Mission:Collateral Damage - Part Two: Wars of Old

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Part Two: Wars of Old

Mission Briefing

Alright, Character. I've put together a few possible avenues we can pursue in this investigation, and I wanted to get your-

Laura stops herself short, putting a hand to her ear. You can hear muffled chatter coming from her earpiece.

Missed that last message, Central, please repeat.

As the chatter continues, Laura's eyes grow wide. She looks up at you, her mouth slightly agape.

We're going to have to cut off the planning discussion for now, Character. I just got a report of a massive Column operation near Overlook, and sounds like Council forces are mobilizing to meet them.

This is big, Character. If we don't nip that fight in the bud, it could spill out into the rest of Steel Canyon.

  • How should we proceed?

We'll get you and Leon transport to the area. I know you could probably get there yourself, but we'll need to coordinate our efforts if we want to minimize damage.

Once you arrive at Royal Overlook, I can help direct the two of you. I'll be working with my team at Central, so we should be able to pin down the hotspots and point you to them.

Let me know as soon as you're ready, Character. We can't afford to waste any time.

  • Leave

Unnecessary Solicitation

We don't have a moment to spare, Character. We need to get this show on the road.

Briefing

Are you ready to head out, Character?

  • I'm ready, Laura. (Start Mission)
Ouroboros.png The following only appears when this mission is played via Flashback and the Handwritten Note clue has been acquired.
Briefing

Are you ready to head out, Character?

There is a very narrow window of opportunity if you want to save her.

  • I'm ready, Laura. (Start Mission)
  • I need a moment to check something out.
Laura looks puzzled.
We don't have much time to spare, Character. Whatever it is, please hurry.
  • Never mind, then. Let's go. (Start Mission)
  • This will take no time at all.
Briefing

Hello, Character. It is good to see you. I have noticed you using the Pillar of Ice and Flame by yourself, but I believe this is one task where you could use my help.

  • I'm listening.
Petty Officer Laura Lockhart of the United Nations Special Forces. You have visited this timestream already, and you know how it ends. The 5th Column attacks the UNSF base of operations, and she dies. No matter what you do, you always arrive too late to save her. Have you ever wondered why?
  • She doesn't have a Medi-Porter. But I can give her mine.
Mender Valen shakes her head.
That won't work. By the time you arrive, she is mere seconds from death; even if she were given immediate care in Paragon City, she would still die. And if she didn't... someone would have to go back and prevent you from giving her your Medi-Porter. The deaths of the UNSF soldiers will be one of the causes for the rise of a group called Citizens for Medi-Porters which will play a small part in preventing Primal Earth from falling to the Praetorian invasion.
  • Someone would go back in time to prevent me from saving them?
  • I didn't use any healing abilities. But I can do it this time.
Mender Valen gives you a sad look.
No, Character. No matter how much you train, what abilities you acquire, or what technology you bring with you, you won't be able to keep her alive. And every time, it will feel wrong, because it really should have worked, but somehow, it didn't. The river of time just won't flow down the path where she lives.
  • Someone is changing time to prevent me from saving her?
  • Time travel. Someone is mending the timeline so she always dies.
Mender Valen nods, somber.
History demands that their lives end at that time. Any timeline in which they survive the attack on the UNSF base is mended away. Their deaths create ripples in time, subtle, but necessary to survive the Coming Storm.
  • So if she always has to die, how can you help?
Lockhart doesn't have to die, Character. She just cannot continue her life after the attack. But she can start a new one.
We can extract her from the timeline. You must let the attack on the base play out as it has before, but as soon as you reach her, use an Ouroboros Teleporter to bring her to the Citadel.
Officially, she will be missing in action, presumed killed. The timeline will accept that minor change, and nobody will need to undo our work.
  • Tell me more about that teleporter.
Mender Valen holds up a tiny device.
This can transport a person through time, but only if their timeline is not in the process of being mended away.
This is why I asked you to see me before you head to Royal Overlook. Dupont Tower must not be allowed to collapse. If it does, someone will have to go back and prevent it from happening, negating everything you do after the building explodes. While you can continue to experience the events, the teleporter itself will disappear from the timestream, just like the timeline will fade away once your incursion is over.
  • Understood. Give me that teleporter.
Mender Valen hands you the Ouroboros Teleporter.
Keep it safe while you save Dupont Tower and infiltrate the 5th Column outpost. Those events must still play out as you experienced them. Once you reach Lockhart in the UNSF base, place the teleporter on her forehead without delay. It's already programmed to bring her directly here to the Citadel, where we can heal her injuries in no time at all.
Her face brightens up slightly.
We can cheat death today, Character. Savor this moment. It doesn't happen often
Clue
Ouroboros Teleporter

Mender Valen gave you this device with instructions to place it on Laura's forehead as soon as you reach her inside the UNSF Base. It feels very light to the touch, and almost translucent, as if not really existing in this timeline.

