ACT I 2
SCENE I 2
BRIEFING 2
SCENE II 5
SCENE III 11
ACT II 12
SCENE I 12
Meeting the
Nexus Leadership 12
SCENE II 41
[Ryder, Liam
and Cora joins Captain Dunn on the Hyperion bridge as the Hyperion prepares to
dock at the Nexus.]
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
Ryder, good
to see you on your feet. We’re at the Nexus. It’s the forward hub for the
entire Andromeda Initiative. The asari, salarian, and turian arks should be
there, too.
[The Hyperion
is flying toward the Nexus, which can be seen from afar.]
RYDER:
Let’s hope
they’ve had better luck.
LANI:
Starting
our approach now.
LIAM:
It’s almost
as big as the Citadel back home.
LANI:
Nexus
control, this is Ark Hyperion requesting docking clearance.
[The Nexus can
be seen from up close. The Hyperion seems incredibly small compared to it.]
LANI:
Captain,
I’m only getting their automated approach channel, not a live person.
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
Well, like
it or not, we’re here. Take us in.
[They all watch
as the Hyperion docks. The Nexus appears to be under construction, with large
parts of it not built.]
CORA:
Construction
should’ve been finished by now.
LIAM:
Could be
worse…
RYDER:
How?
Habitat 7’s a bust, we might’ve started a war with the first aliens we met, and
our Pathfinder’s dead. This better be
rock bottom.
LANI:
Green
across the board. Docking initiated.
[The Hyperion
finishes docking.]
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
All right.
I got us here. Good luck, Pathfinder.
[Ryder, Cora,
and Liam leave the Bridge.]
CORA:
You going
to be okay, Ryder?
RYDER:
The Captain
just called me "Pathfinder." This is really happening.
LIAM:
Just take a
deep breath.
RYDER:
I still
can't believe Dad's dead. This should've been his moment.
CORA:
But now
it's yours. You just need to decide what you're going to do with it.
RYDER:
Where do I
start? I'm just not sure I'm ready.
LIAM:
We weren't
ready to fall out of the sky on Habitat 7. But we survived that.
RYDER:
Right. So,
always keep a jump-jet handy.
[Ryder, Cora,
and Liam walk away from the bridge. Two crew members are talking in front of a
console.]
CREW 1:
I need
engineering to secure all connections from the ark to the Nexus.
CREW 2:
What's the
priority?
CREW 1:
Start
running power and data links first. Then move to secondary comm traffic.
CREW 2:
Got it.
I'll follow up with their engineers later.
[They reach the
next room.]
CREW 1:
Captain
wants to see a full duty roster.
CREW 2:
I just
updated the charts.
CREW 1:
She'll want
to see crew reassignments first. Start with non-essential personnel.
[They’re close
to the tram. A man is addressing crew members outside. Ryder pauses to listen.]
CREW 1:
Okay folks,
this is what we've been waiting for. Let your teams know that docking
procedures are now in effect. We've got 20.000 colonists still asleep, and
we'll need somewhere to put them when the alarm clock goes off. As soon as we
get clearance from the Nexus, we'll be following statis revival protocols. We
want to avoid any log jams, so it's vital your teams coordinate with each other
and keep people moving. Any questions so far?
CREW 2:
How do we
handle deaths that occurred in transit?
CREW 1:
Right. It's
an unfortunate fact that not everyone will have survived the voyage. We've
already got scattered reports of medical problems from that dark energy cloud
we hit. If somebody didn't make it, check with the medical officer. We'll see
about notifying their next of kin. I'm hoping it's a rare exception. Also, try
to keep it quiet. Andromeda is all about new beginnings, not holding funerals.
[Ryder, Liam,
and Cora board the tram.]
[The tram is on
its way to the Nexus.]
RYDER
(VOICE-OVER):
It'll be
nice to see some friendly faces this time.
CORA
(VOICE-OVER):
The Nexus
runs a support crew. Just enough to finish building the station and provide
safe harbor for the arks.
[Inside the
tram, Cora and Liam are on either side of the tram’s door. Cora is using her
omni-tool.]
RYDER:
Means we
can start waking our people up.
LIAM:
They built
a bar, right? Gotta have champagne for the welcome party.
RYDER:
You're
expecting one?
LIAM:
After what
we've been through, I could use a buzz.
RYDER:
We all
could.
LIAM:
Yeah. Rough
ride so far.
CORA:
We'll
bounce back. Real food and a shower are just ahead.
[The tram stops
and the door opens to the Nexus’ Common Area.]
CORA:
Here we
are.
[They step out
of the tram and enter the Common Area. It’s dark and appears empty.]
LIAM:
Uh... I
don't see any champagne.
RYDER:
Where is
everybody? Well, this can't be right.
CORA:
It's like
everything's on standby.
LIAM:
If it's a
surprise party, they're doing an awfully good job of it.
[Plants are in
the middle of the area in a sublevel platform. In front of them is Avina, an
asari-looking VI emitting a faint blue light.]
RYDER:
Plants are
still alive.
CORA:
We could
see what the VI has to say.
[Ryder
activates Avina.]
AVINA:
Welcome to
the Nexus, gateway to Andromeda. I'm Avina, a virtual intelligence designed to
assist you with immigration.
LIAM:
Can you
tell us where the welcome party is hiding?
AVINA:
I'm sorry.
My code is limited to information and simple interaction simulations. Please
select from the following pre-programmed responses.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Immigration
-Andromeda Galaxy
-The Nexus
-Living arrangements
-Current year
RYDER:
How does
the immigration process work?
AVINA:
We ask that
you submit to a brief medical exam to ensure your health and well-being after
making such a long journey. Once you've been cleared, our colonization experts
will assist you in finding your new home. Please be mindful of the queue:
thousands of eager colonists like you are waiting to begin their new life in
Andromeda!
LIAM:
Uh...
where? Place is deserted.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Immigration
-Andromeda Galaxy
-The Nexus
-Living arrangements
-Current year
RYDER:
What can
you tell me about the Andromeda Galaxy?
AVINA:
Here in Andromeda, you are over two million-light years away from the Milky Way Galaxy. This is the furthest any lifeform has ever traveled outside our home system, making you a brave pioneer, indeed. The Nexus itself is located in a region known as the Heleus Cluster. Here, you and thousands of your fellow colonists will fulfill your dreams of settling a new home. Fortune awaits!
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Immigration
-Andromeda
Galaxy
-The Nexus
-Living arrangements
-Current year
RYDER:
What is the
Nexus?
AVINA:
The Nexus
serves as the central hub for the Andromeda Initiative's colonization efforts.
It is the first destination for all colonists upon their arrival in the new
galaxy. Please enjoy the many venues the Nexus has to offer. As the station expands, it will one day serve as
the seat of government for Milky Way colonists. Providing a safe, stable and
prosperous environment is our primary goal.
CORA:
Not from
the looks of it.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Immigration
-Andromeda
Galaxy
-The Nexus
-Living arrangements
-Current year
RYDER:
Where do
colonists live?
AVINA:
Once you've
cleared immigration, our helpful staff will assist you in choosing the
homeworld of your dreams. Will it be the tropical paradise of Habitat 7? The
gentle rolling hills of Habitat 3? Or perhaps the mysterious twilight world of
Habitat 5? Whichever you choose, rest assured our Pathfinders have carefully
vetted all colony worlds to ensure your security and prosperity.
RYDER:
Oh, boy.
LIAM:
Habitat 7?
That's where we landed. She's way out of date.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Immigration
-Andromeda
Galaxy
-The Nexus
-Living arrangements
-Current year
RYDER:
What year
is it?
AVINA:
The current
year is 2819. After spending 600 years in stasis, it's normal to feel
disoriented or confused upon arrival. Our helpful medical staff can assist with
any physical or psychological aftereffects you may be experiencing.
CORA:
Well, she's
got the date right, at least.
RYDER:
So where is
everyone?
[Ryder logs
off.]
RYDER:
That's all.
AVINA:
It has been
my pleasure. Please see one of our helpful immigration staff for further
assistance. And welcome to our new home in Andromeda, where the brightest star
is you! Current wait time for immigration processing is: UNKNOWN ERROR.
CORA:
Right. That
was helpful.
[Ryder, Cora
and Liam stare at the area.]
CORA:
It's like
they didn't finish building it.
LIAM:
Hello?
RYDER:
This place
should be packed with people.
[They walk down
to reach the sub-platform. That’s when they see a Nexus construction worker.]
LIAM:
There's a guy. Maybe he's got champagne.
CORA:
Let's talk to that worker.
[They walk over
to him.]
RYDER:
Hi, there.
[The
construction worker gets up and turns around.]
RYDER:
We're from Ark Hyperion. And wondering where everybody
went...?
[The
construction worker looks shocked. He opens his mouth but no sounds come out.
Ryder and Liam look at each other.]
LIAM:
Did he hear you?
WORKER:
Did you say an "ark"?
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -Is that a problem?
PROFESSIONAL -I did.
RYDER:
Yeah, we
just got in.
CORA:
And for what
it's worth, your VI over there could use an update.
WORKER:
But... we
thought you were all dead!
[Cora looks
shocked.]
CORA:
What?
WORKER:
Or
captured. Or lost in dark space, or... But you're here. You have no idea how
much this means.
KANDROS:
I don't
believe it...
[Kandros, a
turian, walks toward them.]
KANDROS:
I'm Tiran Kandros. I lead our militia on the Nexus.
[Ryder and
Kandros shake hands.]
RYDER:
I'm Scott Ryder. This is Cora Harper and Liam Kosta,
part of the Pathfinder team.
KANDROS:
I'm sorry for the confusion. Our sensors told us an
ark had arrived, but Heleus is notorious for scrambling equipment. We thought
you were just another malfuction.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -We're definitely here.
LOGICAL -Why is that?
RYDER:
But aren't
you expecting us?
