What is I'm In The Middle of Some Calibrations?

It's a catchphrase from Mass Effect 2 spoken by the character Garrus Vakarian whenever players try to talk to him, which became a meme about his obsessive dedication to weapon maintenance.

Where did I'm In The Middle of Some Calibrations come from?

The phrase comes from Mass Effect 2, released January 26, 2010, where Garrus says it repeatedly because his conversation events take longer to trigger than other characters.

What does I'm In The Middle of Some Calibrations mean?

In-game, Garrus is calibrating the Normandy's weapons. As a meme, it represents avoiding social interaction by claiming to be busy with technical tasks.

How do you use I'm In The Middle of Some Calibrations?

Use the phrase as a humorous excuse to avoid conversations or obligations, or create memes showing Garrus prioritizing calibrations over anything else.

Is I'm In The Middle of Some Calibrations still popular?

The meme is considered a classic among Mass Effect fans, especially after BioWare referenced it in Mass Effect 3, and it resurfaces whenever the franchise receives attention.

I'm In The Middle of Some Calibrations

2010catchphraseclassic

Published August 31, 2026

In Mass Effect 2, players quickly discovered that squadmate Garrus Vakarian had one go-to excuse whenever they tried to chat: "Can it wait for a bit? I'm in the middle of some calibrations." The line became so repetitive that it spawned an entire meme ecosystem, turning Garrus into the internet's favorite workaholic sniper and "calibrations" into shorthand for avoiding conversation.

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Overview

The meme centers on a simple comedic premise: Garrus is always busy with calibrations. In Mass Effect 2, players routinely check on their squadmates after missions to unlock new dialogue and loyalty quests1. Garrus's events trigger less frequently than other characters, meaning most interactions result in his polite brush-off about weapon calibrations. This created an unintentional running gag where the turian sniper seemed obsessed with tweaking the ship's guns.

Fans ran with this quirk, creating image macros and jokes that exaggerated Garrus's dedication to calibrations. The humor lies in the absurdity of a battle-hardened vigilante prioritizing equipment maintenance over literally anything else. Variations include depicting Garrus calibrating in inappropriate situations, using the line as a universal excuse, or showing him romantically devoted to his workstation rather than Commander Shepard.

The format typically uses screenshots of Garrus at his console in the Normandy's main battery, paired with captions playing on the calibrations theme. Some versions use the Advice Animal style popular in 2010, while others employ webcomics and video edits2.

Gallery

Origin & Background

Platform

Mass Effect 2 (video game)

Creator

BioWare

Date

2010

"I'm In The Middle of Some Calibrations" originated in Mass Effect 2, released January 26, 20101. BioWare designed the game so players could speak with squadmates between missions, but Garrus Vakarian's conversation triggers required more time to unlock than other characters. The result was that clicking on Garrus usually produced the same dismissive response about his ongoing calibrations work.

The earliest known meme usage appeared on LiveJournal, where user Hungry Spider posted an "Advice Hurt Garrus" image macro on February 20, 20102. This Advice Animal style format helped establish calibrations as Garrus's defining trait among the fanbase.

How It Spread

The meme spread steadily through Mass Effect fan communities during 2010. On November 2, 2010, YouTuber TheREALSisko uploaded a slow-motion edit of the calibrations clip3. The video accumulated over 24,000 views over the following decade, demonstrating the joke's longevity within the fandom.

Reddit's r/masseffect became a hub for calibrations content. On March 24, 2012, user theknot_caligrl posted a webcomic riffing on the catchphrase, earning over 1,000 upvotes4. The timing coincided with Mass Effect 3's release in March 2012, which brought renewed attention to the joke.

BioWare acknowledged the meme in Mass Effect 3 itself, including multiple self-aware references to Garrus's calibrations obsession. YouTuber FluffyNinjaLlama compiled these moments on April 13, 20125, with the video reaching over 85,000 views. The developers embracing the joke helped cement it as an official part of Mass Effect lore rather than just a fan observation.

How to Use This Meme

The catchphrase works as a humorous deflection or excuse. Use it when you want to avoid a conversation or commitment by claiming you're busy with vague technical work. The format typically involves either quoting Garrus directly or creating scenarios where calibrations take priority over something obviously more important. Common conventions include pairing the line with images of Garrus at his workstation or depicting him choosing calibrations over romance options.