The Lost Colony

NOTE: This page is currently a work in progress"'Find The Lost Colony.' - Unknown"

Information
At the start of the game, a peculiar transmission is received, detailing the existence and importance of the Lost Colony. The sender warns of an object of unprecedented power that would give the wielder the ability to reshape the course of history. The message claims that the discoverer does not have the will to wield such power and responsibly, but also does not believe it should remain lost to time, and so they entrust the future of the galaxy to whoever manages to find The Lost Colony. The coordinates included in the transmission are fragmented and must be reconstructed from Data Fragments. This transmission, combined with the increased spread of The Infected, prompts a massive spread of chaos throughout the galaxy as hundreds of crews set out in search of The Lost Colony. Collection and re-assembly of four Lost Colony Data Fragments will allow decryption of the coordinates of the Ancient Grand Warp Gate, traversal through which is required to access The Lost Colony.

The sections below have been hidden to prevent spoilers; it is recommended to finish the game before proceeding.

Mission
Traveling through the Grand Warp Gate leads to the Quantum Reflection, an alternative version of reality. Guarding this passage is the Warp Guardian, a difficult boss fight, who intercepts ships traveling to the colony. After destroying the two phases of the guardian the ship will arrive at the lost colony.

Once arrived the ship will be disabled and the mission 'investigate the lost colony' is given. To complete the mission warp down, enter the lower levels of the facility, fix system errors, and enter the final containment room. After completing a number-matching mini-game the final decision on the ending can be made. A more in-depth examination is in the Layout and Ending section.

Lore
To the galaxy outside of the reflection, the Lost Colony was not known to exist. Only after the transmission was sent the Colony the scramble to find it began. Many are skeptical of its existence, viewing the colony as another force of chaos tearing the universe apart. Officers from the CU and W.D. are known to desert their positions as Relic Hunters to find the colony. Despite the W.D. publicly denouncing the search of the colony, Chief Supervisor Vorcolp in secret attempts to find the Colony. All the other major factions end up choosing a well-seasoned captain to represent them in the race for the Lost Colony.

Discoverer
Twenty-five years ago, UE 3180, Aroldo Nystrom used to belong to a coalition of historians and researchers who wanted to better understand golden-age humanity, the catalyst of the Old Wars, and lessons it could teach us. This is in contrast with most intergalactic societies that focus on future developments and achievements of the future. This coalition was described as a family and comradery. While pouring through database transmissions between human ships during the Old War, Nystrom found a half-corrupted recording. The message contains information that MMR-01 has gone silent but likely survived the Old Wars due to "unique properties". Such a colony would act as a time capsule and be a treasure trove of data. Therefore, the discoverer nicknamed MMR-01 'the Lost Colony' and presented his speculation to his research coalition. Most members were split between being enthralled by the prospect, or not convinced at all. This caused a schism in the coalition.

After fifteen years of working together, the coalition was divided between the discoverer, Doctor Carmen Solveras, and those who believed in the theory. The skeptics would become the Society of Intergalactic History who can be found at the Estate. To find the lost colony, Nystrom would search Old Wars transport and research ships which once tens of thousands had become scarce.

Over several years, they found 243 with only 11 not being damaged enough, and five having their original memory banks. The memory banks themselves were encrypted with an ancient algorithm, so an expert was required to decrypt the information. At the same time, the new coalition of scientists began falling apart. Having lost half their friends to the schism the discoverer caused, spending 10 years of their lives searching with no results, this while the Society of Intergalactic History made discoveries of ancient alien civilizations led many to give up and leave the group.

For three Union-standard years and five galaxies, Nystrom looked for a decryption expert. In the end, they found conrad, whom the explorers had to pay part of their life savings to decrypt. The information on the data banks showed the possible coordinates of the Lost Colony were intended for some Long Range Warp Gate. At this point, only four people remained, Carmen Solveras, two Old War historians, and Aroldo Nystrom. The rest of the group believed that a warp gate like the one required was unlikely to still exist in known space and will not be found. As a consequence, with their spirits broken they abandoned the search and the Nystrom.

After twenty years, the Nystrom was alone in his research, traveling from galaxy to galaxy searching for the gate or its wreckage. Realizing that the gate was not in populated space Nystrom ventured to the frontier. Having spent all his money the discoverer hopped onto transport ships, research vessels, and warships for transportation, each of which wasn't a pleasant experience.

After five years, in total twenty-five, Nystrom was able to purchase a ship. About to give up and feeling their life wasted, he visited one last fringe station that their old friend Carmen Solveras was stationed to. Since splitting up, Solveras had a daughter, became an expert in Ancient Sylvassi, and works as a professor of Alien Biochemistry at the Academy. If the gate couldn't be found Nystrom, he would visit their old friend at Outpost 448. However, he found the gate and chose to travel through it before meeting their friend. Having arrived Nystrom reactivated the facility and by accident the Warp Guardian. His ship was damaged after warping making it a one-way journey, therefore it was decided to release the transmission informing the galaxy about the discovery.

Running low on rations Nystrom questioned their decision-making. Although the discovery may save many galaxies from a grim fate, it's wondered if there was a path that wouldn't have cost him everything. While everyone else found success in their field, the Aroldo Nystrom had nothing to show for the last 25 years. Would it have been a pursuit of madness had he not found the Lost Colony? On the other hand, the discovery made was the greatest in all of history. Humbled by their life, Nystrom chose to leave the decision-making to the next explorer of the Lost Colony.

