History Fanfic / HeroesOfTheDesk

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Magnetohydrodynamic engines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive really do exist]]. They're just impractical and not used outside of prototypes ([[Film/TheHuntForRedOctober though they've shown up in fiction before]]), but [[RuleOfCool they sound really awesome]], so... The trend continues with [[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs22grc_prt.htm magnetoplasmadynamic]] engines--it appears SPEAR's device can switch between the two at will, but the second mode of operation uses far more energy than the first.
* [[invoked]]AngstWhatAngst: Discussed by Raynor given [[spoiler:Nova's]] previous condition. The response? A combination of KindaBusyHere and HeroicWillpower.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: PlayedForLaughs by whoever Vizsla reports to. After hearing a team member was allegedly attacked by a toy, expresses disbelief, but as soon as she mentions small, living beings (like the captured Hero in her hand), it's suddenly more believable.
* ArtifactTitle: If the Heroes' plan goes through, [[spoiler:calling them "Heroes of the Desk" will end up being a misnomer since they'll be normal size instead of 14" tall. They succeed, fully playing the trope straight.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Averted. The Heroes fear the arrival of Jake, a dog, will turn into this but nothing bad happens to them (unless getting slobbered on counts).
* BadassBoast: Valla tries to talk tough to her captors. Except it doesn't work very well when you're 14" tall... Sonya gets a more appropriate one [[spoiler:as a full-sized Barbarian going up against power armor.]]
* BatmanGambit: Johanna and Diablo know if they fight back against WET, they'll be killed. Which means they'll [[DeathIsCheap respawn in the chest]], hopefully located somewhere they can exploit to escape.
* BeamSpam: Downplayed. SPEAR[=/=]WET battleships don't have ''lots'' of big guns, but [[ChekhovsGun under the right circumstances]] said guns can fire much more quickly.
* BeenThereShapedHistory: SPEAR and its predecessors have been maintaining the {{Masquerade}} for ''millennia''--it goes back to feudalism. Other items include the Salem Witch Trials, something involving the Catholic Church, and early 20th-century whaling. Most remain [[NoodleIncident Noodle Incidents]], [[CrypticBackgroundReference Cryptic Background References]] or both, though whaling eventually receives an explanation.
* BigEater: Brightwing. Even if the food in question is [=McDonald's=].

* BloodKnight: Downplayed, but Valla shows shades of this during the robbery--even supposing to herself that the other Heroes might condemn her for such thoughts. [[spoiler: Brainwashed!Valla plays this straight, threatening to "[[DeadlyEuphemism respawn]]" the other Heroes if they so much as ''[[DisproportionateRetribution move]]'' without her permission. Even after breaking the control through The Power of Hate, she is, if anything, ''more'' bloodthirsty, declaring that everyone in the facility will die and she will burn it the ground as revenge. She also makes a very public declaration that the blood of SPEAR and those who support it "will fill the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers." Escalated ''even further'' when, upon finding the Heroes have no money, she suggests just taking food by force "since we can't die and they're all squishy."]]

* BrainBleach: Valla repeatedly remembers [[VideoGame/DiabloIII fighting Ghom in the Larder at Bastion's Keep]]. She wishes she didn't.

* ChekhovsGun: Valla's scarf tears off when she and Nova sneak through air vents in a bathroom. This is later used to track her down. Valla's crossbows also prove useful as impromptu ascension cables, similar to a use last seen in Chapter 2. The [=QuadMaster=] 1000 drone reappears and is useful for [[spoiler:finding the chest by having Heroes jump from lethal heights off its back]]. Plasma cannons fire faster when supercooled by operating deep underwater [[spoiler:and there's no reason that can't also apply if a certain mage dumps prodigious amounts of superchilled snow onto them...]]

* ClingyJealousGirl: PlayedForLaughs after Jim Raynor receives psychic messages. Kerrigan is ''not'' happy that someone [[VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm might be angling to steal him from her again]]. Turns out [[RecycledPlot her guess]] [[AvertedTrope is wrong]].
* CoincidentalBroadcast: Justified--WET just bombarded a parking lot outside a convention center in which a woman [[InvisibilityCloak appeared out of thin air]] and a bunch of video game characters showed up in very lifelike form. Everybody notices and won't shut up about it.
* CoolPlane: Turns out the ''Manta'' undersea transport can also ''fly''... Though, in a nod to [[ArtisticLicensePhysics the possibly improbable physics of such a thing]] (the animal after which this is named is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray vaguely airplane-shaped]]), Raynor hypothesizes that the engines must be keeping them aloft with brute force as what is hydrodynamic isn't necessarily good for achieving powered flight.

* CurbStompBattle: Johanna and Diablo try to take on Bokat-Anne and an embiggered [[spoiler:Valla]]. As predicted, pint-size Heroes versus fully-aware, unsurprised humans working with a full-size Hero ends badly for the small Heroes. However, [[BatmanGambit that's exactly what they wanted to happen]]...
* CuteAndPsycho: Brightwing, when the subject of [[BigEater food]] comes up. She chides Valla for finding her [[JabbaTableManners bloody mouth]] disquieting (this after Brightwing ate a hummingbird...in one bite)

* DeathFromAbove: ''Steadfast Samurai'' uses its plasma cannons to do this. Crew aboard ''Iron Chancellor'' discuss what would happen if their ship loses power and falls from 60,000 feet.
* DeathIsCheap: So far, none of the Heroes seems to stay dead, respawning just like they did in their game whenever they are "killed." [[spoiler:They later exploit this fact to their advantage, and the same rule applies even when big; you don't have to be "Indestructible" Johanna to survive being killed.]] The forces of WET and SPEAR also discuss/lampshade the trope as related to the Heroes, [[spoiler:especially after Jaina respawns full-size aboard ''Iron Chancellor''.]]
* DeflectorShields: J117 power armor has such defenses, making Sonya's blades worthless. [[spoiler:They don't stop Brightwing's polymorph though.]] The ''Manta'' transport also has shields. Given that these ships operate in a place where the pressure is eight tons per square inch, [[FridgeLogic having shields makes sense]] if you have [[InsistentTerminology functional supernatural phenomena]] and[=/=]or super-advanced versions of RealLife technology.
* DesignatedGirlFight: Sylvanas vs. Valla. It's never really elaborated on [[NoodleIncident why they were fighting]].
* {{Determinator}}: Jaina hypothesizes that their pursuers will chase them until either the Heroes are captured or those chasing them are dead. The Heroes themselves fit under this trope as well.

* DisneyDeath: If only because the "death" straddles two chapters rather than being immediately undone by a respawn in the same chapter, [[spoiler:Jaina]]. Though, as is noted on the PlayingWith page for this trope, it's mostly exaggerated in the form of DeathIsCheap.
* DisproportionateRetribution: SPEAR finds out someone's invoked TheUnmasquedWorld even though they think TheWorldIsNotReady. In addition to destroying the actual evidence, they also do collateral damage on a large scale, and [[spoiler:may have slagged a whole conference center in the process.]]

* EnemyChatter: Subverted. The robbers are using radios to communicate, but it is encrypted and Nova can't listen in.
* EpicFail: Letting loose all your anti-burglar traps on the wrong target, bad idea. [[MindControl Faustus Serum]] + BrokenBird = nope. Firing massive rifle intended to be used prone while standing = bruised rear after being BlownAcrossTheRoom.
* EvilDetectingDog: Subverted, then played straight. Jake barks at the mailman (TruthInTelevision). The Heroes take notice of this, and realize that if the dog isn't happy, something might be amiss....which turns out to be true when the crooks actually show up.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The Player character. All we know about them is that they play ''Heroes of the Storm,'' probably live in an [[WeAllLiveInAmerica American]] suburb, and have a job whose hours can run long.

* FlippingTheBird: Nova dive-bombs Sylvanas with a drone. [[RuleOfFunny Somehow]], the elf knows this gesture and employs it on both hands in response.

* GenreSavvy: The Heroes are well-aware that they were video game characters, and don't hesitate to lampshade when the real world behaves like the fictional universes they originated in. Raynor in particular seems prone to it.
* GlassShatteringSound: A sonic weapon meant for breaching windows carried by the crooks does this. In addition to breaking windows, it has the side-effect of causing Jake to whimper and Li Li to complain of painful ''something.''

* GoodNewsBadNews: Gazlowe announces that there are only [[RuleOfThree three]] attackers this time. Except they're all the [[PoweredArmor monster power armor of doom]] enemy type.
* [[GunsAkimbo Guns[=/=]Crossbows Akimbo]]: Valla, as per the game, dual-wields crossbows. Later, she is told about (but so far does not actually do it herself) using two massive MR-7 railguns at once. The latter is [[ReconstructedTrope slightly different than the usual portrayal]], since it's implied that doing this requires a special addon (the Synchronized Control Targeter) for the weapons, their power is reduced drastically so they can each be fired with one hand, and the sniper is lying prone to do so.
* GreaterScopeVillain: InUniverse, before it was known who sent the robbers both Heroes and Player believe the incursions to be more than random burglary. They're right. The Player isn't the only one who thinks TheWorldIsNotReady...

* HiddenDepths: Apparently, this version of Sylvanas is a little more thoughtful and less, well, ''evil'' than the current ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' portrayal. Even Raynor is surprised since in ''Heroes of the Storm'' she still had {{Jerkass}}, [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] tendencies ("Hold your tongue, or I'll tear it out"[=/=]"You have my thanks...for now"). One also would not expect Jim Raynor to drop a modified quote from the [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] ("Pride goeth before the fall and all that").
* HistoricalInJoke: Li Li learns that SPEAR (or its predecessors) were involved in concealing magic/[=FSPs=] all the way back to the Middle Ages if not before. Thus, the Salem Witch Trials, the very existence of feudal government as a system, 20th-century whaling and something involving the Catholic Church were all actually related to concealing the supernatural.
* HistoryRepeats: What SPEAR and WET are worried about with TheUnmasquedWorld, though whatever happened with the Romans remains a [[NoodleIncident mystery]]. Jaina argues that this isn't ''required'' to happen, and suggests trying to defy the trope since circumstances may have changed.

* HollywoodAcid: Downplayed example in Kerrigan's snake, which appears to ooze such since she modified it. The robber Harry finds this out rather painfully when it is dropped on his head.
* HollywoodSilencer: Discussed and subverted. Nova repeatedly discusses her rifle lacking such noise-damping, so in order to use it without being noticed they'll have to find some [[ToiletHumor auditory cover]].
* HumansAreFlawed: A core reason SPEAR believes TheWorldIsNotReady. Often, discussion of this leads to a CrypticBackgroundReference about the Roman Empire.
* {{Hypocrite}}: The Heroes accuse the Player of this after being questioned as to why they managed to stuff the inanimate Sonya into the chest that turned them all real in the first place. Captain Sulu also likes to think he's done nothing wrong and that his use of force is always appropriate, which is hard to believe after [[spoiler:the reader is left with the implication that he might have ''melted a building full of innocents'']] when the target could have been hit ''without'' doing so.

* IWarnedYou: The Weaponized Extraction Teams take this attitude in the modern day once TheUnmasquedWorld kicks in. Those with similar viewpoints been concerned about an [[TheWorldIsNotReady unprepared world]] since [[CrypticBackgroundReference the Roman Empire]].

* [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm a Psychologist, Not a Researcher]]: Spoken verbatim by Dr. Kara Grimes, who can't access the embiggering equipment. She's a medical doctor, not an academic one and thus lacks authorization (and presumably training) for such things.
* InsistentTerminology: Blizzard calls their game a "hero brawler" instead of a {{MOBA}}; characters lampshading this is even the page quote on the trope page for MOBA. SPEAR does not call it [[MagicByAnyOtherName magic]], it's "Functional Supernatural Phenomena."

* KickTheDog: SPEAR, arguably. Plasma weapons are supposed to be more accurate than explosives, but when the "ablation" part comes and something has to be destroyed, the ship doing it causes collateral damage on a massive scale anyway. It's also left unclear [[spoiler:at the end of that chapter whether or not they also liquified a conference center filled with ordinary people]].

* LeaveNoWitnesses: Mentioned to be part of WET's modus operandi [[IDidWhatIHadToDo when necessary]]. [[spoiler:This possibly means that yes, ''Steadfast Samurai'' could have flatted a conference center full of innocent people.]]

* MadeOfIron: ZigZagged; the Player slaps Valla across the room but she doesn't [[DeathIsCheap respawn]]. However, when the Player smacks Jaina (who is trying to be helpful by turning off an [[RingRingCRUNCH annoying alarm clock]]), she respawns from the impact. [[spoiler: Later, Li Li is kicked and ends up respawning.]] It seems what it takes to kill a Hero [[AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe depends on what best fits the moment]] (PlayedForLaughs, PlayedForDrama, etc).

## The chest's interior is BiggerOnTheInside and can serve as a ''Heroes of the Storm''-style battleground, though it doesn't seem to be permanently configured like this.

* MeaningfulName: SPEAR does this with some of their ships--''Iron Chancellor'' is made from [[spoiler:the sunken German battleship ''Bismarck.'' Otto von Bismarck's nickname was the "Iron Chancellor." Ditto ''Steadfast Samurai'', being built from the old ''Yamato''.]]

* MindWipe: Discussed. Nova's past, [[AllThereInTheManual since erased]], becomes a plot point once again.

* MistakenForAnImposter: The entire Hero line-up [[spoiler:when they show up, full-size, at [=BlizzCon=]]]. Needless to say, they fit right in at first glance. Later discussed by parents at a highway truckstop; these must just be "cosplayers" they think--until Nova cloaks and throws someone across the room.
* MrExposition: Downplayed; Li Li's conversation with scientists does have small amounts of exposition but anyone expecting a full-on briefing of what SPEAR (and its predecessors) does or did would be left wanting more, since the reader is only given a general idea. Li Li herself serves as MissExposition InUniverse to the other Heroes as well (though again the reader is not given any context--only that "Li Li told the other Heroes things").

* NoEndorHolocaust: Maybe. Nova tells the Heroes and gathered [=BlizzCon=] fans to "Clear the room" and "Everyone get out of here!" before the next chapter references an [[DeathFromAbove orbital strike]] (even though the ship launching it was only 60,000 feet up--though the Heroes don't know this). However, either the Heroes are then ''[[FailedASpotCheck blatantly ignoring a flaming building]]'' or perhaps the ship didn't target the convention center after all. Or [[FridgeHorror maybe there's just nothing left to save]].
* NoodleIncident: Finally averted in the case of whaling--it turns out in this universe [[spoiler:Sapient Cetaceans is fully played straight. For reasons unknown (though given human history it's not hard to guess why), they were building complex devices to melt the polar ice caps and deal a crippling blow to civilization.]]
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: There are a lot of "doctors" around [=SPEAR's=] facility, but many of them are non-medical. The narration even points this out upon introducing an MD proper.
* NotNowKiddo: The Player blows off warnings of suspicious activity from the white car. This ends up leading to an unpleasant surprise later.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Subverted. There are many types of non-medical doctors around SPEAR's facilities, but they have distinctive fields of study. Raynor gets this reaction upon asking the two scientists they saved whether either of them knows anything about a ''Manta'' transport's engines--they don't, it's not their field. Wane knows about the materials science, but that's it.
* PardonMyKlingon: Sylvanas drops a line from her games, "Bash'a no falor talah!" ([[http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Thalassian Taste the chill of true death!]]) She speaks Thalassian again later ("Shorel'aran") before venturing off to obtain an evacuation ship, though the [[HeroicSacrifice implications]] are subverted as she returns no worse for the wear.
* PetTheDog: Minor moments with the robbers, who are somewhat concerned that apparently the Player has at least one child they were not told about judging by the huge number of toy towers they find. One even worries their noise will "wake the kid." They also knock out Jake the Golden Retriever instead of killing him.
* PoweredArmor: WET has at least one type--called the [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117]]. It packs shields and allows its operative to carry a {{BFG}}.
* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Inverted--headshots from the MR-7 are messy. Kerrigan lampshades this, though it's handled in a YouDoNotWantToKnow, passing-reference fashion to keep the "T" rating while still conveying the inversion of the trope.

* PunchClockVillain: The narration points this out regarding most of the personnel at the SPEAR[=/=]WET facility. Raynor's response to Sylvanas' attack drives the point home further.
* RealityEnsues: Flying drones are fun...until the batteries drain. Thankfully, Nova and Raynor get the drone down before it drops. Nova's GPS, despite being from the [=2500s=] or so, has the same problem in cities that most small GPS (think smartphone) units have--it loses accuracy. Though Gazlowe's traps are useful, that very fact causes even the Player to trip on them, leading to their dismantlement. Triggering an alarm and immediately cancelling it while blaming a "system error" may work in the Heroes' universes, but SPEAR[=/=]WET will not fall for such shenanigans, as noted by Bokat-Anne. Showing up right next to a [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Navy carrier group]] without answering hails or identifying yourself is a good way to be [[StopOrIWillShoot shot at]].
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Admiral Pious [[OneSceneWonder seems]] to fit the description. George Sulu likes to ''think'' he is, [[NeverMyFault but...]] Sirella Martin fits the trope in word and in deed as she [[spoiler:changes sides from WET/bad SPEAR to science/good SPEAR]].
* RefugeInAudacity: Why SPEAR [[spoiler:resurrected ''Bismarck'']] and built a base [[spoiler:on the mountain where its wreck lay]]. Also referenced with whaling, although exactly why [[CrypticBackgroundReference again remains unexplained]] [[spoiler:for a few chapters]].
* ReluctantFanserviceGirl: Sylvanas has found out how she is portrayed at conventions and in fanart, thus realizing that she is somewhat of a sex symbol in this world. She does not like it despite [[HypocriticalHumor having no objection to the clothing she is presently wearing]] being the [[ChainmailBikini source of the fanservice]].

** Where have we seen [[Film/HomeAlone robbers (including one named Harry) get foiled by traps before]]? The Player even lampshades it after having all of those traps applied to them by mistake. InUniverse, it's discussed how separating Harry and Marv was supposed to ''prevent'' any further failures (it doesn't work).

** A doctor tells her patient "[[Film/PacificRim These are just memories. None of this is real...stay in the now]]."

** "[[VideoGame/BioShock1 Would you kindly]] put this irksome Akarat freak out of her misery?" Bonus points for the person the phrase is used on being under mind-controlling effects at the time.

** WET deploys [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117 power armor]]. Its InUniverse nickname is even "The Chief." Given discussion of [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD Coulson]], perhaps WET plays the Halo games as well.
** ''StarWars'' apparently exists in ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftI StarCraft]]'', as Raynor quotes ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' verbatim as a form of stalling. It's also suggested he [[CantBelieveISaidThat realizes how dumb it sounded]].

** Nova telekinetically tosses a suitor named [[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} "Sal" who leads off with "Whoa whoa whoas" then shouts "Whoas! Cripes!" after being thrown]].

* ShownTheirWork: EXIF data is a real thing--most smartphones (and some smart cameras) embed GPS information into their files, making locations easily traceable (assuming the GPS had an accurate lock at the time) if the data is not removed prior to uploading to the internet. Geolocating based on IP addresses is less accurate, but if the IP in question is fixed to a well-known building (like a universty computing cluster) then it becomes a simple matching game. The USS ''Harry S. Truman'' is also in fact one of the RealLife battle groups on the Atlantic side, at least at the time this fanfiction was written. Beale and Nellis are real Air Force bases (in California and Nevada respectively), though the types of units assumed to be present for the sake of the story may fall under ArtisticLicenseMilitary.

* SpiesInAVan: The Heroes and Player take note of a white car that seems to spend an unusual amount of time loitering in the neighborhood where it had previously never been seen. The fact that there are [[GenreSavvy binoculars on the dashboard]] convinces the Player that someone (the Heroes) should watch it.
* [[invoked]]{{Squick}}: InUniverse, reactions to a certain BloodKnight are headed in this direction. Brightwing's JabbaTableManners got this reaction too.

* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Aside from [[InsistentTerminology not calling it that]] SPEAR seems to take this view of "Functional Supernatural Phenomena." Even if something escapes ''current'' understanding, the organization refuses to just accept AWizardDidIt without trying to figure it out first. Should that fail, they ''still'' don't like calling it "magic" (as noted under InsistentTerminology).

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Justified for Sylvanas as an undead elf--she doesn't need to breathe. Said undead elf points out that isn't true for the rest of her companions, however, when they (in her opinion) dawdle on evacuating. Exploited when the Heroes need to retrieve an escape ship from a flooded area. Sylvanas returns, no worse for the wear (thoroughly soaked) having brought the required vessel up. During a subsequent chase, Sylvanas again points this trope out in her case after Raynor notes that "everyone" will end up drowning should they be sunk.
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Its aversion in this universe is lampshaded by Sylvanas--"The world does not stop because you decided to have idle chit-chat" [[spoiler:regarding leakage in the underwater base the Heroes find themselves in]]. She also gives everyone a good DeathGlare for yammering while being chased by [[spoiler:an underwater super-battleship built from the old ''Bismarck'']].

* TemptingFate: The Player runs afoul of this hoping no one would do a robbery in broad daylight. Subverted, as the robbery happens at night. Sylvanas catches flack from other Heroes for doing this by wondering aloud why the robbers have not returned, since they clearly wanted two things but only managed to grab one. She gets an immediate reaction ''again'' for saying that she thinks WET is too busy to notice [[spoiler:the rest of the Heroes who are now full-size thanks to an embiggering device]].

