Silver Mantis Strike Force

Overview

Pirates of the Sky
Contact	Silver Mantis
Zone	Sharkhead Isle
Suggested Team Size	4 players
Coordinates	(-1375, 0, -597)
Level Range	20-25
Merits	42
Badge	Air Pirate
Enemy Groups	Council Crey Freakshow The Lost Sky Raiders Tsoo Turrets

The Silver Mantis Strike Force is the second of five main Strike Forces on City of Villains, needed for the Strike Force Commander accolade. The other four strike forces are Virgil Tarikoss Strike Force, Operative Renault Strike Force, Ice Mistral Strike Force, and Dr. Aeon Strike Force. Silver Mantis is located in Sharkhead Isle west of the Architect Entertainment building. The team leader may begin her Strike Force by speaking to her there.

Merit Rewards: This activity awards 42 Reward Merits.

Introductions

Initial Greeting

Colonel Virgil Duray, the leader of those pathetic paramilitary renegades known as the Sky Raiders, has hatched a plan to vault his little band of mercenary misfits to the top again. They plan to plunder enhancement technologies, drugs, and even some minor magics from every group they can. They just made one mistake: They didn't clear this desperate little power-grab with Arachnos. So now they have to fail.

Lord Recluse has asked Black Scorpion to handle it, and he's authorized me to create a task force of whomever I see fit. So I'm looking for mercenaries, killers, madmen, and murderers who can get the job done and crush the Colonel Duray's little plan.

Missions

Agree to form a strike force

Briefing

Now that you're ready, let's cause some violence! Colonel Duray's first operation is also their biggest long-shot. Seems that they've noticed the tattoo magic of the Tsoo, and want to control it for themselves. Personally, I think just getting ink is for weaklings who don't have what it takes to drill some real metal into their bones, but those magic skin-scrawlings could give them some extra power. So you get to stop the Sky Raiders from getting it, and get to crack some Tsoo Heads in the meantime. That sounds like a great time out to me!

Mission Acceptance

You'll have 3 things to do in there. First, you have to defeat the leaders on both sides, and their personal guards. The Skyraiders have a Captain Lee, and the Tsoo have a Master Li. Don't worry about getting them confused, as long as they both end up the same way. Oh, and also find 2 of their tattoo artists, and return them to us. Scirocco is always interested in anything magic, having a few of these tattoo masters on ice could be a good bargaining chip.

Unnecessary Solicitation

You won't be done until you've crushed both Captain Lee and Master Li, and you've captured those tattoo artists.

Mission Objective(s)

File:Map TSOO TATTOO PARLOR.png

Map: TSOO_TATTOO_PARLOR

The Sky Raiders normally stick to high-technology thefts. They must be in trouble if they're experimenting with magic.

• Stop Sky Raider attack
  • 2 Artists to kidnap
  • Defeat Lee
  • Defeat Li

You defeated both sides' leaders and captured the tattoo artists!

Enemies

Sky Raiders

Tsoo

Notable NPCs

• Tsoo Tattoo Artist x 2 (Hostages, must escort to exit)
• Captain Lee (Sky Raiders Wing Raider Officer) (Lieutenant)
• Master Li (Tsoo Death's Head) (Boss)

Sky Raider Dialogue

Before Combat:

Assault Raider: Stop lagging, the others are already inside!

Wing Raider: I know, I know.

Wing Raider: It's just...

Assault Raider: What? Out with it!

Wing Raider: Well, 'Magic Tattoo ink'? It just seems weird.

Assault Raider: Yeah, but a weapon's a weapon.

Combat Start:

Assault Raider: We didn't hire any supervillain support! Attack!

Captain Lee Dialogue

Before Combat:

Captain Lee: Yes, sir! We'll have this wrapped up short'Lee'!

Captain Lee: Yes, Colonel.

Captain Lee: Yes, Colonel.

Captain Lee: No, sir. I'll never use that joke again, sir.

Combat Start:

Captain Lee: Everyone's a critic!

