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== How to Unlock Marsha Hicks ==
== How to Unlock Marsha Hicks ==


To gain access to Marsha's Engineering workshop:
Unlock requirements summary:
* Reach '''Grade 3 access and at least one-third progress toward Grade 4''' with [[The Dweller]].
* Reach '''Surveyor''' or higher in [[Exploration Rank]].
* Obtain '''10 units of mined [[Osmium]]'''.
* Donate the 10 Osmium to Marsha Hicks.
{{Important|'''Osmium is a commodity, not an Engineering material.''' Each unit occupies one tonne of cargo space, so transporting all 10 units requires at least '''10 tonnes of cargo capacity'''.}}


# Reach '''Grade 3 access and at least one-third progress toward Grade 4''' with [[The Dweller]].
For the complete step-by-step process, see [[Unlocking Marsha Hicks]].
# Receive The Dweller's referral to Marsha Hicks.
# Reach '''Surveyor''' or higher in [[Exploration Rank]].
# Obtain '''10 units of mined [[Osmium]]'''.
# Travel to '''The Watchtower''' in [[Tir]].
# Donate the 10 Osmium to Marsha Hicks.
# Enter the Engineer workshop and begin [[Engineer Reputation|increasing your reputation with Marsha]].
 
{{Important|'''Osmium is a commodity, not an Engineering material.''' Each unit occupies one tonne of cargo space, so transporting all 10 units requires at least '''10 tonnes of cargo capacity'''.<ref name="inara-osmium">[https://inara.cz/elite/commodity/72/ Osmium — Commodity], Inara.</ref>}}


== Obtaining Osmium ==
== Obtaining Osmium ==

Revision as of 14:38, 21 August 2026

EDFM // Engineering / Engineers

A Grade 5 projectile-weapon, limpet-controller, Fuel Scoop, and Refinery Engineer based at The Watchtower in the Colonia region, reached through The Dweller.

Marsha Hicks
ENGINEER
Engineer type
Ship Engineer
System
Tir
Body
Tir A 2
Facility
The Watchtower
Region
Colonia
Specialties
Cannon, Fragment Cannon, Multi-Cannon, Collector Limpet Controller, Fuel Scoop, Fuel Transfer Limpet Controller, Hatch Breaker Limpet Controller, Prospector Limpet Controller, Refinery
Maximum grade
Grade 5
ACCESS
Prerequisite
The Dweller — Grade 3 access plus at least one-third progress toward Grade 4
Discovery
Referral from The Dweller
Invitation
Exploration rank Surveyor or higher
Unlock
Deliver 10 units of Osmium

Marsha Hicks is a ship Engineer based at The Watchtower in the Tir system of the Colonia region. She is reached through The Dweller and specialises in projectile weapons, limpet controllers, Fuel Scoops, and Refineries.[1]

Marsha currently provides Grade 5 Engineering for every module type she supports, including Cannons, Fragment Cannons, Multi-Cannons, Collector, Fuel Transfer, Hatch Breaker, and Prospector Limpet Controllers, Fuel Scoops, and Refineries.[1][2]

Field note

Marsha is located in the Colonia region, far from the core inhabited Bubble. If you are travelling to Colonia specifically for Engineering, consider preparing the unlock requirements for the other Colonia Engineers before leaving the Bubble.

Location

  • System: Tir
  • Facility: The Watchtower
  • Body: Tir A 2
  • Region: Colonia
  • Engineer type: Ship Engineer
  • Referral required: The Dweller
  • System permit required: No

The Watchtower is a surface Engineer base on Tir A 2.[3]

Important

Marsha is one of the four ship Engineers located in the Colonia region. Receiving her referral does not move her workshop or provide a remote unlock; you must travel to Tir to complete the unlock.

How to Discover Marsha Hicks

Marsha Hicks is discovered through The Dweller.

Reach Grade 3 access and progress at least one-third of the way toward Grade 4 with The Dweller to receive his referral to Marsha.[2]

Field note

Receiving The Dweller's referral makes Marsha known to you. Her separate Exploration-rank requirement must still be satisfied before her workshop can be unlocked.

