Independent Haven missions

The Bulwark

Eliminate all threats near the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Before mission

Dokkum is an anarcho-syndicalist haven closely associated with Synedrion, but not entirely part of it. Representative Boris Eysbroek has contacted our operatives on behalf of Dokkum to request the assistance of the Phoenix Project.

A team of Dokkum explorers has managed to discover the precise location of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a seed bank thought to contain more than one million samples.

Whether the structure is still intact is unknown, as the area is infested with Pandorans, but if even a fraction of the samples has survived, they could play an essential role in restoring Earth's ecosystem.

Representative Eysbroek would like the Phoenix Project to help secure the area around the Vault.

Player choice 1: Accept mission. Player choice 2: Refuse mission. Player choice 3: Denounce the concept of saving the seeds of the old world.

Denounce the concept of saving the seeds of the old world

Clinging to the purity of the old world is meaningless. Those species are gone now, and it's better this way. The new, adapted species will be closer to biological perfection.

Disciples of Anu's attitude to Phoenix Project +5, New Jericho's attitude to Phoenix Project -5.

Accept mission

Representative Eysbroek transfers the Vault's coordinates and wishes our operatives the best of luck. Site added to Geoscape: The Bulwark.

Mission briefing

We must secure the area around the Svalbard Global Seed Vault so that it can be ascertained whether any of the seed samples survived.

After mission

While we have successfully secured the area, our operatives report that unfortunately, the entrance to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has collapsed, and the facility itself seems to have been flooded when the permafrost melted. Player choice: Search for samples.

Our operatives have managed to retrieve a handful of samples from a nearby secondary storage facility. This facility was begun in the 2030s when the collapse of human civilization seemed imminent, and only contained a selection of the most critically important crop species.

Perhaps these will be enough to make a difference. Site added to Geoscape: Seeds of the Future.

Representative Eysbroek is overjoyed by the samples our operatives retrieved.

"These may not seem like much to you," he says, "but think of just how much information is encoded in a single strand of DNA! If a seed is like a book, a story about how the world used to be, you have recovered an entire library."

"And if we ever win this war," Representative Eysbroek continues, these seeds could help us rebuild the Earth's ecosystem - or even design a better one!

Today the Phoenix Project has accomplished something truly remarkable. I'm only sorry that we don't have a better reward for this treasure you have unearthed.

Rewards

TECH +150, MATERIALS +250, FOOD +350

Cybernetics for Cybernetic Deity

Retrieve the blueprints for new cybernetics from a New Jericho lab.

Before mission

Phantom's Forge is one of the strangest independent havens. Cybernetics are mandatory here: every single inhabitant is as much machine as flesh. The haven's leader, Ryan Dustin Wood, is a frightening, eccentric figure who rules with an iron fist - literally.

Dark rumors about his excesses in pursuit of mechanical perfection circulate in other havens, but the inhabitants seem happy enough... assuming those are real smiles and real teeth.

Philosophically, Wood is most open to New Jericho, although he disdains their obsession with "primitive humanity." But right now, New Jericho has what he needs, and ideological matters are secondary.

Ryan Wood: "They're working on the tech I need," he hisses. "I know it. A new generation of cybernetic implants. We had a deal. They promised they would deliver. But they didn't. Keeping it all for themselves. Profit first, progress later. Liars!"

Wood wants us to infiltrate a New Jericho lab and retrieve the blueprints for the cybernetic prototypes they're developing. He's willing to pay for our services.

Player choice 1: Accept mission. Player choice 2: Refuse mission.

Ryan Wood: "Good, good," he says with a smile, and something inside him seems to produce a whirring sound. Our operatives choose not to discover what it was. Site added to Geoscape: Cybernetics for Cybernetic Deity

Mission briefing

We must retrieve the blueprints for new cybernetic tech that New Jericho is developing, so we can hand them over to R. D. Wood of Phantom's Forge, who will undoubtedly do something harmless and benevolent with them.

After mission

We have successfully managed to obtain the cybernetic blueprints from New Jericho, hopefully without alerting them to our involvement. Now is the time to return to Phantom's Forge and see what Wood has to offer for them. Site added to Geoscape: Upgraded

When our operatives inform R.D. Wood of their success, his cybernetic eye glows with appreciation. He smiles to reveal his new titanium tongue. His teeth are bright and sharp.

