Max Shepard

Commander Shepard

	+ 63rd Scout Flotilla
* N7 Special Forces

	+ STRIKE (formerly)
	+ Alliance Corsairs (formerly)

Citadel Council

* Office of Special Tactics and Reconnaissance

Cerberus (briefly)

* Lazarus Cell

Clan Urdnot (honorary member)
Citadel Allied Forces
Interplanetary Combatives Academy (former trainer)
Grissom Academy (former trainer)
Earth Resistance

* Hammer Ground Forces

**Maximilian Elliot Shepard**, though only ever called **Max**, is a human war hero, Alliance Navy marine, and Council Spectre. He is a graduate of the Systems Alliance N7 special forces program (service no. 5923-AC-2826), a veteran of the Skyllian Blitz and the consequential raid on Torfan. He is most well-known for being the first human Spectre.

## Background

### Early Life

Shepard was born on the Earth holiday Valentine's Day in the year 2153, in London, England on Earth. He was his parents, Alan and Ella Shepard, first and only child, likely for good reasons. Max's parents spent all of their alone time arguing and both of them relished having alone time when Alan, an Alliance pilot, was away for work. Still, they managed to hide their fighting from their young son, who grew up idolizing his father. Unfortunately, in 2157 during the First Contact War, Alan Shepard was killed-in-action, leaving a widowed Ella relieved and a young Max devastated by his father's loss.

Ella and Max Shepard didn't stay in London for very long after Alan's death. In 2160, Ella moved herself and her seven-year-old child to Vancouver, Canada, an action taken to be closer to Ella's new boyfriend: Tobias Ashwood, an Alliance commander. In doing so, however, Ella also relocated her small family closer to Systems Alliance Parliament (SAP) headquarters. By this point, Max was clearly struggling to cope with the changes being made to his life. While the main reason was believed to be due to the loss of his father and the move to Canada, the main reason was hidden beneath the surface: Max's biotic abilities.

### BAaT

In the year 2160, Max was observed using biotic "powers" for the first time by one of his school teachers. At the time, biotics were still almost unheard of to humanity and humans were still figuring out what to do with them. Max was added to a watchlist of sorts, and it wasn't until two years later, in 2162, when biotics, in general, were confronted that Max's biotics were mentioned again.

The Alliance's answer to biotics started with a program known as BAaT (Biotic Acclimation and Temperance Training), a boarding academy that would facilitate a "welcome and open-minded environment" for biotically-gifted children (children who were promising enough to be augmented) to "nurture their potential." In a global-wide search, the Alliance collected three-hundred and twenty-eight children ranging in age from six in age to twelve, all of which that had been exposed to large amounts of element zero and were observed using biotic abilities. Max was one of these children, and by the fall of 2162, he was sent to Jump Zero to participate in the groundbreaking program. Once there, he proved to be at the top of an already very short list of names.

Max spent a total of five years on Jump Zero during his time in the BAaT program, from the age of 8 to the age of 13. During all five years, Max's name was on the top of every possible list his trainers kept. Of all the children the Alliance collected for BAaT, there was absolutely no denying that Max was the most promising of all of them. Not only was it obvious that Max's biotic abilities were the strongest of the children at BAaT, but Max learned control of his abilities much quicker than his peers, with a refinement his peers also lacked.

While Shepard's strength in biotics worked in favor of the Alliance's motives, it had the opposite effect on the young boy who was already struggling in the program, both socially and mentally. Because Max had abilities leagues ahead of his peer's capabilities, and a power level that rivaled even his trainers' (turian and asari in species) levels, he wasn't particularly liked by either his peers or his instructors. Be it jealously or something more along the lines of fear, his instructors targeted him meanwhile his peers shunned him. Still, even while his instructors intentionally made things harder for the young Shepard, it was clear he needed a more advanced teaching method, more than the turian and asari mercenaries could give him.

While Shepard was shunned by most of his peers, he had one friend in particular who he spent most of his free-time with, a girl his age named Rahna Dobreva. Rahna was, admittedly, not as proficient with her abilities as the majority of the children in the BAaT program. While her power level was high enough to be augmented, it was not high enough to be useful to the Alliance in advanced combatives situation. Unfortunately, there was no divergence in the training programs, or customizations, which meant Rahna endured the same strenuous training as the rest of her peers. At the same time, a young Shepard helped Rahna out wherever and however he could.

