Start of a transcript of Return to the Stars An Interactive Escape by Adrian Welcker Release 1 / Serial number 210630 / Inform 7 build 6M62 (I6/v6.35 lib 6/12N) Content Warning: descriptions of gore and violence ? type ABOUT for more info. Identification number: //0D32D571-CA90-4F27-AAC2-E210410BFDE9// Interpreter version 0.5.4 / VM 3.1.2 / Library serial number 080126 Standard Rules version 3/120430 by Graham Nelson Smarter Parser version 16/140501 by Aaron Reed Undo Output Control version 5/170902 by Nathanael Nerode (based on the extension by Erik Temple; integrates Empty Command Handling by Daniel Stelzer based on code by Matt Weiner) Title Case for Headings version 1/170902 by Nathanael Nerode Multi-examine version 3/210518 by Jon Ingold (updated by Adrian Welcker) >i You are carrying: a set of fatigues (being worn) >x fatigure You can't see any such thing. >x fatigues A set of standard-issue combat fatigues, consisting of a gray shirt, pants and blouse in a grey-and-black digital urban camouflage pattern, and a pair of black leather boots. It is the only possession you have left at the moment. >x me You've seen better days. >x boots A pair of black leather combat boots. They have carried you across many worlds already. >remove boots Walking around barefoot doesn't seem particularly beneficial right now. >* I didn't hide anything in them, huh? >I DIDN'T HIDE ANYTHING IN THEM, HUH Try typing LOOK for a description of your surroundings. Any directions indicate exits which you can use by typing NORTH (or N). Some of the objects mentioned in the description might be worth a closer look with a command like EXAMINE BEDSHEETS. You can also TAKE or DROP some things, type INVENTORY to see a list of what you're carrying already, OPEN or CLOSE containers or doors, and so on. To stop these messages entirely, type NOVICE OFF. >x pants A set of standard-issue combat fatigues, consisting of a gray shirt, pants and blouse in a grey-and-black digital urban camouflage pattern, and a pair of black leather boots. It is the only possession you have left at the moment. >novice off Novice mode disabled. >l Your Cell This is the room you have spent most of your time in, ever since being taken captive. To be honest, you've kind of lost track of how long that has been. A cot stands in one corner of the room. An air duct covered by an old grate is mounted in the wall near the cot, exuding a constant stream of cool, fresh air (and the occasional drop of condensation, which falls to the ground with an annoyingly loud plink). A sanitary station ? a sort of hybrid toilet-shower-sink ? is built into a corner of the room. A metal door lies to the north, keeping you securely in the cell. On the cot are some neatly folded bedsheets. A small camera hangs above the cot, keeping a watchful eye on you. >x bedsheets Plain white bedsheets. Thin, scratchy, and not quite warm enough to keep you comfortable. It seems like all expenses were spared here. Your military discipline dictates that you neatly fold the bedsheets when you get up in the morning. >take them Taken. >put sheets on camera Putting things on the camera would achieve nothing. >* ...I guess it seems like everybody here is dead, but still You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >x camera A small camera hangs in one corner of the room, a small red light presumably indicating that it is active. >break camera Confident that nobody is watching anymore, you climb onto the cot, tear the camera off the wall, and grind it to pieces under the heel of your boot. If you're right, and nobody is around to witness it, then this was a pointless little act of defiance. If you are wrong, then you just made your life a whole lot more difficult... Either way, this felt good. >l Your Cell This is the room you have spent most of your time in, ever since being taken captive. To be honest, you've kind of lost track of how long that has been. A cot stands in one corner of the room. An air duct covered by an old grate is mounted in the wall near the cot, exuding a constant stream of cool, fresh air (and the occasional drop of condensation, which falls to the ground with an annoyingly loud plink). A sanitary station ? a sort of hybrid toilet-shower-sink ? is built into a corner of the room. A metal door lies to the north, keeping you securely in the cell. You can see some camera remains here. >x remains The remnants of the camera that you smashed lie on the floor. >search them The pieces of camera are hardly useful anymore. >* No battery or anything? OK I didn't understand that sentence. >x cot Flimsy frame, uncomfortable plastic surface ? it's a cot alright. >look under cot You find nothing of interest. >x station A brushed aluminum clamshell contraption for personal hygiene, not unlike showers you've used on some UNDC ships. >use station You'll need to be more specific than that. >* Er, perhaps not You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >x toilet A brushed aluminum clamshell contraption for personal hygiene, not unlike showers you've used on some UNDC ships. >x sink You can't see any such thing. >x door The door is smooth on the inside, with only a small window allowing you to catch a glimpse of the corridor behind it. It lines up perfectly with the surrounding wall ? if you didn't know better, you might think it is part of the wall itself. >knock on door I didn't understand that sentence. >knock door I didn't understand that sentence. >x window The door is smooth on the inside, with only a small window allowing you to catch a glimpse of the corridor behind it. It lines up perfectly with the surrounding wall ? if you didn't know better, you might think it is part of the wall itself. >open window It seems to be locked. >open door It seems to be locked. >unlock door What do you want to unlock the metal door with? >sheets The door doesn't have any lock or control mechanism on the inside. >* Worth a shot! I didn't understand that sentence. >x garate You can't see any such thing. >x grate A rather flimsy, rusty grate covering the air duct. It looks like you could break it if you wanted to (although the presence of the camera has so far kept you from attempting anything). >break it It's too far up to throw a good punch at the grate. >stand on cot You get onto the cot. >break grate It's too far up to throw a good punch at the grateYou may need to go in a different direction, so to speak. >* Oops! I didn't understand that sentence. >push cot It is fixed in place. >pull grate With a groan of exertion, you pull the grate with enough force for the old welds to give way. You set the grate down on the ground. >* OK, whew You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >u (first getting off the cot) You can't go that way. >l Your Cell This is the room you have spent most of your time in, ever since being taken captive. To be honest, you've kind of lost track of how long that has been. A cot stands in one corner of the room. An air duct is mounted in the wall near the cot, exuding a constant stream of cool, fresh air (and the occasional drop of condensation, which falls to the ground with an annoyingly loud plink). A sanitary station ? a sort of hybrid toilet-shower-sink ? is built into a corner of the room. A metal door lies to the north, keeping you securely in the cell. You can see the cell air duct's grate and some camera remains here. >x duct It exudes a stream of cool, fresh air. It is open. >x condensation You can't see any such thing. >enter duct You get into the cell air duct. >l Your Cell (in the cell air duct) You are lying in the cell air duct, peeking out into the room: This is the room you have spent most of your time in, ever since being taken captive. To be honest, you've kind of lost track of how long that has been. A cot stands in one corner of the room. An air duct is mounted in the wall near the cot, exuding a constant stream of cool, fresh air (and the occasional drop of condensation, which falls to the ground with an annoyingly loud plink). A sanitary station ? a sort of hybrid toilet-shower-sink ? is built into a corner of the room. A metal door lies to the north, keeping you securely in the cell. You can see the cell air duct's grate and some camera remains here. >x grate The grate lies discarded on the ground. >take it You see no reason to carry the cell air duct's grate around. >in You would have to get out of the cell air duct first. (To crawl through the duct, try typing CRAWL.) >crawl (through the air duct) You crawl through the ducts, air rushing past your face. Prison Installations Room (in the bottom of the air duct) You are lying in the bottom of the air duct, peeking out into the room: This is where most of the installations and appliances keeping the cell complex running reside. A stiff breeze blows through this room, from the large machine on one wall, to the air ducts on the opposite wall. A ladder leads up. On one of the walls is a panel with a number of large switches on it. >crawl (through the air duct) You crawl through the ducts, air rushing past your face. Your Cell This is the room you have spent most of your time in, ever since being taken captive. To be honest, you've kind of lost track of how long that has been. A cot stands in one corner of the room. An air duct is mounted in the wall near the cot, exuding a constant stream of cool, fresh air (and the occasional drop of condensation, which falls to the ground with an annoyingly loud plink). A sanitary station ? a sort of hybrid toilet-shower-sink ? is built into a corner of the room. A metal door lies to the north, keeping you securely in the cell. You can see the cell air duct's grate and some camera remains here. >g (through the air duct) You must supply a noun. >crawl (through the air duct) You must supply a noun. >* huh? I didn't understand that sentence. >undo Your Cell [Previous turn undone.] >undo Your Cell [Previous turn undone.] >undo Your Cell [Previous turn undone.] >undo Prison Installations Room (in the bottom of the air duct) [Previous turn undone.] >l Prison Installations Room (in the bottom of the air duct) You are lying in the bottom of the air duct, peeking out into the room: This is where most of the installations and appliances keeping the cell complex running reside. A stiff breeze blows through this room, from the large machine on one wall, to the air ducts on the opposite wall. A ladder leads up. On one of the walls is a panel with a number of large switches on it. >out (first kicking a hole into the grate) You get out of the bottom of the air duct. Prison Installations Room This is where most of the installations and appliances keeping the cell complex running reside. A stiff breeze blows through this room, from the large machine on one wall, to the air ducts on the opposite wall. A ladder leads up, the air duct to your cell is on the northern wall. On one of the walls is a panel with a number of large switches on it. >x ducts Those are quite different. You'll have to be more specific. >x air ducts Those are quite different. You'll have to be more specific. >* I think I need a little help with disambiguation I didn't understand that sentence. >x machine A large machine takes up almost the entire south wall. It is forcing air through the room. >x duct The air duct leads back to your cell. >x panel A number of large rotary switches are attached to this panel. One is labeled "YVTUGF", the next "IRAGVYNGVBA", a third "ZNTYBPX", and one is labeled "PBAGEBYF". >* Do the aliens