Talk: Mass Relay

Mass Relay picture

If you want a higher resolution Mass Relay picture, I have made one in 720p resolution (Although the other one is already at a reasonable quality ;)). Have no fear or copyrights, I assure you these are made by me from the in-game cut scenes played with a Bink video player and captured with "Print Screen". Anyone could have done the same :) I have posted across a few articles, so be sure to check them out as well (Sovereign, Destiny Ascension, FTL, M35 Mako, Mass Relay and Citadel). As I have no idea how to upload images here I will let you do it.

http://c.imagehost.org/0690/MassRelay.png

69.159.102.144 17:26, 24 July 2008 (UTC)Darkdrium

Do relays need to be aligned?

See Talk:Relay Monument#Orientation of mass relays for a discussion about this.

How does it work?

Do two mass relays only link back and forth to each other? or can you dial up any mass relay from another like the stargates?

To quote from the article:

There are two kinds of mass relay, primary and secondary. Primary relays can send a ship hundreds of light years but only link to one other relay, its 'partner'. Secondary relays can link to any other relay over shorter distances.

--Tullis 12:50, September 16, 2009 (UTC)

Ah, sorry for my ignorance. I have a problem with not checking things and asking what ever is on my mind.

Arcturus prime relay

I thought for sure that at the main intro to the game joker mentions the relay he takes to eden prime was called the Arcturus prime relay. should I add it to the list and create a short article? what is your opinion on this. The arcturus prime relay must be the partner to the charon relay, see arcturus.

It's not worth creating an article for something barely mentioned, and we're currently cutting down on unnecessary short pages. --Tullis 02:24, September 17, 2009 (UTC)

How about just adding it to the list but not making the page? I think it deserves that at least, but whatever you say I'm just making suggestions.

--Hi. Arcturus relay can't be a primary one, since it leads to Charon as well as to Eden Prime.

So where is your proof that it leads to the Charon relay. Considering the Normandy goes through the Relay directly to Eden Prime with no visit to Charon... Lancer1289 17:29, January 16, 2011 (UTC)

Apologies for flogging a dead horse, but in the opening cutscene of Mass Effect the Normandy clearly flies past Jupiter and Neptune before hitting the relay, indicating they were using the Charon relay. Also in Revelation it clearly states the Arcturus and Charon relays were linked as this is where Grissom and co. end up. Maybe Joker was referencing that they were linking through this Arcturus Prime relay to get to Eden Prime? Liarafan02 09:59, April 17, 2012 (UTC)

Rabbit Duck Illusion

I recently watched an episode of "How I met Your Mother" called "Rabbit or Duck?" which showed a famous cognitive illusion known as the Duck-Rabbit illusion

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Duck-Rabbit_illusion.jpg .

After playing the game the last few days I've come to realize that the Mass Relays also seem to take the same basic shape the duck rabbit illusion does; except the ducks mouth would be pointing to the right in the mass relay pic. The mass relay looks like the duck rabbit illusion. I thought it might make an interesting piece of trivia, but I'm not sure though. I imagine the tidbit wouldn't hurt, should I add it?76.17.48.86 10:43, February 11, 2010 (UTC)

Interesting, but no. Trivia should be kept to what was certainly done on purpose by the developers. I highly doubt they intended to invoke an interesting human image with ancient "Prothean" technology.

How they work

I was wondering about how exactly mass relays work, what lets the ships travel at such speeds. I think in the game they explained that the relays nullify the mass of any object in range, and then the object is accelerated. But nothing beyond that.

I thought that nullifying mass in space, where there is no gravity, is pointless, but after looking up mass on wikipedia it was all clear:

"The inertial mass of an object determines its acceleration in the presence of an applied force. According to Isaac Newton's second law of motion, if a body of mass m is subjected to a force F, its acceleration a is given by F/m."

I didn't think mass and weight were that different. This could be worth adding to the wiki, no?

