Tali - Treason - Mass Effect 2 Guide - IGN (2024)

This page of IGN's Mass Effect 2 wiki guide is all about the Tali: Treason Loyalty Mission in the Valhallan Threshold, including how to get through all combat encounters, where to find all collectibles, and pick the right dialogue choices for your playthrough.

• Mission Rewards
• Talk to Tali
• Travel to Migrant Fleet
• Go to Hearing
• Board the Alarei
• Retake the Alarei
• Disable Geth Console
• Return to Trial
• Return to Normandy
• Back on the Normandy
  • Tali Romance Notes

Mission Rewards

• Experience: 750 XP
• Power: Energy Drain
• Research: Geth Shield Strength, Tech Damage
• Mission Credits: 15,000
• Found Credits: 30,000
• Resources: 2,000

Talk to Tali

Tali's Loyalty Mission can be acquired after recruiting her in Dossier - Tali and then talking to her aboard the Normandy at least once. There is a slight pecking order: Tali's Loyalty Mission won't unlock until you've unlocked the Loyalty Missions for Jacob, Miranda, Jack, Mordin, Grunt, Garrus and Samara (although some will be skipped if you don't have that Squad Mate). You'll know when you've unlocked it because Kelly will tell you as you pass by the Galaxy Map.

When you do talk to Tali about it, she says that she's been accused of treason by her people. Given that she's historically thought of her people long before thinking of herself, this is very traumatic for her. She'll be forced to return to the Migrant Fleet to defend herself, but she doesn't even know what the charges even are. Whether you agree or not, she'll put the location of the flotilla in the Galaxy Map for you.

Travel to Migrant Fleet

The flotilla, known as the Quarian Migrant Fleet, can currently be found in the Vallhallan Threshold. To get there, simply go about things as if you were going to any other location in the galaxy. Approach the Normandy's galaxy map and travel to the Vallhallan Threshold. Once there, you'll find the Migrant Fleet orbiting close to the binary stars of the system, Raheel-Leyya. Land there, and we'll go about our business.

Go to Hearing

As the Normandy approaches the flotilla, Tali will communicate with the Quarians on board the ship you're about to dock on. They ask her for identification, and she recites what appears to be a Quarian phrase that's proof enough of her status. If you played Mass Effect 1 you'll notice that the ship shares the last name Tali had in that game: it was the ship she was born on before her Pilgrimage: when she returned, she joined the Neema, thus altering her name.

When you land, you'll be greeted by a friend of Tali's, a Quarian by the name of Captain Kar'Danna. You can answer with "I owe Tali a great deal" for +2 Paragon Points. The captain informs Tali that she's being charged with treason for sending active Geth back to the fleet. Though Tali did indeed send Geth parts to her father as part of a research project, she denies that anything was active or functional. Nonetheless, the Admiralty Board see things otherwise, and until the trial takes place, Kar'Danna informs Tali that she's not to leave the ship she's currently on.

When you regain control, head down the corridor to meet another Quarian familiar to Tali, Shala'Raan. She and Tali go way back, and while Raan usually has a lot of of power, she's had to recuse herself, meaning Tali has no friends on the board that will decide her fate. Making matters worse, Tali has been stripped of her ship surname, vas Neema, and is being charged under vas Normandy. There is a silver lining, however: as the captain of the ship Tali now hails from, Shepard is legally bound to represent Tali in the upcoming trial. At this, you can say either "I'm honored" for +2 Paragon Points or "This is a terrible idea" for +2 Renegade Points.

From here, you'll get a good look at where the trial will be taking place: a rare, open area in the flotilla that can accommodate a lot of people (and a little bit of pomp, as well). After an opening speech by Shala'Raan, the trial will begin. Before it gets a chance to get very far, however Koris, one of the ruling council, immediately objects, either for a human representing Tali (to which 'Raan points out that he shouldn't have changed Tali's name to your ship), or to the Reaper IFF Squad Mate (to which 'Raan points out that he's second-guessing the Captain of the ship they're on).

