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UDINA : Well, what about Shepard ? He is a spacer. Lived to board starships most of his life.
CAPTAIN ANDERSON : Military service was in the family. Both his parents were in the Navy.
ADMIRAL HACKETT : He proved himself during the Blitz. Held off enemy forces on the ground until reinforcements arrived.
CAPTAIN ANDERSON : He's the only reason Elysium is still standing.
UDINA : We can't question his courage.
CAPTAIN ANDERSON : Humanity needs a hero. And Shepard is the best we've got.
UDINA : I'll make the call.
INTRODUCTION : In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacefaring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time. They called it the greatest discovery in human history. The civilizations of the galaxy call it ...
INTRODUCTION : ... Mass Effect.
JOKER : The Arcturus Prime relay is in range. Initiating transmition sequence.
JOKER : We are connected. Calculating transit mass and destination.
JOKER : The relay is hot. Acquiring approach vector.
JOKER : All stations secure for transit.
JOKER : The board is green. Approach run has begun.
JOKER : Hitting the relay in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...
JOKER : Thrusters ... check. Navigation ... check. Internal emissions sink engaged. All systems online. Drift ... just under 1500 K.
NIHLUS : 1500 is good. Your captain will be pleased.
I hate that guy.
KAIDAN : Nihlus gave you a compliment ... so you hate him ?
You remember to zip up your jumpsuit on the way out of the bathroom ? That's good. I just jumped us halfway across the galaxy and hit a target the size of a pinhead. So that's incredible !
Besides, Spectres are trouble. I don't like having him on board. Call me paranoid.
You're paranoid. The Council helped fund this project. They have a right to send someone to keep an eye on their investment.
Yeah, that is the official story. But only an idiot believes the official story.
SHEPARD : They don't send Spectres on shakedown runs.
So there's more going on here than the captain's letting on.
CAPTAIN ANDERSON : Joker ! Status report.
Just cleared the mass relay, Captain. Stealth systems engaged. Everything looks solid.
CAPTAIN ANDERSON : Good. Find a comm buoy and link us into the network. I want mission reports relayed back to Alliance brass before we reach Eden Prime.
Aye, aye, Captain. Better brace yourself, sir. I think Nihlus is headed your way.
CAPTAIN ANDERSON : He's already here, Lieutenant.
CAPTAIN ANDERSON : Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the comm room for a debriefing.
You got that, Commander ?
He sounds angry. Something must have gone wrong with the mission.
Pfff. Captain always sound like that when he is talking to me.
I can't possibly imagine why.
NAVIGATOR PRESSLY : I'm telling you, I just saw him. He marched by like he was on a mission.
ENGINEER ADAMS : He is a Spectre. They are always on a mission.
NAVIGATOR PRESSLY : And we are getting dragged right along with him !
ENGINEER ADAMS : Relax, Pressly. You're going to give yourself an ulcer.
NAVIGATOR PRESSLY : Congratulations, Commander. Looks like we had a smooth run. You heading down to see the captain ?
Sounds like you don't trust our turian guest.
NAVIGATOR PRESSLY : Sorry Commander. Just having a chat with Adams down in engineering. Didn't mean to cause any trouble.
But you have to admit, something's odd about this mission. The whole crew feels it.
You think the Aliance brass is holding out on us ?
If all we're supposed to do is test out the stealth system, why is Captain Anderson in charge ? And then there's Nihlus.
Spectres are elite operatives. Top covert agents. Why send a Spectre, partularly a turian Spectre, on a shakedown run ? It doesn't add up.
What do you know about the stealth systems ?
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.
For what ?
Damned if I know, Commander. We're out here on false pretenses. I'm not a fan of being left in the dark.
Do you have a problem with the captain ?
No, Commander ! 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.
You don't trust Nihlus.
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.
That was thirty years ago. You can't blame Nihlus for that.
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.
I'll see if I can get some answers when I see him.
Good luck, Commander.
CORPORAL 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.
DOCTOR CHAKWAS : That's crazy. The captain's in charge here. He wouldn't take orders from a Spectre.
CORPORAL JENKINS : Not his choice, Doc. Spectres don't answer to everyone. They can do whatever they want. Kill anyone who gets in their way.
DOCTOR CHAKWAS : Ha ! You watch too many spy vids, Jenkins.
CORPORAL 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 !
DOCTOR CHAKWAS : I sincerely hope you're kidding, Corporal. Your "real action" usually ends with me patching up crew members in the infirmary.
