After a series of studies performed on the Monitor's Device, the Arcanists of Antium found out about a secret Dominion Facility where it was created. What secrets does this laboratory hold? And why is Corvus suddenly interested in visiting the distant location? The Freelancer must gather intel from Sev and head on a new explorative adventure with cypher and friend Faye!
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.
- Visit Harken's Facility page to get familiarized with the sections and areas within this location.
- Visit The Conduit's Exit page to get familiarized with the Final Boss Arena
- The first-time dialogs are unique in this expedition. Only first-time dialogs are transcribed in the Anthem wiki.
- Since this is a repeatable expedition, it will continue to show the logs on the screen (top-right corner]] as though it wasn’t completed. This can be safely ignored and a different mission can be chosen from the Journal.
- This expedition is extremely tough even in the easy difficulty setting.
- If Seasonal The Sunken Cell is played before playing the Stronghold version for the first time, then unique dialogs will play in the Seasonal version and it will keep playing the first-time version, until the regular stronghold version is played for the first time. After that, the dialog is taken from a pool.
- The second treasure chest has a range limitation. If it is opened by a freelancer, and others in the team are not inside the Minor Cavern, Laser Room, Connecting Hallway, or Echo Room, the loot disappears for them.
- Make sure to equip lots of armor and shields, and equip the most damage dealing Combat Equipment.
- Missile Turrets in the Echo Room somehow behave like Flak Turrets targeting the thrusters exclusively. Colossi and Storms are generally not affected. Rangers and Interceptors must take caution or destroy all the turrets and then carry on with the Echo collecting activity.
- Use
Acid, 
Armor Buster, or 
Fire type damage to tackle Dominion Brutes or Turrets. - Use
Ice or Lightning or Shield Breaker damages to deplete any shields of enemies. - Set the Dominion Valkyries on burning status by doing Fire damage to them or freeze them using ice and disable their flight until the status wears off.
- Avoid defeating elite type Dominion Shocktroopers and remaining near them, because they drop loose death rattle grenades after their health is depleted, which self-explode in a matter of seconds to do massive Lightning Blast damage.
- The Frost Hounds are very vulnerable to fire attack.
- For full details on fighting and defeating the final boss of this mission, see The Unfathomed.
- Starting from a second playthrough, if Crafting Blueprints are unlocked, it is possible to craft combat equipment to improve the health and damage output of the Freelancer's javelins.
Puzzles and Special Tasks
- FLIGHT SUPPRESSOR: The following is the location of the Dominion Flight Suppressor.
- The minimum wait time with one javelin inside the Cypher projected green circle is 100 seconds with a single javelin. The time reduces with multiple javelins and fewer enemies present inside the circle.
- Click on Expand/Collapse to reveal/conceal the locations:
| Grounder Location | Grounder Concealed | Grounder Revealed |
|---|---|---|
| Seen inside the Vaulted Chamber |   |
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- PRESSURE PLATES: The following is the location of the Pressure Plate Puzzle relics seen inside the First Conduit.
- To solve the puzzles, simply activate the pyramid shaped console and see the sequence of cymatic patterns on the 3 pressure plates. Then touch or jump on the plates in the same sequential order. Repeat for the relic on the other side.
- Click on Expand/Collapse to reveal/conceal the locations:
| Relic Location | Puzzle Inactive | Puzzle Active | Puzzle Solved |
|---|---|---|---|
| On the Left-side after entering out of First Conduit |   |
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| On the Right-side after entering out of First Conduit |   |
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- CONTROL RODS: The following are the locations of the Control Rod Puzzle in the Relic Tunnel.
- To complete this puzzle, interact with each of the colored tubes (control rods) in any sequence, such that all seven are “submerged” without any of them released upright. The best way to do this is to continuously interact with the rods in a regular sequence without stopping for any break between two “submerging” processes.
- Click on Expand/Collapse to reveal/conceal the locations:
| Item | Released | Submerged |
|---|---|---|
| Control Rod 01 |   |
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| Control Rod 02 |   |
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| Control Rod 03 |   |
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| Control Rod 04 |   |
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| Control Rod 05 |   |
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| Control Rod 06 |   |
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| Control Rod 07 |   |
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- ROTATING DISCS: The following are the locations of the Rotating Disc Puzzle and Interacting Console found in Fourth Conduit.
- To solve this puzzle, start by interacting with the console to activate. Then as the discs rotate, align the circles with the same pattern that is found at the center of the discs by interacting (or locking) with the console. Repeat for all four discs. The best way is to “lock” when the pattern on a subsequent disc is nearly in aligned with the previous disc. Repeat the same in the other two levels of the chamber. Any of the 3 puzzles can be done in any order.
