So the mission is called Shadow of Steel. I get flown on to the mothership of the brotherhood of steel, after talking their elder (main commander) I'm instructed to go back out to the flight deck and speak to Paladin Dance.

I come out and his character isn't anywhere. I go to every deck on the ship, no Dance, I go to the airport where the brotherhood is, no dance, he's not even back at the police station.

Anyone experienced this or know how to fix it? More importantly, I really hope this mission isn't crucial in a line of missions to completing the game, because I have no idea where Dance has gone!

Try reloading an earlier save and repeat said mission. see if it happens again?

Yup, tried, reloaded from ages ago and the same result. Originally I thought it was because before I listened to their leader speak I went to the wrong deck.

The most important thing I want to know is if Paladin Dance is crucial to finishing the game for later missions?

I had this happen. If you have wever dismissed him before he goes to the settlement you dismissed him to. He went to one of mine and was hiding in a building stuck in a wall slightly.

If you have never dismissed him prior my understanding is he can be found at the police station or bar on the BOS ship.

*Danse (like no one's watching)

If you're playing on the PC, try opening up your console and typing "player.moveto 5de4d" or "player.moveto 27683". If he's anywhere on the map, you should teleport to him immediately.

Yeah I am playing on PC. How do I open up the console? Thanks for coming back!

I tired typing something in and it said "Compiled script not save". Anyone able to help?