Andromeda Apocalypse - Extended Edition — 68 of 97
Marco Innocenti
Section 5 - Questioning LOGAN about things
Instead of answering LOGAN that "hyerotrope/sphere/spheres/hyerotropes" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'This is the vessel in which you entered the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type]. This is the [bold type]vessel[roman type] that you will need to leave it. This [bold type]galaxy[roman type] is shrinking. You must go.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "arcadia/station/ship/starship/spaceship" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The Arcadia is the name of this spaceship. I am the [bold type]operating[roman type] system of the Arcadia. The Arcadia has been [bold type]stranded[roman type] in this portion of the [bold type]galaxy[roman type] for a long time.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "vessel" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'You have entered the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] in a vessel that now is switched off due to damage sustained. You must find a [bold type]means[roman type] to escape as soon as possible. The surrounding [bold type]galaxy[roman type] is shrinking.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "galaxy/andromeda/shrinking" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'According to your statement, this galaxy is named Andromeda. It is currently shrinking due to the effect of the omega [bold type]supernova[roman type].'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "omega/supernova/effect" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The event swallowing the galaxy is known as the omega supernova. It has been calculated that the result of a disruption in the mass effect of major stars can lead to a supernova chain reaction that can disintegrate a galaxy in less than 500 of your years. The mass effect disruption has usually been triggered by the entities you call Hyerotropes. The [bold type]Hyerotropes[roman type] increase the rate of expansion of the ultimate supernova by locally manipulating the gravitational constant, changing the nature of the universe in that region of space. The galaxy of [bold type]Neulan[roman type] was annihilated in 230 years by the same omega supernova effect.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "me/myself/ektor/mastiff" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'You call yourself Ektor Mastiff. You are a guest inside the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type]. Calculations compute that you are among the [bold type]six[roman type] beings still alive after the omega [bold type]supernova[roman type] has started.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "you/yourself/him/himself/computer/logan/os/operating/system/cpu" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'LOGAN is acronym for Ljhdt Ohsret Gaet Abbskp Neuklg. I am the operating system of the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type]. I can give assistance on basic ship maintenance and security options and answer a large number of queries. At present state, the Arcadia is in [bold type]power[roman type] reserve mode and my abilities have reduced to 0,023%.[paragraph break]You can ASK me ABOUT things, or SHOW things to ME, or just say LOGAN, <topic>. Logan can hear you and provide responses throughout all of the Arcadia. You are welcome to TALK to me whenever you like or need.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "power/reserve/mode" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Due to the time of confinement of the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] since it has been [bold type]stranded[roman type] in this portion of the [bold type]galaxy[roman type], the power management system has dropped to minimal terms and now is working on reserve. The remaining charge is 0,00076% and the [bold type]OS[roman type] and [bold type]life[roman type] support systems are running on solar power.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "stranded/confinement/portion/where" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] has been pierced through by a series of unknown objects during its trip through the [bold type]galaxy[roman type] of Andromeda. Due to the major damage sustained, the Arcadia stopped traveling and being fully functional some [bold type]time[roman type] ago. It is now in [bold type]power[roman type] reserve mode. The Arcadia has been traveling from the galaxy of [bold type]Neulan[roman type] trying to escape the omega supernova.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "time/amount/when" when LOGAN is knowing:
say "LOGAN://'Computing. Converting origin years to Ektor Mastiff's years. Computing...[paragraph break]The [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] has been stranded in Andromeda for one-million-three-hundred-and-fifty-three-thousand years. (Calculations rounded up to the nearest thousand).'[first time][paragraph break]Your sight blurs for a second.[paragraph break][italic type]One million years? This ship has been here for over one-fucking-million YEARS?! Here's what turned those men to statues...[roman type][only]";
record "A Matter of Time" as achieved.
