"Underground Exploration - Depth 3"

"Underground Exploration - Depth 3"
General information
Client	Arquebus Corporation
Stage	Watchpoint Alpha - Depth 3
Reward	AC Parts, Combat Logs, COAM, Data Logs
Music	"Watchpoint Alpha," "Clockwork Hostility"
Real world information
Game	ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON

"Underground Exploration - Depth 3" is a mission in Chapter 4 of ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON. It is the next mission after completing "Underground Exploration - Depth 2."

In-game information

Combat zone: Watchpoint Alpha - Depth 3 Objective: Destroy Target Reward: 270,000 COAM, Battle Log Details: Destroy the core of the subterranean facility reactor and disable the laser barrier. Extra rewards based on number of enemies destroyed.

Objectives

1. Infiltrate the core of the Depth 3 reactor
2. Destroy the pressure chamber
3. Escape from the reactor core
4. Destroy the autonomous defense AC EPHEMERA
5. Escape from the reactor core

Walkthrough

The mission begins in the chamber where the AAP03: ENFORCER was fought at the end of Depth 2. Proceeding into Depth 3 will reveal a massive chasm upholding a reactor powering a high-powered laser barrier and the Enforcement System itself. The exterior of the reactor is in a circular shape split into five wedges, each wedge possessing two laser sniper cannons, a total of ten cannons surrounds the reactor. These cannons are a dangerous nuisance and dealing with them should take precedence.

From where the player enters the chasm, a waypoint directs the player towards a man-made platform below providing cover from sniper fire. From here, the player can descend further and make their way towards the right to a large support beam closer to the laser barrier, out of sight from the cannons. The "Observation Data: The Enforcement System" data log can be found on a wreckage here. Players can choose to proceed toward the reactor and make their way around and inside, or alternatively, ascend to the top of the reactor exterior from the laser cannon's blind spot and begin dispatching them.

Heading clockwise around the reactor exterior, the first support beam left of where the player entered Depth 3 will have a wreckage containing the "Text Data: Professor Nagai's Log (5)" data log at the end of it, guarded by two AM02: DENOISER MTs.

Moving further clockwise the second support beam will have nothing of note. The third support beam will have a heavy variant DENOISER marked by the LOGHUNT program guarding the IA-C01: EPHEMERA AC part. The fourth support beam will have another heavy variant DENOISER marked by LOGHUNT. The fifth support beam provides a bridge back towards the other end of the initial structures providing cover from the cannons, on top of the structure pushed along the chasm wall will have the IA-C01F: OCELLUS AC part in the middle, surrounded by several AM01: REPAIRER machines. The sixth support beam leads to where the player originally entered Depth 3.

The entrance of the reactor is marked by a waypoint, a door towards the bottom of the structure. The entrance section of the interior will have three DENOISERS poised to ambush inside, one atop and two below. The next room will have another three DENOISERS on standby, one of which is a heavy variant. The third room of the reactor interior contains the pressure chamber required to destroy the entire facility.

AC IA-C01: EPHEMERA

After destroying the pressure chamber, returning to the center room will lead to the player being locked in with IA-C01: EPHEMERA. The EPHEMERA is a Rubicon Research Institute AC commandeered by the Enforcement System intent on bringing the player down with the reactor, with a two minute timer accompanying the fight.

The EPHEMERA possesses two homing energy launchers, a IA-C01W1: NEBULA plasma rifle, and a light wave blade. The EPHEMERA will use two repair kits in the encounter and will deploy Terminal Armor after depleting its AP.

The EPHEMERA excels at close range aggressive combat, applying constant pressure from its homing energy projectiles and plasma rifle, making it difficult to evade all of its attacks. Its most potent weapon, however, is its light wave blade which it will use to both rapidly build ACS damage and punish ACS overloads.

Defeating the EPHEMERA requires speed due to the time limit, players can fight fire with fire by equipping high damage and impact weaponry to out-damage the EPHEMERA. Many of its attacks can be either tanked through or evaded through strafing, though its light wave blade attacks require quickboosting for its regular swings, and its charged sweep can be jumped over.

Defeating the IA-C01: EPHEMERA rewards a gold log for LOGHUNT, and will make the partitions unlockable for the player to escape.

