Evil Corporations the Benefactor?
Besides TIM, the Consort and the shadowbroker, has anyone mentioned Exogeni Corporations (E-corp for future references)? It's a company that specializes in exploration and colonisation. They help fun...
Forum Discussion
@fudgietroll wrote:Personally, I would rank Benefactor possibilities by tier groups with Tier 1 being most likely
Tier 1: Aria, The Consort, Cerberus, one of the Shadow Brokers (Liara killed one, but they may have been doing Dread Pirate Roberts changeovers prior to this, and a retired Shadow Broker could still operate under Liara's radar). These individuals/groups have the level of resources, influence, covert ops/intel capacities, and plausible ability to figure out the Reapers are coming a long way off to make them highly likely candidates to be the real drive behind the Andromeda Initiative. Plus, they are generally interesting in their own right.
I'm trying to understand why you think Aria (over glorified mercenary and/or owner of a city-state), the Consort (an influential politician/geisha/mistress), the Shadow Broker (a criminal information broker with a relatively small group of mercenaries) has these sort of resources.
NONE of these people have the resources to build six mega-dreadnoughts. The Nexus probably out masses six Destiny-class dreadnoughts. Which is the crown jewel of the Asari federation to the Citadel Council. They may be unarmed, but they have prototype technology technology which probably makes them cost more than a dreadnought. Aria would not have that sort of disposable income (and, since she's in ME3, not part of MEA). If she had that much money, I'm sure she'd build a few dreadnoughts and more than a few dozen cruisers to become a true polity.
The Shadowbroker is technically someone that could have that much resources, but strikes me as the sort that has his resources tied up mostly in his business dealings.
@arthurh3535 wrote:
@fudgietroll wrote:Personally, I would rank Benefactor possibilities by tier groups with Tier 1 being most likely
Tier 1: Aria, The Consort, Cerberus, one of the Shadow Brokers (Liara killed one, but they may have been doing Dread Pirate Roberts changeovers prior to this, and a retired Shadow Broker could still operate under Liara's radar). These individuals/groups have the level of resources, influence, covert ops/intel capacities, and plausible ability to figure out the Reapers are coming a long way off to make them highly likely candidates to be the real drive behind the Andromeda Initiative. Plus, they are generally interesting in their own right.
I'm trying to understand why you think Aria (over glorified mercenary and/or owner of a city-state), the Consort (an influential politician/geisha/mistress), the Shadow Broker (a criminal information broker with a relatively small group of mercenaries) has these sort of resources.
NONE of these people have the resources to build six mega-dreadnoughts. The Nexus probably out masses six Destiny-class dreadnoughts. Which is the crown jewel of the Asari federation to the Citadel Council. They may be unarmed, but they have prototype technology technology which probably makes them cost more than a dreadnought. Aria would not have that sort of disposable income (and, since she's in ME3, not part of MEA). If she had that much money, I'm sure she'd build a few dreadnoughts and more than a few dozen cruisers to become a true polity.
The Shadowbroker is technically someone that could have that much resources, but strikes me as the sort that has his resources tied up mostly in his business dealings.
You're kidding right?
The Shadow Broker owns Spectres, topples governments, controls high-ranking leaders, and has the ability to start all-out galactic war at a whim. Plus, while he may not have had a huge army on his ship, but he could come up with a dozen or so squads of troops on Illium alone at the drop of a hat. He was tapped into top secret research bases, received intel from everywhere, was continuously receiving shipments of rare materials, had access to huge amounts of credits, and knew the Reapers were coming.
