Obligatory spoiler warning. I recommend that you don't read this guide until you've played the game through yourself.

First of all, YOU MUST NEVER USE THE WHITE PHOSPHORUS. You must save it for the very end, otherwise Whiskey will die in the saddest way possible and I will cry. As a result of this, getting injured whilst escaping the train while running from the police is sadly unavoidable, as you will be unable to get an assault rifle.

There are two ways of fleeing the Epitome with the White Phosphorus. If you choose Flight, you will lose Castle's Knife. If you choose Fight, and then choose to run away instead of using the White Phosphorus, you will keep the knife, making this, surprisingly, the better option, even though you know you won't be seeing the fight through. You can pick either one, this guide will accommodate both, but if you want a cool fight scene later, keep the knife.

DO NOT suffer any other injuries until chapter 37. Savescum if you know how, or restart the game if you're a purist. It's not too hard to avoid getting injured though, simply duck if you're short and don't if you're tall. If you picked the middle option... uh... generally ducking seems to be better, but it varies.

Finally, DO NOT let Mendez die. This is not only a requirement for the Perfect Run achievement, but it's also really tough to save the Ark with minimum casualties if Mendez is too dead to help you. To ensure she survives despite you leaving the assault rifle behind, harm as few police officers as possible. Don't let Driver cut one at the start (shoulder-ramming one if you're tall is still fine), don't shoot at them when fleeing the Epitome, and don't shoot to kill at all during the ambush. If the police don't see you as a significant enough threat/aren't that angry at you, their helicopter will back off rather than killing Mendez.

Starting from Chapter 37, the game begins tracking "delays," which is essentially how long it takes you to get to the cockpit/control centre of the Ark. It tracks these delays in two stages, with the first stage beginning in Chapter 37.

The first important decision comes as you arrive in the basement of Uvarov HQ. There are two guards, Whiskey and Driver perform some throwing-weapon techniques, and you have the choice to either destroy the radio, mimic the guard's voice, or kick the radio over to Castle. If you DO NOT have Castle's Knife, then you MUST kick the radio over to Castle. Otherwise, pick one of the first two options for a cool fight scene.

If you did not kick the radio over to castle, then during the fight scene, you must pick the option to "draw Castle's blade." This will ensure you escape the fight uninjured.

Following this, there is actually a generous amount of leeway here, so if you don't follow this guide completely perfectly, don't worry too much. But I'll lay out the path with fewest delays.

• Do not use a flashbang when entering the main hall
  
• Conserve your ammo in the crowd. (Or choose to watch your fire for moral reasons)
  
• On the way to the elevator, throw your flashbang - you MUST follow this one
  
• "Dart forward" when dealing with the hidden cop in the cargo bay. (This will cause an injury, but by this point it doesn't matter. If you do not want the injury, you can "Trace the gunman's position" instead, it won't delay you enough to ruin the achievement.

Stage 2 begins at the waterpark. All choices between the end of stage 1 and the start of stage 2 have no effect on your delays.

This section also has some leeway, but it's a lot more complicated than stage 1, so I'm being even more specific.

• "Roll Left" or "Dart Right," it absolutely does not matter, but Darting Right has more writing
  
• "Clutch shotgun" while going down the slide - If you didn't conserve ammo earlier, ditch it instead.
  
• "Engage and eliminate" the hijackers at the bottom of the slide - If you ditched the shotgun, go straight for the door instead.
  
• Ditch your backpack. If you haven't taken any injuries other than the shrapnel to the leg, you can hold onto it if you like.
  
• "Engage from a distance" at the casino - If you ditched the shotgun, "damn the enemy, seek cover."

If you followed all these choices correctly, then congrats! You were in time to save the captain.

Since you were a speedy bastard, the rest of your choices on the Ark really don't matter much. Just make sure you choose to stay and deal with the Anomaly, DO NOT flee the Ark with Ulyssa/Ulysses. I'm not sure what effect, if any, the RPG has, but make sure you take it with you anyway. Big bada boom. During the final confrontation with the Anomaly in ol' Saint James Infirmary, you may finally unleash Chekhov's Grenade. The achievement will trigger once Whiskey has had a nap, when you meet Proctor.

This stuff is major spoilers. It will explain how to get Epilogue 13/15 "The Next Generation of Sacrifices," and the hidden achievement "One Last Act of Love." Don't continue if you'd rather figure that out yourself.

Epilogue 13/15: "The Next Generation of Sacrifices"
You must be an overachiever whilst simultaneously being too injured to avoid retirement. To do this, get into the cool fight by NOT kicking the radio over to Castle and, instead of drawing the blade, you must choose either "focus on protecting yourself" or "focus on taking out this bastard." Then, when dealing with the hidden gunman in the cargo bay, you MUST select "dart forward." Otherwise follow the guide as normal, making sure to DITCH YOUR BACKPACK to still save the captain in time. When you're recovering in hospital after saving the Ark, DO NOT leave with Ulyssa/Ulysses (you monster). This will get you Epilogue 13/15.

One Last Act of Love
Be an overachiever and end up alone. To do this, you must have as little Affection for Ulyssa/Ulysses as possible. Simply make sure the appropriate indicator is turned on at the start of the game and do not choose any options marked "Affection" (you monster). You MUST ALSO hate the AIU. Again, make sure the indicator is on and pick options that say "- AIU Stance" whenever possible. Otherwise you are free to follow this guide as normal, or with the adjustments for the other achievement above. Then, while recovering in hospital, Uly will show up to cry and hate you as you deserve, and you will eventually have the option to ask her to help you escape the AIU. Do so. See 'ya in the stars, space cowboy.

*Note, any pro-Uly bias observable in the writing above is totally justified <3

Whiskey-Four, or as I like to call it, "Toxic Yuri Simulator 3000" (don't judge me), is genuinely my favourite Interactive Fiction. Big thanks to John Louis for blessing my life with this creation. Can't wait to see more of your work in the future.