History VideoGame / SilentThreatReborn

'''''Silent Threat: Reborn''''' is a [[GameMod fan-made]] {{expansion pack}} for the ''VideoGame/FreeSpace2'' video game. It was inspired by a common fan reaction to a pre-existing official expansion pack (called ''Silent Threat'') for ''[=FreeSpace=] 1''. While ''[=FS1=]'' and ''[=FS2=]'' received very positive reviews and were regarded highly by the fan base, ''Silent Threat'' was regarded poorly in comparison due to its haphazard plot and weak missions. A group of fans decided to remake it, and the result is widely judged to approach the quality of ''[=FS1=]'' and ''[=FS2=]''.

So, the story. After the events of ''[=FreeSpace=]'', the player (not the same character as in the first game) is recruited into an elite intelligence unit in the Galactic Terran Alliance, called Galactic Terran Intelligence. In the course of performing special operations missions and secret spy missions, the player discovers that GTI is conspiring to overthrow the GTA. The player must overcome the conspiracy and stop it.

* AchillesHeel: Inverted -- [[spoiler:one of your enemies tries to do the Death Star TrenchRun on an installation you're protecting.]]
* AttentionDeficitCreatorDisorder: While developing this mod, the two project leads were administrating and heavily contributing to about a dozen other ''[=FreeSpace=]'' projects between them. As a hobby, mind you.

* DoingItForTheArt: Several...
** Despite the fact that the game was in a reasonably complete state after a year of work (as evidenced by the timeline included in the readme) the authors kept polishing, and polishing, and polishing... causing development to stretch out to ''six years''. Granted, the final result was probably worth it.
** Voice acting, a rare enhancement in a fan-made ''[=FreeSpace=]'' game, was considered mandatory for ST:R.
** A surprising amount of effort was put into the story and plot. Interviews and developer comments have shed light on many game details that aren't apparent upon first playthrough.
** In the month leading up to the game's release, the developers went and created a secret ''ARG/ILoveBees''-style alternate reality game called Phoenix to provide more goodies for fans.
** Oh, and see ConLang above -- made even more impressive by the fact that said language was only used for promoting the mod, and not for the mod itself.

* ThereIsNoKillThanOverkill: Attempted by the Shivans in one mission where you attempt to escort three science vessels. Two of them mysteriously self destruct, two Shivan Cruisers show up, and then ''[[FromBadToWorse a Shivan Destroyer then pops up]]'' as one pilot summarizes the mission as "all this for mere a science vessel?" Fortunately for you, you are on the receiving end of a BigDamnHeroes moment when a Terran destroyer attempts to take on the Shivan destroyer one-on-one while you work on protecting the lone Science Vessel.

* CurbStompBattle: Attempted by the Shivans in one mission where you attempt to escort three science vessels. Two of them mysteriously self destruct, two Shivan Cruisers show up, and then ''[[FromBadToWorse a Shivan Destroyer then pops up]]'' as one pilot summarizes the mission as "all this for mere a science vessel?" Fortunately for you, you are on the receiving end of a BigDamnHeroes moment when a Terran destroyer attempts to take on the Shivan destroyer one-on-one while you work on protecting the lone Science Vessel.

* GuideDangIt: The only way to avoid the two NonStandardGameOver instances is by knowing certain pieces of information that is only available on the Hard Light Production's [=FreeSpace=] Wiki.

* GuideDangIt: The only way to avoid the two NonStandardGameOver instances is by knowing certain pieces of information that is only available on the FreeSpace Wiki.

* SpaceBattle: This being the StandardScFiSetting it goes without saying.

* EscortMission: Averted most impressively in the mission "He Who Rides the Tiger".

** Actually a DoubleSubversion; you don't have to escort the science vessels, but you do have to escort the ships that arrive to pick up the pieces.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: The introductory mission ''Silence All Voices'' requires you to wipe out all Terrans and Vasudans fighting each other. As the commanding officer puts it, you are to "sanitize the area". [[spoiler: Later on, in ''Betrayed'' one of the fighters trying to defend the escape pods from getting destroyed says that the GTI is "trying to sanitize us".]]

* RammingAlwaysWorks: Averted, mostly. (It half-works. Or more accurately, it quarter-works.)

* MilitaryCoup: The FreeSpace 2 backstory notes that, while unsuccessful, the GTI Rebellion is the first of many that leads to the collapse of TheAlliance.

* ShoutOut: A [[ShellShockedVeteran shocked Vasudan]] at one point blabbers "[[ZeroWing Somebody set us up the bomb]]."

** In the month leading up to the game's release, the developers went and created a secret ILoveBees-style alternate reality game called Phoenix to provide more goodies for fans.

