Difference between revisions of "Crimson"

Revision as of 20:04, 24 July 2008 (view source) Xanthyr (Talk | contribs) (→‎{{UL|Stop the Malta Group raid on the Crey science facility}}) ← Older edit		Revision as of 20:14, 24 July 2008 (view source) Dcm510 (Talk | contribs) (→‎Prior to Introduction) Newer edit →
Line 36:		Line 36:
	=== Prior to Introduction ===		=== Prior to Introduction ===
−	{{orange|needs text}}	+	Talk to ''Active Contact Name''. Move out.
	=== Initial Contact ===		=== Initial Contact ===

---

Revision as of 20:14, 24 July 2008

Overview

Crimson
File:Crimson1.jpg Wetwork agent
Zone	Peregrine Island
Coordinates	(2303, 5.5, -256)
Level Range	45-50
Introduced By	Indigo Tina Macintyre Unai Kemen
Enemy Groups	Malta Operatives Freakshow Knives of Artemis
Badges	Master of Olympus Bodyguard
v • d • e

Crimson is a hero contact in Peregrine Island at coordinates (2303, 5.5, -256). Crimson is a Mutation origin contact. His level range is 45-50.

Introductions

Contact Introduced By

• Indigo
• Tina Macintyre
• Unai Kemen

New Contact(s)

?

Information

Wetwork agent

If Indigo is the velvet glove than the agent code named Crimson is the steel fist. His heightened senses help him follow the trails that his partner scouts and then his skill with weapons covers the rest. He is totally committed to ending the threat presented by the Malta group.

Prior to Introduction

Talk to Active Contact Name. Move out.

Initial Contact

Indigo has been keeping tabs on you. She says that you are good, here's your chance to convince me.

Store

• Inspirations
• Level 45 Mutation Single Origin Enhancements (?% base costs)
• Level 50 Mutation Single Origin Enhancements (?% base costs)

Badge Mission

Rescue the Rikti Negotiator

Note: The third part of this mission series is timed, and is the only part required to earn the badge.

Find out about the Malta Group/Rikti situation from Indigo

Briefing

Indigo's uncovered a situation that could be disastrous if allowed to proceed unchecked. It involves the Rikti, who aren't exactly my favorite people; and it involves the Malta Group. If there's any good point, it's that this situation she's discovered has more to so with mutual annihilation between the two groups than holding hands around a campfire. That's about all I can tell you; indigo will be able to tell you the rest if you want to follow up.

I'll warn you, though, Indigo thinks that this one might end up as a battle against time. Once you've made a move, Malta may try to act fast to keep you from winning the second round of this one. You've been warned.

Indigo should be waiting to talk to you. You'll probably have to see her in person. She'll have further instructions for you then.

Mission Objective(s)

• Meet with Indigo

Defeat lead kidnapper & his men

Mission Objective(s)

The Malta Group has re-conditioned this abandoned Council base.

• Defeat lead kidnapper & his men
  • Rescue Dr. Spendler

You freed Dr. Spendler, and found some important orders on her defeated captors.

Enemies

Malta Operatives

Notable NPCs

• Babel Red Beta (Malta Operatives Gunslinger)
• Dr. Spendler (NPC Hostage)

Note: The third mission's timer begins immediately upon exiting the second mission.

Rescue Rikti negotiator quickly

Mission Objective(s)

This blasted section of the city hasn't been renovated since the Rikti War. The Malta Group must think it's the perfect backdrop to execute a Rikti negotiator and hope of peace along with her.

• Rescue Rikti negotiator quickly - 2:30:00
  • Locate C'Kelkah
  • Lead C'Kelkah out of area

You saved the Traditionalist Rikti negotiator C'Kelkah from assassination by the Malta Group. The peace talks should be able to continue.

Enemies

Malta Operatives

Notable NPCs

• Babel Red Alpha (Malta Operatives Gunslinger)
• C'Kelkah (NPC Hostage)
• (Malta Operatives Gunslinger) (Guarding C'Kelkah)

Ambush! Secure the prisoner! After freeing C'Kelkah you will be ambushed by three squads of Malta soldiers

Successful completion of this mission awards the Bodyguard Badge.

Bodyguard You stopped the assassination of a Rikti peace negotiator.

Debriefing

Now, I'm not telepathic, and I am certainly no alien telepath, but from people I know who are privy to such information, there are a lot of Rikti buzzing about the save you pulled off there. This C'Kelkah lady seems to be very influential among the Traditionalist Rikti. So, the talks will continue, and who knows? maybe something will come out of it. World could sure use a little more peace, at least in my opinion.

Story Arc

Project: World Wide Red

Find out why a Chinese ambassador would have a Malta Group gunslinger as his bodyguard

Briefing

I've become aware of a complex situation, one that bears further investigation from our combined resources. I'll tell you up front that I'll give you more detail on this one, because I got a feeling this is going to be part of something very large and very dangerous. So, if you think you can handle it, then I'd like to get your assistance to find out what a Chinese ambassador would have a Malta Group gunslinger as his bodyguard.

Okay, let me set up the situation for you:

The Chinese ambassador to the U.S., a businessman and politician by the name Zheng Xiaoxuan, is visiting our fair city during some political talks with the American ambassador, anti-terrorism stuff. Naturally, this being Paragon City, the Freakshow decided to take the opportunity to try and grab both ambassadors and their entourages as part of some half-baked plan. Normally I wouldn't bother with something like this, but when a group of heroes went in to rescue the Ambassadors, they encountered something that caught my interest. See, the Freaks were already fighting someone when the heroes arrived. From the description those heroes sent back, it sounded like the Freaks had encountered a Malta gunslinger who was protecting the Chinese ambassador. The Freaks overcame him by numbers, and they managed to hold off those heroes and get away with the Chinese ambassador and one American, a CIA espionage type who was there to brief the U.S. ambassador. Those other heroes are investigating, but I've already got a line on where those Freaks are keeping the Chinese ambassador. What I want you to do is get the ambassador and any other captives the Freaks have out, and try to find out what Malta's interest in them is.

