After retrieving a Cypher link, Dax has invited the Freelancer to her apartment to discuss further actions. The Freelancer, still not over the clueless mission, visits Dax to find out more.
Hints and Suggestions
- The dialog exchange between the characters will change depending on whether single player or multiplayer mode is played.
- Remember to perform Feats to obtain XP for increasing Pilot Level and receiving Alliance bonus.
- There is no text popup
during this mission. - There is an audio issue when the Freelancer meets with Dax at her patrol. Whenever they are close to her, Dax’s audio’s volume becomes low. The best way to listen to what Dax says is by standing on the nearby platform/bridge besides some communication equipment.
- Scars in large numbers can be a nuisance. Using Combat Equipment that do Blast Damage will be beneficial during this mission.
- Use
Acid, 
Armor Buster, or 
Fire type damage to tackle turrets, Outlaw Lancers, and Outlaw Shotgunners. - Deplete enemy shields using Shield Breaker, Lightning or Ice type damage.
- It is also recommended that the explosives scattered across the map during combat be used when in need.
- To fight the titan, focus on its glowing weak points, which can be targeted to do more damage. Other parts of the Titan cannot be damaged, unless it is weakened using Acid or support abilities. Best is to use Armor Buster damage dealing combat equipment.
- In multiple playthroughs, use crafting to make tougher Combat Equipment to fight enemies.
Objectives
Dear Diary
Speak to Dax at Her Apartment
Meet Dax
Recover Aunt Cardea's Journal from Talon
Launch Expedition
Ambush Talon’s Strider
Defeat Outlaws and Scars
Search Strider
Bring the Map to Dax
Meet Dax
Find the Overlay
Track Down Strider
Find a Way Inside the Strider
Find Battery
Place Battery
Reset Power
Release Safety Lock
Open Strider Door
Retrieve Overlay
Recover Aunt Cardea’s Journal from Talon
Travel to Camp
Turrets Destroyed
Enter Hideout
These are the locations where the Freelancer begins the expedition, has to perform tasks to advance, and conclude the expedition.
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Cortex Entry
The Cortex Entry shows the description and the outcome of the expedition.
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Outcome: Although Talon escaped, you were able to obtain Aunt Cardea's journal and deliver a major blow to the outlaws. Unfortunately, that blow left a trail of smoke and destruction for Commander Vule to follow. He confiscated the journal and put Dax under house arrest until she can be recalled to Antium. |
For a Collection of similar Cortex Entries, See: Critical Objective (Journal) |
Quest Chain
This expedition is a part of the Mystery of the Emerald Abyss Storyline. When the storyline is completed, an appropriate challenge is also completed, which will reward the Freelancer. The following are the related quests in order for this storyline:
Trivia (May Contain Spoilers)
- How did Dax know Talon’s strider routes? Talon was a Sentinel before becoming an outlaw and Dax could dig info on him that way.
- This is one of the few instances where the Freelancer comes out of their javelin when outside the Fort walls.
- The Ranger javelin seen on the launch pad has a unique helmet and vinyl not seen again.
- Although Rance’s face is shown, he is never seen again.
- Talon’s javelin has a unique design, which is not worn by any other javelin. It seems to have additional seals on its helmets and legs, apart from the arms. It is also painted gold, meaning he was rich enough to have afford it. His face is never revealed. The javelin design is not the same as a standard Outlaw Elementalist.
- The Assault Rifle held by Talon is Defender. This is the only time a Valkyrie/Elementalist javelin is shown with a gun.
- Vule is one of the few people whose face is shown when inside the javelin, other than the Freelancer. Others include Haluk and Dax.
- Vule confirms that Dax’s javelin was damaged in the explosion.
- Vule has no authority over any Freelancers, as freelancers can do any contracts they want, as long as it is legitimate. So, when he said that the Freelancer should consider themselves lucky for still having a javelin, he meant that their javelin was still intact while they were allowed to use the Launch Bay.
- The two Sentinels who came with Vule are likely Sentinels Fez and Wood, who were with Dax during her patrol. This is never confirmed.
- Dax is under house-arrest after she is brought back to Fort Tarsis.
- Dax is one of the few named NPC’s who gets a differently designed outfit or javelin outside the walls.
Below is the Script and Walkthrough for Dear Diary (Mission):
Briefing
The Freelancer visits Dax at her apartment, a relatively small place, given her royal status. But such things are expected inside the cramped up Fort Tarsis. Dax is on the upper level of her apartment
Speak to Dax at her Apartment
The Freelancer goes to Dax's Apartment within the Fort Tarsis Aparments.
