Editing BattleTech: The Crescent Hawks' Inception/Starport

[[Image:CHI-Spaceport.gif|right|280px|thumb|Pacifica Starport from The Crescent Hawks' Inception computer game.]]
''The following text displays when [[Jason Youngblood]] visits the Starport:''

=='Mech Bay==

* You have walked into a huge 'Mech parking garage.  Since 'Mechs are not allowed in the Starport, anyone with a 'Mech wishing to enter the Starport must park his 'Mech here.

''If Jason has no [[BattleMech]] when he arrives:''

* Since you are on foot, you pass through the garage to the rear exit, and on into the Starport.

==Inaugural Hall==

''If Jason has not purchased new clothing:''

* You peek your head through the door and see a huge auditorium.  On the walls and from the roof you see hanging banners with something you never thought you would see on Pacifica: the [[Kurita]] dragon!  Some posters on the walls are proclaiming an inauguration of the new Kuritan government at a ceremony tonight, and this must be the place.

* Some workers are installing equipment on the stage, and you decide that your Lyran Special Forces uniform probably wouldn't go over too well with them.  Since you don't want a run-in with the enemy just yet, you close the door quietly.

''If Jason is in civilian clothes:''

* Since you are now wearing civilian clothes instead of your Lyran soldier uniform, you decided to risk asking one of the workers for details.  He sneers at you and acts disgusted, but manages to spit out that the new government is officially being instituted tonight, and attendance is mandatory for all dignitaries on Pacifica.

* You leave before antagonizing the man further.  You can't help but feel that this has been your big break so far, because anyone you may know who is left on the planet will be here tonight.

''When Jason returns that night:''

* The party started just a few minutes ago.  You walk in, pretending not to hear the doorman's request to see your invitation, and quickly get lost in the crowd.  Some Kurita ambassador is at the podium, droning on and on.  He's saying something about ushering in a reign of progress and peace and some other rhetoric that turns your stomach.  You strain your neck every which way, trying to see someone you recognize.

* Someone grabs you by the shoulder and starts to drag you towards a door!  Figuring that the pesky doorman has finally caught you, you break free and ball up your fists, your anger fueled by the pent-up frustration and depression you've been trying to keep under control all this time.  The man you face is not the doorman, however.  He is substantially larger, and looks strong enough to pluck your head off if it was necessary.

* Passion prevailing over reason, you rush the man anyway.  Instead of dishing out an adrenaline-inspired beading, you have your arms twisted and locked painlessly behind your back in a blindingly quick maneuver.  Whoever your antagonist is, he sure knows a lot more about fighting than you do.  He propels you quickly through the crowd, and the altercation is over so fast that hardly anyone notices it.

* As you are "ushered" at nearly breakneck speed, the doorman gets his verbal shot at you, something about you getting what you deserve.  Your thoughts race that this man who is nearly carrying you outside must be the official bouncer.

* Once outside, you are not hurled into the gutter, as you thought must be inevitable, but are escorted hurriedly into a side alley.  You close your eyes, an action you feel appropriate since you are surely going to be knocked unconscious.

* "Jason?  Jason, don't you recognize me?"

* You open one eye, very slowly, and look at your interrogator.  He is holding you by the shoulders and looking into your face.  You open the other eye, wider than you intended from the realization that you probably won't be killed now, and study the face before you.  He does look vaguely familiar now, but you don't recall seeing this man since you were very young.

* He reintroduces himself as [[Rex Pearce]], a friend of your father, and a member of the [[Crescent Hawks]], an elite group formed by Katrina and used by her for covert operations.  He shows you a holocard that identifies a Crescent Hawk member.

* You do remember having seen that symbol on some of your father's equipment.  That seems so long ago…

* He chastises you, questioning what you were thinking, poking your head (a Youngblood face!) into a room full of Kuritans.  After the assassination attempt, he says you should know better.

* Rex explains that he has been left here to find you, and to give you this box.  You take it from him, and examine it.  It bears the Crescent Hawk logo.  Rex tells you that it was entrusted to him by your father, in case anything happened to him.

* Rex goes on to tell you that your father, in addition to being Captain of Security Forces, was guarding a huge cache of 'Mech repair parts.  This cache is extremely valuable, and we cannot afford for it to fall into Kuritan hands.  Jeremiah was the only one who knew its precise location, and it was guarded by an intricate security system.  To enter the cache requires a combination of Rex's retinal scan, and a password that only you have.

* You begin to protest about knowing the password, and Rex points to the box.  He tells you that the password is probably somewhere in the box, which can only be opened after verifying your retinal scan.  He says that Katrina left him here to assist you in your mission, which is: recruit all the Crescent Hawk agents you can find, find the cache, and signal her using the homing device you will find there.

* Rex says there are many Crescent Hawk agents who were not able to reach Katrina's [[DropShip]] in time to be evacuated off the planet, and are probably blending into the population, working as doctors or techs.  One of our agents has been arrested and imprisoned, and we should try to free him when we leave.

* Rex also tells you that there is a good chance that some of the Crescent Hawk agents you will encounter will also be Kuritan double agents.  Be on the lookout for any unusual behavior from any of the agents you meet.

* Rex tells you that you're not completely helpless in your quest: Katrina left him a shiny new 25-ton ''[[Commando]]'' 'Mech, which is parked in the garage.

* You place your eye over the mini-scanner on the box, and the lock clicks open.  Inside there is a small biochip and a holodisk.  As you reach inside to get the items, the box is shot out of your hands.