Mission Objective(s)

This abandoned warehouse has recently seen a pitched battle. Along with the normal detritus of Freakshow habitation, there are bullet casings and spent clips in every corner, scorings from power blasts and electricity, and plenty of bloodstains.

• Rescue ambassador & hostages
  • 3 hostages to rescue

You rescued the Chinese ambassador and the other captives from the Malta Group's agents.

Notable NPCs

• Ambassadorial aid Leung Linwei (Hostage)
• Jack Firenze, CIA (Hostage)
• Ambassador Zhang Xiaoxuan (Hostage)
• Kingdom Red 0-1-0 (Gunslinger)

Malta Operatives
Freakshow

Debriefing

I'm glad to see you were able to take care of this. I'm sure that the Chinese embassy will send you some kind of certificate of thanks for your part in all of this.

Now, one of the hostages you rescued, Jack Firenze. I've heard of him; he's the head of the CIA's China Bureau. That makes him top brass, a real insider. Which makes me wonder why he would be here advising the U.S. ambassador in person for these talks. They're important, sure, but it's odd that they'd send a top man like him to do this in person when a subordinate would be fine. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I got the feeling that there might be more going on here than we know. I'm going to keep looking into this. Check back with me later.

Protect a Russian ambassador from the Knives of Artemis

Briefing

After that incident with Malta, the Chinese ambassador, and the Freakshow, I've been keeping my eye on several of the people involved. Notably, Jack Firenze and Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan. Firenze's life has been pretty dull, but there's been a development with the ambassador. It seems that someone he was talking to, in this case a Russian ambassador, has been targeted by the Knives of Artemis. I could use your help to protect the Russian ambassador and find out why he's being hunted.

The Russian ambassador is named Yasha Kristovitch. He's a Gorbachev-era reformer with a talent for finding amicable but uneven compromises and rarely giving ground over things he believes in. He's actually been in Paragon City several times over the years, even lived here for three years back in the 90's. Now, he was seen going in to the Chinese embassy, where he got into a very loud disagreement with Ambassador Zheng about something. The Knives started hunting him shortly after that. They got his limo, but he got away. Your goal is to find him on the streets before the Knives can finish him off. I've pulled some strings to get the area isolated with an emergency force field; a quick trip on the Light Rail should get you there.

Mission Objective(s)

The Russian Ambassador Yasha Kristovitch is somewhere among these streets, but so are the huntresses who stalk him.

• Protect Russian ambassador
  • Protect Kristovitch

You were able to protect Yasha Kristovitch from the Knives of Artemis.

Notable NPCs

• Yasha Kristovitch (Hostage)

Knives of Artemis

Debriefing

Yasha Kristovitch is back at the Russian embassy safe and sound, and under protective guard. That will slow down the anti-terrorism talks some, but I doubt that was the point of all this.

Yasha Kristovitch's description of his talk with Ambassador Zheng has me worried. Firenze said that the Malta Group agents who grabbed them were interested in altering how the talks went. He thought it was all over and done with, but the way Zheng Xiaoxuan's been acting, I'm starting to wonder. I still have leads to look in on. Check with me again later.

Save Leung Linwei and find out what she's seen

Briefing

The situation in the Chinese embassy has just gotten worse. Do you remember Leung Linwei? She's the assistant to Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan, you rescued her from the Freakshow at the same time you rescued the ambassador. Well, since the ambassador has been behaving erratically, I've had Indigo monitoring the embassy. It seems that Ms. Leung just filed a complaint against the ambassador with the Chinese government, and she filed the hell out of it. Multiple copies through multiple routes, and according to Indigo, who is far more proficient with the language than I am, it went beyond being sternly worded. After doing this, Ms. Leung disappeared. Or really, I should say that she was abducted by forces unknown. I want your help to save Leung Linwei and get some idea of what she's seen to cause this kind of reaction.

Now, like I said, officially speaking Ms. Leung has 'disappeared', but between Indigo and myself, we know that she was abducted by unknown parties. Forunately, Indigo was able to tail a van that left the embassy for some nearby caves, after being loaded with an ambassadorial-aide-shaped bundle. That's where you're going. In the meantime, Indigo will keep an eye on the embassy in case something else strange happens. I got a theory about who's responsible and why, but let's see who you find in there first. Take out the leaders of the kidnapping operation and find Leung Linwei. Then we might get some answers.

Mission Objective(s)

The damp chill air of this cavern clings to every surface. Every step seems to echo far into the labyrinthine darkness.

• Defeat lead kidnapper & his crew
  • Rescue Leung Linwei

You rescued Leung Linwei from the Malta Group and defeated her captors.

Notable NPCs

• Leung Linwei (Hostage)
• Kingdom Red 1-0-1 (Gunslinger)

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

Leung Linwei is safe for now. She refused protection in the Chinese embassy and has requested to be put in protective custody by Freedom Corps. She should be okay. If what she said is correct, particularly about the shape-shifter called Moment, then it could explain something. I've heard of Moment before, he's bad news in a big way. An amoral metamorphic mercenary and spy, he's been rumored to exist in intelligence circles since the late 80's, but no one's gotten close enough to confirm his existence. If he's involved, this might be even bigger than it looks. I've got to double check some things with Indigo. Check back with me soon and I'll see what we can put together.

Find the real ambassador

Briefing

I've asked Indigo to keep an eye on Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan and the Chinese embassy. They've gotten really quiet, but she did tail a car with the ambassador in it to a nondescript warehouse in town. She thought that she'd gotten foxed, because the ambassador wasn't in the car when it stopped, even though the same number of people who got in at the embassy entered the warehouse. She left them there, but after hearing what Leung Linwei had to say about the Ambassador's changes and the shapeshifter Moment, I'm starting to wonder if the ambassador who got in the car also got out of it at that warehouse, but didn't look like the ambassador at that time. I suspect that warehouse might be where the Malta Group could be keeping the real Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan. I want you to hit that place and try to find him.

