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=== P C - T R E K ===
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| | A Real Time Starship Simulation for the IBM Personal Computer | |
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Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K ===
Table of Contents
-----------------
Introduction.....................3
System Requirements..............3
Obtaining the Program............3
Program Startup..................4
Movement in Space................5
Impulse Power....................5
Klingons.........................5
Warp Drive.......................6
Damage...........................6
Shield Power.....................6
Phasor Power.....................7
Antimatter Probes................7
Planets..........................7
Dilithium........................7
Stars............................8
Black Holes......................8
Star Bases.......................8
Repair Bases.....................9
Weapons Bases....................9
Hints for a Successful Mission...10
When All Else Fails..............11
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 3
INTRODUCTION
------------
You are in command of the Starship Enterprise. You and your ship will
move about the universe where you will encounter Star Bases (space
stations) of various types, hostile and friendly planets, stars, black
holes, and Klingon warships. PCTREK converts your computer into the
Enterprise's command station, and presents you with a continuous, real
time display of the space sector you currently occupy, along with the
current status of the Enterprise's energy and weapons systems. As
commander, you will be assigned missions of complexity commensurate
with your rank and experience.
Your missions will be two-fold: you will be required to visit a
particular number of planets, and you will be required to collect
Dilithium from the planets and deliver it to the Star Bases. Your
mission will not be complete until you have satisfied both of these
requirements.
PCTREK is a complex, real time simulation of the events encountered
during the missions of the Enterprise. Before attempting a mission,
read all of the PCTREK documentation. Attempting a mission without the
knowledge of what to expect will render you virtually helpless, and the
Klingons give no quarter.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENMTS
--------------------
PC-TREK was developed and tested using an IBM Personal Computer with
BASICA, DOS 2.0, and an IBM monochrome monitor. Other hardware and
software combinations may work; however, no others have been tested.
Peninsula Software would be interested in any information about compat-
ibility with other systems. A printer is required to print the eleven
pages of documentation. Note that a color graphics monitor is NOT
required; PCTREK creates its real time sector map display and ship
status indicators with standard characters using a monochrome monitor.
OBTAINING THE PROGRAM
---------------------
PCTREK is provided under the `freeware' concept originated by Andrew
Fluegelman and the Headland Press. The program and documentation are
freely distributed and are meant to be copied and shared. If you find
the program of value, you are encouraged to make a contribution ($10.00
suggested) to the author. Whether you contribute or not you are
encouraged to share the program with others.
Comments and/or suggestions may be directed to Peninsula Software via
U. S. mail. Electronic mail may be directed to the author at the
Compuserve network user ID 72356,556.
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 4
PROGRAM STARTUP
---------------
PC-TREK is a standard BASICA program; you should run it using the same
procedures you use for any other BASICA program. You must use BASICA,
the advanced Basic interpreter, to run PCTREK. Disk BASIC will not
work since it does not support function key interrupt processing.
Before each mission begins, you will be prompted for several inputs as
follows:
Prompt: Enter 1 for sound
2 for no sound
Explanation: If 1 is entered PCTREK will generate sound effects. If
2 is entered PCTREK will be silent.
Prompt: Enter 1 for Training Mission
2 for Real Mission
Explanation: Replying with a 1 causes PCTREK to ignore the total amount
of damage inflicted by the Klingons. Thus, the Enterprise
is allowed to suffer infinite damage and continue to operate.
Replying with a 2 results in the Enterprise being destroyed
when damage reaches 100%.
Prompt: Enter 1 if you qualify as a Lieutenant J. G.
2 if you qualify as a Captain
3 if you qualify as an Admiral
Explanation: The higher the number, the more ambitious the mission
objectives. Also, events happen more quickly.
The following pages describe the techniques you will use to control the
Enterprise, and also tell you something about what you will encounter
during your journeys through space.
Good Luck!
