Firebase Zulu

Firebase Zulu

Hero Hazard Zone (40-44)
Trainers:	none
TF Contacts:	Dr. Quaterfield
Events:	none
Exploration Badges:	Defying Gravity, Dimensional Sojourner, Stormwatcher, Alpha Ranger, Shadow Architect, X-Ray Spectator, Dancer with Death, Shard Leaper
Plaques:	none
Day Jobs:	Dimensional Explorer, Caregiver
Enemies:	Crey, Nemesis, Rularuu, Shadow Shard Reflections
Connecting Zones:	Cascade Archipelago, Chantry, Peregrine Island, Storm Palace
Transits:	none

Overview

Firebase Zulu is a Hazard zone in CoH. It is the first of the Shadow Shard zones. Prior to Issue 16, a hero needed to be at least Security Level 40 to enter.

The Portal Corporation has opened a gateway to a bizarre alternate dimention. The Shadow Shard, as it is called, is composed of floating islands suspended in a seemingly bottomless airspace. The military has moved in, exploring the bizarre parallel universe, and they're having a rough time of it. Strange alien creatures oppose them, and they have even encountered beings who appear to be dark reflections of Earth villains. Firebase Zulu is the name of one military installation in the Shard, and is the major staging point for heroic incursions into the mysterious place.

Firebase Zulu Reconnaissance Officer

(6447, 1092, 1890)

You have just entered the Shadow Shard, a series of islands broken down into four main sections. This is, in association with Portal Corps, a miliary-controlled and supervised restricted access location. If you don't have one already, see a vendor about a Flight Pack. Oh, and make some friends because this place is deadly.
See my report for more information. It should give you an idea what to expect:
RECONNAISSANCE REPORT
*** Approved Use Only ***
History: The Portal Corps has provided access to this dimension in an attempt to keep Rularuu from swallowing up another world. He's weaker on his home turf.
Hostiles Strength: Levels 40 through 47
Suggested Squad Parameters: 5 to 8-person teams
Highlights:

• Firebase Zulu

The main military installation and access point from Earth

• Cascade Archipelago

A series of islands that run more vertical rather than horizontal, home to the rare Kora Fruit

• The Chantry

One of the stranger pockets within the Shadow Shard, the domain of another part of Rularuu's consciousness that he found too troublesome to deal with: his conscience

• The Storm Palace

Home to Lanaru the Mad, an expression of the real Rularuu's frustrations at his imprisonment

Identified Hostiles:

• Brutes (absent from Zulu)
• Circle of Thorns (Cascade Archipelago}
• Crey (Firebase Zulu)
• Natterlings (Zulu and Cascade Archipelago)
• Nemesis (Zulu and Cascade Archipelago)
• Reflections (absent from Storm Palace)
• Sentries
• Storm Elementals (Storm Palace)
• Wisps (Cascade Archipelago and Storm Palace)

Amenities:

• Military Hospital on Firebase Zulu
• Gravity Geysers to aid in transportation between islands
• Hortha Vines for transportation between the shards

Contacts

Task Force Contacts

• Dr. Quaterfield

Regular Contacts

• Dr. Boyd
• General Hammond
• Lt. Volkov

Notable NPCs

• Sgt. Goddard
• Reconnaisance Officer. The Reconnaissance report is here.
• Soldier NPCs are apparently named after participants of the real life event Omega Sektor MiniCon held by NCsoft.

Exploration Badges

Defying Gravity Visiting alien dimensions, as the briefing told you, can be a disorienting experience. In the Shadow Shard the rules of physics operate differently, where masses measuring in the megatonnes float unsupported in the open air. From this vantage you can get a clear picture of the massive size of the island Firebase Zulu sits upon, and see that truly it floats unaided in the alien air. The mind reels at the reality of it, and as the briefing warned it is best if one not contemplate this fact too deeply.

Dimensional Sojourner You have tread upon the soil of a parallel dimension and now are ready to expand your horizons. From this point, portals link Firebase Zulu to other operational bases scattered throughout the Shadow Shard. Each minute you spend here places you among a tiny fraction of the human race who have not only left the world of their birth, but breathed the air of an alien world. You are a rare breed, a privileged traveler, a Dimensional Sojourner.

Stormwatcher It was here that Earth's explorers first encountered the mysterious entities of the Shadow Shard. Their threat was implicit and the need to keep them contained became a driving force in the establishment of Tempest Sector. As a representative of Paragon City, you have joined the fight to prevent the denizens of the Shadow Shard from extending their range into your home dimension. Some see their discovery of Primal Earth's dimension as inevitable; a "coming storm" which could rival the Rikti Invasion in destructive potential.

