The Drifter: Thanks for helping your ol' pal Drifter with this... delicate situation, hero. I had a delivery headed towards the Last City when these House Salvation goons hijacked it. Now I just need you to get in there and... expedite my shipment. I'll let you know what we're looking for once you're inside.
Technocrat's Iron, Europa
The Drifter: I don't blame House Salvation for skimming a little cream off the trade routes. Couldn't have been easy after their head honcho got turned into a popsicle. But I didn't think they have the guts to try something like this! Once we get my cargo back, you'll see what I mean.
The Guardian fights through the Salvation Fallen.
The Drifter: Gettin' warmer. Our misappropriated shipment is just ahead.
The Guardian locates and inspects the cargo.
The Spider: Who's there? Drifter? Is that you?
The Drifter: I'm there in spirit, boss. I... finessed the Guardian into doing the actual rescuing.
The Spider: You let the Guardian see me like this? We'll have words once I'm out of here.
The Drifter: About that... first, let's discuss the matter of our hazard pay.
The Spider: What? We had a deal! I will not be leveraged by an amateur extortionist.
The Drifter: Sure thing, boss. We'll just ship you back to the Tangled Shore. Queen Mara's got a handsome bounty on your ugly mug. Could be quite the payday.
The Spider: Tell you what: House Salvation commandeered my old Ketch. If you can fight your way there, it's yours.
The Spider slips the Guardian a mysterious key.
The Spider: My associates will join you along the way. Give them a lift, and we'll call it even.
The Drifter: [chuckles] Hear that, hero? We got ourselves a new ride! Just gotta break it out of impound.
The Guardian goes off in search of Spider's Ketch.
The Spider: There's something you should know. I overheard some Dregs talking.
The Drifter: While you were hiding in your kennel?
The Spider: [grunts] House Salvation is rallying. Someone's kicked the hornet's nest. They're looking for something left over from the Dark Ages.
The Drifter: Sounds ominous. But I'm sure the Guardian can handle it.
The Guardian meets Halsiks fighting with several members of Salvation. They help him defeat them.
The Spider: That's Halsiks, one of my trusted associates. He's deadly with a Wire Rifle. Useful if you're pinned down.
The Guardian follows Halsiks onward towards the Ketch. They find several more of Spider's crew battling with Salvation.
The Spider: Sounds like you've found my remaining crew. Help them clear out this rabble!
The Guardian helps Flotsiks, Jetsiks, Ransiks, and SCUR-V with the Salvation forces.
The Spider: Meet the rest of my associates. They're no good to me dead. Make sure to bring them back alive.
The Guardian follows the crew onwards.
The Drifter: You weren't lying about these House Salvation jokers! They're all riled up. What'd you say they're looking for?
The Spider: Relics. Antiquities of some kind.
The Drifter: Mm, that's awfully esoteric for a buncha rubes like these. They gotta be taking orders from someone. Who the hell's calling the shots around here.
Keelhal of House Salvation ambushes the Guardian.
The Drifter: That must be the big boss in charge. Take 'em out, hero!
The Guardian defeats Keelhal with the help of Spider's crew. They examine Eramis's Stasis prison.
The Drifter: Aw, hell. The Witness must've broken Eramis out. No wonder House Salvation's scrambling.
The Spider: So, the Shipstealer is back in play. The artifact she's after...
The Drifter: Price of her freedom, I bet.
The Spider: Ooh... imagine the resale value!
The Drifter: Luckily, we got a clean ship, and a dirty crew to chase her with.
The Spider: Do me a favor, Guardian. Don't let this clown pilot my Ketch!
The Drifter: Come on now, Spider. I'll treat her like she was my own.
The Spider: That's what I'm worried about.
The Drifter: Only thing you better worry about is the welcome you'll get back in the Last City. Let's ride, Guardian!