Key takeaways
- The Fuel Station is in the southern Badlands, on Highway 101, near the outskirts of the Biotechnica Flats.
- Its principal named resident is Marty Jenklow, a civilian station manager and weapon vendor.
- The station is a major location in “Life During Wartime”, where V captures Anders Hellman after the Kang Tao AV crash.
- It contains a store, workshop, upper-floor rooms and multiple infiltration routes, including the front, side doors, rear entrance and roof.
- The mission’s outcome changes depending on whether V helps Panam rescue Mitch promptly or delays at the crash site.
- The station has a fast-travel point and remains useful as a Badlands weapon-shopping stop after the main job.
About this guide
Scope: Cyberpunk 2077 base game, including the Badlands location used during “Life During Wartime”. Spoiler warning: This guide discusses the Anders Hellman sequence, Panam’s quest line, the station’s hostile encounter and the nearby “Goodbye, Night City” gig.
Overview
The Fuel Station is a roadside filling station and workshop on Highway 101, in the southern Badlands. It stands in the outskirts of the Biotechnica Flats and is best known as the location where Anders Hellman and his Kang Tao escorts seek refuge after the Kang Tao AV crash in the main job “Life During Wartime”.
Although it appears to be a modest roadside business, the station is a useful example of how Cyberpunk 2077 combines ordinary infrastructure with mission spaces. It has a shop, workshop, upper floor, roof access, security positions and several possible approaches. Outside the mission, it is also home to Marty Jenklow, a weapon vendor who can sell firearms and related equipment.
The Fuel Station should not be confused with the separate Medeski Fuel Station, which lies elsewhere in the Badlands and is associated with other exploration and vehicle content. The location covered here is the Highway 101 station used in “Life During Wartime”.
Location and boundaries
The Fuel Station is a compact roadside complex rather than a district or settlement. Its scope consists of the station building, fuel forecourt, workshop area, surrounding access roads, roof and immediate perimeter. The broader Biotechnica Flats, Highway 101 and the southern Badlands are neighbouring areas, not additional subareas of the station itself.
The station is positioned on Highway 101 along the route towards the Night City to Southern California border checkpoint. It serves travellers, nomads and others who prefer to refuel away from the heavy surveillance associated with the city. The location’s isolation is part of its narrative function: it is far enough from central Night City to provide a temporary hiding place, but prominent enough to be reached quickly after the AV crash.
Subareas and facilities
Forecourt and road entrances
The forecourt is the most exposed part of the complex. During “Life During Wartime”, Kang Tao forces occupy the station and control the approaches. Automated turrets can be found around the middle of the road entrances. A known bug can leave these turrets in place after the mission is completed.
The forecourt is consequently a poor choice for an unprepared frontal assault. It offers little concealment compared with the station’s side and rear approaches, and enemies may be positioned both inside and above the building.
Main station building
The main building contains the public shop area and the counter where Marty Jenklow normally works. During the Hellman mission, the interior becomes a combat space occupied by Kang Tao personnel.
The front doors are obstructed during the mission. A character with sufficient Body can move through the obstruction, while other approaches avoid the check entirely. The building also connects to the garage and workshop areas.
Workshop and garage
The workshop is attached to the station and provides the location with its repair-and-service identity. It is not a separate player-owned garage and does not function as a vehicle customisation facility. In “Life During Wartime”, the garage forms part of the interior search route after V enters the station.
Treat the workshop as a mission space and environmental detail rather than as a full mechanical service. The game does not provide a general refuelling system for V’s vehicles here.
Upper floor
Hellman is located on the upper floor during “Life During Wartime”. This level is defended by Kang Tao personnel and can be reached through the interior or by using routes from the roof.
The upstairs area is the objective location for the mission, but it is not normally presented as an independent service area after the quest. Its importance is primarily narrative and tactical.
Roof
The roof provides an alternative infiltration route. It can be reached by a ladder at the rear or side of the building. Guides identify two roof hatches, one of which may require a Technical Ability check and another that can be open. V can also approach the station from the roof after dealing with rooftop guards and a nearby tower position.
The roof is useful for stealth-oriented players because it avoids the most direct approach through the front of the station. It is not entirely safe, however, as enemies patrol the roof and can observe the surrounding approaches.
Access and navigation
The Fuel Station is reached by road through the southern Badlands. During the associated main job, Panam and V travel to it after following the Kang Tao convoy from the AV crash site. Outside the mission, the station can be reached freely and has a fast-travel point listed as Fuel Station.
Main approaches during Life During Wartime: The station supports several approaches
- 01Front approach The most obvious route, but also the most exposed. The front doors are obstructed and may require a Body check to clear.
Main approaches during Life During Wartime
- 01Side doors The right side of the building provides additional entry points and can reduce exposure to the forecourt.
Main approaches during Life During Wartime
- 01Rear approach The rear has access to the workshop area and a locked door that can be opened with sufficient Technical Ability. A drone may patrol this side.
Main approaches during Life During Wartime
- 01Roof approach Climb to the roof, deal with the guards and use an available hatch. This route can bypass some of the ground-floor resistance.
Main approaches during Life During Wartime
- 01Direct combat entry V can simply fight through the forecourt and building. This is reliable but attracts attention from multiple enemy positions.
Residents, characters and factions
Marty Jenklow
Marty Jenklow is the station manager, a civilian and a weapon vendor. He is also described as an amateur writer. During “Life During Wartime”, Kang Tao forces lock him in a room behind the counter. V can find and speak to him while searching the station. He explains that Hellman is upstairs.