* TheAtoner: Sylvanas is starting to show signs of this. Discussed by Raynor.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Subverted by Bokat-Anne; she lampshades how this trope may apply in the video games the Heroes are drawn from, but it does ''not'' apply to SPEAR. Kara Grimes' attempt to wave off the alarm only made security ''more'' suspicious that something was amiss. Discussed by Johanna--Bastion's Keep gets a TakeThat from her for, in her opinion, falling into this trope, while she guesses WET's security won't be like this considering her recent experience with Bokat-Anne.
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Played with, since it's not clear whether some of the fancy toys SPEAR uses are science-based or magic-based (in fact, this confusion exists InUniverse as well, see SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic). Either way, it's them versus the Heroes, who themselves are set up to be quite "magical" by comparison, [[InsistentTerminology even if SPEAR won't call it that]].
* ThePowerOfHate: How [[spoiler:Valla]] breaks the control of Faustus Serum. Much to the concern of [[KnightErrant Johanna]]. That this character then screams at innocent scientists before threatening to kill people for their food shows how much unhinging breaking Faustus this way has caused.

* TheUnmasquedWorld: The whole point of the Heroes [[spoiler:showing up at [=BlizzCon=], implied to be 2015 due to who's hosting]]. They believe SPEAR is wrong--the world ''would'' be ready if given the chance. They also have an objection to being locked up[=/=]experimented on.
* TheWatson: Also falls under another trope. The Hero taken [[AccidentalKidnapping accidentally]] ends up in this role, allowing the kidnappers to explain much of what their organization does. This seems silly--why expose all the secrets? That is, until the second trope comes into play--[[spoiler:The constantly-curious child-age Li Li seems innocent enough ''and'' is generally willing to help her abductors thus far since their requests are pretty innocent-sounding.]]
* TheWorldIsNotReady: The Player invokes this without saying it as a reason for not involving the police even though burglars just smashed a window. Explaining living video game characters would be too much. SPEAR tells Li Li this almost verbatim as the reason they collect things like her or the chest. It's later revealed via CrypticBackgroundReference that SPEAR believes HumansAreFlawed due to something related to the fall of the Roman Empire.
* ThisIsMySide: Between Kerrigan and Sylvanas. Each stakes out half the player's dwelling to, ahem, ''claim'' any lifeforms that might reside within.
* ThisIsReality: Nova dismisses Raynor's concerns about the location of SPEAR's facility because "this is 2015" rather than the 2500s-era of ''[=StarCraft=].'' [[spoiler:She's wrong--they are in fact deep underwater.]]
* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Johanna's schtick in-game translates to reality. First, she nails a WET operative in the eye while pretending to be a toy. Then, she flings her shield into a lab switch [[spoiler:to make herself full-sized]].

* TranquillizerDart: The robbers know about the dog from their surveillance. Thus, they knock out the canine rather than killing him, in a small PetTheDog moment.
* UnfazedEveryman: Subverted. The normal people of the world take notice and won't stop talking once the Heroes are made public.
* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Played straight [[spoiler:at [=BlizzCon=]]] then subverted as the Heroes stick out like sore thumbs when removed from their element. Averted entirely when F-22 pilots engage ''Steadfast Samurai''--"Is that a flying battleship?"
* [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Did What We Had to Do]]: SPEAR's attitude toward their maintenance of the {{Masquerade}} when it's not NecessarilyEvil. Generally, the former viewpoint is found in the Weaponized Extraction Teams while the latter prevails among science types.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: It turns out centuries of (at least in their view) trying to [[TheWorldIsNotReady save humanity from themselves]] has turned at least some of SPEAR (and most of WET) into unabashed believers in [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Do What We Must]] to maintain the masquerade. Compare with those who agree TheWorldIsNotReady, but strongly object to both how to conceal the supernatural and what actually merits concealing.
* WhatTheHellHero[=/=]WhatTheHellPlayer: [[RingRingCRUNCH Nobody likes alarm clocks]], and while the Player attempts to turn theirs off, they also end up hitting [[NiceGirl Jaina]] hard enough to respawn her even though all she wanted to do was help by turning off the alarm. Valla, Raynor, and Jaina herself call out the player on this, even though it was [[AccidentalMurder technically an accident]] and DeathIsCheap. Jaina calls out scientists who keep saying what WET does is wrong but haven't taken the opportunity to raise significant objections.

* [[invoked]] TheWoobie: InUniverse, a downplayed version as Sylvanas is seen merely as a brooding, self-centered {{Jerkass}} by the other Heroes until they find out part of the reason she's sulking is [[FreudianExcuse due being tipped over during painting]] that cracked her arm several times. Kerrigan's glee over having a larger set of minions than Sylvanas is thus tempered by this knowledge.

* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Chapter title, and Raynor delivers a withering look to the Player after being asked why they brought Sonya to life. Keep in mind the Player made a big deal out of how difficult Heroes were to make, specifically how they should be painted/finished before assembly. Then Sonya gets slapped together without so much as a single sheet of sandpaper or drop of paint...

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Magnetohydrodynamic engines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive really do exist]]. They're just impractical and not used outside of prototypes ([[Film/TheHuntForRedOctober though they've shown up in fiction before]]), but [[RuleOfCool they sound really awesome]], so... The trend continues with [[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs22grc_prt.htm magnetoplasmadynamic]] engines--it appears SPEAR's device can switch between the two at will, but the second mode of operation uses far more energy than the first.
* [[invoked]]AngstWhatAngst: Discussed by Raynor given [[spoiler:Nova's]] previous condition. The response? A combination of KindaBusyHere and HeroicWillpower.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: PlayedForLaughs by whoever Vizsla reports to. After hearing a team member was allegedly attacked by a toy, expresses disbelief, but as soon as she mentions small, living beings (like the captured Hero in her hand), it's suddenly more believable.
* ArtifactTitle: If the Heroes' plan goes through, [[spoiler:calling them "Heroes of the Desk" will end up being a misnomer since they'll be normal size instead of 14" tall. They succeed, fully playing the trope straight.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Averted. The Heroes fear the arrival of Jake, a dog, will turn into this but nothing bad happens to them (unless getting slobbered on counts).
* BadassBoast: Valla tries to talk tough to her captors. Except it doesn't work very well when you're 14" tall... Sonya gets a more appropriate one [[spoiler:as a full-sized Barbarian going up against power armor.]]
* BatmanGambit: Johanna and Diablo know if they fight back against WET, they'll be killed. Which means they'll [[DeathIsCheap respawn in the chest]], hopefully located somewhere they can exploit to escape.
* BeenThereShapedHistory: SPEAR and its predecessors have been maintaining the {{Masquerade}} for ''millennia''--it goes back to feudalism. Other items include the Salem Witch Trials, something involving the Catholic Church, and early 20th-century whaling. Most remain [[NoodleIncident Noodle Incidents]], [[CrypticBackgroundReference Cryptic Background References]] or both, though whaling eventually receives an explanation.
* BigEater: Brightwing. Even if the food in question is [=McDonald's=].

* BloodKnight: Downplayed, but Valla shows shades of this during the robbery--even supposing to herself that the other Heroes might condemn her for such thoughts. [[spoiler: Brainwashed!Valla plays this straight, threatening to "[[DeadlyEuphemism respawn]]" the other Heroes if they so much as ''[[DisproportionateRetribution move]]'' without her permission. Even after breaking the control through The Power of Hate, she is, if anything, ''more'' bloodthirsty, declaring that everyone in the facility will die and she will burn it the ground as revenge. She also makes a very public declaration that the blood of SPEAR and those who support it "will fill the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers." Escalated ''even further'' when, upon finding the Heroes have no money, she suggests just taking food by force "since we can't die and they're all squishy."]]

* BrainBleach: Valla repeatedly remembers [[VideoGame/DiabloIII fighting Ghom in the Larder at Bastion's Keep]]. She wishes she didn't.

* ChekhovsGun: Valla's scarf tears off when she and Nova sneak through air vents in a bathroom. This is later used to track her down. Valla's crossbows also prove useful as impromptu ascension cables, similar to a use last seen in Chapter 2. The [=QuadMaster=] 1000 drone reappears and is useful for [[spoiler:finding the chest by having Heroes jump from lethal heights off its back]].

* ClingyJealousGirl: PlayedForLaughs after Jim Raynor receives psychic messages. Kerrigan is ''not'' happy that someone [[VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm might be angling to steal him from her again]]. Turns out [[RecycledPlot her guess]] [[AvertedTrope is wrong]].
* CoincidentalBroadcast: Justified--WET just bombarded a parking lot outside a convention center in which a woman [[InvisibilityCloak appeared out of thin air]] and a bunch of video game characters showed up in very lifelike form. Everybody notices and won't shut up about it.
* CoolPlane: Turns out the ''Manta'' undersea transport can also ''fly''... Though, in a nod to [[ArtisticLicensePhysics the possibly improbable physics of such a thing]] (the animal after which this is named is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray vaguely airplane-shaped]]), Raynor hypothesizes that the engines must be keeping them aloft with brute force as what is hydrodynamic isn't necessarily good for achieving powered flight.

* CurbStompBattle: Johanna and Diablo try to take on Bokat-Anne and an embiggered [[spoiler:Valla]]. As predicted, pint-size Heroes versus fully-aware, unsurprised humans working with a full-size Hero ends badly for the small Heroes. However, [[BatmanGambit that's exactly what they wanted to happen]]...
* CuteAndPsycho: Brightwing, when the subject of [[BigEater food]] comes up. She chides Valla for finding her [[JabbaTableManners bloody mouth]] disquieting (this after Brightwing ate a hummingbird...in one bite)

* DeathIsCheap: So far, none of the Heroes seems to stay dead, respawning just like they did in their game whenever they are "killed." [[spoiler:They later exploit this fact to their advantage, and the same rule applies even when big; you don't have to be "Indestructible" Johanna to survive being killed.]] The forces of WET and SPEAR also discuss/lampshade the trope as related to the Heroes, [[spoiler:especially after Jaina respawns full-size aboard ''Iron Chancellor''.]]
* DeflectorShields: J117 power armor has such defenses, making Sonya's blades worthless. [[spoiler:They don't stop Brightwing's polymorph though.]] The ''Manta'' transport also has shields. Given that these ships operate in a place where the pressure is eight tons per square inch, [[FridgeLogic having shields makes sense]] if you have [[InsistentTerminology functional supernatural phenomena]] and[=/=]or super-advanced versions of RealLife technology.
* DesignatedGirlFight: Sylvanas vs. Valla. It's never really elaborated on [[NoodleIncident why they were fighting]].
* {{Determinator}}: Jaina hypothesizes that their pursuers will chase them until either the Heroes are captured or those chasing them are dead. The Heroes themselves fit under this trope as well.

* DisneyDeath: If only because the "death" straddles two chapters rather than being immediately undone by a respawn in the same chapter, [[spoiler:Jaina]]. Though, as is noted on the PlayingWith page for this trope, it's mostly exaggerated in the form of DeathIsCheap.
* DisproportionateRetribution: SPEAR finds out someone's invoked TheUnmasquedWorld even though they think TheWorldIsNotReady. In addition to destroying the actual evidence, they also do collateral damage on a large scale, and [[spoiler:may have slagged a whole conference center in the process.]]

* EnemyChatter: Subverted. The robbers are using radios to communicate, but it is encrypted and Nova can't listen in.
* EpicFail: Letting loose all your anti-burglar traps on the wrong target, bad idea. [[MindControl Faustus Serum]] + BrokenBird = nope. Firing massive rifle intended to be used prone while standing = bruised rear after being BlownAcrossTheRoom.
* EvilDetectingDog: Subverted, then played straight. Jake barks at the mailman (TruthInTelevision). The Heroes take notice of this, and realize that if the dog isn't happy, something might be amiss....which turns out to be true when the crooks actually show up.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The Player character. All we know about them is that they play ''Heroes of the Storm,'' probably live in an [[WeAllLiveInAmerica American]] suburb, and have a job whose hours can run long.

* FlippingTheBird: Nova dive-bombs Sylvanas with a drone. [[RuleOfFunny Somehow]], the elf knows this gesture and employs it on both hands in response.

* GenreSavvy: The Heroes are well-aware that they were video game characters, and don't hesitate to lampshade when the real world behaves like the fictional universes they originated in. Raynor in particular seems prone to it.
* GlassShatteringSound: A sonic weapon meant for breaching windows carried by the crooks does this. In addition to breaking windows, it has the side-effect of causing Jake to whimper and Li Li to complain of painful ''something.''

* GoodNewsBadNews: Gazlowe announces that there are only [[RuleOfThree three]] attackers this time. Except they're all the [[PoweredArmor monster power armor of doom]] enemy type.
* [[GunsAkimbo Guns[=/=]Crossbows Akimbo]]: Valla, as per the game, dual-wields crossbows. Later, she is told about (but so far does not actually do it herself) using two massive MR-7 railguns at once. The latter is [[ReconstructedTrope slightly different than the usual portrayal]], since it's implied that doing this requires a special addon (the Synchronized Control Targeter) for the weapons, their power is reduced drastically so they can each be fired with one hand, and the sniper is lying prone to do so.
* GreaterScopeVillain: InUniverse, before it was known who sent the robbers both Heroes and Player believe the incursions to be more than random burglary. They're right. The Player isn't the only one who thinks TheWorldIsNotReady...

* HiddenDepths: Apparently, this version of Sylvanas is a little more thoughtful and less, well, ''evil'' than the current ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' portrayal. Even Raynor is surprised since in ''Heroes of the Storm'' she still had {{Jerkass}}, [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] tendencies ("Hold your tongue, or I'll tear it out"[=/=]"You have my thanks...for now"). One also would not expect Jim Raynor to drop a modified quote from the [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] ("Pride goeth before the fall and all that").
* HistoricalInJoke: Li Li learns that SPEAR (or its predecessors) were involved in concealing magic/[=FSPs=] all the way back to the Middle Ages if not before. Thus, the Salem Witch Trials, the very existence of feudal government as a system, 20th-century whaling and something involving the Catholic Church were all actually related to concealing the supernatural.
* HistoryRepeats: What SPEAR and WET are worried about with TheUnmasquedWorld, though whatever happened with the Romans remains a [[NoodleIncident mystery]]. Jaina argues that this isn't ''required'' to happen, and suggests trying to defy the trope since circumstances may have changed.

* HollywoodAcid: Downplayed example in Kerrigan's snake, which appears to ooze such since she modified it. The robber Harry finds this out rather painfully when it is dropped on his head.
* HollywoodSilencer: Discussed and subverted. Nova repeatedly discusses her rifle lacking such noise-damping, so in order to use it without being noticed they'll have to find some [[ToiletHumor auditory cover]].
* HumansAreFlawed: A core reason SPEAR believes TheWorldIsNotReady. Often, discussion of this leads to a CrypticBackgroundReference about the Roman Empire.
* {{Hypocrite}}: The Heroes accuse the Player of this after being questioned as to why they managed to stuff the inanimate Sonya into the chest that turned them all real in the first place. Captain Sulu also likes to think he's done nothing wrong and that his use of force is always appropriate, which is hard to believe after [[spoiler:the reader is left with the implication that he might have ''melted a building full of innocents'']] when the target could have been hit ''without'' doing so.

* IWarnedYou: The Weaponized Extraction Teams take this attitude in the modern day once TheUnmasquedWorld kicks in. Those with similar viewpoints been concerned about an [[TheWorldIsNotReady unprepared world]] since [[CrypticBackgroundReference the Roman Empire]].

* [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm a Psychologist, Not a Researcher]]: Spoken verbatim by Dr. Kara Grimes, who can't access the embiggering equipment. She's a medical doctor, not an academic one and thus lacks authorization (and presumably training) for such things.
* InsistentTerminology: Blizzard calls their game a "hero brawler" instead of a {{MOBA}}; characters lampshading this is even the page quote on the trope page for MOBA. SPEAR does not call it [[MagicByAnyOtherName magic]], it's "Functional Supernatural Phenomena."

* KickTheDog: SPEAR, arguably. Plasma weapons are supposed to be more accurate than explosives, but when the "ablation" part comes and something has to be destroyed, the ship doing it causes collateral damage on a massive scale anyway. It's also left unclear [[spoiler:at the end of that chapter whether or not they also liquified a conference center filled with ordinary people]].

* LeaveNoWitnesses: Mentioned to be part of WET's modus operandi [[IDidWhatIHadToDo when necessary]]. [[spoiler:This possibly means that yes, ''Steadfast Samurai'' could have flatted a conference center full of innocent people.]]

* MadeOfIron: ZigZagged; the Player slaps Valla across the room but she doesn't [[DeathIsCheap respawn]]. However, when the Player smacks Jaina (who is trying to be helpful by turning off an [[RingRingCRUNCH annoying alarm clock]]), she respawns from the impact. [[spoiler: Later, Li Li is kicked and ends up respawning.]] It seems what it takes to kill a Hero [[AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe depends on what best fits the moment]] (PlayedForLaughs, PlayedForDrama, etc).

* MeaningfulName: SPEAR does this with some of their ships--''Iron Chancellor'' is made from [[spoiler:the sunken German battleship ''Bismarck.'' Otto von Bismarck's nickname was the "Iron Chancellor." Ditto ''Steadfast Samurai'', being built from the old ''Yamato''.]]

* MindWipe: Discussed. Nova's past, [[AllThereInTheManual since erased]], becomes a plot point once again.

* MistakenForAnImposter: The entire Hero line-up [[spoiler:when they show up, full-size, at [=BlizzCon=]]]. Needless to say, they fit right in at first glance. Later discussed by parents at a highway truckstop; these must just be "cosplayers" they think--until Nova cloaks and throws someone across the room.
* MrExposition: Downplayed; Li Li's conversation with scientists does have small amounts of exposition but anyone expecting a full-on briefing of what SPEAR (and its predecessors) does or did would be left wanting more, since the reader is only given a general idea. Li Li herself serves as MissExposition InUniverse to the other Heroes as well (though again the reader is not given any context--only that "Li Li told the other Heroes things").

* NoEndorHolocaust: Maybe. Nova tells the Heroes and gathered [=BlizzCon=] fans to "Clear the room" and "Everyone get out of here!" before the next chapter references an [[DeathFromAbove orbital strike]] (even though the ship launching it was only 60,000 feet up--though the Heroes don't know this). However, either the Heroes are then ''[[FailedASpotCheck blatantly ignoring a flaming building]]'' or perhaps the ship didn't target the convention center after all. Or [[FridgeHorror maybe there's just nothing left to save]].
* NoodleIncident: Finally averted in the case of whaling--it turns out in this universe [[spoiler:Sapient Cetaceans is fully played straight. For reasons unknown (though given human history it's not hard to guess why), they were building complex devices to melt the polar ice caps and deal a crippling blow to civilization.]]
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: There are a lot of "doctors" around [=SPEAR's=] facility, but many of them are non-medical. The narration even points this out upon introducing an MD proper.
* NotNowKiddo: The Player blows off warnings of suspicious activity from the white car. This ends up leading to an unpleasant surprise later.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Subverted. There are many types of non-medical doctors around SPEAR's facilities, but they have distinctive fields of study. Raynor gets this reaction upon asking the two scientists they saved whether either of them knows anything about a ''Manta'' transport's engines--they don't, it's not their field. Wane knows about the materials science, but that's it.
* PardonMyKlingon: Sylvanas drops a line from her games, "Bash'a no falor talah!" ([[http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Thalassian Taste the chill of true death!]]) She speaks Thalassian again later ("Shorel'aran") before venturing off to obtain an evacuation ship, though the [[HeroicSacrifice implications]] are subverted as she returns no worse for the wear.
* PetTheDog: Minor moments with the robbers, who are somewhat concerned that apparently the Player has at least one child they were not told about judging by the huge number of toy towers they find. One even worries their noise will "wake the kid." They also knock out Jake the Golden Retriever instead of killing him.
* PoweredArmor: WET has at least one type--called the [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117]]. It packs shields and allows its operative to carry a {{BFG}}.
* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Inverted--headshots from the MR-7 are messy. Kerrigan lampshades this, though it's handled in a YouDoNotWantToKnow, passing-reference fashion to keep the "T" rating while still conveying the inversion of the trope.

* PunchClockVillain: The narration points this out regarding most of the personnel at the SPEAR[=/=]WET facility. Raynor's response to Sylvanas' attack drives the point home further.
* RealityEnsues: Flying drones are fun...until the batteries drain. Thankfully, Nova and Raynor get the drone down before it drops. Nova's GPS, despite being from the [=2500s=] or so, has the same problem in cities that most small GPS (think smartphone) units have--it loses accuracy. Though Gazlowe's traps are useful, that very fact causes even the Player to trip on them, leading to their dismantlement. Triggering an alarm and immediately cancelling it while blaming a "system error" may work in the Heroes' universes, but SPEAR[=/=]WET will not fall for such shenanigans, as noted by Bokat-Anne. Showing up right next to a [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Navy carrier group]] without answering hails or identifying yourself is a good way to be [[StopOrIWillShoot shot at]].
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Admiral Pious [[OneSceneWonder seems]] to fit the description. George Sulu likes to ''think'' he is, [[NeverMyFault but...]]
* RefugeInAudacity: Why SPEAR [[spoiler:resurrected ''Bismarck'']] and built a base [[spoiler:on the mountain where its wreck lay]]. Also referenced with whaling, although exactly why [[CrypticBackgroundReference again remains unexplained]] [[spoiler:for a few chapters]].
* ReluctantFanserviceGirl: Sylvanas has found out how she is portrayed at conventions and in fanart, thus realizing that she is somewhat of a sex symbol in this world. She does not like it despite [[HypocriticalHumor having no objection to the clothing she is presently wearing]] being the [[ChainmailBikini source of the fanservice]].

** Where have we seen [[Film/HomeAlone robbers (including one named Harry) get foiled by traps before]]? The Player even lampshades it after having all of those traps applied to them by mistake. InUniverse, it's discussed how separating Harry and Marv was supposed to ''prevent'' any further failures (it doesn't work).

** A doctor tells her patient "[[Film/PacificRim These are just memories. None of this is real...stay in the now]]."

** "[[VideoGame/BioShock1 Would you kindly]] put this irksome Akarat freak out of her misery?" Bonus points for the person the phrase is used on being under mind-controlling effects at the time.

