Illusive man

Illusive man



The Illusive Man, originally known as Jack Harper, is introduced as the antagonist of Mass Effect: Ascension, and returns for Mass Effect 2. He is the ruthless leader of the Cerberus organization and was responsible for Cerberus' split from the Systems Alliance Military shortly before the events of Mass Effect. His ultimate goal is to elevate humanity to its "rightful place" in the galaxy.

Harper was said to be a normal civilian before the discovery of extraterrestrial life. It has been revealed in the Mass Effect: Evolution comic book that he fought in the First Contact War against the turians. His demeanor is of a driven businessman, rather than the xenophobic extremist he is portrayed as by enemies of Cerberus. He is virtually never met in person, and with the exception of Liara T'Soni and Miranda Lawson, deals exclusively through holographic communication. Harper's cryptonym derives from his designation in official Alliance reports, which in turn derives from an anonymous anti-alien manifesto released during the First Contact War described as "survivalist rhetoric written by an illusive man" which sparked the foundation of Cerberus.

In Mass Effect 2, the Illusive Man forces Commander Shepard into an uneasy alliance to investigate the disappearance of several human colonies, which both Shepard and the Illusive Man believe is somehow connected to the Reapers. Cerberus actively provides Shepard with information and supplies. In the ending, while setting up the bomb to destroy the Collector Base Shepard is provided by The Illusive Man the option of using a timed radiation pulse to destroy the Collectors in the base, thus giving Cerberus access to their technology. If Shepard chooses to destroy the base, he criticizes Shepard, claiming that the commander is "too idealistic" and chokes on the hard decisions. If Shepard decides to spare the base, the Illusive Man congratulates him, saying that adapting the base's technology could be humanity's greatest achievement since the discovery of the Mass Relays.

The Illusive Man is also the antagonist of the novels Mass Effect: Retribution and Mass Effect: Deception and the protagonist of the comic Mass Effect: Evolution.

The Illusive Man is confirmed to return in Mass Effect 3.

The Illusive Man is voiced by and physically resembles Martin Sheen