Starfield: Deciding Ron Hope's Fate - Your Defining Choice in The Hammer Falls

The Freestar Collective has granted the Rangers the authority of the law, allowing Starfield players to bring justice to a chaotic galaxy as a Freestar Ranger. As players progress through the Freestar Collective questline, their role as a Deputy reveals a conspiracy that culminates in the dramatic conclusion known as The Hammer Falls, which serves as the final main quest for the Freestar Collective in Starfield.

As the climactic finale of the Freestar Collective's story, the Deputy faces a crucial decision regarding the destiny of Ron Hope, the esteemed CEO of HopeTech. Ron Hope is admired by the citizens of the Freestar Collective for the employment opportunities he offers, and his status as a member of the Council of Governors grants him immense power.

Kill Major Paxton Hull

To start The Hammer Falls mission, players must first complete the preceding mission. In the previous mission, players face off against The Firsts, a group of mercenaries with a hidden contractor. After defeating numerous enemies and emerging victorious against their leader, Major Paxton Hull, a veteran of the Colony War, he reveals crucial secrets that could bring down Hope Tech and the Freestar Collective.

Upon learning about Ron Hope's involvement in an unfolding conspiracy, players are compelled to eliminate Major Paxton Hull, effectively putting an end to the life of another criminal and war veteran. With this matter now resolved, players must quickly make their way to Hopetown without delay.

Travel To Hopetown

If players have been following the Freestar Collective Faction quests, they would have likely visited Hopetown before. It is one of the initial locations players are expected to go to in order to question Ron Hope about the stolen ship from his factory. However, their journey continues to the Valo System where they will arrive at the planet Polvo and find Hopetown.

Once players are on the planet's surface, they can quickly head to Hope Tech. They will need to pass through Ron Hope's office and enter the factory where workers are busy constructing new ships and devices. Within this setting, players will find Ron Hope conversing with Birgit. This is the opportune moment for players to confront and finally unravel the truth behind everything.

Confront Ron Hope

The player can expose Ron Hope, revealing that they have caught him in the act and his schemes are finished. In order to provide further evidence, players can hand over the Slate that Paxton Hull gave them before his death. This Slate incites Ron Hope to become defensive, attempting to justify or fight his way out of the situation, but not before confessing to the truth.

Ron, accompanied by Birgit as a witness, discloses everything to the Deputy. He explains that Hope Tech was struggling to generate profits, leading them to develop an experimental fertilizer that ended up destroying numerous crop fields. However, Ron discovered that this fertilizer actually enhanced the soil's mineral content. As a result, they distributed the fertilizer to farmers and forced them off their land in order to exploit the newly mutated minerals. Ron's reprehensible actions, which involved displacing and causing harm to individuals who resisted, classify him as a criminal. Nevertheless, now that the Deputy is aware of all the facts, they possess the authority to determine justice according to their own values and perspective.

Yet, if only things were that simple. Players have the opportunity to engage in a conversation with Ron Hope, which presents them with three possible outcomes, each carrying distinct consequences depending on the choices made by the player. Below, we will outline these choices and the corresponding results if players choose to either eliminate or spare Ron Hope:

Outcome 1: Accept The Bribe

Requiring a wealth of resources, Ron Hope emerges as a formidable figure who possesses the means to generously offer several thousand Credits. Those inclined to entertain the notion of accepting a Bribe now have the opportunity to do so, ensuring the absence of physical harm to anyone involved, besides the inevitable dent inflicted upon the emotions and self-esteem of their accompanying allies. By consenting to Ron Hope's 20,000 Credit bribe, individuals willingly commit themselves to falsify information in their report to the Marshal.

However, players can up the ante even further and participate in a [Negotiation], potentially allowing them to earn a staggering 50,000 Credits. This is undeniably a substantial amount of money, especially considering how early players are in their Starfield career. However, the question remains: is it ethically justifiable to exploit the legal system for personal financial gain and let Ron Hope evade justice? Ultimately, this decision rests with the player. While companions may disapprove, the majority of individuals will remain oblivious, and Ron Hope will be able to continue operating his business at Hope Tech, pledging to abstain from hiring mercenaries in the future.

