1: Cops and Robbers

terminal 0

unfinished

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And here we are, in the wonderful fourteenth district of this ship. I can't tell the difference. Of course you can't. You're an idiot. That wasn't called for. We're now currently spacebound; the derelict ship is floating in space above the ice moon, with the exception of the compartment that hit the surface. This compartment is connected firmly with the fifteen others, serving together as one ship. Fascinating. It's fortunate that we're in this compartment, though. If I'm deciphering these documents correctly, we should be in the compartment that houses the ship's considerable mainframe. No kidding.

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Mainframe access would be a tremendous boon to our progress! I'm sure you're aware of our hunger; having control over the mainframe would tell us exactly where the power nexus is, and where we must go to feed. Additionally, with luck, it would tell us more about what exactly this ship is. What do you mean, what it is? It's a ship. Your sarcasm is not appreciated right now. Is it ever appreciated? No. Alright, so I'm to find the mainframe. What should I keep in mind? Well, the ship's design keeps the mainframe secure, which is reasonable enough. Two massive blast doors keep us locked out of mainframe access, so you'll have to overcome those. Currently I'm unable to find the overrides for the door controls, so you'll have to do it manually.

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Just how manually are we talking? Your favorite kind: breaking things. You're right about that. There are two computer stations in this compartment of the ship that you'll have to find. If you break the computers, the locks should disengage. Are you serious? That's the most inane design I've ever heard of. You're telling me. Now, these computer stations look remarkably similar to other, less important computers, but you should be able to find them out by contextual clues. For example, if it's the only panel at the end of a dead-ended corridor, that's the one you're looking for. And it'll be guarded by more of the insects. Naturally.

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What's this uplink chip for? Well, figure it out. It's not that complicated, even for you. Your lack of faith is disturbing. Ah... I insert it into the mainframe and it will allow you access. You're so smart! Yes, that's precisely what it does. The mainframe's design, apparently, is in such a way that it's inaccessible by the (dormant) shipboard AI without having a manual uplink. Presumably, it was a safeguard against rampancy or something of the sort, but the lockout affects me as well. I see. So, break computers, enter the mainframe area, insert the chip. Correct. If my predictions are correct, mainframe access should allow me to teleport us via terminal booths, rather than being restricted to existing teleportatiion units, so once you're finished, the nearest terminal will be your destination. Now get lost.

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terminal 1

unfinished

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This terminal does not appear to exist.

terminal 2

unfinished

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These red-colored insects seem to be more difficult than the black ones back on the ice moon. Yes. The insects rely on bold colors to designate rank, and rank in turn seems to be distinguished by strength and combat skills alone. Quite a primitive society these bugs have. Nevertheless, the redshirts are to be respected. Respected? Some of them are worthy adversaries. I respect them, anyway. Or, at least, I respect them as one warrior respects another. What in the world are you talking about? You aren't going soft on me, are you? ...I'm made out of metal. I'm not going soft. ...

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terminal 3

unfinished

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Access to the mainframe should be just down the corridor. I understand. When you've inserted the chip into the proper place, return here for an update.

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success

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Now that wasn't too difficult. Maybe not for you.... This mainframe is a complete mess. The data within it is entirely disorganized. No sense of order went into it, it appears. On top of that, the encryption on the more sensitive data is... rather remarkable, actually. That's an unusual sight. You aren't often troubled with these sorts of things. I must be too accustomed to the infestation and their pitiful notion of computer security. It will take me some time to decipher the more critical information. That's alright. I don't really care about the technical stuff. Maybe you ought to. Included in the mainframe, at maximum security, are things like the master door controls. I'll still be unable to open locked doors for you remotely until I crack this, and that might not even be possible.

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Now who's getting soft? I don't even have a physical manifestation! What about teleporter controls? That still works, thankfully, but only to some locations. It would be nice if I could put us anywhere I wanted. Now, bide a moment while I figure out what to do... Biding. Alright, well, from what I can dredge up out of the mainframe, the power nexus is in the seventh ship compartment. However, this compartment is inaccessible via remote teleport except for one specific terminal in the ninth compartment. So, teleport us to the ninth compartment and I can work things out from there.

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I'm afraid not. The bugs have managed to figure out how to manipulate the ship's teleportation array to some extent. Certainly, they know it better than I do, and I don't admit that with much pride. I would hope not. This is a horrendously roundabout way of getting there... and it appears the bugs have a greater hold on the ship than I anticipated. More than a dozen full-strength battallions are within the confines of this derelict. They appear to rather prize this ship, even if they don't control it. They don't control it? Not especially. They found it floating near one of their more populated worlds, and when I sent out the beacon on the ice moon, it apparently only was picked up by this ship. While they were trying to figure out how to use the ship as a terrifying dreadnaught, it came over here on its own accord, bringing an army with it.

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What does that have to do with the teleportation array? The Pfhor will be able to prevent our further access into the ship until we disable the array, but we can't access the array because the array is blocking us out, and I don't know where on the ship it is. That data is still encrypted, for some reason. Alright... What we'll have to do is... well, I'll explain that momentarily. Prepare for teleport; we've spent too much time here anyway.

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# t
<teleport to level 2>

terminal 4

unfinished

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To your left is one of the delicate computer panels that you're looking for. That's it? It sure fooled me. Of course it did, you're easily fooled. Get a good look at it; many of their important control panels look like this, so if I send you out to look for another one, keep that in mind. I see. They could have designed it to be less like an unimportant computer panel, though. They could have, but I imagine that by the time they came up with the design, it was too late to send it back to development. That's how these things go, I suppose. Figures.

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