EDIT: I just thought of something - since a=F/m and if m=0 then the amount of acceleration is very questionable since mankind still doesn't know what happens when you divide by zero. --Anon 20:06, March 20, 2010

I can't believe you didn't know mass and weight are two different concepts.

It is not worth adding to the wiki, it is basic science. By the way if you don't know all the facts you don't really have any business trying to disprove something. If you must know, a=F/m only works in classical mechanics.Bastian964 20:05, March 20, 2010 (UTC)

I agree it isn't a worthy addition. All it would do is probably start an edit war and add some very confusing information to the wiki. Lancer1289 20:10, March 20, 2010 (UTC)

Just tell yourself it's magic and forget about it : ) ClearSound 19:19, April 12, 2010 (UTC)

The Element Zero in a mass relay is powerful enough to not just nullify the mass of an object, but in fact can give the object "imaginary" mass, therefore allowing it to travel at superluminal speeds (ie faster than the speed of light). This is the only way it would be possible for an object to travel the distances involved in any reasonable amount of time; rendering an object massless (mass = 0) is not sufficient. Of course, all of this assumes we are working under General Relativity (GR), but GR is the most likely scenario based on everything else described in the codex (ie redshift/blueshift of objects when looking out the viewport, etc).

With this assumption, we can also assume that the mass relays form a conduit or passage between each other that transmits the mass effect while the ship is in transit. If there was no conduit, a ship leaving the vicinity of the mass relay would instantly regain its mass and likely collapse in on itself as every atom tries to occupy the same space at once. Furthermore, the red appearance of the Omega 4 Relay can be explained by the redshift from the massive gravitational fields at the other end of the relay; if there were no mass effect conduit, then there is no reason for the Omega 4 Relay to be red. (Source: My job :P) Ageotas

contact

surely a note should be made in the trivia section about how they look similar when activated to the machine in contact Asdf1239^talk 03:12, June 1, 2010 (UTC)

I think not. That device has four rings, while the relays have only two, just to name one difference. Also we don't know how that device worked, and we know, somewhat, how the relays work. Visual comparisons aren't enough to justify trivia. Also the device doesn't have the spikes/whatever you want to call them. I just wanted to point that out, because the visual comparison is only of the the spinning thing. Lancer1289 03:19, June 1, 2010 (UTC)

So basicly they guys saying that they both have big gyroscopes in common. --Stabber ApSig 03:47, March 10, 2012 (UTC)

Energy

From where the mass relays gain the energy?

Probably via an internal reactor. However it is never hinted anywhere where they do. Lancer1289 18:00, August 21, 2010 (UTC)

Or they get energy like the stard estroyers in SW: Hyper matter annihilation reactor. I don't know how they work but I heard they are infinite.

Mass Relay Dimensions

Height, length, width, diameter of the element zero core rings. Does anyone know what they are? Please and thank you.

Unfortunately we do not have those answers as they aren't revealed in the game, books, or comics. Basically anywhere canon. I would recommend taking this up at the BioWare forums, maybe you will get a dev to respond with the dimensions and then perhaps share it with us. But again, since we only post canon information here, we do not have those answers. Lancer1289 01:48, February 4, 2011 (UTC)

Actually, I think it's said in first book (at least in audiobook), prologue or chapter 1. Rings 5km, total length 15 km. Somewhere along those lines. --80.248.107.178 00:03, November 27, 2012 (UTC)

Found it in ME: Revelation, on page 26. I've added it to the article. -- Commdor (Talk) 01:19, November 27, 2012 (UTC)

Habitation

This seems like a silly question, but does anybody inhabit the mass relays? I've never even heard it referenced that there were living creatures occupying the stations. 71.20.43.135 18:44, March 30, 2011 (UTC)

We've had no confirmation either way on that matter. We don't know if they can be even boarded, or if they have an interior space that is pressurized. Lancer1289 18:46, March 30, 2011 (UTC)

Prothean's DID NOT build Mass Relays.

