Chapter 3

**Spoiler warning**

*This article contains spoilers.*

Ixion is at least partially an **exploration** game. Please play the game before reading any of this.

## Story

Third chapter of the game takes place at a white dwarf star system called "Theta Crucis". Main objective in this chapter is investigating what happened to the ship Etemenanki as well as testing out Tiqqun's colonization protocols again.

## Hazards

### Environment

There are two environmental hazards at this system:

* Corpse fields located at most PoIs which have an impact on crew's morale, reducing stability by 1 in all sectors.
* Magnetide (essentially a moving variant of Stellar Storm). This storm is very dangerous to Tiqqun's ships, as well as to Tiqqun itself should it enter the storm. Storm's movement is initiated by completing PoIs. It will eventually completely move through the sector. It is possible to fly the Tiqqun through the storm, and begin clearing PoIs from the other side but expect to take some damage. Keep in mind that ships docked to the Tiqqun are protected from the weather. Initially, there are 6 PoIs available outside the storm. Completing each PoI will move the storm closer to these PoIs and initially starts covering some resource nodes. (Note: the PoI at Cruc-P-42 can be completed twice to move the storm twice, once by setting up the colony, and once by finishing the colony experiment). After completing a total of 5 PoIs, the storm will move to cover all PoIs initially uncovered, after completing a total of 7 PoIs, the storm will move away and clear CRUC-P-38, Reactor Wreckage, and Destroyed Command Center. And after completing a total of 8 PoIs, the remaining PoIs will be clear. Finally, after completing a total of 9 PoIs, the storm will have moved away completely from the system. Strategy: if you have 3 science ships available, you should leave the 3 PoIs that get clear from the storm first as the last three of the PoI completions. Then, you can go through the PoI events for each one, but don't click the button to complete the last step. When all three PoIs are ready for completion, you can complete them directly one after another to have the storm basically jump over you, making it almost impossible to take any damage to it. Of course, make sure the Tiqqun is also parked at one of the 3 PoIs.

### Stability (DES)

* -1 Stability from death of the Earth - Carried over from Chapter 1
* -1 Stability from leaving home behind - Carried over from Chapter 2
* -1 Stability from discovering the fate of Protagoras - Carried over from Chapter 2
* -1 Stability from spending too long in the system - Occurs approximately 180 cycles after entering the system.
* -1 Stability from discouraging results following 2 planetary colonization tests - Occurs once colony on CRUC-P-42 PoI finishes generating science.

## Points of Interest

*NOTE: Most Points of Interest (PoIs) must be revealed using Probe Launcher. Crew deaths labeled by '\*' may be prevented with the Emergency Cryopods Science Ship upgrade.*

### Collapsed Food Production District

*NOTE: Multiple-choice PoI. One choice does not lock-out other ones unless specifically written in its Outcome.*

* Investigate the Vegetal Zone (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 15 Science, 261 Food, 235 Cryopods, Personalized Instructions upgrade for Crop Farm)
* Investigate the Animal Pens (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 25 Science, 204 Cryopods
	+ Naomi Protocol: Provide a new home for the dog (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: possible morale boost (?)
		- Follow-up REQUEST:
		- Respect sanitary protocols
		- Officially recognize the dog as a member of the crew - OUTCOME: Stability +1
* Make a cautious approach towards the Self-Contained Area (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 2 crew members killed, other options disabled
* Invasively Breach the Self-Contained Area (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 10 Science
* Leave the wreckage of the Food Production District - OUTCOME: other options disabled

### CRUC-P-37

*NOTE: If the option "Analyze the impact crater" (and its sub-options) is executed first and the ship is not lost, one of the other 3 options can still be completed afterwards.*

* Intrusive analysis (2 cycle) - OUTCOME: 20 science, other options disabled
* Set up a temporary study center (3 cycles) - COST: 30 Alloy, OUTCOME: 40 science, other options disabled
* Advanced analysis (4 cycles) - COST: 50 Alloy, OUTCOME: 65 science, other options disabled
* Analyze the impact crater (2 cycles) - OUTCOME: 20 Science
	+ Invasive recuperation (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: Lost science ship and the passengers
	+ Perforation platform (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: Lost science ship and the passengers
	+ Excavate the object manually (3 cycles) - OUTCOME: 40 science, new event The main weapon of the Piranesi

### CRUC-P-38

Both "Bore through the mountain" and "Perform topographical analysis" will result in the same 3 Points of Interest being available. This planet has a "corrosive atmosphere", which means you cannot investigate all the options due to the space suites are degrading. The team suites will hold for all the missions but the last one. It doesn't matter which task will be the last. To not lose the team, just leave the planet when there is exactly one (any) task remained.

