History Repeated, Lesson Learned
Chapter: Prolougue
Written By:- KitBeast
Disclaimer:- I own neither Mass Effect or Halo. If you actually believe I do then I suggest you seek medical help as soon as humanly possible.
Summary:- The Prothean beacons were left behind to warn the younger races about the Reapers. No one could understand them. What would change if someone could.
While I have written Fanfics before I haven't written anything for either Halo or Mass Effect. But I will try my hardest to do these great franchises justice. Due to the nature of this being a Xover it will be AU. The main difference is I am using no people or events from Halo instead I am simply using the Technology from it. Otherwise this story will take place entirely in the Mass Effect Universe. I must admit that I'm not entirely sure weather I should post it in the Mass Effect section, or the Mass Effect Xover section.
2042 - Fossil fuels begin to stop being cost effective as a power source. The few remaining deposits of fossil fuels that are easily accessible become some of the most desirable resources.
2043 - After months of repeated attempts to come to an agreement that gives all the nations access to the rapidly shrinking deposits, several of the more desperate nations join together into a group know simply as Cerberus. Their first act as a single entity is to seize the majority of the fuel deposits by force.
2043 - With Cerberus denying access to the fuel deposits to any nation that refuses to agree to becoming members of Cerberus itself, the few remaining economy's that have yet to fail under the desperate situation the world found itself in, agreed to take the concept of the United Nations to the next level, taking their separate nations and turning them into one giant super nation encompassing the entire northern American continent and the majority of Europe and parts of Asia, most notably Japan.
2044 - The newly created United Northern Nations decide to invest the majority of their remaining resources into developing new ways to provide the energy needed to sustain the way of life the U.N.N citizens.
2045 - U.N.N scientists make a breakthrough in Electro-Magnetic research, resulting in the first E.M Generator being built in a research lab in northern Toronto. This generator proves capable of providing enough power to power the entire city plus parts of the surrounding area.
2047 - All states in the U.N.N are fitted with the new Mk 3 E. removing a large amount of the global demand for the remaining fossil fuels.
2048 - The remaining nations seeing the improving conditions of civilian life in the U.N.N pull away from their frustrating relationship with Cerberus and move towards a closer relationship with the U.N.N.
2050 - With the exception of a handful of smaller nations and the die hard core of Cerberus the U.N.N absorbs the nations of Earth, changing their name to reflect their new state from the United North Nations to the new United Earth Federation.
2054 - All member states are now outfitted with the most modern E. the Mk4.
2054 - With the energy crisis averted the U.E.F invest almost all its resources to improving the life of all its inhabitants all across the planet. The bonus of this is the industrial might of the new born hyper-power increases experientially when the sheer weight of numbers of the 3rd world states come fully into play.
2063 - The thriving U.E.F begins to believe that their industrial might can be used for something other than dealing with economic emergencies and updating its states to the full modern economies the rest of the states enjoyed, therefore they turn their attention to the stars.
2067 - The first U.E.F team lands on the moon. The American flag is removed and replaced by the new U.E.F flag. The replaced American flag is proudly showed in the North American museum.
2068 - With the backing of their ever growing industrial centres the U.E.F begin to colonise the moon.
2069 - Within a year of the initial colonisation of the moon by just 300 people, the colony of New Lunar had grown to a huge 3 million.
2072 - The colonisation of the moon provides seemingly endless new spaces for the human race to expand into resulting in a population boom, with the majority of families having as least 7 children.
2073 - Confident in the modern technology at their disposal the U.E.F launches a mission to mars. The missions main purpose was to find a suitable place for a new colony to be founded.
2074 - While digging the new foundations for the colony on mars, an ancient bunker is found. The fact that buildings are on mars, shows that mankind was not alone.
2074 - Teams finally gain access to the alien bunker. After a full search several items are found and sent back to Earth. There is one item however that is simply to big to be moved. A single ship.
2074 - While the U.E.F scientists are searching the alien bunker, the citizens are a mixture of nervousness and excitement. While a very small minority are xenophobic, the majority of people are willing to wait to see what any alien life is like before judging them, although they do recognise the need to be cautious.
