Archives

The **Archives** from the official investigation of the evacuation of Io and the proliferation of POD. The hardcover game manual released with several editions of the POD 2.0 Retail releases, as well as the game's website which contained a preface of sorts. Aptly titled "Archives", this preface was a series of documents apparently rescued from Io before POD concluded the final phase of its planet-wide destruction.

## D-Day - 15

**BULLETIN ADDRESSED TO ALL SUPERVISORS OF THE IO POLICE DEPARTMENT**

The Io Mining Corporation has just alerted us of an accident in one of the mining shafts in VeitLand. As of right now, we are unable to precisely evaluate the fallout level and the possible consequences of this accident. As a precautionary measure, the following sectors are considered to be the most dangerous and must be immediately cordoned off:

* The Governorship of VeitLand
* Gaïa Canyon
* The Waste Reprocessing Plant in Sewer

This is a level 3 operation and takes priority over all daily routines. You will be receiving your complete assignments within the hour. In the meantime, riot gear and gas masks may be picked up on level B2. Do not take this issue lightly, the majority of your force must be put to work on it. Exercise caution, and deploy your men to their sectors in small groups, so as not to alarm the public.

According to the preliminary evaluations, the mining accident occurred as a result of an unidentified form of pollution. Protective gear must be worn until the decontamination units have concluded that all excess pollution has been contained.

## D-Day - 14

**WRITTEN TRANSCRIPT FROM THE RADIO SHOW "RAVE ON", BROADCAST FROM A LOCAL AND CLANDESTINE RADIO STATION**

*"...So, all you ravers on Planet Io, didn't that just make your blood race and your ears throb! Oooooo! I Like it! Before moving onto more jammin' rave samplings, it's time to once again break the law!!! We just got a hold of the juiciest piece of news that I've heard in a long time. It's so damn cool that the State hasn't even dared tell anyone, because they're scared to cause problems for the measly little workers in the Central Administration.*

*But, because we are always ready to "Rave On," here's a good one for all you partiers. Crank the tunes and blast it for as long and loud as you want tonight! No cops'll be coming to bust up your parties tonight my friends. Let's just say they'll be a little preoccupied. It seems that the IMC's main triage station and mine shaft 14 at Plant 21 had a little boo-boo yesterday."*

## D-Day - 13

**FLASHMAIL SENT TO CAPTAIN DEREK STEALTH FROM CAPTAIN POLMARSKI**

Hey Stealth,

Haven't been able to reach you lately, guess you've been working so hard you haven't had time to do much else. I hope you find a second to read your mail, because I'm sure you will be interested in the following information.

I just received orders to tighten the security at the astroport. It seems that we are going to be visited by a whole mess of private and government experts, complete with all of their equipment. It seems they are going to be doing some sort of biological tests around here.

I doubt they've told you any more than they've told me, but a rumor has been going around and is becoming more and more detailed. Supposedly, an excavating team has uncovered something evil in the depths of Plant 21. I've been asked to watch over the periphery between the astroport and the Headquarters, and to suppress any demonstrations. People are getting suspicious that we're hiding something from them, and are beginning to demand an explanation.

As usual, I haven't been given enough men to properly do the job. I heard you didn't have enough riot gear and had to put a dozen or so officers on call. If you could possibly send them to me for 24 hours, you would be doing me a huge favor.

As usual, if you ever need anything, just ask! Say hello to Diane for me.

Polmarski.

## D-Day - 12

**INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER GRIMSON OF THE NEW COLUMBUS FIRE STATION. BY RANDY BROWN, MBN CORRESPONDENT**

**Randy Brown :**

*Commander Grimson, in front of us we see your men in action, disinfecting one of the buildings that belongs to the Central Administration. What do you know about the green foam that seems to be causing problems for the Fire and Sanitation departments here in Downtown?*

**Commandant Grimson :**

*To be perfectly honest, we know very little about POD, that's the name that the press has given to this foam-like green fungus that continues to seep from the depths of Io. I'd rather wait to see the conclusions from the scientists currently analysing the substance, than take a stab in the dark at what POD truly consists of. Only after we understand what we are dealing with can we find a solution to this problem.*

