User blog comment:SolitaryReaper/Shepard in Javik's position/@comment-5267262-20120726225450/@comment-899316-20120727054608

That is possible. We don't really know how the Reapers decide when to return, just why. They could have a method of detecting the level of technology attained by galactic civilization, or they could run on a timer, having figured out the time by which civilization will be ready for reaping.