It’s rare for quarreling military factions inStarfieldto work together willingly. But when there’s a common enemy and lives are at stake, it’s nice to know that some can put aside their differences and work towards the common good.

You’ll come across such a case in Groundpounder, an early side quest that carries as much weight as a main quest might. When Spacers took over a research outpost on Altair II, the Freestar Ranger stationed there sent out a distress call and the UC Marines answered. Will they be able to work together, or will their factions’ differences take hold?

Starfield: In orbit near Altair II, about to land

How To Start Groundpounder Quest

There aretwo waysto unlock theGroundpounder quest. Early in the game you mayget hailed by another shipwarning you to stay away from the Altair system.

They’ll tell you about adistress signalthey heard coming from there thatmentioned something about spacers.

Starfield: standing in front of the Research Outpost on Altair II

If you respond to them that you’llcheck it out, this will start the quest.

Alternatively, you cantravel to the Altair system yourself, where you’ll hear the distress call fromPrivate Mahoney, asking for help with a spacer invasion at the research outpost.

Starfield: Fighting Spacers, arrow pointing to the left where the stairs are

Whichever way you unlock the Groundpounder quest,your first stepis to land at theResearch Outpost: U3-09 on Altair II.

Before landing on Altair II, you will want to ensure you haveplenty of guns, ammo, and healing aids on your person. Though you’ll have plenty of opportunities to loot for these things during the quest,it’s always good to be prepared.

Starfield: Talking to Private Mahoney at Research Outpost on Altair II

Find Private Mahoney

Once you’ve landed at the outpost, follow your quest marker to theoutpost’s entranceand go inside.

When you’re inside,take a leftand go through the red door,then another leftinto the room markedSecurity.

Starfield: Going down hallway that ends at a barricade, with arrow pointing to where the server room is

Kill the spacers in this room, thentake the stairsdownand turn lefttowards the server room.

Theremay be aSpacerthat escaped the previous onslaughtwaiting for you down here.

Starfield: waiting for explosion and fire to die down at the top of the stairs

Go forward and thenopen the storage room on your right, wherePrivate Mahoneyis waiting for you.

Grateful that help has arrived,she informs you that a team of UC Marinesalso answered her distress call and are thereason they’re not all dead yet.

Starfield: Standing in front of Corporal Lezama

She asks you to go helpLezama, who’s holed up with some of the others in amakeshift infirmarystationed in the security section on the first floor.

Clear The Spacers Outside The Infirmary And Talk To Lezama

Leave Mahoney andhead straight, then take a left before the barricadeinto the server room, where you’ll be met by more Spacers.

After you’ve cleared the Spacers from the server room,exit through the hallwayand then to the stairs.

Starfield: Standing outside Head of Research office where Torres is

At the top of the stairs a Spacer will cause anexplosion, blocking your way through, and you’ll have towait for the fire to die downbefore you can pass.

When the fire is gone,continue forwardand there’ll be aboutnine or ten Spacerswaiting for you in the hallway.

Starfield: Standing in front of the Sergeant Dasari and Lieutenant Torres

Deal with them, then go through the door markedComms Center, where you’ll findCorporal Lexama and Dr. Adamou Moussa.

After talking with them, you learn that theFreestar TO, Lieutenant Torres, has locked the whole place down and needs your help. He’s believed to be on the third floor,near Dr. Moussa’s office.

Starfield: Standing in front of the office door where Myeong and her men are

Lezama gives you afacility keycardthat will give you access toeverything except Security doors.

Find And Rescue Lieutenant Torres

Go back out into the hallway andturn right, then take thenext set of stairs upto the next level.

You’ll have afew Spacers to fight here,so kill them, then head up more stairs to thethird level where there’llbe even more Spacers to deal with.

As you make your way through the outpost,don’t forget to loot bodies and storage boxesas much as possible. This place is filled withweapons, ammo, aids, and resourcesthat you can use.

Once the halls are cleared, you’ll findLieutenant TorresandSergeant Dasariin the room markedHead of Research.

Torres tells you that we need to helpCaptain Myeong of the UC Marinesnext. His Sergeant disagrees, on the grounds thatshe’s not Freestar, but Torres reminds her thatMyeong came to save them,and herefuses to leave her behind.

The Sergeant reluctantly agrees and givesyou the security keycard,which gives you access to secure doors.

Your next task, with Torres and the Sergeant by your side, is torescue Captain Myeongand the rest of the Marines.

Rescue Captain Myeong

Go back through the door, take aleft at the lab, then follow the hallway to aset of stairs leading down.

There will betwo Spacersoutside the office door. Kill them, then go inside the officewhere you’ll find Captain Myeong.

Before you can talk to her, though,about six Spacers barge infrom the back entrance and open fire. Help clear them out, then you will be able tospeak with Captain Myeong.

There’s a glitch whereone of the Spacers appears to leave the room. Luckily, he’s marked with a quest marker, so just wait for it to come back and youshould be able to kill him.

Throughout the course of the conversation with Myeong,Torres mentions that he still has men and civilians in the fieldat theResearch Campon Altair II. He asks you to go there on your ship totake out any Spacers.

Eliminate The Spacers At The Research Camp On Altair II

Now that you have thesecurity access keycard, you can leave the office through the back door (where the last group of Spacers came in),which takes you outside.

Board your ship and take it to theResearch Camp on Altair II.Land, then head towards your quest marker till you’re at the camp.

You’ll find the campswarmed with Spacers. Once you’ve killed them all, talk to the people inside the camp,then head back to the Research Outpost.

Defeat Spacers In Orbit Near Altair V And Altair I

Report back to Lieutenant Torres that everyone is safe, then he and Myeongwill tell you about their next plan.

They’ve seen theSpacers shuttling men nearby, which hints that they’rereinforcing their numbers.If they attack with their full reinforcements,no one will stand a chance.

Your next job is to take your ship anddestroy the Spacer vesselsin orbit nearAltair V and Altair I.

There will be three ships at each location (six in total) for you to destroy with. Once you’ve cleared out the last of them,Myeongwill radio back that theSpacers are invadingthe outpost and to come back quickly.

Don’t forgetto pick up any cargo that isleft by the ships you destroyed,as some may carry valuableresources or ship parts for repairs.

Defeat The Spacer Invasion

Return to the outpost and helpdefeat the Spacer invasion. Shoot anyone with aquest marker over their heads, making surenot to accidentally shoot a friendly.

After a few minutes,a shuttle will touch down just south of the outpost, delivering more Spacers. Meet the shuttle just as the door opens and eliminate the Spacers that emerge.

The shuttle will leave, but then, almost immediately,another one will land on the same spot.Deal with the Spacers that come out this time, then head back and help the others with any stragglers.

When all the Spacers have been eliminated,and the threat is no more, speak toCaptain Myeong to finish your quest.

You’ll be rewarded with a weapon called thePeacekeeper,11MM Caseless ammo,a few thousand credits, and300 XP.