- Click on Expand/Collapse to reveal/conceal the locations:
| Level Location | Console | Puzzle Active | Puzzle Solved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Level |   |
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| Middle Level |   |
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| Upper Level |   |
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- LASER GRID: The following are the locations of the LASER grids and its console found in the Laser Room.
- This is usually useful when more than one lancer is in the stronghold. Simply fly through the empty space between the LASER grids (there are 4 in total) without coming in contact when they change position. Finally reach the other side and interact with the console to disable the grids. Note that even if contacted with the LASER, only the javelin’s thrusters are affected and if that happens, simply jump or evade until the console is reached.
- Click on Expand/Collapse to reveal/conceal the locations:
| Item | Image |
|---|---|
| Grid ON |   |
| Console |   |
| Grid OFF |   |
- ECHO LOCK: The following is the location of the Echoes and the Echo Lock Ruin in Echo Room.
- There are a total of 24 echoes: 12 above and 12 below the Central Ring. Simply collect a total of 12 echoes (maximum 3 can be collected at a time) and deposit them in the Echo Lock Ruin’s receptacle. Note that the turrets can target the javelin’s thrusters and the shocking water below can electrocute the javelin. If they are too much trouble, simply destroy the turrets and then collect and deposit the echoes.
- Click on Expand/Collapse to reveal/conceal the locations:
| Type | Image |
|---|---|
| Echoes above the Central Ring |   |
| Echoes below the Central Ring |   |
| Echo Lock Ruin |   |
| Shocking Water |   |
- CONDUIT DOORS: The following are the locations of the doors of the conduits.
- For the Freelancer to traverse, there are at least 3 conduits and 7 doors in total. (There may be more that are inaccessible).
- Click on Expand/Collapse to reveal/conceal the locations:
| Item | Location | Image |
|---|---|---|
| First Conduit Door | First Conduit |   |
| Second Conduit Door | Second Conduit |   |
| Third Conduit Door | Third Conduit |   |
| Fourth Conduit Door Left | Fourth Conduit |   |
| Fourth Conduit Door Center | Fourth Conduit |   |
| Fourth Conduit Door Right | Fourth Conduit |   |
| Door to the Conduit’s Exit | Echo Room |   |
- TREASURE CHESTS: The following are the locations of the Treasure Chests.
- Treasure Chests can provide a maximum of 15 items. Total number depends on the difficulty.
- Click on Expand/Collapse to reveal/conceal the locations:
| Chest Location | Chest Image |
|---|---|
| Location 01: On a platform just before the Exit of Third Conduit |
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| Location 02: By the left side wall near the entrance of Connecting Hallway |
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Objectives
The Sunken Cell Stronghold
Investigate Harken's Facility and Stop the Dominion
Launch Expedition
Investigate the Facility
Explore the Area
Disable Flight Suppression
Defeat the Dominion
Signal Deactivating…
Investigate the facility
Travel Deeper into the Construct
Eliminate all Enemies
Activate Pressure Plates in Specific Order
Pressure Plate Puzzles Solved
Investigate the Facility
Travel up to the Next Location
Eliminate All Enemies
Locate the Volatile Shaper Relic
Silence the Cataclysm
Control Rods Stabilized
Stop the Dominion
Defeat Dominion Forces
Investigate the facility
Travel Deeper into the Construct
Align the Symbols
Combinations Solved
Investigate the facility
Travel Deeper into the Construct
Go Through the Conduit
Collect the Echoes
Echoes Delivered
Stop the Dominion
Defeat the Unfathomed
These are the locations where the Freelancer begins the expedition, has to perform tasks to advance, and conclude the expedition.
Cortex Entry
The Cortex Entry shows the description and the outcome of the expedition.
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For a Collection of similar Cortex Entries, See: Strongholds (Journal) |
Quest Chain
This expedition is a part of the Tales from the Strongholds. 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)
- The facility is thought to be under the Sundric Sea, a sea between Mirrus and the Northern Continent.
- The Sunken Cell is the most puzzle heavy stronghold and the second most puzzle rich expedition in Anthem (the first is Echoes of Reality).
- Every time the ring that pumps the water inside the conduits goes up and down, a unique whistling sound can be heard.
- Interesting observations about dialogs in this stronghold:
- There are two variations of initial conversations at the start inside the Facility when a briefing was not done. The reasoning behind this is unknown.
- There are multiple variations of dialogues that play during the final boss fight, even during the first time playing of the Stronghold. This is a clear bug.
