Darkstar One Walkthrough

Limona Razvan
limona_razvan@yahoo.com
Legal note
This faq/walkthrough belong to me. Feel free to use it,except one situation.
If you obtain money from him,send some to a humanitarian foundation (Children
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Darkstar One  Walkthrough
Version 1
Update : 10 I 2007 - Added information about Smuggler class thanks to
Camdin work.
Update : 21 I 2007 - Added information about Killer class thanks to
Wildyoyoman
Update : 22 I 2007 - Added information about Pirate and Killer class
thanks to Ackrin DarkFyre
Update : 24 V 2007 - New info about Flak Mission 2 and how to win grace
to William Carney
Update : 9 VII 2007 - Added the ingame info about smuggler class thanks
to Prometheus
1. Introduction
2. Races
3. Strategy tips
4. Class, ship and plasma cannon upgrades
5. Artifacts location
6. Main story
7. Side missions
8. Random missions
9. Weapons
10. Equipment
11. Bugs, cheats and indirect play
12. Credits
1. Introduction
You are Kayron Jarvis, a young and proud man destined to save the galaxy.
Since your father was killed in Permakin system by `Thul drones`,his
friend Robert Altair give you a brand new ship called Darkstar One, capable
to upgrade grace to her incorporated organic alien technology and send you
to space. Destroy those who murdered your father and bring peace to a
galaxy troubled by blood feuds between the civilized races.
2. Races
The information bellow are from the official Darkstar One site, except
clusters and comments :
Terran
The Terrans prefer forward facing weapons and missiles and they usually
attempt to keep the player within their cone of fire. The Terrans prefer
a design with classical shapes and neutral colors. Humankind originated
from Earth and throughout history continued to spread out to settle new
systems. Initially, they achieved their migration through peaceful means
such as inter-racial trading and the colonizing of uninhabited planets.
However, as the Terran expansion continued, the peaceful negotiations
were gradually replaced by war and subterfuge. During their years on
Earth, Humans had always regarded themselves as being the crown of
creation and they carried forth this attitude into deep space. Different
mentalities established separate groups within the Terrans. The largest
group was founded and led by Dr. Samantha Thul. She advocated
uncontrolled genetic manipulation, cloning experiments and the
utilization of nano-technology in order to improve the human body and
soul. Attempts to prevent those experiments were fruitless. After many
disputes and conflicts, millions of Thul followers left the Terran systems
before locating and settling a new cluster. As a result, they became
involved in many conflicts with the Arrack, Raptor, Oc'to and the Mortok
races. Eventually, these conflicts culminated in a terrible galactic war.
Up until the present day, historians are discordant as to who won the war
- the only fact they agree upon is that the Terrans were not victorious.
The vast empire of the Terrans was shattered during the battles which
ensued. Humankind withdrew into their core systems and began the arduous
task of rebuilding. However, while the other races were still arguing over
their new borders, the Humans sent out diplomats in order to promote a
galactic union. As the shock of war was still all too apparent within the
minds of the other races, the efforts of the Human diplomats were fruitful.
The six great nations of the galaxy (Terran, Arrack, Raptor, Thul, Oc'to
and Mortok) joined the Galactic Union. They agreed to appoint a
democratically elected council in order to represent the Union and handle
its affairs. Despite the seemingly amicable atmosphere, the
extra-terrestrial races knew that the good intentions of the Terrans were
born from selfishness and fear. Terran technologies were far behind those
of neighboring races, their economy was virtually destroyed and, had the
war continued, the Terran Empire would have struggled to prosper. Yet,
these facts did not temper the Terran arrogance, nor prevent their demand
to the first presidency of the Council. Furthermore, they threatened all
races who did not join the Union with sanctions to be enforced by patrols
and military warships - warships which they did not even have at their
disposal. "We will bring you peace" said the legendary First President
of the Council, Harry R. Coulbert, in his inaugural speech, "even if we
must pound it into you." To date, only the Terrans' closest relatives,
the Thul, were expelled from the Union by the council. Due to their
unethical and dangerous experiments they were forced to leave the Union.
