Missions

Note: most missions have multiple victory levels, which is shown in the "endscene" when the two guys walk up to the viewscreen.

The two guys' reaction will show you how well you did, range from a high-five (great) to throw helmet on the floor (bad).

MISSION 1

Suggested craft: Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, take Bandits on all the rest of the hardpoints

Objective: escort convoy

Just fly out there, hit jump when ready, and when you see the convoy, you see the "escort position" (the red octagons lined up in a row). Fly into it and you'll be in formation. Try to match speed with the ships you're flying with.

You'll see a cutscene where a cloaked Coalition fighter blasts a wingman. Turn around and destroy it. You can see a blue transparent outline of the ship when it cloaks. Keep shooting at it (lead it manually), and keep blasting it until it goes down.

Initial wave of enemies will jump in. Take them out, keep your missiles. You need them against the second wave.

When the second wave comes in, it's time for you to learn anti- torpedo tactics. Stay near the ship you're protecting, slow to ship speed, and use the target torpedo key to target the nearest torpedo and blast it. If the torpedo is too far, use afterburners. Shoot torpedoes with all you got.

Required outcome: 1 freighter must survive

Best outcome: all freighters survive

MISSION 2

Suggested craft: Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Screamers

Objective: fighter sweep, destroy Coalition hunter-killer groups

Upon first jump, you'll rendevous with the Pumas, then get a distress call from General Briggs. Jump to rescue.

Upon arrival, enemy fighters will jump out, then a Coalition Nanny will jump in hoping to grab Briggs' escape pod. Punch your afterburner and go for the Nanny. When you're close enough, blast that Nanny to kingdom come. Ignore all other fighters. With Screamer pods and full guns it shouldn't take long. Now you can kill the rest of the fighters. Alliance Nanny will jump in to attempt pickup. Protect it and continue fighter sweep.

Once all enemies are gone, you get another call to protect a convoy. Jump there.

Upon arrival, go into escort position with the convoy, and enemy fighters will jump in with torpedo bombers. Just stay near the ships and blast torpedoes. You'll need to kill all the torpedoes first, THEN go after the bombers (if any), THEN the fighters. Try not to use any more afterburner unless you need to.

When you take care of those, the Pumas will call for help. Jump there, and you'll see them fighting a cruiser (Kirov) and its fighters. When you take out the first wave of fighters, another cruiser (Kamov) will drop in with more fighters. Take them out.

Help Yamato by taking out the shield gens and engines on both cruisers, then watch Yamato blast the two cruisers.

Required outcome: Briggs rescued AND/OR convoy lost only 1 freighter

Best outcome: both freighters survived, AND Briggs rescued

MISSION 3

Suggested craft: Predator/Patriot/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least one Screamer

Objective: rescue, recovery, raid

Launch and jump as requested. You'll meet up with Steiner and the Vampires.

Jump to next point, and take out as many enemies as you can. However, how did those fighters get so far behind our lines?

Jump again. You found debris. You've arrived too late to save the ship, but you can locate a recorder in the debris field. The beeping sounds tell you how close you are to the data recorder. Watch for mines. Stop if you see a mine and shoot it! Fly slowly or zero speed, use brief burst of afterburner to move. Turn to direction with the fastest beeping, and you'll eventually locate the recorder. You will need to gently "nudge" it with your fighter's nose. When you bump it, the data will be downloaded, and when that's done, a warp gate will open near you. A Coalition science vessel flies out, and you'll all be drawn in... And you end up right next to a Coalition base around Venus. You must destroy the warp gate...

If you want, you can try to take out some of the other enemy ships around the place. However, you should probably start on the gate itself. Turn around and face the gate, and you'll see a rotating section attached to the gate, looks like a "castor" on the bottom of carts. Blast it (full guns and Screamers) to remove the armor plates, then shoot the core hidden inside. When you confirm the gate's blowing up, afterburner your way into the gate to return.

The Coalition science vessel is still there. Blast its engines to disable it (sub-target engines), then destroy all enemy fighters, and you're done.

Required outcome: destroy science vessel, destroy warp gate

Best outcome: destroy warp gate, disable science vessel, all escorts destroyed?

MISSION 4

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, load regular missiles (not Screamers), fast locking type

Objective: escort

Launch and jump out, nothing at first, but Condors claim they detect something. Jump on ahead and kill six fighters.

When the Condors jump in and start deployment, eight more Coalition fighters jump in and go after the Condors. Take them out quickly as you have a bit of space between them and the Condors. You can use half of your missiles here. The Condors will jump out after deployment is complete.

