Mission 09 – Dance With Death

 

 

MISSION 09 – Dance With Death

Location: Gastown

 

After all this time, we finally get to go to Gastown. Be warned, the area around it it is crawling with strong enemy vehicles that can demolish a insufficiently upgraded Magnum Opus in seconds. Although you could always kill one of the enemy drivers and roll his wheels into Gastown instead if you are having problems dealing with them.

 

Make the long journey North-East of Pink Eye's stronghold to eventually rattle your way across the bridge leading to the town. As you cross it, a quick scene will trigger, introducing you to the post-apocalyptic version of Vegas.

 

 

After getting out of your (or an enemy's) car, stroll up the staircase directly in front of you to trigger a scene and have a power meeting witht the Outcrier. Apparently he needs something to light up his life. And you're going to get it, if you want to enter the races that is.

 

Note: Make sure you have as much ammo as you can carry for your shotgun if possible, as it can make the confrontation at the end of this mission much easier.

 

 

Objective: Drive to the Underdune

 

The Underdune is a large open area of the wastes in the North-East corner of the map, mostly free of enemy structures and vehicles. So get back in your car and get ready to explore this strange mostly unpopulated area.

 

As you reach the border of the area between Gastown and the Underdune, you'll come across a lit up guard post with several flame towers and a large gate blocking your path. There shouldn't be much need for your thunderpoon in the rest of this mission, so feel free to use some shots to explode the fire towers quickly. Alternatively, you can pull them down with the harpoon, but you just need to dodge a bit more.

 

 

After they are down, you can roll up to the gate and harpoon or sniper the sniper standing above it before getting down to the business of destroying the gate blocking the way. Fire a harpoon into one of the bunches of barrels to the left and right of the gate to blast it open and drive on through.

 

After passing through a short concrete tunnel, you'll emerge into Buzzard territory with the Underdune area ahead of you. Follow the lone road across the white dunes as you head towards the marker on the horizon. As you get close, you'll spot an airport control tower rising up out of the sands.

 

 

Follow the trail as it wraps around the tail assemblage of a plane until you reach the entrance (covered in massive spikes, like all buzzard stuff). Roll inside and use the harpoon to bring down the gate just inside. You'll be inside the airport terminal here.

 

Objective: Enter the Underdune

 

Just a word of warning in advance, don't leave the car unless the game specifically tells you during this story mission. Despite the narrow areas, you are supposed to drive through the small gaps. If Max gets too far away from his car, bad things will happen – well, a return to car message will flash up on the screen.

 

 

I didn't want to test my luck to see what happened if you keep moving further away. Drive down the narrow ramp edged with spikes (even the underside of the bridge overhead is laden with spikes), then carefully move down to where the waiting marker is. 

 

Objective: Find the light bulbs

 

You'll be winding your way carefully through baggage claim here, edging around the conveyor belts covered in sand. As you descend the stairs leading to Domestic Arrivals, you'll start to see Buzzard explosive traps hanging from the roof, dangling in your way. Move cautiously past them, weaving and evading. Remember, if you are going slow and an explosive swings down you can just stop and watch it blow up.

 

 

The path here is very linear, just littered with explosives. After a while rolling through the area, you'll drive up a set of stairs and encounter a raised bridge impeding your progress. Time for slightly vexed Maximilian to get out of the car and do his thing.

 

Objective: Lower the bridge

 

You'll see a door to pass through in the wall to the right. Do so and pass through the small room into the larger one beyond. At the far back corner of this larger room, you'll find a stash of ammo to grab. Enter the door opposite and then another door ahead of you to come out on the far side of the bridge. Turn towards the marker to see a wheel you can destroy to lower the bridge and cross back to the Magnum Opus.

 

 

Objective: Find the light bulbs

 

Hop back in the car and cross the narrow bridge to continue onward. Follow the narrow hallway and climb the stairs until you arrive at the main area of the terminal. Hang a left when you emerge into the large area and follow the dusty trail (ignore the staircases you go past, as they lead to nothing).

 

Keep following the dark pathways until you finally hear Max call out that he sees the light-bulbs. Get out of the car once again and look for a gap amongst the rubble to the right. Pass through it and up the stairs beyond. At the top, squeeze through the narrow gap between the vending machines. Follow the corridors as they wander about the complex. You'll pass an open door to your left and see some scrap at the back of a small room ahead to pick up, with some food on the floor beside it if you need it.

 

 

In the wall opposite the scrap is another doorway. Enter this one and turn to the left to find more scrap to grab. Backtrack the way you came and continue following the marker. Around the next corner you'll find even more scrap in a box. Just afterwards, you'll enter the body of an airplane and have to walk up it, through the seating area at an angle. At the far end of this, you'll find a way out to your right.

 

As you leave the plane, look in the corner ahead to the left to spot scrap. In the opposite corner is an ammo stash, with a doorway leading onward next to it and a water collection point just beyond. Top up your health (as there is a fight coming up shortly) before moving on.

 

 

Head past the toilets and then travel down the open hallway ahead. At the next corner you should find a bit of scrap next to a fire and another piece of scrap beside it on the floor. Round the next corner and keep pushing forwards until you see blinking lights flashing on the wall ahead.

 

Objective: Collect the light bulbs

 

Walk to the back corner of the room where the marker is pointing and pick up a set of lights. Cue inevitable ambush. Hope your health is good and you've got some shotgun rounds to make life easier.

 

 

Objective: Return to the Magnum Opus

Objective: Survive the Ambush

 

You'll initially be fighting against five or so regular buzzards. Their leaping attacks can blindside you rather badly, especially if you are playing camera roulette, with the camera looking inside your own head. A steady stream of additional buzzards will arrive as you defeat their comrades until you've brought down about ten or twelve in all. Feel free to use your shotgun here (especially on the leaping attack bastards, but try and keep a shot or two spare, as you have another wave yet).

 

After this wave is complete, a second one will enter. This one comprises of a regular buzzard, one with a weapon and a shield and weapon one. Hopefully you saved a shot as it is the easiest way to bring down the shielded enemy. Simply dodge and attack and blast him in the back. The other two enemies will fall in short order after that. That reminds me, did we ask the buzzards if they ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

 

 

Objective: Escape the Underdune

 

It's not all over yet, all hell is breaking loose across the terminal. Quickly leave the room via the only open door and drop down from the platform to reach the waiting Magnum Opus and Chumbucket. Jump back in the car and slam down the accelerator as you tear away along the path to the exit.

 

Buzzard vehicles and flame pots will all try to get in your way as you race towards the light. Hopefully you have sufficient armour on your vehicle to survive a few hits as you ram the enemy vehicles into submission. Eventually you'll find yourself back at the entrance to the Underdune and breathing the open air once more.

 

 

Objective: Return to the Outcrier

 

Fast travel back to Gastown and hand over the lights to please the Outcrier and cement your place in the upcoming race for the big chief engine. Apparently though, you still need a fighter. We'll cover that in the next mission as this one is over.

 

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