MERCENARY: A FLIGHT SIMULATOR ADVENTURE
1st City: ESCAPE FROM TARG
(c)1987 Novagen Software Ltd
AUTHOR: Paul Woakes
--------------------------

INTRODUCTION

TARG is a planet in trouble, the peaceful, native Palyars are 
fighting for their very existence against the invading 
Mechanoids, a race of robots who have seized the planet.

In the militarily secure Colony Craft that orbits Targ, the 
Palyar council plans and waits, while brave Palyar resistance-
fighters oppose the mechanoids in the Central City, Targ's one 
major area of habitation.

You are a 21st century space cowboy whose intergalactic craft has 
crashed on Targ. The ship is beyond repair, so you must find 
another way off the planet. Your interface with the world around 
you is Benson, an almost-human, ninth-generation, artificially 
intelligent portable computer. Benson, who is always with you, 
monitors and reports your status, conducts communications between 
you and the aliens, and displays information on his control 
panel.

Almost as soon as you arrive, Benson displays a message regarding 
a ship for sale. You can buy the ship or just take it. But keep 
in mind that stealing has its consequences!

The next message you receive is from the Palyar Resistance. They 
have work for you. If you're willing to be a mercenary, meet them 
in the briefing room of their underground headquarters. Later, 
you also have an opportunity to meet the Mechanoid reps, so don't 
make any hasty decisions.


CRUCIAL INFO

Fly anywhere on Targ; There are no constraints or penalties, even 
if you crash! If ** shows on your location indicator, good luck! 
No one knows where you are. But there are a few places of 
interest, even in the wilderness; you only have to find them!

It is hard to resist zapping things! If you fire at the base of a 
structure and score a direct hit, the result is an awesome 
collapse! However, if someone owns the site you zapped, take 
cover. Unless you knock out the droid missile fired in 
retaliation, it will find you and will home in for the kill!!! 
Try rapid flight backwards to keep it in view while you aim and 
fire.

One of the things you notice from the surface of Targ is a dot in 
the sky above the planet. This is the Colony Craft and you need a 
special key to get into this stronghold. The key is somewhere on
Targ.

The Colony Craft has three floors to explore. Any room you enter 
that Benson names (other than hangar, bank, briefing rooms, and 
communications room) offers an "earning" opportunity. 
For example, gold delivered to the exchequer yields 100,000 
credits.

You can build your credits on your visit to the Colony Craft; 
but, before commiting yourself, consider that the Mechanoids have 
an interest in some of your goodies and may pay more than the 
Palyars.

As much fun as fighting and exploring may be, don't lose sight of 
your ultimate goal: Escape from TARG! There are three ways to 
accomplish this, but it's up to you to figure them out. (If you 
can't there are hints below, and even a full solution.)


TRANSPORTATION

There are two types of ground-based vehicles (GBVs) and four 
varieties of aircraft, plus one ship capable of intergalactic 
flight.

Board a vehicle by walking to its center and pressing B.

Leave a vehicle by pressing L.

Forward speed is controlled by the number keys 1 (low) through 9 
(0 is top speed). 

Adjust the power level by pressing the > key to increase and 
< to decrease.

Brake by pressing the space bar (in flight, this lets you hover).

Flying an airship requires sufficient speed to take off. To gain 
altitude, pull back on the joystick. Dive by pushing forward.
Landing too heavily results in a crash!

Reverse thrust (flight only) by holding down the shift key while 
pressing a number key.

Weapons are provided on many vehicles. Press the fire button to 
shoot.

Steering is by use of the joystick. Steering in flight is 
slightly different than when walking or using GBV'S.


JOYSTICK CONTROLS - Joystick in port 2

 Walking/Driving Mode   Flying Mode
   ----------------   ---------------
       FORWARD             DIVE
          ^                  ^
          |                  |
   TURN<--+-->TURN    TURN<--+-->TURN
   LEFT   |   RIGHT   LEFT   |   RIGHT
          v                  v
       BACKWARD            CLIMB


ELEVATORS

In several locations on Targ's surface, there are three-sided 
cages (elevators) which provide access to underground complexes. 
An elevator is activated when you stand in the center and press 
E. Press E again to return to the surface.


OBJECTS

Most of the objects found on Targ are in the underground 
complexes. Certain objects enhance your capabilities or allow you 
to perform functions. Others have an obvious sale value and some 
may even seem useless. Objects are only identified when they are 
picked up (not all are identified). It is a good idea to keep a 
list of items in the order you pick them up. You can carry up to 
10 objects at a time.

Take objects by pressing T.
Drop objects by pressing D (the last object taken will be the 
first object dropped). Dropping too many items in one area slows 
down the graphics.


CONTROL PANEL

Below is an explanation of Benson's control panel. Colors 
mentioned may vary depending on your computer or monitor.

EL - elevation indicates whether your airship is gaining 
altitude (blue) or losing it (green).
SPEED - speed shows how fast you're going in any type of vehicle.
LOC - location displays your co-ordinates on the planet. Negative 
coordinates let you know you're on the opposite hemisphere of the 
planet from the city.
ALT - altitude gives your flying height in feet.
COMP - compass helps you determine which direction you're going.
Red and green indicate north; red is the western quadrant and 
green the eastern. Black and blue are south; black is the eastern 
quadrant and blue the western.


SAVING AND LOADING

Save a game by pressing CTRL-S. Remove the game disk from the 
drive and insert the save-game disk. Choose a number from 0-9, as 
prompted, and press return. 

CAUTION: never try to save a game on the MERCENARY GAME DISK! 

You may leave the save-game disk in the drive for easier saving 
and loading as you play. Reusing a save-game number saves the new 
game and wipes out the one previously saved under that number. 
(It's a good idea to keep a list of game numbers you don't want 
to lose.)

