Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or any of its related stuff. The Mass Effect franchise is under the sole property of Bioware and EA.
The timeline is based on the Space Race Didn't End timeline in Alternate History wikia, I also do not own the timeline. So please don't sue me.
1968
-Apollo 8 leaves earth orbit and became the first manned mission to leave LEO and travel to another celestial body by performing a moon fly-by.
1969
-Soviets successfully follow the Americans with their Zond program and travel to the moon in a fly-by mission.
-Apollo 11 successfully land on the moon bringing the first human there.
-Apollo 12 lands on the moon.
-The Soviets performed another fly-by of the moon similar to Apollo 8.
1970
-Third Soviet fly-by on the moon.
-Apollo 13 is a partial failure due to malfunctions in the Service Module. The crew makes it back to Earth safely.
-The Soviet Union becomes the second nation on Earth to land a man on the moon.
1971
-The soviets launch a two-man space station and a two-man moon base. The base is capable of supporting two men for 20 days before resupply.
-The USA finishes its space station capable of holding 50 scientists and workers.
1972
-The USA puts six 2-person stations on the moon, capable of missions as long as three months before resupplying is needed.
-The United States launches an unmanned research station to the Lagrangian points at the L1 location which directly faces towards the sun.
- The first nuclear thermal rockets are tested by the Soviet Union.
- The first experimental reusable heavy rocket successfully returns to its launch pad and is re-launched in two weeks.
- NASA starts to design a new super-rocket with a payload no less than 1,000,000 lbs to LEO and be 100% recoverable.
-NASA will also start design considerations for a 60-man space shuttle for delivery by 1977
1973
-The Soviet Union successfully performed a Venus flyby the very first interplanetary journey in human history.
-The USA starts construction on a new lunar base in the polar region of the moon.
1974
-The soviets start to construct a lunar base which can hold 150 people and vegetables and fruits.
-The USA performs a fly-by of both Venus and Mercury with only one journey of a long-range ship that can hold 10 people.
-The cost for Low-Earth-Orbit travel has decreased dramatically allowing private companies to do business in low earth orbit.
1975
-SpaceTech is formed; the company hopes to exploit the rapidly improving electromagnetic catapult technology.
-The United States achieves orbit in Mars and tested a unmanned lander which is a success.
1976
-The Soviet Union reaches Mars.
1977
-NASA launches its new shuttle that can carry 40 passengers and is only single-staged.
-United States completes its Luna base with 160 people and it will continue to expand.
1978
-The European Space Agency launches its own rocket.
-SpaceTech starts to catapult small payloads into space from a test facility.
1979
-The United States lands on Mars and conducts geographical surveys.
-Human population is space reaches 4500.
1980
-ESA tested a heavy-rocket.
-SpaceTech started testing its Mass driver on the moon.
-USA's moon base in the Polar Region (Named as Base 01) tripled in population size reaching 550.
1981
-The Americans start to design a space-wheel-station or a Stanford torus.
-The soviets start constructing a mass driver on the moon.
1982
-The Soviets start construction of a Radio Telescope on the far side of the moon.
1983
-USA has the ability to smelt ore in zero-gravity conditions.
-The United States build a small 12-person base on the surface of Mars. Because of the distance between Earth and Mars it is planned to be 100% independent and self-sufficient base.
1984
-First successful test flight of NASA's new salt-water core nuclear rocket.
-The United States authorizes 30 new moon bases to be built mostly by private business.
-The Soviets' Radio Telescope on the far side of the moon is now operational.
1985
-The United States starts to construct a ship for its planned Jupiter mission in five years. The ship will be the first spacecraft made of metals mined from the moon.
-The soviets built a large 1-km in diameter Solar sail however, it proved to be a failure when it collapsed into itself.
-ESA travels to the American Base 01 in an independently designed Trans-Luna ship.
-A building boom is taking place in LEO and the different Lagrangian points.
-NASA sponsors the building of a large orbital space wheel with a planned diameter a one km. The station will be the largest at its time and will house 8000 people.
-SpaceTech launches an unmanned test ship from its test facility in New Mexico to LEO.
1986
-The United States announces increased funding for various Ion engine designs. The technology that allows large nuclear reactors in space, which are needed to create the plasma used to push the ship though space, is now available.
