Chapter Text
September 21st, 2022 - San Francisco, Earth
Heat—scorching, sweltering heat, hotter than what was normal for an autumn day in San Francisco—radiated across the city. The sun blazed harshly in the cloudless sky. Most people did their best to stay inside, where they could keep cool in such sweltering conditions. The humidity along the coast was always high, but the cool breeze coming off the water made the heat somewhat more bearable as the day passed. Along the boardwalk, people could be seen walking around, admiring the view, while others sat on the outdoor patio of a small café near the beach.
The small café, which had only been open for a few months, sat with a spectacular view of the San Francisco Bay area. Despite its newness, it had become a popular spot, thanks to the breathtaking view.
Sitting under the shade of the awning, waiting for his lunch, was a young man with chestnut brown hair. His dark green eyes scanned some papers he was reading while waiting for the snack he had ordered.
It was a normal day for him. He had been coming to the café since it had opened, using it as a quiet place to write a book he’d been working on. His hand moved quickly across the page as he read over information from his laptop. The young man, engrossed in his work, was snapped out of his focus only when the waitress brought him his food.
As she placed his plate where he had moved the papers, a blinding flash of light erupted from the bay. With an instinctive, unconscious reaction, everyone around him covered their eyes to shield themselves from the initial burst of brightness. Moments later, the young man shook himself awake and blinked away the spots in his vision. He looked around, trying to locate the source of the flash. It didn’t take him long to realize that the skyline of the bay had changed completely.
Sitting now in the middle of the San Francisco Bay was a giant city. Towers made of metal and glass appeared to float above the water. The tallest tower stood in the center, nearly a full kilometer from top to bottom. The young man could make out distinctive windows and balconies in each building of this sprawling metropolis. The skyscrapers spread around a thick disk, which sat atop the water just outside the bay. The city looked completely futuristic, unlike anything anyone on Earth had ever seen before. There was a kind of beauty in the way the light reflected off the glass towers, and the metal structures gave it the air of a city from the distant future.
His papers lay forgotten as he stood up with the rest of the patrons. Everyone around him was mesmerized by the massive structure before them. In that moment, looking at the vast city, the young man knew—without a doubt—that the world had been forever changed. Whatever future had previously been determined for humanity, the appearance of this city meant that future had been altered in a drastic way. Whether for better or worse, he couldn’t yet tell.
His phone rang on the table, unanswered. He paid it no mind, his gaze fixed on what he knew to be humanity’s future.
Before the week was out, the world would learn that the lost city of Atlantis was no longer lost to time. In the months to come, the United States, with the help of its allies, would begin to introduce technologies that the rest of the world had only dreamed of achieving.
With the appearance of the city, humanity’s population, which had been just over 8.1 billion, would rapidly grow. The new technologies would propel humanity across the galaxy at speeds no one had ever predicted.
October 31st, 2022
It took less than an hour after the city appeared in the bay for the United States Navy to arrive and board the structure, beginning a search for any signs of life. The city was quickly placed under quarantine, preventing anyone from entering or claiming it. After exploring the city for the first month, a team of Marines was able to find only one person. The man was unconscious, reclining in a glowing blue chair in a lower-level room of a shorter tower near the city's central spire. He wore a military uniform that had been out of service for several years. The man was removed from the chair and taken to a medical facility located several levels above him in the central spire. Upon waking, he informed the US government of things that would drastically expand their knowledge of the universe. Most of the information he provided was about the city itself, but he also told them about other alien species and the Stargate Program.
It took the Marines several days to comb through the city and check every room, while scientists and command staff reviewed its active databases. One thing that startled the government officials was the discovery of an AI program created by the city’s founders to manage its day-to-day operations. The AI was simply referred to as "Atlantis." She chose not to adopt another name and requested to be called by the city’s name. Atlantis served as the city’s administrator and had access to every bit of information stored in the Central Information Core, which was immensely vast.
