Spoilers: The Crucible ended the Reaper War in a blast that destroyed the ancient synthetic machines, severely damaged the Mass Relays, and shattered the Citadel. Though presumed dead, Commander Jessica Shepard—the woman who fired the final shot of the war—survived the destruction of the Citadel. Shepard now faces a galaxy in the aftershock of war, buffeted by a rising threat.

Four years after the activation of the Crucible, the galaxy is rebuilding. Former Spectre and Alliance Commander John Shepard was initially presumed missing, but now leads a life of relative anonymity on Illium with Miranda Lawson. Years of unrelenting struggle has put a strain on his mental state, and as the galaxy moves on, Shepard is fighting the past.