PROLOGUE: FIND THE BEACON

ACT I

 

BETWEEN SCENE I AND SCENE 2

Shepard is about to join Anderson and Nihlus but stops to talk to crew members in the CIC.

NAVIGATOR PRESSLY:

I’m telling you, I just saw him! He marched by like he was on a mission.

 

ENGINEER ADAMS:

He’s a Spectre. They’re always on a mission.

 

PRESSLY:

And we’re getting dragged right along with him!

 

ADAMS:

Relax, Pressly. You’re going to give yourself an ulcer.

 

[Shepard starts a conversation with Navigator Pressly]

 

PRESSLY:

Congratulations, Commander. Looks like we had a smooth run. You heading down to see the captain?

 

SHEPARD - dialogues options:

-I heard you arguing.

-He wants to see me.

 

SHEPARD:

I’m on my way to give him a status update right now.

 

PRESSLY:

With all due respect, sir, maybe he’ll finally tell you what we’re doing out here.

 

SHEPARD - dialogues options:

-What do you mean?

-I’ll look into it.

-Goodbye.

-Just do your job.

           

SHEPARD:

You think the Alliance brass is holding out on us?

 

PRESSLY:

If all we’re supposed to do is test out the stealth systems, why is Captain Anderson in charge? And then there’s Nihlus. Spectres are elite operatives. Top covert agents. Why send a Spectre — a turian Spectre — on a shakedown run? It doesn’t add up.

 

SHEPARD - Investigate dialogues options:

-Stealth systems

-Captain

-Turian spectre

 

SHEPARD:

What do you know about the stealth systems?

 

PRESSLY:

I just know it masks our location from scans and sensors. Cutting edge technology. The Normandy's the only ship with this prototype drive. But why are we fully staffed? A skeleton crew would be cheaper. Less chance of security leaks, too. Plus, there's Nihlus. It's pretty obvious this shakedown run is just a cover.

 

Shepard - dialogue options:

-A cover?

-You're wrong.

 

SHEPARD:

For what?

 

PRESSLY:

Damned if I know, Commander. We're out here on false pretenses. I'm not a fan of being left in the dark.

 

SHEPARD - Investigate dialogues options:

-Stealth systems

-Captain

-Turian spectre

 

SHEPARD:

Do you have a problem with the captain?

 

PRESSLY:

No, sir! But I can't figure out what he's doing here. Captain Anderson is one of the most decorated Special Forces officers in the service. If he melted down all his medals, he could make a life-size statue of himself. You don't send a soldier like that on a do-nothing mission. He's treating this shakedown run too seriously. Something big is going on.

 

 

 

 

SHEPARD - Investigate dialogues options:

-Stealth systems

-Captain

-Turian spectre

 

SHEPARD:

You don’t trust Nihlus.

 

PRESSLY:

I don’t like turians in general. Runs in my family. My grandfather fought in the First Contact War; lost a lot of friends when the turians hit us.

 

SHEPARD - Investigate dialogues options:

-That was long ago.

-Plus, he's a Spectre.

 

SHEPARD:    

That was thirty years. You can’t blame Nihlus for that.

 

PRESSLY:

No, I guess not. But it still makes me nervous to have a Spectre on board, especially a turian. We’re an Alliance vessel, human military. But Nihlus doesn’t answer to the captain like the rest of us. Spectres operate outside the normal chain of command. And they don’t come along just to observe shakedown runs. Nihlus looks like he’s expecting some heavy action. I don’t like it.

 

SHEPARD - dialogues options:

-I’ll look into it.

-Goodbye.

-Just do your job.

 

SHEPARD:

I’ll see if I can get some answers when I see him.

 

PRESSLY:

Good luck, Commander.

 

[Shepard walks toward Corporal Jenkins and Doctor Karin Chakwas.]

 

JENKINS:

I grew up on Eden Prime, Doc. It’s not the kind of place Spectres visit. There’s something Nihlus isn’t telling us about this mission.

 

CHAKWAS:

That’s crazy. The captain’s in charge here. He wouldn’t take orders from a Spectre.

 

 

JENKINS:

Not his choice, Doc. Spectres don’t answer to anyone. They can do whatever they want. Kill anyone who gets in their way.

 

CHAKWAS:

Ha! You watch too many spy vids, Jenkins.