To say that the database was massive would be an understatement. It was like comparing the sum of all human knowledge at that point to a simple haiku. The information in the database spanned millions of years of technology and history. Surprisingly, it wasn’t just the Ancients' history that was stored, but also that of other species they had encountered. There were extensive records about civilizations that had died out long ago.
One advantage of the Ancients was their meticulous approach to data collection. There were historical records of various civilizations that spanned the galaxy even before humans had evolved. Personal logs from figures in Ancient society were included, from leading scientists to average workers in the maintenance department.
The database also contained schematics of long-forgotten devices, along with papers written by the Ancients' most brilliant minds on theories that humans had yet to consider—or even had the scientific understanding to prove or disprove. To say it was a little unnerving that all of this information was now accessible to both scientists and military personnel, for better or for worse, would be an understatement.
It would take several months before the most brilliant minds from across the world were allowed to see what they could do with the technology, but it was clear to everyone on the planet that this discovery would lead to a technological revolution for humanity.
Colonel John Shepard’s rank within the Air Force was upheld, and he was included in the Atlantis team to help study the city. They would spend decades researching the city, and even then, they would discover something new every day.
April 15th, 2026
The first Lantean Solar Plant came online in California's Mojave Desert. Solar panels covered only an acre for the test plant. With the gradual release of Lantean technology, a research company from Las Vegas designed the farm and power capacity stations to provide California and Nevada with clean energy 24 hours a day, with some surplus to sell to neighboring states. After the successful test of the technology, plans were made to expand the solar farm to several acres. This expansion would lead to the decommissioning of most, if not all, coal and nuclear power stations in the state and surrounding areas within the next year.
With the decline in the need for fossil fuels, humanity began investigating cleaner energy sources to meet the world’s technological needs. A small space station using the same solar principles was also designed by the same company. It was to be stationed in orbit around the sun to collect solar energy. Once collected, this energy would be used to charge Lantean crystals for distribution, powering small electronic products.
Several other plans were in the works. One company proposed building a geothermal plant utilizing the active volcanoes in Hawaii to generate energy for the state, with a system designed to prevent eruptions and minimize potential damage.
Historical records from cities across the United States and Canada were examined to locate every landfill that had ever been used. Plans were developed to have nanites exhume these landfills and break down every piece of trash into its molecular components for use in various projects. All biological matter would be converted into nutrient-rich soil for farmland cultivation. This project would take several years to finalize.
October 18th, 2028
Genetic diseases are in the process of being eradicated from the human genome. Gene therapies have been created to ensure children are born disease-free. The next generation of humans will no longer be prone to many genetic conditions. Older humans are also opting to introduce Lantean DNA into their genomes. Cancer, AIDS, and other STDs can now be cured within minutes of diagnosis. Lantean medical technology allows broken bones to heal in mere minutes, and the use of Lantean healing beds has given new life to many patients who were previously deemed terminal.
The first human starship capable of hyperspace travel was created in the orbital shipyard around Earth. The ship, named the Apollo, was crewed jointly by the United States and Canada. Its first mission was to survey Venus and Mars to determine their potential for colonization. The ship’s secondary objective was to identify asteroids with high mineral concentrations for mining purposes. Their main objective was to search for deposits of Naquadah, Trinium, and Neutronium in the asteroid belt.
With the use of robotic technologies, the first Synths were created—artificial intelligences with bio-mechanical bodies that closely mimic organic life. While most Synths were employed by the government in hazardous jobs, others became regular citizens, working as teachers, police officers, and more. As human-made AIs became more common, human rights activists fought for basic human rights for all Synths.
Most human-made AIs were created and modeled after Atlantis' code and structure. A few were designed to mimic human minds, but the few that survived were not as intelligent or robust as the Lantean models. After deliberations with the United States government, Synths were granted the same rights and privileges as biological humans.
Several decades after the first human hyperspace ship was launched, world leaders began moving toward the establishment of a central government, modeled after the Lantean Central Council.
