Starfield Shattered Space DLC does put in instances of decision-making that are a hallmark of RPGs, and these decisions do have some impact on how the overall storyline and the character interactions play out. Exhuming The Past is a main quest in the DLC that presents such a choice at its end. Here is a guide on the consequences of your decision in this quest of either removing the remaining interlock or exit the dam.
Should You Remove The Interlock Or Exit The Dam?
Well, it depends, if you are roleplaying as an evil character, you should think about taking the last Interlock, but if you are planning to be the good guy in the galaxy, then leaving the dam makes more sense. It does not have any impact on the storyline or rewards on completing the quest.
Like in the quest Zealous Overreach, where you had to decide to spare Sahima or kill her, the pivotal moment for Exhuiming The Past comes at the end. Where you have to decide whether to leave the Ma’leen Dam with the Interlock or without it. Let’s take a look at the consequences of either choice to see why leaving the dam makes more sense for a good character.
Taking The Final Vortex Interlock From Ma’leen Dam
To remove the final Interlock you will have to certain things in order:
- First turn left of the room, and access the panel next to a locked door. When the door opens, don’t go inside, instead pull out your gun and fire at the modulator on the other side of the room.
Bug Alert: Some players couldn’t destroy the modulator no matter how many rounds they fired at it, if you are facing the same glitch in your game, reload the game to fix it
- Once you shoot the modulator, alarms will immediately go off, here go back to the computer, and pull down three levers (Interlock Control Levers) to receive the Vortex Interlock.
Sarah will immediately comment on your decision saying: “I hope pulling that extra interlock was the right thing to do“.
The one convenient thing about the bad ending in the Exhuming the Past quest is when you take the Interlock, the elevator will be open for you to take to the exit. This means no more backtracking the path or retracing the route to get out of the base. Bad guys do have it easy compared to the good guys. We did feel like taking the elevator was worth the decision but the second we realized the consequences of our actions, we went back to switch to the walking route.
Why Removing The Vortex Interlock Is A ‘Bad’ Decision?
When you take the Interlock with you, you will make many characters in the game angry, Andreja will not like the decision of you running away with the Interlock in your inventory. The domino effect will soon take place, as nearby villages at Seaweed Farm will have their entire livelihood destroyed.
Note: You do have the option not to visit the town that is flooded from your decision if you don’t want to feel bad about your decision. It reminds me of Megaton City in Fallout 3, after you activate the Nuclear Bomb in the middle, as long as you don’t go to the town to see it, the guilt might not catch your heart.
Not just that, it also impacts others who are inside the pod. In short, you are jeopardizing the lives of many by removing the Interlock from the dam.
Leaving The Dam Without The Final Vortex Interlock
There are no special paths that will directly take you to the exit, here you have to retrace the steps that you took to get inside, to get out of the base. The walk here is going to be long and it’s not going to be pleasant at all and that is because youu will have to take on many vortex enemies on your way to the exit.
Why Is Not Taking The Final Interlock A ‘Good’ Decision?
While you do have to retrace the step back to the exit you will not have to deal with sad faces when you get out and see the Seawood village in disarray. I
Does The Good/ Bad Ending For Exhuming The Past Affect The Rewards?
No, matter what ending you prefer, whether to leave the dam with an Interlock or without it, it will not have any impact on the reward system. The decision just plays on the morality aspect of your character. If you don’t want to feel bad about the villagers at the farm, then leave the dam or destroy them by taking everything away from them.
Doesn’t matter, which side you prefer, you will be rewarded with 350 XP, 20 MM Particle Rockets, 12000 Credits, and an Exterminator Modified Va’ruun Penumbra from Ekris. Completing Exhuming the Past will unlock the next quest The Other Side.
If you are looking for what new weapons the game offers, do check out our guide on all the new weapons in Starfield Shattered Space DLC.