“ Bardon Schaeffer. Leader of the B.T.S.U. Since we discovered he turned Lau and Coswald, we're suspected he's been recruiting other disavowed agents to his unit ”
Bardon Schaeffer was the Black Tusk Specialist Unit Leader during the Black Tusk Invasion of Washington, D.C. He was initially directly below the Black Tusk Commanding Officer for the majority of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 (whose identity has yet to be unmasked alongside the majority of Black Tusk's higher-ups), but after disastrous ordeals throughout the nation's capital alongside the events that led to his retreat at Liberty Island and the assimilation of the remaining Last Man Battalion forces, he now reports directly to Natalya Sokolova since Season 3's expansion pack's Manhunt in which at the time of the season release, vague details was known about Natalya at the time.
In the first year of the game, Bardon and the B.T.S.U. have monitored the status of Washington, D.C. and since has invaded the city swiftly after the Division pushed out the True Sons from the Capitol Building. Attempting to put the nation's capital in the B.T.S.U.'s grip, the motives of Black Tusk (specifically the B.T.S.U.) were very vague until mission after mission they were considered hostiles as their motives unraveled, until the moment Alani Kelso marked Schaeffer as The Division's most wanted for accusing them as a rogue agency and for high crimes discovered through the sandbox ECHO scenes. After the events of Season 3, Concealed Agenda, he was neutralized by the Division at Coney Island and was unconsciously apprehended at Kelso's request.
In the events of Hidden Alliance, it was revealed that Schaeffer went turncoat after he learned the truth about the Hunters and Calvin McManus from Faye Lau. Thus, the reason he was in Conley Island was to act as bait and be captured by the Division, so he could warn them about the Hunters. Unfortunately, due to being in a coma, he couldn't deliver the message.
In Reign of Fire, when Black Tusk attacked the White House, a squad was sent to eliminate Schaeffer. Thankfully, Manny Ortega hid him in the panic room and the Black Tusk forces were eliminated by swift intervention from Division agents.
With Burden of Truth, it's revealed that Schaeffer is the key to opening the secret bunkers held by Black Tusk. And after awakening from his coma after two months in the hospital bed, the future still holds out for Schaeffer and his role in the coming conflict between the Division and the Black Tusk/Hunters.
Profile[]
The leader of the Black Tusk Specialist Unit (B.T.S.U.), Bardon Schaeffer has been one of The Division's most wanted. Schaeffer comes from a military family with a long and proud tradition of municipal and federal service. At age 19, he dropped out of college and enlisted in the United States Army, where he quickly showed proficiency and rose to the top of his platoon. He was assigned to a special forces unit where he was active in several "dark ops" before being recruited by Black Tusk. Black Tusk have obtained the sitting President of the United States and have been working to destabilize The Division's efforts. Schaeffer believes he is a true patriot and is doing the right thing for the country.
He served multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. Highly tactical with a proven ability to eliminate targets with extreme efficiency. Respected among his comrades and a natural choice for the role of Specialist Unit Leader.
History[]
Events of Tom Clancy's The Division 2[]
He has been ordered by an employer of sorts - to get his own special Black Tusk unit to utilize a "golden opportunity". This turned out to be the Black Tusk Specialist Unit.
Bardon Schaeffer's history is mostly hidden; except for the fact that he and his B.T.S.U. has been lying in the shadows, monitoring the status of Washington, D.C. ever since the Green Poison hit, preparing for the right time to strike the city.
He managed to get two American Secret Service agents to assassinate President Mendez and guise the murder as a suicide, promising them safe passage out of the city. However, with the help of fellow B.T.S.U. member, Petrus Brenner, Schaeffer had the Secret Service agents killed.
With members from his B.T.S.U., they also discussed the various factions in D.C. to B.T.S.U. member Elijah Sumner, the Hyenas seemed to be the best option to give the most trouble to both the Division and the other factions in D.C. Schaeffer liked Sumner's recommendation and passed it onto to his supervisor. He also attempted to hire Odessa Sawyer into the B.T.S.U., but she turned down the offer.