"Excellent. Our transformation will continue," he says. "You know, the Disciples of Anu almost got it right. We can be perfected. But not through biology. Not through the Pandoravirus. No!

The future will be forged, and I will create the New Humanity! Oh, don't you love the apocalypse? All the old crud has been swept away, and now nothing stands in our way.

You think I'm mad, of course. I don't hold it against you. In a sense, I am. I have moved so far outside the constraining box of conventional wisdom that my actions cannot but seem mad. But one day, you will understand.

When you have a new brain, and new eyes, and a spine of steel... then you will see what I can see. And then, when there are many like me... perhaps I will be less alone.

Rewards

New Jericho's attitude to Phoenix Project -5, TECH +250, MATERIALS +200, FOOD +150, Research + 500

The Hand of Merlin

Capture a lab for John "Merlin" Smith, leader of Avalon.

Before mission

Before World War 3, John Smith seemed as ordinary as his name, just another one of the millions of soldiers sent to fight and die for governments who saw them as nothing but statistics. But in the war, he showed that he had a unique aptitude for strategy - he acted fast and achieved decisive victories before the enemy had even figured out what was happening. His troops gave him the nickname Merlin because he moved like a wizard. Then came the implants, the thought transfer experiments... and soon enough, a legend was born.

When the old nation-states tore themselves apart, Merlin decided that his first loyalty was to his team. He ignored his orders and founded the haven now known as Avalon.

"There are people who think I'm an actual wizard," he laughs, speaking to our operatives. "I don't discourage it. It's a strange world we find ourselves in, my friends, and I need every resource I can get. And I'm sure you remember that old Arthur C. Clarke quote about sufficiently advanced technology.

But even Merlin himself can't solve every problem. The technology that was used to create my implants is... experimental, to say the least. The process wasn't entirely voluntary, and there's still a lot I don't know about what my government did to me. I have the coordinates of a lab that might provide answers. Can you help me secure it?"

Player choice 1: Accept Mission. Player choice 2: Refuse mission.

Mission briefing

This lab was used by a secret government organization to illegally test thought transfer implants on unwilling human subjects. We must secure it and retrieve all the data we can find.

After mission

We have successfully captured the lab and retrieved the data. What any of it means, however, is hard to tell without the specialized knowledge only "Merlin" possesses. Site added to Geoscape: The Burden.

"So here it is," Merlin says, studying the data. "My gift. My curse. All set down in little numbers. How strange. Somehow, it makes it all seem a lot more ordinary. I'm glad, in a way. I shouldn't start believing my own myths, should I? No matter how useful they are."

"I can hear it all, you know," Merlin continues. "All my soldiers' thoughts. It was supposed to be a system for giving orders more quickly, but it does a lot more than that. I can hear their fears, their doubts, their hopes... all of it, all the time. And I can't switch it off.

People in the haven think I'm all-knowing because I'm always aware of everything my soldiers see. But it's... it's a burden. It's hard enough to be responsible for people's lives, but their souls? It's too much.

So I'm very grateful for your help. You've given me hope, that one day I can enjoy a moment... just a single moment... of silence.

Rewards

TECH +200, MATERIALS +450, FOOD +350

Night of Desirable Blueprints

Steal data from Synedrion for New Sydney.

Before mission

The independent haven of New Sydney was founded by a group that broke away from Synedrion.

Its founder, now Mayor Harry Brown-Beresford, believed that Synedrion's commitment to co-existence with the Pandoravirus was simply unsustainable and that a more confrontational approach was paramount.

He tried convincing the rest of Synedrion, but was outvoted and eventually left, taking many of his supporters with him.

New Sydney tries its best to maintain good relations with all the major factions, including Synedrion.

Brown-Beresford makes a big point of his belief in diplomacy and cooperation. But sometimes... sometimes you have to take risks.

As part of his attempts to maintain peace, Mayor Brown-Beresford tries to collect as much information as possible.

