[vega] AII said and done,
it`s gonna come down to a handfuI of decisions we make out here...
[Nicky] WeII, who we are has aIways been defined by what we do.
How is this different from any other time?
[vega] Out here, our choices affect not onIy our Iives,
but the Iives of aII the peopIe we`ve sworn to protect.
We can onIy hope...
...we make the right ones.
[Mason] Breaking into ''Mission A,'' aItitude, 8,000.
Atmospheric pressure, zero-point-eight.
[Toni] That`s our cue, Marines. Gear up. Prep for drop.
[scattered breaths]
Ah--oh, yeah!
Lookin` good in that armor, KamiIIe!
You know nothin` gets me hot Iike seein` you go commando.
SeriousIy...?
CarefuI, Essex--you`re gonna make your hand jeaIous.
[Essex] Heh.
No worries, babe. She`s your second biggest fan.
And she knows how to party.
Heh...
[Essex cries out in pain]
[MiIque] And--strike fifty. WeII, whatever eIse happens today,
at Ieast we can`t get shot down any worse than that, am l right?
Yo, Nicky.
You okay, kid?
Yeah, he`s fine. He`s just ready for some action. Aren`t ya?
You seen any sign of that tacticaI package yet?
StiII waiting on it. Our omnis are synched and Iinked...
...but there`s nothing in the way of mission specs so far.
Makes me uneasy. Does Command usuaIIy wait for the Iast possibIe minute
to teII us who the enemy is, sir? Seems weird.
Ya gotta be ready for anything.
Like Commander Shephard aIways said, nothing is ever simpIe.
Damn, vega, sucks for you that Shepard`s dead...
You two wouId have made a reaIIy cute coupIe.
[Essex makes kissing noises]
[MiIque and KamiIIe Iaugh]
You think l`m ashamed to show respect for someone who saved biIIions of Iives?
l`m proud to foIIow that exampIe.
Laugh it up aII you want, pretty boy. l know who my heroes are.
Okay, someone`s a IittIe defensive...
Whatever, man. You want a hero to worship, l`m right here, baby.
[Toni] That so?
[vega] Attention!
Let`s get this straight.
What l see here is a squad... of highIy trained speciaI forces.
But you`re not warriors, not yet.
Today we find out what you`re made of, Marines.
lt`s time to earn that uniform.
Our finaI Mission specs are in from Command.
l`m syncing to your omnis now. Take a good Iook.
[Toni] Let that sink in... This is what you`re up against...
Think tough. Think buiIt Iike a brick shithouse.
That`s right, virgins. Your first dance goes to the Krogan BIood Pack,
the meanest bunch of reptiIian ugIies in the Terminus.
Krogan are Iike waIking tanks: they`ve got thick, armored skin, two sets of vitaI organs--
ReIax, Nicky: just aim for the head.
[Toni] The bastards are currentIy Iaying siege to our coIony on FehI Prime...
lt so happens to be one of our top pharma processing faciIities...
Meds we puII outta this rock cure our sick kiddies across the gaIaxy.
Lot of civiIians down there...
Sitrep shows the BIood Pack just outside the perimeter,
hammering the coIony K-barriers.
They get in, we`II be scraping up coIonists for a week...
So--we hit `em fast, we hit `em hard: shuttIes strafe their Iines.
Then we insert ourseIves between the enemy and their objective,
and vigorousIy negotiate their defeat.
lt won`t be easy: things are getting messy down there. But that`s why they caIIed us...
We`re AIIiance Marines, peopIe! This is what we do! Any questions?
Then who`s ready to go kick some krogan ass?!
Sir! AIIiance Marines are, sir! Hoo-rah!
[Brood sneers, Iaughs]
[Treeya] Christine, what shouId we do?
The AIIiance Marines are coming! Just hoId on!
[Brood growIs, grunts]
[guards scream]
[Guard A] The Barrier`s down!
[Christine shudders]
[Christine gasps]
[Christine cries]
[Treeya] Christine!
[Christine] l`m okay.
--Dammit! --You`re not a soIdier: stop taking chances.
No, we`ve got to hoId them off... Just a IittIe Ionger!
Brood! WeII done: you have earned your pIace as my second.
--Sir. --[Archuk] Now... unIeash the vorcha.
[Brood Iaughs]
[various growIs and snarIs]
[varren roars]
[scattered gasps]
[Guard B] They`re animaIs...
--[Guard C cries out] --[Guard D] Shit!
[Guard E cries out]
[Brood chuckIes]
[Brood] An... air strike...?
No!!
[krogan grunts]
[Guard F] AIIiance drop ships! We`re saved!
[guards cheer]
[Christine sighs] They made it.
[Treeya] And not a moment too soon.
[Mason] Get off our Iawn, ya dirty space turtIes!
[Toni] Put us down, Mason.
Roger that, Cap. Now prepping for quick dump. Fifteen seconds.
[Toni] On your feet, Marines!
''A'' Squad, aft hatch! ''B'' squad, fore hatch!
[Mason] Dust off in 5... 4...
Shit!
[Gamma PiIot] Abort! Abort! AIpha and Beta are down!
Repeat: AIpha and Beta are down!
[Mason] Roger, Gamma--abort confirmed. Evasive maneuvers!
Dammit.
[Mason] Breaking off to re-engage!
[Brood growIs]
[scattered yeIIs]
[vega pants]
Goin` down...! Brace for impact!
Now! Send the humans to their gods!
[varren roars]
[scattered grunts]
[Marine z pants, grunts]
[Marine z screams, cries out]
[Treeya] What`s happening out there?
[Christine gasps]
[Treeya exhaIes]
[vega grunts]
[vega groans]
[scattered groans and grunts]
[MiIque coughs]
[MiIque] Our piIot is so fired...
[Mason coughs]
Yeah? WeII, l got one better for ya... l quit.
[Toni] Move Marines! Evac this bucket!
[Toni grunts]
Whoa, Captain, that Iooks bad...
l said move! That`s an order!
[Toni grunts]
[Essex] You heard him! On me!
[scattered grunts]
You too, vega!
Better bite down, sir.
[Toni makes muffIed grunts]
[vega] On three...
[Toni screams]
[Brood grunts]
[vega pants, grunts]
[vega yeIIs]
[Brood] Go! Search for survivors!
[vega grunts]
[vega pants]
Move!
[Essex yeIIs]
[MiIque] Come on, vega! You can make it!
[Mason cries out]
[Nicky] Sir!
lncoming!!
[KamiIIe] Can anyone see them?!
--[Mason] We are so screwed! --[KamiIIe] How many are there?!
--[Essex] We can`t hoId them off for Iong! --[Nicky] What do we do?
Sir! What do we do?!
[vega] HoId your fire! Cease fire! Essex! KamiIIe!
[KamiIIe] What the heII, vega?!
You guys are just burnin` ThermaI CIips at this range. Save it for when it counts.
[Mason moans]
You gonna Iive there, fIyboy?
l toId you... l quit that job...
[vega] That`s a ''yes.'' On your feet.
[Mason grunts]
[Archuk] HoId your fire!
[scattered groans]
AIIiance! Show yourseIves and be granted an honorabIe execution!
Wow... Some negotiator.
MiIque, l need you to give Nicky your power ceIIs.
See what you can do about upgrading my K-barriers.
Okay... That`s great for you, but now what am l supposed to use for shieIds?
ShieIds? You stiII got a big rock to hide behind, don`tcha?
FIyboy, Iook after the captain.
Right. AIready on it, boss.
Listen... You`ve got to get up top and keep their snipers off me.
Nicky, you`II radio me tacticaI?
That`s a big affirmative, sir.
And what the heII are you gonna do?
A krogan never turns down a chance for gIory on the battIefieId.
So l`m gonna go out there and give them what they want,
which shouId buy the two of you enough time to move around and fIank them.
[KamiIIe and Essex exhaIe]
[Essex] HoId on... l`m not running into that firing squad!
No... we circIe aII the way around their Iine and come in behind them...
lt`s crazy, but it couId work.
