Concordiat Ascendant
A fanfiction by Sithking Zero,
Detailing a first contact between the Turian Hierarchy and the Citadel Council
With the Concordiat of Man.
Disclaimer: Keith Laumer (Rest In Peace) is the owner of Bolos and the Concordiat. Bioware and EA Games own Mass Effect. I only own my own ideas of what would be freaking sweet.
It was the year 3156 AD, and humanity had expanded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Five hundred worlds were now the property of the human race, with all its members united for the first time. Ruled and managed by the Concordiat of Man, the species that had gone from horse-drawn buggies to atomic rockets in the span of a century had gone even further.
Humanity hadn't done it alone, though. For wherever the human race went, they found enemies. And enemies were something that humans knew very well about, having had plenty of them back on Terra. So, they called upon their oldest, wisest, and strongest of friends that they knew of, and unleashed them upon the stars.
And so, the alien learned to fear and respect the race of Man and their titanic Bolos.
A Bolo is an artificial intelligence with the body of a tank, first produced in the year 2000, and the start of the Third World War. They can mass upwards of fifteen thousand tons. They can destroy ships in orbit from the ground. They have no mercy for the Enemy. They know no fear. They are unstoppable. And yet they are more human, at times, then their human partners and friends. Theirs is a tragic lot, for whilst other life forms (ranging from humans to Asari to Turians to even the Rachni) search for their meaning or purpose for their whole lives, a Bolo knows as soon as it is rolled off of the assembly line what its purpose is.
To Kill. To Fight. To Die. To protect humanity and all of Mother Terra's daughter colonies, and all the life they shelter.
And over a millennium after the first General Motors Bolo Mk. 1 Model B rolled off of the assembly lines in Detroit, Michigan, on Terra itself, this was the task they were once again called upon.
Though none knew it at the time, this would be the beginning of a great many things, as well as an end. Alien eyes, be they organic or synthetic, slit pupil or round one, gazed upon the confrontation between the two alien galactic superpowers.
And it all began nearly ten years before that fateful day…
AUGUST 31, 3156 (Earth Date). LOCATION: CLASSIFIED. SOURCE: CLASSIFIED. COMMANDER: CLASSIFIED. PRIORITY: ONE. FIRST CONTACT WITH UNKNOWN ALIEN RACE.
General (censored,) this is (censored).
After hushing up the crew of the Laumer, we proceeded to investigate the alien artifact they found, and quite frankly, sir, it could change so much I can't believe it. According to the reports, this thing has been active for at least fifty thousand years, but probably a lot longer. We haven't found any sign of who built it, or why, or how, but it's easily larger than a dozen superdreadnaughts. It doesn't appear to have any sort of weapons systems, but we're still looking. There's an untranslatable language in the computer systems, but it bears a minor resemblance to Deng script. We're having (censored) put it through the wringer for us. The way his processor lights up, I'd swear he was a little kid. We haven't got much in the way of
TRANSMISSION CEASED
SEPTEMBER 1, 3156 AD (Earth Date). LOCATION: CLASSIFIED. SOURCE: CLASSIFIED. COMMANDER: CLASSIFIED. PRIORITY: ONE. FIRST CONTACT WITH UNKNOWN ALIEN RACE.
General, I apologize for cutting off the transmission before. There was a small incident. We managed to translate something from the artifact, though it was mostly (censored)'s doing. However, while the modified Deng script he came up with works, it's far from perfect. We do know what it is, though. It's apparently something called a (and this is a rough translation, mind you) "Gravity Catapult." It's capable of, apparently, sending objects or starships through tunnels of space which apparently works instantaneously. That's right, instant FTL transit. We sent probes through the catapult, and we found another one. Apparently, they're part of some sort of network. Both of the Mk. XXVI's are checking into the programs of the catapults now.
Recommendation: We try to find and make contact with the creators of these catapults. These things can transport ships and cargo across thousands of light years in an instant. Even if we have to go to war against them (and you of all people know our track record with other powers is hardly what you'd call (and pardon the pun) "stellar,"), we could still learn so much from their ships or soldiers.
Addendum: The probes that were launched through the catapult detected a star in close proximity to it. They have also sent back proof that there is a binary planet system in the Goldilocks Zone, with an O2-Nitrogen mix similar to that of earth. If possible, we might want to start thinking about colonization out here, and help relieve some of the pressure from the old Center Worlds.
