What did you do today in ME?

So...decided to skip ahead to "now" but I'll give highlights of the past stuff and just write about what I'm doing at the moment. (Some of it might be repeats.)

Highlights...1. Met the entire crew and suspicious about the number of ex-Alliance people around: Joker, Chakwas, Donnelly, Daniels and even Jacob. Now, not a conspiracy theorist but even I - an undercover Spectre - think that at least one of these people has to have been sent here by the Alliance or Council to lend a hand.

2. Went to Alchera, placed a monument next to the Normandy SR1, collected a bunch of dog tags and grabbed Faith's helmet (which now sits on my desk).

3. Found the corpse of a lost Cerberus operative who had intel that some mercs wanted. I passed it on to the Alliance, which Anderson told me was a "win". I'm sure TIM was unhappy about it, but he never said a word.

4. Recruited master thief Kasumi Goto. Before heading to see the Council, I bought a space hamster, some fish and a couple of model ships.

5. Met with the Council. Got proof that they had discounted the Reapers idea and Sparatus was the dick to me he'd always been to Faith. A little pissed Anderson wouldn't tell me where Kaidan was ("classified") so long as I'm with Cerberus. He knew I was there undercover so it's not like I was really with them. All bullshit.

6. Got super drunk at the Dark Star Lounge. Miranda and Jacob had to scrape me off the floor of the men's room while some pissing turian watched with amusement.

7. Ran into that stupid reporter who tried to do a smear campaign on Faith a couple of years ago and was still trying to do two years after she died. Bitch had no idea of the cost of losing 10,000 asari and the Council. It would have made humanity look completely selfish instead of citizens of the galaxy willing to step up and defend it - which led to us getting a seat on the Council when no others had since the turians did almost a thousand years ago. Then I named off all the Alliance ships that were destroyed in the conflict and let her know that my sister and all the other dead deserved far better than her attempted smear job. She was probably a member of the Terra Firma Party.

8. Did some other random things on the Citadel to help people out, like some quarian on Pilgrimage. Also, got tons of discounts, but I think that's because of confusion about "Commander Shepard" and people not really understanding that Faith was my twin. I went with it since it'll save me lots of money.

9. Got ingredients so the cook up some wicked gumbo. Then outdrank Chakwas. This time she was the one passing out.

10. On Omega, recruited some idiot merc who I took an immediate dislike to. Then helped Mordin Solus cure a damn plague so he could find a way to defend us against the seeker swarms. I did get to kill a lot of mercs, so that was good, and then Mordin came along. Oh, and best part was burning the hell out of a bunch of vorcha.

11. Opted against recruiting Archangel at the moment. Just wanted off this shithole. Instead, went and helped Kasumi steal from some asshole who thought he made the galaxy better. It was a worthy mission, she got something she wanted and a potential threat was eliminated. Also, got a nice new suit out of it, courtesy of Kasumi.

12. Found out all the crazy mechs were the result of an infection originating on Capek at a Hahne-Kadar facility. Blew that place to hell and all was well.

13. Went to Korlus to recruit the krogan Warlord Okeer. Killed a lot more mercs, which made me happy, and found the warlord. He had made a lot of "imperfect" krogan who he gave to some crazy woman who had also hired the mercs. It was all to create the "perfect krogan" one that wasn't so much immune to the genophage as much as "ignoring it" (whatever the hell that means). Anyway, crazy woman tried to gas all the krogan and start over. While I went off to kill her, Okeer protected his perfect krogan and ended up dead. I took the krogan in the tank back to the Normandy. Everyone said "Oh, no, don't open the tank". I opened the tank. The krogan named himself "Grunt" and agreed to work for me so long as he had worthy foes to face. Not a problem.

14. Went to some volcano world to find the prototype for some piece of shit hovercraft with tissue paper for armor. Found some "research" (I scanned the ground and, I don't know, something happened). No sign of the researchers but got a lead on them. Though, tbh, Cerberus wasn't that concerned about them.

I hate the Hammerhead too, almost as much as the Mako but yeah at least the Mako can take some hits!!!!!!