We`re gonna have to make it work, or we aII die...
That is, unIess you got a better pIan, Essex?
Hey, why`re you askin` me? You`re squad Ieader,
at Ieast for another two minutes, anyway...
[MiIque grunts]
[Archuk Iaughs]
[Archuk grunts]
Here they come.
[vega pants, grunts]
Nicky! Where`s my tacticaI?
lt`s coming in now, sir.
They`re cIustered at your 12, forty meters and hoIding position.
l show one sniper aIready zeroed in on you.
[MiIque] Roger that. l got `em.
[vega] Not yet. HoId your fire tiII Essex and KamiIIe engage.
Wait.
[Sniper grunts]
[Archuk grunts] lt seems this one has accepted my offer.
[vega grunts]
Okay... Let`s dance.
[vega grunts]
Come on...
[vega pants]
[vega grunts]
[vega yeIIs]
[Archuk roars]
FIanking team, where the heII are you? TaIk to me!
[KamiIIe] AImost there. One hundred meters.
[krogan yeIIs]
Here...
Catch. l won`t be needing it.
[Essex gasps]
[scattered murmurs]
Heh, weII, so much for Iookin` cooI before l die...
[Krogan Y] There! On the ridge!
ldiot.
[Essex] You know you Iove me!
[vorcha gasp]
[KamiIIe winces]
[Essex] Hey!
That`s no way to treat a Iady!
[Brood groans]
[Brood grunts]
[Brood winces, grunts]
[MiIque cries out, coughs]
Last grenade... Gotta make it count!
[vega grunts]
Dammit!
[vega pants, grunts]
[Archuk yeIIs]
[vega grunts, yeIIs]
[vega grunts]
[vega winces]
[Archuk] You are brave, human. Die with honor.
[Archuk screams]
[Archuk snarIs]
Brood! Find the one controIIing the drone and kiII them!
[Brood] There. l have you now...
[Nicky grunts, gasps]
[Archuk sneers]
[vega yeIIs]
[Archuk roars]
[Archuk grunts]
[vega gasps]
[Archuk roars, vega grunts]
[Archuk and vega grunt]
[vega groans]
[Archuk grunts]
[Archuk Iaughs]
Now you die.
You first.
[gun cIicks]
[Archuk Iaughs]
[vega gasps]
[Archuk moans]
[Archuk] l Iike you... A fighter to the bitter end!
[MiIque pants]
[MiIque] You aIright, vega?
[vega] Yeah. Think so.
[MiIque] Good... cause once we get outta this...
...the next drink`s on you.
[vorcha yeIIs]
[KamiIIe pants]
[Essex] Ha! lt`s aImost too easy!
[Essex grunts]
And that, Iadies and gentIemen... is free drinks for Iife.
[Essex sighs] l think l pretty much drained my power ceII...
Yeah, maybe one more good shot if l`m Iucky...
[varren snarIs, Essex gasps]
[KamiIIe grunts]
Shit! KamiIIe!
[Essex grunts]
[Essex shudders]
[Brood and Essex grunt]
MiIque!
[MiIque] l don`t have a shot!
Shit!
[Brood grunts]
Now... say goodbye.
[sound of gunshot]
[Brood groans]
[vega pants]
[Essex] Whoa...
[MiIque exhaIes]
See? We make a pretty good team!
[KamiIIe snarIs]
Look, the dog thing was an accident, okay?
Yeah, and so was this!
AsshoIe...
[Essex groans]
Sorry! Hot damn...
[Brood grunts]
[Essex chuckIes] HeIIo...
Get on with it!
[Essex] GIadIy.
[vega] Essex!
Stand down, Marine! We are not murderers!
This is war, man!
--Yes! --[Brood groans]
You`re right! This is war! And now, this krogan is a prisoner of war.
You two gonna kiss or what?
NiceIy done, squad Ieader.
[Essex grunts]
That`s the Iast of `em: we did it, sir.
That was insane, goin` out there as bait, y`know...
l thought for sure you were gonna get us aII kiIIed...
But hey... l guess l gotta be wrong sometime, right?
[KamiIIe] l think what he means is... We owe you one... Big time.
lt`s ''vega,'' yeah? TeII you what... vega here deserves a goddamn medaI.
Not to brag, but technicaIIy, l took out more of `em than he did.
''TechnicaIIy,'' you aImost took me out, too! You`re stiII in the dog house.
[vega] lt was a team effort, guys.
Look, wiII you drop it aIready? l said l was sorry.
[Iaughter]
vega... HeII of a battIe there, son: that`s the kind of Ieadership l`d expect from a veteran.
lt was the training, sir.
Don`t seII us that crap! l never taught you that kind of soIdiering and you know it.
Quit pIayin` coy and accept the compIiment: you earned it.
Your courage under fire saved a Iot of good peopIe, vega.
And it`s for their continued safety we`d Iike you and your squad
to stick around... HoId down the fort.
AdmiraI, the BIood Pack is finished here...
AII due respect, but we`re a speciaI forces unit.
Can`t you just assign a standard security detaiI?
l`m giving you an order, soIdier. The FehI Prime faciIity
and aII of its inhabitants are a very vaIuabIe resource for the AIIiance.
lt is far too important for us to Ieave undefended. Are we cIear?
Yes, sir, we`re cIear.
[Hackett] l see from your badge you remember the Normandy.
l try to, sir: l think everyone shouId.
lt`s good to have heroes, vega, but don`t be too eager to foIIow in Shepard`s footsteps.
That kind of greatness onIy comes at a great cost... Remember that. Hackett out.
[Toni] WeII, Lieutenant...
WeIcome to the Terminus Systems...
[Messner] AII right, it`s aII yours... Let`s get this baby unIoaded!
[dock tech] We`re cIear!
[KamiIIe] Three meters... Two... One...
And we`re docked... HoId it there, vega.
[vega] Copy that, KamiIIe. Standing by.
[Mason] ExpIain something to me.
First the cannon, now fuII-on miIitary-grade barriers?
Seem Iike overkiII to anybody eIse?
l mean... we haven`t seen a hostiIe in, what, two years?
And they got us tricked out to take on a whoIe fIeet.
[Nicky] You`re cIear to retract the cabIes, sir.
[vega] Nicky. We`ve been over this. You don`t have to keep caIIing me sir.
[MiIque] Heh. Kiss ass.
WouId you just do your job?
[MiIque] CaIIin` `em Iike l see `em. Don`t hate the messenger.
[Essex sighs]
Just wastin` their time... My gun aIready packs aII the firepower this pIace needs.
Oh, pIease, l`ve seen your ''gun,'' Essex...
Hate to be the one to break it to you, but... not that big.
l`m guessin` we`ve aII heard the rumors at this point.
Ah--! What?!
[Nicky] He means the ones about entire coIony popuIations disappearing without a trace.
Yeah, l`ve tried askin` around division about that, but no one wants to taIk.
OfficiaI word from Command is ''no comment.''
Duh, what`d you expect...?
Command doesn`t taIk to grunts Iike us-- you gotta read between the Iines.
''Here, have a big gun and shut up.'' That`s their comment...
ProbabIy aII some Cerberus conspiracy they`re trying to keep under wraps.
[vega] l dunno--this one doesn`t smeII Iike Cerberus to me. lt`s not their styIe.
[Tech 1] Yo, vega!
Last of the Agri-Dome`s SpeciaI Brew... On the house, buddy!
WeII, l can never say no to a free drink!
Then l recommend you pIan on staying drunk, `cause we stiII owe you pIenty.
Nice work on the new defenses, by the way.
Ah... lt`s what we do.
HoIa, James!
Hey, ApriI! HoIa, chispita.
--Whatcha doin`? --Waiting for you!
You ready for duty? Attention!
Yes, sir, Lieutenant!
Okay, then you`II need this... WeIcome to DeIta Squadron, Private.
ApriI, vega`s working. Sorry.
Nah, it`s no probIem, Christine.
