So you’ve just scrapped the Chimera. Your ears are probably still ringing from the explosions, and now you’re stuck in a dark subway tunnel with the President of the New United States. Welcome to Lucretia My Reflection, the moment where Phantom Liberty stops being a frantic rescue mission and starts being a complicated political thriller. Honestly, this is where most players realize that Dogtown isn't just another district in Night City—it’s a different beast entirely.
Named after the classic Sisters of Mercy track, this mission is essentially your orientation for the FIA lifestyle. You'll spend most of it figuring out who to trust while navigating the literal and metaphorical grime of the Kress Street tunnels. It’s long, it’s moody, and if you’re not careful, you might end up with some blood on your hands that you didn't intend to spill.
The Tunnel Fork: Left or Right?
After you and Rosalind Myers catch your breath, you’re forced to navigate a series of maintenance tunnels. You’ll eventually hit a fork. It’s one of those classic "video game choices" that feels massive in the moment but mostly changes the flavor of your struggle.
If you go Left, you’re taking the "easy" route. You’ll find a forklift, move some crates, and bypass a lot of the headache. It’s faster, sure, but you’ll miss out on the extra loot tucked away in the side offices.
👉 See also: Why Princess Peach in Mario Kart is Secretly the Smartest Pick for Competitive Play
If you go Right, you’re in for a bit of a scavenger hunt. You’ll have to climb some scaffolding to find a hidden valve to shut off a steam pipe. Why bother? Because this path leads to an office area packed with randomized weapons and components. If you’re playing on a higher difficulty like Very Hard, you basically need those extra crafting materials anyway.
One thing people often miss is the security cameras. If you’re spotted by the cameras in these tunnels and don’t wipe the footage at the nearby terminal, it actually triggers a much harder fight later. Most players just blast through, but if you want the "ghost" experience, pay attention to the red lights.
The Jacob and Taylor Situation
This is where the mission gets messy. You finally reach the safehouse, get the power back on using a battery from a nearby broken drone, and then... knock, knock. Two scavengers, Jacob and Taylor, stroll in looking for a place to crash.
You have a split second to decide: do you open fire or talk?
Basically, if you kill them, they’re gone. Obviously. But if you choose the peaceful dialogue options—telling them you’re just "passing through" or suggesting a deal—they actually stick around. They become temporary roommates in the safehouse.
Why Sparing Them Matters
Honestly, sparing them is the "better" choice for lore junkies.
📖 Related: How Big is Night City? The Reality of Cyberpunk 2077’s Map Size
- Jacob is a chatterbox who knows everything about Kurt Hansen’s operation.
- Taylor is an ex-Nomad with a mysterious past he won't quite share.
- The Consequences: If you keep them alive, they’ll guard the place. However, if you were spotted by the cameras earlier in the tunnels and didn't delete the footage, Hansen's goons will eventually raid the apartment while you’re gone. In that scenario, Jacob and Taylor usually end up dead anyway, which feels like a gut punch if you’ve spent time talking to them.
Finding Solomon Reed
Once the President is "safe" (relatively speaking), she sends you to find her most trusted sleeper agent: Solomon Reed. This takes you to Capitan Caliente, a restaurant that looks like it hasn't seen a customer since the Fourth Corporate War.
Getting inside is a mini-puzzle. You've got options:
- Strength/Tech: If you have 20 Body or Tech, you can just force the door. Easy.
- The Fusebox: Scan the power cable on the right side of the building. It leads to a fusebox you can override.
- The Back Entrance: Slide a garbage container on the left side of the building to reveal a hole in the wall.
Inside, you’re looking for an old-school analog telephone. It’s hidden behind a shelf in the back. Move the shelf, dial 0931, and you’ll hear Idris Elba’s voice for the first time. It’s a cool moment.
The Basketball Court Meeting
Reed tells you to meet him at a basketball court during the day. This is one of the most atmospheric scenes in the expansion. You sit on a bench, talk to Johnny Silverhand about his own military past—which, let's be real, he's still bitter about—and wait.
When Reed shows up, do not turn around.
If you keep trying to look at him after he tells you not to, he will literally knock you out. You’ll wake up in the back of his car with a headache and an aspirin. It doesn’t break the mission, but it definitely makes the start of your relationship with him a lot more awkward.
👉 See also: Life Is Strange: The Order You Play Might Actually Ruin the Ending
On the drive back to the safehouse, things usually go sideways. You’ll likely get ambushed by Barghest soldiers. It's a high-speed shootout that tests your vehicle combat skills—or your ability to lean out the window and aim while the world blurs past at 100 mph.
The Oath: To Serve or Not to Serve?
At the end of the mission, Myers asks you to take an official FIA oath.
Johnny hates this. He’ll be standing in the corner mocking you the entire time. Taking the oath doesn't change your stats or lock you out of endings, but it does change the dialogue for the rest of the game. Reed will treat you more like a fellow soldier, whereas Johnny will periodically remind you that you’re a "sellout" or a "government dog."
If you refuse the oath, Myers is annoyed, but she still gives you the job. You’re a mercenary, after all. She gets it.
Actionable Insights for Your Playthrough
- Grab the Hawk: Before you leave the safehouse at the very end, pick up the Hawk. It’s an Iconic Power Precision Rifle sitting right by the desk. It’s one of the best semi-auto weapons in the game for headshot builds.
- The Two-Day Wait: After you finish the mission, you have to wait two in-game days for Reed to call. Don't just skip time in the menu. Go explore Dogtown. This is the perfect window to hit some of Mr. Hands’ new Gigs or find the "King of Pentacles" Tarot card near the safehouse elevator.
- Check the Trash: If you missed the Chimera Core right after the boss fight (before entering the subway), you can actually go back and get it. You’ll need it to craft some of the most powerful weapon mods in the game.
- Check the Terminal: If you want Jacob and Taylor to survive the longest, always check the terminal in the tunnel offices to erase your biometric data and camera footage. It’s the only way to keep the safehouse truly "safe."
To wrap this up, your next move is to head out into Dogtown and start making a name for yourself with Mr. Hands while you wait for Reed's signal. Make sure your cyberware is topped off—the missions only get weirder from here.