Tiran Kandros is the leader of a de facto volunteer militia that has taken over station security on the Nexus. He is also in charge of the APEX Strike Team that Pathfinder Ryder can deploy. He is located near Operations in the Nexus security/militia area. Though technically a civilian, Kandros is counted amongst the Nexus leadership.
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“Make no mistake — this is a one-way trip.” — Spoilers for Mass Effect: Andromeda follow. |
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Background
In his screening interviews, Tiran Kandros states he is named after an ancestor who captured a dreadnought in the Krogan Rebellions, and he was expected to live up to the name. After beginning boot camp at the traditional age of fifteen, Kandros rose through the ranks and was assigned to Sagirus Eight, one of the Hierarchy's counter-terrorism divisions.
Persistent rumors on the Nexus claim that Kandros was sent to investigate the Andromeda Initiative when the Hierarchy became suspicious about its activities. Kandros refuses to comment on former operations, citing family pressures as the reason he later joined the Initiative.
Pathfinder Ryder can ask Kandros to elaborate more on his reasons for coming to Andromeda and he will reveal that he was born into a typical turian military family. However, his sister and cousin both pursued other careers, so many of his relatives were proud he continued their tradition of military service. However, Kandros also wanted his own adventure and was enamored by Jien Garson's gutsy dream. Thus he made the decision to join the Andromeda Initiative.
During the early days of the Nexus' arrival, Kandros left the station to act as protection detail for a prospecting team and was captured by the kett. He managed to lead several other captives in an escape and returned to the Nexus, eventually founding a volunteer militia to defend the station.
According to Kandros, amongst all those captured by the kett that day, Kandros was the only person who managed to free himself, secure a weapon and rescue everyone. After breaking everyone out and returning to the Nexus, all the Nexus personnel started looking at him like he was in charge and the militia grew from there.
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“I have so many questions.” — Spoilers for Mass Effect: Discovery follow. |
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Mass Effect: Discovery
Lieutenant Tiran Kandros and his all-turian squad were following up on the disappearance of a civilian contractor's supply transport, but when their leads led them to touch down on an uninhabited world, Tiran's unit was ambushed by the Geth. The turians fended off the ambush but Tiran was the sole survivor of his unit. Tiran took the head of one of the geth in order to salvage any data that can illuminate the geth's role in his investigation. Before the geth's data core could be purged, Tiran found evidence that someone in the Andromeda Initiative was tinkering with outlawed geth technology.
Tiran had his mother, Admiral Ravis Kandros, gather high ranking turians of the turian military to answer his questions about the Andromeda Initiative. After presenting them the geth head, Tiran asked his superiors what the Andromeda Initiative was. Commander Narkkin explained that publicly, the Andromeda Initiative was a private space program setting off to explore the Andromeda Galaxy. When Tiran asked Narkkin what were the Turian Hierarchy's thoughts on the Initiative, Narkkin chastised him for asking questions above his security clearance and for using his mother's influence to gather them there. Admiral Ravis admonished Narkkin and Narkkin continued to disclose that the Hierarchy has had suspicions that it had the makings of a private military. When all is said and done, the Andromeda Initiative was proliferating massive ships and tens of thousands of recruits. After Tiran revealed his findings to his superiors, a turian general began advocating mobilizing the turian military against the Initiative. Since the accusations of the Initiative weaponizing geth technology was only speculative, Tiran proposed they send him to infiltrate the Andromeda Initiative as an undercover agent and if he can confirm their suspicions, then he can also aid them in shutting it down from within. After getting approval from his superiors, Tiran had a chat with his mother on the balcony of a building. When Admiral Ravis asked Tiran if he was sure about undertaking the mission, Tiran responded that he was only sure it was worth investigating and that he needed to prove to his superiors that he is to be seen as more than just her son. When Ravis tried to reassure him that he has earned his place in the military and that Narkkin's opinions were irrelevant, Tiran admitted that Narkkin was right that their name has opened a lot of doors for him; and he has made use of such privileges. Tiran was determined to no longer coast on his family history and to prove to himself he has the mettle to be recognized by his merits. Admiral Ravis said that she too had to step out of her mother's shadow and gave him her blessing. Her parting words to Tiran was make sure he comes back home alive.
Using the turian military's resources, Tiran created a fake identity for himself; discreetly stoked anti-Initiative attitudes and resentments; and paid agitators to protest at the Initiative's headquarters on Earth. This created a mob of malcontents who resented being left behind on Earth while the Initiative hand-picked those who were allowed to participate in its emigration. When one of the protesters saw Tiran attempting to make his way inside the Initiative building, it was the provocation Tiran needed to incite a racist agitator. The agitator accused Tiran of getting special treatment from the Initiative because he was an alien. This led to a gang of racist protesters to assail Tiran but the mob was dispersed by Luna Shanks who used her biotics to subdue the main agitator and scare off the rest.
Tiran thanked Luna and introduced himself as Sanjin Vinnick, a former military turian with a discreditable past but looking for employment with the Andromeda Initiative. Although Luna Shanks firmly told Tiran that they didn't need his services and tried to pressure him into leaving, Jien Garson interrupted and ordered Shanks to bring Tiran to her. Inside Jien Garson's office, Jien introduced herself and discussed the dishonorable military discharge and prison sentence for domestic assault she found in Sanjin Vinnick's file. Although Jien had scruples about Vinnick's criminal record, Tiran convinced her that he just wanted to make a fresh start and is willing to do anything to get it. Jien seemed willing to give Tiran's alias a chance but stipulated he needed to do something for her in order to earn her trust. Jien tasked Tiran to aid Luna in finding a quarian scientist named Shio'Leth vas Novarra.