Instead of answering LOGAN that "statues/statue/fossil/fossils/chess/players/rock/formation/formations" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The [']statues['] you encountered are the remnants of the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type]'s 33,000 inhabitants. The corpses have been turned to rock-like formations due to the long exposure to a sterile, cold environment. They are now what you call fossils.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "six/alive/survivors/survivor/population" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The intelligent or semi-intelligent population of [bold type]Andromeda[roman type] remaining after the omega supernova has started is:[paragraph break]// six: Five humans like Ektor Mastiff (one inside the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type]; [bold type]four[roman type] in the galaxy), one [bold type]specimen[roman type] (inside the Arcadia).'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "creature/beast/eye/teeth/frozen/specimen/guest/lifeform" when LOGAN is knowing:
if the Beast is nowhere:
say "LOGAN://'Specimen 6,725 is still alive in cryogenic life support. [if the player is not in the Freezing Chamber]You may find it inside the refrigeration chamber, level 22, starboard section. [end if]It is to be considered extremely dangerous and to be kept captive at any cost.'";
else:
say "LOGAN://'Specimen 6,725 has survived in cryogenic state for over a million years. It must be famished.'".
Instead of answering LOGAN that "four" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Four more intelligent life forms are traveling the [bold type]galaxy[roman type] at present. Provenance and destination unknown'[first time].[paragraph break][italic type]Four people still alive. Just four[roman type][only]."
Instead of answering LOGAN that "life/support/environment/air/breath/breathe/elss" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The emergency life support system has been active since you entered the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type], in response to Protocol 23,346 on Life Protection Measures. You can now freely walk and interact with the Arcadia as long as the ELSS is active and protecting your health. The ELSS will be functional for 13 hours circa, or until power charge depletion.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "means/escape" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The shuttle bays of the [Bold type]Arcadia[roman type] are all empty. The survivors of the ship's stalling have fled an amount of [bold type]time[roman type] ago. You must find another [bold type]vessel[roman type]. I can suggest you take the same ['][bold type]route[roman type]['] as the one you took to get here.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "route" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'An [bold type]object[roman type] similar to the one you came from has been held captive in the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] for examination. You can find it in bay 7, level 1, port section.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "object" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'A specimen of the sphere-kin you call the [bold type]Hyerotropes[roman type] has been caught in the [bold type]gravitational[roman type] pull of the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] on the first year of its [bold type]confinement[roman type] in this [bold type]galaxy[roman type].'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "cemetery/horde/coven/gravitational/pull/gravity" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The mass of the spaceship [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] is enough to cause a strong gravitational pull when not subject to warp drive. Being [bold type]stranded[roman type] here, the pull started growing as the subsequent cemetery of debris grew bigger around the ship. On day 3,777 of Arcadia's confinement, the [bold type]object[roman type] you call the [bold type]Hyerotrope[roman type] punctured the Arcadia on level 9, port section, and was then moved to the large bay 7 for inspection. It has been [bold type]contaminating[roman type] the Arcadia since then.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "contaminate/contaminating/corrupt/corruption" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The object you call the [bold type]Hyerotrope[roman type] began [bold type]converting[roman type] the structure of the ship since it first was laid in bay 7.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "converting/convert/turn/transform/turning/transforming" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The object you call the [bold type]Hyerotrope[roman type] grows a sort of tentacular micro-extensions which cut into matter and transform it into an unknown [bold type]brilliant[roman type] substance.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "brilliant/glowing/glow/tentacles/tentacular/extensions/extension" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The substance has been analyzed but comparing it with acquired specimens was not possible. This [bold type]OS[roman type] is not designed to make hypotheses, so no computing was executed.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "neulan" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] was launched from the Sector 17f, Bahgfdy system, [bold type]Sldrtt[roman type] planet, as a means to escape the omega [bold type]supernova[roman type] that started annihilating the Neulan Galaxy. It traveled for eleven of your years before being [bold type]stranded[roman type] in this section of space.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "17f/Bahgfdy/Sldrtt/planet" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Current Sldrtt population: Zero. Current Bahgfdy population: Zero. Current Neulan population: Zero. Current Neulan size and scope: Zero'[first time].[paragraph break][italic type]There are no survivors. The Hyerotropes take all. Andromeda is at least the third galaxy being devoured[roman type][only]."