KANDROS:
You're the
first ark we've seen. After a year of waiting and no sign of the others, we
shuttered this area and stopped looking.
LIAM:
You've been
stranded for a whole year?
KANDROS:
Longer.
I'll fill you in on the way to Ops Center.
[Kandros walks
toward the tram. The Pathfinder team follows him.]
KANDROS:
Everything that could go wrong with our plan, has. We
arrived fourteen months ago. Right away we hit a band of dark energy that
knocked us off course.
RYDER:
We're familiar with it.
KANDROS:
Then you'll know why we call it the
"Scourge." We lost whole sections of the station. A lot of people
died. No power, no food... the chaos went on for months. It finally led to
armed rebellion. When order was restored, the insurgents were banished.
"Exiles," we call them.
CORA:
Are things back to normal?
KANDROS:
Not even close. But you're here now, so maybe the
worst is over. Ryder, we should get to
the tram. A lot of people will want to see you.
[Ryder, Liam,
Cora, and Kandros use the tram to reach Nexus Operations.]
CORA:
No word from other Pathfinders?
KANDROS:
No word from anyone, period.
LIAM:
Any threats from the locals?
KANDROS:
So far, we've stayed hidden. We're in no shape to deal
with an attack.
RYDER:
We had a first contact situation on Habitat 7. Whole
thing went south. They tried to kill us.
KANDROS:
That wasn't first contact—we know about them. Those
aliens are going to be a real problem.
CORA:
This day just keeps getting better.
KANDROS:
We're here.
[Ryder, Liam,
Cora, and Kandros exit the tram. Liam walks ahead.]
LIAM:
You guys go ahead. I'll check out the security
situation.
[Kandros leads
Cora and Ryder to the left. They walk up a ramp the next floor.]
KANDROS:
You should know our command structure has been
fractured. Some of us are filling in for leaders who died.
[Two crew
members rush past them.]
CREW 1:
Is it true?
CREW 2:
They said drop everything and report for duty.
[They keep
walking.]
KANDROS:
... and no one was expecting an ark to finally show
up.
[On the bridge,
which can be reached by walking up some stairs, several crew members are
standing in front of consoles.]
CREW:
Docking procedures are green across the board.
CREW 2:
Stand by to merge Hyperion power into the grid.
[As Kandros
leads Cora and Ryder to the bridge, everyone stops working and stares. Three
figures are seen closer than the others: a female human, a male salarian, and a
female krogan. The male salarian walks toward them, watched by the human and
the krogan.]
DIRECTOR TANN:
The crew of the Hyperion...
KANDROS:
Good luck.
[Kandros pats
Ryder on the shoulder and leaves. Director Tann is now facing Ryder and Cora.]
DIRECTOR TANN:
I'm Jarun Tann, Director of the Initiative. You have
no idea how much your arrival means to us.
[As he talks,
the human woman who had been standing with Tann joins him.]
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -It means more to us.
LOGICAL -We’re here to
assist.
RYDER:
We've heard
about what happened, and we're ready to help.
ADDISON:
We could
use any supplies you have—food, water—we're short on everything.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
This is
Foster Addison. She oversees Colonial Affairs.
[Tann looks at
them, a bit surprised.]
DIRECTOR TANN:
Where's the Pathfinder?
RYDER:
You're looking at him.
DIRECTOR TANN:
You're not Alec Ryder.
RYDER:
My father's dead. He made me his successor.
[Ryder looks
sad. Addison looks sad as well.]
ADDISON:
Alec... is dead?
[Ryder lowers
his eyes.]
ADDISON:
Please understand: the entire Initiative is at risk.
[She directs
the entire group to look at a screen full of data.]
ADDISON:
None of the golden worlds have panned out. They're a
bust. And there's been no word from the other arks.
CORA:
What happened to them?
DIRECTOR TANN:
Unknown. Our supplies are nearly depleted. Rationing
bought us some time, but even that's running out.
ADDISON:
We need to find more resources. But that takes people,
and we can't wake them up—
RYDER:
—until they have somewhere to live. A golden world.
ADDISON:
Now more than ever, we need a Pathfinder.
DIRECTOR TANN:
It now falls to you, Ryder. Are you up to the task?
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -I am.
LOGICAL -My father
thought so.
CASUAL -Let’s hope so.
PROFESSIONAL -You don’t have a choice.
RYDER:
My father
believed I am. If you trusted him with the job, you'll have to trust his
judgment.
ADDISON:
Your father
won't be around to fix things if you fail.
KESH:
That's no
way to treat a guest.
[The female
krogan from before joins the group.]
RYDER:
My father
believed I am. If you trusted him with the job, you'll have to trust his
judgment.
ADDISON:
Your father
won't be around to fix things if you fail.
KESH:
I'm Nakmor
Kesh, superintendent of this station. I hope they haven't scared you off
already.
ADDISON:
It's
nothing personal. But now isn't the time for on-the-job training.
KESH:
At least
the Pathfinder here seems willing to try. We could use a fresh perspective.
[Addison and
Kesh face each other.]
ADDISON:
You've
heard my concerns. I'll leave you to it.
[Addison
brushes past Kesh who looks at her leaving.]
DIRECTOR TANN:
We're all feeling the pressure. Let's have a private
word in my office, Ryder. We'll discuss giving you a scout ship. I'm happy to
work out the details with your associate?
[Tann points to
Cora and leaves. Cora gives Ryder a pointed look before joining Tann. Kesh and
Ryder are now alone.]
KESH:
Welcome to the Nexus.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Thanks for
helping.
LOGICAL -It’s a mess.
RYDER:
Thank you for standing up for me there.
KESH:
Hope's in short supply here. What little we can find
should have a chance to bloom.
[A crew member
interrupts them.]
CREW:
Ma'am, the Hyperion's core is now online.
[Kesh looks at
Ryder.]
KESH:
Let me show you something.
[Kesh leads
Ryder to the bridge’s central console.]
KESH:
An hour ago, that was all dark. But with the power
from your ship—you're keeping the lights on. You have my vote.
[As she talks,
lights appear on the bridge through the large windows which are no longer
covered. It illuminates Ryder’s face, who watches, pensive. After a second, he
turns to Kesh.]
RYDER:
And when the power runs out?
KESH:
You'd best go talk to Director Tann. Make sure that
doesn't happen.
[She leaves,
still talking to Ryder.]
KESH:
And don't be shy—come see me when you have a chance.
[The windows of
the bridge are fully uncovered. Through them, Ryder can see the rest of the
Nexus, still under construction. He’s at the center of the bridge, facing
away.]
[Ryder walks
toward a console on his left. A woman, the operations manager, is standing in
front of it and talking to someone on her comm.]
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
Taila, where's Vetra at? The Hyperion is starting to
send a tally of supplies. Handling something big, is she? I'll just organize
this as it comes in and send it your way. You know what the priority needs are,
anyway. Thank you.
[A salarian
technician is using his omni-tool next to her and looking at the console.]
TECHNICIAN:
Hello, console. You and I are going to be very good
friends. We'll get you all fixed up and ready to go in no time. As soon as we
hook you up to all that juicy, juicy power.
OPERATIONS MANAGER;
Hmm, power couplers, more power relays, excellent. What...
Girl Scout cookies. Hyperion's inventory lists Galactic Scout Cookies.
TECHNICIAN:
Wait, really? Seriously? I want those.
OPERATIONS MANAGER;
You'll have to fight Kesh for the Galaxy Swirls.
TECHNICIAN:
I don't care. It'll be worth it.
[A platform on
the Nexus bridge is where Addison’s open office can be found. Addison is
talking to someone on the comm. There is another man there, also talking on
comm.]
NEXUS CONTROL:
This is Nexus Control to Hyperion. It's good to have
you here.
LANI (COMM):
It's good to be here.
NEXUS CONTROL:
Excellent. Let's go over the docking checklist, shall
we?
[Ryder gets
closer to Addison and can hear her conversation.]
ADDISON (ON COMM):
No, it isn't what we wanted, but what choice do we
have?—How the hell should I know? Spender, you have a job. If you want to keep
it, do it. Goddamn it.
[Ryder hears an
announcement on the Bridge: “Please be advised that Hyperion docking procedures
are now complete.” He walks toward Addison. She crosses her arms when she sees
him.]
ADDISON:
All right. What happened?
RYDER:
To who?
ADDISON:
"To whom," and your goddamn father.
[Ryder stares
at her, disapproving. Addison puts a hand on her face.]
ADDISON:
Sorry, my face is tired from dealing with...
everything. And right now, I just want to know what happened with Alec.
[She crosses
her arms again.]
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -He wanted
me to be Pathfinder.
LOGICAL -All that matters is he’s gone.
RYDER:
In the
moment, it saved my life. But it seems my father meant for me to get the role
eventually.
ADDISON:
It isn't
hereditary. If we wanted an inbred monarchy, we could've left half our gene
stock back home.
[Addison
sighs.]
ADDISON:
Not "home." The Milky Way? This is home.
This... mess. We don't have a lot of options, Ryder. Maybe you'll prove your
father right. After fourteen months of failed colonization, forgive me if I
don't hold my breath.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Colonial Director position
-Relationship with my father
-The plan for the hostiles
-Insight into strange tech
-Failing outposts
RYDER:
How do you
fit into the Nexus leadership?
ADDISON:
I oversee
the actual settlement effort. As the number of outposts is currently less than
ideal, my influence is limited. As Tann is quick to remind me. Left a perfectly
adequate career as a chief officer. Provincial capital, too. Only a new galaxy
could pull me away. And here we are. Idling.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Colonial Director position
-Relationship with my
father
-The plan for the hostiles
-Insight into strange tech
-Failing outposts
RYDER:
You called
my father Alec. No one does that.
ADDISON:
A lot of us
joined the Initiative because of his vision. What he shared of it, anyway.
RYDER:
Were you
friends, or...?