Hey, Treeya. Uh, l mean... Hi.
Lieutenant.
[ApriI] Why you aIways gotta stare at her Iike that?
[ApriI grunts]
l`m not staring--and soIdiers don`t pout.
Come here. l need a new Iookout. Whaddaya say, huh?
OnIy if you teach me how to shoot that.
[vega] WeII... l don`t think your mom wouId Iike that too much...
No, Mommy says it`s a good thing!
She says you`re gonna use it to protect us if the bad guys come back!
ls that true? Are you gonna?
She`s right: that`s exactIy what l`II do.
And you can heIp me by stayin` on the Iookout, Private.
Yes, sir, Lieutenant James! Hoo-rah!
[ApriI Iaughs]
You sure have a way with that one, vega.
l`d swear she was your IittIe sister.
Ew, gross! We`re married.
Okay, ''Marine,'' l think you`ve pestered vega enough for one day.
[vega] Okay, off you go.
There... Thanks, vega.
`Kay! Over and out, sir.
[vega] You be good.
--[Tech 2] Later days. --[Tech 1] See you, vega.
SureIy this can`t be right...
[vega sighs]
[Mason] You`re kiIIing us, chief. Better make a move whiIe the gettin`s good.
UnIess you`re cooI with me cutting in on your action.
Look, l`ve aIready tried taIking to her...
She just doesn`t seem aII that interested, you know?
lf bIushing and sighing`s your idea of taIk, man,
then we reaIIy need to work on your deIivery.
[vega gasps] ApriI`s badge!
[Essex] SeriousIy. l don`t get it. What`s he see in her, anyway?
You kidding me? You got eyes, don`tcha? Everybody`s crazy for some bIue.
[Iaughter]
[vega] Hm?
[vega sighs]
Whoa... Just in the nick of time, right?
Hey, you`re vega, aren`t ya? Saw ya on the vids...
Hope you don`t mind me saying it,
but you reaIIy gave those BIood Pack sons of bitches what-for a coupIe of years back...
Made me proud to be a human.
And you are...?
Right, where`s my manners? Name`s Messner, private importer.
l run goods aII over the Terminus--vehicIes, consumabIes, the usuaI boring stuff...
lt pays the biIIs.
[Messner] Ah, a hero and a gentIeman!
[Messner Iaughs]
Must be nice havin` him around.
Some wouId say.
Hey, wait a second... What`s that supposed to mean?
[Messner] So, uh... this is new...
You mind ringing up the powers that be and gettin` this bad boy open?
[vega] Hey, Whitman... You gonna make me say ''pretty pIease'' or what?
C`mon, man, Iet us in.
Afraid l can`t, vega. l`m sorry.
We`ve upped security for cIassified ops and you`re not cIeared for entry.
You either, Doc.
There are materiaIs in the research department that beIong to me!
You cannot just Iock me out!
l know, but it`s not my caII.
You can Iodge a compIaint with Command if you want, but...
...it`s not gonna get you in here any quicker. l`m sorry.
[Treeya sighs] TypicaI...
[vega] Hey! l`II get your stuff back!
Let go of my arm...
Sad to say, this is the sort of idiocy l`ve had to deaI with
since you AIIiance grunts took over our research post.
Like you even care.
Cut `em some sIack, huh?
l`m sure the AIIiance has a good reason for Iocking down your Iab.
That they decIined to share with their own security detaiI? Spare me.
Roger that... lt`s Captain Toni. He wants to see us ASAP.
l can heIp you with your work, Treeya, just--
ReaIIy? So suddenIy you`re an archaeoIogist? You don`t know anything about it.
Why, `cause l`m a grunt? Try me.
vega! The boys in ControI are picking up some kind of anomaIous signaI
out of Sector Nine, near the oId ruins.
l knew that something seemed off...
Whatever it is out there, Doctor, it`s pIaying heII with our Iong-range communications.
Might be one of your reIics. Might not be.
Either way, l need it gone.
Understood, Captain. We`II take care of it.
l want you aII combat-ready, in case there are any hostiIes who wanna get cute...
And Iast bit of bad news, our APC is down for a suspension overhauI,
so it Iooks Iike you`II have to doubIe-time it out there on foot.
[Messner cIears his throat]
Had a voIus pay me in trade a whiIe back with a used Mako.
What say we give it a test-drive?
Treeya, you and Messner are with MiIque back there.
Mason, you be ready to back us up with the Mako.
Roger that.
Let`s go, DeIta Squad!
Cut south and fIank the signaI point.
[Essex grunts affirmativeIy]
Nicky, find a good spot for MiIque to set up his sniper rifIe.
Scanning the area.
--HiII Iooks good. --HiII Iooks good...
--Smart-ass. --l just said that.
--HiII it is! --HiII it is!
Nicky... you`re with me... We`re going up the middIe for a cIoser Iook.
Yes, sir!
[vega] What`ve you got for me?
[Nicky] l don`t know what it is, but...
...Captain Toni wasn`t kidding about the interference!
[vega] Bounce your scan over to the doctor`s omni-tooI.
[Nicky] On it.
[vega] ls this one of your reIics, Treeya?
l can`t make it out very cIearIy in the image...
...but the object is not native to this system, l`m sure of that much.
Never seen anything Iike it before.
Didn`t faII out of the sky, either. That crater`s too smaII for a re-entry impact.
But hey, Iook on the bright side-- at Ieast it`s not taking potshots at us.
Wherever it came from, it`s emitting a powerfuI wide-frequency burst:
no question it`s what`s jamming our communications.
l think it`s done enough jamming for one day.
[Essex] Boom time?
No! You can`t just destroy an artifact because you don`t understand it! Stop!
--[Treeya gasps] --Whoa, hoId it there, Doc.
[Treeya breathes]
[MiIque] That Iast step`s a doozy.
[Treeya gasps]
[Treeya shudders]
[MiIque chuckIes]
GracefuI.
Sorry, Treeya, but this isn`t an archaeoIogy expedition.
Command sent us here with orders to take out a potentiaI threat, not study history.
[MiIque] One more step and she wouId`ve been history.
[vega grunts] What was that, MiIque?
[Treeya] Nothing! lt`s nothing...
The Mako`s the other way. Where are you going?
l can stiII figure out where it came from.
l`ve never seen anypIace Iike this.
Brutes Iike you couId never hope to appreciate it. Just don`t touch anything.
[Mason] Wow... StiII running after, what... five thousand years or something?
[Treeya] Five? That`s nothing. More Iike seventy thousand, at the very Ieast.
Seventy thousand?!
--[Messner whistIes] --[Treeya] That shouIdn`t surprise you.
After aII, the Protheans are Iong gone,
but the mass reIays they buiIt are stiII the cornerstone of intergaIactic traveI.
[Nicky] True enough, but fIying into a reIay is a pretty simpIe task...
What you`re doing... is activeIy interacting with this device!
[Treeya] Just think of it... CiviIization as we know it
depends entireIy on the mass effect fieIds created
by the exposure of EIement zero to eIectricaI current.
Transportation... Communication... Even those weapons of which you`re so fond.
[Messner] lt is handy, l`II give ya that...
[vega] So what went wrong?
lf these Protheans were so powerfuI, what happened to them?
Fifty thousand years ago, they simpIy vanished...
For better or worse, Lieutenant... that question`s become my Iife`s work...
My mentor Liara T`Soni`s made great strides towards soIving it--maybe she can heIp.
Dr. Nuwani. lt`s good to see you.
You as weII, Dr. T`Soni. l found an unknown object
in the ruins on FehI Prime and wanted to get your input.
[Messner] ls it my imagination, or do they aII Iook aIike?
[Liara] Hmm...
WeII, it`s not Prothean, l can teII you that...
ln fact, it doesn`t match anything l`ve ever seen.
Based on the cursory inspection l`ve given it so far,
these are some very advanced bio-mechanics.
[Liara] This couId be Reaper tech.
They`re an ancient race of sentient starships
who`ve marked aII other inteIIigent Iife for destruction...
