Black Hole Sun, Part 3

Black Hole Sun, Part 3 is a story contract and the final part of the Black Hole Sun series. It becomes available shortly after completing Black Hole Sun, Part 2, when Dr. Julian Martinez contacts the player to begin the mission.

Story

The player must rescue Dr. Julian Martinez's brother, Marcus Martinez, by using Dr. Martinez's starship, which is equipped with a modified FTL Drive. Prior to jumping to Marcus’s sector, The Stargate Project LLC contacts the player, requesting data related to the Stargate Project. After taking control of the starship, the player jumps to Marcus’s sector and docks with his starship. The player then chooses whether to rescue Marcus immediately or to have him transmit data about the Stargate Project first.

Paths

The choices made here directly influence The Trouble with Tiddlets, Part 3, especially the available story paths and financial rewards.

Immediate Rescue

If the player rescues Marcus immediately (or before transmitting at least 30% of the data), he remains unharmed and Dr. Martinez expresses his gratitude. Along with the regular reward of $600,000, Dr. Martinez grants a $60,000 bonus. However, The Stargate Project LLC feels disappointed due to the incomplete data and offers no reward.

Partial Data

If the player transmits between 30% and 69% of the data, Marcus sustains injuries, and Dr. Martinez is unhappy with the risk taken. He provides the regular reward of $600,000 but no bonus. The Stargate Project LLC recognizes the effort and rewards the player with $150,000 for reaching 30% data, plus an additional $10,000 for every further 2% transmitted. For example, transmitting 68% of the data totals $340,000 from the Stargate Project LLC.

Full Data

If the player transmits 70% or more of the data, Marcus suffers severe radiation injuries and becomes contaminated. Dr. Martinez is very disappointed and considers the contract unfulfilled, offering no reward. The Stargate Project LLC is pleased with the nearly complete data recovery and rewards the player accordingly, scaling up to a maximum of $500,000. Transmitting 100% of the data earns the maximum reward and enthusiasm for further collaboration.

Reward Table

The following table summarizes the rewards from Dr. Julian Martinez and The Stargate Project LLC based on the percentage of data recovered:

Data Recovery	Dr. Julian Martinez's Reward	The Stargate Project LLC Reward	Total Reward	Notes
0-29%	$600,000 + $60,000 Bonus	No Reward	$660,000	Dr. Julian Martinez is very pleased with the swift rescue. The Stargate Project LLC feels disappointed as little data was recovered. This is the only path to fully satisfy Dr. Martinez.
30-69%	$600,000 (no Bonus)	$150,000 + $10,000 per 2%	$750,000 to $940,000	Dr. Julian Martinez feels unhappy with the risk involved but provides the standard reward. The Stargate Project LLC values the partial data and rewards accordingly.
68-69%	$600,000 (no Bonus)	$340,000	$940,000	This is the most financially advantageous outcome, though both parties remain somewhat dissatisfied.
70-99%	No Reward	$350,000 + $10,000 per 2%	$350,000 to $500,000	Dr. Julian Martinez feels very disappointed due to Marcus’s severe radiation injuries and considers the contract unfulfilled. The Stargate Project LLC is pleased with nearly complete data recovery and rewards accordingly.
100%	No Reward	$500,000	$500,000	The Stargate Project LLC is enthusiastic about future collaboration.

Notes

• The different outcomes based on data recovery percentages reflect how players balance risk, reward, and satisfaction for both Dr. Julian Martinez and The Stargate Project LLC. Players must weigh the trade-offs between data recovery and Marcus’s safety to maximize rewards.
• If Dr. Martinez's starship is destroyed after the mission, no FTL Drive will be dropped. Instead, players will find a Space Suit, several Habitation Resources, and a considerable amount of Scrap Metal. Additionally, two corpses will be floating in the sector.

See Also

• Story Contracts
• Black Hole Sun
• The Trouble with Tiddlets, Part 3