Electric Dreams

Electric Dreams is a quest in Wasteland 3: Battle of Steeltown.

Background
''After we discovered that the Computation Engine is intentionally sabotaging Steeltown, Abigail Markham asked us to go up to the Steeltown Spire and reset it. Abigail Markham has asked us to reset the Computation Engine, a computer system that controls much of Steeltown. Resetting it should wipe away whatever malfunction is causing it to rebel against her.''

Walkthrough

 * This quest requires the Rangers to enter the Steeltown Spire to reset the computation engine. Upon arrival and stepping into the control chamber, you are immediately engaged in dialogue by the computation engine synths, who explain their situation: That they were lured in by Di, enslaved and hooked up to the engine, and their sabotage of Steeltown was made in order to attract attention and secure their freedom. The Desert Rangers came, much to their surprise, but not an unwelcome one. They plead with the Rangers to end their suffering - and at first will reject the idea of compromising and demand true freedom. Di will constantly interject, reminding everyone that synths are not human, but just sophisticated tools.
 * Here's where it gets interesting: If you agree that resetting the engine is the best course of action, the synths will offer a compromise solution: Working as part of the computation engine with Abigail Markham, as free synths, given sanctuary in the halls of Steeltown and given the right to congregate. Markham is adamantly against it, unless you have Kiss Ass or Hard Ass 10, where you can either convince her this is the best deal she's going to get or threaten to destroy the engine if she doesn't agree. She will relent - and agree to hand Di over, since it's, well, just a tool (ironic, isn't it?).
 * That said, the process to get to the other side of the level and complete the quest requires you to fight through endless hordes of guard-bots, who will only be stopped if you throw the circuit breaker and disable the bot-lifts. If you're freeing the synths, they will also remotely override the vault doors, allowing you a better position from which to engage the robots and shut down the lifts. Otherwise, you have to go through the outside gantry. The same is true for the chamber with the other switch (you can make a shortcut from switch omega to switch alpha with Mechanics 10, repairing the generator by the door). Once both switches are thrown, it's time to decide:
 * Destroy the Computation Engine by taking out the synths, destroying Steeltown and dooming Colorado. This leads to banishment from Steeltown.
 * Turning on Markham and freeing the synths, dooming Steeltown to a lack of a leader or control system. Unless, of course, the synths are persuaded to continue their work (optionally get Buddy) on the Engine and Markham accepts the deal.
 * Reset the Engine and wipe the synths of their memories, reducing them to Markham's slaves.
 * Lastly, there's just the little matter of returning downstairs and speaking to Markham.

Raw strings
Electric Dreams Reset the Computation Engine Destroyed the Computation Engine Synths Freed the Synths and Killed Markham Deal with Markham in the Arcology Kill Markham and her forces Engine Restored Free the Synths Successful Negotiation Return to Markham in the Arcology Return to Markham in the Arcology Return to Markham in the Arcology After we discovered that the Computation Engine is intentionally sabotaging Steeltown, Abigail Markham asked us to go up to the Steeltown Spire and reset it. Abigail Markham has asked us to reset the Computation Engine, a computer system that controls much of Steeltown. Resetting it should wipe away whatever malfunction is causing it to rebel against her. We destroyed the Computation Engine, taking out the synths that operate it. Markham claims that we've destroyed Steeltown and doomed Colorado. We're not welcome in the Arcology any more. We killed Markham to ensure that the synths from the Computation Engine remain free.\nSteeltown probably won't survive without its leader or its control system. Against Markham's wishes, we freed the synths from her Computation Engine. The synths have warned us that she will probably not let this go peacefully. Markham is determined to recover the synths we just freed. She's willing to go through us to do it. Markham is pleased with the results of our resetting the Computation Engine. With the synths' personalities now wiped, the issue is unlikely to recur. She says we've saved Steeltown and the rest of Colordo. The synths offered to continue their work in the Computation Engine in exchange for their freedom. They also want control of Buddy. We convinced Markham to accept their offer. Markham and the synths of the Spire are both pleased with the agreement that was reached. Markham says that we save Steeltown, and therefore all of Colorado. We'll just have to hope the synths don't change their minds in the future. As requested, we successfully reset the Computation Engine, erasing the minds of the synths that control it. We should return to Markham to settle up. Against Markham's wishes, we destroyed the synths in her Computation Engine. She probably won't be happy. As promised, we freed the synths from the Computation Engine, and they have returned to work peacefully. We should return to Markham to collect our reward. The Computation Engine has revealed itself to be an enslaved group of synths.\nThe synths have asked you to free them rather than reset them. You destroyed the Synths in the Computation Engine. You freed the Synths from the Computation Engine. You reset the Computation Engine."