2076 - Language experts have finally been able to translate the alien language. They learn the name of this alien race, the Protheans.
2077 - The first U.E.F deep range research ship, the U.E.F Appropriator is launched. Its mission is to search the solar system for any more of the previously undiscovered element of found at the heart of Prothean technology, Element zero.
2077 - Towards the end of their second scan of Pluto the Appropriator discover a faint trace of Element zero at the heart of one of Pluto's moons, Charon. After several servers it's discovered that Charon is in fact nothing more than a massive build-up of ice around an unknown object. Excavation begins immediately.
2077 - While trying to get access to what she thought was a simple computer file on the Prothean database, a young computer analyst called Catherine Halsey accidentally activates a Prothean VI called Seeker. The VI quickly learns the U.E.F standard language, English and increases mankind's understanding of the Prothean's to a level that many thought would take decades to achieve.
2078 - With Seeker's help U.E.F scientist learn a great deal about the derelict Prothean ship, allowing the U.E.F to begin construction of the first ship of the new military arm of mankind, The United Nations Space Command, or simply the U.N.S.C.
2080 - The new U.N.S.C ship, the U.N.S.C Enterprise is finished. While being little more than a scout ship, it signals the arrival of humans to the galactic stage, at least in human eyes. The few ships that travelled the solar system before were at the mercy of any possible alien forces they should come across, since they are nothing more than unarmed civilian ships. The U.N.S.C Enterprise however is capable of defending itself with the state of the art weapon systems of the day.
2080 - The excavation of the artefact at Charon is completed and it reveals a gigantic structure that dwarfed any artificial construct mankind had ever seen. Seeker reveals that it is in fact a Mass Relay. After learning its purpose humanity is eager to use the Relay to explore the galaxy around them. However after receiving advice from the infant U.N.S.C the U.E.F agrees to wait to explore until the new larger Corvette class ships, whose plans have just been finalised, have been constructed, in fear of what they might let into the solar system.
2082 - The first 5 Corvettes are constructed. The U.N.S.C Port Stanley, U.N.S.C Callisto, U.N.S.C Chalons, U.N.S.C Pony Express and the U.N.S.C Coral Sea. With the construction of these new state of the art warships to defend them the U.E.F is confident it can handle any threat it should come across, therefore a expeditionary team of 5 U.E.F research ships, along with the U.N.S.C Enterprise, U.N.S.C Pony Express and the U.N.S.C Chalons is prepared to travel through the Mass Relay to explore. Preparations however are expected to be slow due to the population of the U.E.F demanding that all possible tests be run on the Relay, to ensure that their sons and daughters aren't sent into danger that could have been prevented.
2083 - Seeker is finally able to adapt the Prothean cipher to allow humans to use the Prothean beacons safely. A large amount of the Prothean research team volunteers to activate the beacon. After the initial implantation of this cipher proves safe, all the Prothean research team receives it. The initial plan is to download the data of the beacon into the research computers allowing the data to be examined by multiple teams simultaneously. Unfortunately the sheer amount of data easily overwhelms the computers assigned.
2083 - Excitement amongst the research team is palpable as it's decided that they will be allowed to directly interface with the beacon in order to gain the knowledge although it is still the plan that it will eventually be downloaded and distributed amongst the various teams.
2083 - The first viewing of the Prothean is a disaster. Instead of showing what they hoped was the collected knowledge of the Prothean race, it in fact showed their destruction at the hands of an advanced cybernetic race called the Reapers. The U.E.F is terrified, since their best scientist have told them repeatedly that the Prothean's where centuries ahead of them technology wise, and yet these Reapers are perhaps millennium ahead of the Prothean's. The planned trip through the Relay is scrapped and the assigned resources are funnelled into the U.N.S.C budget.
2084 - The civilian population begins to wonder why the Research team hasn't passed through the Relay. The government explains that it's nothing more than a logistical delay, but rumours begin to circulate amongst the population.
2086 - Civilian unrest continues to rise as more and more rumours begin to circulate, which is not helped by the massive military build-up launched by the U.N.S.C which now possesses a fleet of 8 recon ships, and 21 Corvettes, whereas just 4 years before they only had 1 recon ship and 5 Corvette's.
