INTRO
CENTER **********************
CENTER InvisiClues(tm)
CENTER The Hint Booklet for
CENTER STARCROSS(tm)
CENTER **********************

[Copyright by Infocom, Inc. Provided for non-commercial use only, with the
sole intent of making information available that would otherwise be lost.

To whoever presently holds the copyright to the information contained in
this file: if you think the existence of this file violates your copyright,
please complain and the file will be removed.

Typed in from the original hintbook by Paul David Doherty.]

Sample Question^
---------------^
Are my Rat-ants losing their flavor?^
 A. Probably -- that's a normal part of the cooking process.^
 B. You must get the pantry key from Smitty the Cook.^
 C. Try sprinkling them with Neato brand tenderizing salt.^
ENDINTRO


MENU Table of Contents

LINK On the Starcross
LINK The Red Airlock
LINK The Weasel Ship
LINK The Computer Room
LINK All the Aliens
LINK The Laboratory
LINK The Inner Region
LINK The Bubbles
LINK General Questions
LINK How All Points Are Earned (as a last resort)
LINK For Your Amusement (after you've finished)


MENU On the Starcross

LINK How do I turn off the alarm bell?
LINK How do I read the output of the mass detector?
LINK What is the significance of the ship's registration?
LINK How do I reply to the message from Ceres?
LINK How do I use the ship's controls?
LINK How do I know which unidentified mass I should go to?
LINK How do I set a course for a particular object (for instance, UM08)?
LINK Is there a way to get the computer to shut up?
LINK What do I do with the tape library?
LINK How can I leave the ship?
LINK How do I get back to the Starcross?
LINK What is the safety line for?
LINK How do I land the Starcross on the unidentified mass?
LINK How fast is the Artifact spinning?
LINK How do I maneuver the Starcross to the fore end of the unidentified mass?


HINT How do I turn off the alarm bell?
CLUE You'll have to go out to the Bridge (walk starboard from the Living Quarters).
CLUE Have you read the description of the mass detector?
CLUE Try pushing the red button. Or, tell the computer to turn it off.

HINT How do I read the output of the mass detector?
CLUE This is the space chart that was supplied with your game.
CLUE The range is the distance from your ship (center of chart). Theta is the angle (in the plane of the chart) from your current course (the radiating lines are 15 [degrees] apart). Phi is the angle above or below the plane of the chart. (Remember that the chart is a two-dimensional representation of three dimensions.) Each phi value can be found under the object's designation code.

HINT What is the significance of the ship's registration?
CLUE Have you read it?
CLUE It has no other significance.

HINT How do I reply to the message from Ceres?
CLUE Have you tried COMPUTER, REPLY TO PREVIOUS MESSAGE?
CLUE What message from Ceres?

HINT How do I use the ship's controls?
CLUE Have you examined them?
CLUE Have you tried touching them, turning them on, etc.?
CLUE "The computer must be used to set courses, as navigation is fully automated." (You can also get status reports from the computer at any time.)

HINT How do I know which unidentified mass I should go to?
CLUE The mass detector did indicate the correct mass.
CLUE Have you looked at the screen on the mass detector?
CLUE Each time you start the game, one of the eight unidentified masses is randomly chosen as the goal, so it won't be the same every time you play.

HINT How do I set a course for a particular object (for instance, UM08)?
CLUE Only the computer can set course.
CLUE See your game manual for directions on talking to machines (and Aliens, etc.).
CLUE Have you tried COMPUTER, SET COURSE FOR UM08?
CLUE You must give the computer the range, theta, and phi values from your space chart.
CLUE For UM08: COMPUTER, R IS 150, THETA IS 210, PHI IS 017 or^COMPUTER, R IS 150.^COMPUTER, THETA IS 210.^COMPUTER, PHI IS 17.^^Of course, the alternate way of speaking to the computer will work just as well (TELL COMPUTER "R IS 150..."). When the computer asks for confirmation, type COMPUTER, CONFIRM.

HINT Is there a way to get the computer to shut up?
CLUE Yes.
CLUE Try turning it off.

