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Level 1
Ridge Frost: Oh… hey. You actually made it here, huh? Or am I just imagining things? Right, right. Gotta check that cargo of yours. The hell? I’m impressed—did you really get this stuff here without it getting scuffed up at all? Well hot damn, I thought this cargo was lost for good. I’ll take excellent care of it. Truth be told, been waiting a long time for this moment. But I always knew you’d come my way. Go ahead and use your Q-pid to get me online.
Ridge Frost: Alright, connected to the network. Which means I can finally start fixing up this observatory. In case you haven’t heard, we’ve been seeing an increase in chiral density in every region as the network has expanded. More instances of strange phenomena outside network coverage, too—and I’ve been told this is indicative of plate gate emergence. You know, after being alone all this time I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stay the course—till you arrived with that lifesaving cargo. Should be all set to hold down the fort now. Not exactly a one man job, but I’ll do my team proud. Oh, I’ve shared schematics for an oxygen mask with you. It ought to help you stay active in areas where the air’s thin. Personally, I’d recommend you wear one at all times when you’re in my neck of the woods.
Sam: What are you monitoring here?
Ridge Frost: Tar current fluctuations and whatnot. Mostly in the eastern part of the continent and elevated regions. Going forward, I’ll also be playing very close attention to signs of plate gate emergence. Unfortunately, the chiral cloud layer has been gradually descending ever since I got here. Everyone was suffering from exposure, and I’m the only one who stuck around. You’re the first friendly face that I’ve seen in a minute.
Sam: Areas where the air’s thin?
Ridge Frost: You know, at high altitudes—on mountains like this one, for example. And if you climb above the cloud layer, you’ve got even less oxygen to breathe. Saps your energy even if you’re not doing anything strenuous. Over time you’ll cover less distance and be at increased risk of slipping and falling. It’s a good idea to wear your oxygen mask to help you stay strong and sharp.
Sam: Okay, I’d best head off.
Ridge Frost: Mother Nature won’t show you any mercy round these parts. The biting cold and steep slopes will slow you down—or stop your progress altogether. Now would be a good time to make sure that you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. By the way, the Aeronautical Engineer who lives northwest of here just posted a sub order for you. Seems something at the ghost mech factory’s got him all hot and bothered. Help him out, and he might hook you up with some useful gear. In any case, I hope you’ll come visit me here again sometime. I understand it’s a lot to ask folks to make the trip on a regular basis… But that’s why I’m hoping I can offer your stuff that’ll be of use in hazardous conditions like these. Keep on keeping on, man. And thanks again for all your help.
The President: This is the President, Sam. Chiral network coverage has just passed the seventy-five percent milestone here in Australia. The next leg of your journey will take you to the southern part of the continent. Once the remaining regions have been integrated into the network… The manifestation of a news plate gate is all but guaranteed. Marshal your strength to overcome the final hurdles, and make this continent whole again. We’re all counting on you.
Fragile: Sam. Rainy’s not doing so great. It might be more of a mental than a physical issue, but I’m honestly not sure. Do you remember the Doctor from the Motherhood? We think she should be able to help ease Rainy’s anxieties. It was Tarman’s idea. We already reached out, and she said we could come visit anytime. Since the Motherhood’s within the chiral network, we can use the Magellan to travel there. Once you’ve made it back to the ship, just head to your private room and settle in. You can use the trip to catch up on sleep. But if there’s anything you need to take care of before we depart, now would be the time to do so.
