Homeworld – Gravity’s Finish

“Welcome, human. My identify is Exegesis, and I’m the chief of the White Hand. What would you’ve gotten of me?”

I can ask him about his identify, to which he says it means “Bringer of Information.” That is not truly what the phrase means, although. Usually I’ve seen it used to discuss with a cautious clarification of a textual content, most frequently the Bible. I suppose an individual who performs exegesis is type of a bringer of information, however it’s kind of tangential.

Once I ask him in regards to the group, he solely says, “The Hand is a choose group of Heechee that comply with sure beliefs. Though most within the Core consider that Lifting prolongs life indefinitely, the Hand feels in a different way.”

He explains extra about why the Ancestors are simply copies later.

I get totally different responses to that, largely expressing bemusement or confusion. I do not know what he is speaking about both. “Lifting”? Happily, it would not appear to matter a lot what I reply, after which he explains:

“When a Heechee dies, he’s Lifted into the Historical Ancestors. His character is electronically copied into dataspace. There, he functionally exists eternally. The Hand, nevertheless, believes that this copy just isn’t really the Heechee that died. It is just a pc program, made to behave and react precisely as he did in life.”

“A replica could be fabricated from a residing Heechee. If that is finished, the copy will perform the identical as the unique. This does not drain the life from the Heechee. They coexist simply. Subsequently, since we all know that the Heechee’s consciousness just isn’t transferred to the copy earlier than demise, why ought to or not it’s any totally different after? No. When a Heechee dies, his consciousness goes elsewhere, not into a pc. The Heechee wish to consider that this system IS the unique to flee grief.”

I can react in quite a lot of methods, to which he says:

“I suppose it might sound unusual to somebody who hasn’t been raised in Heechee society. In any case, we’re undecided the place the id goes. Most of us consider in the next energy, a celestial collective consciousness. After we die, we contribute our id and experiences to it. The Historical Ancestors are parodies of this extension of life.”

I can ask in regards to the Ancestors, to which he says they’re handled as second-class residents, made to do issues that the residing Heechee do not wish to do, typically issues which are perilous or tedious. Oddly sufficient, whereas they often haven’t any voting rights on the Council, Fogram is an exception. I ask him extra about Fogram (the PC calls him a “slimeball”), and he offers me these juicy particulars:

“Sure. By means of his affect with the First Seat, Fogram controls the council. He has finished so since his Lifting, 1000’s of years in the past. Earlier than then, he WAS the First Seat. He was the one who led the Heechee into hiding. Many felt that fleeing was a mistake, however the tragic demise of his chief political enemy cemented his energy. Whereas he stays, our arms are tied.”

If that is not suspicious, I do not know what’s. Even when it is suspected that Fogram was concerned, the statute of limitations on the demise of that political enemy has absolutely lengthy since run out. However there needs to be a approach to eliminate Fogram not less than quickly.

After fairly a little bit of chatter, we get all the way down to the actual drawback: I am stranded right here within the Core whereas the Assassins will quickly destroy Earth, which has been betrayed from inside. Exegesis goes on to say:

“I sympathize together with your scenario, as does the Hand. Now that you’ve got confirmed that there’s different sentient life within the galaxy, the Heechee haven’t any extra excuses to stay hiding on this Black Gap. We’re far too insular. At greatest, we should always emerge and help your race towards the Foe. This may by no means occur with the present council.”

“At worst, I consider that, if you want, you deserve the correct to die together with your race. We’ll do what we will to make this doable. Technicians of the Hand have checked out your ship and have found three main elements lacking. These elements work collectively to pierce the Black Gap’s occasion horizon. With out them, you’re caught contained in the Core.”

That is massively illogical technomagic. Presumably worse than instantaneous seed progress.

Aha, I sense a fetch quest! I ask him if he has the elements, and he says no, as a result of these elements are managed by the council. The three elements are the Cohesion Subject Generator, the Gravity Lens, and the Nav Knowledge Chip. I can ask extra about every of those and he offers me some technobabble. The generator and lens defend towards the gravity of the black gap by strengthening matter (this could truly trigger all types of bodily points, however we’ll simply ignore that). The lens negates or reverses gravity on its supply. And the nav chip helps the ship navigate the occasion horizon utilizing particular applications and calculations.

