No, when Captain Kirrahe asks for a squadmate to accompany the Salarians to create a diversion on Virmire, your choice does not have a lasting impact on who survives the mission.
The Virmire Diversion Explained
During the critical mission on Virmire in Mass Effect, Commander Shepard and their squad will reach a Salarian camp led by Captain Kirrahe. Kirrahe plans a diversionary tactic to draw the Geth's attention, allowing Shepard's main team to proceed more easily.
At this point, two of your human squadmates, Ashley Williams and Kaidan Alenko, will both volunteer to accompany Kirrahe and his team. This is a common point of confusion and anxiety for players, who often believe this choice dictates the survival of one of these characters later in the mission.
Impact of Your Decision
It is crucial to understand that this specific decision is not the one that determines who lives or dies on Virmire. You can send either Ashley or Kaidan with Captain Kirrahe without worrying about their immediate or long-term survival due to this particular assignment. The game is designed to allow you to send whoever you prefer.
Key points regarding this choice:
- No Fatal Consequences: The character you choose to go with the Salarians will not perish as a direct result of this assignment.
- Player Preference: Feel free to choose based on your personal preference for your active party, or simply based on role-playing.
- Focus on the True Dilemma: The real, impactful decision regarding Ashley and Kaidan's fate occurs much later in the Virmire mission, at a different location, when Commander Shepard is forced to make a direct, difficult choice under pressure. The squadmate you send with the Salarians for the diversion will simply be involved in that tactic and will still be present for the subsequent critical decision.
This means you can make this choice confidently, knowing it's not the final determinant of your squadmate's survival on Virmire.