**Randy Brown :**

*It is common knowledge that POD attacks all structures and buildings, regardless of whether they are made of stone, metal, glass, plastic or wood. Just look at the very spot where we are standing, we can already see disturbing signs of corrosion. It appears that there is nothing that can withstand the destructive effects of POD. Even plant life is being destroyed. Some sources say that animals have also been killed. How can the mayor tell people that they are not in danger, as he stated in his latest news conference a few hours ago?*

**Commandant Grimson :**

*It has been confirmed today that all materials are susceptible to the harmful effects of POD. There is nothing that can resist Pod's devastating effects. This goes for vegetation as well. As far as living organisms are concerned, I have spoken with those who claim it has attacked animals, but nothing has been proven at this time. No physical evidence has been presented and it seems that many of the stories are fabricated. According to the current evidence, this POD thing does not attack animals and certainly does not attack humans. The Mayor's statement this morning is based on the most recent scientific conclusions. Every top scientist in Io is working around the clock to identify and find a cure for Pod's devastating effects. They are confident that they will find a solution soon, and this brief annoyance will be nothing but a bad memory.*

**Randy Brown :**

*Does the name Diane Stealth mean anything to you Commander?*

**Commandant Grimson :**

*Excuse me?*

**Randy Brown :**

*Mrs. Diane Stealth died an hour ago in the Galleria Shopping Mall when the ceiling collapsed. POD was responsible for the structural damage. Mrs. Stealth, a store manager at the mall, was the one who perished, but six others were also injured in this disaster. Is this what you call a brief annoyance?*

**Commandant Grimson :**

*I ... uh,...uh..., I'm not aware of this incident, and I must say that this is terrible news. As I have no prior knowledge of this incident, I am not able to tell you whether or not this had anything to do with POD. I highly doubt the two are related though. At this time, there have been no signs of POD in Galleria.*

**Randy Brown :**

*Commander, why are your superiors adamantly refusing to admit the link between POD and the accident in mining shaft 14 at Plant 21. All information has been sealed off to the press regarding this action. Why all the secrecy? Our own informants have confirmed that the destruction of both mining shaft 14 and the IMC triage centre were caused by this strange green foam. How can anyone deny the fact that POD escaped from mining shaft 14?*

**Commandant Grimson :**

*I'm sorry, but I'm late for a meeting. Maybe we can discuss this again later.*

## D-Day - 11

**CONFIDENTIAL LETTER FROM CAPTAIN POLMARSKI TO HIS PARTNER DEREK STEALTH**

Derek,

I have just learned what happened to Diane, and I don't know how to tell you how terribly sorry I feel.

I heard about your "discussion" with the Police Chief about his refusal to let you take a day off for the funeral. I just spoke with him and convinced him to take it easy on you and give you back your service Bakar. I know how hard you've worked on that baby. He admitted that you were at the end of your rope and recognized the fact that he was not very diplomatic in presenting the situation to you. Between you and me, the black eye you gave him doesn't look all that bad. Boy! I would have liked to have been there to see that!

You have to understand that, despite the events that have taken place and the terrible affect they have had on you, we can't risk losing our best officers at this time. People are going crazy because of this green horror, seeping everywhere, even through the drains and into bathtubs. Last night at the City, a simple demonstration turned into a major riot. We need you Derek. I also wonder why we are hiding the truth from everyone, we all know that this POD-thing came out of mining shaft 14 at Plant 21. Why hide it? All this silence is just making people turn against us. As usual, it's us poor cops that take the blame and the brunt of everyone's anger... All we can do now is make sure we do our job as well as possible. Play along Derek, it'll help you forget your problems and possibly chase away some of your dark thoughts.

I have to go though, everyone's really on edge and it's up to me to keep my officers in line. Take care of yourself.

Polmarski.

