Zette Faen Story Arc

These are a series of Story Missions offered by Zette Faen during the first and second Eras. Zette is the sister of Calagan Faen and has her own ideas about the destruction of the Highwind Orbital Station. Her missions are available after the completion of Arbiter Neutrality and can be accessed in Calagan's services screen by clicking on "We have business at Calagan Faen's court." and then selecting Zette's profile picture.

## Introduction

Zette is the first Faen the Captain meets after Calagan and she is particularly keen on ferreting out every scrap of information she can. Where others see the ripples on the surface, she sees far below them and she smells something fishy in Aetaan Char's case. She just needs a willing captain to help her put the pieces together.

## Conspiracy in Motion

Zette believes that Aetaan Char is hiding something about the destruction of the Highwind and especially about the status of its chief scientist, Aldo Bastiel. She wants you to head back to the site of the explosion and dig for further clues and then follow up on where they lead. Better tell your spies and e-techs to start checking their gear.

### Walkthrough

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Gather the Evidence

* The first step is to head to the site of the explosion and Spy.
* On drawing the first success card, you will learn that there was one escape pod that survived the explosion. It's passengers were picked up by a Merchant ship, the Mercurial, and brought to the Uldraev Medical Enclave on the planet. All records of the pod were then wiped from the system.
* The next step is to continue spying at the same planet. On drawing another success card learn that the Uldraev is a Gestalt Technologist facility and that one person from the shuttle survived. From here you'll have to choose between two ways of completing the mission.

Discover the Mystery Patient's Identity

* You can descend to the surface and infiltrate the Uldraev.
	+ You can choose between a Stealth, Electronics or Intimidate test to complete the mission.
	+ You will learn the Aldo Bastiel was on the escape shuttle and delivered to the Uldraev, but was then transported to another secret location.
	+ You will face crew combat for failing any of the tests.
* OR you can travel to find the captain of the Mercurial and see if you can learn the identity of the survivor.
	+ At the target planet you will have to Blockade it to find the Mercurial.
	+ On winning the first success card, you will talk with Captain Kruze of the Mercurial and convince him to tell you about Aldo Bastiel
* On returning to Zette you will tell her what you found and learn more about where she got some of her information and what she is planning next. If you decide to keep going with her, she will give you the next mission.

## Pulling the Thread

It's clear there is definitely something to Zette's conspiracy theories. Now it's time to go all in and meet her mysterious contact, Elder, and find out the location of Aldo Bastiel. Be careful because going along this far with her will have consequences on the Faen Court.

### Walkthrough

Reveal/Hide SPOILERS

Make contact with Elder

* Accepting this mission from Zette will cause Erik Faen to stop offering you missions as he feels your loyalties are split and you cannot be trusted.
* The first step is to fly to Elder's planet and spy to make contact with him. This will require getting one Spy success card.
* After making contact you will spy again at the same planet in order to find a rendez-vous location.
* The second success card will give you a third step. Meet Elder in a spice hall on an Indy planet.

The Meeting

* When you meet Elder, you will learn that he is Yaen Dolzimer, one of the two Gestalt Technologists at the Uldraev, and why he wants Aldo Bastiel killed.
* Before continuing you'll need to tell Zette what you've discovered and get a promise from her.

The Return

* In the final step you'll face a stealth or a command test to meet Zette. She'll make it clear that killing Aldo is not an option.
* Since she wants him alive you'll have to decide how to proceed.
	+ You can break your word to Dolzimer and agree to capture Bastiel alive.
	+ You can refuse to keep going with the mission.
	+ You can tell her that you won't break your word to the Gestalt Technologist and capture Aldo alive.
		- If you select this option Zette will offer you an extra 100,000 to do it.
		- If you persist on killing him she will still give you the mission because he is better off dead than left in Aetaan's hands.

## Undisclosed Location

It's time to bring this to a close and find Aldo Bastiel, but it won't be easy. You'll need to Spy, Explore and Slash (Crew Combat) your way to victory and face a terror that you never even imagined existed and in the end you'll face the same difficult choice, do right by people you barely even know or faithfully serve the questionable demands of your powerful patroness. Follow your heart (or wallet) and uncover one of the more sinister plots afoot in the Star Traders galaxy.

### Walkthrough

Reveal/Hide SPOILERS

Meeting Dolzimer

* Return once more to the site of the Highwind's destruction and Spy to get in touch with Dolzimer.
* On arrival you learn that Dolzimer is broadcasting an automated signal. Win a spy success card to decipher his message and get coordinates to the wild zone where the lab and Aldo, are hopefully located.
* After winning two explore cards you will discover the location of the secret base.

The Secret Base

* On attacking the base you will have the opportunity to face a Stealth or Electronics test to capture the landing pad. Otherwise you will have to fight an extra crew battle to capture it.
* After the first crew combat(s) you will discover that the whole complex is rigged to explode and you'll have the choice to back out of the mission.
* If you press forward you will find Bastiel in a Kloxian Medicay Bay and face crew combat with the Vat-Born Monster.
* On winning the combat, you will have a choice of whether to kill or try and take Aldo alive regardless of earlier choices.
* You will discover that Jaesminc was not in the lab and you will escape as the lab collapses destroying all of the evidence.

The Return

* On returning to Zette you will find that she has left the Faen court and become the Provost of a Medical Academy. She will remain a permanent contact.
* You will receive $25,000 for returning after having killed Bastiel and 600xp spread across your crew and have around 100-150 Personal Rep with Zette.
* If you lost the combat against the Vat-born Monster you will receive $50,000 in compensation, 600xp and a lower 50-100 Personal Rep with Zette.
* You will receive a significant mission payment ($300,000s) for returning with Bastiel and the promise that Zette will contact you if she is able to save him. You will also gain the 600xp spread across your crew and have around 150-200 Personal Rep with Zette.