Surgical Strike Walkthrough and Bug Fixes

Surgical Strike is a faction quest in Starfield. Learn how to complete the quest, find out where to search the clue, how to leave the mine, and open the door with a broken switch!

Surgical Strike Bug Fixes

Follow Ben Armistead Bug

This bug happens during the Follow Ben Armistead Objective, where he won't leave his seat and take you to the reception area. It won't allow you to progress further in the quest if that happens.

Don't Skip the Dialogues and Wait for Ben to Stand Up

Don't skip the dialogues as Ben talks, and wait for him to leave from his chair after a few seconds to avoid encountering this bug. If both methods don't work, you can use Console Commands or reload an earlier save to try again.

Surgical Strike Rewards and Unlock Condition

How to Unlock and Rewards

Planet Started	Deepala, Narion System
Location	The Clinic
Faction	Freestar Rangers
Prerequisites	Complete Shadows In Neon
Quest Giver	Daniel Blake
Rewards	・ EXP: 350 ・ Credits: 5000

Surgical Strike Walkthrough and Objectives

Main Objectives

1. Go to the Clinic
2. Talk to Ben Armistead
3. Follow Ben Armistead
4. Talk to Ari Miller
5. Follow Ari Miller
6. Wait for Ari Miller to check the Patient Records
7. Talk to Ari Miller
8. Talk to Jane Nakamori
9. Talk to Candace Doolin
10. Talk to Ari Miller
11. Gain Entry to the VIP Wing
12. Talk to Catalina Rivera
13. Search for Clues
14. Go to Sakharov
15. Investigate the Abandoned Asteroid Mine
16. Talk to Maya Cruz
17. Give the Encrypted Slate to Alex Shadid

1. Go to the Clinic

Board your ship and head over to The Clinic. This is a small medical facility stationed on the orbit of the Deepala planet in the Narion System.

Deepala Planet Location and 100% Survey Guide

2. Talk to Ben Armistead

Make your way past the reception area. To your right should be an office room where you can find Ben Armistead seated behind a desk. Inform him about the possibility that an injured mercenary of the First might be hospitilized onboard the medical station.

3. Follow Ben Armistead

Bug Warning: Players may encounter a bug where Ben Armistead won't stand up and go to the reception area.

Ben Armistead will escort you to meet with Ari Miller in the reception area.

4. Talk to Ari Miller

Tell Ari Miller that you are looking for a mercenary named Maya Cruz. He'll say that the name doesn't ring any bells and will ask for more information. You can further explain that Maya had a medical emergency that required long-term care.

5. Follow Ari Miller

Follow Ari to his workstation to access the patient records. This should be a short walk as his computer is located just a few feet away.

6. Wait for Ari Miller to Check the Patient Records

Give Ari Miller a few moments to check the patient records for any recent data on Maya Cruz. Unfortunately, he won't find any medical history on her.

7. Talk to Ari Miller

Ari Miller explains that if Maya Cruz is actually checked-in at the medical facility, she might be using an alias since she's a wanted woman.

He'll also help you narrow down your search by giving a list of female patients in the hospital.

(Optional) Offer to Find the Source of Computer Issues

If you have the Security Lockpicking skill, you can also tell Ari that you can find and resolve the source of his computer issues which might lead you to Maya.

Ari will give you admin access to Freestar Rangers Terminal located in the office room where you met Ben earlier. On the computer, open up Admin Mode and select Active Processes.

Select the Query: Disruptor Mk4 and you'll find information about a patient named Rivera, Catalina P. in the VIP Section.

8. Talk to Jane Nakamori

Head down the hospital wing where the patient rooms are found. The rooms don't have any doors, so you can easily find Jane Nakamori sitting on a chair in her room.

Ask her questions such as her medical condition and what brought her aboard the medical facility. After questioning her, you'll find out that she's not the patient you're looking for.

9. Talk to Candace Doolin

The next patient to interrogate is Candace Doolin. You can find her room at the end of the hallway. After going through some interesting dialogue, you'll realize she's slightly insane which rules her out as a potential suspect.

