Dr. Aeon Strike Force

Overview

Chasing Fool's Gold
Contact	Dr. Aeon
Zone	Cap Au Diable
Suggested Team Size	4+ players
Coordinates	(-770.0, 487.0, -256.4)
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 Arachnos building in the Aeon City neighborhood of Cap au Diable. 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 Settings mode (separate from the normal difficulty slider that only adjusts the level and number of foes), where in foes gain new abilities, stat buffs, 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
        • Defeat the Cauldron Champion!

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...?

Chasing Fool's Gold part 5: Your Golden Ticket

Dr. Aeon: Aeon Corp has custody of the Gold Bricker's cargo ship and we confirmed everything you already told me. You said they called her Princess Zoe? Hmmm... has to be her...

Dr. Aeon mumbles something to himself for a moment.

Alright, PlayerName, the kiddie gloves are coming off! It's big boy time! At this point, the Gold Brickers have now been recognized as a threat to Arachnos. We've confirmed that they are in possession of illegal portal technology.

I've obtained permission from the Arbiters for StrikeForceName to move on Langston Corp's main headquarters. The mission is to apprehend King Midas and seize the factory! Arachnos would also like Princess Zoe taken alive if possible. When somebody has a surprise knack for science, killing them to death is usually a waste.

It sucks, but now that we've lost the element of surprise, the stupid chocolate-loving morons will be prepared for us... And by us, I mean you, since you'll be facing them, not me! Ha-ha-ha! The joys of scientific delegation!

Consider King Midas caught. Get that bounty payment ready. (Accept Mission)

Dr Aeon: Oh! Such confidence from my oh-so dependable StrikeForceName!

How you've grown from mere assistants of science into slightly-more capable assistants of science! If I were your father... Well, if we're being honest, I would probably wonder where it all went wrong. But I'm not, so I don't! Bwa-ha-ha!

It's time to finally put an end to the antics of those golden idiots. They had a good run, but made the inconceivable mistake of daring to cross the great Dr. Aeon! Master of scientifically-precise and impeccable comeuppances! They should've known this outcome was 'Aeonvoidable'! Ah-ha-

You leave and pretend like you didn't hear that.

Unnecessary Solicitation:

Dr. Aeon: At last! So Midas, how does it feel, to have been totally brought to justice by Dr. Aeon? You didn't really think you could outsmart- Wait, what? What do you mean 'you haven't finished the mission yet'? Then why are you talking to me?! Honestly, PlayerName? Now I'm going to have to rewrite my victory speech!

Mission: Assault Langston Corp. HQ

• Confront Factory Manager

Mission Entry text: Between the thick scent of chocolate and the dim halogen lightbulbs, the atmosphere in the factory is unsettling. Upon entering, a recording greets you: Welcome to Langston Corp! Your time is important to us, please have a seat! A generic tune begins to play in the lobby.

Mission Notes

What starts as a standard beat-up-or-sneak-by-everyone mission takes a drastic turn halfway through. You encounter the Golden Roller, parked underneath a portal device much like the one on the ship. After attempting to parlay with Roller, he honks his horn and summons reinforcements. After dealing with them, the Strike Force begins to try to smash the car. Not liking that one bit, Golden Roller activates the portal... which, instead of spitting people out like the last one, begins to suck YOU IN!

RIPPLE 1: Reichman's Empire

The Strike force finds itself in a desolate, destroyed Steel Canyon which is shrouded in darkness. Part of the war-wall is gone, and with no where else to go, they proceed, which triggers a cutscene...

Caption

You begin to recall something Dr. Aeon said.... Earlier

Dr. Aeon

...And that wraps-up the neck massage feature. Now, this next function is quite important! Hey, are you paying attention?!

Villains

(None but the leader seem to be paying any attention. They're content to read the paper, look at their phones, goof around or take a nap)

Dr. Aeon

If you experience a transdimensional mislocation you're going to be thanking me!

This device tracks dimensional travel, and if sufficiently powered, can eject you back to this dimension! Cool, right? All it needs is to siphon energy from a sufficient power source, like another portal or an electric generator... and BOOM! You'll be shunted back to this dimension! This could save your bacon! Don't forget!

Once that's done, you'll see an objective to "Overload a portal to escape", and a timer counting down from 45 minutes.

The area is full of 5th Column troops in large configurations, regardless of your difficulty settings, with a few groups of Void Hunters scattered about. There are basically two ways to escape: Defeat a Commander and steal his access code to use a portal, OR, find and fight the five 5th Column AVs in the North East corner of the map (Arakhn, Meastro, Nosferatu, Protean, and finally "Emperor Reichsman"). If you're going for the Ripple Raider Badge, then you'll have to confront the five AVs. Other than being a bit tougher than their Primal counterparts, the legion of nearby 5th troops will break ranks to attack the party, and waves of Void Hunters will assist Emperor Reichsman once he starts taking damage.