HINT What do I do with the tape library?
CLUE You can take it.
CLUE You can turn it on.
CLUE You can play tapes.
CLUE This is how space travelers alleviate boredom.

HINT How can I leave the ship?
CLUE Have you tried opening the door?
CLUE Before you open the outer door, you should prepare for a space walk.
CLUE Put on the space suit and attach the safety line to the hook in the Airlock and to your suit.
CLUE You can now go out for a space walk.

HINT How do I get back to the Starcross?
CLUE If you went for a space walk without a safety line, you would be very lucky to make it back alive.

HINT What is the safety line for?
CLUE It is dangerous to leave the ship unless you have a safety line connecting you to the ship.

HINT How do I land the Starcross on the unidentified mass?
CLUE Have you tried telling the computer to land?
CLUE It is spinning too rapidly to land on.
CLUE Wait for the Artifact to spin under you and inspect it before you attempt to land.

HINT How fast is the Artifact spinning?
CLUE Assuming that the "gravity" being simulated at the outer level is 1G, it would have to rotate once every 30 seconds or so. This would mean that the rotational speed is about 360 kilometers per hour on the outer surface.

HINT How do I maneuver the Starcross to the fore end of the unidentified mass?
CLUE Unfortunately, you cannot.
CLUE >>This space intentionally left blank<<


MENU The Red Airlock

LINK What do I do with all the strange protrusions around the airlock?
LINK How do I get into the Artifact?
LINK Is the sculpture significant?
LINK What is the significance of the tiny column made up of only one hexagon?
LINK Once inside the Artifact, can I take off the space suit?

***************

HINT What do I do with all the strange protrusions around the airlock?
CLUE You could tie your safety line to the hook.
CLUE But it is not really necessary as long as you don't jump.
CLUE The other protusions are unfathomable.

HINT How do I get into the Artifact?
CLUE You won't be able to walk away from the Red Dock area, since without metal for your magnetic boots to cling to, you would be flung into space. You can open the Red Airlock door.
CLUE Have you examined the sculpture on the door?
CLUE This is a symbol recognizable by any space-faring species.
CLUE Try drawing it as described on a piece of paper.
CLUE This is a symbolic representation of your solar system. The bumps are an indication of the size and orientation of the sun and planets.
CLUE You are being tested, Earthling. What do you think the makers of the Artifact want to know?
CLUE Your home planet, Earth, is the fourth bump. (The sun is described as the first, Mercury would be second, Venus third, Earth fourth.) Try pushing the fourth bump.
CLUE See the tiny column hint below.
CLUE Congratulations, you have passed the test. Take your reward (the black crystal rod) and enter.

HINT Is the sculpture significant?
CLUE Yes.
CLUE See all hints except the first for the the previous question (How do I get into the Artifact?).
CLUE If you push the wrong bump and the sculpture flattens out, you'll never get into the Artifact.

HINT What is the significance of the tiny column made up of only one hexagon?
CLUE It represents an object between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
CLUE The size of the bumps is an indication of mass. This column obviously represents an object of much smaller mass than a planet.
CLUE The tiny column represents your current location -- the Artifact. Try pushing it.

HINT Once inside the Artifact, can I take off the space suit?
CLUE Try it.


MENU The Weasel Ship

LINK What do I do with the visor fragment?
LINK How do I open the engine room door?
LINK How are the controls operated?
LINK What is the significance of the skeleton?
LINK How do I hide the violet rod?


HINT What do I do with the visor fragment?
CLUE Have you tried to look through it?
CLUE You probably should take it; you never know what might come in handy.

HINT How do I open the engine room door?
CLUE Have you tried the ray gun?
CLUE Sorry, this is a dead end.

HINT How are the controls operated?
CLUE "The controls look in no way operational."
CLUE >>This space intentionally left blank<<

HINT What is the significance of the skeleton?
CLUE The Aliens seem to have left offerings, as if they regard this as a holy temple. You had better be careful.
CLUE However, you can't be squeamish and rule out any possible actions.
CLUE Have you tried touching or moving or taking the skeleton?
CLUE Shooting it with the ray gun or touching it a second time will lead to unfortunate consequences for you.

