Forward to Death

Key takeaways

Use the following points to prepare for the mission without revealing its later story developments.

• Commitment to the Aldecaldos route Forward to Death is not a regular optional activity. It is part of the ending path that begins when V asks Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos for help during Nocturne Op55N1.
• Expect sustained combat The mission combines an exposed outdoor assault with tighter fights inside the construction site. Bring a dependable weapon for medium-range targets and a close-range option for enemies encountered in confined spaces.
• Stay with the operation The mission advances through scripted stages, so do not wander far from Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos while an assault objective is active. The next area may not be safe until the current group of Militech defenders is cleared.
• The mission continues immediately Forward to Death feeds into Belly of the Beast. Treat the sequence as a final-operation segment and make any desired preparation before starting the Aldecaldos assault.

Forward to Death

V joins the Aldecaldos for a high-risk assault on a Militech-controlled construction site, opening the underground route used to reach Arasaka Tower.

Forward to Death is a main-story mission in Cyberpunk 2077 that follows We Gotta Live Together on the Aldecaldos route. It begins after V commits to Panam Palmer and her family for the final operation, shifting the story away from Night City’s usual streets and into a coordinated assault across the Badlands. The mission is built around a large battlefield approach, vehicle support, and a sustained push through a heavily defended industrial site.

The opening phase emphasizes preparation and movement with the Aldecaldos rather than investigation or dialogue-heavy exploration. V travels with Panam Palmer and the clan toward the target, then helps create an opening through Militech defenses. The combat space is broad and exposed, so cover, positioning, and target priority matter more than simply advancing toward the objective marker. Enemies can attack from several elevations and from fortified positions around the site.

Once the outer defenses are breached, the mission becomes a close-quarters advance through the construction area and its access route. Keep track of the objective marker, search safe areas for ammunition between encounters, and avoid pushing beyond the group while the next objective is still updating. Forward to Death leads directly into Belly of the Beast, making it part of the continuous final operation rather than a mission that returns V to ordinary free-roam activities.

Where this sits

Requirements

The mission is available only after V selects the Aldecaldos plan during the final story sequence.

• RequiredComplete We Gotta Live TogetherThe Aldecaldos camp sequence must be complete before Forward to Death becomes the active mission.
• RequiredChoose Panam Palmer's helpDuring Nocturne Op55N1, V must contact Panam Palmer and commit to the Aldecaldos operation rather than selecting another available route.
• RecommendedPrepare equipment before departureUse the opportunity before the assault to equip healing items, ammunition, and weapons suited to both open combat and enclosed areas.

Objectives

1. Join the Aldecaldos for the assaultLeave the camp with Panam Palmer and the clan when the operation begins.
2. Reach the Militech construction siteTravel with the group and follow the active objective through the Badlands.
3. Break through the Militech defensesAdvance across the site while eliminating defenders and using available cover.
4. Enter the underground access routePush through the construction area and continue toward the route needed for the next mission.
5. Regroup with the AldecaldosRemain with the operation until the scripted transition into the next stage is complete.

Walkthrough

1. 01

   Join the Aldecaldos for the assault

   Finish the Aldecaldos briefing

   At the Aldecaldos camp, listen to the final instructions and make sure V is ready to leave with the group. This is the last practical preparation point before the operation turns into a linked sequence of combat encounters.

   Location: Aldecaldos camp

   TipReload weapons and make sure healing items are accessible before moving away from camp.

   Checkpoint
2. 02

   Reach the Militech construction site

   Travel with Panam Palmer and the clan

   Follow Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos as they move through the Badlands toward the target. Stay with the convoy instead of cutting across the terrain, because the mission advances through the group’s movement and scripted staging.

   Location: Badlands

3. 03

   Reach the entrance to the construction site

   Approach the construction site

   Move toward the marked entrance with the Aldecaldos and use the terrain as cover when the assault begins. The approach exposes V to Militech fire from the site, so avoid standing in the open while waiting for the next push.

   Location: Militech construction site

   Watch outRunning ahead of the group can leave V exposed to several firing positions before the assault has created a safe route.

4. 04

   Break through the Militech defenses

   Clear the outer defenses

   Fight through the first Militech positions around the construction site, prioritizing enemies who can pin the group from elevated or fortified cover. Advance only after the immediate area is controlled, then follow the objective marker toward the next defensive line.

   Location: Outer construction site

   TipUse long sightlines to remove distant shooters first, then switch to a close-range weapon when moving between structures.

5. 05

   Push deeper into the site

   Advance through the active combat zone

   Continue across the site with the Aldecaldos while Militech reinforcements and defenders contest the route. Search behind cover and around cleared structures for ammunition, but return to the marked path once the area is secure so the next stage can trigger.

   Location: Construction site battlefield

   Watch outThe open ground makes it easy to lose health while looting; clear the current threat before stopping to search.

6. 06

   Enter the construction site

   Enter the construction complex

   Follow the clan into the more enclosed section of the facility and prepare for shorter sightlines. Enemies are harder to isolate here, so use doorways, machinery, and corners to break their line of fire rather than charging into the next room.

   Location: Construction complex

7. 07

   Reach the underground access route

   Fight toward the underground route

   Work through the interior combat spaces and keep the mission marker in view as the route descends toward the operation’s access point. Check side rooms for supplies when the area is quiet, but do not leave the objective area for an extended detour.

