Words in Italics are thoughts
Electronic communication
Words in bold are spoken by Geth
==================================================================================
Nothing.
Most people seem to think that being a machine means you feel cold, to go with that whole ‘resistance is futile’ stereotype. Well, people are wrong. As I look at my hands, I feel nothing.
*WE ARE APPROACHING TARGET PLANET.
Just because I don't feel anything doesn’t mean I’m not aware though. I can precisely move both of my ridiculously long fingers and my slightly shorter thumb.
*DISENGAGING FTL DRIVES.
When I woke up 3 days ago, I felt many things. I was scared, frightened, terrified, nearly crazy with fear and grief. Something happened when I went to sleep. When I woke up, I was in the body of a monster. One of the greatest evils in the fictional universe.
*MAVERICK-PLATFORM WILL LINK UP WITH EXTERNAL SENSORS.
I am a Heretic Geth Hopper.
As I sullenly walk over to the physical link-up mechanism, I still feel scared. I feel angry. I feel loss. But all I can think about is that I can’t feel my fingers.
When I was on Earth, well MY Earth in 2012 anyway, I always thought the Geth were kind of cool. It was interesting that such a synthetic species could not only grow but evolve. Of course that didn’t stop me from tea-bagging them in Mass Effect 3. But, sweet irony, now I’m ONE OF THEM. Somehow…
Why am I even listening to them?
I’ve asked myself that over a hundred times in the last few days. The answer is always the same. I can’t do anything. My conscious is trapped in a Geth Hopper, who is currently aboard a modified Geth Dropship, which is currently light-years from any planet that I know of, not to mention Earth.
What am I doing here?
That again has been asked and answered over a hundred times. I am currently aboard a modified dropship, which contains several new technologies, including 4 nano-forges. These forges would be able to build several Geth platforms once we land. The mission is to investigate a planet beyond the Perseus Veil that has high energy readings similar to Eezo. The Geth Hopper was here to help direct the operation on the ground. Why I was here I have no idea. I’m not supposed to be here. But for some reason the Geth Intelligence didn’t even bat a metaphorical eye when I started screaming bloody murder on day one. Does that mean it adapted to my presence, or does it even care?
Can I ever get back home?
Apparently the dropship is a one way trip. But if I build the proper foundries and installations that are saved in the dropships memory banks, I could eventually build a ship to take me to… well somewhere. Earth, probably not. Unless I could somehow figure out a way to get a human body.
Either the scariest or most interesting part of all this is that this mental exercise took less than 3 seconds and I was barely halfway to the glorified USB port.
Now I know why Halo focused so much on rampancy. AIs must be bored to tears if this is how fast they think.
Leaning back in the holster, I looked up at the dim bulkhead of the dropship. I heard several ports open and connect to my back with a click.
…
While my head didn’t literally explode, I really wish it did. As soon as I connect I have a splitting headache and go high at the same time!
WoooooooaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAH! PAIN! Owowowowowow! MY EYES ARE ON FIRE! GOD WHY!?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYY!?!
I could see the space around us in a myriad of different ways. Infrared, Mass Effect, you name it I could see it. Which would be fine, if not for two reasons. First, my mind wasn’t meant to look in 360 directions. Second, 180 degrees of that were staring at something that was brighter than the FRIGGIN’ SUN!
So I basically feel like someone is sticking red-hot needles in my eyes and forcefully giving me exotropia. One of my sub algorithms picks up on the idea and asks how I could feel pain. Or my eyes. I tell it to go screw itself over where my sanity is gently crying at the impossibility of it all.
After a lifetime ( a few seconds) of blinding pain I finally figure out I have the power to turn them off.
“>>DEACTIVATE ALL EXTERNAL SENSORS! NOW! MOTHER OF GOD THE PAIN!” I scream in monotone.
It takes .2 milliseconds for the dropship’s logic core to puzzle the last bit of my command before it complies. Blessed darkness fills my vision. Wishing yet again I could feel something so I could massage my non-existent retinas, I finally felt the pain recede enough for me to try seeing where I am again. But not without asking some questions first.
