Hell

Hell is the third mission in Unreal II. It features a visit to an ice planet, Eizo VI-C.

Atlantis interlude
The mission begins with an Atlantis interlude. You are first shown a short cutscene with Atlantis flying in space. Then you appear right on the captain's bridge and Ne'Ban walks up to you. Interestingly, if you run away from him earlier than he talks to you, Ne'Ban will follow you until you talk to him, even into the dropship or briefing room. The dialogue goes most fluently in this order:

"Ne'Ban: Greetings, Marshal.

Dalton (Nice job): Great piece of flying back there.

Ne'Ban: It is a pleasure to serving.

Dalton: Docking with the marine ship looked tricky, too.

Ne'Ban: A maneuver I have practicing many times. It was an honor to re-unite those men with their fighting unit.

Dalton (Next destination?): Do you have a course plotted?

Ne'Ban: Yes. A place called Hell. At least, Aida told me to go to Hell, so that is my plan.

Dalton (Aida and Isaak?): Where is everybody?

Ne'Ban: Aida is in the briefing room, and Isaak is in the weapons bay.

Dalton: See you later.

Ne'Ban: Telling me: Is this Aida the same Aida who won the battle of Taiko and brought victory in the Strider Wars?

Dalton (Maybe): Why do you ask?

Ne'Ban: She is very famous among my people.

Dalton (Yes): [Yes,] although she doesn't like to be reminded of it.

Ne'Ban: She must have been very young, in human years.

Dalton: She was.

Ne'Ban: Why is she not a general in your army?

Dalton: She has a little problem with authority. But don't worry - she's working on it."

- John Dalton and Ne'Ban

When you get to know that you're all going to hell, go down the ladder into the Briefing Room and talk to the hero of the Strider Wars, Aida, to start the briefing so you could understand if it was a joke of Ne'Ban or there really is a planet called Hell. Here's the dialogue: "Aida: Ready for the briefing?

Dalton: Let's do it.

Aida: We are approaching Hell, a frozen moon orbiting the planet Gaigan, a gas giant in the Eizo Star System. Elysium is an Axon Corporation research facility on Hell that works closely with the TCA, the organization we all so proudly serve. Commander Hawkins says there have been no transmissions from the station for 18 hours. Our mission is to find out why. The base has four research modules located around a central hub. Each of the labs focuses on a different area of weapons research. Here's a look at the surrounding terrain. You'll set down here. This bridge leads into the base. By the way, the Commander mentioned the researchers are working on an artifact that sounds a lot like the one we recovered from Sanctuary. You don't suppose they could be *related*, do you? That's it. Isaak should have your weapons ready. God knows he's had enough time."

- John Dalton and Aida

But that's not it. Talk to Aida again to learn why she said the last sentence, and more about the planet itself:

"Aida: Still here?

Dalton (Mission Summary): What's the short form?

Aida: Find out why the research facility has gone radio silent. You can take another look at the holograms if you'd like.

Dalton (More Planetary Info): What else can you tell me about Hell?

Aida: Gaigan is a gas giant planet about 11 times the diameter of earth. Hell is one of its 14 moons. Hell's surface is mostly rock, covered by spires of ice and slush. The atmosphere is nitrogen and methane, along with complex compounds like ethane, hydrogen-cyanide, and others. Thermal vents spew this poison into the thick, soupy sky, and it falls back to the surface as toxic chemical snow. Temperatures average around 250 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit. Delightful.

Dalton (Isaak): Why don't you let up on Isaak?

Aida: Why should I? He killed three of my friends. He's a danger to this ship, and the sooner I can convince you to kick him off, the safer we'll all be.

Dalton: See ya later."

- John Dalton and Aida

Now you can go and meet Isaak in the weapons bay for another dialogue:

"Isaak: Hey, boss. Got more gear for you. Turns out that energy rifle you nabbed from the Izarians had a limiter on it. Maybe the Skaarj didn't want to give anything too powerful to their slaves. Anyway, I took the limiter off and now it's a real weapon. I call it the shock lance. The alt-fire is an EMP burst that'll fry anything electronic. I've also loaded up the shotgun you found on Sanctuary and scrounged some toxic grenades for your launcher. Wanna take a closer look?

Dalton (Yes): Let's see what ya got.

Isaak: I modified one of the Izarian energy rifles to make it more powerful. Primary fire generates two plasma bolts that don't do much damage. But the re-fire rate is high, which lets you put a lot of hits on a target in a short amount of time. Alt-Fire creates an EMP field that will seriously screw up any machinery it hits. Take your pick.

Dalton (Shotgun): Show me the Crowd Pleaser.

Isaak: This is an M700 12-Gauge Semi-automatic shotgun. Absolutely lethal close up, and pretty damned good at mid-range. The alt-fire puts out explosive incendiary slugs with a wider spread and a more limited range. Anything else?

Dalton (Toxic Grenade): What about the gas grenade?

Isaak: It sprays out a cloud of neurotoxic gas that is so caustic it eats right through metal armor. What'll it be?

Dalton: Some other time."

