During the main storyline mission titled The City and the Stars in The Outer Worlds, players face one of the most morally complex choices in the game. Deep inside the Ministry of Accuracy and Morale in Byzantium, you must retrieve a chemical called Dimethyl Sulfoxide to help Dr. Phineas Welles revive the frozen colonists on the Hope. However, obtaining this substance presents an intense dilemma regarding experimental human test subjects.
Navigating the Ministry of Accuracy and Morale
To reach the chemical laboratory, players need to infiltrate a heavily guarded facility in the city of Byzantium. You can gain entry by sneaking through side entrances, stealing access cards, or convincing key staff members like Giles Molina to hand over security keys. Using a holographic shroud disguise significantly simplifies movement through restricted corridors and keeps local guards from becoming hostile.
Once inside the underground research lab, you will find a central terminal controlling the liquid extraction process. Reaching this console allows you to initiate the transfer procedure into an empty chemical canister. Before finalizing the process, the terminal presents two distinct options that carry heavy narrative consequences.
Choosing to Transfer 100 Percent of the Chemical
Selecting the option to siphon all 100% of the Dimethyl Sulfoxide secures the full amount of chemical required by Phineas. This choice provides the maximum resource efficiency for reviving the skilled scientists and engineers trapped aboard the Hope. It guarantees that the revived colonists have the strongest chance to fix Halcyon's impending resource crisis quickly.
However, extracting the entire supply immediately cuts off life support to the human test subjects trapped in the lab vats. Viewing this outcome results in a dramatic scene where the experimental subjects perish right in front of you. While it serves the greater good for the Hope's population, it comes at a grim immediate moral cost.
Choosing to Transfer 26 Percent of the Chemical
Opting to transfer approximately 26% of the Dimethyl Sulfoxide preserves enough solution to keep the test subjects inside the facility alive. This humane decision ensures that no active test subjects die during your rescue operation. Players who prioritize saving every possible human life often prefer this path.
The drawback to taking a partial supply is that Phineas Welles receives less raw material to begin his mass revival process. While he complains about the reduced quantity, the overall narrative still allows you to progress toward saving the colony. Later on, the surviving scientists from the Hope can potentially synthesize additional chemical supplies to fulfill the long-term plan.
Finalizing the Quest and Returning to Phineas
Regardless of which percentage you choose to transfer, collect the filled canister from the console area before exiting. Retrace your steps back to the elevator and leave the Ministry building cleanly to avoid unnecessary combat. Travel back to Phineas's Orbital Lab to deliver the liquid container and trigger the final phase of the campaign.