You then get a distress call to answer to. When you jump there, you find the Black Guard (and Nikolai Petrov) attacking. Go after Petrov and force him to withdraw (use your missiles). When he's damaged he'll run away with his squadron. Do this quickly to save the convoy.

When they run, torpedo bombers jump in. Take out the torpedoes (with the rest of your missiles), and you win.

Required outcome: save at least one Condor

Best outcome: all Condors survive, convoy ships survive

[You'll get some yack about Petrov getting away. He's supposed to get away though, so don't worry about it.]

MISSION 5

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one or more fuel pods, some decent missiles

Objective: escort, attack

Launch and jump as requested, then you and Cobras will jump together to clear out a nav point. Just keep killing fighters. You can help the capship along by taking out its engines. Keep killing fighters while others take out the capship.

You then jump into the middle of enemy convoy. Take out each freighter's shields and engines and then take out the fighters and Kurgen. Rippers will jump in and take out some of the cargo, and you'll leave those for McGann to watch over.

Jump back to defend convoy (4 Mammoths) and assume escort position. Enemy torpedo bombers will jump in. Do the standard torpedo defense, take out torpedoes with all you got (guns and missiles). One Mammoth will die, that's scripted. Then wipe out the fighters and you win.

Required outcome: don't lose more than 2 Mammoths (besides Sierra Madre)

Best outcome: lose no Mammoth besides Sierra Madre (Sierra Madre will die, that's scripted)

MISSION 6

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: at least two fuel pods, missiles

Objective: save the Ulysses

You are launched to attempt to save the captured liner Ulysses and the convoy

Jump in, then afterburner to the convoy ASAP. Enemy torpedo bombers will soon jump in and start shooting. Kill 16 torpedoes as per standard torpedo defense. Use missiles if you need to.

If you defended the Ulysses successfully, you'll jump out to Ft. Baxter, then you'll need to jump elsewhere to defend a convoy. When you get there, you found that only cargo pods are left, freighters are dead. Rippers are launched to reclaim the pods, but enemy wings come to visit... Sweep the fighters and you're done.

If you failed to defend the Ulysses, enemy launches a Nanny with fighter escorts to go after the escape pods. Kill it and sweep the fighters until your own Nanny get there.

Required outcome: prevent capture of Ulysses personnel, enemy Nanny destroyed

Best outcome: save Ulysses and the entire convoy

MISSION 7

Suggested craft: Predator or Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Screamers

Objective: anti-carrier sweep, escort

You launch expecting to destroy enemy carrier Ramses, except you learn that it is attacking Ft. Baxter. When you jump there, escape pods are launched as the base blows up. Destroy the fighters and protect the Nanny as it picks up the escape pods. Continue destroying fighters as the Ramses runs away... to attack the Reliant.

You then get called back as Reliant battles the Coalition carrier. There are lots of Coalition fighters around, including the ace Al-Rahan. Go after Al-Rahan yourself and force his squadron to retreat, then take out the rest of the fighters. After that, quickly destroy the shield generator and the engines of the Ramses to prevent it from leaving. When Gamma wing launches, kill any one attacking them and let them take out the carrier.

Required outcome: Reliant must survive

Best outcome: enemy carrier destroyed, Reliant survived

Note: If the enemy carrier gets away, expect to see more enemies in some later missions.

MISSION 8

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, half Screamers and half fast- locking missiles

Objective: escort

Reliant needs some repairs at Ft. Carter.

When you launch, the Coalition carrier Krasnaya jumps in. The first salvo of torpedoes is handled by the Reliant though you can help out.

Then Krasnaya launches three torpedo bombers. Take out the 12 torpedoes they launch.

After that, take out the shield gen and engines of Krasnaya, then start turret plinking. When you got all the turrets, Gamma wing will launch. Escort them against any enemy fighters, and the carrier will go down.

Then just clean up and go home.

Required outcome: Reliant survived

Best outcome: destroy Krasnaya, Reliant not hit by any torpedoes

Note: If you did not destroy Krasnaya, later missions may be tougher

MISSION 9

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: a fuel pod, two Screamers, rest good missiles

Objective: raid, capture

You're going after the command ship while the enemy forces are occupied.

Jump in, engage fighters, then take out the Kurgen escort. When you see the command ship, take out the shield gen, then engines, then turrets. After that, escort the boarding ship in, take out any other hostile fighters in the area.