Aria has the freaking Asari Councilor on speed dial to do Aria's bidding, when Shep can't even get her to show up to a meeting. She has a wide ranging intelligence network, huge resource reserves, the kind of cash that lets her buy a fleet quickly in the middle of a major war, enough troops to make a frontal assault on the second largest Cerberus fortress feasible, plenty of secret places to build arks, and a belief in second chances. Not to mention that she has massive control of the Terminus before she stomps Cerberus and takes over the major merc organizations, after which her power is near total. Admittedly, if we assume the Benefactor was on one of the six MW vessels in Andromeda she becomes unlikely, although she could potentially be on the Quarian ark, a second wave Initiative vessel, or her own custom ark, as long as she leaves before Shep hits Earth so EA doesn't have to pick an end. Personally, I think it would be funny if she secretly turned Omega into an ark.:eahigh_file:😉
The Consort has been gathering money, influence, power, and secrets for decades, if not centuries. She has been openly training her own organization for quite some time and advises many of the top leaders on the Citadel, as well as knowing things are coming and using her knowledge/oracle powers to help Shep. She leaves the Citadel while the Nexus and first 4-5 arks are being launched (since we don't know when the Quarians left) and was (probably) back on the Citadel for part of ME3. Shep meets her, or imposter her, at the casino during the Citadel DLC, but again she could potentially be on the Quarian ark, a second wave Initiative vessel, or her own custom ark, as long as she leaves before Shep hits Earth so EA doesn't have to pick an end.
Conspiracy Theory: the Consort is either a Thorian clone or an Indoctrinated Thorian slave tied to it, which is the source of her "oracles", and provides the Thorian with knowledge and influence on the galaxy. As an extra precaution against the Reapers, once the Initiative is proven feasible the Consort becomes the Benefactor, to ensure part of the Thorian gets transported to another Galaxy and survives🤨
Am still of the opinion that the Benefactor is currently at andromeda, which means this person should not appear in ME3. So TIM, Aria, Shaira, Elkoss corp, Ashland corp(saw the bosses of these 2 corporates in ME3), yahg shadow broker, will not be my picks. Under the unlikely umbrella would be terra firma(pro-human terrorist group that's considered more extreme than Cerberus), dont think the non-council species could pull this off and dont think the turians or salarians would do this... I am hoping for someone new. Looking at past trends, think it will be human, but I am hoping for an Asari matriarch... The whole getting different races working together fits the Asari philosophy.
As for SAM, I have argued this with someone else in another thread and do not wish to continue with it so will just state my views on this. At the stage of planning the andromeda initiative(which cant happen overnight) in my estimation and I have no proof of this so it's based on logical personal estimation, the planning should have taken place many years back, so SAM probably isnt invented at that stage. Even if the timelines are off, Alec ryder was broke and needed the Andromeda initiative to fund his research on SAM that's why he join them, if SAM is somewhat self aware and could amass fleets and fortunes, why not send some to alec to complete himself? Seems like an over complication of the story line(it's like having hands but someone using his toes to scratch his head), I will be disappointed if bioware uses SAM as the benefactor.
@VladVonCastein wrote:Am still of the opinion that the Benefactor is currently at andromeda, which means this person should not appear in ME3. So TIM, Aria, Shaira, Elkoss corp, Ashland corp(saw the bosses of these 2 corporates in ME3), yahg shadow broker, will not be my picks. Under the unlikely umbrella would be terra firma(pro-human terrorist group that's considered more extreme than Cerberus), dont think the non-council species could pull this off and dont think the turians or salarians would do this... I am hoping for someone new. Looking at past trends, think it will be human, but I am hoping for an Asari matriarch... The whole getting different races working together fits the Asari philosophy.
As for SAM, I have argued this with someone else in another thread and do not wish to continue with it so will just state my views on this. At the stage of planning the andromeda initiative(which cant happen overnight) in my estimation and I have no proof of this so it's based on logical personal estimation, the planning should have taken place many years back, so SAM probably isnt invented at that stage. Even if the timelines are off, Alec ryder was broke and needed the Andromeda initiative to fund his research on SAM that's why he join them, if SAM is somewhat self aware and could amass fleets and fortunes, why not send some to alec to complete himself? Seems like an over complication of the story line(it's like having hands but someone using his toes to scratch his head), I will be disappointed if bioware uses SAM as the benefactor.
I kind of like the idea that the Benefactor, or at least 1 or more of the groups mentioned, is still en route, because that opens up a bunch more story options🥳, but if you just want individuals that could be in Andromeda at the start of ME:A that's fair. After all it's at least 85% probable that Jien was killed by the Benefactor or minions.