ADDISON:
I'm not
your new mother, if that's what you're asking. Or his friend. He hated that I
didn't use his title. But no one's a Pathfinder until they've pathfound something. Much like a Colonial
Director without colonies.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Colonial
Director position
-Relationship with my father
-The plan for the
hostiles
-Insight into strange tech
-Failing outposts
RYDER:
There must
be some kind of plan for encountering hostile aliens. We can't have been that
naive.
ADDISON:
We expected
life, not an enemy that refuses to talk. They don't attack—they disinfect.
We're nothing until we're bacteria. Sorry. Fourteen months and you stoop to
poetry. That's how bad it is. Not sure who started it, but we're calling them
"kett." Kandros will know more. Maybe too much.
RYDER:
You don't
trust him?
ADDISON:
I trust him
to defend us. I do not trust a rising
military influence in a supposedly civilian Initiative. We came here to make
history, Ryder. Not repeat it. Ugh. Goddamn poetry.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Colonial Director position
-Relationship with my father
-The plan for the hostiles
-Insight into strange
tech
-Failing outposts
RYDER:
There's
also the strange technology? Has anyone studied that?
ADDISON:
We've
tried. Not me—the brains in research. They're supposed to know their business.
The current excuse? The tech we dug up on Mars was more advanced, but it was
plug-and-go. The tech here... thinks different? I don't know. We've mostly
avoided it. And from what the Hyperion logs say about Alec, maybe that's good.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Colonial
Director position
-Relationship with my father
-The plan for the hostiles
-Insight into strange tech
-Failing outposts
RYDER:
You've had
no colony successes in over a year? How many tries is that?
ADDISON:
Less than
you'd think. The Scourge, spoiled worlds, exiles, hostiles... We can't just
plop down an outpost and expect picket fences. We need the Pathfinder and SAM
to scout, evaluate... and inspire. The Initiative promised a goal. Andromeda
has not cooperated.
RYDER:
And if it
had?
ADDISON:
Beautiful
utopian horse shit. Colonies that produce and support each other. The Nexus as
Citadel—not headed by Tann. Or even me.
RYDER:
Excuse me,
Director Addison.
ADDISON:
Ryder...
RYDER:
It's
"Pathfinder."
[Addison moves
closer to Ryder until their faces are mere centimeters apart.]
ADDISON:
Ryder,
we're starving here. If we don't get a foundation of outposts to feed the
Initiative, we might as well be 600-years dead. Alec promised a lot. None of it
panned out. That's what you're up against. Why people won't trust you. Why I don't trust you. Prove me wrong.
[Ryder walks
down the stairs. On the far right of Nexus Operations is Kesh’s office. Ryder
enters it. She’s on the comm with various people.]
KESH (COMM):
Yes, I know the Hyperion docking unannounced caused
some switches to blow. That's fine.
(...)
I don't care. We know the problem is more widespread
than we thought. We're working to fix it. That's all.
(...)
My crew's working on it. We've moved the ops center to
the top of our priority list.
(...)
That's an entire sector showing green. Good job, you
two.
(...)
I'll check it out myself as soon as I have a moment.
Move on to the docks for now.
[Kesh notices
Ryder.]
KESH:
There you are. Hope the others haven't been giving you
a hard time. There's a lot that needs doing. At least with the Hyperion hooked
up and feeding us power, my team and I can get more work done.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Krogan whereabouts
-Nexus problems
-The genophage
-Your job
RYDER:
I noticed
there aren't a lot of krogan around?
KESH:
You haven't
spoken to Number Eight yet, have you?
RYDER:
Number
Eight?
KESH:
Tann. Ask
him why most of my people left. He'll have opinions. I can tell you this much.
When the mutiny happened, a deal was made. My clan was supposed to settle
matters and, in return, get more say in the Initiative.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Number Eight
-Krogan deal with Tann
RYDER:
Why do you
call Tann "Eight"?
KESH:
Because he
was eighth in line to take over the Andromeda Initiative. I like to remind him
of that now and then. Keep him... humble.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Number Eight
-Krogan deal with Tann
RYDER:
Did the
deal go through?
KESH:
The clan
held up their part, but Tann had a meltdown when he found out we wanted more say around here. Then
Addison's assistant, Spender, pretended he never made the deal in the first
place. It was a mess, but I don't blame my people for walking out. We're done
being used.
RYDER:
With your
clan gone... why did you stay?
KESH:
It's...
complicated. The station and my clan both need me here.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Krogan whereabouts
-Nexus problems
-The genophage
-Your job
RYDER:
What sort
of problems have you seen on the Nexus?
KESH:
"Situation's
gone to shit" pretty much sums it up. There's arks missing. Some idiots
tried to mutiny and take over, then more idiots offended my clan, so they left.
And to top it all off, the founder of the Initiative, Jien Garson, was killed.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Jien Garson
-More about Nexus problems
RYDER:
What
happened to Jien Garson?
KESH:
Killed in
the Scourge disaster. Her and a bunch of the other leaders. Tann might know
more.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Jien Garson
-More about Nexus
problems
RYDER:
And I
thought the Hyperion had it bad when we arrived. Anything else?
KESH:
The
outposts aren't happening because we don't have resources or people, so
Addison's more uptight than ever. And let's not forget how badly the station
was damaged on arrival. But that's a detail, according to some. My team and I
are repairing what we can. If we don't get materials soon, things will go
downhill. Fast.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Krogan whereabouts
-Nexus problems
-The genophage
-Your job
RYDER:
When we
left the Milky Way, the krogan were still dealing with the genophage.
KESH:
Right. The
genophage. A little "gift" to our people from the salarians thousands
of years ago. That sterility virus they infected us with left most of our
children stillborn. Only one in a thousand survive.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Salarian involvement
-State of a cure
RYDER:
No wonder
your people have such a problem with salarians.
KESH:
Some wounds
never heal. Not that my ancestors didn't provoke it. They did try to conquer
the galaxy. The salarians were forced to respond. And it's not fair to blame it
all on them, either. The salarians developed the virus, but it was the turians
who deployed it. I'm hoping that's all in the past. Plenty of blame to go
around, but Andromeda is about new beginnings. My people need that more than
most.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Salarian involvement
-State of a cure
RYDER:
What about
the krogan here in Andromeda?
KESH:
There's no
cure for it. But my clan was starting to show a mutation against the virus. A
natural defense. During the trip to get here, krogan underwent gene therapies
to enhance the mutation while we were in stasis.
RYDER:
So you used
those 600 years to your advantage. Gave the adaptation more time to develop.
KESH:
Yeah. It's
still early, but I think we made a dent. Our scientists say we've improved
viability to almost 4%, which is a lot better than what we had. Beyond all the
statistics, it means more krogan children will live. It's the only way my
people have a future out here.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Krogan whereabouts
-Nexus problems
-The genophage
-Your job
RYDER:
What kind
of work do you do as superintendent?
KESH:
I was part
of the team that originally designed and built this place. I keep the station
functional, or as functional as possible, considering.
RYDER:
Nothing
more for now.
KESH:
Try not to
die out there.
[Ryder leaves
Kesh’s office. Behind the platform where Addison’s office can be found is the
Nexus information wall. Ryder stands in front of the wall to consult it. As he
uses it, different images are displayed. Jien Garson’s picture is shown as she
introduces the Welcome Vid.]
JIEN GARSON:
Hello. I'm Jien Garson, founder of the Initiative.
It's through your hard work that the vision of the Nexus has come to life.
You—and all your colleagues—bind our proud new colonies together. Look around
at your achievements. And if you have any questions, my door is always open.
WELCOME VID:
Founder Garson's office is located at: workspace not
allocated. Please select a topic.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-My employee data
-Staff
directory
-Nexus status
-Viability
status
-Selection
process
WELCOME VID:
You are Scott Ryder, salary code 19-B, active
Pathfinder. Your supervisor is: Director Tann. Based on current staffing needs,
you will be eligible for paid vacation time in: 587 days.
RYDER:
Seriously?
WELCOME VID:
Why not plan on which beautiful colony you'll vacation
on while you wait?
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-My employee
data
-Staff directory
-Nexus status
-Viability
status
-Selection
process
WELCOME VID:
For Initiative strategy and Pathfinder coordination,
please see Director Jarun Tann. For Colonial Affairs or outpost status, please
see Director Foster Addison. For station maintenance, please contact
Superintendent Nakmor Kesh. For militia operations or APEX deployment, please
see Tiran Kandros.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-My employee
data
-Staff
directory
-Nexus status
-Viability
status
-Selection
process
WELCOME VID:
Integration from the Hyperion is ongoing. Personnel
are still restricted to Operations.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-My employee
data
-Staff
directory
-Nexus status
-Viability status
-Selection
process
WELCOME VID:
Viable planets, capable of supporting life, are key to
our survival in Andromeda. The viability of a world is affected by several
factors, including temperature, resources, threat levels, political stability,
and so on. We have few viable planets currently within range. Resources levels
are considered at-risk.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-My employee
data
-Staff
directory
-Nexus status
-Viability
status
-Selection process
WELCOME VID:
The selection process saw the Andromeda Initiative
evaluate thousands of potential habitable planets within the galaxy. After
discovering an unusually high ratio of potential candidates, or "golden
worlds," the Heleus Cluster was selected as our destination. Even at a
distance, studying the light from stars can reveal much about their planets'
composition and atmosphere. Seven worlds, nicknamed "habitats," have
the life-supporting environments and resources we need to start our new lives
in Andromeda.
[A technician
is standing near the information wall.]
TECHNICIAN (COMM):
Melo, you already checked the consoles down here,
right? (...) Huh. I think you forgot to hit confirm when you filled out the
forms. They're not listed. (...) Nah, it's fine. If you say you fixed them, you
did. I'll just check those boxes for you.
(...)