After that, jump out and take on another Coalition carrier, the Kozah. Same deal. Take out the shield gen, then engines, then turrets. You will need to move fast as this carrier will run soon.

You then get SOS. Turns out the McGann had turned renegade and is after the captured data from the command ship. Go after McGann and force him to withdraw or kill some of his men. He'll leave, Reliant will arrive, and you win.

Required outcome: marines must capture command ship, boarding ship survived

Best outcome: command ship captured, Kozah destroyed, boarding ship survived

MISSION 10

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Jackhammers, one Screamer pod

Objective: take out asteroid base

Your first jump takes you right into the middle of enemy convoy. Take out the two fighters quickly or they'll call in reinforcements. You'll get reloads later. Go after the Kurgens, then the rest of the transports and freighters.

Jump to next point, and take out some more enemy fighters. When the Nanny shows up, afterburn your way to the Nanny and get to the docking position. If you don't dock fast enough, the Nanny will leave and you are f***ed.

You need to save your Jackhammers from now on.

Upon arrival, afterburn your way to the asteroid, locate the comm tower, and BLAST IT. You have a strict 60-second time limit here. Then kill lots of Kurgens and turrets. Keep killing Kurgens, fighters, and turrets until Gamma wing come in and blast the dish.

Finally, locate the vent hatch, shoot it to open it, and wait for Jackhammers to lock on, then shoot it into the vent, and watch the fireworks.

Required outcome: destroy asteroid

Best outcome: entire convoy destroyed, asteroid base destroyed

MISSION 11

Suggested craft: Patriot (maybe Wolverine?)

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Jackhammers (REQUIRED!)

Objective: anti-ship raid

Launch and jump. Upon arrival, take out the satellites. There are a lot of them, but they are fragile and only one or two hits are needed to kill one. Don't use missiles on them (that would be a waste).

After that, kill the rear turrets so the boarding party and get in. Shoot plenty of turrets until you get the message about the marines are heading in.

You should see a "docking sign" in the rear middle underside of the ship. Move to that position and come to a full stop. The marines will dock and wipe out the shields for 60 seconds. You have that long to kill the ship.

Blast the cover in front of you to blow it off. When the cover floats away, launch a Jackhammer into the cover underneath it. When that cover is gone, shoot the remaining Jackhammer into the core, then run! (If you fly the Wolverine, use the reverse thrust!)

Then escort the boarding ship out of there.

Required outcome: destroy Coalition supercarrier

Best outcome: the boarding ship survives, supercarrier destroyed

MISSION 12

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Screamers

Objective: destroy Stalag defenses, steal fuel, destroy base

Jump out and rendevous with Ronins.

Jump to asteroid, and take out the defending fighters.

Then take out the exterior turrets.

When you took out all the turrets, shoot to destroy the main hatch, then head inside and take out the interior turrets. Stick to the walls and shoot each turret. If you fly into the middle every turret will target you.

The two Rippers will fly in and grab the fuel cells when you clean out the interior. Just wait for them. In the meanwhile, place yourself right at the exit, facing down toward the fuel cells, speed 0. When the Rippers are clear (you'll get the radio message), aim, fire two Screamers into the fuel cells from distance, turn around, and get out of the asteroid, bounce off walls, full afterburner!

Jump back to Ft. Carter. Take out two more waves of fighters to protect the Rippers. One of the Coalition fighters has an ace called Red Dragon. Take him out for the bonus.

Required outcome: get some fuel cells (at least one Ripper made it)

Best outcome: fuel cells taken (both rippers), asteroid base destroyed, Red Dragon disposed of

MISSION 13

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Screamers

Objective: trail convoy to renegade base, but with a twist...

Jump out, rendevous. Kill the incoming Coalition recon wing. They go after Gamma wing's bombers, so protect them.

When ready, the other wing will be jumping back. They brought 4 hitchhikers. Kill all four in 60 seconds or the cover's blown.

When ready, jump out and watch the remains of the freighter, then locate the enemy base.

Jump to enemy base, and you see this base with a cannon at the bottom. Fly to the cannon and stop, aim your ship right at it, arm Screamers.

Watch the cutscene as the ion cannon take out a fighter in ONE shot. Immediately destroy the ion cannon with full guns and Screamers.

Once that happens, more Renegades will jump in, along with McGann in the second wave. Take out McGann immediately, then wipe out the rest of his wing.

Another wing will jump in with Viper. Take him out too. Then work on some of the turrets to protect Gamma's torpedo run.

Watch Gamma wing taking out the base, and you can go home.

