Welcome to NGB and our guide for the Red Tape Runaround mission in Starfield! This guide will walk you through starting the mission and detail the necessary steps for its completion. If you need help with a specific mission objective, check the quick links section to find the information needed easily.
Some of the planets referenced in our guides and walkthroughs may not match yours due to how Starfield was created. In these situations, what you do and the places you visit on those planets should remain the same.
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How to Start the Red Tape Runaround Mission
Red Tape Runaround is one of the missions you can pick up at Cydonia. You’ll automatically begin this quest after completing the Red Tape Blues mission.
Red Tape Runaround Walkthrough
Report to Work for Peter Brennan
Head upstairs and speak with Peter Brennan in his office (assuming you are still in Cydonia on Mars) which is on the top floor overlooking the mining area below.
Speak with Governor Hurst
Exit the Deimos Staryard Corporate Quarters. Instead of taking the stairs down, follow the path straight ahead. Enter the first door on the left and head to the back to speak with Governor Glen Hurst. Tell him you’re here on behalf of Peter Brennan. Before he turns over the shipment, he’ll want you to do him a little favor.
Find the Stolen Ship
You’ll find the ship near Umbriel, Uranus’ moon, in the Sol System. When you approach the ship, accept its hail or hold A to hail the ship. When speaking with them, you can lie and say you’re a Crimson Fleet pirate to board the ship or tell them you have strict orders to destroy them.
If you lied, dock with the ship, then board it. The pirates will know you’re not one of them and will give you two options. You can either attempt to persuade them or attack and kill them all. You’ll actually have a time limit to decide, so make your decision quickly! If you persuade him, you’ll learn he has an incriminating letter from Governor Hurst himself. He’ll then say that you can have it as long as they get to keep the ship. You can either make the deal or attack them (make sure to loot the Pirate Leader for the evidence). Either way, you’ll be able to explore the ship. Head down to the bottom level to find a deceased Sylvija Schloss. Loot “This is it” off of her.
Return to Hurst
It’s up to you if you want to destroy the ship. We chose not to and just made our way back to Hurst. Speak with him, letting him know that you took care of his little problem. You have several options for handling this!
- [Lie] I destroyed the ship. Whatever it is, your secret is safe.
- Says he’ll defer Brennan’s taxes as a bonus, but you get no credits, just the package.
- If you go this route, you can give the evidence from the pirates to Booth’s boss.
- I found your ship, but the pirates got away.
- Since we didn’t hold up the deal, he wants us to give him 10,000 credits. If you fork it over, he’ll give you the package.
- I found your note to the pirates. Seems like it’d be real bad for you if people knew.
- Deal. Take the note, and I’ll stay quiet.
- 12000 credits and package
- No deal. I like the idea of having leverage on you.
- He says you have nothing and you’ll be taken back to the previous options.
- Deal. Take the note, and I’ll stay quiet.
- How about you pay me a little extra to keep this all quiet?
- 5000 Credits, then you’ll go back to the previous options
If you’re looking to get the maximum amount of credits from Hurst, select the following options:
- How about you pay me a little extra to keep this all quiet?
- I found your note to the pirates. Seems like it’d be real bad for you if people knew.
- Deal. Take the note, and I’ll stay quiet.
By selecting those options, you’ll get 17,000 credits!
Deliver the package to Peter
Return to Peter Brennan and hand over his package.
Approve the equipment request
Head into Brennan’s office and interact with his computer. Open the Requests folder, then go to the Replacement Mining Equipment tab. Approve the request! You’ll receive some credits and 150 EXP. This will then start the Red Tape Reclamation mission.
Additional Starfield Guides and Walkthroughs
Be sure to check our main Starfield Guides and Walkthroughs page for additional content on Starfield, such as additional guides to assist you during your adventures in the Settled Systems!