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Author Topic: How do I beat Sa-Matra?  (Read 9052 times)
CelticMinstrel
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #15 on: February 04, 2012, 01:02:59 am »

My assumption is that one or more of the following holds true:
  • The crew pods can be jettisoned before the flagship gets into position on the Sa-Matra.
  • The crew in the crew pods can hitch a ride on some of the escort ships.
  • The escape pod has room for several people.
In any case, I don't think you'll be blowing up 150 people. Also, do keep in mind that there could be a delay between getting the ship into position and actually detonating, specifically in order to allow crew to evacuate in some manner or other.

The only real loss with the detonation is the Taalo shield... but hopefully the Ur-Quan have learned their lesson with regards to keeping the Dnyarri alive.
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Death 999
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #16 on: February 04, 2012, 01:37:48 pm »

What? The main loss is the Unzervalt computer! After that, yes, the Taalo shield. The portal spawner is no minor detail, too.
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hackdx
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #17 on: February 04, 2012, 05:07:31 pm »

The only real loss with the detonation is the Taalo shield... but hopefully the Ur-Quan have learned their lesson with regards to keeping the Dnyarri alive.

That's an interesting thought. Is it necessary to keep the Taalo shield around while the Dnyarri is on board? If so, was the plan that both would perish in the detonation, and did the Dnyarri know about that? If the shield wasn't necessary, they could have left it (as well as all other unneeded devices) on the starbase, but if shield and Dnyarri go hand in hand, then I guess there was no choice but to bring both. I imagine that the thought of the Dnyarri commanding the Sa-Matra would be far worse than anything else.
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CelticMinstrel
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #18 on: February 04, 2012, 07:03:08 pm »

What? The main loss is the Unzervalt computer! After that, yes, the Taalo shield. The portal spawner is no minor detail, too.
Oh yeah, I forgot about the computer. The portal spawner is probably replaceable provided the Arilou are willing (which, granted, they probably aren't).

That's an interesting thought. Is it necessary to keep the Taalo shield around while the Dnyarri is on board? If so, was the plan that both would perish in the detonation, and did the Dnyarri know about that? If the shield wasn't necessary, they could have left it (as well as all other unneeded devices) on the starbase, but if shield and Dnyarri go hand in hand, then I guess there was no choice but to bring both. I imagine that the thought of the Dnyarri commanding the Sa-Matra would be far worse than anything else.
The shield isn't necessary to get the Dnyarri to help you, but I think once the Sa-Matra was defeated he'd start trying to compel you to take you with him if you didn't have the shield.

Unneeded devices can probably be left at the starbase, yeah, but I'm not sure how many of those there are... assuming you did everything, you would have the portal spawner, the sun device, the Taalo shield, the Dnyarri, and the Umgah hyperwave broadcaster; the sun device is totally unnecessary, and you can technically do without the portal spawner and the caster, but the shield and the Dnyarri are required (and you probably want the Dnyarri to die in the explosion anyway). Is the Taalo shield small enough to put in the escape pod? I'd guess it likely isn't.
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Death 999
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #19 on: February 06, 2012, 12:15:24 am »

It was small enough to fit into a planet lander. The escape pod looks huge compared to the planet lander.
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CelticMinstrel
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #20 on: February 06, 2012, 09:24:40 pm »

Good point, though that's assuming stuff is to scale. Tongue Of course there's also the issue of whether it would be safe to remove the Taalo shield from the ship; if I recall correctly, it requires electrical current to work.
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #21 on: February 06, 2012, 09:46:58 pm »

Good point, though that's assuming stuff is to scale. Tongue Of course there's also the issue of whether it would be safe to remove the Taalo shield from the ship; if I recall correctly, it requires electrical current to work.

I think you're thinking of this quote from Hays:

Quote
DATA: Whoever the Taalo were, they were clever -- way past us. Probably even beyond the Chenjesu.
As far as I can tell, with all our equipment, this thing is
a rock. Just a rock, and nothing but a rock. However
If you feed a current into it, anywhere along its surface
everyone on board this starbase who has esper potential gets a bad headache.
Well, we checked a bit more into that, and when the Taalo thing is active
all evidence of psychon interaction is flatlined -- nothing gets through.

But I'm not sure that means it requires an electrical current to work. He also says in the summary that simply keeping it aboard will make you immune to psychic attacks, with no mention of any specific conditions needed.
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Death 999
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #22 on: February 07, 2012, 03:51:08 pm »

That's a pretty heavy implication, isn't it?
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onpon4
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #23 on: February 07, 2012, 06:59:51 pm »

That's a pretty heavy implication, isn't it?

He said that feeding a current causes people on the base with esper potential to get a headache, not that feeding a current activates it. Also, it's worth noting that the lander report indicated headaches just from being near the thing:

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ONE LAST COMMENT BEFORE I SIGN-OFF -- ENSIGNS HODGKINS AND WITHERSPOON HAVE BOTH REPORTED
EXTREME HEADACHES AND MENTAL DISARRAY WHENEVER THEY APPROACH THE TAALO DEVICE.

The impression I get is there's nothing special needed for the shield to work; just have it, and it will protect you from psychic attacks.
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CelticMinstrel
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #24 on: February 07, 2012, 08:36:31 pm »

Hm, maybe it works without electrical current, but a current amplifies its effect.
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Admiral Zeratul
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #25 on: February 08, 2012, 01:16:37 am »

Hm, maybe it works without electrical current, but a current amplifies its effect.

Perhaps a sufficient amount of electrical current could turn it into a Dnyarri-killing machine?
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Lukipela
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #26 on: February 08, 2012, 05:14:25 pm »

A sufficient amount of current will turn most things into a killing machine Smiley
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Admiral Zeratul
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #27 on: February 09, 2012, 04:44:19 am »

A sufficient amount of current will turn most things into a killing machine Smiley

Not really. This treatment would not work on, say, a block of wood.
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #28 on: February 09, 2012, 08:07:38 am »

Hence the qualifier most. Now proceed to compilating a chart on known substances and their reactions to currents between 0 and infinity (the qualifier enough) to deconstruct a silly joke Smiley
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Death 999
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Re: How do I beat Sa-Matra?
« Reply #29 on: February 09, 2012, 08:46:53 pm »

It totally would apply to a block of wood - do you have any idea how much voltage is required to get a substantial current to run through an insulator like that?
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