Epicentre

Based in California, Dr Richard I'chter developed pioneering technology in the prediction of major earthquakes, but was scorned for his ambitious moral crusading attitude. Slowly the government began to undermine his research by tarnishing his name and reducing his research funds.

When I'chter's readings showed a major quake within the next 12 days, he was ignored, mocked, and evicted from his laboratory. With mounting fear for his friends and family, I'chter went to the press. The ensuing panic cost five lives and thousands of dollars in damage, and I'chter was sentenced to eight months in prison. But a few days later, a massive 8.6 quake hit the city area, and 927 people died, including I'chter's younger sister. I'chter escaped from the damaged prison and disappeared.

Three years later, I'chter is in hiding, and claiming the credit for tremors that have rocked the state of California. One of these killed your parents. Burning with revenge, and using the knowledge from your recently-acquired geology degree, you managed to trace the source of the quakes to the North Atlantic, approximately 120 miles south of Iceland. Somehow I'chter has managed to use natural focusing methods to concentrate ultra-low frequencies upon the west American fault line.

You narrow your search down to the small Pinalahpoliss Island, part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Making your excuses to your friends and family, you depart for the island by boat. You arrive 16 hours later under cover of darkness and await the dawn to begin your quest: to locate and neutralise I'chter's earthquake apparatus.