Life During Wartime

Key takeaways

Keep these points in mind before starting the operation.

• Follow Panam's plan The mission is structured around Panam's interception of a Kang Tao AV. Stay with the Aldecaldos during the approach and use the available vehicle-mounted weapon when the objective calls for suppressing the aircraft.
• Search the crash site methodically The wreck area becomes a compound-style firefight after the AV goes down. Use cover, clear hostile positions around the wreck, and do not assume that reaching the first visible body completes the search.
• The motel sequence is story-focused Once Anders Hellman is brought to the Sunset Motel, the emphasis changes from combat to questioning. Read the dialogue carefully if you want the context surrounding the Relic and Hellman's research.
• The mission is part of Panam's arc Life During Wartime is not an isolated job. Its events continue the storyline begun with Panam and the Aldecaldos and lead into further developments involving the group.

Life During Wartime overview

Life During Wartime is a major Cyberpunk 2077 story mission involving Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos.

Life During Wartime follows V's attempt to locate Anders Hellman, the Arasaka-linked specialist connected to the Relic and the biochip's malfunction. Panam Palmer learns that a Kang Tao transport is carrying Hellman and asks V to help intercept it. The operation expands the Aldecaldos' role in V's search while placing the group in direct conflict with Kang Tao forces.

The mission moves from preparation and travel into a large roadside combat encounter. V and Panam must bring down the AV, survive the response from Kang Tao soldiers, and search the crash site for Hellman. The fight rewards careful use of cover and target prioritization more than simply advancing into the wreckage, because enemies can attack from several positions around the landing area.

After Hellman is recovered, the mission shifts into an interrogation at the Sunset Motel. This final section is more focused on dialogue and character tension than combat, and it supplies important context for the Relic without resolving every question surrounding V's condition. Because the mission contains story revelations about Hellman, the Relic, and Johnny Silverhand, later sections of this page carry spoiler warnings.

Life During Wartime is also an important step in Panam's storyline. Its events strengthen V's working relationship with the Aldecaldos and establish information that matters to later story developments, but the mission itself is primarily about obtaining Hellman's knowledge rather than completing a standalone combat contract.

Where this sits

Requirements

Life During Wartime becomes available as part of the main story after the relevant Panam mission.

• RequiredComplete Riders on the StormThis is the preceding mission in Panam's main-story sequence.
• RecommendedBring a reliable combat loadoutThe AV interception leads into a sustained firefight, so weapons and cyberware suited to mid-range combat are useful.
• RecommendedCarry healing itemsThe crash-site encounter exposes V to several hostile firing positions before the mission returns to dialogue.
• OptionalUse a flexible weapon choiceThe mission contains both vehicle-based combat and ordinary infantry combat, making a single narrow-range weapon less convenient.

Objectives

1. Meet Panam and the AldecaldosJoin the group for the planned interception of the Kang Tao transport.
2. Intercept the Kang Tao AVTravel with Panam and assist in bringing the aircraft down.
3. Search the crash siteClear the hostile Kang Tao presence and locate Anders Hellman.
4. Take Hellman to the Sunset MotelMove the recovered target to the motel for questioning.
5. Question Anders HellmanHear what Hellman knows about the Relic and its effects on V.

Walkthrough

1. 01

   Meet Panam and prepare for the operation

   Meet Panam for the interception

   Travel to the Aldecaldos' meeting point and speak with Panam Palmer to begin the operation. The group explains that a Kang Tao AV is transporting Anders Hellman, making this the best available opportunity to recover him.

   Location: Aldecaldos camp

   TipMake sure your preferred weapons and healing items are ready before entering the combat portion of the mission.

2. 02

   Reach the AV interception area

   Join the Aldecaldos' convoy

   Get into the vehicle as directed and remain with Panam and the other Aldecaldos while they move toward the interception area. Leaving the group or moving too far from the objective can interrupt the intended sequence and force you to regroup.

   Location: Roads outside Night City

   Watch outDo not treat the approach as a free-roaming drive; follow the mission marker and wait for the convoy to reach the engagement point.