- Datamined text indicates that there was supposed to be one set that played during the final boss fight with more context about how the Unfathomed was incomplete and a difference in the fight itself. Most of it is very likely that of Faye, her last dialog is about the powerful Dominion backup.
- When the Unfathomed enters:
- Sev/Faye: "Harken's outdone himself with this one."
- The Freelancer: "What. Is. That?"
- Sev/Faye: "Failed experiment? And totally pissed off."
- Sev/Faye: "Abomination on abomination? Good luck."
- When the Unfathomed spawns air orbs:
- The Freelancer: "Faye? Sev? What's going on with those orbs?"
- Sev/Faye: "The Shaper energy in those orbs are replenishing the Fury."
- Sev/Faye: "It keeps regenerating. You have to stop that process."
- Sev/Faye: "You better do something about those floating power... things."
- Sev/Faye: "It's siphoning energy from those... things. Take them out."
- Sev/Faye: "Those orbs... are they regenerating the Fury?"
- Sev/Faye: "Those orb things are bad news. The Fury's leeching energy from them."
- Sev/Faye: "Is it regenerating? We have to stop it!"
- Sev/Faye: "A variation on an echo, maybe? It's drawing power from them.!"
- It is unknown whether this was cut short for time or deliberately witheld.
- When the Freelancer solves the pressure plate puzzles, Sev says “Well done”. However, in the subtitles, his dialog is “Brilliant. Done.”
- There are 4 different conduits that are seen throughout the Facility. However, only 3 can be opened, as the first one is found in the Arrival Area and isn’t of much use.
- There are 4 times the conduit’s doors must be opened:
- By solving 2 Pressure Plate Puzzles
- By Submerging the seven Control Rods
- By solving the Rotating Disc Puzzles
- By depositing echoes into the Echo Lock Ruin
- There are a total of 6 doors that open the conduit at various times. The Rotating Disc Puzzle opens 3 doors, but 3 puzzles must be solved.
- Interestingly, if Sev figures out the way to open the First Conduit door, the Pressure plate puzzle will remain active and can be solved later on as well. But the door will have been already open anyway. No comment is made regarding this.
- While the formation of the cataclysm seems like a roadblock, it contains the puzzle that unlocks the Third Conduit door.
- The Two Legendary Dominion Storm Brutes that gate-in after defeating the Legendary Ash, Storm, and Frost Valkyries in the Third Conduit room can sometime drop 4 loot instead of two. This may be because when the control collar is damaged at the end of their health pool, they regain full health and the game considers them as new enemies. These two brutes are guaranteed to drop loot like Apex Enemies.
- Interestingly, the two Legendary Storm Brutes that drop loot are the only non-Apex Enemies that can drop two loot items, and the only non-boss type enemies that can possible guaranteed drop more than two loot items at their defeat.
- A fun easter egg can be found in the upper level of the Fourth Conduit. On top of a container next to the generator there is a plate of food. It has a sandwich garnished with what looks like shrimp (prawn) using a skewer. It is funny to think that the Dominion were having lunch and the Freelancer disrupted that.
- According to the developers (see the dev diary video on youtube), the reason why the Rotating Disc Puzzle was re-used in the Sunken Cell was because it was only ever showcased in (the regular and legendary version of) Vanishing Act.
- The Sunken Cell does not have any post-boss-defeat cortex entry available in game or in datamined files.
- This is the only stronghold where it is possible to defeat the final boss while fully hovering due to the fact that the water vortex cools a javelin’s thrusters.
- The Freelancer makes a comment about things getting weird and indeed weird things happen.
- After solving the rotating disc puzzle, if the freelancer goes back to see the pressure plate puzzles, they will have vanished. Only 3 plates will be available and a javelin will be able to walk through them.
- Then when returned to the 3 rotating disc puzzles, the discs and the consoles would have vanished, and circular floor under the rotating disc puzzles will have lit.
- Add to that the eerie music, the weirdness becomes maximum!
Below is the Script and Walkthrough for The Sunken Cell Stronghold:
Briefing
Note that Sev cannot be met for the first time face-to-face through the Sunken Cell expedition, because the first encounter will always be clubbed with the briefing for the Temple of Scar or Tyrant Mine strongholds. However, it is possible to meet him face-to-face for the first time during the Sunken Cell’s debrief!
Investigate Harken's Facility and Stop the Dominion
It has been quite some time since the last Corvus related expedition. Now the Freelancer, while technically not on any breaks, was on a break from Corvus-related major activities. The Freelancer has an option to meet Sev for a briefing in the Bar, or directly head on to the expedition.
