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Normandy SR-2

The Normandy SR-2 is a starship that serves as Commander Shepard's base of operations following the destruction of the SSV Normandy.

Mass Effect 2[]

The Normandy SR-2 first enters service in 2185, and serves as the "successor" to the SR-1. The Illusive Man had Cerberus build the SR-2 for the newly-revived Commander Shepard's team to aid them in their mission to stop the Collectors' galaxy-wide campaign of human abductions. The ship serves as the headquarters of the Lazarus Cell.

Constructed at great and laborious expense in the Voyager Cluster, the ship is very similar to the Systems Alliance's SSV Normandy SR-1, having been based on the design layout of the original. The Normandy SR-2 has several key differences, the most significant being that she is almost twice the mass of the original. Cerberus also designed the ship with more crew-oriented comforts by including civilian-grade accommodations (like leather chairs and a kitchen). The ship still retains the SSV Normandy SR-1's stealth characteristics. However, unlike the SR-1, the SR-2 cannot land on every planet—due to her increased mass—requiring shore parties to use a shuttle to get to a planet's surface.

Internal Layout[]

Deck 1: Captain's Cabin[]

Captain's Cabin

The topmost deck of the ship is entirely comprised of the captain's quarters. It is located directly under the exterior pressure hull, earning the nickname "the loft" from the fitting yard workers.

Aside from a full-sized bed, bathroom, office desk, and standard furniture, the Captain's Cabin features a display case for tracking the progress on Achievements, a private terminal for monitoring basic information about squadmates, reading new and archived emails, and viewing advanced training videos, an armor locker for modifying Shepard's casual attire and combat armor layout, and a sound system that can play select pieces of music.

There is also a display case for model ships, which can darken to double as a screen for visual communications, a large fish tank, and a place for a space hamster, purchasable on the Citadel. Fish for the tank can be purchased at various stores. The fish can die if not fed, although Kelly Chambers can volunteer to feed them if the Commander gives her permission. The hamster on the other hand, does not require feeding.

Romantic relationships developed in the SSV Normandy manifest as a picture of their face on Shepard's desk. If the Commander becomes romantically involved with a crew member in the SR-2, the picture frame will lie face down.

If Shepard fully invests in a current romance, an intercom on the desk can be used to call up the love interest, who will appear on the sofa and can sit on said sofa or lie on the bed with Shepard.

Souvenirs[]
Shepard's Dog Tags
  • If the N7 helmet was found at the Normandy crash site, it will be displayed on Shepard's desk.
  • The Prothean relic from Kopis (a metallic sphere similar to the one found on Eletania) can be found on the table if it was retrieved from the moon.
  • Liara T'Soni has Shepard's original dog tags and she can return them. A model of the Shadow Broker Base can also be obtained from the eponymous ship. The dog tags will be displayed on the table to the left of Shepard's bed, and the model will be placed on Shepard's desk, near the display case for the other model ships.

Deck 2: Combat Information Center[]

The Normandy SR-2 CIC

The command deck of the SR-2 is comprised of the ship's bridge, Combat Information Center (CIC), Research and Tech Labs, Armory (both standard weapons and unique prototypes are stored here), Briefing/Communications Room and main airlock. As with the layout of the entire ship, the SR-2's bridge and CIC mirror that of the SR-1 except wider and longer in scale.

From the bridge Joker can pilot the ship while communicating with EDI, the ship's artificial intelligence. Shepard can also use a control panel next to Joker's seat to open and close the hull's heat shields. The CIC of the SR-2 is still centered around a large galaxy map which Shepard can use to plot the Normandy's next destination, and directly next to the map is a private terminal where Shepard can access electronic correspondences and review basic information about the crew. Yeoman Kelly Chambers is stationed at the galaxy map as well. In front of the galaxy map is the Normandy's status display, where ship upgrades that were applied are displayed.

Unique to the SR-2 are the Armory and the Research Lab situated behind the CIC. The lab on the ship's starboard side is stocked with state-of-the-art lab equipment and includes a terminal where Shepard can spend raw materials to develop upgrades for the squad or the ship itself, as well as review existing upgrades. The SR-2's armory on the ship's port side displays acquired weapons and a weapons locker where Shepard can organize the crew's loadout. Professor Mordin Solus and Jacob Taylor can be found in the lab and armory respectively.

