Alot.

Shepard looks down at Earth from the Normandy's window.

(Ambassador Udina): "Well, what about Shepard? She's a spacer. Lived aboard starships most of her life."

(Captain Anderson): "Military service runs in the family. Both her parents were in the navy."

(Admiral Hackett): "She proved herself during the Blitz. Held off enemy forces on the ground until reinforcements arrived."

(Anderson): "She's the only reason Elysium is still standing."

(Udina): "We can't question her courage."

(Anderson): "Humanity needs a hero and Shepard's the best we got."

(Udina): "I'll make the call."

In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacfaring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a **** that controlled the very fabric of space and time. They called it the greatest discovery in human history. The civilizations of the galaxy call it...

Mass Effect.

(Commander Shepard POV)

The ship flys away from Earth. The relay then sling shots it at faster then light speed. You go to the cockpit to check on Joker.

(Joker): "Thrusters? Check. Navigation? Check. Internal imitation sync engaged. All systems online. Drift? Just under 1500K"

(Nihlus): "1500 is good. Your captain will be pleased." He walks away.

(Joker): Looks to Kaidan in the co pilot seet. "I hate that guy."

(Kaidan): "Nihlus gave you a compliment... so you hate him?"

You walk behind Jokers chair.

(Joker): "You remember to zip up your jumpsuit on the way out of the bathroom? That's good. I just jumped us halfway across the galaxy and hit a target the size of a pinhead. So thats incredible! Besides, Spectres are trouble. I don't like having him on board. Call me paranoid."

(Kaidan): "You're paranoid. The council helped fund this project. They have a right to send someone to keep an eye on their investment."

(Joker): "Yeah, that is the official story. But only an idiot believes the official story."

(Shepard): "They dont send Spectres on shakedown runs."

(Joker): "So theres more going on here then the captain is letting on."

Captain Anderson sends a message to the cockpit. "Jocker, status report."

(Joker): "Just cleared the Mass Relay. Stealth system is online. Everything looks solid."

(Anderson): "Good. Find a comm buoy and link us into the network. I want mission reports relayed back to the Alliance brass before we reach Eden Prime."

(Joker): "Aye aye captain. Better brace yourself. I think Nihlus is heading your way."

(Anderson): "He's already here lieutenant. Tell commader Shepard to meet me in the comm room for a debriefing."

(Joker): "You get that commander?"

(Shepard): "He sounds angry. Something must have gone wrong with the mission."

(Joker): "Pfft. Captain always sound like that when he's talking to me."

(Kaidan): "Can't possibly imagine why."

You walk out of the cockpit and decide to speek to navigator Pressly.

(Pressly): "Congratulations Commander. Looks like we had a smooth run. You heading down to see the captain?"

(Shepard): "Sounds like you don't trust our Turian guest."

(Pressly): "Sorry Commander. Just having a chat with Adams down in engineering. Didn't mean to cause any trouble. But you have to admit there is something's odd about this mission. The whole crew feels it."

(Shepard): "You think the Alliance brass is holding out on us?"

(Pressly): "If all we're supposed to do is test out the stealth system, why is captain Anderson incharge? And then there's Nihlus. Spectres are elite opporitives. Top coververt agents. Why send a Spectre, a Turian Spectre on a shakedown run? It doesn't add up."

(Shepard): "I was curious about a few things."

(Pressly): "You and me both. Like I said, too many things just don't add up on this mission."

(Shepard): "What do you know about the stealth systems?"

(Pressly): "I just know it masks our location from scanners and sensors. Cutting edge technology. The Normandy is 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. Pretty obvious the shakedown is just a cover."

(Shepard): "For what?"

(Pressly): "Dambed if I know commander. We're hear on false pretenses. I'm not a fan of being left in the dark."

(Shepard): "Do you have a problem with the captain?"

(Pressly): "No Ma'am, but I can't figure out what he's doing hear. Captain Anderson is 1 of the most decorated special forces officers in the service. If he melted down all his medals, he could make a life sized sculpture of himself. You don't send a solider like that on a do nothing mission."

(Shepard): "You don't trust Nihlus."

(Pressly): "I don't like turian's in general. Runs in my family. Grandfather faught in the first contact war, lost alot of friends when the turian's hit us."

(Shepard): "That was 30 years ago. You can't blame Nihlus for that."

(Pressly): "No, I guess not. But it makes me nervous to have a Spectre on board, especially a turian. We're in a 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."

