Data on the Old World

"Data on the Old World" is a quest in NieR:Automata, exclusive to 9S. Pascal requests for help in finding any bits of old world information scattered throughout the overworld.

Activation[]

Pascal asked you to collect information pertaining to the old world. Bring back any interesting tidbits that you find.
Deliver the information on the old world to Pascal.
The information pertained to nuclear weapons from the old world. It could be dangerous in the wrong hands, so it might be best to hand it over to the Commander. Make a choice and deliver the intel to either Pascal or the Commander.
(if given to Pascal) You attempted to deliver the nuclear weapon intel to Pascal, but he refused to accept such dangerous information.
(if given to the Commander) You delivered the nuclear weapon intel to the Commander, who promised to store it in a safe location. As a token of appreciation, maintenance materials have been placed in 9S's room.

Only the Nuclear Arms Manual is required to progress the quest further. Pascal will pay for any archives discovered otherwise.
- In addition, the chest containing the manual only spawns while the quest is active.
The Commander reminds 9S that use of nuclear weapons is prohibited by the Council of Humanity, and wonders why machines also refrain from using them. Aside from the concept of mutual assured destruction at work, it also hints at the nature of the war against the machines.
- Additionally, it could also be a reference to when humans launched a nuclear bomb during the appearance of The Giant and The Dragon, spreading Maso particles throughout and making the situation even worse.