#war hero shepard

[acciokaidanalenko]

Natasha's version of Mass Effect is a bit different than what we know as Canon. I've been working on this ME1 novelization for over two years now, and it is definitely a labor of love! If you'd like to catch up on what I already have completed (both Part One and Part Two), here's the link to the whole thing on AO3! I'm currently working on Part Three and it's coming along beautifully!

Part One: Prologue/Eden Prime Ch. 1: "29" Ch. 2: Arcturus Station Ch. 3: Final Preparations Ch. 4: Departure Ch. 5: Paradise Ch. 6: SitRep Ch. 7: Witnesses Ch. 8: The Rogue Spectre Ch. 9: In the Aftermath Ch. 10: Nightmares and Apologies

Part Two: The Citadel Ch. 11: The Citadel Ch. 12: The Presidium Ch. 13: Down Time Ch. 14: The Council Ch. 15: Searching for Proof Ch. 16: The Quarian Ch. 17: The First Human Spectre

Part Three: Therum... now posting!! 🤗 Ch. 18: Assassination Attempt Ch. 19: Special Tactics and Reconnaissance Ch. 20: posting on 1/7/25!

[dalekofchaos]

Fixing Kai Leng

The problem with Kai Leng is Mac Walters desperately tried to convince us that Leng was Shepard's ultimate equal when he could barely hold his own against an aged Anderson and a Drell with terminal cancer and in the end he was a tryhard egdelord that would make Kylo Ren embarrassed.

The solution to this is make Leng deeply connected to Shepard's personal history. Making him be a ghost from Shepard's past with a personal connection would have made this character much better. His backstory could change with whatever your selections are for Shepard.

If you are Earthborn, you are both members of the 10th Street Reds

If you are a Spacer, Leng and Shepard's families served together and Shepard and Leng were childhood friends

If you are a Colonist, Leng was Shepard's childhood friend and was in the rubble with Shepard

If you are a War Hero, Leng was wounded as Shepard held off the Batarians during Elysium. Leng's survival and stand against the Batarians attack on Elysium caught Cerberus' interest.

If you are Sole Survivor, you both survived an ambush on Akuze. Only Leng wasn't taken to be experimented on. Leng was recruited into joining Cerberus for his survival. Cerberus convinces Leng that the Alliance left him for dead and so did Shepard. Leng's sense of betrayal and human supremacy leads him to joining Cerberus

If you are Ruthless, you and Leng slaughtered the Batarians on Torfan without mercy, The sense of ruthlessness inspired Leng's cold hearted exterior and human supremacist beliefs and led him to Cerberus.

Where do we go from here? Replace Jacob with Kai Leng. And the books would be his ventures with Cerberus(but less as a cringe tryhard) Jacob ultimately added to nothing. He's so fucking boring and unlikable and turns into the stereotypical black guy who cheats on you.

Kai Leng's motivation when it comes to Cerberus would be this. I would say he was a young man who wanted to serve the human race and the alliance but when he saw that the politics of the Alliance kept holding him back from doing the right thing or the greater good,  he saw that Cerberus was the only ones helping humanity.

Remove the cyber ninja aesthetic and combine Soldier, Adapt and Engineer to make him a Cerberus super soldier.

As for Kai Leng. A Leng who has personal history with Shepard has potential, plus Leng being indoctrinated with Cerberus human supremacist beliefs, but also somebody with a moral conscience when it comes to the missing human colonists, somebody emotional that you could agree with or understand, contrasting Miranda as a starting squadmate.

Through the course of ME2, he would grow on you as the rest of the squadmates of ME2 did. His loyalty mission would be centered around our background. If we're a War hero, we hunt down the Batarians who survived Elysium. If we are Sole Survivor, we hunt down the Alliance officer who led their squad to Akuze. If we're Ruthless, we deal with Batarians who want revenge for Torfan who plan on giving human hostages to the Collectors. Throughout their talks, Shepard can convince Leng that Cerberus is wrong and eventually Leng's loyalty with Cerberus begins to wavers, especially after TIM sends them to be ambushed in the Collector ship.