Before the Division could make their assault on the Capitol Building, he made contact with President Ellis regarding the antivirals as the facility holding them can't be accessed without the briefcase held at the True Sons stronghold. Shortly after the Division secured the Capitol Building, he met with Ellis along with the briefcase in tow. Ellis passed Schaeffer the antivirals, in which he ordered Milla "Wyvern" Radek to store the antivirals at Tidal Basin, the Black Tusk's main base in D.C.
Tidal Basin[]
As the Division moved through the stronghold, Schaeffer attempted to get Wyvern to make a foot extraction with the antivirals, since a Division helicopter destroyed a turbine, leaving Black Tusk with little to no options. Wyvern ignored Black Tusk's tactical disadvantage by commencing a missile attack against the White House, in which Schaeffer was extremely against.
The Division gunned down Wyvern, stopped the missile launch and secured the antivirals shortly after.
The Pentagon[]
During Black Tusk's occupation of The Pentagon, he emphasized to Brenner about the importance of keeping the place in check and keep the Division from taking the Perfusion Bioreactor.
In spite of Brenner's numerous attempts to stop the Division, they still managed to get the reactor.
Rebuilding the unit[]
Additionally, Schaeffer's attempt to rebuild his Specialist Unit came to a grinding halt when Division agents stormed Camp White Oak and stopped Black Tusk from extracting any data and information from there. Out of frustration due to the insubordinate actions of Heads and Tails, the lead B.T.S.U. operatives tasked to lead the mission, he called his employer, telling him to stop sending clowns.
Warlords of New York[]
Sometime before the events of Warlords of New York, Schaeffer made contact with Faye Lau regarding the exchange of a rogue agent, Alicia Coswald, who aligned herself with Black Tusk. During the events of Warlords of New York, he led the assault on Liberty Island in hopes to eliminate Aaron Keener. However, due to intervention from Division agents causing the DDP-52 Razorback to be disabled and a XB-31 "Marauder" Quadcopter and a number of Warhounds hacked by Keener, Schaeffer ordered the retreat.
After Keener's death, his conversation with Lau was intercepted by Division agents regarding the activation of the Rogue Agent Network. While he wasn't keen on having to deal with more rogue agents, Lau reassured him that it will bring the Division to its knees, and they will be able to end them once and for all.
Keener's Legacy[]
Sometime after Keener's death, Schaeffer tried to persuade Carter "Hornet" Leroux to join Black Tusk as part of a recruiting drive. Unfortunately, Hornet rebuked his offer, suggesting Schaeffer that Hornet only has one boss, and when he refers to Keener lives on in more ways he can think of, he made himself clear that Keener is his only boss.
Concealed Agenda[]
Prior to the op, he was leading with rogue agents under his command, he shared his doubts with Natalya Sokolova. Though Natalya believed that it's a chance to keep her business partners happy and an opportunity for Faye Lau and her fellow rogue agents to prove themselves they are worthy. Despite his apprehension over Faye's capabilities, Natalya sternly ordered Bardon to handle responsibility and failures from Faye as he did bring her to Black Tusk and warned him that she does not tolerate failure to which Bardon understood.
During the op, Schaeffer got requests from his rogue agents for resources and supplies, which he satisfied their requests. Schaeffer contacted Faye Lau in regard to this, informing her that this operation is getting expensive, and questioned her how well do Lau knew these rogue agents and if they were to be trusted since Linette Edwards requested for a meeting with no apparent reason.
After many requests from his Rogue Agents to his dissatisfaction, Schaeffer contacts Faye Lau to set up a meeting in Coney Island to discuss the current operation and how it's going. He would take his full reinforcement (4 Elite B.T.S.U. bodyguards and the Hunter) to the island, suggesting the "meeting" is only a setup to kill Faye. Unfortunately, the Division crashes the party by invading Coney Island and taking down the resident Rikers and confronting the Hunter.
