4: One More Fluorescent Rush

The entire Pfhor presence on this planet appears to be oriented around penetrating naturally occurring cave formations. I assume they intend to strip-mine the planet for war metal. This would help explain the complexity of the local Pfhor data net. Noah seems to be quizzing the local net on the density and electromagnetic profile of the cave rock: he must think the caves would provide suitable protection from bombardment or teleportation.

The first wave of UESC troops have established a presence here but have come under heavy attack from Pfhor reinforcements mobilising from within the cave systems and refuse channels from the mines. Your role is to support their defence and scout ahead into the cave complex on which this installation sits. Likely, they are simply strip-mining this planet, but I can't help but wonder if the Pfhor are looking for something. See what you can find.

The Pfhor have set a major dig site at this location. What is more interesting, however, is that the white noise permeating the communications infrastructure seems to have a local nexus within the dig tunnels. If we're lucky, we may establish a lead on what has happened to Noah. When I queried the service net, I logged approximately three times as many local network nodes registered by the Pfhor data net map. This is unusual even for the clumsy approach of the Pfhor empire.

Either the bloated Pfhor bureaucracy has impeded mapping of their network structure, or the Pfhor are using a network they did not install. Given the unusual constant stream of network interference, I am predisposed to assume the latter. My best guess is that Noah has somehow accessed these unregistered network nodes. See what you can find down there.

F9FC5C6447154B2A8A289342A579063096A32A52 fiery they fall 321// ~~75662ires of Orc 347.124.556[1463]//active[286csecu_feed{ this is Tatical Operations Art/~.1]hold[ connecting...#ificial Intelligence Isaac ::::remote.feed.timeout..please.hold:::: 2L/0.2]//as::compensating...::4.30.23.47] F9FC5C644715::connecting...::63096A32A52 stream.outid[ESRAI T4-HYB385ISA] of the UESC Venator1463]//active[2860.07.04:14. 30.23.47]//pressuredtransmitting on all UESC- and ESR- wavelengthsctivereturn[28 60.07.04:14.30.29.54]//pr s%urereturn[1. 2L/0.2]//passive[2860.07.04:14.30.23.47] F9C:7&under heavy fi&e_43279063096A32A52 streatrying to reach321//beinner syste_% 60.07.04:14.30.29.54//}...ssurereturn[1. 2860.07.04:14.30.25.49]//activereturn[28 fiery the Angels rise 7.04:14.30.23.47] F9FC5C6447154B2A8A289342A579063096A32A52

I've monitored Noah's access logs since the crash. Data he has found on the network would imply that the caves we stand in were once occupied by a single prominent species of native life-form. We can only presume that the Pfhor presence has disturbed or eradicated what was once here. The resource base of the occupant Pfhor military is astounding. The usual Pfhor doublespeak and protocol mar the information I can gather. Still, the occupant forces appear to have access to unusually high castes of infantry, including an assassin cult under the direct control of Admiral Tfear.

There seems, too, to be a specific concentration of bleeding-edge electronics countermeasure technologies and access to deep-mining technologies bastardised from reclaimed ESR Industrial equipment. Whatever is happening here, the Pfhor are deadly serious about keeping this system-wide facility well-stocked. The caves you now stand in are logged in particular detail by the Pfhor. There is a lot of data to examine, so I cannot yet be too specific, but be on the lookout for anything unusual. I get the feeling you stand somewhere important.

We're in trouble. My core is under attack. The Pfhor have located my core more quickly than I would have anticipated and nearly breached the final lines of defence. I think I spread our resources too thinly, but I'm not sure. I wasn't built for this kind of thinking. Noah would never have made this mistake. I need your help. Quickly!