Mass Effect 1 Characters:
Your Squad:
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Commander Shepard:
Gender: Male (default)
Species: Human
Background: Earthborn / Sole survivor (default)
The main Protagonist in the Mass Effect Universe, Commander Shepard is the only character that the player gets to control (barring a brief sequence in the second game).
Players can customize the Commander as either a male or female, and can select his/her background as being earth born, spacer or colonist as well as his/her military history (sole survivor, war hero or ruthless)
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Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams
Gender: Female
Species: Human
Background: Strong willed and knows what she wants. Williams joins your team in the first mission. The Gunnery Chief drives herself hard as her family bears the stigma of her grandfather being the first human to surrender to an alien force. Consequently, she bears a strong dislike for aliens in general. She is a possible love interest for male Shepard in Mass Effect 1.
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Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Background: Kaidan is a powerful human biotic who tends to keep to himself. Level-headed and solid under pressure, the Lieutenant is a sturdy career soldier. He is a possible love interest for female Shepard in Mass Effect 1.
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(((SPOILER WARNING)))
Garrus Vakarian
Gender: Male
Species: Turian
Background: Formerly a C-sec operative, Garrus has a very strong sense of justice, but not a terribly well developed idea of mercy. Garrus joins Shepard's team in an attempt to bring down the rogue spectre Saren Arterius. Gender: He is a potential love interest for female Shepard in Mass Effect 2.
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Urdnot Wrex
Gender: Male
Species: Krogan
Background: A powerful Krogan, Wrex also possesses biotics. He is several centuries old, but can move and fight as though he were in his 20's. Wrex can be recruited in the first game when the player goes after a crooked bar owner named Fist.
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(((SPOILER WARNING)))
Tali'Zorah (Vas Neema/Normandy) nar Rayya
Gender: Female
Species: Quarian
Background: The daughter of the quarian admiral Rael'Zorah, Tali is a tough, if somewhat sensitive young woman who cares greatly for her people. Tali is instrumental in proving Saren's guilt to the council. She is a potential love interest for male Shepard in Mass Effect 2.
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Liara T'Soni
Gender: "Female"
Species: Asari
Background: Liara is an Asari scientist who has made it her business to study the now extinct Protheans. The daughter of Matriarch Benezia she is 106 years of age in the first game, relatively young for an Asari. She is recruited on the volcanic world of Therum. She is a potential love interest for Shepard in Mass Effect 1.
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Non-squad members:
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Captain Anderson
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Background: A decorated soldier, Anderson is a loyal member of the alliance military. The Captain is easily Shepard's most vocal supporter.
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(((SPOILER WARNING)))
Saren Arterius
Gender: Male
Species: Turian
Background: An infamous spectre, Saren was responsible for the geth attack on Eden Prime. He is indoctrinated by the reaper Sovereign and is currently trying to help the sentient starships return.
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Ambassador Udina:
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Background: Callous and political, the ambassador is staunchly devoted to advancing both humanity and himself.
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The Shadow Broker
Gender: Unknown
Species: Unknown
Background: Precious little is known about the enigmatic figure known only as the Shadow Broker. What is known is that he/she/it possesses a vast intelligence network and sells big secrets to the highest bidder.
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Alliance Flight Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Background: Joker is the Normandy's pilot. Despite having Vrolik's syndrome, also known as brittle bone disease, He has earned a reputation as one of if not the best pilots in the galaxy.
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Sovereign
Species: Reaper
Background: The Reaper dreadnaught Nazara, also known as Sovereign, was responsible for the attack on the Citadel. It is the main villain in the first game, not counting Saren.
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Organizations
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The Citadel Council
Gender: 2 males, 1 female
Species: 1 Turian, 1 Salarian, 1 Asari
Background: The Citadel Council is the ruling body of the galactic community. The three heads of the galaxy tend to be overly cautious, but act swiftly and decisively once a need for action is verified.
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Cerberus
Headed by a mysterious figure known only as The Illusive Man, Cerberus is an organization devoted to the advancement and preservation of humanity. Often seen as a terrorist group for their anti-alien militant actions, the organization is extremely well funded by private donors and boasts political, military and intelligence branches.
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The Spectres
The right arm of the council, SPECial Tactics and REconnaisance operatives are given broad freedoms and resources to preserve peace and galactic stability. Spectres are authorized to work around galactic law and use both military and diplomatic means to accomplish their assignments