Here is where the recorded history of millions upon millions of years is stored. Though current studies may undermine some of the information acquired over the short lifespan of the Milky Way's current species, most of it is adamant to the core. subjects such as Mass Relays, Mass Drivers, Weaponry and technology all have solid standings in the archives, as do recorded historical events confirmed by multiple species.
_______________________________________
The Pre-Council Era
37,000,000 BCE - 500 BCE
37,000,000 BCE
An unknown spacefaring race fires a mass accelerator round at a Reaper near the planet Mnemosyne. The round penetrates the Reaper, disabling it, and continues moving through space, eventually striking the planet Klendagon and creating the geological feature there known as the Great Rift Valley.
298,000 BCE
The ancient arthenn race flourish in the Zelene system, living on the planet Helyme until being destroyed in an unknown event that wiped out all complex life on the planet. They also maintained a presence on Epho, another planet in the system, which bears the scars of an ancient orbital bombardment, and on Gaelon, which may have been mined for helium-3.
125,000 BCE
Ancient spacefaring races called the thoi'han and inusannon fight over the planet Eingana, littering the planet with the debris of hundreds of starships. Refined element zero scattered by broken drive cores contaminates the environment, causing many native species to go extinct and those that survive to show a tendency to develop biotic powers.
48,000 BCE: Fall of the Protheans
The Protheans, a galaxy-wide civilization linked by the mass relay network, mysteriously vanish, leaving only ruins and artifacts behind. Archaeologists will later believe that they were destroyed in a cataclysm.
1900 BCE
Tuchanka, the krogan homeworld, enters the nuclear age. In a global conflict, weapons of mass destruction are released, triggering a nuclear winter. In the resulting devastation, krogan society devolves into a collection of warring clans.
1800 BCE
A supernova propels the Mu Relay, the only point of access to the remote Pangaea Expanse, out of position. Concealed somewhere in the dense nebula formed by the supernova, the relay's position is effectively lost for centuries. Later, the rachni rediscover the relay.
580 BCE
After developing faster-than-light spacefaring capabilities based upon Prothean technology, the asari begin to explore the mass relay network, and eventually discover the huge Citadel space station at a hub of many mass relays.
520 BCE
The salarians discover the Citadel and open diplomatic relations with the asari.
____________________________________________
Council Era - Formation
500 BCE - 1BCE
500 BCE: Founding of the Citadel Council
The Citadel Council is formed. The asari and salarians together colonize the Citadel and establish it as a center of the galactic community, led by the Council. This year is also known as 0 GS, the beginning of the Galactic Standard (GS) timeline.
As a gesture of openness with their new asari allies, the Salarian Union opens the records of the League of One. Under threat, the League responds by assassinating the whole inner cabinet of the Union; Special Tasks Group operatives then wipe out the League.
The turian Unification War begins.
First contact is made with the volus although at first they are not permitted a permanent embassy on the Citadel. With their participation, a single galactic currency known as the credit is eventually established, linking all galactic economies.
300 BCE
The Council agrees to grant the volus the honor of being the first species with an embassy at the Citadel, but not a Council seat.
200 BCE - 1 CE
The batarians post an embassy, a century or more after first contact.
The asari stumble into the elcor home system, and help the elcor locate and activate their nearest mass relay. "Within one elcor lifetime" they establish a regular trade route to the Citadel and soon post an embassy.
First contact is made with the hanar and the quarians. The quarians later post an embassy.
Council Era - Formation
500 BCE - 1BCE
500 BCE: Founding of the Citadel Council
The Citadel Council is formed. The asari and salarians together colonize the Citadel and establish it as a center of the galactic community, led by the Council. This year is also known as 0 GS, the beginning of the Galactic Standard (GS) timeline.
As a gesture of openness with their new asari allies, the Salarian Union opens the records of the League of One. Under threat, the League responds by assassinating the whole inner cabinet of the Union; Special Tasks Group operatives then wipe out the League.
The turian Unification War begins.
First contact is made with the volus although at first they are not permitted a permanent embassy on the Citadel. With their participation, a single galactic currency known as the credit is eventually established, linking all galactic economies.
300 BCE
The Council agrees to grant the volus the honor of being the first species with an embassy at the Citadel, but not a Council seat.
200 BCE - 1 CE
The batarians post an embassy, a century or more after first contact.
The asari stumble into the elcor home system, and help the elcor locate and activate their nearest mass relay. "Within one elcor lifetime" they establish a regular trade route to the Citadel and soon post an embassy.
First contact is made with the hanar and the quarians. The quarians later post an embassy.
________________________________________________
Council Era - Major Conflicts
1 CE - 900 CE
1 CE: The Rachni Wars
The Citadel Council first encounters the rachni, a species of highly intelligent hive-minded insects. They are discovered when an expedition opens a dormant mass relay to their star systems. The rachni prove to be hostile and begin a war with the rest of the galaxy. The Council cannot negotiate because they cannot contact the rachni queens that live underground on the toxic rachni homeworlds.