Master Li dialogue

Before Combat:

Master Li: Tell them that victory will be ours, abosolute'Li'!

Master Li: On second thought, don't use the Absolute'Li' line.

Master Li: That's just terrible.

Combat Start:

Master Li: So, the Sky Raiders are not our only opponents?

Master Li: No matter!

Tsoo Tattoo Artist dialogue

Before Combat:

Green Ink Man: Beware, honored sir! There are Sky Raiders here to take you!

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: Sky Raiders?

Combat Start:

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: If they beat you, then you are undeserving of my art.

Green Ink Man: We will not fail!

Upon Capture:

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: I have been captured.

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: An interesting development.

If Lost:

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: No one around. Time to stretch my legs.

When Found:

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: And once more I am in wicked hands.

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: Well, more wicked hands.

At Exit:

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: The road ends here, but will a new one open?

Tsoo Tattoo Artist: We will see.

Ambush! After capturing each Tattoo Artist, you will be ambushed by two waves of Tsoo.

Ambush Dialogue

Green Ink Man: They have one of our Tattoo Artists! Attack!

Debriefing

Good work. I'm sure our Mu mystics will want to have words with those weak old men about their tattoo magic. I'm only sorry I won't be there to watch them work. Now, the Sky Raiders aren't over yet. There's still a lot more violence that needs to be done!

Stop Sky Raiders attack on the hospital

Briefing

Duray's Next target is an underground hospital being run by the Lost in New Haven. Those bedraggled scavengers have scrounged up a good deal of Rikti medicines from the war, and are using them to patch up their forces. The Sky Raiders want that for their own troops, and are willing to kill to get it. So you better be willing to do the same to stop them.

Mission Acceptance

The main objective is to stop the Sky Raiders, and capture those Rikti drugs the Lost have gotten their reeking hands on. You know, come to think of it, I don't particularly care for those filthy Lost vermin either. The only good thing about them is the noise that the mutated ones make when they die. So, you know what? Get their leader too. No one gets away alive!

Unnecessary Solicitation

Did you do it? Is it done? What are you waiting for? Get to the job or I'll do it myself!

Mission Objective(s)

File:Map MOTHER MAYHEM HOSPITAL.png

Map: MOTHER_MAYHEM_HOSPITAL

Desperate paramilitary air pirates versus militant underground freaks who live in squalor and constant desperation. This is not going to be an easy battle.

• Stop Hospital Raid
  • 6 Medicines to Steal
  • Defeat Adams
  • Defeat Hubbins

You beat the raiders and the Lost and stole the medicines.

Enemies

Sky Raiders

The Lost

Notable NPCs

• Captain Adams (Sky Raiders Wing Raider Officer) (Lieutenant)
• Anchorite Hubbins (The Lost Pariah Anchorite) (Boss)

Entry Dialogue

Before Combat:

Jump Bot: .ENTRY.POINT.ESTABLISHED.

Combat Start:

Jump Bot: .COMMENCE.COUNTER.ATTACK.

Upon Defeat:

Jump Bot: .UNIT.NEUTRALIZED.ALERTING.REINFORCEMENTS.

Ambush! After defeating the Jump Bot, you will be ambushed by three waves of Sky Raiders.

Captain Adams Dialogue

Before Combat:

Captain Adams: They're fighting hard to protect what's theirs. I can understand that.

Combat Start:

Captain Adams: We'll take what we like, and no one will stop us!

Anchorite Hubbins Dialogue

Before Combat:

Anchorite Hubbins: We have built this place as a shelter during our change,

Anchorite Hubbins: In their greed, they would make it a slaughterhouse

Anchorite Hubbins: So it must become a tomb for any who would intrude!

Combat Start:

Anchorite Hubbins: Rally, my brothers! Kill them all!

Ambush! After defeating Anchorite Hubbins, you will be ambushed by three waves of The Lost.

Debriefing

Hope those alien medicines worked for you. There's still a lot more to go. And don't worry about what you took for yourself. Keep what you take, that's the Arachnos way.

