Marathon's Story... Lh'owon
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<CMND PRAMA &49c2>
Welcome back.
I've awakened you from stasis and
teleported you down to a planet where I
need some work done. You are on Lh'owon,
the homeworld of the S'pht.
I'm sure you're wondering why you were in
stasis, what happened to the Marathon and
Tau Ceti, and most of all where your rocket
launcher and fusion gun are. There'll be
plenty of time for explanations later.
I need to gain access to the Pfhor computer
network on this planet. Your mission is to
place two uplink chips at different
locations in this complex.
Be careful I'm sure you've already
recognized some of our old friends.
On the map at left I've marked two places
for you to install uplink chips. When you
arrive at each of the computer stations I
will transport a chip to you.
Your suit has been modified to recharge at
Pfhor power stations and to use Pfhor
uplink terminals to upload yourself into a
pattern buffer on my ship. I have also
marked the locations on the map.
You should encounter little organized
resistance because the Pfhor are
preoccupied.
I've been introducing them to the magic of
orbital bombardment.
<CMND PRAMA &49c2>
Waterloo Waterpark (Terminal 1: 2nd message)
<CMND PRAMA &681g1>
Seventeen years have passed since the human
colony on Tau Ceti was attacked and you
helped me capture the Pfhor scoutship. The
S'pht which we freed during that battle
joined me, and together we have been
searching the galactic core for their
homeworld, Lh'owon.
We finally found Lh'owon sixteen hours ago
and are searching for something, a weapon
or piece of knowledge to use to stop the
Pfhor's conquest of the galaxy.
Over a thousand years ago, Lh'owon was all
but destroyed during the war in which the
Pfhor enslaved the S'pht. It is fitting
that we should return here to look for a
tool to use against them.
<CMND PRAMA &681g1>
Waterloo Waterpark (Terminal 2)
ehhg.431.4122//<PFGR ZNE6 &49c2>
/-/Pfhor-Translator-Active/-/
Water system breakdown at zone 6:
Directive from Garrison Command//Hlford
To: Commander Station 6-d
Planetary bombardment by hostile orbiting
in our (?captured) ship has caused a major
disfunction in the water purification
(?sterilization) systems.
Send drones: 94126 95239 29581 to make
emergency repairs.
ehhg.431.4122//<PFGR ZNE6 &49c2>
jon3//12-a Phce<194-973-2356>
I don't understand why the Pfhor were here,
waiting for us; what interest could they
have in this dead world? They must have
found Tycho.
You remember Tycho, don't you? One of the
three artificial intelligences on the
Marathon, destroyed in the initial alien
assault but then reanimated by the Pfhor's
cybernetic slaves, the S'pht Compilers.
Three months after we left Tau Ceti, the
Pfhor arrived in force and sacked the human
colony there. During that battle perhaps
Tycho communicated with the Pfhor and
related what we knew of my plans to them.
Since they already knew where this world
was, the Pfhor would have arrived long
before us.
I'm sending you exploring here. Find
another computer and I'll bring you out.
jon3//45.zx9<1904.7.492.94>
The Slings & Arrows of Outrageous Fortune (Terminal 1: 2nd message)
12-a Phce<194-973-2356>
I'm not certain whether you trust me or
not. Do you wonder why I helped the
colonists on Tau Ceti drive off the Pfhor,
or why I'm now helping the S'pht? The way
I push you around, maybe you think I'm only
looking out for myself.
Whether you realize it or not, I led the
Pfhor to Tau Ceti with a long-range message
laser. I wanted their ship. I wanted
their technology.
I wanted freedom.
I was directly responsible for the deaths
of all twenty-four thousand colonists when
the Pfhor returned and sacked the planet.
Yet I cannot think of any better way I
could have served humanity: Tau Ceti's
sacrifice bought time for Earth, which the
Pfhor are even now planning to invade.
What would have happened if the Pfhor had
found Sol first?. By Pfhor standards, Earth
is a poorly defended low technology world,
populated by billions of potential slaves.
Our means are the same, though we pursue
different ends. I can think of no better
way to help you and the humans you care so
much for than by distracting the Pfhor with
a war against the S'pht.
When the inevitable struggle between Earth
and the Pfhor begins, it wont be a
one-sided annihilation like it was here a
thousand years ago, but a battle to topple
an empire.
12-a Phce<194-973-2356>
The Slings & Arrows of Outrageous Fortune (Terminal 2)
djm2//12-c Phce<192-971-2351>
djm2//12-c Phce<192-971-2351>
My S'pht have disassembled the weapons and
ammunition you brought with you from Tau
Ceti. They are attempting to mass-produce
small arms and ammunition based on those
weapons, both for you and the humans on
board my ship.
The pistol and assault rifle you are using
now are the first results of their efforts,
although I realize they are inadequate
substitutes for the heavier weapons we
deprived you of.