(Shepard): "I'll see if I can get some answers if I see him"

(Pressly): "Good luck commander."

As you keep walking you stop by corporal Jenkins and doctor Chakwas as they are having a conversation.

(Jenkins): "What do you think commander? We won't be staying on 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): "You need to calm down corporal. A good solider stays cool, even under fire."

(Jenkins): "Sorry commander but this waiting is killing me. I've never been on a mission like this before, especially 1 with a Spectre on board."

(Shepard): "Just treat this like any other asingnment you've had and everything will turn out fine."

(Jenkins): "Easy for you to say. You already proved yourself. Everyone knows what you can do. This is my big chance. I need to show the brass what I can do."

(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 Ma'am, I'm not going to screw this up."

(Shepard): "What can you tell me about Nihlus?"

(Chakwas): "Turian's are generally well respected by the other species. There fleet has more ships patroling citadel space then any other. They don't always get along well with us though. Some people find them, too ridged. Some still blame them for the first contact war. As for Nihlus, I haven't said more then 2 words to him. Usually he only speaks to the captain."

(Jenkins): "I hope we get to see him in action. I heard that Nihlus took down an entire enemy platoon all by himself."

(Shepard): "What do you know about the Spectres?"

(Chakwas): "Only what I heard. Spectre agents work directly for thr 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 an any cost. Don't forget that part. Spectre's operate above the law."

(Shepard): "Why don't we have any of our own people in there?"

(Chakwas): "Spectre's usually come from the council races, like the turian's. We've been trying to get a human accepted into there ranks for years now. So far, it hasn't happened."

(Jenkins): "Hey commander, you'd make a good Spectre."

(Shepard): "How do you control agents with unlimited power?"

(Chakwas): "I supose the Council could revoke the Spectre static if an agent ever got out of hand. At that point citadel security services would take over."

(Jenkins): "Those CSect grunts wouldn't stand a chance. Spectre's are worth 20 ordinary soldiers. Spectre's police themselves. An agent go's rouge, they send another agent to take them down. Thats Spectre justice."

(Chakwas): "The corporal is confusing romantic legend with reality commander."

(Shepard): "Your from Eden Prime, aren't you Jenkins? Whats it like?"

(Jenkins): "It's very peaceful. They've been very carful with development so you don't have any city noise or pollution. My parents lived on the outskirts of the colony. At night me and my pal Birch used to climb up this big hill at night and stare across the hills at the lights from the big settlement. It was gorgeous, but when I got older I realized it was a bit too calm and quiet for me. Birch on the other hand loves quiet and hates ****, so we got in a big fight when I told him I was joining the military. Now that I think about it. If we have some extra time, I'd appreciate it if I can go see him so we can patch things up."

(Shepard): "Any idea why Eden Prime was chosen as our destination?"

(Jenkins): "Not really sure. Eden Prime is 1 of our most stable colonys. Good place to take the Normandy for a shake down run I guess. No real danger there. Theres got to be something else going on. We got a Spectre on board."

(Shepard): "The captain is waiting on me."

(Chakwas): "Goodbye commander."

You open the door next to those 2 and enter the captain's quarters. Nihlus turns around to face you.

(Nihlus): "Commander Shepard. I was hoping you'd get here first. It will give us a chance to talk."

(Shepard): "The captain said he would meet me hear."

(Nihlus): "He is on his way. I'm interested in this world we're going to. Eden Prime. I've heard its quite beautiful."

(Shepard): "They say its a paradise."

(Nihlus): "Yes, a paradise. Surine, tranquil, safe. Eden Prime has become something of a symbol for your people, hasn't it? Proof that humanity can not only establish colonys across the galaxy, but also protect them. But how safe is it really?"

(Shepard): "Do you know something?"

(Nihlus): "Your people are still newcomers, the galaxy can be a very dangerous place. Is the Alliance truly ready for this?"

Anderson walks in.

(Anderson): "I think it's about time we told the commander whats really going on."

(Nihlus): "This mission is far more then a simple shake down run."

(Shepard): "I figured there was something you weren't telling us."

(Anderson): "We're making a covert pickup on Eden Prime. Thats why we needed the stealth system operational."

(Shepard): "There must be a reason you didn't tell me about this sir."

(Anderson): "This comes down from the top. Information on a strictly need to know basis. A research team on Eden Prime, unearthed some kind of beacon during an escavation. It was prothean."

(Shepard): "I thought the prothean's vanished 50 000 years ago?"