Right then, Lia. Try firing off sets 23-B to 54-C in
the third quadrant. (...) Did that work? Excellent. I'll move on to the next
set. We'll get this place fixed eventually.
[Ryder walks
down the ramp. To his right is the militia office, where Kandros is seen
standing in front of an oval console where Strike Team missions can be managed.
Ryder goes to talk to him.]
KANDROS:
I know that look. The others bent your ear, did they?
RYDER:
Something like that.
KANDROS:
You get used to it. Just focus on being a Pathfinder.
Can't argue with results, though they'll try. Anyway, welcome to militia HQ.
Excuse the mess. This office fields militia work, Nexus security, and looking
for the turian ark.
RYDER:
What's the word on the turian ark?
KANDROS:
Scattered readings. Some indicate the Natanus was
destroyed, others that people are alive—who knows? If you need anything, come
see me. Even if it's just to vent.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Coming to Andromeda
-Your role
-Turian welfare
-The kett
-Militia's uses
RYDER:
What brought you out here to Andromeda?
KANDROS:
I was tired of being the good one.
[Kandros uses
air quotes when saying “good one.”]
RYDER:
"The good one"?
KANDROS:
The Kandros family is old military. There were expectations. You know. Then my sister
became a sculptor and Cousin Nyreen went pirate on Omega. Everyone was proud
that I stayed in service. But I kept wondering "When do I get my
adventure?" Jien Garson's dream was so... grand, so gutsy. I had to be
part of it.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Coming to
Andromeda
-Your role
-Turian welfare
-The kett
-Militia's uses
RYDER:
You talk like you weren't part of the leadership. How
did you end up commanding the militia?
KANDROS:
I was escorting a prospecting team on some moon, when
those kett found us. They penned us like cattle for experiments. I managed to
get loose, snatched a gun, and freed the others. By the time we killed the
bastards and headed back to warn the Nexus, everyone looked at me like I was in
charge.
RYDER:
That sounds familiar.
KANDROS:
The militia grew from there. Funny: once the heat is
on, all kinds of people rise to the top.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Coming to
Andromeda
-Your role
-Turian welfare
-The kett
-Militia's uses
RYDER:
Are the other turians managing okay?
KANDROS:
So so. We're not good at sitting around in a crisis.
"Service before self" gets drummed into us at boot camp. That's
probably why so many of us are in the militia. We like to earn our citizenship,
whatever galaxy we're in. But it's hard to focus with our ark missing.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Coming to
Andromeda
-Your role
-Turian welfare
-The kett
-Militia's uses
RYDER:
What do you know about the enemies we've
encountered—the kett?
KANDROS:
We usually see them on worlds with those alien
structures. The kett don't take kindly to anyone studying them. Not sure why.
They don't talk to us. Every time we cross paths, there's a fight or they take
prisoners.
RYDER:
Why? What do they want?
KANDROS:
No one knows. But I've seen their weaponry, and what
they do to those prisoners. I want them a long, long way from the Nexus.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Coming to
Andromeda
-Your role
-Turian welfare
-The kett
-Militia's uses
RYDER:
It's rough out there. I might need backup, if you can
spare the people.
KANDROS:
I have strike teams specializing in assault and
extraction. If you need serious firepower, my APEX teams have you covered. In
fact... I could give you authority to dispatch them. It'll cut down their
response time. Our current ops are on the terminal. See if there's anything
that could use a shot where it counts.
RYDER:
Bye, Kandros. Duty calls.
KANDROS:
You and me both, Pathfinder.
[There is a
female turian near Kandros. She’s speaking out loud.]
MARIETTE:
What am I going to do?
[Ryder
approaches her.]
MARIETTE:
It's not right. It's not fair.
RYDER:
What's wrong?
MARIETTE:
Oh my, you're... so it's true, a Pathfinder has found
us. There's hope at last. Maybe you could help—you're impartial. This whole
thing has gotten so political. My
husband… he's locked up and slated for exile—for a crime he didn't commit.
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -Must have been bad.
PROFESSIONAL -What was
the crime?
RYDER:
What
exactly was he convicted of?
MARIETTE:
They don't
exile you for petty theft. Well, maybe this bunch would. They say it's murder.
They're calling him the first murderer in Andromeda. But the dead man was his
friend—he wouldn't have... There are witnesses and evidence, but it's all
circumstantial. At worst, it was an accident. His name is Nilken Rensus. He
could give you the details, if you were willing to speak with him—please?
RYDER - dialogues options:
-Of course.
-There might not be time.
RYDER:
I'd be
happy to.
MARIETTE:
Oh, thank
you. I'm sure the jailer will allow you a visit. Please—tell Nilken I love him.
[Ryder moves to
the far left of the militia office. Liam is there, standing next to tables with
multiple terminals and screens above them. A woman is standing next to Liam.]
LIAM:
Pathfinder.
No time for our beer yet. This place is a mess. Security is... let's call it
strained.
RYDER:
I can
believe it. The Nexus is running on empty.
LIAM:
Not just
that. A lot of the exiles were
security. Everyone was trained and armed for a frontier.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Let’s not
write them off.
LOGICAL -They may all be dead.
RYDER:
They were
frustrated. If they just wanted to kill, they could have fought to the last
here.
LIAM:
Apparently
we're the big hope for everyone. Not the Hyperion showing. Just... us. I'm with
you. It's just... a lot.
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -I’m kind of
freaked out.
PROFESSIONAL -We’ll get it back to spec.
RYDER:
This wasn't
in the job description. We have to find a world, then save it.
LIAM:
Glad it's
not just me feeling it. But it's not just you, either. We're a team, right?
It's what they need us to be.
[Ryder keeps
walking and finds himself on the Operations deck. Multiple terminals cover the
walls, and crew members are working in front of them. A group of three people
are talking amongst themselves near one of the terminals. Ryder gets closer.]
PROFESSOR
HERIK:
But the
planet was toxic. What if they store oxygen in porous tissue, like Quero's
rockfish?
CHIEF
LUCAN:
I still
reckon they had breather gear stowed in that armor.
DOCTOR
ARIDANA:
Perhaps
both. Life is infinitely adaptable, as our expedition proves
[Professor
Herik notices Ryder.]
PROFESSOR
HERIK:
You must be
the Pathfinder. Wonderful! You and your SAM are exactly what we need.
RYDER:
Thanks,
mister...?
PROFESSOR
HERIK:
Professor
Herik. My colleague and I will work with your SAM and the data you gather to
solve Andromeda's scientific mysteries.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Can I join in?
LOGICAL -What are your
specialties?
RYDER:
What fields
do you study?
CHIEF
LUCAN:
Herik's
into life science. I do planetary geology, oceanography—rocks and runoff.
Aridana's the space and math whiz.
PROFESSOR
HERIK:
Not that
we've had much to study, with everyone cooped up for fourteen months...
DOCTOR
ARIDANA:
But your
data on the Scourge flows like poetry. Now we can better advise on repairing
the damage it caused.
PROFESSOR
HERIK:
And maybe
Addison will give us a real workspace. Who can think with all this racket?
[Ryder can talk
with each specialist individually. He starts with Doctor Aridana.]
DOCTOR ARIDANA:
Pathfinder, we've had some trouble.
RYDER:
Anything I can help with?
DOCTOR ARIDANA:
Perhaps. I discharged an away team to get readings
from a section of the Scourge that was behaving anomalously. They haven't
reported in for some time, and sensors can't locate their shuttle. I sent them
out there. Good, dedicated people. I fear what might have happened to them.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Have hope.
LOGICAL -Stay focused.
RYDER:
Don’t give
up hope. When I’m out there, I’ll see if I can find them.
DOCTOR
ARIDANA:
Their
friends and family will want to know what's happened. And I... I need to know.
[Ryder speaks
to Chief Lucan next.]
CHIEF LUCAN:
Hi, Pathfinder. Want to hit some rocks for science?
RYDER - dialogues options:
-Try and stop me.
-Maybe later.
CHIEF
LUCAN:
Hi,
Pathfinder. Want to hit some rocks for science?
RYDER:
Absolutely.
What do you need?
CHIEF
LUCAN:
SAM and I
used your scans and made a VI for geophysics surveys. Beta build's on the
console there. Test it out in the field, and I'll wrangle you a
"consultant's bonus" from Director Addison. How's that sound?
[Ryder talks to
Professor Herik.]
PROFESSOR
HERIK:
Pathfinder!
Those bio scans are superb. Could you gather more for our Comparative
Conservation Effort?
RYDER - dialogues options:
-That sounds
interesting.
-Sorry, I’m busy.
RYDER:
What
conservation effort?
PROFESSOR
HERIK:
Ah, my
thesis is on the console there. Broad strokes: we're comparing and preserving
organisms from both galaxies. If you donate more bio scans and samples to the
catalogue, I can get you a finder's fee. Tempted?
[Ryder goes to
the console.]
PROFESSOR HERIK:
We can start building a bank of vaccines, once we get
more biomaterial.
CHIEF LUCAN:
It's that Scourge I'm wondering about. Standard colony
radiation shields should handle it. But I hate "should."
[He activates
the mission given to him by the team of scientists.]
PROFESSOR HERIK:
And its gas bladder can expand three hundred per cent!
Amazing!
CHIEF LUCAN:
Hey, Herik. How about you not dissect things over
lunch? It's weird.
[Ryder speaks
with Doctor Aridana again.]
DOCTOR ARIDANA:
The beauty of the cosmos unfolds in your planet scans,
Pathfinder. But there is more they can do.
RYDER:
Do you have something in mind, Doctor?
DOCTOR ARIDANA:
Plans for a school are under way, to inspire a new
generation of young minds. I want to craft a model of the cluster for them,
accurate and splendid, from your data. My prototype is on that console. Add
more scans to improve it, and I will share my educational budget with you. And
my thanks.
