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Command interrogates the prisoner and learns of the possible location of the Beast and Imperial fleet. Before encountering the Beast fleet, however, the siege cannon must be improved. Seek out the Bentusi to inquire about improving the newly acquired Kuun-Lan weapon.
You must destroy all slipgate nodes to collapse the slipgate. Closing the gate will keep the Bentusi from evacuating. If you can't keep them here, you have no chance against the Beast.
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Send your fleet to the slipgate and annihilate the nodes. |
The Bentusi are not pleased to see you when you arrive in the Gulf sector. In fact, their trading ships are heading for the slipgate in hopes of making a clean exit from the system and avoiding contact with you. The last time you ran into the Bentusi, they were "bound" by the Beast. The Bentusi certainly don't want to speak with you again!
Press R to open the research menu as the mission begins. You have several new research options, though the most important are the armor and force field upgrades. Research these first and upgrade your ships (using the right click pop up menu) during the mission.
The slipgate lies ahead (and a purple crystal asteroid lies behind) your start position. Ignore harvesting, even the crystal asteroid, and send your entire fleet toward the slipgate. Spot the nodes that surround and hold the slipgate together. Attack the nodes one at a time or simply Ctrl bandbox the entire set of nodes. You can't destroy them all before you're interrupted by a new cutscene and objective.
Prevent further Bentusi stations from leaving by moving your command ship in front of the slipgate.
Destroying the nodes isn't working quickly enough to keep the Bentusi from leaving the system. You're ordered to move the Kuun-Lan in front of the slipgate to prevent the Bentusi from escaping. Use the sensors manager or the normal view screen to adjust the Kuun-Lan in front of the slipgate entrance and prepare the greatest danger you have faced thus far.
The Bentusi, as it's been noted before, are very displeased with the situation and decide to use aggression to deal with your annoyance. The Bentusi launch super acolytes, a special brand of acolytes that perform and are armored like standard acolytes but carry a much more powerful weapon. In fact, their ion beams can rip through your frigates and destroyers in no time. A lot of your ships won't make it through the fight, but you will have an opportunity after the battle to restore your fleet and harvest additional resources.
You must still finish off the nodes, if you haven't already, while fending off the super acolytes. The Bentusi ships approach after the gate is destroyed; the Bentusi ships threaten the Kuun-Lan and the rest of your fleet. The Bentusi will eventually negotiate a deal, but it takes quite some time. Keep destroying the super acolytes and use workers to repair your fleet until the dialogue between the Kuun-Lan and the Bentusi completes. Alternatively, you can try to run from the Bentusi while the conversation takes place. Both will cost you some ships, but they should be easily replenished before heading to the next mission. Once finished, you're free to replenish your fleet and harvest the resources on the map. Make sure to grab the purple asteroids present.
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