Meet Dax
- Sentinel Dax: "Okay, please don’t hate me, but that link… the one you—"
- The Freelancer: "Got elbow deep in ursix for?"
- Sentinel Dax: "More like wrist deep, but yeah. It didn’t have all the intel I needed."
- The Freelancer: "Again? But you said—"
- Sentinel Dax: "I know, I know, I messed up. Remember my aunt’s journal?"
- The Freelancer: "The one that proves there is a connection between the Heart of Rage and the Emerald Abyss?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Yeah… it was stolen."
- The Freelancer: "What? When?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Like… two months ago."
- The Freelancer: "Why didn’t you say so?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Because I thought we could steal the information back without facing the thieves head on."
- The Freelancer: "The outlaws in the cave—they’re the ones who took the journal."
- Sentinel Dax: "Sort of. They work for the guy who took it. A jerk named Talon."
- The Freelancer: "How did this happen?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Minor details. What’s done is done. We just gotta keep moving forward."
- The Freelancer: "Okay… what’s our next move?"
- Sentinel Dax: "We ambush Talon and steal back the journal."
- The Freelancer: "And you’ll show up this time?"
- Sentinel Dax: "You make me sound so flakey. Of course, I’ll be there!"
Recover Aunt Cardea's Journal from Talon
The Freelancer prepares for the expedition.
Launch Expedition
The Freelancer starts the mission by going outside the Fort.
Briefing Gallery
In Expedition
Outside the Fort walls, The Freelancer gets the details from Dax. The Freelancer starts at Tarsis Falls
- Faye: "Dax provided strider route from Talon’s crew."
- The Freelancer: "How’d she get her hands on those?"
- Faye: "I thought it better not to ask."
- The Freelancer: "Plausible deaniability."
- Faye: "I’ve Marked a potential ambush site."
The Freelancer flies to the marked location through Memorial Gate, Strider Way, and Stone Bridge.
Recover Aunt Cardea’s Journal from Talon
The Freelancer reaches The Palisades of Idris. There is a fallen strider.
Ambush Talon's Strider
- The Freelancer: "I’m coming up on the strider. Where’s Dax?"
- Faye: "Patching her through."
- The Freelancer: "Dax. Are you in position?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Yeah, about that."
- The Freelancer: "Seriously?"
- Sentinel Dax: "I got stuck with patrol duty. I’m not a Freelancer. I can’t just tell the Commander to shove off."
- The Freelancer: "All right. Just stand by for support."
When the Freelancer reaches the strider, it is being stacked by Scars. Outlaws are fighting Scars while the strider has collapsed.
- The Freelancer: "Scars beat us to the party."
- Faye: "Talon’s a popular guy."
Defeat Outlaws and Scars
The Freelancer fights outlaws and scars and defeats them all.
- The Freelancer: "Dax, which one’s Talon?"
- Sentinel Dax: "I don’t see him. These guys are all scrub league. (Groans.) This is all my fault."
- The Freelancer: "What do you mean?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Nothing. Check the strider. Maybe it will have another lead."
Dax is certainly worried at this point.
Search Strider
The Freelancer searches the strider for any clues and finds a scroll.
- The Freelancer: "Huh. What is this?"
- Faye: "Looks like a bunch of random lines."
- Sentinel Dax: "They’re not random. It’s a map!"
- The Freelancer: "What? How?"
- Sentinel Dax: "My patrol’s nearby. I’ll explain in person."
- The Freelancer: "In person? Really?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Just bring it to me."
Bring the Map to Dax
The Freelancer flies to Dax’s patrol.
Meet Dax
Dax is waiting by a table near several Sentinel towers among Sentinel Fez and Sentinel Wood, in the Honor Valley when the Freelancer meets with her. Although, the two are not much of talkers.
- Sentinel Dax: "The Freelancer! Over here. Let me see the map."
The Freelancer places the map on the table.
- The Freelancer: "Here it is. Still looks like squiggles to me."
- Sentinel Dax: "Because your’re only seeing half the picture. You need a key—an overlay—to show you the rest."
- The Freelancer: "How do you know this?"
- Sentinel Dax: "My aunt taught me. It’s an old cartographer’s trick to hide locations. In this case, probably Talon’s main camp. That’s where the journal will be."
- The Freelancer: "How do we get the overlay?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Best guess? Another strider."