Launch Expedition
The following choices are available if the Freelancer decides to get briefing from Sev. Otherwise, the expedition can be directly launched. If the Freelancer Meets Sev for a Briefing
- Sev: "Freelancer. Hope you enjoyed your break. Got a new contract for you."
First Choice in Conversation
[If the Left-side option is selected]
[Let’s hear it!]
- The Freelancer: "Yes! I’, ready to get back at it."
- Sev: "Eager, are we?"
- The Freelancer: "Too much rest makes me antsy."
- Sev: "Well, I’ve got just the remedy."
[If the Right-side option is selected]
[I’m not part of Corvus.]
- The Freelancer: "I don’t get breaks, Sev."
- Sev: "But you do get fame and glory!"
- The Freelancer: "That doesn’t fill an empty stomach."
- Sev: "Well, every job’s got its pros and cons."
- The Freelancer: "What’s this one’s?"
- Sev: "Pros? No Scars. Cons? It’s Shaper-y. so anything can go wrong."
- The Freelancer: "Fair enough. Hit me with the details."
[Choiceless Conversation Continues]
- Sev: "The top brains in Antium are studying that device the Monitor plugged into the Cenotaph."
Second Choice in Conversation
[If the Left-side option is selected]
[Maybe they can perfect it.]
- The Freelancer: "The Monitor's motives were wrong. But controlling the Anthem… I can see the appeal."
- Sev: "Personally, I think it’s a slippery slope, but having opinions is above my pay grade. What I do know is we managed to scrape some actionable intel from the device."
[If the Right-side option is selected]
[That thing’s dangerous.]
- The Freelancer: "For purely academic reasons, I hope."
- Sev: "I’m not privy to the project’s goals, but we got some actionable intel from it."
[Choiceless Conversation Continues]
- The Freelancer: "Like?"
- Sev: "The location of a Dominion lab. It belonged to an Arcanist–Dr. Harken, the mastermind behind the attack on Freemark."
- The Freelancer: "I thought that was the Monitor?"
- Sev: "(Chuckles)There’s always someone higher up the food chain. Even the Monitor has–had–a boss."
- The Freelancer: "And that’s this Dr. Harken. What can I expect to find in the lab?"
- Sev: "No idea. Corvus scouted the location, but it’s inside a Shaper construct."
- The Freelancer: "That makes it a Freelancer problem."
Third Choice in Conversation
[If the Left-side option is selected]
[We’ll take care of it.]
- The Freelancer: "Send everything you have to Faye. We’ll check it out."
- Sev: "Good to be working together again, Freelancer."
[If the Right-side option is selected]
[Not necessarily.]
- The Freelancer: "Until it turns volatile. Then it’s an “everyone problem.”"
- Sev: "That a Freelancer will still have to fix."
- The Freelancer: "Heh. True enough."
- Sev: "I’ll send the mission details to your cypher."
The Freelancer goes to the Forge to launch the expedition.
In Expedition
The Freelancer enters into the Shaper construct that is Harken's Facility. Other allied Freelancers may also have joined to find and stop the Dominion from whatever they are planning to do. When the team reaches the underground… er… underwater facility, Faye and Sev have a brief conversation with the Freelancer. The facility, although Shaper, has many, many Dominion equipment, like Generators, Titan Machines, platforms, crates and much more.
Investigate the Facility
The Freelancer begins from the Arrival Area. Depending upon whether the Freelancer has met with Sev or spoken with him, the initial conversation can change.
Explore the Area
Depending upon whether or not the Freelancer spoke with Sev, the dialogs change at the beginning. Only when the Freelancer moves from the arrived position, will the conversations start.
If the Freelancer Never Met Face-to-face with Sev
- Faye: "Patching in Sev."
- Sev: "Freelancer. Not big on formal briefings?"
- The Freelancer: "I’m more a ‘learn by doing’ type."
- Sev: "Fair enough. Name’s Sev. I work for Corvus. You’ve heard of Dr. Harken?"
- The Freelancer: "Mastermind behind the attack on Freemark. Caused the Heart of Rage."
- Sev: "Corvus sourced blueprints for this construct turned Dominion facility."
If the Freelancer Meets Sev for a Briefing
- The Freelancer: "So this is the laboratory of the infamous Dr. Harken?"
- Faye: "Patching in Sev."
- Sev: "Not a lab really… more like a nightmare factory. Corvus sourced blueprints for this construct turned Dominion facility."
If the Freelancer Does Not Meet Sev for a Briefing
- Faye: "Patching in Sev."
If The Temple of Scar was Completed
- Sev: "So, you’re a pro at these Corvus assignments now, I guess? Briefings are optional?"
