Mass Effect Wiki:Featured content/Full/Archive1

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1	===Turians - Uneasy Allies=== The militaristic but highly disciplined turians are the newest members of the Citadel Council. After defeating the krogan during the 'Krogan Rebellions' by deploying the genophage, they have become galactic peacekeepers, but there are lingering tensions between turians and humans since the First Contact War. more...	[edit]
2	===Krogan - Fallen Saviours=== The krogan are a species of large reptilian bipeds native to Tuchanka, a world known for its harsh environments and vicious predators. Once hailed as the saviors of the galaxy, the krogan are now a shadow of their former prominence after the turians unleashed the horrific genophage upon them. more...	[edit]
3	===Asari - Diplomats and Dancers=== An all-female race, the asari are one of the most powerful and respected races in the galaxy. They were the first species after the Protheans to attain interstellar flight, discovering the Citadel and becoming a founding member of the Council. Unfortunately the natural sensuality of the asari has also lead to slanderous rumors and misinformation about them. more...	[edit]
4	===Commander Shepard=== Lt. Commander Shepard is the main character of Mass Effect, a notable soldier and the first human Spectre. Shepard is the current commander of the SSV Normandy, an experimental starship, and works alongside a multi-species squad on a mission to track down Saren Arterius. more...	[edit]
5	=== Salarians - Benefactors or Manipulators?=== The second species to join the Citadel, the salarians are warm blooded amphibians with a hyperactive metabolism; salarians think fast, talk fast, and move fast. Salarians excel as researchers and inventors, and their superb intelligence services mean few secrets are hidden from them. more...	[edit]
6	===Tali'Zorah nar Rayya=== A young quarian on her Pilgrimage -- a rite of passage into adulthood -- Tali'Zorah nar Rayya lends her impressive tech skills to aid Commander Shepard's fight against the geth, but is also searching the galaxy for a Pilgrimage gift she can present to the Migrant Fleet. more...	[edit]
7	===Systems Alliance=== The Systems Alliance is the representative government of humanity on the galactic stage. Formed from Earth's most powerful nations, the Alliance governs and defends human interests, but its rapid expansion and powerful military are viewed with suspicion by some alien races. more...	[edit]
8	===Geth - The Synthetic Horde=== The geth are a race of networked artificial intelligences that reside beyond the Perseus Veil. The geth were created nearly 300 years ago by the quarians as laborers and tools of war, but became sentient and rebelled against their masters. more...	[edit]
9	=== The SSV Normandy === A prototype starship, the SSV Normandy has a unique stealth system that allows her to travel the galaxy undetected. Co-designed by human and turian engineers, and piloted by Lt. Jeff "Joker" Moreau, she serves as Commander Shepard's mode of transportation and base of operations. more...	[edit]
10	=== Biotics === Rare individuals exposed to element zero, biotics can unleash 'dark energy' on the battlefield to protect themselves or destroy enemies. While the Alliance is keen to recruit biotic soldiers, some biotics suffer severe health problems, or face prejudice from people who misunderstand them. more...	[edit]
11	=== The Citadel - Centre of Galactic Civilisation === The Citadel is a magnificent space station, constructed millennia ago in the heart of the Serpent Nebula. Heavily populated with diplomats and traders, it serves as the home of the Citadel Council, and is the cultural and political hub of the galaxy. more...	[edit]
12	=== Therum === A distant mining world claimed by the Systems Alliance, Therum is not only rich in heavy metals, but also home to several Prothean ruins. Most of the ruins have been plundered by mining corporations, but a few are still unexplored. more...	[edit]
13	=== Spectres - Defenders of Galactic Peace === Elite agents working for the Citadel, Spectres answer to no one but the Council in their mission to preserve galactic stability... by any means necessary. Spectres may be noble paragons of virtue, or ruthless operatives who kill anyone who stands in their way. more...	[edit]
14	=== Noveria - the corporate capital === A frozen world in the Pax system, Noveria is a privately-owned planet where corporations conduct research too dangerous or controversial to be handled elsewhere. Security on Noveria is tight: even Spectres have to tread lightly, as the companies there will protect their secrets at any cost. more...	[edit]