#### Incident with Commander Vyrnnus

At the time of BAaT's operation, biotic-capable humans were extremely rare, and it was even rarer that any humans could wield their powers safely. Little was known about biotics to humanity, and so the Alliance had little choice but to use instructors from alien races who had more knowledge on the subject. As such, the Alliance retained turian and asari commandos for the program. While there was concern whether either of the races could safely train the children without bias, the Alliance went through with it anyway.

The commando groups leader, a turian named Commander Vyrnnus, possessed great prejudice for humans, and consequentially, treated the children at BAaT much worse than the Alliance had originally feared. Vyrnnus led the children through strenuous training, expecting greatness from them even while believing that they offered none. He often forced the children to spar with each other, often resulting in injuries in both children. His sessions were seemingly endless, and the children in the program were given little relieve from their "training." Vyrnnus worked the children to the point of exhaustion, with little concern for their physical or mental health. The rest of Vyrnnus's commandos were little better than he was, and often following his lead in methods in what could only be considered borderline torture.

In 2166, one of the children at Jump Zero claimed to have a transmitter which could send messages off-station, an illicit activity under BAaT rules. Another one of the children, a boy named Kaidan Alenko, admitted the transmitter's existence to Vyrnnus, who intended to see the rest of the children punished for their actions. Shortly afterward, Vyrnnus interrupted his students meal break and demanded them to assemble in the training room, regardless if they had yet eaten/hydrated yet. The trainees scrambled to comply, and at the training room they found a pile of building materials, and one of their own tied to a post. Once into formation, the children were lectured by Vyrnnus on the costs of their education: millions of credits were being spent on them, although they didn't take their studies seriously. After urging any accomplices to come forward and seeing that none of them would, Vyrnnus devised an exercise for them: biotically assemble an object from the pile of blocks on the floor. If the assembly was wrong, or a piece fell, the students would start over. He offered water to the exhausted children, but only if they finished the exercise to his satisfaction.

Several hours later, students began dropping from exhaustion. Vyrnnus instructed the remainder of them to "pay no heed to the fallen," but Shepard managed to cover for Rahna when she faltered on her part. Vyrnnus, however, noticed the gesture and turned his attention onto them. While he complimented Shepard for the catch, he began taunting Rahna with a glass of water, taking notice of how tired and weak she was as she had neither eaten or hydrated at their earlier meal break. He showed her no mercy, using his biotics to float the glass within her arm's reach, offering it to her under the stipulation that she must use her biotics to take it from him. Rahna, unfortunately, fell for his bait and in a moment of desperation, reached for the glass with her hand. The turian blasted her arm, breaking it in the process, and berated her for being "pathetic."

Shepard's anger had been growing, but the action was enough to force it to boil over in rage. In a both horrifying and astonishing turn of events, he unleashed copious amounts of biotic energy at the turian. When he recovered from Shepard's attack, Vyrnnus remarked that the young prodigy had skill, but added that he would teach the human what it meant to strike someone. Vyrnnus biotically lunged at him, to which Shepard used his abilities to shield himself. Later, when Vyrnnus drew his knife and goaded Shepard to finish what he started, he managed to slice at the child's side. Shepard retaliated by blasting him again. The altercation came to an end when Shepard delivered a biotically-charged jumpkick on his head before Vyrnnus could recover. Unfortunately for Shepard, this caused an injury to Vyrnnus that he quickly succumbed to.

After this incident, Shepard was immediately pulled from the general population of the program, and it wasn't long after that the Alliance decided to pull him from the program completely. Unfortunately, the event also changed Rahna's opinion of a young Shepard, and although she wished him well, she explained that she could never forgive him for killing Vyrnnus. Shepard, on the other hand, would struggle with his actions on his own for the next several years, struggling himself to come to terms with what he had done.

### Project Phoenix

After the incident with Commander Vyrnnus that led to Max's removal from BAaT, the Alliance was both impressed and disturbed by the events that took place at Jump Zero. While the Alliance never intended for a child to be placed in such a situation, and were entirely regretful that it did happen, they also quickly realized the potential Max had. Max obviously possessed biotic power that the other children in the program did not, with power levels bordering those of which seen in Asari children. While the Alliance understood that Max was too strong to be trained beside other children, and mercenary instructors wouldn't cut it for him, they fully intended on continuing their research in a more appropriate setting.

