SubCargo First Cargo Run Walkthrough
Exact undock-to-payout sequence for the CTV-09 ATLAS on Roblox alpha.
Your first SubCargo payout fails for boring reasons: no fuel rod, cargo wings still closed, Liquid Oxygen (LOX) crates left unlocked, ballast still flooded, or a scrap dive that empties the boat. This walkthrough is the first successful delivery loop—Transit Control Hall → ReCore → crane → magnets → reactor → ballast → destination terminal—so you unlock the Successful delivery! badge before chasing deeper veins or Larry fights.
Pair it with Getting Started for crew mindset and Cargo Delivery for multi-leg routing after you can finish one clean turn-in.
The embedded Sub Cargo - first delivery video shows the pacing; use the checklist below so you do not skip magnets or ballast drain.
What you need before undocking
SubCargo is co-op by design (2+ players recommended). Solo is possible, but one person cannot safely watch the reactor while loading LOX.
Bring or buy:
- A Uranium Fuel Rod from ReCore (David the Salesman) before you board
- Working welder and fire extinguisher for breaches
- Ballast pumps you have already tested at dock
- Clear cargo bay access and a functioning overhead crane
Official place: Roblox SubCargo [ALPHA] (Place ID 79206495603893). Alpha balance shifts—expect payout and dock layout changes after patches.
Step-by-step first delivery
1. Transit Control Hall tutorials
You spawn in the Transit Control Hall. Walk the tutorial screens covering scrap collection, selling scrap, suit lockers, oxygen refill, hull repair, flooding, and water pumps. Skip nothing on your first day—these prompts name the same systems you will panic-search mid-voyage.
2. Read the crane tutorial
Open the in-game crane tutorial next. It matches the overhead crane you will use to lower LOX containers into the CTV-09 ATLAS. Details and callouts also live on Crane Operations.
3. Buy a Uranium Fuel Rod at ReCore
Visit ReCore and buy a Uranium Fuel Rod from David the Salesman (~$320; also grab the free rod on top of the shop when it spawns). The reactor will not power up without a seated rod. Dual-rod discipline for longer legs is covered in Reactor and Fuel—for the first run, at least seat what you bought before undocking.
4. Board the CTV-09 ATLAS and open cargo wings
Board the CTV-09 ATLAS and open the cargo wings. Closed wings block the crane from dropping freight cleanly into the bay.
5. Crane-load two LOX containers
Operate the overhead crane to load two Liquid Oxygen (LOX) cargo containers into the bay. Line each crate over the opening before release so it settles instead of clipping the hull.
6. Lock crates with magnets
Secure the containers with magnets. Loose LOX shifts trim, blocks repair paths, and can destroy payout if crates slide during a collision. Do not throttle away until magnets are confirmed.
7. Seat the fuel rod and power the reactor
Insert the Uranium Fuel Rod and bring the reactor online so lights, pumps, and controls work for the trip.
8. Drain flooded ballast
Drain the flooded ballast tank before navigating. Until water is pumped out, the ATLAS will not rise or hold neutral depth—classic “we sink when we stop” failure. See Ballast and Systems.
9. Pilot to the destination dock
Fly steady throttle through the underwater caverns toward the marked dock. Jerky steering causes collisions; each breach risks flooding that voids freight. Keep a welder ready per Hull Repairs.
10. Turn in at the delivery terminal
Interact with the delivery terminal with both LOX containers physically inside the hold. Damaged or missing freight cuts payout; a destroyed load can wipe it entirely.
A clean first turn-in awards the Successful delivery! badge (community stats often put unlock rates near the low teens of players)—confirmation the whole loop counted.
Optional scrap dives (usually skip on run one)
You can leave in a diving suit for scrap along the route and sell it at dock, but first deliveries die when nobody watches hull or reactor. Treat scrap as optional. If you dive, leave one crew on repairs and recall on the first hull alarm. Full loop: Diving and Structures.
Failure table (first-run edition)
| Outcome | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Delivery fails / crew dies | Hull flood or reactor blackout mid-run |
| Reduced payout | Damaged/missing LOX or wrong dock |
| Sub sinks when you idle | Ballast still flooded or pumps not neutral |
| Reactor stays offline | No Uranium Fuel Rod seated |
| Crane cannot load | Cargo wings still closed |
| Crates slide / trim wild | Magnets not locked |
After your first payout
- Restock rods and a backup welder at dock shops (Dock Shops)
- Read Cargo Delivery for chaining contracts
- Skim Beat Larry before deeper veins
- Small lobbies: Solo Runs
- Watch Updates after patches that touch docks or freight
Related pages
- Getting Started — first-hour mindset
- Crane Operations — dock lifts and callouts
- Reactor and Fuel — dual rods and 20% flood rule
- Ballast and Systems — drain before undock
- Guides Hub — full index (nav dropdown shows View all when crowded)
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for SubCargo crews in Roblox alpha.
What is the CTV-09 ATLAS in SubCargo?
It is the Hadron-built cargo submarine players board for deliveries. Open its cargo wings before crane-loading LOX containers.
Why won’t my cargo load with the crane?
Confirm cargo wings are open, the bay is clear, and you lined each LOX crate over the opening before release. Then lock magnets.
Do I need magnets for LOX containers?
Yes. Unsecured crates shift trim and can ruin payouts. Lock magnets before you leave the dock.
Where do I buy the first Uranium Fuel Rod?
At ReCore from David the Salesman before boarding. Also grab the free rod on top of the shop when it spawns.
How do I know the first delivery counted?
A successful terminal turn-in pays out and can unlock the Successful delivery! badge—keep both LOX crates in the hold at turn-in.