here speak rot-13? I didn't understand that sentence. >* It appears they do I didn't understand that sentence. >turn lights You switch the YVTUGF switch off. It is now pitch dark in here! >g You switch the YVTUGF switch on. Prison Installations Room This is where most of the installations and appliances keeping the cell complex running reside. A stiff breeze blows through this room, from the large machine on one wall, to the air ducts on the opposite wall. A ladder leads up, the air duct to your cell is on the northern wall. On one of the walls is a panel with a number of large switches on it. >turn ventilation (the IRAGVYNGVBA switch) The ventilation machinery falls silent, and the wind in the room subsides. You switch the IRAGVYNGVBA switch off. >turn maglock You switch the ZNTYBPX switch off. >turn controls You switch the PBAGEBYF switch off. >l Prison Installations Room This is where most of the installations and appliances keeping the cell complex running reside. A ladder leads up, the air duct to your cell is on the northern wall. On one of the walls is a panel with a number of large switches on it. >u Control Room The walls are plastered with screens, but they are all blank. This must be the place from which the prisoners are monitored. A ladder leads down into the installations room, and a corridor leads south. Your helmet is sitting on a table in the middle of the room, with a number of wires attached to it. A control desk and some screens are installed on the wall. >x helmet Taking a closer look at the helmet confirms that it is, in fact, yours. Perhaps the rest of the suit is around here somewhere as well. >x wires A slew of thin wires runs from the control desk to your helmet. >x desk The screen is blank. >x screen The screen is blank. >take helmet You carefully disconnect the wires that connect the helmet to the computer systems in the room. Hopefully, your captors haven't messed anything up. Taken. >wear it Since the power and air supply are located in the torso pieces of the suit, wearing the helmet alone isn't terribly useful. >l Control Room The walls are plastered with screens, but they are all blank. This must be the place from which the prisoners are monitored. A ladder leads down into the installations room, and a corridor leads south. A control desk and some screens are installed on the wall. >s Corridor The featureless white corridor runs east-to-west, bending around a corner and out of sight to each end. The metal door leading to your cell is south. The control room lies around the corner to the west. >s (first opening the metal door) Your Cell This is the room you have spent most of your time in, ever since being taken captive. To be honest, you've kind of lost track of how long that has been. A cot stands in one corner of the room. An air duct is mounted in the wall near the cot. A sanitary station ? a sort of hybrid toilet-shower-sink ? is built into a corner of the room. The metal door northward is open, leading to a corridor. You can see the cell air duct's grate and some camera remains here. >n Corridor The featureless white corridor runs east-to-west, bending around a corner and out of sight to each end. The metal door leading to your cell is south. The control room lies around the corner to the west. >w Control Room The walls are plastered with screens, but they are all blank. This must be the place from which the prisoners are monitored. A ladder leads down into the installations room, and a corridor leads south. A control desk and some screens are installed on the wall. >e You can't go that way. >s Corridor The featureless white corridor runs east-to-west, bending around a corner and out of sight to each end. The metal door leading to your cell is south. The control room lies around the corner to the west. >* Confusing directional linkages here I didn't understand that sentence. >n You can't go that way. >e Front Office This room is the entrance to the facility. You have no doubt that there would normally be at least one guard posted here, but at the moment it is empty. You could go east, into a small storage area, or south, back into the corridor. The way out of the building, to the north, leads through what appears to be an airlock. >x airlock You see nothing special about the airlock. >e Storage Space This small storage closet seems to be the place where inmates' possessions are stored. Bare-metal shelves line the walls. The only way out is west. Pieces of armor plating lie on the shelves. On the shelves are five ration bars. >x shelves On the shelves are some armor plates and five ration bars. >x plates You are fairly sure that these are the pieces of your battle armor. They seem to be intact, but an integral part ? the helmet ? is not among them. >wear them (donning the now-complete suit) You slip into the undersuit and latch the armored plates into place. As you slide on your helmet, the internal systems start up, informing you that everything is still in working order. >x me In your armored suit you almost look soldierly again. >i You are carrying: your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >x suit It is sometimes said that a soldier's best friend is his weapon ? but that hasn't really been true in a while now, with weapons being issued and turned in as needed. Your armor, however, has traveled to many a world with you, and saved your hide more than once. You're glad to have it back. It is fitted with a helmet lamp, and it can double as a space suit, providing air in hostile environments. >* Missing line break I didn't understand that sentence. >l Storage Space This small storage closet seems to be the place where inmates' possessions are stored. Bare-metal shelves line the walls. The only way out is west. On the shelves are five ration bars. >x rations You can't see any such thing. >x ration bars You can see five ration bars. >take them They're hardly portable. >* really? how big are them? I didn't understand that sentence. >* they I didn't understand that sentence. >taake bar I didn't understand that sentence. >take bar Taken. >g Taken. >g Taken. >g Taken. >g Taken. >g You already have that. >i You are carrying: five ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >w Front Office This room is the entrance to the facility. You have no doubt that there would normally be at least one guard posted here, but at the moment it is empty. You could go east, into a small storage area, or south, back into the corridor. The way out of the building, to the north, leads through what appears to be an airlock. >n (first opening the airlock) You open the inner door and step into the intermediate space. Nothing obvious happens, but your suit alerts you that the air coming in from the outside is, shall we say, less than ideal. The other door opens and you take a tentative step outside. Prison Antecourt A small courtyard lies outside the prison, which appears to be built on a small island. The way back into the prison is south, through the airlock. You are otherwise surrounded by water, but there are some docks allowing easy access to the east. The airlock leading into the cell complex lies to the south. >x island You can't see any such thing. >x courtyard You can't see any such thing. >x docks You can't see any such thing. >x water You can't see any such thing. >n You can't go that way. >e Prison Docks The prison is built on a tiny island in the ocean ? presumably to make escaping more difficult. A small dock extends into the water, away from the rocky shoreline. The shore, populated with buildings, lies a few hundred meters to the north. The prison antecourt is to your west. >* Missing line break I didn't understand that sentence. >x rocks You can't see any such thing. >x shoreline The coastal cliff falls off into the water >n You can't go that way. >* I can't go to the village? I didn't understand that sentence. >e You can't go that way. >ine I didn't understand that sentence. >enter dock That's not something you can enter. >e You can't go that way. >s You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >nw You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >e You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >s You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >d While your armor is designed primarily for planetary and shipboard operations, it can also double as a space suit and diving equipment in a pinch (or so the manufacturer promises). While you had more chances than you'd care for to verify that it does make for a passable spacesuit, it may finally be time to put the "diving" part of that claim to the test. You jump into the water, spreading your arms and legs to slow your descent... About ten seconds later, you come to an abrupt halt as you land faceplate-first in the silt at the bottom of the sea. You scramble to your feet, wiping the muck off your faceplate. You can still breathe, and none of the electronics in your suit seem to have been fried ? so far, so good. Darkness It is pitch dark, and you can't see a thing. >turn on light You switch the helmet lamp on. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The rocky cliffs of the prison island lie to the south, the military complex is due north. >* I thought it was a village? I didn't understand that sentence. >n You slowly trudge northward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The military complex is due north. >n You slowly trudge northward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The military complex is due north. >n You slowly trudge northward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The ground is sloping upwards to the north. >u You slowly make your way up the muddy incline ? half walking, half crawling ? until you finally reach dry land again. Shore Docks The shoreline here seems more like an extension of the ocean floor you just walked: a gradual incline, rather than a sharp drop. A dock extends into the water to allow loading and unloading boats without needing to drive them up against the shore. (Although no boats are to be seen.) You vaguely recall coming through here, weeks ago, sedated, a breathing apparatus in your face... The prison buildings lie to the south, down the muddy incline and across the water, and the military complex continues to the north. >* Ah, well I guess that's how we know You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >n Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. What looks like a hangar lies to the east, blocked off by a force field. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. The wind picks up some leaves and blows them through the force field to the east. >x force field The force field gives off a faint blue glow. >x leaves You can't see any such thing. >e Your dirty hand passes through the force field, but not more. >roll in bud You can't see any such thing. >roll in mud You can't see any such thing. >s Shore Docks The shoreline here seems more like an extension of the ocean floor you just walked: a gradual incline, rather than a sharp drop. A dock extends into the water to allow loading and unloading boats without needing to drive them up against the shore. (Although no boats are to be seen.) You vaguely recall coming through here, weeks ago, sedated, a breathing apparatus in your face... The prison buildings lie to the south, down the muddy incline and across the water, and the military complex continues to the north. >x mud The muddy shore slopes down into the water. You can see the rut you left as you crawled up. >roll in mud You lie down in the mud, rolling back and forth until you are confident that you are covered helmet-to-boots in a thick layer of the greyish-brown goo. >* nice! I didn't understand that sentence. >n Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. What looks like a hangar lies to the east, blocked off by a force field. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. The force field to the east gives off a faint blue glow. >e Your mud-covered body passes through the force field with little resistance. Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty, except for a messenger ship. The launch doors leading north are closed. You can go west, through the force field and back to the plaza, or up to the control room. A small bird flies through the force field and off to the west. >* I don't undersand the physics here, but still cool You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >x ship The messenger ship has a sleek silver shape. It looks like a somewhat larger, elongated variant of a typical Shwabolian dropship design. What sets it apart is the fact that, instead of a large cargo hold, it has a fully-featured alcubierre drive, allowing for faster-than-light travel. Useful for when urgent messages (or passengers) need to be delivered somewhere, and waiting for the next cargo hauler or patrol boat is not an option. >* well here's our escape option I didn't understand that sentence. >enter ship Hangar (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >x panels The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. A notch is in one of the control panels, ready to accept something. >x notch The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. A notch is in one of the control panels, ready to accept something. >i You are carrying: five ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >exit You get out of the messenger ship. Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty, except for a messenger ship. The launch doors leading north are closed. You can go west, through the force field and back to the plaza, or up to the control room. The wind picks up some leaves and blows them through the force field to the west. >u Control Tower You are standing in a room built into the wall near the ceiling of the cavernous hangar. Normally, no craft would enter or leave the airspace around the facility without the approval of the air-traffic controllers on duty here, but now it is deserted. The only way out is down, back into the hangar. A large window overlooks the landing pad outside. A desk festooned with screens and buttons is mounted below the window. >x wall Which do you mean, the northern wall, the southern wall, the western wall, or the eastern wall? >x northern You see nothing special about the northern wall. >x window You see nothing special about the large window. >x desk This desk must be the place from which most of the air traffic going into and out of this place is controlled. It is festooned with screens, buttons, and switches, but three elements stick out: a switch labeled FORCE FIELD, one labeled LAUNCH DOORS, and a large red button. >pull switch Which do you mean, the FORCE FIELD switch or the LAUNCH DOORS switch? >force field Nothing obvious happens. >pull force field switch Nothing obvious happens. >push it Nothing obvious happens. >flip it I didn't understand that sentence. >flip force field switch I didn't understand that sentence. >turn off force field You switch the FORCE FIELD switch off. >* whew! I didn't understand that sentence. >turn on launch door You can't see any such thing. >turn on launch doors That's already on. >turn off launch doors You flip the switch, and the large doors separating the hangar from the launch pad slide open. >l Control Tower You are standing in a room built into the wall near the ceiling of the cavernous hangar. Normally, no craft would enter or leave the airspace around the facility without the approval of the air-traffic controllers on duty here, but now it is deserted. The only way out is down, back into the hangar. A large window overlooks the landing pad outside. A desk festooned with screens and buttons is mounted below the window. >x button A large red button is mounted in the center of the console. It is not labeled. >push button An alarm sounds, and the floor below the messenger ship begins to move: it is standing on a sort of conveyor belt, and is now moving outside and into position on the launch pad. >d Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >n Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >in You can't go that way. >enter ship Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >x panels The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. A notch is in one of the control panels, ready to accept something. >out You get out of the messenger ship. Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >s Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >w Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >w Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >x pillows They are plain white pillows that could very well be the same that people used for sleeping. >x couch It's not a particularly nice couch ? it looks rather old and worn ? but still: it's a freakin' couch! How the hell did they get a couch out here?! >look under couch You find nothing of interest. >look behind couch You can't see any such thing. >take pillows You don't see a point to carrying those around with you. >l Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >x tables You see nothing interesting about the tables. They are boring, even by the low standards of tables. >x counters This must be where the food was handed out. Like most of the sparse furniture in here, there really isn't anything noteworthy about them: just white plastic surfaces with recessions for food bowls. >x recessions This must be where the food was handed out. Like most of the sparse furniture in here, there really isn't anything noteworthy about them: just white plastic surfaces with recessions for food bowls. >x bowls You can't see any such thing. >x tables You see nothing interesting about the tables. They are boring, even by the low standards of tables. >w Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, further into the building. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >x beds The non-folding, stacked version of the cot you spent the past weeks on, perhaps. From the looks of them, these bunks are only marginally more comfortable than what you had to sleep on. >look under beds You find nothing of interest. >search bed (the bedsheets) You find nothing of interest. >search beds You find nothing of interest. >s Communal Washroom This would be the place where the garrison force (if one can call it that, given the size of the facility) takes care of personal hygiene. It is a sterile-looking room, white tiles covering the floor and the walls all the way up to the ceiling. Four sinks and mirrors are installed on one wall, four toilets on another, the remaining two have two showers each. It doesn't seem like the Shwabolians care a whole lot about privacy, seeing as there are no dividers of any kind in the room. The only way out is north, back to the barracks. >x tile You can't see any such thing. >x sinks The sinks are made of plain steel. >x showers Much like the rest of the room, the showers aren't much to look at: non-adjustable shower heads emerging from the ceiling, simple mechanical controls mounted on the walls, and all the water ultimately goes down the grated drains built into the tiled floor. >w You can't go that way. >n Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >e Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >e Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >n (first opening the command center door) It seems to be locked. >i You are carrying: five ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >s Shore Docks The shoreline here seems more like an extension of the ocean floor you just walked: a gradual incline, rather than a sharp drop. A dock extends into the water to allow loading and unloading boats without needing to drive them up against the shore. (Although no boats are to be seen.) You vaguely recall coming through here, weeks ago, sedated, a breathing apparatus in your face... The prison buildings lie to the south, down the muddy incline and across the water, and the military complex continues to the north. >w You can't go that way. >n Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >w Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >look under pillows You find nothing of interest. >move pillows They are fixed in place. >move couch It is fixed in place. >l Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >lift couch I didn't understand that sentence. >take couch That's hardly portable. >push couch It is fixed in place. >search couch The couch is empty. >w Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >pull beds They are fixed in place. >look behind beds You can't see any such thing. >look under beds You find nothing of interest. >take beds They're fixed in place. >search beds You find nothing of interest. >x beds The non-folding, stacked version of the cot you spent the past weeks on, perhaps. From the looks of them, these bunks are only marginally more comfortable than what you had to sleep on. >s Communal Washroom This would be the place where the garrison force (if one can call it that, given the size of the facility) takes care of personal hygiene. It is a sterile-looking room, white tiles covering the floor and the walls all the way up to the ceiling. Four sinks and mirrors are installed on one wall, four toilets on another, the remaining two have two showers each. It doesn't seem like the Shwabolians care a whole lot about privacy, seeing as there are no dividers of any kind in the room. The only way out is north, back to the barracks. >wash You turn on one of the showers and let the water run over you. The mud slides off your gear and collects on the floor before finding its way down the drain. >l Communal Washroom This would be the place where the garrison force (if one can call it that, given the size of the facility) takes care of personal hygiene. It is a sterile-looking room, white tiles covering the floor and the walls all the way up to the ceiling. Four sinks and mirrors are installed on one wall, four toilets on another, the remaining two have two showers each. It doesn't seem like the Shwabolians care a whole lot about privacy, seeing as there are no dividers of any kind in the room. The only way out is north, back to the barracks. >x sinks The sinks are made of plain steel. >x mirrors You regard yourself in one of the mirrors: In your armored suit you almost look soldierly again. >open mirror They aren't something you can open. >look behind mirror You can't see any such thing. >i You are carrying: five ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >x tiles You can't see any such thing. >x ceiling You see nothing special about the ceiling. >x wall Which do you mean, the northern wall, the southern wall, the western wall, or the eastern wall? >x toilets They look like the kind you'd find in the worst of public restrooms back on earth: steel body, no lid, no real seat. Comfort clearly wasn't high on the priority list here. >flush toilets I didn't understand that sentence. >flush toilet I didn't understand that sentence. >x