Let's Play The Ur-Quan Masters
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Chapter 1: Meeting the Neighbors
Part 3: *Words*
The Spathi now in allegiance with us, I can build their ships at the starbase. However, my next move is not to return home.
Along the way, I'll skim over the part where I furiously plunder a few star systems for riches. From the Spathi home system of Epsilon Gruis, I trundle over to Gamma Gruis (treasure world, sapphire world, and a smattering of extraterrestrial data). Then, it's off to Gamma Vitalis (ruby world), before leaving Spathi space.
What strange adventures await us in the Vulpeculae cluster, you might ask?
Very, very strange ones!
I should mention that, in the backstory to this game, a nice race called the Androsynth used to occupy this region of space. Now, these guys are here instead.
COMPUTER
INCOMING MESSAGE EXTREMELY UNUSUAL IN COMPOSITION. TRANSLATION INCLUDES MAN LINGUAL ANOMALIES. OVERALL ACCURACY OF TRANSLATION IS: UNKNOWN
ORZ
Hello extremely! I hope you like to *play*. Some *campers* are not so good for *games*. Is it time for *playing* yet?
ZELNICK
Who are you? What can you tell us about yourselves?
ORZ
Who are you? You are not Orz! We are Orz! Orz are happy *people energy* from the outside. Inside is good So much good that Orz will always *germinate*. Can you come together with Orz for *parties*?
ZELNICK
Okay, right. Uh... maybe you could tell me why you are here.
ORZ
Here is *bright* and *smooth*. The other place is *hurt* Orz too much tired for keeping together. Other place is *Frumple*. Orz are here not, but almost not yet. Soon Orz are really here! You are help Orz with *parties*. Orz looking for you, and find you. So much joy!! Now *smooth* place all the time, and after now never going back to outside. Never!!
ZELNICK
Our charts show this as Androsynth space. Do you know what happened to them?
ORZ
Androsynth are not here. Orze are here. You are not the same too much like Androsynth. You are *happy campers*. Do you want to see our surprising *toys*? No!! Do not!! Androsynth are so silly. We do not *tell stories* a lot about them. No more Androsynth *stories*.
((As much as I would like to continue to press them about this, inquiring too strongly about the Androsynth makes the Orz try to kill you forever. So, let's back off for now.))
ZELNICK
Uh, taht's okay. I didn't really care about them so much anyway.
ORZ
Ahaa! I am told other Orz *cousins* you are *connected* for *camping*. I am so right! It is happiest days to not care about Androsynth anything. So now we can be *together* for friendly *dessert*. I am so right. I will tell them again.
ZELNICK
Greetings. I am Captain Zelnick, of the starship Vindicator. We are having some difficulty translating your messages.
ORZ
Yes, of course. Difficulty. Problems are difficult. Let's be *special* together. *Spicy games* are always fun.
ZELNICK
You seem like friendly fellows. Perhaps you could aid us in our mission?
ORZ
Yes. Yes. We are too friendly. Extremely happy *sisters* should correct each other for *celebration*. So much enjoyment! Shall we come to your *house* so that we can be *relatives*?
ZELNICK
Uh.... I presume you are talking about an alliance. Yes, we are very interested.
ORZ
Jumping *peppers*!! This is smiley time! You are *campers* after all!! We will start *alliance* *parties* for better enjoyment!
Hhhhhuh. Okay, that was easy enough. Stopping by the emerald world in this system, we take a moment to scour the various Vulpeculae systems, in search of a certain thing...
I find it in short order, in Delta Vulpeculae:
ORZ
Why? The reason. *Camper friends* have come to Taalo *Playground*. Why are you coming to this?
ZELNICK
Why are you here at this planet?
ORZ
I will tell. This is Taalo *Playground*. Do you know? Taalo is not anymore the *heavy space*. They are not here. To *play* with Taalo, Orz must *spread* into *Pretty Space*. There are so many good places for this here, Orz are happy. Of cours you do not know Taalo. You are *Campers*. You cannot going to *Pretty Space*, too bad.
ZELNICK
Would you mind if we did a bit of exploring on the planet's surface?
ORZ
You are askif Orz are upset? Orz are not upset. You are *happy campers*. Certainly you are only *slow time* *walkers*. It is not fun on the surface in *slow time*. If you want to go, that is okay.
In addition to being a treasure world (score!), there's an interesting thing down here:
Those guys sure built it to last. Simple radiometrics show an age in excess of 20,000 years.
Regardless of how old it is, it continues to radiate energy all up and down the EMR spectrum, with a concentration of emissisions in the red/infrared range.
