An asteroid the size of a small moon is on a crash course toward Earth, and only NASA veteran Boston Low has the expertise to stop it. Along for the ride are award-winning journalist Maggie Robbins and internationally renowned geologist Ludger Brink.
Once the wayward asteroid is nuked into a safe orbit, the trio conducts a routine examination of the rocky surface.
What they uncover is anything but routine.
Low, Brink and Robbins unwittingly trigger a mechanism that transforms the asteroid into a crystal-like spacecraft. The team is hurtled across the galaxy to a planet so desolate, Brink is moved to name it Cocytus, after the 9th circle of Hell in Dante’s inferno. The bleak landscape was obviously once home to a highly evolved civilization, with remnants of sophisticated architecture, advanced technology and an intricate network of underground tunnels.
But no Cocytans.
Who were the original inhabitants of this once rich empire-turned-wasteland? What are those apparitions that mysteriously appear from time to time? Why have Low, Robbins, and Brink been brought to this place? And how can Low keep his team from unraveling in the face of such uncertainty? To return to Earth, they must dig for answers, both on the planet’s surface and deep within themselves.
THE CREW
Commander Boston Low
A man of few words. Ordinarily hes a by-the-book astronaut, but he has a talent for getting out of tight scrapes with novel solutions.
Dr. Ludger Brink
Science advisor on the mission, world-famous geologist and archaeologist. Brink has an unquenchable curiosity and tends to be stubborn when people get in the way of his research.
Maggie Robbins
Civilian observer and distinguished member of the press. Robbins has a unique combination of persistence and luck that makes for excellent reportage.
Ken Borden
Co-pilot. Bordens personality is the opposite of Lows: outgoing, friendly and humorous. He does share Lows dedication to duty and getting the job done.
Cora Miles
Payload specialist. Cora is another professional astronaut, but her orientation is hardware. She takes care of her pieces of equipment as if they were her children - and expects others to show her hardware similar respect.
THE INTERFACE
To pick up objects, drag your finger on screen to move the cursor over them then tap on screen. If this is an object with which you can interact, its name will appear on the sentence line (the words underneath the screen image). If you are able pick it up, the image of the object will take the place of the cursor.
You can then use the object immediately by moving it over another object or person and tapping on screen. Another option is two fingers tap on an object, which will allow you to add the object to your inventory.
After using an object or placing it in your inventory, the cursor will reappear on the screen.
If you want to talk to someone, click on that person, and you will get a series of dialogue options.
USING YOUR INVENTORY
To access your inventory, tap on small "i" in lower left-hand corner of the screen. Once the inventory is displayed, tap on the item you wish to use and that item will appear as your cursor. Move the item outside the inventory in order to remove the inventory screen and use the item in the game.
When you are finished with the item, two fingers tap, and the item will return to your inventory. A special inventory item is the magnifying glass. This lets you take a closer look at any item in the inventory.
THE PEN ULTIMATE
This useful item, found in your inventory, has the communication function, which lets Low contact the members of the crew by pressing buttons with their pictures on them.
BYPASSING CUT-SCENES
To bypass a cut-scene, two fingers double-tap on screen.
HINTS
Pick up everything you can. Odds are, at some point, all those strange things will serve some purpose. Talk to people you meet and try to get clues from them. Think about the places youve and the things youve seen.