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Saving the galaxy from the confines of a bigger and better personal starship

Cerberus has determined that an alien race called the Collectors is attacking human colonies. They are assembling a team to stop this threat to humanity.

Acquisition[]

This mission is acquired automatically after the incident on Freedom's Progress.

The Stop the Collectors mission is the main plot mission in Mass Effect 2, which mainly consists of answering requests from the Illusive Man that will lead Commander Shepard's team (which will grow along the way) throughout the Terminus Systems, in an effort to deal with the uncovered Collector threat, by any means possible.

Walkthrough[]

See also: Mass Effect 2 Guide

The Stop the Collectors mission starts right after Shepard has found evidence that the Collectors are the force behind all of the recent abductions of entire human colonies in the Terminus Systems. It only ends when Shepard attempts to deal with their base, thought to exist on the other side of the Omega 4 Relay.

Assemble a team (1)[]

Using the Illusive Man's dossiers, assemble a team of experts to fight the Collectors.

After returning from a field investigation at Freedom's Progress with Miranda and Jacob, Shepard has a meeting with the Illusive Man. During the meeting, Shepard learns that the team's findings of evidence incriminating the Collectors as responsible for the mass abductions of human colonies confirms the Illusive Man's pre-existing suspicions. Then Shepard, despite any possible misgivings about working with Cerberus, agrees that Cerberus's effort to oppose this new threat upon the galaxy appears genuine and is worthy of Shepard's involvement.

The Illusive Man then tells Shepard that they should start by assembling a strong team for their now-common effort. He explains that most of the members of Shepard's former team have scattered throughout the galaxy and are either unavailable, unaccounted for, or likely unwilling to work with Cerberus.

The Illusive Man then presents Shepard with a list of possible recruits to consider, based upon Cerberus's intelligence: Dossier: Archangel, Dossier: The Convict, Dossier: The Professor, Dossier: The Warlord and, if you have access to their respective DLC or are playing Legendary Edition, Dossier: The Veteran and Dossier: The Master Thief. Shepard and the Illusive Man also discuss the question of involving the Citadel Council, which is left to Shepard's judgment. The Illusive Man then specifies that Miranda and Jacob will continue to serve under Shepard's command.

When ending the meeting, the Illusive Man pleasantly surprises Shepard by providing an initial crew member whom Shepard already knows very well: Joker. Joker then leads Shepard to a second big surprise: their ship, the new-and-improved Normandy SR-2. This part of the mission ends when you have recruited what is considered a sufficient core team by completing the first four (non-DLC) Dossier missions.

Go to Horizon[]

Go to the human colony of Horizon and stop the Collector attack.

This part starts right after you have recruited Jack, Garrus, Mordin, and collected the pod containing Grunt. Once triggered, you cannot do any other mission. An urgent message from the Illusive Man explains that Cerberus has received a warning of a possible new Collector attack on Horizon. He requests that you go there immediately, to attempt to stop the attack, but also, and more importantly, to gain a better understanding of the attacks and to research a way to oppose new ones.

Assemble a team (2)[]

Continue assembling a team with new dossiers from the Illusive Man.

This part of the main mission requires you to recruit additional squad members, and the following dossiers are added: Dossier: Tali, Dossier: The Assassin and Dossier: The Justicar. It ends when the Illusive Man decides to speak with you again in the Normandy's comm room to give the mission below.

Investigate Collector Ship[]

Board and investigate a derelict Collector vessel for valuable intel.

The Collector Ship mission unlocks at the fulfillment of a complicated set of triggers since Horizon. See here for specifics. Once triggered, you cannot begin any other mission until this one is complete.

You are sent to investigate a disabled Collector ship in order to determine how to use the Omega 4 Relay without being destroyed.

You leave after EDI hacks into the mainframe of the ship and discovers that Collectors use a Reaper IFF to get past the Omega 4 Relay.

Other missions and assignments can be resumed at this point.

Acquire Reaper IFF[]

Go to the brown dwarf Mnemosyne in the Thorne system to recover the Reaper IFF.

You travel to a dead Reaper to get its IFF transponder. When you arrive, you discover that it is not dead but mostly disabled, and as you fight your way to the core and the IFF, you get help from an unexpected source.

You obtain the IFF, kill the Reaper, and have the option to recruit a new addition to your party.

Await IFF Installation[]

You and your squadmates will always choose the worst time to take a kodiak joyride - just in time for Collectors to abduct your crew while you're away

After you have acquired the IFF, Commander Shepard has to wait until the installation has been completed. The time limit for Reaper IFF installation varies based on the number of available major missions remaining (i.e. recruitment or loyalty missions in the left tab of the Journal). You may need to complete as many as two or more missions or N7 assignments before the IFF will be ready. You will know when it's ready when you are in the CIC near the Galaxy Map and you hear EDI advise that you take the shuttle to your next mission.

Warning: If you hear EDI's line about using the shuttle, accessing the Galaxy Map for a mission will trigger a countdown of sorts to the climax of the game's main storyline. You will no longer have the freedom to complete missions or combat assignments at your leisure without grave consequences to the crew of the Normandy (see next section).