After the Hunter was taken down, Schaeffer receives a call from Natalya Sokolova, who asks him if the Hunter is still in play, to which he replies, "negative on the Hunter". Schaeffer then engaged in a firefight with the Division and was severely wounded, which led to Division agent Alani Kelso sending a team to retrieve and apprehend him.
Hidden Alliance[]
After Faye's death at Camp White Oak and Agent Kelso's discovery of her "Insurance Policy", it's revealed that Schaeffer switched sides sometime before his apprehension at Coney Island and has been covertly working with Lau against the Black Tusk to warn the Division about Calvin McManus and the Hunters. As a matter of fact, the entire Coney Island operation was a mere setup by them to purposefully get Schaeffer apprehended by the Division, all so that he could brief Kelso on the situation, however, after suffering severe injuries from the confrontation against the agents, Schaeffer has been put into a coma, and is currently unable to tell Kelso the full extent of the threat that's coming.
Reign of Fire[]
When Sokolova distracted the Division with Stovepipe, she sent Black Tusk forces to attack the White House and eliminate Schaeffer, if found. Fortunately for Schaeffer, Manny had him hidden in the panic room. Despite the effort that his former boss went to had him killed, Schaeffer was still in a coma and it remains to be seen if he wakes up.
Burden of Truth[]
An audio intel recovered from the Descent simulation facility revealed that Schaeffer's capture by the Division was part of the plan that Aaron Keener and Bridgette Douglas counted on. However, because Schaeffer was in a coma, he couldn't deliver Faye's message to the agents as they were already set to hunt down Faye Lau at the time
Additionally Division agents follow Agent Kelso's trail across Washington, D.C. to find her, where they'd recover intel that reveals more of the truth with Faye Lau, her Cassandra mission, and Schaeffer as he's still the key despite being in a coma for the time being.
Red Light[]
As expected, Schaeffer was involved in this mess, as the fifth intel that Division agents found in Constitution Hall involved him and Bridgette "Viper" Douglas, where the latter tried to convince him to not follow through with the plan to act as bait for the Division. Schaeffer insisted, arguing that they've worked too hard on this and it can't be for nothing. Moreover, he grimly remarked that he and his fellow defectors might as well die with a clean conscience when Douglas expressed if this is where they're gonna die.
Schaeffer argued to Douglas that the quality of time that is spent with loved ones matters more, and encouraged her to be with Faye Lau, as it may be the last time together for the two women. Just then, Douglas learned that Smart Watch turned red, which Schaeffer deduced ISAC thinks they're off mission. Therefore, he convinced Douglas to leave him for be his mission and go see her girlfriend, which she agreed.
Time will only tell about Schaeffer's role as the key for the Division and their allies.
Chickenhawk[]
Schaeffer was with Keener and Douglas when the latter informed them that Faye Lau managed to gain access to President Ellis, as he liked Lau enough to put her in his security detail. Schaeffer was curious who's in the next line of succession, in the event that Ellis doesn't give Lau access to The Ark, which Douglas confirmed it'd be automatically given to the Secretary of Agrilculture, who was working at a CERA installation in Arkansas.
Schaeffer was then concerned that Sokolova would kill the Secretary so McManus, though Douglas tried to assuage his worries where she mentioned it'd be easier for Nat to pretend being the hero if she doesn't indiscrimentaly kill politicians. One "suicide" could be ignored, but 17 untimely deaths is a pattern she wouldn't be able to explain away
Unfortunately, as confirmed by ANNA to the Division agents who found that intel drop, the Secretary of Agriculture died from Anaphylaxis last month (September, at the least) due to suffering an allegic reaction to sesame oil.
Vanguard[]
Schaeffer was baffled when he learned from Douglas that she's best friends with Aaron Keener. Especially, given his notorious reputation. Douglas mentioned that they've been friends and always will be. However, when he asked her if she ever hooked up with Keener, Douglas got grossed out and emphasized that she's simply friends with Vanguard, nothing more.