Outcome 2: Keep Ron Hope’s Secret

Refusing to be imprisoned and unwilling to let his reputation be tarnished, Ron Hope poses a threat due to his unyielding crusade. Deluding himself into believing in his supreme power, derived from his role in providing security and employment across the galaxy, Ron Hope now finds his revered and affectionate image as a CEO under scrutiny. His determination to safeguard his standing prompts him to appeal to the player, assuring them that his error was an isolated incident that will not recur. Ron Hope argues that if the truth were to be revealed and he were to be incarcerated, innumerable families would bear the brunt as the trust in, and demand for Hope Tech, would vanish indefinitely.

Outcome 3: Kill Ron Hope

Keeping Ron Hope’s secret is a risky path to tread. Players have already rejected Ron’s bribe, making it clear that any further attempts by him will result in severe consequences such as facing the imminent threat of a gun or the confines of a prison cell. While the companions may not approve of this outcome, it is still preferable to succumbing to the temptation of accepting bribes. Opting to put an end to Ron’s deceitful plan and safeguarding the well-being of his employees may be viewed as an unremarkable outcome. Players can choose to fabricate a story to the Marshal, concealing the truth about what actually transpired, thereby denying Ron the justice he deserves for his misdeeds.

Regrettably, Ron Hope cannot be apprehended and tried in court by players. Determined not to surrender, Ron Hope will resist when players disregard his attempt to bribe or plead for them to maintain his falsehood. In such a scenario, players have the option to initiate an attack on Ron Hope, causing him and his security team to become hostile. Slaying Ron Hope will grant the crew of Starfield players a sense of satisfaction, as they view him as an individual who must face the consequences for his actions, regardless of the chosen method.

This is the sole occurrence in The Hammer Falls that culminates in violence, leaving players with no alternative but to engage in a fight. There is no opportunity to retreat or negotiate their way out of this confrontation. Ron Hope and the Hope Security team leave no option other than violence. After eliminating everyone, players should actively seek out Birgit, who will be in hiding and waiting anxiously for the gunfire to cease.

Engaging in a conversation with Birgit McDougall, players will attempt to understand the motives behind Ron Hope's actions. Despite his attempted murder, he remained a friend to Birgit and provided significant assistance to numerous families. With the demise of Hope Tech's CEO, concerns over job security will plague many, but Birgit remains cautiously optimistic that Elana Nwanko, the second-in-command, will step up and prioritize the employees' well-being. While Hope Tech faces significant challenges ahead, bringing Ron Hope to justice may pave the way for a brighter future.

Talk To Marshal Blake

After dealing with Ron Hope, regardless of his fate or the choices made by the players to either accept a bribe or maintain his lie, they must return to Marshal Blake. The location of Marshal Blake is on planet Akila in the Cheyenne System, specifically in Akila City. Once there, they will proceed to enter The Rock.

Upon conversing with Marshal Daniel Blake, players will have the opportunity to share their discoveries concerning the mercenaries at the mech factory, as well as the outcome involving Ron Hope. Marshal Blake will inquire if the players have uncovered the reason behind the First's occupation of farmland. The response and subsequent actions of the Marshal will depend on the available options, without affecting the reward.

If Players Accepted the Bribe / Kept Ron’s Secret

Players have the option to feign ignorance and inform the Marshal that the evidence was inconclusive and could not be located. They can also convey that any evidence that may have existed perished with the First and their leader, Paxton Hull. Although Marshal Blake will not be content with the notion that the identity of the individuals responsible for hiring these mercenaries remains unknown and at large, there are limited actions he and the Rangers can take apart from maintaining vigilant surveillance over the settled systems.

If Players Killed Ron Hope

In the event of Ron Hope's demise, players possess the opportunity to disclose the truth to Marshal Blake, shedding light on Ron's utilization of the First to seize control of arable lands solely for financial gain. In order to permanently resolve this case and guarantee a future where Ron Hope refrains from engaging in corrupt practices, players are encouraged to furnish the Marshal with the comprehensive Slate of evidence.

Regardless of the outcome, players will be promoted by Marshal Blake from a Freestar Deputy to a Freestar Ranger.

Starfield is available now for PC and Xbox Series X|S.