The Citadel is the centre of the civilized galaxy in Mass Effect, the Council presiding
over the affiliated races and setting the law of the land. Alongside the numerous infantry,
naval and intelligence branches that protect Citadel Space, there are those who serve to
protect the people of the Citadel Station itself, the Citadel Security, usually abbreviated
to CSec. The security forces cover a wide range of
functions from patrols to dealing with cybercrime and are made up of representatives of the
Citadel species. The formation of CSEC was originally suggested by the Turians around
900 CE, many years after the creation of the council. They brought their military expertise
to the Council and founded the organisation, as of Mass Effect 1, at least 1200 years later,
half the Security force remains Turian. CSec headquarters is located on the presidium
section of the station and houses the primary offices for coordination of CSec activities.
Near to this lies the Academy, the training institute for all CSec personnel. Despite
being an academy, the site is very much an active hub of enforcement and capable of responding
to a wide variety of incidents. The offices of the Academy reside on the lower Presidium
ring and provide direct access to the Wards with elevators bisecting the courtyard of
the Academy. Each of the five wards, as well as the Presidium, has numerous outpost stations
from which local CSec officers operate and each of the docks house a similar outpost,
through which all incoming and outgoing individuals must pass.
Overall, there are around 200,000 constables within CSec. Humans, being the newest species
to join the citadel make up the smallest percentage of recruits, with none of captain rank or
higher until after the Battle of the Citadel during the Geth invasion where humanity adopted
higher positions of power across the board for its efforts against Sovereign and Saren’s
forces. After this event, many human applications that had been vetoed previously, were now
accepted to replenish the ranks, and numerous experienced individuals were promoted into
more prominent roles, such as Captain Armando-Owen Bailey who oversaw Zakera Ward’s customs
division. Applicants wishing to join CSec usually are required to have previous law
enforcement experience, perhaps within their own societies or a history in military service,
though exceptions are made for notable individuals. The potential recuit is then required to have
the sponsorship of a noted Citadel official, such as one of the Councillors or an Ambassador.
Speaking of Divisions, CSec as an organization is broken up into six. Patrol. This division
is responsible for responding to emergencies within the confines of the Serpent Nebula,
rescues, interception and transport for example. This is the only division to maintain a ship
based presence. Customs. This division is manned by officers
who regulate the influx of personnel to the citadel, confiscate contraband and detain
criminals. All disembarking people are required to pass through a security and identification
screen detailed enough to read a person’s DNA to compare to records, even able to detect
genetic modification. Enforcement. These are the constables who
walk the beat, interacting and responding to community infractions, call outs and emergencies.
It’s these individuals who are most often seen among the people of the station. Most
rookies to the force are deployed to the Presidium for its relatively safer environment before
being assigned to the Wards. Investigation. This division, as the name
suggests, is responsible for the detective work that brings cases together in the pursuit
of justice. E-Crime. The entire purpose of the “network”
division is to track, negate and solve cybercrime including the isolation and disposal of illegal
AIs as well as digital thefts. Special Response. The responders are the officers
kept in reserve and trained for a number of scenarios that the other divisions seldom
encounter like hostage taking, bomb disposal and even a full on military defence in case
of attack. CSec enjoys a number of perks such as benefiting
from the Council’s authority, receiving almost all supplies and requisitions needed
to function. Alongside this, the institution is generally respected by the public for its
efforts in maintaining order and therefore usually has its authority respected. Many
in CSec therefore dislike certain entities such as the SPECTREs whose jurisdiction outweighs
their own and operate beyond the penalties of the security force.
Being an institution founded by the Council, they are therefore bound by the will of the
Council and although the vast resources at their disposal mean that CSec is very well
funded and equipped, many in the organisation feel that there is an overload of Red Tape.
Procedure needs to be followed to an exacting standard to avoid penalties and all too frequently
investigations are halted by politics at play behind the scenes. It’s common, especially
in the Ward divisions, that a CSec officer will bend the rules or forgo protocol to attain
results. The head of CSec is the Executor, Venari Pallin as of 2183, who has to frequently
act as politician to the Council and manage all of the divisions.
Standard CSec uniforms are blues of dark navy and lighter tones consisting of a durable
fabric, holster and pocketed trousers. These are adapted to the frame of numerous species,
though constant in design within the races. Their weaponry is requisitioned from its own
armoury and has contracts with numerous companies such as Ariake Technologies, Aldrin Labs and
Kassa Fabrications as well as limited access to SPECTRE level master gear. They have a
number of outfitted skycars, the common Citadel transport, gunships and (as mentioned) a small
number of response craft for space travel. The Citadel Security’s two biggest weaknesses
are the level of political pull the Council has over the organisation and the fact that
their jurisdiction ends within the Serpent Nebula, requiring special permissions to operate
beyond the Mass Relay. But its greatest strengths are the level of authority and technology
they have when allowed to operate and the speed at which they respond.
Csec ultimately is a blend of numerous enforcement organisations all sharing information and
equipment which means there is very little inner conflict over jurisdiction of cases
as all departments work together towards the safety of the Citadel and its citizens with
even hardened, cynical law enforcement veterans such as Captain Bailey remarking that its
liberating to have such a wide degree of access to information, records and gear, despite
the level of paper work that goes with the job.
Thanks for watching this lore video on Citadel Security and next up are the SPECTRES, the
defense of the citadel, taken to the next level. But of course I think we can all agree
the best thing to come out of CSec was space bro and or heartthrob Garrus Vakarian. Now
if you’ll excuse me, I really should get back to these calibrations.