Mass Effect 3 Grissom Academy atrium

This page of the Mass Effect 3 game guide contains the walkthrough for the Grissom Academy Emergency Evacuation side quest. You'll learn where to find Kahlee, how to jam Cerberus' signal, under what circumstances you can meet Jack, how to talk to Octavia and how to liberate the academy.

• Meeting with Kahlee
• Finding Seanne and jamming the Cerberus signal
• Potential meeting with Jack
• Moving through the rest of the academy
• Meeting with adept Octavia
• Reaching the shuttle and optional use of the Atlas mech
• Completion of mission

Meeting with Kahlee

Received from: Kahlee Sanders [Grissom Academy]

Unlocked by: Received automatically after completing Grissom Academy: Investigation.

Start exploring [Grissom Academy] and you will learn that Kahlee has locked herself in the server room. Head onwards, stand by the door and deal with the group of Troopers. Afterwards turn right and try to interact with the partially opened door.

It will start a cutscene with Kahlee, during which you will be asked to save the students. Once outside again [200 EXP], head onwards and wait until Kahlee unlocks a new passage.

Ignore the scene taking place behind the window, as you cannot destroy it and help the student. Instead, head to the neighbouring room. After reaching the new area, jump over the obstacle and pick up [Assault Rifle Stability Damper] lying on the stairs. Continue exploring the facility and you will eventually come across two Troopers and Reiley Bellarmine hiding himself inside a force field. Kill the enemies and approach the student to learn of his lost sister Seanne. While you're at it, look around the area to find a datapad [1250 credits].

Finding Seanne and jamming the Cerberus signal

Jump over the new obstacle and look around the computer terminals room to find the tactical analysis review [20 EXP] and [SMG Heat Sink]. Move onwards.

After reaching another room with terminals, quickly place your team members behind covers and be ready to attack the Cerberus soldiers who will appear in the distance. I'd suggest destroying the generator as fast as possible, thanks to which the enemies won't be able to hide behind shields. Afterwards head to the other end of the room and turn left. In the barricaded corridor you will find the [M-22 Eviscerator].

Return to where you fought the last battle and choose the previously ignored right passage. Temporarily forget about the mission objective, head forward and afterwards turn left to find Seanne Bellarmine. Speak to her [100 EXP] and also look around to find the [Mnemonic Visor], [M-96 Mattock] and [1250 credits] behind the locker.

Only now should you head to the door leading to the Orion Hall. Destroy the generator on the right, thanks to which Kahlee will be able to jam the Cerberus signal and start broadcasting herself.

Potential meeting with Jack

Opening the second door will initiate a cutscene showing students fighting off the Cerberus forces. It's worth to notice that if Jack hasn't died in the previous game, she will be in command. Your team will automatically join the fight.

During it the biggest threat will be of course the large Atlas Mech. If it's the first time you come across such a machine, it's worth to remember about using the right type of powers and ammunition. This specific Mech doesn't have a shield, only armour. Look out for its rocket attacks and try to aim at the operator sitting inside the glassed cabin, as therefore you might be able to destroy it faster.

Apart from the Mech, there are also Cerberus soldiers stationed in the room. Eliminating the first group will be very easy, though I'd suggest looking out for the second which will appear on the stairs on the right. Also note that you can fail this battle if the students' barrier becomes depleted completely. It's however not likely to happen, as the Mech will mainly focus on you and the attacks on the normal soldiers shouldn't cause as much damage. After the fight speak with the students, Cortez and Kahlee.

Moving through the rest of the academy

Begin exploring the area. Above all look to the left of the starting point (ground floor) for the Cerberus camera control laptop [500 EXP] to fulfill Kahlee's request and give her back access to all cameras on the station. Apart from that you can find a Med Kit [100 EXP] and a Data Log [20 EXP]. Now head to the upper floor, where the students are. Search for the [Assault Rifle Precision Scope] and Datapad [1875 credits]. In the end use the terminal to bypass the door lock and gain access to the atrium [500 EXP].

Return to the ground floor and choose the corridor above the balcony on which the adepts are. Trying to open the door will launch a cutscene featuring them, though whether you advice them to keep out of danger or participate in the fights doesn't really matter. I'd however suggest you save your game, as soon a long two-part battle in the atrium will begin.

The first part of the battle will begin right after you open the new door. Start off by placing you team behind covers, at best beside the ramp leading onto the upper level. Begin attacking the enemies, focusing on destroying the Atlas Mech in the first place (it doesn't have shields as well). Only after the Mech blows up should you move to fighting the other enemies.

I'd especially suggest you look out for the Guardians (don't let them get close) and Engineers (stop them from placing turrets), but also Trooper who will appear on the upper level, right of the starting point. Try to restock on ammo during calmer moments, looking beside the bodies of dead enemies.

Keep fighting until you eliminate each enemy. Afterwards look around the area and head onto the lower level to locate the only possible passage (screen above) leading to the second part of the atrium. Restock on ammo on your way, take the Med Kit [100 EXP] and interact with the computer [3750 credits].

More battles will start right after you reach the further part of the atrium. Note that the door behind your back wasn't blocked this time, so you can use it in case of danger. I'd suggest making your stand beside the door to the second part of the atrium or by the ramp leading onto the upper level. No Mech will participate in this battle, though on the other hand you will have to stop the Cerberus Engineers from placing turrets. After the battle, examine the area and choose the only possible passage leading to Cerberus shuttles.

Meeting with adept Octavia

Head onwards and turn left to reach more students attacked by Troopers. Perform a preemptive attack on the Cerberus soldiers and speak with Octavia.

You can convince her to your good intentions in two ways - by letting Kahlee speak or by turning off the force field behind which the students are hiding.

The exception to this is if you rescued Dr David Archer (following the path of righteousness) while going through the Overlord DLC for Mass Effect 2. In such a situation, Archer will not only vouch for you, but will also unlock a stash (above screen) where a weapon upgrade and an assault rifle have been left behind.

Regardless of the chosen option, don't forget to examine the area to find a computer terminal [4375 credits]. Move onwards afterwards.

Reaching the shuttle and optional use of the Atlas mech

On your way to the shuttles, be sure to check the Biotic Amp Interfaces, as it's connected with the Citadel: Biotic Amp Interfaces mission (its description is available in the Mini-Tasks chapter of our guide).

Continue onwards, finding an armour piece [Serrice Council Chestplate] on your way. Open the door and quickly deal with the Engineer. Afterwards, search for a Med Kit [100 EXP] and Data Log [20 EXP]. Depending on your liking, you can now either head to the shuttles on foot or interact with the Atlas Mech to take control of it.

It's much easier to deal with the enemies using the Mech, as the machine is very resistant and has large fire power. Don't forget about being able to perform melee attacks, especially against those enemies who have approached the machine.

Focus on the enemies closest to the students, as once again a bar showing the durability of their barrier will be displayed on screen. An enemy Mech will also appear in the area in the last part of the fight and its best do defeat it from a big distance.

If you don't want to use the Mech, you need to be ready for a rather hard fight. First of all take care of the enemies who are attacking the students (remember about keeping an eye on the barrier durability bar!). After eliminating the enemy soldiers you should head there with your team, placing them behind pillars or other solid covers.

After further battles break out, keep listening to the comments regarding where enemies appear and focus on eliminating those who approach you dangerously close. It's also good to destroy the generators, so that the enemies have problems with hiding behind shields. Leave the Atlas Mech for the very end and look out for its rocket attacks.

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