...There's more to this report, but I accidentally skipped past it. The relevant info will all be repeated near the end here. Short version: I got the Taalo Device. It will come in handy much, much later.
All right, so we've got what we came for. We've made two new friends. Time to check in with the starbase, with only 18 fuel to spare!
HAYES
Captain, a delegation of Spathi has just arrived here under orders from their High Council to form an alliance and assist you against the Hierarchy! They have provided fabricator blueprint data for their 'Eluder' spacecraft, and promise a steady supply of captains for as many ships as we build. Excellent work, Captain!
also
We have been invaded by an alien race calling themselves the 'Orz', though so far the invasion is a friendly one. The fishlike creatures have been stoming around the base in their roboting walking exoskeletons, which look like combat vac-suits, if you ask me. Based on the summary reports I've seen on their 'Nemesis' ship deisgn, I have but a single comment: I like it! I'd say we have quite a nasty little surprise in store for the Ur-Quan the next time you tangle with them.
also
We are being bathed in broad-beam Hyperwave transmission from the direction of the Rigel star system. Due to the broadcast's wide dispersion, we cannot discern its content.
ZELNICK
Can your scientists analyze what I have acquired since my last visit?
HAYES
The analysis reads as follows:
SUBJECT: Taalo Device.
DATA: Whoever the Taalo were, they were clever -- way past us, probably even beyond the Chenjesu. As far as I can tell, with all our equipment, this thing is a rock. Just a rock; nothing but a rock. However, if you feed a current into it, anywhere along its surface, everone on board this starbase who has esper potential gets a bad headache.
Well we checked a bit more into that, and when the Taalo thing is active, all evidence of psychon interaction is flatlined -- nothing gets through.
SUMMARY: If you keep this Taalo rock device thing on board your vessel, I'll bet you are immune to any form of psychic attack, or at least mostly immune.
That's the end of our scientists' report.
We have about 7500 RUs to play with, meaning we can properly refuel this time.
Notable changes are on the front of the ship this time - the second Ion Bolt Gun module means that I now fire in a triple shot spread, and the Dynamo Unit behind it increases the ship's energy regeneration rate. I'm now ever so slightly more combat-worthy than I was before!
NEXT TIME: Hippies from outer space.
ADDENDUM: If you don't mind some minor spoilers, and are curious about the Orz language, there's a very thorough speculative Orz dictionary here.
<< | ^^ | >>
Chapter 1: Meeting the Neighbors
Part 3: *Words*
The Spathi now in allegiance with us, I can build their ships at the starbase. However, my next move is not to return home.
Along the way, I'll skim over the part where I furiously plunder a few star systems for riches. From the Spathi home system of Epsilon Gruis, I trundle over to Gamma Gruis (treasure world, sapphire world, and a smattering of extraterrestrial data). Then, it's off to Gamma Vitalis (ruby world), before leaving Spathi space.
What strange adventures await us in the Vulpeculae cluster, you might ask?
Very, very strange ones!
I should mention that, in the backstory to this game, a nice race called the Androsynth used to occupy this region of space. Now, these guys are here instead.
COMPUTER
INCOMING MESSAGE EXTREMELY UNUSUAL IN COMPOSITION. TRANSLATION INCLUDES MAN LINGUAL ANOMALIES. OVERALL ACCURACY OF TRANSLATION IS: UNKNOWN
ORZ
Hello extremely! I hope you like to *play*. Some *campers* are not so good for *games*. Is it time for *playing* yet?
ZELNICK
Who are you? What can you tell us about yourselves?
ORZ
Who are you? You are not Orz! We are Orz! Orz are happy *people energy* from the outside. Inside is good So much good that Orz will always *germinate*. Can you come together with Orz for *parties*?
ZELNICK
Okay, right. Uh... maybe you could tell me why you are here.
ORZ
Here is *bright* and *smooth*. The other place is *hurt* Orz too much tired for keeping together. Other place is *Frumple*. Orz are here not, but almost not yet. Soon Orz are really here! You are help Orz with *parties*. Orz looking for you, and find you. So much joy!! Now *smooth* place all the time, and after now never going back to outside. Never!!
ZELNICK
Our charts show this as Androsynth space. Do you know what happened to them?
ORZ
Androsynth are not here. Orze are here. You are not the same too much like Androsynth. You are *happy campers*. Do you want to see our surprising *toys*? No!! Do not!! Androsynth are so silly. We do not *tell stories* a lot about them. No more Androsynth *stories*.
((As much as I would like to continue to press them about this, inquiring too strongly about the Androsynth makes the Orz try to kill you forever. So, let's back off for now.))
ZELNICK
Uh, taht's okay. I didn't really care about them so much anyway.