Project Phoenix was similar to BAaT in the sense that it's purpose was to facilitate a safe environment for both Max and the Alliance to learn about his biotic abilities. In an abundance of safety, the Alliance made the decision to change the location of the program, opting for a facility planetside over a facility in orbit. By spring 2167, Max relocated to Elysium. His family also relocated, making the extreme move from Earth to Illyria, the capital of humanity's largest colony. While Max's family also relocated to Elysium, Max did not live with them. Rather, he stayed in a facility in a neighboring region, Illume. He spent most of his time at the project facility, but he did see and usually stay with his family on specific weekends chosen at intervals of eight weeks.

Max's experience in the Phoenix Project was much different than what would be "officially" described.  At the time that Max's mother and stepfather (who Max had come to view as his "real" father, by this point) agreed to entering Max into the project, they had been under the impression that the program was simply to help Max control his strength, while the Alliance learned how to handle biotics in children, and humans, in general. On the other hand, with the Alliance knowledgeable of Max's advanced capabilities, their motives with Project Phoenix were to discover what lengths humans could reach with biotics. Max was, irrevocably, the best subject to do that with. Admittedly, though, Max's parents have since admitted (in private) that they never would have agreed if they had known what would be involved.

Max underwent several experiments by the Alliance during Project Phoenix, including being exposed to large amounts of element zero, injected with a series of explorative stimulants, and inserted in countless distressing situations. He was pushed to both physical and mental limits that would have broken most children, and in fact almost did break Max, traumatizing him through adulthood.

### Death

One month after Sovereign's attack on the Citadel in 2183, Shepard was sent on a joint operation by the Alliance and the Council to locate and destroy any remaining geth. While on a patrol run in the Amada system, the SSV Scorpio ventured into a sector where three ships were reported missing over the duration of eighteen days.

After four days of fruitlessly searching for signs of geth activity, the Scorpio was attacked by an unknown assailant. The ship suffered extensive and irreparable damage, forcing the crew to evacuate the frigate via escape pods. Joker, the Scorpio's helmsman, refused the initial evacuation order, believing that he could still save the ship, and tried to continue piloting the ship. He is rescued by Shepard, though, the only other remaining person on the Scorpio. Before Shepard can board the escape pod himself, however, the assailant returned for another attack. The blast separated him from the escape pod, though he managed to clear its launch before he is sent flying amidst a series of explosions. Shepard barely survives the Scorpio's destruction. It is not long that he's out of the woods, however, as he slowly drifts further away from the Scorpio, and deeper into space. Unfortunately, his suit's pressure seals were compromised in the chaos, sliced by debris. His air vents were also damaged during the attack, and he suffocated. His body entered the atmosphere of a nearby planet, Alchera, where it would remain for thirty-nine days before being discovered by an agent of the Shadow Broker.

### After the War

#### Recovery

With the Reapers destroyed, the war finally came to a pyrrhic end. Shepard was temporarily incapacitated by the explosion and, by means currently unknown, sent back to Earth's surface where he was presumed MIA. The Systems Alliance came close to declaring him dead, though to the surprise of many, Shepard managed to survive the Crucible's blast. An Alliance clean-up team discovered him fourteen hours later, after hearing a continuous and deliberate tapping of rock against rock, his desperate plea.

Due to the Crucible's detonation, Shepard suffered severe injuries throughout his body: the explosion blew off his left arm and rendered many of his cybernetic implants created from the Lazarus Project inert; as a result, he was in excruciating pain when he was pulled out from beneath the pile of rubble he was stuck under. Shortly after being taken to the nearest trauma center, Shepard fell into a coma. He remained unconscious for two weeks, before waking up to a galaxy without Reapers, where he would receive intensive medical and psychological treatment. Very soon after he awoke from his coma, Shepard received a cybernetic left arm. A month after the events, Stassi and Shepard reunited for the first time, and when Max was released from the hospital, she walked out with him, in front of dozens of reporters. A moment of embrace between them was captured, and spread throughout Alliance space. The pair was lavishly celebrated by the Alliance, and humanity, a symbol of "purity and devotion" as the galaxy emerged from dark times.

#### Departure from the Alliance

After he was cleared for duty, Shepard returned to active service in the Systems Alliance, although it wasn't long before he decided he no longer had an interest in being either a marine or a Spectre. He was both traumatized and depressed by the events of not only the last five years, but everything that had happened to him—and been done to him—since he was a child. Though, he did not blame Nikolai Romanov, head of Project Phoenix, for the trauma done to him, and instead believed him to be a victim, as well. Instead, remembering Romanov's death caused Shepard to fall into an even deeper depression, and for two months, he would relieve the same moment every night when he closed his eyes.

