Starfield ‘First Contact’ walkthrough and quest steps

There’s never a dull moment in Starfield. There are few sidequests that have as much gravitational force. “First Contact,”A mission with a tight narrative that makes you make difficult choices.

Our list of best side quests includes a number of these. Starfield, “First Contact” can be tackled early, as it doesn’t involve direct combat and its location (the Porrima system) isn’t very far from your Alpha Centauri stomping grounds. Instead, you’ll mostly act as a mediator between two opposing groups. Don’t worry, though. As a quest that’s more than 200 years in the making, “First Contact” is more interesting than it initially sounds.

The following are some of the ways to improve your own ability. Starfield “First Contact” guide walks through all of the quest steps for “First Contact,” explains the ramifications of each choice, and, of course, details the rewards you get based on what you choose.

How to find Porrima and the ‘First Contact’ side quest in Starfield

“First Contact” can be found in the Porrima system. The easiest way to get there (if you’re starting from Jemison) is to chart a trip from Alpha Centauri to Olympus. You can then hop to Volii, and finally Porrima.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

As soon as you warp in, you’ll be greeted with a message from a security officer named Jiro SugiyamaStationed in the Planet Porrima II. He’ll ask for your help in dealing with a strange ship currently floating right in front of you. This will unlock the “First Contact” side quest and start you on the path of diplomacy.

Jiro sugiyama chat

Sugiyama can be found on planet. He’s located in a small security station in front of the Paradiso resort. Once there, Sugiyama will explain that this strange ship just appeared out of nowhere and that he doesn’t know if the folks currently floating around Porrima II’s atmosphere are friendly or not; all efforts to communicate with those on board the ship has failed. Eventually, he’ll ask if you could try speaking with its crew, with an emphasis placed on peaceful measures over combat.

ECS Constant

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Leave Sugiyama’s office and head back into space. When you reach the ship, communicate with it. You’ll notice that any attempt at hailing the crew won’t work — you’ll get feedback over the coms no matter what option you choose. To learn what’s going on, you’ll need to dock and board the ship.

Once inside, you’ll be met by a group of people led by Captain Diana Brackenridge. She’ll explain that the ship, named the ECS Constant, has been traveling through space for 200 years.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

See, the ECS Constant’s original crew fled Earth to avoid some catastrophe with the hope that their descendants, the current crew, would eventually make it to Porrima II. But because they didn’t have access to light speed travel — the means of which hadn’t been invented yet — they ended up taking the scenic route.

Start Negotiations

Porrima II, the planet in question, is huge. Unfortunately, Paradiso and the ECS Constant (and, in essence, the whole planet) isn’t something the ECS Constant residents or corporate entities want to share. That’s why you’re there to mediate the situation.

Once you have spoken with Captain Brackenridge, and agreed to speak for her on behalf of the resort, return to Porrima II. Speak with the Resort Manager directly. Paradiso Group CEO Oliver Campbell. The executive floor is reached by taking the elevator near the check-in desk, passing the General Store.

Oliver is waiting for you inside. The board will come up with three possible solutions to the problem. These are the three:

• Convince the ECS crew to work as indentured servants until they pay off the cost of living “freely” at Paradiso.
• Purchase the Grav Drive necessary for them to visit another planet.
• Make their ship “go away”

You can choose to accept the settlement deal.

If you choose to convince them to take the settlement deal, you’ll be tasked with gathering materials needed to house the ECS Constant’s crew.

What materials are needed?

• The 40-fiber cloth
• 80 iron
• Ten Lithium
• Sealant 20

Talk to the Captain about it. She’ll be surprisingly amenable to the idea, expressing that her crew will need to learn how to work and survive on the planet anyways. Once she agrees, it’ll be up to you to gather the needed materials. This will take some time if you haven’t been farming resources second-nature prior to tackling “First Contact.” There are a few ways of getting your hands on a decent number of materials pretty quickly, though.

Persuade the Captain to assist you. This optional sub-quest isn’t too tricky if you’ve placed points in Persuasion. Picking up the ECS materials, we convinced her to give them to others. “I’m not asking for a lot, just what little you can spare”Followed by “Are you sure you don’t have anything to spare? I’m doing this for you.”

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

If you’re successful, Brackenridge will tell you to speak with Daisuke Levits. For him, walk down past the Med-Bay, turn left, then go down to the Mess Hall. He’ll give you 50 iron, Sealant 12, 15 Fibers” 6 Lithium.

