Ilos: Trench Run

Continue into the bunker and pursue Saren in his search to find the Conduit

Acquisition
This mission is acquired as part of the mission on Ilos.

The Archives
When you reach the archives travel down and keep going because there are no enemies that are in your immediate vicinity. However as you enter your squadmates comment that it is the perfect place for an ambush, however there are now geth present, for now at least. When you get to the first ramp down just keep going because there still aren’t geth when you get down one of your squadmates makes a comment about the things on the walls. The other responds that they are probably stasis pods and that the Protheans probably were trying to stay alive that way.

When you reach the next ramp down you encounter some of Saren’s rear guard, mainly Geth Rocket Troopers, but only three of them. Because of this just drive, the Mako up and take them out on foot. Remember the exp difference from inside the Mako and on foot. When the geth are destroyed, keep heading down the ramps and when you reach the next landing you see a shimmering at the far end, so just keep heading for it.

When you get close, the Mako becomes trapped by another forcefield that comes up behind the vehicle. Don’t try to shoot your way out because you can’t. One of your squadmates will comment about it being a trap however the other will counter that it probably isn’t Saren or the geth. Exit the Mako and head into the elevator that is along the right wall.

The Watcher
When you enter the elevator and as you descend you squadmates comment about the situation and how that someone is working here, but probably not with the geth. When the elevator stops walk across and select the hologram.

It comments that while you aren’t Prothean or machine, it was expected. It comments about the warnings from the beacons. One of your squadmates will comment that it is a badly damaged VI. The program counters that it doesn’t sense the taint of indoctrination upon any of the squad, unlike the other, Saren who also passed recently, so there is still hope. The other squadmate will ask why they can understand it even though it is Prothean. The hologram says that it was monitoring communications and translated its output so it could communicate. It introduces itself as Vigil and comments that while you are currently safe, nowhere will be for long.

You can ask questions and get a lot of valuable information from Vigil so it’s worth staying. Asking the first question about who it is it will provide a background to its creation and having inputs from Ksad Ishan the chief researcher at the Ilos facility. When you ask why it stopped the Mako, Vigil will say that the cycle must be broken, as it has gone on for millions of years. Vigil however needs the squad to understand however so they can avoid making the same mistakes. It tells how the Citadel is really an enormous Mass Relay and a huge trap. When the relay is activated the Reapers come through from Dark Space and destroy all organic civilization in the galaxy before disappearing again. If you investigate then you will get some guesses on why the Reapers operate the way they do however no one knows why.

After responding, Vigil will confirm the fears about the Citadel Fleet and the Council and that is what happened with the Protheans. Their leaders were dead before anyone knew what was happening. Because the Reapers had access to all the maps and census data on the Protheans, they went systematically and whipped out their civilization. Colonies were isolated and picked off one by one and indoctrinated “refugees” were taken in by other Protheans only to have them turn on their own people when the Reapers showed up.

Respond to Vigil and it will explain about how the Conduit is a prototype mass relay and that it links to the Citadel, bypassing defenses. The Protheans were on the verge of unlocking the technology when the Reapers invaded. When you ask, Vigil will give the story behind how Ilos survived because all records of the project were destroyed in the initial attack so the Reapers had no knowledge of the planet. They went into cryostasis and eventually the facility went dark. However as the power failed, Vigil eventually had to deactivate the pods and even when the Reapers finally retreated, only the top researchers were still alive, all twelve of them. You can comment about that, but Vigil defends it actions.

Further investigation reveals the scientists knew their race was doomed however they labored for years to stop the cycle. They found a way to alter the signals from the Citadel to the keepers to prevent them from activating the relay. They used the Conduit to travel to the Citadel and thus preventing Sovereign from signaling the keepers. Vigil, if asked describes that their fate, trapped on the station, probably wasn’t pleasant.

Before you leave Vigil gives you a file that temporarily will give full access to the Citadel and its resources. However you must find the Master Control Terminal to get that access, however again Vigil says to follow Saren as he knows where to go. As you leave, if Liara is in your party she will ask to stay because they will probably never have another chance like this. You can either say to go and she will understand either way. When you do leave Vigil gives one last beacon of hope, Saren hasn’t reached the conduit yet and therefore Shepard still has time.

Trench Run
Exit the chamber and on the way up your squadmates will comment that even the Protheans with all their power and knowledge still fell for the Reapers’ traps. However, the other squadmate counter with the fact that they have no intention of ending up the same way. Get back into the Mako and stop Saren before he can reach the Conduit. Hit the gas and rocket down the path, which is now clear of the forcefields.

When you reach the bottom of the ramps there are three Rocket Troopers that are around the entrance to the trench run. Take them out and then take a right and head into the trench. Move along the trench until you reach the first turn. This area is defended by a lot of geth, mainly Geth Shock Troopers, Rocket Troopers, a Geth Juggernaut and a Geth Colossus. Use whatever tactics you can to take out the geth, however whittle down the Colossus first then shoot it on foot, then focus on the rest because the Colossus is the biggest threat. When the Colossus falls then get out and attack the infantry, most are not hard and there is some cover around that also helps.

Head through the former battlefield and turn left and head down the backstretch. When you reach a right turn head down it and be prepared to take some fire. At the next corner are three Rocket Troopers and again are easy prey. Take the double turn and drive along until you come under attack again. This group is the same as the last and is the last in the trench. When you defeat this group, SAVE YOUR GAME because the next area is very hard.

Before moving on, get the Mako’s shields to full strength and fully repair the Mako because if you don’t then you will die. As you move forward you are treated to your squadmates commenting on the Conduit and how getting to it will not be easy.

A cutscene plays that shows the geth and Sovereign attacking the Citadel. The attack opens with a massive volley by the Reaper forces that hits the Citadel Fleet and does a lot of damage. However the Citadel Forces counter attack and attempt to, and fail to close the Citadel Arms. The commander of the Destiny Ascension ordering the evacuation of the Council. The scene shifts to the Presidium where a geth throws a body of an asari aside and Saren and the geth enter the elevator for the Citadel Tower and the Council Chambers.

When you regain control you have only 40 seconds to get to the Conduit and use it. However there are four Geth Colossi in your way that won’t make it easy. Therefore, you have no time to combat them, just hit the gas and take the most direct route to the Conduit. The best option is to follow the small river and zigzag a little to reduce the machine gun fire from the Colossi. When you get close enough the Conduit, it will automatically take the Mako and send it to the Citadel.

The Mission Concludes: Race Against Time: Final Battle

Enemies

 * Geth Trooper
 * Geth Rocket Trooper
 * Geth Shock Trooper
 * Geth Destroyer
 * Geth Juggernaut
 * Geth Colossus