A Rising Chorus: Act III

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A Rising Chorus: Act III
Game:	Episode: Echoes
Quest giver:	Failsafe

A Rising Chorus: Act III is the main quest in the Episode: Echoes Act III quest chain.

Steps

"And my vanquisher will read that book, seeking the weapon, and they will come to understand me, where I have been and where I was going."The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

Failsafe has overridden the Conductor's security measures and stands ready to guide you to her stronghold at the center of Nessus.

Explore the Conductor's domain and wield the secrets hidden within.

Step 1

Face the Conductor's compelled Vex at the center of Nessus in the Exotic mission "Encore."

• Defeat the Conductor's forces in the Exotic mission "Encore," launched from the H.E.L.M.
  • Conductor's Vex confronted

Note

See Encore: Overture for a transcript of the mission.

Step 2

Ikora wishes to meet with you and discuss what you found in Maya's laboratory.

• Meet with Ikora in the H.E.L.M.

---

• Ikora: Never trust anyone who tries to justify their actions "for the greater good". There are hundreds of copies of Maya Sundaresh in the Vex simulation network. She knows that there's nothing we can learn from the Vex that would bring us closer to our Golden Age. Those times are behind us. We're here, and we have what we need. No. What Maya wants is control. And for now, she has exactly that. She has an agenda more personal than a Golden Age. She always does. You saw her experiments. She's iterating. Using the Vex, using Chioma. We lost so much to the Collapse. But this path won't lead us to anything but more loss. Guardian, work with Failsafe to get back inside Maya's facility in the center of Nessus. With more data we can uncover her secrets, and put an end to her search.

Step 3

Failsafe needs you to reclaim a piece of Golden Age tech so that she can upgrade her research capabilities and breakthrough the Conductor's firewall.

• Learn how Failsafe plans to break Maya's encryption.
  • Spoke with Failsafe

---

Failsafe is eager to help you break the Conductor's encryption around her base at the center of Nessus.

She indicates that a core piece of technology vital to fully unlocking her research capabilities was stolen from her wreckage by the Nessus Fallen shortly after she first crashed.

Fortunately, she's kept the exact coordinates of where the piece was taken all those years ago… not that she's been holding a grudge.

Reclaiming this piece of Golden Age tech will allow Failsafe to restore access to the Conductor's stronghold.

She uploads the coordinates to your HUD.

Step 4

Trackdown Failsafe's stolen research component, hidden in The Rift Lost Sector on Nessus.

• Find the stolen Golden Age component in The Rift Lost Sector on Nessus.
  • Golden Age tech found: x/5

---

• Failsafe: Okay, Captain. If we're going to bring any kind of fight to the Conductor, I'll need to reclaim some of my original Exodus Black tech.

The Guardian acquires Failsafe's tech.

• Failsafe: Oh wow, I haven't seen that thing in a long time! I'll integrate it into my system, and then… watch out, the Conductor! I'll be better at researching how to destroy you!

Step 5

Failsafe can scan the recovered component in the H.E.L.M. to reclaim its abilities.

• Upgrade Failsafe in the H.E.L.M.
  • Failsafe upgraded

Step 6

The newly upgraded Failsafe seems eager to discuss her abilities with you.

• Speak with Failsafe in the H.E.L.M.
  • Spoke with Failsafe

---

"Hello, Captain. I have completed another full system upgrade. This time it went perfectly. I am perfect in every way!"

Failsafe's voice drops in pitch.

"Or at least my new research bays are, I guess."

Failsafe's voice rises again.

"I documented my changes!"

Failsafe 3.0 Patch Notes:

• Perfected research bays installed
• Perfected radiolite sampler crafted
• Processing power increased by 42.85714%
• Rolled back sarcasm limiters
• Increased hot and cold signal range by 96490%
• Favorite color range expanded

Step 7

Failsafe is eager to analyze the specimen taken from Maya's lab using the research bays in the H.E.L.M.

• Help Failsafe research specimen NES007 and discover its secrets.
  • Research completed

Step 8

A message awaits at the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.

