Mass Effect Citadel Mission Chain Guide: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things

If you’re running Mass Effect with the Spacer background, the Citadel assignment “Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things” is one of those mission chains that’s easy to miss unless you know what unlocks it. This guide walk-through focuses on the correct decisions and the specific places you need to visit on the Citadel to keep the quest moving.

Quick scan facts

• Assignment type: Pre-Service History assignment
• Exclusive to: Spacer Pre-Service History
• Unlock timing: After completing your first Mission World (Therum, Feros, or Noveria)
• Persuasion checks: 4 Charm / 5 Intimidate
• Minimum Decryption: N/A
• Minimum Electronics: N/A
• Where it starts: Citadel hub, Serpent Nebula (Widow) — Presidium — Wards Access
• Key NPC: Lieutenant Zabaleta
• Money choice: Options include 20 credits for Paragon, a refusal with no points, or a dismissal with Renegade

Checklists

This section of the Mass Effect Citadel guide is dedicated to “Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things,” including what you can do to make the choices that fit your playstyle. It’s also restricted: you must have selected the Spacer Pre-Service History at character creation.

Looking for something specific? Click the links below to jump to…

• Assignment Stats
• Travel to Widow
• Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things Acquisition
• Speak to Zabaleta
• Call Home
• Return to Zabaleta

Assignment Stats

Video Guide

This guide section references a video walkthrough for the assignment. Use it if you prefer seeing the route and dialogue options in motion.

Essential Stats

• Persuasion Points: 4 Charm / 5 Intimidate
• Minimum Decryption: N/A
• Minimum Electronics: N/A

Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things Acquisition

This assignment is special because it’s tied directly to your background as a “Pre-Service History” option. In other words, it only exists for a specific origin story you picked when you built your Shepard.

As such, Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things is exclusive to the Spacer Pre-Service History.

Travel to Widow

• Prerequisite: Complete either Therum, Feros or Noveria.
• Location: Serpent Nebula – Widow – The Citadel – Presidium – Wards Access

Assuming your Shepard is a Spacer, the mission becomes available after you finish your first Mission World. That first world will be one of the following: Therum, Feros, or Noveria.

True to the name, the quest is on the Citadel. The Citadel is the big galactic hub inside the Serpent Nebula—the only cluster in the western side of the Milky Way—and it’s also where you’ll handle “Citadel: Expose Saren.” On this particular hub, you have just one system listed as “Widow,” with zero discoveries to scan.

Speak to Zabaleta

Zabaleta can be found in the Wards Access corridor. This corridor links the Presidium to the Upper Wards, so your route matters. Start by using a Rapid Transit to Wards Access from the Presidium, then head down the stairs to the elevator.

If Wards Access isn’t showing up as a destination for you, go to the Presidium Embassies instead. From there, move west toward the sheltered seating area—then take the stairs on the right side.

Once you’re inside the corridor, watch for a man in black-and-yellow clothing. He’ll call out to Shepard as you approach. This is Lieutenant Zabaleta, and he claims he served alongside Shepard’s mother on the SSV Einstein. He’s also in a rough spot and is asking for money.

• Pick “I’ll give you the money” to hand over 20 credits for +2 Paragon Points.
• Pick “[LIE] I don’t have 20” to give him nothing, which awards no Morality Points.
• Pick “You’re just a drunk” to dismiss him for +2 Renegade Points.

Call Home

To keep the assignment going, follow Zabaleta’s lead and return to the Normandy to contact Shepard’s mother, Hannah. For a fast return from the Citadel area you’re in, go back up to the Presidium via the elevator, then use the Rapid Transit terminal on your right to jump to C-Sec.

From C-Sec, make your way to Docking Bay 422 so you can reach the Normandy.

To begin the call, head to the Comm Room on the CIC. This is the room behind the Galaxy Map, and it’s where you met Nihlus during the prologue as well as where you do team debriefings after Mission Worlds. Open the Comm Terminal to start the conversation.

During the call, you’ll learn that Zabaleta is an emotional man who has been dealing with PTSD after witnessing a Batarian slave raid on Mindoir. That event is also what connects to the Colonist Shepard origin background, since it involves “a great many atrocities.”

Return to Zabaleta

With that information in hand, go back to Zabaleta in the Wards Access corridor. Talk to him again, and he’ll open up further about what he’s going through mentally. This is the point where you decide how you want to end the assignment.

• Pick “I’ll give you 20 for food” to set up a credit line to a grocery store for +8 Paragon Points.
• If you have 4 Charm, pick “The Veteran’s Affairs Office” to encourage him to seek help at the VAO for +8 Paragon Points.
• If you pick “Take the money”, you’ll give him money to spend as he sees fit, with no Morality Points.
• Pick “Screw you” to refuse him any help, earning +2 Renegade Points.
• If you have 5 Intimidate, pick “No one understands! Waaah!” to shove him toward the Veteran’s Affairs Office in a rough way for +8 Renegade Points.

Want more Mass Effect help? Check out the following pages:

• Legendary Edition Changes
• How-To Guides
• Key Choices and Consequences
• Romance Options
• Walkthrough
• Side Quests

Up Next: Old Friends

The next recommended guide section after this assignment is “Old Friends.”

Top Guide Sections

• Legendary Edition Changes
• Basics
• Tips and Tricks
• How-To Guides

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