Monkhouse - Mission A

Monkhouse - Mission A
Date	2669
Type	Cargo Mission
Jumps	0 (Palan)
Payment	5,000 credits
Objectives	Go to Palan, Nav 5 Deliver cargo to Basra
Cargo	Alien Artifact (1)
Designation	S4MD
Previous	Lynn Murphy - Mission C
Next	Taryn Cross - Mission A
Saved Game	S4MD.SAV

Monkhouse - Mission A is a mission in Wing Commander Privateer. It may be accessed by talking to Dr. Monkhouse at the bar on Palan in the Palan (star system) system after completing Lynn Murphy - Mission C.

Mission Description

Transport Dr. Monkhouse to Basra refinery.

After landing on Basra, meet Dr. Monkhouse in the bar for his analysis of the artifact.

Pays 5000 credits.

Mission Layout

Location	#	Faction	Ships	Intelligence	Notes
Palan System
Nav 1	1	Kilrathi	Gothri	kil1
	3	Kilrathi	Dralthi	fanatical novices
	2	Kilrathi	Gothri	fanatical aces

Maps

• 

  Palan

Mission Briefing

Visit Before Lynn Murphy - Mission D

Talk to Dr. Monkhouse

PLAYER

Dr. Monkhouse, I presume.

MONKHOUSE

Yes, you do, greatly.

I wish to be alone.

PLAYER

Sorry, Doc, but I didn't run the blockade just to be treated like a vaccum salesman.

I need a favor. I understand you're an expert on alien...antiquities.  

MONKHOUSE

That I am, but my consulting price is currently transportation off this rock.

PLAYER

Say no more, climb into my ship and we're out of here.

MONKHOUSE

Heavens no! Not while the blockade is in effect!

I shall sit tight until that unfortunate situation is ended.

Should you wish to facilitate that circumstance, head for Basra.

From what I understand, the resistance is centered there.

PLAYER

Basra, huh? All right...I'll look into it.  

MONKHOUSE

You do that. I'll be right here, waiting.

Initial Offer

Talk to Dr. Monkhouse

PLAYER

Ah, Dr. Monkhouse. I'm glad to see you.

MONKHOUSE

I wish I could say the same. I'm not receiving visitors right now, young man.

I wish to be alone.

PLAYER

Sorry, Doc, but I didn't run the blockade to take no for an answer.  

Listen, I have this alien artifact, and I....

MONKHOUSE

Don't speak to me about extraterrestrial artifacts! I'm sick of them!

I nearly got killed here because of my work. You've heard of the Steltek?

Well, suffice it to say, I recovered an interesting piece of Steltek manufacture...

...a piece which interested certain corrupt corporate interests who shall be nameless.

All I need is a libel suit on top of everything else.

MONKHOUSE

What's your name?

PLAYER

$NM. My handle is $CS.

MONKHOUSE

Well listen, $NM. I was kidnapped and brought to Palan by men who wanted my artifact...

...and then I was nearly killed in last month's bombing attacks.

Thank God my kidnappers were buried beneath the rubble of the interrogation compound.

PLAYER

And what happened to your artifact?

MONKHOUSE

Never you mind about my artifact. What do you want of me?

PLAYER

I have an artifact of my own. I want you to tell me what it is.

MONKHOUSE

I'd consider it...in exchange for transportation off-world.

If you'll fly me to Basra refinery base in the Palan system...

...I'll help you solve this puzzle.

PLAYER

Basra refinery base? It's not exactly vacation central. Why go there?

MONKHOUSE

It's the nearest base, and I detest space travel in cramped quarters.

I'll charter a luxury liner back to civilization later.

I will pay you 5,000 credits towards your expenses.

Have we a bargain?

Accept	Refuse
PLAYER Okay, Doc. I'll get you off this rock and fly you to Basra.   But once we hit Basra, you better prove you were worth the trouble. MONKHOUSE Meet me in the bar on Basra for your payment, and your analysis. Most assuredly. If I can't tell you about your find...no one can.	PLAYER Sorry, Doc. I don't like those terms at all. MONKHOUSE And yet you expect to employ my years of hard earned knowledge for nothing? No, young man. I don't like those terms either. Farewell.

Accepted

Talk to Dr. Monkhouse

MONKHOUSE

I thought we had a deal, young man.

PLAYER

We do.

MONKHOUSE

Well, in that case, I'd advise you to get me off this wretched planet immediately...

...and take me without further delay to Basra!

My patience is wearing thin...and the longer we delay, the more it deteriorates!

If you want me to help you identify your find, GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW!

PLAYER

Yes, sir.

Be on my ship in five minutes.

Refused

Talk to Dr. Monkhouse

MONKHOUSE

See here, young man. I won't be trifled with.

If you'll transport me off this wretched world and get me to the Basra refinery base...

...I'll pay you 5,000 credits and help you identify your find.

Have we a bargain?

Accept	Refuse
PLAYER Okay, Doc. I'll get you off this rock and fly you to Basra. But once we hit Basra, you better prove you were worth the trouble. MONKHOUSE Meet me in the bar on Basra for your payment, and your analysis. Most assuredly. If I can't tell you about your find...no one can.	PLAYER I want the information up front, Monkhouse. MONKHOUSE I'm afraid that would leave me with little leverage in this situation, $NM. I have made my position clear. I will tell you about the artifact the moment I arrive in Basra. Come back when you are willing to accept my offer.

