Data Gathering

**Data Gathering** is the third of the five **Tressie's Quest** missions.

## Requirements

This mission can only appear after you complete Tressie's Quest: Barn Storming. You'll also need to listen through the mission's post-mission radio chatter before it would appear.

First chatter:

> "*Hey out there! Tressie here, coming to you again from the ruins of Marshall. I've had people ask me if the crumbling old plague walls are dangerous. The best answer I have is ... 'I don't think so.' And if that's not enough for you, just remember I'm technically still just a grad student. If I ever finish up my Master's degree, I'm sure I could come up with a better answer. Or at least a longer one. Take care, and stay strong.*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

Second chatter:

> "*Hey out there, Tressie here, coming to you from the bustling metropolis of Marshall. If you've been down here, I expect you've seen what the blood plague tried to do to this town. These plague walls almost took over the valley. But thanks to some brave folks, that didn't happen. Now it seems the walls may have given us a tool to make this valley live again. More news on that when it's available. For now, stay strong out there.*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

## Objectives

* Travel to the House with the Big Window to meet with Tressie Huerta.
* Speak to Tressie Huerta to learn what she wants.
* Listen to Tressie Huerta's explanation.\*
* Give Tressie Huerta your final answer about helping.\*
* Travel to the Crashed Plane with Tressie Huerta.
* Listen to Tressie Huerta explain the next step.
* Tell Tressie Huerta when you are ready to watch her back.
* Protect Tressie Huerta while she extracts her samples.
* Return with Tressie Huerta to her base at the House with the Big Window.
* Wrap up with Tressie Huerta.

\* Only if you *Ask for details*.

## The Mission

Tressie contacts you again through the radio, asking for a favor.

> "*Hey there, it's Tressie Huerta, down in Marshall. Remember me? Now that we're neighbors, I have a favor to ask you. Can you swing by?*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

> "*It sounds like she might be working on something important. We should help her out.*"
> ― Community member
>
>

> "*Better be ready for a fight on this one.*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

When you arrive to her home, she greets you and shares her plan.

> "*Thanks for coming over. I could really use your help. I want to recover a sample from one of the ruined plague walls. Can you watch my back?*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

You have the following dialogue options to react:

Sure, I'm in.
Add Tressie Huerta as a follower.Can you tell me more?
(Ask for details)No thanks.
(Refuse mission)

If you ask for details, Tressie will tell you the following:

> "*I've been studying these old plague walls, and I've got a theory I'd like to test. When the last active wall downtown was destroyed, something happened to every wall in the valley. Whatever that effect was, it originated from here in Marshall. Now, the walls around here are organically inert. Nothing going on at all. But it stands to reason that walls further away might have been affected differently. I want to gather some samples from a ruined wall out in the farmlands, to see if my theory is correct. If I'm right, this sample could let me better understand the biology of these plague walls. So, you up for helping me out?*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

Your new dialogue options are:

I'm in.
(Add Tressie Huerta as a Follower)Sorry, I'm out.
(Refuse mission)

If you agree to help, your task is to travel to the Crashed Plane. When you get there, Tressie wants to clear the site first.

> "*Hold up. We need to make sure the site is clear before I can gather samples.*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

Once you eliminate all zeds, Tressie asks you to tell her when you're ready to begin.

> "*Okay, looks like we're all clear to get started. Now, the plague wall itself isn't dangerous. But if it's biologically active, my work might draw some zeds. So let me know when you're ready for me to start. ... Are you ready? It could get a little exciting.*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

> "*I've got your back. Let's get it started.*"
> ― Player
>
>

> "*Thanks. I'm going to start the extraction process. Keep your eyes open.*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

Once you're ready, she starts collecting samples. You must defend her for a minute. Once she's done and you eliminate all nearby zeds, she asks you to take her home.

> "*Okay, I've got the samples I need! Wow, that was tense! That was close. Too close. Let's get moving before things get bad again.*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

On your way home she start talking about the samples.

> "*I need to compare these with the samples I collected in downtown Marshall. I'm not sure how long that'll take, but it's not like my social calendar is full of distractions. With any luck, I can find some significant differences and learn more about the biology of these walls.*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

When you arrive to her home, she continues:

> "*Thanks again for your help. I've got a lot to work on here. I realize my little science experiment may not be that exciting, but this is my way of fighting back. The more we learn, the better equipped we are to survive. Take care of yourself, okay? I'll let you know when I have good news to share.*"
>
>
>

The mission ends and you receive 200 Influence as a reward.

## Post-mission Chatter

After completing the mission the following chatter will happen through the radio:

First chatter:

> "*Hey there, Trumbull Valley. How's it going? I'm curious about something. Anybody else out there grow up on a farm? Or are you all city folk who needed the end of the world before you'd put your hands in the dirt? It's okay, I don't blame you. We did the growing, you did the eating. Funny how things change, huh?*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>

Second chatter:

> "*Hey neighbor, it's Tressie again. I'm afraid my experiment didn't pan out. The new samples just don't demonstrate enough difference from what I collected here in Marshall. I still think I'm on to something. I just need more time. I'll call you when I've got the next step planned. Tressie out!*"
> ― Tressie Huerta
>
>