Contrary to Leung Linwei's concerns, I'm pretty sure that the real ambassador is still alive. I did some digging on Moment, and found something interesting. The rumor is that Moment can't hold on to a new form for long until he's had time to adjust to it. In order to do that, he's got to keep synching up with DNA from the original until his body 'learns' the form and can duplicate it down to the DNA itself. If that's true, what it means is during an adjustment period, he's got to keep going back to the original source, who has to be kept alive. In this case, that would be Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan. If the ambassador is alive, then rescuing him becomes your primary objective here. Whether he's living of dead, though, you'll need to defeat every last Malta operative in that base or else Moment and Malta will be alerted that we're on to them.

Mission Objective(s)

You spot a Malta agent and follow him into a sub-basement of the warehouse. You emerge in a high tech facility hidden beneath the city streets.

• Defeat all Malta agents in base
  • Rescue the real ambassador

You rescued Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan and defeated his captors.

Notable NPCs

• K.R. Support Unit 02 (Malta Operatives Zeus Class Titan)
• Kingdom Red 2-0-2 (Gunslinger)
• Ambassador Zhang Xiaoxuan (Hostage)

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

The real ambassador is a smart one. He put himself under protective custody with Freedom Corps until he can prove his identity, or someone can catch the shapeshifter who's pretending to be him. He knows that if he just showed up without any support over at the embassy while Moment's still in control, he'd have no guarantee that it would go his way. He's planning something with Leung Linwei, but it might be wise if other forces handled this, and by 'other forces', I do mean us. Indigo and I will try to find the perfect opportunity.

Meanwhile, I'll also check into that Dr. Lamarr that Ambassador Zheng mentioned seeing while he was a captive. I think we're starting to get close to the larger picture. Check back with me soon, there's gonna be a lot more before this is done.

Catch the shape-shifter 'Moment'

Briefing

Thanks to you, Ambassador Zheng is safe and sound and under Freedom Corps protection. The problem is that the shape-shifter who was impersonating him is still in charge of the Chinese embassy, and still causing trouble. However, because you were thorough and made sure that none of the Malta agents holding the real ambassador were able to get word out that you freed him, this presents us with a window of opportunity to catch the shape-shifter 'Moment'.

It's time to put an end to this situation, but don't think that this one is going to be easy. I highly recommend you take some allies with you on this.

Glad as always to see that you can follow through. Here's the situation:
Indigo has been monitoring signal traffic around the Chinese embassy, and it just paid off. Seems that Moment, disguised as the ambassador, is going to an Asia-Pacific business conference. From the looks of things, this could be the best chance to catch him off-guard. He'll no doubt be heavily guarded, but this could be our best shot. You'll need to defeat and capture Moment, and you'd better make sure to catch any men around him too. He is a shape-shifter, so you don't want to give him a chance to get away.

Mission Objective(s)

Everything explodes into chaos the moment you enter the building! Malta Group operatives remove disguises and ready themselves to attack!

• Defeat Moment & his men

You have defeated the shape-shifter Moment and broken his grip on the Chinese embassy.

Notable NPCs

• Hostage x 5
• Moment (Devouring Earth Greater Devoured)

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

You did a superb job on this one. Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan and his assistant Leung Linwei are back in control at the Chinese embassy, and Moment is in custody. Thing is, that still leaves us with two loose ends:

First off, Moment seems to have been working for Malta, but why would the Malta Group want to try to destabilize relations between the US and China?

Secondly, Ambassador Zheng mentioned a Dr. Lamarr who was also in captivity. I did some checking, and there is a Dr. Hedia Lamarr who went missing from Lawrence Berkeley Labs over a year ago. That might be a match, but the missing Dr. Lamarr was working on some kind of environmental clean-up technology. That doesn't sound like something that would interest Malta, so if Ambassador Zheng did meet her, and she's being force to work for Malta, then why?

I know I've had to leave you with some dangling questions in the past, and I will probably have to do so again in the future. This time, however, I think I'm gonna need your help on these loose threads. Indigo and I'll get to investigating, so check back real soon. It ain't over yet.

Look for clues to Malta's motives at a Malta base

Briefing

While the situation at the Chinese embassy is back to normal, that doesn't mean that this is all over and wrapped up. Indigo is looking for more information on that Dr. Lamarr, and while she's doing that, I have some questions about Moment and the Malta Group's motives I would like to have answered. Now, I know a place that might have some of those answers, but I'm pretty sure that they won't want to share them no matter how nicely you ask. I'd like you to go in there and look for information on Malta's objectives in the least nice manner as you can muster. Are you in?

The base I'm sending you to experienced a surge of activity just before they switched Moment and Ambassador Zheng. My guess is that they had Moment staying there up until that point. They'll probably start destroying information soon, so this could be our only chance to find out what's going on. Your objective is to search the place for any intel you can find about Malta's overall plan. Be thorough, but don't worry about taking out every last soldier.

Mission Objective(s)

Hidden deep under the streets of the city, this hidden lab was all but undetectable.

• Search Malta base for clues
  • 3 clues to find

You found several key pieces of information at the hidden Malta base.

Notable NPCs

• O.R. Support Unit 04 (Malta Operatives Zeus Class Titan)
• Omnivore Red 1-1-5 (Gunslinger)

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

It's times like this that I don't mind being called paranoid. As I suspected, this is all part of a larger plan. Let's review what we know so far:

First, we've put a stop on phase 1 of their plans, to destabilize US/China relations. We know how they were doing it, but we still don't really know why, particularly because Malta's afraid of what they think is a meta-human power gap. Why antagonize someone you're afraid of? It has to tie into the overall World Wide Red operation, so the more info we have either way it could give us a better idea of what's going on.

Second, Operation World Wide Red has something to do with Dr. Hedia Lamarr. Dr. Lamarr went missing over a year ago, we have to assume that she's been in Malta's control since then. All Indigo's been able to dig up on her work is that it involved either pollution control or mining, and ecosystems. I'm going to tap a few resources of my own, see if I can find anything. I think this project wildflower is going to be the key to this.