In Mass Effect 3, if you have the DLC " From Ashes", you will recieve the last living Prothean, whos name is Javik, if you talk to him he will say "They say the Prothean's built the Relays" and then " The reapers are cunning in deciveing people" Marine One 02:14, March 10, 2012 (UTC)

And that would be spoilers right off the back. All into paragraphs are written from the perspective of when they are introduced, in this case, the first book, Mass Effect: Revelation. Lancer1289 02:49, March 10, 2012 (UTC)

When you go to the Mass Effect or any game wiki or video game you know that you may see spoilers, so u take the risk, and I read revalation's, i dont rember it mentioning the mass relay's origin,protheans,?? Marine One 20:58, March 13, 2012 (UTC)

And we have spoiler tags for a reason. If it is a spoiler, it doesn't go above that tag. And moving it to the top will only get it reverted. Every wiki does things their own way, this is ours. Lancer1289 21:02, March 13, 2012 (UTC)

Also the stuff is called Talk:, you talk about stuff about the subject it is one you talk, converse, hence the name TALK:, but ill tag it spoilers...jeez.

And we have policies about talk pages, which you clearly haven't read. I should also point out that chaning the opening paragraph would violate site policy and will be reverted. Lancer1289 21:18, March 13, 2012 (UTC)

And this is a big reveal how? We've known since ME1, Soveregin stated in openly on Virmire. --Kainzorus Prime ^{Walkie-talkie} 21:18, March 13, 2012 (UTC)

And you just made my case. That is spoilers for Mass Effect, therefore unacceptable. I know this may be news, but there are people who've never played Mass Effect before. Lancer1289 21:19, March 13, 2012 (UTC)

Mass Relays Gone, ME3 ending

So the ending of Mass effect 3 has the relays being destroyed; to send the energy/signal whatever throughout the galaxy by recieving the thing, charging up, and sending the thing to another relay or 2, then blowing up (assumably not in a "actual" super nova) to boadcast that in the galactic area that relay is at.

Any more thoughts on that everyone?

--Stabber ApSig 03:45, March 10, 2012 (UTC)

This isn't what talk pages are for. Take this to the forums or a blog post. Lancer1289 03:46, March 10, 2012 (UTC)

I don't know about that, if true it would be very important in context of the ending of the trilogy. If the relays go supernova during the ending, that would basically whipe out all of galactic civilization (as worlds would have been colonized in the same systems as mass relays). It definitely changes the whole tone of the ending if you indeed just obliterated all colonized worlds.97.83.154.129 05:58, March 12, 2012 (UTC)

No this isn't appropriate here. This topic clearly falls in the realm of the forums or a blog post. Lancer1289 21:01, March 13, 2012 (UTC)

How isn't it? We are clearly talking about information that could/should be added to the page.The14th 03:48, March 15, 2012 (UTC)

No it isn't. The OP is aksin people what they thought about the relays blowing up and what is going on. That is not a topic for this page. That is for the forums. Lancer1289 03:50, March 15, 2012 (UTC)

Well then let me officially say I want to edit the page to indicate that by destroying the mass relays you blow up every star system they were in. This is backed up by official lore as that is exactly what is depicted to happen at the end of the previous game.The14th 22:24, March 15, 2012 (UTC)

This information is not supplied by the game, and at best is only able to be inferred. In actual fact, the opposite is inferred, seeing as some (realistically, all) of the ending cinematics show life still existing on the Earth and other planets after the destruction of the Mass Relay system. The difference between the Batarian relay and this is that the destruction of the Batarian relay was uncontrolled, where as the destruction of the relay system via the crucible was a result of enough energy passing through them to pass their structural limits.Ageotas 08:06, March 28, 2012 (UTC)

This is now entirely off topic and this isn't the point of a talk page. What aren't people getting about this statement. Things like this belong in the forums or a blog post, NOT HERE. Take it to the appropriate place(s). Lancer1289 14:16, March 28, 2012 (UTC)

All Relays Destroyed?

