When you bring arguments like this, you always assume that nothing can be gained from the base but the ability to turn humans into a Reaper. This is not what's it all about. It's about deciphering the enemy's technology in order to gain an advantage in the war. When I look at the base, I see a treasure trove of enemy technology that absolutely needs to be understood before it can be destroyed. Yes, there are different opinions about this, and that's as it should be, but Miranda would see both sides and not dismiss the base's strategic value out of hand.
That is assuming that this facility
has anything of value
other than the equipment and personnel neccessary to facilitate its primary function. Which is to build a Reaper. We don't have that information and in that circumstance, as a military commander, you do not assume anything. Especcially given that you have EDI, who has shown the expressed ability to enter and extract enemy information at will as witnessed on the Collector Ship.
Actually, if I were a military commander in a war against a technologically superior enemy, and some brain-dead subordinate ordered an enemy's ultra-tech facility destroyed before I had the chance to take it apart and examine it, I'd suspect him of being an enemy agent. Yes, it's not so easy with TIM as this military commander, but IMO you would be more justified in saying that destroying the base is a betrayal.
The big thing you are missing, at least in my opinion, is that TIM
is not a military commander. He is a man willing to do anything to advance the progress of humanity as he calls it, while advancing his own power as well. There are far too many examples of this in both ME1 and ME2 to even reference here. So in keeping this base, you are affording him the means to advance himself and open the door for even more horrific experiments such as what we have seen in the past.
I'm going on the premise that analyzing the base will advance our understanding of Reaper technology, which will in turn be advantage in the conflict. It may not happen, yes, but it's sound strategic reasoning nonetheless.
Your premise would be sound if we knew this was a Reaper base. It is a Collector Base with some Reaper tech to bring about the ability to make a new Reaper. The Collectors are essentially slaves of the Reapers. Given what we know of the Reapers... does anyone believe they would give a race of beings made into slaves the means to bring about their oppressors destruction? Doubtful.
I think Miranda has always had her limits on exactly which means are justified by the ends. Her reaction to the Teltin facility is pretty clear. She's not an ultra-Renegade by any measure - please don't misunderstand my opinion here. But there are two problems with applying that personality aspect to the base: first, keeping it does not do any immediate damage to anyone, so even the moral angle of the decision is not so clear cut. Second, the stakes are so high in this war that dismissing the knowledge contained in the base poses a danger in itself which has to be taken into account.
The immediate harm is TIM. There would be no way for Shepard or Miranda to know what he will do on thi sbase unless they remain on it at all times. The stakes are high yes, but as Cerberus has proven already with EDI, and with the new Geth and Legion, the reasons for keeping the base are reduced enough that it would not be a great loss. At least from an intelligence stand point and military stand point. (And I do have the knowledge and experience to make that claim from both aspects.)
Perhaps I should say how I imagine a more in-character reasoning:
I can see her telling TIM something like this: "I know you. You'd continue to put humans into these pods just to see how they work. I can't let that happen." and to Shepard: "Let's have EDI get all data she can, take a few samples and blow it up" Had she said that, it would have shown that (1) she did see both sides, (2) wanted to do something to counter the damage (to our understanding) caused by destroying the base, and - (3) it would actually have had some impact on my Shepard's decisions - after all, she knows TIM best.
Agreed completely. Another glaring lack of writing and continuity in the story.
You do notice you're playing with the survival of intelligent life in the galaxy with your decision? "Doubt" in any realistic scenario, would not be enough justification to destroy a unique enemy facility and with it, an opportunity that may never come again.
And the ends never justify the means. It will always come around to bite you in the arse.
That's a separate question. In this special situation, I would probably share most of it, at least everything that may help winning. As a rule, I would not share my own hard-gained knowledge with others unless necessary, especially if it's military knowledge. What TIM might do, I don't know. Cerberus is a small organization and the Reapers are an extreme threat. Realistically, even an evil mastermind like TIM would find himself motivated to share most of it. I think it depends on which picture of TIM is true - the game paints him milder and more rational than the books. We'll have to see how much of the real man he's shown us in ME2.
I disagree. I don't believe for an instant that TIM is trustworthy to any extent. I haven't read any of the books, but his actions in game give me pause none the less, and especially his note to Shepard at the end of Overlord. TIM is a 'The means justify the end' kind of guy. He would share little or none of anything gained because it would put Cerberus in a situation that goes against their founding principle of humans first.
Modifié par AndroLeonidas, 27 juin 2010 - 03:46 .
well from my point of view, i think the betrayel comment is fine.
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