  • (Leave)
  • Why is Dupont Tower so important?
It's not the building that's important. Several employees of Medi-Corp live in Dupont Tower, and it won't be long until they learn that Praetoria has a way to disable existing medi-porter technology during their invasion. They will work their hardest to develop a new prototype before it's too late. Without them, Praetoria will be able to disable the medi-porters and slaughter everyone in Primal Earth who opposes their invasion.
Dupont Tower must not fall.
  • Understood. Give me that teleporter. This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
  • Why her? Why not the others?
By the time of your arrival to the base, the others will be beyond helping, Character. Lockhart's injuries will be severe, but you will reach her before it's too late.
Mender Valen lowers her head. You can tell that she hates what she's about to say.
We can't save everyone, Character. We just can't. Their deaths are needed to set in motion events that will keep Primal Earth safe from Praetoria, and save it from the Coming Storm. We have just this one opportunity to save one person, pluck her out of her doomed timeline and give her a second chance at life. We can't do it for them all. Death can only be cheated once.
  • I know you believe that, but I have to try.
Mender Valen frowns and looks concerned.
Are you sure, Character? Even if you succeed in altering the past, someone else will have to travel back and mend the timeline back. I promise you, I am telling the truth. You only have this one chance to save her.
  • I am sure. I'll do things my way. You hand the note back to Mender Valen. She takes it with a sad expression in her face, but says nothing more.
  • Alright. Let's talk about that teleporter. This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
  • I understand. Let's talk about that teleporter. This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
  • There has to be another way.
Mender Valen shakes her head.
There really isn't, Character. You are trying to swim upstream in the river of time, and the currents are very strong. You can save her life... but you can't let it continue in the past.
  • Sink or swim, I have to try anyway. This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
  • Okay. Let's talk about that teleporter. This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
  • You're spying on me?
I have not invaded your privacy, Character, but as a Mender it is my duty to monitor the usage of the Pillar of Ice and Flame and notice events that could disrupt the timeline. I believe that you are about to cause such an event, and I am offering a compromise.
  • Fair enough. What is this about? This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
  • I don't compromise, and I don't want your help.
Mender Valen frowns and looks concerned.
Are you sure, Character? You did come to see me, so I know that you care about what happens. The events you are trying to change... they happened for a reason. Even if you succeed in altering them, someone else will have to travel back and mend the timeline back. All your efforts will be for nothing.
  • I am sure. I'll do things my way. (This ends the Flashback side branch and Mender Valen will no longer speak to you)
You hand the note back to Mender Valen. She takes it with a sad expression in her face, but says nothing more.
  • Alright, what is this about? This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
  • Have you been leaving me letters in the past?
Mender Valen smiles at you.
I don't write letters, Character. A short note is the safest way to leave a message with minimum interference in the timeline, but it's not safe from prying eyes. It is a very old trick, and only someone with very little experience in time travel would leave a letter... especially one where they discuss things in the open... blatantly... and at length.
While her smile stays intact, her tone of voice says that it's not safe to talk about this in the Ouroboros Citadel.
I'm sure you understand.
  • Very well, why did you leave me that note? This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.


Mission Objective(s)

File:Map STEEL CANYON COLUMN VS COUNCIL.png
Map: STEEL_CANYON_COLUMN_VS_COUNCIL

You hear the sounds of explosions and automatic weaponry in the distance. Time to move.

  • Stop the Fighting in Steel Canyon
    • Rescue the workers at the Construction Site!
    • Stop the fighting downtown!
    • Protect Dupont Tower! (Timed 3:00)

You've managed to stop the open war in Steel Canyon... for now.

Enemies

5th Column
Council

Notable NPCs

Upon Entry

Alright. Can the two of you read me?
Leon Dialogue
There's a construction zone a few hundred yards east of your position. I'm getting reports of a firefight in the vicinity.
Head there first. If that construction site is active, it's a sure bet there will be civilians in the area.

Arrival at the First Objective

I was afraid of this. Those construction workers won't be able to evacuate safely as long as there's fighting nearby. You're going to need to clear the area first.

First Objective Complete

Good work. Let's see... I'm picking up activity near the shops downtown.
The area's been evacuated already, but if the fighting isn't contained, it could spill out into the rest of Steel Canyon.

Second Objective Complete

You're going to need to move fast. I'm getting reports of a massive firefight near Dupont Tower.
That building is old - as in, constructed under pretty liberal fire safety codes. If the fighting keeps up, that whole tower could go up in smoke.

Third Objective Complete
(Success) You prevented Dupont Tower from collapsing!

Ouroboros.png The following only appears when this mission is played via Flashback and the Ouroboros Teleporter clue has been acquired.
Clue
Ouroboros Teleporter

Mender Valen gave you this device with instructions to place it on Laura's forehead as soon as you reach her inside the UNSF Base. Now that you have prevented Dupont Tower from collapsing, it feels more solid somehow, and shines with a soft orange glow.


(Failure)

My god...

There... there were still civilians in that tower, Character. I can't believe...

This has to stop. Take down both sides and END their fighting - by any means necessary!

Mission Completed

Good work. It looks like both the 5th Column and the Council have ordered their forces to withdraw.
At the very least, we've bought ourselves some time.

Badge

Upon successful completion of the timed objective you will be awarded the Steel Savior badge.

Badge

You have gone above and beyond the call of duty and prevented Steel Canyon from turning into a war zone.

Debriefing

We're in the clear for now, Character. All emergency alerts in Steel Canyon have been cancelled, and my team hasn't seen any new ones crop up.

I get the feeling, though, that we don't have a lot of time to work with. What we need now is information, and I think I have an idea how to get it.

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