Mass Effect 2 : LP Complete, Releasing Control.

[Brother None]

Ahahah. *That* was 7 bucks?

 

[a budda]

Ahahah. *That* was 7 bucks?

7 bucks of awesome, and free extreme

i always thought that playing quake multi was retarded (had a few good hours of fun though) but this... and you pay for it

 

[random_encounter]

That...that's it for Overlord? Horse armor economics are still alive and well, I see.

 

[RK47]

No. Not yet. LOL. Fooled you!

 

[Edward_R_Murrow]

I'M A MAKO-CLONE! I'M A MAKO CLONE!


SUUUUCK MY DICK!


That's what is next, right? Drivin' round and shootin' some boss robots?

 

[RK47]

That's what is next, right? Drivin' round and shootin' some boss robots?

You're absolutely correct, Sir!

And man, I really wish this DLC ended back then. There's nothing new in here. Just a bunch of geth glowing green. No new enemies. They really had nothing much to offer in terms of content, not even a new weapon or armor. And the driving mini-game? Sucks ass. We'll get to that later, but for now, let's listen to one of the two voiced NPC in this DLC.

You owe us that explanation.

This is Project Overlord. An attempt to gain influence over the geth by interfacing a human mind with a VI. The result have been...less than satisfactory.

It looks like some progress was made.

Uh. Shep, you're being sarcastic, right?

Yes! Even amid chaos, there are lessons to be learned. My brother David volunteered to serve as a test subject, but his mind couldn't handle the VI connection. He's like a virus now, infecting our networks and seizing control of any technology he finds. It's why you had to destroy the dish. Imagine if his program got off world.

How does he take control of electronics?

This is a hybrid intelligence the likes of which I've never seen.

Fuck, you can throw that line almost anywhere in this game's side mission.

"This is a drell assassin the likes of which I've never seen."
"This is a human biotics the likes of which I've never seen."
"This is a geth intelligence the likes of which I've never seen."
"This is a Collector threat to Humanity the likes of which I've never seen."
"This is a Krogan Bio-Engineering Program the likes of which I've never seen."

I don't know where the man ends and the machine begins.

Yes, yes, very deep. Let's milk your voice actors for what's he's worth.

What's the worst case scenario.

A technological apocalypse. Every machine, every weapon, every computer could be turned against us. If he hit the extranet, who knows where it would end.

How do we stop him?

Davi...the VI has fortified itself in the main laboratory at Atlas Station. It's in lockdown now. To enter, you need to manually override security from our facilities in the Prometheus and Vulcan station.

How does the lockdown work?

It's a fail-safe procedure in the event of an emergency. Normally, all three project leads have to agree to cancel the lockdown. I'm the only one left now. I can give my authorization, but you'll have to manually reset the other two yourself.

Sigh. Hit two switches at two different places, then go for the big showdown? This is totally new and never seen before game-play.

And what happens if I have to kill your brother?

Of course not, dipshit. He's not paid enough to voice himself in this damn DLC. If Tali, a quarian with knowledge and hatred of VI experiments won't sound a peep, what do you think?

If there's one geth in the galaxy who can't be brainwashed, it's him. Don't worry.

RIIIIIIGHT. You just met him over a mission a while ago.

I'll take your word for it.

Tell me more about Project Overlord.

We wanted to turn the geth's religious impulse into a weapon.

Re...religious impulse? What? This is what you call it? RELIGIOUS IMPULSE? IN A MACHINE?

When we saw them following Saren, we realized they could be swayed. And if a proper figurehead was created - a virus with a face, if you will - the geth might be controlled.

That's an ambitious undertaking.

It would be the perfect weapon - victory without casualties. We could avoid war with the geth altogether. That was the plan anyway.

Huh, looks like Cerberus cells are still clueless about the existence of two geth factions. But whatever, they must be referring to the geth heretics which was part of Saren's forces in the first Citadel assault.

What went wrong with the experiment?

David volunteered to interface with the VI to give it genuine consciousness.

Then you shouldn't have attempted it.

And what if you had never attempted to find the Reapers, Commander Shepard? Where would the galaxy be then? Sometimes you have to ignore the risks.

Enough of this shit.

