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[Dean_the_Young]

Disclaimer: It’s shorter than usual, but still a TL;DR for a reason. Now that you’ve been warned, don’t be redundant.

http://social.biowar.../index/11434827
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When ME3 came out and the first reactions to the Crucible device were the hottest, one of the more common ‘if only’ theories thrown around was ‘if only Bioware had made the Dark Energy theory the Reaper motivation. Then everything would have been better.’

Now, frankly, despite being an early proponent of the Dark Energy theory back in ME2, I doubt everyone would have accepted it. I also doubt it would have given a happy ending, or removed the Crucible, or even satisfied everyone. But as I was musing, I went to thinking on how the Crucible might have tied into a ME3 scenario in which the Reapers were motivated by the Dark Energy theory.

That snowballed a little, getting here: now the Theory changed the Crucible, the Crucible options changed the endings, and together those changed the optimum role for Cerberus.

Enjoy.

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Part 1: What is the Dark Energy Theory?

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If you're not aware, the Dark Energy theory was a speculation of the Reaper’s motivation that amounted to galactic-scale global warming. Building off of codex lore, Haestrom, and the Reaper’s species-preservation inclinations through Reaper-hood, and the dominant-technology path of Mass Effect technologies, the Reaper Cycle would have been a form of regular house cleaning to keep the galaxy livable.

Going off of the idea that an over-abundance of Dark Energy was the cause of Haestrom’s untimely, but unlikely deliberate, collapse, the Dark Energy theory built on codex interpretation. Any time Mass Effect is used, whether through biotics or e-zero technologies, dark energy would be produced: as dark energy accumulates, however, it begins to weaken the stars of the galaxy. First the weakest, but as the Dark Energy level rises the destruction accelerates because as stars explode they produce more element zero, which in turn produces more dark energy. This dark-energy would be a galactic-scale effect, not a localized one, so using e-zero at any place would ultimately destabilize the entire galaxy. Once stars start exploding, however, the process would naturally accelerate because of more e-zero… and ultimately end in a cataclysmic destruction of all the stars in the galaxy, rendering the galaxy uninhabitable and devoid of natural organic life.

Basically, global warming writ galactic. Space-faring organics find element zero (oil). Element-zero is so powerful and useful and such a dominant technology that those who use it can crush/conquer/out-compete those who do not use it (technological dominance). Unknown and undetectable at the time, however, the use of the dominant technology ultimately reaches to critical point at which the system is destabilized and crashes (global warming Armageddon). By the time the problem can be detected and recognized, it is already too late (point of no return).

In this theory, the Reapers are those radical environmentalists who want to save nature by killing those pesky polluters... so that any pesky polluters can survive. By wiping out e-zero using civilizations, the galaxy is given time to dissipate the Dark Energy buildup and life can continue to grow. Civilizations that are ‘worthy’ are preserved as Reapers, gestalt-collectives of the entire civilizations that compose them… though of course every Reapers is made to understand and accept the gravity of the threat.

While some felt the theory was counter-intuitive by leaving the Mass Relays and other such technologies, in fact the Reaper cycle is an orderly development of inevitable tech growth. Element Zero is naturally occurring as it is, and a naturally dominant technology because any other technology works better by adding some mass-manipulation. Even if the relays were not made, civilizations would still eventually find and adopt e-zero regardless: hence the ‘inevitability’ argument. Societies that wouldn’t adopt the dominant technology don’t remain dominant, and so it only takes one group to bring about total ruin. It wouldn’t even be plausible to expect those societies to adopt alternative solutions, because not only would it be too late by the time they try but the impetus to ‘cheat’ just a little is simply too powerful.

The Cycle, including the relays, simply makes the Reapering quicker, more orderly, and easier to manage than a disjointed natural development. The Cycles are timed on the basis of Dark Energy growth, and how to give civilizations a chance to live before they reach the danger zones: had Sovereign been able to open the Citadel Relay without sabotage, for example, the Haestrom sun wouldn’t be collapsing.

So Reapers = Galactic Gardeners, pruning dark energy growth in order to give others the chance to sprout and grow. The ‘first’ Reapers would have been past victims of the Dark Energy collapse, in other galaxies even. After their failures, they began ‘preserving’ civilizations as Reapers, saved from their own inevitable dark energy extinction. If there is a scientific solution to the Dark Energy problem... well, the Reapers haven't found it. Maybe they stopped looking, maybe they felt it futile after countless failed attempts, or maybe they simply believe it doesn’t exist.