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 5
MOVEMENT IN SPACE
-----------------
The Enterprise moves within a sector of space that is 18,000 km.
square. The sector is divided into 1,000 km. positions, each of
which is shown on your Sector Scanner. The content of each sector
position is indicated by one of the following symbols:
E : The Enterprise * : A Star
K : A Klingon Warship P : A Planet
B : A Star Base O : A Black Hole
R : A Repair Base - : An Empty Sector Position
W : A Weapons Base
You can maneuver to any empty sector position by using your Impulse
Power thrusters. These are controlled by Function Keys F2, F4, F5, and
F6. Depressing these keys fires the thruster that moves the Enterprise
up, down, left, or right, respectively. (A short description of each
Function Key is shown at the bottom of the screen at all times.) Since
you are moving in space you will continue to move in the selected
direction until a counter-thrust is made. Note that since you have both
horizontal and vertical thrusters you will move horizontally,
vertically, or diagonally depending whether you have used your
horizontal, vertical, or both, thrusters.
Each time you depress one of the Impulse Power Function Keys your
velocity in the indicated direction will change by 1 sector position per
Star Date. Your maximum velocity in any direction is 3. Your display
will give you a continuous readout of your horizontal and vertical
velocity.
If you move into a sector position that is not empty the Enterprise
will collide with whatever is there and explode, completely destroying
the ship, its entire crew, and you.
IMPULSE POWER
-------------
You will begin your mission with 100% Impulse Power available. Each
use of an Impulse Power thruster takes 5% of your total Impulse Power.
Your display will give you a continuous readout of the amount of Impulse
Power you have remaining. If you use all your Impulse Power your
thrusters will not operate.
KLINGONS
--------
Klingon warships will enter your sector from adjacent reaches of
space. They will move about your sector on specific course
headings until their long range radar locks on to the Enterprise.
Once this occurs the Klingons will attack. Their weapons systems
have the ability to destroy the Enterprise. See the sections on
Damage and Shield Power for additional details.
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 6
WARP DRIVE
----------
Your Starship is equipped with a Warp Drive engine. It is used to move
into a new Space Sector. You will begin your mission with 100% Warp
Power available. Each time you use your Warp Engine your Warp Power is
reduced by 20%. As with Impulse Power, your display gives you a contin-
uous readout of the amount of Warp Power remaining. If you use all your
Warp Power your Warp Engine will not operate.
Warp Drive is initiated by pressing Function Key F10. Note that when
you Warp you leave the current Space Sector and are repositioned in a
new Sector. When the Enterprise arrives in the new Sector all ship
conditions will be the same as they were at the time of departure from
the previous Sector, including any velocity there might have been. Note
that Warping with non-zero velocity can be dangerous since the
Enterprise could collide with something in the new Sector immediately
upon entering it.
DAMAGE
------
The Enterprise begins its mission with no damage. However, Klingon
Warships inflict damage on the Enterprise whenever they approach. The
amount of damage is determined by the closeness of the Klingons and
whether the Enterprise Shields are on or off.
With Shields Off a Klingon Warship will inflict 16% damage on the
Enterprise for each Star Date in which it is adjacent to the
Enterprise. If it is 1 Sector Position away from the Enterprise the
damage is 8% per Star Date, if 2 Sector Positions away, 4%, and if 3
Sector Positions away, 2%. No damage is done if the Klingon is more
than 4 Sector Positions away from the Enterprise. Note that damage to
the Enterprise inflicted by multiple Klingon Warships is cumulative; i.
e., 2 Klingon Warships adjacent to the Enterprise will inflict a total
of 32% damage at each Star Date in which the Enterprise Shields are
off.
With Shields On the amount of damage is reduced to 1/4 the amount that
would have occurred if the Shields had been Off.
Your display will give you a continuous readout of the amount of damage
currently done to the Enterprise. When the %DAMAGE exceeds 100% the
Enterprise is completely destroyed, along with her entire crew, and you.
SHIELD POWER
------------
The Enterprise begins its mission with 100% Shield Power. Your display
will give you a continuous readout of whether your shields are on or off
and how much Shield Power you have remaining. Initially the Enterprise
Shields are Off. Pressing Function Key F9 will turn them On; pressing
the F9 key again turns the Shields Off, etc. Each Star Date with
Shields On reduces your Shield Power by 2%. If your %SHIELD POWER
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 7
reaches 0% your Shields will automatically turn off, and you will not be
able to turn them on again until you have restored your Shield Power to
2% or more.
PHASOR POWER
------------
The Enterprise is equipped with Phasor weapons. These may be used to
destroy Klingon Warships. A direct hit on a Klingon Warship will
destroy it. Your Phasors have a range of 9,000 km. (9 Sector
Positions.) You can fire your Phasors Up, Down, Left, or Right by
pressing the corresponding direction key on the numeric keypad. Each
Phasor blast reduces your %PHASOR POWER by 5%. Your display will give
you a continuous readout of the amount of PHASOR POWER remaining. If
your %PHASOR POWER reaches 0% your Phasors will not operate until you
have restored your PHASOR POWER to 5% or more.