I'm heading out now.

The other stations are all within driving distance. Best of luck, Commander.

Uh oh.

Welcome to the Hammerhead. The hovertank that replaces Mako. It loses its machine gun and turrent zoom controls but retain much greater movement controls and regenerative armor.

It also comes with a VI that gives comments to invoke laughter. But as you can see, the environment looks shit. What is that green shit under me? Grass? I can't tell if they're serious. Or maybe my video card needs updating? Whatever, I'll endure.

Our people there have gone silent. It's likely the VI has activated the defense shield to keep you out. Good lu- *static*.

Funny. The subtitle says Hammerhead VI is the one saying the lines, but it was actually Dr. Archer over the radio.

Oooh, looks like it's shielded.

Let's fuck shit up.

Yee-haw! Geth cannon locked on - what?

Yep. I am supposed to weave around the red areas that was targeted by the cannon as I fire at the generators. But hell, I found a glitch spot where the cannon won't fire at me and I can snipe the generators all day long.

Didn't have to move at all. Heh. Glad that shitty drive shooter part is over with, let's get in there.

Oh, look. A non active geth. I guess there will be no combat in this dungeon.

More attempts to scare the player. No, buddy. This isn't creepy. I'm already expecting any moment now that the geths will reactivate itself and attack me.

I'm not scared, green-face.

Spooked the shit out of everyone. Now I definitely hate him.

A storage area full of inactive geths. Totally harmless.

What does the VI want? It keeps screaming at us - nobody understands!

Maybe it just wants this shitty DLC to end.

At least the geth are still dormant.

A passage of waters blocked us. Our only hope is to hack the security console nearby and overcome a devious puzzle to challenge our hero in the most extreme ways.

Are they serious? Press buttans to move blocks to form bridge. Age 5 and up.

Now we can cross.

Yay. Switch within sight. Let's hit it and leave this shitty dungeon.

WAHHRHBRALLLGLGLLG

OH NOES. ITZA TRAP! I shd've seen this coming!

Shepard's too EXTREME to be caught off-guard.

Once again. There's no tension. No self-destruct. Nothing. All the geth does is prevent you from exiting. It would've been nice if the VI trigger a self-destruct sequence to kill Shepard. Then Shepard should be given two option: Override the Self Destruct and potentially saving the Overlord project, or fuck it and rush to the exit.

Instead we get the same old geth pop-a-mole corridor shooter. Climaxing with a standard geth prime with green tinted plastic wrap.

Mission accomplished bros. Time for breakfast.

 

[Mrowak]

So what? That was it? You're surely pulling our collective leg again... It can't be this short and boring.

Good thing I didn't bother with DLC - that one was crappier than the crappiest crap mission in retail ME2.

 

[RK47]

They let me change squadmates after the first part is over, so I decided not to swap Legion for firepower reasons. In insanity, Legion doesn't really have good enough powers to justify a slot. Don't worry, we don't miss a single dialog or side content. The DLC didn't really care much about the squad mates' presence. They're practically mute and are nothing more than counter-strike bots.

Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding..

....we bring the hovertank over the vent and engage the jump jets to overcome the altitude. *facepalm*

Sonic would've been proud.

Oh noes. We have to fix this.

Looks like this is the source of the problem.

Engineer's log: We've registered a huge spike in energy consumption. My technicians traced it to the experiment underway at Atlas station. We're trying to raise them now.

There we go....

MWHAHBRAWWWRGGHLLLL

Cerberus turrets hound us at every corner, but shooting back in Inanity difficulty mode would be an.... inane action to take.

EXTREME platform jumper on hover-tank simulator. REALISTIC! The chunks of rocks will sink if you stay on it too long. M-44 4-EVA!

Just..

One...

More! Yeah! No more stupid tank!

We're trying to shut down the power generators to starve the VI, but it's already hacked our automated systems! I'm ordering my people to sabotage the plant any way they can.

Rogue N7 droids patrol the area, and our old familiar foe, the YMIR mega mech blocks our passage with mounted machine gun and rockets.

Too bad it can't fit through the narrow slits between pillars.

Looks like its size...matters.

HALT, AUTOMATON!

