Hail Mary...

2018-03-20T15:15:18Z

Abaddon: /* Walkthrough */ Added alternate strategy for dealing with the Liliths

{{Derelict}}

{{Mission|previous=Memento Mori|last=|campaign=Derelict Campaign Walkthrough}}

'''ACT 3 MISSION 8'''

'''Description:''' GTVA strike wings attempt a last-ditch effort to stop the SD ''Nyaralathotep'' from re-opening the sealed Capella node.

==Background==
Lieutenant Mackie and the ''Cypher'' crew were right in one thing: The ''Nyaralathotep'' is heading home... to the [[Capella]] jump node in [[Vega]], sealed off to prevent a further spread of the [[Second Shivan Incursion]]. Now is the only chance to stop the [[Shivan]] incursion from continuing on and threatening galactic civilization, meaning the ''Nyaralathotep'' and the rest of the Shivan fleet must be destroyed before they open up their new [[Knossos]] portal again...

==Walkthrough==

This mission forces you on a fixed loadout on a [[GTB Hydra|Hydra]], you are loaded with a [[UD-8 Kayser]], plus 40 [[Tornado]]es, 9 [[Trebuchet]]s and 5 [[Cyclops]] torpedoes, with the rest of Alpha Wing. Beta Wing will consist of [[Myrmidon]]s, Delta of [[Erinyes]], and Epsilon of [[Sekhmet]]s.

Your first priority is to defend the ''Cypher'' while it egresses. Tell Alpha and Beta Wing to cover you, send Epsilon (which is a ways off) to buy you some time, and Delta to defend the ''Cypher''. The ''Cypher'' will have backup, and they will deal with most of the Shivan capital ships in their range.

As long as you have sufficient fighters defending the ''Cypher'', you can basically bypass most of the fighters (on Easy, higher difficulties will have you avoiding missiles like nuts) and focus on destroying the ''Nyaralathothep'''s rear Beam Cannon (use your Trebuchets for this, it takes about three or four).

The [[Lilith]]s are your primary concern. The easiest way to go about this is to use your remaining Trebuchets to take out both beams on one Lilith, and use your Cyclops to take out the other Lilith's beams. As much as you can try to destroy them, you don't have enough time.

If the ''Cypher'' has reached safe distance and you're getting chased by the Shivan fighters, tell Delta Team to cover you.

An alternate strategy for this section is to first focus on the ''Nyarlathothep'''s side Beam Cannons; left first, then right. Taking out both of these guns will all but guarantee the survival of the [[Sobek]]-class ''Estennu'' and [[Hatshepsut]]-class ''Khefrem'', who can destroy the [[Lilith]] escort without further help.

When the ''Argentus'' (a [[Meson Bomb]] packed [[Deimos]] on a suicide course for the ''Nyaralathotep'') comes into the scene, you better have damn well dealt with the Liliths or else the ''Argentus'' is as good as dead. If those threats are dealt with, send all wingmen available to cover the ''Argentus'', while it faces the wrath of several fighters and bombers.

When you get the dialogue cue to clear out of the area (a burst transmission on your HUD saying "brace for impact"), you need to be in three thousand meters of safe distance from the ''Nyaralathotep'' when the ''Argentus'' finishes its suicide run. When you get clear and are able to sit back, just watch the massive fireworks. The explosion will destroy the ''Nyaralathotep'', along with both Liliths.

Congrats on completing Derelict...if you managed to pull this operation off. If the ''Argentus'' dies before it collides...well, enjoy the dialogue as civilization is doomed from the [[Sathanas]] fleet as the node to Capella is opened.

==Notes==
The term "Hail Mary" is used in [[Wikipedia:American football|American football]], when the passing team is on a long distance to the end zone. Typically, this is a last desperation measure when the clock in the fourth quarter is below half a minute, and the passing team is more than half the field away from the goal, and they need to get either a touchdown or within field goal range to steal the win.

Darkest Hour

2017-07-23T16:24:35Z

Abaddon: /* Total number of forces */

{{BPArticle}}

{{Mission|previous=For the Wrong Reasons|next=My Brother, My Enemy|campaign=Blue Planet: War in Heaven Campaign Walkthrough}}

'''MISSION 06'''<br>
'''ACT 1, MISSION 06'''

'''Fighter squadron:''' 170th Fighting Navajas

'''Description:''' The Navajas are scrambled to defend Earth-orbit Rheza Station from fighters and warships from the GTD ''Imperieuse'' battlegroup.

----
==Background==
Shortly before this mission begins, Enabran Kassim, unable to cope with the massive loss of life involved in the war, suffers a nervous breakdown. In an alcohol-fueled episode, he "goes off like a magazine breach" and is subsequently removed from active flight status.

Later, Admiral Byrne reports to the crew of the ''Solaris'' that the GTVA, in the personage of the battlegroup of the GTD ''Imperieuse'', has launched a major assault on Earth's orbital installations. The Navajas are scrambled to assist in defending Rheza Station, which is under attack by the GTCv ''Redoubtable'' and several fighter and bomber wings. While Athens Station and Malta Station share an orbital slot with Rheza, their contributions to the war effort are not as important as Rheza's; as a result, they are given a lower priority for defense.

