere, using the impact of a comet or asteroid to warm the planet before
introducing microbial life. This process can take centuries. Terraforming even
a barren planet often involves significant financial and ethical hurdles.
The Andromeda Initiative has the capability for
terraforming if necessary, but is limited by the timeframes involved. The
"golden worlds" surveyed from the Milky Way were intended to support
quick colonist deployment, with second-tier candidates identified for potential
terraforming later.
If the Remnant vault on Eos is intended for
terraforming, as evidence shows, its function is unprecedented. The ability to
effect change on a global scale in such a short time defies our understanding
of planetary science.
The vault on Aya not only confirms that the Remnant
builders used their technology to terraform planets, but that the vaults are
part of a massive network across the Heleus Cluster with a central control
point, dubbed Meridian.
The existence of Meridian places the vaults and their
operation in a larger context. A species capable of engineering on a
cluster-wide scale would not need to terraform worlds to survive. Though reactivating
the vaults results in an environment agreeable to Milky Way species, it is
entirely possible that their renewed viability is a means rather than an end.
For many species, early long-range exploration relied
on cryogenic stasis. Without modern FTL capability, or long-distance transit
methods like mass relays, the distances involved in space travel meant that
most crews would die of old age before reaching their destination.
Cryogenic stasis gradually lowers the body's
temperature enough to slow its vital functions, but not low enough for damaging
ice crystals to form, before the pod generates a mass effect stasis field that
suspends both the individual and the interior environment in the pod. Contrary
to depictions in popular media, the individual is not conscious of time
passing: from most travelers' perspective, they lie down in the pod only to be
awoken moments later.
Stasis failure, while regrettably common for early
expeditions, has been vastly improved over the years. Even in the event of
catastrophic system failure, multiple monitoring VIs and fail-safes are in
place to initiate an emergency wake-up.
The science behind abilities that seemingly defy the
laws of physics.
Also known as "eezo," the rare material
known as element zero generates a field when subjected to an electrical current
which raises or lowers the mass of all objects within it. This "mass
effect" forms the basis of modern technology, from weapons and
manufacturing, to enabling faster-than-light travel.
Element zero is generated when solid matter, such as a
planet, is affected by the energy of a star going supernova. The material is
common in the asteroid debris that orbits neutron stars and pulsars, though
mining such regions is extremely hazardous and requires significant investment.
Various isotopes of element zero have been identified, though the rarest have
only been observed in laboratory conditions.
Surveys of the Heleus Cluster suggested the region is
rich in element zero, which was a deciding factor in the Andromeda Initiative's
decision to settle there. Without eezo, the Initiative's technology would
quickly become obsolete.
A starship travels faster than light using an element
zero drive core. In special relativity, an object approaching light speed
effectively gains in mass, until it would take infinite energy to propel it.
But a negative electrical current running through an eezo drive core lowers the
starship's mass, allowing it to travel at FTL speeds.
Motive force is provided by the ship's thrusters
(chemical rockets, commercial fusion torch, or military antiproton drive), in
addition to the FTL drive core. Without thrusters, the ship has no ability to
move.
Standard drive cores build up a static charge during
operation, and must be discharged periodically. Otherwise the core discharges
into the ship itself, with catastrophic results. The Initiative's drive cores,
intended for long-term voyages, are designed to recycle or reduce static
buildup.
Element zero can increase or decrease the mass of a
volume of space-time when subjected to an electrical current. With a positive
current, mass is increased. With a negative current, mass is decreased. The
stronger the current, the greater the magnitude of the dark energy mass effect.
In space, low-mass fields allow FTL travel and
inexpensive surface-to-orbit transit. High-mass fields create artificial
gravity and push space debris away from vessels. In manufacturing, low-mass
fields permit the creation of evenly blended alloys, while high mass compaction
creates dense, sturdy construction materials.
The Andromeda Initiative's technology relies heavily
on mass effect fields, from reduced-mass supply drops for outposts to the
impressive long-range drive cores on the arks.
While a virtual intelligence is little more than a
sophisticated interactive operating system, an artificial intelligence is a self-aware
computing system capable of learning and independent decision making. Creating
an AI requires adaptive code, a long education, and a specialized quantum
computer known as a "blue box."
In the Milky Way, artificial intelligence is
considered a threat to galactic civilization. The geth—synthetic lifeforms who
turned on their quarian creators—are often used as an example of the
destructive capability of rogue AI, and those who attempt to create AI without
strict Citadel Council oversight are subject to sanctions or even arrest.