2087 - Despite the U.E.F's best efforts to quell the civilian unrest it becomes obvious that the only way to explain the actions they have taken is by telling them the truth of what they found in the Prothean beacon.
2087 - After being told of the contents of the beacon a wave of xenophobia sweeps across the planet. While concerned about the growing fear gripping the population it does allow the U.E.F to pursue their desire to rapidly expand the U.N.S.C.
2088 - In an attempt to stop the rapid spread of xenophobia, the U.E.F devotes a significant portion of the research teams to reveal as much as possible about the Prothean race.
2090 - After 13 long years of work Catherine Halesy is finally able to reproduce the programming that brought Seeker into life, giving birth to the first human VI's. All of mankind embrace this breakthrough seeing it as a new form of life they can control and guide, without the danger of that exploring through the Relay includes.
2095 - Scientists discover that the Mass Relays were not built by the Prothean's as had previously been believed. This is confirmed by Seeker, who reviles the chilling truth that they are actually Reaper constructs. This sparks a huge discussion as to what needs to be done with the Relay. Many believe that if the Relay is allowed to remain it would provide the Reapers with the keys to the Solar system. Others believe that they can use the a reapers own technology against them by learning as much as possible from the Relay in hopes of being able to stand against the Reapers on a even footing. That is until a young Officer points out that the chances of the Reapers using their best, most advanced technology them leaving it in the middle of system where they must have been able to tell that intelligent life has at least a better than average chance of intelligent life developing. This means that the Relays would be made out of sub-standard technology in comparison to the rest of Reaper technology. Begging the question as to why they would go through all the trouble in the first place. Once again Seeker provided the answer. The Reapers left the Relays to guide the younger races down a certain technological path. A path which they can dictate. In response the U.E.F makes the hard decision to abandon all attempts of using Relay based technology, refusing to walk the path laid out for them by the Reapers.
2100 - After almost 5 years of debate it's decided that the Relay will remain, giving them a known entrance point into the system, allowing the U.N.S.C to focus their defences on defending it.
2125 - Catherine Halsey creates a new more advanced version of the Common VI system. After several tests they are proven to out preform the older models in every sector by at least a factor of 6.
2130 - U.N.S.C forces have expanded to now have over 100 vessels, a mixture or the recon and corvette classes. However they fear that these ships are simply becoming to out of date to provide any significant levels if defence. To solve this a new larger ship design is begun.
2134 - One of the new Mk 8 VI's Oracle stuns the world when he completely reorganises the library in which he works. While an extremely insignificant event it shows that he was capable of performing work without direction. Something that had been previously unheard of.
2136 - An additional 38% of the Mk 8 VI shows behaviour similar to Oracle. The general public concern forces the U.E.F to explore this behaviour more deeply.
2137 - U.E.F scientists announce that the Mk 8 VI has become self-aware, making them the Mk 1 AI. The general reaction to this announcement is reserved. The public waited to see what these AI's would do, but all major companies and enterprises, U.N.S.C included began developing ways to remove them quickly should they become a threat. No one wanted films like Terminator or The Matrix to stop being film and to become reality.
2140 - The first prototype for the new Frigate class ship is built. U.N.S.C Commonwealth begins testing.
2141 - After 4 years of semi-paranoid surveillance on the new AI's with no problems, AI's begin to be introduced into most sectors of life.
2142 - U.N.S.C Commonwealth finishes its tests and the results are extremely disappointing. While it has a remarkable ability to absorb a tremendous amount of structural damage and still remain operational, the underpowered engines make manoeuvre near impossible in combat and the weapon systems, which had proven so successful on the Corvette, simply didn't offer the firepower desired of the Frigate resulting in a race to develop a superior weapon.
2145 - The prototype for the first Magnetic Accelerator Cannon is tested. The sheer power of the weapon is both comforting and terrifying at the same time. Comforting to know such a powerful weapon defends Earth and her people, but terrifying that such a weapon could exist. However as devastating as the MAC is the large amount of time needed to reload makes it questionable whether it is a truly combat effective weapon.
