Mender Silos Strike Force

This article is about the villain Strike Force. For the hero Task Force, see Mender Silos Task Force.

Mender Silos

Trading Places

Contact: Mender Silos
Level Range: 46 - 50
Notes: You can attempt this strike force solo, but a team is recommended.
Zone: Ouroboros
Location: Ouroboros Citadel ledge
Primary Enemy: Longbow
Name: Trading Places

Missions

Agree to form a Strike Force

Aid the "Mendacious Man"

Trading Places
Part One

Strike Force briefing

It might be hard to believe that there was a time when Lord Recluse stood at the precipice of taking over Paragon City. As is so often the case, he and his 'patrons' failed in their mission due to the supposed heroes of your time. I propose a pronunciamento to you, one who is not so terrified of the taboo, that perhaps Recluse should have succeeded. Not justfor his gains or even all of the Rogue Isle, no it's much bigger than that. For mankind to survive the 'coming storm', Lord Recluse must rule the world.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in issues #10 - 12 of the City of Heroes comic book. Enjoy.

Note: This series of mission is recommended for group play. You're welcome to try it as a solo player, but it'll be tough. Consider yourself warned and good luck either way.

Mission Acceptance

I'll send you back in time, insert you into the Arachnos and guide you through it all. Our goal is to make sure Lord Recluse succeeds this time.

The first step is for you to track down a mendacious man I believe to be at the root of this. Seek him out and aid him if he'll take it. He is at the fulcrum of these events and you may very well be right at his side, Character.

Unnecessary Solicitation

You need to find your way through the portal and into the life of Arachnos past. It's not far back, you may even see yourself if you were a part of them in that 'then'.

But that is not important. What is important is that you look for the man at the root of this struggle. He will be at Siren's Call... waiting for you.

Mission Objective(s)

• Aid the "Mendacious Man"
  • Escort Manticore to Arachnos Flyer

You've escorted Manticore to the Arachnos flyer. From here on out, it'll be Lord Recluse who determines what to do with him.

Enemies

Longbow

Notable NPCs

• Manticore (Hostage/Ally), Hero)
• Ms. Liberty (Enemy) (Guarding Manticore, Hero)
• Arachnos Fortunata (Arachnos Fortunata) (Ally, Minion)

Ambush! After entering the mission, eventually, there will be an ambush by Longbow.

Ambush! Upon rescuing Manticore, there will be an ambush by Longbow.
"Manticore! Get back here."

Arachnos Fortunata

Upon Entering Mission: There is a strange aura about you, Character.
Come, we haven't the time. Let us find him.

Manticore (and Ms. Liberty) dialogue

Before combat:
Ms. Liberty: "Manticore?!"
Manticore: "Sorry,"
Ms. Liberty: Justin?!?"'
Manticore: "No choice."'
Ms. Liberty: "Why?"
Combat start:
Ms. Liberty: "I see you've brought help."
Manticore: "Give me a hand here."
Upon rescue: "Take me to your leader."
If lost: needs info
If refound: "Take me to your leader."
Upon reaching location: no message

Debriefing

Well done, Character. Are you wondering why you aren't seeing the changes in the time stream. You wouldn't, not yet. I however can. You are a rock rising out of the stream with all of possibility flowing around you.

Before you leave, I want you to be aware of my gratitude.

Trading Places

Mender Silos, a man who claims something beyond the good and evil you surround yourself with, sends you to Siren's Call to find Manticore. History tells him of a time when Manticore crossed the line from hero to villain. Silos believes that this point in history is key to determining what happens in the future and how to stop it. You go to Siren's Call and discover the Vindicators are there engaged in battle with Manticore. Never one to turn down a fight with Ms. Goody-two-shoes, you decide to aid Manticore. Afterwards, he looks you straight in the eye and says the funniest thing, 'take me to your leader.'

This should be interesting.

Determine the true depths of Manticore's evil ways.

Trading Places
Part Two

Briefing

You don't have to hide your thoughts from me. I can see them all over your face. You don't believe Manticore would turn against his kind. Very well, I have just the place for you to go next. You will see who Manticore is willing to become.

Are you interested in seeing this transformation ?