Note: If all previous major missions have been completed prior to the IFF mission, the IFF can be activated immediately after the IFF mission. In this situation, it is important to activate Legion PRIOR to accessing the Galaxy Map and talk to it one more time after the initial activation conversation. Otherwise, it is impossible to perform Legion's loyalty mission and also save the Normandy crew.

Also note: If you have any major missions undone including Legion's loyalty mission (though not including Stop the Collectors itself) and you don't hear EDI's line about taking the shuttle near the Galaxy Map, then you can still use the map and land on any hub world (Tuchanka, Illium, Omega, or the Citadel) and this will not trigger the countdown until you complete the remaining mission(s). The same applies to the Shadow Broker Base. If you have any last-minute upgrades or research to complete, do so before you access the Galaxy Map. Typically, you only get to play one mission or combat assignment before using the Galaxy Map triggers the "countdown" which is why Legion's mission is considered the one you want to save for last.

EDI informs Shepard that further tests need to be run on the Reaper IFF to confirm it is ready for use. At her recommendation, the Commander and the entire team fly off to their next mission in the shuttle, leaving the Normandy in Joker's care while the IFF installation is completed. Unfortunately, not only is the IFF harboring a highly advanced virus that cripples the ship, it is simultaneously broadcasting the vessel's position. On cue, the Collector cruiser drops in unannounced and the helpless Normandy is soon boarded. Out of options, EDI tells Joker that their only hope is to override her "shackles", giving her complete control of the ship.

Save the Ship[]

Joker to the rescue

For a few moments you will get to assume control of Joker as he frantically enacts a plan in tandem with EDI to purge the Collectors from the ship. Unfortunately he has to travel the length of the ship to do so.

As you take hold of Joker you will see floor lights throughout the ship guiding you to your destination. He doesn't have any weapons and can only hobble, so you have no choice but to ignore your crewmates while they're getting manhandled by the Collectors. Loitering near any Collector when they've finished with the crew will cause a cutscene and a game over. There are no save points at any point; you start again at the bridge if you screw up.

From the bridge the first destination is through ducts inside Mordin's Tech Lab. A Praetorian will come out from the elevator and turn its attention on Crewman Hadley and others so make use of the distraction. You will emerge in Deck 3 in the Life Support Control Room (Thane's quarters) and Crewman Hawthorne pledges to protect you. He gets thrown across the room shortly afterward and you will witness Kelly Chambers being forced into the elevator by a Scion. There is another Scion in the Crew Deck so there's no reason for you to linger; hurry up over to EDI's AI Core to release her locks.

Kelly Chambers' abductors

When that's done take the maintenance shaft to the engineering room on deck 4. Joker will emerge at the engineering subdeck and will have to take the stairs up. If you take the floor-lighted path to the starboard side (Joker's initial right), an ominous shadow fills the subdeck stairs and you have to wait for it to pass before proceeding. You only have one shot at this: the hostile will return and catch you on the next pass wherever you are. Tip: Don't follow the lights this time and go left for an immediately clear path. When you've activated the console next to Tali's usual spot, control over Joker is over and the subsequent cutscenes deal with EDI taking care of the problem.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack you learn that the entire crew of the Normandy except for Joker has been abducted. You are now at a major decision point: either head through the Omega 4 Relay immediately, or finish any remaining missions. If you choose to go immediately, i.e. without completing any more missions or assignments, saving the entire crew remains possible. If you do 1 to 3 missions or assignments, you will lose half the crew, including Kelly Chambers; if you do 4 or more, you will lose the ENTIRE crew except for Doctor Chakwas. Note that assignments that can be completed aboard ship or on a hub world like Omega don't count towards this.

Note: If you are currently lacking anything that could be vital to minimizing casualties and making the upcoming "suicide mission" a little less, well, suicidal, the conversation with Joker, Jacob, Miranda, and EDI following the Collector raid will strongly hint you may not be quite ready yet. Talking to either Joker or Jacob and asking them for their opinions of the state of the team or the ship should also provide clear indications of your readiness.

Use Omega 4 Relay[]

Launch the suicide mission.

Use the Omega 4 relay to begin the final assault upon the Collector Base.

This is the point of no return. Before you use the relay, make sure the Normandy is upgraded to your tastes and your team members' loyalties are where you want them. If the ship's armor, weapons, and shields are not upgraded, or some of your team members are not loyal, parts of the crew might die during the Suicide Mission. This is also your last opportunity to retrain your powers in the Tech Lab, customize your armor, and retrain your squadmates' powers at the Shadow Broker Base if you have access to it.

On activating the relay, the Illusive Man briefs Shepard, now geared up for battle, and tells the Commander that he doesn't know what to expect on the other side. He ends by wishing Shepard luck in the coming fight. You are then treated to a long cutscene where your decisions on ship upgrades play out.

