[lev01] title01: The Groulien Workers Party //VAL general01: This, glistening before you like a jewel, is the Groulien Waystation. I welcome you to it. Permit me to introduce myself. I am VAL - a virtual artificial lifeform. It is my task, and possibly my pleasure, to assist you during your time at this Waystation. //VAL mission01: The mission assigned to you, if I may be so bold, is as follows. Your employers, the Groulien Workers Party, require you to turn this Waystation into somewhere the asteroid miners can relax between their arduous shifts. I shall be on hand to aid you, of course, and I wish you luck, speed and freedom from stupidity. //VAL objective01: Hmmm. Your objective is to build a docking portal. Use the hardplan crate provided. I look forward to your construction with great eagerness. //VAL task01: Nothing will enter or exit the Waystation without a Docking Portal. You must build one with the Hardplan Crate provided. Two crates containing scuzzer droids have also been provided to aid you in this task. When you have completed it, vessels will be able to connect with the Station, and cargoes of goods or people can arrive or leave. It's vital, so you should start its construction immediately. Immediately, I said. //VAL objective02: Your objective is to build a Berth with at least five Sleeping Pods, using the hardplan crate. I trust this will not overtax your abilities? //VAL task02: All species need to rest sometimes. It's a universal truth. So I suggest you build a Berth containing at least five sleeping pods. You'll need to use the Hardplan Crate provided. There will be no sleep until you have done it. //VAL objective03: If I may be so bold to suggest that you construct a Lavotron. Do use the hardplan crate, and do extract what enjoyment you can from the task. //VAL task03: A Lavotron is required. These units sanitise, refresh and clean anyone entering them. Some races are cleaner than others, but at least with a Lavotron you're giving them the option to divest themselves of all the germs, goo and unhygienic horridness they may be caked in. Again, you'll need to use the Hardplan Crate. //VAL objective04: It appears that, using the hardplan crate, you must build a Dine-O-Mat. Such a task can only fill you with delight, I'm sure. //VAL task04: Things seem to be going well. My fears that you would be a disaster appear unfounded. Waystation Zetan Setoyi imploded a while ago when its supervisor unprimed the flux discharge tunnels and a static megaburst instantly turned the place back into starstuff. Don't worry. The design of that place was nothing like this. Now, to business. You must construct a Dine-O-Mat using the Hardplan Crate. This will feed the population, at least until it gets much larger. //{"unprimed the flux discharge tunnels and a static megaburst": spurious sci-fi similie for did something really bad} //VAL objective05: Erm, you are to construct a Droid Recharger utilizing the hardplan crate conveniently supplied. Let joy be unconfined. //VAL task05: Your droids are working hard. As, I have to say, are you. However, you don't need recharging and they do. A Droid Recharger is your construction task. Unless you are denser than an embryonic anti-quasar you'll know by now that you'll need a Hardplan Crate to do this. //{"denser than an embryonic anti-quasar": sci-fi similie for really stupid} //VAL objective06: I know how impatient you organic beings can be, but you must wait until ten Miners arrive. //VAL task06: You show promise. Although you are not like my old supervisor, Cenopus Vark, who once ran four vacuum mines whilst suffering from bastic flu. Anyway, all I ask is that you wait until 10 miners arrive at the dock. It won't be long, if my instincts prove correct. //{Cenopus Vark: spurious sci-fi name} //{Bastic flu: spurious sci-fi disease} //VAL reminder01: Pardon my ignorance, but might it not be a good idea to unlock the port and let the Salt Hog miners aboard? //VAL general02: Congratulations. Your progress is certainly impressive. An impartial observer might comment that you have the luck of the Roulesse-playing Decapus of Axas-Prime. //{Roulesse: space version of Roulette} //{Decapus of Axas Prime: Spurious term for a VIP from the planet Axas-Prime} //VAL objective07: Open the bulkhead door, Supervisor. This I urge you. //VAL task07: Supervisor, your lack of ineptitude is a blessing. So it's time to open a new segment. This will give you a new area in which to expand. You may congratulate yourself, but not for long. There is much to do. You are aware of how the Hardplan Crates operate, and you'll need this knowledge to construct a wealth of new units. If I wasn't so cynical I'd be quite excited at the prospect. //VAL objective08: Your objective now is to build a Recycling Plant. A Hardplan Crate is provided, naturally. //VAL task08: A Recycling Plant is urgently required. Efficiency is everything in space. By recycling, you will convert waste - almost any waste, back into energy. Four Salt-Hogs are required to work the Recycling Plant, but more of that later. Your first task is to build in a useful position. //VAL objective09: We need extra labour. The solution is to hire four Salt-Hogs. Make sure you pick the best, Supervisor. //VAL task09: Good. The Recycling Plant is built. But as I said, you need four Salt-Hogs to operate it. Hire them using the Hire menu. Remember that although it pays to get the best, it also costs. Hmm. Must write that down. It's a useful saying. //VAL task10: Supervisor, I must demand your immediate attention. Some Technology Crates have arrived and I insist that you open them without further delay. Today reminds me of the Groulien festival of Chrimbas, when a random selection of gifts and low-grade toxins are handed to the youngsters, who either squeal with delight or choke as their ventricles are temporarily paralysed. //{Groulien Festival of Chrimbas: refers to the Groulien version of Christmas} //VAL objective10: The Technology Crates require unpacking. I suggest this should be your next task. //VAL task10a: You are busy and therefore it gives me pleasure to interrupt you, Supervisor. Three tasks await your attention. You must construct another Dine-O-Mat, a Lavotron and a Berth. Your population is increasing and if you neglect these tasks you could face a mob of hungry, smelly, tired customers. And I wouldn't wish that on you, frankly. //VAL objective10a: Facilities are stretched. You must build at least one more Dine-O-Mat, Lavotron and Berth. //VAL task11: The Salt-Hogs you previously hired are good workers, and in line with your current expansion, it might be an excellent idea to bring the total number of Salt-Hog employees up to six. Use your skill, judgment and instinct to pick those that won't let you down. //VAL objective11: More Salt-Hogs are required. You'll need to hire them, so ensure you don't choose any duff ones, Supervisor. //VAL general03: Do excuse the intrusion, but I'm rather concerned. You are taking too long in your task. I humbly suggest doing everything more quickly. //VAL Mission02: Excuse my interruption but I have new orders from the Groulien Workers Party Secretary. You are to expand the Waystation into a Communications Relay Post. I assured the GWP that you are capable of this. I hope this faith in you is not misplaced. Otherwise we'll both be visiting the Labour Exchange on Prodar VI. //{Prodar VI: Spurious planet name} //VAL task12: Its seems that you are either a competent Supervisor or you're lucky. Either way, your station is a success and you will not now suffer the fate of one Supervisor, many years ago. His name, I recall, was Migby Pariah. What happened to him? Oh, he had a bile worm implanted in his central eye. When it finally crawled out of his toe it was nine metres long. The Groulien culture can be cruel, but it is also rather beautiful, don't you agree? By the way, make sure all your visitors have adequate facilities. //{Migby Pariah: spurrious sci-fi name} //{Bile-worm: nasty sounding worm thing} //VAL objective12: It would be wise to make sure that there are enough facilities to service those aboard, Supervisor. Keep a close eye on your facilities, and build more if you see they are being over-used. //VAL task13: Oh, Grey travellers have also been granted access to the station. How delightful. //VAL task14: The GWP have despatched a number of Targ communications experts to our station. Whilst members of the Targ make good workers, don't be fooled by their insectile nature. The Targ are a proud race. They would say haughty and aloof. The rest of us say miserable. Your task is to keep your Targ employees happy. Keeping employees content is an unwelcome but necessary part of every Supervisor's role. Who knows? One day you may even make me happy. //VAL objective14: The new Targ employees need looking after, Supervisor. Remember they're an entirely different race. Ensure your facilities can accomodate them comfortably. //VAL task15: Two Hardplan Crates have been provided. From these you may build two com sensors. After all, if you want to expand you must communicate with the outside universe. That's an old Groulien cliché, if you must know. //VAL objective15: From the Hardplan Crates provided you should build two new ComSensors. Can I leave you to get on with this? //ARONA arona01: Who are you? I am familiar with all the Waystation supervisors from the Groulien worlds through the six voids right out to the Caltian Black Hole. You must be new. In which case, I am Arona Daal, most respected of the freetraders. Delighted to meet you. Anyway, I'm in this sector offloading some late-vintage Mucus Wine and as I have a couple of Scuzzer droids I don't require I thought I should give you first refusal. You'd be getting a bargain if you took them. //{Caltian Black Hole: spurious name of a Black Hole} //{Mucus Wine - horrible sounding alcoholic drink} //ARONA arona02: You are clearly a Supervisor of great ability. I have something you might like. I'd never offer this to anyone else, but I have a nearly new Sickbay. It's yours if you want it. I never thought I'd sell it, as it was a gift from four of my mothers. But I like your face, so it's yours if you're interested? //ARONA arona03: Hmm. I've seen supervisors come and go, but you look like you're doing well here. I remember old Migby Pariah. He looked like a 2D lasercopy of himself when that bileworm eventually crawled out. Serves him right, I suppose. Listen, you don't want to buy a... No. I can see