Taking Out the Traders

 is a faction quest in.

Synopsis
Queen Onekaza has asked that the Watcher aid her in a plot to destroy Rauatai's powderhouse and implicate the Vailian Trading Company. This would debilitate Rauatai's armaments and disgrace the Vailian's colonial leadership in one fell swoop.

Walkthrough

 * The Queen leaves the sabotage to your discretion, though you can't leave witnesses (not a big deal, given that anyone detecting you will attack). Infiltrating the powderhouse can be done either way (see Powderhouse for more info).
 * The sneaky way involves entering the powder house by picking the doors leading inside. The upper door can be picked with Mechanics 15 or the appropriate key, and you can sneak in undetected.
 * It's entirely possible to plant the explosives without detection, with a high enough Stealth skill. Consider removing your companions from the party (double back to your ship after lockpicking the door - it will stay unlocked). Five people are a lot more visible than one.
 * Make your way to the lower floor of the powder storage, and plant the explosive in the vat, located in the western part of the room.
 * Sneak out the way you came in, but be quick about it, since the powderhouse will go up around your ears if you tarry.
 * Alternatively, you can make use of the VTC questline to be teleported inside.
 * After the deed is done, make your way back to the palace.
 * During the confrontation at the palace that follows, you can lean a number of ways:
 * Either follow through with with Onekaza's plan, which results in the VTC Director being banished to the Gullet and both of the trading companies getting significant setbacks. The RDC will be given the Director's holdings as recompense.
 * Reveal yourself as the culprit, which will result in a battle where you will have to kill the Prince and the Hazanui.
 * Use the opportunity to switch over to follow the VTC questline, by claiming the innocence of the VTC director.

Consequences
* However, when accepting this quest with Maia as a companion in your party, she will have additional dialogue before leaving, giving you the chance to convince her otherwise. All of the following checks are required to keep Maia on your team.
 * Completing this quest will make you lose both Maia Rua and Pallegina as a companion, and force you to side with Queen Onekaza II for the final attack on Eothas.
 * When accepting this quest with Maia as a companion in your party, the Queen will be hesitant to give you the details of the mission. Maia will leave the party after accepting the quest, as the Queen's plan conflicts with Maia's duty.
 * Pass a Bluff 6 or Diplomacy 5 or Insight 4 passive skill check, or be in any level of relationship with Maia.
 * Learn Maia is an assassin during The Courier's Calling, with Tuaha and Harama still alive.
 * Tell Maia "You're an assassin. Let the company hire another" OR "They have enough rifles and cannons to punch a hole in the Deadfire without you".
 * Be currently at full romance with Maia.
 * Pass a silent disposition check where Diplomatic and Shady is NOT rank 2 or above.
 * Note that if you are successful and convince her to stay, Maia will leave the navy in her end-game slides.
 * If you're successful, you need to ensure that Maia is NOT in the party upon entering the Powderhouse, as she will snitch on you as soon as you enter or you are spotted, causing her to become hostile.
 * Even if you switch Maia and Pallegina out before accepting the quest from the queen or don't bring them along, you won't be able to keep either in the party. You will receive a letter from each, explaining that as a result of your actions they cannot follow you any longer.
 * Pallegina's Farewell.
 * Maia's Farewell, if you don't include her in the party when accepting the quest, and leave "on good terms" with her.
 * Stealth vs. violence while sabotaging the powderhouse:
 * Stealth: If you planted the explosives without being seen by anyone, you are still friendly with the people in the Brass Citadel and can go back there, though they will ask you to leave since someone sabotaged their powderhouse, and they're busy cleaning it up. If you try going past them, they'll attack.
 * Violence: If you killed anyone during your infiltration, the rauatai in the Brass Citadel will attack you on sight if you show your face there.

Alternative
If you wish to save the VTC director and keep Maia, you can skip this quest and still side with the Huana by doing the following.
 * Before talking to the queen or the VTC director, first talk to Hazanui Karū. Tell her you will commit to the Royal Deadfire Company, but then tell her you can't go through with her plans to assassinate the queen.
 * Everyone will turn hostile and you'll have to fight your way out.
 * If you have Maia in your party she will NOT turn hostile. She will continue to stay in your party, even if you do side with the Huana afterwards. However, she will refuse to speak with you anymore.
 * Then speak with the queen. She will tell you she had plans for the trading company, but because you took action first, she will offer you aid right away after committing to the Huana.