[Ryder
activates the mission on the console. He then leaves the Operations desk. In
the next room, crates are still being unpacked, but three terminals with
screens are operational. Ryder can consult the terminal at the center, which
shows emails from Director Tann to Tiran Kandros called “Damage Controls” and
“Report: Exiles”. Ryder finds his way to the next room near the ramp. In front
of him is an arms merchant. To Ryder’s left is a turian standing guard in front
of huge glass cell doors. Another turian is locked in one of those cells. Ryder
first talks to the arms merchant.]
MERCHANT:
Weapons and stuff I got you covered. Use the console
to take a look through what I've got. It'd be a lot easier if I weren't missing
half my stock...
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -Sure thing.
PROFESSIONAL -What’s
with these prices?
RYDER:
Ouch. Why
am I paying for these?
MERCHANT:
Half the
supplies are inaccessible, what with how we crash-landed and all. And I have to
trade with the crooks out there for the rest, so...
[After looking
at what the merchant has to offer, Ryder finds the turian by the cells,
Sergeant Aker.]
SERGEANT AKER:
Help you?
RYDER:
Pathfinder Ryder. Here to see Nilken Rensus.
SERGEANT AKER:
Ah, our murderer. Wife's here all the time. Guess she
told you her sob story.
[Sergeant Aker
looks at the turian in the cell.]
SERGEANT AKER:
Nilken, you're moving up in the world. There's a
Pathfinder wanting to chat with you.
[In the cell,
Nilken Rensus steps forward so he can face Ryder.]
RENSUS:
A Pathfinder, huh? They called in the big guns to
exile Andromeda's First Murderer.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Wife says
you’re innocent.
LOGICAL -Not why I’m here.
RYDER:
Your wife's all broken up over this. She says you
didn't do it. And that she loves you.
RENSUS:
(Sighs.) She's a wonderful person. At this point, it's
too late. They found me guilty.
RYDER:
Why don't you tell me what happened?
RENSUS:
I was part of the futile effort to set up a colony on
Eos. We were on our last legs, overrun by hostiles, our leader dead. The
security chief, Reynolds—my friend—he refused to call for evacuation. I argued
with him. Everyone saw.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Arguments happen.
LOGICAL -And then he
ended up dead?
RYDER:
So when he was killed, people assumed you did it?
RENSUS:
For good reason. He ordered us to regroup and counter
attack. We were moving through a sandstorm. I saw movement, thought it was the
kett, and I—I guess I panicked and fired... A witness saw the Chief's chest
explode.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -That’s terrible.
LOGICAL -So it was
unintentional.
RYDER:
Sounds like
an accident.
RENSUS:
That's what
I told them. But I was enraged when we argued. There's a recording. It's ugly.
Everyone's certain I did it on purpose so we could evacuate. Only my word
otherwise.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Don’t give up.
LOGICAL -The evidence
will decide.
RYDER:
I'll check
out the evidence. Maybe something doesn't add up.
RENSUS:
It would be
nice to have someone with an open mind looking at it. You're a Pathfinder—I'm
sure Kandros would give you access. Maybe there's still hope.
[Ryder leaves.
The technician is still upstairs on the comm—Ryder can hear him.]
TECHNICIAN:
Lia, remember when I said I was going to take a look
inside the panel here? I should perhaps have listened when you suggested not
pursuing this course of action. No, I'm fine. Just a bump on my head. And don't
you dare laugh.
(...)
No, I'm fine. No, nothing happened. Honestly, Yolanda.
I'm fine. I'm going back to work now.
[Tann’s office
is located on the far left of Colonials Affairs. Ryder walks up the ramp and
hears the Operations Manager.]
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
Yeah, looks like the Blast-Ohs got displaced at the
last minute. Hopefully one of the other arks will have some in stock. I'll keep
an eye out.
[Ryder finds
Kandros again.]
KANDROS:
No news on the turian ark yet. Or is this militia
business?
RYDER:
I spoke with Nilken Rensus. The man found guilty of
the murder on Eos.
KANDROS:
Yes, our first
murder here in Andromeda. I wish it had been our last. When the colony attempts
failed, it didn't help spirits that a high-ranking officer was killed by one of
our own. The mutiny here on Nexus was probably inevitable but this acted as a
spark.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Isn’t that
a reach?
LOGICAL -And he was found guilty.
RYDER:
It doesn't seem right to put all that on him.
KANDROS:
of course it isn't. But that's the perception. Despite
the lack of physical evidence, everything added up. His only defense was:
"Trust me. I didn't mean to do it."
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -And you
didn’t trust him?
LOGICAL -That matters.
RYDER:
And you
assume he's lying.
KANDROS:
What's a
lie to a murderer? Look, knock yourself out. A key witness, Cassidy Shaw, works
in Operations. Go ahead and talk to her. And there's a recording of the
perpetrator threatening the victim. I'll let you cue it up on the console
there. As far as I'm concerned, this case is closed.
[Ryder goes to
the console and listens to the recording.]
KANDROS
(AUDIO LOG):
The Nexus
vs Colonist Nilken. Evidence 7-A.
RENSUS
(AUDIO LOG):
Hiram?
Hiram! They've seized the compound! Call for evacuation!
CHIEF
REYNOLDS (AUDIO LOG):
We're not
giving up, Nilken! We're taking it back!
RENSUS
(AUDIO LOG):
No! I'm not
letting your ego get us killed, even if I have to...! (Angry grunting.)
CHIEF
REYNOLDS (AUDIO LOG):
(Grunting.)
No! Get him off me—get him off me!
[The recording
ends. A few feet from the console, Liam is still talking to the woman from the
Security team.]
LIAM:
Noticed a hand-off there. Too small for illicits.
SECURITY:
You'd be surprised. There's ossilbir vine in the seed
bank.
LIAM:
Nobody's making creeper in Andromeda.
SECURITY:
You'd be surprised.
[Ryder goes to
speak with him.]
LIAM:
Pathfinder, I'm feeling less bad about missing a year
of this. Everyone's beaten down. Nothing to do but watch the reserves shrink.
RYDER:
And now all eyes are on us.
LIAM:
All I know is: we have to fix it.
(...)
LIAM:
Quieter here. Still get opinions, of course. And talk
to security.
RYDER:
What about?
LIAM:
Leaders. Direction. Lack of it. Tann is the standout
but none of them have made friends.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -It pisses me off.
LOGICAL -Who would you
support?
RYDER:
Who would
you say is actually measuring up?
LIAM:
My dad
would say elections were rubbish, because you don't get people who could do the
job, you got politicians. By that measure, I'd go Addison. She does not want
that job.
[Ryder goes to
the Colonial Affairs’s deck. The final docking procedures are in progress.]
NEXUS CONTROL:
All right, moving on. Docking clamps?
LANI:
Fully active and engaged.
NEXUS CONTROL:
Docking hatch integrity?
LANI:
100%, Nexus Control.
NEXUS CONTROL:
And we're done. Hyperion status: all clear.
[Ryder
approaches Cassidy Shaw.]
RYDER:
Cassidy Shaw? I'm Scott Ryder. I'm looking into the
Nilken murder case.
CASSIDY SHAW:
Oh man, I thought that was over with. Have you heard
of the audio recording of their flight?
RYDER:
Yes.
CASSIDY SHAW:
I helped pull him off Chief Reynolds. You could see it
in his eyes: he was going to kill him. Then in the sandstorm... I had a pretty
clear view of the Chief. He looked right at Nilken and shouted "No!"
Then his chest burst open. I'll never forget it: the look on his face was
pure... shock.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Were there kett there?
-Did Nilken
regret it?
-Why was the
Chief shocked?
-Did you agree
with the Chief?
RYDER:
Did you see any kett in the vicinity?
CASSIDY SHAW:
Nilken said so, but not that I could see. Still, the
sandstorm was severe. Visibility wasn't great.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Were there
kett there?
-Did Nilken regret it?
-Why was the
Chief shocked?
-Did you agree
with the Chief?
RYDER:
Did Nilken seem remorseful?
CASSIDY SHAW:
I lost sight of Nilken in the turmoil. When we found
him, he seemed in shock. He couldn't speak—he looked nauseated. Could have been
guilt—the reality of the act sinking in.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Were there
kett there?
-Did Nilken
regret it?
-Why was the Chief shocked?
-Did you agree
with the Chief?
RYDER:
If they'd fought and Nilken threatened to kill him,
why was Reynolds surprised?
CASSIDY SHAW:
Friends fight, say things they don't mean, maybe even
hurt each other... But you don't expect your best friend to shoot you. To me,
that's the saddest part. The Chief's heart was broken right before it exploded.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Were there
kett there?
-Did Nilken
regret it?
-Why was the
Chief shocked?
-Did you agree with the Chief?
RYDER:
Reynolds was leading you back to retake the compound.
Did you agree with that?
CASSIDY SHAW:
It wasn't my place to agree or disagree. He was
ranking officer. In retrospect, it is
ironic. If he hadn't been killed, we all
probably would have died.
RYDER:
I appreciate the information.
CASSIDY SHAW:
Of course. It kills me we had to leave him behind. He
deserved a proper funeral.
RYDER:
So the body was never examined? Important piece of a
murder investigation.
CASSIDY SHAW:
Tann wouldn't allow a mission to go back for him. Said
it was too dangerous.
[Ryder is about
to leave the deck when he hears Lani.]
LANI:
Nexus Control, I'm getting some odd automated requests
from the station's systems. Some sort of redundant power relay checks. What's
up with that?
NEXUS CONTROL:
Before we removed them from the station, the mutineers
left some surprises in the system. The superintendent has had everyone on deck
manually double-checking the relays. It'll be in the security update, somewhere
in your message queue.
[He leaves the
deck. The salarian technician and the Operations Manager are still near the same
console on the main bridge, talking to one another.]
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
Melo?
MELO:
Yes?
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
You realize everyone can hear you, right?
MELO:
Yes.
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
(Chuckles.) And you just don't care.
MELO:
Yes!
