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STARBASE COMMANDER
QUOTES
We will leave now to find the elements you require.Hurry back, Captain.Due to an unforeseen fuel shortage, we are unable to complete our mission.We do have a small amount of Starship fuel which is of no use to our power systems.We will now transport 5 units to your vessel. This should be sufficient for a trip to the surface of Mercury. Boy, mileage sure does vary. Could you spare us some more fuel?We are almost out of fuel now, but we do have a BIT more.You will have to be more careful with this supply. Transporting fuel now. Attention unidentified space vessel! I am Starbase Commander Hayes of the slave planet Earth. our hyperwave broadcasts -- extremely weak situation critical -- energy cores exhausted scanners and deep radar are non-functional we cannot identify your vessel Are you the scheduled Hierarchy resupply ship? Repeat, are you the resupply vessel? Did you find any radioactive elements for our power cores? Um... er... well... We lost another lander.What!!!You lost another lander!? We shall build another, but DON'T LOSE THIS ONE, OKAY! No, this is the starship (name), but we stand ready to assist you.The starship what?Never mind -- look, we won't last much longer. Here is our situation According to our Oath of Fealty to the Ur-Quan, we must maintain this starbase but, we have no space vessels of our own and the shield prevents us from contacting Earth so we are totally dependent on the Ur-Quan supply vessels for everything we need up here. We know there is a Hierarchy base on the surface of the moon, but we can't contact them. The Ur-Quan were supposed to resupply this base at regular, five year intervals but we haven't received anything in almost eight years! What we don't recycle we can usually synthesize but to do so, we need replacement radioactives for our generators' energy cores. If you could bring us some radioactive elements, we can fabricate the cores ourselves. Are you willing to help us!? Uh.. yes, this IS the resupply vessel. What do you need resupplied?Well, it's about damn time!In the Fealty agreement the Ur-Quan promised that this station would be resupplied at least every five years, and its been over eight since we last saw you! If you had arrived a few weeks later, there wouldn't have been anyone alive on this station never mind...just begin your transfer of materials immediately, starting with the radioactives. but I suppose we have no choice. Due to circumstances beyond our control, our only landing vehicle was destroyed. Can you replace it?We will transport the new lander vehicle immediately.By the way Captain, I think we need a name for this new alliance we're going to forge. Since this was your idea, it's only fair that you have the honor of naming it. So, what will it be? The New Alliance of Free Stars!Okay, that sounds pretty inspiring. So be it - The New Alliance of Free Stars!The Concordance of Alien Nations!Very well. From this day forward, we are The Concordance of Alien Nations!The United Federation of Worlds!That has a familiar ring to it... nonetheless, we will make it so - The United Federation of Worlds!The Empire of (your name)!Ulp! Well... you're the one with the big starship.So be it - The Empire of (your name)! What will you give us in exchange for radioactives?I'm sorry, Captain, your message was garbled. Our receivers have very little power.Before we help you, we require certain information.I couldn't quite make that out, Captain. Could you please repeat?We are ready to transfer radioactives.We are initiating transfer of radioactives, Captain.Now, as soon as our engineers can refit the energy cores.. there, that's much better. Power ratings are climbing, life support is coming back into the green. Deep radar systems and sensors are now online and I can scan your vessel. !!!? -- WHAT THE HELL KIND OF SHIP IS THAT!? Just who ARE you, Captain? Er..., oh dang! Wouldn't you know it; we're plumb out of those.WHAT!What kind of idiot sent you out here without replacements for our energy cores!? It's amazing that we've kept the generators online for as long as we have! Look, you had better get those radioactives right away or all the other supplies are pretty damn pointless, since we'll be too dead to use them! `Slave planet!' `Hierarchy resupply vessel!' What is going on here?Actually I lied, this isn't the resupply vessel. Sorry.Look, I don't know who you are or why you're herebut right now the only thing I'm worried about is saving the lives of the 1900 men and women aboard this starbase and right now you're our only hope. I can't keep the transmitter on too much longer -- we need the power for heat and air so if you don't have any radioactives on board your vessel please get some and bring them back here before it's too late. I need you to explain a few things.Okay, what do you want to know?Where can we acquire radioactives?Where can we find the radioactive elements you need?The fastest way to get radioactives in this system would be to land on Mercuryand scour the surface for deposits of radioactive elements. But be careful. Mercury is a pretty inhospitable place! Watch out for earthquakes and hotspots. We will leave now and bring back the elements you require.Thanks! I'll make sure to mention this the next time I talk with our mastersI'm sure they will reward you. To begin with, what is the purpose of this starbase?Ur-Quan slave law requires that we maintain an orbital space platformto assist Hierarchy vessels which are in