Let's Play The Ur-Quan Masters
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Chapter 1: Meeting the Neighbors
Part 5: A More Useless Ally
June 6, 2155
All right, our next destination is the one Hayes told us about: Rigel.
This is a pretty long and perilous journey, so I didn't actually take a direct path. Instead I skirted around the edges of Ilwrath space, stopping in random systems to pick up more resources.
On the way, I encounter another interesting alien spacecraft!
ZELNICK
We are from Earth, on a mission of peace.
PROBE
THIS IS PROBE 2418-B. WE ARE ON A PEACEFUL MISSION OF EXPLORATION.
PRIORITY OVER-RIDE. NEW BEHAVIOR DICTATED. MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT MATERIALS.
And thus, battle begins. The Slylandro ship isn't the most dangerous out there, but it IS a threat, due to its high mobility and speed. It attacks with short-range electric blasts, and its special absorbs asteroids to recover its energy.
This time, I think I'll be opting for the Strategic Withdrawal option.
And we've finally arrived at Rigel!
While scouring the system for resources, we encounter an alien vessel.
(Note: The game makes it very unclear which is which, but I'm going to label them as Zoq, Fot, and Pik, from left to right.)
ZOQ
We are the Zoq-Fot-Pik.
PIK
Make no hostile actions!
ZOQ
We come in peace, and with good will.
PIK
But if you make one false move, you're vapor!
ZOQ
Don't worry, my companion is just a bit nervous...
PIK
No, I'm not!
ZOQ
...and argumentative.
PIK
No, I'm not.
ZOQ
We are a scout vessel dispatched from our homeworld.
PIK
We have travelled far through hostile, uncharted space to find you. We hail from the green dwarf star at coordinates ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy.
ZOQ
No, you idiot, in their coordinate system!
PIK
Oh! Er... Coordinates 400.0 : 543.7.
ZELNICK
Which one of you creatures if the Fot?
ZOQ
He is.
PIK
No, she is!
ZOQ
No, I'm not!
PIK
Yes, you are.
ZOQ
Cripes! We've been through this a million times!
PIK
That doesn't change anything. You're the Fot!
ZOQ
Faugh! Well, Captain, as you can see, this is a point of some contention.
PIK
Fot!
ZELNICK
We are The New Alliance of Free Stars' flagship Vindicator from Earth. What are your intentions?
ZOQ
Hurrah! Then we've finally found our saviors!
PIK
Maybe.
ZOQ
At last, our search is over! It is just as the great Crystal ones promised!
PIK
They look sneaky. I think they're lying.
ZOQ
Quiet, fool! Can't you see our nightmare is over!? This ship is from the Great Crystal One's fabled Alliance, the Alliance of Free Stars!
PIK
Maybe.
ZELNICK
What 'nightmare' are you talking about? What's the matter?
ZOQ
Our planets are under attack from an invading horde!
PIK
We do not know who they are, or why they are here.
ZOQ
We are being blown to bits.
PIK
Fleets of alien ships appear out of nowhere, then unleash terrible destructive energies.
ZOQ
Fortunately...
PIK
...they release these energies on each other.
ZOQ
Unfortunately...
PIK
...they favor combat near strong gravity wells. Their stray shots regularly strike the surface of our planets, often with tragic results.
ZOQ
Fortunately...
PIK
...they have never found our homeworld, only our colony planets.
ZOQ
Unfortunately...
PIK
...all of our colonies have perished as a consequence.
ZELNICK
What do you seek from us?
ZOQ
We are a relatively peaceful group of species.
PIK
Unless we're angry.
ZOQ
So we find ourselves in need of help.
PIK
We only need a LITTLE!
ZOQ
Because of our desperate situation.
PIK
'Desperate' is too strong a word. I think 'troublesome' is more like it.
ZELNICK
Before we go on, can you tell us more about your species?
ZOQ
In our ancient past, four species evolved intelligence on our homeworlds.
PIK
Simultaneously.
ZOQ
They were the Zoq...
PIK
...the Fot...
ZOQ
...the Pik...
PIK
...and the Zebranky.
ZOQ
We three, the Zoq, Fot, and Pik evolved in such a way as to acquire sustenance from many sources...
