Bring Down the Sky

Bring Down the Sky was the first downloadable content released for Mass Effect. The mission takes place in the Asgard system, where an asteroid has been hijacked and sent on a collision course with the human colony of Terra Nova.

On approaching Asteroid X57, the Normandy's computer reports that the asteroid, which is being moved across the Asgard system with huge fusion torches, is heading toward Terra Nova too fast. As the Mako drops on the surface to investigate, Commander Shepard receives an urgent message from a woman who sounds like she's in hiding. She says that 'they' are responsible for attacking the asteroid and begs whoever is receiving this message to shut down the fusion torches. Shepard enters the first torch station and discovers several troopers inside - batarian soldiers accompanied by varren. After clearing the station, Shepard finds the control station and shuts the torch off.

Another message comes over the comm from the mysterious woman. She says her name is Kate Bowman. She doesn't know why the batarians are here, but they've killed many of the personnel on the asteroid. Kate has to sign off before they find her.

Shepard leaves the station - and gets shot by a man hiding near the door. Luckily Shepard's shields take the shot and the man apologises, introducing himself as Simon Atwell, an engineer on X57. He tells Shepard that the asteroid is going to crash into Terra Nova and cause catastrophic damage. Not only will it destroy the colony and kill everyone on the surface, but the devastation will effectively kill the planet. Shepard asks why the batarians are doing this - they're slavers, pirates, not planet killers. Simon doesn't know, but he has a warning for Shepard. One of the fusion torches is surrounded by explosive charges. The Mako will set them off, so Shepard will have to approach on foot. Simon also asks Shepard to look out for three members of his engineering team who haven't reported back. When Shepard asks if he knows Kate Bowman, Simon says she's one of his best engineers; both she and her brother Aaron signed up together. He hopes she won't do anything stupid.

Shepard finds the second fusion torch, guarded by more batarians. Once the commander has disabled the torch there is another call from Kate, whispering that the batarians are really pissed off. Her call is cut off as she is discovered. Kate's brother is held at gunpoint while Balak, the leader of the batarians, demands to know who's shutting off the fusion torches. Kate refuses to answer and turns away as her brother is killed. Balak orders his second-in-command, Charn, to "find this problem and deal with it".

Elsewhere, Shepard is leading the assault on the last fusion torch. Once it is shut down, Shepard is confronted by Charn, who suggests they try a peaceful resolution. He claims this was just meant to be a simple slave grab, but it's got out of hand. Balak is on a mission to destroy Terra Nova and the commander is in the way. Charn is under orders but he's getting tired of Balak. Shepard can Charm or Intimidate Charn, convincing him to get out while he has the chance, or just attack him. Either way, Charn yields a pass to the main facility.

Shepard enters the facility, which is guarded by turrets outside, and batarians and combat drones inside. Finally Shepard faces Balak, who is furious that the torches have been shut down. This is an act of reprisal for humanity's actions in the Skyllian Verge, stealing territories and resources that should have belonged to the batarians, all because the Council saw a military advantage in befriending the Alliance. Balak isn't going down quietly. The remaining hostages are in one of the facility offices with a detonator, and Balak is holding the switch. Shepard then has to choose - let Balak go to save the hostages, or sacrifice them to take Balak down.

Either way, the entire facility has been rigged with explosives. Once Balak is gone, Shepard has only a brief window of time to find and disable three charges. After they've been made safe, Simon Atwell appears. Shepard can justify the decision to either save or sacrifice the hostages, and Atwell confirms that the commander's efforts worked. X57 was on a direct course for Terra Nova's capital. Now the torches have been shut down, X57 will miss the planet safely. Simon's family has been saved along with the entire colony. He offers supplies as a thank-you: Shepard can choose between human light, medium or heavy armor, or a rare set of quarian armor. Shepard can also Charm or Intimidate Simon for a choice omni-tool.

If Shepard chose to save the hostages, the commander can then free them from one of the offices and finally meet Kate Bowman. She is glad to be alive but devastated at the death of her colleagues and her brother. She realises she never even asked the commander's name, and claims Shepard isn't what she expected.