One major difference is that the SR-2 lacks the large conference room that the SR-1 had. Instead the SR-2 has a Communications Room, which is situated between the Armory and Research Lab. The room is dominated by a large rectangular conference table where Shepard can hold briefings and discussions with the crew as well as communicate via hologram with the Illusive Man in real time thanks to the ship's quantum entanglement based communications array. The table retracts into the floor when opening communications with the Illusive Man.

Deck 3: Crew's Quarters[]

Normandy ME2 Crew Deck LE

The third deck of the ship is where the crew spends most of their downtime. It includes Executive Officer's Offices (where Miranda Lawson is located), crew quarters, bathrooms, life support control, a mess-hall run by Mess Sergeant Gardner and the AI core. EDI's Core is located at the rear of the medical bay, which is run by Dr. Karin Chakwas. The SR-2, unlike the SR-1, is also designed with a Main Battery room located forward of the Cryogenic Pods; Garrus Vakarian can be found there.

Legion can be found in the AI Core Room, while Thane Krios resides in the Life Support Control Room. Samara spends her time meditating in Starboard Observation (where the crew's library is located) and Kasumi Goto stays in Port Observation (which includes a small entertainment center and a bar. Pouring oneself a drink will get Shepard intoxicated and the camera will be wobbly for a few moments. You can have either a blue, red, or purple (by mixing the red and blue) drink. The rooms will only be accessible if the member has been recruited; otherwise, the room is inaccessible.

Should Commander Shepard enter the wrong bathroom, EDI will politely remind Shepard that his/her correct restroom is on the other side of the ship. The men's restroom is on the port side, whilst the women's is on the starboard.

Deck 4: Engineering[]

The Element Zero core for the Normandy SR-2

The fourth deck of the ship is the engineering deck, which houses the Normandy SR-2's Drive Core. The core is much larger and technologically different from the original Tantalus Core. Jack can be found in the bowels of the deck down the stairs just outside Main Engineering, whilst Grunt can be found in the ship's Port Cargo Area. Tali'Zorah is located in the room housing the ship's core, manning a console just like on the first Normandy. Tali'Zorah shares her working space with Normandy engineers Kenneth Donnelly and Gabriella Daniels. Finally, if available, Zaeed Massani is located in the Starboard Cargo Area, where a video surveillance monitor and trash compactor are also found. If Zaeed is not downloaded then the Cargo area is not accessible and there will be a red light on the door.

Deck 5: Hangar[]

Normandy SR-2 Hangar

The lowest deck is the hangar, where the Kodiak shuttle is stored, as well as a space for the M-44 Hammerhead tank. The hangar deck is not normally accessible to Shepard; it is shown when Shepard's team leaves the Normandy while the Reaper IFF device is being tested and is the setting for a fight against an Oculus. If any squad members die in the final mission, their coffins are shown in the hangar in the epilogue.

EDI[]

Main article: EDI

EDI, which stands for Enhanced Defense Intelligence, is the AI of the Normandy SR-2 and is represented by a holographic floating blue sphere at various terminals throughout the ship where she can provide basic information about the Normandy and Cerberus. EDI functions as the electronic warfare defense for the Normandy and because of the potential danger of a rogue AI, she has been given behavioral blocks and can't interface with the ship's systems. She also serves as the Illusive Man's eyes and ears on the Normandy, monitoring the many listening devices on board and sending regular reports to him.

The Illusive Man restricted Shepard's access to some of EDI's files and capabilities for unknown reasons, although EDI surmises that it's probably because he doesn't want Shepard to know everything about Cerberus just yet. EDI also gains access to "Anti-Reaper Algorithms" later in the game, and states that she devotes significant processing power to analyzing them. When pressed on this subject by Shepard as to how she could hope to combat beings millions of years more advanced, she reveals that she was in part designed by technology gained from Sovereign's remains and thus, at least partially, based on Reaper technology herself.

Systems[]

As the Normandy SR-2 was based on the original specifications of the Normandy SR-1, she is equipped with many of the same advanced systems of its predecessor. In particular, her advanced stealth system, which stores heat within a network of lithium heatsinks deep within the ship's hull; and the oversized Tantalus drive core, which allows increased FTL speeds and durations compared to similarly sized vessels, as well as superior sublight acceleration and maneuverability.

