Comes Now the Power is one of the earliest major story quests in The Outer Worlds, forcing players to make a tough moral decision in Emerald Vale. Tasked by Reed Tobson with diverting power to fix the Unreliable space vessel, you must decide whether to route electricity to the corporate town of Edgewater or the deserter botanical lab led by Adelaide McDevitt. Navigating this quest efficiently sets the foundation for your reputation and faction standings throughout the rest of your RPG journey.
Starting the Quest and Infiltrating the Geothermal Plant
To begin the mission, speak with Reed Tobson in Edgewater to obtain the power regulator task. He sends you to the nearby Geothermal Plant, which is currently overrun by hostile mechanical automechanicals. Keeping up with daily gaming news often reveals useful tips for managing early-game combat builds and companion tactics.
Inside the plant, defeat or bypass the security bots while searching for three switches to unlock the primary terminal. Terminal access requires clearing the lower levels and interacting with the central control room master switch. Once unlocked, you gain access to the master control lever where the final choice takes place.
Diverting Power to Edgewater
Choosing to divert power to Edgewater prioritizes the stability of the Spacer's Choice colony and secures Reed Tobson's leadership. This choice starves the botanical lab of power, forcing Adelaide's followers to consider returning to town under corporate rule. Players who prefer supporting order and legal authority often select this path for immediate story progression.
After throwing the switch, you can return to the botanical garden to convince Adelaide or her workers to reintegrate with Edgewater. If you persuade Reed to step down as leader, Adelaide will take over the town, providing a peaceful resolution for the deserters.
Diverting Power to the Botanical Lab
Selecting the botanical lab routes power directly to Adelaide McDevitt's independent community, completely cutting off electricity to Edgewater. This option heavily damages your reputation with Spacer's Choice, turning corporate guards in the region hostile. However, it provides a safe haven for the deserters who rejected corporate exploitation.
Once the power is diverted, returning to Edgewater reveals a town in decay and distress. You can easily retrieve the disabled power regulator from the town's cannery to repair your ship, but the long-term consequences leave Edgewater struggling to survive.
Retrieving the Power Regulator and Finishing the Quest
Regardless of which side you favor, your final step involves collecting the power regulator from the location that lost power. Take the heavy regulator back to your ship, the Unreliable, and install it inside the engine room alongside ADA. Completing this quest fully unlocks your ship's spacefaring capabilities, allowing you to leave Emerald Vale and explore the broader Halcyon system.