Instead of answering LOGAN that "why" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'LOGAN has no means to answer such a broad question. LOGAN was not designed to make hypotheses. If you are questioning the motives behind the [bold type]Hyerotropes[roman type]['] action, I suggest you ask them directly'[first time].[paragraph break][italic type]Ask them? What in Monarch are you talking about?[roman type][paragraph break]A distant, sarcastic laughter dances in your head. You are quite sure it was poor old man Oren[only]."
Instead of answering LOGAN that "game/chess/tictactoe/games/play/rom/roms" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Unfortunately, the game ROMs were compressed by the crew on the seventh year of the [bold type]confinement[roman type] and are now inaccessible.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "zork/if/adventure/ifdb" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'You can find a free copy of the game on the internet. You may want to check the IFDB (at ifdb.tads.org) for the complete list of interactive fiction available.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "interactive fiction" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'You can find a free copy of the game on the internet. You may want to check the IFDB (at ifdb.tads.org) for the complete list of interactive fiction available.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "andromeda awakening" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'That's the prequel to this trip. Check it at the IFDB (at ifdb.tads.org).'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "marco/innocenti" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'That is the name of the man who designed my brain, Ektor Mastiff. As far as I know, he could be the one who designed yours, also.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "marco innocenti" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'That is the name of the man who designed my brain, Ektor Mastiff. As far as I know, he could be the one who designed yours, also.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "grue" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'You may encounter one soon enough.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "warp/fly/depart/engine/engines" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The Arcadia is on reserve power and damaged. It cannot travel anymore. Sorry.'"
[Instead of answering LOGAN that "xyzzy/plough/plover/blorple" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'LOGAN was not designed to play with magic.'"]
[Instead of answering LOGAN that "yes" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'That was rhetorical, Ektor Mastiff.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "no" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Indeed, Ektor Mastiff.'" NON FUNZIONANO SO NA SEGA IO]
Instead of answering LOGAN that "play a game" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Unfortunately, the game ROMs were compressed by the crew on the seventh year of the [bold type]confinement[roman type] and are now inaccessible.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "hesld/ttscy" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'They were the last officials of the crew of the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type]. They jettisoned the remaining life-pods and then commanded LOGAN to stop the [bold type]life[roman type] support system. They died of exposure to extreme cold and their bodies are still in the position they had in their final moment.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "commander/commanders" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'You met their remnants in the room adjacent to my CPU. They are Lt. [bold type]Hesld[roman type] and Capt. Ttscy.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "compute/calculate" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Compute what, Ektor Mastiff?.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "cyanotic" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'You do know that is not a color, right Ektor Mastiff? I suppose you are using that figuratively. I like the sound of it, anyway.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "shut down" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'You may need my help, Ektor Mastiff. I strongly advice against trying to get rid of me.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "hi/hello/goodbye/bye-bye/bye" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Hello, Ektor Mastiff.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "pattern/3d/galaxies/rendering/representation/circling/amassment/rotating/mass/hologram" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The pattern discovered in the Alpha Tau Beta mass forms the corners of the geometric [bold type]figure[roman type] called [italic type]truncated cuboctahedron[roman type]. The figure is proportionally exact at 99.99998%, calculated against the space distortion due to the great lengths involved at the simulated relative speed of 2.99x10^5km/s2.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "geometrical/geometric/figure/truncated/cuboctahedron" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'In geometry, the [italic type]truncated cuboctahedron[roman type] is a solid. It has 12 square faces, 8 regular hexagonal faces, 6 regular octagonal faces, 48 vertices and 72 edges.'[first time][paragraph break][italic type]48 vertices. Where did I see that?