- The Freelancer: "Thanks for the compliment."
- Sev: "I was being sarcastic."
- The Freelancer: "I know. Okay, fill me in."
If The Temple of Scar was Not Completed
- Sev: "Freelancer, I think you’d have found the briefing you skipped was both informative and charming."
- The Freelancer: "You gave it anyway?"
- Sev: "You’ll never know."
- The Freelancer: "Well I’m all ears now."
Common Dialog Continues
- Sev: "You’ve heard of Dr. Harken?"
- The Freelancer: "Mastermind behind the attack on Freemark. Caused the Heart of Rage."
- Sev: "Corvus sourced blueprints for this construct turned Dominion facility."
At this point, any initial briefing or conversation ends and the Freelancer is free to explore and move ahead. After exploring the Arrival Area, the Freelancer goes into an vertically enormous chamber, that is Vaulted Chamber.
- Sev: "Gather intel if you can, but most importantly, shut it down. Keep it out of Dominion hands."
At this point, it is obvious that what Sev said about the Dominion cannot be done, because they are waiting with their army and turrets.
- The Freelancer: "And… Too late for that. We have Dominion."
- Sev: "Checks out. They know we found the facility, so they’ll be…"
- The Freelancer: "In my way?"
- Sev: "Destroying evidence? Flipping tables? Trying to kill you?"
- The Freelancer: "In my way."
As the Freelancer descends and present even in one enemy’s line of sight, a Dominiuon Grounder is revealed in the center.
Disable Flight Suppression
The Freelancer must disable the flight suppressor by staying in the range while combating the Dominion enemies.
Defeat the Dominion
The Freelancer fights hordes of Dominion enemies who gate in during different times as the grounder is being deactivated.
Signal Deactivating…
The Freelancer must be present withing the green Cypher projected circle to fully disable the suppressor, without which , any further flying is prevented.
If the freelancer goes out of range, the circle turns orange and the progress made during process regresses. If any enemies are present, the circle turns pale and slows down the process. More lancers in the circle mean faster deactivation.
Once all enemies are defeated and the grounder is disabled, the Freelancer is free to move to the next location, that is Ringed Vestibule, a chamber filled with dormant Shaper Rings.
Investigate the Facility
The Freelancer can see the activation of the Shaper construct as a sudden surge of energy is released, causing lights to glow up on Shaper artifacts. At the same time, a Shaper Door opens leading to the Ringed Vestibule.
Travel Deeper into the Construct
- The Freelancer: "Faye? What’s happening?"
- Faye: "They’ve activated the Construct."
- Sev: "And, by Construct… do you mean this whole facility?"
- Faye: "Yes. Energy readings are climbing."
- Sev: "Harken clearly left some experiments cooking. We’re in uncharted territory."
- The Freelancer: "Perfect. The Freelancer sweet spot."
The Freelancer flies deeper though the Shaper door, and through the dormant ring structures. At the end the path leads to First Conduit.
Eliminate All Enemies
Now there is a combination of Dominion and Chimera in this room which contains the first opening to the conduit.
- Sev: "Freelancer? Strangely, this room has no real exits. But there is a conduit– you’ll need to figure out how to open it."
The Freelancer fights and defeats the enemies.
Activate Pressure Plates in Specific Order
Two Shaper Relics become active on either side of the conduit.
- Sev: "Do you see the Shaper relic in the center? Activating that will give you the key. The console will show the key to solving it."
When either of the two consoles is interacted, the puzzles become active. Immediately, elementals begin to gate-in.
Pressure Plate Puzzles Solved
To solve the puzzle, once the sequence of the three Cymatic shapes is revealed after the console is activated, the Freelancer must stand on or touch the pressure plate in the same order. Repeat for the other set of plates. The Freelancer might fail several attempts before solving the puzzle. After the first failed attempt,
- Sev: "Crap. That wasn’t it."
After several failed attempts,
- Sev: "Nope. It needs a reset."
If the Freelancer doesn’t solve even one puzzle within fewer than 110 seconds, Sev commiserates the lancer.
- Sev: "Hey. You helped gather the info to crack it. It’s done."
If the Freelancer solves both the puzzle within 110 seconds, despite failing any attempts, Sev congratulates the lancer.
- Sev: "Brilliant. Done. (Well done). The conduit tube is open."
The Freelancer is free to defeat any elementals or move on to the next location through the conduit.
Investigate the Facility
The Freelancer can explore this room or move to the next location through the conduit. While the first conduit door is opened, allowing the Freelancer to swim to the next location, Second Conduit.
