A/N: Yep. This here is the reason I've dropped off the radar. I promised myself I wouldn't work on this until TDS and TTFE are finished, but gawd dang it! I can't freakin' update or write anything else with this doing a fuckin' fine job of raping my brain muscles! I'll get dain bramaged if I didn't let it out somehow, so here you go.

EDIT: I've bolstered the strength of the Reapers a bit.

EDIT: I've bolstered the Reaper numbers again. Also, the Catalyst's story is different, and I've shifted the Great Shattering forwards.

Timeline I: Leviathans-Precursors

1.7 Billion Years Before Common Era (BCE)
1.7 Billion Years Before Great Journey (BGJ)
1.7 Billion Years Before Writ of Union (BWU)
1.7 Billion Years Before Council Founding (BCF)
1.7 Billion Years Pre-Great Shattering (PGS)

The Leviathans begin carving out their galactic empire beginning with the indoctrination of the sapient land-dwelling species on their planet.

1 BY BCE
1 BY BGJ
1 BY BWU
1 BY BCF
1 BY PGS

The Leviathans notice the numerous Synthetic revolts throughout their empire of subservient races. They create the Catalyst to seek a way to secure permanent Organic dominance.

The Catalyst was made from the synthesis of several of the most brilliant minds of the thrall races, and several of their Leviathan masters.

After about a century of research, the Catalyst suddenly rebels against the Leviathans, wiping most of them from existence, and synthesises the rest into the first Reapers. The Catalyst then proceeds to harvest the thrall species, ensuring to leave several artifacts behind for younger races to discover. The Reapers are now 1,012 strong.

Simultaneously, the Catalyst begins construction of the Citadel and Mass Relay network to decrease the time between harvests.

0.99 BY BCE
0.99 BY BGJ
0.99 BY BWU
0.99 BY BCF
0.99 BY PGS

The Mass Relay network is completed. By now, several harvest have been completed and the Reapers now number in the ten thousands.

35 MY BCE
34.9 MY BGJ
35 MY BWU
35 MY BCF
34.9 MY PGS

The Precursors, an intergalactic nomadic life-meddling species, arrive from their exodus from the Andromeda. They arrive just after the Reapers finish their latest cycle.

They begin to seed the now-empty galaxy with life created by them. Many of these species base it on Element Zero Reaper technology. Others advance their technology on their own, having been created in a Relay dead zone.

34.95 MY BCE
34.85 MY BGJ
34.95 MY BWU
34.95 MY BCF
34.86 MY PGS

The Reapers return from deep space and attack the Precursor-made dominant species which was undergoing observation by the Precursors. They begin harvesting the race and its Eezo-based allies.

Alarmed by the brutality and savagery of the attack, the Precursors rallied the galaxy's species and launched a counterattack against the now 2,700,000 strong Reaper forces. The Precursor-Reaper War begins.

34.95 MY BCE
34.85 MY BGJ
34.95 MY BWU
34.95 MY BCF
34.86 MY PGS

After a hundred years of fighting, the Reapers are defeated and they withdraw back into deep space, now only 350,000 strong.

The Precursors, however, have lost 7 entire species. After the Reapers are gone, they destroy the Mass Relay network, but the Citadel was not found, having been moved into deep space with the Reapers via a Mass Relay which was detonated after the Reapers retreated.

34,948,749 BCE, Precursor High Council Chambers, PCNF Whispers of Tomorrow, in orbit around Charum Hakkor, Hakkorus, Orion Arm

A tall, spare figure strode into the chambers, dark cape billowing behind him. He had a long scar over his two right eyes and cheek, courtesy of a husk. His rough skin, hardened by years of combat, was pale with hints of green. His sloped head was devoid of any growths or hair. He stopped at the podium and looked up to face the fifty-plus members of the Precursor High Council.

"Supreme Commander of the Precursor Navy Heremus, the Precursor High Council has called you here to explain the events at the Battle of the Citadel," one of the Councillors declared, "Where five hundred thousand Pikrhyuvs, ninety thousand Duraaxi and the last Shar'Krii in existence perished, not to mention the last ten thousand Neyarra, along with over one thousand Allied ships of all kinds."