Whereas the White Hand can not straight assist me get the elements, they may give me some hints on how I can get them. The generator is perhaps discovered along side an archaeological crew, which makes use of them to help partitions in underground dig websites. Conveniently, he says:

“It simply so occurs that I do know of such a website close by. The discover, an historical carved column, is the principle help for the encircling cave. Their makes an attempt to take away the buildup of 1000’s of years brought about it to crack. They shortly put the Subject Generator on the column and left to acquire help in shoring up the positioning. They’re nonetheless ready for additional funding. Right here is the course code.” He arms you a metallic card. “If you could find a approach to take away the Generator with out bringing the positioning down in your head, it’s yours.”

That sounds tough, however it’s a strong lead. However, he is aware of far much less about gravity lenses by some means, however that is high quality, as a result of I already know the place there is a lens: within the elevator shaft within the Place of Seeing observatory. Really taking it won’t be as simple as that, however I do know the place it’s not less than.

He is much more pessimistic in regards to the nav chip, saying, “There aren’t any different makes use of for this chip. Its solely goal is to information spacecraft by means of the occasion horizon. I do not know the place you would discover one with out stealing one other ship, which is inconceivable.” The one objects that the Heechee intentionally ship by means of the black gap to regular area are their probes, so there must be a approach to discover a nav chip within the probe space on the administration planet.

The one different factor to ask is what to do once I even have all of the issues, and the reply is easy: return to the temple and his engineers right here will set up them on my ship in order that I can go residence. The final choice to say to him is: “All proper. I am going to do it. Stand again and watch my mud.” Ha, that is the spirit! The PC is moderately assured at this level, impressively so. Since that is an journey recreation, I do know there is a approach to do all this, but when I have been truly stranded inside a black gap in an alien tradition, I think about I’d be loads much less sanguine about having the ability to succeed.

Our dialog completed, he needs me luck, and off I am going. I feel I am going to deal with the generator first because it’s one other new location and I even have some concepts about the way to go about it. I discover as I go away that Exegesis and his gestures and such “by some means appear acquainted.” I feel he is perhaps Convergence, the member of the Council that appeared to favor me, however I do not bear in mind for certain.

Once I return to the ship, I routinely put the brand new course card into the controls [10]. The dig website is only some kilometers away from the temple on the identical barren world. I comply with the trail round a brief means and into the dig website itself, supported by a cracked column. The generator is a small black field with a purple flashing mild on the entrance.

The pillar seems very precarious…

…even with vines round it.

Naturally, grabbing the field straight away is a horrible concept. I’ve a greater concept, although. I plant all the remainder of the seeds on the base of the column in order that the ironweed vines develop up and stabilize the column and even the ceiling [15]. They’re described as being as arduous as iron, in order that they’re fairly robust. Now I can seize the generator field with out hazard [5]. As I do, one thing shiny falls out of the rubble, which I additionally seize [5]. It appears to be some form of badge, labeled “Subject Science,” in all probability dropped by a member of the archaeological crew. This is perhaps helpful for getting one of many different objects.

I return to the Place of Seeing and begin eager about the way to get the lens. The elevator shaft is not accessible from throughout the observatory room, however close to the constructing is the alleyway resulting in the sewers. What if the sewer space has entry to the elevator shaft by some means? I am going across the nook and down the steps after which stare dubiously on the channel of sewage operating between me and the far facet of the room.

Sewage in all probability nonetheless smells terrible when stabilized, although.

I haven’t got any apparent approach to cross the sewage, however after considering for somewhat bit, I understand I’ve a non-obvious means: the generator. It was stabilizing a crumbling column, so maybe it might solidify sewage. Gingerly I place the generator on the sewage, the place it promptly begins to sink in. I press the button, and it really works [15]! I can now stroll throughout the solidified sewage and enter the upkeep tube on the opposite facet. Past that may be a tube junction resulting in an enormous shaft that extends vertically in each instructions.

The eyes are all the time watching.

