The side quest An Aegis Against the Miasma is how you earn the Gas‑Energy Deflection Apparatus — a gadget that lets you walk through Zyranium gas and adds a short‑lived damage shield. It’s short, but there are multiple ways to clear its key checks depending on your build.
Start the quest at the Automech Repair Center
Head to the Automech Repair Center on the Euphoria Coast (southeast Paradise Island). Inside, speak with Chief Deviser Delphinia Bryant to pick up the quest. If you arrive through the courtyard first, Marshal Donelson can point you to Bryant as well.
Gaining entry typically requires one of the following:
- ARC Access Pass from the Ministry of Accuracy.
- Engineering 3 at the gate to bypass the pass requirement.
Collect a Zyranium sample
Bryant hands you a collector and asks for a Zyranium sample. Walk to the nearby Zyranium cloud (there’s one just outside the repair hangar to the southwest) and interact with it to fill the device. Return to Bryant to progress.
Obtain a catalytic amplifier (or bring a holo‑emitter)
The next step needs a catalytic amplifier — a part used by Protectorate Dragoon automechs. There are three clean ways to proceed:
- Convince Chief Mechanist Woodrow Contos to release the part with a Leadership 2 or Speech 3 check.
- Find a destroyed Dragoon along the coast west of the facility and salvage its catalytic amplifier. Expect a few crabbles guarding the wreck.
- Offer a powerful holo‑emitter instead (Science 4). You can pull one off the huge Auntie’s Choice ad rig in Fairfield by climbing the town hall scaffolding to the roof.
Turn in and use the Gas‑Energy Deflection Apparatus
Bring Bryant either the catalytic amplifier or the holo‑emitter to complete the build. She’ll hand over the Gas‑Energy Deflection Apparatus.
What it does:
- Generates a temporary shield that absorbs incoming damage.
- Neutralizes Zyranium poisoning while active, allowing you to pass through gas clouds.
Use it to access areas previously blocked by Zyranium and to soak a burst of damage in combat. The shield is time‑limited; make sure it’s charged before committing to longer crossings through dense gas.
This quest also enables follow‑up content tied to Zyranium mitigation, including the Vanquishing the Vexing Vapors side quest.
Key checks and routes at a glance
| Step | Primary path | Checks/items | Alternate path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enter ARC | Use ARC Access Pass | — | Engineering 3 at the gate (some gates allow Eng + Speech) |
| Start quest | Talk to Delphinia Bryant | — | Marshal Donelson directs you to Bryant |
| Zyranium sample | Collect from nearby cloud | Quest‑given collector | Any Zyranium cloud will work |
| Catalytic amplifier | Persuade Woodrow | Leadership 2 or Speech 3 | Salvage from wreck west of ARC (crabbles nearby) |
| Alternate to amplifier | Provide a holo‑emitter | Science 4 | Grab the emitter from Fairfield’s town hall rooftop |
| Reward | Gas‑Energy Deflection Apparatus | Temporary shield + Zyranium protection | Unlocks Zyranium‑gated routes and related questlines |
Once you have the apparatus, revisit any Zyranium‑choked paths you’ve been avoiding. The shield window is generous enough for short crossings, but plan longer treks around recharge time to avoid getting stranded in the gas.
