High Price to Pay
High Price to Pay is the mission 11 of Main Mission.
| High Price to Pay | |
|---|---|
| File:High Price to Pay.jpg | |
| Information | |
| Type | Main Mission |
| Number | 11 |
| Level | ????? |
| Requirement | Complete No Sudden Moves |
| Location | Landing Site The Lodge in Planet Jemison of Alpha Centauri |
| Starting NPC | Noel |
| Description | A Starborn known as the Hunter has attacked the Eye and is coming to the Lodge. |
| Reward | 800 XP, 13300 Credits, Calibrated Constellation Pack |
| Achievement | High Price to Pay (Achievement) |
| Previous Mission | No Sudden Moves |
| Next Mission | Unity |
| Patch | 1.0 |
Walkthrough
As soon as you've placed the Artifact in No Sudden Moves, the High Price to Pay mission kicks in. You'll find Noel near you, eager to spill the beans on what's happening. After a brief but intense conversation, you're faced with a difficult choice: stay at the Lodge to defend it or leave for the Eye. Choose carefully—Barrett will die if you leave immediately, while Sarah will die if you defend the Lodge. The weight of your choice hangs heavy in the digital air.
Assuming you opt to defend the Lodge, a prompt soon nudges you to check on Walter. Heading upstairs, you find him relatively okay but visibly shaken. Right when you're about to breathe a sigh of relief, the ominous figure known as the Hunter barges into the Lodge. This new foe is a considerable upgrade from previous enemies, able to spawn a clone of themselves while packing a mean punch. Quick tip: use the bar as cover to mitigate some of that damage while dodging attacks from both the Hunter and their clone.
After what feels like an eternity but is just a few adrenaline-fueled minutes, Noel completes packing the Artifact. Time to make a grand exit. Noel takes the lead, guiding you through the basement and out into the Well. Follow him, but keep an eye out for the Hunter, who will relentlessly reappear even if you manage to inflict enough damage to make them temporarily vanish.
Making your way through the Well and then to the Spaceport, you manage to reach your ship, though not without some heart-stopping moments. The Hunter continues to chase you but seems partially distracted by UC Security, buying you precious time to leap into the cockpit of your ship. You initiate take-off and soon find yourself in Jemison orbit, finally breathing easier. The Hunter contacts you one more time before disappearing, leaving behind some valuable items if you managed to destroy a few of their clones earlier.
Once you're orbiting safely around the Eye, your mission updates to "Find everyone on the Eye." One by one, you go through the list of marked objectives to check up on your companions, finally learning about Sarah's sad fate. With a heavy heart, you make your way back to Noel.
You're almost there—time to talk to Vladimir on the Eye to hash out your next steps. Noel entrusts you with all the Artifact pieces, and you're now given the choice to build the Armillary either on your ship or at an Outpost. A quick note: if you decide to place it on your ship, expect to get attacked by Starborn everywhere. If it's at an Outpost, they'll only attack you near that location.
Building the Armillary on your ship is as simple as interacting with the panel in the cockpit. If you decide to build it at an Outpost, you'll need to use the Quest menu to get it constructed.
Once the Armillary is built, your final task is to return to the Lodge. Unlike before, you can't fast-travel directly there, making your trek back through New Atlantis a bit longer. Upon arriving at the Lodge, you're prompted to talk to Matteo to wrap up the mission. After an emotional conversation, the screen fades to black, marking the end of the High Price to Pay mission in Starfield.
And that's it, you've navigated the complexities, made the tough calls, and lived to tell the tale. Brace yourself for what comes next in this expansive universe, but for now, take a moment to process the high price you've paid.