Hard Corps Stage 5 (d)

Space Station
Bahamut inside his ultimate weapon, Big Magnum.
Environment	Enemy base, space station
Perspective	Side-view
Music	Alien's Den R.A.V.E. Format X Last Springsteen
Miniboss(es)	Mach 777
Boss(es)	Big Magnum
Game	Contra: Hard Corps
◄ Previous stage	Trap
◄ Previous stage	Trap
Next stage ►	N/A
Next stage ►	N/A

“	Welcome to my headquarters. Is it pleasing to you?	„
	~ Colonel Bahamut's 'greeting' the heroes

Space Station is one of the final stages in Contra: Hard Corps.

To access this stage, the following actions must be taken:

• "Go after Deadeye Joe."
• "Surrender and fight later."

Overview

Well, our heroes decided to surrender (for the time being), and their actions have led them up to this moment! Thanks to the Doctor's assistance, the villainous mastermind Colonel Bahamut has decided to build a space station outfitted with the Alien Cell. The only thing needed for his 'final plan' is power, and lots of it!

The madman decides to transfer all energy functions from his base straight to the top of his space station for his 'master plan'... regardless of who's still inside!

The whole base is exploding! Everyone evacuate immediately! During the panic, however, the heroes escape the restraints they're in and retrieve their confiscated weapons. But the destruction doesn't end there! In the escape hallway, Dr. Geo Mandrake rides in with his vehicle and decides to have some fun with the fleeing troops, by mutating them into his experiments!

The heroes begin by escaping from the burning hallway coming from behind. The now mutated Alien Soldiers also approach our heroes from the front. Just keep blasting and run! And watch out for those pitfalls! The hall of fire will eventually slowly die out, as well as the swarm of Alien Soldiers. Once they're in the clear, the heroes finally reach the elevator to the top of the space station (there is no turning back!). But first, the doctor wishes to experiment... on you! Once he's been taken care of at last, the final battle begins!

Enemies

Alien Soldier

Miniboss

Mach 777

Boss

Big Magnum

Weapons

	At the checkpoint directly before the elevator. Released by Big Magnum when the first phase has been cleared.
	At the checkpoint directly before the elevator. Released by Big Magnum when the second phase has been cleared.
	Immediate beginning of stage.

Dialogue

- Bahamut: (a TV screen displaying Bahamut's face appears in front of the detained heroes) Welcome to my headquarters. Is it pleasing to you?

- Hero: You can drop the smirk. We're gonna trash this place!

- Bahamut: There is no need for that. Unfortunately for you, my plan is in its final stages. I have transferred all functions to this space station. The headquarters is of no more use. It will soon be detonated.

- Soldier: But Colonel, you can't...

- Bahamut: Ha! Your existence means less than nothing to me, you flea! Farewell. We'll not meet again! (The TV disperses, with the entire room exploding. The troopers flee to the right, with the standard guard tossing the prisoner's weapons in a panic. The heroes raise their arms and acquire their firearms, then proceed right into the next room.)

<next room>
(A massive army of fleeing soldiers head toward the right. Doctor Geo Mandrake piloting his Mach 777 soon enters from the left)

- Dr. Geo: (raising fist) Don't move! This is what happens to cowards like you!
(The machine charges energy and unleashes a radioactive blast on the floor. The doctor flies off, with the fleeing Zako all mutating into alien hybrid. The camera scrolls left, revealing the hero(es) coming out from a massive wave of fire that is gradually chasing them down.)

<At the top of the space station>

- Bahamut: (laughs for a few seconds) You've done very admirably! But you're too late! I've used the Alien Cell to create Big Magnum! He will reduce the planet to charred cinders!
(The cannon in the background fires, unleashing a powerful mega-atomic blast. The blast disappears out of sight, then a large round explosion is seen impacting Earth.)

- Hero(es): I'll/We'll stop you!

<after Big Magnum is defeated, the space station begins exploding, and seconds before its incineration, one last message can be seen spoken>

- Colonel Bahamut: Ugh! Just one more step and I would have been a god!

Regional differences

• In Probotector (MD), Colonel Bahamut's head is edited to an alien face and is referred to as the "Alien Master".
• The Zako Soldiers in the first cutscene are edited to a more 'armored' appearance.
• The Zako Soldier's dialogue is edited out.
• The second cutscene with Dr. Geo Mandrake riding the Mach 777 and transforming the soldiers is edited out. The heroes immediately start off after the first cutscene. The Soldier Aliens still appear as enemies in this stage, however.
• Dr. Geo does not appear onboard the Mach 777 before the battle begins.
• "Alien Cell" is changed to "X Drive". Also, the line "I'll/We'll stop you!" was changed to "I/We won't let you do that!"
  • Oddly, the Alien Master still refers to the X Drive as "he".
• The line that Colonel Bahamut speaks directly before the credits roll is removed.
• As with the other endings' credits, Contra: Hard Corps was changed to Probotector.

Gallery

Stage

The large space station room featuring Colonel Bahamut, where the heroes are restrained.

The Alien Master speaking to CX-3 in Probotector (MD).

The halls of the base flooding with fire from the self-destructive detonation, the mutated troops, and littered with many pitfalls.

The elevator rises up from the basement floors of the base.

The Mach 777 inside the elevator ascending toward the space station.

The elevator reaches the top of the space station.

The space station's inner hallways leading toward the cannon.

The Alien Master piloting Big Magnum in Probotector (MD).

Outside panoramic view of the space station.

Ending

Contra insignia medal seen slowly descending during the credits roll.

Ray's golden statue during the final cutscene.

Sheena's golden statue during the final cutscene.

Fang's golden statue during the final cutscene.

Browny's golden statue during the final cutscene.

CX-1 (left) and CX-2 (right) in Ending B of Probotector (MD).

CX-3 in Ending B.

Music

Description	Audio
Theme of Hard Corps Stage 5d cutscene and Stage 6a Mini-Boss - Alien's Den.
Theme of Hard Corps Boss 2 and Stage 5d #1 - R.A.V.E.
Theme of Hard Corps Stage 5 and 5d Mini Bosses and Boss 4 - Format X.
Theme of Hard Corps Cutscenes #1 - Moonlit Army.
Theme of Hard Corps Final Boss - Last Springsteen.

Trivia

• This stage is listed as 12 under Stage Select.
• The checkpoint is directly before the elevator. A second checkpoint is directly before the fight with Big Magnum.
• In the first cutscene, Browny is the only hero who is restrained with blue, different sized handcuffs.
• During the elevator ride up, a bridge can briefly be seen in the background. This may be the same bridge one of the highway stages takes place in.