[Ryder walks
past them and finds his way to Tann’s Office.]
[Ryder heads to
Tann’s office. Cora is there talking to Tann. Both are watching data from a
console in front of them.]
CORA:
...This is the planet where we landed, Habitat 7. It
wasn't even close to livable.
DIRECTOR TANN:
That's been true of every world we've found.
[Tann notices
Ryder, who stands in front of the console on the opposite side from Tann and
Cora.]
DIRECTOR TANN:
Ryder—we were discussing your next expedition.
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -About time.
PROFESSIONAL -You
trust me now?
RYDER:
I thought I
didn't measure up as Pathfinder.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Director
Addison keeps her own counsel, I keep mine.
RYDER:
And when
you disagree?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
I oversee
the entire Initiative, and I've decided to give you a chance to prove yourself.
To that end, the Scourge dealt us a serious blow. Whatever it is, our
scientists theorize it's not natural.
CORA:
An
artificial energy cloud?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
It wasn't
here when we left the Milky Way. Yet it rendered all the golden worlds
unlivable. Then there's the aliens you ran into—"the kett." They're
obsessed with alien structures we've found scattered around the cluster.
They'll do anything to prevent others from accessing them. It seems murder
isn't exclusive to the Milky Way.
[Tann touches
the console.]
DIRECTOR
TANN:
And now the
challenge is to settle a world in spite of all that. This one
here—"Eos."
[A projection
of Eos appears above the console.]
RYDER:
How?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
You need to
increase the viability of the planet so we can establish an outpost. Then we
can bring more colonists out of stasis. The more colonists we have, the more
resources we can gather to support the Nexus. Everything depends on it. There
are six worlds we hope to settle.
RYDER:
Okay... but
you said every planet you found is unlivable. So, how do I...
DIRECTOR
TANN:
A good
Pathfinder would relish the challenge of solving it.
CORA:
Right. I
think I should... go check on things.
[Cora leaves
Tann’s office.]
RYDER:
And if I
fail, I guess it's no sweat off your back, right? You'll just look for another
Pathfinder?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Placing
bets on people is part of my job. Some of them pay off. Others...
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -Don’t play games with me.
PROFESSIONAL -Just
point the way.
RYDER:
Just point
me to my ship, and I'll be out of here.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
They're
prepping it now, in the docking bay. The coordinates for Eos will be in the
computer. And when you have a moment, we should discuss the missing arks.
RYDER:
I was
wondering about tha—
[Ryder hears a
piercing noise, which makes him grunt in discomfort.]
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Something
wrong?
SAM
(PRIVATE):
Ryder,
please see me in SAM Node on the Hyperion. Your implant needs attention, and we
need to discuss a confidential matter.
[Ryder listens
to SAM without saying anything, then raises his hand in reply to Tann.]
RYDER:
No... I'm
fine.
-> Additional
scenes II
[Ryder can have
a longer conversation with Director Tann in his office.]
DIRECTOR TANN:
Ryder. You have my condolences for your father.
RYDER:
I appreciate it.
DIRECTOR TANN:
I didn't know him very well, although I understand he
played a key role in planning the Initiative. I'm sure he'd be concerned that
we still have several arks missing.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -I’ll find them.
LOGICAL -What happened
to them?
RYDER:
Any idea
where they went?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Nothing
certain. But tens of thousands of colonists are unaccounted for. It paints the
Initiative in an unflattering light. Did you have some other business?
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Nexus troubles
-The Andromeda Initiative
-Tann's role
-Missing arks
-Planet viability
RYDER:
It sounds
like the Nexus has had a rough time of it.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Publicly, I
would say we're more than up for the challenge. Privately, I can tell you it's
been a disaster. The Scourge killed hundreds—many of them our senior
leadership. Even the founder of the Initiative, Jien Garson, is dead.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Jien Garson's death
-Scourge disaster
-Mysteries on Habitat 7
RYDER:
How did
Jien Garson die?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
With the
rest of the leadership. When the Nexus hit the Scourge, a large wing of stasis
pods was destroyed. They were killed instantly. These people traveled for 600
years and died before they even woke up. Jien Garson never glimpsed Heleus. She
never saw her vision realized.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Jien Garson's death
-Scourge disaster
-Mysteries on Habitat 7
RYDER:
Kandros
mentioned something about hitting the Scourge. How did it play out?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Criminal
elements took advantage of the emergency and preyed on people's fears. An
uprising followed. We had no choice but to turn to the krogan to deal with them.
They crushed the mutiny and the criminals were banished. "Exiles," we
call them. I doubt we've heard the last of them. They're led by an outlaw.
Sloane Kelly. She used to be one of ours.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Sloane Kelly
-Where are the krogan?
RYDER:
Who is this
Sloane Kelly?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
She was
head of security on the Nexus. She opposed the uprising at first, but
eventually turned traitor and joined them. Misguided sympathy for the plight of
the common citizen. Nonsense. They posed a direct threat to our existence.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Sloane Kelly
-Where
are the krogan?
RYDER:
There don't
seem to be many krogan around.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Good
riddance. The krogan demanded a greater say in political matters—the last place
you want them involved. They're muscle, nothing more. Good for fighting and
lifting heavy objects. When they didn't get what they wanted, they left.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Sloane Kelly
-Where are the krogan?
-Dislike for krogan
RYDER:
Why don't
you like the krogan?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
It's common
knowledge they're a violent, ignorant species. Long ago, they waged nuclear war
on one another. Their planet was decimated. My people tried to uplift them, but
the krogan could never tame their worst instincts. What if they bring their
tempers to Andromeda? We'll all be dead.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Jien Garson's death
-Scourge disaster
-Mysteries on Habitat
7
RYDER:
We came
across alien technology on Habitat 7. It seemed to affect the weather. Your
people know anything about that?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
There have
been reports. Failed scouting missions have mentioned advanced structures of
unknown design. Whatever they are, they defy explanation. But with our
resources stretched so tight, no one has had a chance to study them. And what
if the answer was bad for morale? Suppose these things turn people into food?
All we know is the kett are interested in them. I'd rather not stir things up.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Nexus troubles
-The Andromeda
Initiative
-Tann's role
-Missing arks
-Planet viability
RYDER:
What more
can you tell me about the Initiative?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
It
represents the greatest migration ever attempted. No one had ventured beyond
the Milky Way before. We've all left home in search of freedom, fortune,
perhaps a new beginning. We're the bravest souls each species has to offer. I
hope the Nexus will serve as the seat of government for us all.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Initiative origins
-Motivations for coming
-Alien species on Nexus
RYDER:
What do you
know about the early days of the Initiative?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
As most everyone
knows, Jien Garson's vision made it happen. She was an entrepreneur on Earth.
Wealthy. Young for a human. Garson had the idea for the Initiative in the early
2170s, I believe. Many thought leaving the Milky Way was impossible. But she
persevered. And as with most great ideas, the doubters were wrong.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Initiative
origins
-Motivations for
coming
-Alien species on Nexus
RYDER:
Why do you
think most people came?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
There are
thousands of reasons, one for every colonist here. What does any pilgrim seek?
Usually, happiness. Finding the thing that eludes them... the thing to fulfill
them. While we can't promise they will find it, we can facilitate the search.
RYDER - Investigate
dialogues options:
-Initiative
origins
-Motivations for coming
-Alien species on
Nexus
RYDER:
It looks
like a melting pot around here.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
The Nexus
is home to several Initiative species. Many came ahead of the arks. The hope is
that this station will one day serve as the governing body in Andromeda. Though
I'm not sure what they were thinking, lumping krogan into the mix. As a
salarian, my kind tend to have a low opinion of them. Nothing I’ve seen here
has changed that.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Nexus troubles
-The Andromeda Initiative
-Tann's role
-Missing arks
-Planet viability
RYDER:
As Director
of the Initiative, are you in charge around here or what?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
If the
others would allow me. They don't see me as the right successor.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Gridlock?
-Why the doubt?
RYDER:
So how does
anything get done?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
In theory,
Kesh handles the Nexus' physical operations, Kandros runs the militia, and
Addison manages Colonial Affairs. I oversee all of it. In practice, we argue,
debate, and yell at each other until a decision is made... if we're lucky. it
is maddening.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Gridlock?
-Why the doubt?
RYDER:
What's
their problem with you?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
I'm not
Jien Garson. Our founder was charismatic. Eccentric. Larger than life. Traits I
can't hope to mimic. She and her inner circle perished in the Scourge. Some at
the hands of the exiles. Some never made it out of stasis. I was Deputy
Assistant for Revenue Management. Then all seven leaders above me died. I was
next in line for the role.
RYDER:
So...
you're an accountant?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Don't let
that fool you. We're all capable of more than we know. When I was young, I was
fascinated by the idea of exploring space. Life had its detours and I went a
different direction. Then I heard about the Initiative—and saw my chance to try
the path not taken. While I may not be setting foot on new worlds, my authority
can ensure that you do.
RYDER:
Right.
Sorry.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Nexus troubles
-The Andromeda Initiative
-Tann's role
-Missing arks
-Planet viability
RYDER:
Any more
information you can give me on the missing arks?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
No, and
that's the distressing part. The asari, turian, and salarian arks are
completely unaccounted for. If they had the same problems with the Scourge that
we did, I fear the worst. Should you find any clues, please investigate.
Without the other arks, the promise of the Initiative can never be fulfilled.
RYDER:
Are there
any other arks we should expect?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
We'd hoped
quarians would be part of the first wave. But before departure in 2185, we got
word they had technical problems with their ship. It seems they're also
bringing along drell, hanar, and other species as well. Managing all their
biological needs caused complications. We won't see them for some time to come.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-Nexus
troubles
-The Andromeda Initiative
-Tann's role
-Missing arks
-Planet viability
RYDER:
What do I
need to consider in making a planet viable?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Assuming
the planet supports life, an outpost is critical. People like a roof over their
heads. And you'll want to eliminate any hostile threats. Whether that's the
kett, or other terrors lurking in Heleus, colonists being murdered on sight can
be discouraging. Also, scouting and mapping terrain is a priority for any
Pathfinder. And don't forget forward stations. You'll want those.