Over the course of the game, multiple upgrades can be researched for the Normandy SR-2. The weapon, armor, and shield upgrades affect the success of the final mission: for each upgrade that is not purchased, one crew member will die during the approach to the Collector base. Mordin Solus must be recruited before the Normandy can be upgraded.

Armament[]

The Normandy SR-2 firing weapons
  • Javelin Disruptor Torpedoes
Initially, the Normandy is armed with two Javelin disruptor torpedo launchers mounted on the joints between its engine mounts and primary hull. The Javelin is an experimental close-assault weapon consisting of paired disruptor torpedo tubes bolted or magnetically "slung" onto the ship's exterior armored hull. The torpedoes are fired on converging trajectories, detonating in a precisely timed sequence that allows the dark energy emitted by their warheads to resonate, magnifying the resulting space-time warp effects and literally shredding the target apart. These weapons are powerful enough to destroy a huge Collector vessel with several volleys.
Normandy SR-2 fires her Thanix Cannon
  • Thanix Cannon (Upgrade, Cost: 15,000 Platinum)
The Thanix Magnetic-Hydrodynamic Weapon is a turian-developed, miniaturized version of the weapon used by Sovereign during its attack on the Citadel. It uses an electromagnetic field to shape and accelerate a stream of superheated molten metal to relativistic velocities, which then impacts its target and deals horrendous damage. The weapons fire appears as a bright blue beam, very similar to the deadly red trails seen firing from the tips of Sovereign's 'arms' during the Battle of the Citadel. In combat, the Thanix Cannon is strong enough to destroy a Collector cruiser in two shots.
This upgrade can be researched after Garrus is recruited, and takes the form of a retractable battery of cannons mounted beneath the Normandy's main hull. If the Thanix Cannons are installed, the Normandy SR-2 uses them to successfully destroy a Collector cruiser guarding the Collector base shortly after passing through the Omega-4 mass relay. Otherwise, the Normandy will attack the enemy ship with her conventional weaponry at extremely close range, but will sustain severe damage as a result; a crewmember will be impaled by a metal beam, resulting in his or her death.

Defenses[]

  • Kinetic Barriers
The Normandy is equipped with a standard system of kinetic barrier shielding. Kinetic barriers are specialized mass effect fields that halt incoming projectiles. They are ineffective against extremes of heat or radiation, such as lasers and particle weapons.
Multicore shielding utilizing Cyclonic Barrier Technology (CBT) can be refitted to the Normandy SR-2 (Upgrade, Cost: 15,000 Palladium). The CBT violently slaps aside rather than halting incoming linear force. By rotationally firing their mass effect field projectors, the ship creates rapidly oscillating kinetic barriers instead of static ones. Shooting through the CBT is like trying to shoot at a target inside a spinning ball. If an emitter is damaged, the CBT corrects to become a traditional shield array, a safety feature that makes it most effective during opening volleys.
Multicore shielding can be researched after recruiting Tali. The shields prove to be useful during the final mission as Joker maneuvers the ship through the debris field. Otherwise, collisions with debris may cause the ship's power core to overload and explode, killing a squad member.
  • Heavy Ship Armor
The Normandy is plated with ablative armor, meant primarily to defend against the directed energy weapons that kinetic barriers cannot impede. The armor "boils away" when heated. The vaporized armor material scatters a DEW beam, rendering it ineffectual.
Asari-designed Silaris heavy ship armor can be retrofitted to the hull of the ship, improving her survivability in combat (Upgrade, Cost: 15,000 Palladium). The armor can resist even the tremendous heat and kinetic energy of starship weapons. The armor is nearly unsurpassed in strength because its central material, carbon nanotube sheets woven with diamond Chemical Vapor Deposition, are crushed by mass effect fields into super-dense layers able to withstand extreme temperatures. That process also compensates for diamond's brittleness.
This upgrade can be researched after talking to Jacob and asking him about upgrades. If the armor is not installed, an Oculus energy beam may penetrate the Normandy's hull, instantly killing Jack.
  • GARDIAN Lasers
The Normandy is also armed with an array of anti-missile and anti-fighter craft GARDIAN (General ARea Defensive Integration Anti-spacecraft Network) point defense lasers.