Required outcome: destroy Renegade base, destroy McGann

Best outcome: base destroyed, McGann dead, Viper dead.

MISSION 14

Suggested craft: Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Screamers

Objective: destroy Coalition base

Launch and escort Gamma wing to nav point, where they'll wait.

Jump to the base. When you get there, shoot the two Kurgens first, then some of the fighters.

If you have time, shoot at the four pieces of the warp gate. You can't destroy them yet, but you can speed things along a little for later. Unload a full salvo into each of the "flat" pieces around the edges. Then go back and take out the research base's shield gen.

When Gamma jumps in, afterburn IMMEDIATELY toward them. They have a Kurgen on their tail and they won't survive if you don't take out the Kurgen immediately. And if they die, you lose the mission.

Once Gamma cooks the base, you have 60 seconds to destroy the four power generators on the warp gate itself. A carrier is coming through. Quickly take out all four generators using all weapons you have. If you're fast enough, the gate will collapse on the carrier. Then just leave.

Required outcome: destroy research base

Best outcome: destroy research base, destroy gate, destroy carrier

[If you don't blow up the gate, later missions may have more enemies]

MISSION 15

Suggested craft: Phoenix/Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, fast locking missiles and Screamers

Objective: escort, torpedo defense

Launch and jump. Nine Basilisks will jump you, followed by 8 Vipers. Take them all out without using any missiles (yes, it can be done). Try to save as many of your wingmen as possible.

After you get them, Reliant will tell you to jump to Victorious.

When you get there, move into escort position, and enemies will attack from lower right, slightly behind. Take out the torpedoes (at least two waves of 2 bombers each). After that's done, take out the rest of the fighters, and watch the movie as Reliant rams the enemy carrier.

[Note: it takes a LONG time after the movie for the cockpit to reinitialize. You can wait for SEVERAL minutes before the control will return, depending on individual setup.]

Jump to Yamato's nav where it's fighting the Kiev and another ship. Defend the Yamato against 3 more torpedo bomber attacks (yep, more torpedo killing). Yamato must not get hit more than 3 times.

Take out the shield generators on the two enemy ships (and their engines) and watch Yamato kill both.

Land on Yamato to end mission.

Required outcome: save at lest 6 ships from convoy, Yamato must survive

Best outcome: lost 2 or less ships from convoy, last two enemy ships destroyed, Yamato must survive

MISSION 16

Suggested craft: Phoenix/Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, then split between Screamers and fast locking missiles

Objective: anti-ship sweep, you're going after the Morzov

Upon launch, Vampires leave with the Bremen. Then Coalition bombers jump in, but Yamato can handle them. Jump ahead to the Morzov.

Upon arrival, Shiraz and Morzov are there... Then Shiraz jumped out... It's a trap! Black Guard squadron jumps in with two Kurgens. Take out the Kurgens first, then take out the Black Guard ace Nikolai Petrov.

After that, kill the fighters, then standard treatment for the carrier: shield gen and two engines, then watch Yamato jump in and toasts it.

You get a distress call from Bremen... The Vampires are gone... Ambushed by the Black Guard... You were just about to call for a Nanny for the remaining life pod when the Black Guard squadron warped in and blew it into pieces... And the fight is on.

Locate Ivan Petrov and force him to withdraw with a good dogfight. After that, you can land on the Yamato.

MISSION 17

Suggested craft: Phoenix/Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, good missiles, at least one Screamer pod

Objective: capture Coalition admiral

When you jump out, you run into Coalition patrol. You have exactly 60 seconds to kill all of them. Use your missiles here.

[If you don't, more enemy fighters show up at the command ship]

When you get to the command ship, kill the two Kurgens first (try not to use all the Screamers here), then do the command ship with the standard treatment (shield gen, engines). Clean out the turrets, then help clean up the rest of the fighters.

The marines will board, then Kulov takes off in escape pod, and the command ship self-destructs. A Coalition Nanny jumps in with escorts to retrieve Kulov, so take out the Nanny immediately, then the fighters.

Wait for Alliance Nanny to pull in the pod, jump back with it to the Yamato.

Upon arrival, more Coalition fighters jump in to take out the Nanny. Take them all out and you win!

Required outcome: Kulov MUST be captured. Anything else is an automatic FAIL.

MISSION 18

Suggested craft: Phoenix/Patriot/Predator/Coyote

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Screamers

Objective: attack Coalition ion cannon

Coalition is building a huge ion cannon in order near Titan, capable of taking out a capship in one shot.

Jump in, and kill fighters as you go.