After the mission, Marty can function as a weapon vendor. His inventory is not presented as a unique named collection, and the available stock follows the game’s normal vendor system. He is nevertheless a useful Badlands source of firearms, ammunition-related purchases and weapon equipment.
Named directory: residents and characters
Only Marty is a permanent resident or business operator at the location. Panam, Hellman, Mitch, Scorpion and Takemura are story-associated visitors rather than ordinary station residents.
Kang Tao
Kang Tao occupies the station during “Life During Wartime”. The force includes guards, a medic and additional operatives. The exact opposition can vary depending on how quickly V resolves the preceding crash-site objectives. Delaying the pursuit can result in additional Kang Tao reinforcements at the station.
Services and businesses
Marty’s weapon shop
Marty is the station’s verified functional vendor. He is classified as a weapon vendor and can sell firearms and associated weapon equipment. The vendor directory lists Marty among the game’s weapon vendors, with his location identified in the Badlands or Jackson Plains depending on the directory’s regional naming convention.
Do not treat every object in the store as a separate purchasable service. The building contains shop dressing and station equipment, but the confirmed player-facing business is Marty’s weapon service.
Functional and non-functional features
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Fuel pumps | Environmental station equipment |
| Workshop | Environmental and mission area |
| Store | Functional through Marty’s vendor interaction |
| Weapon shop | Functional |
| Vehicle refuelling | Not a player mechanic |
| Vehicle repairs | Not a general player service |
| Fast travel | Available at the station’s fast-travel point |
| Player property | Not available |
| Permanent quest hub | No |
Life During Wartime walkthrough
Major spoilers below.
“Life During Wartime” follows “Lightning Breaks” and sends V and Panam after the crashed Kang Tao AV. The Fuel Station is the final major combat location before Hellman is taken to the Sunset Motel. The job awards experience and leads to the acquisition of Scorpion’s Apollo after the station sequence.
Before reaching the station
The cleanest route is to help Panam clear the crash site and secure Mitch promptly. If V delays, additional Kang Tao forces may be present at the Fuel Station. Helping Panam also supports the later “I’ll Fly Away” side job, whereas abandoning her can prevent that follow-up from unlocking.
Recommended station route
- 01Approach from the side or rear. Avoid standing in the open forecourt while scouting the station.
Recommended station route
- 01Scan the perimeter. Look for turrets, rooftop guards, the rear drone and enemies inside the building.
Recommended station route
- 01Choose an entry route. Technical Ability can open a rear access door, while the roof offers hatch access. The front can be forced with Body or entered through combat.
Recommended station route
- 01Clear the ground floor. Move through the shop and workshop while checking for enemies in adjoining rooms.
Recommended station route
- 01Find Marty. The station owner can be found locked in a room behind the counter. Speaking with him gives information about Hellman’s position.
Recommended station route
- 01Reach the upper floor. Hellman is being treated by a Kang Tao medic. Eliminate or bypass the guards and confront him.
Recommended station route
- 01Knock out Hellman. V captures him rather than killing him.
Recommended station route
- 01Call Takemura. The next stage moves the group to the Sunset Motel.
Recommended station route
- 01Leave with Panam and the Aldecaldos. After the conversation outside, Panam allows V to take Scorpion’s Apollo.
Progression outcomes
| Choice or delay | Result |
|---|---|
| Help Panam at the crash site | Supports the rescue sequence and can unlock I’ll Fly Away |
| Abandon Panam and go directly for Hellman | Panam handles the rescue separately; I’ll Fly Away is not unlocked |
| Delay while following the tracks | Additional Kang Tao reinforcements may appear at the station |
| Capture Hellman | Continues the normal main-job sequence at the Sunset Motel |
| Kill enemies non-lethally | The station’s combat can be approached using stealth and non-lethal methods |
Enemies and security
The station’s mission encounter is built around Kang Tao security rather than a named boss fight. Threats may include:
The station’s vertical layout is its main tactical feature. Enemies can occupy the forecourt, interior, roof and elevated observation positions. A stealth character should disable cameras and isolate guards where possible. A combat-focused character should avoid remaining in the open between the road entrances, where turrets and enemy fire can overlap.
There is no separately named boss associated with the Fuel Station in the base-game encounter.
Items and rewards
The station’s most important reward is not a fixed loot container but the story reward connected to the mission:
The exact random weapon and armour drops depend on game level, loot generation and the current version of the game. They should not be confused with named or guaranteed station-specific items.
Other associated activity
Gig: Goodbye, Night City
The Fuel Station is also listed as a location associated with the Badlands gig “Goodbye, Night City”. The station’s importance to that activity is separate from its role in “Life During Wartime”, so players should follow the gig’s own objective markers rather than assuming that the main-job version of the station contains every relevant encounter.
Because Cyberpunk 2077 can alter access and NPC placement according to quest state, it is safest to treat the station as having distinct progression states:
Practical exploration checklist
Before leaving the area, check that you have:
Location names
Characters
Missions and activities
Sources
- Fuel Station (Highway 101) | Cyberpunk Wiki | Fandom — cyberpunk.fandom.com
- Marty Jenklow | Cyberpunk Wiki | Fandom — cyberpunk.fandom.com
- Ghost Town - Act 2 - Main Jobs | Cyberpunk 2077 | Gamer Guides® — gamerguides.com
- Cyberpunk 2077 Clothing Guide with Legendary Sets ⋆ S4G — space4games.com
- Life During Wartime | Cyberpunk Wiki | Fandom — cyberpunk.fandom.com