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During the "The Pickup" mission in Cyberpunk 2077, making key decisions is crucial. Each choice you make affects how the mission unfolds and its outcomes. Your primary goal is to retrieve a Militech drone that was taken by the Maelstrom gang, but there are several ways to reach that objective.
One of the best moves you can make is to contact Meredith Stout, a Militech agent. This call opens up various options for you and gives you access to her resources. If you want to understand the best outcomes and the choices that lead to them, here’s a breakdown of what to do during "The Pickup" mission.
Should You Call Meredith Stout?
At the beginning of "The Pickup," your first task is to meet with Jackie. While this is essential, you have the optional step of calling Meredith Stout. We recommend doing so, as it expands your options for the mission.
After calling her, Meredith will set up a meeting where things get intense, and you’ll find yourself in a precarious situation, facing a gun. If you manage to talk your way out by claiming ignorance about Gilchrist, she will offer you a credchip embedded with tracking software. With this chip, you can pay Royce for the drone without spending your own money.
With the chip in hand, you can either choose to decrypt it and remove the tracking software before meeting with Maelstrom, or leave it as is. If you remove the software, Militech will storm the building as the deal unfolds, forcing you to fight your way out with help from Maelstrom. If you leave the malware intact, Royce will discover it, leading to a confrontation with him. However, keeping the malware sets you up for a potential romantic involvement with Meredith later in the game. Regardless of your choice, you’ll end up in a fight.
Note: Regardless of how you approach the situation, you can end up rescuing the former Maelstrom leader, Brick, who can assist you later in the game.
Paying Royce or Refusing?
Now, the pivotal choice is whether to pay Royce or refuse. This decision shapes the direction of the rest of the mission. If you possess the credchip from Meredith or have enough money saved up, you can pay Royce for the robot. When using the chip, Royce will scan it; if it’s been decrypted, he’ll be satisfied and allow you to leave. However, just as you’re about to exit, Militech will arrive, leading to a clash with them, and you’ll have to fight your way out with assistance from Maelstrom. When leaving, you’ll encounter a character named Gilchrist who will want to know why you’ve just taken out a bunch of Militech agents.
On the other hand, if you decide not to decrypt the credchip, Royce will find the malware during his scan. This forces you to battle the Maelstrom gang instead. Because you didn’t neutralize Royce at the start, he becomes a boss fight later. Additionally, if you didn’t hack the chip and followed through with Meredith’s plan, she will be waiting for you at the exit, suggesting the possibility of future collaboration, which can lead to a romance option.
A third possibility arises during your encounter with Royce—if you choose to draw your weapon and eliminate him right away, you’ll have to contend with a lot of Maelstrom foes, but you’ll save your money and still secure the robot. This is the only way to avoid costs if you don’t meet with Meredith beforehand and have no chip.
Ultimately, there isn’t a non-violent way to complete "The Pickup" in Cyberpunk 2077. However, you do have the agency to decide which side you want to support.
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