One often overlooked detail is that Ulberman (the Unknown) makes an appearance here, and tells you how this world came to fall under the 5th's rule... and why they're now trying to escape.

If you do NOT escape before the timer reaches 0, you'll still be ejected back to Langston corp, but the team will suffer some heavy debuffs from being desynched from their home reality for too long.

Once again you must fight off an ambush of AU Brickers and continue attacking Golden Roller (who doesn't regenerate HP). Once he's at 50%, he'll reactivate the portal, sending the villains to another twisted alternate reality...

RIPPLE 2: Fallen Titan(s)

This new ripple is a small, but familiar map, infested with hundreds of Devouring Earth. Four large monstrosities stand in each corner of the room, while a giant, grotesque creature sits in the middle. The timer is short, as either way this ripple is easy to get through. The enemies here are flagged as Neutral (with a yellow targeting reticle instead of the standard orange), and will only attack if you do so first (note that taunt and damage auras count, so be cautious!).

The creature in the middle will speak to you through her Mouthpiece, so long as you haven't attacked anyone. The deal here is that Hamidon has taken over the planet... but there are some Devouring Earth who are no longer loyal to him, and have cooped up here, in the Crystal Titan's former lair. The Monsters in each corner are the heroes from the Eden Trial that were transformed when no one was able to save them (Gale, Quill, Slate and Tundra), and the creature in the middle is their "All-Mother", Terra (a.k.a Tanya Tyler). She will allow you to harmlessly siphon electricity from the four mushrooms in each corner (to power your dimensional do-hickey), provided you do not hurt anyone, but she (and everything else) will also become immediately hostile if you speak her former master's name, so be careful what text options you pick if you're just trying to talk to her!

If you're going for the Ripple Raider Badge, you must defeat the four turned Heroes, Terra, and her Mouthpiece.

In any event, you end up back at Langston corp, and once again must contend with an ambush of AU-Brickers and continue trying to trash the Golden Roller. But once he gets to 25% health, it's back to another universe with you again!

RIPPLE 3: End of the Line

Another cutscene plays, this one of Apex standing on a tank, declaring that he and Vangaurd are to make sure that no one gains entry into Portal Corp. The area around the Portal Corp courtyard is riddled with craters and the bodies of several villains and a few heroes.

In front of the Strike Force is a man cowering behind an overturned truck, who introduces himself as PsiCurse. He has a plan to save the world from it's imminent doom, AND help the Villains escape to their own dimension, but the Vanguard are holding his key to powering his invention, The PsychoChronoMetron. He offers to give the villains access to Portal Corp's greatest secret: The Dimensional Codex, in return for their help. You can either team up with him, or fight/bypass him entirely. However, if you're going after the Ripple Raider Badge, you'll have to help him.

In either case, you must defeat Apex and the Vanguard Colonel in the courtyard. They are flanked by several Missile launchers, Vanguard HVAS, and Wizards. Once Apex and the Colonel are down, you'll have access to the emergency portal to the North East. You can either set it to go home, or, if you agreed to help PsiCurse, re-route it to take you into Portal Corp.

If you decided to help PsiCurse and enter Portal Corp, you'll quickly find you're not alone. Someone ELSE is assaulting the place, burning and melting metal doorways and freezing guards in place. It seems FrostFire is tearing up the place... but it actually turns out to be Glacia and Infernia! A quick cutscene plays showing them arguing about whether escape is still possible now that HE is going to seal the walls between dimensions and won't let anyone stop him. Not that anyone alive could ever stop...

HERO 1

The villains trounce the twins and make their way into the portal after the legendary hero. They wind up in the Vanguard compound, where you can have a nice chat with various members of Vanguard, who all know you're not THEIR version of you, as you're dead and buried in Astoria. They also know that their world is a "ripple" and is soon going to be wiped out like the cosmic mistake that it is, which is why all the other villains were fighting to get in, so they could portal out. Apparently Hero 1 has a plan to stop that, so if you want any hope of getting back home, you're going to have to stop him before he traps you here forever!

(Editor's note) At least that's what I got out of it; it's very hard to fully absorb everything on a timer!

The villains make their way through the heavily-guarded Vanguard compound, and can free up the Infirmary for their own use. An unprepared team is going to need it!