And third, whatever this is, it's going to be big. This Director 17 is one of the top men of the Malta Group. They've assigned a full third of their effort just to protecting him. Well, protecting him, and preparing Kronos class Titans. So it's safe, I think, to say that this is only gonna get harder. We're gonna need your help more a lot more on this one. Keep in contact with me, I should have more for you soon.

Check with Firenze about any strange operations his people have seen in China

Briefing

I like to see loose ends tied up, and the Malta Group's fixation on china keeps on bothering me. So here's what I'm thinking. Do you remember Jack Firenze? That CIA guy you saved from Malta back when they were switching that shape-shifter called Moment for Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan? I figure he owes you one for that, so it might be a good idea to check with Firenze about any strange operations his people have seen in China.

It's unlikely he'll know much about the Malta Group per se; knowledge of its existence is rare even in the intelligence community, but he might know if any strange intelligent networks have been operating in the area. You might also want to keep your eyes open. There's a good chance that Firenze may still be a target for Malta.

Mission Objective(s)

This is one of several small government offices scattered about Paragon City. Though it should be completely unremarkable, the sounds of heavy weapons being readied alerts you to impeding danger.

• Meet with Jack Firenze
  • Find Jack Firenze

Your timely intervention saved Jack Firenze from the Malta Group.

Notable NPCs

• Dreadnaught Red 1-1-1 (Gunslinger)

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

What Firenze said could fit the facts we know. I'll see if I can corroborate the details of the info he gave you. I'll let you know when it's time to go in and check it out.

Check out Chinese/Malta connection

Briefing

I ran some checks on the information Firenze gave you about those foreign agents working in China with a base here in Paragon. Everything seems legit, but I'm surprised neither Indigo nor I caught any trace of it before this. That makes it all the more important that you check out what's going on in that spy nest and investigate the connection between China and the Malta Group.

You might want to take some back-up with you on this one. I have a bad feeling about this mission. Give me the word when you're ready to go.

Firenze's info pinpoints the site, but his people had no idea what you could be facing in there. Whatever you run up against, you're looking for more clues about Malta's overall plan. Search anything you can find for information or documents. Also, take out the base's leaders and shake them down for information, too. Someone's gotta know something.

Mission Objective(s)

The cracked plaster and moldering carpet of this place makes it seem like an unlikely home for a spy organization. Perhaps that unlikeliness is what would make it work well.

• Defeat base leader & his crew
  • 2 clues to find

You defeated the base's leadership and found several clues.

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

I just checked, and yeah, Moment had escaped just hours before you got there. That's too much just to be luck. Malta is watching you. Every coin has two sides, though. Now we know that whatever they're planning, Malta is worried about you getting closer to it.

This wasn't a total wash. You got some valuable information. I'll check into the contents of those pills; that might tell us what they were designed to protect against, which could also be a lucky break. They're radioactive and traceable. I'll get Indigo on it quick. Knowing what to look for could lead us right to Dr. Lamarr and Project: Wildflower before it's too late. The last thing is a question that we can't answer yet: Is Firenze being player by Malta? If so, is that part of Operation World Wide Red? I'll let you know when the first of any of these leads pan out. We're close. I just hope we can get there in time.

Check out Project: Wildflower and look for Dr. Hedia Lamarr

Briefing

Jack Firenze's information may not have turned up a connection between Malta and China, but it did end up giving us a way to find Dr. Lamarr and Project: Wildflower. Indigo took the list of isotopes you found and was able to trace them to a Malta lab code-named Omnivore Red 1, hidden in some caves under the city. I've confirmed through my own resources that resources for Project: Wildflower were sent to this same base. Logically, the next step is to send you to this base to check out Project: Wildflower in person, and look for Dr. Hedia Lamarr.

Make no mistake, Character, Malta is not going to want to giv eup this project easily. All the information we've gathered tells us that this base is going to be defended by some hardcore commandos who will not give an inch. I think we still have some time before Project: Wildflower is done, so I highly recommend you call in all the reserves you can.

Your main objective is to find out what Project: Wildflower is, and sabotage it or destroy it or destroy it. In order to do this, you'll probably need to find Dr. Lamarr and see if she's willing to help. We have found a major clue about what Wildflower could be, thanks to you. Do you remember those pills you found? The ones that were being given to Malta soldiers in case they were exposed to Wildflower? Well, they're not vitamins. They're some kind of symbiotic short-lived nanotechnology. My source hasn't had time to do a full analysis, but he thinks thay're designed to destroy other nanites in a human body. This meshes with what else Indigo's been able to find out about Dr. Lamarr's work. It seems she was working on developing a kind of artificial nanotech ecosystem that could live in parallel with normal life. The idea was to use these as a way to clean up pollution wihout hurting the environment any further. I have a bad feeling that whatever Wildflower is now, it's not going to be about recycling.

Mission Objective(s)

With the information from Indigo and Crimson, you've found the secret entrance to this laboratory complex hidden beneath the city.

• Stop all Wildflower agents
  • Find Dr. Lamarr

You rescued Dr. Lamarr, who told you the truth about Project: Wildflower and how to stop it.

Notable NPCs

• Dr Hedia Lamarr (Hostage)

Malta Operatives

Ambush

Upon exiting this mission, you will be ambushed by the Kronos Class Titan.

Master of Olympus Hero You have destroyed the Kronos Titan, showing Malta that the Heroes of Paragon City defend their turf. Villain You have destroyed the Kronos Titan, showing Malta that you are a force to be reckoned with

Stop Project: Wildflower

Mission Objective(s)

Much of the interior of this older office building has been converted into a high-tech production machinery for nanites. As you enter the lab, you hear a muffled cry for help, and find that Dr. Lamarr is gone!

• Stop Project: Wildflower
  • 8 computers left

You have shut down Project: Wildflower. The nanites are consuming each other, and the world has been saved from the Malta Group.

