During the campaign of The Division, we had to deal with some rogue agents from the first wave. We summarize for you why they turned away from the Division and what it all has to do with Aaron Keener.
Although The Division does not have a particularly thrilling or emotional story campaign, Massive has managed to create a strong network of various interesting stories in combination with various echoes and audio logs scattered throughout the game world.
One of the most interesting and important storylines revolves around the rogue first-wave agent Aaron Keener. Who he was and why he became a rogue will be examined in closer detail now.
Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t completed the campaign yet, you should not continue reading, as content from the final missions will be discussed.
The Background
After the outbreak of the pandemic, the US government declared a state of emergency and activated the Division. The first wave was dispatched to support local forces and regain control of the situation. Among them was agent Aaron Keener – call sign: “Vanguard”.
He was supposed to become one of the main antagonists for our agents.
Who was Aaron Keener before the outbreak? As part of the first wave, he was a well-trained soldier with a degree from the military college in South Carolina. Later, he was stationed in Djibouti, Africa. During his time on the front lines, he was less often found on the battlefields and more often organized the operational base on-site.
It quickly became apparent that Keener was very talented both militarily and as a decision-maker. After his time in the military, he became a Wall Street broker. Always convinced of being on top in every situation, Keener was adaptable and confident even then.
He was seen as a rising star who never had to deal with extreme resistance. With his likable personality, he was always able to convince others of his standpoint.
This character strength, coupled with military experience, willpower, and intelligence, led to Keener being characterized as the prototype for the ideal Division agent.
What happened after the outbreak? Aaron Keener was part of the first wave sent to Manhattan after the outbreak. One of the main objectives was the securing of the Dark Zone. The recovery of sick civilians took top priority.
But the CERA, an organization that operates in disasters, and the JTF, a coalition of police officers, firefighters, and volunteers, had long since lost control.
They ordered a retreat from the Dark Zone. The Division was forced to leave behind expensive equipment, comrades, and civilians. Additionally, they lost all hope of regaining control of the Dark Zone.
This was a key moment for Keener that was supposed to change his perspective. During this time, some event must have severely shaken his views. He decided to turn rogue.
From now on, sheer power and influence were his only pursuits – regardless of the cost. Laws and the lives of others no longer mattered to him. Audio logs from the West Side Pier also suggest that he might have developed sadistic tendencies along with his hunger for power.
What happened to the remaining Division agents? Aaron Keener gathered the remaining members of the first wave and convinced them of his cause. Those who did not join him were threatened with death. The agents who could escape were relentlessly hunted down.
This led to the activation of the second wave and thus the dispatch of our agents.