Completing the Marathon Equitable Distribution series of Traxus priority contracts can be a challenge as there are lots of unavoidable fights with the UESC to contend with. Equitable Distribution mainly sees you running amok around Perimeter in search of Self-Erasing Data Drives, scannable drones, Unstable Gunmetal, and a UESC Commander. With a brief jaunt to Dire Marsh for a transport drone, it's also one of the more varied Marathon contracts, and the UESC threats mean preparation is key. Here's a walkthrough for all four parts of this Traxus priority contract with pointers for getting it done as efficiently as possible.
Marathon Equitable Distribution Self-Erasing Data Drive location
The Equitable Distribution priority contract kicks off right after the Marathon Cutthroat Competition contract, continuing your merc work for Traxus. Part 1 of this contract chain involves you heading to Perimeter, grabbing a Self-Erasing Data Drive from Hauler, and then delivering the drive to one of the four Marathon DCONs on the map.
Since you've got to complete both objectives in a single run too, you need to be extra careful of UESC forces and fellow Runners in Hauler, otherwise you'll have to start this Marathon faction contract over. Here's where you need to go:
- Start by heading inside the Hauler in west Perimeter and getting to the upper level. There are several staircases, ladders, and ways to climb up there.
- Bear west as you walk through the upper corridors and head into a long room which should have a data storage unit near the northern door.
- Interact with the storage unit and grab the Self-Erasing Data Drive within. You have five minutes to drop it off from the moment you pick it up, which is plenty of time.
- Leave Hauler, head to one of the four DCONs in Perimeter, and put the drive in the DCON to send it to Traxus. The DCONs in Overflow and North Relay are closest.
With the drive in the DCON, the first part of Equitable Distribution is done, meaning you can exfiltrate to cash in the contract with Vulcan, netting you an Enhanced Bully SMG, 1,500 Credits, and more. In fact, every part of this contract chain will end with you getting 1,500 Credits, some useful Salvage, and useful guns, including the Magnum which is one of the best weapons in Marathon.
How to summon the Transport Drone in Algae Ponds for Equitable Distribution
For part two of Traxus' Equitable Distribution contract, you need to head to Dire Marsh and summon and destroy a Transport Drone using a terminal in Algae Ponds, then exfiltrate the run with the UESC Supplies and Drone Manifest that it contains. That means not only do you have to complete every objective in this contract in a single run, but getting out alive is required too. Let me show you how to get this done:
- Start a Dire Marsh run and head to Algae Ponds. Be warned that this point-of-interest's central location means it can be a hotspot for UESC forces, especially with Intersection nearby, and loud noises may attract other Runners from all over the map, so keep it down.
- Head up to the second floor of the main Algae Ponds building and go into the lab at the southern end.
- Interact with the terminal on the western side of the lab. This will spawn a UESC Transport Drone which will eventually fly nearby and should be marked with a bright waypoint, so keep an eye out.
- Shoot down the drone and loot the UESC Drone Manifest and UESC Supplies from the yellow and orange cargo box. You will need at least five inventory slots free to carry both.
- Head to an exfil site and get out.
Marathon Equitable Distribution drone and Unstable Gunmetal locations
Part three of the Equitable Distribution Marathon contract is quite a simple one, tasking you with heading to Perimeter in search of three drones in the tunnels southwest of Station and Unstable Gunmetal, which needs to go into a DCON. Thankfully, you can progress these objectives over multiple runs and you can go about them in any order.
To find the drones, head inside the main building in the southwest of Station and go downstairs into the tunnels area to make your way to the drones. Lime-green waypoints should easily guide you to them but here are some specific directions:
- Drone 1: Bear left as you enter the tunnels and pass through the plastic flaps. You will eventually spot a suspended drone behind a long window. Smash the window or walk around You need to climb on top of the rig that holds the drone to scan it.
- Drone 2: From the first drone, head southwest into the main workshop area where you'll see a large, white object. The second drone is on a platform hanging from the ceiling next to this object, so climb up it, then jump across to the drone and scan it.
- Drone 3: Cross to the other side of the workshop where you'll see a drone sitting there facing another part of the workshop with a large shelf above it with more drones on it. Climb up the shelf and the drone you need to scan is right at the back.
Conveniently, Unstable Gunmetal is found at Station and there is a DCON in a building just north of the main site – take a look at the above map! Just loot all the Station containers you come across and grab whatever Unstable Gunmetal you find, then take it all to the nearby DCON. You only need to drop off seven pieces, so make sure you don't deposit more than is necessary into the DCON and you can pocket the rest. Since this objective doesn't need to be completed in one run, you can also deposit fewer than seven pieces if you're really struggling to find enough and gather the rest on a later run. It's better to take your time!
Marathon Equitable Distribution UESC commander and credentials location
For Equitable Distribution 4, you need to head to Perimeter once again to find and kill a UESC Commander and grab their credentials all in a single run. It's not too challenging of a contract but make sure you're stocked up on healing items and have a Self-Revive just in case. Here's how you get it done:
- Start a Perimeter run and head to the small building south of South Relay. Be careful as it's heavily guarded and fortified with red barriers and claymores. This is also a good opportunity to lure out the UESC guards and kill them so that they won't bother you while you're inside.
- Climb onto the roof using the ladder then smash open the ceiling vent near the DCON, but don't drop in just yet. Look into the storeroom and shoot any visible claymores, otherwise they may kill you when you jump down.
- Leave the storeroom using the door then destroy the four white switch boxes with red lights found around the building interior. Destroying all four is the only way to get out of this building, unless you're playing as a Runner Shell that can climb back out of the ceiling hatch – Thief's grapple device makes her one of the best Marathon characters in the game and is especially useful here.
- Interact with the UESC terminal on the counter in the main room of the building. This will place a lime-green marker on your screen, directing you to the Commander's arrival point – this was North Relay for me. A four-minute timer will also start, indicating when the Commander will arrive.
- Follow the marker to the Commander's drop-off point. Ideally, you want to get there before they arrive so that you can get into a good position.
- Kill the Commander and collect the UESC Credentials data card they drop. Once your Runner has used the card, the contract will be complete.
Once you're out of your run, you can submit the final part of the Marathon Equitable Distribution contract to a very pleased Vulcan. That's also the end of Traxus' priority contracts for now, and you'll need to level up the faction to rank 20 before you'll get the Return on Investment contract chain. While you earn the necessary reputation, be sure to also collect Salvage to get some of the best Marathon faction upgrades!
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