This is the context of the Dark Energy Theory. So if that had been the Reaper motivation, how would the Crucible have been adapted?

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Part 2: The Biggest Dark Energy Engine of All Time

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If the Reapers had a preservationist motivation, something like the Crucible could have served a much different role: rather than targeting the Reapers directly, it would target their goals. Instead of the controlling the Reapers, the Crucible would interface with controlling the Relays. Goodbye, Destroy, Control, and Synthesis. Hello the destruction of the galaxy as we know it.

Huh?

Start from this: the Crucible is a simply a really, really big Dark Energy engine. A really specialized drive core that, when docked with the Catalyst, can use enough element zero and put out enough Dark Energy to directly tap into all that potential Dark Energy buildup that has the Reapers so worried. Don’t worry about how that works, but just understand that you’re playing with the forces that are close to destroying all the stars in the galaxy.

Really, really scientific in other words. But avoiding ‘space magic,’ it taps into what already exists and has been established in lore (Dark Energy), plays around with a few laws of Mass Effect physics, and otherwise is astronomical in scope. More energy manipulated in seconds than generated in decades. Etc.

If done badly, that could kick off the Dark Energy collapse here and now. On the other hand, the previous were convinced that if done right it could directly destroy the Reapers… though our scientists are still figuring how exactly that part worked. But hey, the plot moves and timelines are limited, and we’re dealing with the ‘might ignite the atmosphere’ question in our decisive question.

The important thing to take away, however, is that there’s only one implied way to affect the Reapers directly. Otherwise, the device is simply a giant global warmer.

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Part 3: The Scenario

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All things being equal, the end-game can remain much the same. Alright, so Cerberus doesn’t have the ‘Control the Reapers’ motivation, so they probably needed something else to do. And with the Reapers having a science-based ideology rather than needing a central controller, the Star Child can go as well. I’m sure that would upset many people.

So Shepard gets to the Citadel. As Hackett asks Shepard to make the last fix and press the button on are end, Harbinger appears as the explanation plot device. Harbinger clarifies the Reaper’s motivations if they weren’t defined already on Rannoch/by Cerberus. And as Shepard and Hackett and everyone still have no clue about what the completed Crucible actually does , Harbinger tells them… in an attempt to convince them not to.

Just to add to the pressure, the Reapers broadcast and transmit this final conversation and decision live across the galaxy, so that everyone can see the Commander choose.

The choices aren’t that great either. Like the Illusive Man said, Salvation comes with a Cost.

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Surrender Option: Agree with the Reapers

Shepard, the man/woman on the spot, can agree that the Reaper cycle really is the best option to maintaining a livable galaxy. Shepard will refuse to activate the Crucible, allowing the Reapers to retake it.

With that conceded, however, Shepard can wrest various ‘concessions’ from the Reapers that are freely given: Shepard can become the Human Reaper Avatar, that any particular/every species of this cycle and those to follow be preserved, that the Reapers resume an abandoned (because it always failed) practice in the next cycles that organics be made aware and given the option to avoid necessitating the cycle.

Just to drive in that this is the Bad End even more, however, Shepard ends the game fighting the last former-allies who come through the Conduit to stop you. Your squadmates, your allies, even Cerberus come in waves to stop you.

Cue the ending. ‘The Shepard’ is a legend through Liara’s data capsules, and is remembered as the worst traitor in the history of all cycles. As the next species, a Yahg, looks at the vilified image of Shepard, a dark shadow emerges from above as a Reaper silhouette comes through the clouds…

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Crucible Option 1: Destroy the Mass Effect.

The difference between a motor and a generator is direction of power transfer, and the Crucible is no different. Rather than be another mass effect engine to produce more Dark Energy, the Crucible can reverse that effect: take the untapped Dark Energy and channel it. Doing so will destroy all element zero that exists in the galaxy by rendering it inert.

This not only would save the galaxy from Dark Energy by removing the buildup and the very source of the problem, it would also kill all the Reapers. On the ‘bigger picture’ side, it’s an ideal long-term solution to the catastrophic problems of (a) Reaper genocide and ( solar genocide.