-The Soviet Union ship lands on Mars for the first time.
-The East Germans launch their first rocket. West Germany matches the East Germans by launching their own ship several weeks later.
1987
-Island one's (the name for NASA big space wheel) spokes and primary support ring are assembled in LEO. With this station and many other private space stations under construction the permanent space population has climbed over 25,000 but the daily worker population, which is shuttled up, can reach 75,000.
-The United States has successfully moved a asteroid made mostly of ice, on a trajectory to Earth. It will take until the end of the century to reach orbit.
-Japan sends a ship from its new launch facility straight to the moon in a surprise demonstration of technological ability.
-The PRC joins Asian space race when it puts a manned ship in space.
1988
-The United States and the European Space Agency agree to jointly build a 200 person space station that will be moved to Martian orbit in modules and reassembled in orbit.
-The United States opens it radio telescope on the dark side of the moon in a joint project with ESA. It has several times the power of the Soviet telescope.
-The first commercial solar power station opens and transmits energy to a receiving station in southern Arizona. The power station can produce and transmit 1.5 gigawatts of electricity.
1989
-The United States new Jupiter ship conducts a test run from LEO construction berth to the moon and back. The test run is a total success.
-Island One is spinning for the first time to produce an artificial gravity. Though it is not the first station to produce an artificial gravity, it is the first to reach full one-G Earth gravity.
-The first birth on the moon is to an American couple on July 4.
-The nation of Brazil enters space for the first time in a independently designed system.
-ESA sends a six person ship to Mars becoming the third space program to do so.
1990
-India puts a man in space aboard its new SSTO craft. The ship uses technology jointly developed with the Japanese Space Agency.
-The United Kingdom, Australia and Canada launch their Commonwealth Spacecraft into LEO.
1991
-The first tera-scale computer is built. It is capable of 1.2 teraflops per second.
-The Soviets start to assemble a new deep space manned vessel in LEO. They claim the ship will be powered by a gas-cored thermal nuclear rocket, if so this would demonstrate a more advanced thermal rocket than the American salt-water core NERVA engine on the Jupiter ship.
-The Hubble Space Telescope is launched into deep space toward the asteroid Ceres.
1992
-With growing hotel and recreational capacity in LEO and on the Moon there is a growing push for tourists to be able to travel to Mars.
-SpaceTech has started to transport workers to LEO on its mag-lev/hypersonic craft, this further increases the ease of traveling into space. SpaceTech plans to build dozens of launch sites throughout the free world.
-Base 01 population passes 10,000 year-round residents and has a hotel capacity of nearly 3500. The community has official chartered itself as a town. Current construction is laying down enough housing for a population of 40,000 by century's end.
1993
-The United States is the first nation to reach Jupiter. The 24 person crew will spend 9 months exploring the Jovian system and will be able to freely land on the many moons during this time. Several modules of the ship including a 220 megawatt power plant are left behind to be a starting point of a permanent space station.
-The United States sponsors an International Space Elevator research group that will study the possibility of constructing an elevator like transportation system. A moon based system is considered more likely in the short term.
-Japan joins the United States as one of the only countries to land on Mercury. Japan hopes to further study the planet's core for rare earths which are needed in advanced electronics.
1994
-The Soviet Union follows the Americans to the Jovian system and quickly lands on Europa. The Soviets came with a high powered heating drill and hopes to be the first nation to find life off of earth. The drilling may take years as the ice is dozens of miles thick.
-Base 01 reaches population of 13,000.
-An international team reaches fusion break point at a research station in Canada. This means that the amount of energy that is released from the fusion reaction is equal to the energy put in.
-The American/ESA space station is completed in Martian orbit.
1995
-SpaceTech is now moving hundreds of tourists into space on a daily bases to dozens of space facilities. The Trans-Luna flight time has been reduced to only 18 hours.
-Chemical rockets are all but dead with only a few nations still using them
-The population in space has reached 250,000; with a further 80,000 now calling the moon home.
1996
-The Soviet Union shocks the world by going to Saturn with a sister ship of its Jupiter vessel.
1997
-Europe's first base on Mars is dedicated. The six person base is exploring sites for an all-European colony.
-The United States completes its large base on Mars with a population of 200.