RYDER:
What can
you tell me about forward stations?
DIRECTOR
TANN:
I was
afraid you'd ask. It's mostly what the engineers tell me. "A forward
station allows mining, equipment repairs, and re-supply for field teams."
I mean, who wouldn't want that? But seeing as how every colonization effort has
failed, it's just theory at the moment. You get to test it out, Ryder.
[Ryder can now
ask him about the Nilken Rensus case.]
RYDER:
I'm looking
into the Nilken Rensus murder charge.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
And?
RYDER:
I want to
go to Eos and retrieve Chief Reynold's body.
DIRECTOR TANN:
That isn't
usually Pathfinder business.
RYDER:
First
murder in Andromeda. And I'm impartial—figured you'd want to get it right.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
Settling an
outpost comes first, but I suppose I have no objections. Physical evidence will
only bolster the case.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -I’m not sure he did it.
LOGICAL -The body can reveal much.
RYDER:
The more
certain we can be, the better.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
All right,
but let's keep it quiet. I don't want people thinking we're opening the case. I
hope anything you find reaffirms what's been done. But if it sheds a different
light, we'll deal with it. We'll send the coordinates of the murder scene. Good
luck.
RYDER:
That's all.
Thanks for your time.
DIRECTOR
TANN:
I'm happy
to help. You'll find our futures depend on each other's success. Good luck.
[Ryder leaves
Tann’s office. In the Operations Center, directly in front of him and below the
Colonial Affairs deck, a technician named Raj Patil is working on a panel.]
RAJ PATIL:
Yeah, looks fine so far...
[The panel
short-circuits and smoke comes out of it. Raj Patil cries out in surprise and
pain. Ryder walks toward him.]
RYDER:
Hey—you okay?
RAJ PATIL:
I'm fine. My arms got the brunt of it.
RYDER:
Stuff exploding like this happen often?
RAJ PATIL:
Back right after the mutiny, we had a lot of this
happening, but not lately.
RYDER:
I wasn't there during the mutiny.
RAJ PATIL:
Lucky. I thought we were done with this, honestly.
That maybe I was just being paranoid...
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -Is it paranoia?
PROFESSIONAL -Why
paranoid?
RYDER:
What is there to be paranoid about?
RAJ PATIL:
We've had three malfunctions in the past week.
RYDER:
That's not good. Sorry, understatement.
RAJ PATIL:
Yeah. (Sighs.) And now I have more repairs.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -This has to stop.
LOGICAL -Did you
report this?
RYDER:
Did you
talk to security about this?
RAJ PATIL:
How can I?
For all I know, someone in security is the one doing this! I've scanned all the
potential sabotage areas I can think of, but I don't know who to trust anymore.
RYDER:
Sounds like
a lot went down before the Hyperion docked.
RAJ PATIL:
Yeah, I
guess. Wait—that's it. You can't possibly be involved in this. You weren't even
here during the mutiny. Would you—if you have time, maybe you could help me? If
they start hitting critical systems...
RYDER:
Sure thing.
What can I do?
RAJ PATIL:
If you
could scan these other panels while I fix this one, that'd really help. I've
sent the locations to your omni-tool. Just send me the data when you're done.
[Ryder has to
investigate the panels in the Operations Center, Militia, and Pathfinder HQ
sites.]
RAJ PATIL
(COMM):
No, I'm
fine. And I don't know—it just blew up.
KESH
(COMM):
Find out
why. Be careful.
[Ryder first
scans the panel on Colonial Affairs’s deck.]
SAM:
Scanning
power junction relays. The panel is malfunctioning. Without more data, I cannot
determine if this is a normal malfunction or sabotage.
RYDER:
I'll just
disable power to the panel until Raj can check it out.
[Ryder goes
back to Operations Center, walks down the ramp, and scans the panel to its
left.]
SAM:
Pathfinder, to cover their tracks, the saboteur is
overloading power to this panel from another junction relay. You can scan and
trace the connective wiring to locate the surrogate panel.
[Ryder can scan
the panel in the Milita site, then proceed to scan the one in the Pathfinder HQ
site (also known as Tann's office).]
SAM:
Scan and trace the wiring the locate the panel that
the saboteur used.
[Ryder follows
the wiring and scans a panel near Kesh’s office.]
RAJ PATIL (COMM):
Pathfinder, I received the data from SAM. It really is
sabotage.
RYDER:
Any idea as to who it might be?
RAJ PATIL (COMM):
Yeah. All these panels were worked on by Zarah. I just
can't believe it.
SAM:
Security video logs confirm that Zarah Kellus worked
on these panels, as well as the one Raj Patil encountered.
RYDER:
Well, shit. Any idea where she is now?
SAM:
Kellus is currently working on a panel on the Hyperion
main deck.
[As Ryder
leaves, he hears Melo—the salarian technician on the main bridge—talking.]
MELO:
Kesh, this is Melo. The console for the secondary
management system is mixed. Everything checks out. It should sync up with the
Hyperion's remote consoles. Moving on to the next thing on my list.
[Cora is found
near the tram, using her omni-tool. She stops what she’s doing when Ryder comes
to talk to her.]
RYDER:
Hey, there.
CORA:
You okay? Those guys really grilled you. And Addison.
First Pathfinder they've seen in over a year, all she can do is question your
competence?
RYDER -
dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL
-Addison wasn't my favorite.
LOGICAL -Her
reaction's understandable.
CASUAL -Which
one was Addison?
PROFESSIONAL -Nothing I couldn't handle.
RYDER:
I expected something like that. I can handle the
pressure.
CORA:
I worked out logistics with Director Tann. They're
giving us a ship and crew. He said their best is taking care of it.
RYDER:
I still need to head back to the ark and check in with
SAM.
CORA:
Sounds good. While you're there, maybe see how your
sister is doing.
[Ryder takes
the tram leading to the Hyperion Habitation Deck. He arrives in the Atrium,
where several crew members are talking.]
CREW 1:
What's the latest about waking people up?
CREW 2:
We're in a holding pattern. Word is that the Nexus
doesn't have enough room.
CREW 1:
But they've been here for like a year, haven't they?
CREW 2:
Yeah. I guess it didn't go so well.
[Ryder finds
Zarah Kellus near a panel.]
RYDER:
Zarah
Kellus?
ZARAH
KELLUS:
Yes?
RYDER:
I have evidence you've been sabotaging the Nexus.
ZARAH KELLUS:
What? No! I'd never—I've been looking into this
myself. I have the scans to prove it! Here—I'll transfer the scans I took to
your omni-tool.
RYDER:
Funny. Raj was investigating the same thing—and it led
us to you.
ZARAH KELLUS:
My scans point at Raj as the one... so unless someone
was setting us both up, I just don't understand.
SAM (PRIVATE):
The data Miss Kellus has accumulated is strangely
similar to Mr Patil's. A third party seems likely.
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -You’ve been set up.
PROFESSIONAL -Decoy
tactic?
RYDER:
The real
saboteur could be setting you both up.
ZARAH
KELLUS:
Because we
both figured out something was going on? That would make sense. It's better
than thinking Raj could have done this. But it means all the data I have is
useless. Wish I had access to the security cams. I bet we could find something
there.
RYDER:
You stay
put, so whoever did this doesn't realize we're on to them. I'll check out the
security cams.
[Ryder contacts
Raj.]
RYDER:
Raj, you
there?
RAJ PATIL
(COMM):
Yes. How
did it go? Is it-is it really her?
RYDER:
Wasn't her.
She had "proof" pointing at you. I figure someone's been messing with
you both. Just keep a low profile and don't talk to anyone. I'm on it.
[Ryder goes
back to the Nexus’s Operations Center to check the security footage. The first
footage shows a grey static-filled screen.]
RYDER:
The file is
useless. Let's check another.
[Ryder checks another file. The result is the
same.]
RYDER:
And another
scrambled file.
SAM:
Coincidence
seems unlikely.
RYDER:
Let's check
another.
[This time the screen shows images, but they’re
blurry.]
RYDER:
This file
is also corrupted. Definitely not a coincidence. You'd need pretty high
clearance to mess with the security camera files. Someone working for Kandros,
maybe.
SAM:
That is the
most probable scenario.
RYDER:
Think you
can get enough out of the files to find a match using biometric scans, SAM?
SAM:
The files
were badly scrambled, but if I combine all the available identifiers, it might
work. Based on the limited information available, we are looking for a human
male assigned either to the Nexus or Hyperion. You will need to conduct scans
from close proximity.
RYDER:
Got it.
[Ryder goes to the Militia site, scans a man
working for Nexus security.]
SAM:
Inaccurate
match.
[Ryder goes below the Colonial Affairs deck and
scans another man working for Nexus security.]
SAM:
Negative
match.
[Ryder goes to the Hyperion Habitation Deck to
scan members of Nexus security transferred to the Hyperion. He begins by
scanning a man standing guard outside of the tram.]
SAM:
Inaccurate
match.
[As he makes his way to the Hyperion's Atrium,
he sees a man kneeling near a panel. Ryder scans him. It's a match.]
SAM:
Scan
results show a partial positive. Target is most likely suspect.
RYDER:
Who is he?
SAM:
Dale
Atkins. Reports to Kandros' department. Assigned to station security.
[Ryder approaches Atkins, who remains kneeling
with his back turned.]
RYDER:
Dale
Atkins, right? We need to talk.
DALE
ATKINS:
Look, not
to be rude, but I have work to do...
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -Is that what you call it?
PROFESSIONAL -I don’t
think so.
RYDER:
We know
what you've been up to. You're done here.
