The hatch on the roof would not give. I stood with my back against the wind, breath loud enough to hear, while ticks skittered like static beneath the walls — the hatch itself a stubborn tooth. I told myself I could finish the run, but the rewards vanish if you miss a single step.
I’ve run this contract enough times to know where it trips you up. You’ll get the NuCal Employee ID, you’ll scan the terminal, and you’ll either leave with good loot or an empty bag. I’ll walk you through the exact path I use, the traps to avoid, and the small habits that save runs on Steam, Reddit, or Discord threads.
Columns sits between Overflow and South Relay — Marathon – Introducing: NuCaloric contract guide
Columns is obvious on the Perimeter map: a rectangular building plastered with tick nests and flanked by UESC turrets. When you drop in, treat the exterior as hostile real estate — the ticks will patrol and the turrets will punish slow players.
Here’s the short plan I use: get up on the roof, force the hatch open with melee, drop in, power the console, grab the ID, open the inner door, scan the terminal, clear nests if they spawn, and extract. Miss any of those steps and the contract won’t register.
Where is the Columns POI on Perimeter?
Columns sits between Overflow and South Relay on Perimeter. If you’re scanning the map on Steam or checking a Marathon Reddit guide, search those anchors — Columns is the lone building with heavy tick activity and visible UESC turrets nearby.
How do I get inside the tick-infested building?
There’s a single locked door at ground level. The entrance trick is rooftop entry: climb the ladder, hit the hatch with your melee until it breaks, then drop down. Inside, power the console beside the entry door to open the inner access and trigger the next objective.
The hatch takes a few hits — Getting the NuCal Employee ID and scanning the terminal
Once inside, expect a fight. Restore power at the console next to the door, open the internal door, and clear the ticks. The NuCal Employee ID sits on a nearby table and should appear on your UI. Pick it up and follow the terminal markers.
The room with the terminal is sealed behind another door. Use the ID to scan the terminal after clearing nests inside; nests will spawn enemies if you’re slow. Shoot nests first, then focus on the ticks themselves. The terminal interaction completes the contract.
Once the scan registers, exfil to NuCaloric and collect your reward. Treat the building like a mended old camera — parts are fragile, and one wrong move blurs the result.
If you want faster runs, check Marathon’s Discord for route clips or a Steam community guide that matches your weapon loadout. Small changes in approach can flip a run from frustrating to reliable.
Will you risk a few more runs to master Columns, or leave the ID on the table for someone braver?