{"id":529,"date":"2017-03-19T10:37:15","date_gmt":"2017-03-18T23:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/?p=529"},"modified":"2017-03-19T11:05:06","modified_gmt":"2017-03-19T00:05:06","slug":"a-future-for-the-krogan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/journal\/articles\/a-future-for-the-krogan\/","title":{"rendered":"A Future for the Krogan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nThe maw hammers tolled in unison, sending shockwaves and a low hum through the ground. Commander Shepard could feel the earth trembling with each hammer fall and peered out from behind a ruined pillar. The bug-like Reaper was still circling the Shroud, protecting the distribution of its poison into the atmosphere. Its red eye scanned for the source of the disturbance, the ground shaking with each step. Its pincer-like legs brushed aside the crumbling Krogan architecture like dead leaves and, at a shout from Garrus, Shepard threw himself out from behind the pillar and rolled to cover as one of the Reaper\u2019s legs hit the pillar and sent it toppling to the ground. <\/p>\n

\u2018Commander!\u2019 Javik shouted, pointing out towards the wasteland. \u2018Look!\u2019<\/p>\n

Shepard slid into cover beside the prothean soldier and looked, but the dust rising from each of the Reaper\u2019s steps had veiled the surrounding landscape around the base of the Shroud. <\/p>\n

\u2018What is it?\u2019 <\/p>\n

But his question was soon answered. There was another tremor, but this time not from the hammers or from the Reaper. This was a long, sustained rumbling that was progressively growing stronger by the second. Loose rocks and bits of debris all around them were shuddering, and whatever Javik had spotted had clearly also drawn the Reaper\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

The ancient machine uttered its soul-shattering war cry, a low blast of terrifying sound, and manoeuvred its body to face the oncoming threat. There was an explosion of earth and the mother of all thresher maws, Kalros, burst from the ground, its pincers wide, its savage jaws open and angry. The Reaper fired but the thresher maw collided with its metallic shape and clung on tight, sending the Reaper\u2019s laser firing perilously close to Shepard\u2019s position.
\n\u2018Move! Move!\u2019 he shouted.<\/p>\n

The red beam sliced through a raised walkway, then the huge shape of Kalros\u2019 body came crushing down, decimating what once may have been a road. The team leapt across a ruined bridge and scrambled up the opposite side of a narrow ditch as the two leviathan shapes battled above them. The Reaper\u2019s war cry blasted angrily as it tried to shift the hold of its long centipede-like attacker but Kalros held it tight. Struggling, the Reaper shook itself violently and swung the thresher maw hard against the Shroud itself. Kalros released a piercing cry and its hold on the metal bug slackened. Its tentacles retracting in pain, the giant monster retreated back underground.<\/p>\n

No!<\/em> Shepard thought, despairing. <\/p>\n

They had worked so hard to get the hammers working, summoning the giant legend to help them against the Reaper. Now the ancient machine was repositioning itself defiantly in front of the Shroud once more, its red eye searching from side to side for any further sign of trouble.<\/p>\n

\u2018What now?\u2019 Garrus asked. \u2018We can\u2019t get to the Shroud with that thing still there.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Wrex,\u2019 Shepard said into the comms, \u2018is there another way to the Shroud from our position?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018At the end of the\u2014\u2019<\/p>\n

The earth shuddered dramatically once more and Shepard, Javik and Garrus all lost their footing. Shepard spun around and looked in the direction of the Shroud to see Kalros rearing out of a new explosion of dust and debris, its bloodied tentacles fiercely lunging towards the Reaper once more. Caught by surprise, the Reaper crumbled under the weight of the thresher maw and its steady hold on the ruined city was gone. Its laser fired once, twice, three times, but the shots all missed its attacker. Kalros spun its huge body around the downed machine, twisting and crushing it like a snake, its smaller legs holding the monstrous metal body secure. Explosions erupted across the Reaper\u2019s body and red lightning flickered outwards from its laser-like eye as Kalros squeezed it and dragged it under the ground. <\/p>\n

\u2018Good enough for you, Shepard?\u2019 Wrex\u2019s voice broke through the comms, followed by a laugh. <\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019ll do!\u2019 Shepard replied. \u2018Okay, Javik, Garrus\u2014get back to the truck, I\u2019ll take care of the cure! Go!\u2019<\/p>\n

The turian hesitated, but then nodded and hurried off towards the raised skyway with Javik. Shepard turned towards the Shroud, which was still emitting its poison into the atmosphere, took a deep breath and broke into a run.<\/p>\n

When he reached the control centre at the base of the tower, Mordin was already there, furiously typing on a terminal. Above them, small explosions were breaking out across the Shroud\u2019s exterior.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mordin, is the cure ready?\u2019 Shepard asked.<\/p>\n

The salarian glanced towards him, but then returned his gaze to the terminal.<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes. Loaded for dispersal in two minutes. Procedure traumatic for Eve, but not lethal. Maelon\u2019s research invaluable.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018She\u2019s okay?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Heading to safety now. Her survival fortunate. Will stabilise new government should Wrex get any ideas. Good match, promising future for krogan.\u2019<\/p>\n

There was a great boom from above and a piece of the damaged Shroud came toppling down close to the terminal. Shepard shouted in surprise and alarm, and looked up at the tower. It did not have long.<\/p>\n

\u2018Control room at top of Shroud tower. Must take elevator up,\u2019 Mordin said, barely flinching.<\/p>\n