June 29th, 2029
Environmentalists lobbied the United States to investigate the Lantean database for ways to address the environmental damage caused by greenhouse gases. A team of scientists developed a workable solution in just a few days. Most greenhouse gases were removed from the atmosphere using Scrubber drones, which converted carbon dioxide into carbon and oxygen, helping to repair the ozone layer and completely close the hole over South America. Global temperatures began to fall within a month of the scrubbers’ operation.
Later in the year, a team of scientists began tracking all objects in orbit around the planet and started removing old satellites. Within a year, they had deorbited 75% of all the decommissioned debris, sending it back to Earth to be processed in the newly established recycling centers.
A new ground station was built to act as a weather control facility, working in conjunction with several satellites. These satellites, along with drones, were designed to work together to repair the ozone layer and help control harmful weather systems from forming.
With the success of this system, new designs were drawn up for the ultimate test of this technology. A research firm proposed placing stations on both Venus and Mars as humanity’s first attempt at terraforming.
The United States, Canada, and a few other governments began making plans to colonize and terraform both Venus and Mars over the next century. In addition, companies and government programs developed plans for space stations and resource mining operations in the asteroid belt, set to be implemented within the next decade.
January 18, 2030
Colonel John Shepard, from the original Atlantis expedition, realized that he would never be able to return to his universe. After this realization, he decided to start a new life in this one and married a woman named Catherine Johansson. A few years later, they had a son, Michael Shepard, born on this date. Gene mapping revealed that the child carried more Lantean genes than any other human—his DNA was closer to that of a full-blooded Lantean than anyone else in the world. Each year, more families opted for gene therapy for their children first and then for themselves. Scientists speculate that, within the next century, Lantean genes will become more prevalent in the human genome than those of natural humans.
Humanity had changed dramatically in the past eight years. Since the arrival of Atlantis, the human race had thrived. The world had been introduced to space travel, teleportation, replication technology, limitless energy, and synthetic life in the form of Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, not all the changes were for the better.
In the years since Atlantis's appearance, humans had learned much from the city’s computer databases. With the help of Atlantis’s AI, they discovered the origins of the city and the reason for its appearance in San Francisco Bay. It took only a few months for a team of scientists to piece together the events that led to the city's arrival.
Interestingly, it turned out that the city's appearance was the result of a completely random accident. A scientist had been conducting an experiment on a Quantum Mirror that had been found on another planet. The device was powered on and was being used to view another reality.
Meanwhile, one of the city's engineers was working on the power systems. The Arcturus Generator, which had been created for the city, had finally activated. However, a small power overload was reported within the reactor. This surge caused power to jump through several key systems in the city, leading to a few technical problems. Nothing major—just a few fried terminals, sealed doors, and shorted circuits.
The overload fed back into the generator. At that point, Colonel John Shepard and the Chief Administrator of the city ordered an evacuation, while Shepard attempted to fly the city into orbit. He hoped to reach hyperspace and leave the solar system before the city exploded.
In what would later be called a trillion-to-one hail-Mary shot, as John powered up the city’s star drives, the overload caused several systems to activate randomly. A massive surge of power arced from the conduits into the walls and eventually reached a lab that contained the Quantum Mirror. What exactly happened next is still unclear, but the overloaded energy sent a continuous stream of power into the mirror for several seconds. Moments later, from the outside of the city, it appeared as though it had vanished into thin air.
Eventually, the mirror could no longer contain the power being fed into it, and it exploded in a way that no one had ever seen before. This explosion released something that would later be called "quantum dust," which permeated almost everything in the city. The power continued to arc through the dust, and it was this interaction that caused the city to shift dimensions. The city remained in the new dimension until the power was fully extinguished.
Colonel Shepard did his best to control the city's power flow, but a small surge knocked him unconscious. The city’s AI then took over and used its available processing power to regulate the energy around the lab and stop the city from shifting further, ultimately bringing it to a landing in the current universe. When John woke up, he found himself surrounded by Navy SEALs, guns pointed at his head, who were waiting for answers.
