Marathon Introducing Nucaloric Quest Guide

Look, if you're going to ignore one quest in Marathon's early game, make sure it's literally any other quest: because the Introducing Nucaloric quest is one of the most important early progression quests in the game. Shocking, right? A quest that actually matters.

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This is classified as a liaison contract, not a priority contract. Priority contracts level up your existing faction. Liaison contracts: like the Nucaloric liaison contract: unlock access to an entirely different faction's progression path. In this case, completing the Introducing Nucaloric mission unlocks the full New Cal faction, including:

• The New Cal quest line
• The New Cal armory inventory
• The New Cal faction upgrade tree: which permanently buffs your long-term progression

So yeah. Do the quest. It's a big deal.

Introducing Nucaloric Quest Objectives

The Nucaloric quest takes place on the Perimeter map and has exactly two objectives that must: and we cannot stress this enough: be completed in a single run:

1. Retrieve the New Cal employee ID from the Columns building
2. Use the nearby terminal to download the employee's data

No dying between steps. No extracting between steps. Both objectives, one run, no excuses.

If you grab the ID and decide it's a great time to head home? Doesn't count. If you grab the ID and a tick introduces itself to your face? Do it again. The Introducing Nucaloric quest is entirely uninterested in your personal trauma.

Introducing Nucaloric Quest Walkthrough: Step by Step

Step 1: Head to Columns

Navigate to Columns, located in the southern part of Perimeter, between Overflow and South Relay. You'll know you've found it because:

• It has a large white tube painted on the side
• The exterior is covered in red tick pods
• There's a charming brown mold infestation creeping up the walls

It's horrifying. It's also your destination. Welcome to the Nucaloric quest location.

Step 2: Get Inside (The Front Door Is Locked, Obviously)

The front doors are locked because of course they are. Head to the east side of the building, close to the outer rock wall, and find the ladder. Climb it to the roof. Once on top, find the hatch on the same side as the ladder, break it open, and drop in.

Step 3: Activate Power and Open the Door

Once inside, activate the power, then open the door. Congratulations: you've now invited every tick in the building to meet you personally.

Step 4: Clear the Ticks

Clear out the ticks and destroy the tick pods to stop them from respawning. Close-range weapons: SMGs, shotguns: work best here. It's not hard. It's just annoying. Like most things in life.

If you're running with teammates, this is a great time for them to earn their keep.

Step 5: Find the New Cal Employee ID

After clearing, find the employee ID. It's located in the room directly to the right of the door you entered through, sitting on a shelf. Hard to miss once the ticks stop trying to eat you.

Step 6: Use the Terminal (Don't Leave Yet)

Turn around from the ID shelf and find the nearby terminal. Interact with it to download the employee data. Once the interaction completes, the Nucaloric contract updates and marks both objectives complete.

You do not need to extract for this to count: as long as both steps happened in the same run, you're good.

Step 7: Turn In the Contract

Head back to the Cyber Acme faction screen and turn in the contract. You'll receive your rewards and officially unlock the New Cal faction track: quests, gear, and the upgrade tree included.

That's the full Introducing Nucaloric quest walkthrough. You survived a mold-covered tick warehouse. Treat yourself.