NOTE --- This is not the shortest way to solve the game. I took some time out to demonstrate some of the fun you can have with the game. There's plenty more to do so I urge you to explore and enjoy! - Howard Start of a transcript of BOFH The Bastard Operator from Hell comes to IF. BOFH is Copyright (c) Simon Travaglia and is used with Permission. (Visit bofh.ntk.net, www.theregister.co.uk, www.plan9.org for info) Inform Story File Copyright (c) 2002 by Howard A. Sherman Type "about" for more story and legal information. Release 1 / Serial number 020927 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10 SD Standard interpreter 1.0 (6F) / Library serial number 991113 >look Mission Control Your office, where you carry out your Bastardly duties, is equipped with the finest furnishings and equipment necessary to perform your work. As you have an aversion to cheap kit, your desk is the finest example of office furniture ever bestowed upon the human race. Sitting atop this monument to furniture is the single most powerful computer in the company; your personal workstation. Only two decorations adorn the walls; a Bill Gatus of Borg poster and a daily calendar. North leads out of Mission Control to other, less important areas while you spot a very large and serious looking door down the hall just east. On the desk are an inbox (in which is a note from your boss) and an outbox (which is empty). You can see an Armageddon-proof safe (which is closed) and Dave's Toshiba laptop here. >read memo Your boss never ceases to amaze you. You weren't aware that he was capable of basic writing skills. However, this note is too short to indicate just how far those skills go. This paper simply says: "Security admitted a repair technician to the server room this morning. Check on his progress. Accounting needs their file server back online!" >look at calendar This indispensable time-keeping tool of the BOFH is one of those old fashioned one-day-to-a-page calendars. The page showing is today's date and today's excuse is "Solar-Flares" >solar-flares Yes, "solar-flares" is today's excuse but why is that important now? >open safe You open the Armageddon-proof safe, revealing Amsterdam Travel Photos. >take photos Taken. >e Entrance to Comms And Servers Area This is a highly secure area to prevent unauthorized access to the sensitive equipment due east. The security door is closed and locked. >unlock door with swipe card You unlock the steel door. >open door You open the steel door. >e Comms Room This small room is where all of the company's communication equipment is housed. Cat-5 wires surround you with an almost suffocating effect. There may even be some ancient thickwire back there behind all the 10BaseT. You dare not tamper with anything for fear of being swallowed alive in this jungle. You feel a cool rush of air as well as some humming coming from the east while west leads back to less serious areas. >s Comms Room, In the Maze of Kit This is part of a maze of communications equipment, all alike. >w You can't go that way. >n Comms Room, In the Maze of Kit This is part of a maze of communications equipment, all alike. You can see The Majestic Hammer of Bastarddom here. >get (The Majestic Hammer of Bastarddom) You pick up The Hammer and feel its power coarse through your body...Taken. [Your score has just gone up by ten points.] >s You can't go that way. >n You can't go that way. >e Comms Room >w Entrance to Comms And Servers Area The security door is open leading into the Comms Room >e Comms Room >e Server Room Your server room is several levels above state-of-the-art. Three aisles of racks are solidly bolted into the concrete floor. Each aisle is approximately 20 feet long and is populated only by the finest equipment your company's money can buy. The slowest machine occupying rack space is a Pentium IV 1.6 GhZ machine with 2GB of RAM. The best machines are reserved, of course, for BRF Operations [Note1]. Aside from the $5,000,000 or so in equipment in here, you can't help but notice it's roughly 20 degrees cooler than Mission Control and is quite a bit noisier as all the cooling fans from all these different servers, routers, modem racks, etc. are running all at once. Other areas worthy of your attention lay both east and west. The tech observes smoke wafting from a server and mutters "That's interesting..." >look Server Room Your server room is several levels above state-of-the-art. Three aisles of racks are solidly bolted into the concrete floor. Each aisle is approximately 20 feet long and is populated only by the finest equipment your company's money can buy. The slowest machine occupying rack space is a Pentium IV 1.6 GhZ machine