Mass Effect: Dawn of Tomorrow (IC)

[IAmZero]

OOC

2384 CE

Two hundred years ago, the galaxy was united against a singular, terrifying threat: the Reapers. Every species came together, gathered in the Sol system, and waged war on the bulk of the Reaper forces. One woman, a human named Shepard, led the assault, all the way to where it ended: on the Citadel. Precisely what occurred there, no one knows. But, in the end, something happened. The Crucible connected to the Citadel, a massive burst of red energy exploded from the Citadel, and every Reaper and their indoctrinated forces was destroyed by the energy wave as it coursed over every planet in the galaxy.

As a result of the power of the energy, the Citadel was utterly destroyed, and every mass relay was severely damaged. Moments before the detonation, the galactic forces withdrew from Earth. After the relays were ruined, the humans were once again alone. They scoured their solar system and all nearby planets for the rare, necessary element zero to rebuild the Sol relay. It took them until now to complete it.

Finally, four days after the completion of the Sol relay, it was activated for the first time in almost two centuries. In the Serpent Nebula of the Widow cluster, a mass effect field arrived and discharged around the nearby rebuilt Citadel relay - and the new Citadel. Emerging from the mass effect envelope were a small group of ships, all of them transmitting an old, familiar signal. The Human Systems Alliance, spearheaded by the SSV NR-7 Normandy.

As the ships appeared in Citadel space, C-Sec immediately began running checks on them. Word spread fast across the Citadel about the return of the humans. Some speculated that it was a trap set by bold - and perhaps stupid - pirates. Others believed it was truly the human Alliance. To be safe, the Citadel dispatched one of their most effective Spectre agents: Velia Si'ona.

The MRS Amitia was significantly smaller than any of the human ships, but featured decent enough firepower and exceptional maneuverability to survive them. Velia received the same transponder codes that the Citadel had. So far, they checked out. She opened her communication line to the lead ship.

"SSV Normandy," she spoke, "I am Velia Si'ona, Spectre of the Citadel. If your captain would permit it, I request to board and welcome you back to the rest of the galaxy."

[Lunacent]

"Identified ship's signature has been reconfirmed as Human Alliance."

...

"Weapons have been powered down."

A turian Operator looked up from the Holo-Interface board before him.

"The vessel shows no sign of hostility, M'dm." He reported off the intercom, so that the other ship would not hear them, to the Asari Spectre after she greeted them. The Armitias' crew continued to monitor it's activities until a response was given.

[Arthanus]

-Citadel Purgatory Bar-

Saripha sits near the bar scanning patrons with her visor. Her target was supposed to be here somewhere, then her Omni-Tool lights up and a little drone appears on the device. "Mistress there is a 99.8% facial match to your 3 o'clock Target confirmed." The drone says quickly before the Omni-Tool shuts off. "Thanks Delta" She whispers as she makes her way to the Batarian. She makes her way up to him and seductively moves in front of him. "You wouldn't happen to be Anto Ib-ba would you?" She asks the man while rubbing up close to him.

"Well It's not often a Turian hits on me, but yes I am... Wait, where did you hear my name? How do you know me?" The Batarian goes on the defensive pushing Saripha away from him. Saripha just smiles and says "Turian Special Forces, Make this easy on yourself just come quietly I have some questions for you." Before she can even finish her sentence the Batarian jumps up and starts to run out of the bar. Saripha just laughs a little then gives chase. The Batarian barely makes it out of the Bar before Saripha, and as soon as Saripha lines up a clear shot her Omni-Tool activates and a net shoots forward. The Batarian turns back and starts to launch a Ballistic Blade at the net but before he launches the blade Saripha overloads his Omni-Tool and the net catches the Batarian releasing an electrical charge on contact. The Batarian falls to the ground and other members of Saripha's squad and members of C-Sec move in to apprehend the suspect. "Make sure he wakes up in a nice comfortable cell and make sure he talks." she says to the officers as they load the suspect into a patrol car. Delta then pops up on her Omni-Tool again. "Mistress Saripha, News is that humans have returned to Citadel Space after repairing their relay." Saripha looks down at Delta. "Really? That is interesting, keep me posted Delta and tell me if I get any messages, I think it is time for me to actually relax a little." She gives a solute to the officers and then turns to return to the bar.