Tiran and Luna Shanks interrogated the underbelly of the Citadel, reasoning that if Shio was on the run, he'd lay as low as possible. Eventually one of their sources told them that a quarian matching Shio's description was residing in the lower ward flophouses. When Tiran and Luna arrived there however, the residents were fleeing from a battle. Tiran caught one fleeing male drell to ask him what they were running from, and the drell answered that there was a "devil right outta of the worst hell" who was in conflict with a quarian. Realizing that Shio was in danger, Luna and Tiran rushed to Shio's residence only to find the quarian scientist missing and the place littered with destroyed LOKI Mechs. Tiran finds an encrypted datapad and suggests they get his military contacts to decrypt it for them and that they also need to investigate the Migrant Fleet.
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“Same shit. Different galaxy.” — Spoilers for Mass Effect Andromeda: Nexus Uprising follow. |
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Mass Effect Andromeda: Nexus Uprising
Kandros' stasis pod is located right beside Security Director Sloane Kelly's. During the initial collision between the Nexus and the Scourge, he had revived inside the pod but was unable to get out on his own, forcing Sloane to pry it open and save him. Afterward, he obeys Sloane's order to do the same to the other people stuck in their pods. Later, he passes by her while helping a human slumped against his shoulder.
Initially unaware of how he awakened to scenes of chaos aboard the Nexus, Tiran asks Sloane what happened after the more pressing issues have been dealt with. Since she had no idea as well, he decides to help her find out. A short while after discovering life support's offline, he obeys Sloane's instruction to shepherd the other awakened personnel and passengers to Colonial Affairs' hangar to take advantage of the shuttles' life support systems (and for a handy escape if things turn worse).
Unfortunately, Tiran reports back that most of the ships were destroyed and the Pathfinder explorers took the brunt of it, forcing his group of eight to seek refuge inside a shuttle in hangar two. He leaves the asari Talini in charge there and goes to check on the krogan pods under orders from Sloane.
Once Sloane and Nakmor Kesh secured the comms, Kandros is tasked by the Security Director to assemble a team led by Talini to stand guard over vulnerable supply rooms. When priorities shift to repairing the damaged Nexus, Tiran takes charge of the various security duties while Sloane tries to get some sleep.
Later, Tiran is tasked to retrieve the access logs from Priote Falarn and Foster Addison. The former forged the latter's authorization to revive 10 of his friends, resulting in Tiran and his 5 workmates suiting up in Elanus Risk Control Services gear before facing Falarn's group, which has taken hostages. His mandibles tip up in approval when Sloane takes charge, causing her to muse how turians have a thing for women who call the shots. After disseminating the intel from his modified Kuwashii Visor, Tiran executes his role in the agreed-upon plan of engagement to the best of his ability. He reports two casualties in the aftermath of the skirmish.
When the other Nexus leaders decide to use the working shuttles to scout for resources, Kandros' security team is deployed by Addison to help evict the people who have been using them for temporary shelter. After asking what was that about, Tiran also inquires if Sloane is aware of this. Addison claiming she didn't have any objections is enough to dispel his doubts, and he also volunteers for the job citing his past as a counter-terrorism agent as proof of competency.
Tiran is assigned to the shuttle Boundless, also designated Scout 8, and accompanies Scout 7 on a reconnaissance mission to Eos. He disappears with the Boundless after declaring Eos uninhabitable and discovering an anomaly, leaving Scout 7 to limp back to the Nexus alone to deliver the news. His loss hits Sloane hard, and every so often in subsequent crises she wishes the best first officer she never had was still there to help her out.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Tiran first encounters Pathfinder Ryder in the darkened habitation deck shortly after the latter boards the Nexus. He briefs them on the dire situation of the station. He gives them a summary of the Scourge, the Nexus uprising, the Nexus being low on resources and successes, and how the Hyperion was the first ark they've encountered. He escorts Ryder to the other Nexus leaders so they can confer on a plan to save the Andromeda Initiative.
Should the Pathfinder request for the militia's aid, Tiran will grant authorization to dispatch his APEX Strike teams. He appreciates it if Ryder expresses concern for his people's safety, though he assures the Pathfinder APEX can handle themselves. Tiran says they're good for outpost protection, holding key positions, and distracting kett if the Pathfinder inquires about APEX's use.
Tiran shows some concern in finding out the fate of his species ark the Natanus. He's relieved once Ryder finds the time to rescue its passengers.
After the discoveries and reveals aboard the Khi Tasira space station become general knowledge among the Nexus populace, Tiran finds it difficult to wrap his head around the fact that the angara were also made by the Remnant's creators. He's impressed by Khi Tasira's defenses and has sent people there to investigate, deeming anything that has kett running scared worth looking into.
Tiran later participates in the battle for Meridian and can be heard on the comms coordinating the Pathfinder's various allies as they fend off the kett forces while Pathfinder Ryder confronts the Archon.
Trivia
- Kandros mentions his cousin Nyreen Kandros during a conversation with Pathfinder Ryder. Nyreen was the leader of the Talons during the events of Mass Effect 3: Omega.