After the city’s appearance in the bay, hundreds of theoretical papers were written about the discovery of parallel dimensions. What had once been science fiction was now science fact. The news that Atlantis had come from a different universe—one with a different Earth—caused quite a stir. However, comparing histories revealed few differences between the two universes, at least in recent history. Speculation about how divergent the two universes were remained high, but most people assumed the variations were vast.
In the year following the city’s arrival, the United States Navy, in control of the city, attempted to use the city’s Stargate to dial other planets. After a failed test, they concluded that in this universe, the Ancients had never seeded the Milky Way with Stargates. The brightest minds from around the world came to the city to learn from its technology and help humanity improve.
Several companies were formed in the wake of this discovery, though some went bankrupt when they couldn’t adapt to the new world. The United States’ dependence on foreign oil nearly disappeared overnight. The global economy was thrown into upheaval in the first few years, but gradually, it shifted, with the U.S. emerging as the world leader due to its access to innovative technologies.
However, this day would go down in history for another reason: The first extra-solar colony was established in the Alpha Centauri star system. People from all over the world moved there to help establish humanity's place in the galaxy. By the end of the year, over a million people had made the move.
The introduction of the Stargate sparked a major push for humans to settle habitable planets near Earth. This was the beginning of the formation of the United Earth Alliance. In Vancouver, new government buildings were constructed to form a body that would oversee both Earth and the newly established colonies.
With access to near-limitless energy and other advanced technologies, buildings could be constructed in a matter of hours, and entire cities could be completed in less than a month. The only limiting factor was the rate at which the human population could grow.
Over the next decade, humanity would undergo other drastic changes. Most diseases and illnesses were eradicated, and the quality of life and health dramatically improved. World hunger and poverty were eliminated as governments began training and supporting those who needed it. Gene therapies and vaccines allowed people to live longer lives, and the average human lifespan was projected to exceed several centuries. However, no one had yet lived that long.
With gene therapy, the human body could be maintained for nearly a thousand years, though it remained unknown when the body would no longer respond to the treatments. Those who opted out of gene therapy would age naturally and eventually die, but for most of humanity, aging had been halted.
The founding of the Department of Human Health, one of the first global departments of the new human government, was tasked with ensuring that all living humans had access to treatments or information regarding their eventual passing. The department also oversaw the use of ID chips implanted in the population, which monitored individuals' health and alerted authorities in cases of distress or injury.
Human ID chips were small devices implanted under the skin, usually on the forearm or back of the neck. They drew a small electrical current from the human body to remain charged for as long as the person lived. The chips could alert the Department of Human Health if someone was in distress, and emergency services would be dispatched to provide treatment or, in the case of total body failure, declare death.
There was significant political upheaval since Atlantis's arrival. Tensions in the Middle East flared when the U.S. stopped importing oil from several countries. The world stood on the brink of World War III until a 3-year-old Synth, named AJ, intervened. He addressed the world’s leaders, asking:
“What’s the point in fighting against the Allied Governments of Earth? Why do you still fight for greed and power that you no longer have? Just because no one is buying your oil is not enough reason to make idle threats.
“You are facing a power that could destroy the very sun that provides life for this planet, and you wish to provoke them with empty threats. If they so choose, they could annihilate this entire region in the blink of an eye. Do you think they will shed one tear for your deaths? You have no chance against them, and yet you still dare to declare war. It matters not who is right or wrong. Declaring war means the death of millions of humans who deserve to live. Is that the price you are willing to pay?”
AJ’s speech made headlines, and he was named Time Magazine's Human of the Year. He became the first Synth to grace the cover, but he would not be the last. Many others of his kind followed in his footsteps, entering human history.
The wonders of the universe lay ahead, and humanity was ready to continue its expansion. By now, the human population had reached 12.7 billion, including 20 million Synths.