80 CE
The Rachni Wars continue. The salarians uplift the primitive krogan and manipulate them into acting as soldiers for the Citadel Council. The krogan are able to survive the harsh environments of the rachni worlds, and begin a strategy of eradicating queens and eggs.
300 CE
The rachni are declared extinct. In gratitude for their aid during the Rachni Wars, the Council grants the krogan a new homeworld. Free of the harsh environment of Tuchanka, the krogan population explodes.
300 - 700 CE
The krogan begin to expand exponentially, colonizing many new worlds. Growing concerns about their expansion lead to the founding of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel.
700 CE: The Krogan Rebellions
Krogan warlords leverage veterans of the Rachni Wars to annex territory from other races in Citadel space. Eventually the Council demands withdrawal from the asari colony of Lusia, but the krogan refuse. A preemptive strike is made on krogan infrastructures by the Spectres. The Krogan Rebellions begin.
First contact is made with the turians. In response to krogan threats, they declare war. After the krogan devastate turian colonies with weapons of mass destruction, the turians respond with a salarian-engineered bio-weapon known as the genophage. The krogan population starts its decline.
The turians accept the volus as a client race within the Hierarchy.
800 CE
The Krogan Rebellions end, though scattered krogan insurgent actions continue for decades. The turians begin to fill the military and peacekeeping niche left by the decimated krogan.
The Citadel Conventions are eventually drawn up, in the wake of the conflict.
Council Era - Major Conflicts
1 CE - 900 CE
1 CE: The Rachni Wars
The Citadel Council first encounters the rachni, a species of highly intelligent hive-minded insects. They are discovered when an expedition opens a dormant mass relay to their star systems. The rachni prove to be hostile and begin a war with the rest of the galaxy. The Council cannot negotiate because they cannot contact the rachni queens that live underground on the toxic rachni homeworlds.
80 CE
The Rachni Wars continue. The salarians uplift the primitive krogan and manipulate them into acting as soldiers for the Citadel Council. The krogan are able to survive the harsh environments of the rachni worlds, and begin a strategy of eradicating queens and eggs.
300 CE
The rachni are declared extinct. In gratitude for their aid during the Rachni Wars, the Council grants the krogan a new homeworld. Free of the harsh environment of Tuchanka, the krogan population explodes.
300 - 700 CE
The krogan begin to expand exponentially, colonizing many new worlds. Growing concerns about their expansion lead to the founding of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel.
700 CE: The Krogan Rebellions
Krogan warlords leverage veterans of the Rachni Wars to annex territory from other races in Citadel space. Eventually the Council demands withdrawal from the asari colony of Lusia, but the krogan refuse. A preemptive strike is made on krogan infrastructures by the Spectres. The Krogan Rebellions begin.
First contact is made with the turians. In response to krogan threats, they declare war. After the krogan devastate turian colonies with weapons of mass destruction, the turians respond with a salarian-engineered bio-weapon known as the genophage. The krogan population starts its decline.
The turians accept the volus as a client race within the Hierarchy.
800 CE
The Krogan Rebellions end, though scattered krogan insurgent actions continue for decades. The turians begin to fill the military and peacekeeping niche left by the decimated krogan.
The Citadel Conventions are eventually drawn up, in the wake of the conflict.
___________________________________________________
Council Era - Interregnum
900 CE - 2157 CE
900 CE
The turians are granted a place on the Citadel Council, and their fleet assumes the role of a galactic peacekeeping force.
This marks the start of a 1,200 year period during which Citadel space rapidly expands and new species are introduced to the Citadel. The three Council species - asari, salarians, and turians - successfully govern over an era remembered for its relative peace and prosperity.
1400 CE
Extensive and unchecked industrial expansion on the drell homeworld Rakhana begins taking a significant toll on the planet's environment.
1600 CE
The first sightings of the Collectors are reported in the Terminus Systems. Little is known about this enigmatic race, and most Council races dismiss stories of them as urban legends.
1895 CE: The Geth War
The geth, machines created by the quarians as a source of cheap labor, become self-aware. Fearing a geth uprising, the quarians begin dismantling them. The geth revolt against their quarian masters and, in the resulting war, systematically drive the quarians from their own worlds. The surviving quarians are reduced to living as spacefaring nomads aboard the Migrant Fleet. Contrary to expectations, the geth do not venture outside the former quarian systems into wider Citadel space, instead isolating themselves from the rest of the galaxy behind the Perseus Veil. As punishment for creating the geth, the Citadel Council closes the quarian embassy on the Citadel.
1961 CE
April 12: Yuri Gagarin aboard the Vostok 1 becomes the first human to travel in space. Humanity becomes a spacefaring race.
1969 CE
July 20: Apollo 11 lands on Luna. Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to walk on Luna, and the first human to walk on an astronomical object other than Earth.
2000 CE
The drell make first contact with the hanar around this time. With their homeworld Rakhana severely depleted and no spaceflight capability, the drell were poised for a massive population crash by 2025 CE. Agreeing to help, the hanar mount a large-scale rescue operation and evacuate approximately 375,000 drell to their own homeworld, Kahje, over the following decade. The remaining 11 billion drell on Rakhana gradually perish, warring over the last reserves of food and water.