with 2GB of RAM. The best machines are reserved, of course, for BRF Operations [Note1]. Aside from the $5,000,000 or so in equipment in here, you can't help but notice it's roughly 20 degrees cooler than Mission Control and is quite a bit noisier as all the cooling fans from all these different servers, routers, modem racks, etc. are running all at once. Other areas worthy of your attention lay both east and west. The tech jabs the power supply of a server with his screwdriver which causes the lights to dim as the server makes a very loud BANG! >look Server Room Your server room is several levels above state-of-the-art. Three aisles of racks are solidly bolted into the concrete floor. Each aisle is approximately 20 feet long and is populated only by the finest equipment your company's money can buy. The slowest machine occupying rack space is a Pentium IV 1.6 GhZ machine with 2GB of RAM. The best machines are reserved, of course, for BRF Operations [Note1]. Aside from the $5,000,000 or so in equipment in here, you can't help but notice it's roughly 20 degrees cooler than Mission Control and is quite a bit noisier as all the cooling fans from all these different servers, routers, modem racks, etc. are running all at once. Other areas worthy of your attention lay both east and west. The engineer dreams outloud about becoming an MCSE. >look Server Room Your server room is several levels above state-of-the-art. Three aisles of racks are solidly bolted into the concrete floor. Each aisle is approximately 20 feet long and is populated only by the finest equipment your company's money can buy. The slowest machine occupying rack space is a Pentium IV 1.6 GhZ machine with 2GB of RAM. The best machines are reserved, of course, for BRF Operations [Note1]. Aside from the $5,000,000 or so in equipment in here, you can't help but notice it's roughly 20 degrees cooler than Mission Control and is quite a bit noisier as all the cooling fans from all these different servers, routers, modem racks, etc. are running all at once. Other areas worthy of your attention lay both east and west. The tech observes smoke wafting from a server and mutters "That's interesting..." >look Server Room Your server room is several levels above state-of-the-art. Three aisles of racks are solidly bolted into the concrete floor. Each aisle is approximately 20 feet long and is populated only by the finest equipment your company's money can buy. The slowest machine occupying rack space is a Pentium IV 1.6 GhZ machine with 2GB of RAM. The best machines are reserved, of course, for BRF Operations [Note1]. Aside from the $5,000,000 or so in equipment in here, you can't help but notice it's roughly 20 degrees cooler than Mission Control and is quite a bit noisier as all the cooling fans from all these different servers, routers, modem racks, etc. are running all at once. Other areas worthy of your attention lay both east and west. When he thinks nobody is looking, the plonker takes a swig from a small flask he pulls from a hidden pocket. >e Tape Storage This is the safest, most secure room in the building as it contains all of your company's computer records starting from the beginning of time. Stacks and piles of tapes are literally everywhere. Your eyes glaze over this sea of ancient media. All of this is neccesary since every single transaction of any kind is backed up, cataloged and stored here. In the event of a fire, an air-tight door slams shut and a halon system is activated in the comms room, the server room as well as this room. God help any poor soul that is trapped in this area during a fire alarm. A single exit, due west, leads back to the server room >look at tapes Some of these prehistoric tapes have names such as "OS/2 Backup", "System Snapshot 1982" and "Best of Porn - The Rusty and Edie Collection" >w Server Room The engineer dreams outloud about becoming an MCSE. >w Comms Room >w Entrance to Comms And Servers Area The security door is open leading into the Comms Room >w Mission Control On the desk are an inbox (in which is a note from your boss) and an outbox (which is empty). You can see an Armageddon-proof safe (which is empty) and Dave's Toshiba laptop here. >n Corridor to Mission Control This corridor runs north-south to the Hell Desk [Note2], your boss's office and other trivial areas while The Parts Store is just east and the Technician's Room is west. >e Parts Store This is the IT Department's Parts Storage area. Unlabelled cardboard boxes surround you, full of dated parts of dubious value. Only a skilled technician could find something in this chaotic filing system. >w Corridor to Mission Control >w Technician's Room You can tell