Nuclear Protocol is the fifth mission in Aliens: Dark Descent. Hayes suggests a solution to get back to the Pioneer Station and deactivate the Cerberus Protocol in order for the Otago to get out of the planet safely.
Read ahead as we go through Nuclear Protocol Mission 05 in Aliens: Dark Descent and share some tips on how to complete the objectives, as well as the locations of the collectibles and blueprints in the level.
See previous: Aliens Dark Descent Otago’s Last Stand Mission 04 Walkthrough
Nuclear Protocol Objectives
- Reach the upper level
- Restore the power
- Find the Codebreaker
- Enter the AI Room
- Deactivate Cerberus
Secondary Objectives
- Former co-worker
- Customs seizure
Nuclear Protocol Mission 05 Walkthrough
For this mission, you will be heading back to the Pioneer Station, which is now highly infested by the Xenomorphs. The goal is to cancel the Cerberus Protocol before it progresses into its deadlier phases, which would mean the end of all life on Lethe.
Reach the upper level
Upon arriving at the mission, head through the door, and you’ll immediately find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #1 and #2 in the first room. Proceed to the next two doors up ahead, then head towards the middle path first, where you will find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #3, then head over to the marked door to the west to find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #4.
When you try to open the door, it will fail and require you to restore power to it first.
Restore the power
Head towards the middle door, then work your way to the path towards the west that goes into the Storage Area. The area is expansive and quite dark, but you’ll find some illuminated places with some chests and the Nuclear Protocol Datapad #5 near the tubes close to the northern side.
Enter the service elevator room, where you’ll get a false alarm. Take the Nuclear Protocol Datapad #6. Ride the elevator and take it up to the Headquarters. Then go through the catwalk towards the east until you arrive at the control room.
Before interacting with the control panel, set up your sentries facing the southern side, as the Xenomorphs will start coming to your position once the power is back on. After clearing the wave, you can then proceed to the southern door.
Find the Codebreaker
Continue moving towards the east, but be aware of any encounters as you move. You’ll eventually reach the security room, where you can get access to the station’s cameras.
Open the map and check the cameras east of your location to update your objectives; you can get two with one that you can do along the way.
Former Co-Worker
Head over to the room on the east side and have someone hack the door open. While waiting, check the room up north, where you will find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #7. Once opened, check the corpse in the room, and you will be able to access Nuclear Protocol Datapad #8. Your next objective is to find someone named Anand; continue on with the main objectives for now as you will find Anand along the way.
Find the Codebreaker (contd.)
Head to the corridor where the commando is and check its corpse to update the objective. Then, head to the room northwest to find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #9, then check the map to see the area where you need to check. Go to the room to the east and check the leader’s corpse to find the Codebreaker.
Customs Seizure
Up the end of the corridor is the Customs Office. Go inside to find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #10, and then interact with the terminal to get Nuclear Protocol Datapad #11. Your next objective will be the Mechanical room, which you have already passed by before reaching the Security Room earlier. After checking the crate in there, you will have to check two more crates located in the earlier areas of the Headquarters.
Enter the AI Room
Continue heading west to reach the AI Room. Prepare for an encounter, as there may be a number of Runners and Drones in this area, depending on how much clearing you’ve done. Check the central table where you will find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #12. Your next task is to set up a kill zone within the room before opening the door up ahead.
If you are low on sentries, head south to the armory first, where you can get them from chests. You can also find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #13 within the armory.
Set up sentries in the marked areas, and once you’re prepared, interact with the terminal near the door to get another Danger Incoming prompt. Alarms will start blaring, and the Xenomorphs will be flooding the AI room. The Runners might be too fast for your sentries, especially if there are more than one of them, so have your units be on suppressive fire to slow them down. Be careful, as there will be some strays coming out of the vents behind your squad, too.
After three waves, you can start interacting with the terminal again and take the time to get the sector map from the table. Enter the next room and interact with the next terminal to get the cancellation sequence.
Former Co-Worker (contd.)
Take the elevator southwest of your location to get to the Command Level. You will find Anand just before the elevator (bugged for now, real body is at the Command Level), then as you exit at the Command Level, take the path to the west to find Anand’s datapad, or Nuclear Protocol Datapad #14. Finally, continue looking for Cooper near the entrance to the bridge, then head inside the bridge to the east to find Cooper’s log or Nuclear Protocol Datapad #15.
Deactivate Cerberus
This location is basically the location in the prologue level, except it’s now infested. Head to the east path, where you will encounter a new threat: the Synths. Just like Daniel from before, they are now in kill mode while the Cerberus Protocol is up. This floor is also infested with Xenomorphs, so tread slowly and carefully to not rile them up.
Head through the kitchen, and you’ll eventually reach Hayes’ office. Check the table to find Nuclear Protocol Datapad #16. From here on to the west, there are nests that are full of Xenomorphs; it’s best to lay down sentries along the way and whittle the numbers down as you go. Check the lounge where there is a huge nest; clear the nest, then there’s a synth nearby that you can repair and take with you.
As you tread the southern path towards the west, you will eventually see Nuclear Protocol Datapad #17.
The room to the southwest leads to the Synth Maintenance Room, where the Queen is. You won’t have much cover, and the Queen plus the synths will start attacking you. Quickly lay down your sentries and have someone on suppressive fire towards the synths and the Queen. Then, slowly move towards the south side, where there is cover to hide behind. Once the situation is safe, check the Queen’s corpse to find the Xenotech Blueprint – Anti-Acid Gel.
Finally, make your way to the Cerberus Room and interact with the terminal. However, it would be too late, as canceling Phase 2 of the protocol has already lapsed. Make your way back to the elevator and down to the Docking Bay, then extract your team at the ARC to complete the mission.