 

JENKINS:

What do you think, Commander? We won’t be staying on Eden Prime too long, will we? I’m itching for some real action!

 

CHAKWAS:

I sincerely hope you’re kidding, Corporal. Your ‘real action’ usually ends with me patching up crew members in the infirmary.

 

SHEPARD - dialogues options:

-Relax, Jenkins.

-The doctor’s right.

-Part of the job, Doc.

SHEPARD:

You need to calm down, Corporal. A good soldier stays cool, even under fire.

 

JENKINS:

Sorry, Commander. But this waiting’s killing me. I’ve never been on a mission like this before. Not one with a Spectre on board.

 

SHEPARD - Investigate dialogues options:

-Nihlus

-The Spectres

-Eden Prime

SHEPARD:

What can you tell me about Nihlus?

 

CHAKWAS:

Turians are generally well-respected by the other species. Their fleet has more patrols protecting Citadel space than any other. They don't always get on well with us, though. Some people find them too rigid. Others still blame them for the First Contact War. As for Nihlus, I haven't said more than two words to him. He usually only speaks to the captain.

 

JENKINS:

I heard Nihlus once took down an entire enemy platoon all by himself. Man, I can't believe I'm on a mission with an actual Spectre!

 

SHEPARD - Investigate dialogues options:

-Nihlus

-The Spectres

-Eden Prime

 

SHEPARD:

What do you know about the Spectres?

 

CHAKWAS:

Only what I've heard. Spectre agents work directly for the Citadel Council. They usually work alone or in small groups. Spectres don't have any official power, though. Basically, they're a shadow organization with a mandate to preserve and protect galactic stability.

 

JENKINS:

Protect it at any cost. Don't forget that part. Spectres operate above the law!

 

SHEPARD - dialogues options:

-There are no human Spectres?

-That’s dangerous.

 

SHEPARD:

Why don't we have any of our own people in there?

 

CHAKWAS:

Spectres usually come from the Council races. Like the turians. We've been trying to get a human accepted into their ranks for years now. So far, it hasn't happened.

 

JENKINS:

Hey, Commander! You'd make a good Spectre! They're always getting dropped into impossible situations. Forced to survive unbeatable odds. Just like you on Akuze!

 

SHEPARD - dialogues options:

Those are bad memories.

Show some respect!

 

SHEPARD:

I try not to think about Akuze.

 

JENKINS:

Sorry, Commander. I-- I didn't mean to offend you. I respect what you did there. We all do.

 

CHAKWAS:

Let's not dwell on the past, Commander. Was there something else you needed?

 

SHEPARD - Investigate dialogues options:

-Nihlus

-The Spectres

-Eden Prime

 

SHEPARD:

You're from Eden Prime, aren't you Jenkins? What's it like?

 

 

JENKINS:

It's very peaceful, Commander. They've been real careful with development, so you don't have  any city noise or pollution. My parents lived on the outskirts of the colony. At night, I used to climb this big hill and stare across the fields back at the lights from the main settlement. It was gorgeous. But when I got older, I realized it was a little too calm and quiet for me. That's why I joined the Alliance. Even paradise gets boring after a while.

 

SHEPARD:

Any idea why Eden Prime was chosen as our destination?

 

JENKINS:

Not really sure, Commander. Eden Prime's one of our most stable colonies. Good place to take the Normandy for her shakedown run, I guess. No real danger there. But there's got to be something else going on. We've got a Spectre on board! That's why I'm so wound up. I can't wait for the real mission to start!

 

SHEPARD - dialogues options:

-You’ll do fine.

-It’s just another mission.

 

SHEPARD:

Just treat this like every other assignment you’ve had and everything’ll work out.

 

JENKINS:

Easy for you to say. You proved yourself on Akuze. Everybody knows what you can do. This is my big chance. I need to show the brass what I can do!

 

SHEPARD - dialogues options:

-Be careful.

-There’s no rush.

-Don’t play the hero!

 

SHEPARD:

You’re young, Corporal. You have a long career ahead of you. Don’t do something stupid to mess it up.

 

JENKINS:

Don’t worry, sir. I’m not going to screw this up.

 

SHEPARD:

The captain’s waiting for me.

 

CHAKWAS:

Goodbye, Commander.

 

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