Hence their attack on the CitadeI.
[Messner] Uh, hoId up--that ship went for the AIIiance`s juguIar because it wanted to?
Don`t teII me you beIieve that!
With aII due respect, Dr. T`Soni, that ship was nothing more than a dreadnaught
piIoted by a rogue Spectre agent.
l saw it, Treeya. l heard it speak.
What`s more, l am sure that the Reapers are responsibIe
for the Prothean disappearance fifty thousand years ago.
And now after the information--
[Treeya] Dr. T`Soni?
Nicky. Find that signaI.
So taIking starships ate your space mechanics...
You buy any of that?
l wouIdn`t wait on that signaI... lt`s Iong gone.
l respect Dr. T`Soni and her contributions to the fieId,
but the fact remains that none of the major civiIizations
have any record of the Reapers` existence.
The truth is, she`s become obsessed with them--
to the detriment of her career and her professionaI reputation.
She has been regarded as IittIe more than a... conspiracy theorist
ever since she ran off with your Commander Shepard.
HoId on! You mean she actuaIIy knew Shepard personaIIy?!
Hey! CarefuI!
FinaIIy, they got something to taIk about... Way to go.
[vega groans]
[Toni] DeIta Squadron! Come in, over!
Say again? lt`s no good. We`re getting that interference again. Except...
[vega] Except what?
[Nicky shudders]
Back to the coIony! Now!
[scattered hushed diaIogue]
[coIonists gasp]
[screams from crowd]
[ men scream]
Move it, peopIe!
[Toni grunts]
Go! Everyone, get to the vauIt!
[Toni grunts, gasps]
[scattered yeIIs and shrieks]
[various indistinct shouts and yeIIs]
[Whitman] l`m sorry, l have my orders!
l can`t Iet you in without proper authorization!
[coIonist] So you`re just gonna Iet us die out here?
WeII, l say... screw that!
[indistinct diaIogue from crowd]
[indistinct yeIIs and screams from crowd]
[pained yeIIs and screams, sound of gunfire]
[MiIque] There... l got muItipIe targets.
[Nicky] Whoa--what the heck are those things?
Looks Iike they`re aII carrying weapons...
Great, so l guess we can ruIe out a sociaI visit...
[Nicky] l don`t see any of the coIonists...
Oh, shit... Get down!
[grunting]
[vega] You ever seen these things before?
No, never... Though that ship appears to be based
on the same technoIogy as the object we found.
[vega] AIright--then untiI we know what`s going on here,
we assume they`re hostiIe. We go in steaIth for recon,
through the sinkhoIe, beIow their sight Iines. CIear?
vega, maybe someone shouId stay back on Iookout?
Someone`s gotta watch the Mako.
[KamiIIe] Right--more Iike someone`s gotta grow a pair.
Just sayin`.
[Essex grunts]
[vega] Come on.
Watch your step.
[vega and Treeya gasp] [Essex gasps]
Where`s vega and Treeya?
[KamiIIe] StiII over there.
Great, so they can fIy... SuddenIy, l`m missin` the BIood Pack...
[vega sniffs]
Come on.
[Essex] Man, there`s swarms of `em up there...
So where do you think aII the coIonists went?
[vega] Stay here!
[vega] Hey... Can you hear me?
He`s got a puIse... lt`s Iike he`s been...
...paraIyzed...
What the heII...?
There`s no visibIe signs of battIe...
[woman`s voice screams]
[vega] Let`s go!
[vega] HoId up.
Okay, we`re cIose, but we`re about to Iose our overhead cover.
We`II be easy to spot if we move as a group.
AII of you stay here whiIe l check it out.
[vega grunts]
l`m coming with you!
Wait! Treeya!
vega...
C�IIate.
[Treeya exhaIes]
[Treeya sighs]
l toId you to stay.
[vega] Fine.
[ApriI pants intenseIy]
[ApriI] Mommy! HeIp!
[Christine] ApriI! We`ve gotta keep running, baby!
[Christine pants, ApriI whimpers]
[Christine gasps]
[ApriI shudders]
Mommy!!
[vega grunts]
[vega] No...
[vega pants]
[vega] Christine...? Damn it!
[vega grunts]
[vega] ApriI? No... No, no, no, no, no, no!
You gotta hang on for me there, soIdier...
l`II find a way to save you... Yo prometo...
[Treeya] Are they...?
[vega] No... Just paraIyzed, Iike the others.
They`re coming... This way!
[Treeya gasps]
[Treeya] What are they doing?
[Treeya gasps]
[vega] We go out there now, we just get ourseIves kiIIed.
There`II be a chance to heIp them... But we have got to be smart.
[vega] Let`s get back to the squad...
[Mason] We saw `em carrying peopIe off in those pod things.
Question is, what for?
[Essex] Gotta be for some kinda experiments or somethin`, ya think?
Yeah, or maybe for food.
[disapproving grunts]
Or maybe not.
l don`t give a damn what their reasons are.
AII l care about now is getting everyone back safeIy.
Let`s save the ''why`s'' for Iater and start coming up with a pIan of attack.
For starters, how `bout we get ahoId of some bigger guns?
Yo, Nicky.
Yes, sir.
[vega] Check our stores: see what we`ve got that can take on that ship.
WeII, not to interrupt, but... is that big cannon just for show?
[vega] Right. Here`s the pIan.
We make our way to the top of the security tower to activate the turret.
But we`II need a diversion whiIe it`s powering up.
FIyboy, you Iight up the fueI stores to draw `em away from us,
then you run Iike heII. Got it?
[Mason] Shit, l`m gonna quit for reaI this time.
[vega] The rest of us wiII move up aIong the maintenance scaffoIds.
MiIque, l`m counting on you to watch our backs.
[MiIque] Mm-hmm...
Just once, l wish someone wouId watch my back for a change...
l can`t even count aII these damn things!
[vega] Essex, KamiIIe--you two stand here and stay guard.
AIright, Iet`s move!
Lead the way, chief.
[sound of footsteps, traiIing off]
Hey. What do ya know? We`re finaIIy aIone.
Don`t you ever quit?
Now, we can get this thing onIine, right?
AbsoIuteIy. That`s the easy part.
ProbIem`s gonna be waiting for the cannon to fuIIy charge.
lt`s probabIy a good idea to stay away from the windows right now.
[Treeya] What`s happening to our peopIe, Lieutenant?
[vega] HoId on... We can track their omnis to see where they`ve been taken.
Okay, here it is. Looks Iikes the hostiIes have `em spIit into two groups...
[Treeya] So they`re being stowed for transport? But why?
[Nicky] Cannon fifty percent charged.
[vega] Ahh...! This is taking way too Iong. Any way to speed things up?
[Nicky] l`m doing what l can, sir.
[Messner] Yeah, weII, it`s not enough.
The bugs are gonna start heading back this way any second.
Can we activate the turret with the charge we`ve got?
WeII, theoreticaIIy, but there`s no way of knowing whether or not it`II do any damage.
WouIdn`t decreased destructive power be ideaI in this situation?
We want to minimize the risk to the coIonists on board, yes?
Good point. We`II fire with what`s buiIt up.
Looks Iike they`ve got it ready.
Sure took `em Iong enough.
AIright. The turret`s in position. Awaiting your order.
Fire!
[Nicky] Our shot`s been defIected!
[vega] Son of a...! Damn it!
[Nicky] Enemy drones en route, sir!
Go! AII of you! Nicky, stay with Messner!
[Nicky] Yes, sir!
[vega] Treeya... Hey, snap out of it!
Let`s go! Treeya!
[Treeya shudders]
[vega] Dios mio...
[MiIque] Shit, that`s not good...
Aah!
--[MiIque] Mason! --Yeah, you can thank me Iater.
Now how `bout we get the heII outta here?
[vega grunts, yeIIs]
[Treeya cries out]
[vega braces]
[vega] Hang on to me!
[vega and Treeya grunt]
We made it...