For a few months after his recovery, he went back to normal operations on the *SSV Scorpio*, which had been repaired after its crash landing on an uncharted world. It wasn't long, however, that Shepard expressed interest in leaving the Alliance, to which parliament could not deny him, after his sacrifices for the galaxy. Due to the extensive injuries he sustained in defense against the Reapers and their ultimate destruction, as well as his worsening mental state, Shepard was due to receive an honorable discharge. However, he could no longer wait and decided that he could not remain in the public eye any longer. Just moments after one of his appointments with his psychotherapist, Shepard disappeared from the public eye, seemingly without a trace. The only people who knew his whereabouts were his closest friends and loved ones, including Stassi and Augusius.

#### New Beginnings (children, ICT)

After leaving the Alliance, Shepard promised himself to live a full and complete life after living so close to death for the last ten years, but specifically since the events of Akuze and onward. Following his departure, Shepard found most happiness with Stassi, on the garden-world Sirona, where his aforesaid lover was born. In 2188, Shepard and Stassi discover that she is pregnant with their first child, a boy that they would ultimately name August. Two years later, in 2190, the pair finally married in a private ceremony on Sirona. The wedding was attended only by their closest friends and family; Augusius served as Shepard's best man, and Ophelia Ashwood, Shepard's younger sister, acted in the role of maid-of-honor. In 2191, they had their second child: a girl named Tatiana.

Though Shepard's ultimate happiness came from his son, and eventually his daughter, he grew tired of a "normal" life, while having no desire to return to the Alliance. Instead, Shepard found another outlet for his needs, and chose instead to become an instructor/trainer at the Interplanetary Combatives Academy in 2190, as part of the N-forces program. Though this was the first time Shepard had been heard from since he first departed from the Alliance, the ICA welcomed him with open arms into the ICT program.  As such, the Shepard family relocated to Rio de Janiero that same year. Shepard ultimately did find his work at the ICT and N-school to be very fulfilling, and enjoyed training the next generation of N7 soldiers. Admittedly, Max was a strict and exacting teacher who expected greatness from his students. At the same time, he was very respected, not only for his previous sacrifices to the galaxy but for his dedication to the craft. In the year 2196, he was elected Program Director of the Interplanetary Combatives Academy by the Systems Alliance Parliament. After twenty years, Shepard retired for good in 2210.

## Personality and traits

### Struggle with depression

**Dr. Karin Chakwas**: "*It's okay, you can say it.*"
**Shepard**: "*When you want to kill yourself. It's like, that's above and beyond everything else, and it's not a mental complaint. It's a physical thing, like it's physically hard to open my mouth and make the words come out. They don't come out smooth, and in conjunction with my brain the way normal people's words do; they come out in chunks and I stumble all over them, but they're all right there, all right behind my closed mouth, and I know if I say them out loud... They'll look at me like I'm insane.*"
―a conversation from one of Shepard's therapy sessions
Shepard has struggled with depression since the age of sixteen years old, though it likely manifested much earlier in his life. Only a small, trusted circle of loved ones and friends know that he struggles with depression, and an even smaller circle understand the truth depth of his tribulations. Shepard attributes his depression to a series of events in his life: his father's death, the events at Jump Zero in the BAaT program, and the isolation he endured during Project Phoenix. His trials only became worse after he started serving as an Alliance Corsair; specifically, the events at Elysium and Torfan sent him into a deeper spiral. Though, the events that took place on Akuze are notably what effected him the most. After losing his entire squad on Akuze, Shepard felt their deaths greatly. He went as far as trying to end his life, claiming that he felt like he "belonged with [their] ghosts," as if he had somehow cheated death and he needed to "finish it." After his death in 2183, he regretted Cerberus for reviving him, believing that his resurrection wasn't a miracle; it was an abomination. Admittedly, this event has made him feel even closer to death. Since these events, Shepard has found coping mechanisms to deal with his depression and regularly sees a psychologist to manage his ideation. Still, the pressure from the galaxy, from the Alliance, and most of all, from himself has effected him greatly, changing him for good.

## Relationships

### **Romantic**

#### Miranda Lawson

Shepard first met Miranda Lawson in 2185, after Cerberus resurrected him and he subsequentially worked with the paramilitary group against the Collectors. Shortly after waking up, Shepard began a brief relationship with Miranda. For him, their connection was purely sexual, using the Cerberus agent to cope with the circumstances of the aforementioned situation. It was clear, however, that Miranda had romantic feelings for Shepard, though her motives behind those feelings were questionable. All the while Shepard was with Miranda, it was obvious that he was still pining over Stassi and their relationship, which at the time he believed was over. He remarked on multiple occasions that she "wasn't Stassi, and never would be." Likewise, he was not in love with her and never would be.