Alpha Ranger The soldiers of Point Alpha man one of the most embattled posts in the Shadow Shard. They deal with skirmishes on an hourly basis and the attrition rate is very high. Coming here is viewed as both a blessing; the men cheer any powered assistance they can get against an enemy they can barely comprehend; and a curse, for your presence indicates the danger they are in and the inadequacy of their modern weapons against this threat. But being here has made you an honorary Alpha Ranger.

Shadow Architect Humanity is a creature who builds. It finds virgin territory and makes its mark. The Shadow Shard is no different. Even in the short time since it was discovered, a flood of construction material made its way through the dimensional membrane into the Shadow Shard and the building began. The crews met the unearthly challenges that faced them and established numerous military facilities in this strange territory. There is something almost surreal about seeing this construction crane, something so commonplace on Earth here in an alien dimension: the mundane meeting the unearthly.

X-Ray Spectator The soldiers of Point X-Ray like to call themselves the "X-Raiders." They are an elite squad specializing in sniper rifles and counter-insurgency and though they find themselves in a completely unfamiliar environment they still employ their military discipline and peerless training to the effort. They don't generally welcome super-powered individuals but seeing as you've come as far, you've clearly proven yourself against the "hostiles" and so they offer you a grudging respect. Though they are not ready to give you the title of fellow X-Raider... yet.

Dancer with Death Point Tango has come under repeated assaults that have wrought more devastation than any of the other military installations in the Shadow Shard. The damage of these constant attacks is evident in the shattered concrete structures, the warped metal supports, and on the faces of the soldiers manning Point Tango. Despite the danger of their post, they are unflinching in their defense of the installation. In the spirit of the name of their base, Point Tango, they've coined the phrase "Dance with Death" for whenever the denizens of the Shadow Shard launch another attack against their position. They welcome you to dance with them, and survive as they have... if you can.

Shard Leaper It is an odd coincidence that the soldiers manning Point Sierra are composed of units drawn from Mountaineering Corps. One of the ways by which they welcome new recruits to their station is to take a "hop" over to the neighboring shard for a quick strike-and-fade attack against the enemy. They welcome you to do the same.

Neighborhoods

• Firebase November (Green) (Music)
• Firebase Zulu (Green) (Music)
• Point Alpha (Yellow - Level 41-44) (Music)
• Point Bravo (Yellow - Level 41-44) (Music)
• Point Charlie (Yellow - Level 41-44) (Music)
• Point Echo (Yellow - Level 40-44) (Music)
• Point Foxtrot (Yellow - Level 40-44) (Music)
• Point Sierra (Yellow - Level 40-44) (Music)
• Point Tango (Yellow - Level 40-44) (No Music)
• Point Victor (Yellow - Level 40-44) (Music)
• Point X-Ray (Yellow - Level 40-44) (Music)
• Tempest Sector (Yellow - Level 41-44) (No Music)

Stores

• General Hammond also acts as a Store Contact.
• Dr. Scott Wachhorst will buy enhancements, but doesn't sell anything.
• Jetpack Supplier.

Day Jobs

Hero-Specific

Dimensional Explorer You have spent a great deal of time working with the military at Firebase Zulu earning the Dimensional Explorer Day Job. Logging out in the Shadow Shard will earn you a Jetpack power, when you log back in, for a short time.

Caregiver You have spent a great deal of time working in the hospitals of Paragon City during your free time earning the Caregiver Day Job. Logging out in a Hospital will earn you a Regeneration Bonus, when you log back in, for a short time.

Villain-Specific

Dimensional Plunderer Firebase Zulu has classified you as A.W.O.L., but they wouldn't welcome you if you showed up, either.

Pain Specialist Your expertise in surgery and understanding pain has earned you the Pain Specialist Day Job. Logging out in a Hospital will earn you a Regeneration Bonus, when you log back in, for a short time.

Transfer Points

• There are portals to Cascade Archipelago, The Chantry, Peregrine Island, and The Storm Palace.
• There is a secret portal in Mole Point Alpha to Mole Point Charlie in the Cascade Archipelago.
• There is a Hortha Vine to the Cascade Archipelago.

Villain Groups

• Crey
  
• Nemesis
  
• Shadow Shard Reflections
  
• Soldiers of Rularuu