this is the room where the company technician works just by the 1988 calendar featuring a young, scantily clad busty blonde woman hanging on one wall. The technician, rumored to have been installed with the building, is not here. In fact he's never here. Ever. You can see a denim jacket here. >e Corridor to Mission Control >n Corridor to IT Department This long corridor continues north and south to the IT Department and Mission Control. You can see a Fire Alarm Panel here. >turn alarm on A very loud siren roars to life and water sprinklers begin showering water all over you. In the distance you hear a lot of muffled yelling and a continual pounding coming from the south. [Your score has just gone up by ten points.] >n Open Plan Area This large room is filled with cubicles in neat rows. Presumably the people inside those small work boxes perform necessary company tasks such as supply requisitions, accounting, staff training, etc. As far as you're concerned these people serve no purpose at all except to suck up payroll funds that could otherwise be paid to you. Oddly enough, none of the cubicles are occupied. No doubt the tennants were scared off by the urine-in-the-water cooler scare. The cubicle at the end, nearest to the boss's office, belongs to the boss's secretary. This cubicle is famous for its exquisite view. Of the boss's secretary. The Boss's office is just east while the Hell Desk is west. A large copier is against one wall. Stephen, a co-worker who suffers from intelligence deficiency is here. He looks a bit stressed. "You're our network administrator so please tell me why I can't send or receive any email this morning. It was working fine last night!", he whines. You get the impression that answering Stephen's question will be time-consuming and painful. You decide to take care of him as soon as the rest of your Bastardly duties have been fulfilled. >e The Boss's Office The prevailing philosophy of your boss ("Play it safe.") extended to the heavy management decision of how to decorate his office; there is absolutely no distinction or personality here. A bookcase occupies one wall stocked with nothing but a couple of corporate manuals and an endless number of "For Dummies" books. Another wall is home to an alochol-stained filing cabinet. A simple cherrywood desk is here with the boss's laptop sitting on top. You can see Your Boss here. >i You are carrying: The Majestic Hammer of Bastarddom Amsterdam Travel Photos a travel request form a swipe card a Cattle Prod >show form to boss "You want to go to Las Vegas? For five bloody days? For a MICROSOFT Conference? Oh come on! You never took their products seriously. What is it you usually call them? 'Microshaft'? And how about that Bill Gatus of Borg Boardwatch poster in your so-called office?" Your boss stops ranting for a moment as he continues to scan the page. His frown tells you he's not happy with what he sees..."First class on United Airlines?!?! A deluxe suite at the Venetian?!! No, this smells like a junket to me. You are not going. No way. No how." >show pictures to boss Your boss's head drops and he stares at his Teletubbies desk blotter for a moment as he contemplates how completely you control his entire existence. "I suppose you really want to go to that conference in Las Vegas.", he says in a very small, quiet and defeated tone. He meekly takes your travel request form, signs it and hands it back to you. "You're a complete and utter bastard. You know that, don't you?" [Your score has just gone up by fifteen points.] >xyzzy As you mutter the magic word the screen on your boss's laptop suddenly transforms! Where before was a spreadsheet with a few cells, (already pushing the limits of your boss's brain capacity) a collection of the hottest, most erotic pornography ever imagined has appeared! When your boss notices the interesting change on his laptop his eyes go wide and a small smile crosses his lips. Unfortunately for him, your CEO chooses that exact moment to walk in and speak with the boss about something or other. Your CEO notices the plethora of fascinating sexual images on your boss' laptop and opens and closes his mouth a few times as he tries to speak but is too shocked and pissed off to form words. Finally some words come... "Is this how you spend valuable company time?! Clean out your fucking desk and hit the street, deadbeat." [Your score has just gone up by ten points.] >w Open Plan Area Stephen, a co-worker who suffers from intelligence deficiency is here. He looks a bit stressed. "You're our network administrator so please tell me why I can't send or receive any email this morning. It was working fine last night!", he whines. You get