2149 - Designers manage to increase the reload speed of the MAC, resulting in the U.N.S.C adopting it as their main ship vs. ship combat weapon.
2150 - U.N.S.C begins updating their current fleet of ships with the new MAC. Initial installation is promising however the sheer raw power generated by the firing of the weapon proves to be too much for corvettes sized ships. This development results in the Corvette class being relegated to a patrol ship, while the new Frigate class take its place as the main battleship of the U.N.S.C fleet.
2175 - Population in the Sol Systems stabilises, with the population growth being a little over 0.3%. Deposits of the metals needed to keep up with the demand of the U.N.S.C fleet begin to run dry. The result is a plan to harvest the resources in the asteroid belt. Metal deposits prove plentiful however the event does remind the human race of the finite amount of resources their home can provide.
2176 - As a result of the resource scare of the previous year, U.N.S.C leaders decide to ship their focus from ships to stationary defences.
Their plan is to convert the solar system into a fortress in which the human race could weather any storm; this plan is called Operation Citadel.
2178 - The logistical and resource preparation is complete allowing Operation Citadel to begin. The first step is to completely surround the Mass Relay with 100,000 mines. This act alone is expected to take almost 5 years to be completed.
2179 - Several major mistakes and oversights upon U.N.S.C vessels causes the Admiralty to fear their crews are becoming complacent. A gigantic war game is set up in order to keep the crews ready. The entirety of the U.N.S.C fleet, minus the Corvette patrols, will participate in the games. The fleet is split into 5 Battle-groups, each one having 95 Frigates. Each would take turns in both defending and attacking. After several days the games are declared a success; however the need of a Command n Control ship becomes painfully clear resulting in the planning of a new Cruiser class ship.
2183 - The first stage of Operation Citadel is completed with the deployment of the minefield. The next stage is to create a way to detract an enemy's approach if they arrive without using the Relay. To achieve this, the entirety of the solar system is surrounded by unmanned observation post; each individually ran by a VI, then being watched over by an AI in U.N.S.C headquarters.
2185 - In a desperate attempt to heal his terminally ill son, Stephen Danielson, a single U.E.F scientist modifies a batch of construction nanites. Medical experts are completely baffled when all traces of the illness are removed.
2186 - Phase 2 of Operation Citadel begins. Within months 19 deep range observation outposts are constructed on the very edge of the solar system.
2187 - In an attempt to replicate the tremendous medical benefits experienced by Stephen Danielson medical experts complete the first Medical Nanite prototypes. U.E.F leaders agree to allow human testing when all possible simulations and labs tests have been run, but only on volunteers.
2189 - Another 31 Outposts are completed, however officials begin to worry about the seer amount of resources each outpost requires, to both construct and maintain. In order to prevent another resource shortage the government dedicates a significant budget to developing a method of FTL travel that wouldn't rely on the now inaccessible Relay.
2190 - Test of the Mk 1 Medical Nanites (MedNan) is completed. They boost the subjects immune system to almost super human levels, allowing them to recover from all known diseases, while also improving the rate in which physical injuries also heal. Instead of taking weeks to heal a broken bone for instance would be fully healed in hours.
2191 - MedNan goes on sale. Almost the entire population purchases it.
2193 - In an attempt to lower costs of the Observation outposts, U.N.S.C modifies Operation Citadel, so only the 50 Deep range outposts are needed, the rest will be built within the hollowed out shells of asteroids left by the mining campaign. This provides several benefits, the first being they no longer need to build as many outposts since they have a smaller area to cover, secondly the need for expensive hulls are no longer needed since the asteroids themselves provide the protective hull. And finally the asteroids provide an effective means of camouflaging the outposts.
2203 - U.E.F officials become increasingly impatient when none of the proposed FTL engines prove to be able to work in practical applications.
2205 - Medical expert's notice that the MedNan have begun to slow the ageing process. While the older generations gain another decade of life, the younger generations appear to age at a tremendously slow rate. Estimates show that the children born with MedNans already in their blood, having been passed down from their mothers, will most like live to be over 1000 years old.
