Hey everyone, Rossi320 here, back after three years away!
Man, things have changed a lot since the last time I was here. The site's background changes and most of the people back in the day may have left. I can't believe that its been three years since then, since the ME series ended. But like everyone else I moved on, both with my own life (which is doing well so far) and onto new games. In the case of the latter however, I've been feeling a bit empty as of late, like there is something missing.
Despite that, life continued and I didn't give ME much thought apart from when each DLC released and the occasional moment of nostalgia that popped up now and again. Recently though, I have been following a fanfic crossover series between Mass Effect and Halo, its stories so far being "When There was a Tomorrow" and "Guilty Sparks", by General Rage. The series is really quite good, interesting and fun, looking at what would happen if the main ME2 characters crossed over into the Halo universe just as the events of Halo: Reach began and following from there, examining how both the characters and their respective universes would react to each and how certain key events would play with interesting differences, due to this interaction. More importantly however, it is very well written, which has been a big part in drawing and keeping me invested with it. (Apart from the obvious reason of seeing two of Sci-fi's recent greats duking it out with and against each other. 
) I know my word may not be enough and I probably can't describe it in a way that does the series justice but I would recommend that anyone who is reading this go and check out the series, it is worth a read although the Shepard portrayed in it is a set character and you may have to accept that the commander in this is not the one you know.
Anyway, with that shameless advertising out of the way, I'll cut straight to the point now. Reading that series has helped get me back into Mass Effect, so much so that I have actually loaded up my unfinished playthrough from three years ago and am currently playing through with all DLCs included, intent on finally finishing it. (The fallout from the ending debate caused me to burnout from ME and just drop it entirely, thus the long absence). More importantly though, the series has also provided me with the spark to make my own ME fanfic project, as I have always wanted to create my own story based on my idea on how the Mass Effect series would end. Now that all the DLC is released, (especially the Extended Cut), I now have all the information to do so.
And yes, this is partly a response to the ending. Sue me. 
Now, I do realise that there are many obstacles in my may, as this will be first fanfic I have ever really made (Wait! Don't go! I know that sounds bad, but I do have SOME experience writing stuff for other franchises as part of personal projects 
).
I am about to return to University in the coming days and in addition to the academic work I'll have to do, I'll also be looking out for placement jobs for the course, as well as smaller part-time jobs for myself. As such, I am going to be quite busy, even over the summer holiday period, so I can only guess when I'll be able to work on this. I may be somewhat over-ambitious with this project as well, considering that this will not just be one story, its a project as I mentioned in the above paragraph, consisting of a series of several stories/works, the main one of which will have several variations...or many ( 
gulp). I also have other personal projects and pastimes that I'd like to leave some time for as well. As such, it should come as no surprise that keeping a regular update schedule may be next to impossible. 
Now, I'll be the first to admit that, with all those obstacles facing me, it is likely that I may never finish this project, or that it may not even see the light of day at all. But...I still want to try. This is something that I'd like to do and I feel that it'll be a fun experience. Hopefully, if I play my cards right, you'll enjoy it too. I also like to think that doing this will help develop my experience as a writer, although only ever as a hobby and for fun. I have always been a sucker for stories and a part of me has always wanted to give writing for fun a go.
Currently, I haven't actually written anything for this project yet. In fact, I'm currently writing notes in a word file detailing the plot, trying to figure out where I should take the story, although I do have general idea of the entire story nailed down. I am also currently in need of a good editor or editors who can point out any logical issues (ME wki FTW btw!), good and bad ideas and spelling/grammar mistakes. I have created this thread so that I can introduce the project to everyone, as well as to receive feedback on, well...just about everything regarding this little escapade. As everything is still at the planning and construction phase, I may on occasion ask some questions or create a poll on certain ideas/elements. If any particular ideas from you guys gets integrated into the project in some way, I'll include your names into a credits section for all to see. I also would greatly appreciate any and all feedback, positive and negative, as it will help make this project better. I realise just how important it is to recognise your talents and flaws, especially from your audience, so as to ensure that whatever you work on, be it books, films games or any general product or service, is the best it can be. After all, this is for your enjoyment, I'd be doing a lousy job if you're not enjoying it.
So like I said in the previous paragraph, while I'm still plotting out details for the this series's stories, I have the overall framework already in my head. So without further ado, I introduce you to my Mass Effect fan series!
