All episode 2 (Best Laid Plans) timelines and their outcomes

The second episode of Directive 8020, named Best Laid Plans, picks up from where the first mission, Little Star, ends. It shifts focus to a new set of characters as other Cassiopeia’s crew members wake up without Carter and Simms. You play this mission as Brianna Young, Nolan Stafford, and Laura Eisele. As always, the choices you make will affect character traits and unlock different branches of the story.

Here are the details about all timelines in episode 2 (Best Laid Plans) of Directive 8020 and their outcomes.

Note: The guide contains major story spoilers for Directive 8020.

Directive 8020 walkthrough: How to complete episode 2 (Best Laid Plans)

Wake up as Brianna Young

Following a past cutscene between the characters Brianna Young and Nolan Stafford, the second episode of Directive 8020 begins as Brianna Young is woken from deep sleep by Laura Eisele. The latter is frantic and is questioning why the Oracle woke her up instead of Carter and Simms. During this sequence, you will get the choice between the two dialogues:

• Joke: “No wonder I feel like shit.”
• Inquire: “What’s going on?”

After getting up, you have to complete a few objectives, like speaking with Stafford at the far end of the room, watching a video, and waking up Mitchell.

Ask Stafford about Anders

Once the previous sequence ends, the scene transitions to where Mitchell asks Stafford how he feels about retirement. You get to choose between the following answers:

• Confess: “Retirement isn’t for me.”
• Assert: “My duty is to serve.”

As the conversation progresses, Mitchell will then ask Stafford how he feels about Anders, the new Science Officer brought in to replace a missing crew member. This is the first Turning Point of this episode, and here are the outcomes for it:

• Select “I trust the recruitment process” to show trust.
• Select “I’ll be keeping a close eye on her” to express doubt.

Selecting either of the options will raise one of Stafford’s traits in the game.

Restore power to the ship

Following the previous sequence, you take control of Young again as she and Eisele head over to the Reactor Room to restore power. Along the way, you will also be introduced to the messaging app in Directive 8020. You can use it to chat with other crewmates.

Next, interact with the command console to restore power. Doing so will bring you to the second Turning Point of this episode. Here are the dialogue options:

• Select “Deactivate Landing Computer” to shut down the Landing Computer and restore power.
• Select “Deactivate Fire Control” to shut down the Fire Control system and restore power.

Address Eisele’s suspicions

The ship’s power is then restored, and the Cassiopeia now approaches Tau Ceti F. Following a few dialogues, Eisele brings up her suspicions about Carter and Simms to Stafford. As the latter, you will have two choices here, both of which will affect his traits in Directive 8020:

• Select “Accept” to give Eisele permission to investigate.
• Select “Dismiss” to disregard Eisele’s concerns.

Pilot with Mitchell

After the previous interaction, you take the role of Young again in Directive 8020 and talk to Mitchell about what you wish to do to your body after your demise. You will have to choose between the following options here:

• Disapprove: “That’s disgusting.”
• Joke: No littering in orbit.”

Investigate as Eisele

Since Eisele isn’t convinced entirely, she begins investigating the security footage, which is rather odd. While playing as her, you bring your observations to Stafford’s notice in Directive 8020. Here you must choose between these two options:

• Select “Question” to unlock the Lend an Ear branch.
• Select “Accuse” to unlock the Shut Down branch.

After a heated exchange about trusting crew members, you are again asked to choose between the following dialogues as Eisele:

• Contemplate: “Something doesn’t sit right.”
• Demand: “I want a full report.”

Choosing your dialogue options carefully will affect Eisele’s traits.

Search crew quarters

Once the cutscene with the booster ring detachment ends, you will assume the role of Eisele again and must investigate the crew quarters in Directive 8020. Start off by searching the Sleep Technician’s quarters, followed by the second floor of the Atrium, and the Crew Quarters. You will learn several integral pieces of information by investigating, especially the lockers.

You must also check Carter’s computer. However, you will find it to be locked behind a password. To unlock the PC, you must enter Luna’s birthdate, which is marked on the calendar. If you don’t want to partake in the hassle, the password is 0828, or August 28.

Additionally, we suggest you take your time investigating the crew’s belongings, as you can find up to 11 collectibles while doing so.

Pursue Simms

Eventually, during your search, you will come across Simms. Now you must follow her without being noticed. You can rely on the scan feature to track her movement and avoid being seen.

After following Simms to three different rooms, you will find her suspiciously interacting with a console in the third room. Once she moves on, head over to the console to check.

Depending on how you restored power in the previous steps, you will get the following choices in the second episode of Directive 8020:

• If you deactivated the Landing Computer earlier, interact with the console to unlock the Landing Computer Restored branch.
• If you deactivated the Fire Control system earlier, interact with the console to unlock the Fire Control Restored branch.
• If Simms catches Eisele or you skip the interaction, the Stunned branch will unlock.

After you make your decision, make your way toward the door that leads out to follow Simms.

Make your way through the vent alive

As you approach the door, you will find that Simms has locked you in there. You can pick either of the following dialogues to talk to her:

• Demand: “Open the damn door!”
• Appeal: “What’s wrong, Simms?”

Then suddenly, Simms will activate the airlock system to target you. You can now select from the following options:

• Plead: “Don’t do this.”
• Threaten: “I’ll have you court martialed.”

Your choices here will affect Eisele’s traits.

Now, as the airlock is about to end your life, you must make your way toward the vent to escape the predicament. After making your way across to safety, you will be notified that something is blocking the vent. Head over there and check what it is. Doing so will automatically trigger a cutscene and mark the end of the Best Laid Plans mission in Directive 8020.