Mass Relay, Omega Relay and Citdel (Mass Effect 1 and 2 SPOILERS)

[Ranorak]

Okay, I've been replaying Mass Effect 1 after I finished my first Mass Effect 2 run and I ran into something odd.

In Mass Effect 1 it's explained that the Citadel is actually a Mass Relay to the Dark Space where the Reapers lie dormant. And we want to prevent Saren from activating it, because:
"When the Citadel relay is activated, the Reapers will pour through. And all you know will be destroyed" according to the VI on Iios.

And in Mass Effect 2, we activate the Omega Relay to get to the Collectors and destroy them.

However, this is my question.
If I get it straight, Mass Relays are like a gun, shooting the ships to preset locations.
They are one way machines, and do NOT function like portals.
That is why destroying the Omega Relay would be pointless.

However... how does that go with the Reaper story?
If the Citadel is a Mass Relay TO the reapers, we WANT to activate it and go in and wipe them out, no?
If a Mass Relay is one way, we want to go to Dark Space and destroy their's, am I right?

Or am I missing something here?

Also, I'm rather new at posting here on The Escapist, so apologies if this is in the wrong section.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

As far as I know, the Citadel relay can only be activated by the keepers when the Reapers decide it is time, but I may be wrong.

Jeepers Creepers, the Reapers use the Keepers as their peepers.

And welcome to the Escapist, may you enjoy your stay

 

[Ranorak]

I should maybe rephrase it.

In Mass Effect 1 the Citadel is treated like an entrance to the galaxy from Dark Space.
But how can that be, as the Citadel it self in not in Dark Space?

 

[XMark]

As of the end of Mass Effect 2, there's no indication of any good way to destroy the reapers. It took the combined galactic fleet of the citadel to destroy ONE Reaper, and there were heavy losses.

Taking the fight to the Reapers is an incredibly bad idea at this point in the game's timeline. We'll have to see if there's any decent anti-Reaper weapon discovered in ME3.

 

[Ben Legend]

Okay, I've been replaying Mass Effect 1 after I finished my first Mass Effect 2 run and I ran into something odd.

In Mass Effect 1 it's explained that the Citadel is actually a Mass Relay to the Dark Space where the Reapers lie dormant. And we want to prevent Saren from activating it, because:
"When the Citadel relay is activated, the Reapers will pour through. And all you know will be destroyed" according to the VI on Iios.

And in Mass Effect 2, we activate the Omega Relay to get to the Collectors and destroy them.

However, this is my question.
If I get it straight, Mass Relays are like a gun, shooting the ships to preset locations.
They are one way machines, and do NOT function like portals.
That is why destroying the Omega Relay would be pointless.

However... how does that go with the Reaper story?
If the Citadel is a Mass Relay TO the reapers, we WANT to activate it and go in and wipe them out, no?
If a Mass Relay is one way, we want to go to Dark Space and destroy their's, am I right?

Or am I missing something here?

Also, I'm rather new at posting here on The Escapist, so apologies if this is in the wrong section.

The citadel is where the Reapers would arrive should the keepers had activated the relay. The reapers would then shut of other mass relays to shut out re-enforcements. The Citadel cannot be used to travel to dark space.

I think I'm right... =S

 

[Ranorak]

The citadel is where the Reapers would arrive should the keepers had activated the relay. The reapers would then shut of other mass relays to shut out re-enforcements. The Citadel cannot be used to travel to dark space.

I think I'm right... =S

But that would mean the Reapers could enter at any given time, with or without the Citadel.
As far as I got it, Mass Relays are a way out of the system you're currently in, they are not a way in.

 

[JediMB]

The Citadel Relay is linked to another Mass Relay that exists in dark space (i.e., in the void outside of the Milky Way galaxy). When the Citadel Relay is activated, it is reconnected with the relay in dark space, so the Reapers out there can use their relay to travel to the Citadel.

 

[DarkLordofDevon]

I should maybe rephrase it.

In Mass Effect 1 the Citadel is treated like an entrance to the galaxy from Dark Space.
But how can that be, as the Citadel it self in not in Dark Space?

Look at the conduit. Its a one way relay but it still requires a second to establish an exit point. As we know about relays from recieving the location on Noveria a relay can have multiple exit points linked to other relays, hence the Reapers need the Citadel to exit at the right point.

 

[Actual]

I see what you're saying. Perhaps the Citadel only functions as a target, they have Mass Effect relays in Darkspace already, all they need is the beacon at the citadel to be turned on and they'll know where to target their relays.

Though why they couldn't have aimed them long ago I don't know.

Interesting plot hole you've pointed out, I wonder if it will be explained in the third instalment.

 

[Karlaxx]

The Reapers know what they're doing when it comes to wiping out all life. Not to mention the fact that they built the mass relays and the Citadel- they can probably manipulate them far beyond what the council races can do. And mass relays aren't one way streets: There are two types, Primary relays that go to one and only one other relay and Seocndary ones that go to any other relay in range but can't take you across the galaxy.

And if we went after the Reapers as we are now, we would just get slaughtered. A couple of them would have to wake up once the assault started, and they alone would be enough to destroy or totally cripple the fleet.

 

[Normalgamer]

As of the end of Mass Effect 2, there's no indication of any good way to destroy the reapers. It took the combined galactic fleet of the citadel to destroy ONE Reaper, and there were heavy losses.

Taking the fight to the Reapers is an incredibly bad idea at this point in the game's timeline. We'll have to see if there's any decent anti-Reaper weapon discovered in ME3.

There is, it's called:

Diplomacy
Clearly the reapers are just fighting to survive, and are in no way stupid, surely we can figure out a way for everybody to get along right? Right?

 

[Fappy]

It is possible the Reapers do not use a relay on their end to get to the Citadel. It is popular belief that Reapers have another way of making jumps... they just need a destination (i.e. a relay) so they don't land in a star or blackhole or something.

 

[Kjakings]

The end of ME2 made me think that the Citadel was merely a shortcut: Dark Space wasn't actually another universe, but the abyss between galaxies where nothing lives. The Reapers, now pretty annoyed that not only have you stopped both attempts to use it, but have also killed one reaper and a BABY Reaper, are simply ignoring it and hitting their FTL drives hard to attack anyway.

Plus, it was only the Fifth fleet of the human alliance if I remember correctly. The Citadel fleet was a cross-race thing, each species has their own multiple fleets which they can bring to bear. Huamnity is a newcomer to the galaxy yet could destroy a Reaper with one of its fleets. The combined forces of the entire galaxy could put up one hell of a fight for the Reapers.

 

[DarkLordofDevon]

There is, it's called:

Diplomacy
Clearly the reapers are just fighting to survive, and are in no way stupid, surely we can figure out a way for everybody to get along right? Right?

WE DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH AI. I don't anyway. Especially when they melt down humans to make more Reapers...

Besides, I'll doubt they'll negotiate. They have a fleet of super-dreadnoughts and they want to wipe out all life in the galaxy. Doesn't really leave room to talk.

 

[Ranorak]

Mmm... the Citadel serving as a "beacon" for their relay makes sense.

Thanks for clearing that up.
I think I might like it here on The Escapist!

 

[jigilojoe]

It's a game...