Shepard is
about to join Anderson and Nihlus but stops to talk
to crew members in the CIC.
I’m telling you, I just saw him! He marched by
like he was on a mission.
ENGINEER ADAMS:
He’s a Spectre.
They’re always on a mission.
PRESSLY:
And we’re getting dragged right along with him!
ADAMS:
Relax, Pressly.
You’re going to give yourself an ulcer.
[Shepard starts a conversation with Navigator Pressly]
PRESSLY:
Congratulations, Commander. Looks like we had a
smooth run. You heading down to see the captain?
SHEPARD - dialogues
options:
-I heard you arguing.
-He wants to see me.
SHEPARD:
I’m on my way to give him a status update right
now.
PRESSLY:
With all due respect, sir, maybe he’ll finally
tell you what we’re doing out here.
SHEPARD - dialogues
options:
-What do you mean?
-I’ll look into it.
-Goodbye.
-Just do your job.
SHEPARD:
You think the Alliance brass is holding out on
us?
PRESSLY:
If all we’re supposed to do is test out the
stealth systems, why is Captain Anderson in charge? And then there’s Nihlus. Spectres are elite
operatives. Top covert agents. Why send a Spectre — a
turian Spectre — on a
shakedown run? It doesn’t add up.
SHEPARD - Investigate
dialogues options:
-Stealth systems
-Captain
-Turian
spectre
SHEPARD:
What do you know about the stealth systems?
PRESSLY:
I just know it masks our location from scans
and sensors. Cutting edge technology. The Normandy's the only ship with this
prototype drive. But why are we fully staffed? A skeleton crew would be
cheaper. Less chance of security leaks, too. Plus, there's Nihlus.
It's pretty obvious this shakedown run is just a
cover.
Shepard - dialogue
options:
-A cover?
-You're wrong.
SHEPARD:
For what?
PRESSLY:
Damned if I know, Commander. We're out here on
false pretenses. I'm not a fan of being left in the dark.
SHEPARD - Investigate
dialogues options:
-Stealth systems
-Captain
-Turian
spectre
SHEPARD:
Do you have a problem with the captain?
PRESSLY:
No, sir! But I can't figure out what he's doing
here. Captain Anderson is one of the most decorated Special Forces officers in
the service. If he melted down all his medals, he could make a life-size statue
of himself. You don't send a soldier like that on a do-nothing mission. He's
treating this shakedown run too seriously. Something big is going on.
SHEPARD - Investigate
dialogues options:
-Stealth systems
-Captain
-Turian spectre
SHEPARD:
You don’t trust Nihlus.
PRESSLY:
I don’t like turians
in general. Runs in my family. My grandfather fought in the First Contact War;
lost a lot of friends when the turians hit us.
SHEPARD - Investigate
dialogues options:
-That was long ago.
-Plus, he's a Spectre.
SHEPARD:
That was thirty years. You can’t blame Nihlus for that.
PRESSLY:
No, I guess not. But it still makes me nervous
to have a Spectre on board, especially a turian. We’re an Alliance vessel, human military. But Nihlus doesn’t answer to the captain like the rest of us. Spectres operate outside the normal chain of command. And
they don’t come along just to observe shakedown runs. Nihlus
looks like he’s expecting some heavy action. I don’t like it.
SHEPARD - dialogues
options:
-I’ll look into it.
-Goodbye.
-Just do your job.
SHEPARD:
I’ll see if I can get some answers when I see
him.
PRESSLY:
Good luck, Commander.
[Shepard walks toward Corporal Jenkins and Doctor Karin Chakwas.]
JENKINS:
I grew up on Eden Prime, Doc. It’s not the kind
of place Spectres visit. There’s something Nihlus isn’t telling us about this mission.
CHAKWAS:
That’s crazy. The captain’s in charge here. He
wouldn’t take orders from a Spectre.
JENKINS:
Not his choice, Doc. Spectres
don’t answer to anyone. They can do whatever they want. Kill anyone who gets in
their way.
CHAKWAS:
Ha! You watch too many spy vids, Jenkins.
