Introduction
The action in the Deus Ex game series always takes place at night. Given the numerous references to time, it’s hard not to believe that everything happening in the game is precisely planned by the creators down to the minute. While putting together this timeline of events, it became clear that some seemingly minor details turned out to be very helpful. For example, on Monday, you can read an email on Jaime Reyes’ computer stating that he will receive an augmentation canister within 24 hours. The next day, when JC escapes from prison, Jaime shares his new acquisition. Therefore, it should be assumed that all time references are intentional.
The events of the game span 7 days. It begins on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday.
Placing the Events on the Calendar
JC Denton begins his service at UNATCO on the evening of Sunday, April 14, 2052. I determined this date based on Dr. Moreau’s journal found in the MJ12 laboratory on Liberty Island. However, Chris Todd—the writer responsible for the in-game texts—made an error by assigning incorrect weekday names, which correspond to the year 2054 (the journal begins on Sunday, April 12). This incorrect year, 2054, also appears in a newspaper article titled "Report for the New York City Council, 2053," as well as on labels describing the incubation pods in Area 51. I have therefore corrected the timeline by assigning dates from the year 2052. It is important to note that no other dates or days of the week are explicitly indicated elsewhere in the game.
Since the game always takes place at night, I also reviewed the sunrise and sunset times for the relevant time period.
Time Zones, Sunrise and Sunset Times for April 14–19, 2052
Distances and Travel Time
JC travels around the world using Jock’s helicopter. Calculations show that it can reach a speed of approximately 1,200 km/h. (This is based on the known killswitch activation time before and after each journey, which allows for estimation of travel speed.) This speed far exceeds that of any currently existing helicopter. The Eurocopter X3, considered the fastest helicopter to date, can reach a top speed of 472 km/h and is powered by a main lift rotor and two side-mounted propellers.
Below are approximate distances and minimum travel times between key locations, using the New York to Hong Kong journey as a reference point.
General Assumptions and Notes
- For some entries, I’ve included in-game information about various events. These may refer directly to the listed entry or to events that took place earlier or later. I have also provided the filenames where the referenced excerpts can be found. The first number indicates the mission number, the letter denotes the type of media (N - newspaper, B - book, Bu - bulletin, D - datacube, E - email), and the second number is the item’s sequence number. For example, 2N3 refers to the third newspaper found in mission
- Newspapers should be treated purely as information carriers. It’s unclear whether Chris Todd considered publishing cycles, and therefore the actual timing of printing and distribution. For consistency, I’ve assumed that newspapers may be issued in the morning (printed around 4:00 AM and immediately sold) and in the evening (printed around 7:00 PM). Evening newspapers include those that mention events from the previous day — for instance, newspaper 2N3: “Chinese authorities today announced that their state-of-the-art Zhou Enlai Lunar Mining Complex is operational and functioning at one hundred percent capacity.”
- For consistency, New York time is used as the reference point. In cases where the story moves to other locations, I also provide the local time.
- The entire structure would collapse if we take literally what JC Denton says to Gordon Quick outside the triad headquarters: “I was — before Paul showed up in New York. A day later I was helping the NSF.” This would suggest that only one day passes between JC’s arrival in New York and Hong Kong, although this line may not be meant to be interpreted literally.
Sunday, April 14, 2052
(Day – HK) China launches a lunar mining operation. The first delivery is scheduled for next week.
- (2N3; quote below)
(Day – NY) Bob Page opens a new submarine dock in Brooklyn.
- (2Bu2; quote below)
(16:00 NY / 4:00 HK [Monday]) Canal Road tunnel collapses as a result of fighting between triads.
(18:35 NY) After sunset, the NSF attacks a barge that is just docking at Liberty Island.
Mission 1
(19:35 NY) JC Denton arriving on Liberty Island.
- (UNATCO trooper) It was quiet 'til sundown, then all hell broke loose.
- (UNATCO trooper) It was clear an hour ago. Then BOOM.
- (Alex Jacobson) It all happened an hour ago.
(22:30 NY) JC Denton reaches the top of the statue and talks to Leo Gold.
Mission 2
(23:00 NY) JC reports to Joseph Manderley then heads to Hell's Kitchen.