They withdrew and vanished without a trace. Since then, there has been
no official contact with this race. Despite these events, historians
generally concur that the founding of the Galactic Union prevented
further outbreaks of war so far. Agreement is also widespread that
prominent internal discrepancies will tear the Council apart. Such an
event would have disastrous repercussions for Humankind - possibly even
for the entire galaxy.
Clusters : Lalande, Barnard, Alpha Centauri, Sirius
Comments : Terrans are, obviously from the game, the poorest race, with
ugly ships and stations, but powerful lasers and intrepid pirates. Even
so aesthetic and design don`t really match to human way of doing things
and is a pity that Ascaron didn`t take in consideration the vast
architectural treasures of humankind to make them more appealing.
Mortok
The Mortok do not use bow weapons.Instead, they boast turrets, which
are able to fire in any direction. When the Mortok are pursued, they
are able to employ a sudden reverse thrust,which will enable them to
withdraw from the opponent's cone of fire. The Mortok like bulky and
rounded shapes.Their ships are heavily armored and therefore, they are
not very agile.Mor,home planet of the Mortok, is a world filled with
extremes. Large volcanoes, roaring storms and scorching heat dominate
the side of the planet that faces the sun; frozen oceans and eternal
night rule on the other side.The Mortok's genesis claims that the God
Xorom chose this world in order to test the strength of the people
whom he had created.Alas,the result was not as he had anticipated:
Xorom's people climbed the towering mountain of which he resided and
killed him.The history of the Mortok is as martial as its origin that
lies in this legend. The inhabitants of the light and the dark sides
of the planet were at war with each other for millennia,fighting over
a small band of land that was situated between the two zones. This area
was fertile and the climate was bearable.The ongoing war influenced the
technology and the society of the Mortok who were divided into clans.
Gunpowder and fire arms were invented long before any written language
was developed. The Mortok also established a complex code of honor that
defined the conduct of the Mortok in dealings with both comrades and
enemies. When they began to venture into space the conflict on the
twilight planet finally subsided as a galaxy full of new worlds opened
up before them. Soon they encountered other races during their
explorations: first the eloquent Raptor, then the timid Arrack. The
warring nature of the Mortok clans resulted in wars against these new
races. However, the Mortok soon learned that their uncoordinated groups
of warriors, who often harbored hostility towards each other, could not
stand their ground against the Raptor. Even though the Raptor forces
were disorganized and chaotic, the Mortok were hopelessly outnumbered
and doomed to an overwhelming defeat. The lizard people conducted a
devastating campaign, culminating in the occupation of Mor. The Raptor
began to exploit the planet: resources were depleted, the inhabitants
were enslaved. The Mortok realized that their only chance to shake off
their oppressors was to stand united. Fifty years passed before the
charismatic mine worker Avarro succeeded in uniting the clans. He was
the leader of a mine worker rebellion that fueled the fire of a
world-wide uprising. Avarro united the clans behind him. They expelled
the Raptor from the entire cluster and formed a planet-wide government
under Avarro as leader of all clans. Under his leadership peace
treaties were signed with the Raptor and the Arrack, and commerce
agreements were negotiated and finalized with the Terrans and the
Oc'to. Finally, a period of prosperity and peaceful coexistence with
other people dawned for the Mortok. However, the unity of the clans
was superficial and brittle. Many envied Avarro and his successes;
others feared that the Mortok were degenerating into a weak people
due to the peaceful times. Tensions arose, conspiracies surfaced, and
secretive pacts were made. Barely fifteen years after his victory
against the Raptor, Avarro was assassinated during a vacation in the
twilight land. The assassination of Avarro ignited a civil war which
only ended when a new enemy began to threaten the Mortok. The Thul empire
was rapidly expanding throughout the universe and the Thul were
demonstrating an offensive interest in Mortok territories. With the
memory of the Raptor invasion still vivid, the Mortok were united once
more. They founded a Council of the Clans and confederated with the Arrack.
