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| “ | After effectively capturing more of Yuri's major bases and collecting their intel, the Allies have found the Epsilon HQ, hidden in the snows of Antarctica. With the Paradox Engine task force getting closer to the South Pole, Yuri has no choice but to prepare for the endgame, while the Proselyte waits. | ” |
| —Mission description |
Operation: Unthinkable is the tenth Epsilon Act Two campaign mission.
Briefing[]
Yuri's Message: "Proselyte, the inevitable is here; The Allied forces have made landfall on Antarctica and, even now, they are approaching our Headquarters. They have made quick work of our coastal defenses using their time tricks, and begun navigating their fleet through the melted ice sheets that are a result of the psychic energy created by my ultimate invention, the gate to my vision. Fortunately, they are all that remains; the subjugated Scorpion Cell and China, torn by an internal rebellion seemingly started by Yunru and her allies, pose a threat to us no longer. The Russian task force, with Volkov and Chitzkoi at the helm, is trapped in space for the time being, if not for good. Having captured our cosmoport, their assumption that our main base is on the moon has led them astray, and will pit them against an enemy they don't expect.
Proselyte, you must now set up an impenetrable defense and prevent the Allies from getting any further. The original Chronosphere is at the base right on the Engine's path; inside is a piece of incomplete hybrid technology I must finish myself before the enemy arrives. Libra is engaging the invading forces at the Weddell Sea still, possibly trying to land a hit on the Engine itself, but I'm afraid I must complete my work first before she is able to do so. If they prevail, it likely won't be long before the Russians manage to return to Earth, assuming they've managed to secure the space shuttles. With the moon base and all of its rockets under their control, they will surely find me, and make an attempt to kill me, as their last resort. This is the endgame, but we can't fight them all here."
Objective 1: Protect Yuri and the Chronosphere.
Objective 2: Destroy the invading Allied forces.
Events[]
Holding the line[]
The Allies making a "dynamic entry" on the Epsilon base
Troops gathered on the square in front of their leader's statue were cheering, as the sight of their leader in person bolstered morale. Yuri and a few of his scientists have entered the old Chronosphere, beginning to finalize their work on a certain piece of technology. Despite the imminent assault, the spirits were high among the Epsilon defenders.
The Allies made their entrance with a Time Freeze as an initial force entered the battlefield, followed by multiple waves of airstrikes and forces deployed via the Chronosphere. This assault has obliterated the first line of defenses with no effort due to the effects of the Time Freeze. Soon afterwards, they began pushing through the Epsilon Bases in a blitzkrieg-like push, with the defenseless Epsilon defenders dropping like flies. The Proselyte watched in horror as his allies lost with no way to fight back. Fortunately, the bulk of the defending forces under his command were not affected by the Time Freeze - he wasted no time in rallying his troops and vehicles while fortifying and reinforcing the main path towards the Chronosphere.
Soon after, more Allied forces appeared on the northwestern sector. Even without the aid of the Time Freeze, the Allies were able to rout the Epsilon defenders and rapidly establish forward operating bases as more and more forces disembarked from arriving Voyager Transports. The collapse of the Proselyte's allied defenders on the western flank meant that he had to divert his own forces there to stall the never-ending onslaught of the Allies. It wasn't long before the Allied navy and air armada began to appear, slowly but steadily whittling down Epsilon defenses at the shore... The Proselyte knew what this meant: the Paradox Engine was coming.
The Proselyte's advisor relieved him with some good news: Elite HQ reinforcements were en route from their primary South Pole Base. He was then instructed to hold the line and stem the Allied tide for as long as possible until the cavalry arrives.
As time stood still...[]
Surely enough, the Paradox Engine arrived outside of the Proselyte’s base, menacingly making its way towards his base alongside its equally formidable escort convoy. It was crystal-clear that the Epsilon forces stationed on the coastlines of the Weddell Sea had failed to stop it. The Proselyte's advisor quickly ordered him to use everything available in the Epsilon arsenal to bring it down. Without further delays, the Proselyte quickly commanded all available anti-air units at his disposal: Colossi, Gehenna Platforms and Piranha Minisubs to converge on the Engine and focus all of their firepower on it, ignoring the other Allied ground troops.
The Proselyte's effort went well despite the Engine's Thor Gunship escorts' valiant defense and the constant losses they inflicted upon Epsilon. Just as the Engine became critically damaged, however, the Proselyte's advisor detected chrono anomalies - this meant that the Engine was now ready to use its dreaded Time Freeze! Indeed, shortly afterwards time itself stood still before the Proselyte's eyes as his control blacked out, and by the time he regained control, all of the Epsilon forces have been obliterated with impunity by the Engine and its taskforce.
