If you start a fresh game without importing a save from ME1, then Ashley is alive, and she will be alive if you import an ME1 save where you chose to save her near the end.
However if you import a save where you chose to rescue Kaidan instead, he will be present instead of Ashley.
you cant
If you don't import a save game from Mass Effect, you will automatically choose the character of the opposite gender to survive. If you play Mass Effect first, though, you can choose if you want Ashley or Kaidan to survive. So to play Mass Effect 2 as a female and with Ashley alive, you would have to play Mass Effect and let Kaidan die on Virmire.
If he died in Mass Effect 1 then he is not in Mass Effect 2. If he survived Mass Effect 1 he shows up in Mass Effect 2 but he can not be killed.
Do the missions that say "recruit the (insert class type)"
If you import save data from Mass Effect 1, then whichever character lived through the first game will be in ME2. If you don't import save data and don't use Genesis, Kaiden will be in the game, but Ashley won't.
Mass Effect 2 is a 15.
If you played Mass Effect 1 the second game imports your old game save, so it would depend on how you played Mass Effect 1 as to whether or not Kaiden is alive. If you did not play Mass Effect 1, then the game will default to the character with the opposite gender to Shepard. So Ashley will be there with a male Shepard, Kaiden for a female one. Below is a link which has the important decisions you make in 1 and their effect in the sequel.
No, Mass Effect 2 has a completely different weapon system.
mass effect 2 will be
The SSV Normandy in Mass Effect The Normandy SR-2 in Mass Effect 2 & 3
Mass Effect 2 is rated M for mature by the ESRB.
No mass effect 2 will only be on xbox 360 and PC
Mass Effect 2 is rated M for mature by the ESRB.