ORZ
Ahaa! I am told other Orz *cousins* you are *connected* for *camping*. I am so right! It is happiest days to not care about Androsynth anything. So now we can be *together* for friendly *dessert*. I am so right. I will tell them again.
ZELNICK
Greetings. I am Captain Zelnick, of the starship Vindicator. We are having some difficulty translating your messages.
ORZ
Yes, of course. Difficulty. Problems are difficult. Let's be *special* together. *Spicy games* are always fun.
ZELNICK
You seem like friendly fellows. Perhaps you could aid us in our mission?
ORZ
Yes. Yes. We are too friendly. Extremely happy *sisters* should correct each other for *celebration*. So much enjoyment! Shall we come to your *house* so that we can be *relatives*?
ZELNICK
Uh.... I presume you are talking about an alliance. Yes, we are very interested.
ORZ
Jumping *peppers*!! This is smiley time! You are *campers* after all!! We will start *alliance* *parties* for better enjoyment!
Hhhhhuh. Okay, that was easy enough. Stopping by the emerald world in this system, we take a moment to scour the various Vulpeculae systems, in search of a certain thing...
I find it in short order, in Delta Vulpeculae:
ORZ
Why? The reason. *Camper friends* have come to Taalo *Playground*. Why are you coming to this?
ZELNICK
Why are you here at this planet?
ORZ
I will tell. This is Taalo *Playground*. Do you know? Taalo is not anymore the *heavy space*. They are not here. To *play* with Taalo, Orz must *spread* into *Pretty Space*. There are so many good places for this here, Orz are happy. Of cours you do not know Taalo. You are *Campers*. You cannot going to *Pretty Space*, too bad.
ZELNICK
Would you mind if we did a bit of exploring on the planet's surface?
ORZ
You are askif Orz are upset? Orz are not upset. You are *happy campers*. Certainly you are only *slow time* *walkers*. It is not fun on the surface in *slow time*. If you want to go, that is okay.
In addition to being a treasure world (score!), there's an interesting thing down here:
Those guys sure built it to last. Simple radiometrics show an age in excess of 20,000 years.
Regardless of how old it is, it continues to radiate energy all up and down the EMR spectrum, with a concentration of emissisions in the red/infrared range.
...There's more to this report, but I accidentally skipped past it. The relevant info will all be repeated near the end here. Short version: I got the Taalo Device. It will come in handy much, much later.
All right, so we've got what we came for. We've made two new friends. Time to check in with the starbase, with only 18 fuel to spare!
HAYES
Captain, a delegation of Spathi has just arrived here under orders from their High Council to form an alliance and assist you against the Hierarchy! They have provided fabricator blueprint data for their 'Eluder' spacecraft, and promise a steady supply of captains for as many ships as we build. Excellent work, Captain!
also
We have been invaded by an alien race calling themselves the 'Orz', though so far the invasion is a friendly one. The fishlike creatures have been stoming around the base in their roboting walking exoskeletons, which look like combat vac-suits, if you ask me. Based on the summary reports I've seen on their 'Nemesis' ship deisgn, I have but a single comment: I like it! I'd say we have quite a nasty little surprise in store for the Ur-Quan the next time you tangle with them.
also
We are being bathed in broad-beam Hyperwave transmission from the direction of the Rigel star system. Due to the broadcast's wide dispersion, we cannot discern its content.
ZELNICK
Can your scientists analyze what I have acquired since my last visit?
HAYES
The analysis reads as follows:
SUBJECT: Taalo Device.
DATA: Whoever the Taalo were, they were clever -- way past us, probably even beyond the Chenjesu. As far as I can tell, with all our equipment, this thing is a rock. Just a rock; nothing but a rock. However, if you feed a current into it, anywhere along its surface, everone on board this starbase who has esper potential gets a bad headache.
Well we checked a bit more into that, and when the Taalo thing is active, all evidence of psychon interaction is flatlined -- nothing gets through.
SUMMARY: If you keep this Taalo rock device thing on board your vessel, I'll bet you are immune to any form of psychic attack, or at least mostly immune.
That's the end of our scientists' report.
We have about 7500 RUs to play with, meaning we can properly refuel this time.
Notable changes are on the front of the ship this time - the second Ion Bolt Gun module means that I now fire in a triple shot spread, and the Dynamo Unit behind it increases the ship's energy regeneration rate. I'm now ever so slightly more combat-worthy than I was before!
NEXT TIME: Hippies from outer space.
ADDENDUM: If you don't mind some minor spoilers, and are curious about the Orz language, there's a very thorough speculative Orz dictionary here.
<< | ^^ | >>