Hero 1 is accompanied by Incandescent, who has a PBAoE nuke (that WILL kill most anything short of a Tank) and can buff/heal/resurrect Hero 1, so you'll want to focus on her first. Hero 1 himself is a very tough nut to crack, but a coordinated enough team should be able to take him down. Once that is done, another cutscene plays, where PsiCurse steals Hero 1's power for his PCM, and uses that power to turn himself into a god. Now that his plan is a success, he no longer needs the villains, who he sends home, WITHOUT giving them the codex, as he doesn't want them finding and coming back to "his" dimension.

Once you've triggered that cutscene, if you defeated every Ripple AV up to this point, you will be awarded the Ripple Raider Badge, or bonus Empyrian merits if you already have it.

• Note:: If you already have the Master of Dr. Aeon's Strike Force badge, and run this SF again at the highest difficulty, you will have the option of fighting the ALL of the main Vanguard NPCs (You have to checks notes insult Lady Grey's hair); Doing so and defeating everyone will reward you with a portable Vanguard training dummy!

NO MORE RIPPLES!

The villains re-appear at Langston corp, and finish off Golden Roller before he can send them anywhere else. The car explodes, revealing the driver. After a brief interrogation, you take his keycard and can either head back the way you came, or take a shortcut through the door to the north. Now the shutter that was locked before will open, leading up to Mr. Rodney's office. However, as a cutscene reveals, he's ready for you.

Mr. Rodney isn't anything particularly hard, but he's surrounded by 3+ Brickernauts, which is a LOT of insta-death explosions (on Malicious or higher) if the team isn't careful! Once he's down, you'll get the key to his safe, which is the last objective for the mission.

Debrief

Dr. Aeon: Uh, hey there StrikeForceName, I'm noticing a distinct lack of King Midas and Princess Zoe in custody. What's the deal with that?

The gusto in Dr. Aeon's voice fades after mentioning the word 'D-Rifter' that you heard from the Golden Roller.

I see... so, the final variable of our equation has been revealed. You haven't mentioned this to anybody else yet, have you PlayerName?

Chasing Fool's Gold part 6: Ripple Diable

Dr. Aeon: We've got a real mess on our hands now and I don't mean the royal 'we' here, PlayerName! The way things are going, we aren't going to catch King Midas and the Gold Brickers will escape with an extremely temperamental piece of dimensional technology. We can't let that happen!

For you, aside from just not getting paid, Arachnos is going to blame StrikeForceName for failing their mission inside Langston Corp. Or worse, that you were bought by King Midas... And Arachnos really doesn't like failure!

As for me? If you aren't aware, that D-Rifter is an inexplicably-potent dimensional rift generator, one that totally shouldn't even exist. The Gold Brickers were somehow able to get it working with research they illegally bought from Aeon Corp!

This means all of our careers are on the line if we don't find King Midas! Fortunately for us, I'm Dr. Aeon! While more primitive minds would falter in the face of interdimensionally-abled gold-wearing idiots, my genius has no such shortcomings!

So You keep Saying. What's the Plan? (Accept Mission)

Dr. Aeon: The plan, my affable and determined StrikeForceName, is using these to triangulate the D-Rifter's signal inside local unstable ripple space!

Dr. Aeon produces four larger versions of the sci-fi tinfoil can-looking device.

How you might ask? These ripple shards are not unlike ripples on the surface of a lake, with the D-Rifter skipping across their surface. By following any disruptions in the nearby dimensional aether, it should be possible to trace a path back to the D-Rifter.

What's that look for? The D-Rifter is a junky device, violently disrupting nearby space. These scanners should be able to detect those distortions, and if close enough, put in the right places, with good rift stability, and nobody sneezing nearby... Look, just see what you can do; we don't have any other options. You can use Aeon Corp's dimensional shifter located through the door on my balcony.

Sally forth, PlayerName! For science and avoiding consequences!

Unnecessary Solicitation

Dr. Aeon: You'd like more specific instructions on what to do? What do you mean?! We're embarking on unprecedented scientific pioneering, PlayerName! Did the Egyptians ask for instructions when they sent Lance Armstrong to discover the Americas? Of course not! You must thrive in this unknown! Relish this uncertainty! We're experiencing science in its purest form!

Mission Objectives

• Scan For Clues Inside local Dimensional Ripple
  • Talk to Dr. Echo
    • Scan 22nd Bank, WSPDR, Dark gallery

Mission Entry Pop-Up Stepping into this dissolving instance of reality, it feels as though you're simultaneously being stretched and compacted. It's not a great feeling. You have no idea where to even start, but it seems like somebody was counting on that...

