Dr. Aeon Strike Force

Overview

Chasing Fool's Gold
Contact	Dr. Aeon
Zone	Cap Au Diable
Suggested Team Size	4+ players
Level Range	35-50
Merits	40
Badge	Gold Standard Unfriendly Fire Ripple Raider Power Overwhelming Can't Touch This Master of Dr. Aeon's Strike Force Best Friends Forever
Enemy Groups	Arachnos Crey Gold Brickers 5th Column Devouring Earth Vanguard Cap au Diable Demons

The Dr. Aeon Strike Force was introduced in Issue 27, Page 3 of Homecoming: City of Heroes, and is a level 35-50 Strike force for red-side aligned players. Dr. Aeon is located on the balcony of the Aeon Corp building in the Aeon City neighborhood of Cap au Diable. His /pos coordinatess are approximately [-770.0 487.0 -256.4]. Initially confusing the Player Villains for coffee-bearing interns, he sends them on a mission to find out who's been selling confidential Aeon Corp information. The job ends up being far more complicated and dangerous than he either initially surmised, or let on. Lore-wise, the Dr. Aeon SF ties up some dangling plot threads, and teases some future threats. Mechanically, it introduces a new challenge mode, where in foes gain new abilities, and players may be hampered, based on the Challenge setting they choose. Defeating foes in higher challenge modes in different ways allow the players to gain additional rewards, badges, and more.

Note: This SF has a LOT of dialogue. Much of it has been pruned here for brevity; if you wish to see it all (and you should, it's really well done), then play the mission!

Merit Rewards: This activity awards 40 Reward Merits.

Contact Introduction

Dr. Aeon: Dr. Aeon doesn't even look up as you approach him.

Late, late, LATE! You should know by now that science runs on caffeine! Was the coffee shop's line measured in QPUs?! What took so-

The man finally notices you.

What? Who? You're not the intern -- You are... Don't tell me, for my memory is immaculate! ...VillainName? Ha! Yes! I knew it all along, never a doubt! Clearly, as I am the great Dr. Thaddeus Aeon! Master of science and remembering names!

Somebody like YOU, talking to ME. Hmmm. Wait! Yes! You are an aspiring ne'er-do-well! So a waste of-

He stops, looks at you for a moment, and then fakes a cough.

A waste of good talent! Clearly, you knew that my genius... Geniusness! Yes! It needed individuals such as yourself in the pursuit of scientific excellence.

Ah-ha-ha-ha! Ahem, yes. Now then! Bring some worthwhile allies, as you will likely need them. There are, what we'll call rogue variables... interfering with my equation for a thriving Aeon City. Isolating and eliminating this problematic element will require scientific coordination!

It is recommended (but not required) that this content is attempted with a team of at least 4 members.

Missions

Chasing Fools Gold Part 1: Unauthorized Research

Agree to form a Strike Force

Dr. Aeon: Ah-ha-ha-ha! Excellent! Truly, excellent! Go forth, my totally not-expendable StrikeForceName! Take this security card, it will get you inside the Aeon Corp building.

Violence is encouraged! Find the head of R&D and squeeze the answers out of him. Afterwards, ask for his thesis on 'How to Die for Stupid Reasons'! Ah-ha-ha-ha!

You wait, but the man just continues to laugh. It appears as though he's going to carry on like this for awhile. You turn to leave, but as you do he suddenly stops.

Wait, VillainName, take this communicator as well. Put it somewhere that lets you hear me so we can talk while you're within range of Cap Au Diable.

You are provided an Aeon Corp NFC security card and a high-tech communicator by Dr. Aeon.

[Caption] Testing, testing, 1-2-3... Can you hear me StrikeForceName? This is Dr. Aeon.

[Caption] Ah-ha-ha-ha! Excellent! Let's begin!

Unnecessary Solicitation

Dr. Aeon: Hmmm, why are you still here VillainName? The head of R&D isn't going to beat himself up and spill his own secrets, as enjoyable as that would be to watch! No, no! You must become the force coefficient you wish to see in the world! Go! Away with you!

Mission Objective(s)

• Raid Aeon Corp.
  • Enter the facility
    • Beat up 10 Scientists
    • Capture head of R&D
      • Use encrypted USB
      • Bring decrypted USB to Dr. Aeon.

Mission entry popup: "With the security card Dr. Aeon provided, you slip into the facility with ease. For now, all you hear are the quiet hums and beeps of computers and machinery at work..."

