Turbo_J wrote...
So... what if the Reaper don't give a crap about Shepard? What if Shep being dead, alive, Indoctrinated or not, does not matter one iota to them?
The Reapers are supposed to be infinitely patient. We've all wondered why Shep would be important to them. I can only imagine that maybe none of the events past Cronos happened and maybe they need Shep to activate the Citadel relay so the main Reapers forces can flood through and do what they do; shut down the relays and slowly harvest the galaxy.
Shep, in the grand scheme of things really won't matter. He won't live much more than 100-300 years (implants considered) and Hackett seems like an even better target. So what is Shep's importance, really? And why would the Reapers seem to push for the construction of the Crucible and allow and somewhat facilitate galactic cooperation.
What if the 'test' on the 'Citadel' is a measurement of Shepard's ability to resist Indoctrination and not actually an attempt at Indoctrination? A measurement of Shep's willingness to follow through on destroying the reapers no matter the cost.
With the exception of synthesis, which I personally see as a critical mission failure, and refuse which I see as Shepard not following through on trying to defeat the Reapers, Control (if they have the collector base), or destroy if they stick to the 'mission' set out on at the end of ME1, are both viable means to an ends...
What if the entire London mission or perhaps everything from some time during Cronos is Leviathan testing Shepard to see if he could be a useful tool in his efforts to destroy the Reapers.
What if Leviathan has been looking for an organic species that could aid him in his 'vendetta' against the AI enslaving bastages that killed/enslaved the creators that now reside as goo within him.
Think about this if he backs up anything the 'crapalist' says on the Citadel post Leviathan DLC.
Harbinger makes it pretty clear the Reapers are interested in Shepard persoanlly throughout ME2 with several quotes directed at Shepard.
And to be honest I dont understand all those saying Hacket would be a better target. Yes on paper he has a higher rank than Shepard, but it was Shepard, not Hacket that brought the galaxy together, it was Shepard Hacket consulted in regards to when they should attack Cronos station (and by extension the entire battle to take Earth back) waiting for Shepard to give the go sign and in the battle for Earth Shepard is the one giving the attack orders.
It is pretty clear that the galaxy as a whole looks up to Shepard. Hacket only has command of the Systems Alliance forces and not the rest of the Allied forces. Neither has Shepard off course, but they follow him none the less. In some cases he saved their entire species (Krogan, Rachni, Geth, Quarians) saved their leaders (Turian and depedning on ME1 choice Asari and Salarian) and ended conflicts hundreds of years old.
Shepard is this cycles effective leader and even more importantly he is a symbol not just to Humanity, but to the whole Galaxy.
I think Wrex gives the best example of what Shepard is: "I want you to know that no matter what happens, you ahve been a champion to the Krogan people, a friend of clan Urdnot and a brother to me. To every Krogan born after this day the name Shepard will mean hero!"
I think that quote truly embodies what Shepard is to that cycle. He has a huge sway in any military discussion in a way even Hacket for his rank woyuld not and I dont think any place would be closed to Shepard if he truly wated to go there.