It's the boffoid sequel to Planetfall...let's play Stationfall!

A couple months ago, I finished a Let's Play of the Infocom classic Planetfall. Although there might not have been "clamoring" for a LP of the sequel, there certainly were a couple requests, and I wanted to do this, anyway. So, let's dive into Stationfall!

It's been five years since your planetfall on Resida. Your heroics in saving that doomed world resulted in a big promotion, but your life of dull scrubwork has been replaced by a life of dull paperwork. Today you find yourself amidst the administrative maze of Deck Twelve on a typically exciting task: an emergency mission to Space Station Gamma Delta Gamma 777-G 59/59 Sector Alpha-Mu-79 to pick up a supply of Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms...

STATIONFALL
Infocom interactive fiction -- a science fiction story
Copyright (c) 1987 by Infocom, Inc. All rights reserved.
STATIONFALL is a trademark of Infocom, Inc.
Release 107 / Serial number 870430

Deck Twelve
You are in the heart of the administrative level of the ship, the largest level of the S.P.S. Duffy or any other Stellar Patrol ship for that matter. The corridor continues starboard and a room lies aft. Beyond the door to port lies the bulk of the Duffy. Next to the door is a slot.


Pretty similar start to the first - being on a spaceship with a crappy, menial job, although I've been "promoted" from janitor to pencil-pusher, so there's that. Let's see what we've got on us.

>inventory
You are carrying a Class Three Spacecraft Activation Form HB-56-V, a Robot Use Authorization Form JZ-59-G and an Assignment Completion Form QX-17-T. You are wearing a Patrol uniform and a chronometer. It seems that the Patrol uniform contains an ID card.


Pretty much the same stuff we started the first game with, but with a few extra items.

If you're wondering, the forms are feelies, and one of them is used in copy protection.

Let's check this place out. Hopefully the ship won't kerplode out from under us...

>aft
Forms Storage Room
This is the largest space in the ship, three decks tall and with the floor area of seven Rigellian buzzball fields. The only exit is fore.
The room is filled to the ceiling with row upon row of pallets filled with boxes. Each box has some writing stamped on the side.


Let's see what these boxes have to say.

>read boxes
There are numerous boxes; some of the nearer ones read: "Form Pallet Disbursal Form," "Loss of Form Pallet Label Report Form," and "Loss of Form Pallet Label Report Form Release Form."


Guess we'll still have needless bureaucracy in the 114th century. :P Let's see if there's anything more interesting on this deck.

>e
Cargo Bay Entrance
The deck twelve corridor ends here at the entrance to the cargo bay, to starboard. A smaller entrance leads fore.


Well, a junction is sort of interesting, I guess. Where to go from here?

Inventory:

• A Class Three Spacecraft Activation Form HB-56-V
• A Robot Use Authorization Form JZ-59-G
• An Assignment Completion Form QX-17-T
• A Patrol uniform (worn)
  • An ID card
• A chronometer (worn)

Score:
It is Day 1 of your adventure. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 4972. Your score is 0 (of 80 points), giving you the rank of Insignificant Nobody.

Unexplored paths:
North from Cargo Bay Entrance.
East from Cargo Bay Entrance.

Current puzzles:
Getting to Space Station Gamma Delta Gamma 777-G 59/59 Sector Alpha-Mu-79 to pick up a supply of Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms.

Swipe ID card in the slot. Failing that, put all your forms in the slot.

Then fore from Cargo Bay Entrance.

I'm excited for this! I'm always a fan of a text adventure LP, especially one I've played. It's just too bad Floyd's a pile of junk back on the planet...

Wow Stationfall!! I liked it more than Planetfall! It has more sci-fi-ish feeling, hard puzzles requiring scientific knowledge, deeper story and blah blah. Thank you for starting LP it.
For the starter, let's examine/read everything you have, then try to go to cargo bay.

Can we take any of the forms? You never know when a form will be useful.

At least as waste paper.

I don't know...but there's only one way to find out.