HINT How do I hide the violet rod?
CLUE Have you tried the metal basket?
CLUE Even if you managed to hide it, the Aliens will suspect foul play and check the altar. You'll have to find another way to get it past them.
CLUE You won't be able to solve this problem until you gain access to the Laboratory and learn it secrets. Once you have, read the next hint.
CLUE The disks are a perfect escape route for a burglary. Leave one on the floor and use the other to transport yourself (and the violet rod) out of the Alien ship.
CLUE This is the last time you will be able to use the disks, however.


MENU The Computer Room

LINK How do I fix the computer?
LINK How can the computer be repaired after the electrical fire?
LINK Where is the missing card?
LINK What does the enunciator panel signify?


HINT How do I fix the computer?
CLUE Have you opened the access panel?
CLUE You'll have to find the missing card.
CLUE It is not a good idea to add or remove circuit boards while the system is powered up.

HINT How can the computer be repaired after the electrical fire?
CLUE You'll have to have it serviced by the manufacturer.
CLUE In other words, it can't be fixed. Don't put cards into the racks while the power is on.

HINT Where is the missing card?
CLUE If you thoroughly explore the Artifact, you should find it.
CLUE Advanced technology may make it different from circuit boards you are accustomed to.
CLUE The metal and ceramic square in the Repair Room will work.

HINT What does the enunciator panel signify?
CLUE Try drawing the diagrams as described.
CLUE The three banks of lights on the left each have four colored lights. Do the colors remind you of anything?
CLUE The colors are associated with the four main corridors.
CLUE "The first [bank of lights] is labeled with a symbol of the emission of rays..." What do the red and yellow halls have in common?
CLUE The "emission of rays" is a symbol for light. The red hallway lights are fading. The yellow hallway is either dark or under emergency lighting. (If it's dark, you could tell that it is yellow by process of elimination -- as you approached the Artifact you saw blue, _yellow_, green, and red docking ports.)
CLUE The other two banks of lights on the left indicate problems with the yellow docking port and the yellow airlock.
CLUE The symbol for the sixth light on the right represents solid, liquid, gas (the light is associated with the last of these).
CLUE The sixth light indicates a progressively worsening problem with the ship's atmosphere.


MENU All the Aliens

LINK How do I kill all the Weasels?
LINK How can I get past the palisades?
LINK How do I pass the hostile Weasels?
LINK How do I get the brown crystal rod from the Alien Chief?
LINK What does the Alien Chief's gesturing mean?
LINK What can the Weasel slave do for me?
LINK What is the significance of the unicorn meat?
LINK How do I find my way through the Warren?
LINK What should I do with the ladder?
LINK What is a grue?
LINK Can I reach the body in the debris?
LINK How do I get the grues' rod?
LINK What do I do about the Spider?
LINK How do I escape the web?
LINK Where do I find the lubricant?
LINK How do I answer Gurthark's questions?
LINK How do I get Gurthark to follow me?
LINK How do I get the red rod from the Rat-ants?
LINK How did the Rat-ants get to the Artifact?


HINT How do I kill all the Weasels?
CLUE The only weapon effective against them is the ray gun.
CLUE But you will not be able to kill them all, and the others will not appreciate your actions.
CLUE The only way to kill them all is to allow the ship's condition to deteriorate to the point where everyone dies. This, unfortunately, will include you.

HINT How can I get past the palisades?
CLUE They cannot be climbed.
CLUE The ray gun is not powerful enough to break through, but will do enough damage to annoy the Aliens.
CLUE There is nothing at your disposal that is more powerful than the ray gun. You cannot get past the palisades.

HINT How do I pass the hostile Weasels?
CLUE You shouldn't have annoyed them. They won't let you pass.

HINT How do I get the brown crystal rod from the Alien Chief?
CLUE You will not be able to overpower him in a fight.
CLUE The ray gun leaves nothing useful.
CLUE Have you ever come upon him while wearing or carrying your space suit?
CLUE He is very interested in the space suit. Try giving it to him.
CLUE His gestures are his way of offering a gift in return.
CLUE Point (or gesture) at his brown rod.