Only fools and idiots are searching for fight, Corporal.
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 !
Just treat this like every other assignment you've had and everything will work out.
Easy for you to say. You proved yourself in the Blitz. Everybody knows what you can do.
This is my big chance. I need to show the brass what I can do.
You're young, Corporal. You have a long career ahead of you. Don't do something stupid to mess it up.
Don't worry, Commander. I'm not going to screw this up.
What can you tell me about Nihlus ?
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.
I hope we get a chance to see him in action. I heard Nihlus took down an entire enemy platoon all by himself !
What do you know about the Spectres ?
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 organisation with a mandate to preserve and protect galactic stability.
Protecting at any cost. Don't forget that part. Spectres operate above the law !
Why don't we have any of our own people in there ?
Spectres usually come from the Coucil 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.
Hey, Commander ! You'd make a good Spectre !
You're a war hero, right ? Held off an entire enemy fleet during the Blitz single handed. That's the kind of talent the Spectres are looking for.
This is all just wild speculation. The Spectres aren't interested in recruiting humans. No matter now capable.
How do you control agents with unlimited power ?
I suppose the Council could revoke the Spectres status of an agent who get out of hand. At that point, Citadel Security Service would take over.
Those C-Sec grunts wouldn't stand a chance. A Spectre's worth twenty ordinary soldiers.
The Spectres police themselves. An agent goes rogue, they send another agent to take 'em down. That's Spectre justice !
The corporal's confusing legends with reality, Commander.
You're from Eden Prime, aren't you Jenkins ? What's it like ?
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.
Any idea why Eden Prime was chosen as our destination ?
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 !
The captain's waiting for me.
Goodbye, Commander.
Commander Shepard. I was hoping you'd get here first. It will give us a chance to talk.
The captain said he'd meet me here.
He's on his way.
I'm interested in this world we're going to, Eden Prime. I've heard it's quite beautiful.
They say it's a paradise.
Yes ... a paradise. Serene. Tranquil. Safe. Eden Prime has become something of a symbol for your people, hasn't it ?
Proof that humanity can not only establish colonies across the galaxy, but also protect them. But how safe is it, really ?
Do you know something ?
Your people are still newcomers, Shepard. The galaxy can be a very dangerous place.
Is the Alliance truly ready for this ?
CAPTAIN ANDERSON : I think it's about time we told the commander what's really going on.
This mission is far more than a simple shakedown run.
I figured there was something you weren't telling us.
We're making a covert pick-up on Eden Prime. That's why we needed the stealth systems operational.
There must be a reason you didn't tell me about this, sir.
This cames down from the top, Commander. Information strictly on a need to know basis.
A research team on Eden Prime unearthed some kind of beacon during an excavation. It was Prothean.
I thought the Prothean vanished 50 000 years ago.
Their legacy still remains. The mass relays, the Citadel, our ship drives, it's all based on Prothean technology.
This is big, Shepard. The last time humanity made a discovery like this, it jumped our technology forward two hundred years.
But Eden Prime doesn't have the facilities to handle something like this. We need to bring the beacon to the Citadel for proper study.
Obviously, this goes beyond mere human interests, Commander. This discovery could affect every species in Council space.
It never hurts to have a few extra hands on board.
The beacon's not the only reason I'm here, Shepard.
Nihlus wants to see you in action, Commander. He's here to evaluate you.
What happens, captain ?
The Alliance has been pushing for this for a long time. Humanity wants a larger role in shaping interstellar policy. We want more say with the Citadel Council.
The Spectres represent the Council's power and authority. If they accept a human into their ranks, it shows how far the Alliance has come.
You held off an enemy assault during the Blitz single-handed. You showed not only courage, but also incredible skill.
That's why I put your name forward as a candidate for the Spectres.
Why would a turian want a human in the Spectres ?
Not all turians resent humanity. Some of us see the potential of your species. We see what you have to offer to the rest of the galaxy ... and to the Spectres.
We are an elite group. It's rare to find an individual with the skills we seek. I don't care that you're human, Shepard. I only care that you can do the job.
I assume this is good for the Alliance.
Earth needs this, Shepard. We're counting on you.
I need to see your skills for myself, Commander. Eden Prime will be the first of several missions together.
You'll be in the charge of the ground team. Secure the beacon and get it onto the ship ASAP. Nihlus will accompany you to observe the mission.