Alec Ryder's research papers claim that experiential
separation is the root of conflict between organic and synthetic life; that an
AI sharing the experience of its creator would have no desire to rebel. My
connection to your Pathfinder implant and physiology makes me the first
iteration of this new approach to AI.
Biotics are rare individuals with the ability to
create and manipulate mass effect fields. Given the correct implants and
careful training, a biotic can raise defensive barriers, yank opponents off
their feet, or shred an enemy apart at the molecular level.
A biotic gains these abilities after exposure to
dust-form element zero in utero, or via secondary exposures at a young age.
Though this often results in fatal cancer, roughly 10% of those exposed develop
element zero nodules along their nervous system. Once activated by the body's
electrical impulses, these nodules allow the biotic to create mass effect
fields, though most need a neural implant to wield them effectively.
Some species, like the asari, are naturally biotic,
but human biotics are still relatively rare and many view them with suspicion.
The Andromeda Initiative has proven attractive to biotic applicants.
The vessels and transports that make exploration
possible.
Ark Paarchero is the Andromeda Initiative's designated
vessel for transporting salarian colonists to the new galaxy. Mirroring the
design of its human counterpart, Hyperion, Ark Paarchero can accommodate 20,000
passengers and crew in cryogenic stasis.
Paarchero's development was plagued by early delays
and disagreements between its senior crew and the Initiative's design team. The
salarian penchant for constantly pushing the boundaries of technology was often
at odds with the realities of budgets and time constraints. At one point, it
was calculated that if every "vital and necessary improvement"
suggested by the salarian contingent was incorporated into the Paarchero's
design, its launch would have been delayed until 2204 at the soonest.
After considerable negotiation and debate, a
compromise was reached and Ark Paarchero departed the Milky Way in 2185 in the
initial wave of settlers under the command of Captain Lumont Hayjer.
Following a daring infiltration mission launched by
Pathfinder Ryder and her/his team, the ark was safely rescued from kett forces
and has returned to the Nexus.
Seeking a suitable scout rover, the Andromeda
Initiative purchased a promising but rejected design from the Systems Alliance
military. The issue quickly became apparent: on rough terrain, without the
bracing of heavy armor, the chassis was prone to twist. The Initiative had
already developed lightweight but strong memory alloys which solved this problem.
The resulting ND1 Nomad exchanges heavy armaments for
superior agility. The rover has a tripartite element zero core, which allows
fine control over acceleration and a more modest helium-3 fuel cost for its
microthrusters. Its lighter weight enables both six-wheel drive (6WD) and
four-wheel drive (4WD), and four-wheel steering for hazardous surfaces. Fitting
the Initiative's adaptive philosophy, the Nomad can be customized with
appropriate camouflage or Initiative colors.
When necessary during long-haul exploration, the rover
contains an emergency shelter. It can produce potable water from its
hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, though scientists recommend adding a flavor pack to
it first.
The Tempest is a survey ship designed for long-range,
long-term exploration under a Pathfinder's command. Its light weight and
efficient design allow it to operate with a small crew and minimal resources.
Built by the Andromeda Initiative, the Tempest makes
use of several once-proprietary technologies, including an IES stealth system
originally developed by the Systems Alliance. Many of these systems were
permitted on the condition that the Tempest only operate in the Andromeda
Galaxy.
The Tempest's engine is a variation on the arks' ODSY
drives that allow long-term operation, capturing a percentage of the static
buildup in capacitors. The recycled electrical charge powers several of the
Tempest's onboard systems.
As a Pathfinder vessel, the Tempest has research and
development facilities, laboratories, and a well-appointed meeting space to
accommodate dignitaries, anticipating any potential first contact scenarios.
Without need for crew considerations, the Remnant are
capable of fielding vessels with theoretically massive carrying capacity. Their
function is likely tied to the Remnant role of planetary maintenance or
terraforming.
The general standby state of the vaults may explain
why the larger examples of these starships are so rare: there was no purpose in
maintaining them.
The capabilities of these vessels are unknown. The
smaller have been observed to exceed Initiative or kett starships in speed and
flight performance, unburdened by a biological pilot's reflexes or the need to
avoid maneuvers that could endanger a living crew. The larger are likely
subject to the same operational limits as capital ships or arks: they may have
no crew to maintain, but they must accommodate their cargo.
The kett flagship, Verakan, is a heavily armed warship
that serves as the Archon's central command post for the kett incursion into
the Heleus Cluster. Heavy main guns and exceptionally powerful kinetic barriers
suggest that any frontal assault on the Verakan without a correspondingly
powerful dreadnought would be suicide.
The vessel appears to serve as a research center for
studying newly captured Milky Way species. Both krogan and salarian captives
were encountered aboard, indicating the Archon's interest in exalting new
species and acquiring their genetic traits.