>open box
Forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms and forms. Horrified, you reseal the box.
Ensign Twelfth Class Blather walks by, lugging his toilet scrubbing supplies. He spots you, whimpers, and slouches away (Footnote 2).


Yes, this game has footnotes, like Hitchhiker's Guide. Let's see what this one has to say!

>footnote 2
For those unfamiliar with PLANETFALL, Blather was your officious, tyrannical superior aboard the S.P.S. Feinstein. He was demoted because of his craven behavior during the destruction of the Feinstein. (Footnote 8).


And a footnote to a footnote...how much deeper could this go?

>footnote 8
The author wishes to refute any claims that the use of footnotes is a ripoff from the interactive fiction version of THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY. This is not true. Well, maybe it's a little bit true, in which case the author wishes to point out his right to rip off his own ideas. So there.


Whatever helps you sleep at night. Anyway, let's check out that slot mentioned earlier.

>slide id card through slot
[That sentence isn't one I recognize.]

Well, it worked in Planetfall...but maybe they have a more intuitive phrasing this time.

>put id card in slot
The slot swallows the ID card and then spits it back.


Then let's try the forms.

>put assignment form in slot
The form is rejected. A recording says, "This form has not been validated by a commanding officer."


Aye, and that's the reason we have to get to that space station - so we can get this form validated. But maybe one of the other two will work?

>put robot form in slot
The form is rejected. You hear a recorded voice. "Improper form for this location."

>put spacecraft form in slot
The form is rejected. You hear a recorded voice. "Improper form for this location."

About what I expected, but they at least seem to be valid. Now to explore. But first, I'll take Syo!'s request to examine all the stuff in my inventory.

>examine spacecraft form
[This form can be found in your STATIONFALL package.]


Same goes for the other two forms, if you're wondering, hence the links in the "inventory" list later in this post.

>examine uniform
It is a standard-issue one-pocket Stellar Patrol uniform, a miracle of modern technology. It will keep its owner warm in cold climates and cool in warm locales. It provides protection against mild radiation, repels all insects, absorbs sweat, promotes healthy skin tone, and on top of everything else, it is super-comfy.

>examine id card
"STELLAR PATROL
Paperwork Task Force
ID Number: 1451-352-716"

>examine chronometer
It is a standard wrist chronometer with a digital display. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 5101. The back is engraved with the message "Good luck in the Patrol! Love, Mom and Dad."


Not much to say, really. Now to check out the exits from the cargo bay entrance!

>e
Cargo Bay
This huge airlock is essentially a giant loading dock, where truckloads of forms arrive from various printing planets throughout the sector and are immediately distributed throughout the administrative deck. The only exit on foot is back the way you came. A spacetruck, its hatch closed, waits in the cargo bay.


That might be useful later, but let's see what's to the north before checking it out.

>n
Robot Pool
This is where a Lieutenant First Class would come to obtain a robot for use on an important assignment. Also for a trivial assignment like yours. The only part of the complex robot authorization equipment that is visible to you is a slot (for inserting your form) and a keypad (for typing your selection). You can exit aft.
In the first bin is a bulky robot, obviously intended for heavy lifting. A brass plate on one of his pneumatic arm lifts says "Rex."
Bin number two holds a spindly little robot, a specialized model designed for bursting and decollating multi-part forms. A tiny nameplate on her perforating extension reads "Helen."
You can't see the robot in the third bin very well, because he's crouched in the corner. He's a short robot, and he seems to be playing marbles.


We've got forms for requisitioning robots and spacecraft, and it looks like we've found some. So, what to do now? Should we try to launch the spacetruck, or get a robot buddy? And if so, which one - One, Two, or Three?

Inventory:

• A Class Three Spacecraft Activation Form HB-56-V
• A Robot Use Authorization Form JZ-59-G
• An Assignment Completion Form QX-17-T
• A Patrol uniform (worn)
  • An ID card
• A chronometer (worn)

Score:
It is Day 1 of your adventure. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 5214. Your score is 0 (of 80 points), giving you the rank of Insignificant Nobody.

Current puzzles:
Getting to Space Station Gamma Delta Gamma 777-G 59/59 Sector Alpha-Mu-79 to pick up a supply of Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms.

