Mass Effect 3: Communication Hub - N7 quests walkthrough Mass Effect 3 guide, walkthrough

Last update: 29 October 2022

This page of the Mass Effect 3 game guide offers a walkthrough of the N7 side quest - Communication Hub. This walkthrough explains when to take on the task of recapturing the communications station, how to get to all three terminals and how to defeat the Cerberus forces.

Received from: Specialist Traynor [Normandy SR-2: Combat Information Center]

Unlocked by: You will be able to start this mission after completing Priority: Thessia main quest.

Specialist Traynor will inform you about the possibility of starting this mission some time after completing Priority: Thessia main quest and it will occur when you'll approach her station in [Normandy SR-2: Combat Information Center]. Initiate a proper conversation with Traynor to find out the details and she'll tell you that a communication hub on Ontarom has been taken over by Cerberus forces and that someone should deal with this situation.

You can start this mission by opening the galaxy map and planning a trip to the Kepler Verge. Once you're there (Newton system) fly to the planet Ontarom and confirm that you want to land on its surface. Wait until you're transported to the communication facility in [Ontarom: Communication hub], listening to new conversations with admiral Hackett and technician Grace Soto during the flight.

You will be forced to start fighting as soon as you've left the shuttle, so don't forget about choosing good cover for Shepard and the rest of the team. Start attacking enemy units and focus on eliminating Cerberus engineers, because otherwise they'll deploy additional turrets. You should also guard your right flank, because enemy units might take cover there and start initating attacks which are hard to stop. Continue fighting until you've eliminated all enemy units.

I strongly recommend that you ignore your current objective for the time being and explore this ENTIRE map, because you won't encounter any new enemies at this moment and you won't be allowed to look around after you've completed all primary tasks. Here's a list of objects that can be found: three med-kits [100 EXP] [100 EXP] [100 EXP], a medical station [150 EXP], three Cerberus technologies [4000 credits] [3000 credits] [3000 credits], an armor fragment [Ariake Technologies Greaves] and a terminal with Cerberus ciphers (they're needed to complete Citadel: Cerberus Ciphers side mission).

Once you're done exploring go towards the designated terminal and interact with it [150 EXP].

The game will add the location of a second terminal to your HUD, however for now you should focus on eliminating a new group of Cerberus soldiers. Order your team members to take cover near the passageway leading to the start area and use a nearby ramp yourself to start guarding the entrance to the main building (screen above).

You should start playing offensively after you've killed most of the Cerberus units. There are a few paths leading to your destination, however I'd recommend entering the upper floor of the building and turning right. Don't move too fast, because otherwise you may get overwhelmed and be on a look out for nemesis units (snipers), killing them before they manage to target someone from the team. Proceed to the new terminal after you've secured the area and interact with it [150 EXP]. You will now have a chance to contact Grace Sato, but your answers won't change the outcome of this conversation.

You must now act the same as you did before. Don't rush towards your new destination and instead focus on eliminating enemy units heading your way. Start moving forward after you've killed most of the enemies and watch out for Cerberus elite soldiers, especially since you'll encounter several nemesis units and a single phantom (screen above). As you probably member it's crucial to keep a safe distance from the phantom and to use proper types of attacks to destroy his biotic barrier.

The final third terminal can be found inside the large building and you've probably noticed it earlier on in the mission. Proceed towards the terminal, choosing one of the available passageways and dealing with the remaining Cerberus troops. Interact with the terminal [150 EXP] and wait for this mission to end [300 EXP]. There's only one more thing to do and that is to talk to admiral Hackett after returning to the Normandy.

Prizes for completing the mission:

1. [10000 credits]
2. War asset [Communications Array]