the impression that answering Stephen's question will be time-consuming and painful. You decide to take care of him as soon as the rest of your Bastardly duties have been fulfilled. >w The Hell Desk This medium-sized room looks very much like the IT department except there are just four cubicles which are home to the technical support staff. The combination of no ventilation, strong body odor, poor shelving and gross incompetence leaves a heady, almost metallic taste on your tounge. This area opens up to a larger room just west while a storage room is south. >s Storage Room This non-descript store room is used mostly as an adhoc changing room for employees that want to don "civilian clothes" when not in the office. A number of suits - all in as-new condition - line the walls. You can see a gray locker (which is closed) and a black locker here. >open black It seems to be locked. >look at hammer This hammer is a lovely example of it's kind with a well-insulated handle for those quick "re-configure" jobs, a hefty head weight for those quick "unlocking" jobs and the Boss' name written on it for those "framing" jobs. >unlock black with hammer You wield the Majestic Hammer of Bastarddom and feel its power flowing through you as you start smashing the locker door with The Hammer (WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!). After several good strong hits, the door to the locker just falls to the floor dead. >look Storage Room This non-descript store room is used mostly as an adhoc changing room for employees that want to don "civilian clothes" when not in the office. A number of suits - all in as-new condition - line the walls. You can see a battered black locker door, a battered black locker (in which is The Holy Grail of Employment Contracts) and a gray locker (which is closed) here. >take grail Taken. [Your score has just gone up by ten points.] >n The Hell Desk >e Open Plan Area Stephen, a co-worker who suffers from intelligence deficiency is here. He looks a bit stressed. "You're our network administrator so please tell me why I can't send or receive any email this morning. It was working fine last night!", he whines. You get the impression that answering Stephen's question will be time-consuming and painful. You decide to take care of him as soon as the rest of your Bastardly duties have been fulfilled. >s Corridor to IT Department Your ears are whistle as they are assaulted by the loudest siren yet known in human history. You can't be sure but you think you hear some muffled yelling and screaming accompanied by a continual pounding noise somewhere from the south. >listen Your ears are whistling as they are assaulted by the loudest siren yet known in human history. You can't be sure but you think you hear some muffled yelling and screaming accompanied by a continual pounding noise somewhere from the south. >s Corridor to Mission Control >listen Your ears are whistling as they are assaulted by the loudest siren yet known in human history. You can't be sure but you think you hear some muffled yelling and screaming accompanied by a continual pounding noise somewhere from the south. >s Mission Control On the desk are an inbox (in which is a note from your boss) and an outbox (which is empty). You can see an Armageddon-proof safe (which is empty) and Dave's Toshiba laptop here. >put travel in outbox Which do you mean, the approved travel request form or Amsterdam Travel Photos? >approved A very-scared looking office menial runs in, grabs the contents of your outbox and scurries out without a word. [Your score has just gone up by ten points.] >put contract in outbox You hastily fill in your name thus completing the contract before dropping into your outbox. Just as the contract lands in the outbox, a frightened office-menial runs in, grabs the contract and makes for the exit in record time. Given how he always seems to be so fearful, you search your mind for causes. Oh yes. The time you electrified the door knob on your office door to keep out undesirables (your boss, dumb co-workers, etc.). He couldn't talk for a week afterwards. All for the best, though. He learned his place in the world. [Your score has just gone up by ten points.] >score You have so far scored 75 out of a possible 100, in 61 turns, earning you the rank of Veteran Bastard. >e Entrance to Comms And Servers Area The security door is closed and locked. >w Mission Control On the desk are an inbox (in which are a travel itinerary and a note from your boss) and an outbox (which is empty). You can see an Armageddon-proof safe (which is empty) and Dave's Toshiba laptop here. >e Entrance to Comms And Servers Area The security door is closed and