In 2004, Michael Townley, Trevor Philips and Brad Snider rob a Bobcat Securitycash storage facility in Ludendorff. After locking several hostages including an unnamed Bobcat guard in a room, Trevor wires an explosive to the vault doors, and Michael detonates them via his phone. Michael and Trevor enter the vault and steal just under $180,000. As the crew make their escape, Michael is held at gunpoint by Jaspers, another Bobcat security guard, who also removes the mask from his head. Michael advises the guard to forget what he saw and leave, but Trevor shoots him in the head.
The trio blow open another door and leave the building, but are immediately swarmed by the local law enforcement. A dead security guard with a gunshot wound in his head can be seen inside the checkpoint booth at the facility gate. A massive gunfight erupts, forcing the crew to fend off the oncoming police before making their escape. The crew reach their getaway vehicle and are driven away, but they are pursued by more police vehicles, and their hired local getaway driver is shot in the head and killed. Michael pushes his corpse out of the door and grabs the wheel, crashing their pursuers' car into a roadside tree. The crew continues their journey towards the helicopter waiting for them, but are forced to divert their course after encountering a police roadblock. They then speed over the train tracks, but are not quick enough and the rear end of the vehicle is hit by an oncoming train, causing them to lose control and spin out into a nearby tree. The trio survive, and Trevor suggests an alternative route to the getaway chopper, but Michael insists that they stick to the original plan.
The crew then continues on foot through the town, but realizes the chopper is nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, FIB Agent Dave Norton, who is hiding around a corner, aims at Trevor with a Sniper Rifle, then shoots Brad as he walks into the path of the bullet. Agent Norton fires again, this time at Michael, who falls to the ground. He behaves as if he is critically injured and bleeding out, though he has no visible injuries. Before "dying", Michael tells Trevor to go on without him. Trevor is forced to take out the oncoming police officers alone, refusing to abandon his crew. He does eventually flee the scene after being overrun by a large number of police officers. After taking a nearby woman hostage, Trevor exclaims to the police officers that he will kill her if they get any closer. However, shortly after, Trevor lets her go and escapes into the snowy fields while still being pursued by armed police officers.
Some time later, at a cemetery, a funeral for Michael Townley is held. Dave Norton, the agent who "shot" him, supervises the proceedings, while Michael himself observes from a distance and flicks away his cigarette. The "mourning" Amanda Townley, Michael's wife, is seen beside the grave, along with other attendants. The mission ends with flowers being thrown onto the grave of Michael Townley.
After the beginning cutscene, Trevor kicks the door open and the player gains control of Michael. The player has to go to the guard which will trigger the next cutscene.
To prevent unnecessary ragdoll, the player is unable to jump at this point of the mission. If the player takes too long to approach the guard, Trevor and Brad will make continuous insults towards Michael, claiming they're losing time. Despite this, the mission will not fail, regardless of how long they take or wait. From this point on, killing any of the hostages will, however, fail the mission.
Aim at the hostages to make them move.
After the cutscene, Trevor leaves to plant the bomb and the player has to aim at hostages to make them walk to a locked room. Killing any hostage will fail the mission. If the player takes no action, Trevor will return to commenting on the lack of action and Brad will make the hostages get up and walk to a locked room himself.
Michael is unable to move during this sequence, and is only able to aim and shoot with his weapon. He can selectively pick which of the hostages enter the closet first, pointing the selected weapon at the individual hostages will result in each of them independently entering the closet. If the player leaves any behind and waits, Brad will force them to go in. The player is still able to shoot the hostages dead, which will fail the mission.
After forcing them into the room, Michael is able to move around again and also able to jump.
Use the phone to trigger the explosive charge.
When all hostages are locked away, Trevor returns and will tell Michael to detonate the bomb. The player has to take out the cellphone and dial a "Detonate" contact. After dialing "Detonate" a cutscene will show the vault door being blown open.
Michael's position after the detonation will be fixed to the back of the door, regardless of where the player operated the phone.
Collect the cash.
The player has to walk to the vault and pick up the cash when the cutscene ends. The cash is on a trolley in far corner of the room. Cash on the ground is worth $500, totaling to $2,500, and picking it up is optional.