body You can't see any such thing. >open toilet They aren't something you can open. >l Communal Washroom This would be the place where the garrison force (if one can call it that, given the size of the facility) takes care of personal hygiene. It is a sterile-looking room, white tiles covering the floor and the walls all the way up to the ceiling. Four sinks and mirrors are installed on one wall, four toilets on another, the remaining two have two showers each. It doesn't seem like the Shwabolians care a whole lot about privacy, seeing as there are no dividers of any kind in the room. The only way out is north, back to the barracks. >e You can't go that way. >n Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >put sheets on bed (the bedsheets) You can't put something on top of itself. >put sheets on bunk Putting things on the bunks would achieve nothing. >nw You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >e Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >nw You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >d You can't go that way. >u You can't go that way. >w Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >u You can't go that way. >e Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >e Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >x door A simple metal door. It is equipped with a card reader rather than a keyhole. It is closed. >x sign You can't see any such thing. >x card A small grey box waiting to be presented with an access card. >i You are carrying: five ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >nw You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >e Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >ne You can't go that way. >nw You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >n Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >e You can't go that way. >w You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >s Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >s You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >e You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >nw You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >w Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >e Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >z Time passes. >w Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >w Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >w Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >e Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >sit on couch You get into the couch. >sleep You've spent so much of these past few weeks sleeping that you feel like you won't be tired again in a long time >stand What do you want to stand on? >l Mess Hall (in the couch) This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >out You get out of the couch. Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >* "in the couch" seems weird I didn't understand that sentence. >push couch It is fixed in place. >pick up couch That's hardly portable. >pull couch It is fixed in place. >s You can't go that way. >x pillows They are plain white pillows that could very well be the same that people used for sleeping. >take pillows You don't see a point to carrying those around with you. >move pillows They are fixed in place. >l Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >x tables You see nothing interesting about the tables. They are boring, even by the low standards of tables. >x couters You can't see any such thing. >x counters This must be where the food was handed out. Like most of the sparse furniture in here, there really isn't anything noteworthy about them: just white plastic surfaces with recessions for food bowls. >open counters They aren't something you can open. >l Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >x floor You can't see any such thing. >cleak pillows I didn't understand that sentence. >rest I didn't understand that sentence. >x couch It's not a particularly nice couch ? it looks rather old and worn ? but still: it's a freakin' couch! How the hell did they get a couch out here?! > I beg your pardon? >open couch It isn't something you can open. >look under couch You find nothing of interest. >look under pillows You find nothing of interest. >int I didn't understand that sentence. >in You can't go that way. >inv You are carrying: five ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >x bars You can see five ration bars. >eat bar You eat the ration bar. Not bad. >l Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >i You are carrying: four ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >search pillows You find nothing of interest. >search couch The couch is empty. >look behind pillows You can't see any such thing. >w Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >look in beds You find nothing of interest. >look under beds You find nothing of interest. >empty beds I didn't understand that sentence. >look behind beds You can't see any such thing. >get in bed (the bedsheets) They're not something you can enter. >get in beds They're not something you can enter. >get in bunks They're not something you can enter. >sleep You've spent so much of these past few weeks sleeping that you feel like you won't be tired again in a long time >l Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >x me In your armored suit you almost look soldierly again. >e Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >n You can't go that way. >e Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >n (first opening the command center door) It seems to be locked. >unlock door What do you want to unlock the command center door with? >ration That doesn't seem to fit the lock. >in You can't go that way. >s Shore Docks The shoreline here seems more like an extension of the ocean floor you just walked: a gradual incline, rather than a sharp drop. A dock extends into the water to allow loading and unloading boats without needing to drive them up against the shore. (Although no boats are to be seen.) You vaguely recall coming through here, weeks ago, sedated, a breathing apparatus in your face... The prison buildings lie to the south, down the muddy incline and across the water, and the military complex continues to the north. >hint > Content Warning Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Return to the Stars contains a few descriptions of gore and violence that some people may find objectionable. If you wish for these descriptions to be toned down (for example, when playing with smaller children), you can do that here. (Currently using original text.) Show descriptions in their full gory descriptiveness? (YES or NO) >>yes > Content Warning Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits > Content Warning Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning > Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning > Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits You may find the following "non-standard" verbs to be useful on occasion: CLIMB UP/DOWN something CRAWL THROUGH something LOOK UNDER something CUT something OPEN WITH some kind of knife SHOOT something WITH some kind of gun LAUNCH PREPARE something FOR LAUNCH Please press SPACE to continue. Content Warning > Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning > Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits > How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? > How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? > How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? > How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? > How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? > How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? > How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? 1/8: The door has an attached card reader. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/8: The door has an attached card reader. 2/8: So you'll need some kind of access card to unlock the door. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/8: The door has an attached card reader. 2/8: So you'll need some kind of access card to unlock the door. 3/8: Perhaps someone has lost theirs somewhere. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/8: The door has an attached card reader. 2/8: So you'll need some kind of access card to unlock the door. 3/8: Perhaps someone has lost theirs somewhere. 4/8: Back on the prison island. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/8: The door has an attached card reader. 2/8: So you'll need some kind of access card to unlock the door. 3/8: Perhaps someone has lost theirs somewhere. 4/8: Back on the prison island. 5/8: It's in the control room. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits Shore Docks The shoreline here seems more like an extension of the ocean floor you just walked: a gradual incline, rather than a sharp drop. A dock extends into the water to allow loading and unloading boats without needing to drive them up against the shore. (Although no boats are to be seen.) You vaguely recall coming through here, weeks ago, sedated, a breathing apparatus in your face... The prison buildings lie to the south, down the muddy incline and across the water, and the military complex continues to the north. >* Oh geez I didn't understand that sentence. >s You take a few tentative steps down the incline before falling on your ass and sliding the rest of the way down into the water. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The ground is sloping upwards to the north. >s You slowly trudge southward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The military complex is due north. >s You slowly trudge southward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The military complex is due north. >s You slowly trudge southward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The rocky cliffs of the prison island lie to the south, the military complex is due north. >s Best not to wander around, lest you'll never find your way again. >u While your armor's power assist usually keeps you from noticing its 50-or-so kilograms of heft, getting to the surface of the ocean would require a propeller of sorts, which is not provided. >i You are carrying: four ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >climb cliffs You climb up the cliffs. Prison Docks The prison is built on a tiny island in the ocean ? presumably to make escaping more difficult. A small dock extends into the water, away from the rocky shoreline. The shore, populated with buildings, lies a few hundred meters to the north. The prison antecourt is to your west. >* Not sure I would have gotten that if I hadn't just seen the verbs I didn't understand that sentence. >l Prison Docks The prison is built on a tiny island in the ocean ? presumably to make escaping more difficult. A small dock extends into the water, away from the rocky shoreline. The shore, populated with buildings, lies a few hundred meters to the north. The prison antecourt is to your west. >n You can't go that way. >w Prison Antecourt A small courtyard lies outside the prison, which appears to be built on a small island. The way back into the prison is south, through the airlock. You are otherwise surrounded by water, but there are some docks allowing easy access to the east. The airlock leading into the cell complex lies to the south. >n You can't go that way. >w You can't go that way. >s Front Office This room is the entrance to the facility. You have no doubt that there would normally