locked. >unlock door with card Because the fire system is activated, your swipe card cannot unlock this door. >w Mission Control On the desk are an inbox (in which are a travel itinerary and a note from your boss) and an outbox (which is empty). You can see an Armageddon-proof safe (which is empty) and Dave's Toshiba laptop here. >n Corridor to Mission Control >n Corridor to IT Department Your ears are whistle as they are assaulted by the loudest siren yet known in human history. You can't be sure but you think you hear some muffled yelling and screaming accompanied by a continual pounding noise somewhere from the south. >turn alarm off You switch the Fire Alarm Panel off. >s Corridor to Mission Control >s Mission Control On the desk are an inbox (in which are a travel itinerary and a note from your boss) and an outbox (which is empty). You can see an Armageddon-proof safe (which is empty) and Dave's Toshiba laptop here. >e Entrance to Comms And Servers Area The security door is closed and locked. >unlock door with id You unlock the steel door. >open door You open the steel door. >e Comms Room >e Server Room You can see The traumitized technician (in whom is a screwdriver) here. >look at tech This drooling, moaning shadow of a man is sitting in the corner sucking his thumb in a puddle of his own urine. In general, the immediate vicinity surrounding him smells like a porta-pottie after 10 hours of duty at Ozzfest. You are mildly surprised at the effect the fire systems had on him. You had no idea that being sprayed with fire-fighting Halon while in a sealed room with a cut-off oxygen supply combined with a screaming, deafening alarm could have such an effect on a human. >w Comms Room >w Entrance to Comms And Servers Area The security door is open leading into the Comms Room >w Mission Control On the desk are an inbox (in which are a travel itinerary and a note from your boss) and an outbox (which is empty). You can see an Armageddon-proof safe (which is empty) and Dave's Toshiba laptop here. >n Corridor to Mission Control >n Corridor to IT Department You can see a Fire Alarm Panel here. >i You are carrying: The Majestic Hammer of Bastarddom Amsterdam Travel Photos a swipe card a Cattle Prod >s Corridor to Mission Control >s Mission Control On the desk are an inbox (in which are a travel itinerary and a note from your boss) and an outbox (which is empty). You can see an Armageddon-proof safe (which is empty) and Dave's Toshiba laptop here. >take itinerary Taken. >n Corridor to Mission Control >n Corridor to IT Department You can see a Fire Alarm Panel here. >n Open Plan Area Stephen, a co-worker who suffers from intelligence deficiency is here. He looks a bit stressed. "You're our network administrator so please tell me why I can't send or receive any email this morning. It was working fine last night!", he whines. You get the impression that answering Stephen's question will be time-consuming and painful. You decide to take care of him as soon as the rest of your Bastardly duties have been fulfilled. >solar-flares [Dummy Mode: ON] "Solar-flares you say? You know, I remember hearing something on the news about... Hey wait a second... [Dummy Mode: OFF] "Do you seriously expect me to believe that I can't get or send email because of bloody SOLAR FLARES! You bastard! You always do this to people! You terrorize us, you give us bullshit excuses as a defense for your laziness and we cower like frightenend animals!! No more I tell you!!" Not quite believing what you are hearing (that he found his backbone and actually started using it coupled with his gross lack of respect) you back away a bit as he comes toward you with hate in his eye and menace in his posture. You do the only thing you can do; you wield your mighty cattle prod in self defense and zap Stephen with it! He tumbles to the ground like a wet sack full of potatoes, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. You're pretty sure he won't get so uppity with you again. Just then your CEO approaches you, accompanied by two burly security guards! The CEO studies Stephen's prone, unconscious body, "Ah, we can see you're very, er, stressed at the moment. I just finished reading an HR pamphlet about stress in the workplace. I think it's best you leave for the Las Vegas junket, er conference your boss told me about early and relax a bit. Perhaps you can visit a couple of vendors we deal with. You can return to work fresh and rejuvenated." And with that the two burly security guards accompany you out of the building to a waiting limousine that immediately shuttles you off to the airport. Your escorts guide you directly to the security checkpoint, bid you adieu and