Citadel: Old Friends

A member of Commander Shepard's old gang needs help and is prepared to use blackmail to get it.

Acquisition

Citadel: Old Friends is only available if Commander Shepard has the Earthborn background. After completing one or more of the main storyline assignments (on Feros, Noveria or Therum) a human named Finch can be found outside Chora's Den in the Wards and will address Shepard in passing.

Walkthrough

Talking to Finch will reveal that he is a member of the Tenth Street Reds, a gang on Earth to which Shepard once belonged. Another gang member, Curt Weisman, has been arrested by the turians for a "minor offence", although he was in turian space at the time. Finch wants you to talk to the turian guard in Chora's Den to secure Weisman's release. Finch also threatens to reveal Shepard's shady past with the Reds if you refuse.

You can then find the turian guard and discover that the Reds have become a violent anti-alien group. Weisman was responsible for a hate crime against the turians, namely poisoning medical cargo meant for a turian colony that could have caused the deaths of millions. You can negotiate Weisman's release, inform the guard that Finch is likely to try and free his prisoner or change your mind after hearing about Weisman's crimes.

• Tipping the guard off will result in +2 Paragon points.
• Using Intimidate to threathen to kill his subordinates if he does not release the prisoner will result in +9 Renegade points.
• Using Charm to free the prisoner will also result in +9 Renegade points.

If you chose not to free him, Finch will appear and declare that he is going to tell the galaxy that Shepard was once affiliated with the Reds and their anti-alien agenda. You must decide how to deal with him, either convince him to keep his mouth shut or simply shoot him. Your choice affects the turian guard's opinion of the first human Spectre either positively or negatively. (Killing Finch impresses the guard, whereas talking Finch down and letting Finch go makes the guard think less of Shepard.)

• Killing Finch will result in +9 Renegade points.
• Using Charm to tell Finch that humans need others to strengthen humanity, gains +8 Paragon points.
• Using Intimidate to remind Finch how Spectre status allows Shepard to legally execute everyone in the bar right now, namely Finch, or to convince Finch that Shepard now commands more respect than Finch's defamation attempt could possibly affect gains +9 Renegade points.

Mass Effect 2 Consequences

In Mass Effect 2, via the private terminal Shepard receives a message from Finch. Although aware of Shepard's discontent at Finch finding the Commander two years prior, he encourages Shepard for working against the Collectors.

Hello from the Reds

From Finch Shepard, Had family on a colony that got hit. I used some contacts with the Reds and found a couple of people who said they could get you this message. You might not have much use for me. You spend too much time with the damn aliens, pretending your time in the gangs back on Earth never happened. I know you weren't happy when I found you at the Citadel a couple years back. But I'm glad you're on this. I hope you find whoever took my people on Freedom's Progress and kick their scaly asses. I'm glad it's a human finding these bastards. I'm glad it's you. Do the Reds proud.