But it was fun to write and think about, nonetheless.If any of you brave to read it.You have my thanks.It began as a post and became sort of an Essay, which I now title:Operative Miranda Lawson's Charectization in Mass Effect 2:
We all have our strengths, and we all have our weaknesses.And in life, we can either decide to stay as we are.Or learn about ourselves.Strive to better and find ways to compensate for our shortcomings.
With Miranda, I sometimes wonder if she is truly aware of how far she still has to go.She says to Shepard that she makes mistakes, like everyone else.She says to Commander Shepard that he is a far better leader than she is or may ever be.
I see alot of people in this thread saying things like, "Miranda should take over Cerberus or start up a better organization, akin to Cerberus.
As far as getting my vote of confidence with this.There are a few things that give me cause for concern.
I. What Operative Lawson says about the Geth in the Prologue:
They're sending him to fight geth. "Geth" We both know there not the real threat.
Okay.Hold up, wait a minute.Now if I were to meta game, I could say that we later find out that the geth that were hostile towards organics in 2183, only represent a fraction of the geth's true might.They were merely the 'tip of the iceberg' as they say.So Miranda's analysis of the geth threat, comes off looking really idiotic.
But even without metagaming.Miranda still comes off looking like she doesn't know what the hell she's talking about:
After the death of the rogue Spectre Saren Arterius.The only viable lead that Shepard and Co. had on the Reapers were there geth allies.As Tali was able to retrieve valuable intel from a geth.That let the Council know what Saren was playing at.Having her work with Shepard to hunt geth down and find out what else they know.Makes sense to me.
Yeah Miranda, the Reapers are the real threat and there still out there.But the only lead that we have on them is thier geth allies.So what the hell are you talking about?! And on another point, its clear that the Illusive Man didn't concur with Ms.Lawson about how much of threat the geth might be.What with him funding Project Overlord and
all.
II. Miranda statement that if she were in charge.She would have put a control chip in Commander Shepard, in order to "insist" that he does as Cerberus bids. Okay, this would have backfired for so many reasons.If Cerberus would have put an explosive device in Shepard's body and threatened to detonate it if he did not do as they
command.Shepard would have been more preoccupied with finding a way to break free from Cerberus control, than finding a way to defeat the Collectors.
Here is yet again, another example of Jack Harper having far better judgement than she...
III. Miranda is betrayed not once, but twice.In the same damn year, and she doesn't see it coming:
Nobody's perfect, and indeed a good spy or sabotuer is hard to spot, if they are doing what is asked of them, with competence and not asking alot of questions about matters that are none of thier buisness.Or found lurking beside a place (eavesdropping) where higher ups believe themselves to be having a private conversation.How could anyone suspect that thier organization has been infiltrated?
But you would think that an organization as powerful and covert as Cerberus, which has infiltrated many other agencies.Would suspect as much in thiers...Miranda kills the traitor, before finding out who he works for.And why he did what he did.For all we know, Wilson could have been convinced to become a Double Agent for Cerberus.If they made him the right offer.
And for her to justify killing Wilson, b/c taking him with them, would be to risky.Is absurd. Its much more dangerous, to have no idea who your enemies are. You can't fight an opponent, that you can't see.Her
action, kind prevents the whole, "Target aquired, threat neutralized course of action." But TIM, does a sweep of Cerberus cells, to see if they have any other moles.They later find information that reveals that the Shadow Broker was behind Wilson.(Post Horizon, Liara - Lair of the Shadow Broker intel) But no credit can be given to Ms.Lawson.I find what the Illusive Man says to Shepard about what Miranda did, to be very interesting:
Shepard: Miranda killed Wilson in cold blood.
TIM: Miranda did exactly what I expected of her.
Hmm... Is it just me, or does that sound like a very PR response.Notice how what he says, neither condones or condems her action.And by the time Shepard gets to Operative Lawson's Loyalty Mission.He could say the same thing.What with how Miranda tries tokill an unarmed man, Nekat.Except this time.She does ask questions
before she kills the "traitor".
So when its her personal crap.She doesn't shoot first and ask questions later.But when a situation arises that has to do with professional matters.Like the security of Cerberus Command.She shoots first and doesn't even ask questions later... WTF!?
4.Miranda's apology to Shepard:
Its nothing wrong with making amends.But I sort of had to hear that again, when Miri says what she is apologizing to Shep for.
Miranda: I have to apologize to you.I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE UP TO THE TASK."
If there was ever a moment in the Mass Effect series to allow the player either a paragon or renegade interrupt.This was it. It is important for adults as well as children, to know what is expected of them.So they won't be idle or wonder about aimlessly.