2206 - A small, almost unheard of company pitch their FTL engine to the U.E.F. Officials are sceptical, but desperation for any success means they give the benefit of the doubt. The first Shaw-Fujikawa translight probe is launched. The initial jump takes the probe to the outer most edge of the Alpha Centari system. This success catapults Shaw-Fujikawa Engineering to becoming one of the most powerful companies on Earth.
2216 - MedNan is developed into a gel form in order to apply to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Its ease of use means any person can apply it simply be reading a set of instructions included. Estimates say it will increase the number or soldiers surviving long enough to receive professional medical help by almost 70%.
2222 - Shaw-Fujikawa unveils their new Deep range probe. Fitted with the latest mineral survey equipment, as well as a new Mk 3 translight engine it's considered perfect for finding new resource deposits in the surrounding systems.
2223 - The first Deep range probe is sent to Alpha Centari. The system contains 4 planets, 2 barren lifeless planets that are little more than chunks of rock, 1 that has the potential of being a habitable world with basic terraforming and 1 that fits the ideal conditions for colonisation. However the U.E.F still stands by their policy of not expanding beyond the Sol system.
2224 - The 3rd U.N.S.C Battle-group is sent to secure the Alpha Centari system for the planned mining campaign.
2226 - The Alpha Centari mining campaign provides an abundance of resources allowing the U.N.S.C to proceed with planning stage 3 of Operation Citadel.
2229 - The final plans for the Orbital Super MAC platform are completed. Construction of the first 10 platforms is started.
2257 - Operation Citadel is completed. The Solar system has been transformed into a virtual fortress. The Relay has been swarmed with mines. The entire system is surrounded with a protective bubble of outposts. Earth has a total of 100 Super MAC platforms, Mars had 50 Super MAC platforms and there are 20 Super MAC platforms covering the Relay in case a enemy penetrated the minefield.
2258 - With the completion of Operation Citadel the U.N.S.C once again begins dedicating its resources to ship building. The first order of business is to replace their ageing fleet with newer state of the art fleet. Plans for the new Marathon class Heavy Cruiser and the new Paris class Heavy Frigate are begun.
2265 - The first of the 5 Battle-groups have been given the new class ships. The older ships are placed in a moth ball fleet in orbit of Mars. Original plans were to scuttle the ships however after great many discussions the U.N.S.C decide to keep them intact in case there ever in need of a great influx of ships in a short period of time.
2290 - All Battle-groups have been issued the new ships effectively doubling the number of U.N.S.C ships in existence. The 480 ships in the Battle-groups and the 480 ships in the new moth ball fleet.
2291 - As a cost saving measure it is decided instead of designing a new recon ship, to replace the 200+ year old Enterprise class, the new Prowler class Corvette will become the new recon ship of the U.N.S.C fleet. In order to help facilitate this change in function the design is altered to replace the 60cm of Battle-plate with 10cm of Stealth-plate, no other changes to the hull is required.
2300 - The first run of Prowler class Corvettes are completed. A total of 10 ships.
2304 - U.N.S.C decides to restructure the fleet in order to accommodate the reducing xenophobic attitudes of the U.E.F public. While the majority of U.N.S.C forces will remain in the solar system in the new Home Fleet, the rest of the ships will be separated into one of 3 fleets. The 1st Recon Fleet (1RF) the 2nd Recon Fleet (2RF) and the Fast Response Fleet (FRF). Each Recon fleet will essentially be a oversized Battle-group with the emphasis on Prowlers, with Frigates and Cruisers providing the teeth of the fleet. The FRF would have more Cruisers than the Recon Fleet with the Frigates acting as a defensive screen while the cruisers pound the enemy into submission. It was obvious tho that the 480 active ships in the U.N.S.C wouldn't be enough to provide the desired strength for the planned fleets. This leads to a massive ship building campaign.
2307 - In order to provided more raw resources both of the new Recon Fleets are sent to secure new systems in preparation for mining to begin.
2315 - In attempt to strengthen the growing U.N.S.C 4 new ship designs are created. The first is a Fighter, the second a Destroyer, the third is a Carrier and the final design is the Dreadnought.
2347 - While searching a mid-range system for mining prospects a Deep range probe detects a single severely damaged ship drifting on the edge of the systems asteroid belt. The 1RF is sent to retrieve the ship.
