Mission:Collateral Damage - Part Three: On the Home Front
Part Three: On the Home Front
Briefing
We've tried Leon's approach, and frankly, I'm not all that impressed. He's a good fighter, but he doesn't really do 'subtle' and he tends not to leave much room for information gathering.
I'm hoping you'll have better luck. My team has managed to pattern most of the comm traffic between Column cells, and we think that they're receiving outside help. Every time the 5th Column attacks the council, the operation's done before the Council even know what hit them. They always seem to know what their opponent's defenses are, and how to bypass them. Heck, the fact that they even know the locations of some of these bases implies that they've gotten their hands on a solid source of info.
If that's the case, then we need to ferret out their source and shut it down before the fighting gets out of hand.
- Do we have any leads?
Just one. I know that the Column have set up an outpost in an old warehouse in Steel, and we know that they haven't been moving supplies through it. It also doesn't have much strategic value, at least in their conflict with the council.
That leads me to believe that the outpost is being maintained as a rendezvous, outside of the warzone. if the Column have an outside informant, that would be the ideal place to set up a meeting. I'm willing to bet that the officer in charge over there has exactly what we need to put a stop to the surge.
Laura pauses for a moment, taking a deep, slow breath.
Look, I know it's a lot of 'ifs', but it's the best lead we've got. I still feel like we can get a handle on this case, Character. We just need a bit of luck on our side.
Infiltrate the 5th Column Outpost
Unnecessary Solicitation
I don't want you to rush this, Character, but we can't really afford to delay, either. When you're ready, you'd better head to that outpost.
Mission Objective(s)
You can see what Laura was talking about. The 5th Column have barely bothered to fortify this place. It's certainly not being used for any standard operations.
- Infiltrate the 5th Column Outpost
- Defeat the outpost leader
- Talk to the Officer
- Use the comm terminal
You've learned of an attack on the UNSF facility!
Enemies
5th Column Officer
Briefing
You... you have likely ruined my standing in the eyes of my commanding officers, and you have humiliated me in front of my own soldiers.
So congratulations, 'hero', but I must ask: what more could you possibly want from me?
- I'm here to learn about the Column's new informant. Start talking.
The officer chuckles at you.
Naive. I told you I had been shamed, Character, but you cannot expect that I will loosen my tongue, merely because of a little bruising. The 5th Column rewards traitors with death.
Besides, your efforts are fruitless. I do not know our benevolent sponsor's identity, and I suspect that even high command has been left in the dark.
- Wait, your informant doesn't meet you here?
Ha! If he were so bold as to meet with us directly, we would have tortured all relevant information out of him long ago. No, he remains aloof, and we are left to scramble for the pieces he deigns to give us.
The officer's tone gains a hard edge as he continues.
Oh, we've made progress against the traitorous Council, certainly. But I am no fool. Our informant has only ever given us enough to maintain a stalemate. We have never learned enough to gain the upper hand.
I do not know what game our informant plays, but I do know this: his loyalty is not with the 5th Column. He toys with us and misdirects us. Were it not for my orders to remain here and receive his communications, I would track him down personally, and teach him that the 5th Column is not to be trifled with.
- So you do communicate from here... interesting.
The officer hesitates, calming himself. When he speaks again, he does so cautiously.
I... have told you nothing of value, Character. We make no visual contact; our communications are audio-only. You'll have no luck identifying him from here...
The officer falls silent for a long moment, eyeing you warily.
Why... are you staring at me like that?
- I was just thinking... Column soldiers all sound the same. It must be the filters on your masks.
The officer pauses in thought, then tenses up, pulling away from you.
You... you wouldn't DARE...
- [Forcibly remove the soldier's mask filter]
The officer resists, and you're forced to knock him out, but you manage to remove the filter from the rest of his costume. With this, you should be able to make a fair impersonation of a 5th Column soldier, as long as no one's looking at you.
- Leave
5th Column Officer: You... fiend...
Communication Terminal
Briefing
As you approach the display, you can see that a communications line has already been established. A distorted voice can be heard on the other end of the line.
-ome IN, damn you! What's going on over there? Where is the commanding officer of this facility? I have vital information that must be forwarded to-
- [Place Filter] Calm down, I'm here.
The informant goes silent for a moment. When he speaks, the urgency in his voice has been replaced with a wary, cautious tone.