be at least one guard posted here, but at the moment it is empty. You could go east, into a small storage area, or south, back into the corridor. The way out of the building, to the north, leads through an airlock. >e Storage Space This small storage closet seems to be the place where inmates' possessions are stored. Bare-metal shelves line the walls. The only way out is west. >x shelves You see nothing special about the shelves. >w Front Office This room is the entrance to the facility. You have no doubt that there would normally be at least one guard posted here, but at the moment it is empty. You could go east, into a small storage area, or south, back into the corridor. The way out of the building, to the north, leads through an airlock. >s Corridor The featureless white corridor runs east-to-west, bending around a corner and out of sight to each end. The metal door leading to your cell is south. The control room lies around the corner to the west, and the entry area lies around the corner to the east. >w Control Room The walls are plastered with screens, but they are all blank. This must be the place from which the prisoners are monitored. A ladder leads down into the installations room, and a corridor leads south. A control desk and some screens are installed on the wall. >x desk The screen is blank. >look under desk Looking under the control panel, you find a purple card, which you pocket. >* not a great puzzle I don't think -- it's not established why someone at this facility would have a key to the other one I didn't understand that sentence. >x purple A purple-colored card with shwabolian writing on it. Your suit translates it as "Shevok Kemalik, Warden". >n You can't go that way. >e You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >s Corridor The featureless white corridor runs east-to-west, bending around a corner and out of sight to each end. The metal door leading to your cell is south. The control room lies around the corner to the west, and the entry area lies around the corner to the east. >e Front Office This room is the entrance to the facility. You have no doubt that there would normally be at least one guard posted here, but at the moment it is empty. You could go east, into a small storage area, or south, back into the corridor. The way out of the building, to the north, leads through an airlock. >n Prison Antecourt A small courtyard lies outside the prison, which appears to be built on a small island. The way back into the prison is south, through the airlock. You are otherwise surrounded by water, but there are some docks allowing easy access to the east. The airlock leading into the cell complex lies to the south. >d You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >e Prison Docks The prison is built on a tiny island in the ocean ? presumably to make escaping more difficult. A small dock extends into the water, away from the rocky shoreline. The shore, populated with buildings, lies a few hundred meters to the north. The prison antecourt is to your west. >d At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The rocky cliffs of the prison island lie to the south, the military complex is due north. >n You slowly trudge northward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The military complex is due north. >n You slowly trudge northward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The military complex is due north. >n You slowly trudge northward. At The Bottom Of The Ocean You are standing knee-deep in the silt at the bottom of the ocean. The ground is sloping upwards to the north. >u Shore Docks The shoreline here seems more like an extension of the ocean floor you just walked: a gradual incline, rather than a sharp drop. A dock extends into the water to allow loading and unloading boats without needing to drive them up against the shore. (Although no boats are to be seen.) You vaguely recall coming through here, weeks ago, sedated, a breathing apparatus in your face... The prison buildings lie to the south, down the muddy incline and across the water, and the military complex continues to the north. >n Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >unlock door with card (the prison warden's ID card) You unlock the command center door. >n (first opening the command center door) Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >w Armory This "armory" is really more of a glorified storage closet: it is just large enough to hold a storage rack and an ammo crate. The only way out is east, back to the hallway. On the storage rack is a rifle. >take rifle Taken. >x rifle A rifle of shwabolian design as you've seen on the battlefield often enough. >x rack It is a very simple design, made of plain metal struts with rather sharp edges. >x crate In the ammo crate are some ammo clips. >take clips three clips: Taken. >x them You see nothing special about the ammo clips. >* default description I didn't understand that sentence. >load rifle I didn't understand that sentence. >put clips in rifle ammo clip: That can't contain things. ammo clip: That can't contain things. ammo clip: That can't contain things. >l Armory This "armory" is really more of a glorified storage closet: it is just large enough to hold a storage rack and an ammo crate. The only way out is east, back to the hallway. >reload rifle I didn't understand that sentence. >* Ah well I didn't understand that sentence. >e Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >n Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, what appears to be an ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can hear subdued talking coming from the room to the north. >x chairs They look to be the same plastic monstrosities you had to sit on throughout your years in school. >listen You can hear subdued talking coming from the room to the north. >e Briefing Room This looks to be a briefing or meeting room of some kind, presumably for the higher-ranking officers stationed here. A large round table stands in the middle of the room. A large screen hangs on one of the walls, with a lectern in front of it ? for when the communal discussion format doesn't cut it. Like most of the Shwabolian facilities you've seen so far, this room too is entirely devoid of decoration. The only way out is west, back into the lobby. >x table It is a simple table with a white plastic surface. It has enough room for ten, perhaps fifteen people, although all the chairs seem to have been removed ? if there ever were any. You can't help but wonder what warranted all this nonessential material being shipped out here. >x screen A large screen has been fitted into the wall. It is blank. >x lectern A lectern stands in front of the screen, waiting for someone to step up and address those present in the room (which is none, at the moment). In keeping with everything you've seen so far, it lacks any seals, emblems, or insignia you might typically find on a lectern in a UNDC facility. >l Briefing Room This looks to be a briefing or meeting room of some kind, presumably for the higher-ranking officers stationed here. A large round table stands in the middle of the room. A large screen hangs on one of the walls, with a lectern in front of it ? for when the communal discussion format doesn't cut it. Like most of the Shwabolian facilities you've seen so far, this room too is entirely devoid of decoration. The only way out is west, back into the lobby. >look in lectern There is nothing on the lectern. >push lectern It is fixed in place. >w Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, what appears to be an ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can hear subdued talking coming from the room to the north. >n Ops Center This appears to be the nerve center of the operation ? whatever that may be. The walls are lined with screens and control surfaces, but most of them seem to be inactive. You can see a larger alien and a smaller alien here. As you enter the room, the larger alien hastily pulls a small device out of the control panel and swallows it. Then, the two reach for their weapons! >shoot aliens You can't see any such thing. >shoot alien Who do you mean, the larger alien or the smaller alien? >larger (with the rifle) You fire a three-shot burst from the rifle at the larger alien, but in the heat of the moment, you miss your target. The larger alien zeroes in on you and unleashes a volley in your direction! Their aim is way off and the shot embeds itself into the wall behind you. >shoot larger alien (with the rifle) You fire a three-shot burst from the rifle at the larger alien, but in the heat of the moment, you miss your target. The larger alien takes aim and discharges a volley in your direction! At point-blank range, your armor stand little chance: leaving a trail of searing hot pain, the bullet carves a path through your head before coming out on the other side, leaving your innards distributed on the floor and the wall behind you. *** You have been shot *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT? > undo Ops Center [Previous turn undone.] >hide I didn't understand that sentence. >take cover You can't see any such thing. >s Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can hear subdued talking coming from the room to the north. >* still subdued? I didn't understand that sentence. >n Ops Center This appears to be the nerve center of the operation ? whatever that may be. The walls are lined with screens and control surfaces, but most of them seem to be inactive. You can see a larger alien and a smaller alien here. >shoot smaller alien (with the rifle) You fire a three-shot burst from the rifle at the smaller alien, but in the heat of the moment, you miss your target. The smaller alien takes aim and fires a volley in your direction! Their aim is way off and the shot embeds itself into the wall behind you. >g (with the rifle) You fire a three-shot burst from the rifle at the smaller alien, but in the heat of the moment, you miss your target. The smaller alien brings his gun to bear and pops a volley in your direction! Their aim is way off and the shot embeds itself into the wall behind you. >g (with the rifle) You fire a three-shot burst from the rifle at the smaller alien, dropping him where he stands. The larger alien cocks his gun and unleashes a volley in your direction! At point-blank range, your armor stand little chance: leaving a trail of searing hot pain, the bullet carves a path through your head before coming out on the other side, leaving your innards distributed on the floor and the wall behind you. *** You have been shot *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT? > undo Ops Center [Previous turn undone.] >s Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can hear subdued talking coming from the room to the north. >i You are carrying: three ammo clips a rifle a prison warden's ID card four ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >w You can't go that way. >l Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can hear subdued talking coming from the room to the north. >x chairs They look to be the same plastic monstrosities you had to sit on throughout your years in school. >i You are carrying: three ammo clips a rifle a prison warden's ID card four ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >tie bedsheets What do you want to tie the bedsheets to? >myself You would achieve nothing by this. >tie bedsheets to chair You would achieve nothing by this. >sneak north I