Glasses[]
Schaeffer was with Douglas when they talked to ANNA, as the former asks the AI what she thinks of Theo Parnell. ANNA answers that she considers "Glasses" as the kindest, smartest, and most handsome person who have ever lived, which led to Schaeffer asking if Theo programmed her to say that. ANNA admits that's the case, but her praises for Parnell are mostly true.
After Douglas finished talking with ANNA, Schaeffer noticed vocal similarities between her and the AI, and asks her if she voiced ANNA. Douglas did not, and commented that Claire the one who built her. Schaeffer was confused, which baffled Douglas as she gave him the briefs about Claire, which Schaeffer didn't read on given he was a little busy. Nonetheless, Douglas tells him that Theo didn't build ANNA, he simply set her free. Claire Ortiz is the one who built ANNA, and if they want this conflict to end, they need Claire.
Asset[]
Schaeffer discussed with Douglas about Natalya Sokolova's asset in Washington, D.C, speculating who it might be. Douglas was concerned it's not just one person, which prompted Schaeffer to ask her if the asset could be her dad. While Douglas doesn't discount the possibility given her father's acquaintance with Nat, she also mentioned that Sokolova is in many circles within D.C., and theroized that the asset could be anyone; A Kenly College student who took summer internship at Sokolov Concern, one of Cal's Hunters, or even an actor that Nat hired.
Schaeffer found some amusement about the third possibility, and commented that it'd be funny if the future of the free world depended on an actor.
Fish Tacos[]
Schaeffer was with Douglas when discussing the Castle settlement, where he noted her jealousy that she denied at first, but relented when she admitted that Lauren Fong and Amanda Weekes' work over there is making a difference, while all she does is clandestine murder sprees. Schaeffer did find a bit of amusement of teasing Douglas, though he'd soon find out the conversation made her hungry and wanting to eat a fish taco.
Watch[]
Bardon Schaeffer was shown a bracelet that Mackenzie Meret made to hide Douglas's smart watch, and was surprised when he read the inscription that Mack wrote for Douglas. This led him to questioning about the ex-socialite and her reputation as a rich philanthropist. Douglas doesn't deny it as Mack is very community-oriented. However, when it comes to friendships, Mack is a total dick as she's all ego and competition. Douglas pins the blame on Natalya Sokolova, as Mack often tried to one-up against her. Douglas admitted she'd prefer if these two women would just have sex and calm down, but is aware that'll never happen
Douglas then goes over her rant against Mack, talking about the tragic accident that killed her parents, being shipped off to a boarding school alongside kids from other rich socialites. Mack hated her time there, knowing she'll never be as beautiful as Nat, and hated that she was being given her family's inheritance, not wanting to feed the war machine, and later pass it on to her future kids. Therefore, Mack became hellbent on never having kids and tried to give away all the blood money.
Moreover, Mack tried to rid of her blood money by launching a fashion line, which took off, so her blood money multiplied. Douglas ends her rant by calling Mack as this sad rich spinster who tried to make up generations of exploitation, which never worked so she spent her time getting drunk and growing tomatoes. And on occasion, making titanium bracelets for her friends with inappropriate inscriptions.
The Key[]
Schaeffer was approached by Aaron Keener, regarding his role. He agreed, as he was already convinced by Lau and Douglas. Schaeffer then became aware that he's the key to unlock Nat's secret bunkers. He was apprehensive, as he is aware Nat would never let Keener near her bunkers. Keener knew that, but also knows that Schaeffer is Nat's favorite among her inner circle in the BTSU and has the needed security cleaance. So, they need a good reason to have Schaeffer inside a bunker and upload Theo's program.
