You’re walking through the neon-soaked slush of Omega, minding your own business, when a twitchy Salarian named Ish flags you down. He's got a job. It sounds like classic RPG filler: go here, grab that, bring it back for some credits. But if you’ve spent any real time in the Terminus Systems, you know nothing is ever that simple. This tiny side quest, officially titled Omega: Packages for Ish, is actually a fascinating look at the internal politics of Aria T’Loak’s backyard, and it’s notoriously easy to mess up if you aren't paying attention.
Honestly, most players just sprint through this to clear their journal. That’s a mistake. Between the weirdly specific squadmate dialogue and a morality system that feels a bit "backwards" in this specific instance, there is a lot to unpack.
Where to Find the Mass Effect 2 Packages for Ish
First off, you can’t even start this until you’ve cleared the Horizon mission. Once you’ve done that, Ish will be hanging out on the right-hand side of the main corridor leading toward the Afterlife Plaza on Omega. He wants two datapads. He won't tell you exactly what's on them, just that they're "business documents."
Red flag? Definitely.
You’ve got to travel to two of the galaxy's major hubs to find these things.
The Citadel Package
This one is on Zakera Level 26. You’re looking for a shop called Saronis Applications. It’s the place run by Marab, another Salarian. Don’t go inside looking for a menu option; the package is sitting on a bench or a small crate right outside the store entrance. It’s a literal datapad you just interact with.
The Illium Package
Head to the Eternity bar. This is the same lounge where you find Conrad Verner being a nuisance and the "friend-zoned" Turian trying to woo a Quarian. The package is tucked away on a corner sofa in the back of the bar.
The Jacob and Miranda Connection
Here’s a detail most people miss because they usually have Zaeed or Garrus in their party for the combat stats. If you bring Jacob Taylor and Miranda Lawson when you first talk to Ish, things get awkward.
It turns out they already know him.
They worked with him during the events of the (now delisted) mobile game Mass Effect Galaxy. Miranda is particularly cold toward him, basically treating him like a nuisance she thought she’d left in the past. If you want the full "expert" experience of this quest, bringing them along adds a layer of continuity that makes the world feel way more connected than just a series of isolated levels.
The Three Ways to Finish
Once you have at least one package, you realize Ish isn't just a businessman. He’s trying to sell intel on Anto Korragan, one of Aria’s top enforcers. This is dangerous territory. You have three main paths, and the "best" one depends on whether you want money or morality points.
- The "Good Soldier" Path: Deliver both packages to Ish. This is technically the Renegade choice. You get 4,500 credits and +5 Renegade points. Ish stays alive (for now), but you’ve basically helped a low-level snitch undermine the stability of Omega.
- The "Save Ish from Himself" Path: You can use a Charm or Intimidate check to convince Ish he’s way out of his league. You basically tell him Aria will skin him alive if she finds out. He panics and runs away. You get 3,375 credits and zero morality points.
- The "Rat Him Out" Path: You go straight to Anto Korragan. He’s the Batarian standing near the stairs leading to Aria’s balcony in Afterlife. You tell him Ish is digging for dirt. This is the weird part: Telling Anto is considered the Paragon choice (+5 points), even though you're essentially signing Ish's death warrant.
Why the Morality Rewards Feel Broken
There is a long-standing debate in the Mass Effect community about why ratting out a guy to a Batarian criminal is "Paragon."
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Jacob will even comment that it’s "kinda harsh."
The logic BioWare used seems to be that by telling Anto, you are preventing a larger gang war or protecting the "order" of Omega. Or, more likely, it’s just one of those 2010-era game design quirks where the developers needed a Paragon outcome and "upholding the status quo" was the closest fit. If you're playing the Legendary Edition, this hasn't changed. It’s still as morally gray (or confusing) as ever.
Pro-Tip for Maximum Rewards
If you want to be a completionist and get the most out of this, there’s a specific sequence to follow.
Basically, you can hand over one package to Ish first. He’ll give you 1,125 credits. Then, instead of giving him the second one, go talk to Anto. You can actually extort Anto for another 2,250 credits if you have the right dialogue options. This nets you the most cash and still lets you "complete" the quest by dealing with the Anto side of things.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Wait for Horizon: Don't waste time looking for Ish before the Collector attack on Horizon; he won't be there.
- Bring the Cerberus Duo: For the best dialogue, make sure Miranda and Jacob are in your party when you first accept the quest on Omega.
- Check the Journal Bug: In the original version of the game, this quest famously glitched and stayed in your journal forever if you chose certain paths. In the Legendary Edition, this is mostly fixed, but it's still worth saving before you turn it in.
- Choose Your Fate: If you need Paragon points to pass a later check (like the Miranda/Jack argument), ratting Ish out to Anto is a quick and easy +5, even if it feels a little dirty.
Ultimately, the Mass Effect 2 packages for ish quest is a reminder that in the Mass Effect universe, even the smallest delivery job can end with someone being "handled" by a Batarian hit squad.