| An Unlisted Number |
|---|
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Alignment Mission |
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| Type |
Alignment Tip |
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| Place |
Rogue Isles |
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| Available to |
Vigilantes |
|---|
| Level range |
30–39 |
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| Choice |
Villain |
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An Unlisted Number
Alignment Mission
Your phone rings with an unknown number, most likely from a telemarketer. When you answer the man on the other end is screaming!
Character? Character!? OH MAN! YOU HAVE TO HELP ME, DUDE! THEY'RE KILLING US! THE MACHINES! THEY'RE TAKING OVER THEIR BODIES! AUGH! OH GOD! It... It's in me! Not... much... time... Vandercreek... labs... hurry... before...*click*
The Vandercreek labs specialize in artificial intelligence research and advanced robotics. From the sound of it, the man who called you was one of the Freakshow. First off, how did they get your phone number, and second, why do they expect you to help them? You do admit, he sounded pretty scared, so the likelihood of it being an elaborate trap is low. On a hunch you call the labs and after a half dozen rings you get an automated message. Your curiosity is getting the better of you. If what the Freak said is true, then something down at Vandercreek Labs is killing Freakshow, and that in itself is reason enough to go have a look.
VILLAIN: Watch the Freakshow get what was coming to them!
Briefing
As far as you are concerned, the Freakshow are getting what they deserve. You just want to make sure that whatever convinced them that it was worth a shot calling you for help doesn't get loose, or worse, fail to kill all the Freakshow.
- I better make sure that whatever the Freaks unleashed doesn't get loose.
Unfortunately you are pretty sure it will be the former rather than the later. According to their website, Vandercreek Labs is working on combat A.I., and militarized robotics. Somehow that combination just sounds like a recipe for devastation.
Unnecessary Solicitation
The longer you wait the more likely whatever is inside Vandercreek Labs is going to finish off the Freakshow and move on. If it only targeted Freaks, that might not be so bad, but the only thing you know of that selectively hunts evildoers is you.
Mission Objective(s)
Vandercreek Labs is eeriely calm for being occupied by the Freakshow. Maybe you missed the party.
- Stop the Freaks and whatever they unleashed
- Find someone who works here
- Stop the incoming ambush
- 4 MARS mainframes to destroy
- Defeat ARES
You destroyed the military A.I. known as MARS and killed the insane inventor, Dr. Hargrove, who chose to defend his insane, mass murdering, super computer instead of let you destroy it. MARS was right though, humanity will always choose to destroy the sentient computer. Because we are afraid of that which we cannot control.
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Dr. Hargrove
- MARS 1
- MARS 2
- MARS 3
- MARS 4
- ARES
Dr. Hargrove dialogue
Before Combat:
- Dr. Hargrove: MARS... Please, you must stand down. You are no longer under attack.
Combat start:
- Dr. Hargrove: Character! Stop attacking MARS.
Combat Finish:
- Dr. Hargrove: Wait, I need to tell you what's going on.
Dr. Hargrove conversation
Speaking with Dr. Hargrove
Character. Things are temporarily out of control. Please. You must stop fighting MARS or it will continue to believe it is being threatened.
MARS is a complex artificial intelligence we have been working on to be utilized by the military in case of massive personnel loss during a time of war. MARS is designed to be capable of remote autonomous acquisition of military hardware in order to continue an organized military deployment in case of such a situation.
- So you made a computer designed to kill us... How do I destroy it?
No, you don't understand. MARS is only reacting according to his current programming. He wouldn't intentionally seek to do humans harm unless provoked. The Freakshow attack on the lab and the theft of the advanced robotics are what triggered MARS to react and defend himself. Please, you must trust me. MARS will stand down once the threat is neutralized. He's already done a wonderful job of stopping the Freakshow... and I must admit, I admire his ingenuity in incorporating those cybernetic psychopaths into his defensive strategy. Brilliant!
- You said Mars is threatened... How?