tell you in no uncertain terms that they are NOT looking forward to your return! Venetian Hotel, Main Lobby Your neck develops an ache as you crane your head up to take in the breakthaking frescoes, icons and gold lining the ceiling (perhaps 50 feet up) in this cavernous lobby. In the dead center of the room is a huge marble fountain with a beautiful globe through which water trickles. A mammoth hallway is west while the front desk is directly north while the hotel's exit is south. [Your score has just gone up by ten points.] >score You have so far scored 85 out of a possible 100, in 90 turns, earning you the rank of Veteran Bastard. >n Venetian Hotel, Front Desk The front desk of the Venetian Hotel is a monument to the guest services industry. Roughly 250 feet wide, the desk area accomodates ten employees who are milling about As your reservations are for a suite, you walk past the "commoners" line and are ready to be served. You can see a Guest Services Representative here. >look at representative This beautiful, young woman has a single mission in life - to make you and every other guest of The Venetian blissfully happy. You silently wonder at those possibilities as you study her beautiful brown hair, soft dewey eyes and tight white silk shirt framed in a colorful vest inspired by the Italian Renaissance period. According to her nametag, she is called Kim. According to your game plan, she is called fair game. >kiss kim You really are a smooth Bastard for trying that but the front desk is just too big to allow you close enough. >give itinerary to kim "Just a moment sir while I pull up your resevation...." "Ah here we go. Your boss called ahead and changed your reservation. Apparently he downgraded you to our standard suite rather than the deluxe. [clickety click] She hands you your room key, flashes you a pretty smile as she says "You're in room 14-210. Enjoy your stay at The Venetian!", and with that she heads off to parts unknown. You stand at the frontdesk dumbfounded. You cannot believe your boss had the audacity to tamper with YOUR reservations. There is only one penalty sufficient for this transgression. As soon as you return to the office you're going to downgrade his career with the Amsterdam Travel Photos in your safe. First, they will be widely-distributed to every newspaper in the city, then to every trade publication on the planet as well as posted to each and every newsgroup and finally they will also be published on your website "a-holebosses.org" What's more pressing right now is how are you going to get your reservation restored to its original, untampered form? >s Venetian Hotel, Main Lobby >w Venetian Hotel, Grand Hall As you walk down this long, wide and very tall corridor you cannot help but wonder who was inspired to construct an area so large and so majestic. Beautiful works of art adorn the ceilings while gold crest adorns the high walls which are held up there by Roman columns of great height. The polished imported Italian marble floor shines almost-blindingly as its brownish-gold cubes capture and reflect the light hither and yon. The sheer maginificence of this hall has the power to move even your cold, Bastardly heart. >e Venetian Hotel, Main Lobby >s Venetian Hotel, Main Entrance Times Square has the peace and tranquility of a country meadow when compared to this traffic hub of the Venetian Hotel. Limousines and taxis are continually arriving and departing while bellboys shuttle the luggage of arriving and departing guests to and from vehicles of every kind. Occasionally you spot a valet running at full speed towards the parking garage with a set of keys in his hand. You spot no less than fifty guests of the Venetian busily about the business of settling in or moving on. >n Venetian Hotel, Main Lobby >w Venetian Hotel, Grand Hall >w Venetian Hotel, Junction Your ears prick up as continual jingling, jangling, beeping and whistling fills yours. A quick glance upwards confirms your suspicions; the casino is directly ahead to the west while Restaurant Row and the entrance to the Grand Canal shops branches off to the northeast. As you take in all the sights and sounds your feet hand you late-breaking news. It seems as if you are walking on pillows. Actually, you look down and notice the polished marble floor has ended and plush, deep brown carpeting continues in its place. >w Venetian Hotel, Casino The beeping, booping, dinging and the occasional shouts of "Wheel...of... Fortune!" from distant slot machines is almost hypnotic. The sound of jingling coins signalling a payout is encouraging. Cigarette smoke is seen everywhere wafting towards the ceiling where several black glass globes known