Such style. Such power. Such bloodthirst. I'm impressed!

Shut down Freaks and stop Sky Raiders

Briefing

Duray's next target is the Freakshow. The Freaks have set up shop in an un-used office building, and are using the place as a front to bring shipments of cybernetic parts and that Excelsior drug of theirs in from Paragon City. Very clever of them, as long as no one found out. Must have been Bile's doing. Well, the little game is up, and now Duray is on to their import/export business. The Sky Raiders no doubt want to get their hands on the Freakshow's cybernetics and combat drugs for their own enhancement research. Black Scorpion's orders are to make sure that doesn't happen, and I want to see those orders carried out by shutting down everything and leaving it in ruin.

Mission Acceptance

This should be a lot of fun for you. The Sky Raiders are being led by a Captain Tanner, and the Freaks' leader is called Lotus.xls. Take them both out. The Freaks also have a number of their sonic bombs on the premises. They aren't supposed to bring those kind of play things out to the isles, so break their toys while you're at it.

Unnecessary Solicitation

What are you waiting here for? You should jump at the chance to cause this much violence. What kind of villain are you?

Mission Objective(s)

File:Map FREAKSHOW ABANDONED OFFICE.png

Map: FREAKSHOW_ABANDONED_OFFICE

When you entered from the normal looking exterior, you saw a sign saying: 'You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps!'

• Stop Sky Raider attack on Freaks
  • 2 sonic bombs to destroy
  • Defeat Tanner
  • Defeat Lotus.xls

You stopped the Sky Raider attack on the Freakshow.

Enemies

Sky Raiders

Freakshow

Notable NPCs

• Captain Tanner (Sky Raiders Wing Raider Officer) (Lieutenant)
• Lotus.xls (Freakshow Tank Smasher) (Boss)

Sonic Bomb Guard Dialogue

Before Combat:

Mad Freak Gunner: You ever get the feeling that other freaks guarding other sonic bombs are having a better conversation than us?

Mad Freak Slammer: Uh...

Mad Freak Slammer: Dude, you think way too much.

Combat Start:

Mad Freak Gunner: Enough with the pondering of missed experiences!

Mad Freak Gunner: On with the mayhem!

Ambush! After defeating the first sonic bomb, you will be ambushed by five waves of Freakshow.

Captain Tanner Dialogue

Combat Start:

Captain Tanner: What do you mean they've cut our communication?

Captain Tanner: It's that hit-squad, Strike Force Name!

Captain Tanner: And we can't warn the others!

Ambush! After defeating Captain Tanner, you will be ambushed by three waves of Sky Raiders and two waves of Freakshow.

Editor's Note:

Captain Tanner will sometimes teleport to the room with the Sonic Bombs, which will cause him to be defeated at the same time. This causes both waves of ambushes to overlap, which can quickly overpower your team.

Lotus.xls Dialogue

Before Combat:

Lotus.xls: Books to cook, money to launder, and now the Sky Raiders and the Strike Force Name!

Lotus.xls: How's a Freak supposed to get any work done?

Combat Start:

Lotus.xls: Look, pal, I'm a very busy cyborg, so how about you GO AWAY!

Debriefing

Silly Duray! Excelsior is for Freaks!

Black Scorpion told me he was impressed with you. I thought you might want to know.

Travel to Striga Island to Stop Sky Raiders from buying Council technology

Briefing

The Sky Raiders are ranging pretty far from the Islands for their next operation. I hope you hate the Council, because you're going to Striga Island. It's the Council's little stronghold where they hatch their plots and make their monsters. Colonel Duray wants to learn the secrets of their superhuman enhancement programs, and apparently, The Center is willing to sell it to the Sky Raiders in exchange for some mercenary work. Now, we can't allow that. They can't be allowed to have that technology after all the trouble they caused, and you're being sent to Striga to stop them.