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

Every time I think I'm paranoid enough, my enemies find a new way to show me different. This plot was big, even for Malta. An entire separate nanotechnology ecosystem, spread all over the world and ready to kill at will. It's no lie when I tell you that without your work, there's no way Indigo and I could have handled this alone.

Dr. Lamarr is safe, but she's going to be busy for a long time. Malta got very close this time, and that will worry a lot of people. Currently she's heading to the CDC. A nanite plague isn't really a disease per se, but they're the closest thing with the resources and authority to help her make sure nothing like this will happen again. That woman's a true genius. Shame it worked out against her. Just born about 50 years too soon, I suppose.

Well, there's still plenty of work to do. We've stopped Project: Wildflower, which means that Malta's Operation World Wide Red has been blunted at least. However, we still don't know if Wildflower was the core of World Wide Red or just an element of it. And what did China have to do with all of this? And is there still a chance to catch Director 17?

There's still more left to this, Character, so I hope you'll be ready for it.

Meet with Indigo to help hit Malta operations

Briefing

With Project: Wildflower destroyed and their plan to increase US/China tensions stopped, The Malta Group is probably reeling. Which makes this the perfect time to hit their operations while they're trying to recover. Indigo's got a target and an operation in mind, but has asked for your help to do the job. I can tell her to expect you if you're interested.

Indigo requested you meet her in person for security. She'll have all the details you need when you talk to her.

Mission Objective(s)

• Meet with Indigo

It's good to see you, Character. I've found a small facility that's being used as a front by our 'friends'. It was used as a secure data transfer node until recently, but with all the trouble they've had with your interference in Operation World Wide Red, they haven't finished fixing things there. This presents a perfect opportunity to compromise part of their network and do some snooping. What I need you do to is to physically infiltrate that base, defeat any and all Malta operatives there so they can't sound the alarm, and then use a little device I'll give you to get into their network. Easy!

The guard should be light, so this one shouldn't be too much trouble for you.

Mission Objective(s)

This appears to be a normal office, until you notice the thin layer of dust on all of the office supplies. No one has used this as a place of business in some time.

• Defeat all Malta agents at company
  • Compromise the network

You cleared out the base and compromised Malta's computer network.

Debriefing

Another job well done, Character. Indigo sends her regards. She's also sent along the first batch of data she's been able to pull. She doesn't know how long she'll have until they discover the tap, so she's working as fast as she can. This first bit should knock your socks off.

She found part of Malta's overall plan for Operation World Wide Red, or what the plan would have been if you hadn't stopped it. They wanted to destabilize US/China relations, then use Wildflower to kill off select heroes, yourself included, and have China take credit for it through their fake ambassador. With relations already unstable, they could move on with their plan and start pushing for a limited was between the US and China by employing compromised intelligence personnel to fake reports. By the time anyone realized what was happening, it would be too late. The war would be on, and they could bring any hero they wanted under their control once they got a new version of Might for Right passed.

We don't have to worry about that so much, thanks to you, but the men who attempted to perpetrate this scheme are still at large, being protected by the Dreadnought Red group. Which brings us to the second part. When you were heading to stop project: Wildflower, Malta activated a Kronos class Titan cyborg to attack you. Turns out that was a local boy. It was assembled here in Paragon City by the Dreadnought Red group. Indigo's working on where it might have been put together. Once we have that, we may be close to Director 17 himself.

Investigate Crimson's target for info about Director 17

Briefing

Character, I've got a target for you that could take us a step closer to finding Director 17. Tell me when you're ready, and we can begin to put the last traces of Operation World Wide Red in its grave.

Indigo and I have pinned down the location where the Malta Group assembled that first Kronos class Titan cyborg. The bad news is that they have parts and supplies to make at least one more. Indigo thinks that the place may contain valuable intel, and I agree with her. Your first objective is to search for that. I also think that the base commander, code-named Dreadnought Red 3-9-0, might also have some information. Your second objective will be to defeat him and his men.

Mission Objective(s)

In a sub-basement hidden beneath an ordinary warehouse, you've uncovered an advanced robotic fabrication plant. Just the place to assemble a Kronos class Titan cyborg.

• Defeat base leader & his men
  • Search for useful intelligence

You defeated the leader of the Titan assembly base, and found some valuable information

Notable NPCs

• Dreadnought Red 3-9-0

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

They've built a second Titan. I was afraid of that, and all that you've found confirms it. They probably rushed it into production after they had to deploy that first one. That's some kind of bad news, but at least it's good to know about it. What's better, however, is the other piece of information you found. Director 17 is hidden within the CIA, and still in town. I'm going to tap some CIA resources and see if I can narrow the list of possibilities, or even force Director 17 out into the open.

Liberate the ex-CIA informant from the Malta Group and find out what he learned

Briefing

Now that we know that Director 17 is in the CIA, thanks to you, several encrypted messages Indigo had intercepted make more sense. I activated one of our resources, a former CIA agent, and sent him in to use his old contacts and try to connect who was sending those messages with who was receiving them. My plan succeeded better than I anticipated, and Malta Group agents jumped our man, taking him prisoner. I need you to liberate our ex-CIA informant from the Malta Group and find out what he learned.

He's going to be under heavy guard, but I don't think it's anything you can't handle. Well, maybe you and some friends.

As I said, our plan worked better than I had planned. When those Malta operatives grabbed our man, they tipped their hand that he found out something important. What Malta didn't know is that Indigo monitored their whole operation remotely, thanks to their compromised network, we know exactly where they took him, and we know that they plan to interrogate him before they kill him. Our operative is a tough one to crack, so we should have some time. But don't dawdle. All you need to do is go in and retrieve our man and learn what he knows.

Mission Objective(s)

Indigo's information has led you to this old warehouse. The black vans outside show that this is the right spot.

• Find abducted agent
  • Rescue captured agent

You saved Melvin Langley and learned the true identity of the Malta Group's Director 17.

