Navigating the corporate intrigue of Byzantium is one of the ultimate tests in The Outer Worlds. As a critical main quest, The City and the Stars requires players to secure a massive supply of dimethyl sulfoxide to help Phineas Welles awaken the colonists on the Hope. This comprehensive walkthrough guides you through every layer of security, infiltration options, and major narrative choices waiting in the capital city.
Arriving in Byzantium and Finding a Contact
Your journey begins immediately after completing the events on Monarch, where you are automatically directed to the shining capital of Halcyon. Upon landing at the docks, your first priority is to locate Carmen Imagawa, who acts as your primary insider contact. She provides vital intelligence regarding Minister Clarke's heavily guarded estate and hints at multiple ways to bypass the initial security checkpoints.
To gain entry to the estate, you can choose between a couple of stealthy approaches rather than drawing your weapons. Players can either head to the local bar to swipe a key card from an off-duty guard or visit the Halcyon Parcel Service to intercept a special delivery. Utilizing high dialog skills like Persuade or Intimidate allows you to safely secure the package and gain entry without raising alarms.
Infiltrating the HHC Headquarters
Once inside the estate, speaking with Minister Clarke reveals a massive twist regarding the colony's political structure. You discover that Clarke has been placed under house arrest by Chairman Rockwell, who is the true mastermind hoarding the chemical reserves. The minister then tasks you with infiltrating the Halcyon Holdings Corporation headquarters to gather more data and print a critical security keycard.
Getting inside the HHC building can be achieved peacefully through maintenance tunnels or by convincing the guards at the entrance. Once you reach the chairman's office, downloading the experimental logs prints the necessary keycard for the Ministry of Accuracy and Morale. Taking this step also allows you to uncover classified transmissions that explain exactly why the colony is collapsing from within.
Retrieving the Dimethyl Sulfoxide
The final phase of the mission takes place deep inside the high-security labs of the Ministry of Accuracy and Morale. Using your holographic disguise or advanced hacking skills lets you move past the guards to reach the lower laboratory containment levels. Navigating the color-coded paths on the floor helps you avoid hostile encounters while searching for the main chemical terminal.
Upon reaching the main console, you are faced with a significant moral choice regarding how much chemical solution to extract. You can choose to harvest the full supply, which maximizes your resources but sacrifices the active test subjects residing in the laboratory cells. Alternatively, transferring only a partial percentage spares the subjects while still providing enough material to advance your ultimate alliance with Phineas.