\u2018You\u2019re going up there?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, manual access required. Have to counteract STG sabotage. Ensure cure dispersed properly.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Mordin, this whole thing is coming apart!\u2019 Shepard argued. \u2018There\u2019s got to be another way!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Remote bypass impossible,\u2019 Mordin said, looking up at the tower. \u2018STG countermeasures in place. No time to adjust cure for temperature variance.\u2019 He paused and his large eyes looked back at Shepard. \u2018No. No other option. Not coming back. Suggest you get clear. Explosions likely to be problematic.\u2019<\/p>\n

The salarian strode over towards the lift.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mordin, no!\u2019 Shepard cried, going after him.<\/p>\n

\u2018Shepard, please. Need to do this,\u2019 the scientist said, turning back. \u2018My project. My work. My cure. My responsibility.\u2019 He closed his eyes and sighed, somehow managing a smile. \u2018Would have liked to have run tests on the seashells.\u2019<\/p>\n

Shepard shook his head, but did not try to convince his friend any further. He knew Mordin well enough to realise that his mind was set.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m sorry,\u2019 he said instead.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m not,\u2019 Mordin said. \u2018Had to be me.\u2019 He turned and engaged the lift. The screen came down, and the salarian turned back to look at Shepard once last time. \u2018Someone else might have got it wrong.\u2019<\/p>\n

The lift began to rise and Shepard watched it go until his friend was out of sight.<\/p>\n

\u2018Warning: temperature malfunction detected. Warning: temperature malfunction detected,\u2019 said the control centre\u2019s VI.<\/p>\n

Glancing back, he saw the lift reach the top of the tower. He began to run. As he leapt over the debris and ran as fast as he could back to the skyway, he heard Mordin\u2019s voice through the comms.<\/p>\n

\u2018Ah, classic bypass. Standard failsafes. Excellent work. Yes, yes.\u2019<\/p>\n

Shepard began to hear humming and then, as the signal began to break up, words of the scientist\u2019s song.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve studied species turian, asari and batarian\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Temperature now in acceptable range,\u2019 said the VI.<\/p>\n

He ran on, his eyes clouding with tears. He could see the skyway up ahead and a convoy of trucks. Garrus and Javik were there, waiting for him.<\/p>\n

\u2018Dispersal commencing.\u2019<\/p>\n

Shepard looked up and saw a mist with a yellowish hue now spreading out from the top of the spire, replacing the Reaper\u2019s poison. It spread quickly and wide across the sky.<\/p>\n

\u2018Genophage cured, krogan free. New beginning\u2026 for all of us,\u2019 Mordin said.<\/p>\n

Shepard felt the earth tremble as he continued to run. More explosions began to dot the exterior of the Shroud. Up ahead, he could see Wrex getting out of one of the trucks. <\/p>\n

\u2018My xenoscience studies range from urban to agrarian…’ the scientist sang to himself. ‘I am the very model of\u2014\u2019<\/p>\n

An explosion ripped through the control room at the top of the tower and the comms signal went dead. Shepard ground to a halt and looked back. The top of the Shroud was aflame. The cure was still defiantly spreading across the sky even as the tower disintegrated.<\/p>\n

Farewell, Mordin. <\/em><\/p>\n

Particles began to fall around him as the cure was dispersed. It was like snow. He reached out and a piece fell into the palm of hand and disappeared. Behind him, he heard cheering\u2014the krogan celebrating their freedom, their hope and their new beginning. The cure that the salarians had manufactured and the turians had helped to disperse many years before was now no more\u2014and both turians and salarians had given their lives to make it happen. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

The Mass Effect trilogy is, hands down, my favourite suite of games. The reasons for this are threefold. Firstly, the story, of course. The progression from a simple military commander on a semi-routine mission to literally gathering whole races of galactic species together to face a civilisation-ending threat is amazing, captivating and inspiring. Secondly, the combat. I’m not a huge fan of shoot ’em ups, so the fact that I actually enjoy the combat systems in this game is quite a feat. The way you can weave shooting together with biotics and tech skills means each fight isn’t just a mindless jaunt down a corridor, shooting and throwing grenades. Your team works together, their skills complementing yours, and when you pull off a biotic combo and see your enemies dramatically expode mid-air, there’s nothing more satifsying, in my view. The final reason is the characters. I will unashamedly admit that playing Mass Effect feels like hanging out with friends. (I do actually have real friends, by the way, so don’t say that’s sad!) The characters are so deeply crafted, they have their own individual mannerisms, they make jokes, they’re sometimes hard to strike up a conversation with, they’re tragic, they’re annoying and they’re your bros\u2014just like with real people.<\/p>\n

But what about this scene in particular?<\/p>\n

One of the best things about the story of Mass Effect is how you can craft it. Yes, you’ll always be facing down Reapers at the end\u2014nothing you can do can change that\u2014but how you get there is extremely important. Moral choices are peppered through each mission: Do you kill this person because they’re blocking your way, or do you let them live and take the long route? Do you try to convince your friend not to punch someone in the face, or do you egg them on? Do you allow your buddy Mordin Solus to sacrifice himself to save an entire species or do you convince him to pretend he’s released the cure, save his life, and then risk your fragile alliance with the krogan? There are many choices in the series that leave me paralysed, but this one was different. The answer was obvious\u2014cure the krogan. And that meant saying goodbye to one of my favourite companions, but I console myself with the knowledge that Mordin would have wanted to go out this way. Sniff.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My most memorable gaming moments \u2014 part five. Spoiler warning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":542,"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529\/revisions\/542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/carmelsealey.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}