ANTIMATTER PROBES
-----------------
Antimatter Probes are powerful weapons that have the ability to detroy
all Klingon warships that are within 4 Sector Positions of the Enter-
prise. The Enterprise begins each mission with 4 Antimatter Probes,
and the number of Antimatter Probes available is shown on your display
at all times. An Antimatter Probe is launched by pressing the F1 key.
Once launched, the Antimatter Probe cannot be reclaimed, even if no
Klingons are near.
PLANETS
-------
You will find from 1 to 6 planets in each sector. Planets are shown
by the symbol P on your Sector Scanner. They are stationary, and the
Enterprise must be maneuvered around them. The Enterprise will crash
and explode if it attempts to move into a Sector Position occupied by
a planet.
One of your mission objectives will be to visit a specified number of
planets. Visiting a planet is accomplished by docking with it, i. e.,
moving the Enterprise to a Sector position adjacent to a planet and
stopping for at least one Star Date. The number of planets visited is
shown on your display screen at all times. Note that each planet may
be visited as many times as you like; however, once a planet is visited
it no longer counts toward increasing the number of visited planets.
DILITHIUM
---------
Dilithium is a valuable mineral that can be collected from certain
planets. In order to do this the Enterprise must dock with the planet;
i. e., occupy a Sector Position adjacent to a planet and have zero
velocity. Once docked, a planet will either allow the Enterprise to
take on Dilithium (a friendly planet) or will remove Dilithium from the
Enterprise as ransom (an unfriendly planet.) Friendly planets have only
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 8
a fixed amount of Dilithium to give; once all is gone there is no more.
Unfriendly planets, however, have the capacity to take all the Dilithium
the Enterprise is currently carrying. The amount of Dilithium aboard
the Enterprise is shown on your display at all times.
Dilithium can be converted into Impulse Power and into Phasor power. To
do this, press either the F7 key or the F8 key, respectively. Doing this
will reduce the amount of Dilithium by .5 tons and increase either the
Impulse Power or Phasor Power by 5%, depending upon which key was
pressed. It is not possible to have more than 100% Impulse or Phasor
Power, and obviously if the amount of Dilithium on board the Enterprise
is 0, no conversion at all is possible.
Another of your mission objectives will be to deliver a specified
amount of Dilithium to the Federation. Dilithium delivery is
accomplished by docking with a Star Base and pressing the F3 key. Each
time the F3 key is pressed 0.5 tons of Dilithium are transferred from
the Enterprise to the Star Base. You can not deliver more Dilithium
than the amount currently aboard the Enterprise. Your display will
give you a continuous readout of the amount of Dilithium aboard the
Enterprise and the amount that has been delivered.
STARS
-----
You will find from 1 to 9 stars in each sector. Like planets, stars are
stationary, but will cause the Enterprise to crash and explode if it
attempts to move into a Sector Position occupied by a star. Stars are
shown by the symbol * on your Sector Scanner.
BLACK HOLES
-----------
You will find from 1 to 4 Black Holes in each sector. Black holes are
shown by the symbol O on your Sector Scanner. Like stars and planets,
black holes are stationary. However, because of their intense gravi-
tation they will completely destroy the Enterprise if it attempts to
move into a sector position occupied by a black hole.
The Enterprise has a guidance system that enables it to avoid being
sucked into a black hole. However, due to the intense gravitational
fields around black holes, the Enterprise's Impulse Power is reduced by
10% for each Star Date in which it occupies or moves through a sector
position adjacent to a Black Hole.