15	=== Feros - a planet-wide ruin=== Once a Prothean metropolis, now a crumbling ruin, Feros is the site of a new human colony sponsored by ExoGeni Corporation. But with the ancient skyscrapers already stripped by looters, and no real resources, the colonists on Feros are beginning to wonder: just what is ExoGeni hoping to find there? more...	[edit]
16	===Adept Guide=== The Adept is the ultimate biotic with amazing offensive and defensive talents. Make the most of these abilities with the Adept Guide. more...	[edit]
17	===Solcrum=== Solcrum is the largest moon of the planet Notanban, bombarded by massive radiation from its nearby star. On approach, the Normandy's sensors intercepted a coded transmission from the surface, which doesn't resemble any software coding language used by the Citadel races. more...	[edit]
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19	=== Assignment: Major Kyle === A former Alliance officer, Major Kyle, has become the outspoken leader of a biotic cult in the Century system. After the disappearance of two negotiators at Kyle's compound, Alliance Command needs Commander Shepard to investigate. more...	[edit]
20	=== Mass Relays === Thought to be relics of the ancient Protheans, mass relays enable starships to travel light years in seconds. The mass-effecting technology of the relays is the basis of modern galactic civilisation. After the Rachni Wars, carelessly exploring new relay routes was forbidden by the Citadel Council. more...	[edit]
21	===Planet Index=== Mass Effect is full of uncharted planets to explore, items to find and assignments to complete. Track them all down with Mass Effect Wiki's Planet Index. more...	[edit]
22	=== Eletania === Eletania is a heavily toxic world, its atmosphere laden with microscopic creatures that can cause anaphylactic shock in non-native life. An Alliance data module was recently shot down over Eletania, but this planet also hides ancient Prothean mysteries at an unexplored ruin. more...	[edit]
23	=== Codex === The in-game Codex has a wealth of background on Council races, battlefield upgrades, and hazardous lifeforms. Secondary entries include information on starship combat tactics, Prothean technology and concepts, and biotic sciences. more...	[edit]
24	=== Volus === A race from the high-pressure planet Irune, the volus must wear special suits at all times to simply survive enivronments that other species find comfortable. The volus excel in trade and commerce, but despite their long history on the Citadel, they have never been asked to join the Citadel Council. more...	[edit]
25	=== Elcor === The elcor originally evolved on a high gravity world, making them massive, slow-moving creatures with a conservative psychology. Because most species cannot pick up the subtle nuances of elcor speech, they often resort to announcing their emotions before speaking. more...	[edit]
26	===Klensal=== Klensal is a small, frozen world once mined by the Systems Alliance, on the word of batarian surveyors. When it was discovered the batarians had falsified their surveys to deceive human investors, many mining bases were abandoned, and later taken over by criminal gangs. more...	[edit]
27	=== Citadel: Scan the Keepers === A new medical scanner gives Commander Shepard the chance to learn more about the Citadel's mysterious keepers, at the risk of defying Citadel regulations... or getting caught in a feud over the keeper data. more...	[edit]
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30	===Timeline=== The Mass Effect universe's timeline stretches from the origins of the most ancient spacefaring races, to the discovery of the Citadel, to humanity's expansion into the galaxy and up to the culmination of galaxy-shaping events in 2186 CE. more...	[edit]
31	===David Anderson=== A hero of the First Contact War, Anderson was the first human to be considered as a Spectre, until Saren Arterius made sure he lost his chance. Anderson later became captain of the SSV Normandy, but his career took a new path after the battle of the Citadel. more...	[edit]
32	===Donnel Udina=== A shrewd and pragmatic political operator, Donnel Udina was the second human Ambassador to represent the Systems Alliance in the Citadel. Udina was an ardent proponent of increasing humanity's status in the galactic community, and under his watchful eye, humanity achieved several momentous firsts. more...	[edit]