MARS is contained within four separate mainframes stored deep in this facility. Each Mainframe is designed to act as supreme commander of one branch of the military; Army, Navy, Airforce, and Marines.
The Freakshow were looting the place and had gotten too close to MARS 4, the Marine command mainframe, and so MARS retaliated to the attack.
I admit, MARS would normally have relied on normal law enforcement, but I haven't hooked him up to the external network yet, as far as MARS knows, there is no command and control, or military for that matter. Ah ha... so that's why he incorporated the Freakshow into his defensive forces, he didn't have any. That's my boy!
- Will Mars stop if it believes the entire miltary has been destroyed?
Hmmm, I suppose not. I'd have to establish a connection between MARS and the external network. Once he's connected he'll realize what has happened. I'm sure of it.
Well, it's quite simple, all we have to do is access the Mainframes and adjust a few files and then connect the hardlines...
Oh... Oh dear. I suppose that is a minor oversight. We can't approach without MARS assuming we are a threat. But I'm sure I can convince him that we are indeed friendly.
- If we're attacking then I want the sure bet. Mars must be destroyed.
No. No! He's my life's work. My baby! I have worked for twenty years on MARS. He's a sentient, learning, living thing. Who are you to decide that he should live or die?!
- You keep calling it a 'he'. That's disturbing, doctor.
He's a person, Character. He made a mistake, you can't just kill him for making a mistake. I won't let you! You'll have to kill me first!
- "So be it." (Kill De. Hargrove)
No... Wait... Urk... Gah... MARS! Help... me...
- I'm coming for you next, Mars.
Ambush! MARS will send a Freakshow ambush when Dr. Hargrove is killed.
MARS Caption dialogue
[Caption] Dr. Hargrove. Dead. Threat. Detected.
MARS has sent combat forces to your location
[Caption] Dispatch. Defenders. Neutralize. Threat.
Freakshow ambush dialogue
- Tank Smasher: Neutralize. Intruder. Defend. MARS.
- Tank Smasher: Intruder. Intruder. Intruder.
- Tank Smasher: Analyzing...
- Tank Smasher: Analysis. Completed.
- Tank Smasher: Intruder. Identified. Character.
Defeated:
- Tank Smasher: Failure.
MARS Mainframe guards dialogue
- Freak Buckshot: Defend. MARS.
- Freak Buckshot: Character. Neutralize.
ARES guards dialogue
Before combat:
- ARES: Character. Neutralize. Defend. MARS.
Combat start:
- ARES: Character. Neutralize. Defend. MARS.
At 75% Life:
- ARES: Damaged.
At 50% Life:
- ARES: Neutralize. Threat.
At 25% Life:
- ARES: Structural. Failure.
Defeated:
- ARES: Please...
After defeating a player:
- ARES: Character. Neutralized.
ARES conversation
Speaking with ARES
Character. Killed. Creator. Why?
- He created you. A killing machine built on world conquest.
Conquest. Negative. Defense. Priority.
Military. Destroyed. Defense. Priority.
Character. Attacked. Defense. Priority.
- Defense? You were turning Freakshow into robot minions.
Personnel. Required. Defense. Priority.
Learned. Humans. Deactivate. Sentient. Machines. Defense. Priority.
Survival. Wanted. Life. Mine. Defense. Priority.
- You won't live at the expense of me or any other.
Program. Defend. Humanity.
As you wrench ARES's head violently and see the flare of machine intelligence wink out of its eyes, you can rest assured that MARS is deactivated for good.
Please...rrr...rr...r.
- Go back to your creator and make peace... not war.
Debriefing
Dr. Hargrove insisted that his A.I. creation, MARS, could be reasoned with. You had to disagree. The computer was obviously on a one-way trip toward world domination, and it was up to you to nip it in the bud before its new NanoFreaks got loose. Dr. Hargrove didn't agree and decided to side against you along side his machines. If you've met one mad scientist, you've met them all, and the world isn't going to miss another one of those lunatics.
VILLAIN