Evacuating Libra[]
After the Proselyte regained consciousness, his advisor told him the current situation: while all the bases in the area have been destroyed, Libra had just returned from the frontline. She did not possess the ability to take on the Paradox Engine yet; it seems like Yuri seems to have barely completed his plan, but what actually happened to him remained unknown for the time being. In any case, he must do one thing: Take Libra to Rahn, who has been waiting for her, with the plan being to make haste via a Driller to the Yuri's “tower”. It was a matter of urgency, as the Allies and their Paradox Engine were getting closer and closer to the core South Pole base.
The Proselyte originally intended to lead Libra through the southern bridge to get to the destination faster, but a Navy SEAL had already destroyed the bridge, forcing Libra to pass directly through the Allied base in the west. What made this base so dangerous, however, is that the Allies have deployed Charon Tanks that could erase Libra with a single hit. The Proselyte carefully guided Libra forward and steered clear of Charon Tanks that may try to ambush her, using the range advantage to neutralize them accordingly. With the help of terminus gas, she easily broke through the Allied defense - not going berserk again.
Finally, Libra took a route southwest of the river and completed the joint with Rahn.
Aftermath[]
| “ | The Allies destroyed the Chronosphere, but not before I was able to finish my work. It should be out of their reach, but Libra must find it. I had little time to escape.. The Soviets are coming. If I'm in Moscow, they'll go after me there, not you in the Antarctic. | ” |
| —Yuri's message |
The inevitable happened, but not all was lost. The Allies may have won this battle using their technology and control over time, but in the end, Yuri succeeded in his immediate plan and chronoshifted to Moscow, to lure the Russians away from the Antarctic and into pursuing him, being more than willing to put his life at stake to ensure that his vision becomes a reality. Libra rendezvoused with Rahn successfully, now on her way to the device to fulfill Yuri's plan - time is of the essence, as she needs to reach it before the Allies do.
To make things more difficult for the Epsilon, the Allies had already established support bases all over the Antarctic continent, in order to prepare for the major siege at the South Pole itself. What the Allies stationed at those bases didn't know was that their encounter with the peculiar PsiCorps commando was bound to happen very soon - and it would turn into a terrifying, unforgettable nightmare.
Difficulty changes[]
Casual[]
- Starting credits: 100,000
- Allied AI's attack intensity is the lowest.
- Additional War Rig reinforcement will be given.
- Defend time required: 24:00 (Paradox Engine arrival time: 14 minutes)
- 8 tech buildings near the player's base are owned by the player at the start.
- Removed all enemy's Chrono Legionnaire sneak attacks.
- Amount of Allied stationary units and patrols are minimal after the arrival of Libra.
Normal[]
- Starting credits: 90000
- Allied AI's attack intensity is medium.
- Additional War Rig reinforcement will be given.
- Defend time required: 28:00 (Paradox Engine arrival time: 18 minutes)
- Removed all enemy's Chrono Legionnaire sneak attacks.
- Additional formations of Harriers will bomb the old Chronosphere.
- Amount of Allied stationary units and patrols are increased after the arrival of Libra, compared to Casual.
- Libra's HP is decreased compared to Casual.
Mental[]
- Starting credits: 70000
- Defend time required: 32:00, meaning the player must defend longer.
- The threat to the player's forces from the enemy base patrols is the strongest in this difficulty.
- The number of Allied attack troops are the most numerous in this difficulty.
- Several Chrono Legionnaire sneak attacks will be sent against the player.
- 28 Harriers are included for each fighter squad from the outer map, and will come to attack Chronosphere prototype.
Easter egg[]
- There's a capturable Cannon Ball next to a cliff in the top middle of the map (North East of the Western Allied Base). Capturing it grants access to a one-use Tactical Nuke.
- Hidden in the icebergs south of the PsiCorps base is a Cruise Ship. If the player minds control it, it'll be automatically destroyed and provide the player with a Salamander. This Salamander is not armed with confusion rays and not voiced.
Behind the scenes[]
- This mission was known as Total Confusion in early development.
Trivia[]
| “ | Great job, Proselyte! The Allied advance on the eastern side has been stopped! At this rate they might run out of forces well before the Paradox Engine makes it here. Things are not as well as we hoped! The Paradox Engine still has many forces to deploy! | ” |
| —Epsilon intel if all three Allied bases are destroyed |
- The music that used in Libra's evacuation part is Viratia by Frank Klepacki, who composed the Allied and Soviet soundtracks.
- Prior to 3.3.5, the music that played when the Paradox Engine showed up was Get On It, also composed by Frank Klepacki.
- There are two anti-cheat measures in this mission: if the player manages to destroy the Paradox Engine or let the countdown end successfully, the mission will end in failure directly.
- When all Allied bases are destroyed, the second mission objective will be completed. The countdown to the arrival of the Epsilon HQ reinforcements at the bottom right will disappear, and the EVA will praise the player with an above quote. The Paradox Engine will arrive earlier than normal, however, which allows the player to complete the mission quicker.