THE NEW DETROIT TIMES
January 17, 3157 AD
NEW ALIEN RACE; BINARY COLONY WORLDS FOUND
The scientific community, as well as the military and the Human Colonization Command (HCC) are all abuzz over the discovery of a mysterious alien artifact found floating in space, as well as the new discovery of a rare binary world system that is capable of sustaining human life.
The alien artifact is absolutely massive and shaped like a glowing tuning fork. The first people on the scene were members of the Xenoarchaeological Study from Valhalarama, lead by doctor Marticus Ivanovich.
"From what we can determine, the artifact is a sort of "Gravity Catapult," a type of device designed to propel ships and cargo to faster-than-light speeds. More excitingly, we have found that it's part of a… "network," if you will, and that there are many more out there that we haven't found yet."
The catapult was activated accidentally by a military probe, which came back nearly a day later with startling news: another catapult was at the other end, as well as an entire star system. This lead to the discovery of a rare binary planet, both worlds capable of sustaining human life, with gravity of 1.1 G.
"It's an exciting time," says the representative of ExoSolar Enterprises Lisa Trevor. "With an artifact to study, and with a double world capable of sustaining human life, we could be seeing a lot of money flowing through this area."
No word has come from the Concordiat itself as to what to do with these new discoveries, but a special session of Parliament and the Senate has been convened to determine the fate of these discoveries.
(Advertisement seen on May 5, 3157 AD)
THE CONCORDIAT NEEDS YOU!
Are you adventurous?
Do you want to see distant worlds?
Do you want to work in the fields of construction or repair?
Do you want to work with the most cutting edge alien technology imaginable?
If you answered yes to any of these, then the Concordiat has needs of people like you!
The new worlds of Talus and Shangxi are open and ripe for the taking, and we need people to help us make our colonies strong.
Stop by your local recruitment office for more information on the colonization program.
(Paid for by Exosolar Enterprises and the HCC)
THE NEW DETROIT TIMES
February 23, 3162 AD
MORE ALIEN RUINS FOUND; CREATORS OF THE CATAPULTS?
A mere three days after the fourth anniversary of the founding of the Shangxi colony, xenoarchaeologists made an amazing discovery: an underground city, dating back to the time when the infamous Gravity Catapults were supposedly brought online.
"We know so little about the races that came before us," says Marticus Ivanovich, "With all our amazing advances, it's easy to forget that we're still relative newcomers on the galactic stage. There are signs that this underground city was abandoned nearly fifty thousand years ago, which seems to be when the catapults were last used, but it could simply be a coincidence. These could be allies of the people who built them, and then they left when it became unprofitable. There is very little information of these people's history, their art, their struggles… we don't even know what they look like!"
What has been found, however, is a large amount of technology. Designs for FTL drives, weapons, armor, anti-gravity, and more have been found in these ruins.
"It's not that great," says Albert Fondant, a member of the dig team. "If this had happened a thousand years ago, this would have been a big deal. But a lot of this stuff's obsolete by our standards. The FTL drives mentioned aren't as fast as the catapults, and heck, they're slower than the ones we use. And the weapons systems… we've had better ones since the Mk. XIII Bolos, and the same goes for computer software and hardware. The anti-gravity is something that we might want to look into, though." Upon being asked how he knew all of this, he responded, "I'm a veteran. I served with the Dinochrome Brigade for a long time, so I know a thing or two about military technology."
Meanwhile, the new Catapult Exploration Forces are ready to start working. Commissioned by the Concordiat, they will explore the network and try to make contact with whoever built the catapults…
BLACK BOX RECORD
DATE: Classified
TIME: Classified
Location: Classified
Vessel: Concordiat Nike-class destroyer Primrose, under command of the CEF
Status report: We've been out here for nine months now. If it wasn't for Rosie, we'd have gotten lost or gone insane so many times it isn't funny.
Private Jenkins seems to have a talent for sniffing out catapults, to the point where the ship has started a betting pool on when he'll be wrong as to which systems have the catapults. It's currently up to twelve thousand credits. I would discipline them, but I'm in for at least three hundred and twelve.
Marcey gave birth three weeks ago; a little baby boy. I know, I know, we should have gone back, but when we left, she didn't know she was pregnant. Rosie's set aside one of her berths for her and little John.
