Hardware Labs | Side Quests Prey Guide
Last update: 15 May 2017
This page contains descriptions of additional quests in Prey which can be unlocked while exploring Hardware Labs which are one of the many areas on Talos I station. Completing these missions is completely optional but it will let you obtain valuable items.
Zero G Propulsion System
This quest is automatically unlocked during your exploration of the Machine Shop in the west part of Hardware Labs during Through a Glass Darkly main quest. You receive it when you try to use the airlock that allows you to move to Talos I Exterior. You learn from January that the titular propulsion system is useful if you want to move in space.
Fortunately, unlocking the propulsion system is not that complicated. Search the north-west corner of the Machine Shop and look at the platform in the picture 1. You can get there by climbing one of the nearby constructions and performing a long jump. when you get there you must find Artax Propulsion System Fabrication Plan. You can get in the place presented in the picture 2, right next to one of the computer booths.
A fabricator can be found in the same place where you found the plan. Check if you can craft the propulsion system. The requirements for making this item are very low - 1 unit of mineral materials and 1 unit of synthetic materials (you can process any junk and get the materials). Crafting the propulsion system (you equip it automatically) ends this mission.
Breach Access
You can easily unlock this quest during the exploration of the space in Talos I Exterior during Through a Glass Darkly main quest. In said main mission you must reach the drifting Dr. Lorenzo Calvino's corpse. Besides doing that you can also check the control panel presented in the picture. The panel is broken but you can fix it by using Repair human ability.
Fixing the console gave you full access to Beams & Waves Lab which is located on level 2 of Hardware Labs. Go there (when you are on your way you must watch out for new Phantoms and Mimics!). The quest is completed right after you enter the lab but you can also unlock a new side mission called The Blackbox Project and take the Q-Beam weapon. You can find it in the shooting range presented in the picture above (use the terminal to unlock the shooting range).
The Blackbox Project
This quest can only be started after you complete the side mission called Breach Access. This means that you must unlock the access to Beams & Waves Lab located on level 2 of Hardware Labs. When you get there you must check out Lane Carpenter's computer booth. By reading the e-mails you unlock this mission. You must find Josh Dalton, the engineer that was part of the Blackbox Project, because he is now missing.
You can immediately start searching for him or you can visit the Security Station and use the computer to find him on the list. Doing that allows you to track, more or less, his whereabouts.
This mission can be continued when you reach the location called G.U.T.S. which is visited for the first time during Detour main quest. Go through almost the entire location until you reach the fork in the road presented in the picture above. Choose the right tunnel, the one that leads to Deep Storage and Shuttle Bay.
During your fly you must watch out for radiation crates and new Cystoids nests. Slow down after you go through the narrow tunnel with the tracks, the one that goes the other way twice. If you have activated the location of Josh Dalton then you should be about 50 meters from him. Find the small opening under the pipes, presented in the picture 1, through which you can fly. This allows you to reach Dalton's corpse presented in the picture 2 but before you examine his body you must destroy Cystoids. By examining his body you get Blackbox Lab Keycard although you can also look aroun the area and find, among others, a Q-Beam and a TranScribe.
You must now go back to the place where you started this quest, to Beams & Waves Lab in Hardware Labs. Inside of that lab you can probably find a new Weaver. Just to remind you, you should use Nullwave transmitters to get rid of Weaver's force field and then use regular weapons to attack the creature. The defeated monster (who was Lane Carpenter) leaves, among others, Q-Beam Cells Fabrication Plan.
You can now use the keycard and enter the Blackbox Lab. The most important thing to do is to use the computer and download the Blackbox Project data. Besides that you can also download Q-Beam Fabrication Plan and search the lab so you can find, among others, Q-Beam Cells.