March 12th, 2035
Nanotechnology was introduced and initially restricted to military use and Medi-Gel applications. Medi-Gel was created by a pharmaceutical company attempting to develop a nanotechnology solution for injection into the bloodstream. After consulting several historical documents in the Lantean Database, the World Health Organization cautioned against the permanent use of nanites inside the human body.
The database contained warnings about disastrous incidents where people attempted to merge with nanotechnology. In one case, a super soldier was brain-dead after nanites attempted to repair a tear in his heart, stopping his heart to fix the damage but failing to preserve brain function. Another disaster involved a small plague that resulted from nanites reanimating corpses after they had died.
It was also discovered that using nanites to replace the human immune system did not help the body adapt to diseases, as the nanites would destroy harmful pathogens before the immune system had time to learn how to handle them.
Through years of research and collaboration between scientists and medical professionals, a breakthrough was achieved. By programming an AI into the nanites, scientists were able to control them to serve the will of the human host. This allowed soldiers to be implanted with nanites that enhanced both their bodies and cognitive abilities.
Medi-Gel, now available to the public, was used to treat minor wounds. This silvery liquid contained billions of nanites that would repair damage to the body and then return to the gel pack. Medi-Gel could even help reattach severed limbs, restoring function within hours.
The Earth Alliance Armed Forces began producing a new breed of soldier, enhanced by nanotechnology. These soldiers were stronger, faster, and smarter than the best Olympic athletes, and were said to outperform battle-hardened soldiers in every way. The first unit to undergo this treatment was classified beyond black-level clearance, and was codenamed SIGMA.
2045
The First Defense Fleet for the Sol system is completed, with other fleets in the works. Several exploration vessels are commissioned to search for signs of life around the galaxy. A single ship is also dispatched on a three-week mission to the Pegasus Galaxy to determine if the city of Atlantis is there. There is speculation that the Ancients never inhabited this region of space, but people wanted to be sure—and possibly score another city-ship. Automated shipyards are being built in orbit around Sol.
Orbital defenses are also being designed for each colonized planet. A series of satellites, constructed from some of the hardest metals known to man, are linked to one another via an unbreakable signal.
These satellites are equipped with phase-shifting devices, plasma cannons, and large-scale beam weapons. Most of the time, the system remains in standby mode, with the satellites out of phase and cloaked until a threat is detected. Plans are in place to ensure that each planet will have its own defensive satellite network.
Lobbyists successfully had the definition of the word "human" changed to include all synthetic life created by humans. This definition now covers all AI inhabiting Cyberspace, Synth bodies, civilian and military ships, as well as those housed inside neural implants and nanites in the human body.
The human population stands at 24.2 billion people, including 5.5 billion Synths.
2048
Large-scale construction on the Sol Shipyard was completed by the beginning of the year. The station, stationed in orbit around the sun, can produce ships in a matter of hours to several weeks, depending on their complexity and size.
The station was designed to absorb solar energy using panels on one side and to extract denser metals from within the star when necessary. The energy and matter are stored in energy capacitors and mineral storage depots until needed by the station’s constructor arms. The station's massive arms move quickly and efficiently, thanks to phase-shifting technology, to construct any part of the ship.
The design is somewhat similar to early 21st-century 3D printing technology. The station was built to manufacture each ship from the inside out. Each arm is equipped with a matter replicator and a set of tools to apply materials to the ship, from metal for the hull to the smallest delicate components for various systems.
The constructor’s replication technology is powerful enough to bond each piece of metal at a molecular level, making the hull stronger because it is one solid piece. The only seams in the ship are at the docking hatches and windows, which mar the perfect surface of the hull. Since the first ship was designed and built by the station, demand has been so high that several more stations are planned to be created and deployed before the decade is out.
Mass fabrication jobs in goods production have dropped due to the introduction of automated factories and replication technology. Most factory workers have sought employment in other fields or turned to artisan work. The demand for handmade and unique goods has increased as humanity has advanced.
The government ensures that everyone’s basic needs—food, shelter, and healthcare—are met, considering them fundamental human rights. As a result, everyone has a basic place to live and food to eat.