There has been some speculation that a TIM clone is involved in the Benefactor program, and if that is true he (TIM or clone) could be in Andromeda from the start.
Similarly, Shiira could have sent an acolyte back to the Citadel under her identity, or if she were a Thorian thrall she could have had a Thorian clone return in her place. Either way she could also be in Andromeda from the start.
Liara killed the Yahg Shadow Broker, so if a Shadow Broker is involved it would have to be the
Yahgfather👿 previous Shadow Broker Liara assumed was dead. And they could be anywhere.Henry Lawson was in ME3 too, but he would probably have sent a clone-daughter instead to secure his genetic destiny (you really think he stopped with the two missing ones, unless he needed Miranda/Oriana to be the perfect womb for his perfect progeny?😮☹️)
Terra Firma is a completely legal political party with strong pro-human views that Shep can endorse, oppose, and, if a spacer, promise to vote for. If they are in any way connected to Cerberus it is the sort of relationship exemplified by Sinn Fein and the IRA.🤐
I personally am with you on not having SAM as the Benefactor. Its a bit of a stretch, and there are more interesting options.
Maybe the Asari Leadership (not counting Aethyta) have always rubbed me the wrong way, but their actual philosophy seems more like the Asari are in charge but we'll let the other races pretend otherwise. (I may have felt a little but of vengeful justice when the Reapers hit Thessia, see where leaving everyone to die gets you Jerks!😬)
@fudgietroll wrote:I kind of like the idea that the Benefactor, or at least 1 or more of the groups mentioned, is still en route, because that opens up a bunch more story options🥳, but if you just want individuals that could be in Andromeda at the start of ME:A that's fair. After all it's at least 85% probable that Jien was killed by the Benefactor or minions.
There has been some speculation that a TIM clone is involved in the Benefactor program, and if that is true he (TIM or clone) could be in Andromeda from the start.
Similarly, Shiira could have sent an acolyte back to the Citadel under her identity, or if she were a Thorian thrall she could have had a Thorian clone return in her place. Either way she could also be in Andromeda from the start.
Liara killed the Yahg Shadow Broker, so if a Shadow Broker is involved it would have to be the
Yahgfather👿 previous Shadow Broker Liara assumed was dead. And they could be anywhere.Henry Lawson was in ME3 too, but he would probably have sent a clone-daughter instead to secure his genetic destiny (you really think he stopped with the two missing ones, unless he needed Miranda/Oriana to be the perfect womb for his perfect progeny?😮☹️)
Terra Firma is a completely legal political party with strong pro-human views that Shep can endorse, oppose, and, if a spacer, promise to vote for. If they are in any way connected to Cerberus it is the sort of relationship exemplified by Sinn Fein and the IRA.🤐
I personally am with you on not having SAM as the Benefactor. Its a bit of a stretch, and there are more interesting options.
Maybe the Asari Leadership (not counting Aethyta) have always rubbed me the wrong way, but their actual philosophy seems more like the Asari are in charge but we'll let the other races pretend otherwise. (I may have felt a little but of vengeful justice when the Reapers hit Thessia, see where leaving everyone to die gets you Jerks!😬)
There is this really confusing note that could be found in the kett temple addressing the benefactor or a benefactor which suggest that this "benefactor" is doing well in EOS. Let me look for it and I will post it here again below... Could be The Benefactor of the Andromeda Initiative but some speculate its another kett that is a benefactor to the person who wrote the note. confusing as hell and in my opinion if it's not The Benefactor being addressed, then Bioware writers really did a poor job. It's like calling someone sneaky Mr Illusive when there's already an illusive man in the series. Talking about clones, am still wondering if Shep's clone survived the fall lol. Though unlikely, I sure wouldnt mind a clone of the illusive man though, especially if it's still voiced by Martin Sheen.
Agreed on the Asari, some do seem a little elitist. If you played the citadel DLC, those 2 Asari in the casino fits the bill, but well cant generalise an entire population based on those 2 I guess lol. Well they do have something in common with the Hannar... They both worship the Protheans lol! Ok back to the benefactor. What you mentioned about the Asari does fit the bill of the benefactor's MO as well.