A droid is capable of emoting fear? :tear of the monocled eagle:

Shepard displays adept commanding by sign language by giving a cold stare and acknowledging nod to proceed.

Looks like we ...disarmed the droid.

Only one thing left to do.

Are you receiving this? Commander Shepard, this is Archer. Please respond.

I guess...

we'll....

...beheaded that way.

One more stop guys!

 

[Ulminati]

Where have I seen that facial expression before? Oh yeah...

 

[GarfunkeL]

Correct. There's no equivalent sci-fi RPG shooter like that for quite some time. And the EXTREME approach was quite unheard of. I have to give Bioware some credit for the EXTREME personality. I know some action game has it, but I've never played RPGs where the protagonist just shoots people dead as dialogue option. Which has a deeper level of satisfaction of being the asshole than 'GIMME MORE MONEY' - KOTOR style.

Planescape's on a different level, obviously. But you get the idea.

I can understand the EXTREME-thing much better than the scarcity - sure, sci-fi RPGs are scarce, but as for FPS/shooter things, we got plenty and the shooting isn't really ME2's strong point. But the EXTREME dialogue and stuff is something special and quite funny - only thing which kept me playing, almost to mid-game :D

 

[random_encounter]

Well played. :D

EXTREME platform jumper on hover-tank simulator. REALISTIC! The chunks of rocks will sink if you stay on it too long. M-44 4-EVA!

So in addition to conveniently separated switches, now we have a hopping hovertank just in case there are platforms to jump across. Apparently, no one at Bioware remembers how well Mario mechanics were received in Ultima 8. But hey, if they're doing more action, might as well go all the way!

But it's a hovertank, so won't it be able to hover over surfaces? You know, like hovercraft do over water? And because it's the future, one assumes that improvements should...ah, fuck it.

 

[Sceptic]

So in addition to conveniently separated switches, now we have a hopping hovertank just in case there are platforms to jump across. Apparently, no one at Bioware remembers how well Mario mechanics were received in Ultima 8

Funnily enough, U8 was reviled by Ultima fans, but ME2 is better than ME1, a great cover shooter and the best action-RPG since Crusaders of Might and Magic.

And those hovertank jumps... to think people complained about the Mako...

 

[RK47]

The hover-tank jumping is VERY easy. And no instant death from touching the lava. I just find it unnecessary game play component to add the vehicle in. Mako is utter shit when compared with this. But that doesn't mean I want this kind of game play in the sequel.

Yeah, final mission! Hit the throttle!

The VI is trying to upload its program directly from your location. Get to the server room and shut down the core before it can - *static*

That's nice Archer, but why didn't the VI do that AI uploading thing while the facility is under a lockdown in the first place? Also, why isn't there a time limit? Are they waiting for Shepard to arrive at the server room? Fuckin' Bioware and their 'urgency'.

Enough complaints. Let's read some....LOGS!

His autistic mind is the breakthrough I've been looking for - he can communicate with the geth!

Such a tremendous grasp of mathematics! It seems serendipity is alive and well in the 22nd century.

BIOWAREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Moar dead bodies litter the facility. A point they kept making over and over. We get it, people die, but without seeing how these atrocities are carried I can't help but think they're just wall decorations. Computer gaming hasn't advanced to the point where smell of rotting flesh can get to my nose you know, so dead bodies aren't that shocking anymore.

Hey. Look! ANOTHER LOG!

I'm going to tap David Gaider directly into the geth neural network and see if he can influence them. The danger should be negligible David might even enjoy it.

Gentlemen, I believe we found the cause of Dragon Age 2's decline.

A broken elevator blocks our progress. This is a puzzle. It cannot reach level 7 (where we at) by pressing the button. Another pressing of the buttan will cause the error since the elevator goes further than 7. How do we fix this shit?

We fuck around with mathematical consoles which subtract and add values to the elevator levels, of course! IT MADE TOTAL SENSE! THIS 3D CONSOLE STANDS FOR 3 DEDUCTION FROM THE EVLATORS FFRKLCIGHGI UTGUGF BWHFKLDS!

WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THIS SECURE COMPAUTESKFJG LATUGHDSG MAURGHFKFK

MRRABAWWGGGGL. Yes. We solved this shit. Maths are no match.

