007 First Light The Past Never Dies Mission Walkthrough (June 2026)

The Past Never Dies is one of the longest and most involved missions in 007 First Light. It spans 14 distinct parts, features 23 unique challenges, and throws multiple gameplay mechanics at you in rapid succession. If you are working through this mission and feeling stuck, you are in the right place. Our team spent hours testing every route, every gadget loadout, and every challenge requirement to put together this complete walkthrough.

This guide covers every step of the mission from your initial drive to Aleph through the final confrontation where you must protect Greenway. We also break down all 23 challenges so you can work toward 100% completion and unlock the Mauritania outfit for TacSim. If you want to know how long it takes to beat 007 First Light, that depends on how deep you go into challenges like these.

Whether you are going for a clean Pacifist run, a full Ghost completion, or just trying to get through the story, this walkthrough has you covered with clear step-by-step instructions for every section.

The Past Never Dies Mission Overview

The Past Never Dies tasks James Bond with infiltrating the island of Aleph to locate the missing agent 009. Your primary contact is Greenway, and the mission revolves around gaining access to an exclusive auction hosted by Barkhad Ali. You can check out 007 First Light release information if you are new to the game and still getting oriented.

Here is what you need to know before starting this mission:

• Main objective: Infiltrate Aleph, locate 009, and uncover the conspiracy
• Key characters: Greenway (ally), 009 (missing agent), Barkhad Ali (auction host), Isola (the blonde assassin)
• Core gadgets: Q-Lens for investigation, Q-Watch for hacking, Dart gadget for stealth takedowns, Smoke Pod for escapes, Laser Strap for the boat section
• Total parts: 14 distinct segments
• Total challenges: 23 (Pacifist, Ghost, Assault, and 20 mission-specific challenges)
• Completion reward: Mauritania outfit for TacSim mode

The mission opens up significantly compared to earlier chapters. You will have multiple ways to earn the $100,000 auction fee, and the boat section later on features some of the trickiest trap navigation in the entire game. Plan on spending 45 to 60 minutes on a story-only run, or closer to two hours if you are chasing all challenges.

Part 1-3: Drive to Aleph, Follow Greenway, and Obtain the Auction Fee

Part 1: Drive to Aleph

The mission begins with Bond and Greenway driving toward Aleph. This opening section is mostly cinematic with light driving mechanics. Pay attention to the dialogue because it sets up the relationship between Bond and Greenway, which matters later in the mission.

There are a few conversation prompts during the drive. Your choices here do not affect the mission outcome, but they add flavor to the scene. One tip: keep your speed steady during the chase sequence. Pushing too hard triggers extra obstacles that can slow you down more than driving at a moderate pace.

Part 2: Follow Greenway

Once you arrive at Aleph, you need to follow Greenway through the bustling market area toward the auction venue. Greenway leads you through a specific path, but you can deviate slightly to explore side alleys and pick up collectibles.

The key to this section is staying close enough to Greenway that you do not lose the trail, but not so close that you attract attention from the patrolling guards. Use cover frequently and keep an eye on the detection meter. If you get spotted, you can still recover by breaking line of sight and hiding behind market stalls.

If you are going for the Ghost challenge, you must remain completely undetected through this entire section. Stick to the left-side route through the market, using the crates and awnings as cover. The guards follow predictable patrol patterns, so take a few seconds to observe before moving forward.

Part 3: Obtain the $100,000 Auction Fee

This is where the mission truly opens up. You need $100,000 to enter the auction, and there are four different ways to get it. You only need to complete one method, but each one also counts toward specific challenges.

Method 1: Crypto Wallet

Head to the tech market district and locate the hacker NPC near the eastern stalls. Talk to him to learn about a crypto wallet holding the funds you need. You will need to use your Q-Watch to hack into a nearby terminal. The hacking minigame requires you to match rotating code segments within a time limit. Once completed, the wallet transfers the funds to your account.

This method is the fastest route, taking roughly five minutes. It is ideal for speed runs or first-time players who just want to progress the story.

Method 2: Jewel of Jahari

A valuable artifact called the Jewel of Jahari is being held in a private collection nearby. You can either pickpocket the key from the collector or find an alternate entrance through the rooftop. The jewel is displayed in a glass case inside a guarded room on the second floor of a building near the waterfront.