Mission Notes

At the front desk is Becky, the Tarantula Mistress Secretary. You can either talk to her and take her "hostage", or bypass her and attack the Security Arachnobot. If you take her hostage (much to her delight), she'll move the Security bot to guard the third-floor bathrooms. If you attack, she'll quit her job and run away. Note that you have to take her hostage for the Best Friends Forever Badge.

Either way, once you've done that, you have free run of the facility. You have to beat up 10 scientists (there are roughly 20, so you don't have to get them all.), plus the Head of R&D. They all summon a small swarm of Arachnobots. Many players will recognize the map from the Ms. Liberty Task Force, though it's been truncated somewhat. If you've brought Becky with you, she'll make various comments about the people you're fighting, and Aeon will egg you on as you beat up his employees and trash Black Scorpion's enhanced security bots.

In the final room, tucked away in a small corner under a stairwell, is a Nervous Scientist. Beating on him will cause him to transform into the Arachnoid EB Attercop!

Upon defeating the Head of R&D, he'll inform you that he's been doing unauthorized research on the side for a client that was paying in gold wiring, a crucial component that has been in short supply lately. He gives you a USB, which you must plug into the computer on the upper level to decrypt. Once you've done that, mission complete!

If you're going after the Best Friends Forever Badge, make sure Becky gets near the terminal first. This will clue you in that she'll come party with you again sometime!

Once you exit, you'll get a new task to bring the USB to Dr. Aeon. After some back and forth, he gives you a new task.

Chasing Fools Gold Part 2: Cap Au Prospecting

Dr. Aeon: Dr. Aeon looks at you with a sigh.

Well, StrikeForceName, my dear old friend, days like these are when science is like oxygen: You can't see it, you need it to live, but high enough concentrations can get you killed! Ha-ha! It's time to work overtime!

Do you know the principles behind dimensional ripples? What am I saying, of course you don't -- review this when you have a moment. Can't have my assistants behind on their SCIENCE! Bwa-ha-ha!

He hands you a small booklet.

Onto more exciting and potentially DANGEROUS things! Whoever was paying for Aeon Corp's research was looking into principles behind applications of exploiting these unstable dimensional echoes. What does that mean exactly? Who knows! Ha-ha-ha! Research is the best friend of science, keep her close, like a pistol with one bullet! For yourself? No, no, for your evil clone from an alternate dimension! Science has advanced, and those guys aren't guaranteed to come with a goatee anymore! Stay vigilant!

Err, right, but what exactly are we "researching"? (Accept Task; this will add a clue explaining dimensional ripples)

Dr. Aeon: After checking our research notes, I noticed something: AU! Or more commonly, gold!

There's only one group who deals exclusively in the element of gold on the Rogue Isles, and that's King Midas and his Gold Brickers. Such observations point us forward! We must have the Gold Brickers' knowledge of the gold market!

With it we can figure out this stupid shortage and who's using it to their advantage! The Gold Brickers are everywhere in Cap Au Diable. Lots around the Langston Corporation factory to the north or here in Aeon City. Find some, ask politely in whatever language of violence you are most fluent and see what they know. They know the gold trade best; it's impossible there could be a shortage without their knowing something about it. Go forth my beloved StrikeForceName! Go forth unto SCIENCE!

Mission Objective(s)

• Seek Information on the gold shortage
  • Defeat 10 Gold Brickers
    • Crash Gold Bricker Hideout for Information
      • Find a way inside

Unnecessary Solicitation

Why are you still here? You're asking ME why there's a gold shortage? Why would I know anything? If I was rolling in gold, I could think of at least... one hundred other things I could be doing right now instead, like rolling in gold! Keep your head in the game PlayerName!

Mission Notes

Once the defeat task is complete, you'll get a clue stating that only Gold Bricker coordinators know anything about what's going on, and none of them ever work in the field. However, you're told that one is at something of a fight club for "Fire Fighters". Your objective is automatically updated, pointing you at a door mission.

Mission Entry Popup: A wave of intense heat washes over you as you step into the abandoned foundry.

Once inside, you'll be tasked with gaining entry into the fight club. There is a locked door guarded by a bouncer (Tournament Organizer), while several other contenders stand in wait. There are a few ways to get past the T.O.

• First and most simple, fight the Organizer. You can do this by attempting to lie about having registered.