Conflicts can arise from within factions as much as from without, and New Sydney needs to be prepared. Recently, he lost touch with a valuable source in Synedrion.

It's all very inconvenient. There's some information that would be extremely helpful, and I almost had it. If you could recover it... discreetly, I would be happy to pay you.

Player choice 1: Accept mission Player choice 2: Refuse mission

"Please remember to be careful," he says. "I disagree with Synedrion on some important issues, but they're not the enemy. This is about long-term strategy, not inflicting damage."

Site added to Geoscape: Night of Desirable Blueprints

Mission briefing

We need to liberate some data from Synedrion. Discreetly.

After mission

We have successfully liberated the Synedrion research data. The data is heavily encrypted, so we can only hope that New Sydney has a means to make use of it.

Site added to Gesocape: Speak softly

Mayor Brown-Beresford grins at our operatives when they return with the data.

"I really do believe in peace and diplomacy, you know. I want this haven to make the world a better place. But doing that is complicated. They say you should speak softly and carry a big stick, but we don't have a big stick, so we need... insurance."

"Here's your payment," he continues. "Not that you did any kind of job for New Sydney. Do you remember anything? I don't. This is just a gift because I felt like being nice. It's been a pleasure."

Rewards

Synedrion's attitude to Phoenix Project -5, TECH +150, MATERIALS +450, FOOD +150, Research +500

O Brother, Where Anu Thou?

Extract Felipe Mena from a Disciples of Anu haven.

Before mission

Bastión Irazú is an independent haven founded by refugees during World War 3. It grew to its present size when the surviving nation-states finally collapsed during the Second Mist.

It welcomes people with mutations but is not allied with the Disciples of Anu, as its people are generally suspicious of religious leaders.

The haven's mayor is one of its first citizens, Fabio Mena, a Costa Rican engineer specialized in communications who accidentally found himself becoming a leader.

"Please, just call me Fabio, most people here do," he says. "Being called a mayor is strange. I'm just a man who tries to keep this place running."

There is something Fabio requires our help with.

My brother, Felipe... well, it's a really long story, but he disappeared during the First Mist, and I've been looking for him. I know what you're thinking: he's dead. But our family... well, again, it's a really long story.

Let's say there are reasons he may have survived. And recently I found out he may be living in a haven controlled by the Disciples of Anu. I've been trying to send word, but they won't forward my messages to him. So I need you to rescue him.

Player choice 1: Agree to extract Felipe. Player choice 2: Contact the Disciples of Anu to inquire about Felipe (requires attitude with Disciples of Anu higher than 35)

Contact the Disciples of Anu to inquire about Felipe

As it turns out, the problem can be solved diplomatically: Felipe, whose mutations are quite extensive, has willingly joined the Monastic Order of Silent Contemplation, and Fabio's messages were not relayed to avoid disturbing Felipe's meditation.

In this case, however, an exception will be made with the blessing of the Exalted, and the two brothers will be temporarily reunited.

Fabio and Felipe have chosen paths that are not compatible with each other, but they are brothers, and they will find a way of dealing with it. Family, as a wise man once said, should not end in blood.

Rewards

TECH +100, MATERIALS +100, FOOD +100

Agree to extract Felipe

"Thank you," Fabio says. "I appreciate your help. Sometimes we have to rely on other people, even if it's frightening. That's the first lesson we learned during the war."

Site added to Geoscape: Undercover brother.

Mission briefing

We must extract an individual who we think is Felipe Mena, brother of Fabio Mena, from this haven - ideally without attracting too much attention.

After mission

We have successfully managed to escape with the civilian. What is more, he has confirmed that he is indeed Felipe Mena, brother of Fabio Mena. Although he appears like an ordinary human at first, a closer look reveals a large amount of subtle mutations.

We will have to see what Fabio makes of this. Site added to Geoscape: Brother's keeper.

Fabio Mena is faced with a difficult dilemma: his brother, the man we extracted, is extensively mutated. Moreover, he didn't need rescuing but had joined the Disciples of Anu on purpose, to learn how to control his powers.

The only reason he came along with us is because he thought it was an opportunity to prevent further bloodshed, by showing Fabio that the Disciples can save people.