Notable NPCs

• Melvin Langley (Hostage)

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

I can't believe I didn't see that coming. It's so obvious, if it had been a snake it would have bit me twice for good measure. Firenze. Jack Firenze. Here I thought he was just incompetent. It all makes sense now.

This all started off when the Freakshow tried to grab Firenze and ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan. Those Freaks ran into Malta troops, right? I bet that gungslinger was there as Firenze's bodyguard. When you rescued Firenze from those Malta agents back at the start of this, the switch went okay or to give Moment new instructions. Then the next time you talked to him, he sent you into a trap deliberately. That worked out for us, though, I doubt he knew you'd find any information there, or that I'd be able to use it. Everything's been pointing to him from the start.

Well, Mr. Director 17 of the Malta Group is in for a big surprise. This might take a bit of time to prepare, but I guarantee you that it's going to be over soon.

Deal with Jack Firenze, aka Director 17

Briefing

Character, it's time to deal with Jack Firenze, aka Director 17 of the Malta Group. This won't be easy, and we know that he has another Kronos class Titan under his command. If he activates it, there might not be much time before it can cause a lot of damage. Gather your resources and block out some time. When you give me the go-ahead, it's on.

Okay, Character, here's how this is gonna go down:

I just had Indigo send all of the evidence she and I have gathered about jack Firenze's true associations to the right people. A whole lot of the right people. A catch in an emergency debriefing, trying to figure out who was responsible for letting Langley get away. He'll know in a few minutes that not only has his cover been exposed, so has the entire World Wide Red operation and the existence of the Malta Group. Firenze's going to lock himself down and await extraction. Too bad for him, extraction ain't coming. Or rather, it will, but Indigo's re-routed them to the wrong building.

I tell you Character, I love that girl like a daughter.

That's where you come in. Firenze's going to sit tight waiting for an extraction that won't be coming. I want you to hit him while he's waiting.

Firenze's going to be well protected by some of the baddest things that Malta can muster. I don't care. I want him caught. I want all of his bodyguards caught. I want the other directors of the Malta Group to know not only that they are not untouchable, but that they can be caught and brought up for their crimes.

I know you understand me. I leave it up to you to make sure they understand even better.

Mission Objective(s)

You're angry at having been duped by Jack Firenze. You won't be leaving here without him in tow.

• Capture all Firenze's men

You defeated Jack Firenze!

Notable NPCs

• Jack Firenze

Malta Operatives

Stop Kronos Titan & entire crew

Note: This timed mission begins immediately upon exiting the previous one.

Mission Objective(s)

This small patch of forest is already aflame from the Kronos class Titan's attack on the War Wall! Malta operatives and engineers scramble about, ready to attack you and defend the Titan.

• Stop Kronos Titan & entire crew - 1:30:00

You destroyed the Titan and defeated its support crew.

Notable NPCs

• Dreadnought Red Kronos 02 (Arch Villain)

Note: Red Kronos 02 is not a giant monster but does count for the "Master of Olympus" Badge

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

The wreckage of that Titan is being recovered by the city. I hear the War Wall engineers were sweating bullets before you showed up. They didn't know if they'd have been able to stop that thing.

Firenze is in captivity and cursing your name. He's too smart to talk, but what he has to say is almost less important than what he represents. Firenze's capture and exposure has shown the rest of the Malta Group that they are not untouchable and invisible masters. Now they'll have to worry about threats from more traditional law enforcement. Which means that they won't be able to spend as much time dealing with unconventional threats like Indigo and myself.

Thinking about it that way, I suppose you could say I exposed this operation for selfish reasons, but I prefer to think of it as enlightened self-interest. Either way, I have you to thank. I'm just a paranoid old spook with too much blood on his hands and too many regrets, Character, but you are a true hero.

One last thing. It's just a funny bit of irony for you. Remember how one of the reasons Malta was so afraid of China in the first place was because they thought that china had far more meta-humans in their armed forces than we did? A super-human gap, they called it. If they'd really paid attention to their intelligence instead of seeing what they wanted to see, they would have known that most of China's meta-humans perished or went into hiding during th cultural revolution. Mao Tse Tung was too afraid of them destabilizing his vision of China. America may have one-third China's population, but it has twice as many super-humans, and four times as many in the military. Not to surprising they'd make that mistake, though. They thought the same thing about Russia for decades.

Souvenir

The thanks of the World

You received this joint certificate of thanks from the American and Chinese government when you put a stop to Project: World Wide Red.

It all began when you investigated the site where a group of Freakshow had attempted to kidnap Ambassador Zheng Xiaoxuan, his aide Leung Linwei, and Jack Firenze, the head of the CIA's China Bureau. It seems the Freaks had run into more than they could handle, and the place was now crawling with Malta Group operatives. You rescued all of the hostages, but found out little more information.

You next saved Yasha Kristoff, a Russian ambassador who had gotten into a loud disagreement with Ambassador Zheng and was now being stalked by the Knives of Artemis. He told you that the ambassador had been acting strangely confrontational and belligerent towards the United States.

The situation at the embassy took a turn for the worse when the ambassador's aide, Leung Linwei, filed a report against the ambassador's disruptive behavior with her government, and was then abducted by unknown forces. After you rescued her, she told you that the real Ambassador Zheng had been replaced by a shape-shifting impostor called 'Moment!'

Now that you knew about Moment the shape-shifter, Crimson was able to put some information together and found the location where the real ambassador was being kept alive so that the impostor could sample his DNA and interrogate him at will. You rescued the ambassador, who told you told you how he had been replaced. He also mentioned another prisoner, a Dr. Hedia Lamarr who he had met during his captivity.

You fought and captured the shape-shifter called Moment. Though he tried to defeat you by using a combat form. you prevailed. The real Ambassador Zheng went back to work. but you were still left with a number of questions.