It would also genocide all of galactic civilization, of course, as all element zero means all: hover cars, space ships, FTL, the whole shebang. Only non-ME technologies, including synthetics (AIs) and those ‘boring’ sciences would survive. The technological clock would be turned back for everyone to round about Earth before the Mars discovery.

This has obvious Bad Implications for just about everyone who is reliant on Mass Effect tech. On the other hand, however, life will survive. The colonies can rebuild, albeit isolated and divided. It’s not bad forever either, as the Reapers acknowledge that other forms of space flight and FTL exist: they’re just far inferior to what we’re accustomed.

And we don’t won’t learn them easily, because the Reapers are kind of dead if you choose this.

Depending on War Assets, Shepard may survive a daring escape back through the Conduit to Earth before the Crucible fires. If War Assets aren’t high enough, wounded Shepard can’t make it and dies on the station. On Earth, there is rejoicing and mourning as emergency efforts to save those in the Sword/Shield fleets clash with the efforts to re-establish Earth.

In the flash-forward ending, the Shepard is remembered as a mixed man/woman who beat the Reapers, regardless of the cost. Though many died cursing Shepard’s decision, life continued and new forms of FTL are slowly reconnecting the galaxy.

So, there it is: beat the Reapers, beat the Dark Energy threat, don’t even kill those lovable synthetics, and only at the cost of the destruction of galactic civilization. All things considered, this ‘at all costs’ solution that kills the Reapers carries heavy Renegade undertones.

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Crucible Option 2: Destroy the Galaxy

The alternative is to put the Crucible in the other direction and kick off the Dark Energy catastrophe right now… and give the Reapers absolutely no reason to stay.

There’s a bit more thought to it than it sounds, but at the most absurd Shepard refuses to compromise those all-important values for the Reapers concerns and instead moves to remove the Reapers motivation. If there’s no galaxy to ‘save’, the Reapers will have no basis to reap and continue the cycle. They’re logical like that.

Shepard’s uses the Crucible to pass that point of no return, and in revulsion the Reapers leave the galaxy to its justified destruction, not even bothering to finish their Reaping. They pick up and go, presumably to ‘save’ another galaxy or simply wait for this one to regrow in a few billion years, and leave everything else for the doomed galaxy. With the Relays intact, Mass Effect still active, and galactic civilization aware of what Shepard has done, the Commander faces some tough questions.

Shepard isn’t dooming everyone to imminent disaster though (the Reapers predict a few hundred years at least), because Shepard can have a Plan.

On one hand, Shepard can believe that the Reapers are wrong about the insolvability of the Dark Energy problem: that the Point of No Return isn’t actually such a definite. If everyone pools their efforts and Works Together, surely we can now beat this problem just like we beat the Reapers ™. Paragon +2.

Or, alternatively, Shepard can outline a different strategy: that in the time they have left, the galaxy organizes colonization fleets to escape to other galaxies. Once at these new galaxies, and aware of the problems of unregulated Mass Effect usage, they can rebuild a more sustainable system… and also hunt down the Reapers, who still exist. Renegade +2.

In the flash-forward ending, Shepard is remembered with mixed feelings: the one who saved galactic civilization at the cost of the galaxy. The final escape fleets are leaving the galaxy, one that has grown increasingly dark and cold. There are concerns about what will be found in the next galaxy, and about the Reapers who still exist, but civilization continues.

This is the more Paragon bad-good ending: Paragon in that it affirms that we will not sacrifice our values even if it kills us, and in that it encourages (forces) massive cooperation for collective survival. It retains the galactic cooperation and connectivity, albeit with a time limit, as well as the feel-good of all the alien friends still being accessible. Tali can get her house on Rannoch: you can have your Blue Turian/Asari/Krogan/whatever babies . We're free from the Reapers... and don’t have to give up their stuff.

While it lasts, anyway. The niceties can’t, won’t, last long, and the end of the galaxy really is nigh.

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The Secret Option: The Negotiation

For those who refuse to accept the Crucible’s delima or accept the Reapers solution, there is another way: balls to the wall negotiation, staring down the Reapers, and making them blink.