- Isaak and John Dalton

There are a few more things to do before you leave Atlantis. First off, go behind Isaak and look at his desk. You'll see an Artifact that you've got from Sanctuary. If you open the locker in this room, you'll see that it now contains a Shotgun and the Energy Rifle. Now go out of the weapons bay, up the ladder and into your own room (the first one on your left). Look at the screen and you'll notice a few pictures from Sanctuary and Swamp to remind you of your journeys (the picture of Avalon is also still there). Finally, climb down the ladder, go into the loading bay and use the PeaceKeeper to start your mission.

Hell - Descent
The level starts with a short cutscene that shows PeaceKeeper landing on the surface of Hell. Shortly after, you gain control. This place, contrary to any definitions of Hell, is actually a very cold moon. Look up to see amazingly realistic view of the gas giant, Gaigan. Take out your Energy Rifle, because this is probably the only place in this mission where this weapon will be useful. The first area is relatively peaceful, only with Mukhoggs trying to injure you. They fall after a single primary shot of your Energy Rifle, so you're safe. Generally you won't see any real enemies for a relatively long time.

After you start the level, you have three ways to advance: you can use the "road" to the bridge which is on your left, going under an icy arc with very realistic icicles, you can go right to the bridge by climbing the mountain directly in front of you or you could walk down to the valley. Generally you should look around, because this level is amazingly realistic and was made with care.

If you tried to cross the bridge, you would see a sleeping giant Mukhogg. There is no way you could get around it without waking it, so you have three options here: continue and wake it up, back off and fire before it wakes up or use a more interesting way that will take you to a safe spot to kill the creature. I'll use the third option.

Climb down the hill, and you'll see a pipe going just below the bridge. Climb on it, then walk on it to the top. When you're on top, turn left. Jump or mantle on the platform here, then walk past an arc-form bridge support until you stand higher than you could on the pipe and can go no further. Now when you jump facing the start of the bridge, you'll see the sleeping Mukhogg. Take out your Dispersion Pistol and kill it. It will take some time, but it won't cost you anything and you won't be hurt. Once the beast is dead, crouch and walk to the edge of the platform opposite the bridge itself (be careful not to fall down!), and look down. You might see a normal sized Mukhogg there, just standing and doing nothing. Shoot it until it dies, then go back to the start of the pipe. Take out your Energy Rifle again, then climb back to the bridge. Cross it, and you'll appear in a room with an open hatch. Jump down, and you'll be on a very long elevator. A dialogue will commence.

"Announcer: Welcome to Elysium Weapons Research Facility. Please have your Green identification badge displayed at all times.

Dalton: Aida, did you remember to pack my green identification badge?

Aida: Yep... Should be right next to your pink library card. Don't worry about it. I'll hack the security system and they'll never be the wiser. Tough security. This might take longer than I thought.

Dalton: Take your time. Looks like I'll be on this elevator 'til early next week."

- Announcer, John Dalton and Aida

The elevator will stop shortly after the dialogue ends, and you'll see a door. Go inside, and Dalton will ask:

"Dalton: How's it coming with that security Aida?

Aida: Still hacking. Done in a minute."

- John Dalton and Aida

It's no use waiting, so continue walking, even though you don't have the Green identification badge nor the pink library card. You will soon come to a point where you can see a warning sign on the floor: "Security checkpoint. No unauthorised personnel beyond this point. Firearms prohibited", but don't mind it and walk through. Just as you go past the yellow warning signs, electrical beams will come out of the walls and block your way in and out of the checkpoint. A dialogue will start:

"Dalton: Uh... Guys?

Aida: What the - Hang on John.

Announcer: Please remain motionless for weapons scan. Scanning."

- Announcer, John Dalton and Aida

A scanner on the ceiling, much like the one on Avalon, will start working. Soon enough, security systems will engage and two Gatling turrets will come out of cylinders on both sides of the area. The dialogue continues:

"Announcer: Weapons detected. Relinquish all weapons. Thirty seconds.

Dalton: Sounds like they mean it Aida.

Announcer: Relinquish all weapons.

Dalton: ..They really don't like guns.

Aida: Damn!

Dalton: Anytime you're ready, Aida.

Aida: I'm working on it!

Announcer: Ten seconds. Defense turrets online.

Dalton: Those look painful. Aida!

Aida: Got it!

Announcer: Security override. Disengaging defense systems. Thank you and have a nice day.

Dalton:So did you have it all along or do you just like making me sweat?

Aida:Go to Hell, Dalton.

Dalton: Already there, toots."

- Announcer, John Dalton and Aida

The dialogue ends, turrets disengage and you are free to go. Go through an elaborate, circle-shaped yellow and black door to end this map.

Hell - Discovery
You start the map on a walkway above an Ops area. Something further seems to be on fire. Turn left, go past the first door and try to enter the room to your right. It's locked, and the PassCard Scanner gives you an error: "Access Denied". A short dialogue starts:

"Dalton: Aida, can you hack through this door?

Aida: The schematics look like spaghetti. You'll have to figure something out on your end."

- John Dalton and Aida

So this way is locked. Go back to the door you passed, and try to go through. It opens, and a lift appears. Go in, and it will bring you down from the walkway. Go past the desks here, they have nothing useful there (all the displays show only statics). Go near the fire, and you'll notice a few dead bodies. One of them appears to have a Flame Thrower near it, take it. Be careful not to catch fire yourself!