You next struck the Malta Group base that had been housing Moment. and found out that the replacement of Ambassador Zheng had been part of a larger operation. code-named World Wide Red. Moment's job was to destabilize U.S./China relations leading up to an attack utilizing something called Project: Wildflower. and that Dr. Hedia Lamarr was being forced to work on Wildflower. You also discovered that Malta was preparing some of their Kronos Titan to deal with threats like you.

You sought information about the Malta Group's involvement with China by talking to Jack Firenze again. only to find him under attack by Malta. He told you about some mysterious foreign operatives who had been trying to gain access to China's military.

You struck the location where the foreign agents Firenze spoke of might be. and found Malta operatives and a newly escaped Moment. After you defeated their heavy resistance. they swore that he knew nothing about operations in China. The mission was not a loss. though. You found antidote pills for exposure to Operation: Wildflower. and better still. a way to trace down the captive Dr. Lamarr by looking for certain isotopes Project: Wildflower needed.

Acting quickly. you were able to find Dr. Lamarr at the Malta base where she was being forced to work on Project: Wildflower. She explained that Wildflower was a perversion of her own work. a symbiotic invisible nanotechnology-based ecosystem that Malta wanted reprogrammed to kill on their command. If released. it could infect the entire world. invisibly placing it under Malta control. Their first strike would be to kill thousands of heroes. yourself included! As you rushed to the site where Malta was letting the nanites multiply before releasing them. Malta unleashed their Kronos Titan! Undaunted. you made it to the nanite factory and reset all of the nanites to break themselves down. nipping Project: Wildflower in the bud.

With Malta operations reeling. you helped Indigo infiltrate their network. She found out that Malta had planned to use the hero massacre from Wildflower as a pretext for starting a war with China by using Moment and their blackmail information.

You next hit the facility where the Kronos class Titan you'd seen earlier was constructed. and found out that they had made a second one. You also found out that Director 17. the head of World Wide Red. was in the city and that his cover identity was within the CIA.

Crimson used his ex-CIA contact Melvin Langley to learn the identity of Director 17. and when that contact was captured. you went in and rescued him. Melvin told you that Director 17 was none other than Jack Firenze!

Crimson and Indigo exposed Firenze and his part of the Malta Group to the world and you went in and captured the traitorous director. At the last moment he activated the second Kronos Titan to destroy the city! Through valiant battle. you were able to destroy the second Titan stop Firenze's revenge. Project: World Wide Red was over.

Missions

Stop the Malta Group raid on the Crey science facility

Note: This is usually the first mission you will receive from Crimson.

Briefing

If you've worked with me before, Character, you know the ground rules, but I'm going to take a minute out and repeat them, just in case. You are not working for me, you are working with me. This is an important distinction, because it bases our working relationship on trust and mutual benefit. I will never send you to do anything distasteful or wrong, and in exchange I ask that you respect that the sources of my information are confidential. I will never steer you wrong, but I am under no obligation to tell you what's going on or how I know about it. That doesn't mean that I won't, but sometimes that's how this kind of work need to happen.

All of that said, I have just a situation right now that needs to be taken care of. Malta Group operatives are up to something nasty in a Crey science facility, and it wouldn't be a good idea to let them finish that raid.

Mission Acceptance

Crey and Malta may work together from time to time, but that does not make them friends. They just often have similar ends they wish to achieve, and see the other as a good means toward it. So this kind of thing isn't that uncommon. Your goal is to find out what Malta wanted and to defeat any and all opposition at that location. I trust that you can handle this. When you're done, meet with Indigo in person. She may have some information for you.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Mission Objective(s)

Though the high tech machines and computers of this lab all hum with power, the entire lab is deathly quiet.

• Defeat all Malta in lab
  • Discover Malta goals
  • Find the Key

Notable NPCs

• Circuit Red Alpha (Gunslinger)

Malta Operatives
Crey

Ambush!

After you exit the mission, you will be ambushed by Malta Operatives.

Meet with Indigo

Mission Objective(s)

• Meet with Indigo

Meet the Informant

Mission Objective(s)

• Meet the Informant
  • Board Train

Debriefing

?

Protect Robert Able from the Malta Group

Save the Able family

Briefing

A young fellow by the name of Robert Able has been targeted for capture by the Malta Group. I know that they've been watching this kid for about a decade, and if I'm right, then more than his life is in danger. I think it would be safer if Robert was out from under their watchful eye and under our protection.

Robert's out on a little camping trip right now along with his folks. You'll need to rescue the whole family, or else Malta will use them as leverage. Once you've handled that situation, you'll need to meet with Indigo. She'll have more information for you at that time.

Mission Objective(s)

Though this might be a pleasant place to experience the great outdoors, you know that agents of the Malta Group aren't out here to relax.

• Save Able family
  • 3 Ables to save

You rescued the Able Family from the Malta Group.

Notable NPCs

• Tom Able (Captive)
• Robert Able (Captive)
• Anita Able (Captive)

Malta Operatives

Meet with Indigo

Mission Objective(s)

• Meet with Indigo

Find the Able's files

Mission Objective(s)

As you enter the offices of Falcone Pharmaceuticals, you notice a pronounced lack of office workers. Like Indigo said, this company appears to be a front for the Malta Group!

• Find the Able's files
  • Find the Able's files

You found records that explain the reason for the Malta Group's interest in the Able family.

Notable NPCs

• Helix Black 08-08 (Gunslinger)

Malta Operatives

Deliver files to Crimson

Mission Objective(s)

• Deliver files to Crimson

Defeat Helix Black 0-9-0

Briefing

This is some serious bad science you've uncovered here, and it gets worse. I've traced all of the orders concerning Robert, and they all come from the same organization within the Malta Group. These guys are a part of Malta, but they seem to have been operating semi-autonomously since the early 90's, and have been running some extra operations on the side. One of these side operations was the Able family and the production of Robert. They've also recently ramped up another project, and I want to make sure that this second project does not come to fruition. That's going to be your job.

You'll have to accomplish two objectives in order to do that. First, you'll need to take out the operative in charge of the place, a Malta agent called Helix Black 0-9-0. Secondly, I want you to find their mainframe. Destroyed or taken, they cannot be allowed to have it.