Crucible Option 3 is the negotiation tactic: bluffing (or not) that you will use the Crucible if the Reapers don’t back down. By threatening to use the Crucible in any direction, Shepard can hold the entire galaxy hostage… as well as what the Reapers value most. In a case of ‘Mutually Assured Misery’, Shepard issues an ultimatum to the Reapers of ‘Stop Reaping or I Really Will Do It.’

Naturally this is by far the hardest to pull off: requiring High Reputation, High War Assets, and any other possible requirements of note, such as discovering the Reapers true motivations and otherwise.

If successful, however, Harbinger blinks first, and now negotiations begin with Shepard dictating terms, similar to the Surrender ending but better. Shepard, for example, can demand a Boon: The Reapers can be forced to leave the galaxy entirely and allow Organics to sort out the Dark Energy threat on their own (Paragon), or the Reapers are forced to hand over their non-ME technologies and know-how to facilitate a solution (Renegade). Reapers can be forced to help fix up everyone’s planets (Paragon), or serve as proxies for Humanity/the Alliance (Renegade). And so on: Shepard has the bit between the teeth, and can get concessions in the peace.

Ultimately the Reapers stop the Reaping and retreat... leaving the galaxy in an uneasy peace. The species of the galaxy have to not only turn their attentions to trying to move off of Mass Effect technologies to stop the Dark Energy buildup (even harder because everyone has a competitive incentive to cheat and keep using it), but the Reapers still exist, and are probably scheming on how to seize control of the Crucible and resume the Cycle. On the other hand, since the 'peace' some Reapers have broken ranks and ‘stepped’ forward to offer their help in devising a Dark Energy solution.

The Cycle is broken… for now, if a solution can be reached. This is the 'good' ending of continuity, but ominous at the same time. It could turn out well, or it could be doomed, and the Reapers exist regardless of all else. You couldn't stop them, and you didn’t make them pay for what they’ve done, but you did make them stop without destroying the galaxy. Shepard can still have that house, those babies, etc.

In the future flash-forward ending, Shepard is remembered as a legend: one who made a hard choice for peace, because the Reapers still exist and are still unmatched, but who also gave the galaxy a chance to survive and break the cycle. A chance, and not a certainty mind you, but a chance none the less.

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Factoring in Previous Endings

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With such an end-game scenario, previous endings could seem irrelevant: with basic epilogue slides or in-game foreshadowing or even a post-choice dialogue cutscene, however, there needn’t be. Besides the conventional in-game content, War Assets, and others, the previous ending choices could tie-in and shape their respective ‘baseline’ endings into something less bleak.

For example, the ‘Destroy the Galaxy’ choice is slanted Paragon, but the ‘ideal’ of finding a solution to reversing the Dark Energy crisis would require galactic cooperation to stand a chance. Galactic cooperation under such a threat requires a stable Council.

Therefore the Destroy the Galaxy choice ties into the ME1 choice of the Destiny Ascension, and what sort of Council you have. In a Renegade Council setting, there is no more trust between the species: in the face of the galactic exodus efforts, every species looks out for its own first. Rather than a combined effort, every species competes over the resources of a dying galaxy: different species make way for different galaxies, war follows as those who are left behind fight to be taken along, and a great deal more conflict follows. At best, Humanity maintains an edge through Cerberus and the Collector base. Worrisome, however, is that no single species would be prepared for if the galaxy they travel to has a Reaper-equivalent threat.

Saving the Council, however, leads to stability and a true galactic effort. Reaching out and making peace with the Terminus, the Council organizes an single exodus for everyone. No one (sentient) is left behind as an orderly, total evacuation to a single galaxy is made. And when they get there, the combined strength would likely be enough to fend off even the Reapers. The narrative implications of a guaranteed survival.

In the Destroy the Mass Effect ending, of course, a united galaxy isn’t much different from a divided one. The division is physical now regardless. At best, the tone of contact changes.

The Collector Base, however, takes on new significance: as a repertoire of Reaper knowledge not only of Mass Effect technology, but also those non-ME technologies that still exist, the true coup of the Collector Base archive for Cerberus is the discovery of new forms of FTL. With this technology and other gains in hand, Cerberus is able to re-connect the galaxy far sooner and with far less trouble than would otherwise occur… though naturally the galaxy that rises is one that heavily favors Humans.