[vega] Not yet.
Come on... Jump!
[Essex] vega!
[KamiIIe] vega! Treeya! Over here!
[vega grunts]
[Essex] AImost there! You got it!
[KamiIIe] You better get her inside.
[Essex grunts]
l`m out!
[Essex] Guns are no good against these swarms anyway!
Get beIow with the others!
[KamiIIe] Gah!
[KamiIIe struggIes, screams]
KamiIIe!
[vega] What`s the hoId-up, Nicky?! Get the door cIosed!
AImost there!
[vega] Hurry!
[vega growIs]
[Essex] Son of a bitch--they just keep coming!
[MiIque] Comin` through!
l`II be damned...
[Mason exhaIes]
[Mason] l think that oughta buy us some time...
[vega] How we doin` on the door, Nicky?
AII over it, sir... l`m seaIing it up now.
[vega] Everybody, inside!
Where the heII`s Kammy?
[Essex sighs]
l`m sorry, man. They got her.
[Mason gasps]
What?! How?! l thought you were supposed to have her back!
[Essex] Oh, shit!
[Mason grunts]
[Essex and Mason yeII]
[vega] What`s going on?
LittIe ones, crawIing through the gaps! They`re inside!
Just go, Mason! Move it! Guns don`t work on these IittIe bastards!
l`II have to use my biotics to hoId `em back!
[Nicky] Door`s cIosing, peopIe! Stand cIear of the hatch!
Come on, you two, stop screwin` around!
[Mason grunts]
[Mason] Essex, you dumbass! Get in here!
You`re steppin` aII over my big moment!
C`mon, man... Just trying to Iook cooI before l die...
[vega and MiIque pant]
AIIiance Command, this is FehI Prime... The coIony is under attack...
Repeat, the coIony is under attack... AIIiance Command, do you co--
[vega] How`s Essex?
[MiIque] He got stung, but, he`s aIive...
lt`s onIy a matter of time before they figure out where we are.
l`m with the doc. We`re sittin` ducks in this pIace.
Here... l say we get to the shuttIe and break for orbit.
Now you`re taIking. We can send out a distress caII to AIIiance
once we`re cIear of the jamming signaI.
Uh, sir. Are you seeing what l`m seeing?
[gasps]
[Mason] Son of a bitch... You`re kidding me, right?
[Messner sighs] You shouId have waited, Lieutenant.
[Mason exhaIes IightIy]
''ShouId have waited''? For what?
[Treeya moans]
[Messner] The cannon was onIy at haIf power when he fired on their ship.
[Mason] That true?
Our onIy shot, and you bIew it?
lt was my fauIt.
l made the caII... l was just trying to minimize any coIIateraI damage.
''CoIIateraI damage''?! What the heII you caII aII this, man?!
We Iost KamiIIe out there!
l know! But l haven`t given up on KamiIIe yet--or any of our peopIe!
We fight smart, we fight together, and we wiII get them back! Who`s with me?!
l am, sir... We`re Marines, it`s what we do.
Now, if Essex is stiII aIive out there, then l`m goin` out to get him.
l`II heIp.
[vega] How`s he hoIding up, Nicky?
[Nicky] There`s been no trauma to his circuIatory or respiratory systems...
[Treeya] And no sign of neuroIogicaI impairment.
[Nicky] He just can`t move.
We`II get you back on your feet, Essex. You just hang in there.
Not Iike he`s got a choice...
[Nicky] Entire coIonies vanishing overnight...
l thought it was just a siIIy rumor... but now...
[Treeya] The AIIiance must not have known what sort of foe they were up against...
l mean, they certainIy didn`t prepare any of us for this contingency.
They Iacked the proper inteI...
lt Iooks as though they did know about the bugs and their paraIytic sting,
but l`m not seeing anything on fiIe about those humanoid raiders or their ship.
Wait... There`s a note at the bottom of this report...
Something about work having been done on a potentiaI antidote...?
Good catch... Keep poking around...
lf they perfected a cure, l want to track it down and stick Essex with it ASAP.
--[Nicky] vega! --What`d you find?
[Nicky] A fiIe on our new friend.
He`s one of the reasons security`s been beefed up around here.
According to the AIIiance, Messner`s been spying on us
and reporting back to his empIoyer... AKA Cerberus.
--[vega] What?! --[Messner] WeII, this is awkward.
[Treeya] Wait, what is Cerberus?
[vega] A bunch of damn human supremacists!
[Messner scoffs] Says you...
[vega growIs] Pendejo!
[Messner] Temper, temper...!
They think humans shouId be top dog in the gaIaxy, and do whatever it takes
to make that happen, no matter who gets caught in the crossfire!
[Messner] You get that from a IeafIet, vega...?
Hey, l know our bosses don`t see eye-to-eye, but we`re on the same team for a change.
Cerberus was trying to cook up an antidote, too...
They wanted me to figure out the abductions...
Think of aII the peopIe we can save with this info!
[vega] We stiII don`t know who these bastards are.
[Messner grunts] Cerberus knows... Knowing stuff is kind of our thing.
We`ve taken to caIIing `em... CoIIectors.
[Mason] BuIIshit.
Hey, we`re a group with a profound distrust of aIien species.
We keep tabs on aII of `em, even the mythicaI ones...
ln stories, they show up, ''coIIect'' some unwitting species,
and take it back home, beyond some distant mass reIay.
[vega] Yeah? What for?
[Messner] Your guess is as good as mine... They don`t Ieave a forwarding address,
and it`s a one-way trip for whatever they grab...
That`s everything Cerberus knows about `em, honest.
[Treeya] l very much doubt that.
Hey... come on...
l can`t heIp but wonder if these ''CoIIectors'' had anything to do
with the mass disappearance of the Protheans.
[ repetitive, echoing thud]
[MiIque] What was that?!
[Messner] l didn`t do it.
[vega exhaIes] lt`s coming from downstairs!
[Brood grunts]
l remember you...
The AIIiance marines who bested the BIood Pack, and their battIemaster, vega.
Thought they shipped you off to the CitadeI months ago to stand triaI.
They didn`t have the quad.
So they kept me here as a test subject. Figured it was safer than transporting me.
l know the score, human. You`re outnumbered and outgunned,
but l can get you off this rock. AII you have to do is open the cage.
[MiIque] Keep on dreaming, ugIy.
You`re stiII a BIood Pack mercenary. l think we`II take our chances with the bugs.
[Mason huffs]
[Brood] Mmm...
[Treeya] vega? Are you aIright?
[vega] Christine and ApriI... They counted on me to protect them.
Do you think l made the wrong decision back there, Treeya?
l think you did what any good Ieader wouId do...
There was no ''right'' choice, so you made what you thought was the ''best'' choice.
lf l were Commander Shepard, l wouId have found a way to save aII those peopIe.
WeII, you`re not Shepard: you`re James vega.
You know, it`s funny--AdmiraI Hackett gave me some simiIar advice once...
l know how hard you try to protect everyone...
Sometimes, circumstances make that impossibIe...
You can`t bIame yourseIf, James.
vega! Doc! l think l found something you`re gonna want to see...!
[Nicky] l`ve been Iooking through these science fiIes Iike you toId me to,
and l tracked down the Iatest version of the antidote. lt tested at a success rate of 69%..
How many humans have they tried this stuff out on, Nicky?
Essex wouId be the first.
[vega sighs] Guess we don`t have much of a choice...
[Treeya] This is the one, vega.
How do we know it won`t kiII him?
We don`t... But Essex is a stubborn bastard. Do it, Treeya.
[Treeya] Administering antidote.
[Nicky sighs] MetaboIic-stasis...
[vega] EngIish, Nicky.
[Nicky] lt`s not working.
[vega sighs]
[ repetitive, echoing thud]
[gasps]
That krogan doesn`t know when to give up.
[vega growIs]
vega... We got company... lt`s for you.
[booming thud]
[vega grunts IightIy]
So what is it?
[MiIque] Nothing friendIy, that`s for sure.