3. 03

   Shoot down the Kang Tao AV

   Bring down the Kang Tao AV

   When the AV enters the operation, use the vehicle-mounted weapon or the attack prompt provided by the mission to engage it. Concentrate on the marked target and continue firing through the attack sequence until the aircraft is forced down.

   Location: The AV's flight path near Rocky Ridge

   TipStay focused on the marked aircraft rather than wasting shots on unrelated targets during the vehicle sequence.

4. 04

   Reach the downed AV

   Approach the crash site with the Aldecaldos

   After the AV crashes, move toward the wreck with Panam's group and prepare for a ground engagement. The area around the downed aircraft contains hostile Kang Tao personnel, so approach from cover instead of crossing the open ground without checking the surrounding positions.

   Location: Rocky Ridge crash site

   Watch outThe crash does not end the encounter; hostile forces remain active around the wreck and can fire from more than one direction.

5. 05

   Neutralize the Kang Tao presence

   Clear Kang Tao forces

   Fight through the soldiers and other hostile units guarding the crash site. Use the wreckage, vehicles, and nearby structures as cover, eliminate enemies that can flank the group, and advance only after the immediate firing positions are under control.

   Location: Around the Kang Tao wreck

   TipPrioritize enemies with clear lines of fire on your position before chasing targets that are already partly sheltered.

6. 06

   Find Anders Hellman

   Search the AV for Anders Hellman

   Once the crash-site resistance has been dealt with, follow the objective marker through the wreckage and inspect the indicated area. Hellman is the person the operation was built around, so continue searching the marked sections rather than stopping at the first bodies or containers you find.

   Location: Kang Tao AV wreckage

7. 07

   Secure Anders Hellman

   Recover Hellman from the crash site

   After locating Anders Hellman, interact with him and complete the prompted recovery sequence. The mission then shifts away from the open firefight, so stay near Panam and the Aldecaldos as they organize the next move.

   Location: Rocky Ridge crash site

   Watch outThe recovery objective is not complete merely because Hellman is visible; wait for the interaction and objective update before leaving the wreck.

8. 08

   Bring Anders Hellman to the motel

   Take Hellman to the Sunset Motel

   Transport Hellman to the Sunset Motel as instructed and enter the building with the group. This is a controlled story transition, so follow the marker and avoid wandering away while the Aldecaldos prepare to question him.

   Location: Sunset Motel

   Checkpoint
9. 09

   Question Anders Hellman

   Question Anders Hellman

   Speak with Hellman during the motel interrogation and work through the available dialogue. The conversation covers the Relic, the chip's behavior, and Hellman's connection to the technology; when the questioning ends, remain through the closing character scene to finish the mission.

   Location: Sunset Motel room

   Watch outThis conversation contains major story information about V's condition and Johnny Silverhand. The mission's final revelations cannot be undone by combat or exploration.

Mission mechanics

The mission's combat is divided between a vehicle-mounted attack and a ground assault. During the AV sequence, the game directs V toward a specific airborne target and supplies the appropriate mounted weapon interaction. Once the aircraft is down, the encounter becomes a conventional fight in an exposed crash area, where cover and movement between safe positions matter more than raw forward momentum.

The crash site is easier to manage when approached as a set of firing lanes. Use the wreck and nearby objects to break sightlines, check the sides of the engagement area before advancing, and avoid pushing toward Hellman while enemies still have an unobstructed view of the route. After the area is secure, the mission uses objective markers to guide V through the wreck and into the recovery interaction.

The Sunset Motel section has no comparable combat puzzle. Its function is to deliver dialogue and exposition, so the useful preparation is simply to finish the preceding fight and stay with the objective. The mission's important information is delivered through conversation rather than a collectible, terminal, or optional combat arena.

What works and what does not

Phases

1. 1

   AV interception

   Starts: The Kang Tao transport reaches the interception area.

   V assists Panam and the Aldecaldos in attacking the airborne transport with the mission's vehicle-mounted weapon.

   • Mounted weapon fireTell The weapon reticle and mission prompts direct attention toward the AV.Answer Keep the target centered and continue the attack until the scripted takedown completes.
   • Follow the marked target instead of trying to leave the convoy formation.
   • The sequence is an objective-driven vehicle encounter rather than a normal free-aim firefight.
2. 2

   Crash-site firefight

   Starts: The AV is brought down at Rocky Ridge.