-The largest solar power satellite is operational, with the power of five gigawatts. Power is transmitted to a site in Siberia.
-The First deep space Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) is tested with a trip to Mars in 39 days.
1998
-United States and Japan in a joint mission find rare earths on an asteroid. These metals are needed for advanced electronics.
-The Soviet drilling probe on Europa reaches liquid water. A submarine probe starts to explore near thermal vents hoping to find life.
-Iran reaches the moon to establish their first base.
-Peta-scale computing is demonstrated.
1999
-Artificial meat is grown in a lab on the moon for the first time. The hope is to be able to produce this form of protein that many space travelers miss, as few animals have been transported off of earth.
-Total Human Population reaches 6 billion.
-India establishes a base on the moon causing large anti-space riot due to an ongoing famine and economic collapse.
2000
-SpaceTech opens a launch system on Mars. This eliminates the need for chemical or nuclear rockets on Mars.
-The Soviet Union second ship reaches Saturn.
-The United Stated reaches Saturn and brings a ship that can land on Titan, its largest moon. The ship carries a craft that can sail on a lake of liquid methane.
2001
-The United States announces plan to complete the Grand Tour of the solar system with trips to Uranus, Neptune and Pluto over the next two decades. They hope that their advanced plasma or nuclear-pulse engines will allow high speed travel on these multi-billion mile journeys.
-America's ice asteroid reaches orbit after a multi-decade trip. The water on this asteroid promises to provide a cheap and plentiful source of water. The United States offers the Soviet Union water rights with no strings attached in a gesture of peace and friendship.
2002
-Terrax Co. is formed and hopes to become the first private company to bring tourists and colonists to Mars. It will use Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) engines and have travel time to just 39 days.
-The United States and India travel to Venus in a joint mission and land people on the surface for the first time. The lander on touch-down is quickly lowered into a subterranean base which was built by remote controlled construction equipment.
2003
-European Space Agency travels to Jupiter on a Commonwealth Nations built ship. They are the third organization to reach the Jovian system. They send several probes deep into the atmosphere of Jupiter.
-Japan and Vietnam jointly travel to Mars; their hope, on this journey, is to show the Chinese and other Asian countries that they can compete with the world but need to work together and stop all ongoing wars, hot or cold.
-Space based solar power stations provide the majority of power for much of Eastern Europe. America is however nearly 90% nuclear out of concern over vulnerability of solar stations to attack. America, which is now using 4th Generation nuclear plants, is using old "spent fuel rods" as its primary source of fuel. This process will greatly reduce the nuclear waste problem. Furthermore, it can also use thorium as a source of fuel which is more available the uranium and is cleaner.
2004
-The United Stated authorizes a group of American business led by Microrocket to construct Island Two, a planned space station based on the Bernal Sphere concept. Island Two will be able to house 120,000 people and take several years to finish.
-The first Solar Sail is demonstrated on a flight to Venus by the Soviet Union. This is the first interplanetary trip using this type of technology.
-Terrax Co. uses a VASIMR powered ship and travels to Mars in 39 days. It has 20 passengers and six crew members.
2005
-The total space population surpasses 1,250,000 and has been growing steadily for 30 years. Current future projections see a growth pattern of around 20% increase per year.
-The United States build a small six-person base on Saturn's moons Titan and Rhea. The mission will be to continue to explore these moons for life and serve as a base for the whole Saturn system.
-A final deep space ship design is approved. It will use a nuclear pulse engine which has taken 30 years to design and perfect. Though practical commercial fusion power is not yet available, research continues.
2006
-The population on Mars reaches 1500 and America plans a 10,000 person city to be built over the next 20 years.
-The first cruise ship with 500 passengers will travel to several orbital stations on the way to its final destination of the moon; the ship is very much like those on the oceans of Earth.
-Private business is now the driving force in space development. It is pointed out by several experts that this is one of the reasons the Soviets are struggling to keep up with space station development and Luna colonization, as the Soviets are still a state planned economy.
2007
-Mexico opens it first independent base on the moon becoming just the second Latin American country to do so.
-The Soviets launch a deep space ship to Uranus. However the ship will take years to get there due to the need to carry more supplies which reduce the amount of fuel it can carry.
2008
-As part of the Starship Project the Soviets invite the Americans to jointly research anti-matter production, on a proposed, yet to be built laboratory on Mercury.