Whereas I can climb up the rungs hooked up to the tube for some time, I do not discover something up there. Notice that I am unable to climb whereas holding something, so I can put the badge away contained in the Heechee pod I have been sporting and go away the pouch within the upkeep tube for now. Once I climb down, I discover a tightly closed metallic disk within the ground. This seems promising, however there is not any approach to open the disk by hand. I climb again as much as the junction and think about this.

The gravity lens is designed to catch the elevator if it ought to occur to get broken and fall down the shaft. The shaft is described as having sensors in rings across the inside to detect falling objects. So first I strive throwing the pouch into the shaft, however I am not allowed to do that. It in all probability would not be efficient anyway. Effectively, there’s just one factor left to do, and it won’t be the final silly factor I find yourself doing earlier than that is throughout, however what have I received to lose at this level?

Trapped inside a black gap with an insular alien race that largely would not care if my complete race is annihilated by an historical and lethal foe so long as they keep out of it, I throw myself into the elevator shaft.

The disk opens simply in time…

…permitting me to seize the prize earlier than it closes.

I hurtle downwards, inflicting the sensors to mild up. The ground of the shaft shortly approaches, and I watch for near-certain demise. But it would not come. One thing buzzes and the disk within the ground opens, revealing a glowing lens. Gravity reverses simply sufficient to convey me to a mild cease simply above the ground [20]. The disk begins closing, so I attain out and take the lens simply in time [10]. I drop the final meter to the ground and look at my prize triumphantly. It truly seems like a traditional clear lens a couple of inches in diameter.

That is two of the three objects proper there. I tuck the lens contained in the pod and climb up and out of the shaft, retrieving the pouch on the prime. I do not assume the empty pouch is helpful for a lot of something, however the recreation hasn’t taken it away from me, so I’d as properly hold it for now. I had additionally swiped the guard’s thermos again once I drugged him, in order that’s accessible as properly, though I doubt it has a lot use both. I proceed again throughout the hardened sewage, disabling the sector generator on the opposite facet and accumulating it earlier than it disappears into the sludge. (I did check this and located that objects allowed to sink into the sewage are gone completely. It is definitely doable to make the sport unwinnable this fashion.)

Accessing the command heart with the borrowed badge.

Now I can return to the ship and fly again to the Administration Planet dock to pursue the third merchandise quest, the nav chip. Within the dock space with the probes, the technician had informed me that solely the scientists have been allowed to enter the command heart and take care of programming the probes. Effectively, now I’ve received myself a science badge from the archaeology dig. So I boldly strategy the sensor on the northern door. Certainly, the sensor is glad by the badge and opens the door to permit me to enter [10].

Sadly, I’m not certain if I’ve what I want but. I am unable to actually work together with something within the command heart aside from the probe focusing on management, which permits me to set a four-character code identical to all the opposite navigation controls within the recreation. I appeared again in my notes to seek out the code for Earth and entered it. Nothing occurred once I pressed the massive yellow launch button, although. I attempted closing out of the console and reopening it, and this time the code was inexperienced and I might set off the launch. Nonetheless, that did not appear to do something for me; it simply launched a probe. I suppose Earth goes to finish up getting a pair additional random probes on account of my flailing round right here. No person right here appears to note or care that I’ve truly managed to launch a probe, both.

I simply had an concept, although. I run again to the ship and notice the coordinates for the temple planet. I’ll see if I can commandeer a probe and swipe the nav chip from it. The temple website is a sound code, so I ship off the probe [10]. I am validated by the truth that I get factors for this, too!

The technicians are actually environment friendly when the probe disappears in actually a minute.

I hurry off to the temple website. Apparently, my ship travels sooner than a probe, as a result of there’s nothing there once I arrive. Amid the nattering of the guidething, I watch for a couple of minutes and am happy to note a flare on the horizon shortly. The probe approaches overhead and lands arduous, burying its nostril within the filth. I shortly have a look at it, however at the same time as I do, the Heechee on the temple emerge and disassemble the probe. I hope which means they received the nav chip we want.