33	===Jacob Taylor=== A veteran fighter with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, Jacob Taylor is above all else dedicated to protecting humanity. A former Alliance marine who later had a series of misadventures combating batarian extremists as a civilian, Taylor has most recently been seen in the employ of the rogue pro-human group Cerberus. more...	[edit]
34	===The Illusive Man=== A shadowy figure about whom next to nothing is known, the Illusive Man is truly an enigma. One of the few known facts about the Illusive Man is that he leads the shadowy pro-human group known as Cerberus. To some a terrorist, to others a hero willing to make the difficult decisions needed to advance humanity, for now, the Illusive Man's true agenda is known only to himself. more...	[edit]
35	===Batarians - Galactic Pariahs=== Widely viewed as a race of common thugs and terrorists, batarians are not commonly seen in Citadel Space. Following a confrontation with the human Systems Alliance, the Batarian Hegemony withdrew from the Citadel and is now considered a rogue state. In the years since, the batarians, with their continuing support of pirates and slavers, have done nothing to dispel this image. more...	[edit]
36	===The Collectors=== Believed by many to be nothing more than a myth, a story told to children to scare them into behaving, the Collectors are, in fact, very real. An enigmatic race from beyond the Omega-4 relay, the Collectors are seen only very rarely in Terminus space, and never within Citadel space. Little is known about them, and all attempts to learn more by following them through the Omega-4 relay have failed. What is known is that the name Collectors was not given lightly. The Collectors are very particular in their search for specimens, though they pay well for them. more...	[edit]
37	===Miranda Lawson=== An enigmatic intelligence operative who is as deadly as she is beguiling, Miranda Lawson always has a keen grasp of whatever situation she finds herself involved with. An associate of Jacob Taylor, Lawson is a member of the shadowy pro-human group known as Cerberus. more...	[edit]
38	===The Migrant Fleet=== The closest thing the quarian race has to a home, the Migrant Fleet is a motley collection of nearly fifty thousand starships that roams the galaxy, never staying in one system too long. Home to approximately 17 million quarians, the fleet is engaged in a constant struggle to survive, forced to contend with a never-ending cycle of resource shortages and mechanical failures. more...	[edit]
39	===Normandy SR-2=== Constructed in secret by the rogue pro-human group known as Cerberus, the Normandy SR-2 is a powerful frigate that, while based in part on the design of the original SSV Normandy, is much improved. Larger, and with more formidable weaponry and defenses than the previous Normandy, the SR-2 has been painstakingly prepared by Cerberus to take part in a vital mission. more...	[edit]
40	===Mordin Solus=== A brilliant salarian doctor and scientist with a somewhat shadowy background, Doctor Mordin Solus has a reputation as an altruist with an odd set of morals. Operating a clinic in the slums of Omega, Doctor Solus is rumored to be as likely to kill those he encounters as he is to treat them, a trait that hints at a darker past. more...	[edit]
41	===Thane Krios=== A notorious drell assassin, Thane Krios is said by many to be one of the most skilled assassins in the galaxy. Thane stands out from most of his peers in that he prefers to kill his targets up close. Thane also displays a strong spiritual side, being known to pray both for success before a mission, and for forgiveness afterward. more...	[edit]
42	===The Alliance Navy=== The branch of the Systems Alliance military responsible for naval operations, the Alliance Navy is both one of the newest and one of the most formidable naval forces in Citadel space. The Alliance Navy also oversees the defense of colonial settlements through its subsidiary, the Alliance Marines. Comprised of ships of all sizes from dreadnoughts and carriers down to frigates, and ably led by battle-hardened commanders, the Alliance Navy is truly a force to be reckoned with. more...	[edit]
43	===Cerberus=== A controversial group whose impact is far out of proportion to its size, Cerberus is by any definition a force to be reckoned with. Dedicated to empowering humanity by any means necessary, the men and women of Cerberus are utterly without remorse in pursuit of this goal. Their actions have led many to label Cerberus a terrorist group, though others, including their members, would argue that they are simply taking necessary steps to preserve humanity, and that history will vindicate them. more...	[edit]
