The Wasted Wing

"'She's going to release a statement to the public soon claiming that it was a minor virus outbreak that accidentally triggered the Code Black protocol. But I'm not sure if I can keep looking people in the eyes and lie about what really happened, especially when some of their loved one were among the deceased....' - Nevin Siprani, Outpost 448"

Information
The Wasted Wing is the endgame mission for the Colonial Union faction campaign. The name Wasted Wing is the nickname given to the detached research wing of Outpost 448. This is a sole ground combat mission with no ship engagements. It's recommended to use the neural rewriter and stock up on firearms before attempting this mission.

The sections below have been hidden to prevent spoilers, it's recommended to first complete the mission before preceding. This page will ruin the mission for you.

Missions
Important: the mission 'Stop Asteroid Crash' is a requirement to receive this mission.

Main Missions [Red]

 * Report to Commander: Commander Darine Hatham requests your audience to brief you on the 'The Wasted Wing' mission. Simply talk to Darine Hatham at the command center to start or decline this mission.
 * The Wasted Wing: At the briefing, a mission is devised to resecure the wasted wing. The plan is to warp to the Outpost 448 research ring, locate any survivors, and then find and eliminate 'the source' of the outbreak. Your reward is the CU Lost Colony Data Fragment, three C.U. rep, and 10,000 credits.

Side Quests [White]

 * Retrieve Data Pad: Alrick Soun, located next to commander Hatham, wants you to recover a data pad containing ongoing and prototype research from a locked conference room. While travelling through the wing acquire the following cards: Level 1 Access Card, Level 2 Access Card, and Level 3 Access Card to gain access to the room. Recover the data pad and return to Alarick Soun at the command center. These key cards are in randomized locations. The reward is one C.U. rep and 5,000 credits.
 * Eliminate Stalker: Picking up the data pad "Warning: Breach" right after killing Experiment 72 gives this mission. Simply, kill the Stalker located in the transportation tunnel. This mission gives you 1 C.U. rep and 4 xp.
 * Eliminate Infected Scientists: Kornoan, a survivor in the safe area, requests that you put five infected scientists out of their misery. The reward is 1 C.U. rep and some xp.
 * Retrieve Medicine for Vilvard: Noemi Prast is worried that Romin Vilvard, the lead researcher responsible for the breach, won't survive. Find and retrieve the medicine pack from a cabinet, then return to Prast with it. The reward is one C.U. rep and 4 xp.
 * Unmaked Quest: After collecting the shipping logs, you can talk to Viar Tothim (V.T.) in the Outpost 448 fluffy biscuit shop to get 1300 credits.

Lore
Also see Outpost 448

Several days ago, the 'Code Black' security protocol had been initiated at the research wing of Outpost 448, warping it to safety. Unknown to the Colonial Union command was why this protocol, meant to prevent uncontrollable outbreaks, had been activated. The only information command has is that there are survivors, important research projects, and a strange signature at the station. Interestingly, this signature has been linked to the stability of the station. Therefore, it had been decided to launch an operation to secure the wing and its survivors. While assembling the officers, Caya Prast recommended the crew of a competent young officer - you.

Only after the fact, the Colonial Union fully understood what took place. Month ago before the intergalactic warp system was shut down, a galaxy was discovered made completely of crystals. These crystals showed properties similar to that of organic life. As Dr. Vilvard states "they had the potential to be the first non-organic lifeforms the Colonial Union had encountered". Presumably, the Colonial Union was attempting to create life.

A crystal shard had been shipped to Doctor Vilvard's lab in Aberrant Organisms. Unusual, this shipment skipped all the usual screening procedures by the order of a "high-ranking officer in the command center". Viar Thothim attempted to report this to his manager, but ended up getting sacked for asking too many questions. We can assume this entire project had no oversight by the Association of Ethical Research. This high ranking officer is hinted at again, but this time Jalon Mald says that there might be a demonstration of the crystals given to them. The question of who is ultimately responsible to this outbreak can be linked to this mysterious high ranking officer. We can assume that this is Alrick Soun because he wants and somehow knows about the Data Log located in the Aberrant Organisms lab. Perhaps, him and Jalon Mald were going to meet there. Furthermore, Soun is very keen on recovering all the current research projects, including this one. Even going as far as to assign a mission with the officers personally. Commander Darine Hatham could also be possibly complicit by choosing the cover up the existence of the crystal lifeforms as a 'minor virus'.