The research mission is one of the only ones I don't bother completing, it just annoys the heck out of me 

So yesterday was a good day for William Shepard, landed on Noveria and as Joker commented what a fun bunch they are. So William was in a bad mood from the get go and went all renegade with guards stopping him getting inside which was a shame as Matsuo seemed quite. Sergeant Stirling on the other hand not quite so nice and William knew she was probably destined for a bullet. Was approached by woman named Parasini who said she was assistant to the administrator and who asked me to come see her.

Firstly headed to the shop to finally get Tali some decent armour and agreed to help Opold the friendly Hanar shopkeeper smuggle a package inside. William hadn't lost his powers of persuasion and negotiated a larger reward for his efforts. Then headed off to see Parasini.

Parasini gave me a run down of Noveria and yep its a cesspit of corporate deception and greed. Spoke to the administrator and was so disgusted by his arrogance and air of self importance that I actyually can't even remember his name but he confirmed that Benzia and Saren had been there and proceeded to peak 15 with Asari Commandos.

Wandered around and spoke to a nice turian in the car park, got the cold shoulder from corporate types and then headed to the Hotel. Got hit up straight away by an Asari who wanted me to help her get information from a sales guy, sounded like an easy gig, had no dramas getting him talking for long enough for the Asari's device to crack his security and then again negotiated myself a bigger reward.

Spoke to Lorik Qui'inn and sgreed to break into his offices and steal data that would implicate Anoleis in lining his own pockets. Got to the offices and persuaded the guards to leave, then found the data and was confronted by Sergeant Sterling who William had afore predicted she'd receive a bullet and she was dead before she could stop talking

Was then confronted by Parasini who confessed to being an undercover agent investigating Anoleis and who persuaded William to talk Lorik into sharing the data and testifying against Anoleis. So William again used his powers of persuasion and duly got his garage pass, finally.

Then William got ambushed by Geth in the car park which he, Liara and Tali had no trouble destroying. then took a lovely scenic ride in the Mako through a blizzard and whilst being shot at by Geth and Geth turrets but again it was no trouble for Shepard and his two lovely squad mates

Today William will enter the facility on Peak 15 and is looking forward to hopefully gaining some ground on Saren.

Pic's

Joker as usual spot on in his summation



Sergeant Stirling, I'll see you later



My guns bigger and better than yours



Parasini putting out the trash



William decides to up the combat difficulty by driving in reverse

Barbara "Barbie" Shepard...


Joker: We've located the Salarian Infiltration Team's camp, but it's located near some AA towers. We need to take out those towers before the Normandy can touch down.

Barbie: Okay got it! (jumps out of the Normandy)

Tali: Did she just forget we have the Mako?

Liara: I'll drive!

Tali: Can it be any worse than Barbie's driving?

Liara: I don't know how to drive.

Tali: The question still stands.

* * *

Barbie: What have you found?

Kirrahe: Saren's base of operations.

Barbie: Great! Let's nuke it!

Kirrahe: Unfortunately, the base is too heavily fortified for that.

Barbie: But, it's a nuke!

Kirrahe: It can withstand a nuclear explosion.

Barbie: So we bring the nuke inside?

Kirrahe: Okay fine.

Barbie: Yay!

Kirrahe: But I'll need one of your squadmates to go with me.

Kaiden and Ashley together: I'll go!

Ashley: But Shepard will nee your tech skills to arm the bomb.

Tali: But I can --

Ashley: Shut up!

Barbie: You're right. Kaiden, you're with me.

Kaiden: I hate you Ashley.

* * *

Ashley: Heads up, L.T! You've got a dropship headed your way.

Kaiden: It's already here. I'm arming the bomb.

Ashley: Shepard, go back and get Kaiden!

Kaiden: NO! I've handcuffed myself to the bomb and swallowed the key! I won't be taken alive! Go get Ashley!

Barbie: Hang on, Ash! I'm coming to get you!

Ashley: Kaiden you son of a bitch! I hope you burn in hell!

* * *

Saren: There is no stopping the Reapers!

Barbie: Oh come on, sure we can! The two best Spectres in the galaxy, teaming up? We'd be unstoppable!

Saren: Hmmm. Maybe you're right.

Barbie: Yeah! And then we can go out an celebrate, maybe have a few drinks, fall in love, get married, have kids and a house...

Saren: Oh dear god no! I changed my mind, humanity must be destroyed!



I can finish Mass Effect 1 today.

Barbie: Goody! I get to beat the Reapers and everyone lives happily ever after!

