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The following dialogues and texts, cut from Mass Effect 2, are related to the DLC mission Lair of the Shadow Broker. They are presented here in an approximate chronological order.

Annotation: "|" means the line would play according to squadmates present, listed in priority order if the source is accurate.

Tabber annotations:

  • (Par): Paragon answer, top-right of the dialogue wheel
  • (Neu): Neutral answer, center-right of the dialogue wheel
  • (Ren): Renegade answer, bottom-right of the dialogue wheel
  • (Inv): Investigate answer, center-left of the dialogue wheel
  • (P Inv): Contextual Paragon or Neutral answer to an Investigate, top-left of the dialogue wheel
  • (R Inv): Contextual Renegade or Neutral answer to an Investigate, bottom-left of the dialogue wheel
  • (Cha): Charm answer, top-left of the dialogue wheel
  • (Int): Intimidate answer, bottom-left of the dialogue wheel

Development Script[]

Note: these development notes were retranscribed directly from the text string file. The wording is accurate.

File source: Mass Effect 2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_UNC_Pack01/CookedPCConsole/DLC_24_Test_INT.tlk and DLC_24_INT.tlk or Mass Effect Legendary Edition/Game/ME2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_UNC_Pack01/CookedPCConsole/DLC_24_INT.tlk and DLC_24_Test_INT.tlk


CINE-DESIGN - Shepard enters Liara's apartment and is confronted with an unfamiliar face. The dialogue follows....[sic]


CINE-DESIGN - Ttransition [sic] to exit apartment. Fade to black - hopefully we can get away with no load screen here.


CINE-DES: Shepard and the Spectre arrive at the building in the car. As they get out and begin to walk towards the building, it is rocked by explosions from within. Shepard and the Spectre agree to split up to best reach Liara and the informant as quickly as possible.


CINE-DES: Shepard and Vasir arrive at the Dracon Trade Center. Shepard exits the vehicle and starts to walk towards the building when a large explosion comes from inside, blowing out sections of the first 3 floors.


GAMEPLAY - We introduce the Shadow Broker mercs through a pre-planned ambush. Depending on their abilities this might involve a flash bang before they move out of cover and into combat, or they could de-cloak behind the reception area and move into combat that way.


CINE ANIMATION - The Spectre shoots out the window and goes to leap out into the atrium to escape. Shepard tackles her on the way, and they both fall together. Liara leaps out after them. Shepard is stunned on landing, and Liara goes after the Spectre out of the atrium door. Shepard is left in the atrium to fight his way out, as Shadow Broker agents pour in.


CINE-DES: The spectre [sic] jumps out of the window into the atrium with Shepard and Liara following. The spectre [sic] and Liara use biotics to glide down, while Shepard and henchmen land heavily and get left behind.


CINE-DESIGN - Narrative out for mission. Shepard arrives outside to see the Spectre already taking off in her vehicle and Liara firing shots at her. Shepard and Liara both quickly get into their own vehicle and take off in pursuit.


GUI: Transition to mission 2 using custom load screen. Should ideally show the two vehicles in pursuit flying through Illium.


CUTSCENE: The spectre's car, having nicked a nearby freighter, spits smoke and slows as Shepard gains speed. Shepard rams the back end of the skycar and moves up alongside. The spectre's [sic] car sideswipes Shepard and Shepard returns the act, sending the car down towards a nearby hotel. The car shoots down like a bullet into the building, a trail of smoke in its wake.


CineDesign:
Scene where shepard [sic] pulls the unconscious spectre [sic] from the car. As the spectre is being pulled out, she regains consciousness and throws Shepard and maybe the henchmen back in a biotic shockwave.


Event:
As Shepard is moving forward, the first wave of Shadowbroker [sic] Agents will arrive and fire two rockets, which will pass over shepards [sic] head on the way to the main entrance. They will break off something, which will fall and block the entrance, leaving shepard [sic] trapped temporarily in the parking lot to fight Shadowbroker [sic] Agents.


Briefing happened on shuttle on the way to the ship. You see the ship land in a cutscene.