Travel Up to the Next Level
The Freelancer enters the conduit.
- The Freelancer: "Opened into a water conduit… is that right?"
- Sev: "Yes. Keep heading up."
- The Freelancer: "Exactly just how far underground, uh, underwater, are we?"
- Sev: "Well, let me ask you, are you claustrophobic?"
- The Freelancer: "Um…"
- Sev: "Because I am very claustrophobic."
- Faye: "Fascinating."
- Sev: "It’s a significant distance. Keep heading up."
As the Freelancer exits through the Second Conduit door, Dominion enemies are fighting with Elementals.
The Freelancer can continue to the top of this conduit, bbut there is another door blocking it. This means, there has to be a puzzle to open this third door, int the room where the Second Conduit door opens.
Eliminate All Enemies
The Freelancer fights and defeats all these enemies without a scratch, dazzling even someone like Sev.
- Sev: "Good job, Freelancer. I’m impressed."
Immediately, the door on the opposite of the conduit opens to a Shaper Tunnel. Another large burst of energy is seen here.
- Faye: "The energy in this place… let’s keep moving."
Locate the Volatile Shaper Relic
- Sev: "Freelancer. You’ve got a cataclysm brewing nearby."
The Freelancer immediately enters the Shaper Tunnel to head into Relic Tunnel. This strange looking relic is active and creating all sorts of creatures.
Silence the Cataclysm
The Freelancer exits the tunnel to see a large relic with Shaper Energy emanating at its center and several Control Rods opened.
- Sev: "Here we are. Imminent cataclysm. Shut it down."
- Faye: "The relic’s volatile–keep your eyes open!"
- Sev: "Silence it! Shut it down!"
- The Freelancer: "Stay cool everyone. We got this."
Control Rods Stabilized
- The Freelancer: "What’s going on with these colored tubes?"
- Sev: "Shaper. Submerge them to render them inert."
- The Freelancer: "Submerge? It’s a floor?"
- Sev: "Just make them go down and don’t let them come back up."
- The Freelancer: "Ah. Science."
The Freelancer must interact with seven Control Rods such that all seven are “submerged”. If the Freelancer delays to interact with a rod after “submerging” another, any previously “submerged” rods can pop up.
If the Freelancer delays the “submerging” task, Sev gives a reminder,
- Sev: "Those tubes have to sink right into the floor."
The Freelancer finally completes the Control Rod puzzle while fighting enemies and heads back through the same Shaper tunnel. No cataclysm this time!
Investigate the Facility
The Freelancer swims through the same conduit, and upper, to reach the upper level, Third Conduit.
=Travel up to the Next Level
- Sev: "These experiments… the monsters… what was Harken playing at? They’ve been trapped down here a long time. What if we’d left it alone? Guess it doesn’t really matter now."
The Freelancer comes out of the conduit to see more enemies here.
Stop the Dominion
The Dominion have set up turrets and troopers here. As some enemies are defeated, Legendary Dominion Valkyries show up.
Defeat Dominion Forces
Finally, the Freelancer defeats the tough valkyries. But immediately after defeating them two Storm Brutes gate-in. No matter the enemy, the Freelancer fights and defeats them all!
- Faye: "That’s done. Nice work."
There is a 
Treasure Chest here, on a platform in front of the opened Shaper Door. Opening it will reward the Freelancer with loot and ember.
Investigate the Facility
Once all enemies are defeated, the door to Sunken Chamber opens on the opposite side of the conduit.
Travel Deeper into the Construct
Sev brings some bad news at this point.
- Sev: "I have fresh Dominion communications intercepted by Corvus. There’s something big here. They’re determined to protect it."
- The Freelancer: "Anything more specific?"
- Sev: "We know Dr. Harken was one of Dominion’s best. He’s also immoral, deviant, and cold. Short answer? Not sure, but nothing good."
The Freelancer swims through the Sunken Chamber and reaches the Connecting Foyer. On the other side of this foyer is Fourth Conduit.
As soon as the Freelancer enters the room with the Fourth Conduit doors, an unexplained roar is heard.
- Sev: "Holy shit! What was that?"
- The Freelancer: "Settle down we got this. [Pause] but seriously… what was that?"
- Sev: "Bad."
- The Freelancer: "Remind me to thank Corvus for their Scientific precision."
Align the Symbols
The Freelancer must solve three puzzles to open all three doors that lead out of this location. At this point, the Dominion has set up turrets and forces across all 3 levels of this location. Each puzzle is located on one of 3 levels of this location, simply referred to as: lower level, middle level, and upper level. All 3 levels are a part of the same room.