Collectibles

• Data Logs:
  • Observation Data: The Enforcement System
  • Text Data: Professor Nagai's Log (5)

• LOGHUNT:
  • 2 Autonomous MTs (Silver)
  • Enforcement System (Gold)

• AC Parts:
  • IA-C01C: EPHEMERA
  • IA-C01F: OCELLUS

Dialogue

Condition	English	Japanese	Audio
Briefing	Handler Walter: Back to work, 621. Depth 3 is next... and it's where our intel gets sparse. It's an underground cave, blocked at the end by a high-powered laser barrier. As long as it's in operation, no one's getting any deeper inside. Which brings me to the job. The laser is powered by a massive reactor. I want you to destroy it from the inside. Once the barrier's down, we'll step into the unknown... where the Coral's waiting for us.	-	-
Sortie	Ayre: Walter... It's like he already knows where the Coral convergence is. What makes him so confident?	-	-
Mission start	Handler Walter: Commence mission. Destroy the reactor and disable the laser barrier. Ayre: Raven, let's start by finding our way in.	-	-
Entering reactor chasm	Ayre: ...Watch your footing. You don't want to fall into those lasers.	-	-
Detected by Enforcement System	Enforcement System: High-level threat detected. Threat level 8. Defense Phase 4.0. Terminating target. Ayre: This area's defended by snipers. Don't let them shoot you down. Handler Walter: "High-level threat," huh. That's a step up from "intruder."	-	-
-	Ayre: ...No sign of the corporations. Looks like we're the first ones here.	-	-
Approaching lower reactor level	Handler Walter: Trace around the outside, 621. There must be a way in.	-	-
Entering the reactor	Handler Walter: Find the pressure chamber, 621. Destroy it, and the resulting overload will cause the reactor core to explode.	-	-
Entering reactor room	Enforcement System: The threat has entered the reactor. Defense Phase 4.5. Ayre: Fight back, Raven! Handler Walter: ...They really went above and beyond to keep that laser barrier going. The PCA wanted this place locked down no matter what.	-	-
Eliminating Phase 4.5 defense weapons	Ayre: ...Defense weapon destroyed. The pressure chamber is behind that partition.	-	-
Approaching pressure chamber	Handler Walter: There, 621. Destroy the target.	-	-
Destroying pressure chamber	Handler Walter: Pressure chamber destroyed. Get out of there before it explodes, 621!	-	-
Reactor core partitions lock	Ayre: <gasp> The partition! Enforcement System: Defense program, Phase 5.0, Pattern C. Terminating threat. Ayre: ...No vital signs—there's no pilot! Handler Walter: That's Institute tech...! 621, there's no time. Get rid of it! Ayre: Meltdown in progress! Calculating time until core explosion... Raven, there's only 2 minutes left! Enforcement System: Upgrading to threat level 9. Terminating.	-	-
Player AC destroyed	Ayre: Raven...!	-	-
AC EPHEMERA defeated	Enforcement System: Verdict...Threat...to...Institute City...losure... Handler Walter: Did you get it?! Ayre: Raven! Release the partitions!	-	-
Opening partitions	Enforcement System: Enforcemen...System...Ultimatum Protocol... Lock...all...gency valves... Accelerate...re...meltdown... Ter...nate...	-	-
Escaping reactor room	Handler Walter: You've got a job to do, 621... Don't fail me now!	-	-
Timer reaches 01:00	Ayre: One minute... Hurry!	-	-
Timer reaches 00:15	Ayre: 15 seconds remaining!	-	-
Escaping reactor	Ayre: Raven! You have to get clear! Handler Walter: It's gonna blow! Brace for impact!	-	-
Post-mission cutscene	Handler Walter: That was...a close one. Look—the laser barrier's weakening. The Coral's near. ...That's another solid milestone in our work.	-	-
Post-mission conversation	"Cinder" Carla: How was the trip underground, Walter? Handler Walter: The Enforcement System's silent, at least. Tried to take 621 with it... Good thing it failed. "Cinder" Carla: Well, that deals with the PCA, then. ...What about the corps? Handler Walter: Arquebus told us to wait before entering terra incognita. "Cinder" Carla: So you're close, then. The corps won't be helping each other over the finish line. Handler Walter: Yeah. Arquebus wants Balam out of the picture first. "Cinder" Carla: Looks like Arquebus is gonna win the race no matter what. Handler Walter: Short term, maybe. But I think 621's going to be the key in the end. And that's why I shouldn't be the one to choose which jobs we take. "Cinder" Carla: Sounds risky. Our friends must be getting antsy. Handler Walter: Maybe. But I think 621's got friends to worry about too.	-	-
Debriefing	Ayre: Raven. You've got a request from the Liberation Front to go with the order from Arquebus. It was sent by Middle Flatwell... He's the de facto leader of the Liberation Front... and he wants to meet you. COM: One new message. ALLMIND: Registration number Rb23, callsign Raven. Your records have been updated. S-Rank virtual encounters are now available in the Arena. You will now face...the best of the best. We wish you luck on the difficult road to mastery.	-	-
Debriefing (New Game++)	COM: No new messages. Ayre: Raven. You've got two requests to go with the order from Arquebus. One is from the Liberation Front... The other's from ALLMIND. ... You should consider what your choice means, Raven. For my part...I've chosen to trust in you. Whatever you decide...I know you'll mean it.	-	-

Notes

• Ayre's reference to Middle Flatwell and ALLMIND's request to follow the order from Arquebus refers to the order to halt the survey, not accept the "Intercept the Redguns" mission.

Gallery

Watchpoint Alpha - Depth 3

Laser cannon deployed at Depth 3