Robots! This game is obviously about forms, so it's clear that we'll want a robot with expertise in that area. Robot number two!

But we're just picking up the forms.

Pallets of forms.

Paper is heavy.

We need a strong robot.

Pick robot #1.

In the interests of continuing our obsession with forms, let us pick robot two.

If it's the wrong one, it'll tell us which form to fill out to get the right one.

Pick robot #2, then go back to those forms and forms and forms etc. and have the robot look for something useful.

Robot #3. It reminds us of Floyd.

Come on, Floyd was much better than whoever that loser is. Marbles? Pshhh. All the cool robots play Hucka-Bucka-Beanstalk.

Although Robot 3 does look interesting, the majority seems to want Robot 2, so...

>put robot form in slot
The form is swallowed up, followed by a long pause for triple-redundancy processing. A taped voice whispers in your ear. "Authorization approved. Type the bin number of the desired robot."
The third robot looks up from his marbles, jumps to his feet, and starts waving wildly. It's Floyd, your robotic companion from Resida! (Footnote 3) You've seen him only occasionally since he opted for assignment in the Stellar Patrol those five long years ago.

>type 2
Helen rolls up to you, ready to follow. Floyd's lower jaw begins quivering, as though he were about to cry.

Awww...sorry, buddy. I'm sure if you had made yourself known sooner, the voices in my head would have told me to pick you. First, though, we've got a footnote to check out!

>footnote 3
The story of your acquaintance with Floyd and the episode on Resida are recounted in PLANETFALL.


And now to check out those forms from before, I guess.

>s
Cargo Bay Entrance
Helen obediently follows you.

>w
Deck Twelve
Helen obediently follows you.

>s
Forms Storage Room
The room is filled to the ceiling with row upon row of pallets filled with boxes. Each box has some writing stamped on the side.
Helen obediently follows you.

>helen, open box
You've strayed too far from simple form-sorting to interest Helen.


Of course. Stupid single-purpose robots. :P

Obviously, we'll probably need to head to that space station to complete our assignment, so let's get started on that. You may have recalled seeing a spacetruck mentioned earlier, and that's on the list of spacecraft that the spacecraft form can activate, so let's get going!

>n
Deck Twelve
Helen obediently follows you.

>e
Cargo Bay Entrance
Helen obediently follows you.

>e
Cargo Bay
Helen obediently follows you.

>open hatch
The spacetruck hatch swings open.

>in
Spacetruck
This is a twelve-meter rig, the largest Class Three spacecraft made, with seats for a pilot and copilot. Below the viewport is a space band radio, a red button for activating the emergency beacon, plus a slot and keypad for controlling the autopilot. The hatch is open and the rear of the truck is empty of cargo.
You can see a survival kit here.
Helen obediently follows you.

>enter pilot seat
You are now in the pilot seat.
In a spasm of vocational enthusiasm, Helen tries to burst and decollate your Class Three Spacecraft Activation Form HB-56-V, leaving nothing but some useless confetti.

Unbelievable. Built to do one thing, and can't even do that right.

If it's not obvious, this renders the game unwinnable.

I have a feeling that you know what I should do, but I'll leave it up to you to decide.


Inventory:

• An Assignment Completion Form QX-17-T
• A Patrol uniform (worn)
  • An ID card
• A chronometer (worn)

Score:
It is Day 1 of your adventure. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 5214. Your score is 0 (of 80 points), giving you the rank of Insignificant Nobody.

Current puzzles:
Getting to Space Station Gamma Delta Gamma 777-G 59/59 Sector Alpha-Mu-79 to pick up a supply of Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms.
Finding a robot copilot who won't ruin the form I need to activate the spaceship.

Get robot 1 instead. I guess heavy lifting was what was called for here.

Yeah, I expect that robot one will do something comedically terrible in short order, so we can see that before going with Floyd properly.

Agreed. Try to pick robot 1 just to see what happens.

Last time, we found out that Helen wasn't the best choice. In fact, she renders the game unwinnable. So let's restore to before picking her and pick...Rex!