Do we actually know for a fact that all the relays are gone in the destroy/synthesis endings? We only see the Charon Relay blow up. Or did I miss something? --UltraSonicTH 22:21, April 28, 2012 (UTC)

As you observe the galaxy map showing the relays bouncing the "signal" they large blasts of light from each turning point are the relays blowing up.--Xaero Dumort 23:33, April 28, 2012 (UTC)

Sol Relay

I think we need to have some mention of the Sol Relay in this article. I know there's some major questions about it (like is it another name for the Charon Relay), but it is prominently mentioned at least twice in ME3. TheUnknown285 (talk) 07:07, November 18, 2012 (UTC)

Isn't it pretty safe to assume "Sol Relay" is just another name for the Charon Relay? Every other Relay named after a star has orbited said star. The Charon Relay is the only relay in Sol's orbit. Why would they name a relay outside of the solar system after our star? It doesn't make sense. --83.253.40.203 20:09, May 28, 2013 (UTC)

There is the possibility that the name could refer to the system it goes to, similar to how some local road names are named for the destination and not the origin. For example, Atlanta Highway in Athens, GA is named so because it leads to Atlanta, not because it's in Atlanta. I am far more certain that Arcturus Prime and Charon are the same relay than I am that Sol and Charon are the same. TheUnknown285 (talk) 23:55, May 28, 2013 (UTC)

Energy Output / Durability

Since Relays can withstand and dish out foe-level yields at lightspeed I think it should be mentioned in the article. Although it is mentioned in the article, the quantum lock at the subatomic level means the Reapers could literally manipulate matter down to the subatomic level . . . I think that is pretty freaking impressive in and of itself. --DC Ambrose (talk) 17:48, October 23, 2013 (UTC)

Citadel races can build their own mass relays

It's actually almost written black on white (or rather tan on brown) in Mass Effect 2's Codex entry for communications about buoys. They state that they (the buoys) are in fact nothing more than a cluster of primitive miniature mass effect relays. And they ARE made by the races that first populate any given system to bring ftl communication possibilities there. And since you have to understand a technology to be able to mass produce it and even change parameters to change their intended use (as in sending signals instead of mass) they could indeed create their own relays. And, since they manage to repair the exploded relays after all endings (the non-choice not counted) in ME3 so quickly with or without reaper help, that also indicates the ability is there. So the only reason Matriarch Aethyta got "laughed the blue of her ass" is the costs connected to such endeavors. THAT really should be hinted at if nothing else on the page about mass relays. Baalzie (talk) 15:10, February 27, 2014 (UTC)

Additionally Prothean constructed a miniature version of mass relay, the Conduit.156.17.71.249 15:20, February 27, 2014 (UTC)

And yes, that too. That however only proves that the PROTHEAN could construct relays of their own. And (for plot reasons) even one that can create a tunnel straight through solid objects. Which the reapers could not. One DOES wonder how that science team managed to create the receiving end relay on the Citadel though, since they lost the Citadel a few hundred years before they created the Conduit. Let's not think about that shall we? --Baalzie (talk) 04:09, April 4, 2014 (UTC)

Relays per Star Cluster

Hi, I've been thinking and I'm looking for some input on it. I know that relays are put into the two classes of Primary and Secondary relays, but that would mean (if my thoughts are correct) that there could be multiple relays in one star cluster. Since a primary is only linked to its partner, then that would mean that that system is only connected to that other system. In order for there to be multiple connections to multiple systems from that one system, then there could be at least two relays for one star cluster. One, a primary relay and another being a secondary that connects to the neighboring systems.67.193.80.69 04:42, April 9, 2015 (UTC)

Ignore me.

Mostly for archival reasons I question the removal of the added trivia. I believe it's due to speculation but you never know and asking it here is two birds, one stone:

• Mass relays may allow passage through solid objects. The Prothean-engineered mass relays, the conduit on Mu linking to the Citadel relay monument, transported the user through the Citadel itself. The omega 4 relay possibly allowed the Normandy SR-2 to travel through chunks of debris, presuming the kinetic barriers did not deflect.

Seems acceptable. --Theh5 (talk) 17:51, July 10, 2018 (UTC)