Mass Effect 3 N7 Communication Hub Guide (PS3/PC)

Mass Effect 3’s N7: Communication Hub is a side mission that tasks you with helping a civilian survive an ongoing Cerberus assault—while also juggling a short, high-stakes sequence of hacking objectives. This guide breaks down mission rewards, enemies, where to go, how to prepare, and the safest way to clear each combat phase without losing key quest items.

Mission Stats

Mission Rewards

Mission Experience: 1,000 XP
Reputation: +5
Mission Credits: 10,000 credits
Found Credits:
Armor: Ariake Technologies Greaves
War Asset: Communications Arrays (50 TMS)

Enemies

Assault Trooper
Centurion
Combat Engineer
Nemesis
Phantom
Turret

Travel to Newton

Prerequisite: Complete “Priority: Thessia”
Location: Kepler Verge – Newton – Ontarom

You unlock this side job after completing “Priority: Thessia.” Once you move past the Galaxy Map, Traynor informs you that Hackett has issued the assignment. The mission is found in the Kepler Verge region, and traveling there opens up Newton as a selectable system, with Ontarom marked in green.

There’s no Search and Rescue objective here, so you can go straight into the mission itself.

Recommended Loadout

Squad Tactics:
- Garrus is a strong fit due to his skill with sniper rifles and his Armor-Piercing Ammo power.
- Ashley is also a good choice if you have her available, since she can use sniper rifles effectively as well.
- James can contribute reliably through his Grenades.
Shepard’s Loadout:
- Use Piercing, Shredder, or High Velocity mods, plus the Venom Shotgun, to handle the level’s Guardians.
- The Sniper Rifle Enhanced Scope is especially useful for spotting through the smoke bombs deployed by Centurions.
- If you own the Citadel DLC and/or have completed the Omega DLC, bring a Thermal Scope for your assault/sniper rifle. It improves visibility through both smoke bombs and walls.

Disable Cerberus Hacking Devices

Your assignment is to support Grace Sato, a civilian hiding in the communication hub. She survived the initial Cerberus strike, but she’s shaken up and needs all the help you can offer. The catch is that Grace is in a separate part of the area, so you can’t directly move in and assist her yourself.

Be ready the instant the mission starts. As soon as you land, Cerberus troops begin pushing in from the right side. Move into cover immediately. Enemies come at you from two angles: the right-hand walkway and the central courtyard. This push can also include a Combat Engineer, so keep an eye out for any Turrets he may have left behind.

After the initial attackers are dealt with, the area stays calm until you deactivate the first Cerberus Hacking Device. (To protect quest progress, item collection is saved for later.) Use the objective marker to locate the device behind the large satellite dish dominating the space. You don’t strictly need to wipe out every nearby enemy to start the hacking, but it’s strongly recommended. Shepard needs five seconds to deactivate the device, and if she’s struck during that window you’ll have to begin again.

Each time you successfully disable a Hacking Device, Grace supplies the coordinates for the next one. At the same time, more Cerberus forces will arrive—so don’t pause after clearing the first objective. If you linger, you risk being surrounded from multiple sides. Taking the ramp behind the first device gives you the advantage of higher ground, and there’s ammo up there if you need to top off.

The second Hacking Device is positioned roughly opposite the first. Head for the base of the “Comm 04” tower, where you can find two Med Kits and the Cerberus Codes.

When you activate the second device, Shepard asks Sato for the location of the last one, but she doesn’t respond. She’s too afraid to speak, yet with a few words from Shepard—none of which award Morality Points—Grace eventually provides the final set of coordinates. Fortunately, Cortez offers to fly in and retrieve her.

The final combat stretch is the most dangerous. A group of Nemesis snipers arrives, including two positioned inside the circular room beneath the massive satellite dish overhead. On top of that, a Phantom prowls the area. If you’re thinking “great,” you’re not wrong: she will be cloaked and will not hesitate to sneak in for a Sync Kill that drops Shepard with a single strike. Centurions tossing smoke bombs only make it harder to track her movements and react in time.

When the area finally calms down, it’s time for a full loot sweep. STOP!! The reason this comes last is simple: the mission’s quest item, the Cerberus Ciphers, becomes lost and irretrievable if you pick it up and then die. Better to be safe and clear the room first.

Med Kit – 50 XP. From the starting point, face right and walk toward the ladder where Cerberus troops first attacked you, but watch your left side for a ramp that drops down. After going down, move forward, then turn left and climb the ramp marked “01.” At the top, the Med Kit is visible beside cover.
Cerberus Codes – From the Med Kit location above, turn left to find this terminal mounted on the side of a wall. Interacting with it grants the quest item for “Citadel: Cerberus Ciphers.”
Cerberus Technology – 3,000 credits. From the Cerberus Codes described above, turn around and look for a tall tower labeled “Comm 04,” with a blue “2” at the base. Check the right side of the tower to spot two orange barrels stacked under the items sitting above them.
Med Kit – 50 XP. From the Cerberus Technology location above, check the opposite side of the “Comm 04” tower. The Med Kit is near a rusted railing.
Cerberus Technology – 3,000 credits. From the Med Kit above, follow the rusted railing to a short ramp. Turn right and look for this on a white barrel resting on top of crates.
Ariake Technologies Greaves – Head back to the “Comm 04” tower, then move straight toward the base of the huge satellite dish overhead. You should slide down a ladder, and the armor can be seen next to the central column.
Cerberus Technology – 4,000 credits. From the Greaves spot, check the other side of the central column. This is on an orange barrel sitting on top of a crate.
Med Kit – 50 XP. From the Cerberus Technology above, find a nearby support column that holds up a walkway overhead. Walk toward it, then check the other side of the column to locate this Med Kit on the ground.
Medical Station – 75 XP. From the Med Kit above, turn left and climb the ramp marked “03.” At the top, turn left to go up a longer ramp, then turn left again to enter a circular room. Look to the right to spot a doorway with the Medical Station beside it, next to a fire extinguisher.

After you’ve collected all available loot, deactivate the third Hacking Device inside the circular room where the Medical Station is located. Completing this final disable will automatically end the level.

Back on the Normandy

Once you get through the debrief with Admiral Hackett, you can take another pass around the Normandy to see what your crew is up to next.

CIC – Stop by the cockpit and talk to Joker.
Engineering – Visit Tali’s post and listen in as she speaks with Garrus again.
Shuttle Bay – Talk to Cortez.

If you want more Mass Effect 3 help, the guide also points you toward pages covering Legendary Edition changes, general how-to information, key choices and consequences, romance coverage, the full walkthrough, and a dedicated side mission section.