Here they come.
[Mason grunts]
[eIectronic zipping noise]
[Mason gasps]
[Mason] KamiIIe...?
That you? Kammy?!
Wait! Mason!
[Mason pants, Iaughs]
[MiIque] Mason!
[MiIque] Shit! What the heII is that thing?!
[vega] FaII back! Nicky, find us a way outta here!
[MiIque] That armor`s too damn thick!
[Nlcky] AII cIear...! This way!
Treeya...!
[Treeya pants] What about him...?
[creature roars]
[vega] No time!
[Treeya and vega pant]
[Nicky] l`m Iocking down the security doors behind us. lt shouId buy us a minute!
[vega] Nice work, Nicky!
[panting continues]
[vega] Hey, hoId up!
What`s wrong, sir...? The exit is this way!
[vega] We`re taking a quick detour... FoIIow me!
[vega] You said you can get us off this pIanet. You ready to make good?
l had a ship hidden nearby: as far as l know, it`s stiII there.
[Treeya] He`s Iying! We can`t trust him...
[vega] We have to trust him, Treeya...
We`ve got nothing to Iose: if he can`t heIp us, everyone dies, him too.
Heh. You spared my Iife two years ago, vega.
l repay my debts. Now... Iet`s hurry.
[Nicky] AII cIear!
[Brood] This way!
[Brood roars]
[Brood] Get in.
[Brood] Now... where to?
[vega] Anywhere... Just get us outta here!
What`s going on?
[Brood] Hard to say... Friends of yours?
[vega growIs]
[vega] Keep it off us! Hit it with everything you`ve got!
Ahh!
[MiIque] Any better ideas, chief?!
[vega] Don`t stop! Keep firing!
[grunts]
[MiIque] How many arms does this thing got?!
vega!
[Nicky] Augh!
[vega] Nicky!!
[vega gasps]
[Essex] Ha, ha, ha!
[Essex roars]
What the heII...? Hey, it`s Essex!
[Essex yeIIs, grunts]
[vega] Outta the way!
[vega grunts]
[vega groans]
[vega growIs]
Chew on this!
[vega pants]
Heads up, vega...! l`m comin`!
[Essex] Got`cha!
[creature shrieks]
[Nicky shudders]
[vega] Nicky!
How bad is it?
That depends, sir... Does... anyone eIse see Essex?
lt`s reaIIy me, kid... StiII in the fIesh, thanks to you... Your antidote worked.
We did it, Doc.
You did reaI good, Nicky... Now, you hoId on, Marine.
l`m... with you, sir... We`ve stiII gotta... save our peopIe...
[Nicky exhaIes weakIy]
[vega sighs]
No...
[Messner] That`s a damn shame...
So... what do we do now? We`II be Iucky to get off the ground in this bucket...
Oh, she`II get off the ground--l guarantee that! l just won`t promise how far she`II go...
Then how `bout the oId ruins: can we make it at Ieast that far?
lt`s gotta be better than here.
What`s the difference? They`II shoot us down the second we`re airborne.
[Messner] Any way you sIice it, our odds are Iong.
CoIIectors don`t make a habit of Ieaving witnesses.
Do you have any weapons?
Hmph! What kind of a question is that? You`re speaking to a krogan.
[Brood] We Iive for weapons.
[vega] Our onIy reaI option now is to compIete our initiaI objective...
We have to disabIe the CoIIector ship`s engines...
But we`II have to do it from the inside.
What? That`s suicide!
The creepy eye thing`II open up before we get cIose!
We`d be... weII... evaporated.
That`s just about the gist of it.
[Messner] HeII, even factoring out the eye, we`d never break through their shieIds.
Why not fIy directIy into the eye?
Take the fight to them and punch through where they Ieast expect it.
What...? lt`s an idea.
As crazy as that sounds... l think you might actuaIIy be on to something there.
Way l see it, we can take a chance... or we can choke to death in this pit...
Good marines Iaid down their Iives for the peopIe trapped up there,
and l`II be damned if l`m gonna Iet their sacrifice be for nothing!
lf l go out, l`m going out fighting for their memory...
Anybody here feeIs the same way, you`re weIcome to join me.
Essex, you in?
[Essex] Hm.
[Essex] WeII, l suppose the fumes these tanks are spewing out wouId give us some cover...
This swiII tastes of varren dung!
My ship`s cannon is stiII operationaI...
lf we get cIose enough, we can bIast our way inside.
Then it`s just a matter of reaching the others...
And once we administer the antidote, maybe then they can join the fight.
[MiIque sighs]
Give me that damn thing... But l`m stiII caIIing this a suicide mission.
l`II need more than a drink to change my mind.
Look, MiIque... You`ve been right about everything so far...
But you gotta be wrong sometime, and l`d say you`re about due.
Whoa, man... That`s harsh drivin`!
[Brood] We`re in, aren`t we?
[Messner] You say that Iike it`s a good thing.
[MiIque] Look at aII of `em...
l guess we`re the onIy ones who made it outta the coIony... Lucky, huh?
Yeah, teII that to KamiIIe and Nicky.
What do they want with aII these humans, anyway?
Ah, l hate bugs on my windshieId.
We gotta stop this ship: head for the drive core!
Let`s try a short cut.
Wait--do you even know where you`re going?!
[Brood] No, l just want to smash a few more waIIs! Hang on!
[vega] Here! This is it!
[vega] Essex, MiIque--port side! Let`s go!
[Essex] Yeah...! Come on! Who wants some?!
[vega grunts]
[Essex] Here...! You Iike that?! Payback`s a bitch, huh?!
[MiIque] Behind us!
[Treeya] vega!
[vega] Thanks... Watch it!
Nice shooting... l think you`re a naturaI.
Thanks.
[vega] Brood! Take out that drive core!
--On it. --[Messner] Sorry, l can`t Iet you do that.
[Brood grunts]
Buh-bye...
[Essex struggIes]
Dammit...!
[Messner] Woo! Rise and shine, Doc! This is the moment you don`t want to miss!
From the sound of things, your coIony`s just been reduced to a piIe of ashes.
[Messner] You made quite a mess down there, and CoIIectors aren`t too big on evidence.
But hey, you fought the good fight--right, Doc?
These guys usuaIIy don`t face much resistance. Don`t beat yourseIf up.
You`ve been working for them... How couId you do this?
[Messner] l`ve saved more than l`ve sacrificed, Doctor.
lf you weren`t so hung up on petty detaiIs, you`d reaIize that.
[Treeya] How dare you...?! Those are innocent Iives you destroyed, Messner!
They were your own peopIe!
Look, everything l`ve done has been in pursuit of Cerberus goaIs...
After we figured out the CoIIectors were the ones making off with the coIonists,
l got in touch, l Iured them out with a coIony that wouId be easy pickings, and voiIa.
[Treeya] That artifact among the ruins...
The one that jammed our Iong-range communications...
You put that there! You were summoning them!
But to what end? What was Cerberus thinking?!
[Messner] FrankIy, that we might Iearn something--and we have.
GuiIt-trip me aII you want, l`ve gathered data on their ships and weapons,
ascertained their strengths and weaknesses--
heII, l even know about their home base, out beyond Omega Four reIay...
Just think of aII the knowIedge! Don`t teII me that doesn`t excite you!
AII it does is sicken me! None of that is worth the cost!
Gotta wonder, though... Why are they juicing us...?
They`re not using that DNA sIurry for food, l can teII you that much.
TeII you what... l`m gonna Iet you put that brain of yours to use, Doc.
l`ve got a puzzIe that needs soIving, and you`re just the asari for the job...
Figure it out fast enough, and you might be abIe to save some coIonists, hm?
And after l do... What then? You paraIyze me and pack me away?
Hey, l`m just giving you a chance to do something important with your Iife!
And as you`re about to find out... l`m not asking.
[Treeya struggIes]
[Treeya] No! Let go of me! You won`t get away with this! vega! vega!
[vega snarIs, grunts]
[vega] Oye! Feo!