** WET deploys [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117 power armor]]. Its InUniverse nickname is even "The Chief." Given discussion of [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD Coulson]], perhaps WET plays the Halo games as well.
** ''StarWars'' apparently exists in ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftI StarCraft]]'', as Raynor quotes ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' verbatim as a form of stalling. It's also suggested he [[CantBelieveISaidThat realizes how dumb it sounded]].

** Nova telekinetically tosses a suitor named [[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} "Sal" who leads off with "Whoa whoa whoas" then shouts "Whoas! Cripes!" after being thrown]].

* ShownTheirWork: EXIF data is a real thing--most smartphones (and some smart cameras) embed GPS information into their files, making locations easily traceable (assuming the GPS had an accurate lock at the time) if the data is not removed prior to uploading to the internet. Geolocating based on IP addresses is less accurate, but if the IP in question is fixed to a well-known building (like a universty computing cluster) then it becomes a simple matching game. The USS ''Harry S. Truman'' is also in fact one of the RealLife battle groups on the Atlantic side, at least at the time this fanfiction was written. Beale and Nellis are real Air Force bases (in California and Nevada respectively), though the types of units assumed to be present for the sake of the story may fall under ArtisticLicenseMilitary.

* SpiesInAVan: The Heroes and Player take note of a white car that seems to spend an unusual amount of time loitering in the neighborhood where it had previously never been seen. The fact that there are [[GenreSavvy binoculars on the dashboard]] convinces the Player that someone (the Heroes) should watch it.
* [[invoked]]{{Squick}}: InUniverse, reactions to a certain BloodKnight are headed in this direction. Brightwing's JabbaTableManners got this reaction too.

* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Aside from [[InsistentTerminology not calling it that]] SPEAR seems to take this view of "Functional Supernatural Phenomena." Even if something escapes ''current'' understanding, the organization refuses to just accept AWizardDidIt without trying to figure it out first. Should that fail, they ''still'' don't like calling it "magic" (as noted under InsistentTerminology).

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Justified for Sylvanas as an undead elf--she doesn't need to breathe. Said undead elf points out that isn't true for the rest of her companions, however, when they (in her opinion) dawdle on evacuating. Exploited when the Heroes need to retrieve an escape ship from a flooded area. Sylvanas returns, no worse for the wear (thoroughly soaked) having brought the required vessel up. During a subsequent chase, Sylvanas again points this trope out in her case after Raynor notes that "everyone" will end up drowning should they be sunk.
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Its aversion in this universe is lampshaded by Sylvanas--"The world does not stop because you decided to have idle chit-chat" [[spoiler:regarding leakage in the underwater base the Heroes find themselves in]]. She also gives everyone a good DeathGlare for yammering while being chased by [[spoiler:an underwater super-battleship built from the old ''Bismarck'']].

* TemptingFate: The Player runs afoul of this hoping no one would do a robbery in broad daylight. Subverted, as the robbery happens at night. Sylvanas catches flack from other Heroes for doing this by wondering aloud why the robbers have not returned, since they clearly wanted two things but only managed to grab one. She gets an immediate reaction ''again'' for saying that she thinks WET is too busy to notice [[spoiler:the rest of the Heroes who are now full-size thanks to an embiggering device]].

* TheAtoner: Sylvanas is starting to show signs of this. Discussed by Raynor.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Subverted by Bokat-Anne; she lampshades how this trope may apply in the video games the Heroes are drawn from, but it does ''not'' apply to SPEAR. Kara Grimes' attempt to wave off the alarm only made security ''more'' suspicious that something was amiss. Discussed by Johanna--Bastion's Keep gets a TakeThat from her for, in her opinion, falling into this trope, while she guesses WET's security won't be like this considering her recent experience with Bokat-Anne.
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Played with, since it's not clear whether some of the fancy toys SPEAR uses are science-based or magic-based (in fact, this confusion exists InUniverse as well, see SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic). Either way, it's them versus the Heroes, who themselves are set up to be quite "magical" by comparison, [[InsistentTerminology even if SPEAR won't call it that]].
* ThePowerOfHate: How [[spoiler:Valla]] breaks the control of Faustus Serum. Much to the concern of [[KnightErrant Johanna]]. That this character then screams at innocent scientists before threatening to kill people for their food shows how much unhinging breaking Faustus this way has caused.

* TheUnmasquedWorld: The whole point of the Heroes [[spoiler:showing up at [=BlizzCon=], implied to be 2015 due to who's hosting]]. They believe SPEAR is wrong--the world ''would'' be ready if given the chance. They also have an objection to being locked up[=/=]experimented on.
* TheWatson: Also falls under another trope. The Hero taken [[AccidentalKidnapping accidentally]] ends up in this role, allowing the kidnappers to explain much of what their organization does. This seems silly--why expose all the secrets? That is, until the second trope comes into play--[[spoiler:The constantly-curious child-age Li Li seems innocent enough ''and'' is generally willing to help her abductors thus far since their requests are pretty innocent-sounding.]]
* TheWorldIsNotReady: The Player invokes this without saying it as a reason for not involving the police even though burglars just smashed a window. Explaining living video game characters would be too much. SPEAR tells Li Li this almost verbatim as the reason they collect things like her or the chest. It's later revealed via CrypticBackgroundReference that SPEAR believes HumansAreFlawed due to something related to the fall of the Roman Empire.
* ThisIsMySide: Between Kerrigan and Sylvanas. Each stakes out half the player's dwelling to, ahem, ''claim'' any lifeforms that might reside within.
* ThisIsReality: Nova dismisses Raynor's concerns about the location of SPEAR's facility because "this is 2015" rather than the 2500s-era of ''[=StarCraft=].'' [[spoiler:She's wrong--they are in fact deep underwater.]]
* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Johanna's schtick in-game translates to reality. First, she nails a WET operative in the eye while pretending to be a toy. Then, she flings her shield into a lab switch [[spoiler:to make herself full-sized]].

* TranquillizerDart: The robbers know about the dog from their surveillance. Thus, they knock out the canine rather than killing him, in a small PetTheDog moment.
* UnfazedEveryman: Subverted. The normal people of the world take notice and won't stop talking once the Heroes are made public.
* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Played straight [[spoiler:at [=BlizzCon=]]] then subverted as the Heroes stick out like sore thumbs when removed from their element.
* [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Did What We Had to Do]]: SPEAR's attitude toward their maintenance of the {{Masquerade}} when it's not NecessarilyEvil. Generally, the former viewpoint is found in the Weaponized Extraction Teams while the latter prevails among science types.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: It turns out centuries of (at least in their view) trying to [[TheWorldIsNotReady save humanity from themselves]] has turned at least some of SPEAR (and most of WET) into unabashed believers in [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Do What We Must]] to maintain the masquerade. Compare with those who agree TheWorldIsNotReady, but strongly object to both how to conceal the supernatural and what actually merits concealing.
* WhatTheHellHero[=/=]WhatTheHellPlayer: [[RingRingCRUNCH Nobody likes alarm clocks]], and while the Player attempts to turn theirs off, they also end up hitting [[NiceGirl Jaina]] hard enough to respawn her even though all she wanted to do was help by turning off the alarm. Valla, Raynor, and Jaina herself call out the player on this, even though it was [[AccidentalMurder technically an accident]] and DeathIsCheap. Jaina calls out scientists who keep saying what WET does is wrong but haven't taken the opportunity to raise significant objections.

* [[invoked]] TheWoobie: InUniverse, a downplayed version as Sylvanas is seen merely as a brooding, self-centered {{Jerkass}} by the other Heroes until they find out part of the reason she's sulking is [[FreudianExcuse due being tipped over during painting]] that cracked her arm several times. Kerrigan's glee over having a larger set of minions than Sylvanas is thus tempered by this knowledge.

* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Chapter title, and Raynor delivers a withering look to the Player after being asked why they brought Sonya to life. Keep in mind the Player made a big deal out of how difficult Heroes were to make, specifically how they should be painted/finished before assembly. Then Sonya gets slapped together without so much as a single sheet of sandpaper or drop of paint...

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Magnetohydrodynamic engines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive really do exist]]. They're just impractical and not used outside of prototypes ([[Film/TheHuntForRedOctober though they've shown up in fiction before]]), but [[RuleOfCool they sound really awesome]], so... The trend continues with [[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs22grc_prt.htm magnetoplasmadynamic]] engines--it appears SPEAR's device can switch between the two at will, but the second mode of operation uses far more energy than the first.
* [[invoked]]AngstWhatAngst: Discussed by Raynor given [[spoiler:Nova's]] previous condition. The response? A combination of KindaBusyHere and HeroicWillpower.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: PlayedForLaughs by whoever Vizsla reports to. After hearing a team member was allegedly attacked by a toy, expresses disbelief, but as soon as she mentions small, living beings (like the captured Hero in her hand), it's suddenly more believable.
* ArtifactTitle: If the Heroes' plan goes through, [[spoiler:calling them "Heroes of the Desk" will end up being a misnomer since they'll be normal size instead of 14" tall. They succeed, fully playing the trope straight.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Averted. The Heroes fear the arrival of Jake, a dog, will turn into this but nothing bad happens to them (unless getting slobbered on counts).
* BadassBoast: Valla tries to talk tough to her captors. Except it doesn't work very well when you're 14" tall... Sonya gets a more appropriate one [[spoiler:as a full-sized Barbarian going up against power armor.]]
* BatmanGambit: Johanna and Diablo know if they fight back against WET, they'll be killed. Which means they'll [[DeathIsCheap respawn in the chest]], hopefully located somewhere they can exploit to escape.
* BeenThereShapedHistory: SPEAR and its predecessors have been maintaining the {{Masquerade}} for ''millennia''--it goes back to feudalism. Other items include the Salem Witch Trials, something involving the Catholic Church, and early 20th-century whaling. Most remain [[NoodleIncident Noodle Incidents]], [[CrypticBackgroundReference Cryptic Background References]] or both, though whaling eventually receives an explanation.
* BigEater: Brightwing. Even if the food in question is [=McDonald's=].

* BloodKnight: Downplayed, but Valla shows shades of this during the robbery--even supposing to herself that the other Heroes might condemn her for such thoughts. [[spoiler: Brainwashed!Valla plays this straight, threatening to "[[DeadlyEuphemism respawn]]" the other Heroes if they so much as ''[[DisproportionateRetribution move]]'' without her permission. Even after breaking the control through The Power of Hate, she is, if anything, ''more'' bloodthirsty, declaring that everyone in the facility will die and she will burn it the ground as revenge. She also makes a very public declaration that the blood of SPEAR and those who support it "will fill the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers." Escalated ''even further'' when, upon finding the Heroes have no money, she suggests just taking food by force "since we can't die and they're all squishy."]]

* BrainBleach: Valla repeatedly remembers [[VideoGame/DiabloIII fighting Ghom in the Larder at Bastion's Keep]]. She wishes she didn't.

* ChekhovsGun: Valla's scarf tears off when she and Nova sneak through air vents in a bathroom. This is later used to track her down. Valla's crossbows also prove useful as impromptu ascension cables, similar to a use last seen in Chapter 2. The [=QuadMaster=] 1000 drone reappears and is useful for [[spoiler:finding the chest by having Heroes jump from lethal heights off its back]].

* ClingyJealousGirl: PlayedForLaughs after Jim Raynor receives psychic messages. Kerrigan is ''not'' happy that someone [[VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm might be angling to steal him from her again]]. Turns out [[RecycledPlot her guess]] [[AvertedTrope is wrong]].
* CoincidentalBroadcast: Justified--WET just bombarded a parking lot outside a convention center in which a woman [[InvisibilityCloak appeared out of thin air]] and a bunch of video game characters showed up in very lifelike form. Everybody notices and won't shut up about it.
* CoolPlane: Turns out the ''Manta'' undersea transport can also ''fly''... Though, in a nod to [[ArtisticLicensePhysics the possibly improbable physics of such a thing]] (the animal after which this is named is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray vaguely airplane-shaped]]), Raynor hypothesizes that the engines must be keeping them aloft with brute force as what is hydrodynamic isn't necessarily good for achieving powered flight.

* CurbStompBattle: Johanna and Diablo try to take on Bokat-Anne and an embiggered [[spoiler:Valla]]. As predicted, pint-size Heroes versus fully-aware, unsurprised humans working with a full-size Hero ends badly for the small Heroes. However, [[BatmanGambit that's exactly what they wanted to happen]]...
* CuteAndPsycho: Brightwing, when the subject of [[BigEater food]] comes up. She chides Valla for finding her [[JabbaTableManners bloody mouth]] disquieting (this after Brightwing ate a hummingbird...in one bite)

* DeathIsCheap: So far, none of the Heroes seems to stay dead, respawning just like they did in their game whenever they are "killed." [[spoiler:They later exploit this fact to their advantage, and the same rule applies even when big; you don't have to be "Indestructible" Johanna to survive being killed.]] The forces of WET and SPEAR also discuss/lampshade the trope as related to the Heroes, [[spoiler:especially after Jaina respawns full-size aboard ''Iron Chancellor''.]]
* DeflectorShields: J117 power armor has such defenses, making Sonya's blades worthless. [[spoiler:They don't stop Brightwing's polymorph though.]] The ''Manta'' transport also has shields. Given that these ships operate in a place where the pressure is eight tons per square inch, [[FridgeLogic having shields makes sense]] if you have [[InsistentTerminology functional supernatural phenomena]] and[=/=]or super-advanced versions of RealLife technology.
* DesignatedGirlFight: Sylvanas vs. Valla. It's never really elaborated on [[NoodleIncident why they were fighting]].
* {{Determinator}}: Jaina hypothesizes that their pursuers will chase them until either the Heroes are captured or those chasing them are dead. The Heroes themselves fit under this trope as well.

* DisneyDeath: If only because the "death" straddles two chapters rather than being immediately undone by a respawn in the same chapter, [[spoiler:Jaina]]. Though, as is noted on the PlayingWith page for this trope, it's mostly exaggerated in the form of DeathIsCheap.
* DisproportionateRetribution: SPEAR finds out someone's invoked TheUnmasquedWorld even though they think TheWorldIsNotReady. In addition to destroying the actual evidence, they also do collateral damage on a large scale, and [[spoiler:may have slagged a whole conference center in the process.]]

* EnemyChatter: Subverted. The robbers are using radios to communicate, but it is encrypted and Nova can't listen in.
* EpicFail: Letting loose all your anti-burglar traps on the wrong target, bad idea. [[MindControl Faustus Serum]] + BrokenBird = nope. Firing massive rifle intended to be used prone while standing = bruised rear after being BlownAcrossTheRoom.
* EvilDetectingDog: Subverted, then played straight. Jake barks at the mailman (TruthInTelevision). The Heroes take notice of this, and realize that if the dog isn't happy, something might be amiss....which turns out to be true when the crooks actually show up.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The Player character. All we know about them is that they play ''Heroes of the Storm,'' probably live in an [[WeAllLiveInAmerica American]] suburb, and have a job whose hours can run long.

* FlippingTheBird: Nova dive-bombs Sylvanas with a drone. [[RuleOfFunny Somehow]], the elf knows this gesture and employs it on both hands in response.

* GenreSavvy: The Heroes are well-aware that they were video game characters, and don't hesitate to lampshade when the real world behaves like the fictional universes they originated in. Raynor in particular seems prone to it.
* GlassShatteringSound: A sonic weapon meant for breaching windows carried by the crooks does this. In addition to breaking windows, it has the side-effect of causing Jake to whimper and Li Li to complain of painful ''something.''

* GoodNewsBadNews: Gazlowe announces that there are only [[RuleOfThree three]] attackers this time. Except they're all the [[PoweredArmor monster power armor of doom]] enemy type.
* [[GunsAkimbo Guns[=/=]Crossbows Akimbo]]: Valla, as per the game, dual-wields crossbows. Later, she is told about (but so far does not actually do it herself) using two massive MR-7 railguns at once. The latter is [[ReconstructedTrope slightly different than the usual portrayal]], since it's implied that doing this requires a special addon (the Synchronized Control Targeter) for the weapons, their power is reduced drastically so they can each be fired with one hand, and the sniper is lying prone to do so.
* GreaterScopeVillain: InUniverse, before it was known who sent the robbers both Heroes and Player believe the incursions to be more than random burglary. They're right. The Player isn't the only one who thinks TheWorldIsNotReady...

* HiddenDepths: Apparently, this version of Sylvanas is a little more thoughtful and less, well, ''evil'' than the current ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' portrayal. Even Raynor is surprised since in ''Heroes of the Storm'' she still had {{Jerkass}}, [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] tendencies ("Hold your tongue, or I'll tear it out"[=/=]"You have my thanks...for now"). One also would not expect Jim Raynor to drop a modified quote from the [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] ("Pride goeth before the fall and all that").
* HistoricalInJoke: Li Li learns that SPEAR (or its predecessors) were involved in concealing magic/[=FSPs=] all the way back to the Middle Ages if not before. Thus, the Salem Witch Trials, the very existence of feudal government as a system, 20th-century whaling and something involving the Catholic Church were all actually related to concealing the supernatural.
* HistoryRepeats: What SPEAR and WET are worried about with TheUnmasquedWorld, though whatever happened with the Romans remains a [[NoodleIncident mystery]]. Jaina argues that this isn't ''required'' to happen, and suggests trying to defy the trope since circumstances may have changed.

* HollywoodAcid: Downplayed example in Kerrigan's snake, which appears to ooze such since she modified it. The robber Harry finds this out rather painfully when it is dropped on his head.
* HollywoodSilencer: Discussed and subverted. Nova repeatedly discusses her rifle lacking such noise-damping, so in order to use it without being noticed they'll have to find some [[ToiletHumor auditory cover]].
* HumansAreFlawed: A core reason SPEAR believes TheWorldIsNotReady. Often, discussion of this leads to a CrypticBackgroundReference about the Roman Empire.
* {{Hypocrite}}: The Heroes accuse the Player of this after being questioned as to why they managed to stuff the inanimate Sonya into the chest that turned them all real in the first place.

* IWarnedYou: The Weaponized Extraction Teams take this attitude in the modern day once TheUnmasquedWorld kicks in. Those with similar viewpoints been concerned about an [[TheWorldIsNotReady unprepared world]] since [[CrypticBackgroundReference the Roman Empire]].

* [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm a Psychologist, Not a Researcher]]: Spoken verbatim by Dr. Kara Grimes, who can't access the embiggering equipment. She's a medical doctor, not an academic one and thus lacks authorization (and presumably training) for such things.
* InsistentTerminology: Blizzard calls their game a "hero brawler" instead of a {{MOBA}}; characters lampshading this is even the page quote on the trope page for MOBA. SPEAR does not call it [[MagicByAnyOtherName magic]], it's "Functional Supernatural Phenomena."

* KickTheDog: SPEAR, arguably. Plasma weapons are supposed to be more accurate than explosives, but when the "ablation" part comes and something has to be destroyed, the ship doing it causes collateral damage on a massive scale anyway. It's also left unclear [[spoiler:at the end of that chapter whether or not they also liquified a conference center filled with ordinary people]].

* MadeOfIron: ZigZagged; the Player slaps Valla across the room but she doesn't [[DeathIsCheap respawn]]. However, when the Player smacks Jaina (who is trying to be helpful by turning off an [[RingRingCRUNCH annoying alarm clock]]), she respawns from the impact. [[spoiler: Later, Li Li is kicked and ends up respawning.]] It seems what it takes to kill a Hero [[AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe depends on what best fits the moment]] (PlayedForLaughs, PlayedForDrama, etc).

* MeaningfulName: SPEAR does this with some of their ships--''Iron Chancellor'' is made from [[spoiler:the sunken German battleship ''Bismarck.'' Otto von Bismarck's nickname was the "Iron Chancellor." Ditto ''Steadfast Samurai'', being built from the old ''Yamato''.]]

* MindWipe: Discussed. Nova's past, [[AllThereInTheManual since erased]], becomes a plot point once again.

* MistakenForAnImposter: The entire Hero line-up [[spoiler:when they show up, full-size, at [=BlizzCon=]]]. Needless to say, they fit right in at first glance. Later discussed by parents at a highway truckstop; these must just be "cosplayers" they think--until Nova cloaks and throws someone across the room.
* MrExposition: Downplayed; Li Li's conversation with scientists does have small amounts of exposition but anyone expecting a full-on briefing of what SPEAR (and its predecessors) does or did would be left wanting more, since the reader is only given a general idea. Li Li herself serves as MissExposition InUniverse to the other Heroes as well (though again the reader is not given any context--only that "Li Li told the other Heroes things").

* NoEndorHolocaust: Maybe. Nova tells the Heroes and gathered [=BlizzCon=] fans to "Clear the room" and "Everyone get out of here!" before the next chapter references an [[DeathFromAbove orbital strike]] (even though the ship launching it was only 60,000 feet up--though the Heroes don't know this). However, either the Heroes are then ''[[FailedASpotCheck blatantly ignoring a flaming building]]'' or perhaps the ship didn't target the convention center after all. Or [[FridgeHorror maybe there's just nothing left to save]].
* NoodleIncident: Finally averted in the case of whaling--it turns out in this universe [[spoiler:Sapient Cetaceans is fully played straight. For reasons unknown (though given human history it's not hard to guess why), they were building complex devices to melt the polar ice caps and deal a crippling blow to civilization.]]
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: There are a lot of "doctors" around [=SPEAR's=] facility, but many of them are non-medical. The narration even points this out upon introducing an MD proper.
* NotNowKiddo: The Player blows off warnings of suspicious activity from the white car. This ends up leading to an unpleasant surprise later.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Subverted. There are many types of non-medical doctors around SPEAR's facilities, but they have distinctive fields of study. Raynor gets this reaction upon asking the two scientists they saved whether either of them knows anything about a ''Manta'' transport's engines--they don't, it's not their field. Wane knows about the materials science, but that's it.
* PardonMyKlingon: Sylvanas drops a line from her games, "Bash'a no falor talah!" ([[http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Thalassian Taste the chill of true death!]]) She speaks Thalassian again later ("Shorel'aran") before venturing off to obtain an evacuation ship, though the [[HeroicSacrifice implications]] are subverted as she returns no worse for the wear.
* PetTheDog: Minor moments with the robbers, who are somewhat concerned that apparently the Player has at least one child they were not told about judging by the huge number of toy towers they find. One even worries their noise will "wake the kid." They also knock out Jake the Golden Retriever instead of killing him.
* PoweredArmor: WET has at least one type--called the [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117]]. It packs shields and allows its operative to carry a {{BFG}}.
* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Inverted--headshots from the MR-7 are messy. Kerrigan lampshades this, though it's handled in a YouDoNotWantToKnow, passing-reference fashion to keep the "T" rating while still conveying the inversion of the trope.