Leng started completely loyal to Cerberus, but when he works with Shepard he sees that Cerberus is wrong, but stayed loyal, but also loyal to Shepard. When The Illusive Man asks Shepard to give the base over and when he/she refuses, he asks Leng to force it. This is where Kai Leng finally stands up to Cerberus. Kai Leng all his life, all he wanted to do is serve and protect humanity. He sees that the humans of the Terminus Systems were proceed into becoming a human Reaper and was horrified and when the man he looked up to for years says we should use what killed the humans, he gets the message we should sacrifice humanity and the costs of uplifting humanity. Kai Leng has had enough. He sees through the illusion of Cerberus and with Miranda tells TIM to fuck off and he stays loyal to Shepard.

Between the events of ME2 and ME3, when Shepard betrays Cerberus, they realize that Kai Leng is probably the strongest link between Shepard and themselves, and try to use him against Shepard. Not as lucky as Miranda, TIM does not want to lose Leng so he captures and indoctrinates Leng, making him an agent, and reprogramming his mind to become somebody he was not before, working mindlessly for TIM, as his first lieutenant in combat, much like Bucky Barnes, we have an emotional connection to Kai Leng before seeing him as a villain in ME3.

The first time we'd see Leng in ME3 is on Earth. We see this lead Cerberus Phantom in a unique mask stalking you and Anderson. And as we're leaving Earth, we see Kai Leng killing Anderson. With Shepard swearing revenge.

Throughout ME3, Leng would be stalking Shepard. Causing trouble as we encounter Cerberus. Trying to kill Eve, activating the bomb on Tuchunka and the attempt on the Council.

He would become the same Kai Leng that we all know and hate but we would be able to sympathize with him more.

When we finally confront him in Priority Citadel, we face him and omni-slash his mask off. We get the reveal. Shepard is shocked, Leng hesitates after hearing Shepard utter his name. Maybe in the Cerberus coup on the Citadel, if his loyalty mission was completed in ME2, he would not kill Thane, out of respect of a former squadmate, and regain conscious thought again for a brief moment to spare him. 

It would also help to explain his inexplicable plot armor. Rather than surviving against the onslaught of Shepard due to plot reasons, he would not be killed, as Shepard still sympathizes with him, and doesn't want to kill him, sparing him and letting him escape, or not being able to fully focus, hoping there's a little bit of the real Kai Leng still in there.

Of course this would lead to multiple outcomes towards the end of the game. He could either be recruited back or un-indoctrinated somehow, but for a good plot he would only be able to turn good again and rejoin the squad way too late in the game, maybe in the last third of the game, like Legion in ME2. Bonus points if you can romance him as Femshep, would still make a better romance carrying on to ME3 than Jacob.

Otherwise, he would have to be killed and could not be saved. I don't think that convincing him to commit suicide like Saren or TIM would work, because it would be too similar to the TIM suicide not too long, and would lose impact because of it. He would have to be fought and killed one last time in combat, and have a tragic end most likely.

If we saved Kai Leng, he would've been transported on the beam. Depending on your reputation and war readiness, Leng can break through the indoctrination and kill The Illusive Man or Leng kills himself, which distracts TIM and Shepard shoots The Illusive Man. If Leng broke through and killed TIM, he apologizes for killing Anderson and being unable to control himself. If you were just friends they hug, if they were LI, they kiss. Leng's fate would be either being aboard the Normandy to put Shepard's plaque on the memorial or finding Shepard's body and bringing him back and then we'd get Shepard putting Anderson's plaque on the Normandy.

SO that's how I would've handled Kai Leng. Making him more connected to Shepard and less of a tryhard edgelord that they made him to be in canon.

[major-alenko]

N7 Month Day 13: Reputation

Summary: At the awards ceremony after Elysium, Tara Shepard meets her future mentor. (1,140 words)

Tara was suffocating under the bright lights on the stage. She sat on the edge of her chair, back ramrod straight, as the Prime Minister droned on and on, gesturing and occasionally saying words like honor, duty, and pride.