The Verakan also houses many of the kett's most
important Remnant relics, apparently gathered and presented to the Archon for
study at his leisure. This fascination was evident in the Archon's private
chamber, where he kept a special collection of Remnant technology and relics on
display.
Constructed in orbit around Piares in the asari home
system Parnitha, Ark Leusinia is named after a kingdom of wealth and learning
in asari mythology. She is built to the same specifications as her sister ark
Hyperion, with internal modifications to accommodate asari social preferences,
and captained by Elonis Atandra.
The Andromeda Initiative was initially rejected as a
human-driven boondoggle by many asari investors, and the construction of the
Leusinia was met with ridicule. However, the efforts drew the attention of
several Matriarchs who had assisted in previous attempts to send crewed missions
to Andromeda, and their impassioned extranet addresses helped turn the tide of
public opinion. At her departure ceremony, Ark Leusinia was officially blessed
by the Atamna Politeia, an organization of siarist high priestesses from across
the Asari Republics.
Ark Leusinia traveled to the Initiative rendezvous
point in 2184, and left the Milky Way as part of the initial departure wave in
2185.
After reaching Andromeda and encountering the kett,
Ark Leusinia came under attack by a group of specialized kett hunters known as
the Decimation. Stolen kett navigational data allowed the ark to flee through
the Scourge while evacuating as many civilians as possible, but constant
harrying eventually forced the ark to go into hiding until rescue arrived.
After being escorted to safety, Ark Leusinia is now
docked at the Nexus to offload the remaining colonists from stasis and undergo
extensive repairs.
Standard ship drive cores build up static electricity,
and require periodic discharge on a planet or at specialized facilities to
prevent static from building to dangerous levels. With few such suitable
discharge points in dark space, the ODSY drive core was developed for the arks'
long-haul journey to Andromeda. The Tempest's drive core is an experimental
small-scale variant based upon the original design.
The ODSY (out-galaxy distributed static synch) drive
core is designed to minimize static build-up, and transfers the remaining
charge to specially designed capacitors attached to the core. The recycled
electricity is used to run ship systems, reducing power requirements and
lowering heat generation.
Cross-galaxy, the arks gathered hydrogen using an
electromagnetic ramscoop, converting it into protons with an ionizing laser.
Proton collision in the arks' fusion reactors provided power for their
thrusters. The Tempest's thrusters run on conventional helium-3, though
Initiative breakthroughs in fuel efficiency means their helium-3 requirements
are drastically lowered.
The Tempest required a number of experimental
technologies to accommodate the unique requirements of a Pathfinder team. Its
planetary surface imaging, for example, uses photosensitive and
radar/lidar-emitting microsatellites that coordinate with the Tempest's router
back to SAM Node. I then conduct simulated scientific and probability studies
on the data before presenting the Pathfinder with a summarized analysis,
typically in 0.5 seconds.
The Tempest's computer network presented interesting
challenges. As most Milky Way computer systems have anti-AI safeguards built
in, the Tempest's network had to be designed from scratch to accommodate my
interaction with the ship's systems. Firmware bridges, inspired by studies into
geth networking technology, allow me to temporarily interact with and augment
sensors, communications, and the ship's navigation array.
Given the desire to reduce mass without sacrificing
safety, the electrical charge from the Tempest's capacitors is used to keep the
ship stable, via prototype piezoelectric vibration reduction (PVR) technology.
When the ship's superstructure is bent by vibrations—such as during atmospheric
re-entry or complex flight maneuvers—piezoelectric elements receive an
electrical charge that bends bulkheads in the opposing direction, reducing
vibrations and smoothing the ship's flight path.
Pathfinders are often the first to encounter new
potential threats or valuable technology. The Tempest is therefore equipped for
sophisticated research and development in the field, to support a fast
turnaround of any necessary upgrades or analysis. Its Research Center syncs
with the Tech Lab systems, giving insight into the capabilities of new
materials and their potential applications.
My connection to Ark Hyperion and the Nexus allows me
to transfer data and latest discoveries from the scientists stationed there.
Quantum computing enables multiple complex simulations to be run
simultaneously, and new components or configurations can be tested virtually before
they are built.
In 2183, the Systems Alliance and the Turian Hierarchy
co-developed the IES (internal emission sink) stealth system for small military
frigates. It's unknown how the Initiative acquired this system for its survey
ships, as IES stealth technology is classified. Despite valid security
certificates, no record of negotiations exists in the Nexus legal archives.
