Last Survivor Standing: Sona's Salvation in Starfield (In Memoriam)

SPOILER WARNING: The following focuses on an important chapter of Sarah Morgan's character arc that takes place after an intimate discussion with the Spacefarer.

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Game: Starfield

Mission: In Memoriam

Location: Cassiopeia I, Eta Cassiopeia

Summary: Sarah Morgan has resolved to face her demons. Returning to Cassiopeia I for the first time in two decades to recover the remains of her fallen crew, she stumbles on a surprising discovery: A remote settlement nestled in the jungle belonging to 12-year-old Sona, daughter of the presumed dead.

What had initially been a journey of closure presents a new challenge for the Chair of Constellation: What does the future hold for a lone child on a hostile planet? Not all the star maps in the galaxy could entice the young frontierswoman away, yet Sarah feels compelled to take Sona under her wing - and implores the Spacefarer to weigh the ethics of leaving her behind or saying goodbye to the only life she has known.

More information: In Memoriam | Starfield Wiki | Fandom

The United Colonies' Headquarters at MAST, New Atlantis. Photo credit: FetchQuester

The Girl Who Survived

A failed mission, faulty escape pods, and 12 months braving harsh terrain may have been formative in shaping Morgan into the explorer she is today, yet the haunts of her exploits 20 years prior have proved unrelenting. Wracked by the guilt of those left in the aftermath of the Dauntless' ill-fated skirmish under her command she vows to set things right. "Those men and women* are [finally] coming home," she declares, setting off for the Cassiopeia system with the blessing of her former superior, Admiral Logan. 

Yet it turns out not all was lost. Unbeknownst to the United Colonies, Private Jenna Marsh and Corporal Elias Obrist survived their emergency landing and founded a self-sustaining community before starting a family of their own. Sarah arrives at an opportune moment; Sona has outlived everyone. And while the former captain is adamant the girl must leave, there are two conflicting principles at play (protection of life vs. respecting one's autonomy) the Spacefarer must consider before they make their next move.

The Frontier lands on Cassiopeia I. Photo credit: FetchQuester

Respect Sona's Decision (Leave Her Behind)

"If your philosophy is built on an individual's own morality, what about the second person? That second person might disagree. Isn't the problem of two what you're really looking for?" - Andy Singh, House of Enlightenment.

The Spacefarer can choose to advocate for Sona's judgement based on the premise that in a fair society an individual is agent to their own happiness and wellbeing. The level-headed adolescent does not begrudge her lot despite the loss of her companions, and her outlook on mortality differs substantially from the cultural connotations of those who populate the Settled Systems. Refusing to let grief consume her, Sona finds comfort in the memories of loved ones who lay in a cemetery nearby - a physical proximity she does not care to abandon for life elsewhere.

Will Sona traverse the stars and discover their wonders? 

Photo credit: FetchQuester

"This should be Sona's decision, not yours," the Spacefarer tells Sarah, and they are right. Had her people been indigenous to the planet the concept of strangers** displacing a native Cassiopeian from their home would be out of the question. Sona is the first generation born of settlers, yet her legacy decries the traditional colonialist narrative that is founded on blood and greed - instead fostering a symbiotic relationship with the land that is harmonious and free. In short, Sona belongs to this world - and her attuned set of survival skills have more than primed her for a livelihood on the frontier. 

Her roots may not run deep, but they are grounded - and it is unethical for Constellation to evaluate the legitimacy of such connections with the presumption that the overwhelming reach of the galaxy - along with numerous worldviews running counter to her own - wouldn't be harmful when flung upon her with an urgency to adapt while stifling her sense of independence. Until Sona feels the urge to spread her wings and seek the origin of her ancestors, then perhaps - as with the inhabitants of Crucible in Operation Starseed - it is best to let her path take its own course with the understanding that Constellation is just one transmission away.

Surrogate daughter: Sona (inset) considers the possibility of a future with Sarah (left).

 Photo credit: FetchQuester

Intervene (Leave With Sona)

We may ask if it is rightful action to determine one's destiny against their own conviction; after all, Sarah is neither parent nor guardian - but her protective instincts are sharpened into focus where the daughter of her former crew is concerned. And whether her motives are partially driven by an attempt to assuage her conscience through acts of redemption become irrelevant when we consider the gravity of present circumstances: Sona is in danger. 

Rampant pirate activity and a few near misses with local predators are enough to turn the tide and convince the explorers. Sona may have prevailed thus far, but she is still vulnerable - her future host to a series of bleak "what ifs" as her needs start to evolve and isolation from fellow settlers takes its toll. "You'll never be able to start a new family [if you stay]," the Spacefarer cautions during their heart-to-heart, reminding her the odds will eventually work against her favour.

The gem of the Settled Systems: New Atlantis, capital of Jemison.

 Photo credit: FetchQuester

Yet Constellation offers an alternative path, one which Sarah believes is aptly timed. Sona has the opportunity to leave an increasingly treacherous environment and seek safety and companionship among her peers, diversifying her perspectives as she shares in the lived experience of others. Indeed, her insatiable curiosity can only be matched by the breadth of the cosmos whose myth and magic have captivated her since infancy for a life which, Sarah anticipates, her parents would have wished for as she ventures "into the unknown... to ignite the spark of hope that humanity will find answers out there in the stars." And maybe - just maybe - it is among those stars where Sona will find where she truly belongs.

Neon, Freestar Collective. Photo credit: FetchQuester

Spoilers affecting choice:

Leaving Sona behind will cause Sarah regret but not enough friction to jeopardise her relationship with the Spacefarer. At this point it is unknown how Sona fares from this decision.

Bringing Sona to New Atlantis and establishing a new home at Constellation's headquarters produce a satisfactory outcome. "You and Sarah were right," she tells the Spacefarer afterwards. "I had to move on with my life. And hey, one day when I'm old enough, I could always go back for a visit."

In both scenarios the relationship between Spacefarer and Sarah will grow as she draws this chapter of her life to a close - an essential step for those pursuing friendship and/or romance.

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*Sarah plans to collect the soldiers' genetags and commemorate them.

**Though her parents praised the courage and selflessness of Sarah's actions when recounting their past adventures to their daughter, Sona remains wary.

Planetscape. Photo credit: FetchQuester

- Lucy A.

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Sources: 

Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks); fandom.com