"Perform topographical analysis" will allow searching of 2 POIs; the amount of science gained per location depends on whether it is the **first** or **second** location explored (written below as **<first> / <second>**). After searching the second POI, the flavor text will warn that the ship needs repatriation. Attempting to search the third location rather than leaving the planet will result in the ship's destruction and the loss of the crew (**cannot be prevented by Emergency Cryopods or Automatic Ship Repatriation research**).

"Bore through the mountain" is similar, except only 1 POI will be searchable, and the search will reward the same science as if it were the **second** location chosen via "Perform topographical analysis" (e.g., 60 Science for exploring the Tank Room). Again, the flavor text will warn that the ship needs repatriation; attempting to search either remaining location will cause the loss of the ship and her crew.

* Bore through the mountain (4 Cycles) --- *same options as Perform topographical analysis; see above*
* Perform topographical analysis (3 Cycles) --- *Science rewarded based on whether it's the **first / second** location explored; see above*
	+ Investigate the Tank Room (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 120 / 60 Science
	+ Investigate the Command Center (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 100 / 50 Science
	+ Investigate the Field Operations Area (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 110 / 60 Science
	+ Leave P-38
* Ignore the signal and focus on sample collection (4 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 100 Science
	+ Leave P-38
* Leave P-38

### CRUC-P-41

*NOTE: Multiple-choice PoI. One choice does not lock-out other ones unless specifically written in its Outcome.*

* Research the structure (3 cycles) - OUTCOME: 60 Science
	+ Naomi Protocol (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: Lost science ship and the passengers
	+ Continue exploration (4 cycles) - OUTCOME: 40 Science
* Leave planet

### CRUC-P-42

* Establish Basic Nyokond Colony infrastructure (3 Cycles) - COST: 45 Alloy, 60 Food, 60 Colonists, OUTCOME: future 120 science (1/cycle)
* Establish Advanced Nyokond Colony infrastructure (3 Cycles) - COST: 90 Alloy, 90 Food, 90 Colonists, OUTCOME: future 150 science
* Leave the Planet and return later
	+ Follow-up MISSION:
		- Repatriate the colonists (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: the 90 Colonists return
		- Sever communications with the colonists - OUTCOME: -5% Trust

### CRUC-P-43

* Use explosives (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: None. NOTE: Using all three options, crew members will die and you will lose the scientific ship
	+ Examine sphere (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 50 Science. When you leave the planet, one crew member will die
	+ Analyze crystal formations (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 30 Science
	+ Study the Concentric Circles (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 40 Science
* Drill through the crust (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 1 crew member killed
	+ Continue with expedition (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: None
* Leave planet

### CRUC-P-51

* Intrusive analysis (1 cycle) - OUTCOME: Lost science ship and the passengers, trust -5%
* Set up a temporary study center (3 cycles) - COST: 30 Alloy, OUTCOME: 20 science
	+ Do more analysis of Meier bacteria (3 cycles) - OUTCOME: 45 science
		- Authorise the transport of Meier bacteria (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: Lost science ship
	+ Leave planet
* Advanced analysis (4 cycles) - COST: 50 Alloy, OUTCOME: 40 science
	+ Do more analysis of Meier bacteria (3 cycles) - OUTCOME: 45 science
		- Authorise the transport of Meier bacteria (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: Lost science ship
		- Leave planet
	+ Leave P-51

### Depressurized R&D District

*NOTE: Multiple-choice PoI. One choice does not lock-out other ones unless specifically written in its Outcome.*