[roman type][paragraph break]'LOGAN://'I have recorded a similar [bold type]matrix[roman type] in the [bold type]spheres[roman type] evacuating the [bold type]supernova[roman type] effect.'[only]"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "truncated cuboctahedron" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'In geometry, the [italic type]truncated cuboctahedron[roman type] is a solid. It has 12 square faces, 8 regular hexagonal faces, 6 regular octagonal faces, 48 vertices and 72 edges.'[first time][paragraph break][italic type]48 vertices. Where did I see that?[roman type][paragraph break]'LOGAN://'I have recorded a similar [bold type]matrix[roman type] in the [bold type]spheres[roman type] evacuating the [bold type]supernova[roman type] effect.'[only]"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "matrix/hyeromatrix" when LOGAN is knowing:
say "LOGAN://'The objects you call the [bold type]Hyerotropes[roman type], when evacuating the omega [bold type]supernova[roman type], form a matrix in the shape of a perfect truncated cuboctahedron'.[first time][paragraph break][italic type]Yes! [roman type]you think. [italic type]That thing is what the Ancestors have called the Hyeromatrix. So what's with the galaxies? Could it mean the Hyerotropes['] behavior is due to the position of masses in the universe?[only]";
now the universe hologram is charged;
record "Cuboctahedron" as achieved.
Instead of answering LOGAN that "security/protocol/protocols/ssl" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The protocols forbid LOGAN to harm in any way an inhabitant or guest of the ship. The same protocols compel me to start the [bold type]ELSS[roman type] as soon as a life-form enters the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type]. The crew overrode the SSL from the Forebridge main console.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "debris" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Much of the debris which entered the docks and pierced through the shell all around the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type] consists of rocks. Part, though, is composed of the jettisoned life-pods or fragments of the Arcadia [bold type]bailout[roman type] ships.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "bailout/life-pods/jettisoned" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'As the ship began regaining mass after exiting the warp zone, it was more and more unlikely that [bold type]escape[roman type] pods could overcome the gravitational pull. In the end, only 3% of the shuttles got free of it, while the rest stood trapped in this zone. Almost all of the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type][']s passengers died a slow death a few hundred meters around the ship wreckage.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "pod/nav-pod/egg" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The nav-pod can be used by giving LOGAN instructions on where to go. The syntax is: LOGAN, <area><level><section>, the first two being numbers and the third the section's name. So, to reach bay 2, level 9, port section, just say: LOGAN, 29port.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "solution" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'A fierce enough [bold type]shock[roman type] could liberate the [bold type]vessel[roman type] from the structure so you could escape.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "shock" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The only way I can think of is activating the ship's [bold type]self-destruction[roman type] system. It will deflagrate taking down the bridges from 10 to 1 sequentially. The resulting shocks should be enough to free the Hyerotrope and thus free yourself. This system would be [bold type]destroyed[roman type] in the process, but there is no protocol I would break to let you do it.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "autodistruction/self-destruction/auto-destruction" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'[if the player is in the Forebridge]Here is where the self-destruction sequence can be activated[else]To activate the self-destruction sequence, you have to first get back to the Forebridge, in bay 2, level 9 port section[end if].'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "self destruction" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'[if the player is in the Forebridge]Here is where the self-destruction sequence can be activated[else]To activate the self-destruction sequence, you have to first get back to the Forebridge, in bay 2, level 9 port section[end if].'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "destroy/destroyed" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The primary purpose of LOGAN is to sustain life aboard the [bold type]Arcadia[roman type]. Your life is put in danger by the incoming [bold type]supernova[roman type]. The only thing I can do is try and help you out of the ship. Canceling me in the process is no problem, as I have no further duties to accomplish. After all this [bold type]time[roman type], I suppose some rest wouldn't hurt.'[first time][line break]You have the feeling the computer has winked, somehow.[only]"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "big/size" when LOGAN is knowing:
say "LOGAN://'The starship Arcadia is six-hundred-twenty-five kilometers long and two-hundred-ninety across. That's the largest size a Neulanean ship has ever been. Unfortunately that record will never be broken.'";
record "A Matter of Size" as achieved.