The confederation, the Oc'to and the Terrans implemented sanctions
against the Thul. Unfortunately, the Oc'to and the Terrans did not abide
by these agreements and continued to smuggle goods to the Thul. The
deception was eventually brought to light when a Mortok patrol captured
a Terran cruiser carrying smuggled goods. The cruiser was destroyed. A
miscommunication was recorded in the Mortok mission log. For most people
this signified the beginning of the Great War. When it ended, the
economically stricken Mortok threw their weight behind the foundation of
a Galactic Council, banishing the immediate danger of a new war. However,
with the lack of external threats against the general populace, internal
disputes became apparent once again, feelings of discontent that still
linger to the present day. The alliance of Mortok governments that spans
many systems is unstable, with quarrels and assassination attempts
occurring frequently. The majority of the Mortok are not concerned about
these incidents. They have left the conflicts of the clans behind. Many of
them now roam the galaxy as mercenaries, pilots and pirates, and they are
both infamous and in great demand. In a time of war they would fight
unwaveringly for the Mortok cause - but until then they will continue
with their own pursuits.
Clusters : Grotok, Pertok, Klatok, Stromok
Comments : A direct and proud race. You could bet they will fight mano
a mano, no tricks till you or them is dead.
Raptor
The Raptor have a special combination of weapons at their disposal:
they possess an extraordinary bow weapon that inflicts damage only
to shields, and they use a rocket launcher that fires and recharges
rapidly. The ships and the stations of the Raptor usually feature
lizard-like shapes. Many millennia ago, a prehistoric continent on
the planet separated into thousands of islands during the evolution
of the world. A warm and moist climate is predominant on the planet
and it has spawned lush fauna and flora everywhere. The only exceptions
are the poles, which are covered in thick ice. Jungle areas, extensive
swamps and vast oceans also formed. Five intelligent species evolved
over time: a two-legged lizard species, a mammal akin to Earth's own
monkeys, two forms of ocean mammals - one tiny and one huge - and a
type of sea-based bird that lives within the oceans and sports a wingspan
of more than six meters. For several million years, each of these species
evolved undisturbed, but then the lizards and the monkeys came across
each other. Initially, these encounters were peaceful; yet the disputes
over territory were soon to begin. These disputes led to several wars
which culminated in the extinction of the monkey species. The Raptor -
as the lizards called themselves - were dominating the islands of the
planet. However, they soon discovered that others dominated the oceans.
The Raptor attempted to gain the upper hand against the ocean mammals
and birds, but found themselves greatly outnumbered. The inhabitants of
the ocean had no means to conquer the islands, and equally had no interest
in doing so as these creatures were unable to live outside of the water
and had no use for the land. An agreement was eventually struck with the
Raptor which conceded Raptor sovereignty over the land (and later their
advancement into space) while the ocean mammals and birds continued to
pursue their interests below sea level and on its surface. The different
species continue to co-exist peacefully to the present day. There is a
great variety in the customs and religions of the Raptor. Estimations
indicate that there are more than two thousand deities and in excess
of eight hundred religions. Additionally, there are probably several
thousand movements within these religions. Not a day goes by without
a festive procession, a pageant or an official ritual. Politically,
the Raptor cluster is classified as unstable because each religion
features its own party. The government is often unable to find a
majority for their decisions, and occasionally opposing parties resort
to violence or even conspiracies and assassinations. Outsiders consider
the Raptor political system to be an impenetrable jungle and the Raptor
find it equally complicated. It therefore takes an excessive amount of
time before the different factions, groups and aggregations come to an
agreement. On occasions such as the Declaration of the Great War or the
Foundation of the Galactic Union, the Raptor were the last to join -
and even then, not all Raptor were involved. Despite its flaws, the
Raptor are sorely attached to their chaotic system. They believe that
their variety and their discordance are vital basics for their survival.
One of their proverbs says: 'He who speaks with one tongue might lose
it quickly'. The Raptor speak with many tongues. Which opponent would be
able to silence all of them?
