The Shadow Broker Base is a massive ship that travels through the volatile atmosphere of Hagalaz, which conceals its presence. It is from here that the Shadow Broker rules his empire.
Exterior
The exterior of the Shadow Broker's ship is a hazardous place. The Shadow Broker's private army patrols the exterior, and Maintenance Drones tend to the hull and the systems on the exterior of the ship. The exterior also has no hand or guardrails making it a dangerous place to patrol. The atmospheric conditions of Hagalaz don't make the process any easier, but the risk of patrols being struck by stray lightning bolts from the omnipresent electrical storms is mitigated by large conducting rods that channel energy into giant hull-mounted capacitors.
Interior
The interior of the ship has many compartments including the ship's engines, which must remain active at all times to prevent it from falling. Also inside is central operations, probably the nerve center of the ship. There is also a prison block where the Shadow Broker keeps hostages, and torture facilities for interrogation purposes. Finally there is the Shadow Broker's Office, Intel Center, and private quarters. Within the private quarters, a custom VI Drone assists the Shadow Broker with maintaining his massive network of informants, contacts, and agents. Despite the ship's volatile location, motion dampeners absorb the noise and vibrations from the storm outside.
Mission
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“The chances of surviving are… slim.” — Spoilers for Mass Effect 2 follow. |
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- Mission: Lair of the Shadow Broker
Intel Center
After completing Lair of the Shadow Broker, the Shadow Broker's Base becomes a visitable location. Inside the Shadow Broker's Intel Center are several terminals with numerous functions.
Advanced Training
The Advanced Training terminal allows the player to redistribute a squadmate's ability points at a cost of 1000 Element Zero per character.
Armor Locker
This is a standard Armor Locker like the one located on the Normandy SR-2, where the player can customize armor and outfits.
Delivery Pickup
Here, the player can receive shipments from the Shadow Broker's contacts. New deliveries are received daily, between missions, or assignments and include upgrades and resources. Possible shipments are listed below.
Note: If you reload the save profile, you can get different items, but you can only get one item per day/mission/assignment. If you wish to expedite the collection of all upgrades, you can do so by changing the date on your PC. Save after a pick up, change the date on your system and then reload the save. It is advisable to use dates in the past, because the game automatically loads the "newest" save game on "Resume" from main menu and Quick-Load, i.e. the save with the latest date. Alternatively, you can just delete these "future" save games after you are done. Or, do it this faster way without waiting to load your game. On the Xbox 360, the date can be changed in the System Settings menu. The same process can be used on the PS3 version, as well.
Note: The amount of resources obtained with each pickup is selected randomly. Platinum, Palladium, and Iridium are dispensed in quantities of 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 40,000, 80,000, or 160,000. Element zero is dispensed in quantities of 1,250, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 40,000, or 80,000.
- Upgrades:
- Sniper Rifle Damage Upgrade - "An ex-STG weapons researcher has sent a schematic that will improve sniper rifle damage."
- Submachine Gun Damage Upgrade - "Batarian State Arms has sent a schematic for modifying the SMG in exchange for help in blackmailing Citadel officials."
- Shotgun Damage Upgrade - "An agent in the Skyllian Verge has sent a schematic for a shotgun modification."
- Assault Rifle Damage Upgrade - "This assault rifle modification was found on the body of an Elkoss Combine spy who failed an attempt at corporate espionage."
- Resources:
- Element Zero - "A spy inside Eldfell-Ashland Energy has sent a shipment of element zero."
- Platinum - "A minister from Terra Nova has sent platinum from the planet's reserves for favors rendered."
- Palladium - "A money-laundering recycling center has sent palladium salvaged from old armor and cybernetics."
- Iridium - "A start-up mining company has delivered its protection payment in iridium."
Dossiers
- Main article: Shadow Broker Dossiers
This terminal contains intelligence files on the squad, several other figures, certain organizations, and the Broker. These files consist of information on these characters' recent activities.
Info Drone
- Main article: Info Drone
The Info Drone is a specially built VI that assists the Shadow Broker in coordinating the network. It will follow the "Broker" around, as it is programmed to recognize anyone in the room as the Broker, and give them periodic updates about the Galaxy and the people in it.
Investment Opportunities
- Main article: Investment Opportunities
The Investment Opportunities terminal allows the player to distribute intel to assist people across the galaxy. There is a certain amount of credits needed to invest in these opportunities however.
Research Terminal
This is a Research Terminal like the one located on the Normandy SR-2, where the player can examine and purchase upgrades.
Shadow Broker Ship Model
On the table next to the survey information terminal, there is a Shadow Broker ship model that you can take.
Shutter Control
To the right of the table with the Shadow Broker ship model is a window shutter control, which you can open to see the fast-moving storm clouds.
Sound System
In the private quarters, just before the Video Archive. Much like the one located on the Normandy SR-2, except it plays various tracks from the Mass Effect 2 Score.
Survey Information
At this terminal, the player can pay a set number of credits to obtain the locations of planets rich in a particular resource. Once this information has been purchased a label will be added to the galaxy map at the location of the designated planet.
Note: No locations are provided if the player has mined all the planets in the game with "Good" or "Rich" resource levels.
- Eezo Mining Company
Provides the location of a planet rich with eezo.
Credits required: 1,000 - Iridium Mining Company
Provides the location of a planet rich with iridium.
Credits required: 300 - Palladium Mining Company
Provides the location of a planet rich with palladium.
Credits required: 300 - Platinum Mining Company
Provides the location of a planet rich with platinum.
Credits required: 650
Video Archive
- Main article: Video Archive
At the Video Archives terminal, the player can review archived video clips of people all around the galaxy that the Shadow Broker has been observing.
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“There won't be an Earth left to save...” — Spoilers for Mass Effect 3 follow. |
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Mass Effect 3
Sometime prior to the Reaper invasion in 2186, Liara T'Soni learns that the Illusive Man has tracked her down and wants to capture the Shadow Broker Base for Cerberus' own ends. Expecting an attack and knowing that the aging Base is not suited for space travel, Liara and Feron load as much of the Base's information drives and communications equipment aboard a shuttle as they can and escape as Cerberus ships approach. Liara remotely crashes the Shadow Broker Base into a Cerberus cruiser, resulting in the destruction of both ships.
Assorted tech from the remains of the ship can be salvaged and used to aid the construction of the Crucible.
Trivia
- The footage recorded by Veetor at Freedom's Progress which shows the Collectors abducting humans can be seen on two screens in the Intel Center.