The first tower I sprinted toward was already humming with enemies. My HUD blinked: Data Reconstruction 3 — NuCaloric put this one on the priority board. You’ve got two exterior repositories to hack, an AI maintenance protocol to download, and one clean exit to earn the reward.
I’ve run this route on Perimeter enough times to know where opponents camp and where the loot hides; I’ll point out the exact towers, doors, and stairwells so you waste less time guessing. Read the short checklist below, then follow the markers I call out — I’ll tell you when to push, when to hold, and when to bail.
The satellite dishes and towers slice the skyline — here’s how that helps you find targets
The Data Reconstruction 3 contract in Marathon breaks into three clean tasks. Treat each as its own little mission: you can fail the exfil and need to restart, so plan your exit before you touch the first terminal.
- Hack two exterior Data Repositories in North or South Relay
- Download the AI Maintenance Protocol from the Hauler
- Exfil successfully
Where are the data repositories on Marathon’s Perimeter map?
There are two fixed exterior repositories sitting on tower tops in either North or South Relay. Orange and cyan towers stand like lighthouses across Perimeter — spot them from a ridge, then move fast. You only need two hacks total, so pick one relay and clear it: I prefer South Relay for its shorter approach angles and predictable cover.
There’s no set order to hack them. The first repo I hit sits by the UESC comms antenna near the South Tower; the second sits further south and a touch west on a cyan tower. Both locations are fixed between runs, which means once you memorize the landmarks you shave minutes off every attempt.
How do I download the AI Maintenance Protocol from the Hauler?
The Hauler sits west of South Relay and closer to North Relay’s flank. Entering from the western side gives you the clearest route to the second floor — there’s a door marked with a big “3” near the entrance that I always use. Move straight through rooms, hit the stairs, and the quest marker will lock onto the AI terminal once you reach the hallway with two doors.
Interact with the terminal on the second floor to complete the download. That finishes the AI task. Remember: completing the download doesn’t pay out until you hit the extraction point alive.
What’s the safest exfil route for Data Reconstruction 3?
Plan your exit as soon as you touch the first repository. If enemies funnel toward the relay, pull back toward open sightlines and use a Sparrow if the match allows — exfil is like threading a needle through enemy fire, so timing matters more than raw speed. If the map has heavy opposition, peel to the ridge between relays and bait rotations before sprinting to the extraction point.
I lean on Bungie’s map cues and the quest marker, but I also watch common camping spots — crates, stairwells, and the rooflines near the Hauler are where players hide. If you’re using a primary with range or a sniper during the hack, you can cover the approach while a teammate completes the download.
Final tip: two hacks, one download, one exit — treat the run like a short raid. Be surgical, keep your angle control, and don’t stay greedy after the AI package is in your hands. Are you going to take the fast, sharp route I use or test a riskier escape and see who really owns Perimeter?