PIK
...from airborne zooplankton...
ZOQ
...from solar and ambient energies...
PIK
...and from rocky fungal clingers.
ZOQ
Our favorite!
PIK
The Zebranky also consumed a variety of foods... namely, the Zoq, the Fot, and the Pik.
ZOQ
To survive the predations of the Zebranky, we banded together, annihilated the Zebranky...
PIK
...and formed the cooperative union you now encounter.
ZELNICK
Who is attacking you? What do they look like?
ZOQ
Some of the vessels are huge, green battleships which launch wave after wave of small fighters.
PIK
The other ships are black as space, and their hulls are carved with strange, alien writing.
ZOQ
In combat, the two ships seem evenly matched.
PIK
One fires blasts of fusion energy, while the other launches spinning projectiles.
ZELNICK
We want to help. What can we do?
ZOQ
These are the words we have prayed for!
PIK
Hey! This trip's not a waste after all!
ZOQ
More than anything, we seek an ally to help us survive in this hostile universe.
PIK
We are having some problems of that general nature.
ZOQ
But we are only emissaries. You must meet with our leaders. They are wiser... more powerful beings!
PIK
They look just like us, though.
ZOQ
Fly to the star called Alpha Tucanae. The planet closest to the sun is our home.
PIK
And if possible, hurry.
Another ally tenatively made! However, I won't be hurrying to their homeworld. I don't have the fuel to get there and back, so it can wait. For now, we're heading back to Earth - this last alien encounter wraps up chapter 1, and we need to prepare for a long, long journey.
Scientist report for the Clear Spindle:
SUBJECT: Clear Spindle Device
DATA: The object in question has no clear use or means of activation, but does have super-conductive characteristics between 18 and 22 degrees C. We suspect that it is over Precursor manufacture, but we cannot be certain without extended study.
SUMMARY: In all likelihood, this object is a part of a larger device whose capabilities remain unknown.
Not a lot of changes here. Refueled, installed a second Dynamo Unit, and bought an Orz ship. We are now ready for the next phase of the game...
NEXT TIME: Holes in space.
<< | ^^ | >>
Chapter 1: Meeting the Neighbors
Part 5: A More Useless Ally
June 6, 2155
All right, our next destination is the one Hayes told us about: Rigel.
This is a pretty long and perilous journey, so I didn't actually take a direct path. Instead I skirted around the edges of Ilwrath space, stopping in random systems to pick up more resources.
On the way, I encounter another interesting alien spacecraft!
ZELNICK
We are from Earth, on a mission of peace.
PROBE
THIS IS PROBE 2418-B. WE ARE ON A PEACEFUL MISSION OF EXPLORATION.
PRIORITY OVER-RIDE. NEW BEHAVIOR DICTATED. MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT MATERIALS.
And thus, battle begins. The Slylandro ship isn't the most dangerous out there, but it IS a threat, due to its high mobility and speed. It attacks with short-range electric blasts, and its special absorbs asteroids to recover its energy.
This time, I think I'll be opting for the Strategic Withdrawal option.
And we've finally arrived at Rigel!
While scouring the system for resources, we encounter an alien vessel.
(Note: The game makes it very unclear which is which, but I'm going to label them as Zoq, Fot, and Pik, from left to right.)
ZOQ
We are the Zoq-Fot-Pik.
PIK
Make no hostile actions!
ZOQ
We come in peace, and with good will.
PIK
But if you make one false move, you're vapor!
ZOQ
Don't worry, my companion is just a bit nervous...
PIK
No, I'm not!
ZOQ
...and argumentative.
PIK
No, I'm not.
ZOQ
We are a scout vessel dispatched from our homeworld.
PIK
We have travelled far through hostile, uncharted space to find you. We hail from the green dwarf star at coordinates ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy.
ZOQ
No, you idiot, in their coordinate system!
PIK
Oh! Er... Coordinates 400.0 : 543.7.
ZELNICK
Which one of you creatures if the Fot?
ZOQ
He is.
PIK
No, she is!
ZOQ
No, I'm not!
PIK
Yes, you are.
ZOQ
Cripes! We've been through this a million times!
PIK
That doesn't change anything. You're the Fot!