A leader is expected to do three things well.
1. Have a vision.
2. Get people to help you make a dream into reality.
3. Know what those who are working for you or with you are capable of.In order to properly delegate responsibilty and get the best work out of them possible. What Operative Miranda Lawson confesses to Commander Shepard, makes me facepalm and have a sense of disbelief.At her complete and utter stupidity...
Miranda tells us that she has been learning all she could about Shepard for the past two years.While working on bringing him back to life.Well then she should know fully well, that as an N7 Alliance Space Marine:
(My) Shepard distinguished himself by defending the human colony of Elisium from a massive Pirate Invasion.He and his team prevented a nucelar holocaust from happening on Eden Prime.
As the first human Spectre, Shepard goes to Pinnacle Station and breaks all records.Shep and Co.go on to save Terra Nova from a cosmic collision.Fought back an Geth invasion of the Feros Colony and freed
the colonist from mental inslavement to the Thorian.Took out all geth outpost in the Attican Traverse, preventing them from gaining strength in that sector of space.Defeated the legendary Asari Commandos in a
battle on Noveria.Destroyed Saren's Krogan Cloning Facility on Virmire.When Shep and the STG were massivly outnumbered and outgunned.Touchdowned on Illos, followed Saren through the Conduit and
thrawted the Reaper Invasion.
And I'm leaving some stuff out... Now how Miranda could look over the career highlights of someone as skilled, accomplished and a seasoned vet as Commander Shepard is.And think that he is unqualified to handle
their current assignment.Is quite a conumdrum.
My only question for Ms.Lawson is: "If you didn't think that Shepard was up to the task.Who the hell is?!"
This is just another example of the Illusive Man being right and Miranda Lawson being wrong.
As Philoctetes of Disney Hercules once put it: "Rule number 72: Asesses the situation." What Ms.Lawson has shown me is that she does a ****** poor job of doing this! From the first example I givein this post, to the last.And I could've listed a few more.Like when she volunteers to generate the biotic field.In the presence of a human
super biotic: Jack and a Matriarch level biotic, Samara.Sigh...
You know Thanksgiving has just come and gone and it got me thinking about the classic tradition of having the grown ups sit at one table and children sit elsewhere.There are characters in Mass Effect who
have earned their right to sit at the Grown Ups Table:
Like Commander Shepard, Aria T' lok, Jack Harper, Executor Chelick, Dr. Mordin Solus and the Racchni Queen.
While others characters have shown that they belong at Chucky Cheezes Pizza:
Like Tali, Jack, Udina, Balak and Miranda.
2185 was in some ways the best and worst year of Ms.Lawson's life. On a professional and personal level.Her success as the Director of the Lazarus Project and personal achievement of interacting with her
sister and also becoming Shepard's friend or lover.But she also had a rough time of it.Due to Betrayal and Miscalculations.
I have come to see that Miranda in 2185, post Lazarus Project.Was not only demoted, after Shepard's Awakening.She really became an intern.Like a med student who must do a residency or law student who
passes the bar exam and has to do an internship for a year and half.
And I love this journey that she goes on in Mass Effect 2.Even though she may not fully acknowledge it herself.Early on she says that she is hear to make sure Shepard succeds.Later on however, she says to Shep,
that he would have done fine without her.Which strikes me as an admission that perhaps she had more to learn from working with Shepard.
Grunt & Miranda have alot in common.Both being genectically engineered super beings by thier fathers.The difference betwixt them is: Grunt readily accepts Shepard as his Battlemaster and Mentor.He's smart
enough and humble enough to realize that Shepard is someone whom he can benefit from being around.I love Grunt! One of things I like so much about him.Is how he looks at Shepard when you have him in your
shore party.He looks like he's just taking it all in.Like a studious a child.
Miranda on the other hand, isn't so quick to recognize how fortunate she is to have this opportunity to work with a Living Legend! Nah, she has to much pride and ego for that at first.In stark contrast, Operative Jacob Taylor is very enthuisiatic about working with Shepard.Even though Jacob has an impressive Service Record himself.He
knows when he's in the presence of someone who (for lack of a better term) has the blood of the Gods within him.Like some hero of old.Warrior of reknown...
I can't speak for anyone else, but in ME2, my Shepard sort of felt like he was McDreamy of Grey's Anatomy.What with how popular he was with all the lady's, and how he related to some of them.Miranda reminded me very much of Dr.Grey.She is smart, beautiful and gifted.But she is still just an intern and not ready to "Stomp with
the Big Dogs." yet. But oh, how she loves to challenge her superior officer, and thinks from time time, that she knows better than him.And sometimes, she does.But with Shepard and Miranda.Shep has been in the
right like 99.8% of the time.
