The Schemes of the Secret Smugglers side quest in The Outer Worlds 2 takes you deep into Fairfield, where corruption and covert deals run beneath the Protectorate’s nose. What starts as a simple investigation into a few suspicious memos quickly unravels into a hidden smuggling network led by someone you wouldn’t expect. This guide walks you through every step to complete the Schemes of the Secret Smugglers quest.
Schemes of the Secret Smugglers
One of the security officers in Fairfield has a personal terminal inside the Fairfield Jail. Read all the memos under the Compliance Investigations Notations section on that terminal; this will unlock the side quest Schemes of Secret Smugglers.
Before heading to the greenhouse to check on Emeline Galloway, make a quick stop at her house in Fairfield, which is just south of the greenhouse. Use her computer terminal and go through all her memos. After reading them, you will realise she’s the one running the smuggling operation.
With this new information, go to the Fairfield Greenhouse and confront Emeline. Call her out, and after some back and forth, she will admit what’s going on and even offer you a job for a secretive new faction called Sub Rosa. Accept it to keep the quest going.
How to Get the Replenishment Terminal Keycard
Emeline will then ask you to access Officer Cardosa’s Terminal to delete evidence of Sub Rosa’s activities in Fairfield. You will find Cardosa standing near the large Auntie’s Choice shuttle on the west side of town. To use her terminal, you will need the Replenishment Terminal Keycard, and there are three ways to get it: through distraction, Speech 2, or Hack 2 skill checks.
Distraction
If you don’t have any skill perks, the easiest way to get the keycard is by distracting Cardosa. Start by talking to her and choosing dialogue options that make her look away. Tell her you’re interested in new accoutrements or mention that you’re not officially with Auntie’s Choice. Then, comment on how nice the dropships look, ask what’s stopping her from pursuing her dream, and finally, say you’re not familiar with dropships and ask her to show you one nearby. Once she walks toward the ship, wait until she’s not looking and no one else is around, then quickly get the keycard.
Speech 2
If you have the Speech 2 skill, you can take a smoother approach. Begin the same way by saying you could use some new gear or that you’re not with Auntie’s Choice. Then tell her you have a private matter to discuss and ask if you can take a look at her terminal. When she questions you, choose the Speech 2 line that mentions “terrible man-eating ones that will put the fear of foliage into every Protectorate farmer.” If you pick this option, you will be able to take the keycard without it being considered stealing.
Hack 2
Alternatively, if you’ve unlocked Hack 2, you can trick Cardosa into thinking you’re a specialist there to check the security of her terminal. Follow the same dialogue setup as before, mention you’re not with Auntie’s Choice, then say you have a private matter and would like to look at her terminal. When she asks why, use the Hack 2 line that says, “Emeline Galloway asked me, a specialist, to ensure your terminal’s security is up to date.” This will convince her to trust you, letting you take the keycard without issue.
Rewards
Once you have the Replenishment Terminal Keycard, head inside and use it on Cardosa’s terminal. Select the option “Adjust Inventory Total: Auntie Fizzo’s Spectrum Vodka” to erase Sub Rosa’s records from the system.
After completing this task, return to Emeline Galloway at the greenhouse and let her know the job is done. She will reward you with 945 XP, a Light Pistol Silencer, its crafting recipe, an Advanced Decryption Key, 350 Bits, and a +15 Reputation boost with Sub Rosa.