- (2Bu2) In a ceremony held earlier today, the venerable Brooklyn Naval Yards christened a new, state-of-the-art sub pen.
- (2N3) Chinese authorities today announced that their state of the art Zhou Enlai Lunar Mining Complex is operational and functioning at one hundred percent capacity.
Monday, April 15, 2052
(0:00 NY) JC Denton meets Jock at the Underworld Tavern.
- (JC) What kind of chopper pilot starts work at midnight?
(2:00 NY) JC destroys NSF generator
Mission 3
(2:30 NY) JC returns to the UNATCO base.
- (UNATCO trooper) Earlier tonight, in the Statue, I bet you had at least a half-dozen takedowns. At least.
- (3E4) I will be arriving at Liberty later today to survey the situation and assess the viability of the primary subject.
(3:00 NY) JC sets out to find the Ambrosia cargo. Meanwhile, UNATCO forces storm the NSF HQ.
(10:00 NY) Walton Simons arrives at Liberty Island. He remains there until JC returns. (quote above)
(18:00 NY) JC emerges from the Moleman tunnels and enters La Guardia Airport. UNATCO forces occupy La Guardia Airport. Paul Denton is spotted escaping. Walton Simons immediately activates his killswitch.
- (3N1) With the announcement by the Chinese last week that the Zhou Enlai Lunar Mining Complex was fully operational.
Mission 4
(21:00 NY) JC returns to the UNATCO base.
- (Joseph Manderley) I hope you'll understand why the Coalition has shut down Paul's augmentations and has activated the killswitch.
- (4N2) A recent raid on UNATCO's Liberty Island headquarters by members of the National Seccessionist Forces (NSF) ended today when UNATCO troops, working in conjunction with local police, assaulted a warehouse in Hell's Kitchen where NSF units were regrouping.
- (4E4) Augmentation canister 10B (MJID-9138YU0983) has been shipped via suspension crate to UNATCO HQ for your distribution to nanotechnologically augmented agents under your care and should arrive within 24 hours.
(21:30 NY) JC is supposed to fly to Hong Kong, but Jock transports him to Hell's Kitchen.
(23:00 NY) JC betrays UNATCO by sending a warning signal to Silhouette. Walton Simons activates a 24-hour killswitch for JC.
- (Walton Simons) You won this time, but I've activated your killswitch. You will be dead within 24 hours.
Tuesday, April 16, 2052
Mission 5
(0:00 NY) JC is taken prisoner. His killswitch is deactivated. Jock flies to Hong Kong.
(2:45 NY) Anna Navarre comes to the imprisoned JC. JC escapes from his cell.
- (JC) You're early. I've got at least twenty hours left.
(3:15 NY) Paul had 18 hours left to live.
- (doctor in the MJ12 laboratory) I'm afraid your brother has about eighteen hours to live.
(9:00 NY / 21:00 HK) The ship carrying the virus leaves Hong Kong for New York.
(18:34 NY) Shermann retrieves UNATCO personnel logins.
- (5D8) Your request for: LOGINS/PASSWORDS was completed at 18:34:23.
(18:45 NY) JC talks to Jaime Reyes, who gives him a canister of nano-upgrades.
(20:00 NY) JC meets with Joseph Manderley. JC Denton has his killswitch reactivated - he has 23 hours left to live.
- (Walton Simons) Even if you escape, your killswitch is counting down. You'll be dead in twenty-three hours."
New MJ12 commandos will arrive in New York within 48 hours.
- (5E13) ..one of the first teams should arrive at your location within forty-eight hours to be placed directly under your command.
The situation in Hong Kong is deteriorating.
- (5Bu1) In the last twenty-four hours the political situation in Hong Kong has deteriorated rapidly and local authorities seem powerless to contain the chaos.
(9:00 PM NY) JC flies to Hong Kong.
(10:35 PM NY) Bob Page and Walton Simons visit Brooklyn Harbor. They close it down. (source below)
Wednesday, April 17, 2052
(0:00 NY / 13:00 HK) Bob Page flies to Hong Kong.
(5:00 NY) Walton Simons flies by helicopter from the Brooklyn shipyard to an unknown destination.
