The Vector

Lore & Background

The Vector is forged from equal parts paranoia and ingenuity. DedSec's top engineers stripped a standard smartphone down to its silicon bones, then rebuilt it with a custom OS—DedSec OS—that treats ctOS security protocols like a locked door begging to be kicked in. Its shell is ruggedized, scarred by fieldwork, and splashed with the faction's signature yellow-and-black, a color scheme that screams 'I don't belong here, and I'm about to prove it.' Inside, the hardware is a fortress: custom encryption chips, a signal-jamming array, and a processor that can brute-force a network node while simultaneously deploying a drone to scout the next block.

In Marcus Holloway's hands, the Vector becomes an extension of his will. He uses it to profile a passerby's deepest secrets, hijack a security camera's feed, or trigger a chain reaction of exploding steam pipes beneath a Blume patrol. The phone's anti-tracking tech makes it a ghost on the network—no Blume algorithm can pin it down. It's not just a gadget; it's a declaration of war, a piece of hardware that exists solely to prove that no system is unbreakable.

But the Vector's legacy isn't just technical. It's a totem of the hacker underground's resilience. In key missions, its presence marks a turning point: a bridge rises to trap a convoy, a prison door clicks open, a corrupt CEO's private files spill across the web. The Vector doesn't just hack the city—it reclaims it, one node at a time.

In Their Own Story

Rain drummed a frantic rhythm on the dumpster lid as Marcus pressed his back against the cold metal, the Vector's screen painting his face in pale blue light. The Blume convoy rumbled onto the drawbridge below, headlights cutting through the downpour. He tapped 'Bridge Control'—the phone hummed, a low thrum like a predator's purr. The massive structure groaned, then lurched upward, steel grinding against steel. Sirens erupted. 'Too slow,' Marcus whispered, swiping to launch a drone from the Vector's interface. The little machine buzzed into the storm, its camera feed flickering on his screen. He jabbed 'Jam Comms'—the convoy's radios went dead, their shouts swallowed by static. As the trucks screeched to a halt, teetering on the rising span, Marcus allowed himself a thin smile. The city's pulse was now his to command, and the Vector was the stethoscope pressed to its throat.

Reader's Guide

**Weapons** - **Vector-9mm**: Found in the DedSec hideout after Act 1. A silenced sidearm that trades stopping power for surgical precision. High accuracy, moderate damage. Flavor: 'One quiet pop, one less problem. A hacker's best friend for clean exits.' - **Vector Shock Rifle**: Unlocked via side mission 'Shock and Awe'. Fires taser rounds that lock up enemies in a twitching dance. Low damage, high stealth utility. Flavor: 'Non-lethal, but they'll remember the jolt—and your face.'

**Gadgets** - **Vector Jam Comms**: Available from the start. Cuts off enemy calls for 15 seconds—no backup, no alarms. Flavor: 'Silence is golden, especially when you're the reason for it.' - **Vector RC Car**: Crafted from scrap electronics. A remote-controlled car with a camera eye small enough to slip under doors and smart enough to hack a keypad. Flavor: 'Tiny wheels, big secrets. Perfect for vents, crawlspaces, and ruining corporate security.'

**Vehicles** - **Vector Motorcycle**: Found in the Oakland docks. Speed: 8/10, Handling: 7/10, Capacity: 1. Flavor: 'Two wheels, one purpose: outrun the system.'

Did You Know?

• The Vector's design was inspired by real-world custom smartphones used by privacy activists—phones that can physically disconnect their own microphones and cameras to prevent snooping.
• In Watch Dogs 2, the Vector's operating system is called 'DedSec OS', a parody of Android that includes a boot screen mocking Blume's corporate slogans.
• The Vector can trigger environmental hazards like exploding steam pipes by hacking nearby ctOS nodes—a favorite trick for turning a firefight into a fireworks show.
• Marcus Holloway's Vector is the only device in the game that can fully access the 'Nudle' map system without triggering alarms, because DedSec embedded a backdoor during a previous raid on Blume servers.