- The Freelancer: "How many striders does this guy have? Faye, check the routes. Is there one nearby?"
- Faye: "There is, actually! Sending it now."
The Freelancer flies to the new coordinates in the Korox Shallows.
Find the Overlay
When the Freelancer reaches the Sentinel Tower, there is a collapsed strider, but something else is nearby. The Freelancer can use Howel's Tower for cover against the Titan’s attacks.
Track Down Strider
- The Freelancer: "Woah! Today’s not a good day for striders."
- Sentinel Dax: "Hey! The titan took care of the hard part. Now you just gotta find a way inside without it killing you."
- The Freelancer: "That’s always the rub."
Find a Way Inside the Strider
The Freelancer must fight the titan. The Freelancer finally defeats the titan!
- The Freelancer: "This strider better have the overlay!"
- Sentinel Dax: "It will. I have a good feeling!"
- The Freelancer: "Oh, that makes me feel so much better."
The Freelancer tries to open the strider.
- The Freelancer: "Cargo door won’t budge."
- Faye: "Battery’s fried. Check the wreckage for a replacement."
- Sentinel Dax: "Should be easier now that the titan’s off your back."
Find Battery
The Freelancer searches for a battery in the wreckage with the help of the radar.
Place Battery
The Freelancer inserts the Battery into the strider.
- The Freelancer: "Okay replaced the battery."
- Sentinel Dax: "Uh… It’s still not working."
- Faye: "Power flow needs a full reset. Titan really did a number on her when it attacked."
Reset Power
The Freelancer interacts with the power supply mechanism to reset power.
Release Safety Lock
The Freelancer releases the safety lock.
- Faye: "That did it. Door should open now."
- Sentinel Dax: "Yes! Okay! Get the overlay!"
Open Strider Door
The Freelancer opens the cargo bay door.
Retrieve Overlay
The Freelancer collects the overlay scroll, hidden among the cargo.
- The Freelancer: "I think this is it. Faye, can you put the images together?"
- Faye: "Well, what do you know? Dax was right."
- The Freelancer: "If it happens again, she’ll catch up with a broken clock."
- Sentinel Dax: "Hey, I can hear you!"
- Faye: "Marking Talon’s base."
- The Freelancer: "Got it. On my way."
- Sentinel Dax: "Let’s see who gets there first."
- The Freelancer: "What about your patrol?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Eh, they’ll be fine."
Recover Aunt Cardea’s Journal from Talon
The Freelancer flies through The Double Cross and the Silent Path to reach the new location.
Travel to Camp
The Freelancer flies to the marked location in the Skystone Mine.
- The Freelancer: "Dax, I’m coming up on the camp. Where are you?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Beating your ass there!"
- The Freelancer: "Just Don’t—"
(Explosion.)
- The Freelancer: "start without me."
- Sentinel Dax: "(Laughing over gunfire.)"
Sentinel Dax destroys a turret as the Freelancer reaches the camp on Mining Platform.
- Sentinel Dax: "Look who decided to show up."
- The Freelancer: "A sore winner! Never would’ve guessed. Where’s Talon?"
- Sentinel Dax: "Cowards barricaded himself inside."
- Faye: "We’ll have to take out the camp’s defenses to reach him. Focus on the turrets."
Turrets Destroyed
The Freelancer destroys several turrets while fighting outlaws. Sentinel Dax provides assistance. All 5 turrets are destroyed.
- Rance: "S—stay back! I’m w—warning you!"
- The Freelancer: "Don’t tell me that’s Talon."
- Sentinel Dax: "(Snorts.) No, just a worm. He won’t be a problem."
- The Freelancer: "How do you—"
- Sentinel Dax: "Come on! Let’s finish this!"
Enter Hideout
The Freelancer and Dax hurry to reach the hideout. Both exit their javelins. While Talon's Hideout is no palace, there are several cargoes and equipment lying around. In the back is a javelin set up on a Launch Pad. The Freelancer can see a crazy man holding a lit blow torch in one hand and a book in the other, as if he was going to set it on fire. Dax confronts the man when the Freelancer speaks up.
- The Freelancer: "Hey!"
- Rance: "That’s far enough!"
- Sentinel Dax: "No one has to get hurt. Woah. Woah. Woah. All we want is that journal."
- Rance: "I know. Talon gave me one job—make sure you won’t get it."
- The Freelancer: "Did Talon give you permission to burn it?"