44	===Blue Suns=== Originally a small human mercenary group founded in 2160, the Blue Suns have expanded rapidly to become one of the most feared, and sought-after, organizations in the galaxy. Headed by co-Executive Officers Vido Santiago and Solem Dal'serah, the Blue Suns operate primarily in the galaxy's more lawless regions, but they are more than willing to accept contracts in space controlled by Citadel races, even at times attacking government-run facilities. Employing members of many races, as well as a wide assortment of mechs, the Blue Suns are consummate professionals, and they charge accordingly. more...	[edit]
45	===Hanar=== An invertebrate race from the ocean world of Kahje, the hanar are somewhat of a rarity, being one of the few non-bipedal Citadel races. Resembling the jellyfish of Earth, the hanar are actually an advanced race with a complex culture and society. Physically frail and generally unwilling to deal with other species, who are generally viewed as rude and uncouth, the hanar typically limit contact with outsiders to a few trade stations along their borders, and to specially trained individuals who have taken special courses to "unlearn" their own rigid mannerisms. Nevertheless, the hanar are often mentioned as potential candidates for Council membership. more...	[edit]
46	===Blood Pack=== Originally a small-time vorcha gang operating in the Terminus Systems, the Blood Pack has grown into one of the largest and most feared mercenary groups in the galaxy. The Blood Pack as it exists today is the product of krogan exile Ganar Wrang, who led the group as a pirate outfit for ten years before incorporating it as a "security company". The Blood Pack is banned from operating within Citadel space, but this has not prevented them from finding employ fighting in a string of conflicts across the galaxy. more...	[edit]
47	===Zaeed Massani=== A name well known throughout the Terminus Systems, Zaeed Massani is regarded by many as the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy. A hardened mercenary known for his ruthlessness and relentlessness, Zaeed is also known to have an explosive temper and the drive and determination to get dangerous missions done, no matter the cost. His services do not come cheap, but for those who can afford him, there is no better man for the job. more...	[edit]
48	===Dragon's Teeth=== Horrific implements of war used by the geth, Dragon's Teeth are devices featuring large retractable spikes which impale human corpses, as well as unfortunate prisoners of the geth, transforming them into husks. Dragon's Teeth appear intended to serve a dual role, producing expendable cannon fodder for the geth, as well as serving to demoralize enemy forces. In this capacity, the Dragon's Teeth are potent instruments of psychological warfare, as their design is reminiscent of ancient and brutal execution methods, and as they literally turn former friends and compatriots into mindless killers. more...	[edit]
49	===Okeer=== Doctor Okeer, also known as Warlord Okeer, is a brutal krogan warlord and scientist with literally milennia of combat experience. A veteran of the Krogan Rebellions, Okeer later turned to scientific endeavors, becoming obsessed with the genophage which ravaged his people. Okeer's zealous pursuit of his scientific goals led to his being shunned by his people, forcing the Doctor to rely on more unsavory sources to support his research. more...	[edit]
50	===Omega=== A massive space station deep in the heart of the lawless Terminus Systems, Omega has garnered a reputation totally at odds with its humble beginnings. Originally a Prothean mining outpost constructed to exploit rich deposits of element zero, over the centuries Omega has been transformed into a hub of lawlessness, home to drug traffickers, smugglers, slavers, and mercenaries. With no formal government or military, Omega is ruled by a myriad of powerful groups and individuals, and fighting over resources and territory is common. more...	[edit]
51	===Saren Arterius=== Two words exemplify Saren Arterius: brutal and efficient. An elite Spectre answering directly to the Citadel Council, Saren takes his duty to maintain peace in Citadel space by any means necessary very seriously, making liberal use of "any means necessary". Despite his brutality and reluctance to avoid bloodshed, Saren is regarded as the Council's top agent, tasked with the most critical of assignments. Though Saren is charged with defending all of Citadel space, he has made no effort to hide his disdain toward humanity, feeling that the newest of the Citadel races has advanced much too quickly and needs to learn its place. more...	[edit]
