Databank (Below Zero)

This article is about Data Downloads. You may be looking for Dialogue or Data Boxes.

Read at own risk This article contains unmarked spoilers. Players new to the game would want to avoid or be cautious toward this article.

Data Downloads are downloadable logs that are visible on the "Data Downloads" section of the encyclopedia of the PDA. Be wary that these logs can be adjusted during the development of the game.

Alien Data

Alien Bio #1

“	<poem>Alien Bio #1</poem>	”

Alien Bio #2

“	<poem>Alien Bio #2</poem>	”

Alien Bio #3

“	<poem>Alien Bio #3</poem>	”

Alien Bio #4

“	<poem>Alien Bio #4</poem>	”

Alien Vessel

“	<poem> My kind navigates spacetime in conjunction with bio-mechanical vessels, altered and evolved over time to serve our needs. In case of disaster we can download our data patterns from the current vessel to a sanctuary site for later retrieval. Storage in this fashion is safe provided consistent power supply, however the unique perspective and traits which arose from the interplay with the original vessel are lost. It is like a factory reset. It is recommended they be restored to a freshly constructed, compatible vessel as soon as possible. Such hollow vessels may be fast-grown from seed at an appropriate facility, using specialized blueprints and materials. Addendum: I believe that you were impolite because I threatened you. </poem>	”

Ency_Precursor_Bounty

“	<poem>EncyDesc_Precursor_Bounty</poem>	”

Precursor Bounty

“	<poem>Gain rewards for Precursor technology</poem>	”

Alterra

Alien Research Site Zero

“	<poem> During their occupation of 4546B, the mysterious race of space-faring aliens we refer to as the Almanac selected a number of sites around the planet at which to build their vast facilites. While the focus of their mission to save their kind from the bacterium was the emperor specimen contained at the primary containment facility, their other installations served a variety of precautionary and support roles. Research Site Zero: Unknown Alien Facility While zero sector contains a number of now-familiar alien sanctuaries, the alien facility in close proximity to the main research station remains one of the few whose purpose we have yet to discover. This will be the focus of our endeavors in zero sector. What We Know: Frozen beneath the ice hundreds of years ago, the facility lays dormant to this day. We have progressed only through the first forcefield, gaining access to the antechamber where a combination lock of a type we don't understand prevents further exploration. Whatever is inside, it is protected more thoroughly than anything else we have encountered.</poem>	”

Architect Psychology

“	<poem> Without direct access to a living specimen we can only make reasoned guesses as to how they experienced life and interacted with the world around them. It is clear their mastery of the physical world far outstrips out own, and that they have emerged from the other side of some great technological and intellectual upheaval. They have not become inanimate parts in a larger consciousness, nor ascended to some non-physical form of existence. In short they have somehow maintained a level of individuality - as evidenced in translated logs - yet they are connected with one another and their world in a way we can only imagine.</poem>	”

Jeffreys' Log

“	<poem> Operation week 12, 4546B. Operation schedule delayed but not compromised by external factors. Gained access to sanctuary, but unknown third party has already removed the target. Vesper is not yet aware. Whoever is in possession is acting for themselves. Heading south out of zero sector to continue investigations.</poem>	”

Outpost Omega Probe Data

“	<poem> Purpose: Constant monitoring of alien power and network infrastructure. Runtime since last data download: 454 hours Anomalous Recordings: - Power rerouted to local sanctuary - Personality data downloaded from sanctuary to mobile core - Core detached and removed from sanctuary - Power returned to normal</poem>	”

Pengling Autopsy Report

“	<poem> Pengling has some really mean stuff done to it. Alterra is not nice to alien life. Also some stuff about penglings.</poem>	”

Profile: Research Station Zero

“	<poem> Welcome to your home away from home on 4546B. This pamphlet will guide you through your new accomodation. Get Your Bearings: Zero sector is comprised of 2 square kilometers of ocean, located near the planet's equator. Unusual environmental conditions leave this area in almost permanent winter, interrupted by extreme weather events. For unknown reasons it was selected by the aliens as a hub for their installations. Life in the area has flourished since the release of enzyme 42 into the larger ecosystem. Research Station Zero: You have been posted to the main sector base, located on a large ice cap in the west, just below the primary alien research site. From here you will conduct research into alien communications and technologies, and conduct away missions to unmanned installations elsewhere in the sector. Facilites: - 3-6 person accomodation - Full science and engineering section - Leisure and exercise facilities - Large growroom and water filtration unit for self-sufficient living - Weather forecasting suite - Prawn bay</poem>	”