-The Soviet Union opens a research station on Europa with Brazil. This is the first joint deep space research effort by these two countries.
-Following American and Soviet example of co-operation East and West Germany plan a joint research mission to Saturn.
2009
-The United States launches its deep space ship towards Uranus. It will then journey onto Neptune on a five year mission. The ship is the fastest ship built up to this point and is capable of moving at 0.012 C or around one million miles per hour. This nuclear pulse rocket is several times faster than any earlier vessel.
-Island Two is completed in the L5 position in orbit. Several other large stations are under construction by other countries. Black Spaceport, one of the largest stations, will soon be relocated to Martian orbit in a continued effort to keep up with the growing demands of the space faring public.
-Turkey becomes the second Middle Eastern country to establish a base on the moon. They hope to further develop their capacity and jointly travel and build a base on Mars with Iran.
-Premier Putin of the Soviet Union signs into law a plan to loosen up some control of its economy and start a gradual conversion towards democracy. Many believe that this plan could transform the world and lead it into a Golden Age.
2010
-The first nuclear pulse powered cruise ship is tested on its maiden journey to Venus. The vessel is built to carry 800 passengers and crew to any space port in the inner solar system.
-Japan and Vietnam reach Saturn and establish as small base on Rhea, Saturn's second largest moon.
-The United States reaches Neptune after by-passing Uranus which it will visit on its return trip to Earth. The 90 person crew will explore this system for a year. It came fully prepared to land on its moons and send probes deep into its atmosphere.
-World Population reaches 7 billion.
2011
-The newest Luna shuttles are using upgraded ion powered rockets and can make the one way trip in less than ten hours.
-The largest hotel on the moon can hold 500 guests. The new hotel is in Armstrong City, Tranquility Crater near the first Luna landing site which is now a National Historical Site.
2012
-Orbital space population is 2.5 million - 306,000 on the moon, 2200 on Mars and 602 in deep space missions or on outposts.
-An international group made up of the United States of America, European Space Agency, the Commonwealth nations, Japan, Brazil, Mexico and the USSR jointly launch a Bussard Ramjet on the first trip to study the Kuiper and Oort Clouds of comets and minor planets.
-The Americans show off their newest high speed test craft. The craft is similar to a British concept study from the 1970's called Project Daedalus. The experimental ship is designed to travel as fast as 10% light speed but testing and building up to that speed is expected to take several years.
2013
-The Philippines launches its first rocket into LEO becoming the second country in Southeast Asia to be space faring.
-A Filipino businessman named Wayne Cueva founded AstroMining.
-AstroMining builds a 30-man station on the moon and builds another 30-man station which was then bought by the Philippine Government; AstroMining begins looking for potential asteroids to mine.
-AstroMining through the Real estate hegemony of its owner Wayne Cueva builds its own catapult launcher in the Philippines.
-The Philippines and Vietnam jointly built a Moon base.
2014
-AstroMining set up the necessary utilities on the asteroid (29075) 1950 DA and began mining operations.
-AstroMining sets up mining facilities on 25 more near-earth asteroids.
-A new spacecraft that can go to space independently without catapult and can hover in the air is released by SpaceTech due to fear that electromagnetic catapult will become obsolete one day that may cause SpaceTech to be bankrupt.
-Billions of Dollars are pouring into the Philippine Economy due to the profits earned by AstroMining through its mining activities.
-The Philippines and Vietnam jointly built a 200 man Martian Base. They send a research team to the Jovian Moons a week later.
-The USA and the Philippines jointly made a 200 man-base on Mercury with the cooperation of AstroMining, mining activities soon followed.
-The Philippines, Vietnam and Japan jointly made an armed spaceship. The ship is armed with a Magnetically Accelerated Cannon based on the technology that is used to catapult objects into space. The ship was the most advanced warship at the time, but it never saw use in battle.
-The world economy is slowly shifting into Asia; even space travel started being centered into the countries The Philippines, Vietnam and Japan due to the heavy contributions of AstroMining.
-The US deep space ship reaches Uranus and heads for Pluto.
2015
-Martian population reaches 5000.
-The Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and the ESA with cooperation of AstroMining, SpaceTech, Anthrax and various other space companies started construction of a space elevator located in Davao City, Philippines.
