View source for Tin Mage Mark II Task Force

{{wip|date=2010-12-06}}
== Overview ==
{{req sub}}
{{Infobox TF
|name=The Praetorian Offensive
|image=[[File:Tin Mage Mark II.jpg|100px]]
|img_capt=Vanguard Tactician
|contact=[[Tin Mage Mark II]]
|zone=[[Rikti War Zone]]
|x=-270.4
|y=39.0
|z=-2317.5
|size=8
|levels=50
|merits=40
|threads=10
|astrals=1
|enemies={{enemy Imperial Defense Force}}{{Enemy Malta Operatives}}{{enemy Praetorian Clockwork}}{{Enemy Praetorians}}{{enemy WarWorks}}
|badge=[[File:Badge tf alpha complete.png|32px]] {{BadgeLink|Alpha Struck}}}}

The '''Tin Mage Mark II Task Force''' is a co-operative [[Task Force]] that allows heroes and villains to team together. The Task Force was added in [[Issue 19]] with the introduction of the [[Incarnate System]].

Characters must be level 50 to participate. Enemies are significantly harder as well. All enemies will be level 54.

__TOC__

{{clr}}

{{ArcAward|m=40}}

== Introductions ==
=== Too Low Level ===
Sorry, {{Character}}, you'll need to be at least Security Level 50 to handle the current situation with the Praetorians.

=== Not Enough People ===
The offensive on Praetoria will be very difficult, {{Character}}. {{orange|You'll need a full team of eight people to handle what's coming our way.}}

=== Not Team Leader ===
I need to speak to your team leader, {{Character}}.

== Missions ==
=== {{UL|Part One: Bid for Power}} ===
'''Briefing'''

Greetings. My name is Tin Mage Mark II, the latest model of [[Tin Mage]], rebuilt by [[Vanguard]] after my unfortunate and assumed demise at the hands of the [[Rikti]]. I have been put in charge of forming yet another assault on an alternate dimension. Perhaps it's due to my experience in attacking other dimensions. Or, rather, the experience of my former make. Regardless, the assistance of you and your team is needed on this day. Before we can take the fight to [[Praetoria]], we need to form a united front here in [[Primal Earth]]. This means [[Arachnos]]. Currently, they are having a dire situation with the Praetorian invasion within [[Nerva Archipelago]]. These islands have been disputed for quite some time. Vanguard would like to enlist your aid in taking back Nerva from the Praetorians and moving forward to strike a blow against them on their home turf.

'''Mission Acceptance'''

Excellent, we're going to run this operation as efficiently as possible. There is a Vanguard helicopter waiting to bring you into Nerva Archipelago. Once there, you will need to clear out the 'War Walkers' from the topside, then uncover the Praetorian base of operations in Nerva. We believe the Praetorians have established a secret base within Nerva, as there was no indication that they 'teleported' in. Rather, it appears they activated a hidden base and overwhelmed the area. Oh, and you may wish to be careful. Malta has been making routine assaults against the Praetorians in Nerva. I believe they are trying to retrieve the Praetorian technology for their own use.

'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''

It is curious that Malta has chosen this moment to make their strike. Perhaps we will find out why.

{{Mission Objective|Entrance=The Vanguard helicopter lands precariously on the dock in Crimson Cove.|Primary=Retake Crimson Cove|Secondary=8 War Walkers to Defeat|Additional=** 8 Computers to override within the warehouse
** 30 seconds until War Works arrive
** Defeat Director 11
|Completion=}}

'''Locations'''
* The mission entrance is the black helicopter on top of the Vanguard base building
* Once in the mission, the warehouse entrance is in the far northwest corner

'''Enemies'''
* {{enemy WarWorks}}
* {{enemy Praetorian Clockwork}}
* {{enemy Malta Operatives}}

'''Notable NPCs'''
* [[Director 11]] (Archvillain)

{{divbox|saddlebrown| |
Tin Mage Mark II reporting. It appears that the Praetorians have strong control on this area of Nerva. <br />
I'm looking into the intelligence about the storage facility here for the War Works.<br />
Ignore Malta and take care of the War Walkers; those Malta agents are the least of our worries. }}

