x5 Bonus for taking 0 damage from the boss!
+12500 XP +5000 credits
x4 Level up!
Alan raced over to the Control Point, now glowing a dull teal. As soon as he stepped on it another message popped up:
Capture Control Point?
Yes, Alan thought, more messages popping up afterwards.
Congratulations for surviving the second round of the Survival Test!
x20 Bonus for defeating the most enemies, taking out the commanding officer, and a leap of faith!
+50000 XP +20000 credits
x8 Level up!
The messages were quickly followed by another:
The Survival Test: Round 3
Now that seemed too easy. Maybe something a bit more challenging. A Haxlard war party showed up to help their allies, the United World Government, but the fighting was done by the time they showed up. They’re eager for a fight.
A moment later:
Final Wave: Haxlardian Warriors, Lvl 250-500
Enemies remaining: 12
Time until arrivaclass="underline" 1:00:00
Then:
Fort Point captured. Would you like to take ownership of Fort Point or designate another owner?
Highest possible tax rate: 5%
Current tax rate: 0%
Please designate an area boss: either a randomly generated NPC, a provided robot or a willing player.
I'd like to take ownership, Alan thought.
WAIT, Eve cried, but it was too late.
Additional messages appeared:
United World Government’s hold on the entirety of San Francisco, California, United States of America, Northern America, and Earth will be broken if Fort Point is not recaptured in 24:00:00.
United World Government reputation changed to Hated. They are now hostile.
Um, what just happened, Eve? Alan asked.
Should you control a single Control Point, you gain control of the surrounding area, Eve sent. However once a required number of Control Points are held by one group, varying levels of control are attributed! The levels of control are as follows: Plurality, holding the greatest number of points in an area, Majority, holding more than half of the points in an area, and Entirety, holding all Control Points in an area.
The United World Government had control over the entirety of Earth and has majority control of our solar system. The amount of control a group holds varies upon the level of control. The group with the highest level of control determine the in-game laws, and are only able to influence real world laws once they hold an Entirety Control Point and every Control Point in a given region. A notable exception is that native, indigenous species of a given planet or solar system may govern the area’s real life laws and taxes while only holding a majority, rather than an entirety.
So basically I just broke the government’s monopoly? Alan asked.
Yes, Eve sent.
Alan groaned inwardly. If it's so important, how did the government let us take over the Control Point?
You are undergoing the survival test, and aren’t expected to last, Eve sent. An estimated 1% of players survive each round. And, once the test is complete it will be trivial for the United World Government to regain the Capture Point, which must be held for a day for it to actually count.
All right… Alan replied.
Ace walked over to Alan after pulling himself out of the hole. He looked perfectly fine, messaging someone with a small black box.
“I have connections with the government," Ace said, "and if you paid reparations for the stolen rifle and returned control of Fort Point I’m sure they’d reset your reputation. They do support the growth of new players.”
Accept his offer.
“Um, sure. How much do you think they’d want?”
Ace messaged someone, then replied, “Including a tax for the… method of acquirement, they say 10,000 credits should do it.”
“Um, all right,” Alan agreed as Ace sent another message.
Shortly after, a message appeared before Alan:
Transfer 10,000 credits and control of Fort Point to the United World Government?
Alan accepted the transaction.
Reputation with United World Government reset to neutral.
Huh, so you can make transactions from wherever? Alan asked Eve.
You may transfer credits when you are in the vicinity of an Administrator, Eve sent, highlighting an Administrator in the corner of the underground room. As you are undergoing the Tutorial who exactly you may trade with is limited.
Alan thanked Ace for getting his reputation sorted out, then began walking back to the bunker.
***
Ace gazed off the edge of the battlements, watching the waves as they gently lapped against the coast. They were calming, another after-battle ritual required by his newfound powers. Maybe he should learn to meditate. He held the communicator to his ear.
"Why did you have me save him?" Ace asked.
"He could help Operation Phoenix," a digitized voice replied.
"Well, if this is the caliber of defense our Control Points have, I can see why the operation exists," Ace said.
"We're spread thin enough as it is. A single laser cannon costs as much as a set of power armor, and we have tens of thousands of points to defend spread throughout the world. Enough questions, I have further orders."
"Yes sir," Ace said.
"Continue with the plan, but watch him. I want reports on his actions."
"Yes sir."
"Dismissed," the voice said, and the communicator cut off.
"Yes sir," Ace whispered looking out at the ocean. This world was amazing, and there were so many things he wanted to do. But orders were orders. He stood up, and walked back to Daisy. Ready to continue the mission. Always.
Chapter 7
Alan examined the remains of the bunker. The top portion had been destroyed, and the stairs were covered in rubble, yet it was still possible for him to make his way underground, where Alan found Thiago, sitting next to Aphrodite and DaLong on the row of cots.
"So," Alan said.
"So," Thiago said. "Do you want something?"
"Yes, I want to know why you wanted me left behind," Alan said.
Thiago shrugged. "We didn't even know if you were still alive, and we had to take the fort quickly. From how the fight turned out I was mistaken to have dismissed you, but there were more pressing concerns."
He's lying, Eve sent.
"You're lying," Alan said.
"Are you calling me a liar?" Thiago stood up, walking over to Alan.
Alan calmly stared back. "Yes."
Thiago hovered over Alan for a second, then smiled. "Good, because I am. Now go about your business." He turned his back to Alan, walking back over to Aphrodite and DaLong.
Alan shook his head, then began to browse all the items, as he now had a little over 16,000 credits, worth an amazing $160,000. He recalled the prices from the Trading Hub, and realized every item in the bunker was overpriced. There weren’t even any items that were direct upgrades to the gear he now had, just side-upgrades, such as weapons more effective against machines, or armor that could take a much larger beating, but lacked an invisibility function.
Alan proceeded to the Administrator to spend the 91 ability points he’d gained. He scrolled through the list of abilities, examining a few new ones that were now available to him, but none stood out. Alan wished he’d saved additional points so he’d be able to purchase the Talented ability, but he’d gone into the battle not expecting to survive, and had placed all of the remaining points into his stats.
So, what do you think, should I upgrade my stats? Alan sent.