Fabio thanks our operatives, but it's clear that the decision about what to do next weighs heavy on him. "Still, even though our paths are very different, it's good that you found him.

We will have to find a way to do what we believe in without hurting each other. That's what family is all about, right? Whatever else happens, we'll always be brothers.

Rewards

TECH +150, MATERIALS +150, FOOD +450

Thunder and Sunshine

Before mission

Scheria is a friendly, culturally diverse haven which has taken in many refugees over the last decade, although it remains somewhat isolationist when it comes to the bigger factions.

Its founder is the thoughtful and charismatic Ulysses J. Black, the former owner of a global cybernetics company who was ousted after a hostile takeover by Vanadium Inc.

"You better not trust West, that lying sack of Pandoran slime," he tells our operatives.

"Honestly, I don't even think he took my company away from me because of the actual cybernetics. It's all part of his great plan, I guess. But honestly, who gives a crap about his plan?"

"Anyway," he continues, "what I want from you people is this: go to the Synedrion research lab at these coordinates, retrieve the equipment on this list, and bring it all to me for a nice reward. No questions asked. You up for that?"

Player choice 1: Accept mission. Player choice 2: Refuse mission

Mission briefing

We must secure this Synedrion research facility to recover the equipment Ulysses J. Black has requested.

After mission

We have successfully managed to retrieve the equipment Ulysses J. Black requested. These seem to be parts for advanced cybernetic devices, mostly organ replacements. It's possible Black is far less human, biologically speaking than he appears.

Synedrion's attitude to Phoenix Project -5. Site added to Geoscape: This Gray Spirit.

Ulysses J. Black is thankful for the equipment we have retrieved for him. For a moment, his features soften.

What a world this has become," he sighs. "A truly fallen world. And we ourselves... diminished. But how does that old poem go? Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho' / We are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; / One equal temper of heroic hearts, / Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

"I suppose I'll keep going a while longer, as long as this haven needs me. And as long as there's a chance of seeing West's empire fall.

But honestly, all I really want is to go back home to Miami and enjoy a Mojito while watching the sunrise over the ocean. I don't suppose the Phoenix Project can arrange that, huh?"

Rewards

TECH +100, MATERIALS +450, FOOD +250

What's Mine Is Mine

Destroy the Pandoran colony blocking the mine.

Before mission

We call it R.E.M.E., as in 'ream' - get your minds out of the gutter, you slobs, it means digging a hole. Proper name's Rare Earth and Mineral Extraction Corporation Site Alpha, but who has the time to say all that, eh?

Jachlan Wisopp, known to his people as Jack, is unfazed by the apocalypse. He's had two careers: one in the military, the other running a small Australian mining company. This has left with him with a practical attitude: if there's a problem, you don't moan about it, you fix it. The current problem his haven is facing is a little bigger, however.

We mine and we trade, alright? That's how we survive. Mining's hard work on the best of days, but now we've got a Pandoran colony growing right on top of one of our mines. There's a lot of problems I know how to solve, but this one... well, we could some help.

Player choice 1: Accept mission. Player choice 2: Refuse mission.

Jack just nods. There's no need to say more - people have to help each other in these times. Site added to Geoscape: What's Mine Is Mine.

Mission briefing

A Pandoran colony is beginning to grow here, blocking one of R.E.M.E.'s mines. We have to destroy it before it reaches its full size.

After mission

Our operatives have successfully destroyed the colony before it could fully develop. The threat has been averted, at least for now. The people of R.E.M.E. will be pleased. Site added to Geoscape: Hardwork

Jachlan Wisopp ("Call me Jack, for Chrisssake") is glad to hear the mine is accessible again. Work, as he sees it, is the only way to get out of the mess humanity's in. We have to keep digging away at the problem until it's fixed.

"That's how this all started, you know," Jack says. "Arrogant folks with power, only ever thinking about themselves. I'm telling you, this whole Pandoravirus thing could've been nipped in the bud, but they were all asleep at the wheel. Glad to see the Phoenix Project's different. Here's your payment - hard work should always be rewarded."

Rewards

TECH +50, MATERIALS +450, FOOD +200