- Rance: "No. Maybe. Shut up."
- The Freelancer: "Okay… Why does Talon even want that journal?"
A lancer in an Elementalist javelin walks towards the trio.
- Talon: "Because it’s a treasure map. All those missing people carried valuables into the jungle—and when I find them, I’ll be rich. You shouldn’t have chased me Dax."
- Sentinel Dax: "You shouldn’t have robbed me, Talon."
- Talon: "It’s what I do. You knew that when you hired me."
- The Freelancer: "You hired these people? That’s how they got your journal?"
- Sentinel Dax: "It’s hard to do background checks out here! Besides, Talon used to be a Sentinel."
While Rance stands behind standing with his lit blow torch, Talon shrugs.
- The Freelancer: "And now he’s been reduced to this."
- Talon: "…And you die first."
As Talon is about to fire using his rifle, Dax kicks a canister of fuel at the gun. The bullets hit probably a gas line on the ceiling, which catch fire. As the flame sways around, Rance moves to a safer spot near the Freelancer, while Talon backs away.
- Rance: "Talon! The journal."
- Talon: "Toss it here."
As Rance tries to throw the journal towards Talon, the Freelancer snatches it
- Rance: "Hey!"
- Sentinel Dax: "Look out!"
- Rance: "Ugh!"
There is an explosion which knocks everyone. The Freelancer blacks out. Later, when the Freelancer regains their consciousness, they see a two javelins.
- Sentinel Dax: "Are you alive?"
- The Freelancer: "Yeah. Is that your hand?"
- Rance: "No, it’s mine."
- The Freelancer: "Move it. Now."
The two lancers in Ranger javelins move the debris off the Freelancer. One of them is Commander Vule, who looks furious. The other sentinel removes the fallen debris off Dax.
- Sentinel Dax: "Okay which way did Talon go?—Commander! How’d you find us?"
- Commander Vule: "I followed the smoke. And passed by what was left of your javelin."
Dax helps the Freelancer stand up. There was no sign of Talon anywhere.
- Sentinel Dax: "I can explain…"
- Commander Vule: "No. You’re done. There’s someone waiting at Fort Tarsis to take you home."
Dax has the journal in her hand when she speaks with the angry commander
- Sentinel Dax: "Commander, wait! This journal belonged to my aunt. It can solve the mystery of the Emerald Abyss!"
Vule looks at Dax for an instant and snatches the diary from her hand. He walks away.
- Sentinel Dax: "Hey!"
- The Freelancer: "Give it back!"
The commander points the journal at the Freelancer with a warning.
- Commander Vule: "Consider yourself lucky you still have a javelin, Freelancer."
- Sentinel Dax: "At least Talon doesn’t have the journal."
A third sentinel had arrested Rance.
- Rance: "He doesn’t need it anymore. Just didn’t want you to have it. He’s so far ahead—you should just give up."
Vule, the two sentinels and Rance go away.
- The Freelancer: "Give up? Yeah, not what I do."
Dax looks at the Freelancer.
- Sentinel Dax: "Good."
- Commander Vule (Shouts): "Dax!"
- Sentinel Dax: "We’ll figure it out. Just meet me back at the fort."
The Freelancer returns to the fort.
Post Expedition
Back in the Fort, as the Freelancer's javelin is being serviced at the Forge, they walk towards the market. Faye contacts them through the communication link.
- Faye: "Dax has been escorted to her apartment. Should I patch her through?"
- The Freelancer: "Go ahead, Faye."
- Sentinel Dax (Whispering): "The Freelancer. I’ve got an escape plan, but we still need my aunt’s journal."
- The Freelancer: "Dax you really need to work on your whispering skills."
- Sentinel Dax: "What? I’m like a grabbit in the night!"
- The Freelancer: "Uh-huh. Does Vule still have the journal?"
- Sentinel Dax: "As far as I know. Tried to get it back, but he says I can’t be trusted with “that book of nonsense.” You might have more luck, though."
- The Freelancer: "It’s worth a shot."
The Freelancer decides to meet Commander Vule.
Notes and Remarks
- The defeated titan also gives corium for Crafting the Dawn Shield.
- The dialogs in this expedition will always remain the same as mentioned in this script. However, certain conversations may be skipped if actions are performed quickly, or additional conversations will show up if there is a delay.
Note: The Expedition Maps feature is still a Work in Progress. Sometimes, a refreshing/reloading of this page may be required to zoom-in or zoom-out completely.
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