Take out the guard.
Once the cash is collected, Michael is taken hostage by a security guard during a brief cutscene. The player has to switch to Trevor and kill the guard. If the player takes no action or shoots the guard anywhere other than the head, Michael will die, failing the mission.
Get to cover.
Once the guard is taken care of, the crew will proceed further to the exit. The player needs to take cover so that Brad will plant the explosive charges on the door.
Open the shutter door.
After the door is blown up, the next task is to open the shutter door. Walking near the switch will make the player lose control of Trevor who hits the shutter switch automatically, and as such no interaction is necessary. The player receives five wanted stars and has to fight through waves of North Yankton State Patrol officers. First wave consists of two Police Roadcruisers, one Police Rancher, and two on-foot officers. Each vehicle contains two officers.
Return to the crew.
This objective only appears if the player attempts to abandon the crew at any time from the beginning of the shootout up until entering the getaway vehicle. Mission will fail if the player does not return to the crew on time or continues to walk further away from the crew.
Escape the Cops.
Once the player clears the first wave, the player has to leave the lot and move forward. A Police Rancher pulls up with two officers. Then two more Police Roadcruisers pull up, also with two officers, and the player has to kill them.
Get to the car.
Once the second wave is cleared the player has to go to the getaway car. Yet another Police Roadcruiser pulls up with officers that the player has to kill. The player has to go to the getaway vehicle and enter it. Once the player is near the getaway car, two more Police Roadcruisers arrive, forming a roadblock, though the officers are not required to be killed by the player and usually Brad or Michael or Trevor deal with them if the player doesn't.
Wait for the crew.
This objective only appears if the player does not take out the final two officers and goes directly to the getaway vehicle. The player will be able to enter the getaway car once there are no more police officers alive.
Drive to the helicopter pick up point.
After the cutscene, Michael gets control of the getaway car and has to drive forwards to the helicopter pick up point. The player is clear of any wanted level, but if the player hits oncoming Police Roadcruisers the wanted level will be reinstated. Wanted level will, either way, be reinstated at the roadblock further down the road. The player only has to follow the GPS route on the minimap. After turning right, halfway towards the marker, a cutscene will trigger where the car gets hit by a train and Michael and Brad get shot. Turning back, going off route or getting the car stuck will fail the mission.
Get back in the car.
This objective only appears if the player decides to leave the getaway car. Regardless of the distance, the player will fail the mission after ten seconds of being outside the car.
Hold off the Cops.
When the cutscene is over the player can fight off the cops as Trevor. The player can fight off the officers up to a point there's too much of them, or exit the cover and run. Regardless, the final cutscene will play and the next mission will immediately begin.
This mission will fail at any point if the player dies, kills the crew or hostages, abandons the crew, the route, or the car, makes the car undriveable, runs out of ammo, or if the cops kill Michael, Trevor or Brad before the end of the mission. It is not possible to get Busted during the mission. The player will also be allowed to enter and play Grand Theft Auto Online.
Deaths
Alex - Security guard at the gate, presumably killed prior to the trio gaining entry to the facility.
Michael and his family moved to Los Santos and adopted the De Santa surname. His relationships with Amanda, Jimmy, and Tracey eventually went sour.
Trevor moved to Sandy Shores, and became a well-known arms and drug dealer. His drug business eventually led to rivalries with other gangs in Blaine County.
Michael and Trevor eventually reunited, but still had doubts about what really happened in North Yankton and whether or not they could still trust each other. Their friendship was fragile, and broke down later on.
Dave was reassigned to the FIB division in Los Santos, and began sending Trevor a series of emails from Brad, causing Trevor to believe that Michael is dead and Brad went to prison.
Transcript
This section/page depicts all cutscenes and dialogues in the mission "Prologue" in Grand Theft Auto V.
Transcript
Introduction - Breaking into Depot
Onscreen text reads "Ludendorff, North Yankton, nine years ago." The view then switches to Michael, Brad and Trevor robbing a bank. Brad throws a hostage to the ground and holds her at gunpoint with his shotgun.