as "Eyes in The Sky" look down upon every visitor. As you study the many gaming tables you see beautifully dressed women and dapper gentlemen engaged in their favorite game of chance. Despite the early morning hour, it's quite busy. You can't spot a free seat anywhere. The casino floor extends out in all directions for as far as you can see. >s Venetian Hotel, Casino (By the Network Center) The seemingly endless number of slot machines continues here as well three card poker tables. Beautiful cocktail waitresses wearing very sexy uniforms that are very low cut in the front as well being very short rocket past you constantly carrying their full and empty drinks trays. You steal more than an occasional glance of cleavage here and some tush there before they disappear into the crowds. A steel door etched with very serious-looking letters is not completely closed. You can also see a cocktail waitress here. >look at waitress This girl is a stunning example of a Las Vegas beauty with a very full and promising bustline and a too-short skirt showing the ample goods most skirts are designed to conceal. Her hair and makeup are composed perfectly despite the fact that she is in a continual state of motion. Even now, this beauty is walking at a very fast clip off to deliver drinks to the players. >look Venetian Hotel, Casino (By the Network Center) The seemingly endless number of slot machines continues here as well three card poker tables. Beautiful cocktail waitresses wearing very sexy uniforms that are very low cut in the front as well being very short rocket past you constantly carrying their full and empty drinks trays. You steal more than an occasional glance of cleavage here and some tush there before they disappear into the crowds. A steel door etched with very serious-looking letters is not completely closed. You can also see a cocktail waitress here. >look at door This is a simple metal door with a push-button combination lock built into the door handle. A large sign simply says "Network Operations Closet. Authorized Personnel Only. DO NOT ENTER" Shit. Why didn't they just mail you a gold-inlaid invitation? >e Venetian Hotel, Network Operations Center Misson Control is a prehistoric cave with all the trappings in comparison to the treasure trove here. You are deeply impressed by the neatest displays of computers, security cameras and related wiring. You feel a tingling in your pants and awe in your heart as you look upon the Nirvanna of network centers. You quickly conclude that this must be the nerve center of the entire Venetian. You are convinced that only a fellow Bastard could run such a proper operation. A steel door etched with very serious-looking letters is not completely closed. You can also see a master power switch, a fire alarm switch and a Hotel Reseervations Server here. >look at server This single computer is the key to all guest accomodations at the Venetian. The keyboard has a small template which reads "Commands: "Cancel" and "Upgrade". Connected directly to the computer is a smartcard reader. >turn alarm off That's already off. >turn alarm on As soon as you throw the switch your room all hell breaks loose! Outside this room you hear the thunder of stampeding gamblers running for the exits! Lots of shouts and screams can be heard also! You hear the [click] of an electronic lock and realize the lock on the steel door has received a signal to secure itself, no doubt due to the fire alarm. [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >look Venetian Hotel, Network Operations Center Misson Control is a prehistoric cave with all the trappings in comparison to the treasure trove here. You are deeply impressed by the neatest displays of computers, security cameras and related wiring. You feel a tingling in your pants and awe in your heart as you look upon the Nirvanna of network centers. You quickly conclude that this must be the nerve center of the entire Venetian. You are convinced that only a fellow Bastard could run such a proper operation. The Network Operations door is closed. An extremely loud fire siren can be heard from all directions. It's extreme volume makes it difficult for you to think. You suspect your ear drums may be piereced but that doesn't help you stifle your giggling as you realize that outside this room the entire hotel and everybody in it is totally out-of-control You can also see a master power switch and a Hotel Reseervations Server here. >score You have so far scored 90 out of a possible 100, in 111 turns, earning you the rank of Heir Apparent to the Throne of the Grand Bastard. >turn power off As soon as you throw the switch your room (and the rest of the hotel) is