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The SSV Normandy (SR-1) is a Systems Alliance frigate. She is a prototype starship co-developed with turian engineers, and incorporates several innovations. The most important of these are her drive core and unique stealth system. The Normandy was initially captained by David Anderson, but she was handed over to Shepard when the commander became the first human Spectre, serving as Shepard's main source of transportation and base of operations. She is ably piloted by Joker and carries a crew of around thirty people.
The Normandy's IES (internal emission sink) stealth system is her most notable feature. This system works by capturing the radiation and heat signatures put out by the ship's engines, and storing them in special sinks in the hull. The system doesn't work during FTL flight because this blue-shifts the Normandy's emissions beyond the sinks' ability to store, and any visual scan (i.e. looking out of a window) would reveal her, but this is rare since most ships rely on scanners rather than visual contact and spotting another ship in space is very difficult. The Normandy can go to 'silent running' for around 2-3 hours of stealthed flight, or drift passively through a system for days before having to vent and give away her position.
The stealth system is powered by an experimental piece of equipment called the Tantalus Drive Core which is, proportionally, about twice the size of any other ship's core. Tali is quite excited at being allowed to take a look at it. Joker mentions the the oversized drive core affects the Normandy's balance, but it's nothing he can't handle. The core not only makes the Normandy quiet and fast, but means she can run at FTL speeds for much longer before having to discharge the drive.
The command deck of the Normandy is also unusual. Alliance ships usually have their CIC in the middle to facilitate communication between the bridge officers and their subordinates, but the Normandy's CIC is at the back. This is because the Normandy has a turian design and their commanders prefer to look over their subordinates rather than be in the midst of them; the engineers wanted to see how well it worked with a human command structure. The Normandy's officers use their suit radios to communicate with the operators in the bow when necessary.
The Normandy is built on three main decks:
Command Deck
This contains the bridge in the bow where Shepard can chat to Joker, the airlock, the CIC containing the galaxy map overseen by Navigator Pressly, and the comm room towards the stern. The comm room also serves as a conference room for debriefing after missions, and allows Shepard to privately consult with the Council.
Quarters
The second deck is reached by a set of stairs. This is the Normandy's habitation deck containing the mess and crew sleeper pods, the captain's private cabin and office, and the medical room where Doctor Chakwas is working. Liara T'Soni spends her time in the lab and storage room at the back. The medical room also contains a medi-gel dispenser. Along one wall outside is Shepard's equipment locker. Kaidan Alenko is busy at a control panel on the opposite side.
Engineering
An elevator in the Normandy's quarters goes down to engineering and the 'garage' section containing the Mako. Ashley Williams is cleaning rifles next to the squad lockers; Garrus Vakarian is attending to the Mako while Wrex is just watching from across the room. Opposite Wrex is the Alliance requisition officer who can sell Shepard new equipment. A door leads to the engineering section proper, containing the drive core. Shepard can find Engineer Adams and Tali hard at work in here.
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“This mission just got a lot more complicated.” — Spoilers for Mass Effect follow. |
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Though Shepard works for the Citadel, the Normandy is still considered to be under Alliance jurisdiction, and her unique design means Shepard is often asked to complete missions for Admiral Hackett, especially those requiring discretion. The Normandy is also the subject of an inspection by Rear Admiral Mikhailovich, who is annoyed that she was given to Shepard rather than being assigned to his flotilla as was intended; he refers to the Normandy as 'overdesigned'. Shepard can set him straight and defend the Normandy's innovations. Joker's handling of the Normandy saves Shepard's neck on several occasions; providing an evac from Therum, dropping the Mako right under the radar of the AA guns on Virmire, and getting them away from the nuclear explosion in time, to name but a few.
The Normandy's stealth systems made her the only ship that could get Shepard into the Terminus Systems undetected, to pursue Saren to Ilos, but the Council refused to risk it and Ambassador Udina locked out the ship's systems remotely. With Captain Anderson's help Shepard stole the Normandy and took her to Ilos, where Joker dropped the team safely in the Mako before taking the ship to rendezvous with the Fifth Fleet. The Normandy led the assault against Sovereign and distinguished herself with her impressive speed and manoeuverability, which, once Shepard had taken care of the Reaper's shields, allowed her to take Sovereign down.