## D-Day - 10

**INTERVIEW WITH SAMUEL CURTAIN, SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMC, BY RANDY BROWN, CORRESPONDANT FROM MBN**

**Randy Brown :**

*Good evening Mr. Curtain. To begin with, I would like to ask you one very important question: After having scrupulously respected the code of silence imposed on your company by the authorities, why did the Io Mining Company suddenly decide to break the silence tonight, exclusively with MBN?*

**Samuel J. Curtain :**

*The answer is easy Mr. Brown. IMC is a responsible, civic minded company and because of this, we feel it is our duty to inform the public of what happened. Total transparency has always been part of our company code, and it still is today.*

**Randy Brown :**

*At any case, this still leaves us wondering if your delay in communicating this highly important information conforms with the virtual transparency of your company which you describe... Unless of course your desire to talk has something to do with the plummet in IMC's shares on the stock exchange a few hours ago.*

**Samuel J. Curtain :**

*I am going to tell you Mr. Brown: Let your speculators do their own job! We have come out with a statement, at our own expense, stating that the political decision of the authorities to keep silent about the accident at Plant 21 has wronged our company. The victims of the catastrophe are searching for someone to blame and are being influenced by the environmentalist lobbies...*

**Randy Brown :**

*Mr. Curtain, I am standing right here in Alderon, and can tell you that there are no militant environmentalists here! All of these people who have been forced to leave their homes because of POD have good reason to be angry. Those who cram into the meager shelters given to them by the municipal authorities; what do you have to say to them?*

**Samuel J. Curtain :**

*All I can do is offer them the sympathy of the IMC's managers. We are well aware of the situation in which they find themselves. The IMC has unfrozen $25 million in assets for the purpose of assuring help and necessities such as food, first-aid and shelters.*

**Randy Brown :**

*But people here need answers more than they need medication, Mr. Curtain! The help that has been received is enou-*

**Samuel J. Curtain :**

*If you would refrain from interrupting me, I will tell you what you want to hear. From the data we have gathered at this time, POD is a fungus, a terrestrial spore that is native to Io's ecosystem. It is completely inert and passive when it is in its natural environment where no oxygen is found. When oxygen is introduced into its environment POD becomes extremely active. One of our excavating teams punctured an airtight pocket of POD while drilling a tunnel around one of the mining shafts at Plant 21, the oxygen, that entered through Io's terraformation came into contact with the fungus. Some rock materials, contaminated by POD, were put onto a Scorp shuttle by our robots, and sent off in the direction of the rapid transport route to Pompeii. The shafts and the triage center collapsed in less than 8 minutes because of the violent corrosive quality of the fungus. Our security computers were able to identify, stop and destroy the shuttle before it reached Sewer. Unfortunately, POD had already escaped into the environment. I believe you know the rest...*

**Randy Brown :**

*But that's exactly it, if POD was able to destroy two of your huge installations in just a few minutes, why didn't it destroy the entire colony?*

**Samuel J. Curtain :**

*It appears that POD has cycles of hyperactivity that are broken up by cycles of "digestion", if you can call it that. When it is active, POD spreads faster than a wild fire! Then it stagnates for an indefinite period of time. We do not know why or how, but it "calmed" itself down after about twenty minutes on the outskirts of the City. We feel it is our responsibility to inform the inhabitants of Io that POD is not gone, but instead, will be starting a new phase of hyperactivity from anywhere between three days to a few months. To be perfectly honest, Io is condemned until we find a cure, which we may not find in time. The IMC will not protect the interests of the government any longer by hiding this established fact! The people of Io must know the risks they will be taking by staying on this planet!*

**Randy Brown :**

*Oh?!*

**Samuel J. Curtain :**

*Allow me to say one more thing to reassure the families of the IMC employees stationned on Io. The IMC is, at this very moment, organizing the evacuation of all of its employees on Io. Please, stay calm. We will contact you indivi-*

**Randy Brown :**

Excuse me for interrupting you, Mr. Curtain, but the authorities have arrived in the control room and informed us that this broadcast has ended. We can finish the interview at another time, if-....

## D-Day - 9

**POLICE BULLETIN. ALL MEDIA ORGANISATIONS ON IO ARE OBLIGATED TO BROADCAST THIS MESSAGE**

**[ ATTENTION ]**

This is a message from the Emergency Broadcast System. This is NOT a test. Repeat, this is NOT a test!

Following recent events, a temporary evacuation of Io is being put into effect.