Cutscene of shuttle dropping Shepard off on nose of Broker's ship.


Shepard must wait until Feron opens the hatch from the inside. It will take a few minutes for Feron to open to hatch, but this alarms Shadowbroker [sic] minions. Shepard must hold off the minions until Feron can open the hatch.


Feron opens the hatch, allowing you to progress


Shepard and crew enter hatch into the Shadow Broker's personal lair.


Small cutscene showing Shepard and crew entering the hatch.


Transition: Shepard comes through the hatch and is immediated met with heavy resistance from Shadowbroker [sic] guards. Combat starts with Shepard in cover.


Player enters Security Room. In a cutscene, the player sees a Shadowbroker Agent programming the computer to lockdown the base. Shutters are closing in the room to convey this. The Agent then gets shot, but not by Shepard. It was Feron as he enters the room from a vent in the ceiling.


A hologram of the Shadow Broker pops up and starts a conversation with Shepard.


The Shadow Broker is revealed and has a conversation with the player leading up to the combat.


You now fight the Shadow Broker in the most awesome cinematic melee combat EVAR!


[Cutscene] Intro to Shadowbroker [sic] invulnerability/regen: See bullets not damaging the Shadowbroker [sic] and Shepard cracking knuckles to imply physical attack.


Cutscene 1: Shepard melee attack #1


Phase2: The Shadowbroker now utilizes a riot shield to make it more difficult for Shepard to lower his shields.


The shadow broker [sic] goes into defensive mode and begins recharging his shields.


CINEMATIC: Transition from Stage 2 to Stage 3. The Shadow Broker gets really angry, so much so that he starts trying to destroy sections the shield [sic] on the back of the ship with his are hands. This gives the player a chance to approach the Shadow Broker and start the first melee cinematic.


Watch Shepard do a cool move to damage the Shadow Broker.


CINEMATIC: The player beats on the Shadow Broker in a cinematic. The Shadow Broker then moves further down the level and starts destroying another section of the shield. The previous shield section begins to fall away creating an unshielded area that the player must try to vacate.


CINEMATIC: The player beats on the Shadow Broker in a cinematic again. The Shadow Broker then moves further down the level and starts raging and taunting the player. The player now has three oportunities to attack the Shadow Broker before failure. The shadow broker [sic] attacks each time giving the player a window of opportunity for the final cinematic.


The player beats on the Shadow Broker in a cinematic. The Shadow Broker then moves further down the level and starts retracting the shield. As the shield retracts the area behind the player becomes dangerous. The space between the player and the Shadow Broker gets smaller.


The Shadow broker is defeated and gets pissed off and attacks you in the FINAL BATTLE!


CINEMATIC: The player finally knocks the Shadow Broker off the ship and into the engine incinerating him. The End. Good Job!


Cutscene 3: Shadowbroker death -- Shepard dodges a charge by the Shadowbroker. Shadowbroker is posititioned under the information dome. Liara uses biotics to tear a part of the dome down. Shadowbroker is exposed to the information beams and disintegrates.


Transition to Liara wrap-up conversation.


Liara offers her thanks for helping defeat the Shadow Broker, and reminds Shepard that he can now find her on the Stronghold.


This terminal would list survey missions that the player can fund in order to gain information on the locaiton of planets rich in resources.


This terminal would list a number of missions that the player can fund. Each mission would have a chance of success rewarding the player with credits.


This termial would allows the player to periodically collect resources from the Shadow Broker network. The resources are delivered in batches, occuring every 24 hours real time.


This terminal would list a number of intercepted radio transmissions giving locations of N7 missions.


This terminal would list a number of henchmen or NPCs that the Shadow Broker has been keeping tabs on. This info could be displayed in a bink, intercepted text conversation, or Shadow Broker notes.


This terminal would list a number of ME2 music tracks that can be played.


This terminal would allow Shepard to view a number of short surveillance videos on select NPCs.


A video would play on one of the screens.

