How to Complete Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon

When you first accept Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon, it feels simple. The objectives look clean. The rewards look solid. It is labeled as an early Priority Contract from CyberAcme, so you assume it is just a warm up.

It is not.

If you are new to Marathon, this contract is your first real taste of what Tau Ceti IV is about. PvE pressure. PvP unpredictability. Sound discipline. Positioning. Extraction awareness. It is all here.

In this guide, I will break down exactly how to complete Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon, both Part 1 and Part 2, with practical tips from actual runs. No theory crafting. Just what works.

What Is Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon

Welcome to Tau Ceti is one of the first Priority Contracts you receive, tied to the CyberAcme faction. Completing it increases your CYAC reputation and unlocks important early gear.

The contract is split into two parts:

• Welcome to Tau Ceti Part 1

• Welcome to Tau Ceti Part 2

Each part must be completed before moving forward in the chain.

If you are wondering how to complete Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon efficiently, you need to understand the flow of Perimeter and how Relay zones function.

Welcome to Tau Ceti Part 1 Guide

Part 1 has two objectives:

1 Defeat three UESC units in Perimeter
2 Scan an FTL array at any UESC radio tower in Perimeter

The good news is you do not need to complete both objectives in the same run. Progress persists even if you die. Your teammates can also contribute.

That said, doing both in one clean deployment saves time.

Step 1 Defeat Three UESC Units in Perimeter

This sounds easy, and technically it is.

You only need to eliminate three UESC enemies of any type in Perimeter.

The most common targets are UESC Recruits. These are the thin hovering AI units you will find around points of interest and relay structures. They go down quickly with standard weapons.

But here is the catch.

Gunfire in Marathon is loud.

The moment you fire, nearby drones can aggro, and more importantly, other Runners can hear you. That turns a simple PvE objective into a PvPvE scenario fast.

Veteran Tip

Do not chase kills randomly.

Instead, combine this objective with the FTL array objective. Head toward a UESC radio tower and eliminate enemies along the way. That way, you complete both objectives in one route.

If you are solo, consider using Assassin. Cloaking lets you disengage if extra UESC drones or enemy players rotate in.

If you are in a squad, assign roles. One clears drones. One watches angles. One keeps mobility ready.

Discipline matters more than raw aim.

Step 2 Scan the FTL Array at a UESC Radio Tower

Now we get to the real part of how to complete Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon.

The FTL array is located on top of large buildings supporting UESC radio towers. One of the easiest to access is at South Relay in the southeastern section of Perimeter.

When you approach the zone, your HUD will display a yellow hexagon marker guiding you toward the objective.

How to Reach the FTL Array

1 Head to South Relay
2 Find the largest building in the northern portion of the area
3 Locate the ladder on the southern end of the black and green building
4 Climb to the roof
5 Follow the marker to the FTL array

Once on the roof, interact with the FTL array. Your Runner will expose the main array and complete the scan.

Be aware that rooftop positions are vulnerable. Snipers and roaming players often check these high ground areas.

Clear your immediate surroundings before interacting. Scanning leaves you exposed for a few seconds.

After scanning, the first contract completes.

Welcome to Tau Ceti Part 1 Rewards

Completing Part 1 grants:

• V75 Scar Enhanced Assault Rifle

• Protector V1 Enhanced Shield Implant

• Volt Battery Standard Ammo

• Patch Kit Enhanced Medical Consumable

• Shield Charge Enhanced Shield Consumable

For early progression, these rewards are strong. The enhanced shield implant alone improves survivability significantly.

Welcome to Tau Ceti Part 2 Guide

Now we move to Part 2.

The objective is straightforward:

Sabotage a UESC comms antenna at North or South Relay.

This is where many new players get confused.

How to Find the UESC Comms Antenna

Once you enter North Relay or South Relay, your HUD will mark the antenna.

The quest marker can appear from almost 100 meters away, which helps with navigation. If another player destroys the antenna you were targeting, the marker automatically shifts to the next available one within range.

Yes, that happens often.

There are limited antennas per deployment. If someone sabotages yours first, you must rotate.

How to Sabotage the Antenna

The comms antennas are bright orange and mounted on rooftops.

To complete the objective:

1 Reach the rooftop
2 Interact with the antenna
3 Wait for your Runner to deploy the PDA device
4 Hold position until sabotage completes

Once done, the antenna explodes.

Here is the important part.

The explosion is loud.

Very loud.

It will draw both UESC reinforcements and enemy Runners.

Veteran Survival Advice

The moment sabotage completes, move.

Do not stand there admiring the explosion.

Drop off the roof if safe. Rotate to cover. Reposition immediately.

Heavy UESC presence is common in Relay zones, so expect resistance even before sabotage.

Welcome to Tau Ceti Part 2 Rewards

Completing Part 2 grants:

• 8XS Backpack

• BRRT SMG

• Smoke Grenade

• Distance Runner Standard Leg Implant

• Patch Kit

• Shield Charge

• Cardio Kick Deluxe Buff Consumable

• 1500 Credits

The backpack upgrade alone is valuable early on. Extra storage means better loot efficiency and safer extractions.

The 1500 credits also help stabilize your economy. Some players prefer grinding Marathon credits through consistent contract runs or external trading communities like PvPBank. Still, honestly, early contracts like this already provide solid financial footing if you survive consistently.

Best Strategy to Complete Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon

If you want to complete Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon cleanly, here is the optimal flow.

1 Deploy into Perimeter
2 Route toward South Relay
3 Eliminate three UESC along the way
4 Scan the FTL array
5 Extract if needed
6 Redeploy for Part 2
7 Rotate to closest Relay
8 Sabotage antenna
9 Immediately reposition
10 Extract safely

Keep it simple. Do not overcomplicate it.

Common Mistakes Players Make

After watching countless new players struggle with how to complete Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon, here are the most common errors.

Fighting too many UESC at once
Ignoring audio cues from enemy players
Scanning or sabotaging without clearing rooftops
Standing still after antenna explosion
Trying to complete everything in one risky push

Remember, progress carries over. You do not need to be a hero.

Why Welcome to Tau Ceti Matters

This contract chain is not just a tutorial.

It teaches core Marathon fundamentals:

• PvPvE awareness

• Vertical navigation

• Objective based movement

• Noise discipline

• Rooftop vulnerability

• Extraction timing

If you master this contract properly, later CyberAcme contracts become much easier.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to complete Welcome to Tau Ceti in Marathon is your first real step into becoming a competent Runner.

It is not mechanically difficult, but it punishes impatience. The game is teaching you something here. Move smart. Shoot only when necessary. Always think about who heard that gunshot.

Defeat your three UESC. Scan the FTL array. Sabotage the antenna. Then get out.

Tau Ceti IV does not forgive sloppy play.

If you treat this contract seriously and build good habits early, you will feel the difference in every deployment that follows.

Now drop in. Stay sharp. And welcome to Tau Ceti.