Brad:
Get down there!
Michael:
Alright, everybody pays attention, no one gets hurt.
Trevor knocks his rifle on a window, with a panicking security guard behind it.
Trevor:
Aarrgh! Open the door, or they'll get worse than hurt! Hey, hey, ah! Come on!
The security guard opens the door. Trevor kicks the door open.
Trevor:
Argh, finally, you prick!
Trevor hits the security guard with the stock of his rifle.
If Michael kills the hostage whom Brad holds at gunpoint, Brad either laments that he is not the one who killed the civilian or complains about the civilian being killed in general before the mission fails.
Brad:
Hey! Prick! Behave yourself!
Alternative:
Hey! They're collateral!
Alternative:
If anyone's killing hostages, it's me.
Alternative:
No more of that, asshole. Come on.
Alternative:
So, you're not getting none from that ex-stripper.
Alternative:
This wasn't meant to get messy!
Alternative:
We need'em alive, dick.
Mission failure: A hostage died.
If Michael does not enter the room immediately, Trevor calls out Michael. Brad gets uneasy.
Trevor:
Clear the room.
Alternative:
Come on through.
Alternative:
In here. Come on.
Alternative:
Where the fuck is your head, man?
Alternative:
You want me to pop this guy?
Brad:
Come on! Come on!
Alternative:
He's looking at me!
Alternative:
Let's get this done!
Alternative:
This shouldn't take so long!
Alternative:
We're losing time!
Taking Hostages
Michael enters the room where the guard and two other hostages are.
Michael:
Hands behind your back.
Michael starts handcuffing the security guard.
Security Guard:
C'mon mister, we're giving you everything you want.
One of the two hostages tries to ring the alarm but sees that Michael holds him at gunpoint and raises his hands.
Michael:
Don't even think about it.
Michael kicks the security guard towards the other hostages.
Woman:
I'll do it. I'll do it... Oh God.
Brad pushes the hostage, who was thrown and held at gunpoint before, into the room, as he yells at her.
Brad:
Get in there!
Trevor proceeds to plant explosives on the vault door.
Michael aims his weapon and yells at the hostages and crew members.
Michael:
Come on, let's go!
Altenative:
Hurry!
Alternative:
Listen up!
Altenative:
Pay attention.
Altenative:
You!
Michael aims at the hostages and makes them move to the back room.
If Michael stands still, Brad calls out Michael. If Trevor comes back meanwhile, he will complain.
Brad:
M! Get these assholes in the closet!
Brad:
I said the closet! Get 'em in there! Come on!
Trevor:
What is the problem? Why are they still out here? You were meant to lock 'em down.
After Trevor complains, Brad aims at the hostages and makes them move to the back room.
If Michael kills a hostage in the room, Brad complains before mission failure.
Brad:
We need'em alive, dick!
Mission failure: A hostage died.
Moving Hostages
Either Michael aims at the hostages, or Brad does if Michael stands still. The hostages get up and enter the back room.
Brad:
In the back! Come on!
The hostages get upset, and agitated.
Male Employee:
What's he doing? He's going to kill us in here.
Male Employee:
Leave us alone.
Second Male Employee:
We didn't do shit to you.
Either Trevor re-enters the room after the hostages enter the back room or re-enters and waits until they get in. In either case, Brad locks the door after all hostages enter the back room.
If Michael does not leave the vault immediately, Trevor calls him.
Trevor:
We gotta move.
Alternative:
What's the hold up?
Jasper's Last Stand
Michael and Trevor leave the vault.
Trevor:
Coming out, B.
Both exit the vault. As Michael walks out, a security guard hidden behind the wall grabs Michael from behind, takes his balaclava off, and holds him at gunpoint.
Jaspers:
Give it up! I got him! I saw your face. I'll remember you.
Trevor is seen aiming at the guard.
Michael:
You forget a thousand things every day. How 'bout you make sure this is one of 'em?
Jaspers panicks.
Jaspers:
I see it in his eyes. He's crazy.