>put robot form in slot
The form is swallowed up, followed by a long pause for triple-redundancy processing. A taped voice whispers in your ear. "Authorization approved. Type the bin number of the desired robot."
The third robot looks up from his marbles, jumps to his feet, and starts waving wildly. It's Floyd, your robotic companion from Resida! (Footnote 3) You've seen him only occasionally since he opted for assignment in the Stellar Patrol those five long years ago.

>type 1
Rex rolls up to you, ready to follow. Floyd's lower jaw begins quivering, as though he were about to cry.

>s
Cargo Bay Entrance
Rex trundles after you. Unfortunately, Rex is not too bright on his best days, and today is not one of them. He forgets to stop when you do; sixteen tons of Rex turn you into a human pancake.

**** You have died ****

It is Day 1 of your adventure. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 5232. Your score is 0 (of 80 points), giving you the rank of Insignificant Nobody.
According to the Treaty of Gishen IV (amended after the Battle on Sorkin III in 11347 GY) you have the opportunity to restart the story, restore a saved position, or end this session of the game. In the interests of interstellar peace, type RESTART, RESTORE, or QUIT: >

At least the game is quick about telling you "Hey, you vilged up!" this time. So, by default, the correct choice must be our old pal, Floyd! Was there really any doubt, though?

>put robot form in slot
The form is swallowed up, followed by a long pause for triple-redundancy processing. A taped voice whispers in your ear. "Authorization approved. Type the bin number of the desired robot."
The third robot looks up from his marbles, jumps to his feet, and starts waving wildly. It's Floyd, your robotic companion from Resida! (Footnote 3) You've seen him only occasionally since he opted for assignment in the Stellar Patrol those five long years ago.

>type 3
"Yippee!" yells Floyd, bounding joyfully over and giving you a big hug.


It's good to have you back. Now let's get going!

>s
Cargo Bay Entrance
Floyd follows you.

>e
Cargo Bay
Floyd follows you.

>open hatch
The spacetruck hatch swings open.

>in
Spacetruck
This is a twelve-meter rig, the largest Class Three spacecraft made, with seats for a pilot and copilot. Below the viewport is a space band radio, a red button for activating the emergency beacon, plus a slot and keypad for controlling the autopilot. The hatch is open and the rear of the truck is empty of cargo.
You can see a survival kit here.
Floyd follows you.

No intelligent life form would launch a spacecraft without closing the hatch, so let's do that first.

>close hatch
Okay, the spacetruck hatch is now closed.
Floyd whistles tunelessly.

>enter pilot seat
You are now in the pilot seat. Floyd clambers into the copilot seat, his feet dangling a few centimeters short of the floor. "Let Floyd launch the spacetruck? Please? Floyd has not crashed a truck in over two weeks!"


Sorry, buddy. Maybe next time.

>put spacecraft form in slot
The form is swallowed up, followed by a long pause for triple-redundancy processing. A taped voice whispers in your ear. "Spacecraft activated. Type in the course heading."


Course heading? Uh-oh...this smells like copy protection. All I can say is, thank Ceiling Cat for the Infocom Gallery. All the info we need is on the Assignment Completion Form. It's currently 5304 chrons, so the correct heading would be 272. Now, to take off into glory...or at least on a minor bureaucratic errand.

>type 272
You hear a recorded voice. "Course set. Launch in approximately 30 millichrons."


And now to just sit back and wait.

>z
Time passes...
The truck roars out of the cargo bay, slowly picking up speed. You settle back for the long trip.

>z
Time passes...
A taped voice whispers in your ear. "Fuel level at three-quarters."
Floyd strains to see over the top of the dashboard. "Boy, seats low! Floyd could sure use a phone book!"

>z
Time passes...
There is a moment of stillness as the rear engines cut out. The moment ends as the braking rockets in front roar to life.

>z
Time passes...
A taped voice whispers in your ear. "Fuel level at one-quarter."