HINT What does the Alien Chief's gesturing mean?
CLUE It is common in many cultures for new acquaintances to exchange gifts.

HINT What can the Weasel slave do for me?
CLUE If you must ask, I'm afraid I can't help you.
CLUE What Weasel slave?

HINT What is the significance of the unicorn meat?
CLUE Could it be edible?
CLUE Raw meat is not very sanitary (or appetizing). Wouldn't it be better to cook it? (The ray gun is great for this sort of thing.)
CLUE Medium rare requires 30 seconds at the second setting. You can vary the time if you prefer it rarer or more well-done. (Add 10 seconds to defrost if this is from the freezer compartment.)
CLUE By the way, where did you come across unicorn meat?
CLUE Keep in mind the warning in the introduction: Do not use the presence or absence of a question on a certain topic as an indication of what is important, and don't assume that long answers indicate important questions.

HINT How do I find my way through the Warren?
CLUE You will never find the way unaided.
CLUE Have you considered a native guide?
CLUE Try following the Alien Chief once you have the brown rod in your possession.

HINT What should I do with the ladder?
CLUE Try climbing down.

HINT What is a grue?
CLUE Try typing WHAT IS A GRUE?

HINT Can I reach the body in the debris?
CLUE Yes, but you can't rely solely on your magnetic boots (no pun intended).
CLUE Try using your safety line. Tie it to the hook and to your suit.

HINT How do I get the grues' rod?
CLUE You might try to capture a grue.
CLUE Don't go on until you have been to the Laboratory.
CLUE Don't go on until you have figured out what the disks are.
CLUE A great way to catch a grue would be to leave a disk in a dark room and wait (somewhere else) for one to step on it.
CLUE Unfortunately, there are no longer any dark rooms on the ship.
CLUE Also, the grues don't have a rod.

HINT What do I do about the Spider?
CLUE He certainly _seems_ friendly.
CLUE What is his problem?
CLUE He is extremely bored.
CLUE Can you help him?
CLUE Haven't you heard enough about the history of Brazil in the 2030's?
CLUE Why not give him your tape player?

HINT How do I escape the web?
CLUE If you had smeared lubricant on your space suit, you wouldn't have gotten stuck.

HINT Where do I find the lubricant?
CLUE How did you get stuck in the web?
CLUE There is no lubricant.
CLUE InvisiClues veterans will recognize this as a "lesson" question. If every question in this book were pertinent to the game, the questions themselves would give far too much away. Questions such as this should convince you to ignore those that are not of immediate use.

HINT How do I answer Gurthark's questions?
CLUE There is unfortunately no way for you to answer most of them.

HINT How do I get Gurthark to follow me?
CLUE Have you tried GURTHARK, FOLLOW ME?
CLUE He won't.

HINT How do I get the red rod from the Rat-ants?
CLUE They don't seem to be open to negotiation. More direct methods will be necessary.
CLUE The ray gun is too effective on the nest, and not effective enough against individual groups of Rat-ants (there are just too many).
CLUE Have you examined the Rat-ants and the nest?
CLUE The nest is described as "jerry-built" and "precariously stuck together."
CLUE Although kicking it is not effective, you can destroy it by throwing something fairly heavy at it. While the Rat-ants are rebuilding, you have a chance to take the rod.

HINT How did the Rat-ants get to the Artifact?
CLUE Their crude intelligence is an indication that they did not arrive here on their own.
CLUE Presumably they were among the original inhabitants of the zoo.


MENU The Laboratory

LINK What is the silvery globe in the Laboratory?
LINK What do I do with the silvery globe?
LINK Can I take the blue rod?
LINK How do I turn off the projector?
LINK What causes the loud clicking sound?
LINK What is done with the red and blue disks?
LINK How can the lights be dimmed?


HINT What is the silvery globe in the Laboratory?
CLUE This is a technology so far beyond current human experience that it is impossible to explain. Ask again when you fully understand the details of the Matter Intransitivity Principle of the Dornbrookian Unified Field Theory.

HINT What do I do with the silvery globe?
CLUE It's a force field.
CLUE You can't push it or climb on it.
CLUE Have you tried changing the dial setting?