A state of emergency has been declared and all industry and commerce must cease activity immediately. You will be compensated according to the established evacuation procedures.

Citizens of Io are asked to vacate their homes and to check into Help Stations located in Downtown and Alderon. Blankets and other essentials will be supplied for use during evaluation. Boarding coupons will be distributed at the Help Stations, and care will be taken not to separate families. Do not attempt to go directly to the astroport without the aforementioned coupons, as you will be turned away immediately.

Martial Law will go into effect at 5:00 p.m. for all of New Columbus, after which it will be strictly forbidden to use any vehicles. All persons refusing to vacate their homes will be doing so at their own risk.

Police units have been given authority to use arms against all looters.

## D-Day - 8

**REPEATING MESSAGE SENT OUT ON ALL OF THE EMERGENCY NAVIGATIONAL FREQUENCIES FROM THE SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROLERS**

..veur/solnet. 198.53.1.44/...S.O.S.S.O.S.S.O.S...This is a message of distress.

This is a message of distress.

This message is encoded with a homing device which will automatically send out a response from your transmitter. If you have received this message, you have already been identified. All spacecraft failing to respond to these emergency calls will be confiscated and passengers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. "A minimum prison sentence of two years; to be served without bail…", ArticleL-612 of the Stellar Code.

Message:

All spacecraft, private or commercial, weighing more than 55 tons and passing through the Sol System at the coordinates X456,258#35, are required to participate in the evacuation of the population of Io, coordinates SOL-JOVI-15.

Use of the automatic landing procedure and servo-guidance is obligatory. Use the runway at HQ North.

It is strictly forbidden to fly over the following zones: Burrow, Cocoon and Sewer. Spacecraft are required to jettison all cargo before beginning landing procedures. Please update navigational calculators immediately.

**INTERNAL MESSAGE TO ALL OF THE POLICE FORCES STATIONNED ON IO**

To all officers and unmarried police agents:

Within 72 hours the evacuation of Io will be complete. Realize, this evacuation is only temporary. We have been assured that Io will be able to be recolonized at a later date, after Pod has been 100% exterminated.

Consequently, after the evacuation, a permanent police presence will be necessary to ensure the protection of the installations unharmed by POD. This means that in a matter of hours, every city in Io will be a ghost town, yet we anticipate a handful of derelicts and rebels to continue to roam the streets. We fear that these people, who are for the most part delinquents, will take advantage of the lack of authority and loot, vandalize, and eventually destroy the cities we've worked so many hours to protect.

Our duty has always been to serve and protect Io and its cities from harm. Although there is nothing we can do about the destructive forces of POD, we must protect our planet from total devastation.

Planet Io is asking for your help. Small watch units comprised entirely of volunteers will be formed and will responsible for specific jurisdictions. The rest of the police force will be transferred to the Jovi-Central station. All volunteers selected to these watch units will receive a bonus of 6 months pay and an early retirement package. All interested parties must inform their superiors within 48 hours.

## D-Day - 7

**FLASHMAIL FROM CAPTAIN POLMARSKI TO CAPTAIN DEREK STEALTH**

Hey Derek.

I have just enough time to jot you a quick note before I head out. I wasn't surprised not to have seen you at the astroport. I knew it was a lost cause to try to convince you not to volunteer to stay on Io, so I kept my mouth shut.

Deep down I guess I understand. I think I might have done the same thing if I were in your shoes. This is where you and Diane met, lived, and where she died. I guess if you left Io, you would be leaving Diane and all your memories too. Sometimes you need to know when to move on and let things go. Stay if you want, but promise me you won't become the Io's last savior if POD starts into another active phase.

If and when you do decide to leave, you know where to go. I'll keep a cold beer waiting for you on Jovi-Central !

Polmarski.

## D-Day - 6

**DEREK STEALTH'S DIARY**

I know Diane, I must be out of my mind speaking to myself with a dictaphone.

It has never been my style to keep a diary, but I feel so isolated here on this deserted planet. I had to do something. And I always made fun of you and your diary. It just makes me feel closer to you and it helps the time go by. Time, I've got a lot of that these days! There can't be more than 50 people left on Io. At least the streets aren't busy with all those damn shoppers, and we no longer have problems with traffic. Not even in DownTown!

