James Vega is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect media franchise, who is a party member (or "squadmate") in the third game of the series. Within the series, he is a human Systems Alliance Marine holding the rank of lieutenant, and first appears in Mass Effect: Conviction where he is assigned by Systems Alliance Admiral David Anderson to escort series protagonist Commander Shepard, who is en route to an Alliance defense committee hearing in Vancouver. After the Reapers invasion of Earth commences, James joins Shepard and the crew of the Normandy as they depart Earth to rally support from humanity's allies. The character has also appeared in other media, including the first issue of the comic mini-series Mass Effect: Homeworlds, and anime film Mass Effect: Paragon Lost. James Veg