Propulsion & Power[]

See also: Fuel Depot
  • Antiproton Thrusters
Normandy departs the Citadel
The Normandy's main propulsion is provided by four large antiproton thrusters, with both aft and forward exhausts. Antiprotons are injected into a reaction chamber filled with hydrogen. The resulting matter-antimatter annihilation provides unmatched motive power. The exhaust of antiproton drives is measured in millions of degrees Celsius; any vessel caught behind them will melt like wax in a blowtorch.
  • Fusion Plant
Power for the Normandy's drive core and electrical systems is provided by a nuclear fusion plant. H-fuel cells provide auxiliary power in case the main reactor is shut down.
  • Tantalus Drive Core
Integral to the Normandy's stealth systems, the oversized Tantalus drive core generates mass concentrations that the Normandy "falls into", allowing it to move without the use of heat-emitting thrusters. It also generates the mass effect field around the ship that enables faster-than-light travel. The design is based on that of the Normandy SR-1, but is slightly different, being vertically oriented relative to the ship instead of horizontally oriented. The SR-2's drive core is three times the size of the SR-1's drive core.
  • Extended Fuel Cells (Upgrade, Cost: 3,000 Element Zero)
The Heed Industries Helios Thruster Module propulsion system far outpaces the typical liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen reactions that power a frigate's maneuvering thrusters. By using metastable metallic hydrogen, the Helios boasts a fuel that burns at far greater efficiency than liquid H2/O2. Navigators can execute the numerous small course corrections inherent to any long-distance travel without fear of exhausting the ship's fuel supplies. This net gain extends to forward impulse as well: a ship powered by antiprotons can coast temporarily using the Helios to reach an inferior but highly sustainable speed. Such efficiency lowers antiproton consumption, a constant concern for any warship. The same efficiency that allows for microburn course correction can power rapid bursts of motion. Once the pilot becomes used to the ship's new energetic responses, he can easily put the ship wherever and at whatever angle he desires.
Extended Fuel Cells increase the FTL fuel capacity of the Normandy SR-2 from 1,000 to 1,500. This upgrade can be researched after either Samara or Morinth is recruited.
Note: If the Normandy SR-2 possesses the Extended Fuel Cells upgrade after you complete the game, and the ship currently holds 1,500/1,500 fuel import this Mass Effect 2 save into a new game. The Normandy SR-2 will possess 1,500/1,000 fuel following the Freedom's Progress Mission which will be used up before your actual fuel reserves.

Sensors & Scanning[]

See also: Planet Scanning
  • Modular Probe Bay (Upgrade, Cost: 15,000 Iridium)
The Normandy utilizes probes to recover valuable resources from planets and investigate anomalies detected on planets. The Modular Probe Bay upgrade doubles the maximum number of probes the Normandy SR-2 can hold from 30 to 60. It can be researched after recruiting Thane.
Note: If the Normandy SR-2 possesses the Modular Probe Bay upgrade after you complete the game, and the ship currently holds 60/60 probes import this Mass Effect 2 save into a new game. The Normandy SR-2 will possess 60/30 probes following the Freedom's Progress Mission. However the probes may revert to 30/30 once a single probe has been fired, only giving you one free probe.
  • Sensors
The Normandy SR-2 uses a variety of passive and active scanners, such as visual, thermographic, and radio detectors, radar, and LADAR (LAser Detection and Ranging). LADAR has a narrower field of view than radar, but ladar resolution allows images of detected objects to be assembled.
  • Advanced Mineral Scanner (Upgrade, Cost: 15,000 Iridium)
The Argus Advanced Mineral Scanner delivers superior long-range topographical scanning resolution and rendering speed.
By deploying an orbital multistatic grid of 100 radar-emitting micro-satellites, the Argus quickly delivers a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) at 15 meters per pixel (mpp) resolution, vastly outclassing the Normandy's previous scanner peak performance of 27 mpp. Such imaging quality provides superior defense intelligence, and at a speed warranted by the dangers of combat.
At slower scanning and rendering speed, the Argus can resolve down to an astonishing 0.001 millimeter per pixel—ideal for geological and biological prospecting, archaeological research, and long-term security surveillance. By employing such a massive multistatic grid of nearly-untraceable micro-emitters, the resilient Argus is virtually invulnerable to electronic countermeasures. The spherical geometry of the Argus grid also allows superior cross-sectioning of targets.
The Argus Advanced Mineral Scanner increases the rate at which the player can sweep the 'scanner' across a planet while searching for resources. It can be researched after talking to Miranda and asking her about upgrades.
Note: On the PC, this upgrade is poorly implemented. Essentially, all it does is increase the player's mouse sensitivity while scanning. Regardless of whether or not this upgrade is installed, scanning can be made less tedious by manipulating mouse sensitivity outside of the game.