HINT Can I take the blue rod?
CLUE You can't take it directly, but there are ways to get it.
CLUE There is no way to block the beam or turn it off.
CLUE The preferred solution starts at D. An alternate solution starts at I.
CLUE Have you ever tried putting anything on the sphere and then changing the dial setting?
CLUE You will have to learn how to use the red and blue disks before going on.
CLUE You could use the disks to enter the sphere ("but it would be wrong"). Put one disk under the sphere and then set the dial to 4. Step on the other disk.
CLUE Can you think of a way to get the disk to activate while it is in the sphere?
CLUE Put a disk under the sphere. Put something on the sphere. Set the dial to 4. The object placed on the globe will fall onto the disk inside, causing it to activate. Luckily, the blue rod is within range of the disk.
CLUE Do you know of anything that might be able to deal with these technologically-advanced forces?
CLUE You have probably already used something powerful and similarly advanced.
CLUE You can use the ray gun to eliminate the sphere momentarily and get the blue rod. However, you will find that you don't have a shot to spare for this purpose.

HINT How do I turn off the projector?
CLUE You can't turn it off.
CLUE You can't harm it.
CLUE Even the ray gun is useless against it.

HINT What causes the loud clicking sound?
CLUE It is probably due to air rushing in to fill the void.

HINT What is done with the red and blue disks?
CLUE Although they may not appear to be much, they are probably the most sophisticated machines on the Artifact.
CLUE The manhole-cover size is not a coincidence.
CLUE Try putting both on the floor and stepping on one.
CLUE They have a built-in safety feature which allows them to transport things only when both are on floors.

HINT How can the lights be dimmed?
CLUE They can't.


MENU The Inner Region

LINK Is there any significance to the bands of metal, grass, and forest?
LINK How do I catch a unicorn?
LINK What is the significance of the unicorn hunt?
LINK What is the machine to the left in the Repair Room for?
LINK What is the purpose of the machine on the right in the Repair Room?
LINK What do the groups of dots mean?
LINK How do I get up to the Drive Bubble?
LINK How is the Drive Bubble hatch opened?
LINK How do I get back down from the Drive Bubble hatch?
LINK Why do things fall in curves?
LINK How can I get up to the bubble at the fore end?


HINT Is there any significance to the bands of metal, grass, and forest?
CLUE Either the ship was designed like this (who knows what an alien race may regard as pleasant landscaping?), or maybe some major acceleration in the past caused most of the soil to shift to the aft end of the Artifact.

HINT How do I catch a unicorn?
CLUE "Only one of royal blood..." (just joking). You can't do anything to the unicorns other than incinerate them.

HINT What is the significance of the unicorn hunt?
CLUE The Weasel Aliens have to eat something other than vegetables to get a balanced diet.
CLUE You can disrupt the hunt, but there is nothing important going on.

HINT What is the machine to the left in the Repair Room for?
CLUE You could experiment by putting the appropriate object in the yellow slot.
CLUE The "symbol depicting the emission of rays" indicates that this machine has something to do with the lights.
CLUE Put the yellow crystal rod in the slot. The emergency lighting in the yellow hallway will now come on.

HINT What is the purpose of the machine on the right in the Repair Room?
CLUE Try drawing the symbols as described.
CLUE It has some similarities to the computer enunciator panel.
CLUE The solid block, fluid level, and parallel wavy lines symbolize solid, liquid, and gas, respectively.
CLUE The diagrams of dots are associated with the gas symbol. For further details, see the question about the dots.

HINT What do the groups of dots mean?
CLUE These are symbols that any species capable of space flight should be able to decipher.
CLUE They are not mathematical symbols. Try writing them as described on a piece of paper.
CLUE Try experimenting. Put the proper item into the first, second, or third red slot and see what happens. (It will take a while to notice the effect.)
CLUE The proper item to put in the slots is the red crystal rod.
CLUE Have you ever studied chemistry?
CLUE The six dots with four evenly-spaced dots around them symbolize methane (carbon of atomic number six surrounded by four hydrogens of atomic number one). The seven dots with three equally-spaced dots around them symbolize ammonia (nitrogen of atomic number seven with three hydrogens). The two groups of eight dots closely associated represent the oxygen molecule (two oxygen atoms of atomic number eight). These gases make up three possible planetary atmospheres.
CLUE In case you don't know, you want oxygen (that's the second red slot).