How to Receive an Invitation

Reach the Pilots Federation Exploration rank of Surveyor or higher.[1]

The early Exploration-rank progression is: 

Aimless
└── Mostly Aimless
    └── Scout
        └── Surveyor

If your Exploration rank is already Surveyor, Trailblazer, Pathfinder, Ranger, Pioneer, Elite, or a higher Elite tier, Marsha's Exploration-rank requirement has already been satisfied.

See Exploration Rank for how Exploration rank is earned and how to check your current rank.

Tip

The trip to Colonia itself can generate substantial exploration data if you scan systems along the route. However, Marsha does not use exploration-data sales as an alternative Engineer-reputation method after she is unlocked.

How to Unlock Marsha Hicks

Unlock requirements summary:

  • Reach Grade 3 access and at least one-third progress toward Grade 4 with The Dweller.
  • Reach Surveyor or higher in Exploration Rank.
  • Obtain 10 units of mined Osmium.
  • Donate the 10 Osmium to Marsha Hicks.

Important

Osmium is a commodity, not an Engineering material. Each unit occupies one tonne of cargo space, so transporting all 10 units requires at least 10 tonnes of cargo capacity.

For the complete step-by-step process, see Unlocking Marsha Hicks.

Obtaining Osmium

Osmium is a metal commodity produced through mining. It does not have ordinary NPC-market production, and current commodity data lists its source as mining only.[4]

For Marsha's unlock, you need 10 units.

A reliable method is to use conventional laser mining:

  1. Fit a ship with a Mining Laser.
  2. Fit a Refinery.
  3. Fit an A-rated Prospector Limpet Controller if available.
  4. Fit a Collector Limpet Controller and carry limpets.
  5. Enter a metallic or metal-rich planetary ring.
  6. Prospect asteroids until you find one containing Osmium.
  7. Laser-mine the asteroid and refine at least 10 tonnes of Osmium.

Osmium does not have a dedicated Osmium hotspot; it is found by prospecting suitable asteroids in metallic or metal-rich rings.[5]

Tip

You only need 10 tonnes for Marsha, so a dedicated large mining ship is unnecessary. A medium or small ship with a Mining Laser, Refinery, Prospector Limpet Controller, Collector Limpet Controller, and at least 10 tonnes of cargo capacity is sufficient.

Player-owned Fleet Carriers may sometimes offer Osmium for sale, but carrier stock and prices are controlled by individual Commanders and can change. Mining it locally remains the predictable way to obtain Marsha's unlock commodity.

Field note

Do not sell the 10 Osmium after mining it. It must remain in your cargo hold so it can be donated through Marsha's Engineer workshop.

Field note

Current Engineer data notes that station services may not become available immediately after Marsha is unlocked. If the workshop or other expected services do not appear after completing the unlock, logging out and back in may make them available.[1]

Increasing Engineer Reputation

Reputation with Marsha Hicks is increased by:

  • crafting Engineering modifications at The Watchtower.[1]

Unlike several Bubble Engineers, current Engineer data does not list commodity sales, exploration data, bounty vouchers, or another secondary reputation-gain method for Marsha.

Higher Engineer reputation gives access to the higher grades Marsha supports for each blueprint.

See Engineer Reputation for how ship Engineer reputation, grade access, blueprint progression, referrals, and alternative reputation methods work.

Tip

Because Marsha's reputation is raised through Engineering itself, consider arriving with enough Engineering materials to perform several useful modifications rather than making the journey with only the Osmium required for her unlock.

Engineer Unlock Chain

Marsha Hicks belongs to The Dweller branch of the ship Engineer network.

The route to Marsha is: 

The Dweller
└── Marsha Hicks [Colonia]

The Dweller can also refer Commanders to Lei Cheung, who leads onward to Ram Tah: 

The Dweller
├── Lei Cheung
│   └── Ram Tah
└── Marsha Hicks [Colonia]

Marsha Hicks does not currently lead to another Engineer in the ship Engineer referral network.[6]

Field note

Marsha's location in Colonia does not make the other Colonia Engineers part of her referral chain. Mel Brandon, Petra Olmanova, and Etienne Dorn are reached through other Bubble Engineers.

See Engineer Unlock Guide for the complete referral network.