Admittedly, he did care for Miranda to some degree, although not on any romantic level. Shepard was grateful to her for not only resurrecting him, but choosing not to compromise who he was before his death in 2183. He considered her a good friend, and during the peak of the Reaper War, offered her aid against her father Henry Lawson, as well as helped rescue her sister, Oriana Lawson. After she was dealt a near-fatal wound by her father during his mission to Sanctuary, Shepard saw to it that she received proper medical care and saved her life. Shepard and Lawson were also able to relate to each other on a different degree, also, as they were both biotic prodigies. In Lawson, Shepard saw someone that understood how he felt, even though his abilities were natural and hers were biologically engineered. He also vouched for her after the Reaper War, helping her avoid incarceration for her crimes committed while with Cerberus.

## Summary of service

In 2170, Max "graduates" from Project Phoenix at the age of 17 years old. Consequentially, he enlists in the Systems Alliance Navy the same year and begins the mandatory five-month training courses necessary before being assigned to a fleet. During basic training, Max was assigned to the Vancouver training facility, where he spent the first three months of the program. Following the completion of ground training at Vancouver, Max then transferred to one of the Alliance's training stations, the Europa Station, to finish the last two months of basic training. While Max's connections in the Systems Alliance, including his father's reputation, his step-father's prestige in the First Fleet, and Admiral Nikolai Romanov's willingness to help, Max remained insistent his entire career, from the start to the end, that all of his earned prestige be his own.

The following year, Max is finally assigned to the Fifth Fleet, done so for a multitude of reasons. For one, Nikolai Romanov wanted to make sure he could keep an eye on Max and his career. Secondly, the Fifth Fleet was the parent fleet of the Alliance's special tactics and reconnaissance branch, including the Alliance's STRIKE team and the prestigious unit known as the Corsairs. Finally, at the time in 2171, most biotic-capable marines were assigned to the Fifth Fleet. Max's first tour was on the *SSV Tokyo,* one of the more impressive postings for a marine cadet. He remained on the *SSV Tokyo* for a total of eighteen months, a length considered normal for a marine's first tour. During his first tour, Max flew beneath the radar, doing well not to come across overly eager, while still preforming well enough that he received flying colors on his evaluation.

By 2173, Max was transferred from the *SSV Tokyo* to the *SSV London*, a smaller cruiser with a unit about half the size of his last one. He was also promoted, serving as the *London'*s Operations Chief. On the *London,* Max stood out much more than he had on the *Tokyo*, proving his worth to his superiors. He was also stationed on the *London* during the Fedele Incident, helping fight back the batarian pirates that attacked the merchant vessel and it's entourage, the *London, Paris,* and *Iwo Jima.* When the *SSV Paris* was hijacked by the batarian pirates, Max was among the group of marines who boarded the *Paris* to retake the ship from the pirates. Max remained on the *SSV London* through 2174, eventually reaching his promotion to Staff Lieutenant.

In 2175, the Systems Alliance Special Forces branch takes notice of Max, establishing him as a potential asset for black operations. It wasn't long before Max was offered a position on the Alliance's STRIKE team, a special intelligence unit operating mainly within Systems Alliance space. Although not his main objective, STRIKE served as a stepping stone between general operations and black operations. While in the STRIKE unit, he served on the *SSV Libra.* Max was also promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander during the year of 2175.

Max served in the STRIKE unit for a year and a half. In the fall of 2177, Max was invited by the Interplanetary Combatives Academy, or the N-School, to participate in special forces certification, a prerequisite to joining the Alliance Corsairs. Subsequentially, Max attended the N-School in Rio de Janiero in Brazil and completed the program in three months, earning his N6 certification at just twenty-five years old. In doing so, he set a record for all future N-School attendees. Following his "graduation" from the N-School, Max returned to active duty on the STRIKE team.

In the spring of 2178, Max was officially recruited to the Alliance Corsairs. He was also promoted to the coveted rank of Commander. Consequentially, he would become known as the SA's youngest marine to ever be promoted to Commander, an event that has been largely debated in the Alliance as to whether or not it was a promotion deserved. When receiving rank of Commander, Max also received his next assignment: the *SSV Scorpio*, a prototype deep scout frigate. There was huge debate before the decision was made whether Max was ready for such a hefty responsibility, though it was ultimately decided that his service record thus far proved he was the best candidate. The same year, the event known as the Skyllian Blitz took place on Elysium. Max was on Elysium, at the time, on shore leave. Though he was not on active duty at the time, Max's attendance to the battle were ultimately critical to the Alliance's victory.