2069 CE
July 20: Armstrong Outpost at Shackleton Crater is formally founded as the first human settlement on Luna, on the 100th anniversary of the first lunar landing.
2077 CE
Liara T'Soni is born.
2103 CE
The European Space Agency's Lowell City in Eos Chasma becomes the first permanent human settlement on Mars.
2137 CE
David Anderson is born.
The Eldfell-Ashland Energy Corporation demonstrates helium-3 fuel extraction from the atmosphere of Saturn.
2139 CE
Saren Arterius is born.
Kahlee Sanders is born.
2143 CE
Construction of Gagarin Station (Jump Zero) begins beyond the orbit of Pluto.
2146 CE
Thane Krios is born.
2147 CE
Trace amounts of element zero are discovered on Mars.
2148 CE
Humanity discovers a small cache of highly advanced Prothean technology hidden deep beneath the surface of Mars on the south polar region of Promethei Planum. Building on the remnants of this long extinct race, humans quickly explore the science of mass effect fields, leading to the development of faster than light travel and beginning detailed exploration of the solar system.
2149 CE
Following information from the translated data cache on Mars, humans discover that Charon, Pluto's moon, is actually a massive piece of dormant Prothean technology, a mass relay, encased in ice. Once activated, Jon Grissom leads the first team of explorers through the relay. They discover that the Charon Relay allows instantaneous travel across thousands of light-years to a synchronized mass relay in another part of the galaxy.
The Systems Alliance charter is signed by the eighteen largest nations on Earth. The Alliance soon becomes the military and exploratory spearhead of humanity.
2150 CE
Miranda Lawson is born.
The Systems Alliance begins the first surveys for colonization prospects outside the Sol System. One of these surveys discovers the planet Terra Nova.
2151 CE
To defend its expanding empire, humanity begins constructing a massive military fleet and space station at Arcturus, the nexus of several key mass relays, even though they have yet to encounter another intelligent spacefaring race.
An accident at Singapore International Spaceport exposes a human population to dust-form element zero. After his mother is exposed during the accident, Kaidan Alenko is born later that year with biotic potential.
2152 CE
The Delta Pavonis Foundation, a major consortium based on Earth, begins settlement of humanity's first extra-solar colony world, the planet Demeter. Later that year, additional colonies are founded on Eden Prime and Terra Nova.
Roughly 30% of the children born in Singapore after element zero exposure suffer from cancerous growths.
Thane Krios is submitted for training as an assassin under the hanar.
2154 CE
4.11.2154: Shepard is born.
There is a second publicized accidental exposure by humans to element zero.
2155 CE
Saren Arterius is promoted to active service in the turian military at the age of 16.
The Systems Alliance occupies completed portions of Arcturus Station as a headquarters.
Jeff "Joker" Moreau is born.
2156 CE
Arcturus Station is inaugurated.
A small number of human children exposed to element zero exhibit minor telekinetic abilities.
2157 CE
Pluto's orbit becomes circularized as a result of mass relay operations.
Jacob Taylor is born.
David Anderson graduates from OCS with the rank of First Lieutenant.
Council Era - Interregnum
900 CE - 2157 CE
900 CE
The turians are granted a place on the Citadel Council, and their fleet assumes the role of a galactic peacekeeping force.
This marks the start of a 1,200 year period during which Citadel space rapidly expands and new species are introduced to the Citadel. The three Council species - asari, salarians, and turians - successfully govern over an era remembered for its relative peace and prosperity.
1400 CE
Extensive and unchecked industrial expansion on the drell homeworld Rakhana begins taking a significant toll on the planet's environment.
1600 CE
The first sightings of the Collectors are reported in the Terminus Systems. Little is known about this enigmatic race, and most Council races dismiss stories of them as urban legends.
1895 CE: The Geth War
The geth, machines created by the quarians as a source of cheap labor, become self-aware. Fearing a geth uprising, the quarians begin dismantling them. The geth revolt against their quarian masters and, in the resulting war, systematically drive the quarians from their own worlds. The surviving quarians are reduced to living as spacefaring nomads aboard the Migrant Fleet. Contrary to expectations, the geth do not venture outside the former quarian systems into wider Citadel space, instead isolating themselves from the rest of the galaxy behind the Perseus Veil. As punishment for creating the geth, the Citadel Council closes the quarian embassy on the Citadel.
1961 CE
April 12: Yuri Gagarin aboard the Vostok 1 becomes the first human to travel in space. Humanity becomes a spacefaring race.
1969 CE
July 20: Apollo 11 lands on Luna. Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to walk on Luna, and the first human to walk on an astronomical object other than Earth.
2000 CE
The drell make first contact with the hanar around this time. With their homeworld Rakhana severely depleted and no spaceflight capability, the drell were poised for a massive population crash by 2025 CE. Agreeing to help, the hanar mount a large-scale rescue operation and evacuate approximately 375,000 drell to their own homeworld, Kahje, over the following decade. The remaining 11 billion drell on Rakhana gradually perish, warring over the last reserves of food and water.
