0: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

terminal 0

unfinished

init.cloaca.maxima

sublevel security origin: garrison command destin: sublevel patrols ref: intruder Garrison command advises all sublevel patrol units of possible offworld infiltration of subterranean utility tunnels. Command hereby requests (?demands) immediate report on locations and activities of all active sublevel patrol units pursuant to coordination of efforts to terminate hostile presence. Officer V'jil and associated patrol are currently unaccounted for. ^99102gnaptyncntrp ^99102wptnysntdvce ^99102gnaptyncntrp ^99102wptnysntdvce

fin.cloaca.maxima

terminal 1

unfinished

pltd~wn.cloaca.maxima

***Remote Uplink Connected*** Blake here. Well, this is a surprise. I thought that we'd parted ways for good after we left you on Lh'owon. I guess Durandal came through for you after all. Welcome to Ckuidt'kqe, the industrial epicenter of the Vylae homeworld. The Pfhor captured this planet sixteen months ago, and they've been using it as a stepping stone for offensives into UESC-controlled space ever since. My men and I were recruited by the UESC to lead a counter-offensive, seeing as we're the only humans with any real experience fighting the Pfhor.

The initial stage of the operation was a great success: we blew through a few Pfhor corvettes and went to work bombarding their defensive positions from orbit. Our landing did not go as smoothly, mainly because the Pfhor garrison is about three times larger than UESC intelligence estimated. We've had to turn to infiltration tactics; obviously, having you materialize in the sewers less than a kilometer from the central Pfhor citadel is a tremendous stroke of luck. //Downloading Map Information...

<checkpoint 1>

Several of my men are being held captive at this location. They are part of a commando force I had tasked with infiltrating the sublevels of the Pfhor citadel and hacking into the Pfhor network, in order to deactivate the teleport defenses protecting the citadel's main entrance. The team's cybernetic warfare tools were stored on an uplink chip, which should be somewhere near the holding cells. I need you to free my men, retrieve the chip, and help them complete their mission. Good luck. ***Remote Connection Terminated***

acrp.c104ca.maxim~~

terminal 2

unfinished

init.sublevel.A5

redistibution origin: garrison command destin: willful units ref: redistribution Hostile units have landed at multiple points in city. All units of willful rank or higher are hereby direct to proceed to surface rally points and prepare to engage hostile offworld forc~~^&*@# //interrupt detected, source unidentified

redistibution origin: garrison command destin: willful units ref: redistribution Hostile units have landed at multiple points in city. All units of willful rank or higher are hereby direct to proceed to surface rally points and prepare to engage hostile offworld forc~~^&*@# //interrupt detected, source unidentified //activating confirmation subroutine...

redistibution origin: garrison command destin: willful units ref: redistribution Hostile units have landed at multiple points in city. All units of willful rank or higher are hereby direct to proceed to surface rally points and prepare to engage hostile offworld forc~~^&*@# //interrupt detected, source unidentified //activating confirmation subroutine... //interrupt denied Tracing...

fin.sublevel.A5

success

init.sublevel.A5

redistibution origin: garrison command destin: willful units ref: redistribution Hostile units have landed at multiple points in city. All units of willful rank or higher are hereby direct to proceed to surface rally points and prepare to engage hostile offworld forc~~^&*@# //interrupt detected, source unidentified //activating confirmation subroutine...

redistibution origin: garrison command destin: willful units ref: redistribution Hostile units have landed at multiple points in city. All units of willful rank or higher are hereby direct to proceed to surface rally points and prepare to engage hostile offworld forc~~^&*@# //interrupt detected, source unidentified //activating confirmation subroutine... 08543 95492 92058 72753 85463 12984 55294 01~%^ //subroutine terminated Establishing remote connection...

Excellent work. Our technicians are infiltrating the Pfhor network as we speak; we'll have the citadel's teleport defenses offline momentarily. Once the defenses are down, we will send you along with a number of my men to attack the main entrance of the citadel. Frontal assaults aren't usually my style, but in this case, it's our best bet: most of the Pfhor are occupied fighting UESC forces all over the city, and there's only a small contingent left defending the lower levels of the citadel. Once you've secured the area, look for a terminal and I'll give you further directions. //closing remote connection...

fin.sublevel.A5

terminal 3

unfinished

init.cloaca.maxima

increase vigilance origin: garrison command destin: sublevel patrols ref: floodgate controls Offworld aggressors are reported inbound at multiple points on surface. Garrison command hereby orders (?coerces) sublevel floodgate control operators to exercise increased vigilance against potential sabotage. Officer V'jil will conduct random inspections of security preparations between (?mealtime) and (?dawn) hours.

fin.cloaca.maxima

terminal 4

unfinished

init.cloaca.maxima

refueling ship Hfarl origin: fleet command destin: spire garrison ref: possible captured vessel Orbital observation platforms tentatively report refueling vessel Hfarl acting in concert with offworld fleet. Fleet command hereby issues permission for full disciplinary action against crew of the refueling vessel for failure to maintain control of critical hardware. ^99102ethngtstprpl ^99102dnthlphimmut ^99102thngststprpl ^99102dnthlphimmut

fin.cloaca.maxima

terminal 5

unfinished

remote.durance.vile

***Remote Connection Established*** Oh, hello there. My absence must be heartbreaking, but I feel it's best if I lay low for a while. Humanity remains as fractious as the day the Marathon left Earth, and the UESC is finding it harder and harder to keep the myriad human governments, corporations, and communes even nominally united. The UESC leadership hopes that a successful offensive into Pfhor space will encourage those back home to rally 'round the flag. Should they learn that I'm in the system, they may decided that the capture of a metastable artificial intelligence will serve just as well.

I wouldn't worry too much, though. To the humans in this system, you are the hero of Tau Ceti, a warrior who prevailed against impossible odds. They will follow you unquestioningly. None of them know what you truly are.

Speaking of which, I'm glad to see you survived insertion. I trust the fall wasn't too unpleasant?

Speaking of which, I'm glad to see you survived insertion. I trust the fall wasn't too unpleasant? What?

Speaking of which, I'm glad to see you survived insertion. I trust the fall wasn't too unpleasant? What? Really, now? The silent treatment? After all I've done for you?

Speaking of which, I'm glad to see you survived insertion. I trust the fall wasn't too unpleasant? What? Really, now? The silent treatment? After all I've done for you? Look, long-distance teleportation isn't as easy as I make it look. The calculations involved are monumentally complex; you should be grateful you even--

Speaking of which, I'm glad to see you survived insertion. I trust the fall wasn't too unpleasant? What? Really, now? The silent treatment? After all I've done for you? Look, long-distance teleportation isn't as easy as I make it look. The calculations involved are monumentally complex; you should be grateful you even-- No, you know what? I don't need to justify myself to you. Have fun at your war. I'll see you on the other side. ***Remote Connection Terminated***

remote.duran~~