need of repairs or fuel. Since the shield around Earth cuts us off completely from the planet we are dependent on Ur-Quan resupply ships for our non-renewable resources. The resupply vessels are supposed to arrive every five years at which time the Ur-Quan somehow penetrate the shield and exchange those of us up here with replacement personnel from the surface. What is that strange red glow around Earth?When the Alliance lost the war, the Ur-Quan gave Earth a single choicejoin the Hierarchy as Battle Thralls and fight for the Ur-Quan to enslave other sentient species or become `fallow' slaves, and be forever imprisoned on a single world encased in an impenetrable energy shield here on Earth. We chose not to fight for the Ur-Quan. Where are the Ur-Quan now?Soon after Earth accepted the Ur-Quan's Oath of Fealty, they departed,leaving behind a battle group of Spathi and Ilwrath ships based on the moon. I am Captain (name) of the starship (name). We are the survivors of a Star Control science research team to the Vela star system.Star Control science mission, eh?Captain, I served as a Star Control officer during the war, aboard several cruisers on the Coreward Front and if there had been any 'scientific mission' to Vela I would have heard about it. The mission was highly secret.Hmmm... you know, come to think of itthere were some rumors that Corridor Nine, the special operations division of Star Control was directing some hush-hush operation out near Androsynth space. The Vela star system... yes, that would be in the right direction So, Captain... if what you say is true how do you explain that huge, alien starship you're flying and why you are here? What do you want from us? We have returned to Earth to give you the technological secrets of the Precursors, and to help you fight the Hierarchy.Ahh...fight the Ur-Quan! Win back our freedom!I remember having such thoughts myself...once, a long time ago. But that was in the first years after the defeat, when it was still terrifying to look up and see the bloody glow of the pulsating slave shield overhead. Through day and night we gazed up at that impenetrable wall as though the sheer power of our hatred would pull it down. But over the years, I spent so much of my time struggling -- -- down on the surface under the shield and then later up here, trying to keep this station alive -- -- that I'd forgotten what it means to be free... to hate our Ur-Quan Masters! And now, here you are, in an alien ship of unknown power, offering me your assistance to fight against the Hierarchy again, after all these years. Captain your offer is intriguing. It's tempting to think that with your advanced Precursor technology we can somehow crack Earth's slave shield and reassemble the Alliance to attack the Hierarchy, and THIS time win the damn war! But... consider the consequences if we should fail. The Ur-Quan won't just punish us here at this station. They will exact a gruesome retribution on the surface below as well. Before I commit this station to helping you attack the Ur-Quan and accepting the risk of annihilation if we are defeated I have to be sure that you and your ship have what it takes to oppose the Hierarchy. I'll make you a deal. If you can eliminate the alien base on the moon, and get rid of that threat, at least I will seriously consider your offer. What details can you give us about the base on the moon?After the Ur-Quan erected the slave shield around Earth, and established this space stationthey decided to leave a contingent of combat ships close to Earth to keep watch on our planet and confirm that we were obeying the Ur-Quan slave laws. I'm certain they're still out there on the surface of the moon because we can pick up a constant stream of alien broadcasts. Be careful, Captain. There are probably a dozen Spathi Eluders and Ilwrath Avengers down there on the lunar surface. I don't know why they haven't come after you yet but when they do, you'd better have your weapons armed, and your thrusters burning hot. Have you dealt with the base yet? Captain, listen closely! Long range sensors show a ship closing on this station, fast! Our computer identifies it as Ilwrath, Avenger-class. I think you've got a fight on your hands, Captain. Your best bet is to wait until it's at point bl-nk r-nge C-pt-in! It's ja-min- ou- s-gn-l!... What a beautiful sight, Captain! I haven't seen an Avenger blown away like that since the Battle in Draco. I guess you've shown that you can handle yourself in a battle, Captain so my last reservation about helping you has been dissolved. I will commit this station to helping you free Earth and defeat the Ur-Quan. We may get our atoms rearranged in the process, but by God, Captain, we're going to try! So the obvious first step is to get your Precursor equipment and software over here where we can make it work with our ship repair fabricators. But then what, Captain? We found the base, but it was abandoned years ago.Actually I lied. We found it abandoned.I'll be darned!All these years we've been listening to their incoherent broadcasts, and we never even guessed. We, uh... attacked the moonbase, and completely destroyed the enemy!You fought them, Captain!? I hope you didn't suffer serious casualties?Er... oh, yes! It was a very vicious fight.I'm delighted to hear it, Captain. I wish I could have been there.It was too horrible for words. I just can't talk about it right now.I'm sure the experience was disturbing.Commander, what was that red, fast-moving object in orbit around Earth?That