But this does not make Commander Shepard a "Mary Sue" like Dr.House, he's the best there is, at what he does.As in real life, there always is someone who is Top of the class.
Even TIM and Miri's batting average is similar to what it is with Shep and Miri.But yet when it comes time to decide what to do with the Collector Base.Miranda thinks in her heart,"Ah yes, this is the time when I'm going to be right and the Illusive Man is wrong!" Mr.Harper should not have said to her, "I order you." He should have reminded
her of how often she thought he was making the wrong choice or taking to big a risk.By saying something to her like:
TIM: Miranda! You thought the geth were no longer a threat.You thought bringing Shepard back was a bad idea.You thought putting a control chip in his head, was a good idea.You were wrong, in all those
instances, where the decision I made, turned out to be the right one.
Even though you disagreed with me.You still followed my orders.Miranda... Trust me now, as you did then."
But unfortunately.This is not what TIM said.But he shouldn't have had to say this to Operative Lawson in the first place.Miranda showed herself to be a true 'wild card' here.
Even though I (originally) like what Miri says to TIM, about the CB.If I were the Illusive Man.Commander Shepard wouldn't even be in my line of sight in Mass Effect 3.But Miranda Lawson better watch her back! It has been said that, "Before you can be a good leader, you must first be a good follower." Miranda in some ways is the worst employee imaginable, for she can't help but second guess next to everything she's told to do.She even goes as far as to say in the presence of Shepard's squad, (when your planning the Suicide Mission). If you
choose someone that she strongly disagrees with: "You got to be kidding me!"
First time I heard her say this is when I decided for the first time ever, to let Jack of all people lead the Fire Team.Jack was my L.I. in this playthrough and I recalled that she once said to me that if I ever said F*ck Cerberus, and the Council.And go pirate.She wanted to lead the boarding party.I also remembered that she and her team
destroyed a space station.So it occured to me that maybe she would do alright as the leader of one of the assault teams.And she did not disappoint me.
And I love how Shepard can get in Miranda's face and make it clear to her in no uncertain terms.That he is not interested in her input here.
Now what I'm getting at is this.Miranda has made my Shepard unsure about her in a way.As a CO, he feels like:
If Miranda could so easily just decide to disregard a direct order from TIM, after being a part of Cerberus for so long.What's to stop her (in ME3) from defying my orders?! On an important mission.Can I really trust that she will have enough confidence in my leadership and judgement.To do as I say, even if she doesn't agree with me?
You know its funny... I began this post, to talk about Miranda as a Leader and it ends with me talking about her as a Follower.I honestly must say, that I don't know if she's cut out for either role:
As a leader she get's results, but inspite of that; I see her as mediocre at best.Sociopathic at worst.I say she's mediocre because I define mediocrity as doing the bare minium required, to get by.As the Project Director of the Lazarus Cell, she and her team brought Shepard back to life.An extrodinary acheivement.No doubt.But after doing this, her attiude toward her subbordinates is like a woman who suffers from post partem depression.She couldn't care less whether they live or die.Their job is finished, so they are finshed is her attitude.She didn't exactly do what you would think someone in her position would do.(After bringing Shepard back to life.) Pat her employees on the
back.Throw a coporate party in honor of thier success.Nah, she's like:
F*ck them...
And her attitude doesn't change during the Suicide Mission.She just wants to get the job done and go home.Who cares about rescuing the crew of the Normandy SR2.The mission comes first and they knew what
they signed up for...
Now baring this all in mind.Would I work for Ms.Lawson? To paraphrase what Goku said to Vegta: "Nah, I'm going to have to pass.I've seen how you treat your employees.Not a whole lot of job security."
Miranda is genetically blessed.She's shown herself to be highly competent in some spheres and she is a physical marvel.On an aesthetic level and athletic level.But the only sphere in which she has truly
shown herself to not be mediocre but extrodinary; is in her devotion to her younger sister Orianna Lawson.She's her big sister.And she takes that role very seriously.As the elder sibling, she looks out for her younger sibling.And goes as far as to put her own life in danger and kill to protect her.
As a 'Follower' Miranda has proven to be a wild card.
And downright pathologically have the annoying habit of constantly second guessing her commanding officer.So I'm not so sure that I would want her working for me either.
But Ms.Lawson might be best suited as an Ally.Because an ally.She has a high degree of independance, but has decided to cooperate with others, for a mutually beneficial gain...
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