The first time that Humanity discovered actual proof of other life in the universe was when she was 7. The news was broadcast all over the earth, simultaneously, directly from Mars. She was able to view it on one of the jumboscreens at Times Square in New York City. It was at that time that she knew what she wanted to do with her life. The Systems Alliance space-exploration program was always accepting recruits, and she would be able to apply at the age of 18.

It's amazing how her dreams had been shot and blown to pieces in only a few years.

Over a decade after the first evidence of alien species, humanity came into contact with one. While attempting to activate another Interstellar Drive the frigates Pathfinder, Sentry, and Cosmos were attacked and destroyed, along with a couple cargo ships. The aliens responsible for the attack continued through the star systems until they reached Colony-9, on the planet Shanxi. The planet was overrun in a couple of days.

In only a couple months time the aliens had come to Earth, with ships and guns and soldiers.

She had only gone through 10 months of training. Of having the absolute knowledge that she would be getting a meal three times a day, even though it would most likely taste horrible. Only 10 months until she was forced to go back onto the streets, along with any other trainees that had survived the first attack on the Alliance training base.

The jumboscreens that she had first seen proof of alien life on were broken now. Smashed into pieces by the alien occupation.

It only took two months for the Turians to fully occupy the planet.