* PunchClockVillain: The narration points this out regarding most of the personnel at the SPEAR[=/=]WET facility. Raynor's response to Sylvanas' attack drives the point home further.
* RealityEnsues: Flying drones are fun...until the batteries drain. Thankfully, Nova and Raynor get the drone down before it drops. Nova's GPS, despite being from the [=2500s=] or so, has the same problem in cities that most small GPS (think smartphone) units have--it loses accuracy. Though Gazlowe's traps are useful, that very fact causes even the Player to trip on them, leading to their dismantlement. Triggering an alarm and immediately cancelling it while blaming a "system error" may work in the Heroes' universes, but SPEAR[=/=]WET will not fall for such shenanigans, as noted by Bokat-Anne. Showing up right next to a [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Navy carrier group]] without answering hails or identifying yourself is a good way to be [[StopOrIWillShoot shot at]].
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Admiral Pious seems to fit the description.
* RefugeInAudacity: Why SPEAR [[spoiler:resurrected ''Bismarck'']] and built a base [[spoiler:on the mountain where its wreck lay]]. Also referenced with whaling, although exactly why [[CrypticBackgroundReference again remains unexplained]] [[spoiler:for a few chapters]].
* ReluctantFanserviceGirl: Sylvanas has found out how she is portrayed at conventions and in fanart, thus realizing that she is somewhat of a sex symbol in this world. She does not like it despite [[HypocriticalHumor having no objection to the clothing she is presently wearing]] being the [[ChainmailBikini source of the fanservice]].

** Where have we seen [[Film/HomeAlone robbers (including one named Harry) get foiled by traps before]]? The Player even lampshades it after having all of those traps applied to them by mistake. InUniverse, it's discussed how separating Harry and Marv was supposed to ''prevent'' any further failures (it doesn't work).

** A doctor tells her patient "[[Film/PacificRim These are just memories. None of this is real...stay in the now]]."

** "[[VideoGame/BioShock1 Would you kindly]] put this irksome Akarat freak out of her misery?" Bonus points for the person the phrase is used on being under mind-controlling effects at the time.

** WET deploys [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117 power armor]]. Its InUniverse nickname is even "The Chief." Given discussion of [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD Coulson]], perhaps WET plays the Halo games as well.
** ''StarWars'' apparently exists in ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftI StarCraft]]'', as Raynor quotes ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' verbatim as a form of stalling. It's also suggested he [[CantBelieveISaidThat realizes how dumb it sounded]].

** Nova telekinetically tosses a suitor named [[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} "Sal" who leads off with "Whoa whoa whoas" then shouts "Whoas! Cripes!" after being thrown]].

* ShownTheirWork: EXIF data is a real thing--most smartphones (and some smart cameras) embed GPS information into their files, making locations easily traceable (assuming the GPS had an accurate lock at the time) if the data is not removed prior to uploading to the internet. Geolocating based on IP addresses is less accurate, but if the IP in question is fixed to a well-known building (like a universty computing cluster) then it becomes a simple matching game. The USS ''Harry S. Truman'' is also in fact one of the RealLife battle groups on the Atlantic side, at least at the time this fanfiction was written. Beale and Nellis are real Air Force bases (in California and Nevada respectively), though the types of units assumed to be present for the sake of the story may fall under ArtisticLicenseMilitary.

* SpiesInAVan: The Heroes and Player take note of a white car that seems to spend an unusual amount of time loitering in the neighborhood where it had previously never been seen. The fact that there are [[GenreSavvy binoculars on the dashboard]] convinces the Player that someone (the Heroes) should watch it.
* [[invoked]]{{Squick}}: InUniverse, reactions to a certain BloodKnight are headed in this direction. Brightwing's JabbaTableManners got this reaction too.

* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Aside from [[InsistentTerminology not calling it that]] SPEAR seems to take this view of "Functional Supernatural Phenomena." Even if something escapes ''current'' understanding, the organization refuses to just accept AWizardDidIt without trying to figure it out first. Should that fail, they ''still'' don't like calling it "magic" (as noted under InsistentTerminology).

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Justified for Sylvanas as an undead elf--she doesn't need to breathe. Said undead elf points out that isn't true for the rest of her companions, however, when they (in her opinion) dawdle on evacuating. Exploited when the Heroes need to retrieve an escape ship from a flooded area. Sylvanas returns, no worse for the wear (thoroughly soaked) having brought the required vessel up. During a subsequent chase, Sylvanas again points this trope out in her case after Raynor notes that "everyone" will end up drowning should they be sunk.
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Its aversion in this universe is lampshaded by Sylvanas--"The world does not stop because you decided to have idle chit-chat" [[spoiler:regarding leakage in the underwater base the Heroes find themselves in]]. She also gives everyone a good DeathGlare for yammering while being chased by [[spoiler:an underwater super-battleship built from the old ''Bismarck'']].

* TemptingFate: The Player runs afoul of this hoping no one would do a robbery in broad daylight. Subverted, as the robbery happens at night. Sylvanas catches flack from other Heroes for doing this by wondering aloud why the robbers have not returned, since they clearly wanted two things but only managed to grab one. She gets an immediate reaction ''again'' for saying that she thinks WET is too busy to notice [[spoiler:the rest of the Heroes who are now full-size thanks to an embiggering device]].

* TheAtoner: Sylvanas is starting to show signs of this. Discussed by Raynor.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Subverted by Bokat-Anne; she lampshades how this trope may apply in the video games the Heroes are drawn from, but it does ''not'' apply to SPEAR. Kara Grimes' attempt to wave off the alarm only made security ''more'' suspicious that something was amiss. Discussed by Johanna--Bastion's Keep gets a TakeThat from her for, in her opinion, falling into this trope, while she guesses WET's security won't be like this considering her recent experience with Bokat-Anne.
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Played with, since it's not clear whether some of the fancy toys SPEAR uses are science-based or magic-based (in fact, this confusion exists InUniverse as well, see SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic). Either way, it's them versus the Heroes, who themselves are set up to be quite "magical" by comparison, [[InsistentTerminology even if SPEAR won't call it that]].
* ThePowerOfHate: How [[spoiler:Valla]] breaks the control of Faustus Serum. Much to the concern of [[KnightErrant Johanna]]. That this character then screams at innocent scientists before threatening to kill people for their food shows how much unhinging breaking Faustus this way has caused.

* TheUnmasquedWorld: The whole point of the Heroes [[spoiler:showing up at [=BlizzCon=], implied to be 2015 due to who's hosting]]. They believe SPEAR is wrong--the world ''would'' be ready if given the chance. They also have an objection to being locked up[=/=]experimented on.
* TheWatson: Also falls under another trope. The Hero taken [[AccidentalKidnapping accidentally]] ends up in this role, allowing the kidnappers to explain much of what their organization does. This seems silly--why expose all the secrets? That is, until the second trope comes into play--[[spoiler:The constantly-curious child-age Li Li seems innocent enough ''and'' is generally willing to help her abductors thus far since their requests are pretty innocent-sounding.]]
* TheWorldIsNotReady: The Player invokes this without saying it as a reason for not involving the police even though burglars just smashed a window. Explaining living video game characters would be too much. SPEAR tells Li Li this almost verbatim as the reason they collect things like her or the chest. It's later revealed via CrypticBackgroundReference that SPEAR believes HumansAreFlawed due to something related to the fall of the Roman Empire.
* ThisIsMySide: Between Kerrigan and Sylvanas. Each stakes out half the player's dwelling to, ahem, ''claim'' any lifeforms that might reside within.
* ThisIsReality: Nova dismisses Raynor's concerns about the location of SPEAR's facility because "this is 2015" rather than the 2500s-era of ''[=StarCraft=].'' [[spoiler:She's wrong--they are in fact deep underwater.]]
* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Johanna's schtick in-game translates to reality. First, she nails a WET operative in the eye while pretending to be a toy. Then, she flings her shield into a lab switch [[spoiler:to make herself full-sized]].

* TranquillizerDart: The robbers know about the dog from their surveillance. Thus, they knock out the canine rather than killing him, in a small PetTheDog moment.
* UnfazedEveryman: Subverted. The normal people of the world take notice and won't stop talking once the Heroes are made public.

* [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Did What We Had to Do]]: SPEAR's attitude toward their maintenance of the {{Masquerade}} when it's not NecessarilyEvil. Generally, the former viewpoint is found in the Weaponized Extraction Teams while the latter prevails among science types.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: It turns out centuries of (at least in their view) trying to [[TheWorldIsNotReady save humanity from themselves]] has turned at least some of SPEAR (and most of WET) into unabashed believers in [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Do What We Must]] to maintain the masquerade. Compare with those who agree TheWorldIsNotReady, but strongly object to both how to conceal the supernatural and what actually merits concealing.
* WhatTheHellHero[=/=]WhatTheHellPlayer: [[RingRingCRUNCH Nobody likes alarm clocks]], and while the Player attempts to turn theirs off, they also end up hitting [[NiceGirl Jaina]] hard enough to respawn her even though all she wanted to do was help by turning off the alarm. Valla, Raynor, and Jaina herself call out the player on this, even though it was [[AccidentalMurder technically an accident]] and DeathIsCheap. Jaina calls out scientists who keep saying what WET does is wrong but haven't taken the opportunity to raise significant objections.

* [[invoked]] TheWoobie: InUniverse, a downplayed version as Sylvanas is seen merely as a brooding, self-centered {{Jerkass}} by the other Heroes until they find out part of the reason she's sulking is [[FreudianExcuse due being tipped over during painting]] that cracked her arm several times. Kerrigan's glee over having a larger set of minions than Sylvanas is thus tempered by this knowledge.

* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Chapter title, and Raynor delivers a withering look to the Player after being asked why they brought Sonya to life. Keep in mind the Player made a big deal out of how difficult Heroes were to make, specifically how they should be painted/finished before assembly. Then Sonya gets slapped together without so much as a single sheet of sandpaper or drop of paint...

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Magnetohydrodynamic engines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive really do exist]]. They're just impractical and not used outside of prototypes ([[Film/TheHuntForRedOctober though they've shown up in fiction before]]), but [[RuleOfCool they sound really awesome]], so... The trend continues with [[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs22grc_prt.htm magnetoplasmadynamic]] engines--it appears SPEAR's device can switch between the two at will, but the second mode of operation uses far more energy than the first.
* [[invoked]]AngstWhatAngst: Discussed by Raynor given [[spoiler:Nova's]] previous condition. The response? A combination of KindaBusyHere and HeroicWillpower.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: PlayedForLaughs by whoever Vizsla reports to. After hearing a team member was allegedly attacked by a toy, expresses disbelief, but as soon as she mentions small, living beings (like the captured Hero in her hand), it's suddenly more believable.
* ArtifactTitle: If the Heroes' plan goes through, [[spoiler:calling them "Heroes of the Desk" will end up being a misnomer since they'll be normal size instead of 14" tall. They succeed, fully playing the trope straight.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Averted. The Heroes fear the arrival of Jake, a dog, will turn into this but nothing bad happens to them (unless getting slobbered on counts).
* BadassBoast: Valla tries to talk tough to her captors. Except it doesn't work very well when you're 14" tall... Sonya gets a more appropriate one [[spoiler:as a full-sized Barbarian going up against power armor.]]
* BatmanGambit: Johanna and Diablo know if they fight back against WET, they'll be killed. Which means they'll [[DeathIsCheap respawn in the chest]], hopefully located somewhere they can exploit to escape.
* BeenThereShapedHistory: SPEAR and its predecessors have been maintaining the {{Masquerade}} for ''millennia''--it goes back to feudalism. Other items include the Salem Witch Trials, something involving the Catholic Church, and early 20th-century whaling. Most remain [[NoodleIncident Noodle Incidents]], [[CrypticBackgroundReference Cryptic Background References]] or both, though whaling eventually receives an explanation.

* BloodKnight: Downplayed, but Valla shows shades of this during the robbery--even supposing to herself that the other Heroes might condemn her for such thoughts. [[spoiler: Brainwashed!Valla plays this straight, threatening to "[[DeadlyEuphemism respawn]]" the other Heroes if they so much as ''[[DisproportionateRetribution move]]'' without her permission. Even after breaking the control through The Power of Hate, she is, if anything, ''more'' bloodthirsty, declaring that everyone in the facility will die and she will burn it the ground as revenge. She also makes a very public declaration that the blood of SPEAR and those who support it "will fill the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers."]]

* BrainBleach: Valla repeatedly remembers [[VideoGame/DiabloIII fighting Ghom in the Larder at Bastion's Keep]]. She wishes she didn't.

* ChekhovsGun: Valla's scarf tears off when she and Nova sneak through air vents in a bathroom. This is later used to track her down. Valla's crossbows also prove useful as impromptu ascension cables, similar to a use last seen in Chapter 2. The [=QuadMaster=] 1000 drone reappears and is useful for [[spoiler:finding the chest by having Heroes jump from lethal heights off its back]].

* ClingyJealousGirl: PlayedForLaughs after Jim Raynor receives psychic messages. Kerrigan is ''not'' happy that someone [[VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm might be angling to steal him from her again]]. Turns out [[RecycledPlot her guess]] [[AvertedTrope is wrong]].
* CoolPlane: Turns out the ''Manta'' undersea transport can also ''fly''... Though, in a nod to [[ArtisticLicensePhysics the possibly improbable physics of such a thing]] (the animal after which this is named is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray vaguely airplane-shaped]]), Raynor hypothesizes that the engines must be keeping them aloft with brute force as what is hydrodynamic isn't necessarily good for achieving powered flight.

* CurbStompBattle: Johanna and Diablo try to take on Bokat-Anne and an embiggered [[spoiler:Valla]]. As predicted, pint-size Heroes versus fully-aware, unsurprised humans working with a full-size Hero ends badly for the small Heroes. However, [[BatmanGambit that's exactly what they wanted to happen]]...
* CuteAndPsycho: Brightwing, when the subject of [[BigEater food]] comes up. She chides Valla for finding her [[JabbaTableManners bloody mouth]] disquieting (this after Brightwing ate a hummingbird...in one bite)

* DeathIsCheap: So far, none of the Heroes seems to stay dead, respawning just like they did in their game whenever they are "killed." [[spoiler:They later exploit this fact to their advantage, and the same rule applies even when big; you don't have to be "Indestructible" Johanna to survive being killed.]] The forces of WET and SPEAR also discuss/lampshade the trope as related to the Heroes, [[spoiler:especially after Jaina respawns full-size aboard ''Iron Chancellor''.]]
* DeflectorShields: J117 power armor has such defenses, making Sonya's blades worthless. [[spoiler:They don't stop Brightwing's polymorph though.]] The ''Manta'' transport also has shields. Given that these ships operate in a place where the pressure is eight tons per square inch, [[FridgeLogic having shields makes sense]] if you have [[InsistentTerminology functional supernatural phenomena]] and[=/=]or super-advanced versions of RealLife technology.
* DesignatedGirlFight: Sylvanas vs. Valla. It's never really elaborated on [[NoodleIncident why they were fighting]].
* {{Determinator}}: Jaina hypothesizes that their pursuers will chase them until either the Heroes are captured or those chasing them are dead. The Heroes themselves fit under this trope as well.

* DisneyDeath: If only because the "death" straddles two chapters rather than being immediately undone by a respawn in the same chapter, [[spoiler:Jaina]]. Though, as is noted on the PlayingWith page for this trope, it's mostly exaggerated in the form of DeathIsCheap.
* DisproportionateRetribution: SPEAR finds out someone's invoked TheUnmasquedWorld even though they think TheWorldIsNotReady. In addition to destroying the actual evidence, they also do collateral damage on a large scale, and [[spoiler:may have slagged a whole conference center in the process.]]

* EnemyChatter: Subverted. The robbers are using radios to communicate, but it is encrypted and Nova can't listen in.
* EpicFail: Letting loose all your anti-burglar traps on the wrong target, bad idea. [[MindControl Faustus Serum]] + BrokenBird = nope. Firing massive rifle intended to be used prone while standing = bruised rear after being BlownAcrossTheRoom.
* EvilDetectingDog: Subverted, then played straight. Jake barks at the mailman (TruthInTelevision). The Heroes take notice of this, and realize that if the dog isn't happy, something might be amiss....which turns out to be true when the crooks actually show up.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The Player character. All we know about them is that they play ''Heroes of the Storm,'' probably live in an [[WeAllLiveInAmerica American]] suburb, and have a job whose hours can run long.

* FlippingTheBird: Nova dive-bombs Sylvanas with a drone. [[RuleOfFunny Somehow]], the elf knows this gesture and employs it on both hands in response.

* GenreSavvy: The Heroes are well-aware that they were video game characters, and don't hesitate to lampshade when the real world behaves like the fictional universes they originated in. Raynor in particular seems prone to it.
* GlassShatteringSound: A sonic weapon meant for breaching windows carried by the crooks does this. In addition to breaking windows, it has the side-effect of causing Jake to whimper and Li Li to complain of painful ''something.''

* GoodNewsBadNews: Gazlowe announces that there are only [[RuleOfThree three]] attackers this time. Except they're all the [[PoweredArmor monster power armor of doom]] enemy type.
* [[GunsAkimbo Guns[=/=]Crossbows Akimbo]]: Valla, as per the game, dual-wields crossbows. Later, she is told about (but so far does not actually do it herself) using two massive MR-7 railguns at once. The latter is [[ReconstructedTrope slightly different than the usual portrayal]], since it's implied that doing this requires a special addon (the Synchronized Control Targeter) for the weapons, their power is reduced drastically so they can each be fired with one hand, and the sniper is lying prone to do so.
* GreaterScopeVillain: InUniverse, before it was known who sent the robbers both Heroes and Player believe the incursions to be more than random burglary. They're right. The Player isn't the only one who thinks TheWorldIsNotReady...

* HiddenDepths: Apparently, this version of Sylvanas is a little more thoughtful and less, well, ''evil'' than the current ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' portrayal. Even Raynor is surprised since in ''Heroes of the Storm'' she still had {{Jerkass}}, [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] tendencies ("Hold your tongue, or I'll tear it out"[=/=]"You have my thanks...for now"). One also would not expect Jim Raynor to drop a modified quote from the [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] ("Pride goeth before the fall and all that").
* HistoricalInJoke: Li Li learns that SPEAR (or its predecessors) were involved in concealing magic/[=FSPs=] all the way back to the Middle Ages if not before. Thus, the Salem Witch Trials, the very existence of feudal government as a system, 20th-century whaling and something involving the Catholic Church were all actually related to concealing the supernatural.
* HistoryRepeats: What SPEAR and WET are worried about with TheUnmasquedWorld, though whatever happened with the Romans remains a [[NoodleIncident mystery]]. Jaina argues that this isn't ''required'' to happen, and suggests trying to defy the trope since circumstances may have changed.

* HollywoodAcid: Downplayed example in Kerrigan's snake, which appears to ooze such since she modified it. The robber Harry finds this out rather painfully when it is dropped on his head.
* HollywoodSilencer: Discussed and subverted. Nova repeatedly discusses her rifle lacking such noise-damping, so in order to use it without being noticed they'll have to find some [[ToiletHumor auditory cover]].
* HumansAreFlawed: A core reason SPEAR believes TheWorldIsNotReady. Often, discussion of this leads to a CrypticBackgroundReference about the Roman Empire.

* IWarnedYou: The Weaponized Extraction Teams take this attitude in the modern day once TheUnmasquedWorld kicks in. Those with similar viewpoints been concerned about an [[TheWorldIsNotReady unprepared world]] since [[CrypticBackgroundReference the Roman Empire]].

* [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm a Psychologist, Not a Researcher]]: Spoken verbatim by Dr. Kara Grimes, who can't access the embiggering equipment. She's a medical doctor, not an academic one and thus lacks authorization (and presumably training) for such things.
* InsistentTerminology: Blizzard calls their game a "hero brawler" instead of a {{MOBA}}; characters lampshading this is even the page quote on the trope page for MOBA. SPEAR does not call it [[MagicByAnyOtherName magic]], it's "Functional Supernatural Phenomena."

* KickTheDog: SPEAR, arguably. Plasma weapons are supposed to be more accurate than explosives, but when the "ablation" part comes and something has to be destroyed, the ship doing it causes collateral damage on a massive scale anyway. It's also left unclear [[spoiler:at the end of that chapter whether or not they also liquified a conference center filled with ordinary people]].

* MadeOfIron: ZigZagged; the Player slaps Valla across the room but she doesn't [[DeathIsCheap respawn]]. However, when the Player smacks Jaina (who is trying to be helpful by turning off an [[RingRingCRUNCH annoying alarm clock]]), she respawns from the impact. [[spoiler: Later, Li Li is kicked and ends up respawning.]] It seems what it takes to kill a Hero [[AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe depends on what best fits the moment]] (PlayedForLaughs, PlayedForDrama, etc).
* MagicAIsMagicA: The chest and Heroes seem to have some well-defined rules:

* MeaningfulName: SPEAR does this with some of their ships--''Iron Chancellor'' is made from [[spoiler:the sunken German battleship ''Bismarck.'' Otto von Bismarck's nickname was the "Iron Chancellor." Ditto ''Steadfast Samurai'', being built from the old ''Yamato''.]]