My job doesn't seem to take up much of my time either. The hoodlums are few and far between. Io is like a ship that is slowly sinking. What worries me the most is the morale of my officers. Their spirits are low, really low. They all jumped at the big fat bonus for volunteering, but now that this place is completely deserted, and the threat of this of this POD-thing hangs over our head, everyone's getting a bit weary of their decision to stay. I can feel my authority is disintegrating, just like those buildings that were attacked by POD. I can't really guess how all of this is going to end, but I'd bet my life that it is not going to end well.

## D-Day - 5

**DISCIPLINARY BOARD ON JOVI-CENTRAL. UPDATE FROM DEREK STEALTH, SQUAD LEADER FOR THE VOLUNTEERS LEFT ON IO. CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIORITY**

Officer Marquez was caught red-handed looting an electronics store at the Galleria Shopping Center. According to regulations, he was dismissed as an officer, and locked in the DownTown prison. At this time, I am unable to transfer him to Jovi-Central, as we cannot part with our sole emergency evacuation shuttle.

Derek Stealth.

Note:

Apart from the problems in my unit, the situation in Io is generally calm. The only disturbances to the peace are the work of a few reckless drivers who are taking advantage of the fact that Io has been evacuated, so they can drive at breakneck speeds through the city streets. Yesterday, I passed two of them on the Canyon road. They must have been going more than 200 mph. I am not sure what they were driving but whatever they were, they were far too fast for me. You would have thought that you were in the middle of a multiplayer 3D game being played in real time. I have opened a formal investigation, and am certain that I'll bump into them again one day soon, until then I will be using some of my spare time to soup up my vehicle.

## D-Day - 4

**DEREK STEALTH'S JOURNAL**

Hey Diane.

We have plenty of time to sit and enjoy each other's company; my unit deserted Io last night.

They stole the emergency evacuation shuttle and hightailed it out of here. Looks like I am left with just a Stardust 611, a single-seater ship. Luckily it is powerful enough to make the trip to Jovi-Central if necessary. I am sure it's the only shuttle left on Io. No need to tell you that I keep my eyes glued to it!

I am beginning to feel like a ghost cop on a ghost planet, who has a non-existent boss who doesn't understand anything that's going on here. Maybe I'm just loosing it. I have been instructed to hunt down anyone who is looting, all by myself, when in fact this POD-thing is destroying a hundred times more a day than what these guys could steal in a week.

It just doesn't make sense. I've thought of just picking up and heading to Jovi-Central, but I can't. I still can't bare to leave you forever. Not yet, I realize I will have to soon, but not right now.

Oh Diane, if only you knew! I wish I could just get rid of POD once and for all, and hold you in my arms!

## D-Day - 3

**DEREK STEALTH'S JOURNAL 2**

Hi again Diane.

Remember those speed demons I was telling you about? I thought that there were only two or three of those derelicts, racing the streets and playing Russian roulette with their cars. Nope, I was wrong. I've come to the realisation that a gang of lunatics have been organising races between each other and risk their lives racing on the roads of Io (which have been completely torn apart by POD).

I am going to get them though. One by one if I have to. I know, they really aren't doing any harm. Let'em wrap themselves around a signpost if they want.

It would make my job even easier actually; one less person to track down. Let'em race. Heck, if they weren't racing, what would I do? I think I'll just chase them down to help me pass the time. I'm sure they'll like adding a little spice to their meaningless races. A little game of cat and mouse, the oldest one in the book...I am actually going to enjoy this!