Awakening[]
While the Division agents finished up their incursion against the True Sons on Roosevelt Island to recover the Mobile SHD Server, Agent Kelso infilitrated her way to the White House's medbay where she killed Doctor Joshua Summers and injected a stim on Schaeffer to wake him up. While Manny Ortega confronted Kelso for her action, it was pushed aside as Schaeffer woke up from his coma trying to see Faye, though he'd be helped up by Manny and Kelso out of his bed after two months from his coma.
And with Schaeffer under interrogation in the meantime, he must reckon with the reality that Faye's gone, and his future role that could change the tide of the war.
Crossroads[]
While Division agents go around Washington D.C to find and secure their deep-cover asset, Bardon Schaeffer is under debriefing by Manny Ortega, where he'd share what he knows about Natalya Sokolova's plans. During the trail, agents recovered comms that involved Manny's debriefings with Schaeffer
The Code Name[]
In the first debreifing, Schaeffer maintained to Manny that he's still committed to the mission despite 2 months being wasted, even sharing his misgivings to the Division killing his friend Faye Lau and not being aware that Doctor Summers was intentionally keeping him unconscious due to his credentials, leading to Manny admitting that he and the White House staff were wrong about Summers.
The Bunker[]
In the second debrief, Schaeffer informed Manny that Black Tusk's bunkers are set in almsot every corner of the US. As clarification, he explains that getting to the bunkers tend to be a less than a day's walk, half an hour of driving, and an hour or two on helo depending on weather conditions. Though, in the case of helos, they'd need a landing pad.
Schaeffer also confesses that the Division is no way able to compete against the bunkers, emphasizing taking out the bunkers from the inside is the best possible route. And the best way to do that, is to take out Black Tusk's network, DIAMOND, and all their bunkers and Nat's tech would be taken out in the process.
The Plan[]
In the third debrief, Schaeffer explained to Manny that in order to take down The Network for good, they need Claire Ortiz, the "football", and the Presidential Clearance. Manny was confused when he was told that they have the clearance, as he had the impression only the POTUS could have it. This led to a bit of a frustrating discussion, as Schaeffer explaned further that he's "The Key" to the Black Tusk bunker, not Ortiz Robotics Network. And if Faye Lau had fulfilled her mission and Ellis dead, she would've had the clearance.
This led to Manny realizing that Faye's watch is the clearance, though he'd tell Schaeffer that it's with Kelso and he let her go, as that watch puts a target on her back and doesn't want to put Manny and the White House in any more danger. Schaeffer asked him if they talked about it in a comms-free space, and Manny confirmed as Kelso insisted no comms, wi-fi killers, and EMPs to keep their conversation from being recorded.
Schaeffer admits that was smart from Kelso, and mused that despite her CIA clearance being revoked, they didn't revoke the training she was taught in.
Abilities[]
In-game, Schaeffer is a Rogue Agent armed with a Paratrooper SVD, Tactical AUG A3P, SHD Explosive Sticky Bombs, SHD Airburst Seeker-Mines and B.T.S.U. Lethal EMP Jammer Grenades.
Quotes[]
“ Boss, its Schaeffer. Total washout. You want me to rebuild this unit, stop sending me fucking clowns. Now if you'll excuse me, I am gonna go shoot myself in the fucking head. - Schaeffer, after the second operation at Camp White Oak failed.”
“ Finally we meet face to face. You've been a serious pain in my ass for a long time, my friend. Now I intend to relieve that pain for good. - Schaeffer, upon first engaging the Division Agents.”
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- At the very start of his boss fight, Schaeffer can be seen holding the Nemesis Exotic Marksman Rifle, however, it quickly transforms into a Paratrooper SVD after his initial dialogue and animation ends.
- When previously seen in ECHOs spread across Washington, D.C., Schaeffer was depicted as a Black Tusk Thrower armed with an ACR assault rifle instead.
Missions[]
- Tidal Basin (voice only)
- Camp White Oak (Invaded) (voice only)
- Coney Island Manhunt: Schaeffer
- Roosevelt Island: Alani Kelso