Mission Acceptance

Striga is an interesting place. Unfortunately, this will have to be quiet, since the Raiders aren't technically stealing anything yet, and we have other plans against the Council we can't disturb. You'll be going in under the radar and will be dropped into the ventilation shafts. Hopefully, you'll be able to catch the Sky Raiders before they can complete the deal. Defeat the ones making the deal. That should be Captain Drake of the Sky Raiders and Ascendant Tiger. You'll also need to defeat their cronies, and while you're at it, destroy all the chambers they're using for their Vampyr transformation process. I mean, can't leave any loose ends.

Unnecessary Solicitation

You're supposed to be on Striga! What are you doing wasting time back here?

Mission Objective(s)

File:Map COUNCIL VAMPYRI LAIR.png

Map: COUNCIL_VAMPYRI_LAIR

Even as a villain, you know this place feels wrong.

• Stop Negotiations
  • 8 Capsules to destroy
  • Defeat Negotiators

You forcibly broke up negotiations.

Enemies

Sky Raiders

Council

Turrets

Notable NPCs

• Captain Drake (Sky Raiders Wing Raider Officer) (Lieutenant)
• Archon Tiger (Council Ascendant Archon) (Boss)

Sky Raider Dialogue

Before Combat:

Wing Raider: Don't you think it's weird?

Porter: What's weird?

Wing Raider: You know. We're the Sky Raiders, but we're not actually stealing anything here.

Porter: Well... Yeah.

Wing Raider: I mean, it just feels wrong to me not to be stealing stuff.

Porter: Huh.

Porter: Now that I think about it, you do have a point.

Combat Start:

Wing Raider: Hey, you're not supposed to be here!

Negotiator Dialogue

Before Combat:

Archon Tiger: These Vampyri are only one stage of augmentation we can offer.

Captain Drake: I see.

Captain Drake: Go on.

Archon Tiger: N-Fragment technology, Sonic Assault weaponry, our 'Cor Leonis' super-soldier process, and of course our advanced robotics.

Captain Drake: Very impressive.

Archon Tiger: Thank you.

Captain Drake: Well, I'll report all of this to the Colonel, but we'll want to see a demonstration.

Combat Start:

Captain Drake: Here's your chance, Archon!

Archon Tiger: Here, let me give you a demonstration of our power!

Debriefing

They should thank you for breaking that up. I mean, they're the Sky RAIDERS, and they weren't even there to STEAL anything. Pathetic.

Take out Sky Raiders and the base they're raiding

Briefing

Duray's next target is a Crey facility in New Haven. Rumors are Crey moved a lot of strange things in there. I'm really curious what Duray thinks they have. Of course, if something were to happen to every last one of the personel at that place during a Sky Raider attack gone horribly awry, well then, there would be no one around to complain if we take a look for ourselves.

Hmmm...

I like how that works. We stop a Sky Raider heist and get a peek at what Crey is up to; and the only 'cost' is the pleasure of wiping out a Crey base. Sounds like a win-win to me. I can't wait to hear all about what you find.

Mission Acceptance

No one knows what's in that facility but Countess Crey and Duray. I can't wait to learn what you find out. Just take out everyone. I think you'll enjoy it. It should be fun! We do know that whatever is going on in there, it's a pretty big installation. So, be ready for a long fight.

Unnecessary Solicitation

I don't understand you. Why are you waiting? There are spines to break and heads to smash! Go on and do it!

Mission Objective(s)

File:Map CREY HERO LAB.png

Map: CREY_HERO_LAB

You followed the Sky Raider attackers in through blasted corporate offices above, and entered the underground complex.

• Defeat everyone in Crey facility

You stopped the Sky Raiders and cleaned out the base.

Enemies

Sky Raiders

Crey

Entrance Dialogue

Before Combat:

Inferno Raider: The interior teams are saying there are paranormals in there.

Raider Engineer: What? Paranormals?

Raider Engineer: That doesn't make any sense!

Combat Start:

Inferno Raider: No time for that. It's Strike Force Name! Defensive patterns!

Crey Protector Dialogue

Before Combat:

Crey Protector: This is so not good.

Combat Start:

Crey Protector: I wasn't even supposed to be here today!