* Search the Residential Area (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 20 Science, 188 Cryopods
* Search the Laboratories (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 50 Science, 820 Cryopods
	+ Open Orne-8 Security Room (3 Cycles) - REQUIRES: Tiqqun presence, OUTCOME: 150 Alloy, 1 Electronics, Tech Upgrade Orne-8 P.A.
		- Leave the Etemenanki wreckage

### Destroyed Command Center

* Enter the Command Center (2 Cycles)
	+ Recover the coordinates of the Exoplanet Remus (4 Cycles) - REQUIRES: Tiqqun presence - OUTCOME: 40 Science
		- Investigate further into the Piranesi's attack (3 Cycles) - REQUIRES: Tiqqun presence - OUTCOME: Nothing. Does NOT disable other option
		- Determine the Etemenanki's previous mission objectives (3 Cycles) - REQUIRES: Tiqqun presence - OUTCOME: 50 Science. Does NOT disable other option
			* Leave the ruins of the Command Center (requires both previous actions) - OUTCOME: Reveal all PoI of Etemenaki

### Destroyed Docking Bay

(*NOTE: Multiple-choice PoI. One choice does not lock-out other ones unless specifically written in its Outcome.*

* Investigate the Communications Area (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 20 Science
* Investigate the intact docking port (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 35 Science
	+ Initiate a controlled detonation of the missile (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 30 Science, disables other options
		- Leave the wreckage
	+ Defuse the missile (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 15 Science, New event "I Missile You" (new tech), disables other options
		- Leave the wreckage
	+ Transport the missile (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: Loss of Science Ship and crew. Disable other options
		- Leave the wreckage
	+ Leave the wreckage

### Habitation Sector Wreckage

*NOTE: Exoskeletons recommended.*

* Recover the floating cryopods (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 795 Cryopods
* Push deeper into the structure to reach the source of the unusual readings (2 Cycles)
	+ Proceed through the laser-cut piping (1 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 40 Science, New Event "Agents of Death"
		- Leave the ruins of the Etemenanki
	+ Continue drilling (4 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 60 Science, New Event "Agents of Death"
		- Leave the ruins of the Etemenanki
	+ Proceed through the reinforced tunnel (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 70 Science, New Event "Agents of Death". Note: Likely leads to crew fatalities if Science Ship - Suit Exoskelotons is not researched.
		- Leave the ruins of the Etemenanki
	+ Leave the ruins of the Etemenanki

### Industrial Zone Wreckage

*NOTE: Multiple-choice PoI. One choice does not lock-out other ones unless specifically written in its Outcome.*

* Explore the Industrial Zone (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 20 Science
* Investigate the Storage Area (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 97 Alloy, 2 Electronics, 188 Cryopods
* Look for the source of the Yellow Particles (4 Cycles)
	+ Open the sealed capsule (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 45 Science, Self-cleaning Lubricants upgrade (Waste Treatment Center)
		- Leave the wreckage

### Medical District Wreckage

*NOTE: Multiple-choice PoI. One choice does not lock-out other ones unless specifically written in its Outcome.*

* Investigate the Medical District (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 20 Science, 270 Cryopods
* Investigate the Research Facility (2 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 30 Science, 124 Cryopods
	+ Retrieve ZY6073 (1 Cycle) - OUTCOME: 5 Crew members killed
		- Naomi Protocol: Let ZY6073 return to the Tiqqun, [Science Ship] repatriated
			* On return to Tiqqun:
				+ Use sterilization protocols to exterminate ZY6073 - OUTCOME: 15 Science, other options disabled
				+ Neutralize ZY6073 with the help of the crew - OUTCOME: 30 Science, 12 workers killed, other options disabled
		- Destroy the [Science Ship]
	+ Leave the wreckage
* Leave the wreckage

### Reactor Wreckage

*NOTE: Multiple-choice PoI. One choice does not lock-out other ones unless specifically written in its Outcome.*

* Investigate the Thrusters (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 35 Science
* Inspect the Engine Room (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 40 Science
* Investigate the Engine Supervision Area (3 Cycles) - OUTCOME: 55 Science, 168 Cryopods, EVENT: Pirate unlocked
* Leave the ruined Propulsion systems