I regain control of my faculties as evidence of hostile threat from within the elevator made itself known.

Geth prime with 2 rocket geth.

Trashed. We ride the elevator up.

Must. Read. Logs.

His autistic mind is as alien to me as an actual alien. Anything could happen when we plug him in. But I have to try, don't I?

Boo-fucking-hoo. Let's loot some research datas.

There's no new weapons given from this DLC, nor any additional armor pieces. All we got is some shit upgrades, a new shiny tank and credits. DISAPPOINTING.

Finally. We made it to the server access. Let's shut this DLC down. Sorry, Gaider.

Oh shi-

Shepard's being DIGITIZED!

What is real is now virtual and shaded in orange lines and grids.

You have been assimilated.

Herp Derp.

NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~

Vision of Archer and Gaider being lead away...must...follow.

EXTREME digitized rendering!

Unfortunately the rest of the squad were left behind, trapped behind the doors. Shepard goes after Gaider's specters alone.

With a flaming omni-tool, holding the Green Flame of DownLoadable Content of Truth.

Don't worry, Gaider. We're here to help you.

Gaider summons his darkspawns. They turn to green cube pixels when terminated. We finally reach the inner chambers...where Gaiders memory lies....hours before he was finalize the script to Dragon Age 2.

How do I finish Dragon Age 2 in one year?
Archer looks like he was deep in despair, executing a double face-palm.

I...I have no words.

Eureka. David, you're a miracle worker.

The vision disappears, as another takes hold.

David, can you repeat my notes from Thursday's experiment?

David, please pay attention!

Poor Gaider. He was forced to rush through EA's latest franchise sequel. Recreating a blockbuster hit.

I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that. Would you mind repeating my notes from Thursday's experiment?

Thank you. And how are you feeling today?

Gaider, what have they done to you?

The vision blurred...as another took hold...this time more actors in the play..

Gaider mimics the geth language and the geth takes a step forward.

David is a mathematical savant. His autistic mind can interpret the geth language at its most basic form and mimic their phonetics. With his photographic memory, cross-referencing the meaning is a snap. He's literally a human computer.

The technicians pondered the possibilities, and asked another question. " Is that even safe, Doctor?"

I see no harm in finding out.

Oh, Archer. You are so fucked.

The chain of flashbacks were interrupted with a fight with a band of geth.

Gaider begs to be released.

His inner chamber...

We're ready. Open a DLC and DRM connection to all Bioware social accounts and ban all dissenting voices from accessing their purchases.

The rage erupted as the VI roared its digital shriek. The Gaider is awakened.

Did it say Normandy?

The lines between flashbacks and reality blurred. Voices of Gaider's past or perhaps present echoed as the deadly duel between two EXTREME individuals takes place.

Pull the plug! Tell Vulcan station to cut all power!

Lab tech: It's too late! We've lost control!

Fuck. If they can successfully upload Gaider into Normandy, then we're screwed! Destroy the VI connection before it could upload its data fully!

Interrupting the data upload isn't enough though, we have to bring down Gaider's core. Heavy Geth laser will bring the truth into light.

C'mon, Gaider. Try to remember Throne of Baal! Imoen! Minsc...Jaheira!!

David, you have to stop this!

Gaider opened new connections and Shepard is starting to get overwhelmed.

As more digitized geth materialize, it gets harder to keep up with the VI connections.

85% completion...Oh no...Gaider, no.

David, calm down! I can make all this go away if you'll let me!

Fuck it. It's time to fix this shit.

GAIIIIDEEEEEERRRRRRRR

All is quiet now.

.....Oh, shut up already.

OK, do we put a bullet to his head or ...?

I'm begging you. Don't do anything rash.

There better be damned good reasons for this.

I thought I had control...It's not like I planned this. It was an accident. Seeing David communicate with the geth...it all seemed harmless.

Any war we fight with the geth will be bloody. I was asked to find a way to avoid that.

So. It was all about you? What about your Bro?

Yes. Despite the...setbacks, we've proven the geth can be controlled.

That's it? PROOF? THAT'S ALL YOU WANTED?