Mission Objective(s)

The mysterious nature of this Malta Group cell's operations are in the back of your mind. If there are any answers to be had, they'll Be in this high tech base.

• Defeat Helix Black 0-9-0
  • Find Malta mainframe

You shut down the Malta lab. The words of Helix Black 0-9-0 spoke after his defeat still echo in your mind.

Notable NPCs

• Helix Black 0-9-0 (Gunslinger)

Malta Operatives

Debriefing

You just averted a pretty tragic fate for Robert Able. That kid's going to have enough trouble dealing with the knowledge that he's not his parents' biological son, but at least he won't have to worry about getting his brain overwritten by a copy of a long-dead CIA spook and conspiracy founder.

I lived through the period when the change between the new and the old guard within Malta took place. Trust me on this, whatever Helix Black told you about the old Malta Group being all high-minded and great compared to the new one, they both looked like the same bunch of jerks from the outside.

This kind of mind-transfer stuff crops up ever few years when someone gives some mad genius too much discretionary research money. Getting an accurate copy of a personality or getting it copied over correctly is usually where these things fall down. These guys were probably pulling strings within Malta to get their hands on Crey's Revenant Hero equipment so they'd have a way to put that copy of Vrabel's personality into Robert's head.

The Return of Nemesis

Investigate what the Malta Group and the Nemesis Army are talking about

Briefing

All right, Character, I have an operation that I'm going to need your help with, but I have to warn you flat-out that this could be incredibly dangerous. Not that anything involving the Malta Group is ever safe and easy, but with the Nemesis Army involved, this could go above and beyond that. If you're up to it, I need your help to investigate what exactly the Malta Group and the Nemesis Army have to talk about.

I don't know if you're aware of the current state of the Nemesis Army, but they've taken a pretty bad blow. It looks like Nemesis is finally dead and gone, and most people expected them to just break up and go back to whatever life they led before. That hasn't been the case. They still perform operations and do missions and get orders, but no one really knows if those orders are coming from the Nemesis Army leadsership and they've assumed command, or if they're coming from a usurper who's taken over as a new Nemesis, or from Nemesis himself.

Whatever the case is, despite those orders, some Nemesis Army troops are getting worried by these turns of events, and have been talking with representatives of, you guessed it, our friends in the Malta Group. So, what I want you to do is crash one of these little talks, defeat the negotiators, and try to find some clue over what all of this is about.

Mission Objective(s)

Both the Malta Group and the Nemesis army are incredibly dangerous by themselves. Any potential alliance between them must be stopped.

• Defeat lead negotiators
  • Find negotiation clues

You disrupted the negotiations between this group of Nemesis Army soldiers and members of the Malta Group. You also found that several of the Nemesis Army soldiers were wearing recording devices.

Malta Operatives
Nemesis

Defeat monitoring station leader

Mission Objective(s)

The signals you traced have led you here. Hidden in the city sewers, a gleaming high tech lab sprawls before you. All imprinted with the indelible mark of the Nemesis Army.

• Defeat monitoring station leader
  • 4 recordings to find

You shut down this monitoring station and got copies of all their recordings. Indigo could probably help correlate them.

Nemesis

Take recordings to Indigo

Mission Objective(s)

• Take recordings to Indigo

Wow, Character, this is some juicy stuff. Give me a moment to look through all of this.

Find info at monitoring base

Briefing

Hmmm.

Interesting.

These are the wierdest time and date stamps.

Ah-ha! Okay! All of this data was being fed to a central point. My guess is that there are probably several monitoring stations like this one, all watching over Nemesis Army negotiation teams. I don't know if they're all talking to our 'friends', or if other groups are involved. A lot of villain organizations have been trying to move in on the Nemesis Army, now that it looks like Nemesis is gone. But seeing this effort on recording and analyzing, looking for other groups to show interest? This looks like part of a larger plan.

I'm like everyone else, Character. I really hope that Nemesis is gone forever. I know that we can't count on that. If this really is some elaborate plan to draw in and subvert other groups by tricking them into accepting Nemesis agents, then it can't be allowed to continue. I've been able to trace enough back that I should have the location of the central monitoring depository. I don't know what you'll find in there, but I'd recommend that you take friends along.

Mission Objective(s)

Indigo's information was correct once more. Hidden behind a facade of normal office space, you've found another secret Nemesis hideout!

• Find info at monitoring base
  • Seek clues

Nemesis

Stop Nemesis!

Briefing

Missing Info

Mission Acceptance

Missing Info

Unnecessary Solicitation

Missing Info

Mission Objective(s)

It looks like the Malta Group operatives who'd come here expecting intense negotiations got an intense fire fight instead. They seem to be holding their own, but if Nemesis himself is truly here, it can't last.

• Stop Nemesis!

You have stopped the Nemesis Army's plot to infiltrate the Malta Group and defeated Nemesis. Or have you?

Notable NPCs

• Nemesis (Archvillain)
• Vital Gold 1-2-1 Please Verify

Enemies

Malta Operatives
Nemesis

Debriefing

I told you that one was gonna be tough, but it looks like you handled it as well as anyone could have expected. The Malta Group's plan to subvert parts of the Nemesis Army is done with, as is the Nemesis Army's plan to subvert parts of the Malta Group. Vital Gold 1-2-1 is in Custody, and that's a lot of damage to the Malta Cells in Paragon City. And then there's Nemesis.

Who or whatever was inside that Nemesis body was killed when you defeated it. Internal boilers went into the red, fried most everything. Indigo monitored the medical reports, and according to the doctors, while there was a brain in there, meaning that it could have been Nemesis himself, the brain was, well, artificial. Like one of the brains Crey was working on for the next step in the Revenant Hero Project. All of which makes me wonder if that might have been not the real Nemesis, but a real Nemesis?

See Also

• Crimson's Longbow profile for a list of his powers

External Links

• (Google Cache)