In Flight

Talk to Kilrathi

# Spare me, I'm a civilian!

# Hope your insurance is extensive, kitty cat.

KIL1

Apeling! You are entirely in our power! We know Monkhouse is aboard your craft. You will surrender him to us immediately ... ... or be destroyed!"

Completed

Talk to Dr. Monkhouse

MONKHOUSE

That was truly an exciting ride, $NM. Here are 5,000 credits as promised.

Thank you for getting me here in one piece.

I've examined your artifact. A very interesting piece you have there, young man...

...especially since I have one almost exactly like it.

Ironically, it's the very piece that my kidnappers were interested in.

PLAYER

Then...you know what it is?

MONKHOUSE

Ah yes. You said you knew nothing of the Steltek.

$NM, long before man emerged on Earth, the Steltek ruled an empire that spanned the galaxy.

Even then, they were more technologically advanced than we are now.

By the time their empire crumbled, they were possessed of wonders beyond our comprehension.

PLAYER

Is that so? Well, if they were so tough, what happened to them?

MONKHOUSE

No one knows. Some say they perished in a civil war that lasted millennia...

...others believe they simply grew weary of their power, surrendered it...

...and even now enjoy a simple, tranquil existence at the heart of the galaxy.

PLAYER

Nice fairy tale, Doc. But what about the artifact?

MONKHOUSE

Here's my piece of it. Notice anything odd?

PLAYER

The markings...

MONKHOUSE

Hold it up beside yours, $NM.

PLAYER

A map. God Almighty, it's a treasure map!

MONKHOUSE

Superficially. It also contains a complete set of the Steltek alphabet.

PLAYER

Who cares about that? What are we going to find at the spot indicated, Doc?

MONKHOUSE

Who knows? The real question is, where do we go from here?

The sector on the map seems to be located on the edge of the frontier.

Bad luck indeed. That area is currently uncharted.

Without the location of the sector's jump points...

...exploring the area will be nearly impossible.

PLAYER

Unless I enlist with the Exploratory Service in Rygannon.

That way I could map the jump points, and get paid for it at the same time.

MONKHOUSE

Always the privateer, eh?

Care you nothing for the possibility of scientific advancement?

PLAYER

You got it, Doc. Nothing. I'm in this for the profit.

MONKHOUSE

Very well. I have no interest in baubles...

You may keep my fragment, and whatever treasure you find...

...so long as I get to publish any scientific finds. Agreed?

PLAYER

Sounds good to me.

MONKHOUSE

Excellent. Before you go, I'll program your computer with the nav information from the map...

...as well as the Steltek alphabet. It may come in handy where you're going.

PLAYER

What, you think X marks the spot to a Steltek colony?

You've been watching too many late night holos, Doc.

MONKHOUSE

We shall see.

Privateer Playtester's Guide

MONKHOUSE - MISSION A

Summary	Monkhouse needs to be delivered to Basra in Palan. He'll look at the artifact and give you an analysis in exchange for the trip and pay towards your expenses. He'll meet you in the bar on Basra to discuss the artifact when you get there.
Payment	5,000 credits plus the analysis.
Requirements	Get to Basra.
Opponents	At Nav 4 in Palan them is a hostile Kilrathi Gothri (a confident ace) who would like you to turn Monkhouse over to the Kilrathi. He is followed by three angry Dralthi (confident aces) and then two more Gothri (confident aces).

• This mission can be completed by using the above techniques. Just take on each fighter one by one and take them out individually. The easiest method is to run from them to one of the bottom nav points to bypass the asteroid field between Palan and Basra, then head to the Basra refinery far the money and more info. - "Havoc"

The Artifact. The artifact you possess, Monkhouse tells you, is both a treasure map and a Rosetta Stone from the Stelteks. You strike an agreement to join the Exploratory Services in Rygannon and seek out any possible treasure as long as Monkhouse gets to publish all findings. He allows you to keep both parts of the arti-fact and programs all the information into your ship's computer.

• 

WC:CIC Game Guide

Description

Dr. Monkhouse is willing to give you any information he can on your artifact, but first he wants a change of surroundings.

Objectives

Transport Dr. Monkhouse to Basra refinery.

Scripted Encounters

Kilrathi upon launching from Palan.

Notes

• Upon launching from Palan, you are greeted by your first scripted Kilrathi force. It consists of around 3 Dralthi and 3 Gothri fighters.
• This can be quite a firefight especially with those Gothris since they are strong and have a rapid firing rear turret. They'll also quite happily ram you. Your only hope is to let the missiles fly. This should distract them long enough for you to take out one of the enemies. Repeat the strategy as best as you can, but it may take several attempts to get right.
• When you first land on Basra, Lynn Murphy is in the bar. Talk to her to get your final payment of 15,000 credits.
• When done, Dr. Monkhouse will be in her place. He will give you your 5,000 fee and will examine your artifact. He happens to have a similar artifact, and joined with yours, they make a map and a complete Steltek alphabet. Dr. Monkhouse programs the Steltek alphabet into your computer in case it comes in useful, but the locations marked on the map are currently uncharted. Your only hope is to chart them yourself with the Exploratory Services.

Head to Rygannon and find Taryn Cross in the bar.