Genophage

The **Genophage** was a biological weapon deployed against the krogan by the turians during the Krogan Rebellions. It was designed to severely reduce krogan numbers by "infecting" the species with a genetic mutation. In 2185, the Genophage was cured by GUARDIAN, developed and dispersed by the CSV Avalon. By 2190, the krogan are starting to see a rise in their population, but have yet to see a significant boom.

## Description

In 2185, turian Councillor Laius Caern announced his plan to cure the Genophage. Later that year, in response to the Coffee Shop Massacre, GUARDIAN was formed to respond to the political unrest caused by this announcement and to develop the Genophage cure. While the CSV Aegis and the CSV Muramasa were placed on peacekeeping duty, the CSV Avalon was tasked with the development of the cure, led under the guidance of Admiral Mazoril.

Cure progress was hindered slightly when Insurrection forces destroyed the Shroud on Tuchanka, a construct originally used to stabilise the planet’s atmosphere that the CSV Avalon planned on using to disperse the cure. Furthermore, the cure required the use of several exotic reagents from deep oceans and a thresher maw to be synthesised, placing operatives in dangerous situations during the process of obtaining them.

Despite these obstacles, the CSV Avalon synthesised the cure and contrived a new method of distributing the cure, using dispersal pods developed by Lieutenant Sonis’Kros. On December 31st, the Avalon’s crew embarked across Tuchanka in shuttles, dispensing the cure across the surface. Observers have described the visual of the cure being dropped as “falling stars”. Several Avalon operatives lost their lives in this mission, but it proved to be a success.

Although knowledge of the cure and GUARDIAN's involvement are widespread, many details, including specific reagents and how they were obtained, are classified within the Citadel Archives.

## Aftermath

The Genophage cure gave the krogan a newfound sense of pride in their species. After many centuries, male and female clans across the surface were reunited and breeding could re-commence. For some krogan, this restored their faith in the Council and gave them hope for further acceptance within Council space. However, not all krogan shared this mindset. The Krogan Empire rose again and, still wanting retribution for crimes against the krogan, allied with the Terminus Confederacy. While not all krogan associated themselves during this banner, many still held grievances against the Council, believing they deserved reparations after centuries of setback.

However, the krogan were still willing to compromise, agreeing to the Truce when GUARDIAN revealed the existence of the Reapers at the Galactic Summit, and later signing the Galactic Concordant. This enacted further reparations for the Genophage and, alongside the changing attitudes of the Krogan Empire and being granted an Embassy on the Citadel, made it easier for krogan to reintegrate into the galaxy.

In 2190, five years after the Genophage cure, the krogan have yet to experience a significant population boom. While their population is beginning to slowly increase, many female krogan have held off on reproducing, knowing resources would quickly run out if repopulation efforts were left unchecked. Despite this, many krogan are enjoying their newfound fertility and are putting serious resources into restoring their homeworld, receiving additional support from the Council Recovery Corps.