{{NPC Text|type=villain|title=War Walkers Dialogue|text=
'''Before combat:''' ''SCANNING... NO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES DETECTED. ''<br />
'''Combat start:''' ''NO CIVILIANS DETECTED IN THE AREA. REMOVING SAFETY PROTOCOLS ON WEAPONS SYSTEMS.''<br />
}}

{{divbox|darkred| |
This is Lord Recluse, contacting the Vanguard operatives calling themselves {{Task Force}}.<br />
Vanguard wishes to earn my trust to help fight off the Praetorians, hrm? <br />
Vanguard is lucky that I wish only the utter destruction of this Tyrant and his regime. I will send Arbiter Daos to the Vanguard compound to begin negotiations.}}

''And once the last War Walker is destroyed:''
{{divbox|saddlebrown| |
Superb work, {{Task Force}}. I've got the data on that facility, it is right nearby. <br />
I am sending the information to you right now, you'll have to overload the computers there to destroy their machines.<br />
Be aware of their alarm system, if you do not disarm those computers in time, you will have to deal with more War Works!
}}


{{NPC Text|type=villain|title=Director 11 Dialogue|text=
'''Before combat:''' ''Move! This is our moment to strike, we can still recover the information on those Walkers!''<br />
'''Combat start:''' ''I'm fully prepared to handle a squad of [[Incarnate]] level metas. You all won't get out of here alive.''<br />
'''At 75% Life:''' ''You metas have too much power, it will eventually destroy you and enslave us all!''<br />
:::''[[Praetoria]] is a prime example of what Malta is fighting against, don't you see?''
'''At 50% Life:''' ''We in Malta fight to keep Earth free, to prevent the same fate that Praetoria met!''<br />
'''At 25% Life:''' ''If you metas hadn't tried to explore other dimensions, we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place...!''<br />
'''Defeated:''' ''You'll... never win the war...''<br />
::''even if [[Tyrant]] is defeated...''
::''one of you will... rise to... replace him...''
}}


Clicking on all 8 devices within 30 seconds of entering the warehouse awards the [[Hacker Badge]].
{{BadgeBox|Hacker}}

Setting off zero proximity mines during the warehouse battle awards the [[Midnight Dodger What Dodges At Midnight Badge]].
{{BadgeBox|Midnight Dodger What Dodges At Midnight}}

'''Debriefing'''

Excellent work, {{Task Force}}, I expected no less from you all. We have Director 11 in custody now and are busy trying to see if we can find any other higher ups within Malta. We hope that he will work together with us, but the odds of that are very small. [[Arbiter Daos]] arrived at the Vanguard compound a few moments ago to begin negotiations. Which means we are going to once more need your aid.

=== {{UL|Part Two: Unique Allies}} ===
'''Briefing'''

We currently have [[Arbiter Daos]] and [[Captain Dietrich]] working on a temporary truce between [[Longbow]] and [[Arachnos]]. I have run the calculations and believe that the odds of any sort of truce being found within the next few hours is slim to none, given the personality of Dietrich and the methods of Daos. I also believe that the Praetorians will take this moment to strike against us to try to break that truce and eliminate two high ranking officials within the two groups. This is assuming that the Praetorians know what is happening, which I believe is a safe assumption to make. 

'''Mission Acceptance'''

Precisely. It isn't the most glorious duty, but your group is the only one that can fight off the incoming Praetorians, should they attack the compound. You should head to the conference room as soon as possible for guard duty. Just be ready for anything to happen.

'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''

Let me know if you all need any more support.


'''{{UL|Part One: The Conference}}'''

{{Mission Objective|Entrance=You can hear Captain Dietrich listing her complaints about forming an alliance with Arachnos|Primary=Guard the Vanguard Conference|Secondary=Attend the conference|Additional=**6 groups of War Works to fend off
** Speak with Apex|Completion=}}

{{EdNote|note=There is no mini-map for this mission.}}

'''Location'''
* Door inside the Vanguard complex

{{Mission Clue|Name=War Work Data Core|Text=You retrieved this data core from one of the War Works within Portal Corp. You're able to use Vanguard technology to hack into it and gather data regarding Cole's invasion plans. One thing stands out to you: whoever programmed these machines made sure that they would not target a civilian under any circumstances. You're unable to tell if this was done by the programmer or an order directly from Tyrant.}}