2069 CE
July 20: Armstrong Outpost at Shackleton Crater is formally founded as the first human settlement on Luna, on the 100th anniversary of the first lunar landing.
2077 CE
Liara T'Soni is born.
2103 CE
The European Space Agency's Lowell City in Eos Chasma becomes the first permanent human settlement on Mars.
2137 CE
David Anderson is born.
The Eldfell-Ashland Energy Corporation demonstrates helium-3 fuel extraction from the atmosphere of Saturn.
2139 CE
Saren Arterius is born.
Kahlee Sanders is born.
2143 CE
Construction of Gagarin Station (Jump Zero) begins beyond the orbit of Pluto.
2146 CE
Thane Krios is born.
2147 CE
Trace amounts of element zero are discovered on Mars.
2148 CE
Humanity discovers a small cache of highly advanced Prothean technology hidden deep beneath the surface of Mars on the south polar region of Promethei Planum. Building on the remnants of this long extinct race, humans quickly explore the science of mass effect fields, leading to the development of faster than light travel and beginning detailed exploration of the solar system.
2149 CE
Following information from the translated data cache on Mars, humans discover that Charon, Pluto's moon, is actually a massive piece of dormant Prothean technology, a mass relay, encased in ice. Once activated, Jon Grissom leads the first team of explorers through the relay. They discover that the Charon Relay allows instantaneous travel across thousands of light-years to a synchronized mass relay in another part of the galaxy.
The Systems Alliance charter is signed by the eighteen largest nations on Earth. The Alliance soon becomes the military and exploratory spearhead of humanity.
2150 CE
Miranda Lawson is born.
The Systems Alliance begins the first surveys for colonization prospects outside the Sol System. One of these surveys discovers the planet Terra Nova.
2151 CE
To defend its expanding empire, humanity begins constructing a massive military fleet and space station at Arcturus, the nexus of several key mass relays, even though they have yet to encounter another intelligent spacefaring race.
An accident at Singapore International Spaceport exposes a human population to dust-form element zero. After his mother is exposed during the accident, Kaidan Alenko is born later that year with biotic potential.
2152 CE
The Delta Pavonis Foundation, a major consortium based on Earth, begins settlement of humanity's first extra-solar colony world, the planet Demeter. Later that year, additional colonies are founded on Eden Prime and Terra Nova.
Roughly 30% of the children born in Singapore after element zero exposure suffer from cancerous growths.
Thane Krios is submitted for training as an assassin under the hanar.
2154 CE
4.11.2154: Shepard is born.
There is a second publicized accidental exposure by humans to element zero.
2155 CE
Saren Arterius is promoted to active service in the turian military at the age of 16.
The Systems Alliance occupies completed portions of Arcturus Station as a headquarters.
Jeff "Joker" Moreau is born.
2156 CE
Arcturus Station is inaugurated.
A small number of human children exposed to element zero exhibit minor telekinetic abilities.
2157 CE
Pluto's orbit becomes circularized as a result of mass relay operations.
Jacob Taylor is born.
David Anderson graduates from OCS with the rank of First Lieutenant.
______________________________________________
Council Era - Introduction of Humanity
2157CE - 2183CE
2157 CE: The First Contact War
Humanity makes violent first contact with another spacefaring culture: the turians. The turians observe human explorers attempting to activate a dormant mass relay, a practice forbidden by galactic law after the Rachni Wars, and attack. Over the next several months, a brief but tense conflict known on Earth as the First Contact War ensues. The conflict culminates in the turian siege and occupation of Shanxi, the first and only human world to fall to an alien race. David Anderson, newly graduated from the Alliance's elite N7 program, serves in the war with distinction alongside Jill Dah. The brother of Saren Arterius is among the turian casualties.
Admiral Kastanie Drescher leads the Second Fleet against Shanxi one month after its occupation, catching the turians by surprise and evicting them from the planet.
The turians prepare for a full-scale war against humanity, but this draws the attention of the Citadel Council. The Council intervenes before hostilities escalate further, revealing the existence of the greater galactic community to humanity and brokering a peace between them and the turians.
2158 CE
Humans learn the potential of biotics. An international effort to track element zero exposures begins. Roughly 10% of exposed children show some sign of biotic ability.
April 14: Ashley Williams is born.
2159 CE
Saren Arterius becomes the youngest turian to enter the Spectres.
The Systems Alliance purchases Gagarin Station for a fraction of its cost, and converts the facility into a biotic research and training facility.
2160 CE
The Systems Alliance Parliament is formed.
With the existence of human biotics firmly established, the BAaT program is set up on Gagarin Station to train potential candidates and develop biotic implants.
The biotic drug red sand is first used.
The mercenary group Blue Suns is founded by Zaeed Massani and Vido Santiago in the Skyllian Verge.
Kasumi Goto is born.
2161 CE
Amid concerns over gene therapy and genetic modifications being misused, the Alliance Parliament passes the Sudham-Wolcott Genetic Heritage Act.
