3: The Fires of Acheron

terminal 0

unfinished

# n
# n

Welcome to Acheron Base, a delightful little facility located in the volcanic Lu'brinn Plateau, on Chai'etra's nameless smaller continent. The Pfhor are working on artificial gravity here, and have found a side effect to the production of the contragrav metals they use in their starships. They have lined the walls of this facility with the luminescent byproducts, and connected them to power systems. As long as the power is on, the external areas will be well lit. No, I have not slipped into rampancy. There is a reason this is important. You could see the joke if you were in orbit. But you are not, so trust me.

# n

The area you are in is not well patrolled, but there are sensors that will bring help if you start shooting the sentry drones. I don't know how long it will take for the reinforcements to arrive, but don't stick around. Find the power controls and shut them down. Another terminal will be your escape. You will likely have to do some travelling to find controls to all the doors. Be careful.

# n

terminal 1

unfinished

# n
# n

Some trivia; Chai'etra means "Throne" in the old dead language of the race called the Anu'a. There is evidence that the planet was once inhabited by a very high technology race, but who they were is a mystery. . The Pfhor here have legends of a lost city somewhere in the area of Acheron, possible buried deep inside the crust, or in a mountain valley somewhere north of here. I have theories, but now is not the time to explore them.

# n

terminal 2

unfinished

# n
# n

***TRANSLATOR ACTIVE*** Chai'etra Garrison Log Sub-leader Ovib Mu'lob Hin'ji Daily Report All is well, and that is bad. The Flickta have not attacked in weeks. Morale is low. We dream of combat, and the glory of the enemy's blood-fluids on our carapaces. Requests for additional holo-combat environments have been denied, and the Third Sub-leader is threatening to program the drones to shoot at the S'pht, if something does not soon relieve his boredom. ***TRANSLATOR INACTIVE***

# n

terminal 3

unfinished

# n
# n

***TRANSLATOR ACTIVE*** <<<DATA PACKET a14//8*77>>> ***TRANSLATOR INACTIVE*** It seems the Pfhor work on artificial gravity has found some disturbing conclusions about the nature of the universe. Poor bugs, such a limited mindframe. But I digress. You still have work to do. Finish it and come back here.

# n

success

# n
# n

The computer here was easy to take control of, but I fear it has sent a distress call. Irrelevant. The work here is done. Samples of the luminescent contragrav metal are attatched to your suit, gathered when you passed through the areas the Pfhor had layered. This metal will be invaluable. We have access to anti-gravity technology, but lack the ability to create it. This is a step along the road to human control of this technology. Good work. There is more for you to do. But now we must leave the area before the Pfhor battleship P'reffor arrives. We will return once they have left.

# n

PREPARE FOR TRANSPORT

# t
<teleport to level 4>