Yeoman Kelly Chambers is the first new, non-party crewmember Shepard and the player meet in Mass Effect 2. The smart, cheery, and compassionate redhead notifies Shepard whenever someone else needs their attention and is one of Mass Effect 2's hidden unofficial romance options.

She’s also one of the many characters who can die during the game’s final Story mission. Keeping her alive can be tricky since her fate comes down to two decisions, the first of which players might not even know they are making. This guide will explain how to save Kelly from a gruesome fate in Mass Effect 2.

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Near the end of Mass Effect 2’s main story, the Illusive Man sends Shepard to retrieve an IFF code from a derelict Reaper. However, the player should be careful, as completing that mission triggers a secret countdown. After recovering the IFF, players are free to go on one more mission while EDI integrates the IFF into Normandy’s Systems. After that, the Collectors stage an attack on the Normandy while the ground team is away. They capture the whole crew except for Joker, the pilot. Observant players can see a Collector Scion drag Kelly away during the scene.

When Shepard returns, the player must choose between attacking the Collector Base immediately or continuing to prepare for the mission. . Beginning the Suicide Mission automatically fails any outstanding Loyalty missions given by Shepard’s squadmates. However, every extra mission reduces the number of survivors, and Kelly is first on the chopping block. The player will need to leave right away to rescue Yeoman Chambers. Check out the How to Save Everyone in Suicide Mission guide for how to do that while still completing every Loyalty mission. Notably, the game only counts missions and visits to hub areas like the Citadel. Planers freely scan planets in the Galaxy Map without penalty.

After beginning the Suicide Mission and battling a not-so-small army of Collectors, Commander Shepard and their squad arrive at where they are holding the Normandy’s crew. If the player acted quickly enough, Shepard comes just in time to see the Collectors dissolve a Horizon colonist into black goo. Otherwise, Kelly takes her place.

After freeing Kelly and the others, Shepard has the option of sending someone to escort them back to the Normandy. Refusing to send someone results in the Collectors killing all the survivors, Kelly included. Any squad member can serve as the escort, but they will be unavailable for the remainder of the mission. Disloyal squadmates will also die if the player sends them. However, Kelly Chambers and the rest of the crew will survive either way.

Mass Effect 2 is available on PC, PS3, PS4, and Xbox 360, and Xbox One. It’s included in the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition releasing May 14th on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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