You're not my usual contact. What's going on? Why have I not been informed of this change?
- The previous commander did not see the value in your advice. He has been... removed.
I can't say that I'm surprised. He spent most of his time threatening me with 'the wrath of the 5th Column' instead of listening to what I have to offer.
The tension in the informant's voice fades. It appears you've convinced him of your authenticity.
Well, you should know that there's been a... problematic development. The U.N. has gotten involved. I was able to control their movements for a time, but that's become impossible now. If you want to continue making headway against the Council, you're going to need to take action.
- I... see
I've already uploaded coordinates and schematics of the UNSF's base of operations in Paragon. You'll see that I've taken the liberty of forwarding this information directly to Field marshal Metzger. He has agreed that immediate action must be taken.
I must warn you, however. The UNSF does not have a powerful presence in this city, but they've hired on a local hero, Character. I've seen him / her fight personally, and I can't stress enough that he / she must be considered a threat. Make him / her your highest priority target.
It sounds like an attack on the UNSF base is imminent. Laura may be in danger!
- ... Understood.
Defend the UNSF Base
Briefing
From what the 5th Column's informant told you, a large-scale assault on the UNSF base may already be underway. They're not equipped to repel an assault force. You'll need to get there quickly, if the local UNSF forces are to have any hope of survival.
Unnecessary Solicitation
Laura isn't responding to your signal. This... does not bode well.
Mission Objective(s)
The 5th Column have already begun their assault. You may have been too late to intercept them, but you may still be able to drive them out!
- Defend the UNSF Base
- Find Laura
- Use the nearby terminal
- Break the 5th Column siege!
You have broken the 5th Column's siege!
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Laura Lockhart (Ally, non-combat)
- Field Marshal Metzger (Boss)
Upon Entry
Further In
Further In
Briefing
Laura remains prone on the floor, breathing hard. You can see red stains slowly spreading across the front of her shirt. It takes a moment for Laura to take notice of your presence, but when she does, she cranes her neck to face you and smiles weakly.
Hey, it's Character... glad... you could make it, buddy...
Laura attempts to right herself, wincing in pain. After a moment, she gives up, and lies back down slowly with a pained sigh.
I don't... think I'll be much help... at this point...
- Hush. We need to get you medical attention.
- Laura begins to laugh softly, but it quickly turns into a hacking cough.
- You're sweet, Character... but I think I'm... past that now.
- She smiles at you. Despite her condition, the smile seems genuine.
- Hey, cheer up, buddy. We've got them... on the run...
- Laura closes her eyes, and breathes out a soft sigh. Her eyes remain closed, but the slight smile on her face remains.
- Damn...
- As you prepare to move onwards, you notice the nearby terminal is blinking with an alert. It appears that someone is trying to get a signal through.
- Investigate the terminal
- I don't have time for this. The Column are still swarming all over this place.
- Laura's face becomes grim, but she nods at you.
- That's the spirit... go get 'em... sir.
- Laura smiles to herself, amused at her use of your honorary title.
- It was... an honor...
- Laura lifts her free hand to give an attempt at a salute, grinning despite her condition. Her hand then falls limp, and she lets out a shallow breath of air.
- Rest well, Lockhart
- As you prepare to move onwards, you notice the nearby terminal is blinking with an alert. It appears that someone is trying to get a signal through.
- Investigate the terminal
Comm Terminal
Briefing
You approach the terminal and open the communications line. Immediately, Leon's face appears on the screen.
Character. I was hoping to speak with Lockhart. Where is she?
- Laura's dead. The 5th Column are storming the base... where are you?
Leon frowns, ignoring your question.
That's a shame. About Lockhart, I mean. Really, I don't think she was ever cut out for this kind of thing. Too good-natured for war.
Leon's expression darkens, and his voice gains a grim quality.
You, on the other hand, were capable enough to cause problems. Really, none of this would have been necessary if you had left me alone to my work.
- And what work is that, exactly?
- The Council and the 5th Column are woven from the same cloth, Character. Both organizations, if left to their own devices, would be capable of atrocities you could hardly imagine.
- There is only one way to deal with the two of them, and that is to turn them against one another. At their current pace, both sides are suffering tremendous losses. Given enough time, they will become weak enough for the heroes of Paragon to eliminate them entirely... but only if the war is allowed to continue.