HINT How do I get up to the Drive Bubble?
CLUE Presumably you have already climbed to the top of the tree.
CLUE Jump.

HINT How is the Drive Bubble hatch opened?
CLUE "Beside the hatch is a silver slot."
CLUE Try using the appropriate "key" (crystal rod).
CLUE Put the silver rod in the silver slot.

HINT How do I get back down from the Drive Bubble hatch?
CLUE Jumping is not a good idea. (It is a death worth trying, though.)
CLUE Try DOWN.

HINT Why do things fall in curves?
CLUE Look up the "Coriolis Force" in a physics textbook.

HINT How can I get up to the bubble at the fore end?
CLUE You cannot scale the wall at the fore end.
CLUE A more appropriate question is, "How do I get _over_ to the bubble at the fore end?"
CLUE There is no "gravity" along the axis of rotation of the cylinder.
CLUE Try jumping from the center of the aft end (on Drive Bubble).
CLUE "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."
CLUE Throwing objects won't be enough to overcome 5 km of air resistance. You will need to use the ray gun.
CLUE You must shoot it at the Drive Bubble to ensure that you are not pushed in the wrong direction or forced off-axis.
CLUE You will need all three ray gun shots to reach your destination.


MENU The Bubbles

LINK How can I activate the Drive Bubble controls, and what can I do with them?
LINK Is there any reason to use the black rod?
LINK How do I open the Control Bubble hatch?
LINK Why is the clear crystal slot rejecting my clear crystal rod?
LINK What is done with the five slots?
LINK What is going on with the spots, squares, and screen?
LINK Why do the spots flash?
LINK How do I get back down from the Control Bubble?


HINT How can I activate the Drive Bubble controls, and what can I do with them?
CLUE Put the white rod in the white slot.
CLUE "You can't do anything with them."
CLUE You must activate the drive if you wish to set a new course. All further control is from the Control Bubble.

HINT Is there any reason to use the black rod?
CLUE No.
CLUE >>This space intentionally left blank<<

HINT How do I open the Control Bubble hatch?
CLUE "A small slot surrounded by gold crystal is next to the hatch."
CLUE Put the gold rod in the gold slot.

HINT Why is the clear crystal slot rejecting my clear crystal rod?
CLUE The control room functions are very dependent on the main computer.
CLUE Unless the computer is in a working state and turned on, you cannot activate the controls.

HINT What is done with the five slots?
CLUE As usual, put the appropriate colored rods in the slots.

HINT What is going on with the spots, squares, and screen?
CLUE These are the main controls. You should be able to figure them out by fiddling with them and seeing what happens.
CLUE Pushing the small pink square causes the view screen to zoom in to closer and closer regions around the Artifact. Pushing the large pink square causes the view screen to zoom out to longer and longer range.
CLUE You are interested in the inner solar system.
CLUE Pushing the brown spot selects the destination. Pushing the violet spot selects the course you will take. Pushing the green spot selects the speed. You will not be able to set the speed if you haven't activated the drive controls (in the Drive Bubble). Pushing the blue spot executes the course correction burn you have selected.
CLUE You may choose a number of different destinations and courses, but only two combinations are correct: the courses ending in an ellipse or a circle around Earth. (Try the others for fun.)

HINT Why do the spots flash?
CLUE If you press a spot out of sequence, it will flash.

HINT How do I get back down from the Control Bubble?
CLUE You can get down in the usual messy way by jumping from the control hatch.
CLUE Just make sure you have everything you need to gain control of the ship and set a new course.


