Databank (Below Zero)
The Databank is an encyclopedia of entries accessible under the "Data Bank" tab of the PDA. These entries provide players with survival tips, clues, and critical Story information regarding the events on Planet 4546B.
Note: Logs are copied verbatim from the game, including any grammar or spelling errors. Some entries may not be obtainable through normal gameplay but can be viewed using Console Commands.
Logs & Communications
Alterra
A Few Updates
Source: PDA in the Delta Station
Emmanuel: Good morning, Frost Pack!
Just a quick update to inform you of some key achievements and priority shifts we need you all to get behind.
The Spy Pengling project was a resounding success. Please join me in congratulating Samantha Ayou, who is now reassigned to Outpost Zero, helping us dream of future initiatives.
Congratulations are also in order for Danielle Valenti and her team at Omega Lab. The closing of Phi Robotics means important funds can be redirected to their Kharaa bacteria study, which has important positive implications for the life sciences.
You're all doing an exceptional job and I don't want to promise anything, but HQ has been taking notice. Keep up the good work, and I think we can start discussing bonuses soon.
Alien Intruder-- more like alien cheater
Source: PDA in the Delta Station
Parvan: For the last time, I am not cheating.
Sam: Then what's your theory? What's going on?
Parvan: If you ask me, Zeta has been blinking a lot. I think it's a tell.
Sam: He does have a point there!
Zeta: It's allergies!
Fred: Allergies?! Oh is something in bloom in this frozen sector?
Zeta: Thermal lilies. And if you gang up on me, I swear, you're all fired.
Fred: You're not even my boss.
Danielle: You're all so gullible. You're fighting each other, meanwhile, look at Parvan, just look at him!
Parvan: What am I doing? I'm not doing anything!
Fred: Let's just take this to a vote. All those who think Zeta's allergies are a bad case of Alienitis, say "Intruder."
Parvan: Intruder.
Fred: Intruder.
Dani?
Danielle: Oh, I'm just an observer here.
Sam: I'm going to use my pass.
Fred: Is there some kind of scientist conspiracy going on here? Zeta, Sam, Danielle-- you three are suddenly very aligned.
Zeta: Or, like I said, Parvan is cheating.
Parvan: I'm starting to wish I was cheating.
Alien Intruder: A game of deception, aliens, and paranoia.
Source: PDA in Outpost Zero
Instructions: Alien Intruder is a game played by 6 to 15 people. One player acts as Game Master and one player assumes the role of Hive Mind. The remaining players are Scientists on a Research Mission. (Total Players / 6) of the Scientists are secretly Alien intruders.
- Hive Mind: The Hive Mind is the puppet master pulling the strings of deception. The Hive Mind knows who the Aliens are and who the Scientists are. This player observes the game and tries to manipulate the Alien Intruders to eliminate all the Scientists. The Hive Mind wins if 3/4 of the Scientists have been eliminated before completing all of their Tasks.
- Alien Intruder: This player does not know they are an Alien intruder. For all intents and purposes the Alien Intruder(s) thinks they are normal Scientists.
- Scientists: The Scientist's job is to survive and eliminate the Alien Intruder(s) or complete all tasks. The Scientists do not know who the Alien is. The Scientists win if the Alien(s) are dead or if they have completed all of their Tasks.
- Game Master: The Game Master (GM) runs the session and ensures the completion of the different cycles. The Hive Mind will communicate their intentions directly to the GM and the GM will tell the players hoe his/her intentions play out.
Phases: The game is broken up into days. Each day the Scientists/Alien choose to either perform a task or spy on another player. Then, the Hive Mind tells the GM if they would like to plant a Seed of Doubt on which spy result, if any or eliminate the spy target of the Alien (if applicable). This is done secretly between the Hive Mind and the GM. The GM then reports back on the results of the player's spying efforts (influenced or not by the Hive Mind). After which the Scientists/Alien may have a 3 minute meeting to discuss the day's events. They may then elect to eliminate a Scientist with a majority vote. The Scientists/Alien then go to sleep and start the next day's cycle.
Apart Together
Source: PDA in the Delta Station
Emmanuel: Davide, you'll be happy to know, the Frost Pack is making excellent progress! I must say, my management style appears to be uniquely well-suited to isolated planets.