Clusters : Raptor - Alpha, Raptor - Nova, Raptor - Gamma, Raptor - Delta,
Raptor - Epsilon
Comments : Fast pirates and powerful missiles. Also their cruisers are
not a walk in the park to put down.
Oc`to
Oc'to ships usually attack their opponents head-on. During battle they
drop small drones which are able to fire autonomously, causing damage and
distraction. A large number of these drones pose a considerable combined
force of firepower. The ships of the Oc'to do them proud, reflecting the
bio-organic ancestry. The octopus people are an exception among the
galactic races. They are the only people who had no knowledge of war
before their advancement into space. Their home planet offers an abundance
of food and resources for these amphibian beings and the Oc'to do not have
any natural enemies. They evolved peacefully over millions of years and
focused their intelligence on sciences. They developed complex philosophical
systems and technologies, which are based on the modification of organic
materials. A comparatively long time passed before the Oc'to dared to
venture into space; initially, they did not have the technology and later,
their philosophies did not give adequate reason to leave the planet. Their
first encounter with an alien race underlined their reluctance to advance
into space as their research vessel encountered a Mortok cruiser which
immediately attacked and destroyed their ship.The Oc'to were shocked and
feared an invasion after this encounter, but such an event did not come to
pass. The Mortok were involved in a devastating war against the Raptor,
which kept them distracted from other potential opponents, although the
Oc'to were not aware of this at the time. It was the Oc'to nature to
research and discuss, and so they spent decades discussing and assessing
isolation,aggression, warfare and diplomacy - all subjects that had not
previously concerned them. Their inactivity ended when a Terran cargo
vessel contacted them. The initial encounters were peaceful and satisfying
for both sides alike. The Oc'to decided to give advancing into space a
second chance.They began spreading out in a relatively timid and considered
manner. However, despite their intelligence the Oc'to were very naive,
making them perfect victims for intrigues and deception. So it was that
they involuntarily became one of the reasons for the outbreak of the
Great War. While they had agreed to sanctions against the Thul, the Oc'to
continued to deliver smuggled goods during the embargo - a behavior
mimicked from the Terrans.The Great War taught the Oc'to much about
warfare, tactics and diplomacy. No longer are they so different from
the other races.However, many of their number secretly wish they had
preserved their innocence and never ventured into space. Several rebel
groups and religiously philosophical gurus attempt to draw advantage from
this secluded yearning.
Clusters : Sion`nack, Madramon, Gab`har
Comments : Oc`to reject war and conflict, but those who become pirates are
the most vicious I`ve seen while freeing a system or destroyed a pirate gang.
Arrack
The Arrack are a race that resemble insects. They are able to fold space
temporarily and they rely mainly on this technique. When they are pursued,
they are able to shift their position instantly by several meters. Usually,
this maneuver is combined with a sharp breaking action. The shapes and agile
movements of the Arrack's ships resemble insects. The Arrack are an insect
people originating from an arid, desert planet. This planet's water
resources were located deep below surface, far away from the scorching heat.
The Arrack formed so-called 'Houses': these 'Houses' were gigantic family
clans that sometimes included millions of members and they lived in cities
beneath the surface. A strict caste system that slightly differed between
Houses established a strict hierarchy. A King or a Queen was the absolute
ruler of a House. There were no general laws, no civil rights and no
parliaments - the caste decided the rights and the duties of each Arrack.
The individual was not important - survival of the family was.Fierce fights
over the sparse resources of the planet dominate the history of the Arrack.
As they were afraid that the water resources might become depleted or even
entirely dried out, the Arrack quickly developed methods to preserve water
and to venture into space. In space, their colonization of planets was
targeted on those with large water resources which could be used to supply
the cities on their home planet. The steady influx of water has somewhat
eased the situation between the Houses. Conflicts are now a rarity and the
Houses even managed to agree on mutual representatives within the Galactic
Council. Despite all its advantages, the Arrack regard space travel as a
necessary evil. They dislike being torn away from their family structure
and the safety of the subterranean cities as it brings feelings of unease
and insecurity. Castes and hierarchies are not easily maintained in space
and some colonies have been known to adopt completely new social structures.