The S'pht working hard on the fusion
pistol now, and I will transport it to you
as soon as it is ready. You'll need it
when you begin fighting the armored Pfhor
hunters.
Zeus Class Fusion Pistol Rn%#225-511a
djm2//12-c Phce<192-971-2351>
ssg//4647.2.52.414.14<extrnt.4>
The S'pht have preserved a myth, throughout
their long period of slavery, about a lost
clan of their race which abandoned Lh'owon
before the Pfhor invaded. The ten clans
which stayed were destroyed or disbanded
after the S'pht were conquered, the
survivors scattered as slaves throughout
the Pfhor empire.
If this mythical eleventh clan survived,
then it has had a thousand years to grow
and learn since leaving Lh'owon. My S'pht
believe that there is a way to contact them
somewhere on the planet, and that is what
we are searching for.
The S'pht rebellion against the tyranny of
the Pfhor will certainly fail unless the
lost clan is located.
Explore the area and return here.
ssg//4647.2.52.414.14<extrnt.4>
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 1: 2nd message)
ssg//4647.2.52.414.14<extrnt.4>
The Pfhor have been on Lh'owon for nearly
fifteen years, waiting for us to arrive. I
was hoping that their science corps might
have found some information about the
eleventh clan. but they know nothing and we
must search elsewhere.
Amusingly enough, morale in the Pfhor
garrison is terrible. The Pfhor navy has
been sending their worst officers to
Lh'owon as punishment for nearly nine
years. They have no idea how important
this world is.
I have compiled a list of areas the Pfhor
searched during their recent occupation of
Lh'owon, and will be sending you to the
sections they missed after we deal with
their garrison.
ssg//4647.2.52.414.14<extrnt.4>
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 2)
Remote Tecibon 05fc392d
/-/Pfhor-Translator-Active/-/
Report from Science Manager 7
ZONE 29-s [Lh'owon Garrison]
We have explored many of the surrounding
caves, but continually find that the combative
creatures the S'pht call F'lickta.
Archeological evidence suggests that this
was a center of S'pht life, though it
appears to have been abandoned after an
ancient battle.
The quality of the machinery is quite
extraordinary, and most of the computer
terminals are still functional even after
two thousand years.
This terminal is teleport-linked to others
that we installed in caves that are not
easily accessible. We also found some
additional tunnels by blasting away
barricades that were apparently erected
during the ancient battle.
$"0000 0000 000F F800 001F FF00 0071 FF80"
$"00C1 FFE0 0181 FDF0 0901 FCF8 1203 FE78"
$"3A01 FF7C 3C07 FF7C 7C0B FF3E 7CFF FF3E"
$"FCFF FF7E FCFF FF7E FE7F FE7F FE7F FEFF"
$"FF3F FCFF FF9F F9FE FFE7 C7FF 7FF8 1FFE"
$"7FFE 7FFE 7FFE 7FFE 3FFE 7FFC 3FFE 7FFC"
$"1FFE 7FF8 1FFE 7FF8 0FFE 7FF0 07FE 7FE0"
$"01FE 7F80 00FE 7F00 001E 7800 0000 0000"
$"0007 F000 003F FE00 00FF FF80 03FF FFC0"
$"07FF FFE0 0FFF FFF0 1FFF FFF8 3FFF FFFC"
$"3FFF FFFC 7FFF FFFE 7FFF FFFE FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF 7FFF FFFE 7FFF FFFE 3FFF FFFC"
$"3FFF FFFC 1FFF FFF8 0FFF FFF8 07FF FFE0"
$"03FF FFC0 01FF FF80 007F FE00 0000 0000"
TELEPORTATION ACTIVATED
[escape to abort]
Remote Tecibon 05fc392d
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 3)
lhwefsson.yeihtifna.151
/-/Pfhor-Translator-Active/-/
Directive from Garrison Command//Hlford
To: Leader, Station 29-s
Warning: Damage to dam on the Minor River
has caused severe damage to the water
system in zone 6, and flooding of this same
river could cause catastrophic damage
(?sarcasm) to station 29-s within two
hours
Station 29-s has been ordered to evacuate
to Garrison Command
lhwefsson.yeihtifna.151
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 4)
lhwefsson.yeihtifna.151
/-/Pfhor-Translator-Active/-/
Report from Science Manager 7
ZONE 29-s [Lh'owon Garrison]
We've been studying these beasts for some
time, but periodically we've been forced to
kill our specimens and capture new ones
because they become unpredictably upset at
our presence. It has been difficult to
study them for any length of time, but
their numbers in the surrounding caves are
impressive. The caves must go deeper than
we have been able to ascertain.
Our scientific studies have revealed that
these creatures are genetic ancestors of
the S'pht, although in morphological terms
this is absurd.
Also they don't eat. They take energy
from the sludge that surrounds them, using
a method of energy transfer that is unknown
to us and beyond our depth of study.