Cerberus does some good, in other words. A big change, touched on below.

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Part 3: Factoring in Cerberus

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One of the changes to the Crucible was the elimination of the Control ending. Without Control as the target, Cerberus needs a new goal. Human survival and dominance, against the Reapers and beyond, can take a different take. There’s no real need for a ‘Cerberus is Indoctrinated’ subplot when naked self-interest will do.

Consider this scenario: from the Prothean archives and Collector Base recoveries, TIM knows the Crucible and its consequences from the start. Without a way to realistically take over the Reapers, and with Destroying this galaxy and fleeing to another being a rather obvious detriment to Human interests even if the Reapers could be persuaded not to kill us out of spite, the Illusive Man determines that the Destruction of the Mass Effect is the only Crucible usage.

At the same time, however, just as many players would prefer not to create a galactic dark age and cut off the Mass Effect, the Illusive Man knows that the Council wouldn’t go ahead with the Crucible Project either if they knew what it actually did, and instead waste time looking for something else. Even if, if, Shepard might agree, the people Shepard works for who could actually make the Crucible probably-might not even start it. The Crucible needs to be build, however… and Humanity needs to be prepared and protected for the post-Crucible galaxy.

Cerberus antagonism in ME3, in other words, is in order to pull the wool over Shepard/the Council’s eyes as to the real purpose of the Crucible, and to set up the post-Mass Effect galaxy to be as good for Humanity as possible.

The first goal is met by interfering with Shepard’s efforts to recover Prothean data on the Crucible, while allowing just enough data let it be built. The Mars Archive tampering, for example, isn’t to get the data for Cerberus but to alter it for Shepard. Illium is to cover the tracks, because the Prothean VI can outright tell the truth: Cerberus needs to alter the programming before it can let the Catalyst be known. This is the part of the game where Cerberus is successful, and in which Shepard’s successes are ‘Just as Planned’ moments, up to and including sacrificing his own base. Even the Cerberus defectors can be implied to be scientists being maneuvered to make sure the Crucible gets completed.

The second goal is met by weakening everyone else as much as possible, in preparation for the post-Reaper galaxy. Mostly this means sabotaging the war effort so that the Reapers weaken everyone as much as possible, so that when the post-Reaper Humanity re-meets aliens they are weak aliens. Cerberus fears the Krogan most, hence the opposition to the genophage, but also wants to make life tougher for the Turians by preventing the Alliance. The Crucible can be made regardless, after all… and so long as the Reapers don’t actually win, the better they do the better for Humanity in the long-term. What the Reapers won’t do, of course, Cerberus will help along, and hence Cerberus attacking the alien species with an eye towards the post-Reaper setting, still-birthing their alternative-technology science efforts and seizing nominally pro-Human gains.

‘Pro-Human’ actions are a third and somewhat interesting opportunity as well: if Cerberus doesn’t target the Alliance, it can make a case of being ‘pro-Human’ through ‘anti-Alien’ rather than ‘anti-everyone.’ Fighting alien and Reaper threats which endanger Humans, for example: earning Human public support by evacuating Human colonies here, and defending them there.

The most ‘mixed’ twist would come in the form of Sanctuary. Expand it a bit into a series of safe-worlds rather than a single project, and Sanctuary could be the double-sided Cerberus looking both at the now and future. Secret Cerberus labs by night… genuine Human-specific refugee camps by day, and future strategic colonies tomorrow. Project Sanctuary, besides its dark side, could also be a covert plan to pre-establish colonies that would be strategically located in a post-Relay galaxy. Human colonies, resting on the slow-FTL trade routes that would likely arise, not only protect Humans now but put Humans at a head start and on the future galaxy. When the Mass Effect is destroyed, and especially if/when Cerberus puts that Collector Base non-ME FTL to work, these Sanctuaries will hold the heart of the post-war interstellar economy.

Of course, no Cerberus good can come without some evil, and Cerberus has to learn how to control its soldiers somewhere and with some people. But Sanctuary isn’t just a murder-lab, and Cerberus isn’t attacking everyone just because.

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And there you have it: a three-phase reinterpretation of ME3 around the Dark Energy Theory. The Reapers motivations, the nature of the Catalyst and the end-game, and even the reflections on Cerberus.