Mass Effect 3 Citadel Excursion 4 Guide (PC/PS3/Xbox)

Mass Effect 3’s Citadel return is packed with side conversations, collectible quest items, and a few choices that can ripple forward into the rest of your playthrough. This guide page focuses on your fourth Citadel excursion, walking through what to do, where to go, and what you’ll gain from each stop.

Citadel Excursion 4

Before you head back to the Citadel, make sure you sweep the Valhallan Threshold for Search and Rescue content. Doing so helps you earn credits, War Assets, and Quest Items tied to Side Missions you’ll be turning in shortly.

Prothean Data Drives

To finish “Valhallan Threshold: Prothean Data Drives,” speak with the Soldier just outside the elevator on your right.

If you didn’t grab the Prothean Data Drives earlier, you can still find them on Garvug, the first planet in the Paz system within Valhallan Threshold.

Your completion reward is 15,000 Credits, +5 Reputation, and +40 TMS for the Alliance Engineering Corps.

Task Search: Citadel checklists (quick stops)

Use the locations below to make sure you don’t miss the key interactions available during this stretch of the Citadel.

Garrus Vakarian

Near the elevator, you can find Garrus Vakarian. Talk to him for a hang-out scene that doesn’t grant Morality Points, but does provide +2 Reputation.

Javik

At the window to the left of the elevator (the spot where Vega and Dominic Osoba were previously), Javik is available if you have him. During the conversation, you can use a Paragon Interrupt to shift the tone of his speech toward other races.

This doesn’t award Morality Points, but you’ll still receive +2 Reputation regardless of the option you choose.

Samara

On the opposite side of the elevator, Samara can be found if she survived “Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery.” When you speak with her, choose one of the following lines:

“It’s an honor” for +2 Paragon Points.
“It’s not our last battle” for +2 Renegade Points.

Commander Bailey

If you visit Commander Bailey in his office, he’ll have a fresh opening line when you start the conversation. His Investigate responses remain unchanged.

Miranda Lawson

Before speaking with Miranda, make ABSOLUTELY SURE you’ve read the Kai Leng Dossier email at your Private Terminal. The email should be greyed out once you’ve read it. Skipping this step will cause consequences later in the game.

Next, go into the Spectre Office and use the left-side terminal to talk with Miranda Lawson as you continue tracking her sister, Oriana. If you read the Kai Leng Dossier email, Shepard will bring up Kai Leng by name—surprising Miranda. She’ll respond by saying she’ll be on her guard.

There are no direct rewards for triggering this moment beyond catching up with her and giving her a warning about Kai Leng.

Volus Ambassador – Part 1

From the Spectre Terminal, start “Citadel: Volus Ambassador,” which you receive via email from Primarch Victus after “Priority: The Citadel 2.”

Read the location entry for the Din Korlack item. It notes that he was last seen at an office suite within the Citadel Embassies.

Get inside and begin the search

Leave the Spectre Office.
Head right, go down the staircase, then cross to the opposite side of the area.
Look for a Turian Embassy Guard near a large crowd.
Talk to the guard twice to be allowed inside.

Inside, Shepard finds three laptop entries explaining that Din allied himself with Cerberus, but later became furious about the Citadel Coup and wants out. Unfortunately, the Turians don’t realize that and Din has been taken captive by a hit squad.

If Zaeed survived the events of Mass Effect 2, he will be part of that hit squad.

After the third diary entry, search the office for a Bug. You can locate it on a desk in the southeastern corner of the room. Once found, Shepard will be on the call with Din and head out to the Citadel Embassies to attempt a rescue.

Volus Ambassador – Part 2

When you arrive at the Presidium Embassies, ignore everything else and rush straight to the Apartment sector.

Pick either apartment 80 or 94 at the far ends of the hallway. Whichever you try first will always be the wrong choice, forcing you to turn around and test the other apartment. Enter the correct one and you’ll reach the final confrontation.

At the beginning of the encounter, say:

“Are you injured?” for +2 Paragon Points.
“You could’ve avoided this” for +2 Renegade Points.

How Zaeed’s status changes the outcome

Zaeed’s fate depends on what happened in Mass Effect 2:

If you completed “Zaeed: The Price of Revenge” and Zaeed survived Mass Effect 2, Zaeed defeats the other mercenaries to protect Din Korlack, meaning Zaeed is alive.
If you recruited Zaeed in Mass Effect 2 but didn’t do “Zaeed: The Prince of Revenge,” Zaeed is already injured when you arrive and dies from his wounds.
If you never recruited Zaeed in Mass Effect 2, Shepard has to defeat the mercenaries without him.

Close out the confrontation (choices + rewards)

Choose “I want the colony safe” for +5 Paragon Points. This spares the colony but you forfeit the Volus Bombing Fleet War Asset. Your TMS stays unchanged.
Choose “I’ll take the bombers” for +5 Renegade Points. You gain the Volus Bombing Fleet valued at 75 TMS, but the Turian Sixth Fleet is reduced by -10 TMS, for a net gain of 65 TMS.
If Zaeed lived, you can also use the following Persuasion options:
- “You’re better than this” (Charm) for +15 Paragon Points, letting you get both the Volus Bombing Fleet and save the Turian colony for 75 TMS total.
- “Beat him, Zaeed” (Intimidate) for +15 Renegade Points, giving you the Volus Bombing Fleet and saving the Turian colony for 75 TMS total.
Choose “You’re better than this” (Charm) for +15 Paragon Points and get both the Volus Bombing Fleet and the Turian colony saved for 75 TMS total.
Choose “Beat him, Zaeed” (Intimidate) for +15 Renegade Points and get the Volus Bombing Fleet plus a saved Turian colony for 75 TMS total.

No matter how the confrontation resolves, you’ll earn 210 XP and 5,000 credits.

Kaidan Alenko

If Kaidan Alenko was your Virmire Survivor and he survived the Cerberus Coup, you can find him at one of the tables inside Apollo’s Cafe. The location overlooks the spot where you previously could talk to Liara earlier in the game.

You’ll receive +2 Reputation just for speaking with him.

Asari Widow

Head down the stairs that lead to the lowest balcony, where the Nos Astra and Kassa Fabrication stores are located. About halfway down the staircase, there will be an Asari in an orange dress.

Talk to her to complete “Citadel: Asari Widow” for 90 XP and +5 Reputation.

The item was obtained during “Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery,” but if you missed it there, you can’t get it after finishing that level.

Liara T’Soni

Cross over to the area with the Aegohr Munitions and Cipritine Armory storefronts. Liara is on the lower balcony.

Talking with her grants +2 Reputation.

Jacob Taylor

Go to Huerta and head for the reception desk where the Sirta Supplies storefront is. Jacob Taylor is there.

Unfortunately, you can’t restart a Romance with him because he’s committed to Dr. Cole—reinforced by the fact that a baby is on the way. This is likely to disappoint players who were hoping for another chance.

If you select all Investigate options, you’ll also gain +2 Reputation.

Cerberus Turian Poison

Enter the Inpatient Wing and go into the back-left room. Speak to the Salarian to turn in “Citadel: Cerberus Turian Poison” for 30 XP, +5 Reputation, 1,000 credits, and +8 TMS for the Turian Sixth Fleet.

The required item was picked up during “Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists.” If you missed it, you can still buy it from Spectre Requisitions for 1,000 credits.

Library of Asha

Go into the Purgatory Bar. Look to the right of the large staircase leading up to the dancefloor to find an Asari in armor.

Talk to her to complete “Nimbus Cluster: Library of Asha” for +5 Reputation, 15,000 credits, and +40 TMS for the Asari Sixth Fleet.

This item can be collected on Carcosa, the first planet in the Agaiou system within the Nimbus Cluster.

Jack

On the opposite side of the staircase, you can find Jack if you rescued her from “Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation” before starting “Priority: The Citadel 2.”

During the conversation, you can say:

“You look good” for +2 Paragon Points.
“Keep at it” for +2 Renegade Points.

Either way, you’ll also receive +2 Reputation for talking with her.

Steve Cortez

Steve Cortez can be found at the dancefloor bar, the highest level you can reach inside the club. Interacting with him grants +5 Reputation.

Joker and EDI

Head down to the lower bar and then turn right to find Joker and EDI at the table there.

The conversation varies depending on whether you supported them starting a relationship, but regardless, you’ll earn +2 Reputation for talking with them. They also have additional post-chat exchanges to check out.

Ashley Williams

If Ashley was your Virmire Survivor, you can find her in the Memorial Wall area, to the left as you pass through the security screens.

Being there grants +2 Reputation and unlocks her Marksman Bonus Power.

James Vega

Next, go to Cargo Hold: C and find James as he’s getting a tattoo from a Batarian. Speak with him here to earn +5 Reputation.

Zaeed Massani

If Zaeed survived “Citadel: Volus Ambassador” earlier, you can find him at the back of Cargo Hold: C near where James is. Talk to him multiple times to hear interesting dialogue and to pick him up as a War Asset worth 25 TMS.

Medical Supplies

Now head into Cargo Hold: B and speak with Tactus on the right-hand side to continue “Citadel: Medical Supplies.”

Your doctor explains that you’ll need to persuade Tactus into doing the right thing. Here’s what each option does:

“Take ours as a gift” (the white choice) grants +15 Paragon Points, but provides nothing else.
“Do the right thing” (Charm) grants +5 Paragon Points, successfully convinces Tactus to make a trade, and gives you the Med Bay Surgery Intel.
“Don’t be a fool” (Intimidate) grants +5 Renegade Points, successfully convinces Tactus to make a trade, and gives you the Med Bay Surgery Intel.
“You should reconsider” provides no rewards.

Wrap up on the Normandy

Return to the Normandy.
Go to the Medical Lab.
Talk with your doctor to finish “Citadel: Medical Supplies” for +5 Reputation.

You’ll receive the Med Bay Surgery Intel, which lets you choose between healing your Renegade Scars (which may already be redundant if you handled it in Mass Effect 2) or selecting an upgrade tied to the doctor you choose.

If Dr. Chakwas is your doctor, you get Efficiency Increase. If you pick Dr. Michel, you get Medi-Gel Capacity. Only Medi-Gel Capacity carries over into New Game+, which is why this profile recommends bringing Dr. Michel onto the Normandy if you plan to replay the game.

You should also speak with your doctor again to hear her thoughts about the Cerberus Coup.

More Mass Effect 3 help

If you want additional Mass Effect 3 coverage, you can look for pages covering:

Legendary Edition Changes
How-To Guides
Key Choices and Consequences
Romance Guide
Walkthrough
Side Missions

Mass Effect 3 Guide: What to Do in Citadel Excursion 4