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Prima Fast Track Guide
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Mission 14: Bridge of Sighs
Fleet Construction
You'll need six Cloak Generators, six Heavy Cruisers and/or Destroyers, and
15-20 Attack Bombers.
Mission Strategy
The trick here is to slip through a teeming sphere of Taiidan vessels with
a Battle Group big enough to take out the eight massive components of the
Field Generator. Then you can jump to hyperspace (using Quick Docking) before
the rest of the defense sphere descends.
This elegant strategy has you sneak a small but powerful Battle Group right
into the heart of the Taiidan defensive sphere without being detected--until
you open fire on the Field Generator. The key to this approach is the way
you group your Cloak Generators and then position your attack fleet within
their cloaking field.
Group the six Cloak Generators this way: First, create two groups of three
generators and number them Group 1 and Group 2. Then create three more groups,
each comprising one generator from Group 1 and one from Group 2. To be painfully
explicit, Group 3 should include the first Cloak Generator from Group 1 and
the first from Group 2. Group 4 includes the second generator from Group
1 and the second from Group 2. Group 5 includes the third generator from
Group 1 and the third from Group 2.
Hang in there. It's less complicated than it seems. This arrangement allows
you to position Groups 1 and 2 (the groups of three) at either end of your
attack group of Cruisers, Destroyers, and Attack Bombers, keeping all ships
within a cloaking field. Then you can use Groups 3, 4, and 5 (the pairs)
to turn specific pairs of generators on or off--one each from the "positioning"
groups 1 and 2.
Now take the following steps:
1. Put the Heavy Cruisers and Destroyers--again, a total of six in any
combination--into Wall formation and designate them Group 6.
2. Put the Attack Bombers in Broad formation and order the group to guard
the lower Super Capital Ship in the middle of the Wall formation.
1. Put groups 1 and 2 (the groups of three Cloak Generators) each into Broad
formation.
4. Order Group 1 to guard the lower-right Super Capital Ship.
5. Order Group 2 to guard the lower-left Super Capital Ship.
Now run a test with the Cloak Generator pairs in groups 3, 4, and 5 to verify
that all ships in the small fleet are within the cloaking fields of each
pair of generators. Here's how:
1. Press "3" to select the Group 3 pair of Cloak Generators, and then press
"Z" to cloak. Make sure all ships are cloaked.
2. Order Group 6 (your Cruisers and Destroyers) to move forward a short distance.
3. If any ships become uncloaked during the move, reposition the fleet to
create a tighter formation. If the entire wing of Attack Bombers doesn't
fit in the cloaking field, consider peeling off the visible Bombers.
4. When all ships are cloaked, press "3", and then "Z" again to decloak.
5. Repeat the foregoing steps to test the cloaking fields of the Cloak Generator
pairs in groups 4 and 5.
6. If you made adjustments in Step 5, double-check the cloaking fields of
previously tested Cloak Generator pairs.
Order Group 6 (your Super Capital Ships) to head toward the Taiidan Field
Generator (the yellow ping at the center of the red-dotted sphere in your
Sensors Manager). When you get about halfway to the outer edge of the sphere
of enemy ships, turn on one pair of Cloak Generators. As you progress toward
the Field Generator, keep an eye on the brown power bars of your active pair
of Cloak Generators. When they're about to run out of cloak juice, switch
on another pair.
By alternating three pairs of Cloak Generators, you can stay cloaked
indefinitely. Once you get to the Taiidan Field Generator, destroy it (all
eight sections in the ring)--and then get the heck out of there (hyperspace
immediately and use Quick Docking).
Mission 15: Chapel Perilous
Fleet Construction
You'll have very little time to build anything once this mission starts.
You should drop into the mission with a strong Battle Group that includes
Heavy Cruisers, a full allotment of Destroyers, and at least 10 Ion Cannon
Frigates.
Mission Strategy
It's simple: go kill the Rockship. And hurry! But stay out of its way. Like
the final Needle Mothership in the Cathedral of Kadesh, this massive vessel
will plow through a Frigate, a Destroyer, or even a Heavy Cruiser like a
fist through gelatin.
Also, you must preserve as much of your fleet as you can for the final mission.
So dispose of the Rockship's escort units while you hit the Rockship. (You
don't want them shooting up your tailpipe as you chase the Rockship.) One
suggestion: split your Battle Group. Send Heavy Cruisers and Ion Cannon Frigates
after the Rockship. Direct Destroyers (including Missile Destroyers) to focus
on the Capital Ships in the enemy escort group. Group-attack the waves of
enemy Strike craft with any available Interceptors, Defenders, and/or Multigun
Corvettes.
After the Rockship explodes, harvest the area. Build one Support Frigate
and at least two Repair Corvettes for the next mission. Then spend all remaining
RUs to create a good fleet balance between Capital Ships and Strike craft.
Ideally, you should go into the final Homeworld mission with two or three
Heavy Cruisers, five Destroyers, three Missile Destroyers, 10 or more Ion
Cannon Frigates (or the equivalent), and wings of 15-20 Attack Bombers, 10-12
Multigun Corvettes, 15-20 Interceptors, and a few Defenders, as well.