Uh, yeah sure.

Some part of me thinks Kaidan and Ashley are going to be fighting over who gets to die on Virmire just so they don't have to put up with Barbie anymore.

EDIT: Just read the prior post and now know I was right!

So busy day yesterday for Wil Shepard. So cleared Peak 15 with Tali and Liara without any problems but had to take the short cut via the security drone door cause Wil is directionally challenged and after 20 minutes of not being able to find Dr. whatever his name is I had had enough.

Dispatched Geth and Asari commandos without too much problem and of course Benezia. "Little Wing" got to say goodbye to her mum at least and then we set the Rachni Queen free and purged the rest of the labs.

Its strange whenever I think back on playing these missions I forget how short they are in comparison to lot of the missions in later games. I remembered Peak 15 as being far more extensive and time consuming than it actually is and then to Virmire which I thought would take me much longer.

So killed lots of Geth in the Mako, I actually really enjoy the landing and the fly by of the Normandy and then the driving and shooting Geth all the while trying not to run over the funny looking crabs. I'd prefer these crabs myself but anywhooo



So met with old "hold the line" Captain Kirrahee and then spoke to Wrex as he was a tad angry with the whole destroying the Krogan cure for the Genophage. It got a bit tense but under that that tough frontal plate is a clever krogan who agreed in the end that it wsa the right thing to do. Sent Ashley with Kirrahee and Kaidan to organise the Nuke to destroy the facility.

With that resolved Wrex and tali went with Will and systematically worked their way through destroying communications and Geth Flyers as well as taking down Krogan, Geth and some indoctrinated Salarians. Then had a fun chat with Sovereign who apparently is "The Vanguard of our Destruction", Wil pretty much told him to get stuffed and then Sovereign hung up

So then caught up with Saren and tried to steal his wicked cool Hover Board but alas after shooting the hell out of him he took off with it. Sent Kaidan to guard the bomb, had originally thought to send Ashley but had a last minute change of mind, Wil wants Ashley to succeed and clear her families name.

Joker flew in and extracted us and leaving Kaidan (who fought bravely till the end) was one of the toughest things Wil has ever had to do.

Back on the Normandy Ashley protested that it should have been her not Kaidan but Wil came down hard on her reminding her of her place but then explained to her that she needed to get the chip off her shoulder. Spoke to the council who were as useful as tits on a bull and was very tempted to hang up on them. Spoke to Ashley again in the hold and was surprised that she showed sympathy and empathy to Liara's situation re her mum and then checked in on Liara which I think she appreciated.

Next may try and clear a few more assignments but then on to Ilos.

Pic's

Speaking to Bee-nezia on Peak 15:



Speaking to the Rachni Queen before letting go:



Mako fun on Virmire:



Three walk in and two walk out:



Wrex speaking his mond:



Kaidan brave to the end:

Yes one of the few joys of the Mako 

Have you hit the spacebar to use your jump jets yet? I did that for at least 2hrs of gameplay 

Also had to re-map the "R" cause I kept going to reload and instead throwing grenades 

And definitely really happy about this

Barbie's meeting with Jack will be.... interesting.

Karen Shepard, Soldier, ME3 cont'd:

Sigurd's Cradle: 2181 Despoina - Leviathan

Following a thorough search of the Sigurd's Cradle cluster, the Normandy found the source of the Leviathan signal – an ocean covered planet designated 2181 Despoina.

Commander Shepard took Liara and Tali with her for the shuttle ride down to the surface. Steve reported that the signal was originating from deep under the ocean. As they discussed their options, trouble hit. The shuttle was knocked out of the air by “some kind of pulse” and crashed onto the hull of an ancient ship that had also crashed on the planet.

Steve began repairs to restore power to the shuttle, while Shepard and the ground team investigated. The presence of dozens of other crashed ships floating on the surface indicated that whatever hit them was likely “Leviathan's last line of defence”. Whatever Leviathan was, it really didn't want to be found.
They discovered datapads with log entries that described the gruesome fate that befell the crew of the ship they were on. There were also some of the strange orbs that Leviathan used to enthrall people; Shepard destroyed them right away.

Reaper forces had evidently been on the same trail as the Normandy, as a Sovereign class ship arrived a short time later. The Reaper kept its distance and dropped ground forces however, not wanting to suffer the same fate as the shuttle and the other crashed ships.

