Quake II/Detention Center

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Map Name	Initial Coordinates
jail2	(0 -1523 116) : -90° (facing east)

Level objective

The objective for this level is to locate the Red Key Card in the Security Complex.

Beware of numerous Strogg Medics in this level, as they go around reviving dead enemies. You don't know where they'll show up, so it may be best to go a little slower and pulverize the corpses of Strogg enemies with your Blaster before moving on, so the Medics have nothing on which to work. It's particularly troublesome when they revive a tough opponent that cost you a Quad Damage, an Invulnerability or significant armor and ammo to take down.

First visit

Stepping off the lift from the Main Gate, make your way into an open area in front of the entrance to the Detention Center. Take down the Tank, then go down the stairs to the south and find the Gladiator guarding the Blue Key. Return to the Detention Center entrance and open the doors. In the yard of the Detention Center you can enter a lift which takes you to a balcony overlooking the yard from the west side. You'll find a chaingun on the balcony. On the east side is another balcony with a console that controls the yellow laser beams you see there, guarded by a Gladiator. The Gladiator can be killed with minimal risk by standing under the west balcony in the yard, far enough back that you can just see a narrow view of top of the balcony parapet opposite, and peppering away at him with your Blaster. His rail gun shots can't hit you, but your Blaster shots can hit him, so you can take your time.

Enter the south cell block from the yard, whose door is around (-370 380 30), and clear out the enemies you find there. Watch out for the Medic that is released in the yard behind you by your action of entering the cell block. You'll find Medics, Gladiators and a Tank in this area. This is a good time to use a Quad Damage and take them out in quick succession with the Super Shotgun. One of the cells is open. If you stand on the mezzanine above the cell block, it is possible to lure the Gladiators patrolling the floor into the cell below you, and if you jump down and quickly pivot to the right, you can push the wall button that traps one or both of them in the cell with a force field, so you can come back later and dispatch them in any manner you choose, or just leave them there and forgo the 100% kill ratio. Shoot the human prisoners you find in the cells; they can't communicate with you anymore, having been tortured and driven insane by the Strogg, but a number of them yield up valuable munitions. The two secrets for the level are also found in this area (see below). Completing the Detention Center level will require an excursion to the Security Complex via the south portal to retrieve the Red Key.

Second visit

Returning from the Security Complex, enter the north cell block from the yard. Watch out for the Parasites. Make your way to the lift that takes you up to the east balcony overlooking the yard and press the button on the console to deactivate the yellow laser fence there, as well as the yellow laser fences in the Security Complex. Go to the dungeon level below the main jail floor and eliminate all the Enforcers.

Having completed this level, return to the Security Complex.

Secrets

This level has two (2) secrets:

1. This secret is found in the south cell block, the one that can be entered from the yard around (-370 380 30) without the Red Key. Standing at the top of the stairs on the mezzanine level above the cell block (-1430 830 190), face north and shoot the pulsating wall button. This causes the stairs to rise. Jump off the mezzanine to the cell block floor, run around to the lower end of the stairs to find a revealed space containing armor. A button inside will raise the stairs should you become trapped in the space.
2. Gaining access to the first secret requires pushing wall buttons in a tricky sequence. Once you've cleared out the enemy in the south cell block, start by pushing the wall button at (-2300 320 46), visible through the south door off the cell block floor. Run around to the opposite end of the enclosure and push the button to the left of the barred door, lowering it. Run into the opening, pivot left and push the button you find on the wall, just to the right of the door as you face back toward the entrance. Run back out, turn right and run to the west wall of the enclosure to find the previously closed barred door lowered. In the center of the enclosure, down a ramp, you will find a number of health and armament items. If you take too long, the inner bars will close, trapping you inside, but there is a button in the northeast corner that retracts them, allowing you to exit. Check out the area just to the right of this inner wall button, too, for more items. Since all the bars are timed, it may take several attempts to run from one button to the next in the proper order to make the way clear to the secret.