Mass Effect 2: Freedom's Progress - Prologue walkthrough Mass Effect 2 guide, walkthrough

Last update: 02 June 2021

Received from: The Illusive Man [Lazarus research station]

Description: You'll start this quest soon after your initial conversation with the Illusive Man. Clicking on the door of the station (first screenshot) will allow you to travel to Freedom's Progress. Notice that you'll have a chance to talk to your new teammates during the flight. You can ask them about other colonies if you wish to. Saying that saving the colonists is top priority will grant you paragon points and saying that only mission counts will grant you renegade points.

You should also know that you'll be given other weapons after you've landed (one or more depending on your class). My recommendation is to start using either an assault rifle or a submachine gun. Head forward to enter the first building. Proceed to a new door to find yourself on a balcony. Use the stairs and then spend some time to salvage spare parts (second screenshot). Doing this will result in receiving 1000 credits.

Proceed towards a very large gate (first screenshot). Get ready, because soon after opening the gate you're going to be attacked by groups of LOKI and FENRIS mechs. You should remember LOKI mechs from the previous mission and as for FENRIS mechs you'll have to prevent them from moving too close. Machines will be appearing in front of you and to your right, so you should put some effort into finding a good cover for you and your teammates. At first you can remain close to the gate, but consider moving forward after defeating a couple of mechs.

You may now proceed towards the building where one of the groups of machines has appeared. Inside you'll find a new safe and if you can hack into it you'll earn 2000 credits. Aside from the safe you can also find a medical station. Notice that if you have a full stock of medi-gels you'll receive 100 credits instead (this also applies to heavy weapon ammunition).

Proceed towards the exit and don't be surprised by seeing a new group of mechs attacking your position. This time you'll be fighting them at close range so you should consider switching weapons as long as you have more of them to choose from. Collect spare parts after the battle to earn 1000 credits.

You may now enter the building which was being defended by the last group of mechs. Inside you'll automatically trigger a conversation with your old friend Tali, as well as with several other quarians. If you want to earn paragon points you can agree to split into two groups to coordinate the attack and if you want to earn renegade points (a lot of them!) say that you will find Veetor without anyone's help (Tali will ignore you, so it won't change much).

Exit the building in which the meeting took place and ignore flying turrets for the time being. Instead focus on reaching the next building. Check the area to find a safe, however you must first deal with a LOKI mech. Open the safe after you've disposed of the mech to collect 2000 credits. You may now leave this building.

Order your squad members to take cover behind a concrete wall, because you're going to be attacked by several assault drones in just a few seconds. Miranda's overload ability is great at damaging the drones, but you can also use your own talents and weapons to destroy them. Bear in mind that the drones will often change their positions and you'll have to prevent the machines from finding a good shooting spot. Don't leave this area until it's safe.

Proceed towards a building located to your right and look around to find a med kit. You may now proceed to an adjacent building (first screenshot). Find an exit and leave your team at the balcony. Head down to provoke other assault drones to show up. Go back up and start shooting at the machines while using a good cover. Don't forget to activate overload power as often as possible.

Make sure that you've secured the area before leaving cover. Head down and spend some time exploring your surroundings. You should be able to find a new med kit, as well as salvage some parts (1000 credits). When you're ready proceed towards a new large gate. Follow the instructions seen on the screen by placing your teammates on both sides of the gate. In order to do that you must press Q (first ally) and E (second ally) while facing the appropriate spot. Once this is done take cover behind a large object found in front of the gate.

If you've done everything according to the plan you'll initiate a cut-scene showing quarians being slaughtered by an YMIR mech. As soon as the cut-scene has ended order Miranda to use overload in order to damage mech's shields.

I wouldn't recommend staying in the exact same spot where this mini-boss battle has started, because the mech could destroy nearby crates, exposing your team to its attacks. A better idea is to retreat to one of the nearby buildings and to continue your attacks from there. Don't forget that you can use the grenade launcher you've collected in the previous mission to inflict more damage, especially since you can find power cells for this weapon (crate on the floor) inside one of the buildings.

After you've successfully defeated the mech you should take some time to look around. Explore the buildings to find a safe (3000 credits) and a med kit. You should also locate a damaged mech - start off by collecting 2000 units or iridium from a container. Scan the mech to acquire your very first plan for a research project. You can't do anything with it right now, but you'll have a chance to unlock new technologies in the near future.

When you're ready to end this mission you'll have to locate the only building with a closed door (first screenshot). Open the door to automatically initiate a conversation with Veetor. Notice that you'll have a chance to use one of two special interrupts to score paragon or renegade points. This can be done as soon as you've noticed a blue (paragon) or red (renegade) icon in the corner of the screen and pressed the corresponding mouse button (it has to be done quickly). Talk to Tali and other quarians - earn paragon points by inviting her to your team and allowing her to take Veetor or renegade points by taking Veetor to the Lazarus station.

You'll have a chance to talk to The Illusive Man after your return to the Lazarus station. Your previous choice won't affect this conversation, because you'll either find out that Tali has sent the data (paragon) or that Veetor has been questioned and released (renegade). You can now ask several new questions if you want to and some of the topics will include whereabouts of your previous crew. Wait for Shepard, Jacob and Miranda to be transported to the new Normandy where you'll reunite with some of your old colleagues. Check the next section of this chapter (Main quests - introduction) to find about your current status.