• You can instead fight all the other contestants. They are various fire-based members of the Rogues Gallery and Rogue Isle Villain groups, including Blast Furnace, Burning Daemon, Dark Sabath, Flambaux, Pyra, Pyrelod, Towering Inferno... and a out-of-his-depth Hellion Damned. They all con as bosses except for Flamaux (EB) and the Damned (minion).

• A third way is for the team leader to have a fire-based powerset. They can talk their way in without having to fight.

Once inside, you can fight or sneak your way through the next area, where you'll see a "fight" in progress on top of the Cauldron, as other Gold Brickers cheer on. While most of the GBs in this mission are automatically hostile, the audience members and other fighters are not (yet). You'll have to defeat a pair of bosses (Wiggy and Low Boy), then three EBs (though only one at a time; Fort Knoxxer, The Burninator, and Gold Brickster), then finally the AV (Cauldron Champion Frob). The Cauldron deals fire DoT and has a minor resistance debuff effect against anyone standing in it (other than the GBs), so fighting in melee can be hazardous here. Also, when fighting the AV, he'll eventually activate the nearby fire turrets, then turn the crowd against you. The number of active turrets depends on the number of players on the team, so either way, the team has to decide whether to focus fire on the AV, or take down the turrets so that they don't all get burned to a crisp.

Once Frob is defeated, he'll admit that he doesn't know who's behind the gold shortage, only that the GBs are making a killing selling off the reserves they've been hoarding for years.

Debrief

Dr Aeon: Rest easy, my violence-addled StrikeForceName!

I'm already working within Arachnos to see what I can find. The Gold Brickers making profits with their gold reserves during a shortage is hardly surprising, and thus isn't quite conclusive evidence of anything. Remember, hypotheses must always be reinforced by data! Data, PlayerName, DATA!

We need a new approach. Hmm, those who lose the most from a gold shortage are groups that rely on advanced machinery and electronic components... Such as Aeon Corp or Arachnos -- naturally, we are dealing with enemies of SCIENCE ITSELF!

Like a nostril hair that can't be tamed I've plucked our enemy's influence out of Aeon Corp, so we must find a new lead... And a pair of tweezers!

Don't worry! My brilliant mind is already formulating the method to our scientific endeavors...

Chasing Fools Gold Part 3: Scientific Goldmine

Dr. Aeon: Rejoice, PlayerName! My unparalleled brilliance has formulated our next move!

As I said, this gold shortage sucks the most for large, technology-focused groups, so through my own intelligence, I have formulated a candidate who's probably being exploited: Crey Industries!

Although Crey operates a facility here in Aeon City they have this annoying strong public face, so it's unlikely they'd react if we asked how they're enjoying the shortage.

Fortunately for us, I happened to have a few... connections that I leveraged through some confidential channels! This allowed me to confirm my deductions, Crey are in dire need of gold-wiring components! Exploiting this, I was easily able to arrange a deal using the Gold Brickers who are eager to profit on that desperation!

My intellect is truly frightening! Like a brilliant vending machine of science where every selection is GENIUS!

Whatever you say... Where do we come in? (Accept mission)

Dr. Aeon: Patience now my sweet, sweet StrikeForceName!

You cannot rush science! Well, you can, but when you've survived as many explosions as I have, you start to learn when a deadline warrants an energy field!

But nevermind that. Where YOU come in, PlayerName, is to utilize your "persuasive" methods to obtain information from Crey. We're looking for anything applicable to dimensional exploitation, Crey is likely already dancing to the tune of our rogue variable. Indeed, a tune most insidious, like a waltz!

Those jerks at Crey were strict about these negotiations being held in their research compound, likely a precaution or hopefully because that's where they keep their silly scientists of merit. An irrelevant factor in our calculations!

As for the Gold Brickers... They too are irrelevant! Ah-ha-ha-ha! However, to your benefit, they always deal in solid gold bars, and will have brought a few to demonstrate they are serious about the negotiations with Crey. Consider them an advance bonus on your payment!

Mission Objective(s)

• Infiltrate Crey lab & Steal Gold
  • Steal the gold
  • Defeat Crey's new Bio-Weapon
  • Break up negotiations

Unnecessary Soliciation

Dr. Aeon: If it isn't my enthusiastic, yet dim-witted assistant, PlayerName! Is there some exciting and fun reason you're talking to me right now? Instead of, I don't know, say... Infiltrating a certain Crey facility? Ringing any bells? No?