During the fall of 2178, Max and his unit were assigned to a residency at the Arcturus Station, where he met Anastassia Romanov for the first time, and started a relationship with her. In December 2178, Max and the crew of the *SSV Scorpio* participated in the Massacre at Torfan.

In 2179, Max and the crew of the *Scorpio* were assigned to an eighteen-month tour in the Attican Traverse, the longest tour that Max would serve unaccompanied by a superior officer. The Systems Alliance intended to use the *SSV Scorpio*'s steal systems to preform recon in the Traverse, as part of their efforts to expand Alliance-controlled space. In May of 2180, however, the tour is unintentionally ended one week early when the events at Akuze take place, decimating Max's entire unit.

After Max's unit is destroyed by a thresher maw attack on Akuze, Max's assignment to the *SSV Scorpio* is renewed, and instead of a full unit, he is assigned a small team of Corsairs and marines to preform reconnaissance missions in the Attican Traverse and Terminus Systems, areas outside of the Alliance's jurisdiction. Until 2183, Max operated special reconnaissance missions in the Attican and Terminus systems, when he was inducted as a Council Spectre.

### Vocational Codes

* **A7** - Infantry, space (naval marines)
* **C7** - Infantry, biotic
* **D3** - Ordinance disposal technical corps (bomb disposal units)
* **G1** - Engineering
* **K5** - Xenology (alien warfare specialist)
* **N7** - Special forces
* **R5** - Naval air wing (fighter and shuttle pilots)
* **S7** - Surveillance operative

### Dates of Rank

* 2171: Serviceman 3rd Class
* 2172: Serviceman 1st Class, Service Chief
* 2173: Operations Chief
* 2174: Staff Lieutenant
* 2175: Lieutenant Commander
* 2178: Commander

In 2181, Shepard became the first human Spectre. As such, his rank in the Systems Alliance was "frozen." This meant that Shepard could not earn any more promotions in the Systems Alliance until a day that he resigned from his Spectre position and returned to the Systems Alliance. In turn, Shepard's rank in the SA could neither be degraded. This was done as a courtesy to Shepard, as this situation was unprecedented but the Alliance wanted to maintain respect for their star-studded marine. Since Shepard retired in 2187 from both the Systems Alliance and the Office of Special Tactics and Reconnaissance, his final rank was commander.

### Awards and decorations

* Star of Terra
* Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Commendation, Good Conduct, Expeditionary, Achievement, Marksmanship)
* Medal of honor
* Navy Cross
* Navy Distinguished Service Medal
* Silver Star
* Alliance Legion of Merit
* Bronze Star
* Purple Heart
* Platinum Cross of Palaven (Turian honor)
* Medal of Heroism
* Skyllian Blitz Campaign Medal
* Distinguished Combat Medal

## Skills and Abilities

### Weaknesses

* **Human vulnerabilities:** While most people seem to forget, Max is still only a human even with an enhanced physiology. Although he can compensate attacks with his combat skills, nigh-superhuman physical condition, and brilliant tactical intellect, he can still, and has been, bested by stronger and more powerful opponents. Granted, most of the enemies who have defeated him in combat are a species other than human.
* **Subtle psychological manipulation:** Max, despite his intellect and combat experience, can ultimately still be outsmarted and manipulated himself, though the Illusive Man is notably the only one known to have ever successful done so. Though, this can be attributed to the Illusive Man's own intellect, one superior to Max's. The Illusive Man also did this by isolating Max from friends and allies in the System Alliance, effectively tricking Max to believe that he was "alone."
* **Enhanced biotics:** Though Max is one of, if not the strongest known biotic-capable humans, it is a little known fact, and a well-kept secret, that Max's biotics have taken a toll on his body, both mentally and physically. While his implants were state-of-the-art when they were first installed, they have since stopped working effectively 100% of the time, and because of this, have caused Max intense migraines, accompanied by occasional mood swings. Most people who are not aware of the complications with Max's implants believe him to merely have a temper problem. His implants have also been responsible for seizures, though these are rare.