During my rounds this morning, I spotted a few of them at the Cocoon. After following for a few miles, I realised that they're amazing drivers, and that their vehicles have been completely redesigned. I was able to get close to them once, but when they saw me approach they took off and left me eating their dust. To top it off, I cracked an axle when I hit a pot-hole at 190mph. Thought I was going to lose it for a minute but I regained control at the last second. I had to walk back to the station though, and the entire bottom of the car is completely shot. Luckily I have my service vehicle, the Bakar 95C. I can guarantee they'll be eating my dust soon. I have the entire garage at my disposal. The next time I meet up with these little jokers, we'll be on equal terms. I am planning on giving them a real scare, just for the heck of it, so that they'll be shaking afterwards. How can I actually scare them though? I mean, really make their skin crawl? And what am I going to do after I catch them, throw them in jail? Spy on them? Banish them from Io? And what would I do afterwards? Maybe I'll just let them go and start the chase again. The more I think about it, the more I think we're going to have some fun here. This might even be as dangerous and addictive as the PODnet System itself... I know what you're thinking. You are absolutely losing it Derek!

Get out of here, see a doctor, take some pills, just help yourself, somehow!

And maybe you're right!

## D-Day - 2

**DEREK STEALTH'S JOURNAL 3**

Do you remember what the guide explained to us in the jungle of the Virgin planet where we had spent our honeymoon? When we want to capture an elusive game, a dangerous prey on whose territory we cannot venture, we wait for it where it will drink.

So I hid behind HQ, and waited for my guys to come and get the spare parts for their gear. After only three hours, I spotted my boys. No more complicated than that.

They wanted to escape when they saw me coming, but I managed to hit one of the machines, a tampered, almost unrecognizable AV1, from the side and put it upside down. As harmless and pitiful as a turtle on its back. I picked up the driver "delicately" and brought him back to the station in the trunk.

He had no difficulty in emptying his bag. His name is Manzano, and he is a former employee of Alderon. He told me that he and his little comrades were speed freaks who met by chance on the roads after the evacuation of Io. Apparently, they started out by pulling improvised waddles and then got together and organized real races, just for fun.

In the meantime, I closed Manzano. If he feels a little lonely, let him rest assured: I'll bring him his little friends soon!

## D-Day - 1

**DEREK STEALTH'S JOURNAL 4**

Diane,

Those thieves! I knew I wouldn't be able to lock up all of them successfully all by myself. I think I got a little cocky when I caught Manzano. I let my guard down and it seems they have the trump card now. They stole my single-seater Stardust, my only way off Io! My guess is that they snuck through the gate in the middle of the night, with a flatbed truck and drove it away. I definitely would've heard them if they had started the engines on the Stardust. After throwing Manzano around a bit, he told me where they most likely hid my Stardust. I was just gathering my things, when all of the sudden, I heard the door buzz. Who else was still on this planet other than them? When the door opened there they were, the entire gang. They stood there, all ten, none were armed, and they didn't even look mean, necessarily. I must say I was pretty perplexed. Why would these guys be ringing my door? My first thought was that they had gone completely insane until one of them handed me a folded note, and waited for me to read it. As I unfolded it, I realised it was a computer data sheet, most likely stolen from the Solnet, announcing that POD was going to resume its activity in less than 3 weeks. It appears that the scientists researching POD found the factor that determines POD's phases. It has something to do with the position of Jupiter and Io in their orbits. I must admit, the technical explanation was way over my head, but I did understand that we had three weeks from the date of the report until the end of Io. Unfortunately, the report was dated a week ago, which means my dear bosses have decided to let me be the guinea pig down here.

I tried to hide my surprise as best I could when I told them that I was fully aware of the notification, but I am sure it was written all over my face. They had captured the only way off this confounded planet. The Stardust is the only vehicle left on Io with enough power to make it to Jovi-Central. It's my Stardust! I began to wonder if they were just going to leave me here when one of them began speaking in a solemn voice.

"*We all understand that only one person is going to be able to leave this planet alive. We all enjoy speed and love the thrill of competition. We have decided to give the Stardust to the winner of a series of races. The rules are simple. The best driver wins the right to leave this corroded planet by piloting the Stardust to Jovi-Central! You have proven that you are a great driver and are invited to join us. You must realise that if you do not join, you will die.*" And without another word they all turned and walked away leaving me standing with the door and my mouth wide open.

Do you understand the irony of this situation? The winner gets MY Stardust. And I have to fight to get it back?... It seems I have no other choice though.

Now it's a race against POD. Survival of the fastest!

Wish me luck Diane, I'll need anything I can get...

  **Database**