Chapter 28: Return to Norion

The Federation almost has Norion back under complete control.

So climb aboard your ship and leave the Pirate Homeworld to the Federation strike force for now. As for us, we'll start by heading back to Docking Hub Alpha on Norion. Upon landing we'll get to work straight away. The planet is in a much better state since one month back, so there's little danger to be had here.

Step off your ship and turn around, see the path leading around behind your ship? Follow it along to find Missile Expansion NO.02 resting in a small alcove on the other side of a short chasm - use the Grapple Swing or the Screw Attack to reach it easily. Head back and move inside the base. You'll find a Federation Marine beside the lift, good to see they've got things under control. Ride the lift up and move through to the Cargo Hub beyond the Hub Access chamber.

If you check your map now you'll see an entire arm of the tri-pronged facility completely unexplored, along with numerous white dots representing item locations (thanks to the Chozo Observatory on SkyTown). Step inside the Cargo Hub chamber and speak to the Marine beside the damaged circuit panel up ahead. He'll mention that technicians haven't been around to repair the board yet, and that spent Phazon lurks beyond this area, so travel through here isn't recommended.

Repair this damaged circuit to open an unexplored region.

But those hidden items certainly won't come to us, so there's no turning back. Repair the circuit board's damaged connections thanks to the Nova Beam's welder and step on through the now-accessible door. Inside lies a curving chamber similar to one you visited on the other side of the facility, except this one still has an intact platform covering the heated coils under the floor. Missile Expansion NO.03 lies at the far end of the maintenance tunnel running along the wall, but the erratic pistons extending and retracting won't make this task easy. Roll along the tunnel and time your movements to avoid being knocked off.

With the Missile secured, exit the chamber on the western side and enter Conduit B. Around the right corner up ahead you'll find a deceased GF Marine, so it looks like this area's still in the red. Sure enough, Liquid Phazon puddles emerge as you step through the region. Watch out for Phazon Grubs they spawn, deal with any and keep moving through.

Clear off any more Phazon-based beings and stop at an alcove marked "Data Storage." Dismantle the white blast-shielded door with an Ice Missile and step inside to locate two terminals surrounding a large spinning data station. Scan both terminals for the Planet Bryyo and SkyTown Logbook entries, each contain interesting descriptions of the planets from the Federation's perspective. Step back outside to Conduit B and move onward to the far end of the region.

New Metroid mutations attack from the ground.

Move outside to Cargo Dock B to find your exit promptly sealed. The camera pans over to a huge gross Phazon growth covering the exit up ahead. The mass glows brightly blue before numerous four-legged creatures meander out from cover. Scan one of these odd beings to reveal them as Hopping Metroids. These mutations of Metroids have lost their flying abilities and now hop about in search of prey. Keep your distance however, as they're still nasty work.

If you scan the mass of Phazon blocking the western exit, you'll learn that the Hopping Metroids are somehow connected to the barrier. So either use Ice Missiles against the targets or enter Hypermode and use your Phazon weaponry to deal with them. You've got plenty of targets to deal with, so keep your attacks up to finish them all.

With all Hopping Metroids down, the Phazon mass will erupt, turning into three Liquid Phazon puddles. Landing beacons will also activate, allowing your ship to land here.

Deal with all three Liquid Phazon puddles and summon your ship to save your game. Be sure to climb aboard your gunship and over to the terminal on the western balcony to pick up the Planet Norion lore entry for your Logbook. Climb down and scan the Multi-Lock Blast Shield covering the exit for your Logbook - this is the only one you'll find in the game.

A monstrous Metroid Hatcher has taken up residence in this generator.

Use your Seeker Missile to strike all five locks at once, granting you passage beyond. Step inside Generator Access B and roll through a narrow tunnel on the left side of the region, thanks to a sealed gate on the right. Move through beyond to discover Generator B - and what a horrible state it's in.

Gross Phazon growths cover the walls of the generator - I certainly don't envy anyone who might've needed to clean it all out. As you step inside, the entrance seals shut and the masses of Phazon promptly detect your presence and glow - right before the second Metroid Hatcher emerges from the bowels of the generator.

Now if you'd visited Norion again before picking up the Nova Beam, you'd have to fight this monster normally just like the encounter back on the Pirate Homeworld. But with the Nova Beam in hand this battle can be over in seconds. Simply activate the X-Ray Visor and lock on the Metroid Hatcher's core. Fire once to permanently put this specimen down for good.

With the Metroid Hatcher dealt with, all the gross Phazon explodes, revealing an Energy Cell station hidden on one side of the generator. Roll through the uncovered network of maintenance tunnels, and simply extract Energy Cell #3 to unseal the exit. Roll back through the maintenance tunnels and return to your ship out in Cargo Bock B. Save your game if you wish, then head back to the safety of the Cargo Hub.

Looks like everything's under control at this generator.

Once there, travel south to the Maintenance Station to find a white blast-shielded door here. Dismantle it and step inside to discover Missile Expansion NO.04 hiding inside. Feel free to head through to Conduit C, but a GF Marine stops your progress on the grounds of the region currently being under repairs.

So we'll head back to the Cargo Hub and move through towards Generator A (you'll find another GF Marine stationed beside the door leading to the control tower's lift, sadly the tower is also off-limits).

Step through and make your way to Cargo Dock A. Once there, search for a hidden Spider Ball track running up a wall nearby and follow it along. You'll eventually find yourself directed right to Missile Expansion NO.05. That's it, you've now picked up everything there is to find on Norion. Feel free to head into Generator A to find it in top shape (exactly as you'd left it), along with a Male Fleet Trooper keeping watch (scan him if you somehow missed out earlier).

Summon your ship at Cargo Dock A and say goodbye to Norion.

Next Chapter: Excavation of the Bryyo Ruins

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