Mission Notes

You enter the mission (which is a dark, trippy version of Cap Au Diable) and are prompted to talk to Dr. Echo, who's standing nearby. This time, it's made clear that you have no choice but to hear him out. He'll tell you what you have to do, and he also gives you a small Override chip, instructing you to use it instead of the one that Dr. Aeon may give you later (as he may end up betraying you; this will let you get him back).

Armed with the knowledge of the locations you have to scan, you go about it. Each scan will summon an ambush of either AU Brickers, or Luddites (who are on a crusade against Dr. Zeon and his Purple Pipes of Doom). It will also erase nearby scenery as the dimension continues to dissolve around you.

Once you've placed all three scanners, Dr. Aeon will inform you that there's a massive energy flux nearby, and that it seems drawn to the energy of the scanners! If the scanners are destroyed, your time here will have been wasted, so you have to confront and destroy...

Ripplesurge

Ripplesurge, a giant blue version of Deathsurge, is a Monster Class AV with VERY high stats. With the ability to drain your endurance bar dry and dish out Incarnate-level attacks, he'll prove a significant challenge for soloists or small teams, especially on higher difficulty levels. Complicating matters is that every minute or so, he'll summon Shimmering Infusions that die easy enough (though they have Extreme defense vs AoE attacks, so they have to be purposefully targeted), but if left unattended, will be absorbed by Ripplesurge and heal him back to full after about 30 seconds or so. When they are absorbed on higher difficulties, they'll leave a "Death patch" behind that will kill any player who stands in it, but cause Ripplesurge's regen to increase when he does so.

If you're defeated, there will be an in-mission hospital, but the door will spit you out in a random place in the instance.

If you're going after the Power Overwhelming Badge, you'll have to defeat him while he's standing in an Infusion's death-patch. You'll have to look for him to have green rinds around his feet, or just use the Combat Monitor to see his stats.

Once Ripplesurge is defeated, the mission is complete.

Debrief

Dr. Aeon: Wait, it actually worked? Err, I mean- Of course it worked! Every calculation according to my immaculate thinking! Well done StrikeForceName!

You are worthy scientific disciples of Dr. Aeon, assistants the likes of which the world has never seen! Together, the survival of our bottoms are all 'butt' assured! Bwa-ha-ha!

The spatial data from the scanners is coming through now, like a string of interdimensional spaghetti navigating the infinite marinara of spacetime!

Chasing Fool's Gold Finale: The Midas Touch

Dr. Aeon: Everything is ready! Well, as ready as they can be, anyway... Aeon Corp's dimensional shifter can only get you partway there. What?

Remember when I said those unstable dimensional spaces were kind of like ripples on a lake's surface? Well, the closer you get to the source causing the disruptions, the more chaotic and fluctuating the local aether is going to be.

What does that mean for you? Well, you should probably expect things to get a little weird in there! You're literally diving into entirely unprecedented science! You should be honored!

Now listen StrikeForceName... catching King Midas and the D-Rifter is only half the task. Once you have the D-Rifter secured, we need get it back to stable dimensional space! Who knows what sort of interdimensional calamity could result of it drifting through the aether unsupervised!

Right. What do you propose then?

Dr. Aeon: I'm glad you asked, my ever-forthright StrikeForceName!

Dr. Aeon produces a strikingly-familiar override chip and holds it out to you. Without reacting, you take it.

I got lucky and found some archival schematics in the Arachnos database for the tech that was the basis for the D-Rifter. This chip is designed to override the configurations and link the D-Rifter to a portal under Arachnos control. This will make it easy to recover, as well any other illegal technology the Gold Brickers managed to nab during their escapades.

However, there's only that one chip! So don't lose it, PlayerName!

Mission Objectives

• Defeat King Midas and Recover the D-Rifter
  • Venture deeper into the dimensional ripple
    • 3 Wavelength disruptors to destroy

Mission Notes

Upon entering the mission, you're treated to a downward view of a tilted Aeon Corp building. This may be disorienting; try not to look "up"!

If you successfully had Becky follow you in mission 1, she'll appear here as Battle Becky, a combat-ready ally! She'll follow whoever loaded into the instance first. If you're going after the Best Friends Forever Badge, you'll need to keep her alive and escort her to the end of the mission. Luckily, she's very tough; though you might want to turn off any toggles that will increase her perception (like Tactics), or she'll fly across the map to engage hostile mobs.

In either case, you must defeat three "blockades" worth of Goldbrickers waiting for you down the side of the building. No matter what you set your difficulty to, these groups will always span the entire width of the ledges, and will always have at least 5 bosses. There will be other, scattered groups of foes, but those will adhere to your difficulty settings, and are not required to defeat.