## Equipment

As an N7 marine, and arguably one of the Alliance's best assets, Commander Shepard has quite the range of weapons at his disposal. He is on the preferred client list of most weapons manufacturers, and is often sent free product as promotion. However, Shepard is very particular about the weapons he uses in the field. Still, his personal arsenal has a range of impressive firearms

## Quotes

### Spoken by Shepard

* *(about Stassi)* "Just as long as we're clear. Nobody messes with my girl."
* "Hard to see the big picture behind a pile of corpses."
* *(to Harbinger)* "Maybe you're right. Maybe we can't win this, maybe I am the fool here... but what I do know is that I'm gonna fight back anyway, just like I did Sovereign, and just like I'm doing now. However insignificant you think we are, we'll fight and we'll sacrifice, and we'll find a way. That's what us 'organics' do."
* *(to Conrad Verner)* "Conrad, I haven’t been shot in the head nearly enough times to make that sound like a good idea."
* *(to Nassanna)* "We're not the same, not even close. See, you kill people because you think they're beneath you, because they're in your way. I kill people when they leave me no other choice."
* *(to Ambassador Udina)* "You want to fight, Udina, fine, let's fight... but nobody stabs me in the back."
* *(to Jacob)* "I've wiped out my fair share of Cerberus projects, except back then they were trying to kill me. What changed your minds?"
* *(to Khalisah al-Jilani)* "The Alliance lost eight cruisers. Cairo, Cape Town, Emden, Jakarta, Madrid, Seoul, Shenyang, and Tokyo, the first frigate I was ever assigned to. I remember them because every one of those soldiers deserved better than anyone could give them. Everyone in the Fifth Fleet is a hero. The Alliance owes them medals, and the Council owes them a hell of a lot more than that... and so do you."
* "You don't want to be my enemy."
* *(to Ambassador Udina)* "You dog-faced, small-cocked, hypocritical bastard."
* *(to the Alliance Defense Committee when they consult him for advice on how to deal with the Reapers)* "Stop them? This isn't about strategy, or tactics. This is about survival. The Reapers are more advanced than we are, more powerful, more intelligent. They don't fear us and they'll never take pity on us. The Reapers will always have the advantage over us because they are machines."
* "Stand among the ashes of a thousand dead souls and ask the ghosts if honor matters. The silence is your answer."
* *(to Blasto)* "You big, stupid jellyfish."
* *(to Edi about Joker)* "Nobody ever fell in love without being a little bit brave."
* "Mess with someone's head enough, you can turn a scared little kid into an all powerful son of a bitch."
* *(about Ambassador Udina)* "Star-spangled cunt."
* *(to Stassi before the SSV Scorpio evacuates Earth in the final stand) "*I am yours, Always, yours."
* *(drunkenly, to Stassi after the events at Akuze)* "I'm sad that hanar can't wear sweaters."
* *(to mercenaries hijacking the SSV Scorpio)* "I’m going to rip off your head and mount it in the CIC. Then I’m going to take your head and put it next to hers. Then I’m going to take both your heads and space them out the airlock!"
* "What do you need me to do?"
* *(to Blue Suns mercenary)* "What sound do you think you'll make when you hit the ground? Think you'll hear it before you die?"
* *(to the Illusive Man)* "Do whatever you want with your toy ships, but leave my crew out of your bullshit."
* "The Collectors are about to find out what happens when you piss me off."
* *(to* *Harkin)* "Call me boy scout again and you'll be picking your teeth off the floor."
* *(to Nikolai)* "Unless we plan on talking the Reapers to death, the defense committee is a waste of time."
* "Here's the thing... the line between good and evil blur when we're looking at people we know."
* "Show me yours, tough guy. I bet mine's bigger."
* *(to Stassi)* "Yeah, maybe. But the only difference between genius and insanity is that genius has its limits."

### Spoken about/to Shepard

* **Nikolai Romanov:** *(when asked about Max after his incarceration)* "Of course, I can talk about Commander Shepard. Big topic. There's been a lot written about the Commander, but most of it... it isn't true. People are quick to judge, especially when they don't know the whole story. I don't even know the whole story... but I know the man. I've worked with him, fought with him. I held him when he was born, watched him grow up. I've seen all of the ups and the downs, been through it with him... and I trust him with my life. He's had some rough patches, but who of us hasn't? He's been forced to fight a lot of battles alone. God only knows how he got out of some of that... makes your head spin. Thing is, you never heard a complaint. I... I never heard a complaint. Never once got a "No, sir, I can't do that." He never hesitated. Few people know what he's been through, and I'd like to think I come pretty close, but even I can't begin to understand his struggles... but I do worry sometimes that he forgets: there's a whole bunch of people who lose sleep over him getting back home. Maybe it doesn't need to be said, or maybe we're just too dumb to say it. Soldiers like Shepard are rare. Men like him... even more."

