There's a way to start the client without it checking the update server first. Ironically I set up a shortcut for that years ago (on a home computer) and can't exactly remember what the command line switch for it is. I think it's something like "-noupdate" or some such. I found where they talked about it in the player guides so I'm sure it's still in there somewhere. Good luck. 
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CityOfHeroes.exe -project "coh"
Did they forget to turn on the updater when they spun the servers back up? I'm on connect 12 with no luck.. anyone else running into this?
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