Frigate Orpheon

From Wikitroid, the Metroid wiki

Orpheon is the name of a Space Pirate frigate from which Samus receives a distress signal in Metroid Prime. It is featured at the beginning of the game. The vessel is operated by Space Pirate Science Team as a transport and research vessel and was key in the transportation of Metroid samples from the fallen base of Zebes to the research facilities on Tallon IV. Other than Metroids, the vessel housed various other bizarre species that the Space Pirates were running tests on, most likely for militaristic purposes; the most notable being the Parasite Queen and a reborn Ridley. Phazon could also be found on the frigate. The ship was crippled in orbit due to a fusion core accident (caused by a dying Parasite Queen falling into the Reactor Core). The frigate later crashed into the surface of the planet shortly after Samus defeated the Parasite Queen. Samus would later find the wreckage and have to traverse through it to reach the Phazon Mines.

The Orpheon is where the defeated Ridley was resurrected/rebuilt into Meta-Ridley after his defeat on Zebes. It is also where Samus first encounters him (in his new cybernetic-enhanced form) during her escape from the crippled Orpheon. It is unclear exactly why Meta-Ridley was still aboard as most of the "able-bodied" crew had evacuated six hours before Samus' arrival.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl the Frigate Orpheon stage is based on this area. A Parasite Queen watches from the background and the stage flips occassionally with power occasionally going out (both similar to its crashed state).

[edit] Trivia

• Three more Parasite Queens are encountered on the Orpheon by Samus (two already dead, one in hibernation, with the fourth being the Reactor Core boss). The first one is encountered in the Emergency Evacuation Area (either killed by the pirates or succumbed to Phazon poisoning). The second is located in Biohazard Containment' (died due to infusion of Phazon Batch 0732.C, it being incompatible with its DNA). The final Queen is found Biotech Research Area 1, in hibernation (it later encountered during Samus' escape from the crippled Orpheon, trying to escape its stasis tank, dying in the process).

• Scans taken in the Orpheon's map room of the computer screens show that the ship's appearance is similar to that of the Space Pirate Mothership in Metroid: Zero Mission. This may imply that the Pirate Mothership may have been a science vessel or that all Space Pirate frigates (regardless of mission) are similarly shaped.

• Before the Reactor Core's meltdown, it appears that most of its crew had evacuated the vessel due to the escape of two Parasite Queens (the one Samus defeats in the Reactor Core and the one found dead in the Emergency Evacuation Area). It is likely that some if not most of the crew who fled the Orpheon were members of the Space Pirate Science Team. A small number of the frigate's still living crew remain on board, mainly those unable to evacuate (the injured) and possible those who were either forced (or bravely chose) to remain there (as the Pirates may have also been trying to retake the ship). The injured were likely left behind as they were not longer useful (or beyond help).

• In the Parasite Queen trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it is said that the frigate had a nuclear power reactor.

[edit] Gallery

The Frigate Orpheon as seen from the outside.	The first room in the Orpheon.	Samus views a deceased Parasite Queen in the main room.	Samus observes several specemin tanks in the Orpheon's research room.
Samus enters Morph Ball form to release a door lock that leads to the Reactor Core.	Samus battles the Parasite Queen in the Reactor Core.	Samus escapes inside one of the many ventilation shafts in the Orpheon.	Samus exits the vessel, tracking Ridley.
Samus escapes the frigate just in time.

Areas of Tallon IV
Tallon Overworld | Chozo Ruins | Magmoor Caverns | Phendrana Drifts | Phazon Mines | Impact Crater | Orpheon