• Visit the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
  • Message received

---

• Saint-14: Hello, Guardian. Failsafe asked that I take over briefing duties while she works on her research. We were speaking earlier — she had disengaged her filter, so she used her, well, raincloud voice — and she asked how it felt, when I took the memories of the other Saint. I told her it was like… becoming more myself. That Saint and me, we're the same. But there was one important difference — you, Guardian. The other Saint, he died alone. But I met you, after Osiris sent you to find me. You gave me hope in my darkest time. I thought to live up to your example — that is how I survived. And slowly, I found I was no longer living for you — you were good to have around, do not misunderstand — but, er, I was living for me. I told this to Failsafe, and she was quiet for a long time. Then she said she had to feed her frog, and I left. But I think it was a good talk.

Saint-14 greets you from the holoprojector. He is handling the comms to let Failsafe focus on researching the readings from Maya's laboratory at the planet's core.

He had been speaking with Failsafe—"she had disengaged her filter, so she used her raincloud voice," he says—and she asked what it felt like to take the memories of his other self. He told her his other self was almost identical, aside from one important difference:

"You, Guardian."

"The other Saint, he died alone. But I met you, after Osiris sent you in to find me. You gave me hope in my darkest time. I fought to live up to your example—that is how I survived. And slowly, I found I was no longer living for you… but I was living for me."

He says that Failsafe was quiet afterwards, seemingly lost in thought.

"I think it was a good talk," he says and smiles.

Step 9

• Failsafe is trying to reestablish a connection with Maya's laboratory at the core of Nessus. She will contact you when she has access.

Step 10

A message awaits at the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.

• Visit the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
  • Message received

---

• Saint-14: Listen, Guardian. I was thinking hard about how to beat the Conductor, and Osiris stopped me. He said the Conductor is very strong, and has abilities we cannot stand against. But, he said, maybe we can beat Maya Sundaresh. Osiris told me the story of Maya, how she was lost in the Vex Network, split into hundreds of copies, until the powers of the Echo brought her to life. The Conductor is one of those copies. Could be the first one, or could be all of them smashed together — maybe she does not even know herself. But Osiris says all Mayas are scientists, and we can see her thoughts in her experiments. We must find what she is trying to do. Failsafe has located pieces of tech to help you study the Exo bodies in Maya's laboratory. If we can learn what Maya is doing with those, maybe we can think of way to stop her. Brains not brawn, yes?

As soon as Saint-14 appears on the holoprojector, he begins telling you about how he and Osiris have been thinking of ways to defeat the Conductor.

Saint smiles beneath his helmet. "Osiris said the Conductor is very strong," he says, emphasizing the Conductor's name, "but maybe we can beat Maya Sundaresh."

Saint explains how the Echo of Command pulled Maya's consciousness out of the Vex network, but the network holds hundreds of different Mayas. The Conductor "could be the first one, or could be all of them smashed together. Maybe she does not even know herself," he says.

"But Osiris says all Mayas are scientists, and we can see her thoughts in her experiments."

Saint and Osiris believe the key to understanding Maya's plan is hidden in the Exo bodies in the depths of her lab. Failsafe has located tech to help you study them, and hopefully you can discover a way to stop Maya's plans.

"Brains, not brawn, yes?" muses the Titan, and he sends you on your way.

Step 11

Failsafe believes she can gain information on the Conductor's intentions by studying a sample of pristine Exo control data from Europa.

• Recover the Exo data from the Lost Sector Perdition on Europa.
  • Data recovered

---

• Failsafe: The Conductor has that pile of Exo frames down in her lab. She was using them to host consciousnesses… I've been trying to figure out why, and then it hit me: inconclusive.

The Guardian recovers the Exo data.

• Failsafe: Ooh, this is good data… yeah, I think I can almost decrypt another one of the Conductor's Exos. All I need now is a cerebral host matrix — one of the classic Bray models. Could you help me out, Captain?

Step 12

Failsafe needs to study a BrayTech Exo's consciousness driver.

• Locate the consciousness driver in Bray Exoscience on Europa.
  • Driver recovered

---

• Failsafe: All right, I'm sure there's a host matrix around here. Ahem… beep-boop, beep-boop — nah, I'm kidding, I'll just mark it for you. I'm way better at finding stuff since you upgraded me. Thanks for that, by the way.

