A Task Half Done |
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Stage 1 |
Location: | Golem Crucible (Portal) (2, 2) |
A tall Altus waves over to you. |
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As you draw near you are distracted by a sizzling sound. You then notice blood being burned away from the blade of his sword, consumed by the energies coursing through it. 'I recognize you an the Instrument of the Altus. The Mind of the Crucible informed us that most of the Insurgents have been driven away with both your help and that of your Companion. We are pleased.'
'But I must ask you to dispose 200 of the remaining Insurgents from the Portal itself and discover the method of their access to the Crucibles Portal Gate without our express permission. Return to me when you have completed your task.' |
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Stage 2 |
Location: | Golem Crucible (Portal) (2, 2) |
The tall Altus waits for you to return, 'Have you killed 200 Insurgent Troopers and found out how they gained access to the Crucible's Portal?' |
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You hold the Gemstone in your hand, it looks vaguely familiar, but you can't quite place it. You hand it over to the Altus. He examines it and growls deeply, 'This is a copy of one of our artifacts. I wonder how they came to know of the pattern. We shall have to think about this. But for now enter the Section, Indarthil is waiting for you.' |
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Stage 3 |
Location: | Golem Crucible (Section) (2, 2) |
Indarthil towers over you, 'Greetings Unit, you and your friend have done well.' |
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He pauses as the tall Altus walks in and hands Indarthil the Convergence. He stands behind Indarthil without saying a word. Indarthil looks at the Gemstone in his hand. You shift uncomfortably from one foot to the next. Indarthil murmurs, 'This is a counterfeit Convergence, a clever one but a fake none the less.' He looks at you, 'I must thank you Unit for all your help. I watched your battle outside, you fight well but I am sorry to say that the task is not complete. The thieves have come through the Portal with this fake key. We just don't know where they got the pattern from.'
You hear great concern in Indarthal's voice, but as you stare at the gemstone you suddenly get a flash of memory. You see yourself standing in a small chamber before a pillar watching in horror as an Echo manifests before you. The Convergence allowed you to speak with the vile being that had tricked Garion's students into doing their work for them in the Sanctuary of Ages.
Indarthil senses you stiffen, 'Unit... you have something to say?' You look at the floor, fear grips your heart. You told no one of any Altus Blueprints, what if they suspect you sold the Altus out and blame you for the assault on the Crucible. You clench your fists and look straight into Indarthil's featureless face. If you're going to die it will be for the truth. You say, 'I have seen this device before. I used it back in the Sanctuary of Ages to access a secure area and spoke to an Echo that had tricked the Mind of Sanctuary into letting them stay. But I have told nobody any Altus secrets, so I don't know where this information might have been leaked from.'
You see Indarthil tilt his head to one side. Like a cat about to strike...
In the silence you hear your heart beat as you look back at the Altus considering your fate. He straightens slowly, 'The Mind of Sanctuary said you were honest to the point of defiance. The comment confused me, but I see what Sanctuary meant now. We are aware that others were within the Sanctuary as well as yourself, they must have the shared information. I don't think you would betray the Altus or anyone else for that matter. But thank you for telling us, we can now deal with the problem now that we know the source.'
Indarthil then sighs deeply, then hands you what looks like a Flux Crystal. But it's colour is a deep sapphire, confused you take it. You see the tall Altus behind Indarthil nervously draw his great sword. Indarthil raises his hand and he stops immediately. Indarthil then leans in close to you. 'What I have given you can be thought of as distilled misfortune. You do NOT want to delve into it's secrets. You shall deliver it into the hands of our adversaries. It must be placed near a field of high energy to break the shell. When the containment is compromised, you do not want to be near it. Now go complete your task and destroy the enemies of the Altus. The portal has been key directly into the location they came from so be careful.'
You receive 1 x Altus Vengeance Crystal |
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Stage 4 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Observation) (2, 2) |
You step through the stone arch and within a blink of an eye find yourself in a high tech lab surrounded by steel and flashing lights. The hum of air conditioning resonates in the air. You look around for a moment and find 4595 standing with his pistol drawn. |
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The Tarolan Police Droid snaps the safety on his side arm, 'I am not sure, but I think we are in an Inkari facility. If that�s true, we are in real trouble. The Inkari don't like visitors. Not much is know about them apart from they make really good merchandise. When you're living in place like Sigma you don't want to upset people who can make quality weaponry and armour. But we should find out what these Inkari are doing. I have a bad feeling about it. I shall be waiting here for you when you find discover something. |
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Stage 5 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Observation) (6, 15) |
You search the Observation for anything that might give a clue to what the Inkarui are up to. You eventually find a silvered pillar blistering with pulse lasers. It appears to be guarding a door. But as you get close the laser guns snap onto you and a metallic voice states, 'Authorized personnel only. You will be vaporized if you take another step.'