- Faye: "Powerful Dominion backup heading your way."
- Sev: "Conduits our only way out."
Combinations Solved
The Freelancer fights enemies while attempting to solve the Rotating Disc Puzzles. A console each is used to activate each puzzle. Dominion Storm Brutes gate-in in if a console of that particular level is activated of if the already existing enemies are all defeated.
When any one console is interacted to start the puzzle,
- Sev: "Conduit’s the only way out again. You need to match the symbols to open the tube."
Once all three puzzles are solved, Sev gives out more compliments, despite the delay in solving.
- Sev: "Great Job! Okay, press on."
- The Freelancer: "How much higher? We must be getting close to the surface…"
- Sev: "Well, increased Shaper energy says you are close to… something."
- The Freelancer: "Wait. What exactly?"
- Sev: "The stronger the energy… the larger the abomination? Harken started the Heart of Rage. If this was his testing ground, anything is possible."
Investigate Facility
The Freelancer can use one of the three open doors on the upper level to swim to the next location.
Travel Deeper into the Construct
The Freelancer comes out of the conduit into the Dome Hall. There is nothing much of interest here. So the Freelancer goes into a Minor Cavern.
Go Through the Conduit
- The Freelancer: "Is it me or are things getting… weirder?"
- Sev: "Weirder than Shaper Chaos? Weird is how we make our living. The info I’ve managed to gather on Dr. Harken is interesting. We’re not home free yet. The Shaper energy is extra intense. I can understand why he chose this underground construct."
The Freelancer continues into the Laser Room. Which has realigning LASER beams. Touching them will impact a javelin’s thruster. Fortunately, there is a console to deactivate the beams on the other side of the room, which can be useful if there are any ally lancers in the expedition.
Collect Echoes
As the Laser Room’s end is reached, a Shaper Door opens to Connecting Hallway.
There is a Treasure Chest here, by the left wall near the entrance. Opening it will reward the Freelancer with loot and ember.
As the door opens, another freakish roar can be heard.
- The Freelancer: "There it is again. Not sure I want to meet whatever that is."
In the hallway, there are several troopers. The Freelancer can defeat or simply ignore them and head to the next room.
Echoes Delivered
The Freelancer must evade turrets to collect echoes and deposit them in the Echo Lock Ruin to open the final conduit door. On the lower level of this Echo Room, is a pool of electrified water. If the turret shots target a javelin’s thrusters, the Freelancer will fall. Then this water can be used to cool down. But, using this water will put the javelin in Template:Icon-damage Electrocuted Status.
Once the Freelancer collects 12 echoes and deposits them into the receptacle of the ruin, the Shaper Doors opens into a small conduit, which leads into the Conduit's Exit.
Locate Harken's Abomination
- Sev: "Shaper Energy is unbelievable. Prepare to meet the apex of Harken's wild experiments. Good luck Freelancer."
The Freelancer swims through the last conduit and reaches the exit. It is made of a sandy ground around which are several Shaper items with a massive vortex of water and open sky with gray clouds.
Stop the Dominion
The moment the Freelancer comes out of the conduit, another ghoulish roar is heard.
Defeat the Unfathomed
The Freelancer witnesses a larger-than-life Fury. An unfathomable sight indeed!
- The Freelancer: "Faye? Sev? Are you seeing this? It’s no ordinary Fury. Never seen one like this."
Harken's Abomination crawls out from the vortex!
- Sev: "There’s no way out of there. Have fun. Me? I’d be screaming already."
When a fourth of the Unfathomed’s health is depleted, it spawn gates. Being a Shaper Corrupt entity with such intense Shaper Energy in it, it would be natural for it to spawn them. But through the gates, Storm Elementals emerge. Then the abomination hides into its Healing Crystal Barrier One of these comments is chosen
- Sev: "Enemies incoming. Take out the gates."
OR
- Sev: "The Fury is creating gates. More enemies incoming."
OR
- The Freelancer: "Is that thing spawning gates?"
- Sev: "Woah. Yup, looks like it."
OR
- Sev: "Heads up! It’s spawning gates."
- The Freelancer: "So, expect company?"
- Sev: "You got it."
When another fourth of its health is depleted, the Unfathomed creates volatile orbs and barriers itself inside its crystal. If the Freelancer Meets Sev for a Briefing One of these comments is chosen
- Sev: "Shaper energy is spiking! Look out."
OR
- Sev: "Those orbs have gone volatile."
OR
- Sev: "Look out! Those orbs are gathering energy. This is serious."
OR
- Sev: "Freelancer! Those orbs are suddenly super-charged."