* MindWipe: Discussed. Nova's past, [[AllThereInTheManual since erased]], becomes a plot point once again.

* MistakenForAnImposter: The entire Hero line-up [[spoiler:when they show up, full-size, at [=BlizzCon=]]]. Needless to say, they fit right in at first glance.
* MrExposition: Downplayed; Li Li's conversation with scientists does have small amounts of exposition but anyone expecting a full-on briefing of what SPEAR (and its predecessors) does or did would be left wanting more, since the reader is only given a general idea. Li Li herself serves as MissExposition InUniverse to the other Heroes as well (though again the reader is not given any context--only that "Li Li told the other Heroes things").

* NoEndorHolocaust: Maybe. Nova tells the Heroes and gathered [=BlizzCon=] fans to "Clear the room" and "Everyone get out of here!" before the next chapter references an [[DeathFromAbove orbital strike]] (even though the ship launching it was only 60,000 feet up--though the Heroes don't know this). However, either the Heroes are then ''[[FailedASpotCheck blatantly ignoring a flaming building]]'' or perhaps the ship didn't target the convention center after all. Or [[FridgeHorror maybe there's just nothing left to save]].
* NoodleIncident: Finally averted in the case of whaling--it turns out in this universe [[spoiler:Sapient Cetaceans is fully played straight. For reasons unknown (though given human history it's not hard to guess why), they were building complex devices to melt the polar ice caps and deal a crippling blow to civilization.]]
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: There are a lot of "doctors" around [=SPEAR's=] facility, but many of them are non-medical. The narration even points this out upon introducing an MD proper.
* NotNowKiddo: The Player blows off warnings of suspicious activity from the white car. This ends up leading to an unpleasant surprise later.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Subverted. There are many types of non-medical doctors around SPEAR's facilities, but they have distinctive fields of study. Raynor gets this reaction upon asking the two scientists they saved whether either of them knows anything about a ''Manta'' transport's engines--they don't, it's not their field. Wane knows about the materials science, but that's it.
* PardonMyKlingon: Sylvanas drops a line from her games, "Bash'a no falor talah!" ([[http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Thalassian Taste the chill of true death!]]) She speaks Thalassian again later ("Shorel'aran") before venturing off to obtain an evacuation ship, though the [[HeroicSacrifice implications]] are subverted as she returns no worse for the wear.
* PetTheDog: Minor moments with the robbers, who are somewhat concerned that apparently the Player has at least one child they were not told about judging by the huge number of toy towers they find. One even worries their noise will "wake the kid." They also knock out Jake the Golden Retriever instead of killing him.
* PoweredArmor: WET has at least one type--called the [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117]]. It packs shields and allows its operative to carry a {{BFG}}.
* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Inverted--headshots from the MR-7 are messy. Kerrigan lampshades this, though it's handled in a YouDoNotWantToKnow, passing-reference fashion to keep the "T" rating while still conveying the inversion of the trope.

* PunchClockVillain: The narration points this out regarding most of the personnel at the SPEAR[=/=]WET facility. Raynor's response to Sylvanas' attack drives the point home further.
* RealityEnsues: Flying drones are fun...until the batteries drain. Thankfully, Nova and Raynor get the drone down before it drops. Nova's GPS, despite being from the [=2500s=] or so, has the same problem in cities that most small GPS (think smartphone) units have--it loses accuracy. Though Gazlowe's traps are useful, that very fact causes even the Player to trip on them, leading to their dismantlement. Triggering an alarm and immediately cancelling it while blaming a "system error" may work in the Heroes' universes, but SPEAR[=/=]WET will not fall for such shenanigans, as noted by Bokat-Anne. Showing up right next to a [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Navy carrier group]] without answering hails or identifying yourself is a good way to be [[StopOrIWillShoot shot at]].

* RefugeInAudacity: Why SPEAR [[spoiler:resurrected ''Bismarck'']] and built a base [[spoiler:on the mountain where its wreck lay]]. Also referenced with whaling, although exactly why [[CrypticBackgroundReference again remains unexplained]].
* ReluctantFanserviceGirl: Sylvanas has found out how she is portrayed at conventions and in fanart, thus realizing that she is somewhat of a sex symbol in this world. She does not like it despite [[HypocriticalHumor having no objection to the clothing she is presently wearing]] being the [[ChainmailBikini source of the fanservice]].

** Where have we seen [[Film/HomeAlone robbers (including one named Harry) get foiled by traps before]]? The Player even lampshades it after having all of those traps applied to them by mistake. InUniverse, it's discussed how separating Harry and Marv was supposed to ''prevent'' any further failures (it doesn't work).

** A doctor tells her patient "[[Film/PacificRim These are just memories. None of this is real...stay in the now]]."

** "[[VideoGame/BioShock1 Would you kindly]] put this irksome Akarat freak out of her misery?" Bonus points for the person the phrase is used on being under mind-controlling effects at the time.

** WET deploys [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117 power armor]]. Its InUniverse nickname is even "The Chief." Given discussion of [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD Coulson]], perhaps WET plays the Halo games as well.
** ''StarWars'' apparently exists in ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftI StarCraft]]'', as Raynor quotes ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' verbatim as a form of stalling. It's also suggested he [[CantBelieveISaidThat realizes how dumb it sounded]].

* ShownTheirWork: EXIF data is a real thing--most smartphones (and some smart cameras) embed GPS information into their files, making locations easily traceable (assuming the GPS had an accurate lock at the time) if the data is not removed prior to uploading to the internet. Geolocating based on IP addresses is less accurate, but if the IP in question is fixed to a well-known building (like a universty computing cluster) then it becomes a simple matching game. The USS ''Harry S. Truman'' is also in fact one of the RealLife battle groups on the Atlantic side, at least at the time this fanfiction was written. Beale and Nellis are real Air Force bases (in California and Nevada respectively), though the types of units assumed to be present for the sake of the story may fall under ArtisticLicenseMilitary.

* SpiesInAVan: The Heroes and Player take note of a white car that seems to spend an unusual amount of time loitering in the neighborhood where it had previously never been seen. The fact that there are [[GenreSavvy binoculars on the dashboard]] convinces the Player that someone (the Heroes) should watch it.
* [[invoked]]{{Squick}}: InUniverse, reactions to a certain BloodKnight are headed in this direction. Brightwing's JabbaTableManners got this reaction too.

* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Aside from [[InsistentTerminology not calling it that]] SPEAR seems to take this view of "Functional Supernatural Phenomena." Even if something escapes ''current'' understanding, the organization refuses to just accept AWizardDidIt without trying to figure it out first. Should that fail, they ''still'' don't like calling it "magic" (as noted under InsistentTerminology).

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Justified for Sylvanas as an undead elf--she doesn't need to breathe. Said undead elf points out that isn't true for the rest of her companions, however, when they (in her opinion) dawdle on evacuating. Exploited when the Heroes need to retrieve an escape ship from a flooded area. Sylvanas returns, no worse for the wear (thoroughly soaked) having brought the required vessel up. During a subsequent chase, Sylvanas again points this trope out in her case after Raynor notes that "everyone" will end up drowning should they be sunk.
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Its aversion in this universe is lampshaded by Sylvanas--"The world does not stop because you decided to have idle chit-chat" [[spoiler:regarding leakage in the underwater base the Heroes find themselves in]]. She also gives everyone a good DeathGlare for yammering while being chased by [[spoiler:an underwater super-battleship built from the old ''Bismarck'']].

* TemptingFate: The Player runs afoul of this hoping no one would do a robbery in broad daylight. Subverted, as the robbery happens at night. Sylvanas catches flack from other Heroes for doing this by wondering aloud why the robbers have not returned, since they clearly wanted two things but only managed to grab one. She gets an immediate reaction ''again'' for saying that she thinks WET is too busy to notice [[spoiler:the rest of the Heroes who are now full-size thanks to an embiggering device]].

* TheAtoner: Sylvanas is starting to show signs of this. Discussed by Raynor.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Subverted by Bokat-Anne; she lampshades how this trope may apply in the video games the Heroes are drawn from, but it does ''not'' apply to SPEAR. Kara Grimes' attempt to wave off the alarm only made security ''more'' suspicious that something was amiss. Discussed by Johanna--Bastion's Keep gets a TakeThat from her for, in her opinion, falling into this trope, while she guesses WET's security won't be like this considering her recent experience with Bokat-Anne.
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Played with, since it's not clear whether some of the fancy toys SPEAR uses are science-based or magic-based (in fact, this confusion exists InUniverse as well, see SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic). Either way, it's them versus the Heroes, who themselves are set up to be quite "magical" by comparison, [[InsistentTerminology even if SPEAR won't call it that]].
* ThePowerOfHate: How [[spoiler:Valla]] breaks the control of Faustus Serum. Much to the concern of [[KnightErrant Johanna]]. That this character then screams at innocent scientists shows how much unhinging breaking Faustus this way has caused.

* TheUnmasquedWorld: The whole point of the Heroes [[spoiler:showing up at [=BlizzCon=], implied to be 2015 due to who's hosting]]. They believe SPEAR is wrong--the world ''would'' be ready if given the chance. They also have an objection to being locked up[=/=]experimented on.
* TheWatson: Also falls under another trope. The Hero taken [[AccidentalKidnapping accidentally]] ends up in this role, allowing the kidnappers to explain much of what their organization does. This seems silly--why expose all the secrets? That is, until the second trope comes into play--[[spoiler:The constantly-curious child-age Li Li seems innocent enough ''and'' is generally willing to help her abductors thus far since their requests are pretty innocent-sounding.]]
* TheWorldIsNotReady: The Player invokes this without saying it as a reason for not involving the police even though burglars just smashed a window. Explaining living video game characters would be too much. SPEAR tells Li Li this almost verbatim as the reason they collect things like her or the chest. It's later revealed via CrypticBackgroundReference that SPEAR believes HumansAreFlawed due to something related to the fall of the Roman Empire.
* ThisIsMySide: Between Kerrigan and Sylvanas. Each stakes out half the player's dwelling to, ahem, ''claim'' any lifeforms that might reside within.
* ThisIsReality: Nova dismisses Raynor's concerns about the location of SPEAR's facility because "this is 2015" rather than the 2500s-era of ''[=StarCraft=].'' [[spoiler:She's wrong--they are in fact deep underwater.]]
* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Johanna's schtick in-game translates to reality. First, she nails a WET operative in the eye while pretending to be a toy. Then, she flings her shield into a lab switch [[spoiler:to make herself full-sized]].

* TranquillizerDart: The robbers know about the dog from their surveillance. Thus, they knock out the canine rather than killing him, in a small PetTheDog moment.
* [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Did What We Had to Do]]: SPEAR's attitude toward their maintenance of the {{Masquerade}} when it's not NecessarilyEvil. Generally, the former viewpoint is found in the Weaponized Extraction Teams while the latter prevails among science types.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: It turns out centuries of (at least in their view) trying to [[TheWorldIsNotReady save humanity from themselves]] has turned at least some of SPEAR (and most of WET) into unabashed believers in [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Do What We Must]] to maintain the masquerade. Compare with those who agree TheWorldIsNotReady, but strongly object to both how to conceal the supernatural and what actually merits concealing.
* WhatTheHellHero[=/=]WhatTheHellPlayer: [[RingRingCRUNCH Nobody likes alarm clocks]], and while the Player attempts to turn theirs off, they also end up hitting [[NiceGirl Jaina]] hard enough to respawn her even though all she wanted to do was help by turning off the alarm. Valla, Raynor, and Jaina herself call out the player on this, even though it was [[AccidentalMurder technically an accident]] and DeathIsCheap. Jaina calls out scientists who keep saying what WET does is wrong but haven't taken the opportunity to raise significant objections.

* [[invoked]] TheWoobie: InUniverse, a downplayed version as Sylvanas is seen merely as a brooding, self-centered {{Jerkass}} by the other Heroes until they find out part of the reason she's sulking is [[FreudianExcuse due being tipped over during painting]] that cracked her arm several times. Kerrigan's glee over having a larger set of minions than Sylvanas is thus tempered by this knowledge.

* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Chapter title, and Raynor delivers a withering look to the Player after being asked why they brought Sonya to life. Keep in mind the Player made a big deal out of how difficult Heroes were to make, specifically how they should be painted/finished before assembly. Then Sonya gets slapped together without so much as a single sheet of sandpaper or drop of paint...

* AllJustADream: InUniverse, that's what the Player is hoping these walking, talking Heroes figures are, but...
* AluminumChristmasTrees: Magnetohydrodynamic engines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive really do exist]]. They're just impractical and not used outside of prototypes ([[Film/TheHuntForRedOctober though they've shown up in fiction before]]), but [[RuleOfCool they sound really awesome]], so... The trend continues with [[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs22grc_prt.htm magnetoplasmadynamic]] engines--it appears SPEAR's device can switch between the two at will, but the second mode of operation uses far more energy than the first.
* [[invoked]]AngstWhatAngst: Discussed by Raynor given [[spoiler:Nova's]] previous condition. The response? A combination of KindaBusyHere and HeroicWillpower.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: PlayedForLaughs by whoever Vizsla reports to. After hearing a team member was allegedly attacked by a toy, expresses disbelief, but as soon as she mentions small, living beings (like the captured Hero in her hand), it's suddenly more believable.
* ArtifactTitle: If the Heroes' plan goes through, [[spoiler:calling them "Heroes of the Desk" will end up being a misnomer since they'll be normal size instead of 14" tall. They succeed, fully playing the trope straight.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Averted. The Heroes fear the arrival of Jake, a dog, will turn into this but nothing bad happens to them (unless getting slobbered on counts).
* BadassBoast: Valla tries to talk tough to her captors. Except it doesn't work very well when you're 14" tall... Sonya gets a more appropriate one [[spoiler:as a full-sized Barbarian going up against power armor.]]
* BatmanGambit: Johanna and Diablo know if they fight back against WET, they'll be killed. Which means they'll [[DeathIsCheap respawn in the chest]], hopefully located somewhere they can exploit to escape.

* BloodKnight: Downplayed, but Valla shows shades of this during the robbery--even supposing to herself that the other Heroes might condemn her for such thoughts. [[spoiler: Brainwashed!Valla plays this straight, threatening to "[[DeadlyEuphemism respawn]]" the other Heroes if they so much as ''[[DisproportionateRetribution move]]'' without her permission. Even after breaking the control through The Power of Hate, she is, if anything, ''more'' bloodthirsty, declaring that everyone in the facility will die and she will burn it the ground as revenge. She also makes a very public declaration that the blood of SPEAR and those who support it "will fill the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers."]]

* BrainBleach: Valla repeatedly remembers [[VideoGame/DiabloIII fighting Ghom in the Larder at Bastion's Keep]]. She wishes she didn't.

* ChekhovsGun: Valla's scarf tears off when she and Nova sneak through air vents in a bathroom. This is later used to track her down. Valla's crossbows also prove useful as impromptu ascension cables, similar to a use last seen in Chapter 2. The [=QuadMaster=] 1000 drone reappears and is useful for [[spoiler:finding the chest by having Heroes jump from lethal heights off its back]].

* ClingyJealousGirl: PlayedForLaughs after Jim Raynor receives psychic messages. Kerrigan is ''not'' happy that someone [[VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm might be angling to steal him from her again]]. Turns out [[RecycledPlot her guess]] [[AvertedTrope is wrong]].
* CoolPlane: Turns out the ''Manta'' undersea transport can also ''fly''... Though, in a nod to [[ArtisticLicensePhysics the possibly improbable physics of such a thing]] (the animal after which this is named is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray vaguely airplane-shaped]]), Raynor hypothesizes that the engines must be keeping them aloft with brute force as what is hydrodynamic isn't necessarily good for achieving powered flight.

* CurbStompBattle: Johanna and Diablo try to take on Bokat-Anne and an embiggered [[spoiler:Valla]]. As predicted, pint-size Heroes versus fully-aware, unsurprised humans working with a full-size Hero ends badly for the small Heroes. However, [[BatmanGambit that's exactly what they wanted to happen]]...
* CuteAndPsycho: Brightwing, when the subject of [[BigEater food]] comes up. She chides Valla for finding her [[JabbaTableManners bloody mouth]] disquieting (this after Brightwing ate a hummingbird...in one bite)

* DeathIsCheap: So far, none of the Heroes seems to stay dead, respawning just like they did in their game whenever they are "killed." [[spoiler:They later exploit this fact to their advantage.]]
* DeflectorShields: J117 power armor has such defenses, making Sonya's blades worthless. [[spoiler:They don't stop Brightwing's polymorph though.]] The ''Manta'' transport also has shields. Given that these ships operate in a place where the pressure is eight tons per square inch, [[FridgeLogic having shields makes sense]] if you have [[InsistentTerminology functional supernatural phenomena]] and[=/=]or super-advanced versions of RealLife technology.
* DesignatedGirlFight: Sylvanas vs. Valla. It's never really elaborated on [[NoodleIncident why they were fighting]].
* {{Determinator}}: Jaina hypothesizes that their pursuers will chase them until either the Heroes are captured or those chasing them are dead. The Heroes themselves fit under this trope as well.

* DisproportionateRetribution: SPEAR finds out someone's invoked TheUnmasquedWorld even though they think TheWorldIsNotReady. In addition to destroying the actual evidence, they also do collateral damage on a large scale, and [[spoiler:may have slagged a whole conference center in the process.]]

* EnemyChatter: Subverted. The robbers are using radios to communicate, but it is encrypted and Nova can't listen in.
* EpicFail: Letting loose all your anti-burglar traps on the wrong target, bad idea. [[MindControl Faustus Serum]] + BrokenBird = nope. Firing massive rifle intended to be used prone while standing = bruised rear after being BlownAcrossTheRoom.
* EvilDetectingDog: Subverted, then played straight. Jake barks at the mailman (TruthInTelevision). The Heroes take notice of this, and realize that if the dog isn't happy, something might be amiss....which turns out to be true when the crooks actually show up.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The Player character. All we know about them is that they play ''Heroes of the Storm,'' probably live in an [[WeAllLiveInAmerica American]] suburb, and have a job whose hours can run long.

* FlippingTheBird: Nova dive-bombs Sylvanas with a drone. [[RuleOfFunny Somehow]], the elf knows this gesture and employs it on both hands in response.

* FunWithAcronyms: W.E.T. Bandits (Weaponized Extraction Team), SPEAR (Strategic Prevention, Extraction, and Ablation Regiment)

* GenreSavvy: The Heroes are well-aware that they were video game characters, and don't hesitate to lampshade when the real world behaves like the fictional universes they originated in. Raynor in particular seems prone to it.
* GlassShatteringSound: A sonic weapon meant for breaching windows carried by the crooks does this. In addition to breaking windows, it has the side-effect of causing Jake to whimper and Li Li to complain of painful ''something.''

* GoodNewsBadNews: Gazlowe announces that there are only [[RuleOfThree three]] attackers this time. Except they're all the [[PoweredArmor monster power armor of doom]] enemy type.
* [[GunsAkimbo Guns[=/=]Crossbows Akimbo]]: Valla, as per the game, dual-wields crossbows. Later, she is told about (but so far does not actually do it herself) using two massive MR-7 railguns at once. The latter is [[ReconstructedTrope slightly different than the usual portrayal]], since it's implied that doing this requires a special addon (the Synchronized Control Targeter) for the weapons, their power is reduced drastically so they can each be fired with one hand, and the sniper is lying prone to do so.
* GreaterScopeVillain: InUniverse, before it was known who sent the robbers both Heroes and Player believe the incursions to be more than random burglary. They're right. The Player isn't the only one who thinks TheWorldIsNotReady...

* HiddenDepths: Apparently, this version of Sylvanas is a little more thoughtful and less, well, ''evil'' than the current ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' portrayal. Even Raynor is surprised since in ''Heroes of the Storm'' she still had {{Jerkass}}, [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] tendencies ("Hold your tongue, or I'll tear it out"[=/=]"You have my thanks...for now"). One also would not expect Jim Raynor to drop a modified quote from the [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] ("Pride goeth before the fall and all that").
* HistoricalInJoke: Li Li learns that SPEAR (or its predecessors) were involved in concealing magic/[=FSPs=] all the way back to the Middle Ages if not before. Thus, the Salem Witch Trials, the very existence of feudal government as a system, 20th-century whaling and something involving the Catholic Church were all actually related to concealing the supernatural.

* HollywoodAcid: Downplayed example in Kerrigan's snake, which appears to ooze such since she modified it. The robber Harry finds this out rather painfully when it is dropped on his head.
* HollywoodSilencer: Discussed and subverted. Nova repeatedly discusses her rifle lacking such noise-damping, so in order to use it without being noticed they'll have to find some [[ToiletHumor auditory cover]].
* HumansAreFlawed: A core reason SPEAR believes TheWorldIsNotReady. Often, discussion of this leads to a CrypticBackgroundReference about the Roman Empire.

* IWarnedYou: The Weaponized Extraction Teams take this attitude in the modern day once TheUnmasquedWorld kicks in since they've been concerned about an [[TheWorldIsNotReady unprepared world]] since [[CrypticBackgroundReference the Roman Empire]].

* [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm a Psychologist, Not a Researcher]]: Spoken verbatim by Dr. Kara Grimes, who can't access the embiggering equipment. She's a medical doctor, not an academic one and thus lacks authorization (and presumably training) for such things.
* InsistentTerminology: Blizzard calls their game a "hero brawler" instead of a {{MOBA}}; characters lampshading this is even the page quote on the trope page for MOBA. SPEAR does not call it [[MagicByAnyOtherName magic]], it's "Functional Supernatural Phenomena."

