The Lower Depth

**The Lower Depth** is a main quest in INSOMNIA: The Ark that is obtained after completing the objective 'Go back to Riebel' during the quest Bane of Mills.

## Quest Targets

* Get to zone B-27 and talk to Riebel
* Go down to the lower level through the shaft
* Find evidence that People's Wrath was involved
* Scope out the situation
* Talk to Anerakh
* Turn off emergency mode
* Meet the command

## Typical Journal entry

I need to get to the outpost near the zone B-27 border, where the mobilization was announced. Captain Riebel will meet me at the field headquarters to share the details of the operation with me.

Colonel Sabra has announced the start of Operation Whirlpool. I'm not sure how I ought to feel about it, but our unit will have a special role in it. While the main forces will be purging the zone downward, we need to descend to the maintenance level.
Our task is to cut off the escape routes for the People's Wrath extremists, who were presumed to be involved with the explosion in Limb. Captain Riebel will take me to the entrance into the shaft.

We've descended into the maintenance level safely. Our objective is to find evidence of the extremists' presence.

We didn't have to search for long. We became involuntary witnesses to a video broadcast by the leader of People's Wrath being watched eagerly by a few ghetters. We need to scope out the situation.

I need to talk to Anerakh, the assault squad commander, to find out what is going on.

It turns out that the extremists have a much bigger influence on what's going on than what was thought at HQ. They managed to activate the emergency operating mode meant for situations when the zone is depressurized and block most of the doors. Now we cannot rely on backup from the surface. We need to find the Control Node and turn off emergency mode.

I have managed to turn off emergency mode, but the rebel leader still managed to escape. I need to get to the central elevators and report the results of the operation to Colonel Sabra.

Colonel Sabra announced the end of Operation Whirlpool. She doesn't expect the results of the operation to please the Autonomy Council, which is the reason for her sour mood. Sabra thinks that the Ordinate has ended up in a very unenviable position. Now the Committee will use every opportunity to overthrow the position of the General Command on the Council.

## Quest notes

This quest has very demanding combat, and once you have entered the Lower Depth you will be unable to leave until the quest is complete. Ensure you have adequate supplies before starting it; you may find you need more ammunition than you ever thought possible. There are also several "dogs" in this area, which may be hard to avoid if you're concentrating on combat or route-finding.

You'll need two UA Cards if you want to be able to unlock all the doors.

After you've talked to Anerakh, use the terminal near the floor, just to his right, to reopen the doors and continue the quest.

Note that the middle level map is wrong: the apartments are to the north of the Residential Area, not to the south, as marked. There are several mines on this floor, so take care.

You need to meet Lumpface the Duster on the middle floor to advance the Bane of Mills quest. As a pharmacist, he can heal you, and also sell you supplies of healing items.

The most difficult combat is in the residential area on the lowest level. You need to activate a loader to gain access to this area; fortunately none of the enemies in the room will leave it, apart from the MAS Garon unit. One possible strategy is to goad the MAS Garon to follow you, and, when it is trapped by the loader, shoot it repeatedly from the corridor; incendiary ammunition should bring it down quite quickly, as it's not as well-armed as other MAS Garons you encounter elsewhere. A large number of enemies will remain in the room, but (despite appearances) there aren't an infinite number of them; and there's another loader in the room which provides good, non-destructible cover. You can't save while in the room, but you can leave, save, and then return. Take it slowly, and you'll be able to pick off enemies one by one.

## Gallery

* upper level map
* lower level map
* bottom level map