Other Systems[]

  • Stealth Systems
Along with the Tantalus Drive Core, the Normandy is able to temporarily sink her heat within the hull. Combined with refrigeration of the exterior hull, the ship can travel undetected for hours, or drift passively for days of covert observation. This is not without risk. The stored heat must eventually be radiated, or it will build to levels capable of cooking the crew alive. This stealth system apparently does not fool the scanners of Collector ships, though the means by which the Collectors are able to circumvent the Normandy's stealth measures and detect the ship are unknown.
  • Med-Bay Upgrade (Upgrade, Cost: 50,000 Platinum)
The medical bay of the Normandy SR-2 can be upgraded with a dermal regenerative unit, capable of removing Shepard's facial scarring regardless of paragon/renegade alignment. Dr. Chakwas sends a message to Shepard about this upgrade, and it can be researched in the Tech Lab. Despite this upgrade being relatively expensive, it is not necessary when confronting the Collectors.
  • Reaper IFF
The Reaper IFF (Identification Friend-Foe) is a piece of Reaper technology which allows safe passage through the Omega 4 mass relay, presumably by commanding the relay to use more accurate methods of mass effect corridor transit. The Reaper IFF is recovered by Shepard's squad aboard the Derelict Reaper orbiting Mnemosyne and integrated into the Normandy SR-2's systems.
When installed and activated, the Reaper IFF transmitted the location of the Normandy SR-2 and locked up its systems. The Collectors were able to ambush the Normandy, abducting most of the crew and forcing Joker to link EDI to the ship's main systems.

Crew[]

Squad Members:

Notable Crew:

Minor Crew:

  • Crewman Sarah Patel
Can be located in the crew quarters speaking with Crewman Rolston. During the course of the Normandy's mission, Patel offers aid and encouragement for her friend Rolston as he distresses over his family's well-being. If Rolston dies, Patel will tell Shepard that in the future she will make sure Rolston's daughter knows how amazing her father was.
  • Crewman Vadim Rolston
During the mission of the Normandy, Rolston confides in Crewman Patel his hopes and fears about his family's well-being. After the raid on the Collector Ship, the player can overhear a conversation between Crewman Rolston and Crewman Patel regarding his family's narrow escape from a Collector attack and their relocation to San Francisco. He can be located in the crew quarters.
  • Crewman Jenny Goldstein
Can be seen sharing a meal with Crewman Hawthorne. Was once stationed on Horizon. Early on, she and Crewman Hawthorne are displeased with Mess Sergeant Gardner's food. If Normandy: Special Ingredients is completed, she will later comment on the surprising increase in quality of the food. During the Collector attack on the Normandy, she, along with other crew members is captured. If she is rescued she will mention that Hawthorne, if he survived, is in the medical bay recovering.
  • Crewman Thomas Hawthorne
Shares a meal with Crewman Goldstein. Early in the mission, Hawthorne is vocal about his displeasure over the food with Mess Sergeant Gardner. Later in the mission, Hawthorne will try to aid and protect Joker during an attack on the Normandy SR-2, but ends up being captured. If the crew is later saved, Hawthorne will stay resting in Medical Bay for one mission, after which he returns for his meal.
  • Crewman Richard Hadley
Stationed on the command deck and is often chatting with his portside counterpart, Crewman Matthews. Hadley's brother is a colonist on Ferris Fields and, after the attack, a prisoner of the Collectors. He was attacked by a Praetorian when the Collectors launched an attack on the Normandy SR-2. During this time, he constantly yells at Joker, if the player stands idle, to run while battling the Praetorian. If rescued, he will thank Shepard for coming to get him and the crew.
  • Crewman Zach Matthews
Stationed on the command deck and is often chatting with his starboard side counterpart, Crewman Hadley. Among the discussions the two have is Matthews' upcoming appointment with the Consort, Sha'ira.
  • Burt
A security guard stationed in the CIC who has an eye for Kasumi.
  • Security Officer
An unidentified crewmember, seen in the AI Core guarding Legion prior to its reactivation. He is seen wearing military armor as opposed to the clothing worn by crew members. After Legion's activation, he will not be seen anywhere else on the ship.