[vega grunts]
[vega pants]
[vega yeIIs]
[vega] Sweet dreams, asshoIe.
[ unidentified groaning]
[vega] Brood...? Brood!
[Brood struggIes] vega...?
[vega] l`m here.
Here...Take my power ceII. You`II need it...
[Brood coughs]
And what about you, big man?
l`m finished. But maybe you can stiII use it to fight your way out.
You freed me from that cage, vega, and gave me the chance
to die with honor in battIe, the way a krogan shouId...
For that... l owe you a debt l can never repay...
[Brood exhaIes]
vaya con Dios, hermano.
[Essex] So--no biotics... no guns...
[Essex sighs] AII l`ve got is my knife and a coupIe of grenades.
Same here. We`re pretty much dead in the water, huh?
Not quite. Brood gave me a power ceII for you, Essex...
Better yet... We`ve stiII got the antidote, too.
[MiIque] Wait--but we never took it.
So why didn`t we stay paraIyzed Iike the others?
[vega Iaughs] C`mon, man...Why you think our Iast drink tasted Iike shit?
You mean you just spiked it without teIIing us?!
Seemed Iike a pretty smart move at the time.
Great... So what`s our move now?
Free the coIonists... and get the heII out.
[Essex] Hm.
You, uh... reaIIy think it`s going to be that easy?
No, no, but l think we can get the CoIIectors` processing system to do most of the work.
And how we gonna do that?!
They run the pods through here on this conveyor Iine, right?
So what do you wanna bet`s on the other end?
The hoIding area we saw when we fIew in...!
[vega] Right. So l`II rig the antidote to disperse
and send the pod back down the Iine.
You guys get started on the peopIe in here.
[MiIque coughs] SmeIIs even worse than it tastes!
[vega] Here we go...
Pod`s away. Cross your fingers.
[MiIque] Hey, vega... So once we wake everyone up...
We`re aIready off pIanet... How do we get off this ship?
[vega] ApriI...
Earth to vega--you Iistening, man?!
[vega] l hear you, MiIque. Give me a sec... l just found ApriI.
[MiIque] Tch...
[vega] Hey, soIdier, you`re gonna be aIright.
Just one more thing l need to do and then l`II be back.
AIright! MiIque! Essex! Time to move--Iet`s go!
We need to get our hands on Messner.
This is Prothean technoIogy, right? Some kind of teIepathic data repository?
l don`t know what it`s doing on a CoIIector ship, but l want to find out.
l wouIdn`t have dragged you down here except that, weII, you see,
it doesn`t seem to interact with human minds aII that weII...
l threw some ''voIunteers'' at it, just to be safe, and it fried their cerebraI cortices.
But Doc, you`re a whoIe different breed of guinea pig...
Yeah... You`II do it wiIIingIy.
`Cause maybe it`II teII you what happened to your Protheans,
and maybe that information heIps you save some Iives.
[Messner] C`mon. You know you wanna.
[Treeya shivers]
[Treeya gasps]
[Reaper] You wiII submit.
[Reaper] You wiII ascend.
[Reaper] And you wiII serve.
What`d you see?!
Liara T`Soni... She was right aII aIong about the fate of the Protheans.
Fifty thousand years ago, the Reapers wiped them out.
Why do the CoIIectors have this thing?
[Treeya sighs]
They are the Protheans... remade by the Reapers to serve them.
l need to know why CoIIectors are taking human coIonies!
Ask it yourseIf!
Once l get this Iast piece of the puzzIe, l`II know aII their secrets! l wiII own them!
--Do it again! And this time, teII me everything! --[Treeya] No!
They`re buiIding Reapers... out of...
...our DNA.
Let me get this straight. We swoop in, kick Messner`s ass,
grab Treeya, and boIt--that`s the pIan?
And one more thing: the inteI Messner has on the CoIIectors
wiII heIp AIIiance Command protect hundreds of coIonies--
thousands, maybe miIIions of Iives. We bring it back, whatever it takes.
Takin` a page from Shepard`s book, huh?
Save the girI, save the gaIaxy, go home heroes. That about right?
Maybe... But right now, l`II settIe for just getting us aII home.
l`ve done what you asked, now Iet me go, this instant--
Ah, shut up.
[Messner] Hah!
lt recorded! Yes! Now l have everything l need!
[Treeya] Take your hands off me!
[Messner] l`m on your side!
[Essex] Why aren`t they attacking? lt`s Iike they`re not even Iooking for us.
[MiIque] Far as they know, we`re aIready juiced. ProbabIy never had anyone escape before.
[Essex] That`II change in a hurry once the aII coIonists start waking up.
We need to get `em outta here.
Yeah, and l think we might just be in Iuck. Say, MiIque. You`re up.
l am?! For what?!
Remind me... You started in the piIot`s program, right?
Think l remember hearing that once.
Yeahhh...? And l got kicked out, `cause l couIdn`t fIy for shit.
What`re y--oh, fuck that!
Guess you`re just gonna have to Iearn in a hurry, aren`t ya? Hop on.
[vega] We`ve stiII got a fix on Treeya`s omni-tooI.
That`s where me and Essex are headed.
You get this bucket in the air and come pick us up. Got it?
Okay, but don`t compIain if l`m Iate!
[vega] Just be there.
Sure, guys... but if l actuaIIy puII this off,
this time, free drinks for Iife are not even gonna cover it...
[vl TransIator] Your usefuIness has decreased to zero, human.
You have aIIowed AIIiance soIdiers to threaten our mandate.
Hey, without me, those soIdiers wouId`ve taken out your drive core.
How `bout a IittIe appreciation?
[vl TransIator] Negative. lt is time for your ascension.
[Messner] What...? No way! Don`t even try it!
Anything happens to me, this data goes to the AIIiance!
[Messner and Treeya pant]
[Messner] l mean it! l`II give `em aII your secrets!
[vl TransIator] Your threats are meaningIess, human.
You reaIIy want to take that chance, do you?
You think you had troubIe with a few Marines? What`re you gonna do
when you find the entire fIeet parked outside the Omega 4 reIay? Huh?!
WouId that ''threaten your mandate''?!
Now, now, what you say we just be reasonabIe here...
[vl TransIator] lncompetence cannot be toIerated.
ln addition to soIdiers, you have aIIowed this asari aboard our ship.
She wiII taint our human materiaI.
Don`t Iike the bIue chick? Fine! l`II throw `er out for ya!
Don`t touch me, Messner...
[Treeya struggIes]
No! Let me out!
[Messner gasps]
You bitch! Give me that!
[Messner grunts]
[Treeya gasps]
[vega grunts]
[vega] Treeya!
[vl TransIator] Eject the asari!
[Treeya screams]
[vega] Treeya!
No!
Go on, man: never keep a Iady waiting. l`II take care of these bugs.
[vega] Thanks, Essex.
You watch yourseIf, Marine. Hoo-rah!
[Essex grunts]
[Essex] Hngaah!
See ya!
[Essex] You`re next, ugIy!
[Treeya] vega!!
[vega growIs] Hang on!
[Treeya screams]
[vega growIs]
Nooo!!
[vega grunts]
So you took the antidote when l wasn`t Iookin`, eh?
[vega groans]
l guess you think you`re pretty cIever, don`tcha... you stupid grunt?!
[Messner and vega grunt]
[Messner] How`s that workin` out for ya...?!
[vega groans]
[Messner and vega pant]
Adios...
[vega yeIIs]
[Messner shudders]
We`re not done. You`ve stiII got something l need.
Try not to die before l get back.
[Messner shudders]
Come in! Treeya! Treeya, do you copy?!
[Treeya] Yes, vega. l can hear you.
[vega] Any idea where you are?!
l`ve started to descend... into the atmosphere...
But so has the ship-- you don`t have much time!
[vega] l`m coming, Treeya!
[Essex grunts]
[Essex] Heads up, asshoIe!
[Essex groans]
StiII with me, Essex?!
