DIRECTIVE 8020
// EPISODE 03 · ~60 min

Quarantine

Back on the Cassiopeia, infection protocols engage. One of the people you brought back is the variant. Episode 3 is a paranoia chamber.

Spoiler note: Episode 3 is the first chapter where a main character can permanently die.

Step-by-step path

  1. STEP 1
    Lockdown

    Med-bay scan sequence. Scan everyone in this exact order to expose the variant in the first attempt: Akin → Naomi → Riley → Thomas.

  2. STEP 2
    Brianna's interrogation

    Dialogue chess. Use the trust banked in Episode 1 to pick the empathic prompts; lying drops trust permanently.

  3. STEP 3
    Air-duct chase

    Stealth + premonition pickup #5 in the duct junction. Hold breath under the second vent.

  4. STEP 4
    Confrontation

    Branch: shoot the suspected variant or wait for proof. Shooting can kill an innocent. Waiting requires a perfect QTE.

QTE alerts

  • Hold-breath stealth gauge in the air ducts (do not panic-press).
  • Aim-down-sights variant lock during confrontation.

Branch choices

ChoiceEffect
Scan order in lock-downWrong order triggers a fake-out and a relationship hit on the misjudged crew member.
Shoot now / Wait for proofWait = 50/50 lethal QTE; Shoot = guaranteed crew loss if wrong.
Reveal Brianna's secret / LieSets up the Episode 7 mutiny gate.

Collectibles

  • Premonition #5 — Air duct junction.
  • Premonition #6 — Med-bay back wall, after first scan.
  • Secret #3 — Quarantine override key.

Relationship deltas

  • Trust score lock-in: any character at -2 here can no longer be saved in their Ep 5/7 death gate.

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