MENU General Questions

LINK Why is the Artifact suddenly shutting down?
LINK What does a flashing light in the airlock mean?
LINK How in the world do I revive the plants to replenish the air?
LINK What is the significance of the maintenance mouse?
LINK Where are the mouse holes?
LINK How can I get through the mouse hole?
LINK How do I recharge the ray gun?
LINK How do I read the charge indicator on the ray gun?
LINK How are the settings on the ray gun changed?
LINK Can I fix the gun so it won't misfire?
LINK What is the significance of the "glass cleaner"?
LINK How do I leave through the Yellow Airlock?
LINK General Questions Page 2


HINT Why is the Artifact suddenly shutting down?
CLUE Because the air is becoming unbreathable. (Try removing your space suit after entering the Artifact.)

HINT What does a flashing light in the airlock mean?
CLUE This is a safety feature. You are not allowed to have both doors open at the same time.

HINT How in the world do I revive the plants to replenish the air?
CLUE Don't you mean "How in the Artifact...?"
CLUE You will not be able to water them or fertilize them or ever revive them at all.

HINT What is the significance of the maintenance mouse?
CLUE The maintenance mouse is exactly as described. It is a cleaning robot.

HINT Where are the mouse holes?
CLUE The mouse can always find a hole when needed.
CLUE Drop an item and wait for the mouse to arrive. Follow the mouse when it picks up the item.

HINT How can I get through the mouse hole?
CLUE _You_ can't.
CLUE There _is_ another way.
CLUE Once you've found the Laboratory, go on to the next hint.
CLUE Once you have figured out what the disks are for, go on to the next hint.
CLUE The maintenance mouse picks up things it finds on the floor and eventually takes them beyond its "mouse holes"....
CLUE Leave one disk for it, then step on the other after the mouse has taken the first through a hole. (Allow time for the mouse to drop it again.)

HINT How do I recharge the ray gun?
CLUE What makes you think you can?
CLUE [drawing of ray gun which cannot be included here]

HINT How do I read the charge indicator on the ray gun?
CLUE It is, unfortunately, unreadable.

HINT How are the settings on the ray gun changed?
CLUE The strange knobs and antennae look promising.
CLUE But they can't be moved or adjusted in any way.

HINT Can I fix the gun so it won't misfire?
CLUE Yes.
CLUE Take a close look at the descriptions of the misfire and the normal blast.
CLUE The misfire has "silvery rays," the second shot has "orange rays."
CLUE Did you ever try shaking the gun or looking into the barrel before the first shot?
CLUE Remove the silver rod. The gun will work much better.

HINT What is the significance of the "glass cleaner"?
CLUE What do most glass cleaners use as an active ingredient?
CLUE Ammonia.
CLUE Have you done anything which might have caused the release of ammonia?
CLUE Do you now have a better idea of what the machine on the right in the repair room is?

HINT How do I leave through the Yellow Airlock?
CLUE "The door appears to be jammed. There may be debris outside blocking it. Perhaps if you pushed again."
CLUE Push again.
CLUE Be careful, there could be debris from an accident outside. You must wear the space suit.


MENU General Questions Page 2

LINK Once I am drifting in space, how do I get back to the Artifact?
LINK What is the metal basket for?
LINK How do I stop the air from becoming unbreathable?
LINK How do I get to the Green Dock?
LINK Where is the charcoal?
LINK Can I do anything with the damaged mice?
LINK Is there any significance to the trash bin?
LINK What is the hole in the garage?
LINK How do I turn on the lights in the darkened area?
LINK Is there anything special about the projector in the Observatory?
LINK Where do I find the orange crystal rod?


HINT Once I am drifting in space, how do I get back to the Artifact?
CLUE "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."
CLUE Throwing an item will not be enough to overcome your velocity away from the Artifact.
CLUE You might try using the ray gun (if you were fortunate enough to take it with you).
CLUE As you are no doubt now aware, you can return, but you cannot return and live.

HINT What is the metal basket for?
CLUE It is perfect for storing all those clumsy crystal rods.

HINT How do I stop the air from becoming unbreathable?
CLUE You must make "the necessary repairs in time."
CLUE Learn the use of the ship's equipment.
CLUE The necessary machinery is in the Repair Room.

HINT How do I get to the Green Dock?
CLUE If you have been mapping carefully, you should realize that its entrance is somewhere in the Warren.

