DIRECTIVE 8020
// EPISODE 02 · ~50 min

Tau Ceti F

The crew makes planetfall to repair the long-range antenna and finds something already wearing a survivor's skin. Episode 2 introduces the shape-shifter and the first death gate.

Step-by-step path

  1. STEP 1
    EVA descent

    Auto-cinematic. Listen carefully for the comm static — it foreshadows which crew member is compromised.

  2. STEP 2
    Antenna ridge

    Branch: send Naomi or Riley up the ridge. Picking Riley raises her odds of surviving Episode 5.

  3. STEP 3
    Cave system

    Stealth section. Crouch under the second egg-cluster; sprinting triggers a forced QTE.

  4. STEP 4
    Variant reveal

    First true horror beat. Look DOWN during the reveal — looking at the variant directly costs a relationship point with whoever is watching.

  5. STEP 5
    Escape vehicle

    Lethal QTE chain. Failing the second prompt kills the supporting character (random of two, depending on Step 2).

QTE alerts

  • Climb prompt during antenna ascent (single button hold).
  • Three-stage variant chase — first failure non-lethal, second can kill.

Branch choices

ChoiceEffect
Send Naomi / Send Riley to the ridgeLocks the ridge survivor's death gate path.
Tell the crew about the variant / Hide itReveals raise paranoia stat, gating Ep 4 betrayal scene.
Help the wounded / Pursue the variantHelps a relationship score, but loses a premonition.

Collectibles

  • Premonition #3 — Ridge cairn, mid-climb.
  • Premonition #4 — Cave egg-cluster, far wall.
  • Secret #2 — Wrecked probe data, near escape vehicle.

Relationship deltas

  • Brianna ↔ Naomi: +1 if you back Naomi during the reveal.
  • Brianna ↔ Riley: -1 if you order Riley up the ridge alone.

// RELATED INTEL