Operation: Blackout

Operation: Blackout was an Elite Penguin Force event that began on November 15, 2012 and ended on December 6, 2012, even though it was originally planned to end on December 4. Rumors had already started in 2011, for on the Behind the Scenes video of Club Penguin, you would see an employee working on a computer. On the screen in big black bold letters, it said Operation: Blackout. It was confirmed on Herbert's, Polo Field's and Billybob's Twitter accounts. Polo Field also blogged about the team making sounds for November. This was the first time Herbert makes an appearance as a mascot, and it was confirmed by Polo Field on his Twitter account.

Herbert's plan
Herbert's plans were to turn Club Penguin Island into Club Herbert and capture all the class leading EPF agents (including G, Dot, Jet Pack Guy, Rookie and The Director of the Elite Penguin Force, but not PH). The blackout was to block out the sun using a High Frequency Infrared Reversion Laser in his fortress, as well as destroy the Everyday Phoning Facility, thus destroying the EPF Command Room itself. Once done, Herbert was going to destroy the rest of the island using the sun's energy as a weapon, and EPF Agents had to break into his fortress and stop him. As Herbert blackened the sun, the island was experiencing a rapid increase of snowfall and a rapid decrease of temperature. Herbert's real reasoning for his plot was to find out the true identity of the Director, and more importantly, to steal the heat for himself (like he always wanted), and freeze the penguins, who previously had frozen him in Operation: Hibernation.

Stage 1
The Agents broke into Herbert's Fortress, and they had to disable the Security Terminal 1.

Stage 2
On November 16, agents were given a Grappling Hook which they used to pull a lever and open the door to access Security Terminal 2 and disable it. You needed to know how to throw the grappling hook.

Stage 3
On November 18, agents are given a Plasma Laser, which they use to cut through another one of Herbert's doors and disable Security Terminal 3. Also, Herbert captured Dot and froze her along with Gary.

Stage 4
On November 20, agents equipped the Deflection Vest to cross a laser security system and infiltrate Security Terminal 4. Rookie was also captured by Herbert P. Bear.

Stage 5
On November 22, agents equipped the Smoke Goggles to see through a smoke screen and infiltrate another location of the last terminal, Security Terminal 5. Jet Pack Guy was captured by crabs.

Stage 6
On November 24, agents used the Anti Lava Boots to walk across the lava and enter Herbert HQ, disabling the High Frequency Infrared Reversion Laser. The Director was also captured.

Aftermath
All the captured agents are freed. When the agents turned off the Solar Laser, its self-destruction was activated. Penguins around the island rejoice, and the sun comes back out, while Herbert screams in defeat. The Director congratulates you for freeing Club Penguin from Herbert's dictatorship, and reveals her identity to be... Aunt Arctic! Rookie was also a meetable character for the rest of the event. Afterwards, Herbert started building the Hot Sauce 3000 for his next plot. He used the outer body of the Solar Laser.

Free Items

 * For items obtainable from the mission interface, see here.

Trivia

 * In Issue #365 of the Club Penguin Times, Herbert P. Bear asked how to build a high frequency infrared reversion laser, which he would then use to blackout Club Penguin Island, using the name "Hurbert P. Enguin" to fool Gary to get the answer on how to build it.
 * Herbert was technically a dictator during this event, having taken over the entire island and making undesirable laws. Before this, it was unknown what the government of Club Penguin Island was, if any.
 * This is the first time Herbert was meetable in-game.
 * Club Penguin has been working on Operation: Blackout since 2010 and was supposed to be held in 2011 after Operation: Hibernation. It was postponed to 2012.
 * Herbert's website (clubherbert.com) was updated through the event, and the last thing he said was "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME", hinting his return.
 * When ClubHerbert.com came out, there was a picture of Gary and Dot, the top two on Herbert's to capture list, taped to the wall and some penguins believed that they were captured. Then a picture of Rookie was added and it was believed that he was also captured. (This rumor proved to be false due to the update of ClubHerbert.com and Rookie appeared in the Club Penguin Times issue #368)
 * During Operation: Blackout, players were not able to complete the test to become an EPF agent due to the Everyday Phoning Facility being destroyed.
 * During Operation: Blackout, there was a Snow Cat outside the Lighthouse and at the Dock carrying supplies.
 * It was confirmed in a video that the Director is Aunt Arctic.
 * The clouds during the blackout look like the Storm from the Halloween Parties.
 * This party set a Club Penguin record, with 1.8 million penguins logged on on November 24, 2012, the largest amount of penguins logged in at a specific time.
 * Rookie made official appearances during the last few days of Operation: Blackout.
 * The last capsule at Herbert's Fortress was completely empty, but it was revealed to be for you. Herbert mentions in the newspaper that the crabs must capture you, or his plan would fail. He also says that you are as dangerous as The Director. This turns out to be true, as when you arrive at the Herbert HQ, you are allowed to fill the empty spot.
 * The tagline for this party is similar to the tagline for the Future Party.

Glitches during the party

 * There was a glitch when the party first came out where in the Paradise played the Holiday Party music instead of its own music.
 * Even with the VR Room had been closed due to the fire of the Tube Transport, it still can be accessed normally with the link http://play.clubpenguin.com/?login=true&rm=213#/login/ and you can still play the PSA Missions.
 * You can still play PSA missions by using the link above it will not ban your penguin.
 * There is a glitch where you can enter the main command room and also a glitch where you can see Terminal 5.
 * The ClubHerbert.com website was not updated when the other four agents were captured, while when Gary was captured it was updated. This has been fixed.
 * There has been a glitch when Club Penguin was updated for the snowstorm, everyone got a free Membership. But it only lasted 10 minutes. But it was confirmed that every time the island gets updated, the same thing will happen.
 * There is a glitch where you can defeat Herbert before November 24. You can also see the High Frequency Infrared Reversion Laser destroyed and the skies blue.
 * There was a glitch that when you are in the underground HQ, and open the catalog, when you try to buy something it says Would you like to buy undefined for undefined coins? You currently have [your number of coins]. That glitch was fixed.
 * There was also a glitch that allowed you to access a terminal without getting the next item.
 * The operation steps couldn't be seen, so they couldn't get the free items and complete them. The glitch was later fixed.
 * There was a glitch that allowed you to get to the Herbert HQ and, therefore, defeat Herbert early.

Places Changes
When Herbert took over Club Penguin, he decalibrated the tour guide information. The new information and names are as follows.

Music

 * Main Theme
 * Herbert's Fortress
 * Paradise
 * Stage

Rooms

 * Beach
 * Beacon
 * Book Room
 * Coffee Shop
 * Cove
 * Dock
 * Dojo
 * Dojo Courtyard
 * Dojo Hideout
 * EPF Command Room
 * Everyday Phoning Facility
 * Fire Dojo
 * Forest
 * Gift Shop
 * Iceberg
 * Lighthouse
 * Lodge Attic
 * Mine Shack
 * Pet Shop
 * Pizza Parlour
 * Plaza
 * Ski Hill
 * Ski Lodge
 * Ski Village
 * Snow Forts
 * Stadium
 * Stage
 * Town

Party Rooms

 * Herbert HQ
 * Central Lock Down
 * Paradise
 * Sector 1
 * Sector 2
 * Secret Tunnel
 * EPF Resistance