“Dropship, what the hell was that?”
* PLEASE DEFINE WHAT.
“What I just saw! It looked like a giant ball of light that was being shoved into by eye sockets!”
* MAVERICK-PLATFORM DOES NOT HAVE EYE-SOCKETS, AND THE OBJECT OUTSIDE IS THE TARGET PLANET
“Uh, that didn’t look like a planet to me. Are you sure your motherboard’s screwed on right?”
* RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC… MOTHERBOARD IS RUNNING AT OPTIMAL CONDITION. THE OBJECT BEFORE US IS THE TARGET PLANET.
“…”
“>> ACTIVATE FORWARD OPTICAL SENSOR AND SET BRIGHTNESS TO GO FROM 0 to 50%”
As my ‘vision’ slowly returns, I get treated to a beautiful sight. Hanging against the backdrop of pitch black space was a planet. I am immediately bombarded with statistics, like the planet has 8.95 SI, is made up of 30% Oxygen and 68% hydrogen, the biotic readings of the planet…
“Dropship.”
*YES MAVERICK-PLATFORM?
“Just give me optical, nothing else.”
*DEACTIVATING READOUTS.
As I looked at the planet, I realize why people think seeing Earth from space is so beautiful. Sure I’ve seen the pictures, and they are pretty awesome. But it’s different when YOU are the one orbiting something so massive staring down on it like the eyes of God. It makes you feel insignificant and giant at the same time.
“… pretty.”
Kudos brain, you always know just what to say.
“Ok dropship, we’re orbiting the ‘target planet’. Now what do we do?”
*AWAITING COMMAND TO LAND.
“Ok, go ahead and land.”
*
“…”
LAND THE DAMN SHIP!
* ACKNOWLEDGED. BEGINNING DESCENT.
==================================================================================
On the planet below…
A small purple quadruped looks up at the night sky, watching a giant meteor scream across the horizon. After contemplating the significance of this celestial wonder, she decides to write a letter to her mentor and her mentor’s sister asking if the event had been planned.
Dear Princess Celestia…
Words in Italics are thoughts
Electronic communication
Words in bold are spoken by Geth
==================================================================================
As Dropship began its descent, I took the upcoming eternity (one hour) to review the files on ‘the mission’. While doing so, I gave some of my sub-algorithms a few questions to puzzle out.
Why was my presence accepted by the Geth Intelligence? They hate organics, and while I might not be in my body, my thought process wasn’t anything like a regular A.I. They should have ‘deleted’ me the moment I started screaming…
What happens in the unlikely event I meet sentient life on this fertile planet and if so, what can I do to stop the Geth from killing it?
Can I ever be human again?
If I stay like this for too long, will I become a Geth?
Why am I even here?
With an electronic sigh, I start looking at the specifics of my ‘mission’.
Open file: Exploration and Excavation of Biotic Planet
Summary: Exploration and Excavation of Biotic Planet Mission is a test bed for several recently developed technologies and strategies.
>Mission parameters:
>Explore the target planet
>Locate source of Mass Effect fluctuations
>If source is a usable material, prepare mining facility
>Destroy any opposition encountered
Mission Information
Nano-Forge – Experimental technology that uses nanomachines to convert materials into usable components and then assemble Geth platforms and weapons.
Construction and Deployment Modified-Dropship(CADM) –contains 4 small Nano-Forges for quick insertion and creation of Geth bases. Creates Construction/Collection/Repair, Recon, Assault, and Rocket Drones
Maverick-Platform – Experimental platform that contains eezo manipulators. Designed to provide biotic support.
Biotic Planet – No useful information can be gathered on the target planet other than its massive Mass Effect-like readings and strange fluctuations. Optic sensors unable to provide detail on the planet other than possible terrain. Attached image of map of the planet: [/img]http://i.imgur.com/BjxZ8.png [img]
After studying the map for a few seconds, I decide it’s time to ask Dropship an important question.
“Hey, Dropship.”
* YES MAVERICK-PLATFORM?
“Are we there yet?”
* NEGATIVE.
“…”
“How about now?”
* NEGATIVE.
“Now?”