* KickTheDog: SPEAR, arguably. Plasma weapons are supposed to be more accurate than explosives, but when the "ablation" part comes and something has to be destroyed, the ship doing it causes collateral damage on a massive scale anyway. It's also left unclear [[spoiler:at the end of that chapter whether or not they also liquified a conference center filled with ordinary people]].

* MadeOfIron: ZigZagged; the Player slaps Valla across the room but she doesn't [[DeathIsCheap respawn]]. However, when the Player smacks Jaina (who is trying to be helpful by turning off an [[RingRingCRUNCH annoying alarm clock]]), she respawns from the impact. [[spoiler: Later, Li Li is kicked and ends up respawning.]] It seems what it takes to kill a Hero [[AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe depends on what best fits the moment]] (PlayedForLaughs, PlayedForDrama, etc).

## The chest's interior is BiggerOnTheInside and can serve as a ''Heroes of the Storm''-style battleground, though it doesn't seem to be permenantly configured like this.

* MeaningfulName: SPEAR does this with some of their ships--''Iron Chancellor'' is made from [[spoiler:the sunken German battleship ''Bismarck.'' Otto von Bismarck's nickname was the "Iron Chancellor."]]

* MindWipe: Discussed. Nova's past, [[AllThereInTheManual since erased]], becomes a plot point once again.

* MistakenForAnImposter: The entire Hero line-up [[spoiler:when they show up, full-size, at [=BlizzCon=]]]. Needless to say, they fit right in at first glance.
* MrExposition: Downplayed; Li Li's conversation with scientists does have small amounts of exposition but anyone expecting a full-on briefing of what SPEAR (and its predecessors) does or did would be left wanting more, since the reader is only given a general idea. Li Li herself serves as MissExposition InUniverse to the other Heroes as well (though again the reader is not given any context--only that "Li Li told the other Heroes things").
* NoEndorHolocaust: Maybe. Nova tells the Heroes and gathered [=BlizzCon=] fans to "Clear the room" and "Everyone get out of here!" before the next chapter references an [[DeathFromAbove orbital strike]] (even though the ship launching it was only 60,000 feet up--though the Heroes don't know this). However, either the Heroes are then ''[[FailedASpotCheck blatantly ignoring a flaming building]]'' or perhaps the ship didn't target the convention center after all. Or [[FridgeHorror maybe there's just nothing left to save]].
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: There are a lot of "doctors" around [=SPEAR's=] facility, but many of them are non-medical. The narration even points this out upon introducing an MD proper.
* NotNowKiddo: The Player blows off warnings of suspicious activity from the white car. This ends up leading to an unpleasant surprise later.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Subverted. There are many types of non-medical doctors around SPEAR's facilities, but they have distinctive fields of study. Raynor gets this reaction upon asking the two scientists they saved whether either of them knows anything about a ''Manta'' transport's engines--they don't, it's not their field. Wane knows about the materials science, but that's it.
* PardonMyKlingon: Sylvanas drops a line from her games, "Bash'a no falor talah!" ([[http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Thalassian Taste the chill of true death!]])
* PetTheDog: Minor moments with the robbers, who are somewhat concerned that apparently the Player has at least one child they were not told about judging by the huge number of toy towers they find. One even worries their noise will "wake the kid." They also knock out Jake the Golden Retriever instead of killing him.
* PoweredArmor: WET has at least one type--called the [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117]]. It packs shields and allows its operative to carry a {{BFG}}.
* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Inverted--headshots from the MR-7 are messy. Kerrigan lampshades this, though it's handled in a YouDoNotWantToKnow, passing-reference fashion to keep the "T" rating while still conveying the inversion of the trope.

* PunchClockVillain: The narration points this out regarding most of the personnel at the SPEAR[=/=]WET facility. Raynor's response to Sylvanas' attack drives the point home further.
* RealityEnsues: Flying drones are fun...until the batteries drain. Thankfully, Nova and Raynor get the drone down before it drops. Nova's GPS, despite being from the [=2500s=] or so, has the same problem in cities that most small GPS (think smartphone) units have--it loses accuracy. Though Gazlowe's traps are useful, that very fact causes even the Player to trip on them, leading to their dismantlement. Triggering an alarm and immediately cancelling it while blaming a "system error" may work in the Heroes' universes, but SPEAR[=/=]WET will not fall for such shenanigans, as noted by Bokat-Anne. Showing up right next to a [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Navy carrier group]] without answering hails or identifying yourself is a good way to be [[StopOrIWillShoot shot at]].

* RefugeInAudacity: Why SPEAR [[spoiler:resurrected ''Bismarck'']] and built a base [[spoiler:on the mountain where its wreck lay]]. Also referenced with whaling, although exactly why [[CrypticBackgroundReference again remains unexplained]].
* ReluctantFanserviceGirl: Sylvanas has found out how she is portrayed at conventions and in fanart, thus realizing that she is somewhat of a sex symbol in this world. She does not like it despite [[HypocriticalHumor having no objection to the clothing she is presently wearing]] being the [[ChainmailBikini source of the fanservice]].

** Where have we seen [[Film/HomeAlone robbers (including one named Harry) get foiled by traps before]]? The Player even lampshades it after having all of those traps applied to them by mistake. InUniverse, it's discussed how separating Harry and Marv was supposed to ''prevent'' any further failures (it doesn't work).

** A doctor tells her patient "[[Film/PacificRim These are just memories. None of this is real...stay in the now]]."

** "[[VideoGame/BioShock1 Would you kindly]] put this irksome Akarat freak out of her misery?" Bonus points for the person the phrase is used on being under mind-controlling effects at the time.

** WET deploys [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117 power armor]]. Its InUniverse nickname is even "The Chief." Given discussion of [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD Coulson]], perhaps WET plays the Halo games as well.
** ''StarWars'' apparently exists in ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftI StarCraft]]'', as Raynor quotes ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' verbatim as a form of stalling. It's also suggested he [[CantBelieveISaidThat realizes how dumb it sounded]].
* ShownTheirWork: EXIF data is a real thing--most smartphones (and some smart cameras) embed GPS information into their files, making locations easily traceable (assuming the GPS had an accurate lock at the time) if the data is not removed prior to uploading to the internet. Geolocating based on IP addresses is less accurate, but if the IP in question is fixed to a well-known building (like a universty computing cluster) then it becomes a simple matching game. The USS ''Harry S. Truman'' is also in fact one of the RealLife battle groups on the Atlantic side, at least at the time this fanfiction was written. Beale and Nellis are real Air Force bases (in California and Nevada respectively), though the types of units assumed to be present for the sake of the story may fall under ArtisticLicenseMilitary.

* SpiesInAVan: The Heroes and Player take note of a white car that seems to spend an unusual amount of time loitering in the neighborhood where it had previously never been seen. The fact that there are [[GenreSavvy binoculars on the dashboard]] convinces the Player that someone (the Heroes) should watch it.
* [[invoked]]{{Squick}}: InUniverse, reactions to a certain BloodKnight are headed in this direction. Brightwing's JabbaTableManners got this reaction too.

* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Aside from [[InsistentTerminology not calling it that]] SPEAR seems to take this view of "Functional Supernatural Phenomena." Even if something escapes ''current'' understanding, the organization refuses to just accept AWizardDidIt without trying to figure it out first. Should that fail, they ''still'' don't like calling it "magic" (as noted under InsistentTerminology).

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Justified for Sylvanas as an undead elf--she doesn't need to breathe. Said undead elf points out that isn't true for the rest of her companions, however, when they (in her opinion) dawdle on evacuating. Exploited when the Heroes need to retrieve an escape ship from a flooded area. Sylvanas returns, no worse for the wear (thoroughly soaked) having brought the required vessel up. During a subsequent chase, Sylvanas again points this trope out in her case after Raynor notes that "everyone" will end up drowning should they be sunk.
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Its aversion in this universe is lampshaded by Sylvanas--"The world does not stop because you decided to have idle chit-chat" [[spoiler:regarding leakage in the underwater base the Heroes find themselves in]]. She also gives everyone a good DeathGlare for yammering while being chased by [[spoiler:an underwater super-battleship built from the old ''Bismarck'']].

* TemptingFate: The Player runs afoul of this hoping no one would do a robbery in broad daylight. Subverted, as the robbery happens at night. Sylvanas catches flack from other Heroes for doing this by wondering aloud why the robbers have not returned, since they clearly wanted two things but only managed to grab one. She gets an immediate reaction ''again'' for saying that she thinks WET is too busy to notice [[spoiler:the rest of the Heroes who are now full-size thanks to an embiggering device]].

* TheAtoner: Sylvanas is starting to show signs of this. Discussed by Raynor.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Subverted by Bokat-Anne; she lampshades how this trope may apply in the video games the Heroes are drawn from, but it does ''not'' apply to SPEAR. Kara Grimes' attempt to wave off the alarm only made security ''more'' suspicious that something was amiss. Discussed by Johanna--Bastion's Keep gets a TakeThat from her for, in her opinion, falling into this trope, while she guesses WET's security won't be like this considering her recent experience with Bokat-Anne.
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Played with, since it's not clear whether some of the fancy toys SPEAR uses are science-based or magic-based (in fact, this confusion exists InUniverse as well, see SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic). Either way, it's them versus the Heroes, who themselves are set up to be quite "magical" by comparison, [[InsistentTerminology even if SPEAR won't call it that]].
* ThePowerOfHate: How [[spoiler:Valla]] breaks the control of Faustus Serum. Much to the concern of [[KnightErrant Johanna]]. That this character then screams at innocent scientists shows how much unhinging breaking Faustus this way has caused.

* TheUnmasquedWorld: The whole point of the Heroes [[spoiler:showing up at [=BlizzCon=], implied to be 2015 due to who's hosting]]. They believe SPEAR is wrong--the world ''would'' be ready if given the chance. They also have an objection to being locked up[=/=]experimented on.
* TheWatson: Also falls under another trope. The Hero taken [[AccidentalKidnapping accidentally]] ends up in this role, allowing the kidnappers to explain much of what their organization does. This seems silly--why expose all the secrets? That is, until the second trope comes into play--[[spoiler:The constantly-curious child-age Li Li seems innocent enough ''and'' is generally willing to help her abductors thus far since their requests are pretty innocent-sounding.]]
* TheWorldIsNotReady: The Player invokes this without saying it as a reason for not involving the police even though burglars just smashed a window. Explaining living video game characters would be too much. SPEAR tells Li Li this almost verbatim as the reason they collect things like her or the chest. It's later revealed via CrypticBackgroundReference that SPEAR believes HumansAreFlawed due to something related to the fall of the Roman Empire.
* ThisIsMySide: Between Kerrigan and Sylvanas. Each stakes out half the player's dwelling to, ahem, ''claim'' any lifeforms that might reside within.
* ThisIsReality: Nova dismisses Raynor's concerns about the location of SPEAR's facility because "this is 2015" rather than the 2500s-era of ''[=StarCraft=].'' [[spoiler:She's wrong--they are in fact deep underwater.]]
* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Johanna's schtick in-game translates to reality. First, she nails a WET operative in the eye while pretending to be a toy. Then, she flings her shield into a lab switch [[spoiler:to make herself full-sized]].

* TranquillizerDart: The robbers know about the dog from their surveillance. Thus, they knock out the canine rather than killing him, in a small PetTheDog moment.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: It turns out centuries of (at least in their view) trying to [[TheWorldIsNotReady save humanity from themselves]] has turned at least some of SPEAR (and most of WET) into unabashed believers in [[IDidWhatIHadToDo We Do What We Must]] to maintain the masquerade.
* WhatTheHellHero[=/=]WhatTheHellPlayer: [[RingRingCRUNCH Nobody likes alarm clocks]], and while the Player attempts to turn theirs off, they also end up hitting [[NiceGirl Jaina]] hard enough to respawn her even though all she wanted to do was help by turning off the alarm. Valla, Raynor, and Jaina herself call out the player on this, even though it was [[AccidentalMurder technically an accident]] and DeathIsCheap.

* [[invoked]] TheWoobie: InUniverse, a downplayed version as Sylvanas is seen merely as a brooding, self-centered {{Jerkass}} by the other Heroes until they find out part of the reason she's sulking is [[FreudianExcuse due being tipped over during painting]] that cracked her arm several times. Kerrigan's glee over having a larger set of minions than Sylvanas is thus tempered by this knowledge.

* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Chapter title, and Raynor delivers a withering look to the Player after being asked why they brought Sonya to life. Keep in mind the Player made a big deal out of how difficult Heroes were to make, specifically how they should be painted/finished before assembly. Then Sonya gets slapped together without so much as a single sheet of sandpaper or drop of paint...

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Magnetohydrodynamic engines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive really do exist]]. They're just impractical and not used outside of prototypes ([[Film/TheHuntForRedOctober though they've shown up in fiction before]]), but [[RuleOfCool they sound really awesome]], so... The trend continues with [[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs22grc_prt.htm magnetoplasmadynamic]] engines--it appears SPEAR's device can switch between the two at will, but the second mode of operation uses far more energy than the first.
* [[invoked]]AngstWhatAngst: Discussed by Raynor given [[spoiler:Nova's]] previous condition. The response? A combination of KindaBusyHere and HeroicWillpower.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: PlayedForLaughs by whoever Vizsla reports to. After hearing a team member was allegedly attacked by a toy, expresses disbelief, but as soon as she mentions small, living beings (like the captured Hero in her hand), it's suddenly more believable.
* ArtifactTitle: If the Heroes' plan goes through, [[spoiler:calling them "Heroes of the Desk" will end up being a misnomer since they'll be normal size instead of 14" tall. They succeed, fully playing the trope straight.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Averted. The Heroes fear the arrival of Jake, a dog, will turn into this but nothing bad happens to them (unless getting slobbered on counts).
* BadassBoast: Valla tries to talk tough to her captors. Except it doesn't work very well when you're 14" tall... Sonya gets a more appropriate one [[spoiler:as a full-sized Barbarian going up against power armor.]]
* BatmanGambit: Johanna and Diablo know if they fight back against WET, they'll be killed. Which means they'll [[DeathIsCheap respawn in the chest]], hopefully located somewhere they can exploit to escape.
* BloodKnight: Downplayed, but Valla shows shades of this during the robbery--even supposing to herself that the other Heroes might condemn her for such thoughts. [[spoiler: Brainwashed!Valla plays this straight, threatening to "[[DeadlyEuphemism respawn]]" the other Heroes if they so much as ''[[DisproportionateRetribution move]]'' without her permission. Even after breaking the control through The Power of Hate, she is, if anything, ''more'' bloodthirsty, declaring that everyone in the facility will die and she will burn it the ground as revenge. She also makes a very public declaration that the blood of SPEAR and those who support it "will fill the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers."]]

* BrainBleach: Valla repeatedly remembers [[VideoGame/DiabloIII fighting Ghom in the Larder at Bastion's Keep]]. She wishes she didn't.

* ChekhovsGun: Valla's scarf tears off when she and Nova sneak through air vents in a bathroom. This is later used to track her down. Valla's crossbows also prove useful as impromptu ascension cables, similar to a use last seen in Chapter 2. The [=QuadMaster=] 1000 drone reappears and is useful for [[spoiler:finding the chest by having Heroes jump from lethal heights off its back]].
* ClingyJealousGirl: PlayedForLaughs after Jim Raynor receives psychic messages. Kerrigan is ''not'' happy that someone [[VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm might be angling to steal him from her again]]. Turns out [[RecycledPlot her guess]] [[AvertedTrope is wrong]].
* CoolPlane: Turns out the ''Manta'' undersea transport can also ''fly''... Though, in a nod to [[ArtisticLicensePhysics the possibly improbable physics of such a thing]] (the animal after which this is named is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray vaguely airplane-shaped]]), Raynor hypothesizes that the engines must be keeping them aloft with brute force as what is hydrodynamic isn't necessarily good for achieving powered flight.

* CurbStompBattle: Johanna and Diablo try to take on Bokat-Anne and an embiggered [[spoiler:Valla]]. As predicted, pint-size Heroes versus fully-aware, unsurprised humans working with a full-size Hero ends badly for the small Heroes. However, [[BatmanGambit that's exactly what they wanted to happen]]...
* CuteAndPsycho: Brightwing, when the subject of [[BigEater food]] comes up. She chides Valla for finding her [[JabbaTableManners bloody mouth]] disquieting (this after Brightwing ate a hummingbird...in one bite)

* DeathIsCheap: So far, none of the Heroes seems to stay dead, respawning just like they did in their game whenever they are "killed." [[spoiler:They later exploit this fact to their advantage.]]
* DeflectorShields: J117 power armor has such defenses, making Sonya's blades worthless. [[spoiler:They don't stop Brightwing's polymorph though.]] The ''Manta'' transport also has shields. Given that these ships operate in a place where the pressure is eight tons per square inch, [[FridgeLogic having shields makes sense]] if you have [[InsistentTerminology functional supernatural phenomena]] and[=/=]or super-advanced versions of RealLife technology.
* DesignatedGirlFight: Sylvanas vs. Valla. It's never really elaborated on [[NoodleIncident why they were fighting]].
* {{Determinator}}: Jaina hypothesizes that their pursuers will chase them until either the Heroes are captured or those chasing them are dead. The Heroes themselves fit under this trope as well.

* DisproportionateRetribution: SPEAR finds out someone's invoked TheUnmasquedWorld even though they think TheWorldIsNotReady. In addition to destroying the actual evidence, they also do collateral damage on a large scale, and [[spoiler:may have slagged a whole conference center in the process.]]

* EnemyChatter: Subverted. The robbers are using radios to communicate, but it is encrypted and Nova can't listen in.
* EpicFail: Letting loose all your anti-burglar traps on the wrong target, bad idea. [[MindControl Faustus Serum]] + BrokenBird = nope. Firing massive rifle intended to be used prone while standing = bruised rear after being BlownAcrossTheRoom.
* EvilDetectingDog: Subverted, then played straight. Jake barks at the mailman (TruthInTelevision). The Heroes take notice of this, and realize that if the dog isn't happy, something might be amiss....which turns out to be true when the crooks actually show up.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The Player character. All we know about them is that they play ''Heroes of the Storm,'' probably live in an [[WeAllLiveInAmerica American]] suburb, and have a job whose hours can run long.

* FlippingTheBird: Nova dive-bombs Sylvanas with a drone. [[RuleOfFunny Somehow]], the elf knows this gesture and employs it on both hands in response.

* GenreSavvy: The Heroes are well-aware that they were video game characters, and don't hesitate to lampshade when the real world behaves like the fictional universes they originated in. Raynor in particular seems prone to it.
* GlassShatteringSound: A sonic weapon meant for breaching windows carried by the crooks does this. In addition to breaking windows, it has the side-effect of causing Jake to whimper and Li Li to complain of painful ''something.''

* [[GunsAkimbo Guns[=/=]Crossbows Akimbo]]: Valla, as per the game, dual-wields crossbows. Later, she is told about (but so far does not actually do it herself) using two massive MR-7 railguns at once. The latter is [[ReconstructedTrope slightly different than the usual portrayal]], since it's implied that doing this requires a special addon (the Synchronized Control Targeter) for the weapons, their power is reduced drastically so they can each be fired with one hand, and the sniper is lying prone to do so.
* GreaterScopeVillain: InUniverse, before it was known who sent the robbers both Heroes and Player believe the incursions to be more than random burglary. They're right. The Player isn't the only one who thinks TheWorldIsNotReady...

* HiddenDepths: Apparently, this version of Sylvanas is a little more thoughtful and less, well, ''evil'' than the current ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' portrayal. Even Raynor is surprised since in ''Heroes of the Storm'' she still had {{Jerkass}}, [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] tendencies ("Hold your tongue, or I'll tear it out"[=/=]"You have my thanks...for now"). One also would not expect Jim Raynor to drop a modified quote from the [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] ("Pride goeth before the fall and all that").
* HistoricalInJoke: Li Li learns that SPEAR (or its predecessors) were involved in concealing magic/[=FSPs=] all the way back to the Middle Ages if not before. Thus, the Salem Witch Trials, the very existence of feudal government as a system, 20th-century whaling and something involving the Catholic Church were all actually related to concealing the supernatural.

* HollywoodAcid: Downplayed example in Kerrigan's snake, which appears to ooze such since she modified it. The robber Harry finds this out rather painfully when it is dropped on his head.
* HollywoodSilencer: Discussed and subverted. Nova repeatedly discusses her rifle lacking such noise-damping, so in order to use it without being noticed they'll have to find some [[ToiletHumor auditory cover]].
* HumansAreFlawed: A core reason SPEAR believes TheWorldIsNotReady. Often, discussion of this leads to a CrypticBackgroundReference about the Roman Empire.

* [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm a Psychologist, Not a Researcher]]: Spoken verbatim by Dr. Kara Grimes, who can't access the embiggering equipment. She's a medical doctor, not an academic one and thus lacks authorization (and presumably training) for such things.
* InsistentTerminology: Blizzard calls their game a "hero brawler" instead of a {{MOBA}}; characters lampshading this is even the page quote on the trope page for MOBA. SPEAR does not call it [[MagicByAnyOtherName magic]], it's "Functional Supernatural Phenomena."

* KickTheDog: SPEAR, arguably. Plasma weapons are supposed to be more accurate than explosives, but when the "ablation" part comes and something has to be destroyed, the ship doing it causes collateral damage on a massive scale anyway. It's also left unclear [[spoiler:at the end of that chapter whether or not they also liquified a conference center filled with ordinary people]].

* MadeOfIron: ZigZagged; the Player slaps Valla across the room but she doesn't [[DeathIsCheap respawn]]. However, when the Player smacks Jaina (who is trying to be helpful by turning off an [[RingRingCRUNCH annoying alarm clock]]), she respawns from the impact. [[spoiler: Later, Li Li is kicked and ends up respawning.]] It seems what it takes to kill a Hero [[AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe depends on what best fits the moment]] (PlayedForLaughs, PlayedForDrama, etc).