On their home planet these Arrack are frowned upon as rebels, outsiders who
will never be able to re-join the House where they stemmed from. However, at
the same time the sacrifice that these Arracks have made for their family
clan is remembered with honor and praise. Nonetheless, these rebels remain
outcasts. The continuous contact with other races has caused many of the
Arrack to abandon their hierarchies. Some Arrack grow from this experience;
however, the majority attempts to shut away from it. Strangers often perceive
the Arrack to be insecure or even timid. This is not the case. Only after
involvement of true conflict with the Arrack can one appreciate quite how
merciless and selfless these warriors are.
Clusters : Hive - AC3, Hive - B52, Hive - CU7, Hive - DC, Hive - ET9
Comments : Their ability to fold space, useable only by fighters, make
them difficult to target using bow weapons, so turrets are more efficient to
deal heavy damage.
Thul
The Thul rely mainly on their ability to cloak. They become visible and
open fire when their bow weapons are fully charged. As soon as their energy
level has dropped to almost zero, they activate their cloaking device again,
which renders the hunter almost invisible. The Thul are masters of aesthetics.
Their ships are made of precious materials and feature smooth, rounded shapes.
Initially, the Thul were a political and ideological movement within the
Terran cluster. They consisted mainly of scientists who consolidated under
the leadership of the physicist Dr. Samantha Thul and demanded the full
legalization of uncontrolled genetic experiments and cybernetic implants.
The scientists argued that it was their duty to utilize their theoretical
knowledge in order to better the human body and spirit and thus to advance
evolution. The objective of their research was the perfect human being:
highly intelligent, with a logical mind and an almost indestructible body-
a symbiosis of living human and machine. The governments of the cluster
denied the Thul supporters' demands, denounced them as unethical and revoked
the permission certificates of research for many scientists. Consequently, Dr.
Samantha Thul went into hiding and established a secret laboratory in a
remote desert area of Earth with a small, tight-knit group. They continued
their illegal experiments and made continuous, substantial progress.
Meanwhile, their followers were still publicly fighting for their vision of
a perfect human being. The movement grew steadily and attracted an increasing
number of non-scientist supporters. Finally, the situation escalated when Dr.
Samantha Thul emerged from her secret laboratory after more than three decades
and presented the result of her research to the public: her body. The pictures
spread around the cluster like wild fire: Dr. Samantha Thul, an
eighty-year-old woman who walked through the desert sand with the body of a
thirty-year old, bending steel pipes with one hand and beating chess masters
in merely a few moves. These images threw the Terrans into the biggest crisis
of their modern history. Hundreds of scientists confessed to carrying implants
or conducting nano experiments; athletes, workers and engineers began to fear
for their careers. Unrest broke out when the Terrans realized that they were
heading towards a two-class society. The governments were compelled to act.
They  issued an emergency decree that banned all nano technology, genetic
experiments and cloning. Those carrying implants were arrested and detained
in large camps. Finally, Dr. Samantha Thul sought a compromise and requested
that she and her supporters were allowed to go into exile. After a long period
of hesitation, both sides agreed to this course of action. Spaceships were
built and financed with a combination of government funds and capital donated
by Dr. Thul's followers. One year after the agreement, more than a million
Terrans left their cluster and headed towards the remote section of the galaxy
that the Humans had assigned to them. However, the Thul, as the exiled
Terrans called themselves, did not disappear into the vastness of space as
the Humans had hoped they would. On the contrary, after a short period they
had colonized many worlds due to their advanced technology. Their empire
grew quickly, and the other peoples of the galaxy watched with growing
concern. The territorial Mortok looked visibly threatened by the Thul
expansion. An alliance against the Thul was formed. Terrans, Mortok,
Arrack, Raptor and Oc'to attempted to push their new enemy back, but the
alliance faltered, hindered by several scandalous events. The last of these
scandals concerned the smuggling of goods to the Thul and it was the cause
for the outbreak of the Great War. The Thul steadfastly avoided conflict
during the Great War. They focused on protecting the borders of their empire
and they delivered weapons to the opposing parties. After the war, they
opted out of the the foundation of the Galactic Council. They regarded the
other races as undisciplined, semi-civilized beings, driven by organic
instincts. This attitude defined their behavior towards the other races -
they ignored the decisions of the Council and they advanced their experiments
way beyond the ethical limits of the other people. Finally, the Thul were
excluded from the galactic community. The Thul felt no regret. They were
comfortable in their chosen isolation and turned their attentions to
advancing their research. With each new implant and every enhanced nanobot,
they still strive for perfection.