Alternative Dialogue - based on Michael's and Trevor's actions
Brad and Michael call out Trevor if Trevor does not leave the building immediately. The order of the dialogue is random.
Brad:
Move! Move! Move!
Alternative:
We keep going forward!
Michael:
Come on, guys.
Alternative:
Move! We're coming through!
Alternative:
What the fuck is this!?
Gunfight Dialogue - random order
As the crew shoots at the police, they also yell at them and call out each other. The order of the dialogue is random and can be heard in the remainder of the mission as long as the crew remains engaged in the gunfight.
Brad and Trevor get their masks off. The crew fights the police forces on their way toward their escape vehicle.
Michael:
Let's get out of here!
Alternative:
We got a window. Let's go!
The crew carries on, shooting their way out to the vehicle. The crew continues shouting at each other and cops, with random dialogues from the gunfight dialogue segment.
The crew gets near the escape vehicle.
Trevor:
Can't be many more cops in this town.
Michael:
This is fucked, man. The thing is blown.
Trevor:
I got my share. It's still wide open!
Brad:
Car's up here! Let's go!
Trevor:
Move! Come on!
Michael:
Kid mighta bailed. This wasn't in the job description.
As the car crossed the railroad, the train hit the rear of the vehicle. The car spins out of control and crashes into a tree.
Trevor:
Arrgghh! Arrgghh! Jesus!
Michael:
You guys alright?
The car is broken, and the crew is forced to continue on foot.
Trevor:
Fuck! Come on! Ditch the car, alright? We can go this way to the chopper.
Michael:
No, hey! Stick to the plan.
Trevor:
What?
Michael:
Stick to the fucking plan! Come on.
The crew approaches the chopper's supposed landing point.
Brad:
Where the fuck's the chopper? Fuck me, fuck, fuck!
A sniper is seen cocking his rifle hidden behind a shack.
Brad:
I'm gonna check around back.
The sniper hits Brad, who falls to the ground. Trevor gets to cover.
Trevor:
Run! It's the fucking Feds! Someone must have fucking talked!
Michael walks towards the wounded Brad and examines his wound.
Michael:
Alright. Brad's gonna be fine, but we gotta get the fuck out of here.
The sniper hits Michael, who falls to the ground as well. The sniper runs away in the background.
Michael:
Aw, fuck! I'm hit! Ah, Jesus. T, you gotta get out of here.
Trevor:
Ain't gonna leave you Mikey!
Michael:
Go! God, I'm not gonna make it. Fucking gonna bleed out. Aw, go, go...
Police cars arrive on the scene. Trevor holds his position for a while and shouts at cops in despair.
Trevor:
Noooo!
Gunfight Dialogue - random order, Trevor
As Trevor engages in a gunfight with the police, he also yells at them in despair. The order of the dialogue is random.
Trevor:
Come on! Come on!
Alternative:
Die, you cocksuckers!
Alternative:
Fucking die, all of you!
Alternative:
Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!
Alternative:
I'm standing here! Finish me!
Alternative:
Kill me, you pricks!
Alternative:
Motherfuckers!
Trevor's Escape, Michael's Funeral
As more cop cars arrive at the scene, Trevor is heavily outnumbered. He escapes. She approaches a woman passing by.
Trevor:
Hey! You! You, hey!
Woman:
Oh, oh, oh God!
The woman tries to escape but falls into the ground while running. Trevor catches her and holds her hostage while three officers arrive. Trevor confuses the woman as the pilot.
Woman:
Oh God. Don't shoot!
Trevor:
Where's the chopper?
Woman:
Help! Help, please! I don't know what you're talking about!
Trevor:
[to the cops] Fucking stay back! You come near me, she's fuckin' dead! Stay back!
Trevor releases his hostage and runs away. The woman runs towards the officers.
Woman:
Oh, God, help me! Help me! Oh!
An officer takes the woman in his arms. He raises his hand to direct the remaining officers to pursue Trevor.
Officer:
[to the cops] Go! Go!
The two officers pursue Trevor as he escapes in the fog. The view then switches to the graveyard, where multiple people, including a preacher, are gathered around Michael Townley's grave. A woman is seen crying.
