(2) Peaceful solution: Getting out of the ambush Deus Ex: HR Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Map legend: 1 - Northern ventilation shaft entrance; 2 - Southern ventilation shaft entrance.

Stay in the office in which you have spoken with Eliza and examine the unprotected computer terminal found there #1. Note that using it you can disable the nearby two security cameras #2, which you should of course make use of, as it will make the further part of the mission much easier.

Regardless of how you plan on deal with the mercenaries, your primary objective should be reaching one of the newly opened evacuation routes (the same I mentioned before).

The mercenaries are occupying level six and seven. The first step is of course returning to the main room, though I wouldn't recommend using the same corridor that you came here. Instead, head into one of the two nearby office rooms (northern or southern), located east of room 404. Inside each of them you will find a ventilation grate #1. Use the shaft to reach the seventh floor #2.

If you don't mind stunning the mercenaries, wait for the two of them to split. Attack the one closer to the ventilation shaft exit #1 and of course quickly drag his body somewhere safe. Do the same with the second mercenary who has probably gone east #2.

The third mercenary is patrolling the southern part of the balconies #1 and attacking him by surprise shouldn't be too big of a problem. The last one is in the corridor beside the already examined southern rooms (inter alia, the conference room) #2. No complications should arise here as well.

If you don't wish to attack anyone, focus on reaching the lobby passage described below. You would have to skillfully move between covers and make use of camouflage (Cloaking System augmentation).

Now you can use the only evacuation route on the seventh floor, but if you plan on eliminating all the mercenaries, you should return onto the sixth level. Once back there, carefully approach the main hall and wait for the closest mercenaries to split up (screen above).

The sixth floor is being patrolled by as many as five mercenaries, so you have to be very cautious while eliminating them. At first I'd suggest hiding beside the western stairs onto the seventh floor and stun the guard patrolling that area #1. The next one in line should be the one patrolling the southern part of the level 6 room #2.

For a change, return to the northern part of the room and attack the mercenary patrolling this area at the proper moment #1. Now move to the north-east corner of the hall and wait for the fourth mercenary to reach the east stairs #2. Check out his body to find, inter alia, an EMP grenade.

In the end take care of the guard patrolling the central part of the room #1. He keeps going south and back north, so surprising him will be a piece of a cake.

If you don't intend to attack anyone, you should focus solely on reaching one of the evacuation routes on the sixth floor, described below (leading either to the lobby or server room). You'd have to skillfully move between covers (stairs are a good idea, for example #2) and use the Cloaking System to your advantage.

Map legend: 1 - Server room passage (level 6); 2 - Lobby passage (level 6).

Map legend: 1 - Lobby passage (level 7).

The methods described below will let you reach each of the possible evacuation route, at the same time forcing you to choose one of them. The first option implies going through the server room. I wouldn't recommend this path if you want to keep on sneaking, as it's very likely that your actions will alert the guards. It however doesn't mean that the server room itself isn't worth a visit, as you can make a few things in it. The Passage to the server room can be found on the sixth floor, in the southern part of the main hall (screen above).

Head towards the server room and soon enough you will reach a door with a level 4 electronic lock #1. Luckily you don't necessarily have to hack it, as you can pretty much use the code - 8825 - gained from the palmtop. Choose the stairs leading onto level 5. After reaching it, examine the surroundings of the desk to find a software and an unsecured computer terminal #2.

If you insist on using the nearby passage to the further part of the building, take a look around the server room for a destructible wall #1, on which you can use the Punch Through Walls augmentation. Use the ladder to reach level 3. You can find a fragile wall here as well #2, though there are guards in its direct neighbourhood. As a result, there's a fair chance that by knocking the wall down you would stun one of them, starting an alarm as a result. At best you must be ready for alarming one or multiple enemies.

Reward: 2400 EXP + 750 EXP for staying undetected.

The second option implies reaching the lobby. It's a much better solution if you want to stay in cover, avoiding enemy contact. In order to reach the lobby, you can choose one of two passages. The first is in the eastern part of the main room on the sixth level #1 and the second by the balconies located on the seventh level #2.

In both cases you must reckon with encountering two additional guards. If you intend to stun them, you must be very careful, as they often cross their fields of vision. Start by eliminating the mercenary patrolling the area further to the west #1. You won't have much time to remove his body, so consider leaving it by the glass wall with PicusWeb sign. Afterwards carefully approach the second guard #2 and carry out a surprise attack at the proper moment.

If you don't intend to attack anyone, you can consider reaching the room through the ventilation shaft. Its entrance can be found in the men toilet #1 and the exit to the north of the lobby #2. Unfortunately, you would have to use Cloaking System.

Your target is to reach the elevators and it's worth to dedicate some time to find the new weapon upgrade. The more obvious is interacting with the left elevator #1. Go inside and wait to be transported to the lobby on the third floor of the hotel #2.

Reward: 2400 EXP + 750 EXP for staying undetected.

An alternative option is jumping into the right, inoperable elevator shaft #1, but in such situation you would need to have the Icarus Landing System augmentation. After landing enter the ventilation shaft #2 which will eventually lead you to a room on the fourth level of the hotel.

Reward: 2700 EXP + 750 EXP for staying undetected.

Notice! The description of further actions can be found in Step 3 (Reaching the staircase at the back of the studio).