This Starfield: Shattered Space walkthrough covers the route through Ma’leen Dam, the access card, the teleportation experiment code (335), and the choice to take one or two Vortex Interlocks. The quest is part of the House Dul’kehf “Aligning the Houses” storyline; spoilers for its puzzles and local outcome follow.
How to start Exhuming the Past
After completing The Promised, Broken and reaching the relevant “Aligning the Houses” objective, speak with Hasmak Dul’Kehf at the Hall of Healing in Dazra. He sends you to investigate Ma’leen Dam, documented southeast of Dazra. Bethesda notes that some locations can vary by playthrough, so follow your current objective marker if it points somewhere different. Bethesda’s mission guide identifies Hasmak as the quest giver and lists the prerequisite.
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Get the Ma’leen Dam access card
- Travel to Ma’leen Dam and try the locked entrance to trigger the access-card objective.
- Follow the clue to Comrak Abbas, who directs you to Kaviil Fahrzanas at the nearby Abbas Seaweed Farm.
- Speak with Kaviil and persuade or otherwise convince him to hand over the dam access card.
- Return to the dam and use the card at the entrance.
This is the documented route; if your marker differs, use the in-game objective rather than assuming the locations are identical in every playthrough. GameSpot’s walkthrough and Bethesda’s guide describe the card lead.
Drain the flooded room
- Inside the dam, follow the objective marker through the pipe route to the flooded area and its control room.
- Use the computer, then move into the adjoining area and destroy the Vortex Power Modulator.
- Return to the computer and choose Sub Pump Control to drain the water.
- Continue through the newly accessible route and use the nearby computer to open the security door.
The order matters: destroying the modulator enables the pump-control step. GamesRadar’s walkthrough also identifies the modulator and Sub Pump Control sequence.
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Exhuming the Past code: enter 335
At the teleportation experiment, inspect the nearby computer files before using the three-digit controls. One record gives the earlier power setting as 235; another says to add 100. The resulting code is 335.
- Enter 335 on the experiment controls.
- Activate the switch to run the experiment.
- Pick up the teleported Experiment Keycard.
- Use that keycard to open the locked door.
Both GameSpot and GamesRadar report 335 and the terminal-record calculation.
Reach the interlock console
- Continue beyond the experiment and deal with the next phantom encounter; inspect the computer logs along the route.
- At the red emergency wall, use your Cutter on the pins to open the way.
- Reach the room containing the next Vortex Power Modulator and handle the phantoms there.
- Destroy the modulator, then return to the interlock console and operate its controls to retrieve an interlock.
The next decision is whether to leave with this one interlock or proceed to a second console.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Take one interlock or continue for a second?
| Choice | Reported local outcome |
|---|---|
| Leave with one interlock | The phantoms are preserved. |
| Take the second interlock | The phantoms are killed; GamesRadar reports that the nearby seaweed farm becomes flooded. |
The walkthroughs describe this as a local story choice. No reward advantage is established for either route, so choose based on whether you want to preserve the phantoms or continue to the second console. GamesRadar reports the farm consequence, while GameSpot and GamesRadar describe the one- versus two-interlock choice.
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Return to Dazra and finish the quest
Leave Ma’leen Dam and deliver the Vortex Interlock to Ekris Kaisir in Dazra. This concludes Exhuming the Past and advances the Shattered Space storyline. Bethesda’s mission guide and the consulted walkthroughs identify Ekris as the hand-in.
Quick Recap
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