Use your Q-Lens to scan for the alarm system before approaching. Disable it using the Q-Watch, then grab the jewel. Sell it to the fence operating near the harbor for your $100,000. This method rewards you with additional collectible credit and is the preferred route for Ghost runs.

Method 3: Scorpius

Scorpius is a high-stakes card game running in a back room at one of the Aleph establishments. To gain access, you need to find the doorman and either bribe him, charm him, or find a disguise that gets you past. The card game itself is a blackjack-style minigame where you need to beat the dealer to win the pot.

Winning at Scorpius requires some patience. Bet conservatively at first and build your stack. The dealer follows predictable patterns after the first few hands. This method takes about ten minutes but is one of the more entertaining routes.

Method 4: Fight Pit

The Fight Pit is an underground combat arena where you can earn money by defeating opponents. It is located beneath the main market square. Talk to the bookie at the entrance to sign up. You will face three rounds of increasingly difficult melee combat.

For the first round, use basic combos and dodges. The second round introduces an opponent with heavy attacks, so focus on countering and side-stepping. The final round pits you against a larger fighter who charges frequently. Sidestep the charges and punish with combo strings from behind. Winning all three rounds nets you the full $100,000.

The Fight Pit is the best method if you are going for the Assault challenge or the specific Fight Pit challenges like Fall Guy and Hammer Time. It also has some of the best gameplay moments in the entire mission.

Part 4-7: Win the Auction, Reach 009’s Boat, Find 009, and Crime Scene

Part 4: Speak with Barkhad Ali and Win the Auction

With your $100,000 secured, head to the auction hall and speak with Barkhad Ali. He is the charismatic host who controls access to the event. The conversation has several dialogue branches, but the critical path involves presenting yourself as a legitimate buyer.

The auction itself is a tense sequence. You are bidding on information about 009’s whereabouts. Other bidders will try to outbid you, and the amounts escalate quickly. The trick is to wait until the final moments before placing your bid. This prevents the AI bidders from countering. You will ultimately win the auction and receive coordinates to 009’s boat.

During the auction, you can also use your Q-Lens to scan the other attendees. This reveals useful intel about who is connected to the conspiracy and provides optional objectives for completionists.

Part 5: Reach 009’s Boat

After the auction, navigate toward the harbor where 009’s boat is docked. The path takes you through restricted areas patrolled by armed guards. You have two main approaches here.

The stealth route follows the upper walkways and rooftops. It takes longer but keeps you out of combat entirely. Use your Dart gadget for silent takedowns on isolated guards and your Smoke Pod if you need to break contact quickly.

The direct route pushes through the dock area at ground level. It is faster but puts you in several firefights. If you choose this path, use cover effectively and prioritize the guards on elevated positions first since they have the best sightlines on you.

Once you reach the boat, you will trigger a short cinematic that sets up the next part of the mission.

Part 6: Find 009

Board the boat and begin searching for 009. The interior is dark and cramped, creating an atmospheric tension as you move through narrow corridors. Your Q-Lens is essential here because it highlights interactive objects and blood traces that guide you deeper into the vessel.

Follow the trail of evidence through the main cabin and down into the lower deck. The path is linear but filled with environmental storytelling. You will find signs of a struggle, knocked-over furniture, and scorch marks on the walls. These details paint a picture of what happened to 009 before you arrived.

Eventually you reach a room where the trail ends and a cutscene plays. This is one of the more impactful story moments in 007 First Light. The discovery sets up the remaining mission objectives and raises the stakes considerably.

Part 7: Examine the Crime Scene

This section transforms the game into an investigation sequence. You must examine multiple pieces of evidence using your Q-Lens to piece together what happened. The crime scene contains several key items to scan:

• Blood spatter on the wall – Indicates the direction of the struggle
• Broken transceiver – Shows 009 tried to call for help
• Scorched documents – Partially readable with the Q-Lens enhancement
• Fibers on the doorframe – Matches a specific type of tactical gear
• Fingerprints on the safe – Belong to an unknown party
• Dart embedded in the bulkhead – A tranquilizer round, not lethal

You need to find and scan at least five of these items to proceed. Finding all of them contributes toward the Sightseeing challenge and provides more context in the subsequent dialogue with Greenway. Take your time here because there is no time pressure, and the extra details enhance the story experience.