* An armed squad of Draconian soldiers is storming down the alley, pistols blazing!  You grab the chip and holodisk and prepare to run, but Rex is drawing his pistol and steeling himself for a showdown.

==Hospital==

* You approach the front desk and ask the nurse there to scan their medical records, to see if they have a patient by the name of [[Jeremiah Youngblood]].  The nurse dutifully scans the patient roster and replies in a nasally voice that there is nobody registered here by that name.  You thank her and can't help but feel a bit more depressed.

''If a Crescent Hawk agent is present, the following text displays (the same text is used at any hospital where the Crescent Hawk doctor is located):''

* You approach the front desk and ask the nurse there to scan their medical records, to see if they have a patient by the name of Jeremiah Youngblood.  A doctor, watching from the side, comes over and interrupts the nurse who is attempting to assist you in the search.

* He flashes a warm smile at Rex and they shake hands.  He questions why your group is here, and Rex explains about the mission and who you are.  The doctor looks at you appraisingly, then whispers something to Rex and they both laugh.  When you impatiently inquire as to just exactly what is going on, the doctor reaches into his pocket and pulls out a holocard.

* Congratulations!  You have found one of the Crescent Hawk agents!  His name is Russ and he will be riding as a passenger in Jason's 'Mech.

==Clothing Store==

* You have entered a clothing store, where all types of civilian clothes are for sale.  The proprietor eyes you anxiously.  Obviously your Lyran Special Forces uniform is making him nervous, because there could be a shootout if any Draconian soldiers were to see you here.

* You head for the dressing room and quickly change into your new set of clothes.  You feel relief, knowing that you don't stand out in the crowd anymore.

==Frob's Electronics Store==

* Welcome to Frob's Electronics store, where consumer electronics gadgets of all types are available for sale.  You wander down rows of electronic items, looking disinterestedly at household appliances and cheap monaural radios.  The sales clerks are all gabbing away to each other, and you find it improbable that they will ever come to you.

''If Jason does needs any electronics:''

* You walk up to one and tap him on the shoulder.  This does not make him happy, because now he will actually have to do some work instead of talking all day.  Working is much less fun, so he gives you an exasperated look and waits for you to tell him what you want.

''If Jason does not have a terrain mapper:''

* In one corner of the store is a stand-up display of terrain mappers.  They are small electronic devices that tie into orbiting satellites and give you a snapshot view of the area you are standing on.  They're prohibitively expensive, costing 6,000 C-bills.

''If Jason has not viewed his father's holodisc:''

* The salesman takes you over to the holoviewer displays, hardly concealing his great irritation in the process.  He rattles off endless meaningless statistics, such as a harmonic inversion ratio of 0.0007% and a signal to vector impulse tangent of something or other.  These small portable models are much nicer than the holoviewer you had back at the barracks.

* When you ask about the price, he is nearly enraged at the inconvenience and at your absolute blindness.  He slowly and laboriously points to a price ticket which is clearly marked, although it does happen to be 16 feet away, facing the opposite direction, and behind several boxes.  When you do uncover it, you gasp at the 7,000 C-bill price.

''If Jason does not have enough [[C-bill]]s to pay for the electronics:''

* The salesman take one look at your C-bill account and laughs out loud.  Then he calls the other salesmen over to look at it.  They laugh and point at you.  You are not enjoying this at all, and decide to leave.

==Arena==

* Welcome to the Arena, where modern day gladiators duel in the coliseum of the 30th century!  Here you can challenge another [[MechWarrior]] in combat for fun and profit.  The winner gets a cash award of 500 C-bills.  The loser may even get to live.

* The attendant, a shriveled old woman with horn rimmed glasses, takes a long puff of her cigarette and pushes a registration form your way.  Between bronchial coughs, she points to certain places on the form for you to initial, releasing the Arena management from any liability.

* Then she checks your [[ComStar]] C-bill account and tells you that the Arena management has taken 50 C-bills from your account for renting out one of their 'Mechs, and another 200 C-bills as a security deposit and to cover repairs to their 'Mech in case you lose.

* You nearly shriek when you are told that you have been charged so much, that nowhere is it listed that it cost 250 C-bills just to try, etc.  The attendant looks at you, makes a condescending face, and tells you that you had better hope to win.

''If Jason wins and returns to the entrance:''

* The nasty woman behind the counter cackles out a feeble congratulations on your victory.  Then she hands you a bill for repairs to the 'Mech you rented.  Considering the reputation of this establishment, you are not surprised that the bill encompasses the entire 250 C-bill deposit.  They probably spent the money as soon as you laid it on the table.  You give her a pained smile, take the money, and run.

''If Jason rotates the targeting system to attack "Enemy Spectator" and leaves the Arena grounds through the resulting hole in the viewing stands:''

* The operators of the Arena look on in horror as you waltz a 1.5 million C-bill [[Locust]] out of the Arena and escape.  You deftly outmaneuver the pursuing ''[[UrbanMech]]s'' and now own a ''Locust'', free and clear!

* The rest of your group, having watched the spectacle from the stands, acted quickly in gathering together outside the Starport to meet up with you if you survived.  In all the commotion surrounding your daring theft of a 'Mech, the guys at the parking garage weren't paying careful attention, and your group has managed to recover your 'Mechs without paying the parking fee.

* You do, however, think it prudent that you not show your face around the Starport for a long, long time.  Every Draconian soldier should have your face memorized by now, and there is a hefty price on your head.


[[Category: Crescent Hawks' Inception Transcript]]