* MeaningfulName: SPEAR does this with some of their ships--''Iron Chancellor'' is made from [[spoiler:the sunken German battleship ''Bismarck.'' Otto von Bismarck's nickname was the "Iron Chancellor."]]

* MindWipe: Discussed. Nova's past, [[AllThereInTheManual since erased]], becomes a plot point once again.

* MistakenForAnImposter: The entire Hero line-up [[spoiler:when they show up, full-size, at [=BlizzCon=]]]. Needless to say, they fit right in at first glance.
* MrExposition: Downplayed; Li Li's conversation with scientists does have small amounts of exposition but anyone expecting a full-on briefing of what SPEAR (and its predecessors) does or did would be left wanting more, since the reader is only given a general idea. Li Li herself serves as MissExposition InUniverse to the other Heroes as well (though again the reader is not given any context--only that "Li Li told the other Heroes things").
* NoEndorHolocaust: Maybe. Nova tells the Heroes and gathered [=BlizzCon=] fans to "Clear the room" and "Everyone get out of here!" before the next chapter references an [[DeathFromAbove orbital strike]] (even though the ship launching it was only 60,000 feet up--though the Heroes don't know this). However, either the Heroes are then ''[[FailedASpotCheck blatantly ignoring a flaming building]]'' or perhaps the ship didn't target the convention center after all. Or [[FridgeHorror maybe there's just nothing left to save]].
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: There are a lot of "doctors" around [=SPEAR's=] facility, but many of them are non-medical. The narration even points this out upon introducing an MD proper.
* NotNowKiddo: The Player blows off warnings of suspicious activity from the white car. This ends up leading to an unpleasant surprise later.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Subverted. There are many types of non-medical doctors around SPEAR's facilities, but they have distinctive fields of study. Raynor gets this reaction upon asking the two scientists they saved whether either of them knows anything about a ''Manta'' transport's engines--they don't, it's not their field. Wane knows about the materials science, but that's it.

* PetTheDog: Minor moments with the robbers, who are somewhat concerned that apparently the Player has at least one child they were not told about judging by the huge number of toy towers they find. One even worries their noise will "wake the kid." They also knock out Jake the Golden Retriever instead of killing him.
* PoweredArmor: WET has at least one type--called the [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117]]. It packs shields and allows its operative to carry a {{BFG}}.

* PunchClockVillain: The narration points this out regarding most of the personnel at the SPEAR[=/=]WET facility. Raynor's response to Sylvanas' attack drives the point home further.
* RealityEnsues: Flying drones are fun...until the batteries drain. Thankfully, Nova and Raynor get the drone down before it drops. Nova's GPS, despite being from the [=2500s=] or so, has the same problem in cities that most small GPS (think smartphone) units have--it loses accuracy. Though Gazlowe's traps are useful, that very fact causes even the Player to trip on them, leading to their dismantlement. Triggering an alarm and immediately cancelling it while blaming a "system error" may work in the Heroes' universes, but SPEAR[=/=]WET will not fall for such shenanigans, as noted by Bokat-Anne. Showing up right next to a [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Navy carrier group]] without answering hails or identifying yourself is a good way to be [[StopOrIWillShoot shot at]].

* RefugeInAudacity: Why SPEAR [[spoiler:resurrected ''Bismarck'']] and built a base [[spoiler:on the mountain where its wreck lay]]. Also referenced with whaling, although exactly why [[CrypticBackgroundReference again remains unexplained]].
* ReluctantFanserviceGirl: Sylvanas has found out how she is portrayed at conventions and in fanart, thus realizing that she is somewhat of a sex symbol in this world. She does not like it despite [[HypocriticalHumor having no objection to the clothing she is presently wearing]] being the [[ChainmailBikini source of the fanservice]].

** Where have we seen [[Film/HomeAlone robbers (including one named Harry) get foiled by traps before]]? The Player even lampshades it after having all of those traps applied to them by mistake. InUniverse, it's discussed how separating Harry and Marv was supposed to ''prevent'' any further failures (it doesn't work).

** A doctor tells her patient "[[Film/PacificRim These are just memories. None of this is real...stay in the now]]."

** "[[VideoGame/BioShock1 Would you kindly]] put this irksome Akarat freak out of her misery?" Bonus points for the person the phrase is used on being under mind-controlling effects at the time.

** WET deploys [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117 power armor]]. Its InUniverse nickname is even "The Chief." Given discussion of [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD Coulson]], perhaps WET plays the Halo games as well.
** ''StarWars'' apparently exists in ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftI StarCraft]]'', as Raynor quotes ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' verbatim as a form of stalling. It's also suggested he [[CantBelieveISaidThat realizes how dumb it sounded]].
* ShownTheirWork: EXIF data is a real thing--most smartphones (and some smart cameras) embed GPS information into their files, making locations easily traceable (assuming the GPS had an accurate lock at the time) if the data is not removed prior to uploading to the internet. Geolocating based on IP addresses is less accurate, but if the IP in question is fixed to a well-known building (like a universty computing cluster) then it becomes a simple matching game. The USS ''Harry S. Truman'' is also in fact one of the RealLife battle groups on the Atlantic side, at least at the time this fanfiction was written. Beale and Nellis are real Air Force bases (in California and Nevada respectively), though the types of units assumed to be present for the sake of the story may fall under ArtisticLicenseMilitary.

* SpiesInAVan: The Heroes and Player take note of a white car that seems to spend an unusual amount of time loitering in the neighborhood where it had previously never been seen. The fact that there are [[GenreSavvy binoculars on the dashboard]] convinces the Player that someone (the Heroes) should watch it.
* [[invoked]]{{Squick}}: InUniverse, reactions to a certain BloodKnight are headed in this direction. Brightwing's JabbaTableManners got this reaction too.

* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Aside from [[InsistentTerminology not calling it that]] SPEAR seems to take this view of "Functional Supernatural Phenomena." Even if something escapes ''current'' understanding, the organization refuses to just accept AWizardDidIt without trying to figure it out first. Should that fail, they ''still'' don't like calling it "magic" (as noted under InsistentTerminology).

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Justified for Sylvanas as an undead elf--she doesn't need to breathe. Said undead elf points out that isn't true for the rest of her companions, however, when they (in her opinion) dawdle on evacuating. Exploited when the Heroes need to retrieve an escape ship from a flooded area. Sylvanas returns, no worse for the wear (thoroughly soaked) having brought the required vessel up. During a subsequent chase, Sylvanas again points this trope out in her case after Raynor notes that "everyone" will end up drowning should they be sunk.
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Its aversion in this universe is lampshaded by Sylvanas--"The world does not stop because you decided to have idle chit-chat" [[spoiler:regarding leakage in the underwater base the Heroes find themselves in]]. She also gives everyone a good DeathGlare for yammering while being chased by [[spoiler:an underwater super-battleship built from the old ''Bismarck'']].

* TemptingFate: The Player runs afoul of this hoping no one would do a robbery in broad daylight. Subverted, as the robbery happens at night. Sylvanas catches flack from other Heroes for doing this by wondering aloud why the robbers have not returned, since they clearly wanted two things but only managed to grab one. She gets an immediate reaction ''again'' for saying that she thinks WET is too busy to notice [[spoiler:the rest of the Heroes who are now full-size thanks to an embiggering device]].

* TheAtoner: Sylvanas is starting to show signs of this. Discussed by Raynor.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Subverted by Bokat-Anne; she lampshades how this trope may apply in the video games the Heroes are drawn from, but it does ''not'' apply to SPEAR. Kara Grimes' attempt to wave off the alarm only made security ''more'' suspicious that something was amiss. Discussed by Johanna--Bastion's Keep gets a TakeThat from her for, in her opinion, falling into this trope, while she guesses WET's security won't be like this considering her recent experience with Bokat-Anne.
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Played with, since it's not clear whether some of the fancy toys SPEAR uses are science-based or magic-based (in fact, this confusion exists InUniverse as well, see SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic). Either way, it's them versus the Heroes, who themselves are set up to be quite "magical" by comparison, [[InsistentTerminology even if SPEAR won't call it that]].
* ThePowerOfHate: How [[spoiler:Valla]] breaks the control of Faustus Serum. Much to the concern of [[KnightErrant Johanna]]. That this character then screams at innocent scientists shows how much unhinging breaking Faustus this way has caused.

* TheUnmasquedWorld: The whole point of the Heroes [[spoiler:showing up at [=BlizzCon=], implied to be 2015 due to who's hosting]]. They believe SPEAR is wrong--the world ''would'' be ready if given the chance. They also have an objection to being locked up[=/=]experimented on.
* TheWatson: Also falls under another trope. The Hero taken [[AccidentalKidnapping accidentally]] ends up in this role, allowing the kidnappers to explain much of what their organization does. This seems silly--why expose all the secrets? That is, until the second trope comes into play--[[spoiler:The constantly-curious child-age Li Li seems innocent enough ''and'' is generally willing to help her abductors thus far since their requests are pretty innocent-sounding.]]
* TheWorldIsNotReady: The Player invokes this without saying it as a reason for not involving the police even though burglars just smashed a window. Explaining living video game characters would be too much. SPEAR tells Li Li this almost verbatim as the reason they collect things like her or the chest. It's later revealed via CrypticBackgroundReference that SPEAR believes HumansAreFlawed due to something related to the fall of the Roman Empire.
* ThisIsMySide: Between Kerrigan and Sylvanas. Each stakes out half the player's dwelling to, ahem, ''claim'' any lifeforms that might reside within.
* ThisIsReality: Nova dismisses Raynor's concerns about the location of SPEAR's facility because "this is 2015" rather than the 2500s-era of ''[=StarCraft=].'' [[spoiler:She's wrong--they are in fact deep underwater.]]
* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Johanna's schtick in-game translates to reality. First, she nails a WET operative in the eye while pretending to be a toy. Then, she flings her shield into a lab switch [[spoiler:to make herself full-sized]].

* TranquillizerDart: The robbers know about the dog from their surveillance. Thus, they knock out the canine rather than killing him, in a small PetTheDog moment.

* WhatTheHellHero[=/=]WhatTheHellPlayer: [[RingRingCRUNCH Nobody likes alarm clocks]], and while the Player attempts to turn theirs off, they also end up hitting [[NiceGirl Jaina]] hard enough to respawn her even though all she wanted to do was help by turning off the alarm. Valla, Raynor, and Jaina herself call out the player on this, even though it was [[AccidentalMurder technically an accident]] and DeathIsCheap.

* [[invoked]] TheWoobie: InUniverse, a downplayed version as Sylvanas is seen merely as a brooding, self-centered {{Jerkass}} by the other Heroes until they find out part of the reason she's sulking is [[FreudianExcuse due being tipped over during painting]] that cracked her arm several times. Kerrigan's glee over having a larger set of minions than Sylvanas is thus tempered by this knowledge.

* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Chapter title, and Raynor delivers a withering look to the Player after being asked why they brought Sonya to life. Keep in mind the Player made a big deal out of how difficult Heroes were to make, specifically how they should be painted/finished before assembly. Then Sonya gets slapped together without so much as a single sheet of sandpaper or drop of paint...

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Magnetohydrodynamic engines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive really do exist]]. They're just impractical and not used outside of prototypes ([[Film/TheHuntForRedOctober though they've shown up in fiction before]]), but [[RuleOfCool they sound really awesome]], so... The trend continues with [[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs22grc_prt.htm magnetoplasmadynamic]] engines--it appears SPEAR's device can switch between the two at will, but the second mode of operation uses far more energy than the first.
* [[invoked]]AngstWhatAngst: Discussed by Raynor given [[spoiler:Nova's]] previous condition. The response? A combination of KindaBusyHere and HeroicWillpower.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: PlayedForLaughs by whoever Vizsla reports to. After hearing a team member was allegedly attacked by a toy, expresses disbelief, but as soon as she mentions small, living beings (like the captured Hero in her hand), it's suddenly more believable.
* ArtifactTitle: If the Heroes' plan goes through, [[spoiler:calling them "Heroes of the Desk" will end up being a misnomer since they'll be normal size instead of 14" tall. They succeed, fully playing the trope straight.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Averted. The Heroes fear the arrival of Jake, a dog, will turn into this but nothing bad happens to them (unless getting slobbered on counts).
* BadassBoast: Valla tries to talk tough to her captors. Except it doesn't work very well when you're 14" tall... Sonya gets a more appropriate one [[spoiler:as a full-sized Barbarian going up against power armor.]]
* BatmanGambit: Johanna and Diablo know if they fight back against WET, they'll be killed. Which means they'll [[DeathIsCheap respawn in the chest]], hopefully located somewhere they can exploit to escape.
* BloodKnight: Downplayed, but Valla shows shades of this during the robbery--even supposing to herself that the other Heroes might condemn her for such thoughts. [[spoiler: Brainwashed!Valla plays this straight, threatening to "[[DeadlyEuphemism respawn]]" the other Heroes if they so much as ''[[DisproportionateRetribution move]]'' without her permission. Even after breaking the control through The Power of Hate, she is, if anything, ''more'' bloodthirsty, declaring that everyone in the facility will die and she will burn it the ground as revenge. She also makes a very public declaration that the blood of SPEAR and those who support it "will fill the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers."]]

* BrainBleach: Valla repeatedly remembers [[VideoGame/DiabloIII fighting Ghom in the Larder at Bastion's Keep]]. She wishes she didn't.

* ChekhovsGun: Valla's scarf tears off when she and Nova sneak through air vents in a bathroom. This is later used to track her down. Valla's crossbows also prove useful as impromptu ascension cables, similar to a use last seen in Chapter 2. The [=QuadMaster=] 1000 drone reappears and is useful for [[spoiler:finding the chest by having Heroes jump from lethal heights off its back]].
* ClingyJealousGirl: PlayedForLaughs after Jim Raynor receives psychic messages. Kerrigan is ''not'' happy that someone [[VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm might be angling to steal him from her again]]. Turns out [[RecycledPlot her guess]] [[AvertedTrope is wrong]].
* CoolPlane: Turns out the ''Manta'' undersea transport can also ''fly''... Though, in a nod to [[ArtisticLicensePhysics the possibly improbable physics of such a thing]] (the animal after which this is named is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray vaguely airplane-shaped]]), Raynor hypothesizes that the engines must be keeping them aloft with brute force as what is hydrodynamic isn't necessarily good for achieving powered flight.

* CurbStompBattle: Johanna and Diablo try to take on Bokat-Anne and an embiggered [[spoiler:Valla]]. As predicted, pint-size Heroes versus fully-aware, unsurprised humans working with a full-size Hero ends badly for the small Heroes. However, [[BatmanGambit that's exactly what they wanted to happen]]...
* CuteAndPsycho: Brightwing, when the subject of [[BigEater food]] comes up. She chides Valla for finding her [[JabbaTableManners bloody mouth]] disquieting (this after Brightwing ate a hummingbird...in one bite)

* DeathIsCheap: So far, none of the Heroes seems to stay dead, respawning just like they did in their game whenever they are "killed." [[spoiler:They later exploit this fact to their advantage.]]
* DeflectorShields: J117 power armor has such defenses, making Sonya's blades worthless. [[spoiler:They don't stop Brightwing's polymorph though.]] The ''Manta'' transport also has shields. Given that these ships operate in a place where the pressure is eight tons per square inch, [[FridgeLogic having shields makes sense]] if you have [[InsistentTerminology functional supernatural phenomena]] and[=/=]or super-advanced versions of RealLife technology.
* DesignatedGirlFight: Sylvanas vs. Valla. It's never really elaborated on [[NoodleIncident why they were fighting]].

* DisproportionateRetribution: SPEAR finds out someone's invoked TheUnmasquedWorld even though they think TheWorldIsNotReady. In addition to destroying the actual evidence, they also do collateral damage on a large scale, and [[spoiler:may have slagged a whole conference center in the process.]]

* EnemyChatter: Subverted. The robbers are using radios to communicate, but it is encrypted and Nova can't listen in.
* EpicFail: Letting loose all your anti-burglar traps on the wrong target, bad idea. [[MindControl Faustus Serum]] + BrokenBird = nope. Firing massive rifle intended to be used prone while standing = bruised rear after being BlownAcrossTheRoom.
* EvilDetectingDog: Subverted, then played straight. Jake barks at the mailman (TruthInTelevision). The Heroes take notice of this, and realize that if the dog isn't happy, something might be amiss....which turns out to be true when the crooks actually show up.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The Player character. All we know about them is that they play ''Heroes of the Storm,'' probably live in an [[WeAllLiveInAmerica American]] suburb, and have a job whose hours can run long.

* FlippingTheBird: Nova dive-bombs Sylvanas with a drone. [[RuleOfFunny Somehow]], the elf knows this gesture and employs it on both hands in response.

* GenreSavvy: The Heroes are well-aware that they were video game characters, and don't hesitate to lampshade when the real world behaves like the fictional universes they originated in. Raynor in particular seems prone to it.
* GlassShatteringSound: A sonic weapon meant for breaching windows carried by the crooks does this. In addition to breaking windows, it has the side-effect of causing Jake to whimper and Li Li to complain of painful ''something.''

* [[GunsAkimbo Guns[=/=]Crossbows Akimbo]]: Valla, as per the game, dual-wields crossbows. Later, she is told about (but so far does not actually do it herself) using two massive MR-7 railguns at once. The latter is [[ReconstructedTrope slightly different than the usual portrayal]], since it's implied that doing this requires a special addon (the Synchronized Control Targeter) for the weapons, their power is reduced drastically so they can each be fired with one hand, and the sniper is lying prone to do so.
* GreaterScopeVillain: InUniverse, before it was known who sent the robbers both Heroes and Player believe the incursions to be more than random burglary. They're right. The Player isn't the only one who thinks TheWorldIsNotReady...

* HiddenDepths: Apparently, this version of Sylvanas is a little more thoughtful and less, well, ''evil'' than the current ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' portrayal. Even Raynor is surprised since in ''Heroes of the Storm'' she still had {{Jerkass}}, [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] tendencies ("Hold your tongue, or I'll tear it out"[=/=]"You have my thanks...for now"). One also would not expect Jim Raynor to drop a modified quote from the [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] ("Pride goeth before the fall and all that").
* HistoricalInJoke: Li Li learns that SPEAR (or its predecessors) were involved in concealing magic/[=FSPs=] all the way back to the Middle Ages if not before. Thus, the Salem Witch Trials, the very existence of feudal government as a system, 20th-century whaling and something involving the Catholic Church were all actually related to concealing the supernatural.

* HollywoodAcid: Downplayed example in Kerrigan's snake, which appears to ooze such since she modified it. The robber Harry finds this out rather painfully when it is dropped on his head.
* HollywoodSilencer: Discussed and subverted. Nova repeatedly discusses her rifle lacking such noise-damping, so in order to use it without being noticed they'll have to find some [[ToiletHumor auditory cover]].
* HumansAreFlawed: A core reason SPEAR believes TheWorldIsNotReady. Often, discussion of this leads to a CrypticBackgroundReference about the Roman Empire.

* [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm a Psychologist, Not a Researcher]]: Spoken verbatim by Dr. Kara Grimes, who can't access the embiggering equipment. She's a medical doctor, not an academic one and thus lacks authorization (and presumably training) for such things.
* InsistentTerminology: Blizzard calls their game a "hero brawler" instead of a {{MOBA}}; characters lampshading this is even the page quote on the trope page for MOBA. SPEAR does not call it [[MagicByAnyOtherName magic]], it's "Functional Supernatural Phenomena."

* KickTheDog: SPEAR, arguably. Plasma weapons are supposed to be more accurate than explosives, but when the "ablation" part comes and something has to be destroyed, the ship doing it causes collateral damage on a massive scale anyway. It's also left unclear [[spoiler:at the end of that chapter whether or not they also liquified a conference center filled with ordinary people]].

* MadeOfIron: ZigZagged; the Player slaps Valla across the room but she doesn't [[DeathIsCheap respawn]]. However, when the Player smacks Jaina (who is trying to be helpful by turning off an [[RingRingCRUNCH annoying alarm clock]]), she respawns from the impact. [[spoiler: Later, Li Li is kicked and ends up respawning.]] It seems what it takes to kill a Hero [[AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe depends on what best fits the moment]] (PlayedForLaughs, PlayedForDrama, etc).

* MeaningfulName: SPEAR does this with some of their ships--''Iron Chancellor'' is made from [[spoiler:the sunken German battleship ''Bismarck.'' Otto von Bismarck's nickname was the "Iron Chancellor."]]

* MindWipe: Discussed. Nova's past, [[AllThereInTheManual since erased]], becomes a plot point once again.

* MistakenForAnImposter: The entire Hero line-up [[spoiler:when they show up, full-size, at BlizzCon]]. Needless to say, they fit right in at first glance.
* MrExposition: Downplayed; Li Li's conversation with scientists does have small amounts of exposition but anyone expecting a full-on briefing of what SPEAR (and its predecessors) does or did would be left wanting more, since the reader is only given a general idea. Li Li herself serves as MissExposition InUniverse to the other Heroes as well (though again the reader is not given any context--only that "Li Li told the other Heroes things").
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: There are a lot of "doctors" around [=SPEAR's=] facility, but many of them are non-medical. The narration even points this out upon introducing an MD proper.
* NotNowKiddo: The Player blows off warnings of suspicious activity from the white car. This ends up leading to an unpleasant surprise later.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Subverted. There are many types of non-medical doctors around SPEAR's facilities, but they have distinctive fields of study. Raynor gets this reaction upon asking the two scientists they saved whether either of them knows anything about a ''Manta'' transport's engines--they don't, it's not their field. Wane knows about the materials science, but that's it.

* PetTheDog: Minor moments with the robbers, who are somewhat concerned that apparently the Player has at least one child they were not told about judging by the huge number of toy towers they find. One even worries their noise will "wake the kid." They also knock out Jake the Golden Retriever instead of killing him.
* PoweredArmor: WET has at least one type--called the [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117]]. It packs shields and allows its operative to carry a {{BFG}}.