Mission Acceptance

Recluse made a proposal to Manticore: take out Sister Psyche. If you had difficulty believing Manticore would turn on his own, you'll likely find this even harder to believe. So, go back in time and see what this man who claims to be a hero did and then tell me, is it the actions or the intention behind them that makes us heroes or villains ?

Unnecessary Solicitation

You need to go with Manticore and help him take out Sister Psyche. Or, if he changes his mind, be there to witness what he does. The Arachnos will believe that you are working for Lord Recluse directly. They will give you no cause for worry.

Mission Objective(s)

Sister Psyche has infiltrated Arachnos. Be warned, things might not be what they seem.

• Aid Manticore against Sister Psyche
  • Capture Sister Psyche

You've aided Manticore in capturing Sister Psyche.

Enemies

Arachnos

Longbow

Note: Arachnos and Longbow will be hostile to each other.

Notable NPCs

• Manticore (Ally, Hero)
• Sister Psyche (Enemy, Hero)

You've found a hand written letter addressed to Character.

Dear Character...

While time traveling into the past, you visit an Arachnos Base and in a crate you find a handwritten letter addressed to Character...

While you have not yet met me face to face, I hope you've grown to see the truth to my words and begun to question your Ouroboros masters. You, of all people, should not be bound by their constraints. They have come all across the cosmos, disregarding the law of nature, but yet they bind you to the events they control. Have you noticed how they rarely send you into the future? What secret do they guard there that they don't want you to learn?

Mender Silos gives you no choice. It is only I who offer you that simple right. All I ask in return is that you question him, question Ouroboros, question everything - even me. I expect nothing less from you. You are an individual of intellect who will see through their lies and once you do, you will find me at the end of it, offering you the truth you deserve. It is then and only then that we shall truly meet for the first time.

Until that time, I trust that you have found my letters and have taken them to heart. Ultimately, the choice will be yours. As always, look for me in the Pillar. I will make myself known when the time is right.

Travel well.

Arachnos chatter

Combat start: Must. Attack. Character.

Sister Psyche dialogue

Combat start: I can't believe Manticore would side with you.

Debriefing

Well done. You've captured Sister Psyche. Now Lord Recluse will use her to power his Jade Spider. This of course, will kill her, nothing I'm sure you're too worried about. However, her death may well be what saves the world. I apologize if you find this mission morally ambiguous.

Lazarus was right about you. We did come to the correct time.

Trading Places

Even though Manticore claims loyalty, Lord Recluse does not truly believe him. A challenge is put forth to Manticore to 'capture Sister Psyche'. You're sent in to aid Manticore, when in truth you know you're there to keep an eye on him if he happens to feel the need to become heroic again. However, you discover that Sister Psyche isn't the type to just sit back and let herself be captured. She's assaulted an Arachnos base looking for Manticore. She doesn't believe he'd turn and on the off chance he did, she decided to make some friends by mentally taking over the entire Arachnos base.

Assault Siren's Call

Trading Places
Part Finale

Briefing

The time has come. Recluse has made his assault on Siren's Call. From there he will sweep across Paragon and then the world. If my hypothesis is true, then he will succeed and in his success, he will actually save the world from annihilation.

Mission Acceptance

Siren's Call will be the staging ground for the Arachnos assault. You must go there and aid Lord Recluse's army. There will be many trying to stop you, but you must succeed.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Go to Siren's Call. Take down the Longbow and defeat every hero there.

Mission Objective(s)

The time has come for Lord Recluse to take his rightful place as ruler of the world. Here, in Siren's Call, is where it all begins.

• 50 Longbow to defeat
• Defeat Synapse
• Defeat Ms. Liberty
• Defeat Mynx

• Defeat Infernal
• Defeat Malaise
• Defeat Numina

• Defeat Citadel
• Defeat Positron
• Defeat Synapse Again

• Defeat Manticore
• Defeat Sister Psyche
• Defeat Statesman

You've managed to destroy the Freedom Phalanx as well as the Vindicators. Siren's Call is now in the hands of Arachnos.

Enemies

Freedom Phalanx

Vindicators

Longbow

Neutral Forces

Arachnos

Note: Neutral enemies will not give experience or infamy for enemies they fully defeat. They will not follow the team either.