   Location: Interior construction site

   Checkpoint
8. 08

   Regroup with the Aldecaldos

   Regroup and continue the operation

   After the final push, regroup with Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos at the designated point. The mission does not return V to normal exploration here; complete the conversation and transition so the next mission, Belly of the Beast, can begin.

   Location: Underground access area

   Watch outThis sequence leads directly into the next operation, so use any available pause before departure to confirm that V is equipped for another extended section.

Mission mechanics

Forward to Death is structured as a moving assault rather than a conventional investigation. The Aldecaldos provide the mission’s momentum, while V supplies the flexibility: stealth, quickhacks, firearms, blades, and cyberware can all be used to reduce the Militech presence. The most reliable rhythm is to stop at each piece of cover, identify the enemies controlling the next lane, and move only after the immediate firing angles have been reduced.

The battlefield changes how weapons feel. Long-range weapons and smart targeting are useful when Militech units are spread across the construction site, while shotguns, submachine guns, and melee weapons become more practical once V enters the structures. Quickhacks that interrupt or disable enemies can create safer openings, but the encounter design still rewards movement between cover rather than remaining in one position until every enemy is defeated.

The Aldecaldos’ presence also matters tactically. They create pressure on the defenders and indicate the intended direction of travel, but they do not remove the need for V to manage threats personally. If the objective marker appears to stall, check the nearby combat space for an active defender instead of searching far away. The mission generally resumes after the current area has been secured and V returns to the group’s route.

What works and what does not

Phases

1. 1

   Convoy approach

   Starts: The Aldecaldos leave camp and travel toward the target.

   This phase is primarily movement and staging, but it establishes the route into the construction site.

   • Stay with Panam Palmer and the clan instead of taking an independent route through the Badlands.
   • Use the travel time to confirm weapons, healing items, and cyberware are ready.
2. 2

   Outer-site assault

   Starts: The group reaches the Militech construction site.

   V crosses exposed ground and fortified approaches while the Aldecaldos attack the outer defenses.

   • Fortified small-arms fireTell Incoming fire comes from defenders positioned around structures, barriers, and elevated angles.Answer Move between cover, identify the firing position, and avoid crossing open ground until the nearest threat is controlled.
   • Prioritize enemies who can see the route from above or from behind heavy cover.
   • Do not stop to loot while the current approach is still under fire.
3. 3

   Construction-complex push

   Starts: V and the Aldecaldos enter the facility.

   The fighting becomes more confined and forces V to manage enemies around corners, doorways, and industrial structures.

   • Close-range pressureTell Militech defenders can become dangerous when they occupy the next room or doorway.Answer Use quickhacks, grenades, or a close-range weapon before stepping fully into the room.
   • Use the objective marker to avoid unnecessary detours through the combat area.
   • Reload during pauses between rooms rather than after entering the next engagement.
4. 4

   Underground regroup

   Starts: The route through the construction site is secured.

   The combat push ends when V reaches the designated access area and rejoins the Aldecaldos.

   • Finish the regrouping sequence before expecting free-roam access.
   • Prepare for Belly of the Beast after the transition.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Choose Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos during Nocturne Op55N1

  This choice starts the route that leads through We Gotta Live Together and into Forward to Death. Selecting another final-operation option does not produce this mission in the same sequence.

  Spoiler
• Enter Forward to Death after completing the Aldecaldos camp preparations

  The mission commits V to a continuous assault and then continues into Belly of the Beast instead of returning immediately to ordinary exploration.

  Spoiler

Checklist

• Complete We Gotta Live TogetherThis is the direct mission prerequisite.
• Choose the Aldecaldos route during Nocturne Op55N1Forward to Death is tied to this final-operation choice.
• Restock healing items and ammunitionThe mission contains several connected combat areas.
• Equip both medium-range and close-range optionsThe assault moves from exposed outdoor spaces into enclosed structures.
• Stay near Panam Palmer and the AldecaldosThe group establishes the intended direction through the site.
• Clear the current combat area before lootingOpen ground and fortified Militech positions make premature looting risky.Optional
• Be ready for Belly of the BeastThe story continues directly after the mission.

Failure conditions

• V is killed during the assaultThe mission fails when V loses all health in the construction-site combat sequence.
• V moves too far from the active operationLeaving the intended route can expose V to concentrated fire or prevent the next scripted stage from progressing. Return to the objective marker and the Aldecaldos if the sequence stalls.
• V enters the next engagement without preparationThere is no special build requirement, but poor ammunition management or inadequate healing supplies can make the linked combat sequence significantly harder.

Rewards

• Story progression
  Completing Forward to Death advances the Aldecaldos ending route.
• Access to Belly of the Beast
  The next mission in the operation becomes available after the assault sequence.
• Combat loot
  Militech enemies and the construction site can provide ordinary ammunition, weapons, and other loot, with exact contents varying by playthrough and difficulty.

Characters in this mission

• VThe player character and central participant in the assault.
• Panam PalmerV's principal Aldecaldos ally during the operation.
• Saul BrightA senior Aldecaldos figure involved in the clan's operation.
• Mitch AndersonAn Aldecaldos member associated with the operation.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• The mission’s title reflects the Aldecaldos’ willingness to commit to an exceptionally dangerous operation for V.
• Forward to Death is one of the story missions that can only appear after V chooses a specific ending route during Nocturne Op55N1.
• Its structure deliberately alternates between open Badlands combat and more confined industrial spaces.
• The mission is designed as part of a continuous final sequence, so it offers less opportunity for unrelated exploration than most earlier missions.

Relationships