Should you betray Delgado with Mathis in Starfield?

During the third mission of the Crimson Fleet questline, called Echoes of the Past, you and a fellow rookie pirate named Mathis Castillo follow Delgado deep into the bowels of a frozen prison. The goal is to discover any clues toward Kryx’s Legacy, a massive hoard of wealth Delgado believes exists. Mathis, however, has his own bright ideas. Mathis wants to betray Delgado and split the loot with you, and (maybe?) become the Pirate Kings of Starfield. But should you go along with his scheme?

The mission itself is hairy enough without Mathis gumming things up. Deep inside the prison, you and the pirate team are under constant siege by the local wildlife — all of which can attack from underground.

Not long after the team is attacked in the prison, Delgado teams you up with Mathis and orders you forward. This is where things go haywire. After you proceed into a hallway, the roof collapses behind you. Now stranded, Mathis decides to share his idea.

Can you betray Delgado in Starfield with the help of Mathis?

Mathis wants to betray Delgado, but he needs to recruit you in the plot. During your first conversation, you can tell Mathis you’re on board with the plan or completely against it. Either way, it’s too early for you or Mathis to take action. And besides, Delgado is completely out of your reach. For now.

Mathis brings up the proposal again once you reach the guard tower. Again, you can tell him you’re thinking it over or you completely refuse to give him a hand. No matter what you tell him here, you still need to continue the mission and hunt down clues on the Legacy. He drops it for now.

When you find yourselves at the Warden’s Office, Mathis has a change of heart. After your conversation with Delgado over the intercom, Mathis backs out of his own plan. You can tell him he owes you a favor for not spilling the beans to the big boss, but in my experience, nothing comes out of it.

Can you recruit Mathis in Starfield?

You can recruit Mathis as a companion in Starfield, so long as you play the good guy. In the Warden’s Office, Delgado asks if you found any information on Kryx’s Legacy. You have, and you can deliver it in two ways: Telling him you found it on your own or that Mathis helped out. If you choose the latter, Mathis will thank you for “not being a jerk.” But if you go with the former, Mathis gets angry. Later, you can meet Mathis at the Last Nova bar in the Key.

If you throw him a bone, he tells you he can join the team later. Otherwise, he’ll refuse to be friendly and you will miss your chance to recruit him. Mathis won’t be available as a companion until you finish the Eye of the Storm mission and side with the pirates.