Among the known casualties, if Shepard doesn't immediately go through the Omega 4 Relay, are: Crewman Goldstein, Crewman Hawthorne, and Crewman Rolston. Should Shepard immediately enter the relay, these crew will survive, although Crewman Hawthorne will now be located in the medical bay. After any mission is completed, however, Hawthorne will return to his usual position seated in the crew quarters.


Mass Effect 3[]

The Normandy SR-2 during the attack on Earth

By 2186, Shepard has, regardless of prior feelings for the organization, defected from Cerberus and turned the Normandy SR-2 over to the Systems Alliance. Feeling that the ship, being based on the Systems Alliance-designed SSV Normandy SR-1, was their property, they studied and modified her, adding new parts, improving upon faults in Cerberus' construction of the vessel, redesigning existing areas and removing Cerberus equipment and replacing it with Alliance equipment. Renaming it the "SSV Normandy SR-2", it was subsequently recommissioned as an Alliance vessel, being given Alliance colors to denote this.

Initially intended to be the new mobile command center of Admiral David Anderson, the Reaper invasion of Earth results in Shepard being reinstated into the Alliance military and retaking command of the Normandy, which comes to the rescue just as the Commander and Anderson are swarmed by Reaper forces. After destroying the encroaching Reaper troops with a barrage of missiles, the Normandy extracts Shepard and flees just as Reaper reinforcements arrive, while Anderson stays behind to lead Earth's resistance forces in their fight against the invaders. After detouring to Mars to recover information critical to the war effort, the Normandy heads to the Citadel in hopes of recruiting the other races into the fight against the Reapers.

According to EDI, the Normandy was in drydock when the Reapers attacked Earth, forcing her to hack the docking clamps in order to enable Joker to fly to Shepard's rescue, picking up James Vega and Ashley Williams or Kaidan Alenko along the way. Due to the chaos of the situation, a number of Alliance personnel still aboard, Samantha Traynor, Steve Cortez, Copeland, Bethany Westmoreland and Sarah Campbell among them, inadvertently came along for the ride, and were subsequently made part of the ship's crew.

With Earth overrun and the Reaper War in full swing, Shepard and company embark on a mission to rally the galaxy's forces under one banner, with the ultimate goal of defeating the Reapers via the Crucible, a superweapon whose plans were recovered from Mars. Throughout the rest of the conflict, Shepard uses the Normandy as their home base, traveling across the stars in hopes of building alliances, taking the fight to the Reapers, Cerberus, and whatever other obstacles stand in the Commander's way.

Ultimately, circumstances lead Shepard, and whatever allies the Commander has rallied, back to Earth, with the intention of activating the Crucible and defeating the Reapers. The Normandy is among the first warships into the fray, deploying Shepard and their team into the battle, later extracting the squad if the situation allows it, fighting Reaper forces the whole time. Provided Shepard activates the Crucible, Admiral Hackett orders the fleets to disengage and move to a rendezvous point. Joker hesitates until the last moment in an attempt to save Shepard, and though the Normandy leaves, it is caught mid-jump in the wave of energy the superweapon releases, forcing the ship to crash-land on an unknown world.

In the original version of Mass Effect 3, the Normandy suffers catastrophic damage in the crash, with the ship's engines and wings being torn off by the energy wave. In the Extended Cut and Legendary Edition, the state of the Normandy is more dependent on how well Shepard prepared and united the galaxy's forces for the final battle. If unprepared, the ship is wrecked beyond any feasible hope of repair. With a moderate level of preparedness, the ship is badly damaged but largely intact, and the crew is seen starting to repair the damage. If the galaxy was in a high state of readiness thanks to the Commander's efforts, the ship only experiences minor damage and is eventually seen taking flight again. In all cases, the survival of the crew is dependent on the general state of galactic readiness.

