I'm in the Middle of Some Calibrations

About

“I’m in the middle of some calibrations” is a phrase from the popular action-RPG videogame, Mass Effect 2. It is a catchphrase of sorts for the character Garrus Vakarian, who uses it very much or very little depending on player input within the game. The phrase is also commonly preceded by “Can it wait for a bit?” or “I would, but…” The line became popular among Mass Effect fans, who began to characterize “calibrations” as Garrus’ favorite activity.

Origin

In Mass Effect 2, it becomes common practice to check up on characters after completing an important mission to see whether they have anything new to say.^[1] Because Garrus’ events and conversations take a longer time to trigger than other characters, he will usually say the featured line, “Can it wait? I’m in the middle of some calibrations,” more often than not when the player attempts a conversation.

Spread

Players began to abuse the line for fun, and Garrus’ love of calibrations became well known as a joke among Mass Effect fans. The meme was also referenced several times in Mass Effect 3.

External References

^[1]TV Tropes – BioWare