You should look for some sort of pass key to access the Map Room. |
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You return to the Guard Pillar, as the Pillar turns toward you � you hold up the Mapper Key. The Pillar scans the key then the Pulse Lasers dis-engage.
You may now enter the Map Room Access |
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Stage 6 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Map Room) (2, 2) |
You enter a small room filled with computer consoles, in the center of the room an Inkari stands typing into a Datapad. |
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The Inkari is totally focused on his Datapad and does not realize you are even in the room. You are about to walk up to him and are about to ask him a question when 4595 grabs you by your arm, which shocks you as you didn't hear him enter the Map Room behind you. 'Lets not disturb the Inkari, he looks busy.' He leads you to a around him and next to a silver computer console. 4595 whispers at you, 'This console is labeled Star Console, but its co-ordinates are set to a terrestrial location. Why is an observatory not watching the skies?' You shrug, then freeze when you hear a shocked intake of breath behind you...'
You simply react to the threat, drawing your weapon you spin on your heel and cut down the Inkari where he stands in one fluid movement. His body hits the floor with a sickening trump. 4595 steps forward and snatches the spinning Datapad from the air.
'We don't want this shattering on the floor.' He scrolls through the Datapad then stops. 'The Inkari are on a weapons project which they have not completed their data collection on. So we need to get those files. Take this Blueprint and collate the Inkari Test Data, I will wait for you here.
You receive 1 x Inkari Test Data Blueprint |
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Stage 7 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Map Room) (2, 2) |
4595 waits for you in the Map Room, 'Did you manage to get the Inkari Test Data yet? We need it to figure out what the Inkari were up to.' |
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4595 takes the green sheet from you, 'Well I have no idea what these numbers mean, but the good thing is that Inkari tech is so clever it will process the results for us.' He turns round and walks up to the Data Console and lays the Test Data on the scanner pad next to the keyboard. Immediately a window pops up on the view screen and process bars start to fill. When the processes are completed another window pops up, 'Do you wish to compile the results? Two large buttons appear under the question [y] [n].' 4595 shrugs and presses [y].
The window flashes white, then streams of tables and graphs begin to scroll over the screen. You stare blankly at the scientific data but 4595 leans in close to the viewscreen. 'Ah, the Inkari seem to be conducting some weapons test on the Karn.' He clicks a link and scrolls through an appendix, 'Yes, the Karn have a latent communication array just under their skin which is unique to them. The Saturation of what the Inkari call Red Nanites gives them control over the test subjects. The greater the Saturation the greater the control. It looks like the Inkari have tapped into the sub dermal array of the Karn and are using Nanites to try not just to implant suggestions directly into the minds, but unlock other latent abilities within their Unique DNA via the radiation within their own bodies. Clever really, so what do you want to do about this?'
The Police Droid looks at you. You reply, 'They are manipulating the Karn for their own ends using their own flesh against them. The Altus are right, they must be destroyed.' 4595 looks back at the viewscreen, 'I thought you would say something like that, but it's polite to ask. This facility has no emitters, it does have untra-low frequency shielding to protect against air strikes. I would guess the Inkari are using those to bounce their communication signal off. If we shut the shield down the connection with the Karn will be cut, which sounds like a plan.' You smile back at the Tarrolan Peace Officer and say, 'It certainly does.'
You must find the Shield Generators of the Takron Tower and shut them down
As you turn to leave 4595 grabs you by the arm, then points to a schematic of the Takron Towers he had just opened. 'There is a lot of power being channeled through the level called Droid Test, we should check it out. Meet me there.' |
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Stage 8 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Droid Test) (9, 14) |
You find 4595 near the center of the Droid test with his pistol drawn. |
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Your friend nods, 'I have been attacked several times by these Benchmarker's. They are hiding something, you should try to find out what. |
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Stage 9 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Droid Test) (9, 14) |
4595 waits for your return, 'Have you figured out what the Inkari are up to yet?' |
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The Tarrolan Peace Officer takes the Droid Project from you and scans it with his Datapad, 'Ah, they are working on a Droid upgrade. Whilst you were away I had another look at the power grid and found out that the Weapons Test power lines are extended from the Droid Test power ring. Which would explain why the Droid Test takes double what it should.' He looks away for a moment, 'We should maybe move on, the Shield Generators are just off Analysis. I shall meet you there.' |
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Stage 10 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Shield Gen) (2, 14) |
4595 waves you over. |
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The Police Droid sighs deeply, 'We have a problem. I think they are onto us. There is a Communication Station just off this area as we guessed, but the door has had a force field cast around it. Unfortunately the power for the field is linked directly to the Shield Generators and the controls for the Shields are within the Communication Station so there is no way to turn off the field. I don't know what to do!'