-The Philippines started construction of a Vactrain or Vacuum Tube train with the immense resources brought by the intense mining operations by AstroMining. It runs through the entire Philippine Archipelago.
-The spacecraft now named ST-02 designed by SpaceTech that can launch and land and even hover on its own was made available to the public.
-The Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, ESA, USA, with cooperation of space companies started creating a one kilometer torus space wheel in Mars orbit.
-The US deep space ship reaches Pluto and goes on out of the Solar System into the stars.
-Wayne Cueva is now titled as the World's richest person.
-The USA and the Philippines opens a research station on Europa. They also open a research station on orbit of Jupiter.
-Designs for an orbital defense platform were released.
2016
-Wayne Cueva is now the world's first trillionaire.
-An Overlord missile defense system against nuclear rockets was established in the Philippines and was soon adapted by Japan, making both countries invulnerable to nuclear attacks.
-The Philippines built a 200-man colony on Mars in the Promethei Planum region. Which was later named Rizal Colony.
-Fusion gaining twice energy than put in was achieved by a research team in Japan.
-Cueva Energy was funded by Wayne Cueva and takes advantage of the growing demand on fusion power.
-Indonesia enters the Space Race.
-A joint Philippine-Indonesian project creates floating colony on Venus.
-Helium-3 mining was achieved on the Moon.
2017
-AstroMining starts Helium-3 mining operations on the moon.
-The International Space Convention was founded and had its first annual convention in London.
-AstroMining buys SpaceTech for 200 billion. The purchase made Wayne Cueva more influential in the Space Theater.
-Electromagnetic catapult is slowly becoming obsolete due to the rise of the ST-02 and other similar designs.
-AstroMining now has mining facilities on the Moon, Mercury and 70 asteroids.
-Terrax Co. proposed to the world a plan about terraforming Mars.
-The population of Rizal Colony on Mars reaches 1000. Total Mars population is at 15000.
-Total space population is at 5 million, 700,000 on the moon, 15000 on Mars, 2000 on deep space research stations.
2018
-Laser based weapons are becoming more common. Current trends also show less dependence on oil and petroleum.
-The Soviet Union is now a democratic republic but it still retained its size.
-Airports now started being replaced by Spaceports, although Spaceports still retained runways for aircrafts.
-The Space Elevator located in the Philippines is now finished and soon materials started going up to the receiving station high above earth.
-A USA ST-02 spacecraft crash lands near the Rizal Colony on Mars in Promethei Planum due to a strong magnetic field near the region.
2019
-The Rizal Colony on Mars is closed and quarantined due to a not yet confirmed disease breakout; the news of a breakout was not released to the public but only to intelligence agencies trying to find out the reason behind the closing of the Rizal Colony. Although not confirmed, research vessels started going to the Colony.
Prologue: A Groundbreaking Discovery.
(0500 Hours Manila, Philippines)
February 12, 2019
Beep…beep…beep…beep…beep
A man woke from his bed and turned off the disturbing alarm that woke him up. He knew he has a job to do; he was called by a person so high above the ranks for a work that he should not mention to anyone except to people who had the authority about such topics. His room is colored by the standard grey with a Double bed only for one person only, him. This person is Jose Cruz, the head of the International Space Convention; he was called by his superior who was called by his superior who was called by his superior and so on to investigate the reason for the closing of the Rizal Colony.
Jose eventually left his bedroom and cooked breakfast, the usual egg and bacon. Jose also prepared his coffee; he then enjoyed his breakfast while watching the television. The Philippines grew fast, in the last 6 years; the Philippines became the 4th largest economy in the world from the 21st place 6 years ago. The rapid growth of the Philippines into space eventually led him to establish the Annual International Space Convention; he also became the advisor for the space program of the Philippine government.
Jose knew he had a lot of time to spend before leaving Earth; his flight will leave the Manila Spaceport at 09:00 hours whose destination is Base 01, the largest colony on the Moon. Jose will rest there for two days before leaving again and have a 20 day flight to Mars at Rizal Colony. There at the Rizal Colony, Jose will have his investigation behind the quarantine of the Rizal Colony.
Ring… ring… ring… ring…
The ringing of his phone woke Jose from his thoughts. Jose looked at the phone and found out that it was his friend from Japan, Yoshikuni Masahiro, one of the head the International Space Convention.