Internal Layout[]

While somewhat similar in appearance to the Cerberus-incarnation of the Normandy, the Alliance retrofit of the vessel has left the ship with significant differences between the vessels, a contrast that is even more stark due to the fact the vessel's refit is only partially complete due to the Reaper invasion interrupting it. Most notably, Deck 2 has been significantly rearranged, with a War Room, Meeting Room and QEC being installed into the deck, while Deck 5 now serves as the new armory and has since been made accessible to Shepard. The M-44 Hammerhead is missing, however, with Cortez musing that as the hovertank was being redesigned in hopes of increasing its durability, it was left behind during the Normandy's flight from Earth and has most likely been destroyed. The other decks have likewise been given an Alliance makeover and thus have changed to a substantial degree.

Deck 1: Captain's Cabin[]

Commander Shepard's Cabin

Deck 1 is the Captain's Cabin. It contains an aquarium, armor locker, private terminal, display case for model ships, and a bathroom. The private terminal can be used to check email messages and view combat demonstration videos, as well as view and change the outfits of available squad members.

The model ship display case now spans an additional wall, allowing for more to be displayed. Any models previously acquired can be found in crates around the Normandy. Similarly, the Space Hamster can be recovered in the lower engineering deck, and returned to the cabin. The N7 helmet, Prothean relic and dogtags are no longer present. If Shepard romances Kelly Chambers, a picture of her, from the days she spent on Normandy, will appear on the desk, near the terminal. If Tali is romanced, a picture of her without the helmet will appear on the drawer near Shepard's bed.

Souvenirs[]
  • During Leviathan, the Commander will have an opportunity to add one of Dr. Bryson's experiments, a Husk's head, to the desk in the cabin. To do so, talk to James several times on your third visit to Dr. Bryson's lab. Interacting with the Space Hamster causes the Husk head to "scream" at the Hamster. Alternatively, interacting with the "Bryson Experiment" simply causes it to "scream" at Shepard, as it did while interacting with it in Dr. Bryson's lab.
  • After completing Omega, the Commander will receive Oleg Petrovsky's chessboard from Aria T'Loak, which will be placed on the desk/table by the bed.

Deck 2: Combat Information Center[]

The Galaxy Map

Deck 2 is the Combat Information Center, or CIC. It contains the Normandy's bridge, the galaxy map, and a conference room. A private terminal is still accessible near the galaxy map, though this terminal can't be used to customize squad members. The armory has been moved down to the shuttle bay on Deck 5, as per Alliance regulations, and the laboratory has been converted into the new conference room, to make space for the War Room. Joker and EDI work on the bridge and Specialist Samantha Traynor, the comm specialist, works from the galaxy map.

The War Room

A new addition to the CIC layout is the War Room, where War Assets and the Galactic Readiness can be examined. It also contains a Quantum Entanglement Communications room, used by the Commander to contact various individuals to help with the war effort. The War Room is guarded by privates Westmoreland and Campbell who are stationed at a security scanner in the small anteroom that connects the War Room and conference area to the rest of the CIC. The two soldiers can often be overheard conversing about recent developments aboard ship or about events that occur on Shepard's missions or the galaxy at large.

Throughout the game and depending on decisions made in previous games, several important characters will appear in the War Room and can be interacted with and will usually stay until the missions in which they are associated with are completed, with the exception of Tali, who can join Shepard's squad. They include: Primarch Victus, Urdnot Wrex/Wreav, Admiral Shala'Raan and Legion/Geth VI.

Deck 3: Crew Deck[]

The Crew Deck

Deck 3 is the Crew Deck. It contains the medical bay, crew sleeping quarters, kitchen, observation decks, AI core, life support, bathrooms, Liara T'Soni's office and the main battery. Liara's office, located in the same space where Miranda's office/quarters was located in Mass Effect 2, contains the Broker Terminal, which gives you information about the characters Shepard can encounter during the fight, and the Intel Terminal. Ashley Williams or Kaidan Alenko can be found in the starboard observation deck while Garrus Vakarian can be found in the main battery.

