Waaa! Waluigi Time!

Oh I’d say a lot. Not in minute ways either, I’d go so far as to say that the entire relationship Earth would have with its colonies would be completely upended post-invasion because of the disproportionate attention the Reapers paid to the invasion of Earth. It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that by the time the Expeditionary Force arrives to take Earth back, I would say a destruction estimate of 70% + would be an optimistic assessment. Rebuilding all that would require more resources than the system could provide, and Earth would therefore rely heavily on surviving colonies, even for things as basic as food and shelter.

But there’s also the fact that it seemed to me that humanity as a whole was excessively dependent on Earth in comparison to other species. According to the wiki, most humans still live on Earth. If we then take the idea that the principle of ‘one man, one vote’ still holds true - not a given, admittedly - then it follows that although the Alliance still functions as a democracy, power ultimately comes from Earth, with the colonies wielding little influence in shaping legislation, even when it concerns the colonies directly.

You might remember a long time ago when Headcanon Wednesday was still running that I was fiddling about with this thing here. It was a serious attempt at devising a governmental structure of the Alliance that was realistic, but also rooted in contemporary trends in the global political structure, with reference not just to globalisation, but also the increasing imbalance between urban areas, regional governments and international organisations to which some measure of sovereignty has been conceded at the expense of central government. In the scenario I devised, despite efforts at giving the rapidly growing colonies some say in guiding the Alliance, political power is still mostly wielded from Earth

“No one left behind” becomes not only an achievement but a personal mantra.

“What happened on Akuze will NEVER happen again, I will protect everyone under my command” - Then imagine the emotional damage from Virmire, imagine Shepard demanding to go back to the crater after the dust clears to try and find SOMETHING of their lost squad members, any scrap of them, so they can bring it back, so they didn’t leave them behind. Visiting the Normandy wreck and demanding to carry out the search alone, face set and ignoring Joker’s pleas for them to come back “Commander it’s nearly been 10 hours you have to give it up” because there’s still a dogtag unaccounted for. Having to be dragged away from the tower at Tuchanka because “He’s going to come out any minute, Mordin’s a genius he’ll have thought of a way, he’ll come out any minute…” Never once believing they wont find a cure for Thane, constantly writing emails to every medical professional they can, always reassuring him that they’ll find a way. Saying nothing at his memorial on the Citadel. Shepard’s deep loathing for slavers is intensified when it comes to the Collectors, trying not to scream at every body they see being taken away on Horizon and when their old teammate berates them they just take it.      

The child they couldn’t save that appears in their nightmare night after night sometimes speaks in Ashley’s voice, Kaidan’s voice, Mordin’s Voice, Thane, Emmerson, Pressley, Jenkins…

Shepard waking up every morning and saying the same thing…

On Kasumi’s loyalty mission when you’re searching Hock’s room for DNA you check the couch and Shepard says “Aha!” Kasumi: Found a sample? Shepard: No, a credit chit!

It makes perfect sense to me!

Pretty sure there is a facebook fan page, twitter accounts, instagram posts and regular photography contests like “if you manage to take a picture with Commander Shepard you win.” And if those social networks are completely dead, new ones would do the same things.

Shepard and the Normandy crew must have a fandom on the equivalent of Tumblr (please tell me that site will be DEAD by that time). Can you imagine how people are like with their rps fics? And how, when rps fics were mentioned by a celebrity, everyone used to panic and completely lock all their fics on LJ? Ahaha. That might be a bit too much but if people can come up with stories, they will. But that would be a small part of the fandom, because rps is usually not accepted by everyone.

Which is kinda ironic, because celebrity culture at its worst is basically based on being invasive and picturing all sorts of things and spreading rumors. So people would definitely believe so and so are in a relationship, and they can prove it because (insert theories). Fans will fight, people will be convinced to know the truth, etc etc. If it’s all on the extranet, I guess that’s better than people like Conrad who are stalkers.

“Conduit of Ilos” by Lazare Gvimradze

Something I created to commemorate  #N7Day and what it means to me.

Mass Effect is filled with lore, mythology and atmosphere to the brim. The game’s capacity to not just tell, but show - in a paralyzing dance of alien cultures, desolate worlds, and cosmic stakes - has won a nerdy squeak of mine more than once.