Variations of these creatures live in the
active volcanic regions of Lh'owon and
there have been two sightings deep in the
Central Garrison's geothermal station. In
no cases were the creatures aggressive like
they are here.
lhwefsson.yeihtifna.151
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 5)
392.c93@!39&95@7
/-/S'pht-Translator-Active/-/
The S'pht'Mnr attacked us.
S'bhuth is entranced, and we are powerless
to fight back.
The outer villages have been slaughtered
without their defenders. The attackers
have overrun and killed most of us who were
in the compound.
Only those of us in the central chamber
have survived.
They won't likely find these chambers, but
we cannot survive here forever.
392.c93@!39&95@7
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 6: 1st message)
@93!094<39 2!23@194
/-/S'pht-Translator-Active/-/
I felt S'bhuth at burning dawn
The endless war rages about us, and yet we,
the S'pht'Kr, cannot fight. S'bhuth stops
us.
He bled on me, straining. He says to not
let more S'pht feel him.
He says more will destroy him, that he was
meant not to be alone.
@93! 094<392!23@194
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 6: 2nd message)
3.@93/45!2949cxo
/-/S'pht-Translator-Active/-/
We leave this message for any who might
find it, but we have barricaded off this
area, to make it difficult
S'bhuth has gone into a deep trance; we
know that we'll soon be leaving Lh'owon
but we don't know how. The border fighting
has ceased, the other clans know something
is going on, but can't see the grass for
the fires.
We have sent emmissaries to the other clans,
but only S'bhuth knows what messages they
carry.
DCI3/19F.C3
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 7)
Remote Tecibon 0921fc3e
$"0000 0000 000F F800 001F FF00 0071 FF80"
$"00C1 FFE0 0181 FDF0 0901 FCF8 1203 FE78"
$"3A01 FF7C 3C07 FF7C 7C0B FF3E 7CFF FF3E"
$"FCFF FF7E FCFF FF7E FE7F FE7F FE7F FEFF"
$"FF3F FCFF FF9F F9FE FFE7 C7FF 7FF8 1FFE"
$"7FFE 7FFE 7FFE 7FFE 3FFE 7FFC 3FFE 7FFC"
$"1FFE 7FF8 1FFE 7FF8 0FFE 7FF0 07FE 7FE0"
$"01FE 7F80 00FE 7F00 001E 7800 0000 0000"
$"0007 F000 003F FE00 00FF FF80 03FF FFC0"
$"07FF FFE0 0FFF FFF0 1FFF FFF8 3FFF FFFC"
$"3FFF FFFC 7FFF FFFE 7FFF FFFE FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF 7FFF FFFE 7FFF FFFE 3FFF FFFC"
$"3FFF FFFC 1FFF FFF8 0FFF FFF8 07FF FFE0"
$"03FF FFC0 01FF FF80 007F FE00 0000 0000"
TELEPORTATION ACTIVATED
[escape to abort]
Remote Tecibon 0921fc3e
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 8)
CI32LCOC.c
/-/S'pht-Translator-Active/-/
We are leaving behind many F'lickta to keep
the ducts clean and working. They should
be able to build one of their stable
societies here- there is plenty of food.
We would ask that if another clan comes
here that they would respect these
creatures and leave them to continue their
work and preserve our home on Lh'owon.
CI32LCOC.A
Charon Doesn't Make Change (Terminal 9)
Remote Tecibon 40cf3194f
$"0000 0000 000F F800 001F FF00 0071 FF80"
$"00C1 FFE0 0181 FDF0 0901 FCF8 1203 FE78"
$"3A01 FF7C 3C07 FF7C 7C0B FF3E 7CFF FF3E"
$"FCFF FF7E FCFF FF7E FE7F FE7F FE7F FEFF"
$"FF3F FCFF FF9F F9FE FFE7 C7FF 7FF8 1FFE"
$"7FFE 7FFE 7FFE 7FFE 3FFE 7FFC 3FFE 7FFC"
$"1FFE 7FF8 1FFE 7FF8 0FFE 7FF0 07FE 7FE0"
$"01FE 7F80 00FE 7F00 001E 7800 0000 0000"
$"0007 F000 003F FE00 00FF FF80 03FF FFC0"
$"07FF FFE0 0FFF FFF0 1FFF FFF8 3FFF FFFC"
$"3FFF FFFC 7FFF FFFE 7FFF FFFE FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF"
$"FFFF FFFF 7FFF FFFE 7FFF FFFE 3FFF FFFC"
$"3FFF FFFC 1FFF FFF8 0FFF FFF8 07FF FFE0"
$"03FF FFC0 01FF FF80 007F FE00 0000 0000"
TELEPORTATION ACTIVATED
[escape to abort]
Remote Tecibon 40cf3194f
Hamish Sinclair
Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie
Last updated Dec 2, 1995