Directive 8020 Guide: How To Unlock Carter's PC
Getting stuck on a simple password screen while investigating a missing crew is a fast way to ruin your momentum aboard the Cassiopeia.
When you step into the shoes of Eisele during Episode 2, your main objective is figuring out exactly what happened to the missing sleep crew. Your investigation naturally brings you directly to the crew quarters. You eventually wander into Carter's personal cabin to dig up some answers, only to find his computer locked down tight. If you already checked out my Directive 8020 oracle reboot guide, you know Carter has a track record of dealing with annoying computer systems. Now it is your turn to bypass his personal security. This is one of the very first puzzles the game throws at you during the Sleuth node, and it is incredibly easy to overthink it.
Investigating The Cabin Clues
Before you start ripping the room apart looking for hidden datapads, you just need to look at the monitor.
When you interact with Carter's locked PC on his desk, you will notice a small sticky note attached to the bezel. The note simply says "Luna". It is a classic environmental puzzle prompt. You do not need to hack anything or search your inventory menus. You just need to look around the immediate area for something related to that name. Keeping a level head during these quiet moments is good practice for the later chapters, especially if you are actively following my Directive 8020 save everyone guide and trying to keep Eisele breathing.
The Calendar Solution
Leave the desk and walk out into the main living area of Carter's cabin. You are looking for a physical calendar hanging on the wall.
Interact with the calendar and you will see a specific date explicitly encircled in marker. The date marks Luna's birthday on August 28, 2065. That is your entire cipher. You just need the month and the day to crack the lock. August is the eighth month of the year, and the day is the 28th.
The Key Code Breakdown
Once you punch 2808 into the locked PC, the system opens up. This allows Eisele to gather the necessary clues regarding the erratic behavior of the sleep crew and pushes the narrative forward into the next set of horrible decisions you have to make.