One of my favorite locations presented throughout the series, hands-down, is the Prothean world of Ilos. Where do I even begin; narratively, it is the barely-contained calm before the storm, the climax of the interstellar pursuit, with the world itself literally humming beneath the surface, gently pushing you forward towards the unfolding mystery.

Then there’s the undercurrents in the mood, the bristling calm of an overgrown, forgotten world where the final few of a fallen empire were desperately trying to outsmart the Machine Gods that had all but exterminated them; working, sacrificing, clawing at every cinder of hope to secure a warning message for the future. This is where a galactic civilization came to its knees but went out swinging, launching a seed that would eventually flourish into victory in the battle for life, fifty thousand years later.

From the Mass Effect wiki:  “Shortly after the vorcha’s discovery, several asari mining corporations adopted vorcha orphans from Heshtok, raising them to live nonviolent lives and employed them in the mining industry on Parasc. While these efforts were at first labeled colonialist, the orphans became minor celebrities when it was discovered that the vorcha habit of using violence to communicate was not completely innate. Several spoke throughout Citadel space on behalf of their species, but their short life spans kept their careers very brief. Even today, companies that want vorcha labor have the poor choice between adopting and educating them as youngsters just to watch them age and die or dealing with autonomous but violent adults.“

- In ME3, where do the helmets go. They’re always taking them off and then pulling them out at convenient times.

- Do aliens use the same periodic table as humans? During the citadel DLC, Tali and Traynor are drunkenly reciting the elements. (Though they may not use the same exact table, it is based on atomic weight after all which wouldn’t be any different)

- Each species clearly developed some sort of mathematical system, how do inter-species engineering projects and so forth work given they’d all use different symbols and probably totally different numerical systems?

- How are 50,000 year old prothean elevators exactly the same as elevators everywhere else

- If the presidium is a ring, and the council tower is in the middle, how do you take an elevator there?

- What do different species call their star systems? Most of them are from human mythology (e.g. the Athena Nebula). Obviously the asari did not worship a Greek goddess. Do translators just pick up the different names?

- I know Thane looks like Pepe, but if he was amphibious he wouldn’t be dying

- If you choose the synthesis ending, what happens to all the “reaperized” people? Do they gain self-awareness?

- Liara, Jack, etc. have masks instead of helmets, which offer only oxygen no real protection. What the happens when they’re exposed to the vacuum of space?

But I’m sad. With the new trailer, it hurts to hear Shepard say goodbye. That no matter what, their story and their life is finished. Knowing that we have been through so much with them. And yet, here they are. Telling us to be strong. That they are always with us. It just *breathes* hurts. It hurts the same way as when you lose someone important in your life.

I didn’t think Shepard was like that for me. It had always been Mordin and Anderson that hurt like this. But hearing those words “This is Commander Shepard, signing off” hurt so bad. And I finally understood. As much as Shepard was fictional, they had been there for me. Even after the game ended. Even after the crucible fired and they were lost to the rubble. They had always been with me. And they would always be with me. 

Bioware broke my heart a little bit today.

We’ve been allowed to follow the hero’s journey - to spend numerous hours immersed in the story, becoming familiar with its peoples, with its beauties and harshness, facing ethical dilemas, and in some instances, learning about ourselves and becoming comfortable with our own identity. And the thrill we receive from following the hero is so often the fuel that pushes us to overcome the obstacles and challenges presented in our day-to-day lives.

But what should be noted is that for all that the N7 brand signifies, much of the excitement and empowerment, the inspiration, comes from the collective community - from individuals around the globe who have come together in one manner or another to exchange stories, showcase interpretations in art, fiction, and meta, and simply share the common affection for that whirl and roar of a mass relay.

And there’s joy in that - in being part of all that Mass Effect is and has become.

So when we raise a glass (of Ryncol, of Serrice Ice Brandy, of whatever the beverage of choice happens to be) to Shepard and all the galaxy’s finest, let’s give a nod and a toast to those who contributed in the creation of that universe,… and to one another - for the mutual journey, for the great ride that continues on.

ME2: A conversation taking place post Normandy Crash Site mission. You know the one.

Shepard rocked on her heels in front of the main battery, savoring the delayed, dizzy sway that echoed in her inebriated head. The lights in the hall had been dimmed to help facilitate regular sleep cycles. Behind her, the mess was dark and deserted. She glanced back at the black windows of the medbay and wondered how Chakwas was sleeping.

Hey guys, remember this?