Quake II/Inner Chamber

Starting the final unit, you should have collected all the available weapons.

Unit objective
Locate and destroy the Strogg leader.

Note: There is no cut-scene transition to this unit, and the unit is not specifically named in the game. However, it is not possible to return to the Upper Palace once you have arrived here.

Level objective
The objective for this level is to locate the Makron and pursue him through a matter transporter to his base on an asteroid, where you will face him in single combat.

Strategy
This is an easy level and no particular strategy is needed except that you might want to plan for the next level, which is the Final Showdown with the Makron. You want to arrive there with full armor and ammunition. So, unless you are low on armor now (below 100), pass by the Body Armor and ammunition stash when you first see them and come back for them after you have disposed of all the Strogg in this level. Proceed as far as pressing all the buttons to extend the steps, but don't go up the steps. Instead, backtrack all the way to the start to collect the armor. If you've been conserving armor in the Palace, this will put you at 200 armor, which is where you want to be in the fight with the Makron (unless you're going to fight the sissy way with Invulnerability and Quad Damage). The wide lift with the button won't come up for you when you approach it. To avoid damage from the drop, jump across the width of the lift and onto the button, then down from there.

Walkthrough
The passageway divides and rejoins several times. Upon arrival, bear to the right and collect a Combat Suit. Descend a short flight of stairs and carefully approach a white door. As soon as you hear a slight humming noise, step back and stand aside. Five laser beams shoot through the door and destroy it; you don't want to be standing too close when this happens.

Once the door has been destroyed, step through the doorway and go either left or right around a large circular wall until you come to an alcove that leads to a lift platform. Next to the platform you'll find a cache of all types of ammunition. Pick up all you can carry and take the lift up to a higher level.

Leaving the lift you come upon another white door. This one is harmless. Step through and you will see a large pistonlike lift periodically going up and down. You cannot enter it, because it is behind a force field curtain.

Go to the right. You will approach a cantilever bridge that periodically extends and retracts over a pool of lava. You'll also hear the grunts and sighs of some Iron Maidens who are waiting on the other side. Approach slowly, looking slightly to the left, until a central platform on the other side of the lava pool gradually becomes visible. When you've positioned yourself in a place of good cover, begin shooting patiently with your Blaster past the corner of the structure until you take down the Iron Maidens. When they've been eliminated, step onto the cantilever bridge and run across the lava pool to push a button on the wall on the other side. Jump onto the bridge the next time it comes out, run around to the other side of the central structure and repeat. When both buttons have been pressed, return to the big lift you encountered earlier. The force field is now gone and you can step onto the platform and ride to the surface.

Stepping off of the lift you spy Makron standing on a matter transporter platform at the opposite end of a causeway across a pool of lava. He is untouchable by any of your weapons, and as you approach the platform he dematerializes and vanishes. To follow him, you must push four buttons to deactivate the sweeping laser beams. The first two buttons are foot switches on narrow causeways extending left and right from the central causeway. Time your approach between circuits of the laser beams. Once the foot switches have been pressed, shutting off the lasers, fend off an attack by some Flyers and press the two wall buttons on either side of the transporter platform. Some steps extend from the platform. Climb them and stand in the middle of the transporter pad to be dematerialized and follow Makron to wherever he went.

Secrets
This level has no secrets.