Part V: Natural Born Conspirators

(SPOILER)
When we left JC, he was returning to UNATCO with the unconscious Lebedev after learning that Paul had been working for the NSF (and maybe it was UNATCO who where the real terrorists?). It will all come together in this update. Paul is now persona non grata and on the run.




In the break room we find the mysterious government official chatting with Doc Reyes about getting his back, sack and crack done.




We also finally discover to nobody's surprise that the 'WS' that we have been seeing all over people's emails at UNATCO and MJ12 is in fact this man, Walton Simons. The game just sort of starts using his name suddenly and I don't think he's actually introduced.




While doing our rounds we run into the secretary we harassed in the bathroom near the start of the game. I think she's getting the wrong end of the stick.




UNATCO Goon 1's eyes visibly light up at the information that JC shares his George Michael-esque enthusiasm for cottaging. We will stay well clear of the gents from now on.




There was also another Aug canister on the plane to pick up. In the medical bay we can apply it. Now we have super strength, bulletproof(ish) skin, resistance to toxic chemicals (a useless augmentation if there ever was one) and super powered legs which enable JC to run like Usain Bolt and jump like Psychotic when I creep up on him in the shower.


JC goes into Alex's office to find he isn't best pleased about us liquidating Anna Navarre.



Nobody cares about your opinion, Alex.


Time to explain this mess to Manderley. We dump Lebedev's body on his desk as a peace offering.







The way he delivers this line is hilarious.



JC is told to forget about Paul and move on to the next mission, in Hong Kong. Tracer Tong is the target. To the helicopter! We take Lebedev with us as he's never seen the delights of Wan Chai Market.




Paul? In trouble? TO THE BATCAVE (in this case his apartment)




A crippled Paul is sitting calmly, bolt upright on a chair. He doesn't seem to be bleeding and has no trouble talking. Seriously hurt? I'm calling bulltrout here, chief We dump Lebedev in front of him as a warning for if it turns out he's been bulltroutting us about UNATCO.




He asks us to go to the NSF HQ (which has just been raided by UNATCO) and find proof of MJ12's dodgy dealings and send a distress code to the NSF's allies in Paris and Hong Kong. His killswitch has been activated by the suits at UNATCO and he has about 18 hours to live. Tough break.


Downstairs, Mr Renton, the owner of the hotel, is getting some grief from his hooker daughter (Sandra) and her pimp. He asks us to give him a gun, but he can go smurf himself if he thinks he's getting his chubby fingers on our carefully-refined hardware.



Looks like it's time to finally meet Jojo Fine.




Nope, it's definitely not EoFF's Jojo, as he's at least 5 feet tall.




Jojo smokes the unarmed Renton. What a shame. I don't know what to say. What a rotten way to die.

Then, inexplicably, he turns on Sandra.



JC WHITE KNIGHT MODE ACTIVATE






M'lady. Time to head to NSF HQ.






In 2050, terrorist operations make their headquarters in large warehouses just off the main street and in plain sight.

The UNATCO goons patrolling the area are friendly to JC who is still ostensibly working with them. We know differently. The building is comprised of 4 levels. The objective is in a small room on the roof. We are going to booby trap the whole building. Bear with me:




There is a large collection of TNT in the basement.



As well as a hefty amount of toxic gas barrels (and a few explosive ones). We will bring them all upstairs.



Behold the stash. Time for some very careful placement.




Here's the ground floor. The TNT on top of the big green metal crate is placed so that if it explodes, it should set off a chain reaction detonating all other boxes and barrels on the floor. Also, notice the barrel with the red symbol balancing precariously on the wall upstairs...




Here's the full view from the top floor. Detonating the TNT on the green crate on the ground floor should also detonate the one above it (next to the targeting reticule), which should detonate the one above it...you get the idea. If done right, we should have a cacophony of nuclear proportions.

But! We're not going to set off the fireworks yet - we have an objective to complete. To the roof.




A bit of manoeuvring with the satellite dishes and JC sends off the NSF signal. Suddenly, all hell breaks loose. Walton Simons busts onto JC's infolink and tells him it's game over and sets UNATCO on him. His killswitch is activated. To arms!




The goons from outside come rushing in. Puny mortals.




Time to party. Fingers in your ears...








The screams of dying UNATCO troopers and the strained chokings of those who have survived the blast yet suffocate on the gas whilst thinking of their families is music to my ears.


Time to head back to Paul and get him out of here. This is where my game screwed up. Firstly, I got back to the hotel and spontaneously received 100 skill points and a very weird message:



I don't even know. Then I went into Paul's room and this happened:



...did Lebedev eat him?


Cue a good half hour of faffing about between the hotel and the NSF HQ and finally I returned to find Paul sitting in his rightful place. Still have no idea what happened there.





trout.

With no warning, Men in Black and a smurfload of UNATCO troops pile in. Paul tells us to get the hell out of there and leave him. Of course, we will completely ignore his request. We sit and watch as Paul decides to take them all on himself.



What an absolute boss.




More troopers in the foyer. We don't even need a weapon. Paul is a one-man army.




He even takes them on with a knife. He takes them on with a knife.

He then runs out the front door and disappears. We can't leave without Lebedev - he's not taking all the glory.




We get to the subway and are jumped by Gunther Hermann. He knocks JC out and we awake...



...in a cell?