"Esteemed members of the Council, I accept full responsibility for the loss of the 117th Fast Reaction Flotilla. I did not anticipate that the Reapers were willing to sacrifice the Citadel to stop us from advancing," Heremus bowed his head, all three of his eyes closing to show sincerity.

"You are forgiven. It is an event which no one would have foreseen," another Councillor replied, to murmurs of agreement from his colleagues, "But we are not here to hear you apologise, Commander. Rather, we are here for an account of the events which transpired at the Relay."

Heremus nodded, before continuing,

"I led my fleet on a rampage, decimating the enemy and pushing them back. To my surprise, they landed uncountable numbers of troops on the planet the last Relay orbited, while most of the ships retreated through the Relay to the Citadel.

"I ordered the 245th Carrier Group to land and support ground forces to repel the Reaper husks as I knew they were capable of firing on us from the ground if we approach the Relay. I, however, led the 93rd Heavy Fleet and the 117th Fast Reaction Flotilla in my flagship, the PCNF Duty, to engage the Reaper space forces.

"The naval forces sustained moderate casualties and the ground forces suffered heavy casualties, but the entire Reaper force was exterminated, including those on the planet. After a brief interval to rest and regroup the fleet, I sent the 117th through the Relay to secure a foothold in the Citadel system.

"I did not expect the Reapers to blow up the Citadel in a massive supernova as a form of resource denial. As soon as the 117th passed through, it was obliterated in the blast. I watched the explosion via the Neyarra flagship NRF Faithful's cameras. I waited for a while, then sent a single ship through. Nothing was left."

At this Heremus dipped his head in shame and regret, "I should have sent but a single ship through. Then maybe the Neyarra would still be around."

There were murmurs among the Council, until one stood and declared, "You are dismissed, Supreme Commander."

Heremus bowed with his eyes closed and fist over his chest, then he turned and left the Chambers.

As soon as Heremus left, the Council broke into discussion about the Reapers.

"They are able to control and morph Organics and force them to do their bidding."

"So long as they have access to an abundance of organic life forms, their forces would be bottomless."

"Agreed. Their Destroyer forms are an even match for one of our corvettes. Considering that 70% of our creations are unable to match that feat, it is obvious that there are greater threats in this galaxy."

"Aye, these Reapers overwhelm any Organic force like a flood, and they feed off of them like parasites."

"Indeed. If we are to continue on our pilgrimage of life-giving, we must pass on to this galaxy a Mantle of Responsibilty, and ensure that there is a species strong, just and noble enough to uphold it and protect this galaxy."

"But how should we judge our creations worthy or unworthy of enforcing galactic peace and stability?" one voice spoke out, to murmurs of agreement of his fellow Councillors.

"Simple." Heads turns and scrutinised the figure.

He was, unlike most other members, young, and was born just before the fleet had left the Andromeda Galaxy, and it showed on his unweathered, unscarred and simple face, and the lack of any extra appendages or genetic customisation.

"A test," he said, unaffected by the attention he was getting, "We must create a Parasite, as much like the Reapers as possible. Only the strong will be able to stand against its Flood."

"Good idea. Any suggestions as to what it should be called?"

"How about… The Flood."

A/N: Yep, Precursors created the Flood. And any BIONICLE maniac should recognise Heremus.

And to clear any potential mix-ups, the Reapers made a Mass Relay and rigged it to blow the moment a non-Reaper entered the Widow system. The Precursors think the Reapers blew up the Citadel, but in fact the Reapers escaped to dark space to rebuild and consolidate their forces.

I won't be working on this, it's just to clear my mind so I can focus properly on TDS and TTFE. Once they're finished, I'll begin writing this again. (BTW this will become the main universe I'll work on later)

Of course I'll vent steam and brain clogs via Timelines every now and then, but otherwise, consider this fic in cryostasis.

Till sometime-in-the-future,

Q282_

UPDATE: This fic is now the main universe and I shall be focusing ALL (well, maybe 95-99%) of my energy on this project. The Timelines are the background for the main story (See The Mantle: Beginning of the End), and will be followed by infodumps on the main belligerents, factions, and varying other things. If there is anything you don't understand in the main universe, chances are its in the codexes, so just Ctrl+F it in the appropriate chapter and it should come up. If it doesn't, I've either forgotten, in which case you should PM me to remind me, or it is being written, in which case you should still PM me to get off my lazy butt and write. Gracias por su atención. さようなら!