Dive into the shadowy depths of New Atlantis with Starfield’s “Alternating Currents” quest, where every junction box you power down brings you closer to unraveling a mysterious power drain-and a tough choice between two compelling allies, Louisa and Zoe. Will you side with loyalty or pragmatism in this electrifying investigation? Our walkthrough guides you through every step, from tracking down hidden boxes to navigating the tense standoff that defines this gripping side mission on PC and Xbox.
’Alternating Currents’ junction box locations
The junction boxes in the “Alternating Currents” quest are located at key points around New Atlantis. The first junction box is found to the right of Jake’s building, up the stairs from the football nets, requiring some parkour to access it by climbing structures nearby. Another important junction box is located outside Athena Tower in the Residential District, where you need to power it down before entering the tower by picking a Novice lock. The final junction box is attached to the right side of CJ’s building in the Residential District, above ground and behind some fern plants near the entrance. Accessing these boxes often involves climbing, lockpicking, and careful exploration of the area around the Trade Authority and residential blocks.
From the Trade Authority entrance, head left and up the stairs. Once you’re up the stairs, you’ll notice the blue quest marker will point directly above you, but how do you get up there? You jump. Scale up toward the marker by leaping from the nearby machines like so:
You can also boost pack your way up, if you have the Boost Pack Training skill. (We double-jumped and suddenly our character had their spacesuit on, allowing them to boost up to the box.)
Once you interact with that junction box, you’ll be prompted to find box 45A or 47B. Zoe wants you to open junction box 47B, which is found along the scaffolding on the same floor around the corner, as she says. Louisa wants you to find junction box 45A, which can be trickier to find. Note that there is no difference between which junction box you pick. The associated NPC will just be a bit more smug that you sided with their choice.
Junction box 45A location
From outside of the Trade Authority building, jump up to the green balcony on the left. Junction box 45A is through this door around the corner:
Final junction box location
The last junction box is attached to the right side of CJ’s, a building in the Residential District in New Atlantis (outside of The Well). The quest marker should direct you to it quickly, especially since the topside of New Atlantis isn’t riddled with different layers of elevation. Whew.
How to access the apartment in ’Alternating Currents’
To access the apartment in the “Alternating Currents” quest in Starfield, head to Athena Tower in the Residential area of New Atlantis. Take the elevator up to the apartment floors, then follow the quest markers to a locked door. You will need a digipick to pick the novice-level lock and enter the apartment. Inside, you can find the computer needed to progress the quest by downloading files related to the power drain issue. Make sure to have a digipick on hand before attempting to access the apartment.
After you find the last junction box and follow the quest markers, you’ll be instructed to “access the apartment,” which will require you to lockpick a door, so make sure you have a digipick on hand. It’s a novice-level lock, so it shouldn’t give you too much trouble.
Once you’re inside, you can download the files from the marked computer right in front of the door. With the evidence in hand, you can turn it into Louisa or Zoe.
’Alternating Currents’ choice: Louisa or Zoe?
In the Starfield quest “Alternating Currents,” players face a key decision between siding with Louisa Reyez or Zoe from the Trade Authority. After investigating power brown-outs in The Well and gathering evidence from a hidden apartment, you must choose who to give the evidence to. Both Louisa and Zoe offer the same rewards-2,500 credits and 75 XP-but siding with Louisa is generally recommended. Choosing Louisa maintains your relationship with her without negatively affecting future interactions with Zoe, who remains a vendor. Conversely, giving the evidence to Zoe causes Louisa to be displeased, although this has no significant impact on the game later. Overall, the choice has minor consequences, making Louisa the safer pick if you have no strong preference.
What secrets does the ‘Alternating Currents’ quest reveal about New Atlantis
The “Alternating Currents” quest in Starfield reveals a hidden power struggle beneath New Atlantis, centered around The Well, a poorer residential area suffering mysterious brownouts. The investigation uncovers that the Trade Authority’s Athena Residential Tower is being used as a conduit for a massive power drain, but the true source lies elsewhere, tied to a covert operation hacking into GalBank’s system. This quest exposes the complex dynamics between Louisa Reyez, who accuses the Trade Authority of wrongdoing, and Zoe Kaminski, the Trade Authority representative who insists the blame is misplaced, highlighting deeper political and social tensions within New Atlantis.
What does the evidence in ‘Alternating Currents’ suggest about power theft in New Atlantis
The evidence in the “Alternating Currents” quest suggests that a significant amount of power is being stolen in New Atlantis to facilitate a hack into the GalBank’s system. This power theft is causing brownouts in The Well settlement and is traced back to a covert operation involving unauthorized use of power from the Trade Authority’s Athena Residential Tower. The investigation reveals a complex situation where Louisa Reyez accuses the Trade Authority, represented by Zoe Kaminski, of involvement in the power drain and hacking, while Zoe denies any wrongdoing. The player must decide to whom to deliver the evidence, but this choice does not significantly affect the overall story experience.
