I ducked into the secure room and the lasers lit up like a warning bell. My teammate pinged the map: two tasks, one run, and a clock I could feel. If you miss a power box or a tagged wall, that run folds fast.
I’ve run Protect/Destroy 3 enough times to map the simplest route. You and I will shave minutes off a chaotic run by staying pointed, hitting the room first, then sweeping the nearby POIs.
Scuffed floor tiles betray recent firefights — Marathon Protect/Destroy 3 contract guide
The contract splits cleanly into two chores you can chain: install the UV Protocol from the southwest Intersection secure room, then tag three marked locations across Dire Marsh. Treat them as a single route instead of two separate errands and you’ll keep momentum.
- Install UV Protocol from secure room in southwest Intersection
- Tag three marked locations across Dire Marsh (Complex, Maintenance, or AI Uplink)
Where is the UV Protocol located in Marathon?
The UV Protocol sits inside a cabinet in the secure room at Intersection’s southwest corner. Bungie’s quest marker points you upstairs once the room’s defenses are down, and Moyens I/O’s screenshots match what you’ll see in-game.
A telltale scorch mark sits by the doorway — How to Install UV Protocol from secure room in southwest Intersection
Head to Intersection’s southwest sector. The secure room is laser-protected and powered by four boxes: three on exterior walls, one tucked above the interior doorway. Your HUD won’t forgive you if you run in blind; destroy the boxes first or the lasers will shred your shields.
Take out the three exterior boxes, then aim for the interior unit above the door. Removing the power is like snipping the wires on a live fuse—instant relief for the room and a clear path to the cabinet upstairs. Once power is gone, follow the quest marker up the stairs and loot the cabinet for the UV Protocol.
Can the UV Protocol be grabbed without destroying the power boxes?
Short answer: no. The room’s lasers are designed to prevent looting until the power grid is disabled. Save yourself the respawn timer and clear the boxes first, whether you’re solo or using a Fireteam from Destiny communities on Discord.
A smear of fresh paint marks probable tag targets — How to tag marked locations across Dire Marsh
After the secure room, swing to the nearest POI—Maintenance is the closest from Intersection. Your objective is to find three blank walls that trigger when you stand near them. The map won’t scribble their locations until you’re almost on top of the wall, so use the route below to avoid backtracking.
- Roof wall (spot 1): Climb to the east-side roof and head north. Tag the dividing wall that sits in your path—it’s flat and unmarked until you approach.
- Support wall by red stairs (spot 2): At the northern entrance you’ll see a red staircase. No need to climb it—tag the supporting wall beside the three crates.
- Central hangar pillar (spot 3): South of Maintenance there’s a large pillar holding the roof. Jump to the ledge, shimmy to the small side walls, and tag the pillar to finish the trio.
Tagging these three completes the Protect/Destroy 3 objective. Move in a clean loop—secure room, east roof, north entrance, hangar pillar—and you’ll be out before enemies consolidate.
How do you tag the marked locations on Dire Marsh?
Stand close to the blank wall until the tag prompt appears. If the prompt doesn’t trigger, step around the object in a slow circle—proximity is what flips the marker, not a strafing sprint. Players on Destiny subreddit and streamers like those on Twitch often run this exact pattern for speed.
Follow the route, keep your loadout light for faster movement, and treat the tags as a breadcrumb path across Dire Marsh—the three points line up if you move clockwise from Intersection. Ready to shave time off your next run and force a debate about whether the map favors defenders or attackers?