You can also quickly get materials at the Paradiso general store. The rest of sealant and fibre should be available at a reasonable price. The rest you’ll have to get by going to your map, scanning nearby planets for each material, and then flying to those locations. Once there, you’ll be able to use your scanner cutter to gather what’s needed.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Once you have the necessary materials, return to Captain Brackenridge. She’ll ask you to take her and some of the crew down to Porrima II. After a few minutes, follow the crew and talk to Brackenridge once more. You’ll be rewarded with a chunk of XP, several antique items you can sell for a lot of money (including an Old Earth Piggy BankAn XM-2311The pistol, with some modifications. Bullets.45 Caliber.

*First reward screen*

Choose 2: Purchasing a Grav Drive

If you decide to pay for the grav drive — because Oliver and his coterie are too cheap to front the cost — you’ll be asked to meet with one Bennu St. JamesHopeTech. It’s located on planet Polvo is a part of the Valo system. For Valo, you can hover above the Narion System and plot a route to Valo.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Arrive at Polvo, then head to HopeTech. James’ office will be Second floorHead up the steps to your left. Tell him that Oliver has sent you in order to convince him to buy a grav-drive. It will cost a lot to buy a grav drive. You can earn up to 40,000 Credits. You can still convince him to reduce the price. When doing so, make sure to remind him that he’ll be helping those in need and he’ll fold, dropping the price to a still pricey Credits of up to 25,000.

Once you have the drive, return to ECS for a chat Engineering Officer Amin KazemiHow to prepare the vessel. He’ll ask you to assist him by:

• Power Rerouting from the Turbopump portYou can also find out more about the A cryogenic auxiliary heater
• The Turning Plasma run-off inhibitor 5%
• The Decoupling of the Magnet flange pipe enclosuresThe cheapest way to buy a car is by using the Auxiliary module assembly

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Simply run around to each computer and follow the prompts. Remember what you need to change at each of the stations. The computer that controls the cryogenics of the ship has several choices. Pick the turbopump portFirst, the cryogenic radiator – auxiliarySecond, the correct routing of power.

After you’ve made the preparations, go talk with captain Brackenridge. Afterwards, you’ll be rewarded with a selection high-value Earth antiques (which is great, considering how much money you spent on the drive). As for weapons, you’ll get an XM-2311The pistol mods.

Option 3: Destroy the Reactor

To choose the last option, you’ll need to ask Oliver how someone could get rid of the ECS Constant. Oliver will explain that someone could “hypothetically” override the safety systems in the ship’s reactor computer — essentially, blowing up the ship. Once he’s done explaining, back out of the conversation and you’ll see a new optional mission objective.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Then, fly back to the ECS Constant. Only this time, don’t talk to Amin Kazemi. Pickpocket the key by sneaking up behind Amin Kazemi. (To do this, you’ll need to have unlocked the Pickpocket skill.) Going the violent “club him over the head” route is too risky; alerting the entire ship to your intentions will make the next steps nearly impossible to pull off.

The reactor computer is located to your left, when you are facing the rear of the room. Set the overdrive and log on. Emergency Overload. After that, you’ll need to head to the bridge/command bay and locate captain Brackenridge’s computer. Make sure she isn’t around, then hack into it. (You’ll need to have unlocked the The Security of Your Own HomeIt is a skill.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Click Here to see the results of her hacking. Confirmation RequestFor the reactor bypass. The ECS Constant guards are now hostile. Run back to the ship, and dock it. You will die instantly when the ship explodes seconds after your flight. Oliver will reward you if you return to him. 6.500 CreditsThen, you can. Unlimited access to Paradiso. A word of caution: asking for more than you need will result in nothing. So don’t be greedy.

What’s the best choice in ‘First Contact’?

The worst option is to detonate the reactor. Not only is it a moral issue (your companion, if you have one at the time, will not be pleased), but it’s also the least rewarding. The indentured servitude choice is a little better, but it’ll probably take the longest to complete if you haven’t been collecting materials prior to starting the “First Contact” quest.

Choosing to purchase the grav drive isn’t very time consuming. Even if you use the HopeTown Persuasion Check and add in all your rewards, it is still very costly. Ultimately, it seems like the best route will be factored by the skills, items, and credits you’ve acquired along the way — as well as your moral compass concerning the people of the ECS Constant.