The medical officer, which can be either Dr. Chakwas or Dr. Chloe Michel, spends her time in the sick bay. The medical bay also has two terminals: one that can be used to purchase a reset of squad point allocations for the powers of Shepard and all other regular squad members (with the exception of Javik), and a second that can be used to purchase a reassignment of Shepard's bonus power to any other currently available option. EDI's mobile platform can sometimes be found in the AI Core, which is still accessible from inside the med bay just as it was in the previous game. Occasionally, characters may be located elsewhere on the deck; for example, Liara and Garrus may sometimes be found conversing in one of the lounges, and after Eve is brought on board, the Normandy's physician will temporarily relocate to the Crew Quarters.

Memorial Wall[]
The Memorial Wall

Located just outside the elevator there is a memorial wall featuring a record of crew casualties, including those who died on the Virmire mission, the Suicide Mission, and the twenty-one crew members lost during the destruction of the Normandy SR-1. The wall will be updated throughout the game with the names of significant current or former crewmembers who may die during the course of the story. On certain occasions, usually after significant events, different crewmembers can be found by the wall, gazing at it in contemplation.

Deck 4: Engineering[]

Engineer Adams, Kenneth Donnelly and Gabriella Daniels in the Engineering

Deck 4 is the Engineering deck. It contains the Normandy's drive core; the starboard cargo room doubles as Diana Allers' quarters and her remote broadcast studio, while the port side cargo room serves as Javik's quarters. Tali and Engineer Adams work on the Engineering deck. If military pardons are issued through the Spectre Office in the Citadel Embassies, Adams will be joined by Kenneth Donnelly and Gabriella Daniels.

Deck 5: Shuttle Bay[]

Weapon bench, armor locker and procurement interfaces in the shuttle bay

Deck 5 is the Shuttle Bay. It contains the Normandy's armory, cargo hold, and two Kodiak shuttles. James Vega and Lieutenant Steve Cortez spend their time in the shuttle bay. Equipment from various retailers can also be purchased here via the procurement terminal at a slight premium over Citadel prices. A weapon modification bench and armor locker are also available here which Shepard can use to modify equipped weapons and armor respectively. A small gym is also found here, which James uses.

Crew[]

Squad Members:

Commander Shepard - Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams1
Major Kaidan Alenko1
Dr. Liara T'Soni - Shadow Broker
Garrus Vakarian 2 - Gunnery Officer
Tali'Zorah vas Normandy 2 - Engineer
Lieutenant James Vega - Armory Chief
EDI - Artificial Intelligence3
Javik
1 One or the other, depending on the outcome of Virmire: Assault in Mass Effect, and if allowed onto the ship after Priority: The Citadel II.
2 Depending on the outcome of the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2.
3 After attaining humanoid form.

Notable Crew:

Flight Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau - Helmsman
Dr. Karin Chakwas 3 4 - Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Chloe Michel 3 - Chief Medical Officer
Lieutenant Greg Adams - Chief Engineer
Gabriella Daniels 4 5 - Propulsion Engineer
Kenneth Donnelly 4 5 - Power Engineer
Lieutenant Steve Cortez - Shuttle Pilot, Armory Chief, and Procurement Specialist
Specialist Samantha Traynor - Communications Specialist
Diana Allers6 - War Correspondent
3 One or the other, if allowed onto the ship during Priority: The Citadel I in Mass Effect 3.
4 Depending on the outcome of the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2.
5 If pardoned in the Spectre Office at Citadel Embassies.
6 If allowed onto the ship during Priority: The Citadel I in Mass Effect 3. Can be told to leave the ship at any time.

Minor Crew:

Ensign Copeland - Yeoman
Private Bethany Westmoreland - War Room Guard
Private Sarah Campbell - War Room Guard

Trivia[]

  • In Mass Effect: Andromeda, the bulk of the Initiative departed the Milky Way in 2185, during or shortly after the events of Mass Effect 2. The Normandy SR-2 is already designated SSV Normandy SR-2 in holograms and model ship representations in Andromeda, before the Alliance's impounding of the vessel and subsequent rechristening.
  • According to an Official Xbox Magazine interview with BioWare art director Derek Watts (erroneously credited as "David Watts"), the Normandy SR-2 is 170 meters long.[1]
  • According to a Mass Effect 2 character document used during development, the SR-2 was apparently referred to as "Leviathan".[2]

References[]

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