2352 - U.N.S.C fleet size has expanded to desired levels to allow the planed fleet distribution to take place. The total number of ships now stands at 703 ships in active service with the 480 ships of the moth ball fleet. The Dreadnought however is only partially constructed.
2362 - The dreadnought is competed. The U.N.S.C Andromeda is launched, making the number of active U.N.S.C ships at 704.
U.N.S.C ship specifications (most modern ships)
Typhoon class Fighter
Length - 4m
Width - 9m
Depth - 2m
Engines - Micro Deuterium-nuclear fusion reactor
- Manuvering thrusters
Armour - 1.5cm Titanium-A Battle-plate
Armament - 2x 35mm Repeater cannon
- 12x Anti-Fighter missiles
- 2x Anti-Capital missiles
Prowler class Recon ship
Length - 160m
Width - 60m
Depth - 55m
Engines – Deuterium-nuclear fusion reactor
- Shaw-Fujikawa translight engine
Amour - 10cm Stealth-plate
Armament - 5x Archer pods (40missiles/pod)
- 6x 50mm Point defence Auto-cannons
Paris class Heavy Frigate
Length - 535m
Width - 199m
Depth - 112m
Engines – Deuterium-nuclear fusion reactors
- Shaw-Fujikawa translight engine
Armour - 60cm Titanium-A Battle-plate
Armament - 1x Magnetic Accelerator Cannon
- 3x Shiva class nuclear warhead missiles
- 40x Archer pods (30 missiles/pod)
- 12x 50mm Point-defence Auto-cannons
Infinity class Destroyer
Length - 485m
Width - 200m
Depth - 115m
Engines – Deuterium-nuclear fusion reactor
- Shaw-Fujikawa translight engine
Armour - 200cm Titanium-A Battle-plate
Armament - 2x Magnetic Accelerator Cannon
- 3x Shiva class nuclear warhead missiles
- 26x Oversized Archer pods (60 missiles/pod)
- 8x 50mm Point-defence Auto-cannons
Marathon class Heavy Cruiser
Length - 1192m
Width - 293m
Depth - 150m
Engines – Deuterium-nuclear fusion reactor
- Shaw-Fujikawa translight engine
Armour - 191cm Titanium-A Battle-plate
Armament - 2x Magnetic Accelerator Cannon
- 40x Oversized Archer pods (60 missiles/pod)
- 5x Fusion rockets
- 12x 50mm point-defence Auto-cannons
Brittain class Carrier
Length - 3000m
Width - 300m
Depth - 150m
Engines – Deuterium-nuclear fusion reactor
- Shaw-Fujikawa translight engine
Armour - 36cm Titanium-A Battle-plate
Armament - 1x Magnetic Accelerator Cannon
- 300x Archer missiles
- 2x Fusion rockets
- 1000x Typhoon class Fighters
Andromeda class Dreadnought
Length - 5694m
Width - 834m
Depth - 1041m
Engines - XR2 Borlinfelds: 581/x-dfe Mk x Macedon prototype sublight engines
- Shaw-Fujikawa translight engine
Armour - 490cm Titanium-A Battle-plate
Shielding - Advanced Kinetic Barriers
Armament - 4x Series 8 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon
- 350x M42 Archer missile pods (24 missiles/pod)
- 250x M75 Rapier missile pods (30 missiles/pod)
- 5x Mk2488 Mini-Magnetic Accelerator Cannon
- 830x 70mm Point defence turrets
Fleet compositions
Recon Fleets - 1x Cruiser
- 3x Destroyers
- 10x Frigates
- 21x Corvettes
- 35 ships in total
Fast Response Fleet - 1x Carrier
- 7x Cruisers
- 10x Destroyers
- 20x Frigates
- 7x Corvettes
- 45 ships in total
Home Fleet - 1x Dreadnought
- 2x Carriers
- 108x Cruisers
- 67x Destroyers
- 260x Frigates
- 151x Corvettes
- 3000x Fighters (spread amongst the bases in the Sol system)
Total ships - 589 ships in total ( 3589 including fighters)