[cider]

Michael Durant closed the comline. He had been speaking with his superiors. In merely minutes the SSV Normandy would arrive in Citadel space. The superiors had wanted to make sure everything was in order - which it indeed was. Tensions were running high on the ship. For many of the crew members, this would be the first time they communicated with aliens, not to mention the fact they were going to visit the legendary Citadel, although this was not the one destroyed some two hundred years ago. Another thing sparkling tension amongst the crew was the security. It was being kept on high alert, seeing as the Alliance did not know how the alien species would react to the return of humanity, much less the current state of affairs in the galaxy. The ships weapons, however, were not active as they did not want to impose on the aliens.

Durant exited the communications room and headed for the command bridge. The ship was in mint condition. Durant had been on many ships throughout his career, and while the SSV Normandy was not the biggest, heaviest or deadliest ship he had been on, it certainly was the most impressive one. State of the art technology was implemented all over the ship. Hell, the ship itself was state of the art. Durant was not overly interested in the technical mumbo-jumbo, but from what he could gather this ship was the ship when it came to Alliance frigates.
"How long until we arrive, Conrad?"
Neil Conrad was Normandy's navigator. Well into his fifties, Conrad was as experienced as a navigator could be without ever using a mass relay.
"One minute, sir."
Durant nodded and looked at the galaxy map in front of him. He hoped he would be able to visit some of the millions of places they were now opening the portal to. He quickly headed to the pilots.
And then they arrived. The first thing appearing in their sights was the huge Citadel. The Normandy and the other Alliance ships slowly approached the behemoth.
"We're being scanned, sir", one of the pilots said. Durant nodded. Suddenly one of the communication lines went live, and a female voice introducing herself as a spectre of the Council welcomed them to the Citadel, requesting to speak with the captain. Durant answered.
"This is Captain Durant speaking. Our defenses are down and the airlock is ready. Permission granted."

[IAmZero]

"Greetings, Mr. Durant," Velia replied. "It's a pleasure to hear a human's voice again. Approaching your port airlock now."

She piloted her ship, easily half the size of the Normandy, into position near the airlock. The pressure-sealed access tube connected the two ships. She set hers on auto-control and set it to stay in place. She waited while the airlock equalized the pressure and ran standard decontamination protocol. Her bright blue and silver body armor glistened against the decontamination beam.

Once she was cleared, the airlock inner door opened and allowed her access to the Normandy's main deck. She proceeded with all of the diplomatic presence she'd been taught. Several of the human crew had gathered near the airlock to witness the first arrival of an alien species again. They were surprised when an asari stepped off the other ship and onto theirs. Asari Spectres had always been few and far between.

She approached the man she assumed to be the captain.

[cider]

The comline closed and Durant left the pilots and headed to the airlock, barking some orders along the way through the Normandy's comsystems, making himself heard throughout the ship.
"We've got a spectre boarding the ship. I want security ready and a full report of the armaments of this spectre. Yates, take two men and meet me at the airlock."
This meant a dozen N7 soldiers would be arming themselves in the deck below. Durant arrived at the airlock where some of the currently unoccupied crew had gathered. Soon afterwards the alien ship docked and the spectre went through decontamination. A woman reading the scanner recited what it said to Durant. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that could be seen as a threat to the ship, anyway. Yates and two other N7 operatives showed up behind Durant. They were armed but their weapons were holstered.

The airlock opened and a tall asari stepped out. The crew acted professionally, but the amazement in their eyes did not go Durant unnoticed. The asari, to most species, humans included, was a sight for sore eyes. An asari spectre was, of course, even more impressive. Durant stretched out his huge right hand. Time to say what his superiors wanted him to say. Durant cared little for diplomatic niceties, but, naturally, he understood the importance of them.
"Welcome aboard, miss Si'ona. Be sure humanity is as pleased as you are to have made contact again. I apologize about the security-" Durant nodded at the three armed men, obviously not mentioning the other ten ready to crash the party. "-but I'm sure you understand our situation. The admiral will arrive as soon as we have made sure the Council is as friendly towards humans as it was two hundred years ago."

[ThunderFox]

Yates been studying up on old documents of council races before there contact with the Spectre, that he didnt really notice what was happening till the captian ordered him to the air lock with two others. shook his head slightly "Only he would bring armed guards to a peaceful transaction." he mumbled grabbing his equipment and strapped his sword to his back and grabbed two Paladins to take with him to the air lock. Pointed both on each side od the captain so they could throw there sheiulds up incase anything happened and waited leaning on a wall behind Durant with a bored look some found seeing a alien for the first time amazing and all but kinda found the armed men below abit excessive if she wanted to start trouble shed of stayed on her ship.