Mission 16A: Hiigara 1-2
Fleet Construction
Don't hold back here. This mission is a Capital Ship slugathon. When your
Resource Collector dumps loads of RUs, build big boats to replace those you
lose. Even with the full allotment of three Heavy Cruisers, five Destroyers,
three Missile Destroyers, and 20 Frigates (15 Ion Cannon for combat, five
Support to keep the Mothership alive), the action in Hiigara's shadow is
relentless, furious, and draining.
Mission Strategy
You fight four titanic battles in this mission. None is easy, so save often,
particularly in the lulls between battles.
Hiigara: Battle One
Three forces advance on your Mothership as the mission opens--a group of
five Ion Cannon Frigates from below, wings of Heavy Corvettes and Attack
Bombers launched by a Carrier from above, and--the main threat--a major Battle
Group from in front. Here's an effective way to deploy your forces.
First, immediately send your Resource Controller/Collector(s) team out to
harvest. The sooner you start collecting RUs, the better. Plus, this move
gets your harvesters out of harm's way.
Second, send a Missile Destroyer and/or any Strike craft that aren't great
against Capital Ships (Interceptors, Multigun Corvettes) up to the enemy
Carrier. Focus on the launched enemy Strike craft; don't worry about killing
the Carrier itself. It won't bother you once its Strike Craft are dead.
Third, send a few Ion Cannon Frigates, with any Strike craft that are good
against Capital Ships (Attack Bombers, Heavy Corvettes), down to take out
the five enemy Ion Cannon Frigates. Try to knock them out before they reach
your Mothership, because this series of battles throws a lot of fire at it.
Fourth, group your Support Frigates and order them to repair the Mothership.
The more of these you have sucking away the pain, the better.
Now confront the main threat with your own Battle Group. This first Taiidan
fleet, in order of threat to your Mothership, includes a Heavy Cruiser, five
Ion Cannon Frigates, two Destroyers, two Missile Destroyers, and five Assault
Frigates. Attack them in that order, concentrating your fire for quick kills.
If you win, save your game! You should have time to repair your Mothership
and any severely damaged Capital Ships, using the Support Frigates. Meanwhile,
split your Battle Group into two roughly equal units. Place one in front
of your Mothership, the other behind.
Hiigara: Battle Two
Soon Fleet Intelligence reports, "Enemy reinforcements emerging from hyperspace."
The Taiidan fleet emerges behind and above you. Again, the key is to keep
Mothership damage to a minimum, so move your rear-guard fleet halfway up
to meet them. This Taiidan group will mix it up, unlike the first one (which
ignored your fleet and went straight for the Mothership). So the farther
from the Mothership you engage this enemy group, the fewer shots they'll
take at it.
Just in case, however, get your Support Frigates working on the Mothership.
This rear assault, in order of your attack, includes a Heavy Cruiser, five
Ion Cannon Frigates, three Destroyers, and five pesky Assault Frigates. This
is a tough fight with only half your forces. But, again, be disciplined and
concentrate fire on one ship at a time.
During this engagement, Fleet Intelligence announces again, "Enemy reinforcements
emerging from hyperspace." Uh-oh. The half-fleet you left in front of the
Mothership soon will face a wave of Taiidan death that duplicates the first
enemy wave back in Battle One--a Heavy Cruiser, five Ion Cannon Frigates,
two Destroyers, two Missile Destroyers, and five Assault Frigates.
After you win this brutal two-front battle, you may not have much time to
repair and rebuild for the next attack. Keep those Support Frigates healing
the Mothership. Save the game. And get ready for a surprise.
Mission 16B: Hiigara 3-4
Hiigara: Battle Three
This can be a tough battle if your Mothership is heavily damaged. Maybe you
heard, but another Taiidan fleet dropped from hyperspace at the tail end
of the previous battle. Now a Heavy Cruiser, nine Ion Cannon Frigates, and
nine Assault Frigates sneak up from behind and below you. About the time
they arrive, Fleet Intelligence reports yet another fleet dropping right
on top of you. The slightly panicked voice admits, "We're being overwhelmed!"
But guess what? It's Captain Elson, the defector. And he brings help. Elson
attacks the enemy with his Elite Guard Destroyer and some Ion Cannon Frigates.
He also gives you command of his Assault Frigates and Missile Destroyers.
Cool! Get those into the fray as soon as you can. If your Mothership is fairly
healthy, you and the good Captain should finish successfully. Remember to
keep repairing the Mothership during the battle and to save when you win.
Hiigara: Battle Four
As soon as your Mothership is safe, Captain Elson takes his ships and heads
toward the emperor's Mothership. Follow him with every combat ship you have
left. The enemy mounts no more attacks against your Mothership, so throw
everything you have at the emperor.
Elson's group targets a Taiidan Carrier first. If you don't keep up with
him, the Carrier's Strike craft will decimate his unit. Help him if you can:
it's nice to keep his Destroyer and Frigates alive for the final siege .
. . because three Taiidan Heavy Cruisers (with two Support Frigates each)
defend the emperor's Mothership with fanatical loyalty. As always, concentrate
fire on the Cruisers one at a time.
When the Cruisers are toast, hit that Mothership! A pair of listless Taiidan
Missile Destroyers hovers nearby, but they don't defend aggressively. Level
every gun you have on the emperor's house. Remember, this is an all-or-nothing
battle. Even if the emperor's escort wipes out all your ships but a single
Scout, you still win as long as you've destroyed his Mothership. |
