Prologue: Normandy Lost

The Battle of the Citadel has concluded, and surviving geth are being targeted at the request of the newly formed human-led Council. The SR-1 Normandy appears in the Amada system and detects the incursion of a new and unknown ship.

[001]

[002]

The ship launches a devastating beam weapon strike against the Normandy [001] , and despite Joker’s evasive maneuvers, the craft’s hull is struck and breached in a number of places by both glancing and direct strikes.

Shepard orders the evacuation of the vessel, as fire and chaos rage throughout the superstructure.

Squadmate Ashley Williams frantically staggers and sprints towards Shepard, shouting a question about the Alliance reaching them in time [002] .

Answer her, and instruct her to head to the evac shuttle when she favors loyalty over critical thinking and tells you she’s going down with the ship. She says Joker isn’t leaving either.

Your romance choices and decision on Virmire during Mass Effect 1 affect which squadmate appears: Ashley Williams, Kaidan Alenko, or Liara T’Soni.

[003]

[004]

As the shuttle’s evac pods are jettisoned and the crippled Normandy falls rather than flies through the heavens, Shepard decides to deal with Joker.

Head along the flaming corridors [003] , up the right curved stairs, and out onto the command center, which currently lacks a roof, allowing you to see the planet Alchera.

Continue toward the cockpit, through the temporary energy airlock, and speak with Joker [004] . He (incorrectly) believes the ship can still be saved, but another strafing barrage from the enemy ship begins a total collapse of the Normandy.

[005]

[006]

Shepard and Joker struggle to the evac pod; Shepard secures Joker inside and is about to join him when another blast rocks the remains of the ship, throwing Shepard away from the pod [005] .

Shepard ejects the pod as the ship disintegrates. Beams of energy cut through the remaining debris, as the Normandy breaks apart completely and explodes.

Shepard is flung far from the craft and watches the death of the ship and remaining crew [006] . The commander’s suit springs a leak. Falling into the upper atmosphere of Alchera, Shepard struggles for air before losing consciousness.