didn't understand that sentence. >l Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can hear subdued talking coming from the room to the north. >e Briefing Room This looks to be a briefing or meeting room of some kind, presumably for the higher-ranking officers stationed here. A large round table stands in the middle of the room. A large screen hangs on one of the walls, with a lectern in front of it ? for when the communal discussion format doesn't cut it. Like most of the Shwabolian facilities you've seen so far, this room too is entirely devoid of decoration. The only way out is west, back into the lobby. >hide behind lectern I didn't understand that sentence. >shoot screen (with the rifle) Needless violence won't get you off this rock any faster. Also, you might still need the large screen later on. >x table It is a simple table with a white plastic surface. It has enough room for ten, perhaps fifteen people, although all the chairs seem to have been removed ? if there ever were any. You can't help but wonder what warranted all this nonessential material being shipped out here. >look under table You find nothing of interest. >stand on table That's not something you can stand on. >w Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can hear subdued talking coming from the room to the north. >n Ops Center This appears to be the nerve center of the operation ? whatever that may be. The walls are lined with screens and control surfaces, but most of them seem to be inactive. You can see a larger alien and a smaller alien here. >x smaller An unsightly green humaniod creature, like a lizard walking on two legs. The larger alien trains his gun at you and discharges a volley in your direction! His aim is slightly off. The bullet whirrs past your head and embeds itself into the wall behind you. >* I assume these are the swaholians or whoever but is that specified? I didn't understand that sentence. >x larger An unsightly green humaniod creature, like a lizard walking on two legs. The smaller alien takes aim and pops a volley in your direction! Fifteen years of military experience lead to some rather tuned reflexes, so you dodge in time to avoid the shot. >* I think it's "humanoid", not "iod" though You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >dodge I didn't understand that sentence. >hide I didn't understand that sentence. >shoot everybody You can't see any such thing. >shoot all You can't use multiple objects with that verb. >shoot larger (with the rifle) You fire a three-shot burst from the rifle at the larger alien, dropping him where he stands. The smaller alien cocks his gun and fires a volley in your direction! His aim is slightly off. The bullet whirrs past your chest and embeds itself into the wall behind you. >shoot smaller (with the rifle) You fire a three-shot burst from the rifle at the smaller alien, dropping him where he stands. >* Oh is this just RNG? I didn't understand that sentence. >l Ops Center This appears to be the nerve center of the operation ? whatever that may be. The walls are lined with screens and control surfaces, but most of them seem to be inactive. You can see a smaller alien's corpse and a larger alien's corpse here. >x larger A well and truly dead shwabolian. Its lizard appendages lie splayed out in all directions. Blood is pooling around him from where your bullets hit their mark. >* Ah, there we are You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >x smaller You see nothing special about the smaller alien's corpse. >search it The smaller alien's corpse is empty. >search larger In the larger alien's corpse is a data crypt. >x crypt The object which the large alien swallowed is still inside of him. >take crypt You'll need to be more specific about how you plan to get that back out of him. >i You are carrying: three ammo clips a rifle a prison warden's ID card four ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >* fair enough I didn't understand that sentence. >open alien Which do you mean, the smaller alien's corpse or the larger alien's corpse? >larger It isn't something you can open. >cut larger What do you want to cut the larger alien's corpse with? >rifle The rifle cannot cut anything. >i You are carrying: three ammo clips a rifle a prison warden's ID card four ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >take smaller Taken. >s Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. >drop it Dropped. >n Ops Center This appears to be the nerve center of the operation ? whatever that may be. The walls are lined with screens and control surfaces, but most of them seem to be inactive. You can see a larger alien's corpse here. >take it Taken. >s Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >w You can't go that way. >s Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >w Armory This "armory" is really more of a glorified storage closet: it is just large enough to hold a storage rack and an ammo crate. The only way out is east, back to the hallway. >e Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >n Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >s Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >s Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >w Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >put larger on couch Putting things on the couch would achieve nothing. >put larger on counter Putting things on the counters would achieve nothing. >put larger in table Those can't contain things. >put larger on table Putting things on the plain white tables would achieve nothing. >x table You see nothing interesting about the tables. They are boring, even by the low standards of tables. >x counter This must be where the food was handed out. Like most of the sparse furniture in here, there really isn't anything noteworthy about them: just white plastic surfaces with recessions for food bowls. >put larger on recessions Putting things on the counters would achieve nothing. >l Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >drop larger Dropped. >e Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >w Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. You can see a larger alien's corpse here. >take larger Taken. >e Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >e Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >n Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >in You can't go that way. >enter ship Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >put larger in cockpit You can't see any such thing. >put larger in notch You put the larger alien's corpse into the notch. >* Oops! I didn't understand that sentence. >l Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >x notch The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. A notch is in one of the control panels, ready to accept something. In the notch is a larger alien's corpse. >w You would have to get out of the messenger ship first. >out You get out of the messenger ship. Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >d You can't go that way. >s Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >n Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >w You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >w You can't go that way. >s Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >w Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >n Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >n Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >x smaller You see nothing special about the smaller alien's corpse. >search it The smaller alien's corpse is empty. >look under it You find nothing of interest. >x chairs They look to be the same plastic monstrosities you had to sit on throughout your years in school. >n Ops Center This appears to be the nerve center of the operation ? whatever that may be. The walls are lined with screens and control surfaces, but most of them seem to be inactive. >x screens You can't see any such thing. >x surfaces You can't see any such thing. >x control You can't see any such thing. >* Are most of them inactive, or are all of them? You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >x screen You can't see any such thing. >l Ops Center This appears to be the nerve center of the operation ? whatever that may be. The walls are lined with screens and control surfaces, but most of them seem to be inactive. >x active You can't see any such thing. >e You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >w You can't go that way. >nw You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >s Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >ne You can't go that way. >nw You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >e Briefing Room This looks to be a briefing or meeting room of some kind, presumably for the higher-ranking officers stationed here. A large round table stands in the middle of the room. A large screen hangs on one of the walls, with a lectern in front of it ? for when the communal discussion format doesn't cut it. Like most of the Shwabolian facilities you've seen so far, this room too is entirely devoid of decoration. The only way out is west, back into the lobby. >nw You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >e You can't go that way. >se You can't go that way. >s You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >x lectern A lectern stands in front of the screen, waiting for someone to step up and address those present in the room (which is none, at the moment). In keeping with everything you've seen so far, it lacks any seals, emblems, or insignia you might typically find on a lectern in a UNDC facility. >take lectern That's fixed in place. >orate I didn't understand that sentence. >give speech You can't see any such thing. >l Briefing Room This looks to be a briefing or meeting room of some kind, presumably for the higher-ranking officers stationed here. A large round table stands in the middle of the room. A large screen hangs on one of the walls, with a lectern in front of it ? for when the communal discussion format doesn't cut it. Like most of the Shwabolian facilities you've seen so far, this room too is entirely devoid of decoration. The only way out is west, back into the lobby. >x lectern A lectern stands in front of the screen, waiting for someone to step up and address those present in the room (which is none, at the moment). In keeping with everything you've seen so far, it lacks any seals, emblems, or insignia you might typically find on a lectern in a UNDC facility. >w Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >s Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >hint > Content Warning Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning > Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning > Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits > How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? > How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? > How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? > How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? > How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? > How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? > How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? > How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? > How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? > How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? > How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? 1/7: You'll need the keys, so to speak. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/7: You'll need the keys, so to speak. 2/7: Try finding the owner of the ship. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/7: You'll need the keys, so to speak. 2/7: Try finding the owner of the ship. 3/7: He's in the command center. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/7: You'll need the keys, so to speak. 2/7: Try finding the owner of the ship. 3/7: He's in the command center. 4/7: In the ops center, all the way to the north. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/7: You'll need the keys, so to speak. 2/7: Try finding the owner of the ship. 3/7: He's in the command center. 4/7: In the ops center, all the way to the north. 5/7: Bring a gun. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/7: You'll need the keys, so to speak. 2/7: Try finding the owner of the ship. 3/7: He's in the command center. 4/7: In the ops center, all the way to the north. 5/7: Bring a gun. 6/7: Once you've done that, ENTER THE SHIP and PUT CRYPT IN RECESS. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/7: You'll need the keys, so to speak. 2/7: Try finding the owner of the ship. 3/7: He's in the command center. 4/7: In the ops center, all the way to the north. 5/7: Bring a gun. 6/7: Once you've done that, ENTER THE SHIP and PUT CRYPT IN RECESS. 7/7: Now, BOOT UP SHIP. Press SPACE to return to the menu. How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? > How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? > How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? > How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? > How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? 1/8: The owner isn't going to return it willingly. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/8: The owner isn't going to return it willingly. 2/8: He seems hell-bent on killing you, so perhaps deal with that first. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/8: The owner isn't going to return it willingly. 2/8: He seems hell-bent on killing you, so perhaps deal with that first. 3/8: He is dead. It doesn't need to be pretty. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/8: The owner isn't going to return it willingly. 2/8: He seems hell-bent on killing you, so perhaps deal with that first. 3/8: He is dead. It doesn't need to be pretty. 4/8: You will need some kind of cutting tool. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/8: The owner isn't going to return it willingly. 2/8: He seems hell-bent on killing you, so perhaps deal with that first. 3/8: He is dead. It doesn't need to be pretty. 4/8: You will need some kind of cutting tool. 5/8: The shelf in the armory didn't seem to be very well made. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? > How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? > How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >w Armory This "armory" is really more of a glorified storage closet: it is just large enough to hold a storage rack and an ammo crate. The only way out is east, back to the hallway. >x shelf It is a very simple design, made of plain metal struts with rather sharp edges. >* Ah, I see You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >* That's reasonable I think I didn't understand that sentence. >take strut You can't see any such thing. >x strut You can't see any such thing. >break shelf You pull apart the frame of the shelf, giving you a piece of metal with a rather sharp edge. >i You are carrying: a makeshift knife three ammo clips a rifle a prison warden's ID card four ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >e Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >n Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >e Briefing Room This looks to be a briefing or meeting room of some kind, presumably for the higher-ranking officers stationed here. A large round table stands in the middle of the room. A large screen hangs on one of the walls, with a lectern in front of it ? for when the communal discussion format doesn't cut it. Like most of the Shwabolian facilities you've seen so far, this room too is entirely devoid of decoration. The only way out is west, back into the lobby. >e You can't go that way. >w Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >s Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >e You can't go that way. >n Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >e Briefing Room This looks to be a briefing or meeting room of some kind, presumably for the higher-ranking officers stationed here. A large round table stands in the middle of the room. A large screen hangs on one of the walls, with a lectern in front of it ? for when the communal discussion format doesn't cut it. Like most of the Shwabolian facilities you've seen so far, this room too is entirely devoid of decoration. The only way out is west, back into the lobby. >w Command Center Lobby You are standing in a sparsely furnished lobby. Some chairs are lined up on a wall, but that's about it. A briefing room is to the east, the ops center lies to the north, and the hallway leading back to the entrance is south. You can see a smaller alien's corpse here. >s Entry Hallway This is the entry area into the base's command center, where those in charge would no doubt hold briefings, discuss command decisions, and do other important officer things. (In all your years of military service, you've never felt a desire to move up into the officer ranks yourself, even though there were plenty of open spots in the newly-unified military.) A small armory is to the west, and the hallway continues to the north. The way out is south, through the door. >s Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >e Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >n Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >in You can't go that way. >enter ship Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >cut larger What do you want to cut the larger alien's corpse with? >knife You double-check inside the creature's mouth, but no dice. With a sigh, you kneel down in the puddle of blood now surrounding the body. You carefully postion the makeshift knife, plunging it deep into the dead creature's abdominal area; guts, blood, and other bodily fluids spilling out and onto your armored legs as you cut. With the incision complete, you take a second to steel yourself before reaching into the abdominal cavity. After a minute or so of fishing around in the bloody soup, you find the object of your desire: a small data crypt, which the creature swallowed when you came into the room. It appears to be undamaged. You feel like throwing up. >* ugh I didn't understand that sentence. >x crypt A small storage device you salvaged from the innards of one of your captors. >put it in notch You put the data crypt into the notch. >l Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >take crypt Taken. >s You would have to get out of the messenger ship first. >out You get out of the messenger ship. Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >u You can't go that way. >s Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >u Control Tower You are standing in a room built into the wall near the ceiling of the cavernous hangar. Normally, no craft would enter or leave the airspace around the facility without the approval of the air-traffic controllers on duty here, but now it is deserted. The only way out is down, back into the hangar. A large window overlooks the landing pad outside. A desk festooned with screens and buttons is mounted below the window. >x desk This desk must be the place from which most of the air traffic going into and out of this place is controlled. It is festooned with screens, buttons, and switches, but three elements stick out: a switch labeled FORCE FIELD, one labeled LAUNCH DOORS, and a large red button. >push red The system beeps, but nothing more happens. >d Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >n Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >hint > Content Warning Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning > Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning > Unusual Verbs Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits > How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? > How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? > How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? > How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? > How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? > How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? > How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? > How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? > How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? > How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? > How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? > How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? > How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? > How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? > How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? > How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? > How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? 1/9: You'll need to get it out of the hangar first. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/9: You'll need to get it out of the hangar first. 2/9: The control room (UP from the hangar) has control over that. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/9: You'll need to get it out of the hangar first. 2/9: The control room (UP from the hangar) has control over that. 3/9: OPEN LAUNCH DOORS first. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/9: You'll need to get it out of the hangar first. 2/9: The control room (UP from the hangar) has control over that. 3/9: OPEN LAUNCH DOORS first. 4/9: Then, PUSH RED BUTTON. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/9: You'll need to get it out of the hangar first. 2/9: The control room (UP from the hangar) has control over that. 3/9: OPEN LAUNCH DOORS first. 4/9: Then, PUSH RED BUTTON. 5/9: The ship is now outside. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/9: You'll need to get it out of the hangar first. 2/9: The control room (UP from the hangar) has control over that. 3/9: OPEN LAUNCH DOORS first. 4/9: Then, PUSH RED BUTTON. 5/9: The ship is now outside. 6/9: Go out, then ENTER SHIP. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/9: You'll need to get it out of the hangar first. 2/9: The control room (UP from the hangar) has control over that. 3/9: OPEN LAUNCH DOORS first. 4/9: Then, PUSH RED BUTTON. 5/9: The ship is now outside. 6/9: Go out, then ENTER SHIP. 7/9: Boot up the ship, if you haven't already. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/9: You'll need to get it out of the hangar first. 2/9: The control room (UP from the hangar) has control over that. 3/9: OPEN LAUNCH DOORS first. 4/9: Then, PUSH RED BUTTON. 5/9: The ship is now outside. 6/9: Go out, then ENTER SHIP. 7/9: Boot up the ship, if you haven't already. 8/9: Finally, TAKE OFF. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? > How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? > How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? > How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? > How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? > How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? How do I start up the ship? > How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? 