Why didn't the Nexus have it's own Pathfinder and S.A.M node?

I think the reason would revolve around the fact of having AI controlling everything. By only having Arks under AI surveillance, most people would be more akin at having their own lives and work depending on their own efforts. SAM seems to work better when learning from direct interface with implants, which might not be really a popular idea with everyone, even higher ups. People need to feel they have control, and not being controlled. You might imagine that some of them would not feel like Alec was a nice guy, perhaps using SAM to seize control over the entire Nexus.

But as a contingency plan, yeah, why not? That's my opinion.

I kind of think of Jien Garson as a pathfinder in her own right

There is a Pathfinder for each major species, specifically to explore and pave the way for their species as far as new places to live, homeworlds, etc.  With the exception of the Quarian Ark (because we don't know all the details yet and the fact it carried more than one species), each Ark carried a specific species with a Pathfinder meant to find a hospital world for their species upon arrival in Andromeda.  The Pathfinder's would be responsible for additional exploration for their species after that, etc.  They are meant to be pioneers, which in an unknown territory means military, science, inter-species communication, and other advanced abilities which each SAM node would assist with.

The Nexus was a melting pot of species sent in advance as a docking point for everyone to meet up.  It was also meant to be the central governing body "eventually".  There was no intention for exploration for the Nexus.  Alec had already done the research for the Nexus and picked the spot.  The Nexus itself wasn't getting a homeworld - it would always be a space station.  With Pathfinders for other Arks arriving, each species already on the Nexus would be accommodated as their respective Arks arrived.  Unfortunately, things change in 6 centuries.  And, it wasn't like they had a lot of time to sit around thinking about this.  They had a very short time table.

As far as preparing for "possibilities", that wasn't the Pathfinder's job.  The Nexus had a security team for that.  And a Pathfinder and SAM node on the station would likely have NOT made any major difference to that situation.  Remember, Alec was the lead Pathfinder and the Ryder SAM is more advanced than the other SAM nodes.  The purpose you fill in the game was not a purpose you were "meant" to fill as a Pathfinder.

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@oynxdragon666 wrote:

Seeing as the leadership for the entire leaderhship for the Initiative was in Cryo on the Nexus, why didn't the Nexus have it's own S.A.M or Pathfinder just in case none of the Arks appeared for an extended period of time.

Having no S.A.M node on the Nexus means the station is entitrely dependent on a Ark arriving and bringin there own S.A.M node for there to be an effective Pathfinder, so it would make sense to bring a S.A.M node on the Nexus as a contingency plan just in case none of the Arks show up (so the Nexus isn't doomed to fail if no Arks show up).

I could forgive this plot oversight if the Nexus Pathfinder and S.A.M node were destroyed when the Nexus hit the Scourge or (read spoiler tag).

Spoiler

they were both killed by the mysterious benefactor who killed Jien Garson.

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@VitesseLumiere

"...There is a Pathfinder for each major species..."

Except for the Krogan.  There was no Krogan Pathfinder.

And still, I'm not sure why they wouldn't have a Pathfinder.  All a Pathfinder is essentially is a person with a stronger connection to a designated S.A.M. than other people.

Having a S.A.M. during the construction of the Nexus and ultimately in aiding to make crucial decisions would have made logical sense.

But then again, civilian operation or not, it would have made sense to have the Arks capable of defending themselves (they made sure the people could defend themselves but not ships, vehicles, or the Nexus??) but we can see how that turned out.

Yep, spot on correction.  There was a sizable enough force of them on the Nexus to be used as mercenaries before their betrayal there and subsequent relocation to Elaaden.  Perhaps their numbers are much smaller and therefore didn't qualify for an Ark due the events in the ME trilogy and the genophage.  Let me rephrase that - by numbers I mean those who would "want" to come to Andromeda and those that would have been "allowed" in the grand scheme of things.  Definitely a good bit of information missing there.

Not sure I agree with you on the role of Pathfinder though.  SAM is a major part, but they are specially trained and hand picked.  They are unique representatives in each of their species that all seem to have history even before becoming a Pathfinder that is recognized.  Because of the unique role of the Nexus, I still don't think a Pathfinder would be the right fit.

Good point that their population might have been too small.

I am not saying S.A.M. is not important or that the Pathfinder isn't important but considering that they handpicked a bunch of people to be able to take up the mantle should they lose one, it just seemed that maybe 3 of the chosen could have went to Nexus and one of them could have had a S.A.M.

In fact, my suggestion lends more credence to how major S.A.M. is then them deciding not to have a person with a S.A.M. present for the construction of something of great importance that the arks would have to rely on.

If S.A.M. is so major (which it is) why not have it be involved in the major project that is the Nexus?  Doesn't make sense.

Alec tied the SAM nodes to the Pathfinder (they aren't mutually exclusive).  Working with Garsen and the Benefactor, he was the one responsible for the creation of the Pathfinder team, their purpose, and responsible for the creation of the SAM nodes.  So, in Alec's mind, I could see where he would not predict the need for the Pathfinder/SAM team on the Nexus.  Does that mean it was the right decision?  No.  But I can see how in a hurry and the plan having been that the Arks would have been there sooner originally, he wouldn't have assigned that team to the Nexus.

There is also a lot of missing information we just don't know, so that makes it even more difficult to really answer this question beyond conjecture.  For example, SAM nodes can communicate with their Pathfinders across the galaxy.  Ryder's SAM is never transferred to the Tempest (which makes sense as the Hyperion would be safer given the unknown's the Tempest is flying into).  But Ryder's SAM is also never transferred to the Nexus.  He stays on the Hyperion, but gives active assistance to Nexus personnel.  I bring this latter part up because I believe Alec intended his SAM for a much broader purpose than the other SAM nodes.  But how that was supposed to play out pre-scourge is the question.

Just was doing some additional research and re-watching some of the Initiative and Pathfinder videos online.  One of them makes a statement I had forgotten - that the Pathfinder teams operate under their own authority.  That may also be why the Nexus didn't have a Pathfinder/SAM.  May have been a political or bureaucratic issue due to the authority interplay.

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@VitesseLumiere wrote:

Alec tied the SAM nodes to the Pathfinder (they aren't mutually exclusive).  Working with Garsen and the Benefactor, he was the one responsible for the creation of the Pathfinder team, their purpose, and responsible for the creation of the SAM nodes.  So, in Alec's mind, I could see where he would not predict the need for the Pathfinder/SAM team on the Nexus.  Does that mean it was the right decision?  No.  But I can see how in a hurry and the plan having been that the Arks would have been there sooner originally, he wouldn't have assigned that team to the Nexus.

There is also a lot of missing information we just don't know, so that makes it even more difficult to really answer this question beyond conjecture.  For example, SAM nodes can communicate with their Pathfinders across the galaxy.  Ryder's SAM is never transferred to the Tempest (which makes sense as the Hyperion would be safer given the unknown's the Tempest is flying into).  But Ryder's SAM is also never transferred to the Nexus.  He stays on the Hyperion, but gives active assistance to Nexus personnel.  I bring this latter part up because I believe Alec intended his SAM for a much broader purpose than the other SAM nodes.  But how that was supposed to play out pre-scourge is the question.

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The only alternate plan the Ryder's SAM had was Ellen. She was the goal for that SAM all along. She was also the reason for the differences between that one and the others. The main reason for this SAM interfacing more directly was because it was required to try and save her, it's also the only reason their SAM is more advanced, because of the direct interfacing and because it's been active for longer.

Im fairly certain Alec never had other hidden agenda's for their SAM than his wife's survival. It was just a result of that goal.