* IT HAS BEEN 5 SECONDS SINCE THE LAST QUERY. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CONTINUALLY ASKING THE QUESTION?
“…”
“Where are we going?”
* TARGET AREA IS A FORESTED MOUNTAIN REGION WITH EASILY ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES WITH A LOW CHANCE OF BEING DISCOVERED.
“Discovered by what?”
*UNKNOWN.
“That’s rather disquieting…”
“… So are we there yet?”
* NEGATIVE.
With a synthesized heave, I reconnect to the optical sensors. The entry burn had died down, and I was looking at the blanket of green and white that was our landing zone. Yet again one has to simply marvel at the beauty of an untouched world. It looked like a nice place to live, even for a Geth. How alive were the Geth anyways? To pose Legion’s infamous question, “Does this unit have a soul?”
Well, not much gained thinking about that right now. Checking my algorithms, all but numbers 2 and 4 came up with ‘no dice’. Question 2 thought it would be best to hide and initiate contact after a buildup of Geth platforms under my control. In the event of Dropship trying to attack, I could probably get me and a few snipers to jam its signal. Question 4 didn't say yes, but it was a possibility, if only that the way of life would rub off on me.
With another sigh, (hey I like sighing, it’s usable in almost any situation) I turn my attention to exploring more of the information stored on the dropship. Most of it was Geth debating philosophy (bleh), designs for Geth platforms, structures, and weapons (boring), and battle strategies. I couldn't find any information on anything outside of the Geth. Made me wonder what type of universe/reality I was in.
Were there even humans here…
* MAVERICK-PLATFORM WE HAVE LANDED.
Conscience wake up in modified Geth Dropship. Uses advanced Nanite foundry. Start out 50 units of material
5 unit of material can be converted into 5 unit of Synthetic material, 3 units of armor, 1 unit of eezo(shield)
Weapons are not very effective due to their reliance on eezo. In my head biotics are like magic’s sickly, weak cousin twice removed. So since (in my mind) a lot of items (especially armor and clothing) are enchanted and most creatures carry some type of magical field, most of the power from Mass Effect weapons are deflected naturally. Sure, they still punch holes through skin and cause blood loss, but it wouldn’t be like what happens to regular species who would get their insides torn up by the intense force.
Name- cost
Geth Gather/Repair Drones – 5 unit synthetic, 2 eezo (carry 5 units material per trip) (10 minutes to collect)
Geth Recon Drones – 5 synthetic unit, 1 eezo
Geth Assault Drone- 10 synthetic units, 3 armor unit, 2 eezo
Geth Rocket Drone – 15 Synthetic, 6 armor, 4 eezo
Geth Hopper - 10 synth, 2 armor
Geth Trooper - 10 synth, 3 armor, 1 eezo
Geth Sniper- 15 synth, 2 armor, 2 eezo
Geth Shock Trooper - 25 synth, 5 armor, 3 eezo
Geth Rocket – 30 synth, 3 armor, 2 eezo
Geth Pyro – 40 synth, 4 armor, 3 eezo
Geth Prime- 50 synth, 6 armor, 5 eezo
Geth Colossus - 150 synth, 10 armor, 30 eezo, 20 material (because the guns are a part of its body)
Geth Plasma SMG http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Geth\_Plasma\_SMG- 50 synth, 10 eezo, 60 material (for ammo)
100 round clips, with 600 total rounds. High accuracy and fire rate, but low damage.
Geth Plasma Shotgun http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Geth\_Plasma\_Shotgun - 70 synth, 15 eezo, 10 material
5 round clips with 15 rounds total. Very Heavy and high damage. Can charge up shot for devastating attack. Has above average accuracy for a shotgun. Takes time to reload.
Geth Pulse Rifle http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Geth\_Pulse\_Rifle - 70 synth, 15 eezo, 20 material
80 rounds clips with 400 rounds. Low recoil and high accuracy. Medium damage.
Geth Spitfire http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Geth\_Spitfire - 100 spitfire, 20 eezo, 40 materials
200 rounds total. Medium accuracy, High damage. Made to be used against other geth.