52	===Matriarch Benezia=== A wise and powerful leader among her people, the asari Matriarch Benezia commands not only centuries of experience, but also a sizeable following among the asari. A teacher of religion and philosophy, as well as a powerful biotic, Benezia has a reputation as a bit of a maverick, a reputation she embraces. Benezia has also made a name for herself among non-asari, serving as an executor for the turian Spectre Saren Arterius, ensuring his voice is heard on Noveria. Whether demonstrating her tremendous biotic abilities, leading her devoted followers, or supervising her investments in the corporate arena, Matriarch Benezia has proven she is a force to be reckoned with. more...	[edit]
53	===Aria T'Loak=== Though she is the first to acknowledge that Omega has no titled rulers, Aria T'Loak certainly occupies a position at the top of the proverbial food chain of the underworld space station. With a long history including stints as an asari commando and an exotic dancer, Aria draws upon a wealth of experience which, when coupled with her ruthlessness, intelligence, and boundless ambition, make her truly a force to be reckoned with. Since wresting control of one of Omega's most powerful outfits away from its former occupant, Aria has expanded her power base to the point that, while she does not control the station in its entirety, no other single faction can effectively challenge her. Cunning and unscrupulous, Aria truly lives up to her claim to be the personification of Omega. more...	[edit]
54	===Purgatory=== A massive ship which plies the space-lanes, traveling from planet to planet, the Purgatory is one of the most feared ships in the galaxy. Though minimally armed, Purgatory carries a cargo potentially more destructive than any weapon. Originally an agricultural transport, Purgatory was seized by the Blue Suns mercenary group and re-purposed into a maximum-security prison which ostensibly houses 4,350 of the galaxy's most dangerous prisoners, though independent sources estimate the ship actually holds three times this number of inmates. Purgatory, under the command of the notorious Warden Kuril, now travels the galaxy extorting governments for better prices on food, fuel, and repairs. Failure to oblige, or to pay for the continued cost of prisoner upkeep, and the Blue Suns will be forced to release the prisoners at an undisclosed place and time, for "humanitarian reasons". more...	[edit]
55	===Eclipse=== A galaxy-spanning mercenary corporation founded by a former asari commando, Eclipse has succeeded in carving out a respectable niche for itself in the field. Largely eschewing the turians, batarians, and krogan commonly found in competing groups such as the Blue Suns and Blood Pack, Eclipse consists primarily of asari, salarians, and humans. The group also makes heavy use of biotics and tech specialists, much more so than its major competitors. These differences serve to highlight Eclipse's unique approach to their chosen craft, emphasizing finesse and an "intelligent" approach to battle over brute force and raw firepower. Easily recognizable thanks to large corporate logos emblazoned on the armor of all their members, Eclipse has earned a reputation for efficiency, and a convenient lack of scruples, which allows it to secure top dollar contracts from the most discriminating of customers. more...	[edit]
56	===Protheans=== The Protheans are an extinct race of aliens who disappeared over 50,000 years ago, leaving behind no trace other than their tremendous works. The Protheans are the only known space-faring race from their era, and established an empire spanning the galaxy. This empire was centered around the massive Citadel space station, a station which continues to be used as the seat of galactic power to this day by the races which succeeded them, and their worlds and stations were linked by a network of Mass Relays which, like the Citadel, continue to be used by the spacefaring races of the galaxy. However, at the height of their power and despite all their wondrous achievements, the Protheans suddenly and mysteriously... vanished. Traces of them linger to this day, but the true fate of the Protheans remains a mystery. more...	[edit]