10. Talk to Ari Miller

Report back to Ari Miller and tell him that you've had no luck in searching for the suspect. Luckily enough, he'll tell you that he has another lead named Catalina Rivera in the VIP section.

11. Gain Entry to the VIP Wing

Talk to Doctor Cassidy in the Staff Area and ask for permission to gain entry to the VIP Wing. Initially, he won't allow you inside but you can use the Medicine skill in the dialogue to persuade him and let him give you the VIP Wing Keycard.

If you can't persuade him, there's another VIP keycard located inside his safe at his office. Lockpick the safe and get the keycard.

12. Talk to Catalina Rivera

Go back to the lobby and enter the VIP Wing with the keycard. You'll find a few dead bodies and active hostile turrets in the area. After surveying the area, you'll realize Catalina Rivera is nowhere to be found in the VIP section.

13. Search for Clues

The clue that you'll need to find is a letter called URGENT - READ IMMEDIATELY found on a table beside a hospital bed in one of the rooms of the VIP section. Do be careful as the room is filled with mines!

14. Go to Sakharov

The letter indicates that Maya Cruz may have fled to her hideout in an old asteroid mine in Sakharov. Leave the medical facility and head over there!

Sakharov Star System Location, Planets, and Stats

15. Investigate the Abandoned Asteroid Mine

How to Investigate the Abandoned Asteroid Mine
1	Land on Eklund Site
2	Remove the Pins to Open the Door with a Broken Switch
3	Hack the Terminal to Open the Second Door
4	Press the Green Switch to Open the Third Door
5	Climb Up the Crystal Tower
6	Defeat Maya Cruz

Land on Eklund Site

While flying through the asteroid field, look for the Eklund Site and dock your ship there.

Remove the Pins to Open the Door with a Broken Switch

Continue through the mines until you come across an Emergency Door with a Broken Switch. Grab the Cutter nearby and use it to remove the pins on the door.

Cutter - How to Get and Stats Overview

Hack the Terminal to Open the Second Door

Enter through the doorway and head deeper in the mines until you find a laboratory with a terminal inside. Use the terminal to unlock the second door below.

Press the Green Switch to Open the Third Door

The next area is filled with giant crystals. Jump down to the bottom of the cave and press the green switch to open the third door. Continue on until you reach an elevator.

Climb Up the Crystal Tower

Before climbing up the crystal tower, make sure to clear the area first of enemies and turrets so you can focus on getting up the tower without any disturbances.

Once you reach the top of the tower, use the Cutter again to remove the pins on the final door.

Defeat Maya Cruz

Behind the final door of the tower, you'll find Maya Cruz. Be prepared to fight her as she'll be immediately hostile upon encountering her.

16. Talk to Maya Cruz

Talk to the Maya Cruz and she'll give you an Encrypted Slate.

17. Give the Encrypted Slate to Alex Shadid

Leave the mine and go back to the Freestar Rangers HQ at The Rock in Akila City. Give the Encrypted Slate to Ranger Alex to finish the quest and get your rewards.

Akila City Map, Shops, and Location Guide

How to Leave the Mine

You can immediately leave the mine after talking to Maya using the elevator. You don't have to leave the room as you can find the elevator inside. Follow the path after using the elevator until you reach your ship.

You can also loot the area before leaving and earn some Credits, Materials, and a few Weapons for your character!

Starfield Related Guides

List of All Factions

All Joinable Factions

Faction Questlines
UC Vanguard	Freestar Collective
Ryujin Industries	Crimson Fleet
Constellation	Ebbside Strikers

All Religions

List of All Religions
The Enlightened	House Va'ruun	Sanctum Universum

Freestar Rangers Questline

	Quest	Rewards
1	Job Gone Wrong	・EXP: 150
2	Deputized	・EXP: 250
3	Where Hope is Built	・EXP: 250
4	Shadows In Neon	・EXP: 250
5	Surgical Strike	・EXP: 350
6	On The Run	・EXP: 350
7	First to Fight, First to Die	・EXP: 250
8	The Hammer Falls	・EXP: 150 ・Star Eagle Ship

Freestar Rangers Optional Quests

	Quest	Rewards
1	One Riot, One Ranger	・EXP: 75