After this, Shepard is asked to speak for Tali. Any option will do, however the "It is my pleasure" Charm will give +5 Paragon Points, while the "Look at her record" Intimidate will give +5 Renegade Points. After some more bickering, and you replying that Tali is not treasonous, as the parts she sent were inert. At this, Koris drops the bombshell that Geth have taken over the Alarei, the ship her father was serving on, traumatizing Tali in the middle of the hearing.

You can respond to the reveal with the "We need to help" Charm for +5 Paragon Points or the "You've got a lot of nerve!" Intimidate for +5 Renegade Points. Retaking the Alarei is now your top concern, to both ensure the safety of the flotilla and to investigate the claims being made about Rael'Zorah, Tali's father. You can answer with "We must. For Tali's sake" for +2 Paragon Points or "If it proves her loyalty" for +2 Renegade Points.

Board the Alarei

You'll reconvene with Tali after the trial, and will optionally be able to speak with the entire Admiralty Board in the plaza, as well as two Quarians you've met previously. We recommend that you do this as you'll have the chance for Morality Points, as well as get information on Quarian politics that inform not just this trial, but also future events.

At the very least, you should talk to Shala'Raan again and answer with either "You went too far" for +2 Paragon Points or "Thanks. Will it help?" for +2 Renegade Points. Aside from the other Admirals, you can also talk to Veetor, the scared Quarian you met on Freedom's Progress. If you decided to release him to Cerberus, he'll be incredibly nervous, and even react with horror if you brought Miranda with you. If not, you can depart with "I hope you feel better" for +2 Paragon Points. Kal'Reegar will also be present if he survived the final assault on Haestrom back in Dossier - Tali. You may also want to go back and talk to Captain Kar'Danna, who can elaborate on some of the flotilla's logistical challenges.

Once you're done, you should exit out the door near Admiral Koris and head to the very end of the hallway. Talk to the Shuttle Guard and he'll let you fly the craft over to the Alarei to begin your investigation and cleanse it of Geth.

Retake the Alarei

When you gain control on the Alarei, you'll want to use this brief moment of calm to set up your weapons, as the room on the other side of the door will immediately be a fight. You'll primarily be facing normal Geth Troopers alongside Geth Hunters, who can cloak and fire at you with shotguns. Plan accordingly!

When you enter the room, immediately run forward to take cover. Geth Troopers occupy this room in full force, in addition to more enemies that will stream out of the door ahead and on your left. In fact, with the exception of the Geth that are already posted in this room upon your entrance, all other Geth enemies will be coming from the door on the left. Thus you may want to push forward and take cover behind the right side of the bunk beds to slay the Geth right in the doorway.

• Med Kit - 100 Credits. In the front-left corner, or directly to the left of the entry door.
• Laptop - 1,500 Credits. In the back-right corner of the room lit in orange, on a desk.
• Laptop - 1,800 Credits. Same location as the last laptop, to the left of the Quarian Log in the middle.
• Power Cells - To the right of the exit door among various crates.

When you continue to the next hallway, you should first enter the door next to the window and enter a side-room, where you'll find a Repair Drone on the table to the left. where you'll find a Medical Station and Terminal to Hack with 4,200 Credits. On a table to the left of those is a Repair Drone: it isn't required to interact with it, but it will reveal more information about Tali's process of sending Geth parts to her father.

• Terminal - 4,200 Credits. Standing in the doorway in the side room, immediately on your right.
• Medical Station - 100 Credits. Standing in the doorway again, directly ahead on the wall.
• Terminal - Geth Shield Strength. Exit out of the side room and face the way forward. Enter the door ahead in the corner to find this Terminal.

Return to the hallway one more time and you'll find another Quarian Log to view. to the right of the door into the next area.

As you head into the next room, make sure to draw your gun and take cover, as a Geth Hunter will come down the distant stairs and attack you. Dispatch it, then search the room.