- And the innocent bystanders of this 'war'? Are they expendable?
- Frankly, yes. If by doing this I can prevent either side from becoming a threat - a true global power - then the costs of this war are a necessity.
- I don't enjoy this, Character, but I will do what needs to be done. I can understand your position. I know you want to do the right thing. You were just...
- Leon pauses, as if trying to find the correct phrase.
- You... were in the way. You're collateral damage, in this war. I'm sorry it had to be this way.
- It doesn't, Leon. You can stop this war, and end the suffering.
- Your words fall on deaf ears. As you are speaking, Leon cuts the signal, and the terminal goes blank.
- Though the signal is lost, the terminal still displays tracking info for its origin. You make a point of recording the coordinates before leaving.
- Leave
- Not as sorry as you're going to be, Leon. I'll find you, sooner or later.
- Your words fall on deaf ears. As you are speaking, Leon cuts the signal, and the terminal goes blank.
- Though the signal is lost, the terminal still displays tracking info for its origin. You make a point of recording the coordinates before leaving.
- Leave
- You cowardly piece of trash! I'll make you PAY!
- Leon lets out a humorless chuckle.
- You have no idea the situation you're in, do you? The entire weight of the 5th Column army has descended onto a poorly-defended, understaffed facility and you are their primary target. Oh, I've seen you in combat. You'll put up a grand fight, and when you go down you'll take a dozen soldiers with you. But you can't fight an army.
- And every man you crush beneath your fury brings me one step closer to my goal. So by all means, Character... struggle, with all of your power. You would be doing me a great service.
- Don't play coy. You're in league with the Column!
- Simpleton. I am in league with the Column only so far as they can bring harm to their rivals, and in turn can be harmed themselves. The Council and the 5th Column are rabid dogs, turned on one another. The best thing is to let them tear at each other until they have no more fight left, before moving in for the kill.
- You couldn't understand that, and that's why you're stuck in a burning building with a fascist horde breathing down your neck.
- You have no one to blame for your fate but yourself. Shout and scream all you like, but in the end, it changes nothing.
- It's a shame. I always thought you were one of the good guys.
- Your words fall on deaf ears. As you are speaking, Leon cuts the signal, and the terminal goes blank.
- Though the signal is lost, the terminal still displays tracking info for its origin. You make a point of recording the coordinates before leaving.
- Leave
- Run, Leon. Run hard. When I get out, I'm coming for you.
- Your words fall on deaf ears. As you are speaking, Leon cuts the signal, and the terminal goes blank.
- Though the signal is lost, the terminal still displays tracking info for its origin. You make a point of recording the coordinates before leaving.
- Leave
Track down Leon
Briefing
You managed to fend off the 5th Column's assault force, but the damage had already been done. The UNSF is in tatters, as Leon had planned. Your only hope in catching him lies in the coordinates you recorded - the origin of his comm signal.
Unnecessary Solicitation
The signal on Laura's communicator is understandably silent. After all that has happened, it falls to you to end the 5th Column surge.
Mission Objective(s)
These are the coordinates you recorded after tracing Leon's signal. With any luck, he'll still be here.
- Track down Leon
- Speak with Leon
You've intercepted Leon, and ended the 5th Column's surge!
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Leon (+++ Missing Information +++)
- Commandant Eberhart (+++ Missing Information +++)
Leon
Briefing
You escaped, Character. Even knowing your capabilities, I admit that I'm surprised. I didn't expect someone of your... naivete to be able to survive Metzger's assault. I suppose I stand corrected.
Leon's eyes narrow, and his shoulders tense. You notice his grip on his blades tightening.
So... here we are. What do you plan to do, now that you have tracked me down?
- Leon... I understand why you're doing this, but the 5th Column have to be stopped.
- Don't you see, Character? You can stop the Column here, and yes, the immediate threat will be solved.
- But what I'm working towards could end the 5th Column, and the Council, completely. All the suffering they've caused, all of the killing... how many years must it continue? How many future lives will be lost because we chose not to act now?
- And if you fail? If this war continues, and you have nothing to show for it?
- Leon bristles at your suggestion, but sighs in resignation.
- If you had asked me that a week ago, I would have laughed at you. I would have claimed that such doubts are for those who are unable to make the hard decisions. But now...