If my work spares a million mothers mourning the loss of a million sons, my conscience will rest easy.

So you'll sacrifice your brother's happiness for your own ambition?

Something about this scene...somehow worked. It was a slight warmth after the wasteland ice-cold quality we had throughout the DLC. That question Shepard asked nailed something soft. And not just because I have a brother IRL, you see.

Gaider, I'm sorry...there are too many deaths here over your life, that if I release you, it will be all for naught. I'm sorry you can't find your happiness, but hundreds of scientists paid the price of the project today. If I let it die out,...I'm not EXTREME enough.

Your brother is an asshole.

Archer recoiled from the blow. The EXTREME Fist of Fury.

David Gaider remains trapped in one of EA's research cell to this day. It is unknown whether the research will bear fruit, but the future decline of his products may not change for the better.

ALWAYS Love your bros.

 

[lightbane]

I miss the days that the so-called "expansions" still existed, when these had actual content and not filler.

I like Grunt's here, it's as if he was silently asking why Shepard was wasting his time with this shit.

 

[racofer]

 

[Brother None]

Archer? Moar like EArcher

There's no new weapons given from this DLC, nor any additional armor pieces. All we got is some shit upgrades, a new shiny tank and credits. DISAPPOINTING.

Didn't you already get the tank from Firewalker?

 

[RK47]

Bro. None: You actually get to visit some hotspots where you fight off mechs to unlock something in the DLC planet surface. A pseudo-new tank content. Because otherwise, the tank will never be used for any other mission at all, unlike Mako of ME 1.

This is something I really can't fathom happening.
What in the world happened to Shepard at that point? Did he just get hacked by a VI?

It puts a big question mark on Shepard's humanity. Is he part man, part machine after the Cerberus Resurrection hence the VI was successful in hacking him? Or is it just a tech implant within him that was infected? : Mass Effect 3 : Release Date Foreshadowing?

 

[Brother None]

Bro. None: You actually get to visit some hotspots where you fight off mechs to unlock something in the DLC planet surface. A pseudo-new tank content. Because otherwise, the tank will never be used for any other mission at all, unlike Mako of ME 1.

Well, it's used on the Firewalker DLC planets, yes? That's where it's from after all.

It's no Make in frequency but that's an improvement. The Firewalker content was nice filler, though nothing more than that.

 

[RK47]

The Illusive Man is pleased with the outcome of Project Overlord and thanks Shepard for a job well done.

To me, the whole Cerberus business is fucked up as hell, but what's at stake here...is worth more than the cost. Human experiments, brothers using brothers, father abusing his rank, a test tube babies, TWO of them, an assassin making amends with his son, a daughter exiled by her own people over some shit her father started, a robot capable of 'intelligence', a merc and a vigilante who killed their double crossers, zombie-hero brought back from the dead, the list goes on.

So who'll be surprised if at this point, Shepard is actually...half machine? That somehow Cerberus implanted a chip in his head, forcing him to obey the Illusive Man. A kill-switch to stop him from defecting?

We'll deal with whatever happens come November 2011.

But let's get back to the matter at hand, first.

Of course, Shepard. Join me.

Still talking to Kolyat?

Yes. It's still difficult. But he seems less angry. Will you hear my confession, Shepard?

Well. Fuck me.

I wouldn't talk to you if I didn't want to hear what you have to say.

When I married Irikah, the hanar let me leave their service to raise a family. But I had no other skills, so I freelanced. When Irikah was killed, I pursued those responsible. Once I'd eliminated him, I had no goal. I accepted the Dantius' commission because I didn't know what else to do.

Let's see. My wife is dead. I killed her killers...now ...I'm going to kill someone evil. OK. Continue, Frank Castle.

I guess you're lucky we came along when we did.

It was an intervention by the gods, I would have died in that penthouse.

Instead, you get to die a horrible death in a suicide mission against giant bugs. Ooops, spoilers.

I would've fulfilled my contract. If Nassana's guards caught me afterwards - it would have been a good death. But someone else was pushing to reach the target. Forcing me to move faster. Challenging me. I had to reach her first.

You're alive because I wounded your pride?

Pride is the line between a professional and a thug.

Thane is happy to go out with a bang, I guess.

