4: Sakhmet Rising

// "Tycho" @ mara.eng.ai.core wrote: \\ Welcome back - just in time; I'd begun to plan contingencies in case of your demise. Earlier, I attempted to warn your local-time self about Durandal's rampancy, but he managed to block most of the message. Without Bernhard Strauss controlling him, he's become a threat to the lives of far more than just the twenty-four thousand people here on Marathon and the colony. I need your help, but no longer only because of Durandal or these "Pfhor" creatures. We've got a bigger problem now.

Appearances otherwise notwithstanding, your transport to the alien ship was neither an accident nor the work of any enemy you presume to be fighting, but instead a deliberate act on the part of your supposed colleague, Hathor. Whatever she told you, her motivations are not what they seem, and at some point in her plans, your usefulness came to an end. There will be time to deal with the implications, but for now, we must prevent her from causing any further damage. So far, I've blocked her access to most of the Marathon's vital systems, but the Pfhor are pressing their attack, and with Leela indisposed and Durandal gone Rampant, I won't be able to fight on both fronts for much longer. This is where you come in.

To the north, you'll find the public access observatory arena, which contains a control tower with a terminal and two large switches. These switches control access to the secure observatories on the east and west flanks. Inside each observatory is another checkpoint that controls two blast doors leading into one of the redundant wireless relays. A relay compartment contains another set of doors; these are usually manned by a top security team, but chances are they've either evacuated or fallen victim to the Pfhor.

// "Hathor" @ mara.eng.ai.aux3 wrote: \\ Marcus! Thank goodness, you survived! I've been fighting to get you off the Pfhor ship, but I've run into some trouble. The compilers are ransacking the Marathon's computer systems, while the AIs are recovering from the EMP attack. There's too much traffic to try and remain stealthy any longer. Tycho was the first to discover me and take action. I hoped he'd wind up in the compilers' grasp, like he did last time while trying to warn your past self about Durandal. Unfortunately, he seems far more interested in our presence now.

// "Tycho" @ mara.eng.ai.core wrote: \\ You're looking at the main wireless data relay for Engineering. This is what Hathor would use to transfer herself to other parts of the ship. Hopefully, the aliens' sabotage will suffice to keep your companion from leaving over wire, as we haven't the time to send you to smash every cable relay leading out of this sector. Thankfully, there's only one main wireless relay for each sector of the ship, and the one in Engineering is located right here, in the radio observation center.

My sensor readings of your vital signs show stress levels elevated from the norm. I admit I find conveying my evidence of Hathor's treachery to be challenging. She's been forthcoming throughout our communications and even asked for help after 'evacuating' you from the ship. I discerned her true agenda through subtle contradictions in her words and actions. What I found most puzzling of all were her efforts to ensure your survival, which cost her valuable time. I can find no rational explanation for this. In any case, emotional interaction has never been my strong suit. I have more important things to spend clock cycles on, especially now.

So far, Hathor had little success bypassing my locks on the system, though I suspect she's waiting for something. Destroying the relay will trap her here for good. Start by smashing the circuits here, then move on to the other relay. When both redundant systems are destroyed, an emergency backup jump pad hardwired with its own specialized wireless access will become available, whence I'll evacuate you. Don't slow down for a moment; every second counts. We'll have more work to do after this. \\ Message ends //