"Yoshi, what made you call?" Jose stated.
"I heard about your journey to Mars, why are you going there?" Yoshi curiously asked.
"I was ordered by my superiors to investigate the reason behind the quarantine of Rizal" Jose stated.
"Well, what is the reason?" Yoshi asked.
"Sorry, I'm not at liberty to state about it" Jose stated.
"I understand… Well, good luck on your investigation…. On other news, we are still finding a location for the next International Space Convention, but Manila your home city appears to be the best candidate." Yoshi reported
"Don't worry… Don't make yourself tired, the convention is still 10 months away." Jose advised.
"Well… That's all, Good luck." Yoshi stated.
"Goodbye" Jose stated.
"Goodbye" Yoshi replied.
Call ended.
Jose put down his phone at the table in front of his sofa and proceeded to the bathroom to obviously, take a bath. He spent 15 minutes taking a bath and then proceeded to his bedroom where his clothes are kept. He wore his usual formal attire with black shoes, showing the Western influence brought by the American Colonization almost 100 years ago. He got word from his superior that there will be a driver that will arrive at his house at 0730 hours to fetch him to the Manila Spaceport.
Jose looked at his digital watch. The digital watch showed to him that its 07:21. He was then informed through the monitor at his office showing that a car is already waiting outside the gate of his house. He then proceeded to open the gate and let the driver and the car go inside. He took his items and necessary materials to carry with him and head to car's back seat.
The spaceport is only 30-minutes away. They head straight through Radial Road 5 heading westward and eventually turned left into Circumferential Road 3. The car drive southwards in Circumferential Road 3 and turned left into Radial Road 10 and headed straight until they reached the Spaceport.
The Manila International Spaceport was glorious and a beautiful work of architecture. There is one hour left before the spacecraft he is designated into leaves Earth. He then thanked the driver and left without even knowing his name. Jose entered the spaceport and saw many people of different nationalities. The spaceport still has 4 runways for aircrafts but the majority of the area of the spaceport is for spacecrafts. He looked through the window and saw the many ST-02 models around and also spacecrafts of similar models.
One hour later
Jose is finally in the ST-02 spacecraft under the company Terrax which was also owned by the same owner of AstroMining and SpaceTech which is Wayne Cueva. He then pulled out a data pad from his bag and then reviewed the information about Rizal Colony and the reason behind its quarantine.
18 hours later
Base 01, Moon
February 13, 2019
Jose looked at the window of his seat and saw the breathtaking lunar landscape and the large American colony of Base 01; it has a population of 50,000 and 5000 hotel rooms for the tourists arriving at the colony. The colony when viewed from above is circular. The colony is made of 5 concentric circles and at the center is a large dome. The circles are made of smaller domes and tubes connecting each dome.
The spacecraft Jose is currently seating at hovers down to the large central dome, he then saw the dome open from above. The spacecraft then entered the opening and landed on the hangar it was designated to. The surrounding has hundreds of hangars, but this number is dwarfed by the Manila Spaceport.
Jose exited the ship and knew who he is going to meet next, Jason Taylor, head of Base 01. He met two personnel working at the colony and escorted him to Jason Taylor.
Jose with the two personnel who escorted him waited outside the office of Mr. Taylor. He looked at the two-meter wide door with the flag of the USA. Jose knew that the Philippines almost have the same influence as the USA when it comes to space. The main reason behind the Philippines' influence to space travel is because of Wayne Cueva's space companies especially when AstroMining bought SpaceTech and Terrax for 200 billion and 100 billion respectively. Wayne also brought trillions of dollars into the Philippine Economy bringing the Philippines into one of the world's 5 superpowers. Base 01's expansion also depended on the materials brought by AstroMining.
The door to Taylor's office opened and a tall woman emerged from the door and approached him.
"Good Morning, you must be Mr. Cruz, Mr. Taylor is waiting inside," the woman reported to Jose.
"Thank you" Jose thanked.
"Good luck sir, see you on the way back" One of the escort told him.
"Thank you" Jose once again thanked but this time to the two personnel who escorted him.
Jose then entered Taylor's office. He then saw Taylor sitting at his table.