Part 8-11: Wake Greenway, Lower the Bridge, Explore the Shipwreck, and Follow Clues

Part 8: Wake Greenway

After the crime scene investigation, you discover that Greenway has been incapacitated. Bond needs to revive his companion before you can proceed. Approach Greenway and follow the on-screen prompts to administer a stimulant from your kit. This is a quick sequence with button prompts rather than a complex mechanic.

Once Greenway is back on their feet, a conversation unfolds where you share the findings from the crime scene. The dialogue here changes based on how thoroughly you investigated the scene. If you found all the evidence items, Greenway provides additional insight about the fibers and the dart, connecting them to a known operative.

Part 9: Lower the Bridge

To access the next area, you need to lower a mechanical bridge that connects the boat section to the shipwreck beyond it. The bridge control mechanism is located in a small room above the main deck. Getting there requires climbing a series of ledges and crossing a narrow beam.

The bridge control is a puzzle involving three switches that must be set to the correct positions. The solution is hinted at by the markings on the nearby wall. The correct switch pattern is left-down-up. If you set them wrong, an alarm sounds and guards are alerted, so it is worth taking a moment to study the wall markings before pulling any levers.

Once the bridge lowers, a new path opens up toward the shipwreck area. This is also where several challenges become available, including Silent Line which requires you to complete the bridge section without triggering the alarm.

Part 10: Explore the Shipwreck

The shipwreck is one of the most visually striking sections of the entire mission. It is a partially submerged vessel tilted at an angle, creating disorienting navigation challenges. Water flows through broken hull sections, and debris shifts unpredictably.

Move slowly through the shipwreck because several sections have collapsing floors. Watch for visual cues like cracks spreading on the floor before you step. If a section starts to give way, immediately jump to the nearest stable platform.

There are three collectible items hidden throughout the shipwreck. Two are in side rooms that require you to crawl through broken bulkheads, and one is on the upper deck accessible via a fallen crane beam that acts as a bridge. Grabbing all three contributes to your overall collectible count and the Sightseeing challenge.

The shipwreck also contains a hidden room behind a locked hatch. You can open it using your Q-Watch hacking tool. Inside you will find a weapons cache and intel documents that provide backstory about the Transworld organization connected to the conspiracy.

Part 11: Follow the Clues

Emerging from the shipwreck, you enter a section where you must follow a trail of clues left by 009. This is similar to the earlier crime scene investigation but takes place across a larger outdoor area. Use your Q-Lens to track footprints, chemical traces, and marked objects that guide you forward.

The clue trail leads through a series of connected alleyways and abandoned buildings. There are guards patrolling these areas, so you need to balance investigation with stealth. The footprints glow faintly under the Q-Lens and follow a winding path designed to throw off pursuers who might also be tracking 009.

At the end of the trail, you find 009’s stash point, which triggers the next section. Before moving on, check the surrounding area for the last few collectibles in this mission segment.

Part 12-14: Search 009’s Stash, Escape, and Protect Greenway

Part 12: Search 009’s Stash

009’s stash is located inside a trapped room that serves as the most dangerous puzzle section of the mission. The room is rigged with an elaborate series of booby traps including pressure plates, laser grids, and a spray system that releases a corrosive agent if triggered.

Navigating the pressure plates: Walk slowly and watch the floor carefully. The pressure plates are slightly raised compared to the surrounding floor tiles and make a faint click if you step near them. Stick to the edges of the room and use the crates as stepping stones to avoid the floor entirely where possible.

Avoiding the laser grid: The lasers sweep horizontally across the room in timed patterns. Observe the rhythm before moving. There is a two-second window between each sweep where you can advance safely. Crouch to pass under the higher lasers and use your Laser Strap gadget to temporarily disable individual beams if needed. The Laser Show challenge specifically requires you to navigate this section without touching any laser, so memorizing the timing is essential.

The spray system: Mounted in the ceiling corners, the spray nozzles activate if you trigger any other trap. If this happens, immediately take cover under one of the metal tables in the room. The spray lasts about five seconds before resetting. Your Q-Lens can highlight the spray nozzles so you know where they are positioned.

At the center of the room is 009’s lockbox containing the intel you need. Grab it quickly and prepare for the escape sequence.

Part 13: Escape

Retrieving the intel triggers an alarm that sends enemies flooding into the area. This is a timed escape sequence where you need to get back through the boat and reach the exit before you are overwhelmed. You have approximately three minutes to complete the escape.