Mission 6
(7:38 NY / 19:38 HK) JC lands in Hong Kong. JC takes the elevator down to the streets of Wan Chai.
- (6D4) However, at 1938 there was an explosion and the sound of a helicopter flying from east to west.
- (Jock) Don't lose any time -- your killswitch is 12 hours old."
(8:10 NY / 20:10 HK) JC walks through the Wan Chai Market. He has 12 hours to live.
- (6D4) At 2010 I began to hear reports of a gwailo, possibly the same one who created problems for the elder brother recently, in the market.. / JC Denton: I'll help you against Ms. Chow, but then I'll need to see Tong, or I won't be your ally for more than about 12 hours.
- (Chinese Military Police at the Market) The market will close in two hours.
(HK) Two days ago, fighting between the triads resulted in the tunnel collapsing.
- (6N4) Explosions rocked the Wan Chai district two days ago as fighting between warring Triads resulted in the cave-in and flooding of the Canal Road Tunnel.
(HK) Mass Driver disaster.
- (6N2) Mass Driver Accident Kills Over 2,000.
(NY) The terrorist attack on Freedom Island that took place last week was immediately thwarted.
- (6N1) A terrorist strike on Liberty Island was blunted this past week when UNATCO forces moved swiftly to neutralize the threat.
(9:00 NY / 21:00 HK) JC meets Tracer Tong at his headquarters. He deactivates his killswitch.
- (Tracer Tong) So your killswitch has been activated. (JC Denton) I feel fine, but it's been over 16 hours.
A truce is reached between the triads. The curfew that was supposed to start at 10pm is lifted.
- (Chinese Military Police at the Market) The Triads have made peace. The market will stay open all night.
(9:13 NY / 21:13 HK) JC enters VersaLife. Bob Page is also present. Paul arrives at Tracer Tong 15 minutes before the killswitch ends.
- (6D7) 21:13 -- Unknown individual enters; may possibly match description of "J.C. Denton" referenced in security bulletin 133-B. Will continue observation and detain if confirmed match.
(9:30 NY / 21:30 HK) Bob Page flies to Washington.
(10:30 NY / 22:30 HK) JC returns to Tracer Tong and heads to MJ12 labs.
(12:00 NY / 0:00 HK [Thursday]) JC destroys Universal Constructor and returns to Tracer Tong. Flies to New York.
(16:00 NY / 4:00 HK [Thursday]) MJ12 blows up Versa Life to cover up tracks.
(17:00 NY/Washington) Bob Page presents Aquinas at press conference. (source below)
(18:27 NY / 6:00 HK [Thursday]) Ship carrying virus arrives in New York, 3 hours early. (source below)
Mission 8
(NY) Martial law declared in Manhattan.
- (8Bu1) Effective immediately, all citizens of New York City are hereby informed that, at the request of Governor Walpole, President Mead has declared MARTIAL LAW to be in effect for Manhattan and surrounding boroughs.
(19:00 NY) JC lands in New York City's Hell's Kitchen.
- (Vinne) Most of us were moved out of the main submarine hanger last night... FEMA's set up a perimeter.
- (8N2) As authorities continue to search the shattered structure through the early morning hours.
Mission 9
(19:30 NY) JC goes to the shipyard in Brooklyn.
- (guard at the gate) They just turned in.
- (guard at the gate) Bob Page was here yesterday. A couple of black helicopters landed this morning.
- (guard at the gate) I hear they're planning something big for tomorrow morning -- an airlift of some kind.
- (9B1) 22:35 Bob Page/Page Industries; 22:35 Walton Simons/FEMA
(20:00 NY) JC gets on the tanker and plants the charges.
- (Walton Simons) Captain Zhao. The helicopters will be there shortly. They are to be loaded for spraying of the virus. No delays. I want the helicopters operating before sunrise.
- (9E4) We arrived at 18:27 today, three hours ahead of schedule.
- (9N2) At a lavish press conference today attended by mainstream and technical media alike, Bob Page unveiled Page Industries (NASDAQ:PAGI) newest technological achievement, "Aquinas."
(8:30 PM NY) JC goes to the cemetery and talks to Stanton Dowd.