"Mr. Cruz! Glad to have you here at Base 01" Jason said with a smile in his face. Jose then returned the smile.
Jason pointed his finger at a chair at the front of his table. Jose then sat down.
"Well… I am just going to stay here for two days and then leave." Jose replied.
"Where are you headed to Mr. Cruz?" Jason asked
"Oh. . . I am just on my way to Rizal on Mars" Jose answered.
"Rizal huh… hmm" Jason moved his head closer to Jose but there is still a fairly large distance between them "I don't mean to be inquisitive, but I had very reliable intelligence reports that an epidemic has broken out at Rizal. . . An epidemic with an unknown origin. . . Are these reports true?" Jason asked.
Jose was surprised and did not expect Jason's statement. There was a few seconds of silence before Jose broke it.
"I'm afraid I don't have the liberty to say anything about Rizal." Jose answered.
"But the epidemic at Rizal could spread here at Base 01; we need to be given the facts about what happened there!" Jason reacted wanting to get answers about Rizal.
"Like I said; I am not at liberty to say anything about it" Jose replied.
There was a moment of silence as neither side attempted to speak; the silence was then broken by Jose.
"Well. . . I better go; I have to check my hotel room." Jose said with a smile.
"I wish you good luck, whatever the reason is for your visit to Mars" Jason remarked.
"Thank you." Jose thanked.
Jose stood up and shook Jason's hand. Jose leaved the office and left Jason to his devices. He proceeded to a Transport Station and found a transport that brought him to the hotel area.
Two days later.
Base 01, Moon
February 15, 2019
Jose is already sitting in the ST-02 spacecraft that will bring him to Rizal on Mars. He is the only passenger inside the spacecraft not counting the crew. The spacecraft will leave any moment now when they received clearance from traffic control of the base.
Jose looked outside and saw many people doing their daily tasks on the base/colony. The surrounding is also expansive and contains many spacecraft. Jose then realized that the spacecraft he is in rose from the surface and made way outside the hangar.
Jose saw the roof above open and saw it close when they are above it. He then saw another roof above and it opened the same way the first one opened. He then realized that they are now outside the base and accelerated to the direction of Mars. The very long 20 day trip begins.
20 days later.
Rizal Colony, Mars
March 7, 2019
Here he is, Mars. Jose can see Mars outside the window of his seat. They will be entering the Martian atmosphere any moment now when they got clearance from Rizal Colony below. He saw the beauty of the red planet that was Mars. Looking from above, it is obvious that they are in the Promethei Planum region which is the location of Rizal. The colony is not visible from above except for the satellites that orbit Mars.
Jose realized that they are now entering the Martian atmosphere with clearance from Rizal traffic control. He could not see anything from the window except for yellowish flames that cover the front of the spacecraft due to the friction caused when entering an atmosphere.
A few minutes later
The spacecraft entered the colony and landed on a designated hangar. Jose exited the spacecraft and saw a man in a business attire walk to him.
"Hello sir, you must be Mr. Jose Cruz, will you please follow me?" The man instructed Jose.
"The board of this colony is now waiting for you in the Meeting room, they said you will make the opening remarks of the meeting." The man informed Jose.
"Me? But speeches are not my forte." Jose complained.
"I am sorry, but I am only a person who is tasked to inform you about that." The man replied.
The two men approached a transport that will take them to a place near the meeting room because of a lack of parking space for the transport. Then the transport moved to bring them near the meeting room.
"So… You already know the reason for the closing of the colony?" Jose asked.
"Of course I know sir; I am a member of the board for this colony." The man replied.
"I forgot to ask, what is your name?" Jose asked.
"My name is Richard Gonzales" Richard answered.
"Are you a Filipino?" Jose asked.
"Yes, both of my parents were Filipino, but I was born in America." Richard replied.
"So… How far is the meeting room?" Jose asked.
"We're near now, just a few meters away" Richard replied.
A few minutes later
Here they are; they are now in the meeting room. Richard took his seat but Jose proceeded to the front to be seen by the board.
And that's it for the introduction.
Why did the Rizal Colony closed?
What is this groundbreaking discovery?
I think the answer to both these questions is obvious because hey… This is a mass effect fanfiction.
On other news: Paragon Universe and Mass Effect: Stand Strong Stand Together are PROBABLY going to be discontinued.