Debriefing

Ooooh! Crey had super-human clones! I kind of wish we'd let the Sky Raiders get away with some of that stuff now. That would have made them so much more fun to fight!

Destroy Sky Raider sea base and defeat Duray

Briefing

Duray's gambit is almost over. Unfortunately, they've still managed to steal a lot of things I sent less competent villains to deal with. Now they're about to move all of their booty to a secret new base they've built offshore. You're going to go there, smuggled aboard one of the container ships. And once you get there, you're going to wreck the base, and defeat Colonel Duray himself. This should be all kinds of fun!

Mission Acceptance

We've arranged transit for you in the hold of a cargo ship waiting in Sharkhead Isle. You'll be put into a cargo container and loaded aboard one of the two ships headed to the Sky Raider's secret new sea-base. Once you're there, fight or sneak your way out of the hold. Once you're outside, start destroying the emplaced defenses. That should cause some havoc and draw Duray out. Defeat him, and you're done.

Unnecessary Solicitation

What are you doing back here? You're supposed to be blowing up turrets in the middle of the ocean!

Mission Objective(s)

File:Map V OUTDOOR SKYRAIDER PLATFORM.png

Map: V_OUTDOOR_SKYRAIDER_PLATFORM

The Sky Raiders are in for more trouble than they can imagine. Time to destroy!

• Destroy defenses to draw out Duray
  • Defeat Colonel Duray

Your team has defeated Colonel Duray, the leader of the Sky Raiders.
Your team destroyed the Sky Raider sea base and defeated Colonel Duray

Primary Enemies

Sky Raiders

Turrets

Notable NPCs

• Pop Up Anti-Personnel Gun x 96
• Dual Artillery Gun x 36
• High-Explosive Missile Turrets x 4
• Colonel Duray (Archvillain)

Entrance Dialogue

Before Combat:

Wing Raider: The first ship is unloaded and has been scuttled.

Wing Raider: We have to hurry, or we'll fall behind schedule!

Combat Start:

Wing Raider: We're under attack! How did they find us?

Colonel Duray Dialogue

Spawned Ambush:

Colonel Duray: I won't let you end this, Strike Force Name!

Colonel Duray: I won't let my dream die to the likes of you!

First Blood:

Colonel Duray: All I've built in flames, and for what?

Colonel Duray: You stupid punks don't even know ANYTHING!

75% Health:

Colonel Duray: You Project: Destiny puppets are all alike.

Colonel Duray: Villains dancing to Recluse's tune.

50% Health:

Colonel Duray: You think you've got me down?

Colonel Duray: Ha!

Colonel Duray: You ain't got nothing!

25% Health:

Colonel Duray: I've been through worse! I won't let you win!

Upon Defeat:

Colonel Duray: All that we've done...

Colonel Duray: It can't end like this!

Upon Player Defeat:

Colonel Duray: The only thing worse than heroes is villains. Losers.

Debriefing

And so fall the Pirates of the Skies. The Sky Raiders themselves are scattered. I'm sure they'll regroup in time.

We fished Duray out of the water, and are holding him now. There's so much he can tell us, whether he wants to or not. We've already learned some fun new facts about the Rikti and the Nemesis Army from him.

I'm sure the Sky Raiders will rally and try to break him out, once they've had time to regroup. You might want to watch out for that. It's in our best interests for the Colonel to escape eventually, or so I'm told. Balance of the Islands or something. Not that I care.

And you, you've earned your pay. The real joy's in the mayhem, I always say, but the money isn't half bad, either.

Badge

Completing Pirates of the Sky Strike Force from Silver Mantis awards the Air Pirate Badge.

Air Pirate

You disrupted the Sky Raiders' wave of thefts and defeated Col. Duray himself on their off-shore base.

Souvenir

Durey's Beret (souvenir)

You fished this military beret out of the sea after your battle with Colonel Duray, the leader of the Sky Raiders. It's only fitting you have a trophy, after you fought the Colonel and his

Pirates of the Skies

See Also

• Strike Force