Cora Harper

Lieutenant Cora Harper is a human biotic and formerly an officer in the Systems Alliance military. She was transferred from the Citadel Council's Valkyrie Program (a subset of their interspecies military integration plan) and placed with the asari commando unit Talein's Daughters.

Cora's huntress training and biotic capability made her a candidate for Alec Ryder's second-in-command and, if warranted, his successor as Pathfinder.

Her screening interviews state that she was raised in poverty on an independent cargo freighter. She joined the Alliance at eighteen to obtain training for her powerful biotic abilities.

Cora lends her voice to the Andromeda Initiative orientation briefing regarding the Pathfinder team, and is a potential romantic interest for male Ryder.

Mass Effect: Andromeda
When ark Hyperion arrived in the Heleus Cluster after 634 years and becomes damaged by the Scourge, it causes artificial gravity to fail in the cryo bay, which Cora was forced to reset. Soon after, she summons one of Alec's children to the bridge to discuss their next course of action. Ultimately, Alec made the decision to lead the Pathfinder team to the surface of Habitat 7. Unfortunately, a series of electrical storms, hostile alien encounters and the subsequent sacrifice of Alec to save his child, resulted in the young Ryder being made the new Pathfinder.

Though Cora trusted Alec's judgement, she privately confides in Ryder that she wishes to be Pathfinder instead.

She admits to Ryder that she dreams of having a rose garden in Heleus.

Loyalty
Cora makes it her focus to find the asari ark, the Leusinia. After speaking to some asari refugees at Prodromos on Eos, Ryder can locate the Leusinia's transponder on Voeld. After Cora manages to decode, she finds the last known location of the Leusinia, which is under attack by the kett. Upon boarding the ark, Cora gets to meet her idol, Sarissa Theris, who had replaced Matriarch Ishara as asari Pathfinder. After helping Vederia Damali restore power to the ark and deactivate a Mass Effect Field generator, SAM finds an audio log revealing that Sarissa abandoned Ishara to get tactical data on the kett. After defeating the kett leader, the Valiant, Cora helps Sarissa boost a biotic barrier to repel the kett ship's attack, allowing the Leusinia to escape and the kett ship to be destroyed. Cora and Ryder later privately confront Sarissa over her shameful secret. Ryder can choose to either keep Sarissa's secret, or reveal it to the Leusinia's crew, either having Sarissa remain as Pathfinder or have Vederia take her place.

Romance
Dialogue options to flirt with Cora will begin appearing from the first time Ryder speaks to her on the Tempest. She will turn a female Ryder down gently, but if Ryder is male, she will return his advances.

After completing her loyalty mission, a cutscene follows where the Pathfinder checks up on Cora back at the ship. She expresses guilt about having idolized Sarissa. If Ryder has been flirting with her, an interrupt will appear to offer a hug, which she gratefully accepts. Cora's next personal quest offers the option of either locking in the romance (by way of an interrupt allowing Ryder to kiss her) or breaking it off, depending on player choice.

Once The Journey To Meridian has been completed, speaking to Cora will prompt her to fabricate a story about "a very serious lighting malfunction" in the Pathfinder quarters. The two go to investigate, at which point Cora admits it was an excuse to spend some time together. Ryder is given the option of taking her to bed, or inviting her to stargaze and cuddle until they both fall asleep. Regardless of which option is picked, she discusses a desire for them to go exploring together someday, using the stars as guidance, with nobody else accompanying them.

She will end up snuggled on Ryder's shoulder during the Tempest's movie night.

When Ryder returns to the ship during Meridian: The Way Home, she will request for him to meet her on the bridge for a brief talk before continuing with the mission. She has romance-specific dialogue during the game's epilogue, where she expresses a hesitance to settle down, but says she won't rule anything out.

Correspondence
First email received from Cora following Ryder speaking with her:

Received after activating the remnant vault on Eos during A Better Beginning:

Received after rescuing the Moshae:

Received after completing Cora Harper: At Duty's Edge, exposing Sarissa but keeping her as Pathfinder:

Trivia

 * Cora is trained in the art of asari dancing.
 * Whether or not Ryder chooses to romance Cora, she appears to be quite taken by Jaal and doesn't react negatively to his flirting during random Nomad conversations.