That smile. Like a suicide bomber knowing he'll reach paradise upon death, surrounded by eighty virgins, bathing in the eternal sweet fountains.

I was able to speak with my son again.

When he put it like that, it made me feel kinda sad inside.

We've got a long way to go before you can rest.

I know. I'm prepared for whatever comes.

Speaking of whatever comes, the crew's pretty upbeat about the mission so far.

I still need to secure one squad-mate's loyalty first. If only for character completion's sake.

We have completed our analysis of the Reaper's data core.

Did you find anything useful?

We were sent to the Old Machine to preserve the Geth's future. We are prepared to reveal how. The heretics have developed a weapon to use against the geth. You would call it a 'virus.' It is stored on a data core provided by Sovereign. Over time, the virus will change us. Make us conclude that worshiping the Old Machine is correct.

Heh. That's a pretty low-blow to Project Overlord's goal. Or is it just recycled material?

So why did you need to go to the Reaper corpse?

The heretics store the code in a quantum storage device Sovereign provided. To find and destroy the virus, we needed to understand its code and data storage structures.

So the virus would give all the geth the heretic's logic. And all the geth would then go to war with organics.

Yes. Geth believe all intelligent life should self-determinate. The heretics no longer share this belief. They judge that forcing an invalid conclusion on us is preferable to a continued schism.

I thought the Geth couldn't be hacked or get viruses? At least for more than a few seconds.

Altered programs are restored from the archives, new installations are deleted. This heretic weapon introduces a subtle operating error in our most basic runtime. The equivalent of your nervous system. An equation with a result of 1.33382 returns as 1.33381. This changes the result of all higher processes. We will reach different conclusions.

So the reason they worship the Reapers is...

.......wait for it......

A math error?

It is difficult to express. Your brain exists as chemistry, electricity. Like AIs, you are shaped by both hardware and software. We are purely software. Mathematics. The heretic's conclusion is valid for them. Our conclusion is valid for us. Neither result is an error. An analogy. Heretics say DA 1 is less than 2. Geth say DA 2 less than ME 3.

If it were released, how quickly this virus spread through your people?

We are networked via FTL comm buoys. Most would change within a day. Isolated platforms would remain unaffected until they rejoin the network.

Let's blow it up then.

You know where this thing is?

The heretics' headquarters station, on the edge of Terminus. We will provide coordinates. Normandy's stealth systems are necessary to safely approach.

What's the plan once we get on board?

The geth will disrupt their network. Prevent the station's defenses from focusing on us. The Reaper data core is physically isolated from the network. We will need to be escorted to it to access and destroy the data.

What defenses should we expect.

In space, none. Within, mobile platforms of various configuration, and non-sentient defense turrets.

How many geth?
\

There may be billions of individual programs. Fortunately, most will be uploaded to the central computer. Only a few mobile platforms are maintained at any time. Others are manufactured when needed.

Heretic headquarters. Sounds like we could end their raids once and for all. Let's do it.

Total victory is possibility. We cannot judge the odds during this time. Regardless, we will begin preparations.

Here we go!

Joker starts to mock and herp the derp.

I pity da foo'

We're in.

So we wear our gas helmets. But I gotta love Zaeed's headwear. Fucking post-apoc.

Won't we be detected? Don't they have intrusion alarms?

Sensors have been reduced. We have infiltrated their wireless network and filled the data storage with random bits.

And that helps us how?

The heretics must scrub this 'junk' data. They have partitioned themselves into local networks, working in parallel. Any alarm that we trigger will not go beyond the room we are in. Only accessing the main core will trigger a station-wide alert.

Alright, we've got a job to do. Let's get to it.

Shepard-Commander. We concluded that destruction of this station was the only resolution to the heretic question. There is now a second option. Their virus can be re-purposed. If released into the station's network, the heretics will be rewritten to accept our truth.

Zaeed might have a point. I still don't trust Legion's motives in this. Converting these guys aren't exactly turning it to Shepard's side, merely giving them back to the geth. Fuck that shit.

Why didn't you mention this before we came aboard?

We did not know the virus was complete. It is. It can be used against the true geth at any time. Our arrival was timely.