We've seen at least seventeen systems, and sixteen contain planets that could sustain human life (though some would require sealed environments, what with toxic atmospheres and high pressure). We have detailed them further in our report.
Yesterday, we activated the relay in the local star system, which we're calling Malon, and we're ready to go through it tod-
(shuffling noises, muffled voices)
What?
(More voices)
Send out a probe, and hail them on every channel.
(pause, beeps, more voices)
No response? But-
Captain, the unknown vessels have undergone a massive energy surge.
An energy-? Son of a bitch, they're hostile! Rosie, prepare to engage! All hands, bat-!
(loud explosion. Life signs aboard bridge drop to zero. Chaotic rumblings and explosions before the AI goes offline and communications stop.)
(This information was recovered after the Turian-Concordiat War, in the year 3179 AD, from the debris of the Primrose after it had crashed into Malon VI, a rocky planetoid.)
April 17, 3163 AD
Excerpt from a Recording of the President Archanon
Speaking to the Concordiat Parliament
My Fellow Humans,
It is an honor to once again stand before you. For nearly a thousand years, mankind has strode the length and breadth of this spiral arm, expanding and growing. We have grown far from our origins, that of simple hunter-gatherers, but here, in Kenya, we are so close to our original home one could simply step outside and imagine that we have come full circle.
And we have gone even further. Our Concordiat has over a thousand worlds under our domain now, and is still expanding. Humanity has become one of the most powerful life-forms in the known galaxy!
But it has not been without cost. No, it has not. The wars against the Quern, the Deng, the Harpies, and many others proved that without a doubt. But we stand here today, alive and well, because we have stood against the darkness and remain triumphant.
We have had two hundred years of peace, glorious peace. Two hundred years full of art, science, and prosperity. We have more success and wealth than ever before.
But today I stand before you not as a man who speaks of the past, and who expects things to continue as is. The present, as is the future, is forever fluid. Things change rapidly, and to not prepare for the future would be stupid at best, and disastrous at worst.
I speak, of course, of the catapult network.
It has been seven years since we first discovered the catapults. Seven years have been full of wonders and new discoveries, including powerful new medicines, better antigravity, new forms of power generation, and even new worlds, such as Shangxi and Talus.
But there has never been a time in human history where man has not made an advance of such epic scale and had not turned it to the purpose of war. When man first split the atom, was it not used to create the atomic bomb? When industrialization was first put into practice, how long was it before this capability was used to create weapons? How quickly was fire used in the early struggles of man against other men?
But now, despite all that we have done, how far we have come, we are little different. For we have made a new discovery… and a possible new enemy.
For we have seen that we are not the only ones who can turn the power of science to the purpose of war.
Oh, we have seen it before, with so many other races, but never have we been so in the dark as to what we are dealing with than we are now.
My aides have been trying to keep this information from leaking for the past few months, but a pattern is emerging, and it is not one that I like. No, it is not something I like at all, and the military doesn't like it either.
The point of the matter is that the ships sent to explore the Catapult Network aren't coming back. As of last month, over fifteen ships have disappeared without getting a single SWIFT message off… and the disappearances have been getting closer.
We don't know who or what is responsible, but at the rate of disappearances, we are not taking chances. By our best estimates, this unknown force will arrive at Shangxi within the next twelve months. We must prepare ourselves…
-DISCONTINUITY—
GMBMK2614565-MRK: What do you calculate is the probability of success against the Enemy?
GMBMK262588-GNV: Asking me this is not logical. You can calculate the odds as well as I.
GMBMK2614565-MRK: My Commander is asking me to ask you. He feels that multiple viewpoints are essential to forming a well-made conclusion. A wise policy.
GMBMK262588-GNV: Then tell him the same thing you told him: the odds are unknown. We know nothing about the Enemy. They were able to destroy Concordiat Frigates without a hint of warning. The nearest reinforcements of destroyers and dreadnaughts are a month away. If a determined enemy on the scale of a Deng main battle fleet attempts to take the Twin Worlds, then there is an 87.576 percent chance of them being able to do it.
GMBMK2614565-MRK: That low? I postulated it to be 0.984 percent higher. If only more money had gone into colonial defense than in the new exploration corps, we could have had a decent home defense fleet. Centerpoint Station may or may not hold.