Priest:
Michael was not always a good husband. Not always a good citizen. He did not die a hero's death. But he was a man. Our Lord was crucified with two thieves, so perhaps... we should not judge.
Woman at the Funeral:
[sobbing] Michael...
Dave Norton is seen. Credits start appearing on the screen. Michael is seen smoking close to the graveyard.
Priest:
We are born of sin, and we die in sin... and in this, Michael... was like anybody else. Father... we do not know your infinite mysteries. But we know... that you will show mercy to our friend.
Michael tosses his cigarette and walks away. Grand Theft Auto V's wordmark appears on-screen.
This is, chronologically, the first mission in the HD Universe, taking place four years before the events of Grand Theft Auto IV. The mission is most likely set in December 2004, due to a Christmas tree being visible in the window of the house where the final shootout takes place, and Christmas decorations in the depot's foyer. This is also the first mission in the HD Universe to feature snow.
An early version of this mission can be seen in the second trailer. In it, the team wore slightly different outfits.
Due to this mission being set nine years before the main storyline, Michael and Trevor's appearances are considerably different. Trevor has a mullet and mustache, as opposed to his receding hair in 2013. Michael has fewer wrinkles on his face and a shorter, buzz cut-style haircut.
It is not needed to fight off the police after Brad and Michael get shot. The player can just run away, prompting the next cutscene to start.
If Michael or Trevor are killed during the mission, the Mission Failed text will read either "M died" or "T died".
Michael and Trevor can't use their special abilities in this mission.
Michael and Trevor's outfits from the Prologue can be worn after the Grand Theft Auto V storyline is complete.
There are five individual piles of money on the floor of the vault that can be picked up, worth $500 each, totaling $2,500. They will add to Michael's money picked up stats if the player does so. However, the player must do this before Michael and Trevor fill up Brad's duffel bag and theirs, or whatever is left will disappear.
The maximum amount of money that can be taken from the depot is $179,500 (with the five individual money piles mentioned above).
The wanted level in this mission does not add time to the wanted level-focused stats (Last Wanted Level duration, Longest Wanted Level duration, and Time spent with a five-star Wanted Level) for Michael and Trevor. However, if this mission is played on the PS4 version, the Dualshock 4's light bar will still flash red and blue if enabled. In addition, any cops Michael and Trevor eliminate will be added to their Cops Killed stats.
There are four surveillance monitors (three in the depot, one in the outdoor security booth) that can be destroyed if shot at. The cameras themselves, however, are indestructible.
The conversation between Michael and Trevor that occurs when Trevor opens the garage door will not occur if the latter waits around too long.
When the Rancher XL is destroyed, the farthest distance Michael drove without crashing will be added to Trevor's stats instead. The reason for this is unknown.
When the crew gets out of the totaled Rancher XL, the door ajar chime may be heard loudly, heard faintly, or may not play at all.
If one of the Police Roadcruisers near the farm explodes during the shootout with Trevor, it may be added to Trevor's stats, even if he didn't blow it up.
It is impossible to enter the closet Brad sends the hostages into. It is also impossible to explore the area near the vault until Michael triggers the explosive.
If Michael moves to a different part of the depot before making the call, he will automatically be moved back to where he was beforehand once the vault door explodes.
In the original version of the game, Dave Norton wears sunglasses whilst supervising the funeral. In the enhanced version, he wears a beanie instead.
The jacket Michael wears during the funeral can be worn if one owns the Special/Collector's edition, or the Enhanced Edition.
There is an unused part of the mission involving the torching of the cash depot's servers. An unused voice line of Brad's can be found in the files, saying "Hey. Hey, we gotta torch the servers. Come on." A server room can also be found using mods to teleport through walls.
In the enhanced version, a bug was present that caused Michael and Trevor's rifles to have their magazines missing. This was later fixed.
No cutscenes can be skipped in a new playthrough, although they can be skipped when replaying the mission via the pause menu.
Mission Protagonist: Michael De Santa | Franklin Clinton | Trevor Philips | Michael & Trevor | Michael & Franklin | Franklin & Trevor All | Player's Choice
