Great Wastelands

Hiding from the monsters that killed all our people on Kharak. To regroup and scrutinize the information captured from the crews of the assault frigates.

1. Collect resources

Collect the resources at point A using a resource collector and a controller to keep the collector from having to return to the MS for drop off. Point A is 30 KM from the MS at the 300 degree compass mark.

2. Protect the fleet

Protect your fleet from the attacks of the raider fighters and corvettes as you collect resources from point A. Ships come in from point C on the map. Point C is 45 KM from the MS and slightly above the plane at the 320 degree compass point.

3. Destroy retreating Turanic Raider Carrier

Destroy the Turanic carrier so it can not relay a message to the perpetrators of Kharak's destruction. The carrier will appear at point C on the map and slowly work it's way down to the MS. Once it is in viewing range of point A a set of Ion Array Frigates (IAFs) will hyper in at points D surrounding the MS. The Turanic carrier will end up at point B and move from it to get away once the tide of battle turns to you. Points B and D are 2-3 KM from the MS and surround it.

Shortly into the mission a Bentusi trade ship comes in at point B, they will give you information on your origins and offer to sell you Ion Cannon technology for 500 RUs, it is up to you whether you take it or not. If you take it you can build your own Ion Cannon Frigates (ICFs), if not you have to wait until a later mission to get the research. One thing to note is that the Turanic raiders will appear as soon as you purchase the tech, if you wait until the Bentusi are ready to leave you can get a few extra loads of resources in. You can buy the tech as long as you have 500 resources to spend.

1. Ion Cannon tech

1. Ion Cannon Frigate (ICF)

What I do

As the mission opens I launch all of the ships I have except the salvettes. I will not need them until later in the mission so I don't want them to be a target to any enemies. I set the heavies in an aggressive wall and have the repair vettes support them until such time and my resourcer or controller needs repair. I'll set the heavies to guarding the controller and have the controller guard the collector (so it follows it around) then tell the collector to harvest. Then I sit back and wait.

Shortly the Bentusi show up and offer to trade with me, 500 resource units (RUs) for ion cannon technology. Even if I decide I want the tech I wait until the Bentusi say the pirates are coming, THEN I buy it. That way I get all the time I want to collect resources and build ships before I have to defend from attacks.

With the Bentusi gone and the pirates attacking I'll destroy all the ships attacking my resourcing operation at point A on the map. Once I have killed enough of the fighters and corvettes the carrier and a group of IAFs will start to move towards my MS. Shortly after they start their march to me a group of IAFs will hyper in at each of the points on the map marked D. I wait until ALL of the IAFs start to fire on my MS before launching my salvettes to salvage all the IAFs. I also have the repair vettes return to my MS once my MS is under attack to repair the damage the IAFs do before I can salvage them all. As I take control of the IAFs I use them and the 12 heavies to attack only the battle carrier, I'll also salvage the IAFs that accompany the carrier so the only thing I attack is the carrier.

Once I destroy the carrier I have no further use for the IAFs so I again retire the ships for the resources, mission 5 coming up will pit me against a pretty hefty fleet compared to what I have so I want to ensure I will have RUs to replace losses if I have any. I'll also want to take my heavy vette group up to 20 in size and build at least 4 support frigates for the next mission. I'll also add 2-4 more salvettes to my group so I have enough to take out the groups of ships I meet next mission. I have 6 repair vettes and that is a good enough number for the next mission so I do not add any more of them. Once I have the ships all retired and the others built I enter hyperspace.