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On the hostile ocean world that one swims in Subnautica, there are few allies to be found, meaning that the player must make it on their own in this beautiful yet merciless undersea survival game. However, not long after crash landing on Planet 4546B, one will begin to receive transmissions from another ship that may be coming to the rescue.

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This ship, the Sunbeam, will send multiple transmissions, which the player can listen to while exploring in Subnautica. It soon becomes clear that the Sunbeam will attempt to land on one of the few islands upon the planet to rescue the player, though, sadly, tragedy often strikes when they attempt their landing. While entering Planet 4546B's atmosphere, the Sunbeam will be shot out of the sky by the Quarantine Enforcement Platform's defensive laser cannon.

This unfortunate event is meant to demonstrate to the player why leaving the planet is extremely dangerous and points gamers toward the need to deactivate the laser. This can be done, granting one the ability to leave Planet 4546B on a self-made rocket, however, many have wondered if it's possible to deactivate the Quarantine Enforcement Platform's laser cannon and save the Sunbeam in Subnautica​​​​​.

Updated on November 23, 2021, by Reyadh Rahaman: Some of the most interesting information about the Sunbeam can be learned through the one-way dialogue that the player has with the ship. Over the course of a few weeks, the player will automatically get a transmission from the Sunbeam every few days up until Day 21. After that, one final message will be sent to the player on Day 23 before the usually unfortunate event of the Sunbeam's destruction. However, this final message will be different depending on where the player is and whether or not the Quarantine Enforcement Platform's laser cannon is still active.

How To Deactivate The Quarantine Enforcement Platform's Laser Cannon

subnautica sunbeam quarantine enforcement platform laser beam

All Requirements For Deactivating The Quarantine Enforcement Platform's Laser Cannon

Before one starts a new playthrough to rush toward the Quarantine Enforcement Platform to deactivate it, players should keep in mind that one must find the Alien Thermal Plant and Primary Research Facility as well in order to perform the necessary steps.

In order to deactivate the laser cannon on the Quarantine Enforcement Platform, players will need to prove to the platform's AI that they are no longer infected by the Kharaa Bacterium, meaning that one must have already cured themselves at the Primary Research Facility with the help of the Sea Emperor Leviathan.

Furthermore, players won't even be able to get into the control room of the Quarantine Enforcement Platform without activating the Principal Alien Arch at the Alien Thermal Plant.

On top of these requirements, players will also have to gather a Purple Tablet in order to unlock the entrance to the platform in the first place, though, thankfully, a few of these key items can be found on the mountainous island directly next to the Quarantine Enforcement Platform.

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Deactivation Steps Breakdown & Coordinates Of The Vital Locations

  • Step 1 - Head to the Alien Thermal Plant (-75, -1182, 5) to activate the Principal Alien Arch and grab the Blue Ancient Tablet to unlock the Primary Containment Facility
  • Step 2 - Go to the Primary Containment Facility (200, -1440, -222) and receive the cure for the Kharaa Bacterium by hatching the Sea Emporer Leviathan's eggs with fabricated Hatching Enzymes
  • Step 3 - Travel to the Quarantine Enforcement Platform (375, 8, 1106) and grab a Purple Tablet from somewhere on the island nearby before heading into the control room to deactivate the laser cannon

Can The Quarantine Enforcement Platform Be Deactivated Before The Sunbeam Arrives?

subnautica quarantine enforcement platform from the side

Despite being quite challenging to do before the ship arrives, yes, it is indeed possible to deactivate the laser cannon on the Quarantine Enforcement Platform in time to save the Sunbeam. The game even has a special transmission from the Sunbeam for when they try to land on Planet 4546B but are still unable to do so despite the lack of a deadly energy beam.

When the Sunbeam approaches the planet after the player has deactivated the laser cannon on the Quarantine Enforcement Platform, the captain of the ship, Avery Quinn, will send the player a transmission indicating that the Sunbeam cannot enter the atmosphere due to there being too much debris in orbit, possibly caused by the Quarantine Enforcement Platform's attack on the Aurora. After this transmission, the Sunbeam will leave, never to be heard from again, albeit saved from destruction and with its crew alive.

Strangely, this leaves a question: if the debris was stopping the Sunbeam from entering the atmosphere, then how come it is able to almost land in the event that the player does not deactivate the laser cannon on the Quarantine Enforcement Platform before their arrival?

Dialogue With The Sunbeam's Crew

subnautica Sunbeam in game screenshot

Message 1 (Received On Day 9)

"This is Avery Quinn of trading ship Sunbeam. Aurora, do you read? Over.

Nothing but vacuum. These Alterra ships. They run low on engine grease, they send an SOS; you offer to help, they don't pick up.

Aurora, we're out on the far side of the system, it's going to take more than a week to reach your position, do you still need our assistance? Over.

I'll try them again tomorrow. Damn charter's going to have us wasting our profit margin running errands for Alterra.

See what the long-range scanner picks up in the meantime."

Message 2 (Received On Day 13)

"Aurora, this is Sunbeam again. We just picked up a massive debris field at your location.

I didn't know how bad... How many of you... I didn't know.

We are now en route to your location. We're going to bring you home. Sunbeam out.

What else can I say? The only time I parked a rig this big on a rock that small was in VR, and I blew it

Oh, it's a bad option alright, but so are all the others."

Message 3 (Received On Day 19)

"This is Sunbeam. Y'know, Aurora, we're from a little trans-gov on the far side of Andromeda, and we have a saying there.

There's no bad without the good, no good without the bad.

Sounds like you tasted a bunch of the former, but that only means you're overdue a whole lot of the latter.

Might just be we're it.

We're scanning for somewhere to park, we'll be in touch when we find it. Sunbeam out."

Message 4 (Received On Day 21)

"Aurora, we're approaching the planet now, and we have a landing site for you that's... well, it's better than the alternatives.

We've sent you the coordinates.

It'll take us a couple of days to align our orbit, we should be able to establish direct contact with you during that time, then we're coming in to get you.

Cross your fingers the weather holds, and don't leave us waiting. Sunbeam out."

Final Message If The Player Is Not At The Quarantine Enforcement Platform (Received on Day 23)

"PDA: Picking up orbital transponder signature of trading vessel Sunbeam.

Vessel is approaching planet surface and initiating surface scanning procedures.

Detecting massive power surge from anomalous contact. Energy discharge detected.

Vessel signature lost."

Final Message If The Player Is At The Quarantine Enforcement Platform But Has Not Deactivated The Laser (Received on Day 23)

"Survivor, we see you!

Man, I don't know how you held out down there.

We've broken atmosphere and we're descending towards the landing site.

Is that a building down there?! What do you mean you can't identify it?

Hold on, no turning back now *Static*

Positions everyone, touching down in 10, 9, 8-

It's coming from the building?! Change course, set thrusters to (full)-

*Static*

*Sirens*"

Final Message If The Player Is At The Quarantine Enforcement Platform And Has Deactivated The Laser (Received on Day 23)

"Aurora survivors, this is trading ship Sunbeam.

We've tracked your distress signal, but your ship's left a substantial debris field up in orbit, we can't attempt a landing.

We're gonna have to head home.

We'll send our data to Alterra as soon as we can. Hold on in there. Sunbeam, out."

Subnautica is available on macOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

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