Tadpole Pens

 | Feature | Details | | --- | --- |-| **Type** | Pioneer Seabase / Point of Interest |-| **Location** | Graveyard (Edge), overlooking Sparse Plains |-| **Depth** | 150m |+| **Type** | Point of Interest (Pioneer Seabase) |+| **Location** | Graveyard Biome | | **Coordinates** | -271618, 435346 |-| **Access** | Requires Heat Tolerance Adaptation; Locked sections require Kurul Level Access Key |+| **Depth** | 150m |+| **Relative Position** | 675m East of Lifepod |   ![Tadpole Pens Front View](Tadfront.png)  -The **Tadpole Pens** is a Pioneer Seabase located on the eastern edge of the Graveyard biome, overlooking the Sparse Plains. This site was originally used to fabricate and maintain Tadpole submersibles, which saw frequent use during expeditions into the Karakorum Ruins. Players must have the **Heat Tolerance** adaptation to safely approach the area.+The **Tadpole Pens** is a Pioneer Seabase located on the edge of the Graveyard, overlooking the Intermediary Basin. Tadpoles were fabricated and maintained on this site, seeing frequent use during expeditions into the Karakorum Ruins. The Heat Tolerance Adaptation is necessary upon approach.  -## History-Roughly 27 years ago, a group of Pioneers rallied at the Tadpole Pens following a riot at the Old Habitat. Leaders Nahema Nakota and Sophie "Butcher" Boucher departed with the base's last two Tadpoles, leaving the remaining group stranded and unable to access the locked control rooms.+Roughly 27 years ago, a group of Pioneers rallied here after a riot broke out at the Old Habitat. Nahema Nakota and Sophie "Butcher" Boucher subsequently took off with the pens’ last two Tadpoles, leaving the rest of the group stranded and unable to access the locked parts of the base.  -An attempt was made to recover Zip's **Kurul Level Access Key** from nearby hot caves to bypass the locks. However, the mission failed, resulting in the deaths of all involved except for Qing "Twinkle" Xing and Sansariin "Ganzo" Ganzorig, who were subsequently reprinted.+An effort was made to recover Zip's Kurul Level Access Key from the nearby hot caves to bypass the locks. However, everyone involved died, with only Twinkle and Ganzo being reprinted.   ## Exterior   ### Main Structure-Despite decades of abandonment, the main structure remains structurally sound. Strong currents pass through the area, and several **Hydroelectric Turbine** fragments can be found nearby.+Compared to other seabases and its own substructures, the Tadpole Pens have remained structurally sound over decades of abandonment. Currents pass through the surrounding area, with several Hydroelectric Turbine fragments found alongside them.  -*   A **Spotlight** fragment can be scanned above the main entrance.-*   A storage platform adjacent to the hatch contains large crates with **Tadpole** fragments (only one is accessible).-*   A **Power Transmitter** fragment and two notes with warning messages are located on the platform.+A Spotlight can be scanned above the main entrance. Adjacent to the hatch is a platform used for storage. The largest crates contain Tadpole fragments, though only one is accessible. A Power Transmitter fragment and two Notes displaying the same warning message are also on this platform.   ### Northern Substructure-Located to the north (left) of the main structure, this small substructure has partially collapsed due to ground failure.+To the north (left) of the main structure is a small substructure consisting of a single room that has collapsed after the ground gave way. In front of the substructure is a small crate containing a Titanium Ingot, and a Hydroelectric Turbine fragment is near the back.  -*   **Exterior**: A small crate contains a **Titanium Ingot**. A Hydroelectric Turbine fragment is located near the back.-*   **Interior**: Contains scans for **Lab Chair**, **S Shelf**, **Trashcan**, and **Rectangular Ceiling Light**.-*   **Loot**: A **Recipe Data Card** for the **Moonpool** is in the top right corner. The Databank entry *Nahema - "We must voluntarily die"* is in the bottom right corner.