ME3; Story Discussion *New ending content announced pg37*

Okay so strawberry float this ending (again) because I went the "Editing Therapy" way and I thought: well, if people are asking for an ending DLC, why not go all the way and do a "Mass Effect 3 - Director's Cut" DLC or whatever that deals with the WHOLE game? This would make people more inclined to buy it (thus affording all those sweet "production values"), though Collector's Edition owners should get this for free.

Bear in mind that this is most likely a lot of crap but hey if it makes you feel better is worth it right , also I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING ELSE OF THE UNIVERSE, so this is an entirely in-game thing.

This also is going to be as LONG AS gooseberry fool so be forewarned.

So you cleaned the dust from your shoulders, did what you had to do and you are ready to bring the fight to Earth. The Citadel does not become hell for some random reason (it is still a necessary component for the Crucible) instead there is a huge fight going on there with the defence forces you have mustered. Interaction with TIM remains the same, but with TIM not knowing how to control the Reapers (there is no big platform of decisions here) but rambling completely about it - due to indoctrination. Anderson is out, never making into the beam but falling back and having some communication with the player. Instead of spacekid, a massive hologram of Harbinger talks with you. Here is how it rolls:

A) MINIMUM WAR ASSETS (Bad-plus outcome):

Landing on Earth is HELL. Massive casualties, the "fleets" are a little more than a space rag-tag bunch of misfits and they get torn apart, shuttle destroyed, Normandy takes some damage. Without having not even close to enough forces to fight this, the fleet with the Crucible receives a fuckton of damage and the device itself is damaged - implications unknown. Shepard has to do the largest part of the fighting on land since there is so little additional manpower to spare. Eventually, the Commander arrives on the beam, and enters the Citadel seeing a lot of destruction. After dealing with TIM, Shepard activates the device, it fires, and knocks down only a bunch of reapers. Harbinger tells the Commander that his efforts were ultimately useless as the Normandy takes several beam hits, scene goes dark. Epilogue showing the different falls of the spacefaring races as well as the end of the characters. Post-credits, a VI (or EDI somehow) is then shown speaking on the background, telling the story to some unknown aliens, projecting images from Liara's black box. She ends with a "this time, we shall be ready" - aliens nod in agreement.

B) MODERATE/ADEQUATE WAR ASSETS:

Fleets are strong enough provide some support during approach, distracting reapers as the shuttle lands. The Crucible arrives unscathed, but had to be rushed for the assault and Hackett mentions that he doesn't know if it is going to be fully effective - or what it fully does, even. Special squadrons provide a lot of help for Shepard, distracting and flanking enemy reapers. As the situation in the citadel is solved, a dialog with Harbinger can be iniated, where you can ask about different topics: a lot of dismissal is to be expected, but some interesting tidbits of Reaper lore are revealed to help enlighten the mystery - but not all of it.

B1) (Bad outcome): Harbinger mocks the efforts of the galactic union, but admits that this is a very interesting cycle and offers an armistice if Shepard decides to merge with them: by doing so, leaves galactic civilization damaged, but with the entire technology and infrastructure intact it is fully recoverable. If (s)he suffered severe psychological damage, this outcome happens. Reapers GTFO, Shepard is nowhere to be found, some suspect the worst. A memorial service is held, and the characters talk about the situation of the galaxy. Things look promising, but there is a backdrop of tension and uncertainty, even bleakness. After the credits, a slightly weirder Reaper starts to activate in deep space, and Harbinger's voice adresses it and tells to go into the galaxy: but before it leaves, Harbinger gives it a name: Prophet (or some relevant mystical synonym with shepherd).

B2) (Good outcome): If not, Shepard tells to strawberry float off and triggers the Crucible; the massive shockwave of energy destroy several reapers and leave many more weakened, allowing the fleets and land forces to give payback. With plenty of blood, sweat and tears, the reapers are defeated. The rushed Crucible however caused damage in everything with reaper tech, damaging mass relays (making them work erratically) and disabling many, leaving diverse systems stranded; the Citadel suffers the brunt of the destruction due to the massive energy release by an incomplete Crucible, which ends killing Shepard. Search teams are sent all over, and a squadmate finds a N7 dog-tag amongst the charred remains of an armor in the rubble. Troops celebrating on Earth. A memorial service happens afterwards, with every character speaking about the commander and relating the different outcomes that happened in the galaxy afterwards. Plenty of difficulty is at hand, but the outlook is hopeful. A Matriarch Liara is shown after the credits, speaking in Thessia to an Asari about Shepard. Conversation implies that she is Liara's daughter, and if Shepard was Liara's LI...

C) GOOD NUMBER OF WAR ASSETS

Fleets arrive in huge numbers and well equipped, take a shitload of hits, but still are causing the Reapers plenty of damage. The Crucible, for all intents and purposes, appears to be fully operational, with the scientists managing to obtain a good deal of understanding from it. Normandy drops team without a hitch and special squadrons have made plenty of headway for the bulk of ground forces to arrive. Reapers are caught not so prepared as they have imagined. Using different combinations of tactics and resources from different species as well cutting-edge weapon technology, the reapers on ground suffer losses in a manner they never had. Shepard gets into the beam, deals with TIM, proceeds to activate Crucible, and an angry Harbinger interrupts, speaking with an erratic tone that may be intended with false mockery - one could tell that is almost a hint of fear. Conversation options are plentiful, allowing certain insight on what the Reapers are; still shouldn't be enough to trivialize them.

C1) (Renegade Outcome): Harbinger tells Shepard that the destruction of the Reapers will not come without serious costs, since the entire infrastructure of the galaxy depends on their technology. EDI will enter communications and tell Shep that the Crucible may be operated differently than the intended "destroy" option - she discovers that, by analysing the installed Crucible with the research data, Reaper technology can be controlled and harnessed through it. By having Shepard interface with the Crucible and absorbing reaper technology directly into him/her, the Commander learns their inner workings. In order to do so, however, (s)he must have a very strong resolve.

- C1, bad (or "Cerberus outcome"): with a frail mind, Shepard melds with the tech but the experience destroys the commander. The crucible's shockwave causes all Reapers to stand still, motionless: suddenly, they leave into deep space. Harbinger is the only who is disabled, with a curious Hackett looking it from above. Years later, it is shown that mankind has become the most powerful force in the galaxy, using the reaper technology obtained through Shepard to increment itself. Other species were integrated as client states. Epilogue shows a human leader, Shepard's squadmates and LI highly augmented centuries later, both discussing what happened that day and the fates of crewmen and species. LI/main squadmate looks at a window and ask him/herself "Why, though?". Post-credits cuts to an effigy of Shepard, which also shows the engraving of a three-headed dog on it.

- C1, good: Shepard survives, and is full of glowing scars. The commander uses the Crucible to disable Harbinger, "disbanding" the rest of the Reaper fleet. Normandy picks up Shepard, celebrations ensue but there is a feeling of something *not entirely right* with him/her. Crewmates discuss the fate of the galaxy and theirs as well. Epilogue shows humanity leaping ahead in technology beyond all other races, with Shepard as some sort of holy figure.

C2) (Paragon outcome or "The Happy Ending") Shepard triggers the Crucible, sits down, and watches the fireworks. Built properly, it channels all the energy in a focused chain blast that disintegrates the Reapers in the vincinity and disables the ones far away. Reapers defeated. The Relays channel the blast as well, with the entire network suffering some damage and some relays going dark (but not like B2); Citadel is damaged, but nothing catastrophic. Shepard is found by the people in Normandy, Alliance slaps enough medals to cover Shepard's entire uniform, Shep is shown chilling with the crew somewhere after a few months. The crew talks about itself and the future of their species as well of the galaxy. Matriarch Liara post-credits (like B2), but on a higher note.

D) GUDDAMN HIGH NUMBER OF WAR ASSETS: REAPER-FUCKING-SPECIALTY EDITION

Fleets arrive EN MASSE and upgraded with the latest tech possible. Reapers wreck gooseberry fool up, but also take some serious strawberry floating payback in the form of thanix weapons and what have you. Crucible fully ready and operational, with a very good understanding on what it does and explained to Shepard before leaving Normandy. Land forces march upon Earth on crusade, retaking land and beating the crap out of reaper armies. Shepard's approach, supported by all walks of life armed to the teeth, is dramatic but overall easier than all others. Smaller Reaper ships are shown to be blown apart by concentrated firepower every now and then. Shepard enters beam, and a distorted hologram (as if it is damaged) of Harbinger pops out. Harbinger taunts, but for the first time in its history, it knows it is in disadvantage - will entertain most of your questions and the player can learn a lot about Reapers... However, their fundamental reason of being is unknowable (lost to history or whatever). This also brings the most elaborate endings.

D1) Renegade outcome: regardless of mental state, Shepard manages to control the reapers as per C1 (good). Post-credits, however, Shepard is shown pondering about something that isn't quite right, something shown to him during his/her merging. A certain *PLAUSIBLE NEW PLOT HOOK HERE* is presented, but it is a problem for another time, not his/hers anymore.

D2) The Paragon-on-a-horse ending (or good+): Shepard triggers the Crucible, and it seems to do nothing. Couple of seconds later, it triggers some strange type of supernova that obliterates all reapers in the Sol system; indoctrination breaks off even in its advanced stages, while reaper land forces simply shut down and die. All relays to go dark for a while as the energy released by the device goes from relay to relay. Only a few are disintegrated during the process. As the soldiers celebrate and the fleet command ponders how the hell they are going back, the relays activate again with bizarre readings. Rid of "reaper influence" and blocks, they can be studied; Shepard receives a truck full of medals, the team toasts in the Normandy, commander and Garrus drink the whole damn bar and such happy stuff; for the first time in how many years, Shepard can simply sit down and relax; the fate of the characters, species and assorted are discussed and shown; Shep talks about settling down somewhere. Sometime later, new and improved mass relays are being built in galactic cooperation; a golden age seems to be just right ahead. Vigil's theme, credits. Post-credits, Matriarch Liara discusses a problem with others in regarding the *PLAUSIBLE NEW PLOT HOOK HERE*, while looking at the black box she made with the hologram of Shepard. She smiles.

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Holy strawberry float that was large. If you bothered, many thanks for reading. Also, excuse my English, I am not a native anglophone so that might be full of crappy writing.