Astravin Medical Centre Crius Hospital Department of Neurology Rehabilitation Guide for Anterior Amnesia

Letter to Ser Lev Arris (Montpellier)

Office of Incident Investigation

Hermes Off-Planet Control

Attachments:

Crius Hospital Medical Report

Guide to the CCN

P.A.D. Owner's Manual

My dear Ser Arris,

I heard you had been released from On-Site Emergency Medical shortly after you regained consciousness. I wasn't certain if you had been de-briefed on the circumstances of your arrival here, and I thought I would try to anticipate a few of your questions.

As regards the ship you landed in, I am sorry to inform you that a check on its registration has turned up a report that it was stolen a few weeks ago near Nav 153. It has been confiscated by relevant authorities.

A check of the ship's computer indicated that a nav course from Crius local space to Hermes was entered into the computer even before takeoff at Crius, which you have testified you have no memory of. You maintained, of course that you were kidnapped by two men in black cloaks and thrown on a ship, and that the next thing you knew you woke up on Hermes.

As you were dressed in a physical rehabilitation uniform when you arrived, we have taken the liberty of contacting Crius Hospital. They confirmed your name was Ser Lev Arris, and that you had been declared missing after an explosion and firefight inside the rehabilitation area. Crius hospital also confirmed that you were recovering from the AOD virus during your abduction. Thus, given your testimony and corroboration by the hospital, you have been cleared of all charges in that case.

You will find your credits restored to you less landing fees, emergency medical services, fee for removal and impoundment of your ship, the cost of the clothes and P.A.D. given to you at OSEM and a small service fee.

Crius hospital has also deducted fees for the services they provided you, as you did not go a formal checkout there. They sent this attached medical report and rehabilitation guide, which you may wish to retain for your files, and to aid your ongoing recovery.

You will also find that your access to the CCN booth system has been reinstated.

Welcome to Hermes, Ser Arris. If you're looking for a taste of "local colour" and maybe a drink, I suggest you check out Sinners Inn, I'm usually in there on 'Triples Night'. I hope you enjoy your stay.

Sincerely,

Jessica Montpellier (Customs Officer)

Crius Hospital Medical Report

NAME: Ser Lev Arris
AGE: 30
DIAGNOSIS: Anterior Amnesia
CONSULTANTS: Dr. Janna Frevel, Dr. Yvan Loomis

SYNOPSIS:

Ser Arris's condition was probably caused by accelerated depassivity from a long artificial sleep, after being pulled from the wreckage of a recent Cargo ship disaster at Mendra spacesport (See CCN database for details). Subject was initially found to be suffering from Amyotrophic Ossicular Degeneration, which was cured with a programme of self viral treatment. It is presumed Ser Arris was put into suspended animation some years ago when it was found that he had the AOD virus, which at the time was incurable. However, the subject is now in excellent health and is making a speedy physical recovery. The return of his long and short term memory, however, cannot be predicted at this time, even after Bathycephalic scans and a Hypercutaneous Cephalic Remedial Leucotomy were both carried out. He responded well to mental and physio therapy and it is the consultants opinion that the subject will be ready to leave hospital in 12 days.

Leaving Hospital

During your convalescence you will have received a certain amount of mental rehabilitation to help you lead a normal life outside of the Hospital walls until your memory returns. This short booklet may be used to remind you of how to operate the two most common information systems you will encounter - The CCN Booth System and your Personal Access Directory (PAD). These systems should provide you with all the data and access you will need to get around and rebuild your life. Of course, should you need further medical help, our doors are always open to those with a healthy credit rating.

Along with this publication you will also find a copy of the 'As it is in Heaven' Flight Guide, to help you when travelling between the stars. Read it well, as accidents in space are often too terminal for even us to save you.

And finally, a little helpful advice.

- Pay attention to e-mails and the important news they may carry. A relative, friend or associate may be trying to contact you.

- If you are searching for your possible past, investigate all the locations your PAD transit map throws up: who knows who may be waiting there?

- The bare essentials of life don't come cheap, so you can generate cash by trading in commodities or taking missions, both of which can be found in the CCN Booth System.

- The Tri-system can be a dangerous place where eating out is concerned. Check all meals with a Bacteriomitter before tucking in.

- Always be wary of beings with eyes in the backs of their heads.

Good luck out there. I wish you a speedy recovery, and a happy existence.

The Commerce & Communications Network

The Commerce & Communications Network

'Helping you not to lose it'

The modern CCN as we know it has, of course, evolved in much the same way as all the other pan-systemal data nets in other universes. There comes a point when everyone has become sentient enough to trot between planets a bit, only to realise that their native currency isn't worth a fluffy rodent's dinner on other worlds, and that sometimes it's difficult to buy anything when the local language consists of ultra-sonic screeches and clicks, especially when you left your phrase book in the spaceport. So what you eventually get is a data-system combining purchase and information outlets all in one easy to use format. Well, we say easy to use, have you ever noticed the way that leading Tachyo-tripiolotic physicists, along with everyone else for that matter, stare at these kind of terminals with a sort of bemused puzzlement during even the simplest of transactions? In an attempt to alleviate the problem, and try to 'Help you not to lose it' we present a simple guide on how to find the best Wheels, Deals and photon-treated Steels using the CCN, or 'Booth System' as it is sometimes called int he more colloquial cul-de-sacs of the system. If at any time you wish to exit the game completely while on a palnet or spacestation, press ALT-X.

Logon

Upon making planetfall, your first priority should be to log onto the CCN. This is done simply by entering one of the many booths in the spacesport; you will then be subjected to retinal scan and fingerprint identification authorisation, although you may have to subject yourself to DNA fingerprinting if the machine cannot establish a clean ID fix (the most common reasons for this is due to bloodshot eyes from a hangover, or dirt on the hands. Hence the aphorism that a trader's two best friends are a clean mind and clean hands).