1/7: You'll need the keys, so to speak. 2/7: Try finding the owner of the ship. 3/7: He's in the command center. 4/7: In the ops center, all the way to the north. 5/7: Bring a gun. 6/7: Once you've done that, ENTER THE SHIP and PUT CRYPT IN RECESS. 7/7: Now, BOOT UP SHIP. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? How do I leave the cell? How do I leave the prison building? How do I avoid dying outside? How do I cross the water? How do I unlock the door to the command center? How do I return to the prison island? How do I pass the force field to the hangar? > How do I start up the ship? How do I avoid getting shot? How do I retrieve the swallowed object? How do I launch the ship? How do I return home? Content Warning Unusual Verbs > Hints Contacting the Author Credits Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >boot up shit You can't see any such thing. >in You can't go that way. >enter ship Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >x controls You can't see any such thing. >x notch The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. A notch is in one of the control panels, ready to accept something. In the notch is a larger alien's corpse. >take larger Taken. >l Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >i You are carrying: a larger alien's corpse a data crypt a makeshift knife three ammo clips a rifle a prison warden's ID card four ration bars your armor (being worn) some bedsheets a set of fatigues (being worn) >put crypt in nothc You can't see any such thing. >put crypt in notch You put the data crypt into the notch. >l Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels are dark and blank. >x notch The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. The data crypts rests in its place in the control panel. In the notch is a data crypt. >boot up ship Luckily, earth scientists were able to get their hands on a similar model of Shwabolian ship, so your suit is able to guide you through most of the pre-flight checks. You press the button that your suit indicates as being the main switch for the ship. One by one, the messenger ship's systems come alive around you. The ship is now ready for launch. >* Wow I would not have gotten that I don't think I didn't understand that sentence. >x suit It is sometimes said that a soldier's best friend is his weapon ? but that hasn't really been true in a while now, with weapons being issued and turned in as needed. Your armor, however, has traveled to many a world with you, and saved your hide more than once. You're glad to have it back. It is fitted with a helmet lamp, and it can double as a space suit, providing air in hostile environments. It's covered with a lot of blood and other... things. You should really find a place to clean up. >out You get out of the messenger ship. Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >s Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >w Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >w Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >w Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >s Communal Washroom This would be the place where the garrison force (if one can call it that, given the size of the facility) takes care of personal hygiene. It is a sterile-looking room, white tiles covering the floor and the walls all the way up to the ceiling. Four sinks and mirrors are installed on one wall, four toilets on another, the remaining two have two showers each. It doesn't seem like the Shwabolians care a whole lot about privacy, seeing as there are no dividers of any kind in the room. The only way out is north, back to the barracks. >shower You turn on one of the showers and let the water run over you. The mud and blood slide off your gear and collect on the floor before finding their way down the drain. >x me In your armored suit you almost look soldierly again. >n Barracks You are standing in the sleeping area of the barracks. Like the entire facility so far, the room is designed in a very utilitarian manner, with no decoration or personal touches. You can go east, back to the mess hall, or south, into the washroom. Four stacked bunk beds are lined up on the walls. >e Mess Hall This is the entry area to what must be the barracks of this place. The area near the entrance is set up like a mess hall, with tables and counters, while the back of the room is set up more casually, with pillows on the floor and even a couch. You've never seen a couch in a military facility in your life. You could go east, back outside, or west, further into the building. >e Military Complex Plaza This base must be the heart of the operations ? in this area, at least. There are several places you could go from here. The shoreline and the docks lie to the south. The hangar lies to the east. A smaller building, labeled "Barracks", lies to the west, and a larger building with a sign reading "Command Center", blocked off by a door, lies to the north. >e Hangar This large, cavernous space where dropships and other small craft can be stored when not in use. It is currently empty. You could go north, through the launch doors and onto the landing pad, west, back to the plaza, or up to the control room. >e You can't go that way. >n Landing Strip You are standing on the tarmac of a small landing pad. It's not long enough for a fixed-wing atmospheric craft to take off, but perfectly adequate for the vertical take-off and landing operation of a space-capable vessel. You could go south, through the launch doors and back into the hangar. You can see a messenger ship here. >enter ship Landing Strip (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels in front of you inform you that all systems of the ship are in working order. >x panels The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. The data crypts rests in its place in the control panel. In the notch is a data crypt. >x panel The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. The data crypts rests in its place in the control panel. In the notch is a data crypt. >launch ship You get into the pilot's seat and take a few seconds to collect your thoughts. While you didn't perform absolutely terribly on the simulator tryouts in bootcamp, there is certainly a reason why you were placed with the space-borne infantry rather than in a dropship wing. ... no time for second thoughts. It's either this, or staying on this planet until you either starve or your captors return and discover what you did. After all, you (hopefully) won't need to fly any combat maneuvers, just take off and make orbit. You push your doubts aside and follow the pointers provided by you armor's computer system. Half an hour later, you have safely left the atmosphere and have settled into a stable low orbit. Planetary Orbit (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels in front of you inform you that all systems of the ship are in working order. >x panels The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. The data crypts rests in its place in the control panel. In the notch is a data crypt. >l Planetary Orbit (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels in front of you inform you that all systems of the ship are in working order. >call for help I didn't understand that sentence. >w You don't really have anywhere to go in normal space. >n You don't really have anywhere to go in normal space. >u You are already in space. >fly ship I didn't understand that sentence. >fly I didn't understand that sentence. >hail I didn't understand that sentence. >l Planetary Orbit (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels in front of you inform you that all systems of the ship are in working order. >x systems You can't see any such thing. >x panel The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. The data crypts rests in its place in the control panel. In the notch is a data crypt. >x screen The panels surrounding you are festooned with buttons and switches. You hope that most of them aren't too important. The data crypts rests in its place in the control panel. In the notch is a data crypt. >out You get out of the messenger ship. Planetary Orbit You float in space, several hundred kilometers above the planet's sickly yellowish surface. The time has come to finally return home. Or, if you really must, you could attempt to break orbit and land back at the facility. You can see a messenger ship here. >* huh I didn't understand that sentence. >u You don't really have anywhere to go in normal space. >out You don't really have anywhere to go in normal space. >return home Without a ship? Good luck. >land (the messenger ship) You can't remote-control the messenger ship. Also, doing that would leave you stranded out here. >in You don't really have anywhere to go in normal space. >enter ship Planetary Orbit (in the messenger ship) You are sitting in the cockpit of the messenger ship. The control panels in front of you inform you that all systems of the ship are in working order. >land ship >* oops! I didn't understand that sentence. >break orbit You are already in space. >return hoe I didn't understand that sentence. >return home While your sudden appearance in the solar system caused some confusion and concern, the transmission of your identification codes ? and showing your face on video comms ? dissuaded the combined military forces in the area from blowing you to pieces. Against your own expectations, you manage to land the ship in the hangar of one of the fleet's large carriers. Despite the prospect of hours upon hours of debriefings from all levels of command, and probably military intelligence as well, you are glad to be back. *** You have returned home *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, or read some author's NOTES about this story? > notes Thank you for playing "Return to the Stars"! The general premise of needing to escape from captivity on an alien world occurred to me in early 2018, but as things often go in life, I was busy with other projects, so the idea was set aside and mostly forgotten about. The announcement of ParserComp 2021 brought the concept back to my mind, I reduced the scope somewhat, and in April '21 I finally sat down and started working on the implementation in earnest ? partially out of sheer boredom, some five months into Germany's second COVID lockdown. Its release marks the first time I actually finish and publish a piece of IF. With the minor history lesson out of the way, it is time for some acknowledgements. While it is often said in writing circles that "everything has been done before", and that it's all about the individual author's take on a certain concept, I think it is only fair for me to acknowledge the major source of inspiration for "Return": Marko Kloos' Frontlines novel series. (And probably half a dozen others, subconsciously, but that's usually the one that comes to my mind when I think "military SF". I highly recommend it.) As such, the appearance of certain names or phrases, such as space-borne infantry, is no coincidence. (Rest assured, however, that this is not just a barely-concealed fanficion.) And, last but not least, a huge THANK YOU to my playtesters, who helped catch a number of larger and smaller issues in the game: Lucas Beringer, Erik Schwejda, Edo, and Peter M.J. Gross. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, or read some author's NOTES about this story? >