Lost Colony
The Lost Colonies' actual name is MMR-01. It was a research site to study the Infected during the Golden-Age of mankind (the period before the Old Wars). The Infected did not originate from the reflection but were brought to it by the researchers. When researchers first discovered the Infected, they found that these creatures had a unique ability to communicate with one another instantaneously. This was thought impossible given the vast distance between them. At MMR-01, researchers intended to develop instantaneous galactic communication. To do so they captured a specimen, called a Mindslaver, of high neural output and attempted to enhance its natural abilities. A Mindslavers referred to as subject A, consciousness is entwined with other infected species and influences them across an immeasurable distance. It was found that blocking long-range communications disconnects infected creatures from the Mindslaver, hindering their regenerative properties. This would have to be removed before the next stage, receiving. Another Mindslaver can be found on the Forsaken Flagship.

At MMR-01 the Mindslaver was hooked up to a bio-computer and a process of matching neural markers was developed to give control from Subject A to Subject B, the controller. However, the connection can cause headaches, disorientation, nausea, hallucinations, and partial or complete loss of brain function. Therefore, subjects are only expected to be experimented on for a few minutes.

Three events happened that put the project in jeopardy. The location of the reflection was intended to contain the infected and hide their research not only from ethical questions but also the Ancient Sylvassi.

First, a lab assistant named Revalis started raising concern over the ethics and dangers of Subject A. This caused him to have his clearance revoked and threatened to be sent to the Prime Galaxy for fear of sabotage. This provides insight into the lack of overview of the project and conformity of thought that led to the disaster.

Second, an experiment went wrong and killed everyone at the Colony. Dr. Evo Havener, a friend of Revalis, was going to be used as Subject B to form a neural link. In an internal message between Havener and, most likely his supervisor Darshen, it's shown that Havener got upset and had to be convinced to partake in the experiment. The next day while attempting the neural link the synchronization system failed, ending in the termination of Havener. What happened was a powerful psionic energy burst erupted, killing everyone at the facility. As a byproduct, the psionic energy created splitter forms of what was around the blast, in this case, the imprints of the residence, known as Ghosts. At this point, MMR-01 went silent.

Third, due to all the researchers being dead, a few hyper-aggressive "Infected" subjects broke free and escaped the Lost Colony. Not long after, the Ancient Sylvassi discovered about the infected and humanity's involvement. Deciphered from ancient Sylvassi Cyphers, the Sylvassi believed in the existence of universe-ending creatures, born to swallow galaxies, and spread across the cosmos until all life is extinguished. From the fear of humanity and what they have and can create the Sylvassi attacked humanity starting the Old Wars. During centuries of cycles of destruction, where the initial goal of the war was lost, the Infected managed to slip away.

In the end, the Lost Colony became a preserved time capsule. Determining what will happen to the Infected is the decision the player will have to make. The Colonial Union is a reflection of the Golden Age of humanity. Despite their rules of ethics, they created their own universe-ending creature while manipulating a crystal-based lifeform in the research wing of Outpost 448.

Endings
There are in total seven endings for the game, each referred to by their achievement name.


 * Together We Survive: hand control over to the Colonial Union. Must be C.U. aligned.
 * Progress Above All: hand control over to the Wolden-Dorf Corporation. Must be W.D. aligned.
 * Never Trust a Gentlemen: hand control over to the Alliance of Gentlemen. Must be A.O.G. aligned.
 * Eat Biscuits Feel Butter: hand control over to the Fluffy Biscuit Company. Must be F.B. aligned.
 * Intergalactic Overlords: give control to yourself. This option is always available.
 * Take No Chances: kill the Infected. Put the poison into the back hatch, then select inject poison.
 * Free For All: free the Infected. Put a revitalizing syringe into the back hatch, then select inject revitalizing syringe.

Keycard Locations
In total there are 21 keycard locations. The simplest way to find the keycard is to use the scanner with the talent Scanner Mode: Item Pickup and look for the orange dots. Each keycard should be accessible without having to use the jetpack.

Known Locations
Facility Keycard
 * Next to my search-part 3
 * On warp guardian status terminal.
 * Next to warp guardian status terminal on cart.
 * Side security room on right table.
 * Sky bridge to facility on crates.

Trivia

 * There is another transmission in the 2013 Kickstarter trailer for the game, most of which is likely outdated. The transmission is transcribed below:

"Listen closely to what I am about to say. Lives were lost in the Old Wars many, many lives. But those who survived carried on with purpose, they gave birth to a new era, one of resilience and discovery. We know that to live in the light we must first be willing to confront the darkness. There is a place, a place which holds something of extraordinary value. It is more powerful than any warship, more precious than any ore, it is something far grander than us all. It must not, it MUST not fall into the wrong hands but the time has come for it to be found. Listen for I am speaking to you. Find this place, find the Lost Colony."
 * In the games prologue there is another transmission that can be identified with brightness turned down. The message is transcribed below:

To all in the galaxy, I leave a message. Before the Old Wars, there was a place in __ _______ ?as power was contained. Power that could change the course of intergalactic history for ______ __ ____ Those keen enough to ______________ ?suspected that this? place still exists. Unfortunately their questions went unanswered for ?centuries? ________________ ?answers?. As a pursuer of the unknown, I dedicated my ?life to uncovering? __________________________________ that preceded it. After a lifetime of searching ____________________________ Lost colony, it is a time capsule of the golden age of humanity ________________________________ _____ing it. I was confronted with the truth of what it contained ______________________________ ?if not? the known universe forever. The choice of what to do with the ?power? ____________________________ ?Will to determine it?. So to you listener I entrust the ?decision? Go now. Follow ?this? ____________________________ Find the Lost Colony