Dispatch Episode 3: Who To Cut, Who To Keep, And The Fallout

Episode 3 of Dispatch pulls the old heartstrings-and-hammer routine: Invisigal gets a sweet, earned redemption, and then you immediately have to fire someone from the Z-Team. It’s a clean, brutal choice between Coupe and Sonar after you’ve probably gotten attached to both. Classic.

The choice: Coupe or Sonar

There’s no dodging this. Episode 3 ends with a termination, full stop, and Episode 4 pivots to finding a replacement. Here’s how it shakes out, depending on who you cut:

• If you fire Sonar: He’s the most laid-back guy in the whole Phoenix program, but his powers wobble. Think Hulk-mode: when the mission needs brains, he’s sharp and useful; once that phase is over, he flips into a combat monster. If you value consistency, he’s the easy cut. The downside? The Z-Team does not take it well. The next morning, Punch Up, Flambae, and Malevola pull a prank on you — it’s harmless, but the mood isn’t. Malevola in particular is not cool with you after this; she was close to Sonar, which tracks if you’ve read the extra comics that show just how tight those two are.
• If you fire Coupe: The ruthless logic here is that her power set is pretty one-note and doesn’t help much when raw force is required, and other teammates can basically cover her lane. Keeping Sonar means you keep the team’s strongest brain, which is a big deal long-term. But again, the fallout lands hard: the Z-Team is not thrilled, and you’ll specifically put yourself at odds with Punch Up, who had a budding romance with Coupe. You’re effectively choosing who you want on your side later.

So... does it actually matter?

Yep. This is not a cosmetic fork. Your pick decides who sticks by you and who turns into a problem. If Sonar goes, expect Malevola to carry a grudge. If Coupe goes, Punch Up is the one you’ve burned. The silver lining: the person you keep becomes solidly loyal. You’re trading goodwill for skill, basically. Lose some, gain some.

The part that stings

It’s a sneaky bit of storytelling: the episode ends on a wholesome note with Invisigal’s redemption, and then immediately asks you to break up the band. And the game remembers. Episode 4 makes good on it by sending you to fill the empty chair, so there’s no walking it back.

However you slice it, Episode 3 is picking favorites. I don’t love it either, but it works — and the character fallout (especially the deep-cut Sonar/Malevola friendship and that Coupe/Punch Up romance thread) gives the choice some teeth.