Line #28 Literature/RebelPlanet


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rebel.PNG]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:I was going to make a ''LukeIAmYourFather'' reference here, but I'm afraid that would be kinda [[{{Pun}} forced]]...]]
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4	->''Oh! Mortal combat is such joy!\
5	No messing about, no subtle ploy.\
6	Empire of Arcadion! Empire of Arcadion!\
7	Onward, ever onward!\
8	Open-pitched battles make me high:\
9	Never mind the odds -- let's do or die!\
10	Empire of Arcadion! Empire of Arcadion!''
11	-->-- '''Arcadion War Anthem'''
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13	In the year 2453, humans have been defeated in an epic battle against the Arcadians, a race of hostile aliens, and subsequently having the planet conquered by the Arcadian forces. Now, mankind have to co-exist as slaves and servants to the aliens. To the Victor Go the Spoils, and for centuries after the initial encounter and battle against Arcadians, Earthlings have submitted completely under alien rule. Humans are no longer the dominant rulers of Earth.
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15	But not all hope is lost. The secret Earth organization, SAROS (Search And Research Of Space), have discovered a possible way to overthrow the Arcadian Empire. The Intel and resources of SAROS have discovered the weakness of the Arcadians -- the computer queen controlling every member of the Arcadian species, where if sabotaged, will set the human race free.
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17	You are the best officer of SAROS, and you have volunteered for this mission. Trained in various martial arts, equipped with a forbidden laser sword, your mission is to seek out all the underground resistance and piece together the vital code you need to destroy the enemy. Only YOU stand in the way of the Arcadians' domination of the galaxy!
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19	''Rebel Planet'' is the 18[[superscript:th]] entry of the ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' series of {{Gamebooks}}, written by Robin Waterfield. Having experimented with ScienceFantasy thrice (''Literature/StarshipTraveller'', ''Literature/SpaceAssassin'', ''Literature/TheRingsOfKether''), ''Rebel Planet'' is the franchise's attempt to delve into an adventure of a more epic scale, involving a full-scale war against a hostile alien empire. Being the peak of the franchise's run into science fiction, fans of the series often consider ''Rebel Planet'' to be ''Fighting Fantasy'' in space at its best and sets a high bar for [[ToughActToFollow subsequent attempts of the series into sci-fi themed adventures]].
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21	Has a [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j5PjsMih_Zw video game adaptation on the ZX Spectrum]].
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23	----
24	!!''Rebel Planet'' provides examples of:
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26	* AliensAreBastards: The Arcadians have conquered human civilization, and they are cruel overlords. Humans in most places are barely more than slaves, suspected humans dissidents are tortured for information, and younger humans are forced to study Arcadian culture in university.
27	* ArchaicWeaponForAnAdvancedAge: Its been over four hundred years into the future, and yet both humans and Arcadians primarily use swords in combat. {{Justified\| trope}} in that the Arcadians restrict access to more advanced weapons. And the swords are at least {{Laser Sword}}s.
28	* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: You might get strapped into a mind-probing device attached to an elite Arcadian whom will attempt to probe your mind. [[spoiler: You defeat your opponent by fighting enemies in the mental world and ignoring everything else the device throws at you in an attempt to distract you]].
29	* BlindedByTheLight: One of the equipment you can obtain is a flashing strobe light which you can shine into an opponent's eye during combat, causing them to fight with their SKILL reduced.
30	* BreakOutTheMuseumPiece: You can obtain an antique grenade from a museum's storeroom to use against enemies.
31	* ConservationOfNinjutsu: If you lose your laser sword you'll have to fight unarmed with your SKILL reduced; however at every successful Attack Round, you have a 1/6 chance of hitting your enemy's pressure point, rendering your opponent unconscious and winning the fight instantly. In which case, sometimes you're actually more dangerous ''without'' your weapon.
32	* DelightingInRiddles: South Arcadians have tendencies to speak like this, giving cryptic answers and meandering responses instead of answering in a straightforward way.
33	-->'''You:''' How do I get to the Fission Chips?\
34	'''Southern Arcadian shopkeeper:''' Each is a source of growth and life; together their consciousness pervades the galaxy. The club that you seek is never eclipsed on its southern side.
35	* EmptyShell:
36	** Human victims completely mind-wiped by the Arcadian brainwashing machine suffers this fate.
37	** If you succeed in your quest [[spoiler:to destroy the Arcadian computer queen, you will turn the ''entire remaining Arcadian population'' into this trope]]. Harsh!
38	* FantasticRacism: Arcadians generally treat humans like scum, and see nothing wrong with publicly assaulting or even murdering human beings who piss them off.
39	* {{Fingore}}: You might get your fingers chewed off by a saw-toothed rat. If the injury is bad enough, you might end up being unable to hold onto a ledge much later on and suffer a nasty fall which might lead to your death.
40	* FlashFreezingCoolant: If you mishandle the final task of destroying the Arcadian's computer, its liquid helium coolant floods out over the floor, freezing your feet solid. You then snap them off at the ankles when you try to move.
41	* FunWithAcronyms: SAROS -- '''S'''earch '''A'''nd '''R'''esearch Of '''S'''pace. Fittingly for what was once (and pretends to still be) an astronomical research organisation, it's named after a cycle of eclipses.