I enter the temple and converse with Exegesis once more. Once I ask in regards to the probe, he assures me that they did take the nav chip from it and have instantly begun putting in it on my ship. I also can inform him I’ve the opposite two issues, to which I get this reply:

“My congratulations, human. I did not consider that it was doable.” Convergence takes the 2 elements from you and disappears with them. In a second, he reenters the room. “Whilst we converse, technicians are putting in the elements in your ship. Quickly, you may be free from the maintain of the Council. It’s a disgrace, nevertheless, that you haven’t any approach to overtake your enemies. If solely we had the TransWarp Drive theories. Ah, a pity. Farewell, my buddy.”

Did you see that? The sport has already outright confirmed my suspicion that Exegesis is Convergence. However what is the TransWarp Drive? Come on, you are not going to say a factor like that with out giving me the chance to accumulate it, proper? I ask him in regards to the drive, and he explains:

“Effectively, faster-than-light drives all are inclined to journey at roughly equal speeds. A very long time in the past, an inventor referred to as Solifluction developed theories for a TransWarp drive – a drive that will enhance the velocity of a ship exponentially. The theories have been misplaced together with the inventor in a tragic accident.”

Backstory! Full with “coincidences”.

I ask him for extra info. This was apparently 1000’s of years in the past, when the Heechee did not have the expertise to truly create a drive that will apply these theories. Solifluction was additionally the engineer who led the Protect Generator mission, which was developed and constructed, however then deserted, inactive, as a result of Fogram took over the Council after Solifluction died and led the Heechee to cover within the Core as a substitute of dealing with the Assassins. Solifluction perished in an accident with one of many protect turbines overloading and utterly destroying him with no means so as to add him to the digital Ancestors. Some suspect Fogram may need brought about the accident, however Heechee virtually by no means act out of that form of malice, so it was by no means confirmed.

No person else knew a lot of something in regards to the theories. Solifluction’s father Astatine may need, however whereas he was a part of the Ancestor minds, Solifluction carried him round in his pod, so he was destroyed when Solifluction was. The one different one was Solifluction’s closest buddy Raphide, who was additionally Lifted to the Ancestors after he died, which was quickly after Solifluction died. Nonetheless, he has been utterly out of contact, not responding to any messages.

That is curious, as a result of I acknowledge that identify. I test again in my notes and discover that I had acquired a message signed “Raphide” after my first lecture. The message mentioned he was eager about listening to in regards to the protect turbines. Effectively, that is not shocking  now, given the connections to Solifluction. It is one of many few issues that might have drawn Raphide out of his isolation, apparently.

Once I point out the message from Raphide, I get this amusing and really detailed response:

“YOU’VE RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM RAPHIDE? That is unprecedented! However then, you engaged the Protect Mills. Naturally he’d be eager about how they labored. That is unbelievable! We should use this chance to attract him out. It so occurs that I’ve some info that Raphide will discover fascinating. We are able to use it to convey him to you. Settle your self, for I’ve to inform you a narrative.”

“Ages in the past, earlier than the good exodus into the Core, the Excessive Council was led by Fogram. Solifluction and Fogram have been dire political enemies and their faction divided the council. Fogram needed to cover from the Foe whereas Solifluction wished to divert the Murderer’s consideration because the Heechee remained within the galaxy and made able to confront them. Solifluction had sufficient clout to start the Protect Generator mission, certainly, virtually sufficient to see it to its conclusion.”

“Solifluction was aided by his lifeless father, Astatine. However at some point, whereas they have been testing the facility core in one of many Mills, a weird power discipline erupted. The radiation scrambled the datastore that contained his father’s character. Astatine didn’t die, however he went insane, and he was in ache each second of his existence. With Raphide’s help, Solifluction petitioned the council to erase Astatine’s character. Fogram denied it.”

“Solifluction believed that Fogram’s choice was a private assault. He started a political marketing campaign to depose Fogram which gained followers at an alarming fee. He may need made an actual distinction in Heechee historical past if a tragic explosion had not claimed his life. His physique was destroyed earlier than he may very well be Lifted. All assumed that Astatine was destroyed as properly, so the purpose of the rise up turned moot.”