I miss you of course, but I wonder if you feel it too? As great as we are together, we are almost better apart!
Just look at how well Prosperina did in her last show! I'm sorry I couldn't be there to see it but I'm sure if I'd been around, I'd only have made her nervous.
Once this mission is over I'll come home for a few good months. And then, what do you think if we look at reorganizing our expectations to facilitate longer term separation success? I really think this could be a great model for us going forward, romantically and otherwise.
Don't forget, I love you from the depths of my heart. Keep on succeeding in your projects. You know there's nothing I find more attractive.
Architect Research Notes
Source: PDA in Outpost Zero
Lillian: While other teams have been pursuing more nebulous approaches to awakening the Architects, I've tried to take a more practical approach.
We know these part-organic, part-digital beings stored what they thought of as themselves on computers within their sanctuaries. And we know efforts to 'wake' or communicate with them have been in vain.
My theory is that to make first contact, these digital ghosts must first be recombined with an organic component. As Doctor Kas Slaney's classic study noted, we know they had means to grow cybernetic bodies, and to transfer their data patterns between them.
There is a known probable Architect sanctuary in this sector, but entry is not currently possible. If I can get inside, and present the right vessel, I do think we will be successful.
Cargo Rocket Seatruck Dock - Zero Sector
Source: PDA on Delta Island dock
Emmanuel: Fred, I'm not blaming you, but what do you mean it's gone? Where did it go? You found trouble somewhere in the Deep Twisty Bridges and decided to jettison modules?
Fred: Yeah. I had to jettison a module. I got free, went back for it… and it was just… gone!
Emmanuel: And you think someone stole it.
Fred: Or something. I didn't lose it, that's for sure. I'm careful with my tools!
Emmanuel: I'm sure you are, but you have to admit, there have been a lot of Seatruck accidents. And they are rather expensive.
Fred: You want to follow me on a few runs tomorrow? See what it's like? Conditions are way harsher than anything I ever imagined. I don't know if you can really understand it from inside your base.
Emmanuel: That won't be necessary. Thanks for your time. I'll write it up as an accident.
Control Room Rapid Depressurization
Source: PDA in Purple Vents
To: Weld Team and Electrical
We're getting closer. I know the control room will change the process of base building. It contains all the information you need in a singular place: energy delegation for low sunlight areas, build layout, structural information, etc.
We're leaps and bounds away from v1, which literally just rolled to the bottom of the ocean…even on flat ground. Rapid implosion is supposed to be painless. I hope that's true.
Definitely a better way to go than the electrical fire in v5.7. Poor way to go - super unfortunate radio call to overhear.
Jasmine was the latest worker that volunteered to test the Control Room, for hazard pay of course. She was on the radio examining some information panels when she experienced- rapid depressurization due to a hull breach. Apparently, the panels were welded poorly and blew a hole in the wall. So, no hazard pay for her…or anyone else for that matter. At least she didn't suffer.
This next build should have all the kinks ironed out.
Counting down the days!
Source: PDA in Outpost Zero
Lillian: My darlings, Brian, Svea and Oren, I'm counting the days until I can come home and give you all the hugs and kisses.
Since my research project was cancelled, they have me at a place called Outpost Zero doing... nothing much. Just cataloguing things. Plants. The occasional animal. But it's mostly ice where I am, so there's not a lot of new stuff to find.
Svea and Oren, you know how you get bored when your hoverdance teacher makes you practice skills 15 minutes over schedule and it eats up your freestyle time? It's a bit like that.
I have a new roommate-- Samantha-- a roboticist. You should see her little Pengling bots. Oren, you'd love them. But she got management upset. I guess this is just where they send you if they decide you're too much trouble.
I'm kind of glad she's here, though. I was getting lonely.
I'm still trying-- quietly-- I don't want any more trouble-- to figure out where I went wrong. I was sure I picked up a distress signal. I was right on top of it. And then it just... stopped. What if someone-- an Architect-- is still down there and needs help?
I'll be home before I ever get to find out, and it will fall to some future researcher to come and find out, I guess. I hope. But oh, I can't wait to be home with you.
When are you going to send me some more art? There's still a patch of bare wall here that could use some color and a touch of genius!