She felt like she was going to be sick.

The weeks since Elysium had been a blur; debriefings, interviews, an officer’s commission. Her face splashed across every ANN broadcast: hero of the Blitz. Everyone from her shipmates to the Alliance brass looked at her like she was a brand-new person. 

And then there was the N7 commendation. Tara had let it sit in her inbox for days without opening it. She hadn’t even told her parents about it; talking about it would make it real— she wasn’t sure if she wanted it to be.

Hours of fighting. Gunfire, screams. Fatigue digging into her bones. Forcing herself to stay upright and conscious just a little longer— until help arrived. Blocking everything except “hold this position” out of her mind. Dead colonists. Dead comrades. Dead pirates. Tara clutched her rifle tightly, trying to steady her shaking hands. These people’s lives depend on us. I can’t let them down. 

A loud explosion echoes through the air. The pirates start retreating. She hears Estevez whoop over the comm. Alliance forces are landing, pinning the invaders in place. The sight makes Tara weak with relief. 

It’s over. We won. 

She emerges from the garrison, wincing as she shoves past the hastily cobbled-together barricade she had assembled. One of the responding marines is the detail commander from the SSV Milan. 

“Corporal?” His voice was disbelieving. “Shepard, is that you?” 

Tara stares at him. He smells like aftershave and recycled ship air. She’s covered in grit, head to toe, shaking from adrenaline, with blood trickling down the side of her face. The only thing keeping her on her feet is a lifetime of military protocol, instilled in her before she could walk.

“Yes, sir.” She manages to salute before collapsing to her knees, overwhelmed by exhaustion.

“Shepard!”

“—Lieutenant Shepard, who showed extraordinary bravery, exemplifying the traits that every Alliance soldier should embody…” Prime Minister Vaughan was still going. “For this reason, I proudly present you with this Star of Terra in recognition of your distinguished service.” 

He turned towards her, holding the medal in his hands. Tara clambered to her feet, plastering a smile on her face as he pinned it to the front of her uniform. He clasped her hand in an extremely sweaty handshake as the room echoed with polite applause. 

“Thank you,” she managed, mentally planning her escape ASAP. She saw her parents rising from their seats. “I’m honored.” She let go of his hand, resisting the impulse to wipe it on her pants. He simpered at her a few moments longer as the press swarmed in to get their pictures.

The minute the cameras turned off, Vaughan turned his back to her and left without another word. Thank God. Tara stepped off the stage and walked over to where her parents were standing. 

“Congratulations, sweetheart,” Dad said, pulling her into a one-armed hug. Mom joined in after a second, hesitant as always in moments of familial affection. 

“We’re so proud of you,” Mom said finally, the first to break out of the embrace. “Do you want to go get some refreshments?” 

Tara grimaced. “Do we have to?” Glad-handing with a roomful of politicians and generals was the last thing she wanted to do right now. Her mother gave her father an appealing look. 

“I’m afraid so,” he drawled. “It would be impolite for the guest of honor to bail on a party the Alliance taxpayers will foot the bill for regardless, don’t you think?” When he saw Tara’s wounded expression, he shifted his tone. “We don’t have to stay long.” 

The compromise placated both mother and daughter, so they trailed down the hall to the reception room. As Tara had feared, it was packed with people. Her parents claimed a table and joined the line for refreshments. Tara had no interest in eating, so she sat alone at the table, absently bouncing her leg as she waited for them to return. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a tall man she didn’t immediately recognize sitting down across from her. His uniform was crisp and immaculate, but there was a hardness to him that spoke to his experience. Something that set him apart from the other people roaming the room in search of prestige and influence. He was a soldier. 

 “Congratulations, Lieutenant,” he said, reaching out to shake her hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Captain David Anderson.” 

“Thank you, sir,” she replied. “Pleased to meet you.”

Anderson looked at her for a long moment before he spoke again. “I understand you’ve been invited to N7 training, Lieutenant.” Tara swallowed hard. No bullshit. Straight to the point. Ordinarily, she appreciated straightforward people, but when she was the one trying to be evasive, it wasn’t as refreshing.

