Secrets of the Past Walkthrough in Dune Awakening
Secrets of the Past sends you to Testing Stations 60 and 163. PAL's passcode is 19743D6, from Arn Mikals' recording. Every step, the PAL choice and rewards.
Contents
Secrets of the Past is the last Lost Harvest journey. Elara Tuek sends you to two forgotten labs: one under Imperial Testing Station No. 60 in the Western Shield Wall, the other under No. 163 in the O'odham. At Station 163 the AI PAL asks for a passcode: 19743D6. You hear it on Arn Mikals' recording in the room to the left of PAL's projection.
All codes and keys at a glance
| What | Answer | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| PAL passcode (Once Upon a Time) | 19743D6 | Arn Mikals' shigawire recording, room left of PAL's projection |
| Door to the secret lab, Station 163 | Purple ID Band | Left-most room after you drop to the lower level |
| PAL decision | any of the three choices | All three complete the contract |
The passcode is not typed. Once you have heard the recording, "19743D6." shows up as a dialogue option when PAL asks for it.
The journey has two contracts from Elara Tuek, and each one is a lab:
- Secrets of the Past, the contract: Imperial Testing Station No. 60.
- Once Upon a Time: Imperial Testing Station No. 163 and PAL.
Story in two lines: Keif Villari's package turned out to hold a gelsphere that can capture a thinking machine's mind. Now Elara wants the gelspheres of any other thinking machines hidden under old Imperial testing stations.
How to start Secrets of the Past
You need the Lost Harvest DLC and a finished Digging Deeper (see the Lost Harvest walkthrough). Digging Deeper ends with "Return to the Hagga Basin and await word from Elara Tuek". Elara only calls when three things are true: you own the DLC, you are in Hagga Basin, and you are inside a watersealed shelter. Sit in your sealed base and Elara's call comes in with both contracts.
What to bring: an ornithopter, a cutteray for doors, lots of ammo and healkits. A deployable turret helps a lot in the Station 60 waves. You can do the two stations in either order. Land on rock next to each entrance, not on open sand, so a sandworm can't swallow your ornithopter while you're underground.
Secrets of the Past: the lab under Testing Station No. 60
Once Upon a Time: PAL under Testing Station No. 163
Station 163 sits in the middle of the O'odham, between three rock pillars, north-west of the House of Fiqh outpost.
PAL's decision: all three choices
| Choice | What happens |
|---|---|
| "I don't need to explain myself to a thinking machine. [Take the sphere]" | You take the gelsphere by force |
| "You are wasted here all alone. I'll take you somewhere you can be useful." | PAL agrees to come along, and you take the sphere |
| "Do that then. I don't trust the motives of the people who sent me." | PAL goes into hibernation and you leave it behind (reached through "Isn't there another way?") |
All three complete "Make a decision about Pal" and the Once Upon a Time step of the journey, so pick the ending you like.
Fastest way through
- Wait for the call in your base, not at a tradepost. The trigger wants a watersealed shelter.
- At Station 60, ignore the security door after the glass windows. It is the biggest time sink in the dungeon.
- At Station 163, grab the Purple ID Band before you go anywhere else, and play the recording before you talk to PAL. Then the passcode is ready when you need it.
- Both stations are big loot dungeons too. If you are short on parts, see Imperial Testing Stations for what drops there.
Common blockers and fixes
- "Secrets of the Past" won't start / no access. Check three things: you own Lost Harvest, Digging Deeper is fully finished (package delivered to Elara in Harko Village), and you are standing in a watersealed base in Hagga Basin. A base without a seal doesn't count.
- The passcode option is missing. You haven't heard Arn Mikals' recording. The option only shows after it plays. It is in the room to the left of PAL's projection.
- Locked in a boss fight at Station 60. You took the security door after the glass windows. You have to win that fight now; next run, skip that door.
- The gas pods keep killing you. In the final room at Station 60, the pods spray gas before they open. Back off, let the gas clear, then fight. A turret takes pressure off.
Rewards
- Each contract (Secrets of the Past, Once Upon a Time): 700 XP plus a Solari payout.
- Journey steps: the Treadwheel Boost Mk4 schematic for Station 60 and the Treadwheel Tread Mk4 schematic for Station 163.
- The journey itself: 100 XP.
With these two, Lost Harvest has handed you most Treadwheel modules at Mk4: chassis, PSU, engine, hull, boost and tread. See the vehicles guide.
What comes next
Bringing both gelspheres to Elara Tuek finishes the Lost Harvest storyline. From here, carry on with the main story: if you haven't yet, the Great Convention murder investigation is the next big chapter. For other coloured bands you will meet in stations, see our ID bands guide.
What is the PAL passcode in Dune Awakening?
19743D6. Arn Mikals says it at the end of his recording in the room to the left of PAL's projection, and it then appears as a dialogue option.
Where is Testing Station 163?
In the middle of the O'odham in Hagga Basin, between three rock pillars and north-west of the House of Fiqh.
How do I start Secrets of the Past?
Finish Digging Deeper, then wait inside a watersealed base in Hagga Basin until Elara Tuek calls.
What should I decide about PAL?
It doesn't matter for progress: taking the sphere by force, letting PAL come willingly, or letting it hibernate all complete the contract.
Which station should I do first, 60 or 163?
Either order works. Station 60 is the wave fight where a turret helps most, Station 163 is the one with PAL and the passcode.