'''Enemies'''

{{enemy WarWorks}}


'''Notable NPCs'''

* [[Lady Grey]] (NPC)
* [[Arbiter Daos]] (NPC)
* [[Captain Dietrich]] (NPC)


{{Cutscene|Text=
'''Lady Grey:''' Now, I know that this is somewhat... unusual, but we must band together if we're to fight the Praetorians.
'''Captain Dietrich:''' Vanguard is out of their minds! Side with Recluse, with Arachnos?! We can't trust them, we don't NEED them!<br />
'''Arbiter Daos:''' I assure you that we will cooperate. We do, after all, have information that you all could use. Isn't that right?<br />
'''Lady Grey:''' Daos is correct. Dietrich, I don't like it either, but this is war. We need to do this to win.
{{divbox|black| |MAIN COMPOUND HAS BEEN BREACHED! }}
'''Lady Grey:''' What?!<br />
'''Captain Dietrich:''' This is Vanguard's fault for dealing with Arachnos!
{{divbox|black| |ENEMY WAR WORKS HAVE TAKEN THE MAIN COMPOUND! }}
'''Lady Grey:''' {{Task Force}}, I need you to retake the compound while we hold up here!<br />
'''Arbiter Daos:''' Hrm. This is a troubling turn of events...
{{divbox|black| |ALL CIVILIANS PLEASE SEEK SHELTER!}}}}


''After defeating the invaders, Apex will tell you where to go:''
{{NPC Text|title=Apex Dialogue|text=

''I knew something was going to go wrong! Good thing you guys were here to clean it up! We've got a situation on our hands, though.''<br />
''Praetorians have launched an attack from within [[Portal Corp]] and the [[Grandville]] tower.''<br />
''Lady Grey is taking [[The Dark Watcher (Primal Earth)|Dark Watcher]], [[Borea]], [[Gaussian]], [[Serpent Drummer]] and [[Levantera]] to deal with Grandville tower.''<br />
''You need to get to Portal Corp and secure the situation over there.''
}}


'''{{UL|Part Two: Portal Corp}}'''

{{Mission Objective|Entrance=|Primary=Guard the Vanguard Conference|Secondary=4 ACU guards to clear out of Portal Corp|Additional=** Speak with Tina Macintyre|Completion=}}


'''Enemies'''

{{enemy WarWorks}}


'''Notable NPCs'''

* [[Tina Macintyre]] (NPC)


{{NPC Text|type=villain|title=ACU Troops Dialogue|text=
'''Before combat:''' ''PORTAL CORP IS SECURED. BEGINNING PROCESS OF RE-ROUTING FURTHER PORTALS. ''<br />
'''Combat start:''' ''ENEMIES DETECTED. INITIATING COMBAT PROTOCOLS. ''<br />
}}

{{NPC Text|title=Tina Macintyre Dialogue|text= Thank goodness you all arrived when you did, the Praetorians just started pouring out from the portal! With the area cleared out, we can secure the portal again, but there's still a large number of them up in the courtyard!

}}


'''{{UL|Part Three: The Courtyard}}'''

{{Mission Objective|Entrance=|Primary=Guard the Vanguard Conference|Secondary=3 groups to defeat in the courtyard|Additional=** Defeat the Goliath War Walker|Completion=}}


'''Enemies'''

{{enemy WarWorks}}


'''Notable NPCs'''

* [[Goliath War Walker]] (Archvillain)


{{NPC Text|type=villain|title=ACU Troops Dialogue|text=
'''Before combat:''' ''PORTAL CORP IS SECURED. REQUESTING ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO MOVE FORWARD INTO [[Peregrine Island|PEREGRINE]]. ''<br />
}}

{{NPC Text|type=villain|title=Goliath War Walker Dialogue|text=
'''Combat Start:''' ''[[Tyrant|EMPEROR COLE]] WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO KEEP THIS PLANET IN CHAOS''}}