Shepard and friends held off the Reaper ground troops long enough for Steve to get the shuttle airborne again and provide cover fire, but the flight was short lived. The pulse hit once again, and the shuttle set down on the opposite site of the wreck. They'd have to find another way.

They searched the hull of the wreck, and found a heavy mech designed for underwater exploration – Steve called it a Triton. They were able to use power cells from the shuttle open the airlock that contained the mech, and hatched a plan for Shepard to take the mech down to find Leviathan. Liara objected, concerned for the commander's safety, but they'd come to far to give up now.

Shepard began her dive in the mech, and a short time into the descent she lost contact with Cortez and her squad – either interference from Leviathan or just the limitations of the old mech's technology.

She finally reached the ocean floor – she was a long way down, but thankfully life support was holding out – and checked out some of the undersea life while the mech slowly made it's way to the spot they'd identified as the likely location of Leviathan.

Eventually she was before a large canyon, unable to see anything initially, but there was definitely something there. She felt a rumbling, then a large creature that bore a disturbing resemblance to a Reaper rose from the depths. Leviathan.

Shepard found herself in a strange environment. Leviathan was in her head, attempting to enthrall her (“your mind belongs to me”). It spoke to her while taking the form of 3 people from her recent past – Ann Bryson, Derek Hadley, and the Dr Garneau imposter - “your memories give voice to our words”.

Leviathan rejected Shepard's assertion that it should be fighting back against the Reapers. It claimed that the Reapers saw Shepard as a threat, “and I must understand why”. It claimed that it was once “the apex of life in the galaxy”, using “lessor species” as their servants. All of this was ended by the Reaper cycles, which originated when they created an “intelligence” to help control other races, and in turn prevent them from building “machines that then destroyed them”.

The AI the Leviathans created to stop organics from creating evil AIs evidently became evil and turned on them, however, which was either the most ironic or most idiotic thing Shepard had ever heard. Both, perhaps. She wasn't sure she believed any of it, not entirely anyway.

The purpose of the “intelligence” was to “preserve life”, apparently, which somehow ended up as melting down races into goo to be poured into a Reaper shell once every cycle. The first of these, Leviathan claimed, was Harbinger, created from the Leviathan's “essence”.

Leviathan refused to help Shepard fight the Reapers. It claimed Shepard would remain as their indoctrinated agent while the Reapers “harvested” the rest of the galaxy. Shepard refused to accept this, not willing to give up the fight and be Leviathan's servant. The Reapers would find them, just as she had, and finish them off. It was they who had to join up with her.

Shepard won the battle of wills. Leviathan released her mind, and Shepard found herself in the mech, dazed. Two more Leviathans rose from the depths – evidently each of them had appeared as different persona in her head. She managed to get the mech heading back to the surface to rejoin her crew.

Liara, Tali, and Steve were still fighting off Reaper ground troops when she returned. She stumbled from the mech, still in a daze after the ordeal of the enthrallment attempt. Once again her friends were there for her, thankfully – Liara helped her into the shuttle, while Tali laid down cover fire.

The shuttle managed to escape – the Leviathans had not only disabled the defences that had caused them to crash, but used their artifacts and enthrallment abilities to disrupt the Reaper capital ship attempting to stop them.

Back on the Normandy, Shepard filled Admiral Hackett in over the QEC. The Admiral was pleased with the results, but after their conversation Shepard still had some reservations. The Leviathans reminded her too much of the Reapers, in the way they spoke and in what the evidently believed. At times during the encounter they seemed like they hated the Reapers for trying to destroy them, other times they seemed to be saying that the cycles were just part of the plan. She wondered if they would truly be allies. Regardless, she had done as ordered. Ann Bryson had joined the Crucible team, and for the time being at least the Leviathans appeared to be on their side. Shepard hoped that her uneasy feelings were just her imagination getting the better of her.

It was time to turn their attention to getting rid of Cerberus once and for all. While preparations for the assault were being finalized, however, there would be time for a get-together with friends.

Wait, what?  I'm actually one of Kaidan fans.

I was refering to how Caesar writes Barbie and Kaidan/Ashley's reaction to her... post about Virmire and how both of them were too eager to sacrifice themselves to be free of her for example?