>z
Time passes...
A tiny star directly ahead grows brighter and resolves itself into a distant space station. The station grows rapidly larger as you hurtle towards it.
You are approaching the station from slightly above it (on the galactic plane), thus offering a good view of the station's layout. In the center is the large, spherical Command Module. Jutting "north" from it is a smaller Sub-Module. Joining the Command Module, at its two other connection points, is a tangle of tubes and space bubbles and derelict rockets. These form a "village," the sort of seedy, unauthorized village that frequently collects around a space station.
With a final burst, the braking rockets bring you to a halt a few thousand meters from the station.
A growl from your stomach warns that you're getting pretty hungry and thirsty.

>z
Time passes...
The maneuvering thrusters kick on, nudging you toward the station. You hear a recorded voice. "Docking bay one is occupied. Defaulting to bay two."
The truck glides into the docking bay, and your stomach flips as the bay's arti-grav field comes on. The truck settles the last few centimeters to the floor, the bay floods with air, and a voice whispers, "Stationfall." Through the viewport, you see no one to meet you. Odd.

Odd, indeed. But let's see if we can find out where we can get those Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms.

>stand
You get out of the pilot seat. Floyd gets up also.
Floyd says, "Hey! Wanna play Hucka-Bucka-Beanstalk?"


If this is anything like the last game, that survival kit will be useful, so let's get it.

>get kit
Taken.

>open hatch
The spacetruck hatch swings open.
Floyd reminisces about the excitement of your adventure on Resida.

>out
Docking Bay #2
This is a tall, narrow bay. Your spacetruck is docked here. Its hatch is open. To the east is the huge door into the station.
Floyd follows you.


Only one way to go, so...

>e
The auto-door opens as you approach, and whisks shut behind you...

Level Five
You are in the central lobby of the middle level of the space station. The elevator shaft and call button lie to the east, and the corridor heads around the shaft to the northeast and southeast. Doors lead north and west, and a ladder leads both upward and downward.
Floyd follows you.


Lots of ways to go from here. Which one shall we choose?

Inventory:

• A survival kit.
• An Assignment Completion Form QX-17-T
• A Patrol uniform (worn)
  • An ID card
• A chronometer (worn)

Score:
It is Day 1 of your adventure. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 6634. Your score is 5 (of 80 points), giving you the rank of Rising Young Insignificant Nobody.

Current puzzles:
Getting to Space Station Gamma Delta Gamma 777-G 59/59 Sector Alpha-Mu-79 to pick up a supply of Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms.

Deaths:
Crushed by Rex.

Maps
Level 5:
a=Docking Bay #2
b=Level Five

Unexplored paths:
North from Level Five.
Northeast from Level Five.
East from Level Five.
Southeast from Level Five.
Up from Level Five.
Down from Level Five.

Let's go up and begin the exploration from the uppermost level.

Sounds good to me.

>u
Level Four
You are now on the primary bunk level of the station, with barracks to the north and south. To the east is the elevator shaft and the elevator call button. Docking Bay #3 can be entered to the west, and a ladder leads both upward and downward.
Floyd follows you.


More paths to explore. Do you want me to continue going up, or explore some of the other rooms on the station?

Inventory:

• A survival kit.
• An Assignment Completion Form QX-17-T
• A Patrol uniform (worn)
  • An ID card
• A chronometer (worn)

Score:
It is Day 1 of your adventure. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 6656. Your score is 5 (of 80 points), giving you the rank of Rising Young Insignificant Nobody.

Current puzzles:
Finding a supply of Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms.

Deaths:
Crushed by Rex.

Maps
Level 4:
a=Level Four

Level 5:
a=Docking Bay #2
b=Level Five

Unexplored paths:
North from Level Five.
Northeast from Level Five.
East from Level Five.
Southeast from Level Five.
Down from Level Five.
North from Level Four.
East from Level Four.
South from Level Four.
West from Level Four.
Up from Level Four.

Up.

Priority One: create a map.

I assume that you'll want me to go all the way to the top, so let's do that!

>u
Level Three
From this lobby you can choose doors that lie to the north, south, or northwest. An additional doorway leads southwest. The elevator shaft and button are just to the east, and a ladder leads both upward and downward.

