In the Mass Effect universe, humanity is still taking its first major steps onto the galactic stage. Older governments such as the Turian Hierarchy and the Salarian Union are watching carefully. Fortunately, the Systems Alliance has remarkable leaders like Admiral Stephen Hackett to make a good impression.
Humanity is united in the Systems Alliance, and the Alliance Navy is a powerful fleet outmatched only by the fearsome Turian armada and the massive Quarian Migrant Fleet. Admiral Hackett commands the Fifth Fleet, and his role in the story is not to be overlooked.
Hackett's Ascent And Methods
Stephen Hackett was born right on Earth in 2134, in Buenos Aires to a single mother. Before enlisting in the Alliance Navy, he was placed in a program known as the Advanced Training Academy for Juveniles at age 12, establishing him early on as a career-oriented and disciplined person. He went on to enlist in the Navy, and that was where his career took off. Stephen Hackett wasn't just serving his people; he wanted to go the distance, and his ascent was rapid and thorough. Few Alliance personnel ever rose as fast or as far in the ranks as Stephen Hackett did, no doubt owing to a combination of rigid discipline, strong passion for the Navy, clear personal goals and a lack of significant setbacks. He was serving in the Navy during the First Contact War and survived that battle, then rose to the rank of Admiral. He started at the bottom and rose to the top, and incredibly, his best days were still ahead of him.
Admiral Hackett commanded the Fifth Fleet with a steady hand, and he became a better role model of Alliance officers than anyone could have asked for. He is a tough but fair leader, based on what Commander Shepard has seen of him, and he is formal and disciplined but also pragmatic and flexible when the situation calls for it. In many ways, Admiral Hackett is like the leaders of the Turian fleet, but with the unmistakable creative streak of humanity. As of 2183, while Commander Shepard was hunting the rogue Spectre Saren Arterius, Admiral Hackett was informed that Shepard became the first human Spectre. Hackett was no doubt impressed, but he also understood that Shepard represented the Council and the Alliance, and thus requested Shepard's aid on several assignments. Hackett carefully balanced Shepard's duties to the Council and Alliance alike, but by 2185, the situation would become messier.
Facing The Reaper Threat
In the year 2185, Commander Shepard returned from the dead thanks to the hard work of Cerberus, the shady pro-human cabal. Hackett had no hate for Cerberus, and he did appreciate how Cerberus took the initiative when it came to protecting human colonies from the insidious Collectors. Still, he clearly disapproved of Cerberus' methods and its lack of accountability, since it existed outside the Alliance chain of command. For that reason, in 2185, Admiral Hackett personally asked Commander Shepard to undertake a dangerous solo mission for him. Cerberus was not to be involved in this, just the Commander, alone. The mission was to rescue Dr. Amanda Kinson from prison in Batarian space and allow her to report in about her mission to find Reaper artifacts or clues in Batarian systems. As of this point, Hackett was not in total denial of the Reaper threat, but he did want to carefully collect solid evidence of the Reapers' existence and plans before committing resources to this threat. Here again, he is practical, tough and fair.
Commander Shepard had to sacrifice the entire Bahak system to destroy the Alpha relay there and delay the Reaper invasion, a move that Hackett understood but also refused to sweep under the rug. Hackett told Shepard that soon enough, the Commander would have to answer for this on Earth and "face the music." Hackett, for his part, would prepare the Alliance's defenses for the Reaper threat. Sure enough, the Reapers poured into the galaxy in 2186. Hackett made several difficult and important decisions (and sacrifices) to face this threat and buy Shepard time to form a galaxy-wide alliance. Hackett was no doubt under significant strain, but rarely did he let it show. Instead, he took an active role in following Shepard's progress, providing updates on the Systems Alliance and the diplomatic ties with other races, from Asari High Command to the Migrant Fleet.
Hackett also oversaw the Crucible Project, the costly feat of engineering that represented the best and last hope of taking down the Reapers for good. Hackett made sure to pass along updates on the Crucible to Shepard, to boost morale and allow Shepard to make better-informed decisions. Finally, it was Hackett who helped lead the united fleet that challenged the Reapers in the Solar System, and he escorted the completed Crucible to the waiting Citadel.