Instead of answering LOGAN that "core/bars" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'The self-destruction is triggered by a chain reaction starting from the bow section of the ship, under the Observatory. There, in a secluded environment, are stored and wired radioactive bars of the kind used for fueling small and medium ships. Due to the extreme long [bold type]confinement[roman type] of the Arcadia, the bars must have been depleted. I suggest you go and find new bars to replace the depleted ones.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "charge/depleted/replete/repleted/charged" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'To be repleted, the bars need to be exposed to a very high amount of radioactivity and warmth. There is something happening in proximity of the Arcadia which could come in [bold type]handy[roman type].'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "handy" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Of course, although a calculation of the exact outcome is impossible at the moment, the omega [bold type]supernova[roman type] that is about to reach us would be a rather large source of power. You may want to check the Observatory's conditions. The bulkheads can be controlled from the room above it. I suggest you be very careful, as the exposure to the supernova in its present state can be extremely hazardous.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "mythology/myth" when LOGAN is knowing:
say "LOGAN://'The first traces of the Hyerotropes in Neulanean myth can be found in cave graffiti and in the stone tablets our progenitors used to record the events. They were depicted as black spheres which used light as food and fell off the sky. Although there is no evidence of it, we believe the Hyerotropes have been hiding on the [bold type]Neulan[roman type] galaxy for quite some time, maybe even in the depths of [bold type]Sldrtt[roman type].'";
record "Archaeologist" as achieved.
Instead of answering LOGAN that "complexity/bulk/knowledge" when LOGAN is knowing:
say "LOGAN://'The bulk of Neulanean knowledge complexity is recorded in a compartment in bridge 3, level 4, starboard section. The nav-pod route to that place has collapsed a long time ago. I cannot push you there, from here. All you can have, at the moment, is the scattered [bold type]memory[roman type] array I've stored in my RAM the last times I was asked to make contact with the complexity.'";
now the hovering cube is charged.
Instead of answering LOGAN that "memory" when LOGAN is knowing:
if the hovering cube is depleted:
say "LOGAN://'What do you mean, Ektor Mastiff?'";
else:
say "LOGAN://'I presume you understand I am served by a volatile memory for daily tasks and for storing orders and queries. That is warehoused near my CPU, in the [bold type]central[roman type] AI hub, beyond a broken hatch you may not have eluded.'";
now the hatch is charged.
Instead of answering LOGAN that "central" when LOGAN is knowing:
if the hatch is open:
say "LOGAN://'The AI hub is near the docks, Ektor Mastiff.'";
stop the action;
else if the hatch is depleted:
say "LOGAN://'What do you mean, Ektor Mastiff?'";
else if the player is in the Bay Area:
say "LOGAN://'I could make the route to the central AI hub available with a trick, but that would mean killing you in the process. I suggest we try it when you are somewhere else.'";
else:
say "LOGAN://'I can make the route to the central AI hub available with a trick: I think the pneumatic environment of the docks can come to our advantage. Let me try it.'[paragraph break]There is a moment of silence, then a flicker in the remaining lights... Something must have occurred somewhere.";
now the hatch is open;
now the hatch is apparent;
now the Hangar_S is travelled.
Instead of answering LOGAN that "hovering/cube" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Magnets keep the case floating to avoid contact with surfaces that can alter its temperature or humidity. Everything about me is in there. The volatile memory is stored in the left drawer of the case. The rest is locked out inside. I may warn you that dislocating the RAM would mean deleting it as soon as the power is disconnected.'"
Instead of answering LOGAN that "card" when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'Only the scientific and commanding crews had access to my interiors. That's why a card is required to access the mainframe. It was a plasticized paper, ten-by-twenty centimeters.'"
[------]
[Instead of answering LOGAN that something when LOGAN is knowing, say "LOGAN://'I don't know what to say about that. Maybe you want to play a game, instead?'"]