* PunchClockVillain: The narration points this out regarding most of the personnel at the SPEAR[=/=]WET facility. Raynor's response to Sylvanas' attack drives the point home further.
* RealityEnsues: Flying drones are fun...until the batteries drain. Thankfully, Nova and Raynor get the drone down before it drops. Nova's GPS, despite being from the [=2500s=] or so, has the same problem in cities that most small GPS (think smartphone) units have--it loses accuracy. Though Gazlowe's traps are useful, that very fact causes even the Player to trip on them, leading to their dismantlement. Triggering an alarm and immediately cancelling it while blaming a "system error" may work in the Heroes' universes, but SPEAR[=/=]WET will not fall for such shenanigans, as noted by Bokat-Anne. Showing up right next to a [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Navy carrier group]] without answering hails or identifying yourself is a good way to be [[StopOrIWillShoot shot at]].

* RefugeInAudacity: Why SPEAR [[spoiler:resurrected ''Bismarck'']] and built a base [[spoiler:on the mountain where its wreck lay]]. Also referenced with whaling, although exactly why [[CrypticBackgroundReference again remains unexplained]].
* ReluctantFanserviceGirl: Sylvanas has found out how she is portrayed at conventions and in fanart, thus realizing that she is somewhat of a sex symbol in this world. She does not like it despite [[HypocriticalHumor having no objection to the clothing she is presently wearing]] being the [[ChainmailBikini source of the fanservice]].

** Where have we seen [[Film/HomeAlone robbers (including one named Harry) get foiled by traps before]]? The Player even lampshades it after having all of those traps applied to them by mistake. InUniverse, it's discussed how separating Harry and Marv was supposed to ''prevent'' any further failures (it doesn't work).

** A doctor tells her patient "[[Film/PacificRim These are just memories. None of this is real...stay in the now]]."

** "[[VideoGame/BioShock1 Would you kindly]] put this irksome Akarat freak out of her misery?" Bonus points for the person the phrase is used on being under mind-controlling effects at the time.

** WET deploys [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117 power armor]]. Its InUniverse nickname is even "The Chief." Given discussion of [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD Coulson]], perhaps WET plays the Halo games as well.
** ''StarWars'' apparently exists in ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftI StarCraft]]'', as Raynor quotes ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' verbatim as a form of stalling. It's also suggested he [[CantBelieveISaidThat realizes how dumb it sounded]].
* ShownTheirWork: EXIF data is a real thing--most smartphones (and some smart cameras) embed GPS information into their files, making locations easily traceable (assuming the GPS had an accurate lock at the time) if the data is not removed prior to uploading to the internet. Geolocating based on IP addresses is less accurate, but if the IP in question is fixed to a well-known building (like a universty computing cluster) then it becomes a simple matching game. The USS ''Harry S. Truman'' is also in fact one of the RealLife battle groups on the Atlantic side, at least at the time this fanfiction was written.

* SpiesInAVan: The Heroes and Player take note of a white car that seems to spend an unusual amount of time loitering in the neighborhood where it had previously never been seen. The fact that there are [[GenreSavvy binoculars on the dashboard]] convinces the Player that someone (the Heroes) should watch it.

* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Aside from [[InsistentTerminology not calling it that]] SPEAR seems to take this view of "Functional Supernatural Phenomena." Even if something escapes ''current'' understanding, the organization refuses to just accept AWizardDidIt without trying to figure it out first. Should that fail, they ''still'' don't like calling it "magic" (as noted under InsistentTerminology).

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Justified for Sylvanas as an undead elf--she doesn't need to breathe. Said undead elf points out that isn't true for the rest of her companions, however, when they (in her opinion) dawdle on evacuating. Exploited when the Heroes need to retrieve an escape ship from a flooded area. Sylvanas returns, no worse for the wear (thoroughly soaked) having brought the required vessel up. During a subsequent chase, Sylvanas again points this trope out in her case after Raynor notes that "everyone" will end up drowning should they be sunk.
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Its aversion in this universe is lampshaded by Sylvanas--"The world does not stop because you decided to have idle chit-chat" [[spoiler:regarding leakage in the underwater base the Heroes find themselves in]]. She also gives everyone a good DeathGlare for yammering while being chased by [[spoiler:an underwater super-battleship built from the old ''Bismarck'']].

* TemptingFate: The Player runs afoul of this hoping no one would do a robbery in broad daylight. Subverted, as the robbery happens at night. Sylvanas catches flack from other Heroes for doing this by wondering aloud why the robbers have not returned, since they clearly wanted two things but only managed to grab one. She gets an immediate reaction ''again'' for saying that she thinks WET is too busy to notice [[spoiler:the rest of the Heroes who are now full-size thanks to an embiggering device]].

* TheAtoner: Sylvanas is starting to show signs of this. Discussed by Raynor.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Subverted by Bokat-Anne; she lampshades how this trope may apply in the video games the Heroes are drawn from, but it does ''not'' apply to SPEAR. Kara Grimes' attempt to wave off the alarm only made security ''more'' suspicious that something was amiss. Discussed by Johanna--Bastion's Keep gets a TakeThat from her for, in her opinion, falling into this trope, while she guesses WET's security won't be like this considering her recent experience with Bokat-Anne.
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Played with, since it's not clear whether some of the fancy toys SPEAR uses are science-based or magic-based (in fact, this confusion exists InUniverse as well, see SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic). Either way, it's them versus the Heroes, who themselves are set up to be quite "magical" by comparison, [[InsistentTerminology even if SPEAR won't call it that]].
* ThePowerOfHate: How [[spoiler:Valla]] breaks the control of Faustus Serum. Much to the concern of [[KnightErrant Johanna]]. That this character then screams at innocent scientists shows how much unhinging breaking Faustus this way has caused.

* TheUnmasquedWorld: The whole point of the Heroes [[spoiler:showing up at BlizzCon, implied to be 2015 due to who's hosting]]. They believe SPEAR is wrong--the world ''would'' be ready if given the chance. They also have an objection to being locked up[=/=]experimented on.
* TheWatson: Also falls under another trope. The Hero taken [[AccidentalKidnapping accidentally]] ends up in this role, allowing the kidnappers to explain much of what their organization does. This seems silly--why expose all the secrets? That is, until the second trope comes into play--[[spoiler:The constantly-curious child-age Li Li seems innocent enough ''and'' is generally willing to help her abductors thus far since their requests are pretty innocent-sounding.]]
* TheWorldIsNotReady: The Player invokes this without saying it as a reason for not involving the police even though burglars just smashed a window. Explaining living video game characters would be too much. SPEAR tells Li Li this almost verbatim as the reason they collect things like her or the chest. It's later revealed via CrypticBackgroundReference that SPEAR believes HumansAreFlawed due to something related to the fall of the Roman Empire.
* ThisIsMySide: Between Kerrigan and Sylvanas. Each stakes out half the player's dwelling to, ahem, ''claim'' any lifeforms that might reside within.
* ThisIsReality: Nova dismisses Raynor's concerns about the location of SPEAR's facility because "this is 2015" rather than the 2500s-era of ''[=StarCraft=].'' [[spoiler:She's wrong--they are in fact deep underwater.]]
* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Johanna's schtick in-game translates to reality. First, she nails a WET operative in the eye while pretending to be a toy. Then, she flings her shield into a lab switch [[spoiler:to make herself full-sized]].

* TranquillizerDart: The robbers know about the dog from their surveillance. Thus, they knock out the canine rather than killing him, in a small PetTheDog moment.
* WhatTheHellHero[=/=]WhatTheHellPlayer: [[RingRingCRUNCH Nobody likes alarm clocks]], and while the Player attempts to turn theirs off, they also end up hitting [[NiceGirl Jaina]] hard enough to respawn her even though all she wanted to do was help by turning off the alarm. Valla, Raynor, and Jaina herself call out the player on this, even though it was [[AccidentalMurder technically an accident]] and DeathIsCheap.

* [[invoked]] TheWoobie: InUniverse, a downplayed version as Sylvanas is seen merely as a brooding, self-centered {{Jerkass}} by the other Heroes until they find out part of the reason she's sulking is [[FreudianExcuse due being tipped over during painting]] that cracked her arm several times. Kerrigan's glee over having a larger set of minions than Sylvanas is thus tempered by this knowledge.

* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Chapter title, and Raynor delivers a withering look to the Player after being asked why they brought Sonya to life. Keep in mind the Player made a big deal out of how difficult Heroes were to make, specifically how they should be painted/finished before assembly. Then Sonya gets slapped together without so much as a single sheet of sandpaper or drop of paint...

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Magnetohydrodynamic engines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive really do exist]]. They're just impractical and not used outside of prototypes ([[Film/TheHuntForRedOctober though they've shown up in fiction before]]), but [[RuleOfCool they sound really awesome]], so... The trend continues with [[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs22grc_prt.htm magnetoplasmadynamic]] engines--it appears SPEAR's device can switch between the two at will, but the second mode of operation uses far more energy than the first.
* [[invoked]]AngstWhatAngst: Discussed by Raynor given [[spoiler:Nova's]] previous condition. The response? A combination of KindaBusyHere and HeroicWillpower.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: PlayedForLaughs by whoever Vizsla reports to. After hearing a team member was allegedly attacked by a toy, expresses disbelief, but as soon as she mentions small, living beings (like the captured Hero in her hand), it's suddenly more believable.
* ArtifactTitle: If the Heroes' plan goes through, [[spoiler:calling them "Heroes of the Desk" will end up being a misnomer since they'll be normal size instead of 14" tall. They succeed, fully playing the trope straight.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Averted. The Heroes fear the arrival of Jake, a dog, will turn into this but nothing bad happens to them (unless getting slobbered on counts).
* BadassBoast: Valla tries to talk tough to her captors. Except it doesn't work very well when you're 14" tall... Sonya gets a more appropriate one [[spoiler:as a full-sized Barbarian going up against power armor.]]
* BatmanGambit: Johanna and Diablo know if they fight back against WET, they'll be killed. Which means they'll [[DeathIsCheap respawn in the chest]], hopefully located somewhere they can exploit to escape.
* BloodKnight: Downplayed, but Valla shows shades of this during the robbery--even supposing to herself that the other Heroes might condemn her for such thoughts. [[spoiler: Brainwashed!Valla plays this straight, threatening to "[[DeadlyEuphemism respawn]]" the other Heroes if they so much as ''[[DisproportionateRetribution move]]'' without her permission. Even after breaking the control through The Power of Hate, she is, if anything, ''more'' bloodthirsty, declaring that everyone in the facility will die and she will burn it the ground as revenge.]]

* BrainBleach: Valla repeatedly remembers [[VideoGame/DiabloIII fighting Ghom in the Larder at Bastion's Keep]]. She wishes she didn't.

* ChekhovsGun: Valla's scarf tears off when she and Nova sneak through air vents in a bathroom. This is later used to track her down. Valla's crossbows also prove useful as impromptu ascension cables, similar to a use last seen in Chapter 2. The [=QuadMaster=] 1000 drone reappears and is useful for [[spoiler:finding the chest by having Heroes jump from lethal heights off its back]].
* ClingyJealousGirl: PlayedForLaughs after Jim Raynor receives psychic messages. Kerrigan is ''not'' happy that someone [[VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm might be angling to steal him from her again]]. Turns out [[RecycledPlot her guess]] [[AvertedTrope is wrong]].
* CoolPlane: Turns out the ''Manta'' undersea transport can also ''fly''... Though, in a nod to [[ArtisticLicensePhysics the possibly improbable physics of such a thing]] (the animal after which this is named is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray vaguely airplane-shaped]]), Raynor hypothesizes that the engines must be keeping them aloft with brute force as what is hydrodynamic isn't necessarily good for achieving powered flight.

* CurbStompBattle: Johanna and Diablo try to take on Bokat-Anne and an embiggered [[spoiler:Valla]]. As predicted, pint-size Heroes versus fully-aware, unsurprised humans working with a full-size Hero ends badly for the small Heroes. However, [[BatmanGambit that's exactly what they wanted to happen]]...
* CuteAndPsycho: Brightwing, when the subject of [[BigEater food]] comes up. She chides Valla for finding her [[JabbaTableManners bloody mouth]] disquieting (this after Brightwing ate a hummingbird...in one bite)

* DeathIsCheap: So far, none of the Heroes seems to stay dead, respawning just like they did in their game whenever they are "killed." [[spoiler:They later exploit this fact to their advantage.]]
* DeflectorShields: J117 power armor has such defenses, making Sonya's blades worthless. [[spoiler:They don't stop Brightwing's polymorph though.]] The ''Manta'' transport also has shields. Given that these ships operate in a place where the pressure is eight tons per square inch, [[FridgeLogic having shields makes sense]] if you have [[InsistentTerminology functional supernatural phenomena]] and[=/=]or super-advanced versions of RealLife technology.
* DesignatedGirlFight: Sylvanas vs. Valla. It's never really elaborated on [[NoodleIncident why they were fighting]].

* EnemyChatter: Subverted. The robbers are using radios to communicate, but it is encrypted and Nova can't listen in.
* EpicFail: Letting loose all your anti-burglar traps on the wrong target, bad idea. [[MindControl Faustus Serum]] + BrokenBird = nope. Firing massive rifle intended to be used prone while standing = bruised rear after being BlownAcrossTheRoom.
* EvilDetectingDog: Subverted, then played straight. Jake barks at the mailman (TruthInTelevision). The Heroes take notice of this, and realize that if the dog isn't happy, something might be amiss....which turns out to be true when the crooks actually show up.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The Player character. All we know about them is that they play ''Heroes of the Storm,'' probably live in an [[WeAllLiveInAmerica American]] suburb, and have a job whose hours can run long.

* FlippingTheBird: Nova dive-bombs Sylvanas with a drone. [[RuleOfFunny Somehow]], the elf knows this gesture and employs it on both hands in response.

* GenreSavvy: The Heroes are well-aware that they were video game characters, and don't hesitate to lampshade when the real world behaves like the fictional universes they originated in. Raynor in particular seems prone to it.
* GlassShatteringSound: A sonic weapon meant for breaching windows carried by the crooks does this. In addition to breaking windows, it has the side-effect of causing Jake to whimper and Li Li to complain of painful ''something.''

* [[GunsAkimbo Guns[=/=]Crossbows Akimbo]]: Valla, as per the game, dual-wields crossbows. Later, she is told about (but so far does not actually do it herself) using two massive MR-7 railguns at once. The latter is [[ReconstructedTrope slightly different than the usual portrayal]], since it's implied that doing this requires a special addon (the Synchronized Control Targeter) for the weapons, their power is reduced drastically so they can each be fired with one hand, and the sniper is lying prone to do so.
* GreaterScopeVillain: InUniverse, before it was known who sent the robbers both Heroes and Player believe the incursions to be more than random burglary. They're right. The Player isn't the only one who thinks TheWorldIsNotReady...

* HiddenDepths: Apparently, this version of Sylvanas is a little more thoughtful and less, well, ''evil'' than the current ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' portrayal. Even Raynor is surprised since in ''Heroes of the Storm'' she still had {{Jerkass}}, [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] tendencies ("Hold your tongue, or I'll tear it out"[=/=]"You have my thanks...for now"). One also would not expect Jim Raynor to drop a modified quote from the [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] ("Pride goeth before the fall and all that").
* HistoricalInJoke: Li Li learns that SPEAR (or its predecessors) were involved in concealing magic/[=FSPs=] all the way back to the Middle Ages if not before. Thus, the Salem Witch Trials, the very existence of feudal government as a system, 20th-century whaling and something involving the Catholic Church were all actually related to concealing the supernatural.

* HollywoodAcid: Downplayed example in Kerrigan's snake, which appears to ooze such since she modified it. The robber Harry finds this out rather painfully when it is dropped on his head.
* HollywoodSilencer: Discussed and subverted. Nova repeatedly discusses her rifle lacking such noise-damping, so in order to use it without being noticed they'll have to find some [[ToiletHumor auditory cover]].
* HumansAreFlawed: A core reason SPEAR believes TheWorldIsNotReady. Often, discussion of this leads to a CrypticBackgroundReference about the Roman Empire.

* [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm a Psychologist, Not a Researcher]]: Spoken verbatim by Dr. Kara Grimes, who can't access the embiggering equipment. She's a medical doctor, not an academic one and thus lacks authorization (and presumably training) for such things.
* InsistentTerminology: Blizzard calls their game a "hero brawler" instead of a {{MOBA}}; characters lampshading this is even the page quote on the trope page for MOBA. SPEAR does not call it [[MagicByAnyOtherName magic]], it's "Functional Supernatural Phenomena."

* MadeOfIron: ZigZagged; the Player slaps Valla across the room but she doesn't [[DeathIsCheap respawn]]. However, when the Player smacks Jaina (who is trying to be helpful by turning off an [[RingRingCRUNCH annoying alarm clock]]), she respawns from the impact. [[spoiler: Later, Li Li is kicked and ends up respawning.]] It seems what it takes to kill a Hero [[AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe depends on what best fits the moment]] (PlayedForLaughs, PlayedForDrama, etc).

* MeaningfulName: SPEAR does this with some of their ships--''Iron Chancellor'' is made from [[spoiler:the sunken German battleship ''Bismarck.'' Otto von Bismarck's nickname was the "Iron Chancellor."]]

* MindWipe: Discussed. Nova's past, [[AllThereInTheManual since erased]], becomes a plot point once again.

* MrExposition: Downplayed; Li Li's conversation with scientists does have small amounts of exposition but anyone expecting a full-on briefing of what SPEAR (and its predecessors) does or did would be left wanting more, since the reader is only given a general idea. Li Li herself serves as MissExposition InUniverse to the other Heroes as well (though again the reader is not given any context--only that "Li Li told the other Heroes things").
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: There are a lot of "doctors" around [=SPEAR's=] facility, but many of them are non-medical. The narration even points this out upon introducing an MD proper.
* NotNowKiddo: The Player blows off warnings of suspicious activity from the white car. This ends up leading to an unpleasant surprise later.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Subverted. There are many types of non-medical doctors around SPEAR's facilities, but they have distinctive fields of study. Raynor gets this reaction upon asking the two scientists they saved whether either of them knows anything about a ''Manta'' transport's engines--they don't, it's not their field. Wane knows about the materials science, but that's it.

* PetTheDog: Minor moments with the robbers, who are somewhat concerned that apparently the Player has at least one child they were not told about judging by the huge number of toy towers they find. One even worries their noise will "wake the kid." They also knock out Jake the Golden Retriever instead of killing him.
* PoweredArmor: WET has at least one type--called the [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117]]. It packs shields and allows its operative to carry a {{BFG}}.

* PunchClockVillain: The narration points this out regarding most of the personnel at the SPEAR[=/=]WET facility. Raynor's response to Sylvanas' attack drives the point home further.
* RealityEnsues: Flying drones are fun...until the batteries drain. Thankfully, Nova and Raynor get the drone down before it drops. Nova's GPS, despite being from the [=2500s=] or so, has the same problem in cities that most small GPS (think smartphone) units have--it loses accuracy. Though Gazlowe's traps are useful, that very fact causes even the Player to trip on them, leading to their dismantlement. Triggering an alarm and immediately cancelling it while blaming a "system error" may work in the Heroes' universes, but SPEAR[=/=]WET will not fall for such shenanigans, as noted by Bokat-Anne. Showing up right next to a [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Navy carrier group]] without answering hails or identifying yourself is a good way to be [[StopOrIWillShoot shot at]].

* RefugeInAudacity: Why SPEAR [[spoiler:resurrected ''Bismarck'']] and built a base [[spoiler:on the mountain where its wreck lay]]. Also referenced with whaling, although exactly why [[CrypticBackgroundReference again remains unexplained]].
* ReluctantFanserviceGirl: Sylvanas has found out how she is portrayed at conventions and in fanart, thus realizing that she is somewhat of a sex symbol in this world. She does not like it despite [[HypocriticalHumor having no objection to the clothing she is presently wearing]] being the [[ChainmailBikini source of the fanservice]].

** Where have we seen [[Film/HomeAlone robbers (including one named Harry) get foiled by traps before]]? The Player even lampshades it after having all of those traps applied to them by mistake. InUniverse, it's discussed how separating Harry and Marv was supposed to ''prevent'' any further failures (it doesn't work).

** A doctor tells her patient "[[Film/PacificRim These are just memories. None of this is real...stay in the now]]."

** "[[VideoGame/BioShock1 Would you kindly]] put this irksome Akarat freak out of her misery?" Bonus points for the person the phrase is used on being under mind-controlling effects at the time.

** WET deploys [[Franchise/{{Halo}} J117 power armor]]. Its InUniverse nickname is even "The Chief." Given discussion of [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD Coulson]], perhaps WET plays the Halo games as well.
** ''StarWars'' apparently exists in ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftI StarCraft]]'', as Raynor quotes ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' verbatim as a form of stalling. It's also suggested he [[CantBelieveISaidThat realizes how dumb it sounded]].
* ShownTheirWork: EXIF data is a real thing--most smartphones (and some smart cameras) embed GPS information into their files, making locations easily traceable (assuming the GPS had an accurate lock at the time) if the data is not removed prior to uploading to the internet. Geolocating based on IP addresses is less accurate, but if the IP in question is fixed to a well-known building (like a universty computing cluster) then it becomes a simple matching game. The USS ''Harry S. Truman'' is also in fact one of the RealLife battle groups on the Atlantic side, at least at the time this fanfiction was written.

* SpiesInAVan: The Heroes and Player take note of a white car that seems to spend an unusual amount of time loitering in the neighborhood where it had previously never been seen. The fact that there are [[GenreSavvy binoculars on the dashboard]] convinces the Player that someone (the Heroes) should watch it.