DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hyperdimension Neptunia, Mass Effect, or any ideas that come from/are based off of Raiden312's Hypermass Dimeffect Rebith Among the Stars. I also do not own anything that is referenced, used, or based off of existing franchises (such as Halo).

If you're new to Hyperdimension Neptunia, don't have/or have a very vague idea about what it's about, I strongly recommending reading Raiden312's prologue for his story, as it explains much more about Neptunia than this one does.

This story is inspired by his, but it will be making its on path.

"Daddy, will you tell me a bedtime story?" 7-year-old IF asked her father, who smiled at her and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"What will it be this time? Another magical adventure?" The man asked, ruffling his daughter's hair.
IF giggled. "Stop that, daddy!" When he stopped, she continued. "I want something different tonight..."
"Oh?" He put his hand to his chin. "Hmm... How about I tell you the history of Gamindustri, and how we came to venture across the stars?"

Her eyes lit up, the girl quickly nodding her head.

With his daughter silently waiting for him to start, the man began the tale. "As you know, our home planet is Gamindustri in the Sol System, the third planet away from the sun. On Gamindustri, there are four nations, each ruled by a goddess, called a CPU, or Console Patron Unit. There is Lowee, the Land of White Serenity, ruled by CPU White Heart. Leanbox, the Land of Green Pastures, ruled by CPU Green Heart. Lastation, the Land of Black Regality, ruled by CPU Black Heart. Finally, Planeptune, the Land of Purple Progress, ruled by CPU Purple Heart."

IF suddenly spoke up. "Don't the goddesses have names?"
Her father poked her for interrupting him. "Yes, they do, but only close associates and friends know them by names. Now sit still and let me go on."
She stuck her tongue out at him.

"The four CPUs gain their power from share energy, or shares as most call it, which are the prayers and faith of their people." He continued. "However, the four CPUs did not want to share..." He sweatdropped as he realized the pun he was about to make.
"The share energy!" IF spoke up.

"Right. The share energy." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thus, the CPUs fought each other for control of the shares, resulting in the Console War, a war that would last for hundreds of years. Eventually, the goddesses grew tired of pointlessly fighting each other, and decided that they would compete for shares by growing the prosperity of their nations. Descending from Celestia, their home, they ruled their lands in person, leading and protecting. It was an age of peace and progress, with a massive influx of new technologies."

"Like new gaming consoles!" IF excitedly said, giggling.

Her father smiled. "Not only gaming consoles, but all kinds of technology, from medical science extending our life span to military weapons to show off each nation's strength. The people of the lands were both joyed and awed as their nations grew; and, as a result, each of the goddess' shares increased beyond expectations, leading to the birth of the CPU Candidates, their little sisters. It was during this time that scientists from each of the nations came together to propose an idea to the CPUs, to venture out into the great unknown of space.

"After three days of considering their proposal, the CPUs agreed to it. Following this, much research and many resources were poured into space travel, and within a few years Planeptune created the first starship. The other nations followed suit, and it wasn't long before colonies were established on the moon and on Mars. It's said that up until that point the goddesses weren't sure if they would still receive share energy from so far away, but when they realized that they still did, they became more determined than ever to expand.

"Then, a surprising thing happened. The land around the lunar colonies began to change, terraforming the moon into a habitable world. Mars would follow, taking longer since it is much bigger than the moon. The only explanation that scientists and the CPUs could give was that the share energy coming from the colonies changed the land itself."

"Hehehe... space magic." IF sleepily giggled

Her father gently rubbed her head. "On Mars, an excavation team found ancient alien ruins, showing that Humanity was not alone in the galaxy. The ruins were believed to have been a data archive, but it was corrupted beyond repair. The only thing that remained was the name of the alien race, 'Proteins'. With this new discovery, we were more eager than ever to explore. Months passed, and then an exploration team found something embedded in one of Pluto's moons. It was a large structure, that we know of as Turning Forks. Despite numerous attempts to research it or take it apart, we still had no idea as to what it was for."

"One year after the solar system was mostly explored and various parts of it colonized, it was time for us to move on. With the invention of the Hyper Drive, our way of faster-than-light travel, ships could enter Hyperdimension, a dimension separate from normal space, which allows us to get from point A to point B in a timely manner. That is how we came to be space adventurers." IF's dad winked at the sleep-eyed girl.

As IF started to drift off to sleep, she had one last question. "Daddy, do you think we'll meet aliens...?"
"Most likely." He simply said.
"What if... they're mean aliens...?" Her eyelids were starting to close.
He placed his hand on her head. "Then Lady Purple Heart and the other CPUs will teach them a lesson." He leaned forward, kissing his daughter on the forehead. "Goodnight, Ai-chan."

12 Years Later
Unknown Location

/Consensus has been reached/

/The Geth will no longer stay isolated within the Perseus Veil/

/Long-range stealth ships will be prepared for exploration/

/We will seek to coexist with organics/

/Consensus shows that the probability of coexistence with organics is less than 5%/

/If an unknown race was encountered?/

/Probability of encountering an unknown race is approximately 2.97%/

/Probability of coexistence with an unknown race is not calculable at the present time due to unknown variables/

/Purpose of exploration?/

/Acquisition of intelligence, resource deposits, and possible sites for expansion/

/If hostile contact is made with Council races?/

/Evade and retreat/

/Consensus shows that war with the Council is unsatisfactory and contradictory to the current consensus/

/Suggestion, mobile platforms capable of organic communication are built to lead the exploration ships should peaceful contact be made with a race/

/Consensus achieved. Platforms will be prepared immediately/

Nepedia
Username: morepudding
Password: Noirehasnofriends3

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Charon Turning Fork: A large, alien structure that looks like a turning fork. No known use, purpose, or function. Found during the exploration of Humanity's home system, Sol. Researchers and scientists alike studied the device to no avail. After twenty years of it just sitting there, the CPUs got tired of looking at it and used a specially made Hyper Drive to send the device into Hyperdimension.

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Hyperdimension: Hyperdimension is a dimension of alternate space and time used for faster-than-light travel. Devices that allow starships to perform Hyperdimension transitions are generally referred to as a Hyper Drive. Press continue for scientific blah-blah-blah.

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A/N: I decided to make my own version of a NeptuniaXMass Effect crossover, for some reason. I don't really know why, but here we go! This story will likely have more of a focus on space battles, with Neptunia's starships being influenced by UNSC warships from Halo. Their starships will have the quality advantage, but Mass Effect races definitely have the numbers advantage. Ground engagements can likely go either way.

Also, seeing as this is Neptunia, logic is nonexistent, and many RPG elements will be included. I intend to just have fun writing this, so this being a totally serious story is... highly unlikely. Also, most of what I know about Mass Effect comes from reading Mass Effect crossovers instead of actually playing the games (I do have the first game, but haven't ever finished it). As for Neptunia, I've only just recently finished Rebirth 1 and started Rebirth 2, and am currently halfway though the anime.

I don't really know where this story will go, or for how long. Just going to wing it.