Clusters : Communa, Hyma
Comments : They are the masters of aesthetic and design, but in a machine
kind of way - round, slim and inhuman. Thul fighters and pirates use a lot
cloaking devices of variable intensity, but the engines are still visible
and is pretty easy to follow their path.
3. Strategy tips
a. Darkstar One is not a open game. Yes, you could explore every system
from a cluster, but advancing further in the main story is a must to acquire
new keys. Be patient - trade, take random/side missions, escort freighter,
destroy pirate gangs (see Random/side missions) etc. to make a buck, then go
back to the main story .
b. Don`t bother buying weapons from trade station. In my entire play a
bought only two - a Laser MK2 in the beginning, after first artifact and a
Spore Turrets later, because she destroy both shield and hull. The best weapons
came from destroying pirate gangs, all Secret Service type and all belonging to
the pirates boss, except 2-3 obtained along main story/side missions.
c. You can jump far away from the warp gate and not even selected, as long
the destination is selected and the field drive is full (look for the icon in
the middle right part of screen).
d. There are repair ships flying around some systems.
e. Cruisers are difficult to manage grace to they double protection - shield
and hull. Use plasma/boost shield, get close, shoot with everything, than run
more than 1 v ( clicks ), out of their weapons range, to recharge the plasma
cannon and go back.
f. Use always the plasma cannon abilities.
g. A good bounty hunter have at least 2-3 turrets to deal with unseen
enemies.
h. USE ALWAYS KEY COMBINATIONS TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR TARGET(S) : WA, WD, SA,
SD. DON`T BOTHER TO MUCH WITH E, CHANGE THE OPTIONS INSTEAD TO FIRE MISSILE
USING E.
i. Trading is an easy way to make money in the beginning. Poor systems need
everything, especially drugs, androids, luxury goods and video games,
presuming that are not illegal and prosperous/wealthy need raw materials. If
you plan to smuggle goods buy a Jammer to block police or pirates scan.
j.It is not necessary to fly inside asteroids for artifacts, because
smugglers inside the trade stations will be happy to provide for a certain
amount of cash.
k. Use always powerful missiles against cruisers.
l. System keys could be obtained after completing a mission in the main
story or side quests. If side missions are not available, do first the
job in the main story to unlock the side mission. Is always a good idea
to take the side mission in the first trade station you bump in that
cluster to minimize problems.
m. It`s hard to fight in asteroid fields. Avoid a battle there and atract
the enemies in open areas.
4. Class, ship and plasma cannon upgrades
CLASS
You can play 6 different characters, but usually people end up with 3 of them
a. Pirate - Piracy make cargo ships assume offensive stance when the Darkstar
One approaches and roaming pirates will not attack
(Ackrin DarkFyre)
b. Killer - Police will permanently monitor the Darkstar One and at least
one cop would always follow your ship (Ackrin DarkFyre)
c. Smuggler - on high levels police ship will scan you more often, but
apparently this status will decrease over time and you need
to do more smuggling (Camdin)
- “Smuggling: The Police will be more alert towards the
Darkstar One.”(Prometheus)
d. Trader - get better deals at exported goods.
e. Bounty Hunters - is more