was the Ur-Quan Security Drone. It keeps an eye on us.Captain, what happened to the spy drone!? When we approached, it transmitted a warning and warped into Hyperspace.Oh no. Right now it's probably cruising through HyperSpaceheading right towards the closest Hierarchy outpost. When the Ur-Quan find out that you are here, they will send a combat fleet instantly! Er... we destroyed it! Yessiree, blew it to bits.Whew! That was a close one. If that probe had gotten away -- up into HyperSpacewe'd be up to our ears in Dreadnoughts in no time. What a relief! If that probe gets back to the Ur-Quan, Captain, we are BOTH in deep trouble! Uh, I meant a different red thing. Never mind.Could you tell me again about the Hierarchy base on the moon?As I said before, after the Ur-Quan erected the slave shield around Earth and assembled this space stationthey decided to leave a contingent of Spathi and Ilwrath ships stationed on the moon. We have looked at the moonbase through our telescopes and can confirm that there is still substantial activity down there but we have never been able to make contact with the base using either the HyperWave `Caster or traditional radio signals. Then, Commander, we will proceed to kick some major alien butt!Ha-ha..yes, Captain, we'll do just that!Er... trust me Commander, I have a plan... a really good plan! But for now it must remain a secret.If you feel this is necessary Captain, I understand.We will slowly build our strength, unify an allied starfleet, and bring the Ur-Quan to their knee-equivalents.A sensible plan, Captain. Let's get to work.We shall go now and neutralize the base.Now we're ready to take care of the moon base, Commander. Goodbye.Good luck.Now Captain, I expect the configuration process for this starbase to take at least 2 weeks, so let's get to work... We're all depending on you. Goodbye and good luck! Before we go on, I have something important to tell you There is something I think you should know about By the way, I thought you should know Before we proceed, I wanted to let you know I have some information I think you should hear I've been waiting to inform you of a new situation I know you're busy, but I have some news Welcome back, Captain. Greetings, Captain. I am ready to assist you. It's good to see you again, Captain. Ah, Captain, I'm glad you're back. Hello Captain. I am at your disposal, Captain. Captain. I'm glad you made it back in one piece. I hope the battle fares well, Captain. Yes, Captain? Goodbye Commander.Goodbye, Captain.Bring back lots of minerals, Captain Return soon, Captain Farewell Captain Try to avoid getting gruesomely killed, Captain We shall await your return, Captain Blow up an Ur-Quan for me, Captain Be careful out there, Captain Of course The ship's cargo manifest lists: The more minerals you bring us, Captain, the faster you will be able to tackle the Ur-Quan. Light load this time, Captain? Another small load, Captain? Well, I suppose something is better than nothing. I don't mean to criticize, Captain, but it would be more efficient if you could return with larger loads. Pretty small amounts, Captain. Captain. Bringing these small amounts of minerals is not cost-effective. Try getting larger loads. Not too much today, Captain. I hope you have better luck next time. Not a bad job, Captain. Good work, Captain. Thanks, Captain. Keep it coming, Captain. Pretty fair load, Captain. Can you do better next time? Don't stop now, Captain. We'll use every bit you bring us. A fair haul, Captain. Maybe you should consider adding a storage bay so you can gather larger loads. Excellent work, Captain! This will really help, Captain. A fine job, Captain! Wow , you really hit the mother lode this time! If you can keep this up, we'll turn that flagship of yours into a genuine Dreadnought-Killer. Captain, you are to be commended. Keep up the good work! More fuel for the fire, eh, Captain? That last load should keep it blazing! I have good news to report, Captain. We have successfully integrated the Precursor technology from your ship into our fabricator system and as you can see, we have already begun minor repairs on the ship, patching up some micro-meteorite holes. We noticed that your ship does not have an emergency warp escape unit so our engineers rigged some up for you and each of your escorts. Now you should be able to escape from a bad situation with the touch of a button. There is a cost, however the unit gulps 5 fuel units each time your Precursor ship uses it. Also, we now have a limited capacity to make modifications to your ship, to refine starship fuel, to build additional combat ships and to train new crew members for the ship and any ships you acquire for your fleet. Captain, I know you're eager to get to work, so I'll be brief. If you have any questions -- how this Starbase works, what resources we need or just some background information on the galaxy -- don't hesitate to ask. Would you repeat your most recent bulletins?I need some additional background information.Certainly, Captain. What do you need to know?Would you elaborate on the starbase's facilities?We can modify your Precursor starship, build additional combat vesselsand supply you with fuel and crew. I would like some historical data.What aspect of history, Captain?I would like your input on how we can defeat the Ur-Quan.Can you be more specific?I do not require additional information.Fine. Is there anything else you need?You have answered my questions on this topic.
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