D.A. fan is back for an ME1 Text Only 'Let's Play' (page 51)

I managed to get ahold of my husband. 

After explaining that an organic race had created a non aggressive species similar to the Borg... We discussed various things.

Such as, what would the PRime Directive have us do? It would dictate that NOT uploading the code would be non interference and follow the Prime Directive.

Whether or not the Geth could be hacked again, considering they'd been hacked twice? now? was also a concern.

but then it boiled down to...which fleet could be talked down?

Not uploading the Code could be construed as an act of aggression and distrust by the representative of the Geth, Legion-2.

The Quarians had four leaders, two of which are pro aggression. Still, Tali was there. Perhaps she could talk them down. 

And so, with great anxiety, and with my husband on the phone to hear my reports of our co decision.... I clicked "Upload the Code." The one I'd been wanting to click all along anyway.

Shepherd told Tali to instruct the fleet to stand down. Admiral Loghain/Garrel bellayed the order.

Tali begged me not to continue. Shepherd said, "I'm sorry." And allowed the continuation of the Upload. LEgion said something and then appeared to die. Then I got this scene of choas and destruction. A Quarian Captain ordered a retreat, but Admiral Logain/Garrel again ordered his people to ignore the order. All of his crew mates tried to flee to escape pods while Admiral Loghain/Garrel assumed a mix of resignation and determination as he went down with his ship. 

My husband yells through the phone to say it's not my fault, it's the Admiral's fault.

As ship wreckage of a now extinct species burned in the atmosphere of their own homeworld... Tali began to cry as we all listened to the dying words of a Quarian ship captain. I, the player, in great distress.

Then Tali... removes her mask, breathing the air of her homeland and seeing the sun for the first time mask free.
I cry out in alarm- They can't survive even on their own home planet, right?

"I'm sorry." She says to Shepherd. Whether with sincerity or with mirroring bitter sarcasm to the sorry Shepherd had given her earlier when she'd begged her to stop the upload.

And then threw herself over a cliff. 

I go from Great Distress to outright bawling and drop my controller. I can't even hear what my husband is saying on the phone anymore. Then there is a paragon prompt to make a grab for her and I scramble to press LEFT. 

Shepherd fails anyway. I mean, seriously, there isn't saving anyone from that but my distress made me react anyway.

A random Geth comes to talk to Shepherd. "LEgion died in the upload. WE regret the death of the creators."

Shepherd auto dialogue: "They made their choice."

I pace around crying to my husband. I finally calm down and I say.

"How do you feel about your co responsibility for the destruction of the Quarian Race?" 

HE says, "Uh, I feel like it was mostly Loghain. 10% me, 10% you, 80% Loghain not backing down when he should have. Didn't you know? It's always Loghain's fault." *he recently finished DAO*

I say goodbye to come update you guys. And I again cry a little as I write about Tali killing herself. 

I'm glad he was there with you to help you through it.  Big relief to see this post. 

Not much you could have done.  I think peace is only possible if Legion is there and Tali is an admiral... and a whole bunch of other conditions are met like saving Admiral Koris.  Gerrel is (or was) a stubborn SOB... bet you feel now like you should have used that Renegade interrupt... and maybe worse.

My new standard of playing a game for the first time is minimal tips/assistance from other players and not reloading just because of bad outcomes. I deliberated on this Quarian vs Geth decision for nearly an hour. It was the choice I made. 

The Witcher 3 made me cry almost as much as ME3 has. ME3 wins, though. Grunt, Mordin, Thane, and now Tali, and technically, Legion for a whole second time.  of course, I didn't lost a companion this time to SAVING a race, like I did Mordin for the Krogan. I lost two companions and lost an entire race. So, feeling a bit nauseous sad. 

You monster.

I'm eating some food and heading back in.

With the destruction of all the Quarians, I finally decided to pick the "Why me?" option with Admiral Hackett. Seemed a Prime Time for Shepherd to be doubting herself. I liked the response pretty well... Still didn't allay all my doubts. I mean... They remark on an alliance with the Geth but don't mention the loss of the Quarians.

Let's go see what the crew says about my recent sin. A lo tof people knew Tali. Even the engineers....

It is sort of reminiscent of the Quarians as well... remember, they were the ones "strapping guns" on all their liveships to get themselves into that war.

Also, consider how much of an idiot Gerrel was for destroying that geth dreadnought when it could have been captured and used by the Quarians themselves.  Gerrel just never really learned when and when not to press an advantage.

Ghosts of Quarians I actually remember are kinda haunting me. Raan and Tali... But also that cutie from ME2 on the Tali Recruitment mission.

Joker: "Why didn't they just stop shooting?"

I know, Joker. I know.

Ugh... That interview with Allers brought up my concerns about the Geth. "I'd stake my life on it." yeah, I bet we did. No hiding horror in that statement.

And Tali's name joins the list next to Thane's...

Traynor/James/Steve say nothing about the Quarians. KAidan does eventually mention Tali specifically. BArely. Liara is the second one to actually be grieving about both. ...And Garrus is greiving about Tali, sounded a bit mad at Shepherd even. Sorry Garrus. Even the Engineers are bummed.

Yep... Knew JAvik wouldn't like the outcome. Why I didn't bring him. Am I weird for still liking him even though we argue so much? haha and then he follows up with "Do not care what others think. Do what you must." Yeah, Javik? That not apply to you?

LEt's see what the Journal has up for me... A minor mission and some fetch quests. Will do.
Then back to the Citadel to deliver the fetches, talk to an Asari Lady, and start the Citadel DLC.

I love Javik, he's such a troll.  Earning his respect is pretty awesome though. Currently playing without him so I can bring Kaidan to Eden Prime later.

I don't know what goes to who. So, I just make an entire round of the entire Citadel clicking as the circles come up. This is probably super inefficient I'm looking for these "nodes" anyway, so I guess this time it isn't so bad to walk literally everywhere.

Steve is letting go of making Robert an Anchor. Good for him. I guess if I expect him to get over it, I should get over Thane? hmmm....

Why si the soldier lady so happy her daughter is going back to Thessia when it was just declared teh Reapers were attacking that planet? Poor timing of the line I guess.

Hmmm, maybe I should start checking the spectre terminal before rounds. Just got 1 or 2 items I missed for purchase.

Ooops- talked to the Asari Counsillor. I was just like, "ooooo, Udina's office is green." *click* "oh yeah, that's where I was supposed to meet the Asari lady."

Never did run into that third Node. But then an Elcor asked me to go save his people. after THAT, I'll start go to Anderson's Apartment.

I have a strength of 2894 but my % is still 50%. 

Readiness rating will always be 50% unless you do some multiplayer or Galaxy at War ap (I think that's what it's called).  Don't worry though, you'll have plenty at 50% to get the "best" ending as long as you have the Extended Cut installed.