Starfield ‘First Contact’ quest walkthrough

Starfield ‘First Contact’ quest walkthrough

Time Stamp: September 5, 2023 5:22 PM

There’s never a dull moment in Starfield. But few side quests have the same gravitational pull as “First Contact,” a narratively taut mission that forces you to make some difficult decisions.

As noted in our list of the best side quests in 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.

Our 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. From there hop over to Volii and then finally to Porrima.

A Starfield map shows the location of 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 Sugiyama, stationed on 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.

Chat with Jiro Sugiyama

Head down to the planet and talk with Sugiyama. 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.

Board the ECS Constant

A ship approaches the ECS Constant in Starfield. Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Leave Sugiyama’s office and head back into space. Once there, try communicating with the ship. 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.

An explorer talks to Diana Brackenridge on the ECS Constant during the First Contact side quest in Starfield. 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 is a big planet. Unfortunately, neither the folks stuck on the ECS Constant nor the corporate entities that own Paradiso (and, essentially, the entire planet) want to share it. That’s why you’re there to mediate the situation.

After speaking with Captain Brackenridge and agreeing to speak on her behalf, head back down to Porrima II. Go directly to the resort and speak with Paradiso Group CEO Oliver Campbell. Take the elevator by the check-in station, past the general store, and go to the executive floor.

Once inside, chat with Oliver about the situation. He and the other board members will suggest three different ways to tackle this problem. They are:

  • Convince the ECS crew to work as indentured servants until they pay off the cost of living “freely” at Paradiso.
  • Buy them the grav drive necessary to travel to another planet.
  • Make their ship “go away”

Choice 1: Taking 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.

The materials needed:

  • 40 fiber
  • 80 iron
  • 10 lithium
  • 20 sealant

Go back and speak with Captain Brackenridge about the deal. 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.

One way is to persuade Captain Brackenridge to help out. This optional sub-quest isn’t too tricky if you’ve placed points in Persuasion. We were able to convince her to share some of the materials found on the ECS by picking “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.”

Daisuke Levits stands behind a counter on the ECS Constant during the First Contact side quest in Starfield. Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

If you’re successful, Brackenridge will tell you to speak with Daisuke Levits. To find him, go down the hall past the Med Bay, turn right, and go down the steps toward the mess hall. He’ll give you 50 iron, 12 sealant, 15 fiber, and 6 lithium.

The other way you can quickly grab some materials is through the general store at Paradiso. You should be able to buy the rest of the sealant and fiber for a decent 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.

A Starfield menu shows the stats and details for the Suppressed XM-2311. Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

After collecting the needed materials, head back to Captain Brackenridge. She’ll ask you to take her and some of the crew down to Porrima II. Follow them for a bit, then talk with Brackenridge again to clear the mission. 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 Bank), an XM-2311 pistol (with some mods), and some .45 caliber bullets.

*First reward screen*

Choice 2: Purchasing the 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. James at HopeTech. It’s located on planet Polvo in the Valo system. To get there, hover over the Narion system, and chart a course to Valo.

A Starfield map shows the location of Polvo in the Valo system. Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Land on Polvo and head inside HopeTech. James’ office will be on the second floor, so head up the steps on the left. Let him know that Oliver sent you to get him to sell a grav drive. The initial cost will be a pricey 40,000 credits. However, it is possible to Persuade him to lower 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 25,000 credits.

After you acquire the drive, fly back to the ECS and chat with Engineering Officer Amin Kazemi about preparing the ship. He’ll ask you to assist him by:

  • Rerouting the power from the port turbopump to the auxiliary cryogenic radiator
  • Turning the plasma run-off inhibitor to 5%
  • Decoupling the magnetic flange pipe enclosures from the auxiliary module assembly
An explorer approaches a computer on the ECS constant during the First Contact mission in Starfield. Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

To complete each task, simply run to the computers stationed around the room and follow the prompts. Keep in mind what needs to be changed at each station. For instance, the computer controlling cryogenic aspects of the ship will have several options to choose from. Make sure to pick the turbopump port first, then the cryogenic radiator – auxiliary second to correctly route the 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-2311 pistol with some mods.

Choice 3: Blowing 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.

An explorer slowly approaches Amin Kazemi on the ECS Constant during the First Contact mission in Starfield. Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Fly back up the ECS Constant and go to the engineering room like before. Only this time, don’t talk to Amin Kazemi. Instead, sneak up behind him and pickpocket his key. (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.

Once you have the key, go over to the reactor computer located on the left when facing the back of the room. Log on and set the overdrive to 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 Security skill to do so.)

The ECS Constant explodes at the end of the First Contact side quest in Starfield. Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

After hacking her computer, click Confirm Request for the reactor override. At this point, the ECS Constant guards will become hostile. Just run back to your ship and undock. The ship will explode seconds after you fly away, killing everyone on board. Head back to Oliver for your reward: 6,500 credits and an unlimited pass at Paradiso. Fair warning: Asking for double will get you nothing. So don’t be greedy.

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

Out of all three choices, detonating the reactor has to be the worst. 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. It is very expensive, though, even if you pull off the Persuasion check at HopeTown and factor in your prizes. 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.

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