im currious on what happens if you just leave the game on and let the counter hit 0 for the two hours( or 2 days). would the mission fail? or would it hit 0 and nothing happens?
I know that there are youtube videos showing what happens when the timers hit zero at later stages of the game (where the clock is down to just ~1:40, then ~0:30). A cutscene plays of the reapers invading and killing everybody (it's a bit stylized, too), and there's a critical mission failure.
Frex: This one also has the ending if you activate the project but don't make it off the asteroid in time: Here's a slomo version of the reaping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj3q32_qfb0
Don't think I've seen anyone let the 2 day clock tick down though. (I'd guess it's the same ending.)
EDIT: And now I'm an idiot too. Durrr didn't notice this was the ME1 forum either.