Scott Ryder (MR)

"It's why I'm here. Exploring the unknown."

- Scott Ryder

Scott Ryder (born March 21, 2163) is a former soldier, space explorer, and one of the two main protagonists of Mass Effect: Andromeda. A member of the Ryder family, he and his older twin sister received informal N7 training under their father Alec Ryder.

After serving five years in the Systems Alliance military, Scott signed up with the Andromeda Initiative together with his father and sister, obtaining a position in the Pathfinder Mission Team chosen to find and establish a new home for humanity in the distant Andromeda galaxy 600 years into the future. However, when a series of unfortunate events occur on Habitat 7, the mantle of human Pathfinder of Ark Hyperion was abruptly passed onto him following the death of his father. Now in command of the AISS Tempest, Scott leads the search for humanity's new home in the Heleus cluster.

At approximately 22 years old, Scott is humanity's youngest Pathfinder.

Early life
"I spent years watching pioneers go through the Arcturus mass relays―off to glory while I stayed behind. Then Dad's career collapsed. His AI research made him too toxic."

- Scott Ryder, about his military career

Born on the Citadel space station in the year 2163, Scott Ryder and his fraternal twin sister Sara are the children of Alec Ryder, an N7 operative in the Systems Alliance military who served in Rear Admiral Jon Grissom's expeditionary task force beyond the Charon mass relay. His mother, Dr. Ellen Ryder, at some point became terminally ill and passed away not long afterwards.

Scott joined the Systems Alliance military and was assigned to an outpost near Arcturus Station overseeing Relay 202, a primary route to the Arcturus system and a contested space with an unsavory reputation. Scott was summoned to protect Arcturus, but also had "a front row seat to everyone else going off to fortune and glory." However, when his father Alec was dishonorably discharged due to his AI research, internal memos show that this also effectively ended Scott's career.

Andromeda Initiative
"It was time to forge my story and my horizons―and to give Sara a shot a making the discovery of a lifetime. So, Andromeda."

- Scott Ryder

With his time in the military over, Scott along with his sister Sara soon volunteered for the Andromeda Initiative as the program's newest recruits and were placed under their father's supervision, making Andromeda a more attractive option for the adventure he sought. He was allowed to receive some informal training with a personal instructor—given the overall nature that the journey to the Andromeda galaxy was considered a one-way trip. He, along with 20,000 humans, were placed in cryogenic stasis aboard Ark Hyperion.

Waking Up in a New Galaxy
"We made it..."

- Scott Ryder, upon awakening from cryosleep

634 years later, Scott was eventually brought out of stasis by the Hyperion personnel upon arriving in the Heleus cluster of the Andromeda galaxy.

While en route to colonize its assigned world Habitat 7, however, the crew unexpectedly ran into problems when the Ark collided with and scraped against an unknown energy cloud containing black, metallic tendrils. The ship suffered a momentary loss of gravity and its systems were damaged, including the cryopod containing Scott's sister. With the Hyperion running low on its reserve power supply and its long-range communications with the Nexus and other Arks lost, the Pathfinder team was tasked with inspecting Habitat 7.

Disaster on Habitat 7
"No way this is home."

- Scott Ryder to Liam Kosta, about Habitat 7

During the reconnaissance mission, however, the Pathfinder team made first contact with a hostile alien species: the kett. After a long skirmish, the team arrived at a technological structure of unknown origins to disable its systems disrupting the planet's climate with undirected energy stemming from the cloud that also hit the Hyperion. With help from Cora and Liam, Alec and Scott opened the doors to get inside and successfully deactivate the atmosphere processor, effectively clearing the skies.

However, before they could celebrate, an unknown cloud began emitting from atmosphere processor and forcefully blew Alec and Scott off the platform, shattering Scott's visor. With the atmosphere not being given enough time to fully rejuvenate and with evacuation unable to arrive in time, Alec removes his helmet and places it onto Scott to save his life–at the cost of his own. Before losing consciousness, Alec transferred the position of Pathfinder to Scott.

The new Pathfinder
"You're the new Pathfinder, Scott." "You can't be serious..."

- Cora Harper and Scott Ryder

Aboard the Hyperion, Scott is stabilized and revived by Dr. Lexi T'Perro and SAM despite having been rendered clinically brain dead by Habitat 7's atmosphere. He wakes up to learn of his father's death, and that he is now the new Pathfinder, although Alec trained Harper as his replacement. Before leaving to let Scott mourn, Kosta informs them his sister is stable but in a coma.