Conversation with Shadow Broker about Reapers[]

Note: this part of the dialogue with the Shadow Broker, "You're wasting your resources", was isolated and made inaccessible in the data. The following reconstruction is accurate.

File source: Mass Effect 2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_EXP_Part01/CookedPCConsole/BioD_Exp1Lvl4_Stage2_In_LOC_INT.pcc or Mass Effect Legendary Edition/Game/ME2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_EXP_Part01/CookedPCConsole/BioD_Exp1Lvl4_Stage2_In_LOC_INT.pcc

Characters present:


(The beginning of the conversation has been omitted)
Shadow Broker: Dr. T'Soni. Your interference caused all this. Feron betrayed me when he handed you Shepard's body. The drell is simply paying the price.

Shepard: Be smart: let Feron walk out with us.
(The rest of the conversation proceeds as normal.)

Shepard: Someone was bound to come after you for working with the Collectors.
(The rest is omitted as it is present in the game)

Shepard: I can't believe you're wasting time torturing people when you should be warning them about the Reapers.
Shadow Broker: I'm aware of your crusade. My responses to the Reaper threat are no longer your concern.
(Return to last choice)

Shepard: It'll be pretty hard to run a base this size with no crew.
(The rest is omitted as it is present in the game)

Conversation with Liara about Not Coming Back[]

Note: this choice in the dialogue with Liara, "I can't. I'm sorry.", was isolated and made inaccessible in the data. The following reconstruction is accurate.

File source: Mass Effect 2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_EXP_Part01/CookedPCConsole/BioD_Exp1Lvl5_200Cabin_LOC_INT.pcc or Mass Effect Legendary Edition/Game/ME2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_EXP_Part01/CookedPCConsole/BioD_Exp1Lvl5_200Cabin_LOC_INT.pcc

Characters present:


(The beginning of the conversation has been omitted)
Liara T'Soni: Goddess... You were dead! This time -- but you're going to leave again. When the Reapers finally arrive, you'll dive into the fray. I spent two years mourning you. So if we're going to try this... I need to know you're always coming back.

Shepard: I don't know. That's a pretty big promise to make.
Liara T'Soni: Oh, is it?
Shepard: I'm... open to suggestions.
Liara T'Soni: How about... this?
(The rest proceeds as normal)

Shepard: I'm always coming back.
Liara T'Soni: Are you sure?
Shepard: I haven't stayed dead yet.
Liara T'Soni: You make a... compelling argument.
Shepard: Oh, I'm just getting started.
(The rest proceeds as normal)

Shepard: You know I can't promise you that.
Liara T'Soni: No. I guess not. I'm sorry. I'll... we'll talk next time you come by.
(End of conversation)

Shadow Broker Dossiers[]

These four Shadow Broker Dossiers for Samara were removed from the final game.

File source: Mass Effect 2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_UNC_Pack01/CookedPCConsole/DLC_24_Test_INT.tlk and DLC_24_INT.tlk or Mass Effect Legendary Edition/Game/ME2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_UNC_Pack01/CookedPCConsole/DLC_24_INT.tlk and DLC_24_Test_INT.tlk: 375727


Asari Survey Ship Senshelis

1570 CE

Captain's Log, Idyssia reporting. The Senshelis has finally set out. The damned hanar didn't want to let us leave without getting a firm destination. It's as though the concept of exploration can't make its way into their minds.

If I'm reading the Prothean map correctly, the cache it's highlighted is in a system between salarian and batarian territory. I've gotten as close as I can using mass relays. We'll have to use FTL now and burn off static charge as best we can. If there are no problems, we can make it in around 4 years. I've got supplies for 10 years, so even if we run into trouble, we should be okay.

The crew is nervous but eager, a bunch of maidens ready for adventure, or at least a good time. Had to discipline Samara for excessive rowdiness, though. She's young, maybe too young. She might make a better commando than an explorer, frankly. Here's hoping she gains some maturity. We'll all have several years to get to know one another.