Tali'Zorah nar Rayya is born.
2162 CE
Construction of Arcturus Station is completed.
A survey team working for a batarian entrepreneur, Edan Had'dah, discovers a mysterious artifact orbiting an unnamed planet near the Perseus Veil.
2163 CE
The Alliance secretly begins illegal AI research at a base on Sidon with Dr. Shu Qian as project leader. Lt. Kahlee Sanders is assigned as a tech analyst.
The first experimental L1 biotic implants are used in humans.
Harkin becomes the first human C-Sec officer.
Second generation exposures by humans to element zero are orchestrated by the failure of starship drive systems over populated areas.
2165 CE
Humanity continues to expand, founding more colonies and establishing trade alliances with many of the other species who recognize the authority of the Citadel Council. In 2165, the Council makes official recognition of humanity's growing power and influence in the galactic community. Humanity is granted an embassy on the Citadel, the political and economic heart of the galaxy. Tensions grow between humans and batarians as they compete for territory in the Skyllian Verge.
The events of Mass Effect: Revelation occur. After an Alliance research station at Sidon is attacked, David Anderson searches for those responsible alongside Kahlee Sanders, and discovers an Alliance scientist, Dr. Shu Qian, was conducting illegal AI research to unlock the secrets behind a mysterious artifact discovered near the Perseus Veil. Eventually, Anderson is assigned to work with Saren Arterius to track down Dr. Qian and his batarian supporter, Edan Had'dah. However, Saren instead kills both Dr. Qian and Had'dah, blames Anderson for the mission's failure, and uses Dr. Qian's research to search for the artifact himself.
Terrorists, later identified as agents of the human supremacist group Cerberus, steal antimatter from an Alliance cruiser.
After a disagreement between Vido Santiago and Zaeed Massani over hiring batarians into the Blue Suns, Vido betrays Zaeed and leaves him for dead. All records of Zaeed's involvement in the Blue Suns are erased.
2166 CE
A turian mercenary, Commander Vyrnnus, is hired to oversee the training of human biotics at BAaT.
2167 CE
L2 biotic implants are first developed and used in humans. Kaidan Alenko is among the first to receive the new implants.
The magazine Fornax is launched.
2168 CE
Kaidan Alenko accidentally kills Commander Vyrnnus after being provoked. The diplomatic fallout with the turians results in BAaT being shut down a year later.
2170 CE
The human colony of Mindoir is attacked by batarian slavers. Many colonists are killed or captured.
Another human colony, Yandoa, suffers catastrophic dust-form element zero exposure to its atmosphere when an Eldfell-Ashland Energy ship explodes in orbit. Many children suffer birth defects; thirty-seven biotic children are born, including Gillian Grayson.
Biotic training for humans is outsourced to the military, selected R&D companies, and renamed divisions of the defunct Conatix Industries.
L3 biotic implants are developed after L2 implants prove to be dangerous.
The first A-61 Mantis Gunships are produced.
2171 CE
In protest at the refusal of the Citadel Council to limit human expansion in the Skyllian Verge, the batarians close their embassy, withdraw into their home systems, and effectively become a rogue state.
2172 CE
4.11.2172: Shepard enlists in the Alliance military.
On Gagarin Station, "Eliza" becomes the first sapient AI created in the Systems Alliance.
2173 CE
A fly-by over the world of Armeni discovers odd surface protrusions. Upon closer inspection, they are identified as elaborate crypts made by the zeioph, an extinct spacefaring race. Various human universities seek to perform excavation, but Council laws that hold burial sites as sacrosanct prevent this. An ongoing debate over the issue ensues.
Terra Firma is involved in a Nashan Stellar Dynamics kickbacks scandal, forcing Inez Simmons, the current party leader, to resign. Charles Saracino becomes the new party leader after his opponent, Claude Menneau, mysteriously vanishes while en route to Shanxi.
Kaidan Alenko enlists in the Alliance military.
2174 CE
Ashley Williams enlists in the Alliance military.
2175 CE
On a survey mission to 2175 Aeia, an important colonization prospect for the Systems Alliance, the MSV Hugo Gernsback disappears and is presumed destroyed.
2176 CE
Batarian-funded pirates and criminals launch a surprise attack on the human colony of Elysium, later known as the Skyllian Blitz. The assault is repulsed by the Alliance Navy and ground teams.
The Jon Grissom Academy is commissioned over Elysium, and becomes home to the Alliance's new biotic training program, the Ascension Project.
The Anhur Rebellions, a civil war waged between opponents and supporters of slavery, begin on the human and batarian colony world of Anhur.
2177 CE
During a recon mission to find a missing colonial pioneer team on Akuze, a unit of fifty Alliance marines is wiped out by thresher maws.
2178 CE
In retaliation for the Skyllian Blitz, the Alliance launches a major offensive against the moon of Torfan and destroys the criminal bases there, mostly populated by batarians. The threat against human colonies from batarian extremists is curtailed.