Robin Goodall - Alterra Application Interview

“	<poem> INTERVIEWER: Why have you applied for this role? ROBIN: Everyone's talking about 4546B. Who hasn't applied?! Maybe Jeffreys. INTERVIEWER: No, Jeffreys signed on last week. Why THIS assignment? ROBIN: The last time we found sentient alien life was Strader VI. Seventeen years ago. It's been fun, but frankly I'm bored, and you have telepathic squid. INTERVIEWER: I should tell you that rumors about space-faring aliens on the planet ARE rumors. If that's why you're here you'll be disappointed. ROBIN: I'm a xeno-linguist. Space-faring aliens are our holy grail. I want it, but I don't expect to get it. INTERVIEWER: What qualifies you for this position? ROBIN: There are creatures out there you couldn't imagine, let alone understand. Do you know how I talk to them? INTERVIEWER: I think you correlate responses against stimuli and- ROBIN: I do what they do. If they bather in liquid nitrogen and talk with their feet, I put on a coat and I pull a handstand. But this recruitment process? It's most alien of all. So I'm trying to correlate my responses here. I want us to understand each other. Put me on that planet. I'll talk with the fish for you. INTERVIEWER: Thank you, Miss Goodall. Sandra - Sandra?! - Sandra will show you out. Sandra?!</poem>	”

Robin Goodall - Personal Recording

“	<poem> ROBIN: Alterra just offered me the Vesper job. SAM: That's great! ROBIN: You had something to do with this. SAM: No, I- ROBIN: Lying is against the rules. SAM: How could you tell? ROBIN: It's been years. You should be insufferable with joy right now. SAM: I just knew you'd want this job. SAM: I might be if you hadn't thrown the job interview. You're better at talking to people than that. You totally rattled my HR guy. SAM: I can't tell you. You have to trust me. It's a once in a lifetime assignment. ROBIN: What does that mean? [...] You're not serious[...] You can't be[...] I love you. SAM: So I remind myself when I don't see you. ROBIN: I've got to go do things, bye!</poem>	”

Robin Goodall - Research Notes

“	<poem>43789314876 4689432 46303646 4263784</poem>	”

Sam Goodall - Voicelog X

“	<poem> SAM: Sir, I've been running some diagnostics, and I found something strange. Contractor Goodall's GPS has her traveling all over the sector. MAXIM: That's what we pay her for. SAM: But sir, she's not running Alterra operations. And she's been evasive when questioned. You asked me to tell you if I thought she was lying, Sir. MAXIM: You would see your sister incarcerated for the good of the company? Why? SAM: She's foolhardy. She's putting us at risk. I don't like it, but she's left me no choice. MAXIM: Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I want you to give her whatever she needs, and to watch what she does with it. SAM: Sir, why not just bring her in? I don't know what explains it, but perhaps she's ill tired, I don't know, but she could be a harm to herself and others. MAXIM: You WANT me to send the marines after her?! You are aware of these people's reputation? SAM: I believe I could get her to come in peacefully, Sir. MAXIM: Comme ci, comme ca. Do you know what she hopes to achieve? SAM: No, sir. MAXIM: Is she the sort of person to tell? SAM: No, sir. MAXIM: Then we will see what she does. SAM: Yes, sir. MAXIM: Thank you, Vice-President Goodall.</poem>	”

Sam Goodall - Voicelog Y

“	<poem> SAM: There's been an accident in the labs. All the stored enzyme, it's gone. MAXIM: What do I care about this? SAM: Sir, it's a security risk. The enzyme is our only protection against the kharaa bacterium. If there was an outbreak we'd be defenseless. MAXIM: Was it an accident, or sabotage? SAM: The enzyme is unstable, Sir, but they've never seen this before. MAXIM: So have grunts on the planet send us more. SAM: That's already underway, Sir, but the emperor specimens are mostly concentrated away from our outposts. Robin is the only asset we have close by. I thought you'd want personal oversight on this. MAXIM: Brief Contractor Goodall. Don't mention sabotage. We'll see what runs in this family.</poem>	”

Sam Goodall Intercepted Voicelog #1

“	<poem> MAXIM: Goodall! Your sister... she delivered the alien core, yes? SAM: Yes, sir. MAXIM: Can she be trusted? SAM: She's the best at what she does, Sir. MAXIM: Has she lied to you before? SAM: We grew up together. We were children. MAXIM: Would you be able to tell if she lied to you again? SAM: You'd... be the first to know, Sir.</poem>	”

Sam Goodall Voicelog Cappa

“	<poem> MAXIM: Goodall! SAM: Yes, sir! MAXIM: I do not know why I am bothered with this minutia. I understand you requisitioned your sister a Snow Fox hoverbike. SAM: Yes, sir. MAXIM: Your conversations were flagged. I've read the transcripts. You bent the rules. SAM: I did what I judged was most profitable for the company, sir. MAXIM: You're good, Goodall, but not perfect. My vice-presidents are spotless. SAM: I'll clean up, sir. MAXIM: Good!</poem>	”