• Laptop - 1,800 Credits. In the right corner of the room in the corner closest to the entry door.
• Laptop - 2,100 Credits. In the right corner of the room in the corner farthest from the entry door.
• Wall Safe - 4,200 Credits. Check the desks at the bottom of the stairs the Geth Hunter came from to find this next to a Quarian Log on the desk below.

At the top of the stairs you'll turn left into a kitchen and get into another fight, this one tricky because now there are two doors the Geth are entering from, meaning twice as many Geth Troopers and Hunters swarming into the room. You should know how to handle yourself by now. but the Geth Hunters are extremely aggressive, and their stealth technology can easily render them invisible enough to get in close and do a plethora of damage.

Once things finally quiet down, explore the room for goodies.

• 2,000 Refined Palladium - In the corner directly left of the entryway.
• Med Kit - 100 Credits. Just to the right of the exit doorway that's in the back-left corner.
• Wall Safe - 3,000 Credits. When you enter the room through the exit doorway, look to your right on the corner of the wall to spot this easily-missed object.

In this room you can use a Wall Console that initiates another scene with Tali. Here, you can say "That's a bad idea" for +2 Paragon Points or "That's a worthy promise" for +2 Renegade Points. What you can follow them up with will vary, but suffice to say that the upper-right option will give +2 Paragon Points, and the lower-right option gives +2 Renegade Points.

As you push through into the next room, you'll find yourself on a balcony overlooking a lower floor, with a staircase scaling downward on your right. Geth will pour in from the door on the lower floor, straight ahead, but also from an inaccessible balcony to your left. You'll have to balance both as the ones on the left have a nasty habit of killing your Squad Mates without you noticing. Oh and Geth Hunters, aggressive as always, will attempt to come up the stairs after you, so when they show up, throw everything and the kitchen sink at them to ensure that they don't get too close.

• Laptop - 2,400 Credits. Head down the stairs and it'll be on the benchtop on your right.
• Laptop - 1,800 Credits. On the table to the left of the exit doorway.
• Med Kit - 100 Credits. From the laptop above, turn left and go to the back corner to find this on the crates between the two white-lit windows.

You can also find one last Quarian Log on the right side of the exit doorway.

Through the doorway, you'll have a very dramatic scene: Tali discovers the body of her father. Use the Paragon Interrupt to hug her and get +5 Paragon Points, while passing it will let you pick either "This wasn't his choice" for +2 Paragon Points or "We'll destroy the geth" for +2 Renegade Points. After viewing Rael's message to Tali, you can respond to her with "He did what he could" for +2 Paragon Points, or "The geth cut him off" for +2 Renegade Points.

Once the scene is over, make sure to check in a side-room with lots of goodies within.

• Wall Safe - 1,500 Credits. In the corner immediately left of the entry door.
• Med Kit - 100 Credits - On the crates to the right of the Wall Safe.
• Wall Safe - 2,700 Credits. In the back-right corner of the room above a single white crate.
• Power Cells - 100 Credits. On top of a grey crate on the right-hand wall of the room.

Disable Geth Console

Exit back into the hallway and head up the stairs to enter the final room of the Alarei.

• Model Flotilla Ship - On the right-hand desk that's in front of you as soon as you enter the room.
• Laptop - 3,000 Credits. On the left-hand desk that's in front of you as soon as you enter the room.

Around the other side of the window will be two Geth Hunters AND a Geth Prime, a powerful foe that you last fought back on Haestrom. This guy will be equipped with Shields and Armor, and there's little cover in this room, so you'll have to be smart and retreat to the front of it. You'll very much have to improvise here.

Interacting with the Quarian Console here will take you back to the trial on the Rayya, so MAKE SURE you've collected the Model Flotilla Ship!