The most efficient escape route follows the path you took to get in, but several routes are now blocked or changed. New obstacles include collapsed walkways and activated trap mechanisms that were dormant earlier. Move quickly but do not sprint blindly because some corridors now have tripwires at knee height.

Combat during the escape is unavoidable in certain chokepoints. Use your Smoke Pod to create cover in open areas and your Dart gadget for quick takedowns on guards blocking narrow passages. Conserve your Focus slow-motion ability for the final stretch where enemy density is highest.

The escape ends when you reach the main deck and trigger a cutscene where Bond leaps from the boat as it begins to sink.

Part 14: Protect Greenway

The final part of The Past Never Dies is a combat encounter where you must protect Greenway from attacking forces. Greenway is positioned in a fixed location and enemies converge from multiple directions. This is a wave-based defense sequence with three waves.

Wave 1: Five enemies approach from the north. They are lightly armored and go down with standard weapon fire. Use this wave to find your preferred position. The elevated platform to the east gives you the best sightlines.

Wave 2: Eight enemies come from the north and east. Two of them are heavy enemies with body armor. Focus fire on the heavies first because they can reach Greenway faster and deal more damage. Use explosive environmental objects like fuel canisters near the eastern approach to thin the group quickly.

Wave 3: Ten enemies plus a mini-boss character attack from all directions. The mini-boss is the blonde assassin Isola, who is fast and deals heavy melee damage. Keep your distance from her and use Focus to land headshots during her attack animations. While you are dealing with Isola, regular enemies will try to flank Greenway, so check your minimap frequently.

Once all waves are defeated, a final cutscene plays that wraps up the mission. Bond and Greenway escape with the intel from 009’s stash, setting up the next chapter of the story.

All 23 Challenges in The Past Never Dies

The Past Never Dies contains 23 challenges that span the entire mission. Completing all of them unlocks the Mauritania outfit for use in TacSim mode. Here is the full breakdown organized by category.

Playstyle Challenges

Pacifist: Complete the entire mission without killing any enemies. This means using only non-lethal takedowns, your Dart gadget with tranquilizer darts, and avoiding combat encounters entirely where possible. The trickiest sections for Pacifist are the Fight Pit (skip it entirely and use a different money method) and the final Protect Greenway encounter (rely entirely on non-lethal gadget tools and Focus takedowns).

Ghost: Complete the entire mission without being detected. You must avoid triggering any alarms or entering combat at any point. Stealth is key throughout, especially during the Follow Greenway section, the Reach 009’s Boat section, and the Follow the Clues section. Use the market stalls, rooftops, and shadows to your advantage.

Assault: Complete the mission while being detected and engaging in combat. This is the opposite of Ghost and is essentially the default playstyle for most players on their first run.

Mission-Specific Challenges

Silent Line: Lower the bridge in Part 9 without triggering the alarm. Study the wall markings carefully before setting the switches. The correct pattern is left-down-up.

Sightseeing: Find and examine all evidence items at the crime scene and all collectibles throughout the mission. There are multiple hidden items across the shipwreck and clue trail sections.

Easy Does It: Complete the auction section without raising suspicion. Stay calm during bidding, do not scan too many people with the Q-Lens overtly, and maintain your cover throughout.

No Trouble At All: Navigate the market section without alerting any guards or triggering any incidents. This pairs naturally with the Ghost challenge.

Fight Pit Challenges

Fall Guy: Knock an opponent out of the Fight Pit ring. Use heavy push attacks near the edge of the arena. The second opponent is the easiest to ring out because he charges forward.

Bottled It: Defeat all Fight Pit opponents using only environmental weapons. Look for bottles, chairs, and other objects scattered around the arena. Pick them up and use them instead of your fists.

Hammer Time: Defeat the final Fight Pit opponent in under 30 seconds. This requires an aggressive strategy: immediately dodge the first charge, then unleash a full combo string from behind. Use Focus if you have it available.

Booby Trap Challenges

Laser Show: Navigate the laser grid in 009’s stash room without touching any laser beam. Memorize the timing pattern and use crouch and timing to get through. The Laser Strap gadget can help temporarily disable one beam at a time.

Tech Support: Disable the spray system in 009’s stash room before it activates. Use your Q-Watch to hack the control panel located near the ceiling on the western wall. You need to be standing on one of the crates to reach it.