The Normandy Attacked[]

Bogeys pursue the Normandy through the debris field

The enormous wreckage field you emerge in testifies to the number of ships which have tried, unsuccessfully, to travel through the Omega 4 relay. Joker manages to maneuver the Normandy around the debris but EDI will warn that there are enemy vessels approaching. Joker takes evasive maneuvers as they open fire on the Normandy's upper hull. If you failed to upgrade the Normandy's armor, then a laser will penetrate the Normandy's hull and kill Jack.

A pursuing Oculus punches through into the Normandy's cargo hold. Shepard takes two squadmates down to deal with it. Tip: Take squadmates who can help you deal with a heavily armored target.

The battle with the Oculus occurs in two phases with a cutscene in between. In both phases, it will slowly advance and attempt to take a clear shot with its particle beam. Shooting from cover, keeping your squadmates in cover, and frequently changing position tend to be the best tactics, as the Oculus will constantly pursue you and will also try to flank you. Numerous fragile crates are in the area, and can be destroyed by the Oculus beam, so be mindful where you plan to dash into cover next. Also, be careful of the large number of explosive canisters around as they will not affect the Oculus but they can be deadly to you and your squadmates.

Cargo bay layout upon the Oculus' first arrival

From your starting position, there is a med-kit available to your immediate right. Two med-stations are at the far end. Two boxes of power cells can be found about the shuttle bay: one near the right med-station, and another at your near left (by the shielded floor beside gaping wall damage). As usual these will resupply ammo for all of your regular weapons as well as your heavy weapon, and they alternately respawn from time to time.

Tip: There will be multiple refills for both heavy weapon ammo and medi-gel in the upcoming Collector Base mission segments so there is no need to worry about conserving either during this fight.

In the first phase of the battle, you only need to lower the Oculus' armor to about 50% and it will retreat. During this first phase, the Oculus will ignore your squadmates and focus exclusively on Shepard, but you can safely remain behind the control console that you encounter as soon as you enter the shuttle bay: the Oculus will not move behind the console to flank you. Remain in cover while it is firing, then pop up and take it out.

About halfway through the battle a cutscene plays where Joker has to lose the remaining Oculus chasing the Normandy by sending the Normandy through a field of debris. If you didn't upgrade the Normandy's kinetic barriers, you will lose a squadmate here when the Normandy's drive core overloads. Eventually Joker emerges from the debris field with the remaining Oculus destroyed, save for one which re-enters the cargo hold. Joker comments that "It's up to Shepard."

The Oculus returns and continues the battle, with full armor, regardless of how much damage you inflicted before the cutscene.

A med-station and a box of power cells at the far end of the cargo bay

In the second phase of the battle, you start at the opposite end of the shuttle bay from before, so you will need to find different cover. Also, even if you manage to return to your spot behind the control panel the Oculus will now fly right across it to flank you. There are several tall solid objects running lengthwise down the main area which you can use for cover, and you can dodge around them when the Oculus attempts to flank you, always interposing them between yourself and the Oculus. The Oculus will chase Shepard to begin with, but after being damaged and dodging out the holes in the side of the Normandy a time or two it will tend to start chasing your squadmates instead, making your job a lot easier.

Once the Oculus is destroyed Joker will call you back up to the cockpit when the Normandy is exiting the debris field.

The Collector Base comes into view and it launches an old friend—the Collector Cruiser—which turns to face the Normandy. If you upgraded the Normandy's weaponry, then the Normandy will easily destroy the Collector Cruiser at range. If not, the Normandy must engage it at point blank range with conventional weaponry and the ensuing dogfight will lead you to lose a squadmate.

Once the Collector Cruiser is destroyed, the resulting explosion overloads the Normandy's systems and sends the Normandy into a crash-landing on the exterior of the Collector Base. Shepard asks if the Collectors can detect them, and EDI replies that this is unlikely because of the lack of an internal security grid—the Collectors probably did not expect anyone to get this far.

It is time to infiltrate the base to stop the Collectors.

Defeat the Collectors[]

Destroy the Collectors once and for all.

The Normandy has crash-landed on the Collector Base's hull: now you have to go in and destroy it. This mission varies by who is in your party and if you gained their loyalty by doing their side missions. At the end of the mission you finally find out why the Collectors were abducting humans. Just as in the original Mass Effect, you will also be asked to make a very difficult choice that may have serious consequences.

After defeating the Collectors either Shepard or Joker talks with the Illusive Man one last time. This conversation varies based on your final decision (the Mass Effect 2 equivalent of the conversation following the Battle of the Citadel in the first game).

The final missions of Mass Effect 2 are clustered under this journal heading. See the navigation footer below for individual details per section.

Trivia[]

  • If Miranda is taken to fight the Oculus, there is a minor blooper after it is defeated where Miranda's voice can be heard coming over the intercom as if from the cockpit saying the Normandy is about to clear the debris field—Miranda's mouth does not move if she is on screen. Also, if Miranda pronounced the Oculus dead a moment before, her voice lacks the tinny quality of coming over the intercom. When the scene switches from the cargo bay back to the cockpit, Shepard is shown arriving and Miranda is already there as if she never left.
Suicide Mission Navigation
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Missions Collector Base: Infiltration
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