The way the crystallized galaxies came about, is by crystals shattering thereby forming new crystals that can shatter too. This soon turns into an exponential growth of crystals which becomes unmanageable. Faced with this dilemma, researchers started to pulverized and dispose of excessive crystals. In effect as Doctor Vilvard put it, "we forced it into fighting for its own survival". Soon after these procedures were put into place the crystal fought back, exploding in a lab assistants hand beginning the infections. One of these was Jalon Mald, who became infected and killed his colleague Tymas Avagan. Doctor Vilvard, with no other options initiated the Code Black protocol. However, due to damage during the warp the security system turned hostile and several important subjects escaped, leaving few survivors. Now in its effort to send out a signal, the crystal will destroy itself and those who wanted to understand it.

Demonstrated in the lab how uncontrollable the crystal lifeform spreads and that a universe of crystal had already been discovered, it can be assumed that this is a new type of infection. However, there is another crystal lifeform in this universe found at restricted CU Site 881. This entity is able to communicate and there are attempts being made to establish relations with it.

Security Checkpoint
The entry point into the labs is blocked by a red security door. In order to progress to the Halls of the Heroes, you must locate the security key card with possible spawn locations in several rooms. There are security drones, which cannot be detected by the scanner, and robot guards patrolling the area.

The entrance area is connected to several rooms. Firstly, in the laboratory you find research materials. Lab Cargo room next to it, is blocked by a fire which cannot be extinguished. Simply, run through it to find the 'Journal Entry #1'. Across the entrance area, the lab offices contains the the 'Warning: Security Systems' data log. Lastly, in the staff quarters, is the 'Journal Entry 293'. After opening the security door, there is one more room guarded by three paladins and two M10 turrets. You must kill all of them for the door to open.

The Hall of Heroes
The hall of heroes is a long hallway with statues on either side. There are three security robots that block the way. The statues are of the colonial heroes; Commander Darine Hatham, Admiral Wilber Adame, Doctor Odila Stendall, Anatu, Commander jana Cron, Captain Hadmir Adelaide, and an unknown pilot. Past the statues is a hole that leads down to the Biological Applications Lab and the first mini boss, Experiment 72.

Experiment 72
This is a large slime that broke outside of its containment unit. Besides its 14,500 health it has several abilities. Experiment 72 can regenerate its health, shoot toxic sludge and a laser out of its eye. To kill it without taking damage, move to the back of the room behind a containment unit and then shoot it. When it dies it releases two slimes.

After killing everything, the door opens leading to the remainder of Lab C. There is another teleporter and the level one access card around the area. There are two data pads about the stalker lying around, one of which gives the mission "Eliminate Stalker". The only way to progress is down an elevator shaft.

The Stalker
Down the ruined elevator shaft is the Gate C tram station. In the control room is the 'Safe Room' data log. Around the tram you can find the level 2 admin card. Below the tram is the stalker who will teleport to attack you. You can hear it whispering creepy messages.

After killing it you go into a massive destroyed room, which from here on out the level 3 card has several spawns. Use the debris on the left as a path way. In this path is a horizontal pipe where you can find science. On the other of the hole are trams carrying elite paladins. Thankfully, only one is active. Use cover and shoot at its legs to kill it without taking damage. Behind the paladin is a tram carrying the 'Warning: Vilvard's Lab' data log. This tram is stopped at a tram gate D which is occupied by crystal infected humans. Behind the tram is the 'Transformation' data log. There is an elevator going up to the safe area.

The Safe Area
Entering the safe area completes the task 'locate any survivors'. The backroom has a last checkpoint teleporter. Noemi Prast is the sister of Caya Prast, the person who vouched for you to get this mission.

Past the safe area are crystalline infected scientists. These creatures use their crystal arms to do melee damage, their eyes move when killed, they scream when killed, and they duck behind cover to avoid being shot. The Administration wing contains several quest items. In the first room has the medical supplies in a medical aid cabinet. In the lab offices is the Aberrant Organism Lab Access card required to enter the sources containment chamber. In between is the board room, which requiring all three access cards. Inside you find the research data pad Soun requested and some loot.

Do not enter the red door security door unless you are ready, as it will bring you into the final boss fight. If you do enter, there will be a 10 minute countdown to kill the Source or you die.

The Source
The source is the final boss fight of the mission. It has 26,000 health and several special abilities. It shoots crystals, green explosives, and can spawn infected scientists out of its hands. Because the sources signal is linked to the stability of the station, you must defeat it within ten minutes before the 'signal event' happens. Aiming for the head will do extra damage. There is an exploit if you stand in a specific location the source will not attack you. After killing it there is a cut scene of it exploding and you are blind jumped to Outpost 448 to receive your rewards.

Keycard Locations
Each keycard has several unique spawn locations (all locations should be here).