* ChekhovsGunman: One mission has a GTI destroyer attacking a Shivan destroyer. During the melee, some fighters show up from a previous operation, with one pilot declaring it as a complete success. The GTI destroyer asks the pilots to assist in your mission. Later on, during the final advance on the Shivans, the same pilot and his group appears after completing their phase of the operation, the same pilot simply saying "good luck" and jumping out. [[spoiler:After your phase of the operation is completed, the pilot and his group return ''a third time''. If you don't find anything suspicious and don't jump out when your wingmates start freaking out, said pilot detonates a special weapon that disables your ship which results in you and your wingmen getting blasted to smithereens.]]

* {{Foreshadowing}}: The introductory mission ''Silence All Voices'' requires you to wipe out all Terrans and Vasudans fighting each other. As the commanding officer puts it, you are to "sanitize the area". [[spoilers: Later on, in ''Betrayed'' one of the fighters trying to defend the escape pods from getting destroyed says that the GTI is "trying to sanitize us".]]

:: Actually a DoubleSubversion; you don't have to escort the science vessels, but you do have to escort the ships that arrive to pick up the pieces.

** After you finish off your Shivans, the Crazy Ivans return even though they had completed their mission prior to your arrival. Your wingmates become heavily suspicious (especially since your home base had not contacted you throughout the mission). [[spoiler: If you don't jump out at this point, the Crazy Ivans detonate an EMP that disables you and your wingmates' ships, thus opening you up to a quick blasting with you unable to fight back.]]

* CurbStompBattle: Attempted by the Shivans in one mission where you attempt to escort three science vessels. Two of them mysteriously self destruct, two Shivan Cruisers show up, and then [[FromBadToWorse a Shivan ''Destroyer'' then pops up]] as one pilot summarizes the mission as "all this for mere a science vessel?" Fortunately for you, you are on the receiving end of a BigDamnHeroes moment when a Terran destroyer attempts to take on the Shivan destroyer one-on-one while you work on protecting the lone Science Vessel.

* CurbStompBattle: Attempted by the Shivans in one mission where you attempt to escort three science vessels. Two of them mysteriously self destruct, two Shivan Cruisers show up, and then a Shivan ''Destroyer'' then pops up as one pilot summarizes the mission as "all this for a science vessel?" Fortunately for you, you are on the receiving end of a BigDamnHeroes moment when a Terran destroyer attempts to take on the Shivan destroyer one-on-one while you work on protecting the lone Science Vessel.

* ChekhovsGunman: One mission has a GTI destroyer attacking a Shivan destroyer. During the melee, some fighters show up from a previous operation, with one pilot declaring it as a complete success. The GTI destroyer asks the pilots to assist in your mission. Later on, during the final advance on the Shivans, the same pilot appears after completing his phase of the operation, with one of them simply saying "good luck" and jumping out. [[spoiler:After your phase of the operation is completed, the pilot and his group return ''a third time''. If you don't find anything suspicious and don't jump out when your wingmates start freaking out, said pilot detonates a special weapon that disables your ship which results in you and your wingmen getting blasted to smithereens.]]

* ChekhovsGunman: One mission has a GTI destroyer attacking a Shivan destroyer. During the melee, some fighters show up from a previous operation, declaring it as a complete success. The GTI destroyer asks the pilots to assist in your mission. Later on, during the final advance on the Shivans, the same pilot group appears after completing his phase of the operation, with one of them simply saying "good luck" and jumping out. [[spoiler:After your phase of the operation is completed, the pilots return ''a third time''. If you don't find anything suspicious and don't jump out when your wingmates start freaking out, said pilots detonates a special weapon that disables your ship which results in you and your wingmen getting blasted to smithereens.]]

* ChekhovsGunman: One mission has a GTI destroyer attacking a Shivan destroyer. During the melee, some fighters show up from a previous operation, declaring it as a complete success. The GTI destroyer asks the pilots to assist in your mission. Later on, during the final advance on the Shivans, the same pilot group appears after completing his phase of the operation, with one of them simply saying "good luck" and jumping out. [[spoiler:After your phase of the operation is completed, the pilots return ''a third time''. If you don't find anything suspicious and don't jump out when your wingmates start freaking out, said pilot detonates a special weapon that disables your ship which results in you and your wingmen getting blasted to smithereens.]]

* ChekhovsGunman: One mission has a GTI destroyer attacking a Shivan destroyer. During the melee, some fighters show up from a previous operation, declaring it as a complete success. The destroyer asks the pilots to assist in your mission. [[spoiler: Later on, during the final advance on the Shivans, the same pilot appears after completing his phase of the operation, simply saying "good luck" and warping out. After your phase of the operation is completed, the pilots return ''a third time''. If you don't find anything suspicious and don't jump out when your wingmates start freaking out, said pilot detonates a special weapon that disables your ship which results in you and your wingmen getting blasted to smithereens.]]

* ShoutOut: A [[ShellShockedVeteran shocked Vasudan]] at one point blabbers "'[[ZeroWing Somebody set us up the bomb]]'."