   Kang Tao forces defend the wreck and prevent V's group from reaching Hellman immediately.

   • Infantry crossfireTell Hostile soldiers fire from around the wreck and nearby cover.Answer Break line of sight, clear enemies with views of the approach, and advance in short movements.
   • Flanking pressureTell Enemies can become dangerous when V moves past the group's cover or focuses only on the most visible target.Answer Check both sides of the route before committing to the next piece of cover.
   • Use the wreckage as cover and avoid sprinting across the open approach.
   • Do not begin the recovery interaction until the area is safe enough to complete it.
3. 3

   Motel interrogation

   Starts: Hellman is delivered to the Sunset Motel.

   The action gives way to a dialogue sequence in which Hellman's knowledge of the Relic and V's condition is examined.

   • This phase is about listening and choosing dialogue, not defeating another combat encounter.
   • Major story context is revealed here, so players avoiding spoilers should stop before entering the room.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Choose a conciliatory or cooperative line during the motel questioning

  The interrogation can proceed without V escalating the exchange. The mission still reaches its required story outcome.

• Choose an aggressive or threatening line during the motel questioning

  The tone of the conversation becomes more hostile, but the main objective of obtaining Hellman's information remains unchanged.

• Ask about the Relic and its effects on V

  Hellman's answers provide additional story context about the chip, the procedure behind it, and the danger posed to V. These revelations are part of the main path rather than a separate optional reward.

Checklist

• Complete Riders on the Storm before beginning this missionThis places the mission in the correct Panam storyline sequence.
• Prepare weapons for a sustained crash-site firefightThe ground encounter follows immediately after the AV sequence.
• Bring healing itemsThe approach to the wreck can expose V to several hostile firing positions.
• Follow the vehicle objective during the AV attackThe mission supplies a mounted weapon interaction for the interception.
• Use cover while approaching the wreckThe crash area is more dangerous when crossed in the open.
• Clear the Kang Tao defenders before searchingThe recovery objective is easier to complete after the surrounding threat is removed.
• Interact with the marked location to recover Anders HellmanFinding the wreck or a body is not enough to advance the objective.
• Follow the marker to the Sunset MotelThe mission's final section takes place away from the crash site.
• Stay for the interrogation dialogueThe motel sequence contains the mission's key Relic-related information.

Failure conditions

• V is killed during the AV or crash-site encounterThe mission fails and reloads from the latest available checkpoint or save.
• V moves too far away during the convoy sequenceThe operation can be interrupted if V abandons the objective area; return to the marked route or reload if the sequence does not recover.
• V leaves the crash-site objective unfinishedThe mission cannot progress until the hostile presence is dealt with and the marked search or recovery interaction is completed.
• V does not complete the motel conversationThe mission remains unfinished until the required dialogue and closing scene have played out.

Rewards

• Main-story progression
  Completing the mission advances V's investigation into the Relic and continues Panam's storyline.
• Anders Hellman's information
  The motel sequence provides story knowledge about the Relic and its effects.
• Aldecaldos relationship progression
  The operation develops V's connection with Panam and the Aldecaldos.

Characters in this mission

• VPlayable protagonist assisting with the interception and interrogation.
• Panam PalmerOrganizes the operation and accompanies V.
• Mitch AndersonA member of the Aldecaldos involved in the operation.
• Saul BrightAldecaldos leader connected to the group's response to the mission.
• Anders HellmanThe target recovered from the Kang Tao AV.
• Johnny SilverhandAppears in the mission's story context around the Relic.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• The mission's title reflects its wartime atmosphere and the broader conflict surrounding the Relic rather than naming a specific combat objective.
• Life During Wartime combines a scripted vehicle sequence, an open-area firefight, and a dialogue-heavy investigation in one mission.
• The Aldecaldos' assistance makes this mission distinct from V's more solitary investigations into the Relic.
• The Sunset Motel functions as the mission's transition point from action to exposition.

Relationships