HINT Where is the charcoal?
CLUE "Charcoal" and "coal gas" are rather strange hints.
CLUE Have you done anything that might cause the release of methane (which is an odorless gas associated with charcoal and coal gas)?
CLUE Do you have a better idea of what the machine on the right in the Repair Room is?

HINT Can I do anything with the damaged mice?
CLUE No.

HINT Is there any significance to the trash bin?
CLUE Have you examined it?
CLUE Have you searched through it?
CLUE Try searching again.

HINT What is the hole in the garage?
CLUE You might try climbing down...(Do a SAVE first!)

HINT How do I turn on the lights in the darkened area?
CLUE You will not find a simple switch in the area.
CLUE You will need to learn to use the equipment on the Artifact.
CLUE Have you been to the Computer Room and the Repair Room?
CLUE The necessary machine is in the Repair Room.

HINT Is there anything special about the projector in the Observatory?
CLUE "...the colors of the dots are not what you'd expect, though, and range throughout the spectrum."
CLUE This is not a spectral shift due to speed, since you are not traveling at anywhere near the speed of light and the colors range throughout the spectrum.
CLUE Something is causing refraction of the light.
CLUE Is there something in the projector?
CLUE Look through the visor fragment or the black crystal rod to filter the light so that you are not blinded.
CLUE Remove the clear crystal rod from the projector.

HINT Where do I find the orange crystal rod?
CLUE Did you notice that raw unicorn meat is orange in color?
CLUE Generally meat changes color when cooked.
CLUE If the orange rod were hidden in a slab of meat, cooking the meat might make it apparent.
CLUE Since there is no place where you could use an orange rod, and no slab of unicorn meat, I'm sure that no one has gotten this far.

TEXT How All Points Are Earned (as a last resort)
FIX

   item of value       value     where it is found

 black crystal rod      25     reward for solving the Red Dock puzzle
 red crystal rod        25     in the Rat-ant nest
 brown crystal rod      25     hanging from the Alien Chief's neck
 yellow crystal rod     25     the Spider has it
 blue crystal rod       25     in the silvery sphere
 green crystal rod      25     in the trash bin
 violet crystal rod     25     in the space suit of the dead Weasel Alien
 pink crystal rod       25     in the scorched Alien reptile's hand
 gold crystal rod       25     computer output upon successful start-up
 white crystal rod      25     floating in the Drive Bubble
 clear crystal rod      25     in the projector in the Observatory
 silver crystal rod     25     in the ray gun barrel


Other Points

You receive 25 points for:

 ...successfully reaching the Red Dock.
 ...entering the Drive Bubble.
 ...changing the ship's course.
 ...initiating the proper course to Earth.
UNFIX
ENDTEXT

TEXT For Your Amusement (after you've finished)
FIX

Have you ever...

 ...touched the Starcross controls after the course was set?
 ...taken the space suit off in space?
 ...untied your safety line while floating in space?
 ...set R, theta, or phi once you arrived at the Artifact (or while on the
    way)?
 ...said HELLO to the Starcross computer, or asked it to kill you, or given
    something to it?
 ...watched the docking of the Starcross with the Artifact while floating
    in space?
 ...tried dropping anything or jumping while on the outer surface of the
    Artifact?
 ...shot the mechanical mouse, or watched it try to enter the Warren or
    climb the tree?
 ...tried climbing down the hole in the Garage?
 ...stepped on a disk while carrying the other, or put one disk on top of
    the other?
 ...looked out the view port of the Weasel's ship (at the Green Dock)?
 ...tried wearing the Alien space suit?
 ...tried talking to the Weasels or their Chief?
 ...tried pointing at or shooting the Alien Chief's wife or child?
 ...tried giving the tattered space suit to the Chief's wife?
 ...dropped anything in the Warren?
 ...given anything to the Rat-ants?
 ...tried shooting yourself, something you were carrying, or the ray gun
    itself with the ray gun?
 ...put other rods into the ray gun before firing?
 ...tried flying from the tree?
 ...tried jumping while in one of the bubbles?
 ...been in the inner cylinder when the lights brightened for "day" or
    dimmed for "night"?
UNFIX
ENDTEXT

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