“It was unthinkable by the peace-loving Heechee race that Fogram might have engineered the accident. Sane Heechee merely can not commit crimes of that magnitude. The demise of Solifluction cemented Fogram’s energy, although. The Heechee fled into the Black Gap and left the Protect Mills for another person to activate. Quickly after, Raphide died and was Lifted into the Massed Minds. That is all frequent data. What follows just isn’t.”

“Someway, Fogram managed to save lots of Astatine from the accident. Regardless of his madness, Solifluction’s father was nonetheless a technical genius. Fogram had many makes use of for his data. Even immediately, Fogram makes use of Astatine for his private tasks.”

At this level, I get the chance to ask a couple of extra questions, though Convergence would not know much more than that. No person appears to understand how Fogram managed to protect Astatine’s thoughts from the accident, naturally, since it is not frequent data that it occurred in any respect. However Fogram is at the moment busy with the “Aesthemis Venture” which derives from one of many constellation names. The mission is within the Place of Studying, so in fact it’ll be within the mysterious but accessible constructing with a code lock on the door. There is a strong lead.

Additionally, Raphide can be drawn out by the necessity to end the job of deleting Astatine and releasing him from his digital jail imposed by Fogram. Raphide has been hiding by utilizing digital wards, however he is already been drawn to contact me as soon as. If I can say one thing in my subsequent lecture about Astatine, however subtly as to not alert Fogram, Raphide will certainly contact me once more.

My suspicions have been formally confirmed!

Now I can ask Convergence how Raphide will consider me. Effectively, I seen the sooner slip that confirmed his id, however now he pulls again his cowl and formally reveals himself. So, I can inform Raphide I realized about Astatine from Convergence, which can be sufficient for Raphide to consider me. Convergence additionally admits that he hides his id as a result of it will be political suicide to do in any other case, so I might higher not reveal him to anybody else. As soon as I’ve spoken with Raphide, I ought to return to the temple and we’ll resolve what to do subsequent. Convergence hopes that Raphide will inform me what we have to know in regards to the TransWarp drive, however he won’t.

As soon as I am completed speaking to Convergence, I hurry again over to the town and journey over to the Place of Studying. An attendant informs me {that a} lecture can be organized for an hour from now, which is fascinating as a result of the time appears to be almost 2 AM. At one level, I attempted to return to my room and sleep, however the recreation tells me I’ve an excessive amount of to do to sleep!

The constellation Aesthemis unlocks…

…Fogram’s not-so-secret lab.

Presumably one other guard/assistant may present up sooner or later, so I instantly flip my consideration to the locked door. The grid of buttons is 5×5. I look again in my notes and discover the Aesthemis constellation, which seems a bit like an uneven arrowhead. It is not instantly apparent how the form is proportioned, however I take note of the relative areas of the celebrities and place them within the grid, and it really works. The door opens, and I step into Fogram’s lab [15]. Subsequent time we’ll discover out what Fogram’s been engaged on and see if we will contact Raphide and Astatine.

Deaths:

Leaping into the elevator shaft after having eliminated the gravity lens. (#22)

Returning to Earth proper after buying the flexibility to take action, earlier than finishing the TransWarp arc. (#23)

It is a uncommon demise that really offers a brief cutscene moderately than only a textual content response. As soon as we have collected the three objects to repair the ship and handed them over to Exegesis/Convergence on the temple, we will go forward and take a look at touring again to Earth, which with out TransWarp takes weeks. In consequence, we’re too late to cease the Assassins, who’ve destroyed all the things. Our ship can also be destroyed by an Murderer Watcher.

The sport would not actually monitor macro time elapsed whereas fixing puzzles regardless that there are some puzzles which have cut-off dates measured in turns or minutes, so it nonetheless could also be doable to attend round for weeks’ value of turns and nonetheless be capable of comply with the plot and cease the Assassins by fixing the puzzles the correct means. I am not going to trouble testing this.

Rating: 1175

Deaths: 23

Stock: pouch (sporting: blue coverall, Heechee pod, science badge)

(The sector generator, gravity lens, and navigation chip have been acquired throughout this session however delivered to the temple.)

Session Time: 2 hours

Whole Time: 17.5 hours

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