Synopsis[edit | edit source]
The story line starts with the first mission Plan B and continues through multiple missions with several important plot branches. It deals with the debt you incurred in exchange for getting your quantum rider implant.
Walkthrough[edit | edit source]
(tl/dr summary at end for the impatient)
Early Game[edit | edit source]
After "Plan B", you have the option to send one of your mercs on a legwork job "Clinic Snitch" to get more details on how the team's location was leaked, and then a further legwork option "Thumb on Snitch". to put the thumb down on the snitch. If successful, this gives a new contact, an UltraTek biotech researcher, who will owe you several favors and generates one new favor per month.
The storyline continues with a video call with Octane. She offers a new way to pay off your debt, by retrieving some property of hers and then infiltrating a data center. If you succeed, she will cancel the debt; otherwise you will need to pay the first installment of $500,000 pretty soon. Most players take the mission, but it is possible to come up with enough money for the payments if you decline it.
After the call, and some more dialog, you have the opportunity to send one merc on a legwork to get more information about the quantum rider, "Zombie Origins". You are also offered the first retrieval mission, "Haven Smokeout".
Deeply buried in this dialog tree, there is an option for a second legwork, "Competition Matrix". Look for the dialog option "So this was all a play to make us do a job", and then "We need to investigate Octane's power play". This legwork allows you to get information on an alternate route to repay the debt. Protip: if you finished this dialog without getting the legwork, use the option to "load to end of previous mission". This probably takes you back to the end of Haven Smokeout and you may need to redo some actions.
Zombie background[edit | edit source]
If you run "Zombie Origins" you will get a lot of backstory on your quantum rider, and also the opportunity to run a mission "High Street" which gives even more backstory. The mission is to negotiate with a former partner of your rider, a sniper named Rhino. This is a pure combat mission; don't damage Rhino, and she will join your team.
Pick your poison[edit | edit source]
If you have found and run "Competition Matrix", do not run "Loophole Heist". Wait until Competition Matrix finishes. Now you have a choice to make: either continue working with Octane, or change sides and work with Ghoul. It happens that the mission you run is the same either way. Octane's version is "Loophole Heist", Ghoul's version is "Endpoint Cutthroat". The only difference is in some dialog confirming which boss gets the data you are stealing.
If you sided with Octane, this section is done; your debt is canceled and she gets bonuses to trust and starts a power play. If you sided with Ghoul, he offers you a choice: work with him to assassinate Octane, or deal with her on your own. This turns out to not really be a choice because either way he offers an assassination mission: "Hoverdrop Wipe". There are quite many bodyguards and Octane has a shield. She will start fleeing as soon as she spots any merc on your team.
You can skip this mission, which leaves Octane alive with the "burned" trait. She will still offer missions and services because her trust value remains positive. After a few days, there will be a short dialog where she sneers at you, and then sends two Headhunters after you.
At least so far, it does not matter too much which boss you pick. Both ways you get the debt canceled, and they are fairly equivalent as contacts. Siding with Ghoul requires one extra assassination mission, which you may consider a plus or a minus.
Henninger strikes back[edit | edit source]
(todo: play through with Ghoul and make sure it is the same)
If you run "Loophole Heist" or "Endpoint Cutthroat", then several days later you will get a message from Blur in the timeline, saying that Henninger has picked up our trail and has sent two Headhunters after the team. He is the owner of the finance bunker where these missions took place. You can take one legwork "Smokescreen" to reduce the headhunter count by one.
You can also contact Octane, or Ghoul, whichever one you chose to work with. They will arrange to reduce the headhunter count by one, but it will cost an Obligation. Be aware that the obligation often leads to a dangerous combat mission appearing on the timeline with a short expiration. Some players find that they happen to have mercs injured or on legwork when this pops, and since it cannot be delayed by much, it can be painful.
What does the future hold?[edit | edit source]
Presumably this story will have more content added later.
tl/dr summary[edit | edit source]
Run the "Haven Smokeout" mission and dig carefully for the dialog choice to run the "Competition Matrix" legwork. Don't run "Loophole Heist" till "Competition Matrix" completes. Run "High Street" to pick up a sniper recruit and a lot of backstory. Pick a side and then run the mission; if you picked Ghoul, run "Hoverdrop Wipe" to assassinate Octane. Later, their boss Henninger sends head hunters after you. Presumably more content will be added later.