JENKINS:
What do you think, Commander? We won’t be
staying on Eden Prime too long, will we? I’m itching for some real action!
CHAKWAS:
I sincerely hope you’re kidding, Corporal. Your
‘real action’ usually ends with me patching up crew members in the infirmary.
SHEPARD - dialogues options:
-Relax, Jenkins.
-The doctor’s right.
-Part of the job, Doc.
SHEPARD:
You need to calm down, Corporal. A good soldier
stays cool, even under fire.
JENKINS:
Sorry, Commander. But this waiting’s killing
me. I’ve never been on a mission like this before. Not one with a Spectre on board.
SHEPARD - Investigate
dialogues options:
-Nihlus
-The Spectres
-Eden Prime
SHEPARD:
What can you tell me about Nihlus?
CHAKWAS:
Turians are generally well-respected by the
other species. Their fleet has more patrols protecting Citadel space than any
other. They don't always get on well with us, though. Some people find them too
rigid. Others still blame them for the First Contact War. As for Nihlus, I haven't said more than two words to him. He
usually only speaks to the captain.
JENKINS:
I heard Nihlus once
took down an entire enemy platoon all by himself. Man, I can't believe I'm on a
mission with an actual Spectre!
SHEPARD - Investigate
dialogues options:
-Nihlus
-The Spectres
-Eden Prime
SHEPARD:
What do you know about the Spectres?
CHAKWAS:
Only what I've heard. Spectre
agents work directly for the Citadel Council. They usually work alone or in
small groups. Spectres don't have any official power,
though. Basically, they're a shadow organization with a mandate to preserve and
protect galactic stability.
JENKINS:
Protect it at any cost. Don't forget that part.
Spectres operate above the law!
SHEPARD - dialogues
options:
-There are no human Spectres?
-That’s dangerous.
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.
JENKINS:
Hey, Commander! You'd make a good Spectre! They're always getting dropped into impossible
situations. Forced to survive unbeatable odds. Just like you on Akuze!
SHEPARD - dialogues
options:
Those are bad memories.
Show some respect!
SHEPARD:
I try not to think about Akuze.
JENKINS:
Sorry, Commander. I-- I
didn't mean to offend you. I respect what you did there. We all do.
CHAKWAS:
Let's not dwell on the past, Commander. Was
there something else you needed?
SHEPARD - Investigate
dialogues options:
-Nihlus
-The Spectres
-Eden Prime
SHEPARD:
You're from Eden Prime, aren't you Jenkins?
What's it like?
JENKINS:
It's very peaceful, Commander. They've been
real careful with development, so you don't have any city noise or pollution. My
parents lived on the outskirts of the colony. At night, I used to climb this
big hill and stare across the fields back at the lights from the main
settlement. It was gorgeous. But when I got older, I realized it was a little
too calm and quiet for me. That's why I joined the Alliance. Even paradise gets
boring after a while.
SHEPARD:
Any idea why Eden Prime was chosen as our
destination?
JENKINS:
Not really sure,
Commander. Eden Prime's one of our most stable colonies. Good place to take the
Normandy for her shakedown run, I guess. No real danger there. But there's got
to be something else going on. We've got a Spectre on
board! That's why I'm so wound up. I can't wait for the real mission to start!
SHEPARD - dialogues
options:
-You’ll do fine.
-It’s just another
mission.
SHEPARD:
Just treat this like every other assignment
you’ve had and everything’ll work out.
JENKINS:
Easy for you to say. You proved yourself on Akuze. Everybody knows what you can do. This is my big
chance. I need to show the brass what I can do!
SHEPARD - dialogues
options:
-Be careful.
-There’s no rush.
-Don’t play the hero!
SHEPARD:
You’re young, Corporal. You have a long career
ahead of you. Don’t do something stupid to mess it up.
JENKINS:
Don’t worry, sir. I’m not going to screw this
up.
SHEPARD:
The captain’s waiting for me.
CHAKWAS:
BACK TO PROLOGUE: FIND THE BEACON