(Note that the titles for each story are subject to change, but the actual story-lines themselves that are described below already have a solid foundation and will follow the outlines stated here.)
Mass Effect: Collapse - It has all fallen apart. Following the Alpha relay incident, Shepard has been recalled to Earth to answer for what happened there. With the Systems Alliance and the Council demanding an explanation, the Batarian Hegemony screaming for the commander's blood and worst of all, the reapers now moving freely within the Milky Way, the situation has never been more dire. With little choice left and those options remaining quickly disappearing, Shepard is forced to disband the crew, urging them to leave the Normandy, find allies and get ready for the coming invasion. Elsewhere across the Galaxy, those aware of the threat are also taking steps to prepare. Some are desperate to find salvation, while others seek to exploit the inevitable chaos. This is the story of the fateful six months preceding the Reaper War.
Mass Effect: Resistance - The unthinkable has happened. The reapers have arrived and have brought hell to Earth. The planet's nations and cities are now vast battlefields and its populace is being harvested to create the essence of a new reaper. Humanity's extermination is all but certain. However, there are those who refuse to accept this fate, who refuse to let this be the end of the Human race. Even as the world crumbles, people across the world now stand together in the face of impossible odds to fight back against the reapers and to take back the Earth. These are the chronicles of the resistance at Home.
Mass Effect: Frontlines - To survive, we must stand together. As the fires of war rage across the Galaxy, peoples from every race and from all walks of life; soldiers, mercenaries, crusaders, wanderers, defectors and more are now stepping up in force to join the embattled factions of the Milky Way to fight against the Reaper's onslaught and to take back the worlds they have taken. These new found warriors must now battle alongside allies and former enemies and will have to learn to trust each other. If this war is to end in victory, it will take not just Shepard and the Spectre's team, but an army made of the entire Galaxy to turn the tide. These are the tales of some of the many heroes who rose against an unstoppable threat together during the Reaper war.
Mass Effect: Destiny - It all comes down to this. Commander Shepard has rallied the peoples of the Galaxy, amassed the largest military force in galactic history and has struck back against the Reapers at Earth, intent on deploying the Crucible super weapon to defeat them. But it still may not be enough. The assault to reach the Citadel has failed, the conduit is closed and Shepard lies near death in the ruins of London. But even now, when all seems lost, there is still hope. The fleets and armies of the Galaxy continue to fight on in space and on the ground, as does the Normandy's crew and Shepard, despite strain to body and mind, struggles on. Now, Shepard must now reunite with allies and fight across the Earth with the forces they have gathered to find a way of reaching the Citadel to activate the Crucible and finally defeat the Reapers. Difficult choices lie ahead but no matter what happens, be it salvation or extinction, this is where it ends, once and for all.
A particular note about the last story. This is the heart of the entire project, where the changes from the original ending truly begin, the focus is primarily on Shepard and where all the events covered in the other stories have an effect...which is what you would expect from anything called "mass" effect. This will be particularly interesting and challenging as I plan on making variations of this story to fit for as many people's versions of Shepard as possible. This will include factors such as Shepard's gender, paragon and renegade decisions, chosen romance interest, Shepard's background, etc, etc. Shepard will also be faced with situations where YOU have to choose what to do, just like in the games (In the words of an old, nigh immortal crusader knight, choose wisely). Like I said, this will be quite challenging to do and I may need to figure out some kind of fancy software program to or database...thing to organise this, so to at least get the story out, I'll focus on a particular version of Shepard first, ie. my Shep (Yeah, I know, I know, not fair but I just want something solid out first before moving on. I''ll endeavour to keep this "first" Shepard consistent to the general characteristics we see of all Shepards to prevent an "self-insert OC" situation from brewing, keep the overall writing quality high and, if I finish, I'll try my best to get to the others version as fast as I can). An addendum to this, to help facilitate this stance of the Shepard in the story being YOUR Shepard, I don't plan on specifying the Commander's appearance. I'll need to figure how to work out weapon and power choices though, which will be trickier.
So, to finish off, I hope that I have got you looking forward to what is to come with this little project as I am and that you get to enjoy the story itself once I start updating with actual content soon. And please, do provide any and all feedback or thoughts you have whatsoever, as it really, really will be helpful for making this whole thing the best it can be.
See you all out there.
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