User blog comment:H-Man Havoc/New Squadmate Species for ME3?/@comment-743796-20101229160023/@comment-217683-20101229171302

I agree with Silverstrike. I don't see why sparing Balak would be necessary to have a batarian squad member. Remember - Balak was considered an extremist even among his peers. Even the other batarians who joined him in raiding Asteroid X57 thought he was being extreme. They just wanted to snatch some slaves. He wanted to destroy a world. I can't say I see too many batarians objecting to his being killed, especially since if Balak had succeeded, it would have likely led to war between the batarians and the Alliance, or possibly against the entire Council.

And remember, killing prominent turians (Saren), asari (Benezia), and krogan (Wrex) doesn't stop you from getting a turian, an asari, and a krogan squad member in ME2. I can't say I see most batarians feeling more strongly about Balak than most turians would about Saren or most asari would about one of their most revered Matriarchs, Benezia.