42	* FunWithPalindromes: [[spoiler: The book never gives you the full code you need to access the Arcadian master computer. The final clue you get is just that it's one of these.]]
43	* GravitySucks: On Planet Halmuris, the local gravity is heavier than on Earth and bogs you down, reducing your SKILL for any battles you may participate on said planet.
44	* GladiatorGames: You risk being forced into gladiatorial games by the Arcadians which will force you to fight to earn your freedom.
45	* GreatOffscreenWar: An epic battle takes place between the humans and Arcadians... centuries before the adventure begins.
46	* ItsAWonderfulFailure: Some of the NonStandardGameOver scenarios ends with you being outed as a rebel and captured by Arcadian forces, at which point your captors will put you through ColdBloodedTorture in order to make you spill the beans about the LaResistance.
47	-->Not only have you failed in your mission, but the chances are with Arcadian techniques of torture, you will be forced to confess what you know about SAROS. '''You have let down the whole of mankind'''.
48	* JetPack: You can obtain a jetpack during your adventure. Subverted in that it's a faulty piece of equipment that's nearly out of fuel, and you risk crashing yourself if you use it.
49	* KeystoneArmy: [[spoiler:The Arcadian army completely lose their wills to fight the moment you successfully sabotages their computer queen]].
50	* LaResistance: There are some small pockets of local resistance forces on Earth opposing the Arcadian empire.
51	* LaserBlade: Your default weapon is simply called a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Laser Sword]]. Unfortunately, most Arcadian soldiers have this weapon as well, which they can use on you.
52	* LesCollaborateurs: Some humans have chosen to serve the Arcadians as spies to root out members of the LaResistance, in exchange for a more luxurious lifestyle. Some, for instance [[spoiler: Grus]], will pull a BitchInSheepsClothing move and pretend to be tortured by Arcadians just to gain sympathy and help from the human rebels.
53	* LizardFolk: The Arcadians are lizard-looking aliens.
54	* MetalDetectorCheckpoint: You will pass through these while attempting to infiltrate Arcadian customs. Luckily your LaserBlade is made of a special metal designed to bypass detectors.
55	* {{Mooks}}: Three specific Arcadian races are reoccurring enemies:
56	** Northern Arcadians, the standard military units and DoomTroops of the Arcadian empire. They're often [[PatrollingMook sentry units]] when you attempt to infiltrate enemy facilities.
57	** Southern Arcadians, MiddleManagementMooks. They're shorter, slightly less dangerous Arcadians not specifically trained for battle purposes, but more intelligent and can be reasoned with, although they are still mostly hostile towards humans. Occasionally if they're feeling amicable, they can be [[HelpfulMook nice enough to assist you]].
58	** Central Arcadians are MookLieutenant officers and the most intelligent of the species. They're considered the most dangerous Arcadian units. despite being physically the weakest.
59	* MortonsFork: When you reach the Arcadian computer queen, you discover the computer is divided into three sections, and you're given the option to chooses which section to destroy first. [[spoiler: Regardless of which part you chose, you will trigger an alarm which causes Arcadian guards to surround you. As it turns out, you're supposed to destroy ''all three parts'' simultaneously with detachable explosives]].
60	* OpenTheDoorAndSeeAllThePeople: After destroying the computer queen, you make a quick getaway outside... only to be greeted by an entire horde of Arcadians. Hope your sabotage worked, or else you're screwed!
61	* OrganicTechnology: [[spoiler:As you attempt to destroy the Arcadian computer queen, you discover its device to be made of organic matter.]].
62	* PressurePoint: Implied to be what allows you to instantly knock out an opponent when winning an Attack round during unarmed combat.
63	* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: The entire Arcadian race is this, especially Northern Arcadians.
64	* SecretTestOfCharacter: When you meet the local LaResistance leader Bellatrix in a nightclub, she will order you to kill the club's owner, another human, for being a traitor. [[spoiler: If you do that, you fail your mission, for anybody who kills without evidence of guilt is considered dishonorable and unworthy of the rebellion's causes]].
65	* ShoutOut: A disused movie theater on Earth is last seen showing some "20th century comedy" called ''Franchise/StarTrek''.
66	* SlipperySkid: You can obtain a can of motor oil to be used in combat. By spilling its contents on the floor in front of enemy Arcadians, you cause them to become unstable and reduce their SKILL.
67	* TailSlap: Northern Arcadians have a deadly [[BewareMyStingerTail spike-tipped tail]] which might automatically harm you after each Attack Round in battle.
68	* TapOnTheHead: This is the only way you can meet Bellatrix, the local LaResistance leader; you get yourself knocked out and taken to their secret hideout while unconscious.
69	* TrustPassword: You use one of these to convince LaResistance that you're not a traitor working for the Arcadians.
70	* VichyEarth: Much of the story is set centuries after humanity lost in a war against the Arcadians. Now most humans are lower-class citizens living in slums.
71	* WhipOfDominance: Some Arcadian soldiers use whips as their main weapons, mostly for torture and intimidation purposes.

Context Literature / RebelPlanet