{{divbox|saddlebrown| |
This is  Tin Mage. Excellent work in securing Portal Corp. <br />
Time is of the essence. We are going to establish the coordinates for the Rift Enclosure in Praetoria, along with a stable line of defense.<br />
Return to the Vanguard compound and prepare yourselves. We are going to send you all through to strike at the Praetorians before they can send in their main invasion fleet.}}


'''Debriefing'''

You have all done an upstanding job at defending Primal Earth from the Praetorian Invasion. Halting the force within [[Neutropolis]] will allow us to more easily handle the current forces that are within Primal Earth. If that army were to have marched through, [[Atlas Park]] and [[Grandville]] would have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of [[Praetorian Clockwork|Clockwork]], War Works, [[Praetorian Police Department|PPD]], [[Imperial Defense Force|IDF]], and [[Powers Division]] members. We still have a long way to go before this war is over with [[Praetoria]], but we have pushed back their initial forces. As I understand, there are some other incursions by the Praetorians throughout [[Paragon City]]. If you and your team are still able, speak with [[Apex]] to see what you can help with.

=== {{UL|Part Three: Stop Cole's Invasion}} ===
'''Briefing'''

{{Missing}}

'''Mission Acceptance'''

{{Missing}}

'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''

{{Missing}}

{{Mission Objective|Entrance=You're guided to Portal Corp by a Vanguard helicopter. Ahead, you hear the sounds of the back up team. If you fall, they'll only survive for minutes before the Praetorians overwhelm them.|Primary=Stop Cole's invasion|Secondary=Enter the portal into Praetoria|Additional=** Defeat Neuron
** Defeat Bobcat
** 2 Goliath War Walkers to destroy|Completion=}}


'''Location'''
* Portal inside Vanguard base


'''Enemies'''

{{enemy WarWorks}}
{{enemy Imperial Defense Force}}
{{enemy Praetorians}}


'''Notable NPCs'''

* [[Neuron]] (Archvillain)
* [[Bobcat]] (Archvillain)
* [[Goliath War Walker]] x2 (Archvillain)


{{NPC Text|type=villain|title=Neuron Dialogue|text=
'''Before combat:''' ''Come on, come on... I programmed this to go faster! Why isn't it working?! ''<br />
'''Combat start:''' ''Great, more problems. Can't you see I'm trying to launch an invasion here? ''<br />
'''At 75% Life:''' ''Why can't you all just lay down and let us take over your world?''<br />
'''At 50% Life:''' ''This would be so much easier if you all could understand the word 'surrender'.''<br />
'''At 25% Life:''' ''You do realize that this won't stop anything, right? I'm a speedster, I recover quickly, it's what I do.''<br />
'''Defeated:''' ''I won't hear the end of this for a while, but you've only prolonged the inevitable. You'll see soon enough.''
}}

{{NPC Text|type=villain|title=Bobcat Dialogue|text=
'''Before combat:''' ''This is boring, why do we have to stick around for this?''<br />
'''Combat start:''' ''Who're you? Are you really going to make me fight? ...Great ''<br />
'''Neuron at 75% Life:''' ''HEY! Don't you hurt my boyfriend!''<br />
'''Neuron at 50% Life:''' ''You get your grimy primal hands off of him!''<br />
'''Neuron at 25% Life:''' ''Get away from Berry! I won't let you hurt him!''<br />
'''Neuron Defeated:''' ''Ohhh, you WON'T get away with this! I'll tear you all APART!''
}}

{{NPC Text|type=villain|title=Goliath War Walker Dialogue|text=

'''Walker One:'''
:'''Before combat:''' ''ACTIVATING EMPOWER PROTOCOL FOR ALLY GOLIATHS ''
:'''Combat start:''' ''[[Tyrant|COLE]] WILL NOT TOLERATE [[Primal Earth|PRIMAL EARTH]] BRINGING HARM TO THE PEACE OF [[Praetoria|PRAETORIA]].''