Task List

“	<poem> - Harvest edibles from growbeds and plant new seed - TODO - Translate symbols on alien artifacts 7 & 10 - IN PROGRESS - Send completed research samples to Vesper via rocket - DONE - Continue investigation of the forcefield mechanisms at research site Zero - IN PROGRESS - Send weekly status report - IN PROGRESS - Varnish prawn suits - TODO - Repair weather station - TODO - Perform monthly patrol of remote installations - TODO - Test whether pengwing flock are comfortable enough to swim with humans - DONE (Yes!) - Induct new support personnel - TODO</poem>	”

Weekly Report: Research Base Zero

“	<poem> Week: 26 Staff: Robin Goodall (Xeno-Linguist); Jo Jeffreys (Technician); TBC (Support) Filed by: Robin Goodall Research samples categorized: 5 Research samples with commercial potential: 0 Performance: D Please rate your operation's performance in your own words: We drilled an ice tunnel to encourage a flock of penglings to surface near the habitat, where we've been recording their behaviour; and accessed a frozen over facility, interpreted the symbols on an alien control panel, and hot-wired it to accept Alterra frequencies. I think we deserve a C+. Please rate your satisfaction with Alterra support: I give it a D. It'd be lower, but my sister's carrying the rest of you. Please describe your planned steps for self-improvement: I'm going to bed.</poem>	”

Codes & Clues

Alien Architect Reconstitution Research

“	<poem> There is no evidence that the alien architects colonized other planets in our galaxy, and we are as yet unable to reach the galaxy from where we believe they arrived. No living member of their species has ever been encountered. We have nonetheless learned a great deal about them from what they left behind. Their architecture suggests they are approximately 50% larger than humans, and non-bipedal. It is unclear whether they interact with their technologies through naturally or artificially developed sensory apparatus, but it is clear they had mastered the complexities of genetic and technological alteration. Of most interest is their use of sanctuary sites dotted around the planet. Our efforts to decipher the data stored there have so far been in vain, but evidence suggests they used as emergency shelters when the kharaa bacterium was first released, the aliens somehow able to download their minds to the databanks for later retrieval. This suggests their relationship with their corporeal bodies is quite different from our own. How many times an individual may transfer between different bodies, and the exact mechanism by which they do, is currently unknown. Nonetheless this suggests it may be possible in the future to build, grow or salvage an appropriate body and 'reawaken' one of these aliens. Whether such an entity would have any independent function is entirely another matter - however even in a vegetative state we imagine such a construct would have wide-reaching ramifications for our ability to interface with the alien technologies, and gain further access to their facilities. We have begun an excavation at [Coordinates corrupted]. We believe some of the necessary materials may be located there. [Clue to precursor body part location here] We will remain in contact with Research Base Gamma as this ice front closes in. If we need to abandon the base their position at [Clue to second abandoned Alterra base here] will be our closest point of refuge.</poem>	”

Being Watched?

“	<poem> I thought I saw movement in the water outside again. Just over by that [Clue to PDA Location here]. It was big, whatever it was, but it had four limbs, moved like a human. I'd take a flashlight and go out there, but I'm too scared.</poem>	”

Briefing - Sector Zero

“	<poem> VESPER MISSION OVERVIEW - Week 26 Personnel on 4546B: 37 Personnel on Vesper: 96 RESEARCH SECTOR ZERO Personnel: 1 Active (R. Goodall); 1 MIA (J. Jeffreys) ACTIVE MISSIONS IN YOUR SECTOR Search & Rescue: J. Jeffreys - Vesper's orbital sensors are scanning for missing crew - Divesuit found abandoned near Cargo Rocket, Zero Sector - GPS analysis indicates a trajectory leading towards deep sea station Cappa (150m depth) - Find your colleague! Leviathan Genetic Research Program - Genetic samples from deceased leviathan research specimen are requested - Due to recent ice flow its position is unknown - Depth 150m Data Retrieval: Research Base Omega - Omega base was abandoned weeks ago due to increased local threat levels - Alien research data at the base may prove vital to our efforts - <100m depth</poem>	”

Sanctuary Zero Location Data

“	<poem> Sanctuary Zero was discovered some months ago, operating on low power. All attempts to access the facility have failed. It is located in the so-called Twisty Bridges, an area dense with macro-flora, reaching 100m-300m in depth. The fast growth of the tubular, organic 'bridges' throughout the area prevents a permanent route to the facility from being established. It can be located at a depth of 200m, and contractors are advised to use visual reference to locate a viable path. The alien architects constructed multiple sanctuary facilities around 4546B. Their purpose was to store and preserve the aliens' mental states for later retrieval in case of emergency. While many individuals fled to these sanctuaries when the kharaa contagion was released, most succumbed before they could reach one. Of those sanctuaries we have gained access to, none have contained a viable alien consciousness, and it is further unclear what sense could be made of the data if they had.</poem>	”

Surface Expedition Report

“	<poem> I was on a standard expedition across the ice surface when the weather closed in. Unable to see, I ran straight into an ice worm. I was lucky to escape underwater through a crack in the ice, but it wrecked my hoverbike. The remains may be salvageable. You can find them by [INSERT LOCATION CLUE HERE].</poem>	”