Notable NPCs

• Jade Spider (Neutral) (Archvillain)
• Arachnos Fortunata Mistress (Neutral) (Boss)
• Ghost Widow (Ally) (Archvillain, actually Boss-class)
• Black Scorpion (Ally) (Archvillain, actually Pet-class)

Bug! Though Ghost Widow and Black Scorpion are presented as Archvillains, Ghost Widow's Hit Points and attacks are more like those of a Boss-class ally, while Black Scorpion's Hit Points and attacks are more like those of a Pet-class ally.

Hero set 1:

• Synapse (Enemy) (Hero)
• Ms. Liberty (Enemy) (Hero)
• Mynx (Enemy) (Hero)

Hero set 2:

• Malaise (Enemy) (Hero)
• Infernal (Enemy) (Hero)
• Numina (Enemy) (Hero)

Hero set 3:

• Citadel (Enemy) (Hero)
• Positron (Enemy) (Hero)
• Synapse (Enemy) (Hero) ...again.

Hero set 4:

• Manticore (Enemy) (Hero)
• Sister Psyche (Enemy) (Hero)
• Statesman (Enemy) (Hero)

Bug! The name of Malaise is incorrect: Maliase

Ambush! You will be ambushed by a hero when the hero is entering the mission. At the beginning there's no hero in the mission. Synapse will attack you after 15 Longbow have been defeated. When Synapse has been defeated, Ms. Liberty will attack you followed a little later by Mynx. Thereafter heroes will attack you in "sets" of 3 heroes like displayed in the NPC description. The heroes of a set will not appear simultaneously but with a short delay between each hero and not necessarily in the order given above. Beware that each hero has his/her Longbow support.

Ghost Widow

Lead the way, Character. We've got a world to rule.

Synapse

(first spawn): Looks like I got here just in time.

(second spawn): I'm back! What did I miss?

Ms. Liberty

Synapse, slow down!

Infernal

We came as soon as you called, Liberty.

Numina

Now this won't do at all.

Citadel

Your logic is flawed, Character.

Positron

Alright, it's time for the professionals.

Missing first part of text?

Manticore:

You can tell your boss it was all a lie.

Statesman and I set it all up from the beginning.

Recluse, that egomaniac bought it. To think that I would turn on the Phalanx.

These are my people... my family.

And this, this is for Sister Psyche.

Debriefing

You've managed to alter the timeline so that Lord Recluse overtook Siren's Call. From there, he will be able to siege Paragon City. There will be resistance of course, but all the major powers have been taken out thanks to you.

The causality curve should catch up to our own time like a wave. However, I must tell you, do not expect a tsunami to wash across us. There are too many other factors from then to now that could push the time back to when it was. Time is a difficult thing to change, often taking numerous alterations to make even a minor adjustment in the future.

This is why I have chosen to bring Ouroboros here rather than some when else. Lazarus and I have determined that this is the strongest temporal node with the potential for greatest alterations, but as with everything else, only time will tell.

Souvenir

Trading Places

The hero known as Manticore has always walked a line between the light and the dark. On this day, he crossed it, joining Recluse and the rest of the villains to take down the Freedom Phalanx. However, his betrayal was not to the heroes but to the villains.

You aided him in his battle against the Vindicators, bringing him into the fold of Arachnos. You were even there when he brought down Sister Psyche. With the way he coldly went after her, no one say he was 'faking' it.

Yet, when the moment of truth came and Lord Recluse began his assault on Siren's Call, Manticore turned on you. Regretfully for him, his betrayal was too late. The Jade Spider performed perfectly, mentally commanding all those opposing to join Arachnos. The Phalanx and Vindicators were taken down. Even Manticore was made to pay for his double cross.

Lord Recluse was able to begin his true siege of Paragon City. You sit back in your own time and wait for what the Ouroboros call the causality curve to catch up to now

Reward

Unlike the larger Strike Forces, "Trading Places" is more like a Story Arc, and can be completed in about an hour. Consequently, it has no accomplishment badge, and offers only a Single Origin Enhancement reward instead of a Pool C Recipe.