Once you're ready, access the Quarian Console on the back of the room to learn the truth: Rael did in fact reactivate full Geth on the ship, but kept Tali inculpable by restricting what she could send to him. After viewing it, you can reply with "He wanted to keep his promise" for +2 Paragon Points, or either "That's what we needed" or "That sounded bad" for +2 Renegade Points. But as Tali explains, while this evidence would exonerate her, it would utterly ruin her father's name, and she begs you not to use it in the trial.

Return to Trial

You'll then be taken back to the Rayya, and can hear the Admiralty Board debating the controversial move to exile Tali posthumously given her absence. Return to the trial fashionably late, then answer with either "You should pardon Tali" for +2 Paragon Points or "You could have waited" for +2 Renegade Points.

You will then be asked to make the incredibly important decision of whether to present the evidence against Tali's father or not, or use some other method of clearing things up. Here's what each option will do:

• "We have no evidence" will get Tali exiled from the Migrant Fleet over sending Geth parts to the Migrant Fleet. However she's more than willing to take it to keep things stable, so this still secures Tali's Loyalty and you'll get +30 Paragon Points.
• "Yes. Here is the evidence" will present the recording from the Alarei to the Admiralty Board. This clears Tali of her charges, but the experience will traumatize her, rendering her Disloyal and earning you +30 Renegade Points.
• The "I don't need evidence" Charm will have Shepard cite Tali's past actions as evidence and call out that none of the Admiralty Board cares about Tali at all, since they're putting her on trial instead of listening to her about the Geth. This secures Tali's Loyalty, clears her of charges and earns you +30 Paragon Points.
• The "You're wasting our time!" Intimidate will have Shepard threaten to leave, then call out the ulterior motives behind the trial of the woman who saved the Citadel from the Geth. This secures Tali's Loyalty, clears her of charges and earns you +30 Renegade Points.
• "[Rally the crowd]" is available if Veetor was not sent to Cerberus after Freedom's Progress and Kal'Reegar survived Dossier - Tali, and doesn't require Morality Points. Here Shepard will call to the crowd that none of the Admiralty Board actually cares about Tali, only their war with the Geth. Both Veetor and Kal step up to defend her and threaten to exile themselves over it. This secures Tali's Loyalty, clears her of charges and earns you +30 Paragon Points.

Before leaving you should talk one last time with the people on the Rayya, with their responses different depending on your final choice at the trial, and all offering Morality Points in the usual spots on the Dialogue Wheel (upper-left and lower-left). There are a few notable exceptions:

• Shala'Raan only offers Morality Points if you picked "We have no evidence" and Tali was exiled, meaning that option gives the most Renegade Points overall. 'Raan will be furious, but Tali defends your choice in the hearing.
• Veetor and Kal'Reegar only offer Paragon Points, but only if both were alive and you picked "[Rally the crowd]", making it the option that gives the most Paragon Points overall.
• While Captain Kar'Danna at the airlock never offers Morality Points, he will be infuriated if his former crewmate got herself exiled.

With all that done, you should return to the Normandy, which you can do either by using the on-screen prompt or by using the airlock door near Captain Kar'Danna.

Back on the Normandy

If you've already done the Loyalty Mission of the Reaper IFF Squad Mate, then you may have to sort out a confrontation between them and Tali. Visit this section to learn how to resolve it.

• CIC: Talk to Joker for a comment on Tali's trial.
• Crew Deck: Talk to Kasumi if you didn't present the evidence against Tali's father. Thane will also have new dialogue.
• Engineering: Tali will have new dialogue in the aftermath of her Loyalty Mission.

If you're following this guide in order, your next task will be to do the Overlord DLC.

Tali Romance Notes

If you took the time to recruit the Reaper IFF Squad Mate to bring them along to this Mission, and also want to Romance Tali, and also want the most positive outcome for the end of the game, you'll want to set aside a couple of Side Quests to do after the main story is over. This allows you to continue the Romance after the climax of the game: there simply won't be enough time to do it now without affecting things in the Suicide Mission.