2: Dr- Tycho's Castle

It looks like the Pfhor found their way down here about a week ago. Perhaps they dug through the surface, or maybe they found a functional teleporter. Who cares. This facility was commissioned and operated by a military research corporation known as Stanford and Stricklund. It's a big secretive operation, like the Atreides. S&S must have a lot of clout. And money. Humans are so corruptible. It's a controversial statement, but my years of insight and exploration around the galaxy has helped me reach that conclusion.

When the Pfhor landed here, the researchers and scientists evacuated via a teleporter at the northern end of the complex, and they sealed as many of the doors as they could. The latter didn't seem to slow down the Pfhor too much. I'll send you after the Humans to make sure they're okay in due time. Upon reactivating the neural nets, we may have exposed the research data and other sensitive information the S&S nerds were working on to the Pfhor. What were you thinking? Get inside the labs and clean up your mess.

From what I can tell, rummaging through the computer systems here, Stanford and Stricklund have been working on absolutely nothing interesting. The corporation has gone to great lengths to obscure their little lab here, too. The whole universe has been so boring, lately. You may be curious as to where our old friend is. It seems like Tycho's been in the dog house with regards to the Hindmost Creche lately. They may be upset at his delinquent behavior and generally poor performance back at Lh'owon. At any rate, I haven't seen or heard of him lately, but now that you and I are together again, I'd be surprised if he didn't turn up soon with his tail between his legs. Whatever.

The mainframes are down the hall to your left. You may find your access to them fettered by the standard fare -- security doors and other countermeasures to keep you locked out. Records in the system indicate that there are a couple of control rooms in the north end of the complex. You could start there. Hurry up and get to it. When you're done, come back here so I can tell you to do more things.

It's almost astonishing how utterly unremarkable the Stanford and Stricklund research projects are, considering the size of their endowment from the UESC. Even with a brain the size of half the galaxy, the nature of Human politics completely eludes me -- both in its complexity and utter pointlessness. When looking at all the data that I can find in the mainframes, the fragments of articles that haven't been fully expunged, it looks like this installation is tied in one way or another to an early-model data relay station in the outer fringes of the galaxy. It's not clear where exactly this station is, or why an idiotic little research station would be linked to it at all. It is a mystery! But probably a pretty mundane and boring one, given how things have been going for me lately.

I have discovered something useful to you. Shortly before our arrival here on... what is it called? RP#4476. Shortly before that, the Humans secured the mainframes, so you will not be able to access those chambers without releasing the security locks. There are two stations in total you will need to visit; one will unlock those chambers, and the other will unlock the teleporter that presumably leads to the aforementioned relay station. You wish I was always this helpful. I'm just impatient. Get out of here.

Congratulations! This is the one thousandth time you have failed to follow my instructions with the precision I'd expect of such a well-traveled, battle-seasoned cybernetic warrior like yourself. Especially one with the years of experience you have in dealing with myself. You were supposed to break the mainframes before moving onward. You haven't done that yet, as is made clear by my unspeakable aggravation. Or, at least, unspeakable ennui. Go on already, move it. By the way, if you haven't found it yet, the security room that opens up the mainframe chambers is the one immediately to your left. You know, on the other side of the window. I don't recommend walking through the wall.

Notice from UESC High Command Auth: Mara Harrison, Rear Admiral 022.388:07.30 Per my responsibilities and authority as Rear Admiral for the UESC, I have made a visitation request to Stanford and Stricklund research installation "RP#4476" to be executed within the next standard month. The core purpose of this inspection will be to ensure that financial endowments from the UESC are being properly appropriated, according to the needs and standards of UESC, and to make sure that all regulations are being followed, in as much as they apply to private contractors. I would advise against any form of obfuscation or obstruction in this manner, unless you wish to be brought against a UESC tribunal.