The Alliance tracks several pirate FTL exit vectors over a period of six months using covert monitoring devices planted on Theshaca's moons, leading the Alliance Navy to eight major pirate anchorages. Since the "Theshaca Raids", no ships from the Terminus Systems have entered the Hong system.
The Anhur Rebellions end with the abolitionist forces in power, and reconstruction of Anhur commences.
Jacob Taylor enlists in the Alliance military.
2181 CE
Jacob Taylor volunteers for the Corsairs, an Alliance initiative to secretly support independent starship captains in covert operations for the Alliance's benefit.
2183 CE
Humans and turians collaborate on an engineering project co-sponsored by the Citadel Council: an experimental frigate with a prototype stealth system, the SSV Normandy. David Anderson is given command of the ship, and Commander Shepard is assigned as executive officer.
Council Era - Introduction of Humanity
2157CE - 2183CE
2157 CE: The First Contact War
Humanity makes violent first contact with another spacefaring culture: the turians. The turians observe human explorers attempting to activate a dormant mass relay, a practice forbidden by galactic law after the Rachni Wars, and attack. Over the next several months, a brief but tense conflict known on Earth as the First Contact War ensues. The conflict culminates in the turian siege and occupation of Shanxi, the first and only human world to fall to an alien race. David Anderson, newly graduated from the Alliance's elite N7 program, serves in the war with distinction alongside Jill Dah. The brother of Saren Arterius is among the turian casualties.
Admiral Kastanie Drescher leads the Second Fleet against Shanxi one month after its occupation, catching the turians by surprise and evicting them from the planet.
The turians prepare for a full-scale war against humanity, but this draws the attention of the Citadel Council. The Council intervenes before hostilities escalate further, revealing the existence of the greater galactic community to humanity and brokering a peace between them and the turians.
2158 CE
Humans learn the potential of biotics. An international effort to track element zero exposures begins. Roughly 10% of exposed children show some sign of biotic ability.
April 14: Ashley Williams is born.
2159 CE
Saren Arterius becomes the youngest turian to enter the Spectres.
The Systems Alliance purchases Gagarin Station for a fraction of its cost, and converts the facility into a biotic research and training facility.
2160 CE
The Systems Alliance Parliament is formed.
With the existence of human biotics firmly established, the BAaT program is set up on Gagarin Station to train potential candidates and develop biotic implants.
The biotic drug red sand is first used.
The mercenary group Blue Suns is founded by Zaeed Massani and Vido Santiago in the Skyllian Verge.
Kasumi Goto is born.
2161 CE
Amid concerns over gene therapy and genetic modifications being misused, the Alliance Parliament passes the Sudham-Wolcott Genetic Heritage Act.
Tali'Zorah nar Rayya is born.
2162 CE
Construction of Arcturus Station is completed.
A survey team working for a batarian entrepreneur, Edan Had'dah, discovers a mysterious artifact orbiting an unnamed planet near the Perseus Veil.
2163 CE
The Alliance secretly begins illegal AI research at a base on Sidon with Dr. Shu Qian as project leader. Lt. Kahlee Sanders is assigned as a tech analyst.
The first experimental L1 biotic implants are used in humans.
Harkin becomes the first human C-Sec officer.
Second generation exposures by humans to element zero are orchestrated by the failure of starship drive systems over populated areas.
2165 CE
Humanity continues to expand, founding more colonies and establishing trade alliances with many of the other species who recognize the authority of the Citadel Council. In 2165, the Council makes official recognition of humanity's growing power and influence in the galactic community. Humanity is granted an embassy on the Citadel, the political and economic heart of the galaxy. Tensions grow between humans and batarians as they compete for territory in the Skyllian Verge.
The events of Mass Effect: Revelation occur. After an Alliance research station at Sidon is attacked, David Anderson searches for those responsible alongside Kahlee Sanders, and discovers an Alliance scientist, Dr. Shu Qian, was conducting illegal AI research to unlock the secrets behind a mysterious artifact discovered near the Perseus Veil. Eventually, Anderson is assigned to work with Saren Arterius to track down Dr. Qian and his batarian supporter, Edan Had'dah. However, Saren instead kills both Dr. Qian and Had'dah, blames Anderson for the mission's failure, and uses Dr. Qian's research to search for the artifact himself.
Terrorists, later identified as agents of the human supremacist group Cerberus, steal antimatter from an Alliance cruiser.
After a disagreement between Vido Santiago and Zaeed Massani over hiring batarians into the Blue Suns, Vido betrays Zaeed and leaves him for dead. All records of Zaeed's involvement in the Blue Suns are erased.
2166 CE
A turian mercenary, Commander Vyrnnus, is hired to oversee the training of human biotics at BAaT.
2167 CE
L2 biotic implants are first developed and used in humans. Kaidan Alenko is among the first to receive the new implants.
The magazine Fornax is launched.
2168 CE
Kaidan Alenko accidentally kills Commander Vyrnnus after being provoked. The diplomatic fallout with the turians results in BAaT being shut down a year later.
2170 CE
The human colony of Mindoir is attacked by batarian slavers. Many colonists are killed or captured.