The President: Sam, I’m contacting you via a different protocol. This private mode affords me a direct connection to you alone. It seems Drawbridge has reason to suspect that APAC may have been involved in the production of ghost mechs. This possibility concerned me as well, so I conducted my own investigation…and reaffirmed that APAC’s underlying technologies are iterations of an older Bridges framework. What I’m getting at, Sam, is that the guilty party is not APAC, but Bridges. Which is to say the UCA may also have some involvement with ghost mech production. This would perhaps explain why firearms and other weapons have become commonplace on the Australian continent. The UCA’s precursor, the United States of America, had a prominent gun culture. Though Americans first took up arms to liberate themselves from British colonial rule, they retained the right to bear arms so that they might defend themselves against future government tyranny. APAC has no such designs, of course, but Higgs has used factories to obtain weapons in an attempt to subjugate the continent through violent action. And so, the people of Australia have, in response, been forced to take up arms in self-defense… A distinctly American philosophy—and one which would appear to have spread to this continent. The more we seek to unite the people with metaphorical ropes, the more essential “sticks” seem to become. This particular situation is one that I feared might come to pass. Which is precisely why I determined that it must not be the UCA but a civilian organization which takes the lead in expanding chiral infrastructure. But, if the UCA is indeed somehow implicated in these events, it may dramatically alter the calculus. I realize it must be vexing not knowing what to believe, Sam. Should I learn more, I’ll contact you at once. For my part, I have a favor to ask. I must insist you not disclose that we’ve been in direct contact. There’s no telling who may be involved with what at this stage.
Level 2
Ridge Frost: Weather couldn’t have made it easy, but you made it here safe and sound. Give me a sec to check order data. You’re not the one I expected to bring this in. Glad you were able to find it. I’d like to share this with you. Hopefully you can make good use of it. I’ve been reviewing materials allocations. Made it so you can withdraw more for fabrication if you like. The stabilizer is a device that can be attached to your backpack. When you lose your balance while carrying cargo in the field, it’ll help you to regain control. In areas with uneven terrain where it’s easy to slip, it’s a very useful piece of gear. Though it’s only now made its way here, you probably used one back in the UCA, so I’m guessing there’s no need to sell you on it. Requires battery power, though, so keep an eye on your charge level when you’re running it. My way of thanking you for everything. Stay safe out there, man.
Level 3
Ridge Frost: Thanks so much for visiting. I know it’s not an easy hike. Let’s take a look at the orders. Condition is great, just great. I didn’t think anyone was capable of this. You’re not the one I expected to bring this in. Glad you were able to find it. Really can’t thank you enough. Got you something to return the favor. I’ve been reviewing materials allocations. Made it so you can withdraw more for fabrication if you like. I present the new and improved stabilizer. It’s basically a more compact version of the original. Ought to make it more viable for deliveries. It’s the least I can do for you after all the ways you’ve helped me. Enjoy.
Level 4
Ridge Frost: Weather couldn’t have made it easy, but you made it here safe and sound. Give me a sec to check order data. You’re not the one I expected to bring this in. Glad you were able to find it. Lost track of how many times you’ve bailed my ass out now. Anyway, I’ve got a present for my favorite porter. I upped your fabrication materials allocation gain. Put that shit to good use, okay? Check out the latest and greatest iteration of the stabilizer. This one comes with a brand-new addition to the core design: thrusters. When falling from heights, they’ll help to slow your descent and soften the impact. They really come into their own when you’ve gotta make your way down from places at higher altitudes—like here, for instance. Be advised though, you can’t fine tune your landings—and the thrusters won’t fire at all unless you have sufficient battery power. In other words, you’re gonna need a little practice to get the most out of them. But I can tell you’re a quick study. Just head out and give them a whirl. You’ll see. Anyway, it’s always a pleasure to have you around. Thanks for coming, and take care.
Level 5
Ridge Frost: Weather couldn’t have made it easy, but you made it here safe and sound. Give me a sec to check order data. Check out this monster delivery. You’ve made my day! Look at you handling all these jobs. Really went above and beyond. Might sound sappy, but you mean a lot to me, Sam. And I want to express my appreciation with this gift I prepared just for you. I upped your fabrication materials allocation again. Put that shit to good use, okay? I’ll never forget everything you’ve done to support me, man. The observatory is running more smoothly than ever thanks to your contributions. I’m confident I can carry on my work and keep contributing to the cause. I hope that I can continue to count on you in the future, Sam.