Load a save game during game play by pressing CTRL-L. Be sure the 
save-game disk is in the drive, select the number of the game you 
want to load, and press return.

Pause game by pressing CTRL-RETURN. Press RETURN to resume play.


QUITTING A SITUATION

It's in the spirit of the game that your character is never 
killed. However, certain circumstances could leave you stranded 
in the wilderness or in a genuine no-win situation. To opt out of 
a tight spot without restarting the game, press CTRL-Q. You are 
then transferred back to the central city, but any objects in 
your possesion are scattered around the planet. (Scattered objects 
are often visible as "dots" from a considerable distance away.)


COMMANDS SUMMARY

Vehicle Operation
-----------------
0-9           Forward thrust
SHIFT + 0-9   Reverse thrust
>             Increase Speed
<             Decrease Speed
SPACE BAR -   Brake/Stop

Other Operations
----------------
E  Activate elevator (ring at 9:6,9:5,3:0,3:4,3:15,11:13)
T  Take object
D  Drop object
B  Board vehicle (First you must stand "inside" vehicle or ship.)
L  Leave vehicle

CTRL+Q    "Quit"-After that you will get new ship and all objects 
          that you have are placed on the surface of the town.
          You can fly to altitude 3000 and see them like spots...

CTRL+L/S     Load/Save position to disk 

CTRL+RETURN  Pause game
RETURN       Resume play
Y            Yes    

-------------------------------------------------
SUBTLE HINTS

If you're the kind of rugged adventurer who likes to figure 
things out for yourself, skip this part!!!


*  When first learning how to use an aircraft or GBV's around 
Targ, it's easier to travel on the ground rather than in the air. 
(Walking isn't recommended if you want to get somewhere before 
the turn of the century). Flying is faster, but finding specific 
places from the air takes an aviator's skill and a lot of 
practice.
*  When you crash-land, you're automatically on foot. Unless your 
ship is destroyed, press B to re-board.
*  There are eight types of doors in the underground complexes. 
Some lead into darkness (but there is a way to see the light). 
Enter marked doors with caution - you may find yourself in 
totally unfamiliar surroundings when you emerge! With a little 
exploration, you can distinguish between the doors.
*  Often, the names of objects you pick up give important clues 
to their use.
*  Even when you discover one method of escaping from Targ, you 
haven't exhausted all the possibilities. You could conceivably 
play the game forever!


CRYPTIC CLUES

* You've found some cheese - utterly incredible!
  it's quite useful, but not very edible.

* There are no nasty spiders on Targ to see;
  but a curious web just could be the key.

* The Colony Craft is a wonderful place,
  and getting there takes an extremely fast pace;
  Once you are there, it's great fun if you let it,
  for here there are ways to earn heaps of credit.

* Go to the kitchen for much more than cleaning;
  Pick something up that gives objects more meaning.

* The friendly Palyars have a serious flaw:
  The Commander's unfriendly brother-in-law;
  he isn't pleased with your sudden arrival;
  Don't mess with him if your goal is survival!

* When leaving the planet, if there's one more "lock",
  you need to find something to turn back the clock.


ABOVE DOX COURTESY OF ECKS
*************************************************

SOLUTION(s) to ESCAPE FROM TARG
-------------------------------
You can end this game in two ways: By trading and earning 
999 999 Credits to buy a new escape ship, or yourself can find 
a ship (faster way). (There may be a third way...)

In both cases, first you must go to the location 09:06 and find 
PHOTON EMITTER, then go to find POWER RAMP. Without it you can't 
reach the orbital station at altitude 65000.

1st solution
------------
If you want to trade, here is a list of objects and locations
where they can be sold. Remember you can hold 10 objects at one 
moment (including keys).

Object           Location                Price
-----------------------------------------------
MECHANOID        INTERVIEW ROOM          250 000
ENERGY CRYSTAL   POWER ROOM              100 000
FOOD SUPPLY      KITCHEN                  60 000
USEFUL WEAPON    MECHANOID ARMORY        120 000
LARGE BOX        STORES                   35 000
GOLD             EXCHEQUER               100 000
MEDICAL SUPPLY   INFIRMARY                40 000
12939 SUPPLY     CONFERENCE ROOM          50 000
NEUTRON FUEL*    ENGINE ROOM             200 000
WINCHESTER       LABORATORY              100 000
-----------------------------------------------
                                       1 055 000

* NEUTRON FUEL is too heavy and you must have ANTI GRAV to hold 
  it.

When you have enough money, find the ANTENNA and bring it to 
the COMMUNICATION ROOM, you will get an offer to buy a new ship. 
After that, go to location 08:08 and launch the ship !


2nd solution (faster)
---------------------
After you pick up PHOTON EMITTER & POWER RAMP, find ALL keys, go 
to any random teleport and start doing in & out action, until you 
find yourself in YELLOW ROOM with two locked doors to the left 
and right.

Following the map (provided separately), find NOVA DRIVE and go 
to the SECRET HANGAR behind door with skull (only door with skull 
with free pass), enter the ship while you are still in hangar, 
activate elevator and launch the ship !


DON'T MISS TO VISIT LOCATIONS  9:13, 9:15, 4:15 :-)


Credits for the Solutions Section:
----------------------------------
1st way solution:
Original map by Aleksandar Conic published Dec 1987 in "Svet 
Igara" (special edition of "Svet Kompjutera") [Yougoslavia-
Serbia]

2nd solution:
New Map (with fixed bugs, and additional locations) Avg 1998
drawn by Nikola Alivojvodic (johnnya@eunet.yu)


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