User blog comment:Kaloneous/Mass Effect 3 Ending DLC Denied and PAX/@comment-4948356-20120404183855

I was thinking about a bad end they could have done where the reapers actually won. Maybe 1000 to 10000 years later or more, some new race discovers the relays, and start colonizing other planets. Then they dig up Liara's lock box, you know, the one that she made to warn future races of the reapers and give them the crucible plans, and we hear about Shepard's actions to make it all possible and stuff like that. Thats what I would call bitter sweet where you fail, but you succeed in waring the future species of the reaper threat.

Although, since the Normandy couldn't be detected by the reapers, aside from scanning, wouldn't its crew survive after the cycle? (If the cycle ended early, which it probably won't) Just something I was musing over.