When three-quarters of its health is depleted, the Unfathomed spawns gates and air orbs while hiding inside the crystal. One of these comments is chosen
- Sev: "Doing great. You’re getting it."
OR
- Sev: "Boom! Okay. Now what ya got, big guy?"
OR
- Sev: "We’re–I mean, you’re–wearing it down. Keep it up."
OR
- Sev: "what else is it hiding?"
When nearly all of its health is depleted, Sev interjects, One of these comments is chosen
- Sev: "Freelancer! Look! Now's your chance."
OR
- Sev: "Hit it while it’s down!"
OR
- Sev: "Get in there, Freelancer! Quick, it’s weak."
OR
- Sev: "Hah! It did not like that!"
OR
- Sev: "Great job. Keep going."
As soon as the Unfathomed is defeated, Sev congratulates the Freelancer again. One of these comments is chosen
- Sev: "Great job, Freelancer. Who knows what would’ve happened if that thing had gotten free."
- The Freelancer: "I feel like I need to know more about this Dr. Harken."
- Sev: "But, at the same time… I feel like I know more than enough. Check in with me in Tarsis later, if you’d like."
OR
- Sev: "I don’t know whether to feel bad for the creature or not. Who knows what Harken did down here."
- The Freelancer: "Thanks for everything, Sev."
- Sev: "Come see me in Tarsis, if you want to debrief."
OR
- Sev: "Thanks, Freelancer. Imagine if the Dominion had recaptured their monster."
- The Freelancer: "Agreed. If they’d even perfected that thing..."
- Sev: "Don’t even want to think about it. Come see me in Tarsis, if you want to debrief."
The Freelancer returns home, victorious!
Post Expedition
The Freelancer can meet with Sev in the Bar for a debrief or even a first face-to-face encounter. If the Freelancer Meets Sev Face-to-face for the First Time
- The Freelancer: "Sev?"
- Sev: "you’re here! Welcome to my office of sorts."
- The Freelancer: "What does Max charge you to hang out here all day?"
- Sev: "I don’t know the deal Tassyn worked out with her, but it’s well above my pay grade."
If the Freelancer Meets Sev for a Briefing
- The Freelancer: "Everything okay, Sev? You look more worried than usual."
Choiceless Conversation Continues
- Sev: "You got a lot more intel from the lab than we expected. Corvus is thrilled. Congratulations. But what you found will keep me awake at night for the rest of my life, probably."
First Choice in Conversation
[If the Left-side option is selected]
[The experiments went wrong.]
- The Freelancer: "They couldn’t have been trying to start cataclysms. Nobody would do that on purpose."
- Sev: "I’m not sure that’s better. Does it really matter what they intended when the end result is always a disaster?"
[If the Right-side option is selected]
[Practice for the Cenotaph.]
- The Freelancer: "You couldn’t have been surprised. We all know how their little experiment at the cenotaph turned out."
- Sev: "what surprised me was all their tests failed. They had to know, didn’t they? They knew their device at the Cenotaph would blow up in their faces, and they did it anyway."
Choiceless Conversation Continues
- Sev: "It worries me that the Dominion wanted that old research. Are they planning another Freemark?"
- The Freelancer: "The Monitor wanted to control the Anthem. I don’t think the Dominion will give up on that idea."
- Sev: "See? That thought is also going to keep me up at night."
Second Choice in Conversation
[If the Left-side option is selected]
[Don’t dwell on it.]
- The Freelancer: "It’s probably best not to think about this stuff too much."
- Sev: "I’ll second that."
[If the Right-side option is selected]
[I’m glad Corvus is on this.]
- The Freelancer: "Well, it’s a good thing we found out, right? Let Tassyn worry about what the Dominion are planning."
- Sev: "When she worries about something, the whole fort loses sleep."
Choiceless Conversation Continues
- Sev: "I’d better get back to it. I’ll be in touch, Freelancer."
Notes and Remarks
- The briefing or debriefing not being necessary is exclusively a Stronghold related choice.
- This is the only Stronghold which does not have any associated cortex entry after the final boss is defeated.
- Starting conversation with Sev plays differently depending upon whether there was a briefing or not, including during the in-mission part.
- There are two stronghold treasure chests which can reward up to 15 items (a combination of loot and ember each).
- The final boss can also reward up to 15 items in the afore mentioned combination.
- The dialogs in this expedition are the same as mentioned in this script only for the first time this expedition is played. Starting from the second time, all dialogs will be different, and lines will be taken from a pool that get rotated in-game. However, certain conversations may be skipped if actions are performed quickly, or additional conversations will show up if there is a delay
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