Once you've made it to the bottom of the building, you enter a small portal, and a cutscene plays of Rodney, Zoe, and King Midas planning their next move and final stand against the villains.

The cutscene also reveals that there are "Wavelength Disruptors" placed throughout the ripple, which will hamper your progress. These must be destroyed before you can advance any further. Their placement will be randomized, though there isn't a very large area to search. As you destroy each wavelength disruptor, parts of the map will phase out of existence, or have their location changed. Once all are destroyed, you can set your final ripple decoder at the base of Dr. Zeon's globe and enter the next phase. This will also enable an in-mission hospital, which you're probably going to need...

Zoe and Rodney's Last Stand

You're teleported into a very constrained space at the top of the globe, where Zoe and Rodney await you with an army of Gold Brickers. Both have upgraded their equipment and have new abilities. Be very careful, as the GBs will likely be able to see any non-stealthed villains anywhere in this bubble, except where you spawn in.

If you didn't get it before, this is another good opportunity to attempt the Unfriendly Fire Badge, assuming you're using one of the advanced difficulty settings. Though you'll have to contend with Rodney first and try to clear everyone BUT Zoe and a Brickernaught, so it's a bit harder here than previously.

Once the AVs are down, they teleport away, and the door to the next area is unlocked.

Midas's Sanctum

You enter a small laboratory and fight through the last remnants of the Gold Bricker and AU Bricker forces. You'll come to a small fork at the end; The right side leads to the D-Rifter, but the door is locked. So you have to go left, and finally come face to face with the man himself, KING MIDAS.

Midas will stand in the middle of the room, surrounded by four smelting pits. He will be immune to damage unless he is inside one of these cauldrons. You don't necessarily need to taunt him there, he'll foolishly chase and teleport to anyone that tests him. Standing in these cauldrons will lower your resistance and deal fire damage over time. Most melee builds can do this without much issue, though squishier characters may wish to hover or kite Midas to keep him in place.

However, this is not a simple bag of HP. At every 25% health lost, Midas will use the D-Synch gear to warp reality, and bring in reinforcements from other dimensions (the room will be inverted, as well, disallowing use of the cauldrons). First, he'll summon other-dimensional duplicates of the Villain team; they must be defeated before you can return to the normal lab. When you return, the cauldron you used previously will deactivate, meaning you must use another one. Second time, he'll summon duplicates of himself from other universes. The team must find the ONE version of Midas that is NOT invincible, and beat him down; returning the the main lab will shut down another smelting pit. Finally, Midas will bring this universe's version of Dr. Aeon, Dr. Zeon, to assist; defeat the "good Doctor" and be returned to fight Midas a final time.

The final badge required for Master is achieved here. In any advanced difficulty mode, this fight will have the added complication of blue beams that target the villain team, and can be deadly if a villain is exposed for too long (like, more than 2 seconds). In order to achieve the Can't Touch This Badge, NO member of the team may take ANY damage from these blue beams. Luckily, the targeting for the beams isn't random: It will select the character furthest from Midas, and fire on their position, with both a warning and delay. The next shot will target any OTHER player that is also furthest from Midas. So two players can take turns baiting and dodging the shots while the rest of the team engages the AV. However, this can be a bit harder during the "Upside down" room fights, as the blue beams will target whoever is furthest from the "Normal" Midas, NOT the one in this room with you; so the best strat is to have everyone keep their eyes peeled and finish these phases as quickly as possible.

Once King Midas is defeated (his final speech seems to indicate that he dies), the D-Rifter Control room is unlocked, with a large, glowing console in front of a working teleportal.

NOTE: If going for the Best Friends Forever Badge, make SURE that Becky touches this console BEFORE anyone else activates it! You'll get the "Badge Found" indicator (assuming you do not already have the badge), and Becky will thank you for taking her on such a fun trip!

Activating the console, your character remembers to use Dr. Echo's Override chip instead of Dr. Aeon's. A Cutscene plays...

Gold Bricker Sonic Cannon

Ranged (Cone), Light DMG(Energy), Foe Disorient, -RES(All but Psionics)

This Sonic Cannon you looted from the Gold Brickers will deal Energy damage to your target and lower their Resistances to all damage types except Psionics. They may also become Disoriented.

Golden Throwing Wrench

Ranged, Moderate DMG(Smashing), Foe Knockback, Gold Bricker Confuse

This golden thrown wrench is going to hurt... and if your target is a Gold Bricker, it may confuse them!

'If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!'.

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