Another human colony, Yandoa, suffers catastrophic dust-form element zero exposure to its atmosphere when an Eldfell-Ashland Energy ship explodes in orbit. Many children suffer birth defects; thirty-seven biotic children are born, including Gillian Grayson.
Biotic training for humans is outsourced to the military, selected R&D companies, and renamed divisions of the defunct Conatix Industries.
L3 biotic implants are developed after L2 implants prove to be dangerous.
The first A-61 Mantis Gunships are produced.
2171 CE
In protest at the refusal of the Citadel Council to limit human expansion in the Skyllian Verge, the batarians close their embassy, withdraw into their home systems, and effectively become a rogue state.
2172 CE
4.11.2172: Shepard enlists in the Alliance military.
On Gagarin Station, "Eliza" becomes the first sapient AI created in the Systems Alliance.
2173 CE
A fly-by over the world of Armeni discovers odd surface protrusions. Upon closer inspection, they are identified as elaborate crypts made by the zeioph, an extinct spacefaring race. Various human universities seek to perform excavation, but Council laws that hold burial sites as sacrosanct prevent this. An ongoing debate over the issue ensues.
Terra Firma is involved in a Nashan Stellar Dynamics kickbacks scandal, forcing Inez Simmons, the current party leader, to resign. Charles Saracino becomes the new party leader after his opponent, Claude Menneau, mysteriously vanishes while en route to Shanxi.
Kaidan Alenko enlists in the Alliance military.
2174 CE
Ashley Williams enlists in the Alliance military.
2175 CE
On a survey mission to 2175 Aeia, an important colonization prospect for the Systems Alliance, the MSV Hugo Gernsback disappears and is presumed destroyed.
2176 CE
Batarian-funded pirates and criminals launch a surprise attack on the human colony of Elysium, later known as the Skyllian Blitz. The assault is repulsed by the Alliance Navy and ground teams.
The Jon Grissom Academy is commissioned over Elysium, and becomes home to the Alliance's new biotic training program, the Ascension Project.
The Anhur Rebellions, a civil war waged between opponents and supporters of slavery, begin on the human and batarian colony world of Anhur.
2177 CE
During a recon mission to find a missing colonial pioneer team on Akuze, a unit of fifty Alliance marines is wiped out by thresher maws.
2178 CE
In retaliation for the Skyllian Blitz, the Alliance launches a major offensive against the moon of Torfan and destroys the criminal bases there, mostly populated by batarians. The threat against human colonies from batarian extremists is curtailed.
The Alliance tracks several pirate FTL exit vectors over a period of six months using covert monitoring devices planted on Theshaca's moons, leading the Alliance Navy to eight major pirate anchorages. Since the "Theshaca Raids", no ships from the Terminus Systems have entered the Hong system.
The Anhur Rebellions end with the abolitionist forces in power, and reconstruction of Anhur commences.
Jacob Taylor enlists in the Alliance military.
2181 CE
Jacob Taylor volunteers for the Corsairs, an Alliance initiative to secretly support independent starship captains in covert operations for the Alliance's benefit.
2183 CE
Humans and turians collaborate on an engineering project co-sponsored by the Citadel Council: an experimental frigate with a prototype stealth system, the SSV Normandy. David Anderson is given command of the ship, and Commander Shepard is assigned as executive officer.
___________________________________________________
The Story of Mass Effect
2183 CE - 2185 CE
2183 CE: The Eden Prime War
The events of Mass Effect occur. The human colony of Eden Prime is attacked by the geth, initiating a wider conflict between humans and geth known as the Eden Prime War. After exposing the involvement of rogue Spectre Saren Arterius in the attack, Commander Shepard and the crew of the SSV Normandy pursue Saren in his search for the Conduit, later revealed to be part of a larger plan orchestrated by the Reaper Sovereign to return its kind to the galaxy. While Shepard follows Saren through the legendary Mu Relay to the Conduit, Sovereign and a geth fleet assault the Citadel. Shepard defeats Saren and the Alliance Navy destroys Sovereign, preventing the release of the Reapers. The Citadel Council is irrevocably changed by Shepard's decisions.
The opening events of Mass Effect 2 occur. One month after the Battle of the Citadel, the SSV Normandy is attacked and destroyed by an unidentified assailant, resulting in the death of Commander Shepard. Later, the Systems Alliance officially declares Shepard "killed in action".
The events of Mass Effect: Redemption occur. Commander Shepard's body is recovered by Blue Suns mercenaries for the Shadow Broker. Cerberus eventually obtains the body and begins work on the Lazarus Project.
L4 biotic implants are developed.
The events of Mass Effect: Ascension occur. With galactic society still in flux over the changes to the Council and none the wiser as to the true nature of Sovereign or the Citadel and mass relays, Cerberus pushes ahead with plans for both the Ascension Project and the quarian Migrant Fleet, but is foiled by the actions of Kahlee Sanders and Paul Grayson. After an attack by Cerberus forces, the Migrant Fleet changes its conservative policy, sending ships away from the Flotilla to look for new homeworlds or possibly a dormant Reaper.
