Aurora Unit 242

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Aurora Unit 242
Samus approaches Aurora Unit 242.
Species	Aurora Unit
Gender	Female, assigned
Affiliation	Galactic Federation
Voice actor	Lainie Frasier

Aurora Unit 242 is the Aurora Unit on the G.F.S. Olympus. She supports Samus Aran during her mission in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. The first time Samus sees her is in the form of a hologram in the Ready Room. After receiving the PED Suit Samus goes to her chamber and 242 gives her the mission briefing.

Role

As the game progresses, 242 will often contact Samus to provide her new information or orders, either in her Gunship as a hologram, or directly in the field by sound only. A list of her transmissions can be found here.

Biography

After the Federation loses contact with the G.F.S. Valhalla, their Aurora Units become infected with a virus of Space Pirate origin. The Federation’s scientists are able to quickly devise a vaccine, and Unit 242 is the first to receive it. However, the virus has forced the Federation to shut down the network linking Aurora Units, leaving them vulnerable and requiring the other Aurora Units to be inoculated individually. To achieve this and restore the network, the Federation hires four Bounty Hunters: Rundas, Ghor, Gandrayda and Samus Aran. Via hologram, Aurora Unit 242 met with these hunters alongside Fleet Admiral Castor Dane in the Olympus's Ready Room to brief them on their mission. No sooner have they done so, however, before 242 declares a condition red - the Olympus comes under assault by a Space Pirate armada, and the hunters are sent to defend the planet below, Norion.

During the defense of Norion, Unit 242 coordinates the troops stationed on the planet, and keeps the hunters updated on developments. While the Hunters are defending Norion, 242 gives Samus advice. When it becomes clear that the Pirates intended to send a Leviathan smashing into Norion’s surface, Unit 242 orders all “non-essential personnel" to evacuate the facility, and begins calculating the time until impact.

Though the attack on Norion is thwarted, the four hunters are found unconscious in the Control Tower. After it is discovered that their bodies are self-generating Phazon, the Federation decides to outfit them with Phazon Enhancement Devices, so that they can harness this energy. Rundas, Ghor, and Gandrayda awaken after a few weeks; Unit 242 assigns Rundas and Ghor to free planets Bryyo and Elysia of Phazon corruption, while Gandrayda is tasked with finding the homeworld of the Pirates. However, Unit 242 loses contact with all three after a few weeks. Seven days later, Samus awakens as well and meets in person with 242, who informs her of the situation. Samus agrees to search for the other hunters and complete their missions.

The mission on Bryyo

Aurora Unit 242 contacts Samus within the latter's Gunship.

After wishing Samus good luck, Unit 242 maintain contact with her, helping the hunter locate a downed Federation vessel in Bryyo’s cliffside region, which yields new map data for two of the planet’s Fire and Jungle regions. Afterward, 242 reports that two energy signatures are powering a Pirate energy shield guarding Bryyo’s Leviathan.

Samus first travels to Bryyo Fire, but her PED Suit malfunctions at a Corrupted Pool, causing her to nearly become overwhelmed by her internal Phazon. 242 receives this error and downloaded the diagnostic data from Samus's suit to analyze the situation. After Samus defeats the corrupted Rundas and acquires the Ice Missile, she investigates the east Leviathan Shield Generator, but 242 tells her that she cannot harm the generators with her current equipment. 242 tells Samus to visit a Federation landing site near to the crash site of the G.F.S. Theseus, where she upgrades her Gunship with Ship Missiles. Along the way, 242 informs Samus that the suit data she downloaded has revealed that the Phazon within her body overreacts and causes Samus to enter a corrupted version of Hypermode, putting her at risk of Terminal Corruption. AU 242 apologizes for not foreseeing this when the PED Suit was granted, but warns that she cannot defeat Dark Samus without it, and therefore must use Hypermode with caution. Now armed with Ship Missiles, 242 guides Samus in destroying the Anti-Aircraft Tiamat Turrets, and ultimately the Leviathan Shield Generators.