- Leon chuckles grimly, without humor.
- Thanks in no small part to your efforts, I can feel my grip on this situation slipping. I do have doubts... and if all of the pain and suffering that I have helped cause becomes pointless, then I become no better than the fascists themselves.
- Alright, Character. I'm smart enough to know when I'm fighting for a lost cause. What do we do now?
- My mark on three. One, two...
- Leon smirks, and tenses his body in preparation.
- Three.
- Combat Start:
- Leon: Surprise, Eberhart...
- Commandant Eberhart: You... you will PAY for this treachery!
- So, it's done.
- Eberhart was the last of my contacts in the 5th Column. At this point, even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to keep supplying them with the information they'd need. Their momentum against the Council will falter, and the war in Steel Canyon will end... for better or for worse.
- You see tinges of anger and regret in Leon's face. Yet, more than anything, Leon simply appears... tired.
- You've won, Character. I've got nothing left. So I ask you, Hero... what happens now?
- Leon... you've done things that can't go unanswered.
- Leon nods slowly at you.
- I know, Character. I won't run from my crimes. At the very least, I've committed treason, along with a host of other offenses.
- I never cared about my own fate, Character. If this is how it ends, then I would ask that you at least understand that. I worked with the worst kinds of men, and caused great harm... and I acknowledge that. But... if my plan had only succeeded... we might have been rid of a scourge on Paragon City.
- After a moment, Leon sighs, and hangs his head.
- But... none of that matters, now. Come, Character. It's time for me to face my fate.
- Very well.
- I can't let this continue, Leon. Whatever it is you're planning, it ends now.
- Leon makes an exasperated sound, looking away from you.
- I should have guessed that would be your attitude. You just can't seem to see past what's immediately in front of you. Just cling to whatever code you follow and fight whatever you're told to, like a good little soldier.
- Leon sighs, and his shoulders slump slightly.
- Look, Character. I've been party to some terrible things in the last few months, and I fully accept responsibility for what I've done.
- Despite that... I'm not going to fight you. I'll be damned if I raise my blades directly against another Hero... especially against you.
- Then I only have one thing to take care of.
- ...Yes. Yes, I suppose you do.
- Leon turns away, as the soldiers behind him converge on you.
- Leave
- Combat Start:
- Commandant Eberhart: You would do well to surrender, Character. You cannot win.
- Leon: Commander, do as you will.
- So, it's done.
- Eberhart was the last of my contacts in the 5th Column. At this point, even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to keep supplying them with the information they'd need. Their momentum against the Council will falter, and the war in Steel Canyon will end... for better or for worse.
- You see tinges of anger and regret in Leon's face. Yet, more than anything, Leon simply appears... tired.
- You've won, Character. I've got nothing left. So I ask you, Hero... what happens now?
- Leon... you've done things that can't go unanswered.
- Leon nods slowly at you.
- I know, Character. I won't run from my crimes. At the very least, I've committed treason, along with a host of other offenses.
- I never cared about my own fate, Character. If this is how it ends, then I would ask that you at least understand that. I worked with the worst kinds of men, and caused great harm... and I acknowledge that. But... if my plan had only succeeded... we might have been rid of a scourge on Paragon City.
- After a moment, Leon sighs, and hangs his head.
- But... none of that matters, now. Come, Character. It's time for me to face my fate.
- Very well.
- I should expect that would be obvious, after what you did. You won't leave here alive.
- Leon raises his blades into a guarded position. Without averting his eyes from you, he jerks his head in the direction of the troops behind him.
- Are you sure you want to do that, Character?
- More than sure. You're not getting away this time, murderer.
- Very well...!
- This one's for Laura.
Badge
Completion of this mission awards the War Hero badge.
| {{#explode:File:Badge i22 mission sc warhero.png|,|0}}{{#explode:File:Badge i22 mission sc warhero.png|,|1}} | War Hero You stood in the middle of a war between the Council and the 5th Column, and emerged the victor. |
Debriefing
Without Leon's help, the 5th Column's offensive is doomed. The fighting is sure to die down, and Steel Canyon will no longer remain a battlefield.
The 5th Column and the Council will likely retreat to their bases and outposts to lick their wounds. They will return, without a doubt, but for now... there is peace.
