to: everyone

[assembles]

Hey there, everyone. My name is Steve Rogers and I'm one of the people most recently summoned to the Free Cities. I'm also a good friend of Sam Wilson's — we've worked together for a number of years. I know he's made quite the name for himself here.

I've only been here for a little over a month, but in that time I've noticed a sudden increase in military activity within Cadens. There's increased drills and training exercises, equipment moving in and out, that kind of thing. I went by Fort Wilbridge and tried to ask some questions, but all they really had to say was that they were acting out of an abundance of caution. Almost like they're expecting something.

It seems suspicious, so I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a change in how the factions are behaving, whether it's something I haven't picked up on in Cadens or something going on in Thorne or Solvunn. I figure it might be a good idea to compare notes so we won't be completely blindsided if something else is coming our way.

That's all I've got for now, but it's nice to meet you all. In a manner of speaking, anyway.

Comments

[assembles]

I wonder where they got that impression. Who is it you were talking to? Assuming you don't mind sharing.

[ It's not like Steve's a physicist either, but it's something he could look into. There are people he could ask. ]

I get the idea. Where are you from?

[thearchangel]

No clue. If I had it recorded, I'd just forward you the conversation. They went by 'Julie Lawry'. No idea if that narrows anything down.

[Heck he can't really even tell if it's a female, male or neither kind of name.]

Palaven. Which I'm going to guess means about as much as 'varren' to you? [Honestly if someone had heard of it, he'd be more shocked by now.] It's another planet, but still in the Milky Way galaxy.

[assembles]

It does. Thanks for the info.

[ Steve's talking to her elsewhere. While he doesn't want to poke too much at an open wound, maybe he'll figure out a way to bring it up. ]

Before coming here, I'd only traveled off of my planet the one time. I am familiar with the Milky Way galaxy, though. I'm from Earth.

[thearchangel]

Glad to help. Hopefully you get something out of it.

[This is still hard for him to believe, entirely. Someone only leaving their homeworld once? It sounds absurd to him.]

Never been there myself. I know a handful of humans who are, though.

[assembles]

What year is it for you? Although I guess you may not use the same calendar system that I'm used to.

[thearchangel]

We probably didn't, for a while. But by the time I was born, the galaxy had pretty much adopted the same general timeline.

It was 2185, when I was brought here.

[assembles]

Wow. That's...

It was 2023, for me. What state is Earth in, by then?

[thearchangel]

[It's on fire and being invaded by giant sentient space ships who are turning all life into techno-organic zombies- Wait, no, don't say that.]

From what I understand, it's been doing all right in general. Humans got a spot on the Council, they're expanding into colonies, making themselves real valuable to the galaxy.

[Before the invasion, anyway...]

[assembles]

[ The Council? Steve can more or less guess what they would be. It's unclear if the version of Earth that this Garrus is talking about is the same (future) Earth he's from. It might not be. But it's a comfort to hear that at least in some universe, they're doing okay. ]

That's good to hear. Earth tends to have its ups and downs, in my experience, especially when it comes to intergalactic relations.

[thearchangel]

I have to say, it's about the same for our universe. Humans made a pretty big mess when they first turned up.

Granted, my people's policy of 'shoot first' didn't exactly help.

[assembles]

That tends to be how it goes, right? When there's conflict, both sides are usually at least a little in the wrong.

[ Not that he's speaking from experience or anything. ]

[thearchangel]

Yeah. In this case, definitely. Humans didn't know they were invading turian space, we didn't know they weren't an actual invasion...

Mess, all around.

Happened before I was even born, though.

[assembles]

How are relations between your home and Earth now? Better, I hope.

[thearchangel]

Depends on who you're asking.

For the most part, a lot of us have just accepted humanity as another species. There's still grudges here and there, but - that's mostly the older set these days. The galaxy's mostly warming up to humans as a whole. Council races, anyway.

[... and then there's the batarians. But that's a whole other problem.]

[assembles]

And what determines if you're on the council?

[thearchangel]

The Council.

[He pauses there, because he knows exactly how that sounds and he's pausing on purpose.]

And yes, it's worked great, through all of recent history. No problems with that system whatsoever.

[THE SARCASM OF THIS MAN.]

[assembles]

Yeah, I'm sure that's worked out perfectly.

Well, I appreciate the lesson. It's always worth learning about where other people come from and how things work there.

[ There's a comfort in knowing that in some universe, everything's still ticking some hundred years into the future. There's still conflict and politics and who knows what else, but Steve wouldn't expect those to ever go away. ]

[thearchangel]

Oh, always. Never a single problem.

Glad to be of assistance.