==Walkthrough==
As usual, you start in an [[UEF Uhlan|Uhlan]]. For loadout, I would suggest loading a [[Vulcan]] or a [[Scalpel]] in the first primary slot, and a [[Maul]] in the second; the Scalpel will make it easier to de-beam the corvettes you'll be facing. The default secondary loadout is one bank each of [[Javelin]]s, [[Dirk]]s, and [[Hellfire]]s. I'd recommend replacing the Hellfires with either Javelins or Dirks.

This mission is the first time you are given wing command. While Brie is still in command of Alpha wing, you will be leading Beta wing, along with Gamma and Delta when Rheza Station launches them.

As soon as you start, you see Rheza Station is under attack by the ''Redoubtable'', a [[GTCv Deimos|''Deimos''-class corvette]] and some strikecraft consisting of [[GTB Artemis|Artemis]] bombers with [[GTF Myrmidon|Myrmidon]] escorts, with the ''Vatican'', a [[UEC Sanctus|''Sanctus''-class cruiser]] defending it. If you want the ''Vatican'' to survive -- and you probably do, as it will make things easier later -- destroying the beams on the ''Redoubtable'' is your first priority. You only need to destroy the two front beams and the rear left beam. Destroy the left beams first, as they're already in firing range. You can see the enemy cruisers ''Novikov'' and ''Courageous'' in the distance, but they are very far away and not a concern.

Once you've disarmed the ''Redoubtable'', you can ignore it and start focusing on the strikecraft attacking the station. As usual, prioritize the bombers. A wing of [[UEF Uriel|Uriel]]s (Omega) will arrive to run off the ''Redoubtable''. After the ''Redoubtable'' leaves, you get a short break, but probably not enough to rearm yourself. If you want your wingmen to survive, it is a good idea to order them to cover you. Soon, a wing of [[GTB Boanerges|Boanerges]] and [[GTB Artemis|Artemis]] bombers will arrive, along with their Myrmidon and [[GTF Kulas|Kulas]] escorts. If the ''Vatican'' is still around, the Artemis will attack her. If you want the ''Vatican'' to live, you'll probably need to send your wingmates to protect her while you focus on the Boanerges and their escorts, which will head straight for Rheza Station.

Once the bombers are destroyed, more wings will jump in and harrass your charges. Eventually, two wings of [[GTB Rhea|Rhea]]s will jump in from opposite directions to launch a volley of [[Trebuchet]]s at you. Evade the Trebs; you can destroy the Rheas if you want, but this is optional. They'll jump out shortly after launch.

After the Treb strike, two wings of Boanerges bombers will jump in to pincer Rheza. Meanwhile, 3 [[GTA Charybdis|Charybdis-class AWACS ships]], the ''Sagacious'', ''Acuity'', and ''Killian Bard'', will arrive and start setting up SSM strikes. Assign one wing to each of the bomber wings, and one wing to the AWACS. If the ''Vatican'' survives to this point, they will begin attacking the AWACS.

After the bombers and AWACS are off the field, the [[GTCv Diomedes|''Diomedes''-class corvette]] ''Valerie'' will jump in close to the station. It will launch a wing of Artemis bombers from its hangar (with some fighter escort on higher difficulties). Intercept the bombers if you can, but stay out of the ''Valerie'''s firing solution. Soon, the [[UEFg Indus|''Indus'']] will jump in and attack the ''Valerie''. After killing the bombers, you will probably need to de-beam the corvette in order to take some pressure off. After the ''Valerie'' is destroyed, the [[GTD Atreus|''Atreus'']] will come and attempt to attack the station, but will be driven off by the arrival of a pair of [[UEFg Narayana|''Narayana''-class frigates]]. After this, you can jump out or stay a little longer for the dialogue.

==Notes==
* You will fail the mission if the ''Indus'' is destroyed.
* Keeping at least one wingman in Beta alive is a bonus objective. You also get dialogue if all of them stay alive (but you do not get an additional bonus). If you wish, you can tell any one of Beta to depart at any time, especially if you believe they won't last against the ''Valerie''.

==Total number of forces==
{{total_numbers_2
|belligerent_1 =[[United Earth Federation|UEF]]
|belligerent_2 =[[Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance|GTVA]]
|ship_1 =
* 1 [[UEFr Demeter|UEFr ''Demeter'']]
** ''Bandersnatch''
* 1 [[UEC Sanctus|UEC ''Sanctus'']]
** ''Vatican''
* 1 [[UEFg Karuna|UEFg ''Karuna'']]
** [[UEFg Indus|''Indus'']]
* 2 [[UEFg Narayana|UEFg ''Narayana'']]
** ''Vikrant''
** ''Toreador''

|ship_2 =
* 1 [[GTCv Deimos|GTCv ''Deimos'']]
** ''Redoubtable''
* 2 [[GTC Hyperion|GTC ''Hyperion'']]
** ''Courage''
** ''Novikov''
* 3 [[GTA Charybdis|GTA ''Charybdis'']]
** ''Sagacious''
** ''Acuity''
** ''Killian Bard''
* 1 [[GTCv Diomedes|GTCv ''Diomedes'']]
** ''Valerie''
* 1 [[GTD Erebus|GTD ''Erebus'']]
** [[GTD Atreus|''Atreus'']]

|strikecraft_1 =

|strikecraft_2 =

|casualties_1 =

|casualties_2 =

}}

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Hail Mary...

Darkest Hour