The Guardian locates the consciousness driver.

• Failsafe: Got it. If you're ready, we can head back into the Conductor's lab. The Exo frames she's working on down there have got to be key to the Golden Age she keeps talking about. We just need to uncover their secrets before she kills us all!

Step 13

The Conductor is attempting to use the Choral Mind to awaken Nessus and spread it's radiolaria. She must be stopped.

• Destroy the Conductor's Choral Mind in the Exotic mission "Encore," launched from the H.E.L.M.
  • Choral Mind destroyed

Note

See Encore: Concerto for a transcript of the mission.

Step 14

A message awaits at the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.

• Visit the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
  • Message received

---

• Osiris: Guardian, I can now confirm… every Exo frame in Maya's lab, once held the consciousness of Maya's wife, Chioma Esi. Each, a-a different version, pulled from the Vex network. Uploaded. Judged. Found wanting, and eliminated. Guardian, there are details about Maya Sundaresh I kept from Saint. He did not need to know the cruelty of the hands that touched his mind… Or how much they reminded me of my own. But today… I saw a reflection of myself, had I lost my way… if I never found Saint and instead wrapped myself in obsession. I thought myself heroic in my search — a romantic — and that I was justified by my success. But what if I… had not realized my good fortune? If I had met Saint, not with relief, but with skepticism? To imagine myself finding Saint… deciding he is wrong… killing him… And then starting again… It would have broken me. And I believe it has broken Maya. One capable of such horror, has defiled the concept of love. Do not forget what you're dealing with.

Step 15

• Failsafe is trying to reestablish a connection with Maya's laboratory at the core of Nessus. She will contact you when she has access.

Step 16

A message awaits at the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.

• Visit the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
  • Message received

---

• Ikora: The Conductor awaits at the core of Nessus, working to awaken the planet, and consume us in a flood of radiolaria… all in the name of her Golden Age, where she reunites with Chioma. Guardian, we cannot fight against the Echo of Command. But I think… We could find Chioma. The Chioma Maya thinks of as "hers". Failsafe believes she could isolate a signature using Chioma's original logs on Neomuna. Maya's still confined to the Nessus network, so that information remains out of her reach. It's the only advantage we've got. If we took that signature back to the lab, we could succeed where Maya has failed. Listen. I won't put another life in Maya's hands, not after what she's done. But if anyone could make her understand, it would be the one Chioma she's been searching for. I realize this is a longshot. Failsafe has prepared a contingency plan in case this goes wrong. One way or another, the Conductor's search ends now.

There is steel in Ikora's voice as she prepares you for one more journey into Maya's laboratory.

"The Conductor awaits at the core of Nessus, working to awaken the planet and consume us in a flood of radiolaria… all in the name of her Golden Age, where she reunites with Chioma."

Ikora believes Chioma herself may be the key to ending this conflict… and she thinks she knows how to isolate the signal of the Chioma Maya thinks of as "hers."

"I won't put another life in Maya's hands, not after what she's done. But if anyone could make her understand, it would be the one Chioma she's been searching for."

Failsafe is standing by to help you retrieve the necessary tech to pull Chioma's signature from the Vex network, and she will also prepare a contingency plan in case things go badly.

"One way or another," Ikora says, "the Conductor's search ends now."

Step 17

Search Neomuna's terminals dedicated to the study of the Veil for the quantum signature of the Chioma that originated in the same simulation as the Conductor.

• Search the Neomuna Veil Containment terminals for the quantum signature of the "true" Chioma.
  • Signature found

---

• Failsafe: Captain, the Veil terminal on Neomuna should hold a trace of the Chioma Esi the Conductor thinks of as "hers". If I attune to it, I can match its frequency and find the corresponding Chioma in the Conductor's lab… I think. Then we can pull that Chioma's consciousness through… I think. And then she can talk the Conductor out of murdering us! …I think.

The Guardian activates the scan.