I miss you, I love you. I hope you're still proud of me. I'm proud of you.
Dani call re: research
Source: PDA in the Phi Robotics Center
Danielle: Hi you, how's everything at Pengling Central?
Sam: Oh… fine. But… I haven't heard anything since giving the footage to Zeta. It's been what… a week?
Danielle: Did she promise you a report?
Sam: No but I expected… some kind of reaction. Maybe I should take it up with Emmanuel. It is Kharaa after all, and it could cause a lot of suffering if it got out.
Danielle: Why would it get out? We have professional containment, and know how to neutralize it in an emergency. Sam, I love you but you don't know what you're talking about.
Sam: You love me? (a pause) Wait--- why do you you know so much about this?
Danielle: It's my area of research.
Sam: Why are you being evasive?
Danielle: (sigh) I'm going to tell you something, and then you have to drop this… crusade… you're on before you damage your career. (pause) We're researching the bacteria.
Sam: What kind of research are you doing?
Danielle: I don't want you worrying about this. We are aware of the possible downsides, but they're far outweighed by the potential. That's as much as I can tell you.
Sam: (Exhale)
Danielle: Sam--
Sam: I need to think. I have to go.
Delivery Status Report
Source: PDA at a tech site in [Arctic Kelp Forest](/wiki/arctic-kelp-forest)
Fred: Ah jeez, these sea monkeys are going to get me in trouble. This is the third shipment that those buggers have gotten their weird little hands into!
Now we're running low on flares and I'm going to have to search nearby nests for stolen cargo.
They're lucky they're kind of cute. Raccoons of the sea, those ones.
Disciplinary Meeting -- personal favors
Source: Abandoned PDA in the Twisty Bridges
Emmanuel: Fred! Great to see you, come on in. You don't mind if I record this, do you?
Fred: Am I in trouble?
Emmanuel: (laughs) No. You know me. Just a fanatic for details. And my memory's not what it used to be.
Fred: (Chuckle) I know what that's like.
Emmanuel: Hmmm yes... Is that why you've been running so many personal errands for your colleagues? We asked you to limit them.
Fred: Er... So I am in trouble?
Emmanuel: That's not how I want you to look at it. Here's what I see: you're a team player. You want to get the job done.
Fred: I think I have a pretty good record there...
Emmanuel: You want people to like you.
Fred: Has anyone complained?
Emmanuel: Fred, the trouble is, not everyone is as reliable as you are. Sometimes people need help being where they need to be and concentrating on their work.
Fred: All the trips were all work related.
Emmanuel: It appears you transported tech for Lil, rather far out from her base.
Fred: It needed to go deep-- she needed a seatruck.
Emmanuel: Her work is currently on surface installations. She shouldn't be anywhere near the water.
Fred: I-- Er... -- I--
Emmanuel: No more favours to friends. Agreed?
Fred: Yes, sir.
Emmanuel: I keep telling you, call me Manu!
Fred: (Uncomfortable laughter)
Don't Take Your Kids to Work Day
Source: PDA in Outpost Zero
Lillian: Hey Sam, want to say hi to my kids? I told them I'd show them a day in the life of a scientist.
Sam: Of course! Hi Oren! Hi Svea!
Lillian: Tell us what you're working on.
Sam: Oh, uhh... this is a uh... personal project.
Lillian: Looks more like biology than robotics.
Sam: Yeah I was just thinking... I know no one is on my side with this, but what if I just found a way to take care of the deadly bacterium?
Lillian: I wouldn't say no one is on your side. I'm on your side.
Sam: I know, but you won't... say... anything to Emmanuel or Zeta... or... anyone.
Lillian: What effect would it have if I did? I'm not exactly Employee of the Month right now.
Sam: I know. I wouldn't want you to risk more than you already have.
Lillian: I'm sorry. I wish I could do more.
What... are you working on there? What do you mean by "take care of the deadly bacterium?"
Sam: Uh...Is that still thing still recording?
Lillian: Oh, right. So that was Sam, kids!
I'll turn this off now.
Emmanuel's Special Request
Source: PDA in Outpost Zero
Emmanuel gave me this jailbroken scanner tool...thing and said, "I need more shower heads. This sh
[TRUNCATED]