plunged into darkness. Behind you, the sound of the steel door closing and locking can be heard. [Note3] Just then a small emergency backup light comes on illuminating the room dimly. Your mind is filled with images of chaos in the spa as manicurists slip and ruin fingernails, hairstylists mangling client coifs, waiters running into chairs and spilling their large platter holding steaming bowls of soup onto the laps of waiting patrons and a gondola sinking in the Grand Canal. This is Bastarddom at it's best! [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >undo Venetian Hotel, Network Operations Center [Previous turn undone.] >turn alarm off You switch the fire alarm switch off. >look Venetian Hotel, Network Operations Center Misson Control is a prehistoric cave with all the trappings in comparison to the treasure trove here. You are deeply impressed by the neatest displays of computers, security cameras and related wiring. You feel a tingling in your pants and awe in your heart as you look upon the Nirvanna of network centers. You quickly conclude that this must be the nerve center of the entire Venetian. You are convinced that only a fellow Bastard could run such a proper operation. The Network Operations door is closed. You can also see a master power switch, a fire alarm switch and a Hotel Reseervations Server here. >turn power off As soon as you throw the switch your room (and the rest of the hotel) is plunged into darkness. Behind you, the sound of the steel door closing and locking can be heard. [Note3] Just then a small emergency backup light comes on illuminating the room dimly. Your mind is filled with images of chaos in the spa as manicurists slip and ruin fingernails, hairstylists mangling client coifs, waiters running into chairs and spilling their large platter holding steaming bowls of soup onto the laps of waiting patrons and a gondola sinking in the Grand Canal. This is Bastarddom at it's best! [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >turn alarm off That's already off. >turn alarm on Ok, ok you made your point. You might get caught if you don't stop! >listen You hear nothing unexpected. >look Venetian Hotel, Network Operations Center Misson Control is a prehistoric cave with all the trappings in comparison to the treasure trove here. You are deeply impressed by the neatest displays of computers, security cameras and related wiring. You feel a tingling in your pants and awe in your heart as you look upon the Nirvanna of network centers. You quickly conclude that this must be the nerve center of the entire Venetian. You are convinced that only a fellow Bastard could run such a proper operation. The Network Operations door is closed. Except for several little green lights you are in total darkness. Outside you hear a loud commotion and a lot of yelling and screaming! An extremely loud fire siren can be heard from all directions. It's extreme volume makes it difficult for you to think. You suspect your ear drums may be piereced but that doesn't help you stifle your giggling as you realize that outside this room the entire hotel and everybody in it is totally out-of-control You can also see a Hotel Reseervations Server here. >look at server This single computer is the key to all guest accomodations at the Venetian. The keyboard has a small template which reads "Commands: "Cancel" and "Upgrade". Connected directly to the computer is a smartcard reader. >upgrade You slide your room key into the card reader and type upgrade on the keyboard. COMPUTER: Guest reservation changed. Old Room:14-210. New room:14-202" Having worked your bastardly magic to good effect you have upgraded your room to one of the best suites in the hotel! *** You have won *** In that game you scored 105 out of a possible 100, in 119 turns, earning you the rank of Heir Apparent to the Throne of the Grand Bastard. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do or QUIT? > amusing Have you tried... Typing xyzzy in Mission Control and the Boss' office? Looking at the tapes in the Tape Store? Looking at the bookcase in the Boss' office? Taking the pants in Pal Zileri's in the Grand Canal? Taking Dave's laptop (that's an inside joke Simon asked me to include) Looking ("look") in the server room a few times? Typing "MCSE" anywhere? Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do or QUIT? > script Please give one of the answers above. > undo Venetian Hotel, Network Operations Center [Previous turn undone.] >script off End of transcript. MORE NOTES -- This walkthru was developed BEFORE I fixed a few bugs and added some more descriptions. For example, you cannot score 105 out of 100 points in the final release. :)