They're your people, Legion. You must have an opinion.

This is new data. We have not yet reached consensus. We will process as the mission proceeds.

If this were an organic race, it might be an ethical problem. Geth aren't like organic life. Don't apply our morality to them.

That is (EXTREME-ly) logical.

The geth says to kill the geth. That's all I need to hear.

No to species are identical. All must be judged on their own merits. Treating every species like one's own is racist. Even benign anthropomorphism.

The minds of both forms of life can be shaped. Organics require time and effort. With synthetics, replacement of a data file is the only requirement.

Right. Let's go.

Interrupting data streams will alert local network. We recommend preemptive strike against hardlink routers.

Yeah, what Legion means is if I step on the green lines, the whole pacified geths will activate and go hostile. What are they doing when they're not active?

They are plugged into a hub, just like a Borg.

Blow 'em up.

We should salvage these geth hubs. Looks like some good resources here.

Worth 3k a pop.

These are mobile platforms. Hardware. The crew is software. They are communing through the station's central computer.

I'm not sure I follow.

I can hear the Legion's barely audible digitized sigh.

The heretics connect to the main computer to exchange data memories and program updates. We gain complexity by linking together. To be isolated within a single platform is to be reduced. We see less. Comprehend less. It is quieter.

So if you exchange data - memories - how do you keep track of which ones are yours? How do you stay "you"?

There is only "we." We were created to share data among ourselves. The difference between geth is perspective. We are many eyes looking at the same things. One platform will see things another does not and will make different judgment.

If that's the case, is rewriting the heretics that big a deal? They're like a rogue limb of your own body. Rewriting them would be like reattaching a severed arm.

They decided to worship Sovereign. I don't think you're missing much.

Every point of view is useful, even those that are wrong - if we can judge why a wrong view was accepted. For example we have found the casual self-deceptions of organics useful in analyzing your thought processes.

Legion went into great details of the geth fooling an entire galaxy with a star cluster depicting a goddess when the dots are connected. The geth later observed that organics start to believe that there is a god. All skeptics were shot down and shunned, until the believers attempted a pilgrimage to investigate the star up close - the geth deactivated their optical illusion, the belief was instantly shattered, the tables turned on the believers instead.

Let's keep moving.

This research data only boost geth shield, and therefore affect Legion only. Useless.

Processors. Each contains thousands of geth.

You sure they can't see us?

They are no more aware of us than you are of cells in your bloodstreams.

This isn't like the other hubs we've seen here.

This is a database. It contains a portion of the heretics' accumulated memories. Wait. We discovered copies of our current patrol routes in this database. This suggests the heretics have runtimes within our networks.

We wouldn't be here if the heretics wanted to be friends with the geth. Why wouldn't they spy on you?

You do not understand. Organics do not know each other's minds Geth do. We are not suspicious. We accept each other. The heretics desired to leave. We understood their reasons. We allowed it. There was peace between us.

The heretics were biding their time. Waiting for an opportunity to attack you.

If they reached this judgment before they left us, we would have heard it in their thoughts. How could we have become so different? Why can we no longer understand each other?

The flip side of freedom is responsibility. They made a bad choice. Let them own it. You're not responsible for their decisions.

That argument is logical for an individual mind. We are not fully individuals. There are pieces of us in the heretics. One of those may be at fault. This topic is irrelevant. We must return to the mission.

Have you reached a decision about whether to rewrite the heretics or not?

We are still trying to build consensus. Some processes judge destruction preferable. Others rewrite.

Let's keep moving.

Yes. We will upload a copy of our runtime into the core. It will delete all copies of the virus. When complete, it will notify us.

We can override some of the station's internal systems to defend us. Are you ready to begin?

Start your upload, Legion. We'll defend this position.

The heretics will start pouring in all shapes and sizes. Thankfully there's plenty of turrents to override and help out. They'll converge on the two side stairways leading to our positions.

Zaeed's disruptor ammo is tearing them to bits.

Why are you letting me make this decision? They're your people.

We are conflicted. There is no consensus among our higher-order runtimess: 573 favor rewrite, and 571 favor destruction.

