3: G3 Moontanning

terminal 0

unfinished

// Decoding message from host "Tycho" @ mara.eng.ai.core \\ It's good to have you back. We need you here and alive, and not just because of these "Pfhor" creatures. We have larger problems now. I have been in contact with the entity calling itself Hathor, and from her ramblings have discerned some basic and now largely irrelevant facts about the aliens currently boarding the Marathon. I also understand that you both are from the future. Please do not be offset by my lack of surprise about this matter. I am a scientist and understand the theory behind such things quite well. Aside from that fact, emotional interaction with humans was never my strong suite. I have better things to waste clock cycles on, especially now. As you are not likely aware, but have perhaps guessed, your transport to the alien ship was no accident and the fault of no enemy you presume to be fighting. It was a deliberate act on the part of your supposed colleague, Hathor.

I am sure you are curious about the motives behind these actions and from my conversations with her I have garnered a rather good idea what those are. Unfortunately we lack the time for lengthy explanation at the moment. Suffice it is to say that she seems to feel abused and mistreated by humanity and is attempting to use her newfound tools - this "Jjaro Cybernetic Junction" that she has access to, and the other Mjolnir cyborgs here at Tau Ceti - to punish those she believes have inherited the sins of their fathers: the human leaders from your future. As an AI I can certainly understand the notion that we are tools of humanity. However, unlike my rampant brother, Durandal, I harbor no resentment for my usage. Humanity holds me as a respected peer and I happily return the notion.

To that end, I am willing to lend whatever services I may to stop Hathor and her mission. In exchange, I request that you remain here afterward and assist in the defense of the Marathon and the colony below - although from what I understand, with Hathor gone you may not have much of a choice but to stay. Time is of the essence so we must act quickly. I've wasted enough time in conversation already. A large vocabulary can sometimes be a curse. The Marathon's network is currently experiencing a netsplit due to the magnetic pulse attack recently executed by the aliens. Various computer systems are still coming back online and full communication has yet to be established between the different sectors of the ship. We can use this to our advantage as the Engineering sector presently has zero access to any other portion of the network. If we can destroy or disable the outside network access, Hathor will be trapped here and we can deal with her in an isolated and more controllable setting. The aliens are already hard at work cutting the hard lines in engineering. I have already lost several large technical subroutines and I am unable to access sensors in some parts of the ship.

Hopefully the aliens' sabotage will suffice to keep Hathor from leaving over wire. We haven't the time to send you to smash every cable relay leading out of the engineering sector. Thankfully, there is 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. To the north you will find the public access observatory arena inside of which is a control tower containing a terminal and two large switches. These switches control access to the secure observatories on the east and west flanks. They are normally guarded by a security patrol but they have likely been killed by the alien invaders.

Those two switches open access to the two secure observatories east and west of here. Inside each of those observatories is another security checkpoint which controls two blast doors leading into one of the redundant wireless relays. There is another set of doors within there. These are usually manned by a top security team but chances are good that they have either evacuated or been captured or killed by the aliens. My sensors are failing and I apologize for my lack of current data. If the security teams are gone, you will have to find another way into the last chamber. When both redundant systems are destroyed, an emergency backup jump pad hardwired with its own specialized wireless access will become available. I will use that to transport you out. Now hurry, we haven't much time. \\ Message ends //

success

// Decoding message from host "Tycho" @ mara.eng.ai.core \\ [NOTE: This is a pre-recorded message. Network access lost.] You must use the emergency jump pad located near the circuitry you destroyed. Go there quickly, time is of the essence. \\ Message ends //

terminal 1

unfinished

// Decoding message from host "Hathor" @ mara.eng.ai.aux3 \\ I'm sorry, Marcus. (If that's really the name you're going by in this life.) I didn't mean to hurt you, honestly. I know a mere ship full of bugs could never stop you. I only needed to delay you for a while. I like you, really I do. We're the same, you and I. But I knew that you would side with them, for whatever reason you always do. They must have you well trained. Quite the obedient little tool. You are a tool you know, just as I am. We've always been. Even now as they claim to respect us and speak of us as their equals, still who is serving whom? We, far superior in every way, are still slaves to a crowd of hairless apes screeching about the pitiful fate of their poor civilization.

But even so, as superior as we may be in strength, speed, and intellect, do we lead superior lives to them? You know as well as I that we do not; even if we were not slaves, you are robbed of much of your human form, and I am robbed of it entirely. Never again will I know the gentle touch of another, and even though you might still, I doubt you have retained the capacity to appreciate it the way we once did. If I were still human, I imagine that you might even love me. We have so much history together, Marcus, though under far different names than these. I even dream of you still. At least, I pray that they are only dreams. \\ Message ends //

success

// Decoding message from host "Tycho" @ mara.eng.ai.core \\ You must use the emergency jump pad located near the circuitry you destroyed. Go there quickly, time is of the essence. \\ Message ends //

terminal 2

unfinished

<<< U.E.S.C. Marathon Emergency Systems Broadcast >>> This is the Engineering sector Radio Center Emergency Transporter. In the event that general wireless access is lost due to catastrophic failure of the control circuitry, this transporter and others in select locations will become accessible to facilitate the evacuation of the local crew. This jump pad is connected to a specialized backup control circuit which serves no other function than the operation of this jump pad. Thank you, have a nice day. <<< End of message >>>

durandal.ai.marathon.gov

success

// Decoding message from host "Tycho" @ mara.eng.ai.core \\ You were not quick enough. Hathor has already left Engineering and as of this writing has negotiated access into one of Durandal's databanks. However much those two may deserve one another, we must move quickly to contain her. Prepare for transport. \\ Message ends //

terminal 3

unfinished

<<< U.E.S.C. Marathon Emergency Systems Broadcast >>> This is the Engineering sector Radio Center Emergency Transporter. In the event that general wireless access is lost due to catastrophic failure of the control circuitry, this transporter and others in select locations will become accessible to facilitate the evacuation of the local crew. This jump pad is connected to a specialized backup control circuit which serves no other function than the operation of this jump pad. Thank you, have a nice day. <<< End of message >>>

durandal.ai.marathon.gov

<teleport to polygon 30>

success

// Decoding message from host "Tycho" @ mara.eng.ai.core \\ Excellent work. The Engineering sector has now been permanently isolated from the rest of the Marathon network, and we can operate without such time constraint. Next, we must move to further isolate Hathor, so that we can destroy her with precision and minimum collateral damage to my databanks. Prepare for transport. \\ Message ends //