You stare back at the panicking Droid and say, 'Could we make the Generators go critical? The safety systems would shut them down automatically, dropping the protection field around the Communication Station?' 4595 stops for a minute, then starts typing on his Datapad, after a few moments he stops and throws his hands around in frustration, 'The Generators have flow switches that have AI sub-routines, so the very infrastructure will not allow anything stupid to be done to the power flow. That�s not going to work either!'
The Police Droid folds his arms, 'Let's face it, we can't outsmart the Inkari. They have thought of every method of attack.' You have to agree, the Inkari are smart. The Mind of Crucible said that they were too smart for their own good. Suddenly you have a flash of inspiration and ask 4595, 'Have the Inkari integrated any Altus tech in their Shield Generators, specifically connected to the flow of energy?' 4595 shrugs and does another search on his Datapad, after a few seconds he nods. 'Yes, there is an odd Energy Flow upgrade which was made a few days ago. It gave the system a 225% efficiency boost, why do you ask?'
You smile and say simply, 'I know nothing about Altus tech, you know nothing about Altus tech and the Inkari and only guessing about Altus tech. The only people who understand Altus tech is the Altus. So if we modify the new system the AI within the power switches will not know if the alterations we make are wrong or not.' The Droid nods, 'We could send the system out of sync...' He immediately starts typing again on his Datapad and triumphantly hands you a Blueprint, 'Feed these settings into the Energy Governor, we shall see what happens.'
You receive 1 x Takron Shield Settings Blueprint |
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Stage 11 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Shield Gen) (9, 3) |
A silver pillar stands before you with a small keyboard and viewscreen. |
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Just under the keyboard you see a scanning tray, you slip the Takron Shield Settings into the tray and a blue scanning light uploads the information into the Energy Governor. The Viewscreen bleeps as a alert window appears. It states 'Do you wish to alter the System Flow Settings?' Under it are two yes and no buttons.
You hold your breath and press [y].
There is a flash of red and white, then another alert window appears, 'Settings applied.' There is silence for a few seconds then a low groan followed by several exploding plasma nodes. The lights go out quickly followed by the red glow of emergency systems.
You should go see if you can enter the Takron Comms Station now. |
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Stage 12 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Comms Station) (2, 2) |
You enter a small air conditioned room, 4595 stands in the center waiting for you. |
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The Tarrolan Peace Officer turns to meet you, 'I guess that altering the settings to the Energy flow worked judging from all the exploding Plasma Nodes and lights going off. We should turn off the Shields, I bet the Inkari have some sort of auto repair system if we don't.' He steps toward the console in front of you and you grab his arm.
He pauses and looks at you. You say, 'We should see what is happening with the Karn first. See if they are all right.' The Droid shrugs, 'Fine, we would need the system to still be working. It does no harm to look.' You both approach the silver Comms Console and you note that all the screens are still lit and the station is still in operation. 4595 points to a screen, there is a list of active instruments. The one at the top is highlighted with a note saying, 'New Operational Instrument.' 4595 touches the highlighted item and another box opens, 'Do you want to open a link to the unlisted Isotope Marker?' 4595 looks at you, 'That sounds familiar doesn't it.' He presses the [y] button underneath and in the viewscreen an area map appears, then a white box appears over an area in the upper left of the screen, the view suddenly zooms in several times until you see individual Karn moving about. In the center of the screen is the Keeper of Tales, he still carries the Marker you gave him. 4595 gasps, 'This is incredible, I know that Inkari tech was good, but I never dreamed it was like this!'
Another window pops open, 'Do you wish to establish a direct link?' 4595 laughs, 'You got to be joking!' and presses the [y] button at the bottom on the window. A panel rises up from the bottom of the viewscreen and a red line moves at the sound of the Keeper's voice. 4595 laughs again, 'We have a direct audio link, that�s amazing!' You see the Keeper of Tales suddenly stop moving and look around, 'Who is there? Show yourself!'
You lean into the viewscreen, 'Do not be alarmed my friend, we are ones who gave you the device you carry. We have discovered something about the Red Mist. It is an Inkari Weapon that controls your Warriors through Nanites. The device obviously has more facilities than data collection, I would guess the data on the Red Nanites are stored within. You need to go get a stim that will strip out the Red Nanites from the insane Warriors blood. That will sever the connection that the Inkari have, also the Red Nanites feed on the Radiation within the Warriors, so your medicine only fed the effects of the Nanites. It was Inkari technology, not the Old Ways that were causing the problem. But in this case technology will cure your warriors when the Nanites are flushed out.'
