Navigating the United Colonies faction questline in Starfield presents players with several intense ethical dilemmas, none more personal than deciding whether to reveal to Major Hadrian Sanon that her father is still alive. François Sanon, better known as Vae Victis, was presumed executed for war crimes, yet he secretly operates from a hidden facility beneath New Atlantis. Choosing when or if to tell Hadrian this shocking secret has direct implications for how the story unfolds, influencing available missions and character relationships.
The Immediate Impact of Telling Hadrian the Truth
When you discover Vae Victis is alive during the UC Vanguard campaign, you receive multiple opportunities to inform Hadrian. Revealing this information early causes her to confront the situation directly with the United Colonies Cabinet. This choice effectively brings an end to Vae Victis's secret influence and alters how the final faction objectives are approached.
Sharing the truth maintains complete honesty with your ally, strengthening moral trust between your character and Hadrian. However, exposing her father early causes the UC Vanguard questline to wrap up one mission sooner than normal. Players who value roleplaying integrity often prefer this path despite shortening the overall narrative arc.
Consequences of Keeping François Sanon a Secret
If you choose to keep the secret from Hadrian, Vae Victis remains active within his clandestine cell. This decision unlocks additional side missions after the main Vanguard storyline concludes, allowing players to hunt down specified targets on his behalf. Navigating these additional tasks provides extra gameplay opportunities and unique rewards across the Settled Systems.
Maintaining the secret requires lying or withholding key facts from both Hadrian and the Cabinet during critical briefings. While this path yields more playable content, it can leave players feeling morally conflicted about betraying Hadrian's trust. You can also delay telling her until the final mission, A Legacy Forged, allowing you to experience all story quests before making your ultimate choice.
Which Option Should You Choose for Your Playthrough?
Choosing the best outcome depends heavily on whether you prioritize maximum content or ethical narrative choices. Players seeking full quest completion should hold off on revealing the truth until the final confrontation in A Legacy Forged. This approach grants access to all faction missions while still giving you the ultimate decision on Vae Victis's fate.
Regardless of your choice, core rewards such as UC citizenship and credits remain identical upon completing the faction storyline. Additionally, Hadrian can still be recruited as a valuable companion for your ship or outpost operations once the main plot resolves. Weighing personal ethics against bonus gameplay helps define your character's unique legacy within Starfield.