SYSTEM ALERT: ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! UNSCHEDULED CATAPULT ACTIVATION! SYSTEM ALERT: ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! UNKNOWN VESSELS ADVANCING-
SYSTEM ALERT: ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! WEAPONS FIRE DETECTED!
Battle Reflex Mode Activated…
To be continued…
Codex Entry:
The Concordiat of Man
The Concordiat was founded in the wake of the Third World War, but after spaceflight had been achieved (2076 AD). It has been the primary human government for nearly eleven hundred years, though some small breakaway nations do exist. It rules over five hundred colonies from the capital city of Detroit, Michigan, over the site where the first Bolo was constructed.
The Concordiat is ever so slightly Xenophobic, as most alien races that have been encountered have so far been hostile. The Quern, Deng, and Harpies are the three primary examples, with the Deng being the worst offender. Four bloody wars against the Deng have been waged, with territory fluctuating wildly.
Concordiat naval doctrine emphasizes heavy armor and weapons, while relying on rapid, agile maneuvering less than most of the Citadel races. Fighters and drones harass larger ships, while destroyers, dreadnoughts and superdreadnoughts pound their foes into oblivion with hellbores, hellrails, and a variety of other weapons. Frigates and Carriers are mostly used for scouting, or hit-and-run raids, and are far more maneuverable.
Mechanized cavalry is the order of the day for ground combat. Bolos are, of course, highly important in terms of land-based warfare, but non-sentient tanks, Golems, and self-propelled artillery all have their place. Troops are armed with flintsteel armor and handheld energy weapons, as well as hold-out needlers (pistols).
The Concordiat, while new to the Citadel races, is a millennium-long veteran of the spaceways. Their FTL drives, while not as fast as the Mass Relay network, are still much faster and more efficient than a Mass Effect FTL drive.
Battle Screens or "Mono-permeable Anti-Kinetic Battlescreens" as they are officially known, are a type of force field, are disruptor field of likely EM energy that shreds anything solid to plasma wash. This is markedly different from a Kinetic Barrier system used by most of Citadel space in that kinetic barriers merely deflect objects from their targets, rather than destroying them. Another marked difference is that kinetic barriers will deplete and deactivate under fire, serving as a sort of ablative energy field. The only way to destroy a battlescreen is if the screen gets turned off, or is destroyed. Because many enemies of the Concordiat have since begun using a variety of weapons, including direct energy weapons and kinetic energy weapons, Bolo designers have had centuries to create and modify armor designs to be extremely capable of handling energy weapon shots, meaning that shooting a battlescreen with a DEW is not a guaranteed deactivation. Citadel ships and armor of similar function do not have this design legacy, and will fail much more quickly under a DEW assault. Inversely, if a kinetic barrier fails, Citadel ships and armor are more likely to hold up under fire than Concordiat technology, again because of thousands of years of technological innovation that was based around repelling a KEW impact.
The Concordiat has a four-branched government. Three of the branches are equivalent to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the United States (the direct predecessor to the Concordiat), but the Military itself forms the fourth due to its importance in keeping the Concordiat whole. The military branch is responsible for human colonization, Bolo research and design, and of course, all military movements. The legislative branch has three houses, the senate, the house of representatives, and the Parliament. The senate has two senators per planet, while the house assigns representatives per billion inhabitants. Less than a billion to two billion gets one, while for each billion over one billion a representative is assigned. For the purpose of ease, moons of planets are considered part of that planet unless specifically mentioned otherwise. Parliament is a third branch which was added in order to gather a "larger perspective," and works similarly to the senate, but instead of one senator per planet, one Sector Chief is assigned per sector of the Concordiat. These sectors are responsible for set areas of space, and represent all planets within that space, no matter if they were founded recently or not. For example, if a man becomes sector chief, and twelve new planets are colonized within his sector, he automatically assumes responsibility for those planets. Thus far there are ten primary sector chiefs (with twenty subsector chiefs (two for each chief)) and seven "outsector chiefs," which are responsible for "irregular sectors," which are either smaller than normal, highly underdeveloped, or at the very frontier of human expansion. For example, the discovery of Shangxi and Talus created a new outsector, the Catapult Outsector. Eventually, once an outsector is developed or grows large enough, it will become a full sector, and the "Outsector Chief," becomes a full Sector Chief. The current head of Catapult Outsector is Chief Ademaro Jones.