Those who work and contribute to society are paid in credits, which are primarily used as energy but also function as currency. These credits allow people to buy nicer homes, better goods, and higher-quality food.
Food replication is a convenient solution for ships to feed their crews daily. However, some people refuse to eat replicated food, claiming it has a bland taste, no matter how much it’s spiced up. Every dish that is scanned on a molecular level and replicated is said to be identical, but some still claim they can taste the difference. While most households have a replicator integrated into their homes, people on planetside often prefer to cook their own food, either using ingredients purchased at a market or by replicating the components of a dish and cooking it themselves.
2057
The Sol solar system is home to over 20 billion humans. Humans have traveled to the edge of their solar system and back, cataloging everything they find. It didn’t take long for off-world drilling and mining companies to head to the asteroid belt and the moons of distant planets, now that spaceflight had become affordable. An immense space station now orbits Earth, resembling a floating city, and serves as a port for all incoming traffic from across the solar system.
In the few short years since the city’s arrival, humanity has branched out to eight other worlds. With improved health and abundant resources, the human population has started to expand exponentially. Currently, just under 15 billion people live off-world.
Most off-world colonies trade resources between themselves, though some of it still comes back to Earth. Galactic trade is mostly conducted by ship, though the Stargates are frequently used. Travel through the gates is generally for diplomatic relations and urgent personnel movements.
The Terran Systems Alliance grew out of the United Earth Alliance as more human colonies were established. The System Alliance Navy also began to grow, with more ships being created to patrol the occupied sections of space within Alliance territory.
Replication technology has become a part of everyday life. Since most materials can be produced with enough energy, people’s basic needs are easily met. There are only a few minerals that require massive amounts of energy to produce. After extensive research, it was determined that most of these rare materials could and would be mined when they were found. Earth now has a stockpile of these precious materials, waiting to be used.
Rather than manufacturing tons of trivial items, humanity now manufactures the machines that produce the things people want. The economy has shifted to one based on energy. The more energy you can generate, the more things you can have. The transition was troubling at first, as billionaires were still wealthy, but in energy credits rather than money.
A new department of the world government, along with two different committees, worked for months to figure out the cost of things and the currency-to-energy conversion ratios. After much debate, it was decided to call the new currency "A Credit," though most people still referred to it as money or cash. The Credit, as it was known, was based on the American dollar, with the committee determining what could be bought with a single dollar. From there, they calculated how much energy it would take to replicate those items and scaled up the price accordingly.
It took some time, but after a year, the conversion system was finalized. Within a few weeks, most banks began converting their systems. People were asked to exchange cash for credits in their accounts.
Those who had precious metals could use the heavy elements to convert them into energy fuel, which could then be used to create other, more costly items.
The system allowed for the creation of heavier elements by adding more energy. For example, a pound of copper could be converted into a pound of iron by adding additional energy to make up the difference. Conversely, a pound of iron could be turned into lighter elements like carbon or silicon. This is why heavy metal mining remains important, both on Earth and in the asteroid belts.
To use the system, all one needs to do is scan their ID chip on any terminal, select from a programmed menu, and the requested item is replicated while the cost is deducted from their account. This applies to everything from food to household items. Housing was more complicated, but it was also calculated. Banks figured out how to offer loans in credits for mortgages and larger purchases, such as cars.
Most car dealerships were not allowed to sell vehicles for more than 5% over the cost to replicate them. Many businesses were forced to adapt or close as a result of the new economic structure. There had been several recessions over the last few decades. Capitalism took a huge hit, and the American government almost collapsed several times during the transition to a One World Government. While prices were set by the government, that didn't stop some people from trying to profit from others' misfortune.
It took a small war with a country in East Asia for most of the world to recognize that humanity needed to unite under a single global government. Witnessing an entire nation turn into a barren wasteland made other countries fall in line with the globalized government.