Salvage and Rescue Report

Hanar Ship Sholha

1630 CE
Captain's Log, Orolt reporting. This vessel was fortunate to discover the asari ship Senshelis, and provided support and comfort to the survivors. The acting captain, Kimene, reported that they had been traveling using FTL for several years, which caused damage to their vessel and required them to land upon a world with a small pre-spaceflight civilization to effect repairs. After remaining stranded and suffering from attacks by the frightened natives, the surviving crew repaired the Senshelis and lifted off for FTL travel back to known space.

The asari were regrettably frustrated by their years of fruitless exploration, with a maiden named Samara remarking that Captain Idyssia was unwise to travel so far without sufficient equipment. Samara departed, noting her intent to join a mercenary outfit, while other crewmembers accepted hospitality before returning to asari space.


Report Summary

Barla Von, Citadel

I'm afraid we are unable to make any concrete assessment given the limited data at hand. It remains entirely possible that the justicar's ship made contact with Earth while looking for Prothean artifacts. Per your question, the storm that scattered the Spanish Armada was considered extremely powerful for that area, given our climate data, and could conceivably have been generated using fields from the Senshelis' drive core. It is clear that had the storm not scattered the Spanish Armada, the Spanish forces would have regrouped and likely seized power in England within two years.

It remains entirely possible that the justicar had some effect on Earth's political course, but unfortunately, I doubt we'll ever have proof.


Excerpts from Poetic Works

William Shakespeare, Earth

~1600 CE
"Therefore my mistress' eyes are raven black,
Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem,
At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,
Sland'ring creation with a false esteem..."

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red, than her lips red:
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head."

"In faith I do not love thee with mine eyes,
For they in thee a thousand errors note;
But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise,

Who, in despite of view, is pleased to dote."

Test Missions for Funding at Shadow Broker Base[]

Note: these development notes were retranscribed directly from the text string file. The wording is accurate.

File source: Mass Effect 2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_UNC_Pack01/CookedPCConsole/DLC_24_Test_INT.tlk and DLC_24_INT.tlk or Mass Effect Legendary Edition/Game/ME2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_UNC_Pack01/CookedPCConsole/DLC_24_INT.tlk and DLC_24_Test_INT.tlk: 368152 - 368161, 369846 - 369861


Batarian Revolt

Some good batarians are planning to attack a bad batarian base and they need some cash to buy the good guns. Medium risk, medium return.


Road Trip

Salarian research team planning deep space exploration. Funds needed for snacks. Low Risk, medium return.


Krogan Arena

Krogan group want to build the ultimate varren fighting pit. Medium risk, low return.


Asari So Sorry

An Asari commando unit wants to take down a group of puppy eating Vorcha. Low risk, low return.


Solar Eclipse

Eclipse mercs are planning a raid on the Blue Suns. High risk, high return.


Squash Revolt

Stop the disgruntled workers. Med Risk, Med Reward.


No More Eezo. [sic]

Destroy a mining operation. Med Risk, High Reward.


Flip a Table

Get angry a [sic] someone. Med Risk, Low Reward.


Rabbit Season

Hunt down Corad Verner [sic]. Low Risk, Med Reward.


Saving Puppies

Help save the varren puppies. Low Risk, Low Reward.


Crossing the Street

Help an old woman cross the street. High Risk, High Reward.


Free the Slaves

Free some slaves from a jellybean factory. Med Risk, High Reward.


Heal the Earth

Save Earth from destruction. High Risk, Med Reward.

Cut Archive Videos[]

Note: these unused dialogue nodes are present in the files of the Info Drone commenting on the Shadow Broker's video archive. The related cut videos cannot be found.

File source: Mass Effect 2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_EXP_Part01/CookedPCConsole/BioD_Exp1Lvl5_Dossier_LOC_INT.pcc or Mass Effect Legendary Edition/Game/ME2/BioGame/DLC/DLC_EXP_Part01/CookedPCConsole/BioD_Exp1Lvl5_Dossier_LOC_INT.pcc

Characters present:


Info Drone: Detective Anaya. Illium.

Info Drone: Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. Haestrom.

Info Drone: Professor Mordin Solus. Sur'Kesh.

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