COMPLETE Chapter 15: Blackrock

Scene 1: Archer returns to the base   If Archer chooses to continue to the base, he will be admitted through the Aerodrome. Decepticon Scouts will engage the party members.   If the party members do not reveal any pertinent information about themselves or Archer, the Scouts will instruct them to turn back. If they refuse, the Scouts will use lethal force. If the party members explain information about themselves, what they know about Mission City, or Archer, the Scouts will instead tranquilize them and bring them into Blackrock Base.   Once Archer is inside the Aerodrome, he will be greeted by Dreadwind, who is calibrating a missile with a cygarette.   DW: Oh, hey Archer. Long time no see, huh?   DW: You got a lot of nerve taking a break like that. Folks around here might start missing you, comrade.   DW: I've been having to write up the operational reports for the ranger squads... you owe me a couple rounds at the recbar... or a couple boxes of Commonwealth Standard. I'm feeling the latter right now, you know?   He extinguishes the cygarette.   DW: Oh, and uh, Backdraft says he wants to talk to you about... ah, vacation. You sure are lucky, eh?   Scene 2: Meeting with Backdraft at his office   If the party revealed their connection to Archer to the Scouts:   BD: So, Archer... I see you picked up a few friends in Mission City.   BD: You realize this is... problematic for our secrecy, here. I don't think I need to explain myself much further. Your friends are going to be subdued and brought in for interrogation. You're either going to file a report on this-- fifty pages, no less-- and hope the review board doesn't recommend an immediate discharge... or you can be present for their interrogation to assist in the process and corroborate any information they give us. Of course, that second option doesn't rule out the discharge either.   BD: You're on thin ice. Tread carefully.   If the party did not reveal their connection to Archer to the Scouts:   BD: So, you had some fun in Mission City?    BD: I sure hope you enjoyed yourself. Because that performance you put out there in the ring was pathetic. I'm glad this is a secret base, otherwise you'd be making us all look like pushovers.   BD: Maybe you could use some more time in the simulator, or more field work. I hear Millennium is getting antsy again. Wouldn't be a bad time to cull a few, get your head back into the game.    BD: I'd fill the paperwork out, but I've got a more pressing matter to attend to. Interlopers, and a lot of them. This is an absolute mess. They're being brought in for questioning, and I'll have to be there. I could stand some muscle, too-- just in case. Does that sound like an adequate warm-up for you?   BD: Excellent. They're emptying a storeroom in Central Requisition for us now. Here's the sector ID. See you there, I need to pick up someone else on the way.    Scene 3: The Interrogation   The captured elements of the party are brought to the cleared-out storeroom. Most are simply cuffed. Floop, if captured, is tied to a load-bearing pillar. Backdraft and Aurora set up outside of the room with a listening device, ready to enter when needed. Archer is sent into the room, where he joins Shatter and Dropkick.   S: They were straying too close to the base, and a patrol grabbed them. Some of them are Autobots, so we need to find out what they know. We'll handle the interrogation process. You can assist us if any of them get too rowdy.   D: So who should we get talkin' first?      Shatter's Questions:  

1. What is your name?
2. Who is your commanding officer?
3. Where were you going when you were stopped?

If these answers implicate Archer, see meeting with Backdraft section   Questions for Autobots:  

1. What is the garrison strength of Mission City? (about 5000)
2. Are you aware of any unusual deployments of garrison forces within Mission City?
3. In your time at Mission City, have you experienced any blackouts, power failures or surges?
4. Have you or anyone you know been deployed on a mission to scout the surrounding area with no objective?
5. Are you familiar with any projects carried out by Autobot researchers in Mission City?

If the player are evasive, answer the questions with obvious lies or jokes, or refuse to answer, Dropkick will attack them for 15 points of bludgeoning damage.    If any party members provide information that either seems particularly valuable or hard to believe:   S: All right, get the kid in here.    The door will open and Backdraft and Aurora will enter.   BD: Follow her instructions. You just need to go inside their heads. You can do that.   A: Y-yes, sir.   Aurora will use the Mind Dive feature to verify the information requested. However, if asked to use the ability on Pixie, she will refuse.   A: Not her.   BD: Why not?   A: She's... like me.    BD: I know. I was there with you in Mission City. You're stronger than her.   A: But... I-   BD: No buts. These are your orders.    A: Sir...   BD: What would Sunstorm think about this, hmm?   A: ...Right away, sir.   When using Mind Dive on Pixie, the feature will work as a "two-way" connection, allowing Pixie to ask questions of Aurora. During this process, Pixie will see visions of Aurora's past, including her volunteering for the Harmony project, as well as being exposed to the Communion Allspark fragment-- culminating in Aurora's point of view on Pixie's squad discovering Blackrock base.   After this, Aurora will fall unconscious.   BD: Aurora? Aurora! Come, on, wake up-- you're all right. Come on.    Aurora will stir but not return to consciousness.   BD: Dammit. We needed her to wipe their memories clean. Now they're even more of a security risk.    S: We're not equipped for long-term detainment. We might be able to work something out, but it won't be an ideal solution.   BD: And that's assuming that whatever happened here hasn't fried her completely.    D: We could execute them. Digging graves is pretty easy.   BD: ... You're not wrong. But that's a mess that the Autobots would love to discover.    BD: We're going to need to keep them here... I have an idea. Oh, I have a wonderful idea...