After Samus destroys the Bryyo Seed, AU 242 thanks Samus and tells her that although Ghor is stationed on SkyTown, Elysia, the Leviathan's Phazon contamination is still spreading. She uploads the virus vaccine to Samus's suit so that she can purge the virus from SkyTown’s Aurora Unit 217.

Traveling to Elysia

Once Samus is on Elysia, 242 helps Samus get Aurora Unit 217 back online by telling her the position of the Boost Ball, so that she can open 217's chamber. After uploading the vaccine, however, the corrupted Ghor appears and severs 217's connection to SkyTown. Samus repels him though, and he makes his exit. Although 242 does not communicate with Samus for a long time on Elysia, she helps Samus locate the Screw Attack on Bryyo Ice.

While trying to obtain the Screw Attack, 242's attempts to reach Samus are blocked, and Samus can only hear garbled, incomprehensible noise. After Samus leaves Bryyo Ice, 242 reports that the missing flagship Valhalla has been discovered, and requests that Samus investigate.

After Samus destroys the seed on Elysia, 242 contacts her once more, reporting that a message from Gandrayda has been uncovered containing the location of one of the Space Pirate Homeworld. She informs Samus that a Leviathan has impacted there, and has already transformed much of the planet into pure Phazon. 242 asks Samus to stop the corruption on the Pirate Homeworld from spreading, likely to destroy the Pirates' most convenient source of Phazon.

Assault on the Pirate Homeworld

After landing, 242 tells Samus that to disable the shield around the Pirate Homeworld, Samus must first find protection from the Acid Rain that plagues the planet. Samus defeats Gandrayda, who was impersonating a Federation Marine claiming to have information on how to get to the Hazard Shield, the item she will require to pass the Acid Rain. Aurora Unit 242 then reports that 217 has discovered evidence of hidden Chozo Artifacts back on Elysia that will help Samus access the rest of the Pirate base.

The battle at Phaaze

Once the Seed is destroyed, AU 242 contacts Samus and thanks her again, declaring that this is a great victory for the Federation. She informs Samus that Aurora Unit 217 has located the epicenter of the Leviathan attacks, and aids Samus in locating the Leviathan Command Codes that will allow the Federation to control a Leviathan Battleship above the Pirate Homeworld, and create a wormhole to the epicenter.

• Samus gains the code on the Valhalla, and 242 reports that the epicenter is actually a planet, which they have chosen to name Phaaze.
• If the code on Valhalla is gained first, 242 states its purpose is unknown for the time being.
• If the Leviathan is breached first, 242 explains there is a code required. Gaining the code, 242 suggests it is an input for the Leviathan.
• After importing the code, she tells Samus to prepare herself, as there is no turning back after the Wormhole is open.

Credits

Aurora Unit 242 concept art.

During the credits, 242 speaks with a message in a humanoid voice:

"With the death of the planet Phaaze, Samus Aran's arduous fight against Phazon has ended. However, in the vast regions of space, this victory is just a twinkle of a star, spreading the light of hope through the darkness."

Official data

G.F.S. Olympus intercom quotes

Pre-invasion

“	Vermin infestation detected in auxiliary ventilation systems. Dispatching pest control units.	„

“	Doctor Wells, report to the infirmary.	„

“	Disturbance in Docking Bay 12. Dispatching security response teams.	„

“	Additional security teams to the Command Bridge.	„

“	PED technical crew to testing area.	„

“	Maintenance crew to sanitation.	„

“	Clear detention area. Security lockdown initiated. Prisoner transfer scheduled in five minutes.	„

“	Contaminants detected in Cargo Bays 12, 14, and 20. Initiating quarantine procedures.	„

“	Decontamination units to Docking Bay 3.	„

“	Security team to engineering. Initiating security sweep.	„

“	All new personnel must follow decontamination protocol. Report to your nearest Security Station for further instructions.	„

“	Maintenance crew to axial pulse cannon control.	„

Invasion

“	Aft shield generator damaged. Rerouting power.	„

“	New wave of enemy fighters detected. Redirecting blue and red squadrons to intercept.	„

“	Anti-gravity offline in Docking Bays 1, 2 and 3.	„

“	Anti-gravity restored in all docking bays.	„

“	Sealing off critical sections. All personnel retreat to secure positions.	„

“	Federation Cruisers Icarus and Baldur sustaining heavy enemy fire.	„

“	Pulse cannons offline. Engaging auxiliary helm control.	„

“	Contact with the cruisers Icarus and Baldur has been lost. Dispatching lifeboat recovery ships.	„

“	Shields down. Increasing anti-spacecraft weapons fire in affected sections.	„

Unused Data

Unused Logbook Entries

"What's the matter? All I said was that Komaytos look like little Metr-"

---

Non-canon warning: This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.

