Romances in Mass Effect 2 are remarkably easy to initiate much like they were
in the first game. There are three different romance options in this game:

- Refuse to romance anyone in ME2. This allows you to carry your relationship
from Mass Effect 1 over and then into ME3 for unknown effect. You can see your
significant other in a photo on Shephards desk in his quarters.
- Reject your relationship from the first game and pick up a new one in this
title. Once you consumate your relationship your picture of your lover from the
first game will be placed face down. This will likely have an impact of some
sort on the next game.
- You can choose to not romance anyone in Mass Effect 2 and instead go after
Kelly Chambers. This does not turn the picture face down but the effects that
getting comfy with her will have on the next game is unknown.

To actually get the romance started all you have to do is speak to the person
in question. After completing a mission, not an assignment as these will not
count, you can go back to your party members for a conversation. Any talk that
you have with a romance option can be used to push towards a relationship.

Generally speaking when talking to someone you intend to romance you should
choose the upper dialogue options unless you're playing a Renegade, in which
case the Renegade choices aren't always a bad idea. You should be comforting to
your romance or, at worst, neutral but don't be dismissive or rude. So long as
this is avoided then they will be willing to get into the romance with you.

Much like you would expect, should you attempt to romance more than one person
at a time then it will eventually become an issue. You will be forced to pick
between the two characters in a dialogue choice eventually so don't get too
used to flirting with the both of them. Jack notably reacts poorly to this
whole situation. It also results in the spurned party no longer talking to the
Commander even if they part ways amicably.

If you had a relatiionship with someone during the course of the first game then
you will have that data on your profile. When meeting your lover they will be
happy to see you're alive, greeting you with a kiss. Unfortunately Ashley and
Kaiden are pretty angry at you for joining Ceberus (makes little sense for the
speciest Ashley) and Liara is too busy waging war on the Shadow Broker to take
time out to save the universe.



While this leaves the door open for you to pursue a brand new relationship that
may, or may not, be ideal. Since you have the photo of your love interest in
your personal cabin this is an indication that the relationship is still alive.
The photo only goes down if you actually take someone else to your bed as you
head towards the Omega-4 relay suicide mission.

Should you choose to not get into a new relationship then a special scene will
play as you head into the relay. This is a pretty good indicator that there is
more planned with the Mass Efect 1 romance in the next game.

A loyal agent of Cerberus, Miranda is fairly difficult to get close to. She's
defensive by nature and isn't exactly the easiest to get along with due to her
mostly untrusting nature. At the beginning of their adventure Miranda doesn't
trust Shephard at all, working with him only because of the Illusive Mans very
specific order to do so.

By talking to the ice queen you can reason with her over time, forming a bond
that allows the two of you to come to a mutual respect. This can grow into a
relationship after helping Miranda resolve her personal quest, leading to this
ice queen starting to care for the Commander.

As she is one of the first characters you recruit Miranda is also one of the
first characters in the game who gives you a loyalty mission.

Miranda has been on the run from her father for most of her life with only the
help of Cerberus keeping her hidden. Unfortunately Miranda has a genetic clone
of a twin sister that her father has been able to locate. So it's up to you to
go down to the planet, find her friend contact and get Oriana hidden somewhere
away from the clutches of her father.




Upon arrival at Ilium make your way to the Eternity Bar where she will find her
contact, Lanteia. Apparently Eclipse troops have been deployed by Miranda's
father and now Miranda's oldest friend Niket is here. This complicates matters
but it's nothing that can't be dealt with. As the conversation ends you are
sent to the shipping area to start your pursuit.

Your party is shot down mid-travel by some Eclipse mercenaries but they stop
just shy of blowing you out of the air since Miranda is onboard. Upon your less
than graceful landing you will be confronted by the mercenary leader. He more
or less telsl you to go home since there's nothing you can do for Oriana. He's
not going to be talked down which means a fight is inevitable.

There's a Renegade interrupt here. Shephard moves forward, snapping the
merc leaders neck and using an explosive crate to start the fight with some of
the enemies dead before it even begins.

Luckily the Eclipse troops aren't really all that difficult to fight. The mass
majority of them don't have shields or armor to worry yourself about so you can
just fling off Biotics to good effect. Try to take out Engineers first since
their combat drone ability can be an annoyance while also dealing with the
dangerous Heavy Troops quickly. One Biotic, even if its Miranda, can handle the
regular troops while the others go after the stronger enemies.

Continue through the shipping area to find more troopers acting as redshirts in
your path. When they're all gunned down you will reach the elevator at the far
end of the level to reach the next area of the shipping yard.

The next area has a bunch of explosive containers for you to worry about or use
them as offensive tools. Your first wave of mercs will attack from the other
side of the conveyor belt, troopers and engineers. They're easily defeated but
if you'd like to make it yet simpler just hit an explosive container with the
Overload skill, causing it to explode with yet more force.

After taking out the first group you can continue forward until you reach a
large conveyor belt. Enemies will attack primarily by coming form the left or
just shooting at you from the other side of the conveyor. Use explosive crates
where possible but keep your eyes to the left side since the enemies will try
to rush your position. It's possible to waltz around that side as well for
characters who are good in close range combat.



Reaching the next elevator is going to take a whole lot of pushing since it's
guarded by a large group of enemies. LOKI mechs are backing up Eclipse mercs,
mostly troopers but it does have heavies and engineers thrown in every so often
to mix it up. One of the main things to look out for are random hits coming out
of nowhere if you aren't careful - It's very easy to find yourself blindsided
by a heavy weapon blast or combat drone coming out of nowhere.

When you find the elevator EDI informs you that the mercs have shut down the
elevators to impede your progress. You're going to have to fight off the
Eclipse mercs that are rushing you until you wipe all of them out. As usual it
is important to keep your eyes open for the heavy troops and engineers but now
you will also have to watch out for Vanguards. They use their barrier to give
them extra protection and you must blow through this before you can do much of
anything to them. Avoid their biotic attacks and kill them from a distance.

As the last of them fall you can climb into the elevator. Riding it up you will
speak to Miranda about Niket some more. Unfortunately her hopes fail to hold
up once you reach the next level as Niket himself has betrayed Miranda. She
doesn't take well to this betrayal and will shoot Niket if she's not stopped.

Stopping her is a Paragon interrupt. Unfortunately if you stop her then
Enyala will blow Niket away to tie up loose ends.

Enyala must be killed regardless of how the previous situation played out. You
must battle her and her Eclipse mercs to protect Oriana. This fight isn't all
that difficult so long as you fight smart. If you're playing a sniper then it's
best to go after Enyala first, using your time dilation to repatedly headshot
her until she falls. Other characters should go after he mercs first, thinning
the herd until she can be dispatched safely. Just fight her at a range since
she has a powerful shotgun backing up her barrier and armor.

Once she has fallen Oriana is now safe and sound. A few more scenes will play
out, culminating in returning to the Normandy.

Remember, it is a Mass Effect, so you always have choice.

Stay: When you're heading into the Omega-4 Relay Miranda will approach you as
you leave the CIC. Shephard can head down to Engineering to get a... uh, status
report on how the ship is doing. If you would rather not sleep with her it is
possible to shoot her down without ending the relationship.

Leave: It's possible to speak to Miranda at just about any time, before or
after, the suicide mission. Just head to her office and break it off.

Break-Up: After completing both Jack and Miranda's loyalty missions you will
find them arguing aboard the ship. You must either choose to side with Miranda
or use your high Paragon / Renegade score to force the argument to stop. This
requires you to have around 75% of the Paragon or Renegade meter.