Tomatoes: A Beginner’s Guide
Chapter 1: Shipwreck
Location: Cole doesn’t need to go far to find the first collectible in this chapter. It’s inside the red shipping container to the left of the Boltok and Gnasher pick-ups. Kick open the metal gate to access it.
From seed to salad, the tomato is challenging for even the most experienced horticulturist, but the rewards are sweet indeed. Throughout history, numerous varieties of tomatoes have been cultivated for a broad range of applications. With the right equipment, tomatoes can even be used to brew a potent liquor.
Though it varies from plant to plant, under optimal conditions, you can expect your tomatoes to be ready for harvest in the early days of Bounty. Increase the likelihood of a rich yield by covering your younger plants overnight to protect them from frost, and water regularly during dry periods.
If the season’s crop comes up short, don’t despair. Every year is a step closer to that perfect garden, awash in vibrant reds and brilliant oranges, and the delicious rewards that follow. Just be prepared for an intense personal investment; it takes a lot of care and attention to shepherd a crop through the season.
(From “How to Grow Tomatoes,” page 6.)
Octus Medal Diploma
Chapter 1: Shipwreck
Location: Locate the smoldering Raven near the coastline, near where the second wave of Locust attack. A deposit of debris from Marcus’ cabin aboard the Sovereign has been planted in the ground, along with this memento of his father that he’s kept.
The Coalition of Ordered Governments
THE OCTUS MEDAL is hereby awarded to PROFESSOR ADAM FENIX in recognition of his outstanding contribution to ending global conflict and securing peace for all of Sera.
Tomas DalyellThe Right Honorable Tomas Dalyell,Chairman of the Coalition5th day of Bloom, ‘92
Captain’s Log
Chapter 1: Shipwreck
Location: The Captain’s Log is inside the wooden crate high atop the rocks, directly above the two Locust near the Longshot and Frag Grenades. Open fire on the wooden crate with the Lancer to cut it to pieces. The Captain’s Log will fall to the ground.
29th day of Bounty, 15 A.E.
The Gears and embarked civilians have adapted to the necessary routine of life on board a carrier better than I thought. Everyone is busy, and that’s the key to a happy ship: efficiency and purpose. The growing population of chickens and livestock makes the hangar deck somewhat fragrant, but if the old wooden navy could endure keeping animals at sea, then so shall we in our age of steel.
Dispersing the survivors in smaller communities made sense in practical terms, but I still feel uneasy about it. I shouldn’t; those people ashore are in competent hands. Communications with the Gorasni and the coastal settlements are still reliable, but I know I’ll lose radio contact with Victor when the satellite finally fails. I fear I shall miss the old bugger when the Anvil Gate link goes down for the last time.
The Coalition is officially dead, but somehow our service identities are as strong as ever. Such is the bond of brothers—and sisters—in arms.
And, against all expectations, Major Reid is proving not to be the waste of oxygen most Gears believed him to be. I must tell Victor that when I can.
(Private journal of Captain Quentin Michaelson, OSC, AM, NCOG. Commanding Officer, CNV Sovereign.)
Recovered Cog Tags #6
Chapter 1: Shipwreck
Location: You no doubt noticed the Crimson Omen painted on the shipping container while you lent fire support to Anya and Jace. The COG Tag is behind the containers to the left of the green smoke signal. It’s on the ground in the corner, between the two containers nearest the water.
Recovered Cog Tags #7
Chapter 3: Forced Entry
Location: The only way to get this COG Tag is to successfully sneak into the compound via the side gate, without alerting the guards atop the ramparts. Once you’re inside, locate the gated caves containing the Wild Tickers and note the baskets in the center. The COG Tag lies inside the basket on the ground. It’s easy to miss, so look carefully.
Locust Hammer
Chapter 4: Trench Run
Location: Navigate the trenches, running from bunker to bunker to escape the Mortar fire. Listen for the chime signaling that you’ve survived the attack, and start out the back side of the final bunker. Turn to the right and look behind the crates with the large pickaxe resting atop it. A collectible Locust Hammer is on the ground there. Baird will be pleased.
Baird here. There’s no more COG high command barking at me for fresh intel, but I figured I’d keep up with the research anyway. It’s kinda turned into a hobby. Some people knit, but I like staring at creepy Locust runes and finger necklaces.
Anyhow, we stumbled across this hammer in the fresh trenches the grubs have been digging up. It looked a little too ornate to be just another common tool, probably made out of some expensive poly-alloy. If I’m reading this right, this is a ceremonial object—the fine china of Locust weaponry, you might say. Only to be used for very, very special occasions.
But here it is, reduced to just another tool in the woodshed to get a dirty job done. Essentially the Locust equivalent of some Gear wiping his ass with the Octus Canon.
Queen’s Symbol
Chapter 5: Hijack
Location: Immediately turn to the right when you pass through the gate where the Boomer was (leading toward the turret). Kick open the gate to a small armory containing ammo and a Boomshot. It also includes this collectible Queen’s Symbol lying on the ground.
Baird here. Found some new evidence pretty much proving that the “beach bum”-lookin’ Locust we’re running into out here aren’t part of some extended family—nope, these are the same grubs we flushed out of the Hollow way back when.
This chain we found has the Queen’s seal…logo…thing. Whatever. I saw the same symbol on the corpses of Myrrah’s personal guard. This ain’t your everyday grub cannon fodder, and they’re definitely not native to this area.
Gotta give ‘em credit, though. Scavenging, adapting, rebuilding, no matter how wretched the conditions, hacking together whatever crappy excuse for a life they can manage. Sound familiar?
Manifest
Chapter 6: Airborne
Location: Descend the ladder from the upper walkway. Go through the gate, out into the street where the Reavers were landing. Make your way to the left end, toward the crashed truck near the fire. The Manifest is on the street near the front of the truck.
Yep, it’s your old pal Baird, back with another rip-roaring adventure in Locust social studies. If I learned anything living on that rusting crap-heap carrier, it’s that nothing screams “we’re hosed” like a sudden interest in strict resource management. The less you’ve got, the more precious whatever’s left suddenly becomes—even if it’s the last few century-old cans of rancid baked beans in the galley. (Whoever took my stash is gonna pay.)
But I guess we’re not the only ones tightening the ol’ belt. According to this manifest, the grubs are adhering to some pretty rigid rationing protocol. They’re tracking each shipment of cargo with a level of scrutiny that’d make Michaelson’s head spin, and that’s saying something. Best of all, any grubs caught taking more than their fair share is executed on sight. Times are tight.
Man, it’s gonna be twice as satisfying to blow their crap up knowing all that. Who says research can’t be fun?
Recovered Cog Tags #8
Chapter 6: Airborne
Location: Ascend the stairs across the street to the upper landing, where the Palace Guards were staging their attack. Walk behind the orange container to the right, and up to the room straight ahead. Note the Crimson Omen on the wall. The COG Tag is on the floor just inside the room to the right of the Crimson Omen.
Anvil Gate Plaque
Chapter 1: Unbreakable
Location: The first of the three collectibles is on the wall directly behind Marcus at the start of the chapter. It’s the Anvil Gate Plaque to the right of the cabinet with the Lancers in it. It serves to memorialize all those who came—and died—before you.
To the immortal memory of the Gears and civilians who held the Anvegad Garrison during the siege of 32 B.E. in the war against the Union of Independent Republics.
Prince Ozore’s Artillery 2nd Bn. Royal Ephyra Engineers 26th Royal Tyran Infantry Pesanga Brigade of Rifles
“I will forsake the life I had before so that I may perform my duty as long as I am needed.”