Why was Shepard Relieved of Duty in Mass Effect 3?

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Commander Shepard was relieved of duty in Mass Effect 3 because he blew up the Bahak system, killing 300,000 batarian colonists as collateral damage in an attempt to delay the Reapers from invading, which led to his imprisonment at an Alliance military base on Earth to await trial. This incident resulted in Shepard falling out of favor with the Alliance, ultimately leading to his relief of duty and subsequent imprisonment.

Related FAQs

General Questions

1. What happened to Commander Shepard after Mass Effect 3?: Shepard lives happily ever after in his apartment on the Citadel, but still keeping tabs on the former Reapers in darkspace to make sure they are still doing their job well, and occasionally goes out there to inspect the force.
2. Why does Shepard not get indoctrinated?: The Prothean VI from Thessia would shut down if it detected indoctrinated individuals and it never did that when Shepard was around, so he wasn’t.
3. Why was Shepard never promoted to captain?: After Mass Effect 2 and Arrival it makes sense Shepard isn’t promoted because of the incident and involvement with Cerberus.

Storyline Questions

4. Why is Shepard on Earth in ME3?: In the beginning of ME3, Shepard is on Earth to answer for the destruction of the Bahak system on ME2: Arrival.
5. Can Shepard live at the end of Mass Effect 3?: In Mass Effect 3’s best ending, it is implied that Commander Shepard survives, along with the entire Normandy squad and all of planet Earth.
6. Who is Commander Shepard’s son?: In 2198 CE, Shepard had a vision of his son Kaidan as a tall young man standing in the middle of a large crowd of mixed species, looking to him for guidance and peace, unifying the galaxy as his father once did.

Character Questions

7. Is Shepherd mentioned in Andromeda?: Mass Effect: Andromeda Shepard does not make a direct appearance, though players can select Shepard’s gender at the start of the game.
8. Could Shepard beat Master Chief?: I think in a fair fight, Shepard wouldn’t win, after all, Chief is a super soldier and Shepard is just a really good soldier.
9. Do Shepard and Liara have a child?: Iyra Aldonia was an Asari Commando, Shadow Broker agent, and adept, and is the daughter of Liara T’Soni, and Vincent Shepard.

Gameplay Questions

10. Is there an ending where Shepard lives?: If you pick the Destroy Ending, then having a very high EMS rating will have Shepard live through the firing of the Crucible.
11. Which Shepard gender was canon?: Similar to the Hero of Fereldan, Hawke, and the Inquisitor from the Dragon Age games, Bioware never gave Shepard a canon gender.
12. Why does Shepard only survive the destroy ending?: Shepard only survives if you choose the destroy ending, Synthesis turns them into new DNA/CNA, and control destroys their body but their consciousness takes control of the Reapers.

Miscellaneous Questions

13. Does EDI survive the destroy ending?: Edi survives in two of the three endings of Mass Effect 3.
14. Will Commander Shepard be in Mass Effect 4?: While it does seem that Mass Effect 4 will bring players back to the Milky Way rather than the Andromeda galaxy, it appears less likely that the famous Commander will return.
15. Does Commander Shepard ever cry?: Something strange happens; “I once had no reason to live, then suddenly I had two, you and Kolyat“, when it cuts to Shepard you see tears, that is the only time I have seen Shepard cry in any of the games.