DALE
ATKINS:
I-I don't
know what you're talking about. I'm just doing my job, that's all!
RYDER:
Proof says
you've been up to no good.
DALE
ATKINS:
Figures.
Screw this. Screw all you hypocrites on this station. You weren't here when
they kicked out our loved ones. Mutiny? We just wanted answers. My sister is
out there! I don't even know if she's alive or...
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -I sympathize,
but...
LOGICAL -Your actions are unforgivable.
RYDER:
I'm sorry
for what happened, but setting explosives isn't the answer.
DALE
ATKINS:
Neither was
sending people into exile because they didn't agree with policy. (Sighs.) I
don't care what you think. The mutiny leaders were right to demand to know what
was going on.
RYDER:
You could
have hurt people. Killed them.
DALE
ATKINS:
Like those
who got killed when the leadership had the krogan stomp on my friends? I'm done
talking. I confess: it was me. Do whatever you want.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -You need to go.
LOGICAL -Not up to me.
RYDER:
Not my
call. The Nexus leaders will make that decision.
DALE
ATKINS:
That lot,
make a decision? That'll be the day.
[With that
finished, Ryder continues to the Hyperion Atrium. There he spots the Hyperion
pilot (Lani) and captain (Dunn). He first approaches Lani, who is standing by a
panel close to the one Zarah Kellus was inspecting.]
LANI:
Pathfinder.
It's good to see you. Word is there's been trouble on the station...
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -It’ll get
better.
PROFESSIONAL -Where’d you hear that?
RYDER:
We're here
now. It'll get better.
LANI:
That's what
I've been telling people. You're here now! As soon as we establish outposts,
everything will even out. I'm sure of it.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-And your family?
-Why are you here?
-What's it like here?
RYDER:
What about
your family?
LANI:
I'm an
orphan. My parents died on the Mindoir colony when it was attacked years ago.
No siblings. I left friends and some distant relatives behind, but I have
friends here, too. I love piloting, but I like the idea of going back to my
roots and farming like my parents did. Someday.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-And your family?
-Why are you here?
-What's it like here?
RYDER:
Why did you
join the Initiative?
LANI:
Ah, the
most popular question on the station. Honestly, I wouldn't have known about
this project if Nozomi hadn't reached out to me.
RYDER:
Nozomi?
LANI:
Captain Dunn. Of all the captains I've piloted for, she's the
best. I've always been a wanderer at heart. When she asked me to be her
pilot... how could I say no to the adventure of a lifetime?
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-And your family?
-Why are you here?
-What's it like here?
RYDER:
How do you
feel about all this now that we're here?
LANI:
Hopeful. I
know, it's a rose-colored outlook, but... Someone's gotta keep the positivity
coming, right?
RYDER:
Have to go
now. See you later.
LANI:
Take care.
[Captain Dunn
is standing on the far side of the Atrium. Ryder now walks toward her.]
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
Ryder.
RYDER:
You're not
on the bridge, Captain?
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
We powered
it down. Can't afford to waste energy. Though cryo bay and SAM Node are exempt.
And I told them to keep their hands off Alec's quarters. You have access now.
RYDER:
Thanks.
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
Hey—sorry
about your father. He was really good at what he did. Just not so good at
working with people. He was right about going planetside, though.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -I'll miss
him.
LOGICAL -I didn't really know him.
CASUAL -He was difficult.
PROFESSIONAL -Only work mattered to him.
RYDER:
I wish he
were still here. There's so much he would have taught me.
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
You'll do
fine. You're off to a good start. If there's anything else I can help with, let
me know.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Your role
-Expectations
-Joining the Initiative
RYDER:
Now that
the Hyperion is docked, what will you do?
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
Normally
I'd supervise thawing out the colonists, but that's been put on hold. I hear
you're the one helping resolve the issue. Good luck with that.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Your role
-Expectations
-Joining the Initiative
RYDER:
If someone
had told you that you'd be in the Andromeda cluster, even five years ago...
CAPTAIN DUNN:
Are you
kidding me? I'd have laughed them out of the quadrant. Although the way things
are now isn't exactly what I was hoping for, either. We all knew there was a
possibility on arrival of less than ideal circumstances. When you sign up, you
hope for the best and plan for the worst.
RYDER - Investigate dialogues options:
-Your role
-Expectations
-Joining the
Initiative
RYDER:
Why did you
join the Initiative? We're a long way from home...
CAPTAIN
DUNN:
How could I
not? I love my job. Coming here, all this... it was just a logical extension of
what I already do. Sailing through new stars, discovering new worlds... what
self-respecting explorer could pass that up?
RYDER:
Thanks for
the talk.
CAPTAIN DUNN:
All right.
I have requests to submit, administrators to harass, and people to wake up. I'd
better get to it. Good luck out there.
[Ryder leaves the Atrium, passes by SAM Node to
arrive at Alec’s quarters. It’s guarded by a man who nods at Ryder. In Alec’s
quarters, directly to the right of the entrance is a wall of shelves displaying
weapons. Ryder examines Alec’s sidearm.]
SAM:
Your
father's first sidearm. A memento of his early Alliance service.
RYDER:
I bet that
saw plenty of action.
SAM:
Alec’s
first kill occured in combat during the First Contact War.
RYDER:
Back when
turians were the enemy. Crazy times.
[There is a shelf above the bed in the corner
across from the entrance. Ryder can pick up a model of the Normandy SR-2. A
partition to the left of the entrance doubles as a library. Ryder examines the
books.]
RYDER:
Printed
books?
SAM:
Reproductions
of Lewis and Clark’s journals, detailing their expedition in the 19th century.
RYDER:
Explains
Dad’s interest. They were pathfinders, too.
[Behind the partition-library is the kitchen,
where Ryder notices a coffee machine.]
RYDER:
(Laughs.)
The coffee machine Mom got for Dad. He was so busy designing you—needed the
caffeine.
SAM:
I did not
realize I owed my existence to a bean.
RYDER:
And now you
know what humility feels like.
[In the center of the far wall past the kitchen
area is the Archive System: a desk with multiple screens on top.]
RYDER:
What’s on
here, SAM?
SAM:
Your father’s
personal logs. Several of them are encrypted.
RYDER -
Investigate dialogues options:
-General
Logs
-Encrypted Log #1
-Encrypted Log #2
-Encrypted Log #3
-Encrypted Log #4
[Ryder selects General Logs.]
GENERAL LOGS OPTIONS:
-Milky Way departure
-Asari archaeologist
-Final entry
ALEC RYDER:
The day is
finally here. We’re pushing off from Earth. We’ll jump through a few relays
first, then we hunker down for the long trip across dark space. It’s daunting,
thinking about all the hopes and dreams aboard the Hyperion. I certainly have
my own. I wasn’t the husband or father I should’ve been. Here’s hoping 600
years can change a man.
GENERAL LOGS OPTIONS:
-Milky Way departure
-Asari archaeologist:
Dr. Liara T’Soni
-Final entry
ALEC RYDER:
Sam, this
is a reminder about Dr. Liara T’Soni—she’s an asari archeologist I corresponded
with a few years back. She’s got experience studying ancient cultures. Make
sure the team gets her research. Could be useful in Andromeda.
RYDER:
Pretty sure
my sister mentioned Dr. T’Soni. An expert on Protheans, I think?
SAM:
I have
loaded Dr. T’Soni’s research onto datapads.
[Ryder listens to Dr. T’Soni Message #1.]
DR. T’SONI:
Hello,
Alec—this is Dr. T’Soni. I’m flattered you contacted me. Most scientists
dismiss my work. But I’m young and asari, and they’re getting older, so we’ll
see who has the final word. (Laughs.) In the meantime, I’m happy to pass along
my research. I hope your team finds it useful.
[Ryder listens to Dr. T’Soni Message #2.]
DR. T’SONI:
Hello,
Alec. I received your message. I must say, the thought of exploring another
galaxy has my head spinning. I’m honestly not sure how people could survive a
trip like that. And anyway, I couldn’t bear to leave the Milky Way behind.
There’s so much about the Protheans I still hope to learn here, so much
potential wisdom to tap. I wish you much good luck and future success.
GENERAL LOGS OPTIONS:
-Milky Way departure
-Asari
archaeologist: Dr. Liara T’Soni
-Final entry
ALEC RYDER:
Dunn’s
agreed to a scouting mission on Habitat 7. I’m gearing up now. I’m worried
about Sara. Dr. T’Perro says she’ll be fine, but… she’s my daughter. How can I
not worry? I hate to leave her like this. It’s these moments when you wish
you’d told your children you loved them more often. Or ever. Which brings me to
the tough part. Kids, if anything happens to me, there are… things you’re going
to find out. I hope you’ll understand.
[Ryder tries to listen to one of the encrypted
logs.]
SAM:
That log is
inaccessible at this time.
[There is an audio excerpt on the Archive
Systems desk. Ryder can listen to it.]
DR. T’SONI:
When
studying a dead race, the most obvious problem is the lack of an observable
population. This raises the question: When is a species truly extinct? The
Prothean civilization spanned the galaxy, and it took centuries to confirm that
all members of the species really had died out. While it's possible that living
Protheans may be found in a hidden pocket of the galaxy one day, the chances
are statistically trivial. Once an extinction is confirmed, the study's nature
moves from sociology to exo-archeology.
[Ryder steps away. Back on a table between the
Archive Systems and the bed is an audio excerpt. Ryder can listen to it.]
DR. T’SONI:
I’m Dr.
Liara T’Soni, and I’ve spent several decades researching ancient Protheans.
It’s common knowledge that the Protheans were an advanced race that flourished
in the Milky Way about 50 000 years ago, then went extinct. Even at the time of
this writing—the year 2182–their culture remains a mystery. During my studies,
I’ve developed some practices that can be used when analyzing any ancient
culture. I hope they may prove useful for the research community.
[Ryder leaves the room to go to SAM Node.]