It is essential that you log on frequently; the CCN is a constantly-updating medium, and if you avoid it for to long you could find yourself seriously out of the loop on what's happening around the galaxy. This can prove fatal, or at the very least financially embarrassing. At best, you might find yourself arriving at a planet with a cargo full of H2O only to find that it's just suffered a flood (the proverbial 'Taking Beer to Bex'); at worst you could find yourself flying through pirate-infested territory that only last week was as safe as a Janus IV bank vault.

When you log on, you will see a brief introduction for your viewing pleasure whilst CCN downloads information on your credit, ship, cargo, recent movements and sanity from your Personal Access Directory (PAD). If all is well you will be given access to the Main Menu.

Main Menu

Once you have logged in to the CCN, you will be faced by the Main Menu, designed for maximum ease of use through the psychologically-tuned intuitive control system, and minimal frustration thanks to the soothing music and pictograms employed.

In terms of data, the Main Menu interface is without doubt one of the greatest marvels of our age. Using the latest biomorphic 'living' processor technology, this screen occupies the pinnacle of the system's hierarchical datanet. These simple five icons (or 'biospheres', as they are more properly known) put at the user's disposal a constantly updated source of indisputably correct data (a benefit of the biomorphic processor's much-vaunted 'Chaos Logic' Validity Circuit). It is estimated that the amount of data stored by the CCN would require the services of a conventional silicon-based computer slightly larger than the Gas Giant Aidet Major.

From the Main Menu, the user has six options: he may logoff to leave CCN, by clicking on the central lower icon, or take advantage of the CCN's services by clicking on one of the five biospheres to take you into a chosen section. The five categories, from left to right, are described in the following pages.

Purchase / Sell Ships

Once you access the Ships directory, you will be presented with three sub-sections which allow you to purchase, repair and modify your ship. They are:

PURCHASE / SELL SHIP

Logged into all the leading local dealers, the CCN ship trading section is the place for the discerning traveller to pick up a new set of plasma drives. Monitored by the CIS, the CCN Ship Exchange is 100% legal: it is almost impossible for the CCN user to be duped into purchasing a faulty, stolen or tampered-with vehicle, and the Standard Price Edict made by the League of Interplanetary Vehicle Manufacturers three years ago means that vehicle prices remain constant throughout the Tri-system.

Using this interface is simplicity itself: your current ship, if you have one, is described in the upper left part of the screen, along with its market value and your monetary and gross credit. We base our sales on part exchange of course, giving you the purchasing power of your total credit.

As you scroll down the list of currently available craft, the Buy button will illuminate when one falls into your personal price range. Don't worry about changing your mind, as we will be happy to part exchange a ship in the usual way immediately should you see something else you like better. Towards the right of the screen is a full view of the ship for your perusal, and below it the all important technical specifications.

Having made your purchasing decision, the exit button can be found in the top right hand corner of the screen.

Note: This procedure is consistent through all the Selection Screens.

Repair Ships

This function allows CCN to cut in the middle man, and liaise on your behalf with only reputable and approved techies and fitters in order to keep your craft ship-shape and NeoBristol fashion. As you might expect, repair services engaged through the use of the CCN are fully backed by the network's guarantee of legality and quality of service. Thanks to the checks imposed both by the CCN Board and the CIS, it should be impossible for the consumer to be overcharged, conned or misadvised.

Using sophisticated diagnostics we assess the levels of damage to various aspects of your vessel and represent this using a percentage and picture in the upper right part of the screen, 100% being good as new. The various damaged systems are selected by clicking the sliders on the green and red status bar. What with maintenance being a costly business these days, we give our users the option of controlling the level of repair to specific systems using the aforementioned sliders. Moving these to the right increases the level of repair, as well as cost, displayed individually on the far right of the screen, and cumulatively in the upper left, below your credit value. To avoid any fiscal embarrassment, the system will not allow the user to repair beyond their means.

Once the desired level of repair has been reached you may chose to pay by clicking the Pay Now button. if you chose to exit at this point you will be given the choice to pay or decline. For the user for whom money is no object, a Complete Repair button is included, which will bring all damaged systems sup to the same level of repair within your budget.

Purchase / Sell Equipment

This allows you to fit out your ship with guns, missiles and equipment to improve its performance and advantage in combat. The screen is laid out as such; top left is your current ship type and your current monetary credit, and below these are the available weapon types and the Buy/Sell button. The selection of equipment has been standardized under pressure from the CIS and various planetary Militaries, and incorporates weaponry of a technological advancement deemed to pose no threat to the established order.

In the area below this is a plan view of your current ship showing available and occupied mounting points. The three types, modules, missiles and guns may be selected with the three triangular buttons around the ship, which will also make that type active in the scrolling list at the bottom right of the screen.

Above this list is the selected item's name and cost, along with an animated image so it may be viewed properly. The button to the right of the this image pages between it and a short description of the item. To buy a piece of equipment, click on an empty mount and highlight on item in the scrolling list. If you have enough credit, clicking the Buy button will place the item on that mount, as well as debiting your account. If any more mounts are empty, the next available one will be selected for further purchases. To sell a piece of equipment, click on the item mounted on your ship, and then click on the Sell button.

Please note that the list of available equipment is not necessarily comprehensive; not only are new weapons systems being constantly developed, and released to the mass market, but you may find certain individuals with prototype or customized weapon systems. However, as you are only likely to encounter these opportunities face-to-face, it is highly unlikely that you will be employing the CCN to effect the transaction.