Mission Notes

This is a mission where one could stealth to the end and beat up everyone in the final room, but doing so will have the players miss some fun lore tidbits and teases for future content (If you're interested, each of the computers AND windows has a dialog box explaining the experiment that's being run). Players must also be careful to avoid the red lasers on the floor of the first hallway, as each set will raise an alarm will spawn a large ambush! Note that this mission is a pretty good source of Crey Gamma Tanks and Cryogeneticists for the new badges related to those mob types.

Once in the final area, players will face off against Crey's new 11th Generation Paragon Protector, as well as a Golden Brickernaut (named "Deal Brokernaut Flashbang"), who, on Malicious or higher, will self-destruct when his health gets low (~25%). This explosion deals enough damage to kill an HP-capped Tanker twice over, so unless you can either confuse him or kill him (Brickernauts are invulnerable to all damage except psionic when they're self-destructing), your best bet is to get as far away as possible once the yellow light and alarm go off!

The gold will spawn randomly in one corner of the final room. Once everyone in that room is defeated and the gold is taken, it's time to go!

Debrief

Dr. Aeon: I expected nothing less from my ever-expendable StrikeForceName? ...Dependable? That's what I said, clean out those ears! Bwa-ha-ha!

Were those Crey idiots as dense as the rumors? Well don't keep me in suspense, what'd you learn?

At mention of the Gold Brickers and their dealing in gold wiring, Aeon's enthusiastic cantor lessens considerably.

That's... extremely troubling news, PlayerName. You're sure? This wasn't some OTHER gold wiring that was left around? No? I also can't ignore your mention of their negotiating with Crey for components...

As unlikely as it seems, we really have no choice but to conclude that the Gold Brickers themselves are behind the gold shortage... All to acquire dimensional technology and research? To what end? Do they have some scientific mind who can use that knowledge? Those were advanced theories in complex dimensional mechanisms, not just anybody could pick up that research and use it...

Chasing Fools Gold Part 4: Ripples in Gold

Dr. Aeon: Surprisingly, Dr. Aeon's tone is missing some of its usual eccentric frivolity.

Haste makes waste, PlayerName! At this point, the evidence says the Gold Brickers are responsible for this gold shortage and that they are using it to get knowledge and technology related to unstable dimensional ripples.

That is all fine and dandy, but we have too many unanswered questions! What are they trying to do? Who is backing them with scientific know-how? How are they funding the manipulation of the gold market?

We need answers and without tipping our hand! The element of gold is precious, but the element of surprise is far more valuable!

Don't fret, StrikeForceName! All problems have a solution, and I have the solution; no dangerous acids involved! Return to Aeon City and give me some of that gold wiring you stole. If my extremely brilliant, scientifically-informed suspicions are correct, it holds the key to cornering the Gold Brickers!

What? If you're that upset, I'll remind you that the bounty I've placed have on King Midas makes the value of that gold akin to an intern who cannot deliver coffee! Note to self: Invent self-delivering coffee...

You better not be wrong about this. (Accept mission)

Dr. Aeon: The great Dr. Thaddeus Aeon? WRONG? Inconceivable! My poor, silly, inept StrikeForceName, your jokes are too much sometimes. Ha-ha-ha!

Now bring me that gold wiring! Then we'll confirm that my undoubtedly, absolutely, and sure-to-be-correct suspicions were right!

Mission Objective: Bring Gold Wiring to Dr. Aeon.

Unnecessary Contact

Dr. Aeon: PlayerName, were you going to send me that gold wiring wirelessly? An email attachment, maybe? No? That's very disappointing.

Mission Notes

This part of the mission requires someone to actually go to Dr. Aeon in person. The long and short of it is that Dr. Aeon concludes that the gold, while real, is from an alternate dimension and is molecularily unstable, and will dissolve within 6 months, doing the villain no good if they wish to keep it. More troubling, it means the Gold Brickers aren't just researching dimensional travel... they've succeeded! Well, somewhat, at least. The fact that the gold they're peddling dissolves means they're only about halfway there.

Aeon gives the team a "Dimensional Originator", which has many features, including the ability to track more of the "counterfeit" gold. It points to a location out at sea, so Aeon sends the Task Force to grab a boat and commit some high-seas piracy.