Combat and Action Challenges

Make Them Count: Achieve 100% accuracy during the Protect Greenway combat encounter. Every shot you fire must hit an enemy. Use Focus liberally and only take shots you are confident about. Single-fire weapons are your best friend here.

Chain Reaction: Perform a chain takedown involving three or more enemies in a single sequence during the escape or protection sections. Position enemies close together and use the chain takedown prompt when it appears.

Quick Exit: Complete the escape sequence in under two minutes. Know the route ahead of time and use Smoke Pods to bypass combat encounters rather than fighting through them.

Exploration Challenges

Sharp Eyes: Find the hidden room in the shipwreck. Look for the locked hatch and use your Q-Watch to hack it open. The room is on the lower deck behind a rusted bulkhead door.

Collector: Find all collectible items hidden throughout the mission. There are items in the market, the shipwreck, the clue trail, and 009’s boat. Use your Q-Lens frequently to highlight nearby items.

Spoils of War: Collect all weapons from the hidden cache in the shipwreck. There are three weapons in total inside the secret room.

Miscellaneous Challenges

High Roller: Win the auction on your first bid without any counter-offers. This requires precise timing. Wait until the last possible moment before the gavel falls to place your bid.

Big Spender: Earn $100,000 from the Scorpius card game. You need to build a significant winning streak at the table. Start with minimum bets and increase as you read the dealer’s patterns.

Smooth Operator: Complete all dialogue sequences with optimal choices. Pick the charming or professional dialogue options throughout. Avoid aggressive or threatening responses.

Full Circle: Return to the starting area after completing the mission and find the hidden item that only appears after mission completion. You must replay the mission in TacSim to access this.

Speed Demon: Complete the entire mission in under 30 minutes. Use the Crypto Wallet method for the fastest auction fee, skip all optional content, and use the direct combat route through the boat section.

Master Agent: Complete all 22 other challenges in a single playthrough. This is the ultimate challenge for The Past Never Dies and requires mastery of every section. Plan your route carefully to hit stealth, combat, and exploration requirements in one run.

Tips and Strategies for The Past Never Dies

Best Gadget Loadout

Bring the Q-Lens and Q-Watch as your mandatory gadgets. They are required for multiple investigation and puzzle sections. For your optional slots, the Dart gadget and Smoke Pod are the most versatile choices. The Dart handles stealth situations, and the Smoke Pod gets you out of trouble during the escape and protection sequences.

Stealth vs Assault Approach

Your first run will likely be a mix of both, which is fine. If you want to go pure stealth for the Ghost challenge, know that the market section and the boat approach are the hardest parts to stay undetected. The auction and investigation sections have no detection mechanics to worry about.

For assault-focused runs, the Fight Pit money method and the direct boat approach give you the most combat opportunities. The Protect Greenway section forces combat regardless, so assault players will feel right at home in the final stretch.

Best Money-Making Method

For first-time players, the Crypto Wallet method is fastest and simplest. For completionists, do all four methods across multiple playthroughs because each method ties to specific challenges. The Fight Pit is the most fun gameplay-wise, and Scorpius offers the most unique experience.

Replaying for Challenges

You can replay The Past Never Dies through the TacSim mode after completing it. This is the recommended way to tackle challenges you missed on your first run. Your gadget loadout and upgrades carry over, making subsequent runs easier. Focus on one or two challenge categories per replay rather than trying to get everything at once.

The mission takes roughly 45 minutes on a focused replay. With 23 challenges spanning multiple playstyles, you should plan on at least three runs to complete everything if you are targeting the Master Agent challenge.

FAQ

Conclusion

The 007 First Light The Past Never Dies Mission Walkthrough covers one of the most ambitious missions in IO Interactive’s Bond game. From the initial drive into Aleph through the intense Protect Greenway finale, every one of the 14 parts brings something different to the table. The four money-making methods give you real choice in how you approach the auction, and the booby-trapped stash room on 009’s boat is some of the best puzzle design in the entire game.

If you are chasing 100% completion, those 23 challenges will keep you busy across multiple replays. The Pacifist and Ghost runs require genuine skill and patience, while the Fight Pit and booby trap challenges test completely different abilities. The Mauritania outfit is a worthy reward for the effort.

Our recommendation is to play through the mission once at your own pace, enjoy the story, and then come back through TacSim for the challenges you missed. That first run is where 007 First Light shines brightest, and The Past Never Dies is a standout chapter worth experiencing without a guide the first time through.