system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Mass Effect]How did the turian populace react to first contact with the other Citadel Races?
gpt
The Turians didn't join the council until the Krogan Rebellions (700 CE). At this point they had just ended a several year civil war, called the Unification War, between their colonies that ultimately ended after the Hierarchy stepped in when the colonies were too weak to resist. The war itself was pretty intense, and even after it ended many Turians held animosity towards the other colonies. This is why many have distinct facial tattoos, to distinguish what colony they hail from.

The ones to make contact were the Asar,i and they came asking for the Turian war machine for aid. While the Turians did have a considerable force, and things went well in the initial attack, the Krogan were stronger. The Krogan devastated the Turians at Digeris, and it was this devastating defeat that led to the Turians having the resolve to unleash the Salarian created Genophage. 

As a side note the Turians received a seat on the council in 900 CE, 100 years after they made contact with the Citadel, but the Volus, Hanar, Quarians, and Batarians, had yet to receive anything other than embassies, even though some had joined as early as 200 BCE.

It took less time for humans, a mere 26 years since first contact.

Edit: Forgot an important word.