An IES stealth system is designed to capture the heat
and radiation emitted by all starships in refrigerated storage sinks,
effectively removing the ship from sensors. Initiative starship systems are
streamlined to emit less electromagnetic and particle radiation, and to lower
heat production. This reduces the amount of emissions to be stored. Additionally,
breakthroughs in cryogenic research allow the storage sinks to be more
effectively refrigerated, allowing longer stealth time before the sinks must be
vented for safety.
The Tempest can remain stationary in stealth for
several hours, or travel at FTL in "silent running" for shorter
periods.
Ark Natanus was constructed in orbit around Aventen, a
once-lucrative mining planet in the turian home system Trebia. The ark was
named after legendary spacefarer Palex Natanus, who is believed to be the first
turian to travel through a mass relay. The Natanus is built to similar
specifications as the asari and human arks, but with minor changes to
accommodate her dextro-amino-acid-based passengers. Natanus is captained by the
renowned Dea Praeton of the Sixth Fleet.
Like most economical ventures, turian investors were
turned onto the Andromeda Initiative by their clients, the volus. The Turian
Hierarchy was intentionally kept in the dark to keep the Initiative a private,
civilian project.
Ark Natanus traveled to the Initiative rendezvous
point in 2184, and left the Milky Way as part of the initial departure wave in
2185.
Upon arrival in Heleus, Ark Natanus hit the Scourge,
causing severe structural damage. A skeleton crew was awoken in an attempt to
control the situation, but all were either forced to abandoned ship or were
killed in action. The casualty list includes the turian Pathfinder, Macen
Barro, who died while trying to transfer SAM to former Spectre and security
officer, Avitus Rix. Because the transfer process was interrupted, the turian
SAM's directives were corrupted and the AI focused all of Ark Natanus'
resources on finding and reaching H-047c, the intended turian home world in
Andromeda.
The ark's travels through the Scourge have left it too
damaged to be returned to the Nexus. However, rescue attempts are underway to
retrieve the 15,000 sleeping turians aboard.
The kett utilize a variety of military aircraft, from
agile dropships to enormous dreadnoughts. Closer inspection of kett starships,
including several destroyed by the Scourge, has shown that they appear to be
heavily biomimetic; while not organic, the kett take strong design inspiration
from living organisms. Air filtration, electrical systems and heat management
mimic behavior seen in living creatures.
The few kett engine cores available for study show
that while the kett use element zero cores, their design is radically
different. While in comparatively short-range environments such as the Heleus
Cluster they function similarly to Milky Way drives, kett drive cores are
capable of gravitationally contracting space in front of the ship and
shortening it behind, creating an Alcubierre waveform that allows the ship to
traverse longer distances quickly. This design feature compensates somewhat for
the lack of long-range mass relay transport in Andromeda, though these drives
are highly inefficient by comparison.
However, it is clear we have only seen a small
cross-section of kett starships, likely military vessels on long deployment.
More scientifically advanced starships may exist elsewhere.
The Tempest is equipped for long-range survey and
scientific studies, which are carried out at the ship's two main labs.
The bio lab is equipped to hydroponically grow both
Milky Way and Andromeda plant life, for research or consumption. The plants
also clean the ship's air and generate a modest amount of oxygen. Sealed
observation chambers are set up to study small fauna, sequence genetic
material, or simulate bacterial growth in carefully controlled conditions. All
biomatter entering or leaving the lab is subjected to additional quarantine
measures.
The tech lab is used for engineering and technical
studies, spectral analysis using laser apparatus, and for analyzing the
capabilities of discovered technology. New minerals or metals can be subjected
to additional resistance testing before being used in the Tempest's Research
Center. Because of the potential volatility of new materials, the tech lab is
equipped with heavy radiation shielding and can be sealed off in an emergency.
Ark Hyperion serves as the main vessel for carrying
human settlers bound for Andromeda. Named after a Greek mythological figure
associated with knowledge of celestial bodies, the Hyperion represents a
breakthrough in intergalactic travel. Substantial money and resources were
devoted to its construction, all privately funded by Jien Garson and the
Andromeda Initiative.
Built to withstand the rigors of a nearly 2.5 million
light-year voyage, the Hyperion is outfitted with ODSY drive core technology,
which allows the ship to make a six hundred year voyage safely at FTL speeds.
It features enough stasis pods to accommodate approximately 20,000 settlers and
crew.
Ark Hyperion left the Milky Way in 2185 as part of the
initial wave of departures, under the command of Captain Nozomi Dunn.
Ark Hyperion crashed on Meridian in the battle against
the Archon. The ark was decommissioned; the vessel's internal structures are
now being adapted for future industrial and residential deployment,
re-designated as "Port Meridian."