[Shoryu]

"Hey, Have you heard yet? there's..."

"Hold it, The Vent rat is spying on us again."

"Oh who cares, he's harmless, besides, everyone will know soon enough anyway. The Humans have returned finally, It took em forever but a new Normandy has shown up."

"Bullshit, I thought they'd been wiped out by the Citadel going nuclear over their planet back then and being covered in reapers, ya know?"

"I know, It's exciting and un-nerving at the same time, I mean their so squishy and yet they seem to just survive 'everything', but security is going ot be on alert to keep an eye out while their still 'new' here again, so we need to get moving."

An excited giggle came from one of the few exposed vents in one of The Citadel's C-Sec Headquarters as the pair of officers were watched then running off, coupled with a slightly Munchy sound. Kell was in the beginning of his daily routine of scouring out information through vent crawling, snacking on breakfast of course, and grew considerably more excited on hearing 'today's' news, and in moments he was off again to the Larger main vents. [Black] "Ooooh, how exciting the fleshies return, I've only heard about these monkey's in old logs and stories and such, This should be a viable well of information to send back home."

After a while he was within the much large Citadel main vents, leaping from one wall to another with the wind wipping around him as they supplies climate control to other sections of the enormous structure, heading to a particular place he had in mind to get information. "I'm still amazed at how big this place's vents are, so much room to play, it's so big though even 'I' couldn't run maintenance on the whole thing alone." He was plenty excited and full of smile as he stopped suddenly and slipped fluidly into another small vent, skittering along until he found himself peeking through a vent within one of the Citadel's logistics centers, and now quietly waiting to hear where the human ship might end up docking, or if it would do so at all... if not he'd have to visit it himself if it didn't.

[IAmZero]

Velia smiled warmly and shook Captain Durant's hand. "Of course," she replied. She minutely gestured her head toward her own weapons holstered at either hip. "One can never be too careful."

She let her hand fall to her side. If there was any need for confrontation, she would be able to access her weapon quickly. She doubted any issue would arise, though. She looked over the docking ramp and the nearby cockpit. She was impressed. The humans had always managed to construct quality ships, with a knack for tactical capabilities. Though, as she recalled, they had some help on the original Normandy.

"The Council is, of course, diplomatic regarding your return. They welcome you back to the galactic community with open arms. But, many things have changed in the past two centuries. In fact, for most of that time, the larger part of our member species were working to rebuild their relays, as well."

She set diplomacy aside for moment and settled into directness. "I'm here to make sure this isn't a pirate trap or an invasion attempt. The fact that you're really humans helps that along significantly. The Council wants to meet with your delegates on the Citadel as soon as possible. C-Sec will direct you to the proper dock and ensure you're aware of all new docking procedures. Your reception can be expected to be awe-striking, to say the least. Many didn't think humans would find enough eezo to repair the Sol relay. As a result, your place on the Council seat isn't there anymore. The Krogan and the Quarians have been given Council status."

She loosened her shoulders slightly. "Whenever you're ready, you may begin proceeding toward the Citadel."

[Jasonhero]

Rebecca sat on her couch back in the apartment. She was playing with her omni-tool, which had replaced those phone's they used to have way back when. Her omni-tool, of course, was pink. She looked down to notice the center of the tool blinking. A sign that she had a call incoming. She pulled up the hologram and looked. There was a boy about her age there. He looked at her "Hey babe, why don't you tell your parents you are spending the night with your new boy-" he never finished because rebbeca cut him off. "Go away John." She said as she rolled her eyes. She got a second call and opened it up. Her older brother stood there, in his quarters aboard the.... Whatever ship that was he on. A big smile spread across her face. "Brandon!" She said excitedly.

Her brother looked at her, "Jeez, you look mad. What's wrong?" He asked her worriedly. Rebecca rolled her eyes "John tried to get me to be his girlfriend again." She said flatly. John frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that, but you would be happy to know we made it out of the relays, we are in citadel space now. Once we land, and word gets back there is a transport with civilians heading out, I'm sending you the first class boarding ticket for it. I will be waiting little sis, anyways I have alot of work to do. I got to go. See you soon." He said as he disconnected. Rebbeca sat there and smilied to herself whenever the ticket arrived on her omni-tool. She was going to the citadel.