The cannon will take out the Victorious. That's scripted. Yamato then jumps out.

If you hear that the ion cannon is targeting you, you must afterburn out of range. The ion beam has 360 coverage (it can shoot THROUGH itself, really). Some say that the "top" of ion cannon is a safe zone. This is not confirmed.

Keep shooting fighters until Alpha 5 locate the shield generator (one of the 4 "fins").

When the shield gen has been located, kill it, then blast the armor cover around the core. After that, shoot the core and run really fast.

[Note: It is possible to fail the mission if you take too long to kill the cannon's core.]

When the ion cannon's toast, Yamato will jump in, and some more Coalition fighters will show. Take them all out and you win.

Required outcome: Ion cannon destroyed

MISSION 19

Suggested craft: Shroud (no choice)

Suggested loadout: 1 Screamer, 3 Hawks or 4 Hawks.

Objective: rescue, recovery, raid

Klaus Steiner is alive! You are to protect the mission to stop Saladin prison ship and rescue. You MUST choose Shroud for this mission.

Upon launch, jump.

Upon arrival, kill eight enemy fighters quickly, and jump again.

Upon arrival, follow your orders. Cloak and get to the gravity drive section. Use side thrusters to maintain position as the "wheel" rotates.

[If you were detected by the Saladin, you fail the mission]

Upon order to decloak, destroy the gravity plate, then the other three around the wheel (use reverse thrust to help you move out, and side thrust to line up).

After that, take out all the turrets.

Once all the turrets are gone, fly toward the boarding ship and take out all fighters that attack. Protect the boarding ship, use half of your missiles here.

[If the boarding ship was lost at any time, you fail the mission.]

Two Kurgens with Allied POWs will come in and try to use their POWs as human shields. Diceman will tell you NOT to kill the Kurgens, so do NOT engage the Kurgens.

[If you shoot the Kurgens before Diceman gives the order, you fail the mission.]

Go after fighters. When the Kurgens go after the boarding ship, fly next to the Kurgens. When Diceman order you to destroy them, shoot them out of the sky.

Then kill the rest of the Coalition fighters, saving your missiles.

When Churchill arrive, you can escort the boarding ship back to the Yamato

Upon arrival... More enemy fighters jump in and go after the boarding ship, including a Coalition ace Kariq Madiz. Use your missiles freely here and take out all the enemy fighters quickly.

When they're all gone you can land.

Best outcome: killed Madiz, Steiner rescued

Required outcome: saved Steiner

MISSION 20

Suggested craft: Phoenix or Reaper

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, Screamers and Hawks

Objective: attack

You will take out the convoy and all cap ships.

[Note: if you did not destroy the Ramses in Mission 7, it'll be here.]

Take out the Kurgens first (Screamer strafing runs), then some fighters. Keep killing fighters until a Coalition ace, Katrina Illyana jump in with her squad. Damage her to force her to jump out.

When those are gone, start doing the capships with regular treatment: shield gen, then two engines. Repeat for each ship. Then go after the turrets. When you've cleaned out the area, Gamma will come in and torpedo the ships.

You will jump ahead to Ronin group. It'll take two jumps. Upon arrival, you found the Ronin group was destroyed. Use the beeper to locate the beacon.

When you locate the beacon and got the data, Black Guard jumps in and tries to do you too. Shoot Petrov enough until he withdraws, and you can go back and land.

Best outcome: destroy entire convoy

Required outcome: must destroy some ships in the convoy

MISSION 21

Suggested craft: Phoenix or Patriot (Reaper is a bit slow)

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, at least two Screamers

Objective: raid on enemy fleet, then fleet defense

You will launch in enemy Kamov bombers. Follow orders and stick close to the leader. If you don't know where, a red marker is provided. Match his speed and follow him closely. Point at the carrier, a little further down the hull. Just wait until he says shoot.

When he does, hit [shoot missile] four times at one-second intervals to get all four torpedoes out.

[You have to launch all four or the mission fails]

Pull up and hit afterburners, and start weaving back and forth. Varyag is toast. Yamato will jump in and you need to land on it. Just fly toward it at your fastest speed (afterburners on, use the fuel) and do a little weaving. When you get close enough you'll land automatically though for insurance, always request landing clearance.

You will immediately launch in the craft you've chosen initially. You will immediately see separate incoming torp bombers and torpedoes. Kill torpedoes until they stop coming, as they come from two different angles. If more than 4 (5?) torpedoes hit the Yamato, you lose.