STAR BASES
----------
Each Sector has 1 or 2 Star Bases, indicated by the symbol B. Star
Bases are capable of replenishing all of the Enterprise's energy systems
as well as repairing all ship damage. However, in order for any of this
to occur the Enterprise must perform a successful docking with the Star
Base. Docking is accomplished by bringing the Enterprise to a stop in
a sector position adjacent to a Star Base. Once a successful docking at
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 9
a Star Base has been accomplished the following activities occur:
1. Impulse Power is restored by 5% per Star Date, up to 100%
2. Phasor Power is restored by 5% per Star Date, up to 100%
3. Ship damage is repaired (i. e., reduced) by 5% per Star Date,
until %Damage = 0%
4. Shield Power is restored by 5% per Star Date, up to 100%
5. Warp Power is restored by 5% per Star Date, up to 100%
The above activities always occur in the order indicated. Thus, for
instance, Ship Damage will not be repaired until both Impulse Power and
Phasor Power have been restored to 100% each. Note that the Enterprise
is still vulnerable to attack by Klingon Warships while docked at a Star
Base.
Star Bases have a limited ability to re-energize and repair the Enter-
prise. When this limit is reached the symbol for the Star Base changes
from "B" to "b". Thereafter, that Star Base can no longer replenish
the Enterprise's energy systems or make repairs.
REPAIR BASES
------------
Each sector has 1 or 2 Repair Bases, indicated by the symbol R.
Although similar to Star Bases, Repair Bases are capable of only one
function, namely, repairing ship damage. For repairs to be made the
Enterprise must successfully dock with a Repair Base. However, due to
their specialized function, Repair Bases repair ship damage at the
rate of 20% per Star Date. Thus, Repair Bases repair ship damage 4
times faster than Star Bases.
Repair Bases are capable of repairing only a certain amount of damage.
Once this limit is reached, no more repairs are possible. When a
Repair base reaches its limit, its symbol changes from "R" to "r", and
no more repairs can be made at that base.
WEAPONS BASES
-------------
Each sector has 1 or 2 Weapons Bases, indicated by the symbol W.
Weapons Bases are similar to Repair Bases, in that they perform a
particular function, namely, they replenish the Enterprise's two
weapons systems. Each Weapons Base is capable of supplying a combi-
nation of Antimatter probes and Phasor power to the Enterprise. In
order for this transfer to occur the Enterprise must dock successfully
with the Weapons Base. Once docked, the Weapons Base will add 1 Anti-
matter probe to the Enterprise's weapons systems for each Star Date
during which the Enterprise is docked. If the Enterprise already has
four Antimatter probes aboard, the Weapons Base will replenish the
Enterprise's Phasor Power by 5% per stardate. Note that the Enterprise
can carry a maximum of 4 Antimatter probes, and also that when a Weapons
Base's supply of Antimatter probes and Phasor energy is 0 it's symbol
changes from "W" to "w".
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 10
HINTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION
------------------------------
Watch out for Klingons. They appear at the edges of your Sector, but
home in on the Enterprise once their radar locks on. Klingons can be
outmaneuvered, but you have to move fast to do this (velocity of 2 or
more) and the risk of crashing into something at such speeds is high.
Be careful when visiting a planet for the first time. Hostile planets
look just like friendly ones and they will deplete your Dilithium
stores quickly.
Keep an eye out for Repair Bases. They are the best way to get repairs
quickly.
Try to avoid engaging Warp Drive if the Enterprise is moving. The risk
of crashing into something in the new Sector is high.
Your ship's computer will sound a siren and display warning messages
when your Phasor and/or Impulse Power is low, and when your ship's
damage is high. Heed these warnings and take appropriate corrective
action quickly. The Klingons have no mercy.
Use you shields judiciously. They are effective against Klingons, but
Shield Power is restored next to last by Star Bases, and docking with a
Star Base is the only way to replenish Shield Power.
Once all Klingons in a Sector are destroyed a certain amount of time
elapses before the Sector is discovered by more Klingons. Use this
time wisely.
PCTREK has a very high `data rate'; you may be more successful at first
if you have another crew member assist you during your first few missions.
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== P C - T R E K === page 11
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS
-------------------
Initially, you will probably not survive very long, even as a Lieutenant
J. G. PCTREK has the capability to `freeze' the current status of the
game, let you survey the situation, decide what to do next, and then
resume the game. Officially this is cheating, but the capability is
included to prevent smashed terminal screens. To interrupt PCTREK press
the ALT and CAPS LOCK keys simultaneously. The game will stop, display
a message on the Sector Scanner, and await any key press to resume.
rvive very long, even as a Lieutenant
J. G. PCTREK has the capability to `freeze' the current status of the
game, let you survey the situation, decide what to do next, and then
resume the game. Officially this is cheating, but the capab
=== P C - T R E K ===
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