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It's easy to afford processors in the single-player game. Resources are plentiful and producing a processor won't set you back significantly. In a multiplayer game, the processor is a hefty investment, but one that could pay off in a long, drawn out war. Protect the processor, though; the processor may be quite durable, but if you lose it, it's an expensive loss and takes time to reproduce.
Assign your processor to guard your workers. The processor will follow close behind the worker group, letting the workers travel a short distance to drop off their gathered resources. Also, the processor carries a moderate weapon; the processor's guns will engage any strike craft attacking the workers.
In the original Homeworld, separate units were required for resource gathering and salvaging or repairing. In Cataclysm, though, one unit serves all three duties. The entrepreneur worker, once fully researched and upgraded, can harvest resources, salvage enemy ships or crystal asteroids, and repair friendly craft.
Harvesting has been thoroughly covered in this chapter. Repairing plays an important role, particularly during or after a large battle. If you're set with resources, consider diverting the workers to repairs if a large battle is about to ensue. Micromanage the workers and monitor which ship your opponent is firing on. Cycle through your units and monitor the units' health. Assign your workers to heal that unit - the more workers the better!
The worker also serves the role of salvage corvette in Cataclysm. Beast ships are immune to salvaging; a worker sent to salvage a Beast ship will be infected and lost to the Beast organism. To safeguard the workers, research infection vaccine (in a multiplayer game only) to prevent such a tragedy. It's open season on Taiidan and raider vessels in the single-player game, however.
To salvage effectively, you must have some nearby offensive units to damage the enemy ship. Workers can't salvage until the enemy ship has been damaged somewhat. Keep the workers nearby in their own attack group; attack with your offensive units and move the workers in once you have damaged the enemy vessel sufficiently.
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