>u
Mess Hall
This open dining area seats around 30 people. Food Processing and Dispensing Units curve along the exterior wall. There's a doorway to the southeast, and doors lead north, south, and northeast. To the east are the elevator, the elevator button, and the up-down ladder.
A cup of thick brown coffee sits on one of the tables. It's still steaming, though there's no one in sight.


That cup of coffee looks interesting, but let's keep going up.

>u
Dome
This is inarguably the most bucolic spot aboard the station. Pebbled paths wind among beautiful and exotic shrubbery, culled from millenia of galactic exploration. Spanning the entire garden is a transparent dome, providing a breathtaking view of the heavens in all their splendor. East of where you are standing are an elevator shaft, a button, and the top of a ladder. Next to the ladder are an air shaft grating and a thick metal storage bin with a sign stencilled on it.


And that's the top of the station. Next time, do you want me to explore one of the levels we've seen so far, or check out the lower levels?


Inventory:

• A survival kit.
• An Assignment Completion Form QX-17-T
• A Patrol uniform (worn)
  • An ID card
• A chronometer (worn)

Score:
It is Day 1 of your adventure. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 6729. Your score is 5 (of 80 points), giving you the rank of Rising Young Insignificant Nobody.

Current puzzles:
Finding a supply of Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms.

Deaths:
Crushed by Rex.

Maps
Level 1:
a=Dome (you are here)

Level 2:
a=Mess Hall

Level 3:
a=Level Three


Level 4:
a=Level Four

Level 5:
a=Docking Bay #2
b=Level Five

Unexplored paths:
North from Level Five.
Northeast from Level Five.
East from Level Five.
Southeast from Level Five.
Down from Level Five.
North from Level Four.
East from Level Four.
South from Level Four.
West from Level Four.
North from Level Three.
East from Level Three.
South from Level Three.
Southwest from Level Three.
Northwest from Level Three.
North from Mess Hall.
Northeast from Mess Hall.
East from Mess Hall.
Southeast from Mess Hall.
South from Mess Hall.

Check out the lower levels, then explore all of the Dome.

Examine everything in the dome as always, then go to and check the next level, mess hall.

Yes, this.

Take a look at that coffee cup, but don't drink it. I have a bad feeling about it even though the game said you're getting hungry and thirsty.

Can we stop at a food dispenser to deal with the hunger daemon?

Also, what's in the survival kit?

Lots to do this time, which isn't surprising considering how long it's been since I've updated. First, let's check out the lower levels of the station. After heading back to level 5 offscreen...

>d
Level Six
The elevator button is east of you, next to the elevator shaft. This main corridor continues around the shaft to the southeast. Huge doors lie just northwest and southwest of here; smaller doors lead north and south, and a ladder leads both upward and downward.

>d
Printing Plant
This level is, frankly, the station's entire reason for existence. Forms and documents are printed here for Stellar Patrol ships and Third Galactic Union offices all across this sector of space. The printing plant takes up this entire level, except for a partitioned area which can be entered to the northwest. The elevator shaft lies to the east, as does the elevator button, and a ladder leads both upward and downward.
You can see a trash can and a mauve nanofilm spool here.


That film might be useful, but let's finish off exploring before taking anything, shall we?

>d
A few rungs down, you discover that the ladder passage to Level Eight is sealed off -- apparently from below.
Floyd bounds into the room. "Floyd here now!" he cries.


Quite odd. Well, let's go back to the upper levels, then. First, let's check out the dome.

>u
Level Six

>u
Level Five
Floyd bounds into the room. "Floyd here now!" he cries.

>u
Level Four
Floyd dashes into view, followed by a slightly older-looking robot. "Look, Floyd found a new friend," Floyd says with unbounded exuberance.
"I am quite surprised to discover you here," says the robot. "I have not seen a soul for a day now, perhaps more. But look, here I am forgetting my manners again. I am known as Plato to the humans on this station, and I am most gratified to make your acquaintance."


Looks like we've met up with a new robot friend! But let's continue up to the dome before doing anything else.