Available Engineering

Marsha's current Engineering coverage is shown below. She provides Grade 5 access for every module type she supports.[1]

Module Available blueprints Maximum grade
Cannon
  • Efficient
  • High Capacity
  • Lightweight
  • Long Range
  • Overcharged
  • Rapid Fire
  • Short Range
  • Sturdy
 Grade 5
Fragment Cannon
  • Double Screaming (Live only; Merc modules)
  • Double Shot
  • Efficient
  • High Capacity
  • Lightweight
  • Overcharged
  • Rapid Fire
  • Sturdy
 Grade 5
Multi-Cannon
  • Efficient
  • High Capacity
  • Lightweight
  • Long Range
  • Overcharged
  • Rapid Fire
  • Rapid Phase (Live only; Merc modules)
  • Short Range
  • Sturdy
 Grade 5
Collector Limpet Controller
  • Lightweight
  • Reinforced
  • Shielded
 Grade 5
Fuel Scoop
  • Scoop Rate Enhanced (Live only)
  • Shielded
 Grade 5
Fuel Transfer Limpet Controller
  • Lightweight
  • Reinforced
  • Shielded
 Grade 5
Hatch Breaker Limpet Controller
  • Lightweight
  • Reinforced
  • Shielded
 Grade 5
Prospector Limpet Controller
  • Lightweight
  • Reinforced
  • Shielded
 Grade 5
Refinery
  • Shielded
 Grade 5

Operations-era Engineering

Several current Marsha Hicks blueprints were introduced or made available through the Operations-era Engineering system.[7]

These blueprints are available only in Live and are not part of Legacy Engineering.

Double Screaming Fragment Cannon

Double Screaming is a Fragment Cannon blueprint that increases ammunition capacity, magazine size, burst size, and reload performance while introducing tradeoffs including reduced range and increased mass and power draw.[8]

Marsha can apply Double Screaming through Grade 5.

Important

Double Screaming can only be applied to compatible Merc Fragment Cannons and requires Merc Coin as part of its Engineering cost.[8]

Rapid Phase Multi-Cannon

Rapid Phase is a Multi-Cannon blueprint focused on greatly increasing projectile output, ammunition capacity, magazine capacity, and rate of fire, with tradeoffs including reduced effective range and increased weapon jitter.[9]

Marsha can apply Rapid Phase through Grade 5.

Important

Rapid Phase can only be applied to compatible Merc Multi-Cannons and requires Merc Coin as part of its Engineering cost.[9]

Scoop Rate Enhanced Fuel Scoop

Scoop Rate Enhanced increases a Fuel Scoop's collection rate at the cost of increased power draw.[10]

Marsha can apply Scoop Rate Enhanced through Grade 5.

At Grade 5, the blueprint provides:

  • +50% Scoop Rate
  • +15% Power Draw[10]

Current blueprint data lists:

Marsha is therefore currently the only Engineer capable of applying Grade 5 Scoop Rate Enhanced.

Important

Scoop Rate Enhanced requires Merc Coin as part of its Engineering cost. Unlike Double Screaming and Rapid Phase, the current blueprint is not restricted to a special Merc-only Fuel Scoop.[10]

Experimental Effects

Experimental Effects are separate from the main Engineering blueprint.

Among Marsha's supported modules, her projectile weapons — Cannons, Fragment Cannons, and Multi-Cannons — support Experimental Effects.

Her limpet controllers, Fuel Scoops, and Refineries do not currently have Experimental Effects.

Cannon

Available Cannon Experimental Effects include:[11]

Fragment Cannon

Available Fragment Cannon Experimental Effects include:[12]

Multi-Cannon

Available Multi-Cannon Experimental Effects include:[13]

See Experimental Effects for the effects, tradeoffs, and material costs of each option.

Field note

Experimental Effects cannot be applied through ordinary Remote Engineering. A weapon must be taken to an Engineer who works on that weapon type to have an Experimental Effect applied.

Marsha's broad Grade 5 coverage makes her useful for several different ship roles.

Multi-Cannons

Marsha provides all conventional Multi-Cannon blueprints through Grade 5.

Tip

Common general-purpose choice: Overcharged

Overcharged Multi-Cannon is a strong general-purpose choice for increasing weapon damage when the additional distributor draw and thermal load are acceptable.