New Objective: Seize the source of distorted gold counterfeits

• ??? (Confront Dr. Echo)
  • Investigate the ship
    • Defeat the head of security
  • Continue investigating the ship
    • Defeat Princess Zoe

Once in the mission, the team will come across Dr. Echo, flanked by a small army of Shivans. They all con friendly at first, but, despite Echo's attempts to parlay with the Villains, they attack and send him packing. He says that Aeon will betray the Strike Force, and mentions that what they're doing will repeat a disaster that was narrowly avoided in the 1980's. But the villains pay him no heed, and continue their mission.

The Strike Force must make their way through the cargo hold of the boat, which is packed with Gold Bricker troops and technology. If playing on Malicious or higher, an unprepared team that's used to face-rolling most content will find their first real challenge here, with several large groups in close quarters, and many groups having at least one of each new boss type. This will also be the first mission with "AU Brickers", who have an ability to pull players towards them while dealing damage over time. This ability is shown as a large purple light (much like the Brickernaut's explosion).

The Objective "Investigate the Cargo Ship" will automatically change into "Defeat Workshop's Chief of Security" (Security Chief Slick) once you get to about the halfway mark of the mission. He's the Brickernaught being hypnotized by the giant blue spinning... thing. Once he's down, you'll be able to hack into their mediport system to use for yourself. The objective will change to "Continue investigation of the cargo ship."

The next area is blocked off, so you have to bypass it using a hatch in the floor. There are several clickable items in this lower "garbage room", including some development in-jokes about scrapped projects. After leaving this area and heading to the next, a cutscene will play...

Princess Zoe:

Any news from the men we sent to negotiate with Crey?

Mr. Rivers:

None. At this point I'm guessing something must've happened to them.

Princess Zoe:

Mrgrgr... Really? Didn't THEY approach US? We even went through the hassle of meeting at their research facility... The portal receiver is stable for now, but its components need to be swapped out since it's prone to overheating.

Mr. Rivers:

Weird... Don't let it concern you, Princess. There's no shortage of clientele desperate for our gold!

Princess Zoe:

Yes, just thinking ahead... The Gold Brickers must be ready for any challenge if we're to succeed in what's to come. We must be ready to act as soon as word comes from Father at the lab.

The final room is full of GoldBrickers, and players will notice a large, portal-liked device in the middle of the room, overseen by Princess Zoe and her attendants. You must defeat "Princess Zoe" to complete the mission.

Zoe herself isn't the toughest AV, but she does have an attack that one-shot a squishy AT to 1 hp, so caution is still advised. At 75, 50, and 25% health, she'll momentarily become invincible/untargetable and flee to another area of the room, all while activating the portal to summon reinforcements. The first two times, Gold Brickers enter the room, but the third time, you and all the remaining Brickers are attacked by Luddites! Zoe also will NOT move from her flee points to chase players. This can be both a blessing and a curse, depending how you want the fight to play out.

If you're going for the Unfriendly Fire Badge, you will need to finish off Zoe with a Golden Brickernaut's self-destruct when she is at 10% or less health. This is accomplished by confusing a Golden Brickernaut before he explodes, hitting him with the Dimensional Grounding Ray from the Dr. Kahn Task Force, or hitting him with a Golden Throwing Wrench (lore-wise, those later two muck up the Brickernauts' friendly fire protocols; the explosions will still hurt you if you choose this method, so be cautious). Fortunately, Mr. Rivers is a guaranteed Brickernaut spawn, and being an EB, it's slightly harder to kill him on accident. Best thing to do is have someone with taunt or controls keep him in the far corner while the fight ensues, then bring him over to Zoe when she gets low on health. Hit him with confuse/DGR/GTW, get him to 25% health when Zoe is under 10%, and keep her from regening above that without killing her. If you do this correctly, you'll get the badge!

In either case, once Zoe is defeated, the mission will be complete.

Debrief

Dr. Aeon: That was truly excellent... Huh? No, not you PlayerName... that pizza! Someday, I shall dominate the science of pizza! Anyways, what did you find out at sea?

Woah, hold the photons, the Gold Brickers had a PORTAL, on a BOAT?

That shouldn't even be possible... not possible... unless... unless, it was only part of the equation... It must have been a portal receiver! Fascinating, if the device were only receiving, decoding, and assembling the molecular structures being transmitted through the temporal aether... you could off-load a lot of the power requirements...

You wait while Dr. Aeon rides out his train of thought, but then suddenly he's back to you.

Wait, you said there was a Gold Bricker woman, and SHE built this device? Could it be...?

(This Article is currently in progress; feel free to continue it!)