The events of Mass Effect Galaxy occur. Jacob Taylor, with the help of Miranda Lawson, prevents an assassination attempt on the Citadel Council by batarian terrorists.
2184 CE
The biological weapon EHE, or "exotic humanoid encephalopathy", is used by the human terrorist organization Totenkopf in an attack on Gagarin Station. The Alliance cruiser SSV Manila is deployed to monitor the asteroid Israfil, the supposed origin of the miroorganisms used to produce EHE.
The freighter MSV Estevanico is attacked by Blood Pack mercenaries and crashes into the planet Zanethu. The Alliance crew on board were among the first humans to encounter the vorcha race.
The raloi of the planet Turvess launch their first space telescope and discover the asari cruiser Avedes in their system. The asari make first contact with the raloi.
2185 CE
The Eden Prime War comes to a close. Although most geth forces in Citadel space were destroyed in the Battle of the Citadel, holdouts remain. The Alliance Navy reduces its patrols, relying instead on civilian ships to report any geth activity. Raids are carried out against identified geth outposts, but the conflict is essentially over.
The events of Mass Effect 2 occur. Commander Shepard is revived and tasked by the Illusive Man to investigate the mysterious disappearances of entire human colonies in the Terminus Systems. Investigation of the attacked colony of Freedom's Progress reveals the enigmatic Collectors from beyond the Omega 4 Relay to be responsible for the disappearances. After assembling a capable team, Commander Shepard uses a captured Reaper IFF to safely traverse the relay and infiltrate the Collector base. Shepard succeeds in eliminating the Collector threat, saving humanity throughout the galaxy from certain destruction.
The Story of Mass Effect
2183 CE - 2185 CE
2183 CE: The Eden Prime War
The events of Mass Effect occur. The human colony of Eden Prime is attacked by the geth, initiating a wider conflict between humans and geth known as the Eden Prime War. After exposing the involvement of rogue Spectre Saren Arterius in the attack, Commander Shepard and the crew of the SSV Normandy pursue Saren in his search for the Conduit, later revealed to be part of a larger plan orchestrated by the Reaper Sovereign to return its kind to the galaxy. While Shepard follows Saren through the legendary Mu Relay to the Conduit, Sovereign and a geth fleet assault the Citadel. Shepard defeats Saren and the Alliance Navy destroys Sovereign, preventing the release of the Reapers. The Citadel Council is irrevocably changed by Shepard's decisions.
The opening events of Mass Effect 2 occur. One month after the Battle of the Citadel, the SSV Normandy is attacked and destroyed by an unidentified assailant, resulting in the death of Commander Shepard. Later, the Systems Alliance officially declares Shepard "killed in action".
The events of Mass Effect: Redemption occur. Commander Shepard's body is recovered by Blue Suns mercenaries for the Shadow Broker. Cerberus eventually obtains the body and begins work on the Lazarus Project.
L4 biotic implants are developed.
The events of Mass Effect: Ascension occur. With galactic society still in flux over the changes to the Council and none the wiser as to the true nature of Sovereign or the Citadel and mass relays, Cerberus pushes ahead with plans for both the Ascension Project and the quarian Migrant Fleet, but is foiled by the actions of Kahlee Sanders and Paul Grayson. After an attack by Cerberus forces, the Migrant Fleet changes its conservative policy, sending ships away from the Flotilla to look for new homeworlds or possibly a dormant Reaper.
The events of Mass Effect Galaxy occur. Jacob Taylor, with the help of Miranda Lawson, prevents an assassination attempt on the Citadel Council by batarian terrorists.
2184 CE
The biological weapon EHE, or "exotic humanoid encephalopathy", is used by the human terrorist organization Totenkopf in an attack on Gagarin Station. The Alliance cruiser SSV Manila is deployed to monitor the asteroid Israfil, the supposed origin of the miroorganisms used to produce EHE.
The freighter MSV Estevanico is attacked by Blood Pack mercenaries and crashes into the planet Zanethu. The Alliance crew on board were among the first humans to encounter the vorcha race.
The raloi of the planet Turvess launch their first space telescope and discover the asari cruiser Avedes in their system. The asari make first contact with the raloi.
2185 CE
The Eden Prime War comes to a close. Although most geth forces in Citadel space were destroyed in the Battle of the Citadel, holdouts remain. The Alliance Navy reduces its patrols, relying instead on civilian ships to report any geth activity. Raids are carried out against identified geth outposts, but the conflict is essentially over.
The events of Mass Effect 2 occur. Commander Shepard is revived and tasked by the Illusive Man to investigate the mysterious disappearances of entire human colonies in the Terminus Systems. Investigation of the attacked colony of Freedom's Progress reveals the enigmatic Collectors from beyond the Omega 4 Relay to be responsible for the disappearances. After assembling a capable team, Commander Shepard uses a captured Reaper IFF to safely traverse the relay and infiltrate the Collector base. Shepard succeeds in eliminating the Collector threat, saving humanity throughout the galaxy from certain destruction.