 The Paragon Wiki Archive documents the state of City of Heroes/Villains as it existed on December 1, 2012.
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Mission:The Price for Fire (Villain) - Part One: While the Iron is Hot
Part One: While the Iron is Hot
Briefing
Character... thank you for coming. I know that our time working together has been a bit... rocky. And... and we've certainly had our setbacks. However, I still believe there is a way to salvage your original intent in finding Pandora's Box.
The powers loosed by the box are unstable, but they can still be harnessed. If you are still interested in doing so, I know of a method that may be able to transform the creatures that emanated from Pandora's Box back into a purer, more usable form of energy. Once that energy has been contained, we will be able to decide how to use it.
- Agree to form a strike force
If we're going to try to harness the freed energy from Pandora's Box, we're going to need to use the one tool known to be capable of altering the Box's power emanations: the Antikythera.
Currently, I believe, Lastri has it stored aboard the U.S.S. Mitscher. We'll need to have it on-hand before we can make any progress towards harnessing the power of those creatures.
Unnecessary Solicitation
Character, we need the Antikythera before we can proceed. I'm afraid any attempts to corral the energy of Pandora's Box would be futile without it.
Mission Objective(s)
Something is very, VERY wrong here.
- Retrieve the Antikythera
- 2 Arachnos Fliers to destroy
- Retake the USS Mitscher
- Talk to Lastri
You have fended off an Arachnos attack... but not before they could steal the Antikythera!
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Arachnos Flier (Arachnos Transport, Enemy)
Briefing
Lastri is gritting her teeth in frustration. After a moment, she takes a short breath, stands tall, and meets your gaze.
Sir / Ma'am, I must apologize. I assured you that I would take care of the Mitscher, and that my men could staff and defend it if necessary. As you can see, we failed to defend the Mitscher from attack. I claim full responsibility.
- Where is the Antikythera, Lastri?
Lastri flinches at the mention of the Antikythera. She averts her eyes in shame.
The Antikythera was their target, Character. Once they had taken the Mitscher, Arachnos tore through every cargo hold in the ship. I... I believe they have taken it, sir / ma'am.
- How did they manage to find the Mitscher?
- Ever since Pandora's Box was opened, the Mitscher has been harried by the same creatures that attacked you underneath Zigursky Penitentiary. Doctor Harvan believes it is because of the presence of the Antikythera
- It is... possible that Arachnos managed to discover a way of tracking either them or whatever force is drawing them to the Antikythera. However...
- The Antikythera itself is the only tool we know of capable of tracking and measuring energy signatures related to Pandora's Box. And even if we were to assume that Arachnos was in possession of such a device...
- Then why would they need the Antikythera in the first place?
- Yes, exactly. However... there is another explanation.
- Lastri's cheeks begin to burn with shame again.
- It is possible... that my once-over of the Arachnos Flier that Captain Mako donated to us was... not quite thorough enough. If that is the case, and the Flier was indeed bugged, it would have been a simple matter to set up an ambush like this.
- Unfortunately, the Flier was Arachnos's first target when they appeared. Any attempt to verify my suspicions would involve a deep-sea salvage operation, I'm afraid.
- Mako. I should have known.
- I'll begin monitoring all internal Arachnos communications for mentions of the Antikythera or Pandora's Box. Within a few days, I should be able to-
- No, Lastri. I'll handle this personally.
- Hmph. I knew you couldn't be trusted.
- Character! Sir / Ma'am, I...
- Lastri cuts herself off momentarily, lips tight. She puts her hand to her forehead for a moment. After calming herself, she continues.
- Sir / Ma'am. I realize that I have not been forthcoming about my employer, or his motives. I apologize for this, but it remains a necessity. Anonymity is of paramount importance to him, and it is not something I can be flexible with.
- However, I entered into a contract with you to establish a power base, to allow you to rival Arachnos for control over the Rogue Isles. And I intend to honor that contract. I can assure you, that despite this setback, we can and will recover. Allow me this chance to prove to you my intentions. You will not regret it.
- If you're not with Arachnos, how did they locate the ship?
- Ever since Pandora's Box was opened, the Mitscher has been harried by the same creatures that attacked you underneath Zigursky Penitentiary. Doctor Harvan believes it is because of the presence of the Antikythera
- It is... possible that Arachnos managed to discover a way of tracking either them or whatever force is drawing them to the Antikythera. However...
- The Antikythera itself is the only tool we know of capable of tracking and measuring energy signatures related to Pandora's Box. And even if we were to assume that Arachnos was in possession of such a device...
- Then why would they need the Antikythera in the first place?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
Debriefing
Doctor Harvan pales visibly when you relate the events aboard the Mitscher to him.
This is very trying news, Character. Without the Antikythera, any attempt at controlling the energy released by Pandora's Box will be utterly futile. We need to retrieve it as quickly as possible.
We have time... I doubt Arachnos will be able to decode the Antikythera's readings without at least a few weeks of study. I daresay that they could kidnap the entire mainstream archaeological community and would not gain a single iota of usable knowledge.