Aurora Unit 242 is the subject of two unused scans, one a Logbook entry and the other a piece of Galactic Federation Data. The Galactic Federation Data entry, however, is an exact duplicate of the final paragraph of the Logbook entry, and has been omitted as such.

Aurora Unit 242

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Temporary scan

Morphology: Aurora Unit 242
One of many Galactic Federation organic supercomputers.

Logbook entry

20 years ago, a team of Federation scientists announced the birth of an organic supercomputer. Its name was Aurora. Since that historic date, thousands of Auroras have been built and installed. Originally designed for scientific purposes, the Auroras are now used in government, business, and military roles as well. They are given male, female, or gender-neutral personas, based on the needs and desires of the staff in the facility they are to serve in. A vast network links all existing Auroras, allowing them access to a tremendous database without peer.

Aurora Unit 242 has been in service for 18 years, built in tandem with the battleship G.F.S. Olympus. As the AU for the flagship of the 7th Fleet, 242 has had a distinguished career. 242 maintains a positive relationship with many personnel on board the G.F.S. Olympus. Veteran crew members often refer to 242 as "Other Brain," a practice frowned upon by Admiral Dane.

Unused Dialogue

In the game's files, Aurora Unit 242 has an unused series of dialogue clips relating to Terminal Corruption. This sequence of audio messages is referred to as "IFT_SkytownBadHypermode003NB" in the game's data.

“	Samus, we discovered that the Phazon inside you is linked to Dark Samus and is trying to take control of your body. We believe the only way to stop you from becoming corrupted is to destroy Dark Samus. If you cannot, you will become her.	„

Non-canon warning: Non-canonical information ends here.

Trivia

A hologram texture seen throughout the Olympus which contains the Other Brain nickname.

• Like all Aurora Units, 242 generally refers to herself as "we". Despite this, she does say "I" twice while briefing Samus about Elysia:
  • "I have uploaded a program to your suit that will purge any traces of corruption in the AU and restore its functionality."
  • "As I am sure you are aware..."
• Aurora Unit 242 tells Ghor: "We serve as the network's master control." Because of her referring to herself as "we", it is uncertain whether she, or all Aurora Units, are the Aurora network's master control.
• During the ending speech in Corruption's credits, 242 has no digital effects added to her voice, while normally the voice would have voice modulation applied.
• In the unused Logbook entry, it is stated that AU 242 possesses a male persona.
  • In the same unused logbook entry, veteran crew members of the G.F.S Olympus would refer to 242 as Other Brain in reference to Mother Brain, the leader of the Space Pirates. It is also mentioned that this practice greatly displeases Admiral Dane, the commanding officer of the Olympus.
• AU 242 narrates the Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Preview videos, and was first shown in the following trailer [1].
• It is impossible to scan 242 directly, as the only time Samus meets her is at the Olympus though blocked by a haze. On the other hand, she is not counted in the Logbook.
  • If the X-Ray Visor is used via hacking, it is possible to see through the haze, but the Aurora Unit is not inside.
• When Samus meets the Aurora Unit's actual physical form for the first time on the G.F.S. Olympus, a version of Theme of Samus plays in the background. This version of the theme first appeared in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes as the theme of the Federation Marines, and appears at several other points in Corruption.
• In Echoes, the corpse of a creature resembling an oversized Grenchler in the Command Chamber is stated to have 242 wounds from Federation Trooper weaponry in its scan. The recurrence of this number in Corruption suggests it is of some significance to employee(s) at Retro Studios.
• 242 is one of three characters in the Metroid series to say "Good luck, Samus", with the other two being Aurora Unit 217 and Commander Adam Malkovich in Metroid: Other M.