Then turn right and go through the only door you have access to that looks the same as the one you went through to end the last level. Continue walking, and you'll eventually walk through 2 more doors that look the same, and find that the next door is blocked by fire as well. There is another door to the left, so go through it. You'll arrive at a first aid room with auto-heal beds. You'll get a new objective - "Heal the surviving patient". It's on your right. Use a button labelled "Medical Station" next to his bed to heal him. You'll get an "Objective Complete" message. The patient gets up and starts a conversation:

"Jensen: Who are you?

Dalton: John Dalton. TCA Marshal. Who are you?

Jensen: Jensen. Maintenance for Area 9.

Dalton: Where is everybody?

Jensen: Dead! They're all dead!

Dalton: What happened?

Jensen: Alarms went off... they told me to barricade the door. And then there was...an explosion. I crawled here to get fixed up, but I must've passed out.

Dalton: Can you walk?

Jensen: Yeah, I think so.

Dalton: I have to check out the rest of the facility. How can I get past the fire in the Ops area?

Jensen: You can go through the control room on the second floor. I know the security code. There's a lift on the other side.

Dalton: Okay. Follow me."

- Hank Jensen and John Dalton

You'll get a new objective "Bypass the fire through the second story Control room". Go to the other side of the room and you'll find 8 Shotgun shells. Go back through all the doors to the Ops area, and you'll briefly talk to Aida:

"Dalton: You heard the man Aida. Everyone's dead.

Aida: I guess that explains the radio silence.

Dalton: But what killed them?

Aida: I'm picking up lifeforms further in. My guess is you'll soon find out."

- John Dalton and Aida

Go back up to the locked room. Jensen will unlock it for you:

You'll get an "Objective Complete" message, and the PassCard Scanner now says "Access Granted". Inthe control room, you'll find a Combat Assault Rifle and one clip for it. Go towards the window, and you'll see a flashing button, labelled "Audio Log Controls". Push it. A log will be replayed:

"Announcer: Most recent log entry - Playback.

Unknown person: Help! Emergency! This is Elysium. We need military support. The experiments went bad - some of them got out and now they're everywhere. We built a blockade but we don't know how long it'll last. Please, send help!

Unknown person 2: They're coming through!

Sheffield: Let 'em come. I got something for 'em.

Unknown person 2: Back off, Sheffield! Those containers are flammable!

Sheffield: Come on, you bastards! Eat flame!

Unknown person 2: No! Don't!

*Noise*

Announcer: Playback complete."

- Announcer, Sheffield and two unknown people

Now you'll get another "Objective Complete". Now go through the other door than the one you came through, and Jensen will run to the lift. But don't follow him, instead, go to the right of the lift. You'll find a Shotgun, a Flame Thrower and 8 shotgun shells. Now take out your Dispersion Pistol, back off and fire at a flammable container at the end of the platform until it explodes. Go to the place it exploded, and look at a display just below the platform. You'll see a button, labelled "Access Hatch" there, so jump on it (be careful not to fall down!) and press it. Go into the hatch that opens (again, be fast or you'll fall down!). Go left and you'll find a corpse with a Combat Assault Rifle. Further you will see a Napalm cannister - ammo for the Flamethrower. Take both items. There is another hatch further in, but don't try to open it or you'll catch fire. If you go to the other side, you'll end up being in an unlit part of the pipe and you'll see another access hatch to the first aid room. Either take it or go back where you came from, then go back to the Control room. Use the lift, and you'll see Jensen waiting for you.

'''WARNING! Do not continue if you have a strong arachnophobia!' If you want to skip the next levels altogether, open your console (tilde key) and enter switchlevel PA-Hell or, if you want to see what happens, but not face anything, killall U2AraknidBase''. If you have a slight arachnophobia, you will be all right with the god code.

Continue the level by going through the door. Jensen will look at the bodies and say:

Head through the door. Now you will hear strange noises, and Jensen says:

From the top right ventilation shaft two medium araknids and a steam of small ones will come. Meet them with your Flamethrower or CAR. The Flamethrower is more useful against medium araknids, while CAR excels at killing the light ones because of its explosion radius.

Next up you will see another medium Araknid. Here you will be able to take advantage of the doors in the area - the concussive force of your CAR or Grenade Launcher can hold Araknids back. Continue and you will meet two more medium Araknids with support from a stream of light Araknids. Once they are finished, go get your reward of 8 shotgun shells, a Combat Assault Rifle, a flamethrower and a napalm cannister. Ready your CAR, and blast off the light Araknids that come through the door. Interestingly, if you get a direct hit, they will fly to a wall and get gibbed there. Continue, and you will be ambushed by two more medium Araknids - one from the vent in front left, another from back right.

Trivia

 * Some of the level designers for the maps of this level had arachnophobia, as you can't see a single Araknid when you open the maps in UnrealEd. All of the enemies are spawned, so they aren't visible in the level editor.
 * If you try to talk to Ne'Ban in Atlantis Interlude after he says everything, you will get replies in this order: