Divergent Codex: The Revised History of the First Contact War (Mass Effect)

The Mar'num Corridor

The Mar'num Corridor is a narrow section of the Relay network that connects Batarian space with the Terminus Systems. Although officially claimed by the Batarian Hegemony, the Corridor remains only slightly less lawless than the neighboring Terminus clusters. It is known to be home to various pirate groups, slavers, and a handful of mining outposts operated by the Hegemony, making the region largely avoided by most law-abiding citizens.

The development of the Mar'num Corridor by the Batarians began around the year 2432 (Galactic Standard). Officially, this expansion was attributed to the Batarian population reaching a threshold for a comfortable life within their system, necessitating the colonization of nearby systems. Unofficially, the primary motivation was the Hegemony's desire to establish a transfer point between its home world and the Terminus Systems.

The Mar'num Corridor has since become the second largest black market in the galaxy, but unlike Omega, it is entirely controlled by the Batarians. The Corridor's development has led to the strengthening of numerous criminal organizations, resulting in brutal raids on various colonies.

The Mar'num Incident

The Mar'num Incident was precipitated by a series of escalating pirate raids that plagued Citadel colonies close to the region. In the years leading up to the incident, numerous attempts were made to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the growing lawlessness in the Corridor. The Turians, in particular, sought to engage the Batarian Hegemony in discussions aimed at curbing the activities of the rampant pirate groups that were increasingly threatening trade routes and civilian safety. However, as the raids intensified and the situation deteriorated, the Turians found themselves with no viable options left.

In 2547, the Turians made the controversial decision to launch a military strike against the pirate bases within the Mar'num Corridor, viewing it as a last resort to protect their interests and restore some semblance of order. Unfortunately, the fallout from this raid was catastrophic; many of the pirate bases targeted were officially listed as Batarian colonies, igniting a significant political firestorm. The Turians were compelled to compensate for the losses incurred by the Batarian colonies, but they refused to return the slaves taken during the raids and did not impose serious penalties on the officers involved in the operation.

In response to the perceived injustices, the Batarians demanded additional punishments for the Turians and the establishment of a special status for their colonies in the Mar'num Corridor. When the Citadel Council refused these demands, the Batarians took drastic measures by closing their embassy in the Citadel and severing diplomatic and economic relations with the Council. This decisive action effectively transformed the Batarian Hegemony into a closed rogue state, further entrenching the divide between the Batarians and the Citadel races and setting the stage for ongoing conflict and lawlessness in the region.

A Century After the Mar'num Incident

One hundred years after the Mar'num Incident, the Corridor remains a hotbed of criminal activity and lawlessness. The Batarian Hegemony has continued to assert its control over the region, but its governance is characterized by corruption and inefficiency. The black market thrives, with the Corridor now serving as a major hub for illicit trade, including weapons, drugs, and slaves. Criminal organizations operate with relative impunity, often engaging in violent turf wars that further destabilize the area and endanger the lives of innocent civilians.

Efforts by the Citadel Council to restore order have been met with staunch resistance from the Hegemony, which claims to be making progress in policing the area while simultaneously allowing criminal organizations to flourish. The political fallout from the Mar'num Incident has left a lasting rift between the Batarians and the Citadel races, with diplomatic relations remaining strained and largely non-existent. Many Council races view the Hegemony as a rogue state, and their opinions on the situation vary significantly.

As a result, the Mar'num Corridor has become a symbol of the ongoing struggle between lawlessness and order in the galaxy, with its future uncertain. The legacy of the Mar'num Incident continues to shape the dynamics of power in the region, as both the Hegemony and the Council grapple with the consequences of their actions a century ago.

Human History Prior to the 2148 Discovery and Subsequent Formation of the Systems Alliance

2086: The United States of America exits NATO following an increasingly isolationist electorate and begins pursuing isolationist policies, causing the global economy to stagnate and mass economic slumps to engulf much of the world. Russia's President at the time is subsequently overthrown in a coup by Russian revanchists in the government, and swift embargoes against it as a result follow suit, and the Russian economy stagnates.

2096: Following an increasingly radicalized election with President Kaitlin Cheung elected to government, Canada and Mexico are both invaded and forcibly inducted into the newly declared United North American States. Outrage at the forced annexation results in the November 1st attack on the Statue of Liberty, kickstarting off the Second American Civil War between multiple secessionist factions and government figures declaring the others illegitimate, splitting the armed forces in the process. The resultant civil war causes global economic collapse.

2097: The newly revanchist Russia invades former Soviet and Russian Empire territory to 're-establish Russian dignity', with little aid given to said invaded countries due to economic chaos within the European Union and the ongoing civil war in Europe, causing their collapse. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan fall in short order. Meanwhile, Libya is declared for under an extremely revanchist pan-Arabian government.

2098: The People's Republic of China attempts an invasion of Taiwan following the collapse of the United North American States into civil war. The initial invasion attempts fail due to Japanese and Asian SEATO members entering into the war on behalf of Taiwan and conducting an incredibly successful blockade, forcing a white peace. Mass reorganization of the Chinese Central Committee and Politburo begins and proceeds following this national humiliation. The global economy begins to recover. Libya declares war against Algeria, then Morocco.

2099 - 2102 : The global economy mostly re-establishes itself, and Russia subsequently invades Ukraine. NATO joins the war in favour of Ukraine, but are forced backwards due to military budgets being slashed into the dirt during recovery and are forced to subsequently accept a humiliating peace treaty following the capituation of everything east of Germany. Mass discontent rocks Europe following economic and societal turmoil within those nations, as Russia declares a national victory. Meanwhile, the Arab states declare war on Israel and successfully triumph, but are rocked by nuclear detonations in return while Libya successfully defeats both Morocco and Algeria on the field of battle.

2103: Revolutions rock Europe as a furious population begins overthrowing increasingly unpopular governments following the second economic collapse as a result of the First European War, and civil wars and coups begin following suit. NATO disintegrates as a result, but is replaced with the European Internationale as communist revolutions succeed in overthrowing their governments and defeat every other contender, which declares revanchist intentions against Russia and a declaration to 'free Eastern Europe from Russian tyranny' and begins arranging the overthrowing of neutral governments within Europe in favour of communist ones. Russia prepares for a second European War.

2101: The Second American Civil War concludes with the Pacific Command Centre triumphing, declaring itself the true United North American States following the defeat of the Cheung Presidency and the collapse of secessionist armies in the field. Reconstruction begins, but major concessions are given to its constituents in order to pacify them. Meanwhile, the People's Republic of China re-organizes into the Chinese People's Federation, with the New Leftists leading in favour. Threatening movements are made towards South Korea.

2104: The Second European War begins as the European Internationale challenges CSTO on the field of battle. With military budgets set to an all-time high and organized uprisings within the occupied Eastern European states, CSTO is swept aside and the European Internationale plunges itself like a dagger into the heart of Russia, successfully decapitating Russian high command during the attack on Moscow. Though the cost on Europe itself is high as what nuclear bombs Russia managed to rebuild following the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty of 2069 rock the continent as one last act of spite, Russia eventually declares unconditional surrender following nuclear retaliation by European Internationale members who also managed to scrounge up nukes to create.

2105: Extremely high feelings of unity within Europe results in the formation of the European Union, as borders are cast aside in favour of economic, political and cultural unification within Europe, resulting in the world's second superstate being born. Meanwhile, China declares war on the Pacific Defense Treaty Organization (composing of Japan, South Korea, the Kingdom of Thailand, Malaysia, India, New Zealand and Australia) with the aid of its partners within the East Asian Defense Initiative (composing of China, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, the Phillipines and the Myanmar puppet government)

2107: The war concludes in China's favour, with India being humilated and pushed back in the wake of a resurgent China and most of Asia conquered by the new hegemon of Asia. The East Asian Defense Initiative declares victory, as the Chinese People's Federation declares itself the world's third superstate while annexing most of Asia or putting them under puppet governments while conceding any territorial demands by its partners to appease them. Meanwhile, an increasingly unified Arab world successfully unite into the Pan-Arab Federation following succeeding triumph after triumph against nations perceived as 'Western-influenced puppet states'.

2108: In the wake of the declaration of four superstates (The United North American's Union, the European Union and the Chinese People's Federation) a united front amongst begins to crystalize, resulting in the formation of the Union of Incorporated States, a global alliance against influence by the superstates by uninvolved states in the Decades of Strife.

2110: With the devastation wreaked upon the world by the European Wars, the Great Asian War and the Second American Civil War, the resultant global hegemons of the world gather to discuss peace. The Chinese People's Federation, the United North American States, the European Union and the Pan-Arab Federation agree to- hopefully- never go to war on Earth again, in the wake of billions of corpses resultant from the war.

2128: A new generation dawns. Humanity, following rapid repopulation of the Earth and fixing up as much of it as possible, begins to reach for the stars, competing with one another in hopes of colonizing the cosmos. Space technology is dusted off as the final frontier begins being eyed up once again by the new generation. Space exploration and colonization fervor reaches new heights as all the nations of the world throw enormous portions of their budget into space exploration technology. Russia and India are both deemed 'completely purged of its reactionary tendencies' and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics returns to life alongside the Socialist Republic of India.

2140: The first Mars landing attempt succeeds by China, which rapidly begins mining on Mars. They are soon followed by the European Union, the Second USSR, the United North American States, the Eighth Brazilian Republic, the Socialist Republic of India, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of Indonesia, the Australasian People's Republic, the Second Argentine Republic, the Pan-Arab Federation, the Second Republic of Turkey, the Scandinavian Union, the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Second Republic of South Africa, the Republic of the Phillipines and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

2144: The European Space Agency manages to claim the title of first to establish a permanent settlement on Mars, though the other superstates and countries involved in Mars rapidly begin to create permanent settlements as well, and the Union of Incorporated States finally joins in on colonization on Mars.

2148: European miners discover prothean ruins on Mars.