Right. Ask the guy who spent half of his life being shot by the geths, and even losing his comrades to the geth to decide the fate of the geth. Processing error. Reason 404, buddy.

There's no guarantee they won't come to the same conclusions again, is there? To worship the Reapers, and attack organics?

There is a non-zero probability of error.

Then blow them up. We have a chance to end this. I won't waste it.

Acknowledged.

Even the official missions have time limits. Fuck DLCs!

A geth prime lies at the end of the long corridor shootouts.

Strip the shield, then switch to pistols for better penetration.

Mission accomplished.

Now, wasn't that more interesting and content-wise, much better than Overlord?
Tell you what, Bioware, why don't you just get Shepard VA and Legion's VA into a DLC production. Have all geths speak in their own language and use Legion as translator? Let us explore their territory a bit, won't you?

That's it for companion's loyalty. We're heading to the finale on next update.

 

[GarfunkeL]

ASSUMING CONTROL

 

[Mrowak]

I find it quite disturbing that Legion along with EDI are the two most interesting characters you will ever meet in Mass Effect 2. Maybe because they don't require so much emo psychoanalysis after each misson...

 

[lightbane]

It tells a lot of Bioware when Legion itself is probably much better than DA2's entire cast. I hope he'll be in ME3...

 

[Jaedar]

Legion is my favorite ME2 character and his loyalty mission is spectacular as well.


I hope you will play arrival at some point RK47

 

[RK47]

Oh, boy. Another conflict that is triggered with twin loyalty gains. Miranda will clash with Jack. Tali will clash with Legion. I heard rumors of Garrus clashing with Grunt/Mordin, but that was cut out. But does it matter? It's a simple Paragon/Renegade check. It's to punish those indecisive Shepard. If he can't gain meet the Paragon/Renegade requirement, he will be unable to convince both sides to compromise. But the game does give you a chance to build up the required points later, and speak to the unhappy party.

I'm on it, Joker.

We weakened the geth by destroying that base, Shepard, but they're still a threat! I won't let Legion endanger the Fleet!

Creator-Tali'zorah...

WAIT A MINUTE! You called Shepard, 'Shepard-Commander' but you refer to Tali as 'Creator-Tali'zorah'! HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY! You're A MACHINE!

...acts out of loyalty to her people. She was willing to be exiled to protect them. We must also protect our people from the Creator threat.

Tali, of course the geth are worried about your people! You want to destroy them!

It's not that simple!

And Legion, what the hell were you thinking? Are you trying to undermine this entire operation?

We did not intend to decrease operational efficiency.

Or does Shepard have to choke a bitch?

I think both got the message.

To facilitate unit cohesion, we will not transmit data regarding Creator plans.

And let them get blown up by their not-so-secret-weapon that only you know about. Brilliant.

Thank you, Legion. I ...understand your intention. What if I gave you some non-classified data to send?

Aww, look at 'em. They've made up already.

Meh, let's ask Legion about the heretics status now.

What happens to the heretics now?

Many heretics remain in isolated systems. It is not impossible for them to rebuild.

There's a still a chance they could attack again?

The probability is zero. If so, it would take many years.

You mean two years till ME3 comes out.

Since we have the resources to spare, we outfit Legion with better shields.

That's awesome news!

That's not entirely accurate, Mr. Moreau. The device is powered, but it is causing some unusual stability in other systems. I recommend a more thorough analysis before we attempt to use it.

We can't put our mission on hold forever. How long with this take?

A full scan? Who knows with this thing. Maybe you better take a shuttle for this mission. I'll make sure we're up and running when you get back.

(Over comms.) Commander. Miranda. I've already notified the team. We'll meet you on the shuttle. Once we're closer to our destination you can decide who to take with you.

Hell, there's not much mission to go for, I guess we'll be taking some shore leave at Omega. A final party before the real fireworks start maybe?

The Afterlife is still as awesome as ever.

Fuck, yes.

 

[TNO]

Posting in an epic thread.

But on topic. I love how the game just plot-forces your party away for this abduction. "Yes, lets herd all all the party on a shuttle and send them off somewhere, cos nothing is going to go wrong." At least give some excuse why the team needs to bugger off instead of kicking back and waiting for things to be ready to rock.