57	===The Citadel Council=== The Citadel Council is the governing body of the Citadel. Representing the most powerful races in Citadel Space, the Council holds power disproportionate with their stated mandate. While the Council has no real power over the various governments of the Citadel races, the power wielded by their respective governments, combined with the general "don't rock the boat" mentality of the other races, gives the pronouncements of the Council great weight. No one Council race has the power to oppose the other two, and the nature of the races represented is conducive to compromise and cooperation. The Council originally consisted of two races, the centrist asari and the forward-thinking salarians. Following the Rachni Wars, the Council was expanded to include the more conservative turians. In recent years, there has been much talk of a new addition to the Council, with speculated likely candidates ranging from the hanar Illuminated Primacy to the human Systems Alliance. Whatever its future composition, the Citadel Council is sure to maintain its position of power and influence for years to come. more...	[edit]
58	===Jeff "Joker" Moreau=== Systems Alliance Flight Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau is a study in contradiction. He is arguably the finest helmsman in the Alliance Navy, as evidenced by his assignment to the prototype stealth frigate Normandy. Yet Joker himself is physically frail, suffering from Vrolik Syndrome. He can take the Normandy through complex maneuvers with ease, yet struggles with tasks as mundane as making it to the lavatory. Even his moniker is a contradiction. The nickname "Joker" was bestowed upon him by an instructor in flight school due to his stoic nature. Joker maintains that this was because he was too focused on his training to waste time on jokes, and his jovial nature onboard the Normandy supports this. Joker now fully lives up to his nickname, and his genial nature is supplemented by an ample supply of confidence bordering on arrogance. For any ordinary helmsman, this would be a detriment. However, while Jeff Moreau is many things, he is certainly no ordinary helmsman. more...	[edit]
59	===Urdnot Wrex=== A famed mercenary and bounty hunter, Urdnot Wrex is a krogan whose name is known far and wide. One of the few remaining Battlemasters, Wrex has a reputation for brutal efficiency. Tales of Wrex's exploits are told throughout the galaxy, with his name being known even among the quarians of the Migrant Flotilla. As such, Wrex commands top dollar, and is sought out by such discerning individuals as the Shadow Broker and Saren Arterius. However, this was not always the case. In his youth, Wrex made a name for himself among his clan for skill in battle, eventually rising to lead one of the smaller Urdnot tribes. During his tenure as clan leader, Wrex earned a reputation as a forward thinker, being more concerned with the survival of the krogan species than with the petty squabbles and infighting that plagued his people. Unfortunately, these views did not make Wrex popular among the other clans, and he was forced to leave Tuchanka. However, the skills he acquired there serve him well in his current vocation, and, though embittered by his experiences, Wrex still holds out hope for his people. more...	[edit]
60	===Vorcha=== A short-lived species commonly regarded as vermin, the vorcha have done little to dispel this image. Hailing from an obscure and unappealing planet, the vorcha have adapted to overcome, in myriad ways. Vorcha biology is unique in that they possess non-differentiated cells, which affords individual vorcha the ability to rapidly adapt and regenerate. For example, a vorcha placed into a high-gravity environment will develop a stronger heart and leg muscles to better suit their environment. The unpleasant vorcha homeworld has also resulted in a tight-knit, clannish society in which rival clans war for resources almost constantly. This emphasis on fighting has been taken to extreme levels, with combat on both the individual and group levels being the default form of communication among the vorcha. While the vorcha themselves have never attained the necessary level of technology to achieve space travel, their world has been visited by numerous ships, on which vorcha routinely stow away. Out in the wider galaxy, they routinely find employment among mercenary groups and other unsavory elements who place a high value on the vorcha's inherent aggression, large numbers, and rapid healing ability. more...	[edit]