“I—well, yes, sir,” she stammered, feeling flustered.

“And is there a reason you haven’t given them an answer? The next training class starts before too long.”

Tara thought for a minute before she responded. “I just don’t know if I’m…,” she said meekly, trailing off.  Even to her ears, it was a pathetic answer. 

Anderson nodded. “I understand that. It’s a big decision. A lot of responsibility. But let me ask you this, Shepard: are you holding yourself back because you honestly don’t think you’re ready, or are you afraid of what others will expect from you?”

Tara glanced away. Anderson had her pinned to the wall and they both knew it. He wasn’t condemning her; he was speaking from a place of understanding. Years of military leadership separated them now, but he, too, had once been a young officer unsure of himself. 

The idea was encouraging. She looked back up at him. He was still watching her closely, waiting for her answer. Her parents were standing a few tables away, looking perplexed. 

“I’ll…consider it,” Tara said, smiling slightly, genuinely, for the first time today. Anderson noticed her parents waiting and stood up from the table. He clapped her on the shoulder as he got out of the way. 

“Perfect,” he replied. “You’re a damn good soldier, Shepard. Don’t waste this opportunity.”

“No, sir. I won’t. Thank you again.” With that, he left and Tara’s parents sat down, her mother taking the seat that Anderson had vacated.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“Captain David Anderson,” Tara replied. Her mind was still racing, thinking about what he’d said. 

“Really?” Mom craned her neck, trying to glimpse him as he left the room. “Well, what on earth did he want?” 

“He just had some advice for me,” Tara said. “Did I tell you I was invited to join the N7 program?”

[dan-lee99]

Elanos Haliat overlooking Elysium by Josh Hano

[mass-effect-anonymous]

CONFESSION:

I noticed that colonist and sole survivor always seem to be paired. Which, angst. I get it. But what about colonist and war hero? A Shepard who will not let their tragedy repeat itself, ever.

[scionshtola]

well i like her

[theshepcollective]

Shayla Jane (Shay) Shepard

Shay belongs to the lovely @rosebud1773.

Backstory - Earthborn.

Background - War Hero.

Class - Adept.

Alignment - Paragrade.

Lover(s) - Madly in love with Garrus Vakarian.

Shay is an Aries through and through. She’s a fiercely loyal war hero, a natural leader, and needs nobody (though she’s much happier when Garrus is around). She won’t hesitate to headbutt anyone who messes with the people she loves.

[serwill]

will im glad I found ur gaming blog now bc i always got excited when you reblogged game gifs on your main (‘oh they like those too!!’) and now I get to interrogate you on your gaming taste w/o feeling bad!! have you ever played dishonored? I feel like it would be right up your ally. also are you the type of person to really flesh out your wardens/shepards? and if so…would u care to share some facts about them. im currently playing through me3 1st time right now and im having the time of my life!!! the combat is so much fun and i love the visuals & atmosphere. you’re right about it being special. one last question what class did you play in me bc I feel like u would love vangaurd LMAO ok sorry for like the ten questions im just excited. hope ur well, much love!!! xoxo

omg hello hello dear !!! come and sit with me, yes yes !!!

i have never played dishonored actually !!! i think i have one of them in my steam library that i got on sale a few years ago, bc it's actually one of my partner's favorite games !!! and they talk about it so highly !! so i'm glad you brought it up bc that reminds me to play it LOL

and you know......it has actually been a while since i fully played through either me or da so....i actually don't have any facts for them 🥺 bc i never fleshed them out !!!! but you know what, that actually sounds so fun and i am going to do that !!! and come back with more for them !!! especially as i'm replaying da:o !! lemme make pinterest boards so i don't forget 😌😌😌 ty for suggesting it !!! how fun !!! do you have any fun facts to share about your shepard or warden !!!

you know, vanguard does sound like me, and i think if i were to choose today, that class would be one of my final picks !! but !!! i am not a shotgun girlie LOL and that always struck it out for me, bc i prefer long range !!! so i always chose infiltrator, bc i also liked the engineer aspect of it 😌😌 and sniper rifles 😌 what was your preferred class !!!!

omg never feel bad about asking me about gaming !! i love to talk about games 😌🩷✨️ tysm for asking !!! 🩷🩷🩷

[anotherhawk]

In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacefaring 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 force 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.