(9:00 PM NY / 3:00 P [Thursday]) JC flies to Paris
Thursday, April 18 2052
Mission 10
(3:30 NY / 9:30 P) JC lands in Paris and enters the Catacombs.
(14:30 NY / 20:30 P) Martial law declared throughout the United States.
(16:00 NY / 22:00 P) JC exits the Catacombs and contacts Nicolette DuClare.
- (10N1) The government announced today that the famous Paris Catacombs would be closed to the public until further notice, citing increased criminal activity and possible terrorist connections to the area.
- (10N4) ..were heading home from a late night on the town when they were gunned down in the street by a military bot that mistakenly identified them as terrorists.
Friday, April 19, 2052
(19:00 NY [Thursday] / 1:00 P) JC at Nicolette DuClare's house looking for a way to contact Morgan Everett.
Mission 11
(20:00 NY [Thursday] / 2:00 P) JC goes to the Paris cathedral.
- (11N1) In a momentous speech held at 2:30PM EST today, President Mead announced the declaration of martial law throughout the United States
(21:00 NY [Thursday] / 3:00 P / 18:00 V) JC meets with Morgan Everett at his house.
(23:30 NY [Thursday] / 5:30 P/ 20:30 May [Thursday]) JC flies to Vanderberg to meet with Gary Savage.
(1:00 NY / 22:00 May [Thursday]) MJ12 troops attack the Vanderberg facility.
Mission 12
(7:00 NY / 13:00P / 4:00V) JC lands on the roof of the facility in X-51 in Vanderberg.
(7:30 NY / 4:30V) JC flies to the gas station to free Tiffany Savage.
Mission 14
(8:00 NY / 5:00 V) JC lands in Pasadena and enters the underwater laboratory.
- (14N1) With the declaration of martial law only twenty-four hours ago in the United States, the country is in turmoil and teeters on the edge of social collapse.
(22:00 NY / 19:45 V) MJ12 takes over missile silo.
- (14B3) initial resistance was light and by 19:45 we were able to secure the silo and surrounding facilities with minimal casualties..
(23:00 NY / 20:00 V) JC leaves the underwater lab. He heads to the silo.
- (JC Denton) How long until the UC is up? (Gary Savage) Tonight, if the schematics are accurate. But we have another problem.
(0:00 NY [Saturday] / 21:00 V) JC enters the silo.
(1:30 NY [Saturday] / 22:30 V / A) Rocket hits Area 51.
Saturday, April 20, 2052
Mission 15
(3:00 NY / 0:00 A) JC lands at Area 51.
Issues Related to the JC and Paul Denton Killswitches
Facts:- After JC sends the warning signal, Walton Simons informs him that a 24-hour killswitch has been activated.
- When JC is captured, Anna Navarre visits him. JC states that he has at least 20 hours left to live.
- Shortly after JC escapes his cell, Joseph Manderley says that JC has 23 hours left and Paul has 18 hours.
- Upon arriving in Hong Kong, 12 hours have passed since the killswitch was activated.
- During the visit to Tracer Tong, JC mentions that more than 16 hours have passed since the killswitch activation.
Therefore:
- There is a 5-hour difference between the activation of Paul’s and JC’s killswitches.
- One hour passes between JC’s capture and his escape.
- Twelve hours pass from JC’s betrayal to his landing in Hong Kong, and the flight from New York took 11 hours.
- Four hours pass between JC’s first steps on the streets of Hong Kong and his meeting with Tracer Tong.
Conclusions
Agent Sherman was brought to UNATCO to clean up after the Dentons’ defection. He retrieved login data from the facility at 18:34. Sunset that day was at 18:37, which means JC Denton’s betrayal must have occurred the previous night. Sunrise that day was at 5:15, meaning JC would have had to remain inside the facility with an active killswitch for at least 13 hours and 22 minutes. However, dialogue indicates that only one hour passed between JC’s capture, the killswitch activation, and the conversation with Joseph Manderley. This is a clear inconsistency. Therefore, the only plausible explanation is that JC Denton’s killswitch was deactivated at the moment of his capture in Battery Park and reactivated during his conversation with Joseph Manderley.
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