(Nihlus): "There legacy still remains. The mass relay's, the Citadel, our ship drives, it's all based on prothean technology."

(Anderson): "This is big Shepard. The last time humanity made a discovery like this, it jumped our technology 200 years. Eden Prime doesn't have the facilities to handle something like this. We need to bring back the beacon to the Citadel for proper study."

(Nihlus): "Obviously this go's past mear human interest commander. This discovery could effect every species in council space."

(Shepard): "Why didn't we keep the beacon for ourselves?"

(Nihlus): "You humans don't have the best reputation. Some species see you as selfish, too unpredictable, too independent. Even dangerous."

(Anderson): "Sharing that beacon will help improve relations with the Council, plus we need their scientific expertise. They know more about the prothean's then we do."

(Nihlus): "The beacon is not the only reason I'm hear."

(Anderson): "Nihlus wants to see you in action Shepard. He's hear to evaluate you."

(Shepard): "Guess that explains why I bump into him every time I turn around."

(Anderson): "The Alliance has been pushing for this for a long time now. Humanity wants a larger role in shaping interstellar policy. We want more say with the Council. The Spectres represent the Council's power and authority. If they accept a human into their ranks, it shows how far the Alliance has come."

(Nihlus): "Not many could have survived what you went through. Thats why I put your name forward as a candidate for the Spectres."

(Shepard): "Why would a turian want a human in the Spectres?"

(Nihlus): "Not all turian's resent humanity. Some of us see the potential in your species. We see what you have to offer to the rest of the galaxy, and to the Spectres. We are an elite group, it's rare to find an individual with the skills we seek. I don't care that you're human. I only care that you can do the job."

(Shepard): "I assume this is good for the Alliance."

(Anderson): "Earth needs this. We're counting on you."

(Nihlus): "I need to see your skills for myself commander. Eden Prime will be the first of several missions together."

(Anderson): "You'll be incharge of the ground team. Secure the beacon and get it onto the ship asap. Nihlus will accompany you to observe the mission."

(Shepard): "What do you know about the protheans?"

(Anderson): "Just what they told us at school. They where a technology advanced species that ruled the galaxy 50 000 years ago. Then they vanished. Nobody really knows how or why. Although I've heard plenty of theories. But everyone agrees galactic civilization wouldn't exist if it wasn't for them."

(Nihlus): "There citadel is the very heart of galactic society and without there relays interstellar travel would be impossible. We all ow the protheans a great dept."

(Shepard): "Why is this beacon so important?"

(Nihlus): "All advanced galactic civilization is based on prothean technology, even yours."

(Anderson): "If we hadn't discovered those ruins on Mars, we'd still be stuck in our solar system. That was just a small data cash. Who knows what we can learn from this beacon. What if its a weapon archive? We can't let it fall into the wrong hands."

(Shepard): "Like who?"

(Anderson): "The Adican Traverse isn't the most stable sector of Citadel Space. There are plenty of raders and criminal groups active in the reagon. They might figure a Prothean Beacon is worth the wrisk of attacking an Alliance ship. Pluse Eden Prime is right on the border of the Terminus Systems."

(Shepard): "The Adican Traverse is under citadel protection. If the Terminus Systems attack, it's an act of war."

(Nihlus): "Technically yes, but some species in the Terminus might be willing to start a war over this."

(Anderson): "The last thing the Council wants is to be draged into a major conflict with the Terminus Systems. We have to keep this low key."

(Shepard): "Just say the word captain."

(Anderson): "We should be getting close to Eden-"

Joker's voice interups Anderson as he messages the captain.

(Joker): "Captain, we got a problem."

(Anderson): "What is it Joker?"

(Joker): "Transmission from Eden Prime sir, you need to see this."

(Anderson): "Bring it up on screen."

You watch a giant black hand like ship decend on the planet.

(Joker): "No more coms after that. There's nothing."

(Anderson): "Take us in Joker, fast and quite. This mission just got alot more complicated."

(Nihlus): "A small strike team can move in quickly without drawing attention. It's our best chance to secure the beacon."

(Anderson): He looks at Nihlus. "Grab your gear and meet us at the cargo hold." He looks at you. "Tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up, your going in."

As you go to tell them to suit up, you can't help but think not a single guy on this ship is your type. Are you really going to die a virgin just because of how picky you are? You decide if you get trapped with no way out, you'll let Kaiden or Jenkins hit. If you do survive this mission and you haven't found what your looking for by the end of the galatic year, you'll lower your standards.