You watch The Keeper of Tales open his bag and look at the device in his hand, 'How can I know it is the voice of the Wanders I met?' You smile and say simply, 'May your Enemies Blood soak the Land.' The Keeper waits for a moment, 'I sense ancient wisdom in what you say, from death life can spring forth. Yes, I believe you and I shall do as you suggest. May the Blood of your Enemies flow my Friends.'
You watch the Keeper of Tales put the Isotope Marker back into his back pack and start to walk away purposefully. 4595 closes the window then turns to you and says, 'You do know that �May your Enemies Blood soak the Land� sounds utterly psychotic don't you?' You smile back at him and reply, 'The longer you spend outside the walls of Tarrolan the more reasonable that wisdom will sound.' 4595 shrugs then shuts down the Comms Station and the Shields as he does so. 'We shall see, Meet me in Security, we need to deal with that before we can continue on.' |
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Stage 13 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Security) (6, 2) |
You find 4595 with his pistol drawn, ready for an attack. |
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'Glad you're here, we need to get through this area. Go kill 250 Takron Guard, the Inkari might have amazing technology, but they still need to replace their destroyed units and that will take time. We can slip past before they can do that.' |
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Stage 14 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Security) (6, 2) |
4595 stands over a destroyed Takron Guard, 'Have you destroyed 250 Takron Guards yet?' |
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'Excellent, lest get out of here before the Inkari get any smart ideas. Meet me in Reception.' |
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Stage 15 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Reception) (9, 2) |
You enter a wide airy well lit area, you even feel more at ease. 4595 waves you over. |
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4595 glances around, 'This is nice isn't it. I've had another look at the schematics of the Tower and I can tell you that the Power Core for the entire facility is directly beneath us. This is the entrance where the Inkari customer's are welcomed.'
'Indarthil said that the Crystal he gave you needed to be put into a large Energy Field. We can assume that the Power Core will have just that, all we need to do it get access to the Core. I doubt the Inkari will just let us walk in, you will need to find a way to persuade them to give us access.' |
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Stage 16 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Reception) (2, 16) |
You find a large Reception desk an Admission Droid sits behind it, 'Hello, can I help you?' |
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You look upon the faceless Droid that oddly reminds you of the Altus. You say in as pleasant tones as you can manage, 'I require access to the Power Core, can you show me the way?' The reception Droid tilts her head to one side, 'I'm sorry but that is a restricted area, you will require a Takron Visitors Pass for that level. Here take this application for the Visitors Pass. Once you have filled it out return to me an I shall process your application.'
You receive 1 x Takron Visitors Pass Blueprint |
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Stage 17 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Reception) (2, 16) |
You return to the Reception Desk, the Administration Droid looks up at you. 'Welcome back, have you managed to fill out the Visitors Pass?' |
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You hand over the Pass, it lays on the Desk. Even with no features you can see that the Droid is completely stunned at actually receiving a completed Pass. She slowly pick it up and lays it on the scanner pad next to her keyboard. After a few moments the droid turns toward you and in an astonished digitized voice she says, 'Visitor Pass... Accepted. You are now authorized to enter the Power Core. Enjoy your stay.'
You should return to 4595 and update him on your progress.' |
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Stage 18 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Reception) (9, 2) |
4595 waits for your return, 'Did you manage to gain access to the Power Core?' |
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'Excellent, meet me in the Power Core and we shall try to complete the task the Altus set us.' |
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Stage 19 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Power Core) (6, 3) |
The Power Core resonates with the low hum of generators. You eventually find 4595 looking around him nervously. |
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The Police Droid sighs, 'Not really, I saw this large hovering Droid with four tentacle arms floating around. It gave me the creeps, I also saw that the Plasma Core has a field around it. I recognize a security field when I see one. So I looked about and saw the Power Dept sold a Fuel Canister and figured we could use that, but there has to be an operative in the area that has a way though the field. Take this Blueprint and deliver the Altus Crystal into the Plasma Generator. Be quick, I don't want to be here long.'
You receive 1 x Anger of the Altus Blueprint |
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Stage 20 |
Location: | Takron Tower (Power Core) (5, 8) |
The Power Core hums gently, but as you approach it you see haze of a security force field. You will require a way to by pass the security force field to place the Altus Anger near the Plasma Core. |
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As you step closer to the force field it hisses in protest. But the keeper Field Deactivator inside the Fuel Canister gives off a shrill bleep and the field dissipates. The Core is sealed but Indarthil just said place the Altus Vengeance Crystal near a field of high energy. You step next to the Core, not too sure how close to a source of high energy the Crystal needs to be. Within the small window of the Fuel Canister you see the Crystal start to vibrate. Obviously the quality of the Inkari Plasma Core means that the Altus Vengeance can detect the energy field within just sitting next to the Core itself. You drop it at the Core's base and start to run...'
You receive 4,886,471 Xp + 50 Skill Points |
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