ZOQ
Faugh! Well, Captain, as you can see, this is a point of some contention.
PIK
Fot!
ZELNICK
We are The New Alliance of Free Stars' flagship Vindicator from Earth. What are your intentions?
ZOQ
Hurrah! Then we've finally found our saviors!
PIK
Maybe.
ZOQ
At last, our search is over! It is just as the great Crystal ones promised!
PIK
They look sneaky. I think they're lying.
ZOQ
Quiet, fool! Can't you see our nightmare is over!? This ship is from the Great Crystal One's fabled Alliance, the Alliance of Free Stars!
PIK
Maybe.
ZELNICK
What 'nightmare' are you talking about? What's the matter?
ZOQ
Our planets are under attack from an invading horde!
PIK
We do not know who they are, or why they are here.
ZOQ
We are being blown to bits.
PIK
Fleets of alien ships appear out of nowhere, then unleash terrible destructive energies.
ZOQ
Fortunately...
PIK
...they release these energies on each other.
ZOQ
Unfortunately...
PIK
...they favor combat near strong gravity wells. Their stray shots regularly strike the surface of our planets, often with tragic results.
ZOQ
Fortunately...
PIK
...they have never found our homeworld, only our colony planets.
ZOQ
Unfortunately...
PIK
...all of our colonies have perished as a consequence.
ZELNICK
What do you seek from us?
ZOQ
We are a relatively peaceful group of species.
PIK
Unless we're angry.
ZOQ
So we find ourselves in need of help.
PIK
We only need a LITTLE!
ZOQ
Because of our desperate situation.
PIK
'Desperate' is too strong a word. I think 'troublesome' is more like it.
ZELNICK
Before we go on, can you tell us more about your species?
ZOQ
In our ancient past, four species evolved intelligence on our homeworlds.
PIK
Simultaneously.
ZOQ
They were the Zoq...
PIK
...the Fot...
ZOQ
...the Pik...
PIK
...and the Zebranky.
ZOQ
We three, the Zoq, Fot, and Pik evolved in such a way as to acquire sustenance from many sources...
PIK
...from airborne zooplankton...
ZOQ
...from solar and ambient energies...
PIK
...and from rocky fungal clingers.
ZOQ
Our favorite!
PIK
The Zebranky also consumed a variety of foods... namely, the Zoq, the Fot, and the Pik.
ZOQ
To survive the predations of the Zebranky, we banded together, annihilated the Zebranky...
PIK
...and formed the cooperative union you now encounter.
ZELNICK
Who is attacking you? What do they look like?
ZOQ
Some of the vessels are huge, green battleships which launch wave after wave of small fighters.
PIK
The other ships are black as space, and their hulls are carved with strange, alien writing.
ZOQ
In combat, the two ships seem evenly matched.
PIK
One fires blasts of fusion energy, while the other launches spinning projectiles.
ZELNICK
We want to help. What can we do?
ZOQ
These are the words we have prayed for!
PIK
Hey! This trip's not a waste after all!
ZOQ
More than anything, we seek an ally to help us survive in this hostile universe.
PIK
We are having some problems of that general nature.
ZOQ
But we are only emissaries. You must meet with our leaders. They are wiser... more powerful beings!
PIK
They look just like us, though.
ZOQ
Fly to the star called Alpha Tucanae. The planet closest to the sun is our home.
PIK
And if possible, hurry.
Another ally tenatively made! However, I won't be hurrying to their homeworld. I don't have the fuel to get there and back, so it can wait. For now, we're heading back to Earth - this last alien encounter wraps up chapter 1, and we need to prepare for a long, long journey.
Scientist report for the Clear Spindle:
SUBJECT: Clear Spindle Device
DATA: The object in question has no clear use or means of activation, but does have super-conductive characteristics between 18 and 22 degrees C. We suspect that it is over Precursor manufacture, but we cannot be certain without extended study.
SUMMARY: In all likelihood, this object is a part of a larger device whose capabilities remain unknown.
Not a lot of changes here. Refueled, installed a second Dynamo Unit, and bought an Orz ship. We are now ready for the next phase of the game...
NEXT TIME: Holes in space.
<< | ^^ | >>