Well, it took you long enough to come to someone who knew what they were talking about. Wasting your time with those other two clones probably got your head full of all sorts of crazy thoughts, but we'll take care of that right quick. By the way, my name is Goodad-V-ICE, and I've taken a good number of red clones under my wing from time to time.

Great! The last girl got me worried. Saying that everyone's a mutant and a commie, and that troubleshooters kill each other!

All that is true. I'm sure they've described Alpha Complex accurately, but I wanted to tell you it's not as dreary as it might seem. There are many ways to survive, and even do well here, but you have to know when and where to suck up.

Ah, man... sucking up? That's how to survive?

Yes. Remember, the computer is unpredictable, contradictory, and often stubborn. Say the wrong thing, no matter what the motive, and you will be punished. Say the right things, no matter what the facts are, and the computer will reward you. Sucking up to those in power, and knowing when NOT to suck up, can add some grease to the wheels. It's all about having the right skills and knowing the right things.

Ok, I'm listening..

Many clones try to be good at everything, they get some skills at their job, and some general skills, and they try to know it all. This is not a good plan. Its better to be really good at one thing, lasers for instance, than to be just a little knowledgable in several things.

So laser is a good skill?

Yes, and avoid skills that are too specific or that you'll never realistically use. Vehicle Weapons, for example. You won't be piloting a vehicle as a red troubleshooter, so being skilled in firing vehicle mounted weapons does you no good. If you survive for a while, you can learn it when it becomes more feasable. Also there are certain skills that really come in handy.

Like sucking up?

Very good. Abilities that allow you to talk your way out of situations and suck up are very useful. But don't spread your skills out too thinly in this area either. A few choice "chutzpah" skills go a long way. However, don't go to the other extreme and abandon all other skills. You need to be able to defend youself, laser or not, and you'll need some sort of skills to survive out there in the field. Just make sure you pick a few that are worth having, and don't try to get everything.

So if I'm good at sucking up, I'll have a smooth ride?

No no no... It'll be smoother, but by no means will that carry you. Here is a list of choice phrases that will come in handy in ANY situation:

Also remember that the fewer survivors there are at the end of the mission (or at least follow up clones who won't remember everything) the fewer people to point fingers in your direction. It is VERY important that you have some evidence, circumstantial as it might be, as to why said troubleshooter was a commie mutant traitor and you of course had to shoot him 65 times. Also, if two people lie, it's the truth, since you have a witness. Just make sure you can trust, or force, the witness to say what you say. Blackmail is a powerful tool not to be overlooked in the high-fatality-rate world of troubleshooting.

I'm never going to live through this without help.

Ah, that's where secret societies come in. Never underestimate the power of a happy society. Complete their missions before thinking about the computer's mission. They can get you things the computer can't or won't. If it's impossible to complete the mission given to you, let them know Before they contact you. Go to them and grovel, grovel, grovel and say that you couldn't do what they wanted due to whatever reason, and that you are SOOOOO SORRY. Otherwise, do your damndest to get what they want done, done. Then go back and brag.

So secret societies are good for getting you great stuff... but I bet it's treasonous.

Of course.

The guy in indigo.. umm Wheream-I-ATT, he wouldn't tell me what was outside Alpha Complex...

That's because very few clones know, and many that do won't talk about it. Alpha Complex, if you listen to the Computer, is all that's left of an older civilization that was destroyed by the communists. The computer, and the clones within Alpha Complex are all that survived. The computer apparently destroyed everything outside Alpha Complex in order to save humanity and to protect the loyal citizens it had gathered.

Is it true? What's left?

It's partly true, at least. No one knows for sure, though. As for what's left, there's "outside" which is outside Alpha Complex. Knowing about outside, or even that there is an outside is highly treasonous at your clearance. Supposedly it is a vast area of filth and savages. But, like I said, very few know, and they don't know very much.

So that's why the computer hates communists... Is there anything else you can tell me to help me out?

Probably, but you'll have to learn some things for youself. Look for a clone named Already-G-ONE. He'll tell you some things about how to be a traitor and live. He's not entirely trustworthy, but he won't steer you wrong on how to live in the tough world of Alpha Complex.