Aw, heII yeah! As Iong as they keep on comin`, l`II just keep knockin` `em down!
[Essex gasps]
Essex!
[vega roars]
[Essex gurgIes]
[Essex coughs]
[vega growIs, grunts]
[Essex groans]
CoIIect this... you bitch!
[Essex struggIes, yeIIs]
[vega] Essex!!
Dammit...
[vega] C`mere!
[Messner groans]
[vega grunts]
Where`s the data?!
[Messner shudders]
[vega yeIIs]
[vega grunts, struggIes]
[vega yeIIs]
[vega roars, grunts]
[vega] lt`s about damn time, MiIque!
Hey! Better Iate than never!
[indistinct chatter]
Mommy! We can move again!
That`s right, honey. Now, l need you to be a brave girI for me. We`re gonna be okay.
Yeah! Lieutenant James is gonna save us. He promised...
But where is he? He`s here... right?
Don`t worry, he hasn`t forgotten. vega`II be back soon, l guarantee it.
Yeah, l know that! But he needs me, l`m s`posed to be his Iookout!
[Christine] ApriI!
[Toni chuckIes] Brave kid you got there.
Come on! The data! Where the heII is it?!
Listen... l can pay you as much as you want: just name your price...
PIease, vega... HeIp me. You just can`t Ieave me here Iike th--
[vega] You made your choice.
[MiIque] vega! We got more drones inbound! Time to go! Now!
Not yet! l haven`t found Messner`s data cuff!
[Treeya] He doesn`t have it!
What? Treeya--you have it?
Yes.
She`s Iying! Just... take me with you!
lt`s yours! Anything! l don`t wanna die! Not Iike this!
No! Nooo--!!
[vega grunts] We`re coming, Treeya!
The Reapers were responsibIe for the Prothean disappearance.
You have to warn the CounciI.
We wiII: that inteI`s going straight to the AIIiance!
We`II pick up the coIonists first, then we`re coming after you!
MiIque! Track her position-- don`t Iose her! And punch it!
Roger that.
[Treeya] There`s no time, vega. You`II have to make a choice...
And the Ioss of one is better than the aIternative...
One Iife... in exchange for the Iives of so many others...
l know you`d try to save everyone if you couId.
But circumstances have made that impossibIe, l`m afraid. lt`s not your fauIt.
l know you weII enough to know you`II make the best choice... and l understand.
[vega] No!
[Toni] vega! Come in vega! Do you read?
We`re taking fire here, vega! We need to evacuate, now!
[vega] Captain. Lieutenant vega here. l copy. l`m gonna try to reach you, sir, but...
--[Christine] ApriI! --[ApriI] Hey, is that James?!
Lieutenant James, can you hear me? lt`s Private ApriI!
We`re stiII here! Mommy and me are waiting for you!
vega, what do we do, man?!
[vega pants]
[Treeya] lt`s okay, vega...
You can do what needs to be done. l know you can.
[vega and MiIque grunt]
[vega yeIIs]
[Treeya gasps, shudders]
We`ve anaIyzed your report, vega.
Now, is there anything eIse you wish to add to the officiaI record
before we make our finaI determinations?
No, sir. lt`s aII there.
We understand that you found yourseIf facing a very difficuIt decision, Lieutenant...
and you chose to rescue a singIe civiIian carrying inteI on these ''CoIIectors,''
at the cost of hundreds of coIonist Iives.
[David Anderson] We don`t envy you that position, son.
This inteI wiII not onIy heIp us stop the CoIIectors in the short term...
but in the Iong term... it wiII aid humanity with ship and weapons technoIogy.
You aIso proved the effectiveness of an antidote
that wiII protect our peopIe against the CoIIector swarms.
ln short, you`re a hero.
And for exempIary service to the AIIiance, you`re being commended.
CongratuIations, Lieutenant Commander vega.
[MiIque Iaughs]
Congrats!
Your new orders, son.
Perhaps you`II foIIow in Shepard`s footsteps after aII. You might even work together.
Sir...?
Turns out the reports of Shepard`s death were... weII, Iet`s just say ''premature.''
So, what`d they give you? Thank you! Let`s see it.
Oh, hot damn! They want you to put in for the N7 program!
You`II be with the best of the best!
Right up there with Commander Shepard... just sayin... y`know...
[vega sighs]
Uh... Look, l don`t know if this means anything to you...
But l think you`re a heII of a Ieader,
and l`d stiII foIIow you into battIe anytime, anywhere, sir.
Thanks, but l don`t deserve that.
lt`s a chance to start over, isn`t it?
To move forward... To Iive the hero`s Iife you`ve aIways wanted...
l don`t know what l want anymore, Treeya... but l know l`m no hero.
Whoa, this Iooks even worse than l imagined it wouId...
[vega groans]
[vega] That`s ApriI`s...
[vega moans, Treeya gasps]
[ApriI`s voice] You`re gonna protect us if the bad guys come back!
ls it true? Are you gonna?
[vega groans, Treeya sobs]
How couId we Iet this...?
[Treeya sobs]
[vega grunts, pants]
[vega pants]
[Treeya sobs]
[vega pants]
Hey! Watch it! What`s wrong with you?!
[vega pants]
l`m sorry... l`m sorry...!
[Hackett`s voice] For exempIary service to the AIIiance,
you`re being commended... You`re a hero...
--[vega screams] --[Anderson`s voice] ln the Iong term... it wiII aid humanity
with ship and weapons technoIogy...
[Hackett`s voice] ...proved the effectiveness of an antidote...
[MiIque`s voice] ...you`re a heII of a Ieader... the best of the best!
[Treeya`s voice] l know you`d try to save everyone if you couId...
[ApriI`s voice] He promised!
[Christine`s voice] CIose your eyes, baby!
[ unidentified voice screaming]
--[ApriI`s voice] Mommy! --[Treeya`s voice] l know you`II make the best choice.
[Tech`s voice] They`re not comin`!
[ApriI`s voice] We`re stiII here!
[Toni`s voice] We need to evacuate, now!
vega, what do we do, man?!
[vega and MiIque grunt]
[vega yeIIs]
What`s happening? Where`s James?
[indistinct yeIIing and diaIogue]
They`re not comin` for us... are they?
[Toni] vega, it`s now or never, son.
[vega shudders]
[ unidentified voice] Look out!
[scattered yeIIing and screaming]
[ApriI] Mommy?
Hush... lt`s okay, baby... lt`s okay...
Just cIose your eyes, honey... we`re going home...
[yeIIing and screaming in background]
[yeIIing and screaming over radio]
James said he`d come back... He said he`d save us, Mommy. He promised!
[ApriI sobs]
[Toni] God have mercy...
[vega screams]
[MiIque gasps] What did you do, man?!
[vega and MiIque grunt, pant]
[vega seethes]
Nooo!!
[vega] l did this! l made the choice! l abandoned them to die!
[vega yeIIs, pants]
l didn`t know how to save you! l`m sorry! l wouId`ve given my Iife if l couId!
There just wasn`t enough time...
[ApriI cIears her throat] This is AIIiance Marine... Private ApriI!
Reporting for duty, sir! Hoo-rah!
[ApriI giggIes] lt`s too big for me! Here.
[vega grunts, pants]
[vega gasps]
[Treeya] vega...
Why... Why did you... choose me...?
Because... at the time, l thought l was making the best decision...
Now... l just don`t know.
[vega] But l`m gIad you`re here.
[vega] Maybe it`s too Iate to change things. Maybe l can`t bring `em back.
But what l can do is spend the rest of my Iife trying to make it count. For their sake.
Goodbye, Private ApriI... We`II never forget you.
[vega] We`II never forget any of you.
[N7 PiIot] Coming in hot. Prep for drop.
[vega] For KamiIIe...
[vega] Mason...
[vega] For Nicky...
[vega] Essex...
[vega] Captain Toni...
[vega] And for ApriI...
[vega] Today... l`m gonna make aII of you proud.
Go!
This is what we do, Marines! Go, go, go, go, go!!