[tenderpinch]

Shepard on shore leave, 30 minutes before the Skyllian Blitz begins ((wip))

[Female Shepard is wearing a black bikini, hip-deep in a calm sea. There’s a tad of under-boob visible. She is smiling and holds an undisclosed drink can. The shore is behind her; it’s littered with towels, beach umbrellas and chairs. There are cliffs and mountains in the deep background.]

[dutyworn]

me about to play the endgame for wren this playthrough: were fine everythings fine all fine this is fine everyones fine,

[acciokaidanalenko]

Taking on the Universe: Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen: Special Tactics and Reconnaissance

Summary: Natasha is given a crash course in what it means to be a Spectre. CW/TW: None

Preview of chapter below the cut. AO3 link: here.

[major-alenko]

I’m curious which combinations people prefer/which are more popular compared to what I’ve seen around the fandom. Please reblog for a larger sample size and share your opinions, if you’d like!

[gaiaplantress]

My brain deals with stress by going ‘hey you can smash two of your fandoms together and have your OTPs on the same ship’.   So Mass Effect AU Wei Wuxian in pursuit of  Wangxian and Shakarian supremacy .  Very specifically catered to me but it’s making me happy and I have put far to much thought into this.

 Alliance Lieutenant (I think I got the rank markings right, IDK) Wei who probably should have gotten in more trouble for insubordination but Captain Hannah Shepard took a liking to him. Around when the Reapers show up he suddenly finds himself on the Normandy.   Captain Shepard basically sent her daughter a message that said ‘sending you a trouble maker, you’ll probably like him’.  Ends up getting along with everyone on the ship.

LWJ is a turian.  Because it’s funny and I like the concept.  Supposed to be sort of an aide/liaison for Garrus but Not Happy about that fact, or the human who keeps bothering him when he shows up.  Wen Qing is still human.  Worked with Dr. Chakwas once.   Chakwas actually gets a message from her going ‘I heard Wei was on your ship now.  Good luck keeping him in one piece’. 

Nie clan are now Krogans because I find the thought of Huaisang being a krogan hilarious.

Maybe Baoshan Sanren as a terrifyingly powerful Asari Matriarch  who no one has really seen for centuries?

(Anatomy and Omnitool are scuffed because I didn’t look at many references, I just had to get this out of my head. )

[shizuu-chann]

Honestly, it surprises me the amount of people who play Sole Survivor. Not that it's a bad service record for Shep, and it's compelling and interesting, it just doesn't appeal to me. I would have thought more people would play the War Hero service rec. Idk why, probably something about being a big hero and being loved for making a difference.

I also always play a Colonist background, though. Earthborn (to me) is just too boring--bc if I'm given the opportunity to be from anywhere NOT Earth in a sci fi game, I'm choosing that--and Spacer is...idk, meh? I think I just like the tragedy of losing one's family and being haunted by it, and with Spacer, Shep has their mom (and for my one Spacer Shep, her dad, too).

The Colonist background is so tragic and for my Shep, it gives her the motivation to join the Alliance so she can help make sure that another Mindoir never happens again. And then being on Elysium for the Skyllian Blitz is the chance for her to actually make a difference for another 16-year-old and save their family when no one could save hers. My Shep and her sister both joined the Alliance to be that savior for someone else, and succeeded in doing so when no one else could bc they made a promise to themselves and each other.

It's what makes the Collector attacks so heartbreaking for my Shep, too, and what makes cooperating with Cerberus tolerable even if she loathes and distrusts them. Anyway, I feel like on tumblr I don't really see any Colonists or War Heroes, just Spacers/Earthborns and Sole Survivors and it makes me a bit sad.