The Hyperion eventually arrives at the Nexus space station, which is still incomplete. Ryder, Harper and Kosta find a dark and deserted Docking Bay, but are greeted by Tiran Kandros, Director of Nexus Security, who takes them to meet the rest of Nexus leadership at Operations. Foster Addison, Director of Colonial Affairs, is angered by Alec's death, and is scolded by Superintendent Nakmor Kesh for being hostile towards the new untested Pathfinder. Jarun Tann, Director of the Andromeda Initiative, is supportive towards Scott and decides to give him a chance, directing them to Eos, already the site of two failed settlements.

Ryder returns to the Hyperion when pressed by SAM, who discloses the memories encrypted by his father. He watches a memory of Alliance ambassador to the Citadel Anita Goyle turning down Alec's request for funding into AI research, and when he learned that his wife's condition was terminal.

Scott returns to the Docking Bay, where Harper escorts them to the Tempest. A courier informs them Addison has not cleared them to leave the station, but turian crew member and smuggler Vetra Nyx bribes him into letting them leave. Aboard, Ryder meets Nexus science team liaison Dr. Suvi Anwar, chief engineer Gil Brodie, salarian pilot Kallo Jath, as well as Kosta and Dr. T'Perro.

Personality and traits
"We were all expecting a golden world. Now there's just a long road ahead. But hold on to that dream. It might see us through."

- Scott Ryder

As a child, Scott was an idealist yet was often impatient, always looking ahead to the future regardless for his present surroundings. He was impulsive, reckless, and often had little concern for his own personal safety. As an adult, Scott's personality changed in stark contrast to that when he was younger: though he wanted to live his life with a purpose, he was calmer and more composed. When the position of Pathfinder was transferred to him, Scott was opposed to the decision but grew to adjust to his new role and proved a natural leader much like his father Alec Ryder. Even as a child, he had a strong sense of morality and a need to help others despite likely danger.

He is especially close to his twin sister Sara, as they shared a bond that linked them together closely. They normally worked together to solve mathematical and scientific equations. However, Scott had a strained relationship with his father partially due to Alec's distantness from his family and possibly other childhood issues. Despite their differences, Scott cares deeply about his family and was rather upset upon learning of his father's death after the disaster on Habitat 7.

Appearance
Scott stood at 6 feet and a half inches tall, has fair skin, brown hair and blue eyes. Being a military recruit, he has an athletic physique and has three small scars along his torso as well as his abdomen during basic training at Arcturus Station.

Skills and abilities
As the second human Pathfinder, Scott is an incredibly skilled operative―often combining tech, biotic and hand-to-hand techniques in his attacks. He was recognized as a team player and a natural leader in the Alliance military, working closely with his comrades for their safety and the safety of others. During his service, Scott focused on learning everything he could about weapons and tactics.

Video Games

 * Mass Effect: Andromeda (First appearance)

Mass Effect: Andromeda

 * (to Dr. Lexi T'Perro) "I hope this isn't easy. After all, I signed up for a little adventure before we settled down."
 * (about his father) "This is more than hope―it's proof we weren't crazy. We can fly to a whole new galaxy and still make sense of things."
 * (to Liam Kosta) "I hoped my Alliance career would lead to adventure. Exploring, hunting dangers in the dark. Didn't happen. Couldn't. But here in Andromeda, everything's new. And I want to see it all."
 * "I guarded a Mass Relay for some time. I always wanted to see the other side."
 * (to Cora Harper) "All these points could be vaults on other worlds. Dormant, like this one."
 * (to Sloane Kelly) "I'm looking for someone called Vehn Terev. Name ring any bells?"
 * (about the kett) "I'm beginning to hate these guys."
 * "We’re explorers, not an army. Sure, we’ve been outplayed. The Archon is a master of his game. We’re about to change the rules."

Trivia

 * He is named after Sally Ride, the first American woman in space (June 18, 1983).
 * Scott is voiced by Tom Taylorson, and his appearance is based on that of American actor Steven Brewis.
 * Basic appearance shows that Ryder has some visual similarities with Gray Edwards, one of the main characters CGI film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001), who also commands a ship and shares a common goal - the fight against a hostile alien race.