Mission 04

Mission Four: The Assumption of Violence

M4:C1 | Half-Truths

• Kajime’s Actions:
  • While the squad plans their next moves, Kajime assaults a guard to gain access to Ethan Kane, who reveals he made a deal with an otherworldly force on Sion. Kajime claims he sensed a presence that required urgent action, showcasing his awareness of the extraordinary.
• Leonora Interrogation:
  • The squad subjects Leonora McGrath to a harsh interrogation, using psychological tactics like increased gravity, red lighting, and Theren’s presence. They seek answers about the Talons’ true motives but make limited progress.
• Data Revelations:
  • Xander reveals that some Genesis and Hiigarian data predate the Jaunt, deepening the mystery surrounding Thea’s anomalies.

M4:C2-1 | Until the Storm Breaks – Part One

• Cult of Set Conflict:
  • The squad, joined by Devil’s Dance, observes the Cult of Set camped near the Iterator housing the Until the Storm Breaks. The Cult stands down after the Iterator sounds a horn, seemingly allowing the squad to enter.
• Meeting 37 Horizons Beyond Reach:
  • Inside, the squad encounters 37 Horizons Beyond Reach, an Iterator AI that mistakes them for “Lotus in the Sun,” another Iterator. It expresses regret for not helping ATHENA and reveals the Iterators’ shared objective: the ascension of all living organisms.
  • Before powering down, it requests the squad address intruders near its power core.

M4:C2-2 | Until the Storm Breaks – Part Two

• Iterator Defense:
  • The squad discovers Genesis mechs controlled by a cult-like influence, with their long-dead pilots still inside. They disable the mechs and prevent the Iterator’s reactor from going critical, redirecting the energy into space instead of damaging the structure.
• Shopan’s Ordeal:
  • Shopan falls into a cavern containing a Silver Sea, a mystical substance vital to the Iterators. She is rescued, but her exposure to the liquid causes physical changes, including the growth of cat-like features, and leaves her in a fragile state.

M4:C3 | The Cult of Set

• Diplomatic Tensions:
  • The squad meets with High Seer Mordak of the Cult of Set, accompanied by Lord Marshal Maxina Sarethi. Mordak explains the Cult’s goal to resurrect Set, embracing chaos as the universe’s true nature.
  • Tensions rise when Rizz impulsively shoots Mordak after Maxina’s suggestion, triggering chaos in the camp. The squad escapes amidst gunfire and explosions, leaving Mordak’s fate uncertain.

M4:C4 | Alamogordo Hotel

• Supercell Escape:
  • The squad navigates through a deadly supercell storm, invoking Arden, a motor spirit, to propel the Sandcrawler to safety. They arrive at the Alamogordo Hotel, a repurposed Iterator branch that serves as a refuge.
• Hotel Murder Mystery:
  • During their stay, the squad solves a murder mystery involving guests from various factions, uncovering a scheme by Mydas Mordil to kill a rival using poison, resulting in unintended casualties.
• Hiigarian Secrets:
  • Investigating a Hiigarian bunker, the squad finds cryptic notes, dead researchers, and evidence of a schism caused by awakening something in an Iterator. Ethan’s psychic attempt reveals connections to ATHENA, GILGAMESH, and YNNEVAL, alongside a cryptic warning: “The rocks are quiet because the trees are listening.”
• Marty’s Chair Roll:
  • While investigating the bunker, Marty performs an act of unparalleled precision and grace: rolling a chair across the bunker floor. The chair glides with such flawlessness that it captivates the entire squad, earning their collective awe and solidifying its place as a legendary moment in their journey.
  • The chair’s roll reveals a strange, soundless zone at the center of the room, adding to the eerie and mysterious atmosphere of the bunker.

M4:C5 | The Assumption of Violence

• Blackwater Marauders:
  • En route to their next objective, the squad rescues a Genesis team under attack by the Blackwater Marauders. They defeat the privateers, sparing Lyra “Silverhand” Vomd, who provides information about a valuable stash in exchange for her life.

Mission Four Key Takeaways

1. Iterators’ Sentience:

   • The encounter with 37 Horizons Beyond Reach and the Silver Sea underscores the Iterators’ sentience and other weird shit about them.

2. Shopan’s Transformation:

   • Shopan’s exposure to the Silver Sea highlights its dual nature as both a power source and a force of profound change, suggesting links to the origins of Iterator spawn like Theren.

3. Cult of Set’s Chaos Doctrine:

   • The Cult’s goal of resurrecting Set and embracing chaos as the universe’s true nature

4. Hiigarian Hubris:

   • The Hiigarian bunker reveals the dangers of awakening ancient forces