The best Experimental Effect depends on the weapon's role. For example, one Multi-Cannon in a weapon group may use Corrosive Shell to weaken hull resistance, while other weapons use effects such as Auto Loader or Incendiary Rounds.

This is build guidance rather than a universal requirement.

Fuel Scoop

For Live Commanders, Marsha's Grade 5 Scoop Rate Enhanced capability is particularly notable because no other current Engineer provides the blueprint through Grade 5.[10]

A 50% increase in scoop rate can significantly reduce refuelling time on ships that frequently make long-distance journeys.

The tradeoff is a 15% increase in Fuel Scoop power draw at Grade 5.

Limpet controllers

Marsha provides Grade 5 Lightweight, Reinforced, and Shielded Engineering for all four of her supported limpet-controller types:

  • Collector
  • Fuel Transfer
  • Hatch Breaker
  • Prospector

Lightweight can be useful on exploration or other mass-sensitive ships, while Reinforced or Shielded may be more appropriate where module survivability matters.

Refinery

Marsha provides Grade 5 Shielded Refinery Engineering.

Shielded Engineering increases module integrity while also increasing its power requirements. Its usefulness therefore depends on whether protection for the Refinery is worth the additional power draw for the intended build.

Blueprint Pinning

After earning sufficient reputation with Marsha, one of her blueprints can be pinned for use through Remote Engineering.

Tip

EDFM recommendation — Live: Scoop Rate Enhanced Fuel Scoop is a particularly useful blueprint to consider pinning at Marsha.

Marsha is currently the only Engineer who provides Scoop Rate Enhanced through Grade 5. Because her workshop is located in Colonia, pinning the blueprint also avoids making another trip to Colonia each time you want to engineer a new Fuel Scoop.

If Fuel Scoop performance is not important to your fleet, one of Marsha's Grade 5 weapon or limpet-controller blueprints may be more useful instead.

For Legacy Commanders, Scoop Rate Enhanced is not available. A frequently used Grade 5 blueprint such as Overcharged Multi-Cannon can instead be considered, although the best pin depends on which blueprints are already pinned through other Engineers.

Blueprint pinning should reflect the modules and ships you actually use; there is no requirement to use the suggested pin.

Important

A pinned blueprint does not allow you to apply Experimental Effects remotely. Weapon Experimental Effects still require visiting an appropriate Engineer workshop.

What Marsha Cannot Fully Engineer

Unlike many ship Engineers, Marsha currently provides Grade 5 access for every module type she supports.[1]

Her maximum grades are:

  • Cannon: Grade 5
  • Fragment Cannon: Grade 5
  • Multi-Cannon: Grade 5
  • Collector Limpet Controller: Grade 5
  • Fuel Scoop: Grade 5
  • Fuel Transfer Limpet Controller: Grade 5
  • Hatch Breaker Limpet Controller: Grade 5
  • Prospector Limpet Controller: Grade 5
  • Refinery: Grade 5

This does not mean Marsha can engineer every projectile weapon or every mining module. Her workshop does not, for example, provide Engineering for Rail Guns, Plasma Accelerators, Mining Lasers, Abrasion Blasters, or other module types not listed above.

For alternative Grade 5 projectile-weapon Engineers:

Marsha's distinguishing feature is the combination of multiple Grade 5 projectile weapons with Grade 5 limpet, Fuel Scoop, and Refinery Engineering in a single workshop.

What Next?

Marsha Hicks is the end of her referral branch and does not currently introduce another Engineer.

If you have already travelled to Colonia, it is worth considering the other three Colonia ship Engineers before returning to the Bubble.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Marsha Hicks — Engineer, Inara.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Engineer Highlight, New Pilots Initiative.
  3. ↑ The Watchtower — Station, Inara.
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named inara-osmium
  5. ↑ Mining Resources for Engineers, r/EliteMiners community guide.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Engineers, Inara.
  7. ↑ Elite Dangerous: Operations — Update Notes, Frontier Developments.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Fragment Cannon — Double Screaming, Inara.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Multi-Cannon — Rapid Phase, Inara.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Fuel Scoop — Scoop Rate Enhanced, Inara.
  11. ↑ Cannon — Efficient, Inara.
  12. ↑ Fragment Cannon — Double Shot, Inara.
  13. ↑ Multi-Cannon — Overcharged, Inara.
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