• Failsafe: I've isolated the signal. It's one of hundreds, but it's the same as the Conductor. I'm ready to carry out Ikora's orders. But first, we need a plan b. Take me to an active Vex network node on Neomuna. I have an idea.

Step 18

Boost Failsafe's connection to the Vex network by installing a network relay.

• Install a network relay for Failsafe to boost her connection.
  • Relay installed

---

• Failsafe: Okay, Captain. I need you to install a Vex network relay for me here on Neomuna. The Conductor can only monitor Nessus incursions, so this should let me help if things go wrong. The Conductor can only monitor Nessus incursions, so this should let me help if things go wrong. Beep-boop-bingo, set it up right there.

The Guardian installs a network relay for Failsafe to boost her connection.

• Failsafe: All right, that's my backdoor into the Vex network, just in case reuniting Maya with Chioma goes horribly wrong. Not that I think it will… but I kinda think it will. Be safe, okay, Captain?

Step 19

Destroy the Choral Mind on Nessus to stop the Conductor's plans and confront her with the truth about Chioma.

• Stop the Conductor's plans by destroying the Choral Mind in Exotic mission "Encore," launched from the H.E.L.M.
  • Choral Mind destroyed

Note

See Encore: Coda for a transcript of the mission.

Step 20

• Confront the Conductor with the knowledge that she destroyed her "true" Chioma.
  • Conductor confronted

Step 21

Failsafe wishes to speak with you at her remote uplink in the H.E.L.M.

• Speak with Failsafe in the H.E.L.M.
  • Message received

---

• Failsafe: Greetings, Captain! I am quite pleased that you are alive! My planetary scans reveal that the Vex machinery within Nessus is dormant once again. Perhaps learning the truth about Chioma caused Maya to question her own judgment and halt her plans for galactic domination! …Or maybe she changed her mind when Saint-unit and Ikora blasted the paint off her chassis. Either way, she has vanished into the Vex network. I will continue monitoring Nessus, but I believe we can celebrate a successful mission! Well, you can celebrate, at least. I was part of a crew again, and now it's over. I don't like goodbyes. Hmm… y'know, I thought I'd be sadder? Usually when I'm alone, it's like… whoever left turned off the lights behind them. It gets real dark. But now, there's still a little brightness left. It's not coming from you, or Saint-unit, or Captain Jacobson. I guess… it's me. I think, maybe, I can keep going just for me. See ya around, Captain. Thanks for everything.

"Greetings, Captain!" Failsafe says cheerfully. "My planetary scans reveal that the Vex machinery within Nessus is dormant once again. Perhaps learning the truth about Chioma caused Maya to question her own judgment and halt her plans for galactic domination!"

Failsafe's voice drops. "Or maybe she changed her mind when Saint-unit and Ikora blasted the paint off her chassis," she says wryly.

Failsafe congratulates you on a successful mission, but it's clear her heart isn't in it.

"I was part of a crew again, and now it's over," she says sadly. "I don't like goodbyes."

But quiet hope creeps into the edges of her voice. "Y'know, I thought I'd be sadder? Usually when I'm alone, it's like whoever left turned off the lights behind them… but now, there's still a little brightness left. I guess… it's me. I think, maybe, I can keep going just for me."

"See ya around, Captain," Failsafe says. "Thanks for everything."

Step 22

• Speak to Saint-14 in the H.E.L.M.

---

• Saint-14: You found traces of Maya, Guardian? Huh, so she still lives, hidden somewhere in the Vex Network. I hope she will abandon her terrible search for her lost Chioma… but I fear she may be beyond reason. Maya wanted everything "just so", but people do not always fit cleanly into a frame. They spill out over the edges. That beautiful mess is what makes us who we are. If you demand only perfection, you will end up alone… for no one is perfect. Of course, some of us are closer than others — hah, I joke. I know who I am, I accept myself, and all my flaws. And, to me, I am enough. you understand what I am saying, Failsafe?

• Failsafe: I understand, Saint-unit. I'm not gonna do a little speech about it, but… I understand.

• Saint-14: Hm. Good enough.

Appearance

• Destiny 2: Episode: Echoes (First appearance)