Rooms in Metroid Prime
Frigate Orpheon	Exterior Docking Hangar • Air Lock • Deck Alpha Access Hall • Emergency Evacuation Area • Deck Alpha Umbilical Hall • Map Facility • Connection Elevator to Deck Beta • Deck Beta Conduit Hall • Biotech Research Area 1 • Deck Beta Security Hall • Biohazard Containment • Deck Beta Transit Hall • Cargo Freight Lift to Deck Gamma • Reactor Core Entrance • Reactor Core Deck Gamma Monitor Hall • Subventilation Shaft Section A • Subventilation Shaft Section B • Main Ventilation Shaft Section A • Main Ventilation Shaft Section B • Main Ventilation Shaft Section C • Main Ventilation Shaft Section D • Main Ventilation Shaft Section E • Main Ventilation Shaft Section F • Biotech Research Area 2 • Connection Elevator to Deck Alpha • Deck Alpha Mech Shaft
Tallon Overworld	Landing Site • Canyon Cavern • Tallon Canyon • Transport Tunnel A • Transport to Chozo Ruins West • Root Tunnel • Root Cave • Transport Tunnel B • Transport to Magmoor Caverns East • Gully • Alcove • Temple Hall • Temple Security Station • Temple Lobby • Artifact Temple • Waterfall Cavern • Frigate Crash Site
Chozo Ruins	Transport to Tallon Overworld North • Ruins Entrance • Main Plaza • Nursery Access • Eyon Tunnel • Ruined Nursery • Save Station 1 • North Atrium • Ruined Gallery • Map Station • Totem Access • Hive Totem • Transport Access North • Ruined Shrine Access • Ruined Shrine Ruined Fountain Access • Ruined Fountain • Meditation Fountain • Magma Pool • Arboretrum Access • Arboretrum • Sunchamber Lobby • Sunchamber Access • Sunchamber • Sun Tower Access • Sun Tower • Transport to Magmoor Caverns North • Vault Access • Vault • Plaza Access • Gathering Hall Access • Gathering Hall • Save Station 2 • Watery Hall Access • Watery Hall • Dynamo Access • Dynamo • East Atrium • Energy Core Access • Energy Core • Burn Dome Access • Burn Dome West Furnace Access • Furnace • East Furnace Access • Crossway • Crossway Access South • Elder Hall Access • Hall of the Elders • Reflecting Pool Access • Reflecting Pool • Antechamber • Save Station 3 • Transport to Tallon Overworld East • Transport Access South • Transport to Tallon Overworld South
Magmoor Caverns	Transport to Chozo Ruins North • Burning Trail • Save Station Magmoor A • Lake Tunnel • Lava Lake • Pit Tunnel • Triclops Pit • Storage Cavern • Monitor Tunnel • Monitor Station • Transport Tunnel A • Transport to Phendrana Drifts North • Warrior Shrine • Shore Tunnel • Fiery Shores • Transport Tunnel B • Transport to Tallon Overworld West Twin Fires Tunnel • Twin Fires • North Core Tunnel • Geothermal Core • South Core Tunnel • Magmoor Workstation • Workstation Tunnel • Transport Tunnel C • Transport to Phendrana Drifts South • Save Station Magmoor B
Phendrana Drifts	Transport to Magmoor Caverns West • Shoreline Entrance • Phendrana Shorelines • Save Station B • Ice Ruins Access • Ice Ruins East • Plaza Walkway • Ruins entryway • Ice Ruins West • Canyon Entryway • Phendrana Canyon • Temple Entryway • Chozo Ice Temple • Chapel Tunnel • Chapel of the Elders Courtyard Entryway • Ruined Courtyard • Save Station A • Specimen Storage • Research Entrance • Map Station • Hydra Lab Entryway • Research Lab Hydra • Observatory Access • Observatory • Save Station D • West Tower Entrance • West Tower • Control Tower • East Tower • Aether Lab Entryway • Research Lab Aether • Research Core Access • Research Core • Quarantine Access • North Quarantine Tunnel • Quarantine Cave • South Quarantine Tunnel • Transport to Magmoor Caverns South Transport Access • Frozen Pike • Pike Access • Frost Cave Access • Frost Cave • Save Station C • Upper Edge Tunnel • Phendrana's Edge • Lower Edge Tunnel • Hunter Cave • Lake Tunnel • Gravity Chamber • Chamber Access • Hunter Cave Access

Planets visited in the Metroid Series
Zebes • Tallon IV • Aether • Dark Aether • Alinos • Arcterra
Norion • Bryyo • Elysia • Pirate Homeworld • Phaaze • SR388
Other locations visited in the Metroid Series
Frigate Orpheon • Celestial Archives • Vesper Defense Outpost • Oubliette
G.F.S. Olympus • G.F.S. Valhalla • Leviathan Battleship
Ceres Space Colony • Biologic Space Laboratories research station