[BUG] Pickup quest - Brick always dies if shard was partly decoded

[Robin_WH]

I had run into this bug in Pickup quest several times across several game versions: When I partly decoded the money shard from Meredith Stout for the demon but left virus on and paid with it for the Flathead (siding with Stout), then even if I free and speak with Brick during the mission, he dies anyways. After the mission if I enter any vehicle, I am hunted by the Maelstrom.
Played in 1.6, 2.31 - bug is present. No mods used.

Not decoding chip at all and paying with it, lets the game proceed as normal without any ambush by Maelstrom

 

[Bartinga2077]

I had run into this bug in Pickup quest several times across several game versions: When I partly decoded the money shard from Meredith Stout for the demon but left virus on and paid with it for the Flathead (siding with Stout), then even if I free and speak with Brick during the mission, he dies anyways. After the mission if I enter any vehicle, I am hunted by the Maelstrom.
Played in 1.6, 2.31 - bug is present. No mods used.

Not decoding chip at all and paying with it, lets the game proceed as normal without any ambush by Maelstrom

Think this is an oversight the entire anticipation is missing for. You should pass it to Support.

 

[LeKill3rFou]

I had run into this bug in Pickup quest several times across several game versions: When I partly decoded the money shard from Meredith Stout for the demon but left virus on and paid with it for the Flathead (siding with Stout), then even if I free and speak with Brick during the mission, he dies anyways. After the mission if I enter any vehicle, I am hunted by the Maelstrom.
Played in 1.6, 2.31 - bug is present. No mods used.

Not decoding chip at all and paying with it, lets the game proceed as normal without any ambush by Maelstrom

If you sided with Meredith and by doing so, fought Maelstromers in the factory (instead of Militech soldiers), you will be ambushed by maeltroms goons, always. It doesn't matter if you freed Brick during the quest. Brick should help you (way) later in the game.
Brick only die if you kill him yourself or side with Maelstromers (help Royce & Dum Dum).

 

[Robin_WH]

If you sided with Meredith and by doing so, fought Maelstromers in the factory (instead of Militech soldiers), you will be ambushed by maeltroms goons, always. It doesn't matter if you freed Brick during the quest. Brick should help you (way) later in the game.
Brick only die if you kill him yourself or side with Maelstromers (help Royce & Dum Dum).

After the Heist, Brick has plaque at colubarium

 

[LeKill3rFou]

After the Heist, Brick has plaque at colubarium

Yes, I think there is a bug with the plaque.
But in theory, even if he have plaque at the columbarium if you sided with Meredith and saved him, Brick should welcome you later at the Totentanz.

About what you said in your first post, no matter if you saved Brick or not, you will be chased by maelstromers as long as you sided with Meredith (at least, as long as the deal went wrong with Royce and fought your way out against maelstromers).