Non-Council Spectres: Batarian, Drell, Krogan, & Quarians

Obligatory: volus biotic gods.



btw. gotta slightly disagree on the quarians: unless you fight hand-to-hand or you're a krogan or a vorcha and can make much use of it, physical durability doesn't mean much for survivability in ME – shields make up for virtually all protection, armor's purpose is more like what WW1 helmets were intended to be.

And also, geth would do.

From Mass Effect 1, when talking with Jenkins and Chakwas about Spectres (emphasis added):

SHEPARD: Why don't we have any of our own people in there?
CHAKWAS: Spectres usually come from the council races, like the Turians. We've been trying to get a human accepted into their ranks for years now. So far, it hasn't happened.

So it should be pointed out that you can be a Spectre while not being a council race. Remember: Shepard was made a Spectre while humans were still not a council race.

Of the races you mention, a Krogan is most likely to actually be a Spectre.

A Drell -- specifically a Drell Assassin could also likely be a Spectre considering their assassin training and experience. Hard to say if the Hanar would allow it considering how few (relatively speaking) Drell are left and how many Drell would actually be trained as assassins.

A Quarian Spectre seems unlikely. It seems Quarians rarely leave the flotilla except for Pilgrimage, exile, or for approved scientific or military missions.

Batarians Spectres are also highly unlikely given that the Batarians broke away from the Citadel and have strained relationships with other races ever since.

As much as I love the idea of a Vorcha spectre, it is too unlikely given their short lifespan and the amount of training and experience required to even be considered as a Spectre.

Spectres serve the Council.

Batarians tried to bully humans, who responded by kicking the Batarians off their space-lawn and then the Batarians tried to petition the Council claiming to be the victims.
When they didn't get their way, they cut ties. So while it's possible for a "rogue" Batarian to be a Spectre, there are just so many blocks in the way, so it's unlikely.

Drell are already sworn to the Hanar, so that's a major "conflict of interest".
Even if it weren't, you'd have to convince the Hanar "owner" to release their "ward" indefinitely.

Hanar are literally the squishiest species to date, and are EXTREMELY conspicuous. Any matter of stealth is basically off the table for them, and combat scenarios just make them wet pin-cushions. There's a reason they use the Drell for "violent solutions".

Krogan are incredible combatants, but that very strength is what shuts down higher-brain functions.
Spectres need to think-on-their-feet, not JUST shoot things.
Not to mention the literal centuries of bad blood between them and the Council.

Quarians are already mistrusted, so adding the tension and unease of having a Spectre around would be prone to escalating the situation or prevent any thorough investigation.

Vorcha can't handle the discipline, and too easily fall victim to stupidity (grain of salt, but nonetheless). They CAN be trained, but the amount of hand-holding required negates the purpose of being self-sufficient.

Elcor are very uncomfortable with travel, which being a Spectre requires. That and their speech patterns and deliberate thinking are "too slow" (I say that very loosely) to be effective as a Spectre.

Volus are a protectorate of the Turians, by choice, but their physiology is very disadvantaged in ways that are fatal if compromised. Their financial skill would a unique asset though; funding and outfitting an independent team to complete their objectives would make them a "Spectre-Quartermaster".

To be completely fair, I think it's entirely possible for any member of the above to become a Spectre, but there are hurdles that have to be addressed first.

Humans got a Spectre on-board prior to becoming a member of the Council, but that was a highly unusual circumstance.
That, and Humans tend to buck the curve whenever they can, those upstarts.

But if I had to guess at which species would be next to get their Spectre...
I'd say Quarians, assuming Shepard saves them/reconciles them with the Geth, since the big shadow hanging over the species would no longer be present.