Upon killing all the torpedoes, kill the shield gen and engines on each of the two capships (Kozlov and Shinnik), and watch Yamato toast them.

[If you don't take out the engines and shield gen on the two capships they'll jump out.]

Required outcome: Yamato must survive, Varyag must be destroyed, must stay in formation in the Kamov, Shinnik and Kozlov must be destroyed

Best outcome: no (one?) formation warning (Bandit warn you to get back into formation during the Kamov phase), Varyag destroyed, Yamato get no hits, Kozlov and Shinnik destroyed

MISSION 22

Suggested craft: Phoenix or Reaper

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, Solomons and Screamers

Objective: supply raid

Upon launch, jump.

Upon arrival, you see early warning satellites. You need to kill them all in 60 seconds to prevent enemy reinforcements and maintain surprise. Consider using Solomon missiles here.

If you don't take them in 60 seconds, you get an incoming wave of enemy fighters, and you have 60 seconds to destroy THEM. Jump out when done.

When you reach the depot, kill the comm tower (again). Then the turrets and cargo doors.

Rippers will jump in. As they exit, enemy fighters will interfere. Take them out, and follow the Rippers home.

Required outcome: 6 pods must survive

Best outcome: all pods survived

MISSION 23

Suggested craft: Phoenix or Reaper

Suggested loadout: one fuel pod, lots of missiles (Solomons and Hawks)

Objective: destroy the Black Guard

Upon launch, jump.

Upon arrival, you're at the Pukov, the Black Guard mothership. You can kill the fighters if you like, but I just move straight up to the Pukov and go after the shield generator. If you are right against the deck the guns can't hit you. Take out the shield gen.

Now kill the turrets. There are five on the top side and another four at the bottom side.

When you finish off the turrets, start killing fighters. If you get reports of torpedo bombers launch, kill them fast. They launch two at a time and you have about 5-8 seconds before they launch torpedoes. If you're fast, you can catch them before they launch. Else kill torpedoes in standard anti-torpedo defense role. You have to minimize the torpedoes hitting the Yamato. If you let past too many, Yamato is toast and you lose.

Gamma wing makes its run. Keep looking for bombers and torpedoes and kill them. You will have to keep killing torpedoes and torpedo bombers until Yamato goes in for its own salvo. When Yamato sends in its own salvo, the Pukov is toast.

Ivan Petrov comes by and realized his carrier is gone (and his daddy). Shoot a couple Solomons at him and he'll leave with his squadron. You can then land.

Required outcome: destroy Pukov, Yamato must survive

Best outcome: destroy Pukov, Yamato did not get hit

MISSION 24

Suggested craft: Shroud (yes, you need the cloak)

Suggested loadout: 2 Solomons, 2 Hawks

Objective: raid

Ivan Petrov and Admiral Kulov are on the Borodin outpost. This is the grand finale... Take them all out...

Upon launch, jump.

At rendevous point, wait for next jump, jump when ready.

Upon arrival, start shooting fighters. After a moment, you'll see Gamma try to make a torpedo run behind the freighter, but the ion cannon took them out. Some torpedoes made it through, but not enough to stop the cannon. Take out turrets. When you got enough, Rippers will be called in to plant demolition charges.

This is where cloak comes to play. Cloak and start turret hunting. Cloak, find turret, shoot it, cloak again. Repeat for all turrets. If you get the message that the ion cannon is after you, cloak!

[If you don't take Shroud, you won't survive the ion cannon as you can't get out of range.]

When you got enough turrets, a whole slew of Rippers will charge in. You need AT LEAST SIX Rippers to survive and plant their fuel pod charges. In their way are two enemy wings. Use your missiles and fry them before they get to the Rippers, Full afterburners!

Watch the Rippers plant their charges (fuel pods) and leave. Unfortunately the detonator didn't work. You need to get them off manually. Target one of them and shoot it to blow up the cannon.

A section of the station separates. It's a warp core and it just opened a warp gate, but you can't make a dent in it. Steiner then kamikazes into the pod, breaking the armor around the warp core. Kill warp core by firing into the core.

Steiner ejected and is in escape pod, then Ivan Petrov jumps in with the remaining Black Guard. Petrov goes after Steiner's pod. If you want Steiner to survive, kill Petrov ASAP! Launch multiple Solomons and Hawks after him. Kill the rest later.

Required outcome: Borodin must be destroyed

Best outcome: Borodin destroyed, Kulov dead (you killed the core before it warped out through the gate), Steiner saved, Petrov dead