'''Walker Two:'''
:'''Before combat:''' ''ACTIVATING EMPOWER PROTOCOL FOR ALLY GOLIATHS ''
:'''Combat start:'''  ''YOU WILL NOT DESTROY THE UTOPIA THAT HAS BEEN CREATED HERE.''
}}


Defeating Neuron before Bobcat reaches 50% health and then defeating Bobcat awards the [[Kitty's Got Claws Badge]].
{{BadgeBox|Kitty's Got Claws}}

Defeating 40 of Neuron's clones awards the [[Army of Neu Badge]].
{{BadgeBox|Army of Neu}}

Completing this mission awards the [[Alpha Struck Badge]].
{{BadgeBox|Alpha Struck}}


'''Debriefing'''

You have all done an upstanding job at defending [[Primal Earth]] from Praetorian invasion. Halting the force within [[Neutropolis]] will allow us to more easily handle the current forces that re within Primal Earth. If that army were to have marched through, [[Atlas Park]] and [[Grandville]] would have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of [[Praetorian Clockwork|Clockwork]], [[WarWorks]], [[Praetorian Police Department|PPD]], IDF and [[Powers Division]] members.

We still have a long way to go before this war is over with Praetoria, but we have pushed back their initial forces. As I understand, there are some other incursions by the Pretorians through [[Paragon City]]. If you and your team are still able, speak with [[Apex]] to see what you can help with.

Completing this mission awards the {{BadgeLink|Alpha Struck}} badge.
{{BadgeBox|Alpha Struck}}

== Rewards ==
As of [[Incarnates Ascend|Issue 20.5: Incarnates Ascend]], completing the Tin Mage Mark II Task Force awards 40 [[Special Salvage#Reward Merit|Reward Merits]] and will bring up a selection window where a character can choose among the following:
*1 [[Astral Merit]] (once per 20 hours)
*10 [[Incarnate Thread Component]]s
*1 [[Inspirations#Inspiration Levels|"Super" Inspiration]]

== Master of Tin Mage's Task Force ==

If you successfully earn all of the following badges, you will receive the [[Master of Tin Mage's Task Force Badge]]:
* {{BadgeLink|Hacker}}
* {{BadgeLink|Midnight Dodger What Dodges At Midnight}}
* {{BadgeLink|Kitty's Got Claws}}
* {{BadgeLink|Army of Neu}}

{{BadgeBox|Master of Tin Mage's Task Force}}

== Souvenir ==

'''Goliath Memory Core'''

You took a memory core from a Goliath War Walker during your fight against them in [[Neutropolis]]. There's a lot of information that you can use from the core, either for the good of [[Primal Earth]] or for your own ends. It reminds you of an experience you call...

'''The Praetorian Offensive'''

It all began when you formed a team to push back the invading [[Praetorians (Enemy Group)|Praetorians]] with a robot named Tin Mage Mark II. You travelled to [[Nerva Archipelago]] to retake Crimson Cove from the Praetorians. It was there that you discovered a secret base where War Walkers were being manufactured. You destroyed the base and also defeated Director 11, one of the enigmatic members of Malta's council of Directors. Tin Mage then requested your team to guard a conference between members of [[Longbow]] and members of [[Arachnos]]. As expected, the War Works attacked the conference, but you were able to push them back and secure [[Portal Corp]], and just in time. Tin Mage alerted you to the fact that the Praetorians were planning to launch their full army through a portal in Neutropolis. You went through the portal in Portal Corp and attacked the heart of Neutropolis, defeating [[Neuron]], [[Bobcat]], and their initial force of Goliaths, putting a halt to the Praetorians' initial invasion plans. The war may not be over, but now [[Tyrant|Cole]] knows there are forces in Primal Earth that he can't easily swat down.

== History ==
{{Historical|type=section}}

Prior to Issue 27, Page 3, characters without an Alpha ability slotted suffered a -4 level shift during the Tin Mage Mark II Task Force. Characters no longer need Alpha unlocked or slotted to participate.

{{PowerBox|Icon=Incarnate StoryArc.png|Name=[[Emperor Cole's Incarnate Control]] |Effect=-Combat Levels|Desc=[[Tyrant|Emperor Cole]]'s control over the forces of the [[Incarnate]] are preventing every hero, villain or in-between from utilizing their full strength. This is effectively causing you to fight at four combat levels lower than you actually are.

Only those who have embarked on the path of the Incarnate and are utilizing an [[Alpha Slot Abilities|Alpha Incarnate ability]] are immune to the effect and fight at full strength.}}






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