you're not into that. And the stuff I have is shockingly strong. Sorry. Shouldn't have mentioned it. //VAL emergency01: I apologise for tearing you from your, presumably, vital work but an emergency message is arriving via the Com Sensor channels. //ALIEN emergency02: Waystation, this is Shuttle Serundai Five. Request urgent docking. Repeat, request urgent docking. We have a sick passenger. A VIP Diplomat is critically ill on board. Request immediate docking. //{Shuttle Serundai Five: Spurious name for a passenger shuttle} //VAL emergency03: Permit me to intrude, but a matter of some importance has arisen. You will be aware of the Cis-Galactic Law which states that you must allow any vessel to dock for medical assistance. If you do not let the Zedem ship dock, you face dismissal and up to two core-rotations in the dung mines on Scatabhoria. //{Dung-Mines on Scatabhoria: horrible place to be sent. Scatabhoria is a mixture of the words 'Scat' and 'Abhor', meaning 'shit' and 'dislike' respectively} //ALIEN emergency04: Waystation, this is Shuttle Serundai Five. We're docking now. Thank you for your swift assistance. Stand by to remove Diplomatic VIP as soon as we come to rest. //VAL emergency05: You know, we could cure that ailing Diplomat if only we had a Sickbay. What course of action should we take? //VAL emergency06: Supervisor, you will need a Grey to operate the Sickbay. I urge you to make hiring one a priority. //VAL win01: Good news from the Sickbay, Supervisor. The Diplomat, who arrived on the Zedem Shuttle Serundai has made a full recovery. Apparently he drank some bad Mucus Wine. You, it seems, are to be congratulated on your handling of this delicate incident. //VAL lose01: You failed to allow the Zedem Shuttle Serundai to dock. Apparently, the sick passenger was an important Diplomat and he died on board. The Zedem are livid. You could have saved him but you didn't so it gives me no small pleasure to announce that your name has written in the Groulien Book of Fools. There will be no promotion for you. Indeed, expect a bileworm up your nostril in the middle of the night. //VAL lose02: The Zedem have just issued a press release. Let me read it. 'One of our Diplomats is dead. Owing to the frankly rubbish efforts of the Groulien Waystation to which he was taken, he recovered consciousness only to denounce the Waystation's supervisor as "a pointless nematode" before he passed away. So it looks like you're going nowhere, Supervisor. You had your chance and you blew it. And since the Zedem always come back as ghosts, don't expect any sleep tonight, or ever again. That is all. //nematode: primitive worm found at the bottom of the sea //VAL energy01: Your energy is low, Supervisor. Spend with care, and monitor the situation. //VAL energy02: I'm shocked at how low your energy is. Be extremely careful with your spending. I'm not joking here. //VAL rubbish01: Supervisor, why not help your Scuzzer Droids by beaming up rubbish and junk and dropping it directly into the Recycler? Or is such a menial task below you? //VAL rubbish02: You have a new segment to utilise, Supervisor. However it is piled high with junk at the moment. Let your Scuzzers clear it or, to accelerate the clearup operation, beam the rubbish into your Recycler. //VAL demolish01: That was an act of foolishness. Now, another Crate for that room has been delivered. Don't demolish any more buildings or you'll lose your command and end up working in the Catarrh Bottling Plant on Menthes. //Catarrh: Throaty flem or snot. //VAL demolish02: Oh, you didn't listen did you? You demolished something else and your Groulien paymasters have terminated your employment. You'll be lucky to even get a job cleaning the cage of a Vindalooan Squit Ape. Farewell. //{Vindalooan Squit Ape: a nasty alien primate. Vindalooan is derived from 'vindaloo curry', an extremely spicy english curry dish that can result in a nasty toilet experience, and 'squit' which is a term for that experience - derived from 'squirt + shit'} //VAL objective16: We have a problem. Our diplomat is very under the weather and there is little we can do at the moment. All I can suggest is turning to religion at this point. //VAL objective17: We have a Sickbay! Now we need a Grey alien to operate it. Find one and hire him immediately. There's no time to lose if we're to save the ailing diplomat. //ARONA aronascuzzer01: Mmm, you look like the sort of Station Master that could do with a couple more Scuzzers. - It just so happens that I have a pair in the back of my cargo hold. I found them under a pile of old polarity insulation blankets. //VAL facilityrot01: This is outrageous - you've lost an important facility. Here is a replacement. I implore you - don't let it happen again. //VAL techrot01: I despair. You've lost a technology crate. These things aren't disposable, you know. Here is another. Take better care of it. I will be watching. //VAL rotter01: By repeatedly losing important items, you show you clearly don't care about your Station. In that case, I don't care about you. We will part company now. I'm going on to better things but you'll be scrubbing stains off the underdecks of Xanaduvian pleasure barges. Goodbye. //Xanaduvian: reference to 'Xanadu' and 'duvet'