>u
Level Three
Floyd and Plato follow you.

>u
Mess Hall
A cup of thick brown coffee sits on one of the tables. It's still steaming, though there's no one in sight.

>u
Dome


Now that we're back here, let's look around.

>examine shrubs
There are too many varieties to describe them all: junipers, rose bushes, dogwoods, gliffgubbers, Rhomboidal Pellet Trees...

>examine bin
The bin is closed, and there's a sign on it. A lock has been newly welded to the bin. The bin is warm to the touch.

>read sign
"Shrubbery Maintenance Supplies"


I haven't mentioned it yet, but it's nice to have signs written in proper English again. Not that they really have anything important to say, but still. Also, why would it be warm to the touch? Hmmm...Anyway, that's pretty much it for the dome, so let's check out the mess hall - especially the cup of coffee.

>examine coffee
The coffee is still hot.


Seems harmless enough, but I'm still a bit wary of a perfectly good cup of coffee just being left abandoned. There's most likely something wrong with it...Anyway, let's try using the food dispensers. After all, the hunger daemon has started his attacks.

>examine unit
The units curve around the outside wall of the Mess Hall. The interface is delightfully simple: a user simply turns on the unit and immediately receives a tasty and nutritionally-balanced meal.

>turn on unit
A taped voice, in a cheery contralto, says, "Good evening! Today's menu features chicken pot pie, braised volpoid livers, and mashed Rigellian yams. Eat hearty! Dispensing will now begin." A seamless hatch in the FDU opens, and a stream of acid shoots out. You leap aside as the acid etches the floor, leaving behind some acrid fumes.


That's definitely not a good sign. Fortunately, we have a survival kit, so let's see what's in it.

>open kit
Opening the survival kit reveals a blob of orange goo, a blob of gray goo and a Thermos bottle.


Well, it's better than being sprayed with acid...or than mashed yams, for that matter.

Unlike in Planetfall, the food supply is limited in this game. There is some extra food later, but there's no infinite food source. Hence, we'll have to make our meager rations last for a while.

That being said, the orange goo seems like the more appetizing option, so let's eat that.

>eat orange goo
Mmmm...that tasted just like yummy apricot yogurt.


And now that we've got all of the lobbies mapped out, which level shall we explore next?


Inventory:

• A survival kit
  • A blob of gray goo
  • A thermos bottle
• An Assignment Completion Form QX-17-T
• A Patrol uniform (worn)
  • An ID card
• A chronometer (worn)

Score:
It is Day 1 of your adventure. Current Galactic Standard Time (adjusted to your local day-cycle) is 7086. Your score is 5 (of 80 points), giving you the rank of Rising Young Insignificant Nobody.

Current puzzles:
Finding a supply of Request for Stellar Patrol Issue Regulation Black Form Binders Request Form Forms.
Getting past the blockade between levels 7 and 8.

Deaths:
Crushed by Rex.

Maps
Level 1:
a=Dome [bin]

Level 2:
a=Mess Hall (you are here)

Level 3:
a=Level Three


Level 4:
a=Level Four

Level 5:
a=Docking Bay #2
b=Level Five

Level 6:
a=Level Six

Level 7:
a=Printing Plant (trash can, mauve nanofilm spool)

Unexplored paths:
North from Level Five.
Northeast from Level Five.
East from Level Five.
Southeast from Level Five.
Down from Level Five.
North from Level Four.
East from Level Four.
South from Level Four.
West from Level Four.
North from Level Three.
East from Level Three.
South from Level Three.
Southwest from Level Three.
Northwest from Level Three.
North from Mess Hall.
Northeast from Mess Hall.
East from Mess Hall.
Southeast from Mess Hall.
South from Mess Hall.
East from Dome.
North from Level Six.
East from Level Six.
South from Level Six.
Southwest from Level Six.
Northwest from Level Six.
East from Printing Plant.
Northwest from Printing Plant.

Can we ask Plato useful questions? Ask him all the questions we can think of.

Explore all exits at the Dome and Level 2.

me too.

Yeah, explore the Dome and level 2.