By August of 2059, humans had begun colonizing Mars. A massive terraforming project was underway, one that would take decades to complete. However, Mars should have an Earth-like atmosphere by the time the new millennium rolls around. Using matter converters and nanite constructors, it will take at least a decade for the trees to grow and for the soil to be converted into something more suitable for vegetation.
There were also plans for a gravity generator to be buried three miles beneath the ice caps at the planet’s north and south poles, which would maintain Earth-like gravity on the planet. Sadly, this idea was shelved after predictive models from Atlantis showed that the increased gravity would alter the trajectory of many asteroids in the belt, potentially causing them to collide with Mars, Earth, or the Moon.
Eventually, a plan was put in place to create domed cities on Mars with artificial gravity inside the domes. The areas outside the domes would still have reduced Martian gravity. After several massive waves of nanites were deployed on the planet’s surface, the air and atmosphere began to improve. The nanites were tasked with converting the soil and rocks into something suitable for plant and animal life.
Consultations within the stellar cartography department ensured that the terraforming process wouldn’t destroy the planet. While digging through the archives, someone discovered that a fifth rocky planet once existed in the system billions of years ago, but it was destroyed by the gravimetric forces of the outer gas giants and the sun before it could support life. The asteroid belt was formed as a result of the destruction of this planet.
Most of humanity was pleased with the progress being made to expand beyond Earth. It wasn’t until the following year, during a survey, that the Mars colony discovered an underground cavern that had been artificially created. Upon investigation, they found the ruins of an alien outpost. After consulting with the Atlantis computer, which returned no matches for any known alien civilization, the discovery was deemed a major breakthrough for humanity.
Humanity had finally learned that they were not alone in the galaxy. It took almost two years to decode the alien language and technology left behind, but humans eventually uncovered information about the Protheans and the technology they left behind, which was later named "Mass Effect."
Upon further exploration of the Mars Archives, humans made another shocking discovery: The moon of Pluto, Chiron, was not a moon at all but a massive Mass Effect relay that had been covered in ice after millennia of disuse. Only trace amounts of Element Zero were found in the area. Once the systems were powered, the technology, though not as powerful as their current hyperdrive FTL system, proved useful in other applications beyond FTL travel.
An ambitious scientist decided to combine both drives in a small scout ship. When the Mass Effect drive was activated, it caused the ship’s mass to decrease to almost nothing. Once the hyperdrive engaged, the ship traveled far faster than any current race in the galaxy. The small scout ship made it halfway into the void between the Milky Way galaxy and the Pegasus galaxy in under an hour. This discovery revealed that the conventional Mass Effect drive was vastly inferior to the Lantean-style hyperdrive.
With conventional hyperdrives, one can plot a course from point A to point B anywhere in the galaxy, reaching their destination in just a few hours. Mass Effect relays, on the other hand, allow for short-range jumps of about 15 light years in a day or so. To cross the galaxy, multiple relay jumps would be required, making the journey longer than with a conventional hyperdrive.
Since Element Zero, required for large ships, was scarce, humanity decided to put the plans for Mass Effect drives on the back burner. The scout ship that made the incredible journey was turned into a model for a fast, lightweight recon ship.
While some exploration ships were equipped with small Mass Effect drives to use the relay system, most of the human fleet opted for hyperdrives. It would take humanity many years to fully comb through the archives, but they were able to make key discoveries. The archives contained the sequence to activate and shut down the relays at will, which could prove useful in the future. After years of debate, the relay was activated, and two exploration vehicles were sent into the systems surrounding the receiving relay. Four new worlds were discovered that could potentially be settled.
Some in the System Alliance government found it suspicious that the relays were located so close to habitable planets. Additional classified records from the Mars Archives, known only to a few high-ranking officials within the Terran Systems Alliance and the Earth Government, suggested the discovery of a working Prothean V.I. in a bunker. However, all knowledge of this V.I. was suppressed, and its current whereabouts—if it even existed—remained unknown.
The human population in the galaxy now stands at 42.5 billion, including 8.5 billion Synths.