+Inside the substructure, players can scan:+*   Lab Chair+*   S Shelf+*   Trashcan+*   Rectangular Ceiling Light  +In the top right corner is a Recipe Data Card for the Moonpool. In the bottom right corner is the Databank entry: *Nahema - "We must voluntarily die"*.+  ### Southern Substructure-Located to the south (right), this larger substructure has also sunk into the terrain.+To the south (right) of the main structure is a more substantial substructure consisting of a single room and short corridors. Like its northern counterpart, it has sunk into the terrain. The *Ruby - "Tadpole ops guide"* entry can be found next to the water current outside.  -*   **Exterior**: The Databank entry *Ruby - "Tadpole ops guide"* is found next to a water current outside.-*   **Interior**: Contains scans for **Power Cell Terminal**, **Processor**, and **Trashcan**.-*   **Loot**: A Recipe Data Card containing blueprints for **Small Crate**, **Wall Panel**, **Wall Unit Large**, **Wall Unit Small**, **Wall Vent**, and **Wall Vent Large**.+Inside the substructure, players can scan:+*   Power Cell Terminal+*   Processor+*   Trashcan  +There is also a Recipe Data Card containing blueprints for:+*   Small Crate+*   Wall Panel+*   Wall Unit Large+*   Wall Unit Small+*   Wall Vent+*   Wall Vent Large+  ## Interior   ### Entry Room-The entry room is divided into three sections by archways:-1.  **Middle**: An open space leading to the Moonpool. A small crate contains a **Tadpole** fragment.-2.  **Right**: A hangout area with scans for **Dining Chair**, **Dining Table**, **Stool**, **Trashcan**, and **Wall Light Small**. A Recipe Data Card for the **Half Round Room** sits on the table.-3.  **Left**: A storage area containing the *Ganzo - "Waypoint 2"* Databank entry and another **Wall Light Small** scan. A note from Sophie explains the restricted access. Progress is blocked until the player retrieves the **Kurul Level Access Key** from Zip's blackbox.+The entry room is divided by archways into three sections:+1.  **Middle Section**: An empty, open space with a doorway leading to the Moonpool. A small crate contains a Tadpole fragment.+2.  **Right Section**: A small hangout area. Scans available for Dining Chair, Dining Table, Stool, Trashcan, and Wall Light Small. A Recipe Data Card for the Half Round Room sits on the table in front of the couch.+3.  **Left Section**: A small storage area. Contains the *Ganzo - "Waypoint 2"* Databank entry on a crate and another scan for Wall Light Small. Continuing down this path reveals a note from Sophie explaining the restricted access. Players must find the Kurul Level Access Key from Zip's blackbox to proceed.   ### Moonpool-The Moonpool has capacity for two Tadpoles, but only one dock is occupied. The docked Tadpole is unusable but has a **Scout Ray Chassis** attached, which can be scanned for its blueprint.+The Moonpool has room for two Tadpoles, but only one dock is occupied. The docked Tadpole is unusable but has a Scout Ray Chassis attached, which can be scanned for its blueprint.  -*   **Right Workstation**: Scans for **Lab Chair**, **Trashcan**, and **Wall Light Small**, plus a Recipe Data Card for the **Moonpool**.-*   **Left Area**: Crates and a **Power Cell Terminal**.+*   **Right**: A small workstation with scans for Lab Chair, Trashcan, and Wall Light Small, plus a Recipe Data Card for the Moonpool.+*   **Left**: Crates and a Power Cell Terminal.  -### Workstations (Locked Area)-After acquiring the Access Key, players can unlock the corridor left of the main entrance. This area contains:-*   Furniture scans including **Scout Ray Poster** and **Power Storage**.-*   A **Repair Tool** fragment on a desk situated in a Nook.+### Workstations+After acquiring the Access Key, players can scan it at the corridor left of the main entrance to unlock the rest of the base. This area contains furniture scans, including the Scout Ray Poster and Power Storage. A Repair Tool fragment is found on a desk situated in a Nook.   ### Axum Supply Closet-Located in the unlocked room, this closet contains various Axum artifacts:-*   **Small Axum Jar**, **Axum Jar**, and **Tall Axum Jar**.-*   **Small Coral Jar** and **Coral Jar**.-*   **Axum Wall Lamp**.-*   Two unscannable Tailing tools.+Moving forward in the unlocked room and turning right leads to a small closet filled with Axum artifacts:+*   Small Axum Jar+*   Tall Axum Jar+*   Axum Jar+*   Small Coral Jar+*   Coral Jar+*   Axum Wall Lamp+*   Two unscannable Tailing tools   ### Observation Deck-A ladder in the unlocked room leads to the observation deck, which houses:-*   The resident **NoA** unit.-*   A connected **Biobed** containing the ghost of Sophie Boucher.+A ladder in the unlocked room leads up to the observation deck. Notable objects include the resident NoA unit and a connected Biobed containing the ghost of Sophie Boucher.   ## NoA Terminal-The NoA terminal at the Tadpole Pens can be booted up. Interacting with it provides dialogue regarding past survival failures and future threats. See [[NoA/Tadpole Pens]] for full transcript details.  +The NoA terminal at the Tadpole Pens can be booted up. For dialogue details, see the NoA/Tadpole Pens page.+  ## Blueprints & Fragments+  The following items can be scanned or found as fragments at the Tadpole Pens:  -*   **Vehicles/Modules**: Tadpole, Scout Ray Chassis, Moonpool-*   **Base Building**: Dining Chair, Dining Table, Half Round Room, Lab Chair, S Shelf, Power Storage, Small Crate, Wall Panel, Wall Unit Large, Wall Unit Small, Wall Vent, Wall Vent Large, Spotlight, Power Transmitter, Power Cell Terminal, Processor, Trashcan, Stool, Wall Light Small, Rectangular Ceiling Light-*   **Decor/Artifacts**: Small Axum Jar, Axum Jar, Tall Axum Jar, Coral Jar, Small Coral Jar, Axum Wall Lamp, Scout Ray Poster-*   **Tools**: Repair Tool (Fragment), Hydroelectric Turbine (Fragment)+*   Dining Chair+*   Dining Table+*   Half Round Room+*   Hydroelectric Turbine+*   Spotlight+*   Power Cell Terminal+*   Processor+*   Small Crate+*   Wall Panel+*   Wall Unit Large+*   Wall Unit Small+*   Wall Vent+*   Wall Vent Large+*   Lab Chair+*   S Shelf+*   Power Storage+*   Small Axum Jar+*   Axum Jar+*   Tall Axum Jar+*   Coral Jar+*   Small Coral Jar+*   Moonpool+*   Power Transmitter+*   Scout Ray Chassis+*   Stool+*   Tadpole+*   Trashcan   ## Location-The Tadpole Pens are located at coordinates **-271618, 435346** at a depth of **150m** on the eastern edge of the Graveyard biome.  +The Tadpole Pens are located on the eastern edge of the Graveyard at a depth of 150m.+  ## Databank Entries   ### Tadpole Pens > A fabrication and maintenance site for Tadpole submersibles. There is a functioning NoA node in the control room. > > - Site suggests Tadpoles were often deployed eastward > - Material may have been returned by Tadpole expeditions > - NoA node may contain information on past survival failures and future threats > - Access to the control room is secured by a passcode > > Access codes were stored in the PDAs and blackboxes of high-ranking colonists.   ### Ganzo - "Waypoint 2" > Ganzo here. Nine survivors of Habitat with me. Tuba went back to Habitat and...a marrowbreach took Ruby. I don't know if she'll be reprinted. I've heard her die so many times. But this time...she's got to be out there somewhere. She's got to. > > The Tadpole Pens control room is locked and all the Tadpoles are gone. Sophie and Nahema took the last two. We're stuck. > > We've voted, eight to one. We're going to go down into the hot caves. We all feel a pull there. We know it's a Masefield hallucination—yes, Twinkle, we *know*—but hey, Anita said, if we ask the world for help, maybe it'll answer. > > And it's not all crazy. There's a biobed at the base camp. And Zip...Zip died at the bottom of that cave. She had a kurultai access key that could get us through this lock. > > If you find this, we headed due southwest to the hot caves. Bearing [muttered] Hang on, Ruby.   ### Nahema - "We must voluntarily die" > Media chipped or shattered. Recovering intact sectors... > > If we are not the last of humanity, then we have no reason to suffer on a hostile world. Our survival is not the last hope of the human species. > > If we are the last of humanity, then we do not deserve to survive. If the last and best we can offer the universe is a gaggle of indentured servants ruled by a talking spreadsheet? Better to end. We have never been a worthy steward of any world. We failed Earth, so we fled to the stars. Now, like the Architects before us, we reap the whirlwind. > > We had to invent the lie of 'Masefield syndrome' in order to pathologize what our bodies already know is true - we do not belong on this world. We are here, and we deserve happiness, but the right way to seek happiness is to explore the wonders of Proteus and then find a place to donate our nutri& > > [metadata lost]   ### Ruby - "Tadpole ops guide" > TADPOLE OPS GUIDE (WORK IN PROGRESS) > > by Ruby > > Attention and sain baitsganaa uu to all lubbers, pukers, printouts and other non-pilots. I am the senior of two qualified drivers in this mess. You will listen to and obey our instructions or lose your Tadpole privileges. > > Rule 1. If you qualified on the Seamoth or Spacemoth, you should be ready to handle a Tadpole. > > Rule 2. If you did not qualify, you will need training under me or Bosun's Mate Rowboat. This is not optional. > > Rule 3. Mind your trim, mind the current, and mind your heat — remember, the Tadpole is NOT actively cooled! > > Rule 4a. Our Tadpoles were configured for the Zezuran aquifers, so they come in a minimal config. Plug the core into a chassis. If you need to enter a cramped space, you can detach the core— > > Rule 4b. — but always bring your chassis HOME! If you forget one, you will be visited by your disappointed ancestors. > > Rule 5. RESPECT THE CRUSH DEPTH. If you need to go down, you'll need a depth module. > > Rule 6. Keep an eye on your power and ear on your noise. My dear husband (who NoA will not (yet) print more than one of) monitors all Tadpole traffic on sonar. So do the things out there which love to crack hard shells and get at the meat inside. If you run out of power, Ganzo may be able to hear you screaming before they find you. > > Rule 7. Have fun. This is your chance to visit the elevated spiritual plane where pilots dwell. > > P.S. If you want to hear awful recordings of me dying come by the scanner room when my husband isn't there.+>+> {metadata author=Tsewangiin "Ruby" Anar}   ### Sophie - "Why are the ruins a protected zone?" > Sophie here. I have been asked to explain the need for a Protected Zone around the ruins to the east. > > First: we are protecting you. That region requires reinforced Tadpoles—because of the depth, and because of the things that want to slurp you up like a softboiled egg. > > Second: we are protecting ourselves. The Axum Tailings do not tolerate our presence in that region. If you want to know the consequences of getting caught, ask Singh about penetrating thoracic trauma. > > Third: we are protecting humanity. If you believe the rumors, Ryley Robinson found more than kharaa on 4546b. He found leviathan incubators. Anti-orbital guns. A genuine doomsday device. We can barely feed ourselves. We are not ready to discover threats like that. > > The Axum are the most important alien discovery since the kharaa. None of us are trained for this. We must not be responsible for starting a second war with an alien species.+>+> [metadata author = Sophie "Butcher" Boucher]   ## Gallery+  ![North Section Interior](Tadpolepensruins2inside.png) ![South Section Interior](Tadpolepensruins1inside.png) ![Upper Chamber](Tadpolepensroom4.png) ![Locked Room](Tadpolepensroom3.png) ![Flooded Moonpool](Tadpolepensroom2.png) ![Main Room](Tadpolepensroom1.png) ![Here's your sign.](Tadpolepenssign.png) ![North Section](Tadnorth.png) ![From the Dangerous Side](Tadrear.png) ![From the Safe Side](Tadfront.png) ![South Section](Tadsouth.png)