Convincing the Board
Return to the Citadel Tower and speak with Captain Anderson, who stands near the Council chamber as before.
Anderson says Udina is just about to present Tali’s evidence to the board and quickly escorts Shepard into the hearing.
Upon hearing the playback of the recording acquired by Tali, the Council is finally made to believe Saren’s guilt. Saren is to be stripped of his Spectre status, and the Council says all efforts will be made to bring him to justice.
Furthermore, the asari Council representative recognizes the female voice in the recording as belonging to Matriarch Benezia, one of the most powerful asari in existence.
Benezia has an incredible talent for biotics and will make a powerful ally for Saren.
Anderson and Udina go on to describe the link between the geth, Saren, and the mysterious race called the Reapers.
The Council find it hard to believe that even Saren would want to bring back a race of beings who were apparently responsible for the destruction of all organic life in the galaxy 50,000 years ago.
Having disbarred Saren from the Spectres and making him a fugitive, the Council thinks its duties have been fulfilled.
Ambassador Udina wastes no time in calling for more action. He demands that the Council send its fleet into the traverse to track down Saren and prevent the geth from conducting further raids against Alliance colonies.
The Council rebukes the notion, saying such a move could easily prompt a full-scale war with the Terminus Systems, from which the geth hail.
They simply don’t see the benefit in taking such a risk—not for the sake of a few dozen human colonies, at least.
Udina becomes outraged, but the Council quickly voices an alternative: promoting Shepard to the rank of Spectre so he may chase down Saren and the geth however he chooses.
Such an move would hardly put Citadel space at risk of falling into war with the Terminus Systems.
The turian Council representative doesn’t like the idea, but there seems to be no other solution to the dilemma. He reluctantly agrees, and the first human Spectre in galactic history is named.
Captain Anderson is the first to congratulate Shepard on the appointment to Spectre status. He advises Shepard to visit the Requisitions Officer at Citadel Security, saying Spectres have access to special equipment.
Udina asks Anderson to accompany him to his office so they can set things in motion; their new Spectre will be needing a ship and crew to track down Saren.
Take Anderson’s advice and stop by C-Sec’s Requisition Office to browse a whole new selection of amazing Spectre-approved gear.
Being a Spectre certainly seems to have its advantages.… Whether you can afford any of this stuff is another matter!
Bon Voyage, Commander
When you’ve finished drooling over the vast array of Spectre gear, take C-Sec’s central elevator to reach the station’s docking bays.
Ambassador Udina and Captain Anderson await you there and they’ve got big news: Captain Anderson is stepping down as the commanding officer of the Normandy. The ship is yours!
Investigate every avenue of the conversation with Anderson and Udina to uncover more about the captain’s past. The tone you take with them can earn you a handful of morality points as well.
Udina and Anderson provide you with a few leads as to where you should begin your hunt for Saren and the geth: Confirmed reports of geth sightings have come in from planets Feros and Noveria, and Matriarch Benezia’s daughter, Liara T’Soni, might have some insight into the situation.
The matriarch’s daughter was last known to be conducting archeological research on one of the Artemis Tau cluster’s uncharted worlds.
The two leave the decision of where to begin up to you, and issue one final reminder that your actions will reflect on humanity as a whole.
Udina soon departs to attend a meeting, leaving Shepard alone with Captain Anderson. Speak with Anderson again to learn more about the old man’s history with Saren.
Anderson can also provide insight into the current situations on Feros and Noveria.
He gives you an important clue as to where you might find Dr. Liara T’Soni within the Artemis Tau cluster—search for a world with Prothean ruins. Probe the captain thoroughly to uncover a few new primary Codex entries.
When you’ve finished your line of questioning, examine the Normandy’s exterior to acquire a new secondary Codex entry. Then board the Normandy and let the hunt begin.
