Ok this is going to be a
long post but I'm going to try to connect some dots here that span ME1 and ME2 so that I can try to lay a hypothesis for the overarching big picture and the groundwork for ME3. Alot of this has already been covered but please bear with me. (If you want lol)
What we know-
ME1- Sovereign/Nazara indoctrinates Saren and uses the Geth to usher in a new "cycle" of extinction, one that has gone on for millions of years. The previous species who inhabited the galaxy (the Protheans) reprogramed the keepers to ignore the Reapers signal to activate the Citadel, which is a mass relay leading to dark space, where presumably the rest of the Reaper fleet is waiting. Shepard, who is a member of a newcomer speicies to the galactic community (Humanity) are the ones most directly responsible for the death of Sovereign who is the self proclaimed "vanguard of our destruction".
It is very important to note humanity's role in Sovereign's destruction, for as we see the role they (and Shepard as the "Leader" of humanity) played in ME1 directly shapes the events of ME2. Depending on player choices, which allies survive and which do not, what the status of the council is at the end of ME1 will directly affect the ending of ME3 I believe, this will be discussed further at a later point. Now on to ME2.
ME2- Collectors are abducting remote human colonies in force. Shepard who was killed by the Collectors(presumably so he would not interfere with Reaper plans like in ME1) returns with the help of Cerberus. The Collectors as we later learn who are the Protheans, have very different goals/priorities than that of Sovreign.
The Reapers have shifed their focus entirely on humanity, a species that has garnered their attention due to Shepard's and the human fleet's actions in ME1. This is evident from the proclamations of the Collector General/Harbinger who claims to be the "Harbinger of your salvation." He also claims that humans are "acendant" and bound for "perfection" on multiple occasions as you encounter him throughout the game; "Acsendant species have nothing to fear from me."
At the end of ME2 we learn that the Collectors are gathering humans and liquiefying then for the purpose of creating a new "human reaper" and are basically fulfilling the Reaper equivalent of reproduction according to EDI. At the end "Harbinger" (who obviously leaves the possessed Collector General body for his Reaper one) and the Collectors are defeated, but we see the Reaper fleet at the end of the game advancing towards the Milky Way.
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Now with all that said I will try to put foward my thoughts on what exactly the Reapers are and what they are trying to do. Granted this theory has lots of holes but I haven't seen anyone put foward this kind of theory so I thought I would.
Basically I believe that the Reapers are not just performing a cycle of extinction but rather are perfoming a cycle (function may be a better word) of galactic "natural selection". Each 50,000 years they invade the galaxy and try to wipe out civilized races. If they succeed with no opposition then the races were inferior and deserved to be wiped out. They then return to dark space.
During the between period they leave a conquered race behind to observe and "collect"as they evolve so that they can keep tabs on their development and spot races that are "exceptional" so that they know when the time is right to usher in a new era of extinction/selection.
I think that other races have performed the task of the Collectors, remember the Protheans haven't been around that long, there were organics before them that served in this role. It is reasonable to presume that the Protheans destroyed them and when they eventually lost the Reapers put them in the place of the previous Collectors they destroyed in their war against the Reapers. The Reapers also leave behind a "vanguard" a gatekeeper for the Citadel so that the next cycle can begin one day. This was Sovreign/Nazara. The name "Nazara" more than likely refers to the alien race that "Sovereign" was created from. So a human Reaper would likewise be simply called "Human" or "Humanity".
But what happens if a race resists agaist all odds in the face of an unstoppable enemy? What if they fight admirably, or perhaps they discover the secrets of the Citadel and thwart a direct and easy Reaper invasion just like humanity and Shepard did? Well I think that things change then. If a race fights sucessfully against the Reapers and proves itself "worthy" then they are slated for "perfection". They are conquered, their biologcal forms melted down and the "essence" of their species is embodied in one perfect being. By doing this the Reapers have ensured that the greatest civilizations that have ever developed in the galaxy never die, but are instead "deified" and made immortal, eternal for all time. They have "saved them". This idea of taking races and "perfecting" them is likely key to understanding Reaper logic.
I think it is foolish to believe that the Reapers, beings that have existed for countless millions of years, have not encountered previous races that exhibited the exceptional qualities that Shepard and Humanity do. What greater weapon is there than the ability to turn your greatest foe into your ally, into one of
you? This is what I believe the Reapers are, they are bio-mechanical race comprised of the greatest civilizations throughout the ages that the galaxy has existed. This would definitely explain their extreme hubris, that along with the fact they have existed for so long and grown stronger the whole time.
Now alot of people have begun to put foward thoughts on Dark energy and gathering armies for ME3 and I think that is is spot on. I'm just going to bullet some points that are kind of vague at this point based on the information we have, but I feel will play a big role in ME3.
Humanity-
Humanity has always been the focus of ME. Humans are the hotshots, they defeated the Reapers in ME1. They got the attention of the Reapers and were "selected" to join the Reaper club in ME2. Now in ME3 there are several directions that Reaper plans will go concering Humanity.
Personally I think that the climax of ME3 is going to take place in humanity's home system above Earth as the Reapers focus on humanity directly. I do think that there is going to be some un-avoidable DA:O gather an army part of the game, they have been working up to this for two games now, it would be a cop-out for them to to an end run-around on this now. Just because there was a similar mechanic in DA:O doesn't mean it can be used perfectly for ME3.
The Citadel would be a logical choice for a final showdown, but we have already had one epic space battle there. My money is on Earth. For two games now we have been able to travel to the 'Local System' but have only ever had one quest there on the Moon (Luna) and one easter-egg. I could be wrong, but I don't think its a coincidence.
Seeing a massive space battle rage between the Reapers versus the combined forces of the Council, Alliance, Quarians, Geth, Krogan, and Rachni in the space around Earth while indoctrinated slaves of the Reapers fight on the planet itself against those same forces makes for a perfectly legendary ending.
Of course the ending you have and who will be involved is based entirely on you the (players) choices throughout the trilogy.
Dark Energy-
Lots of people have already focused in on this and I think it makes sense. I heard one theory that sounded plausible, that Reapers gain their enormous power from dark energy and this is how they can transpose their consciousness directy into other beings with the use of implants (Saren/ the Collector General/ Collector Minions). And also is likely connected to the indoctrination process as others have suggested.
It is very likely that Tail's quest on Haelstrom and the findings from the star in that system will help Shepard and his crew get a leg up on beating the Reapers. The quarian you find at Freedom's progress also speaks of 'dark energy' that surrounds the Collectors, the mention of this word and its prevalence across the game and in the codex isn't a mistake.
Perhaps a possible ending would include destroying the Sun in Earth's home system using artificial means (i.e. a weapon) after luring the Reapers there, the act would destroy or severely damage the Reaper fleet with a massive amout of 'dark energy' from the supernova and would fit in as a destroying the Reapers at all costs scenario.
After which a weakened Reaper fleet could be destroyed by the combined forces of the galaxy (who wouldn't stand a chance before). Humanity by and large would die and be sacrificed to save the galaxy but the Reapers would be defeated. Shepard (if he lives) would be tasked with re-building the remaining human race on a suitable new homeworld (like Eden Prime). Maybe multiple endings will exist, one with the Reapers winning and conquering Humanity, or one where Earth does not have to be destroyed to stop the Reapers.
This is alot of conjecture I know but I wanted to see if anyone else has had the same sorts of thoughts on the plot that I have. Hope someone gets something from it!
Modifié par SilverBecker, 09 février 2010 - 11:34 .
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