* **Urdnot Wrex:** *(to Max before the last stand)* "I want you to know that no matter what happens, you've been a champion to the Krogan people, a friend of clan Urdnot, and a brother to me. To every Krogan born after this day, the name 'Shepard' will mean 'hero'. Now let's show them why."

* **Nikolai Romanov:** *(excerpt of his speech at Stassi and Max's engagement party) "*When my daughter first told me that she was dating Max, I believed it was just a phase, one that she would get over in a few weeks. When she told me that she was in love with him, I'll admit, I was a little worried, but I remained confident she would get over it. Two days ago, when she came to me and told me that she was going to marry Max, I... well, I've never been happier for either of them. I see the way he looks at her, and I've seen the way he protects her, and I know... I know that he'll fight the entire damn galaxy before he lets anyone hurt my daughter."

### Conversations

* **Stassi:** "What's the damn point? Of drinks or conversation or... any of it, if we could all die tomorrow?"
* **Max:** "It's not tomorrow yet, is it?"
* **Stassi:** "At least we threw one hell of a party before the world ends... probably the last, huh? *(pauses)* We've had a hell of a ride, haven't we, Shep?"
* **Max:** "The best, kiddo."

* **Augusius:** "James told me there's an old saying here on Earth: may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead. Not sure if turian heaven is the same as yours, but if this thing goes sideways and we both end up there... meet me at the bar. I'm buying."
* **Max:** "We're a team, Auggie. There's no Shepard without Vakarian, so you better remember to duck."
* **Augusius:** "Sorry, turians don't know how. But I'll improvise. And, Shepard... forgive the insubordination, but your old friend has an order for you—kick their ass. You were born for this."
* **Max:** "If I'm up there in that bar, and you're not... I'll be looking down. You're my best friend, doesn't matter where I am."

* **Stassi:** "You can't bludgeon your way through bureaucracy, Max."
* **Max:** "You sure? I can bludgeon pretty hard."

* **Max:** "Why me? Why put me in charge of all this?
* **Hackett:** "Shepard, let me tell you something that I've learned the hard way. You can a soldier to fire a gun. You can pay him to charge the enemy and take a hill. But you can't pay him to believe."
* **Max:** "I'm not... following, sir."
* **Hackett:** "When you went up against Sovereign, there was no good reason to believe you'd win. But your crew didn't seem to care. They went along with it, anyway. Your trip through the Omega-4 relay? That was a suicide mission if there ever was one. Yet, there your crew was, standing beside you, proud to serve. With all you're facing out there, one thing impresses me most: you inspire confidence. I know everything hasn't gone as well as you'd hoped. Every war has its disagreements, so to speak. But... your crew has done things no one else would even try, simply because you asked them to. Why? Because they believed in you. Their leader. That's what I need now, Shepard."

## Trivia

* Max is a direct descendant of Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr., an American astronaut who was the second person and first American to travel into space in 1961.
* He is an outspoken opponent against anti-alien propaganda.
* Although he was born and raised in London, England until he was 8 years old, Max speaks with a Canadian dialect, though occasionally a British accent can be heard when he says certain words. Also, when Max is very emotional, a British accent can be somewhat heard as well.
* Max is a huge fan of biotiball. His favorite teams are the Seattle Sorcerers and the Palaven Auras.
* His favorite genre music are classics, music the 1990's and 2000's.
	+ His go-to karaoke songs are "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (2002) by the Darkness, "Zombie" (1994) by the Cranberries, or "Knocking on Heaven's Door" (1973) by Bob Dylan.
* Admittedly, Max has said that he is most sexually attracted to female turians and asari. Though Stassi remains to be the most attractive person to him, most of his relationships before her were interspecies.
	+ Likewise, Max is very open-minded when it comes to sex and likewise, has had sexual relations with multiple different species: asari, turian, quarian, drell, and krogan (non-penetrative). He has also received a "happy ending" at a hanar resort, though there was no sex involved in the process.
* He is a great dancer.
* He has been complimented for being a good cook.
* He knows how to play the guitar, but can only play a few songs as he was not formally taught. Likewise, he is a very talented singer and the highest note he can comfortably reach is F5.
* Max is a very clean, organized person, to the extent that he used to be irritated by mess. It was only when he began dating Stassi (who is a messy person) that he learned how to manage his anxiety of messes.