The Sixth Wonder

2024-06-21T20:15:27Z

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{{Mission|next=Into the Maelstrom|previous=Slaying Ravana|campaign=FreeSpace 2 Campaign Walkthrough}}

'''ACT 1, MISSION 8'''

'''Fighter squadron:''' [[242nd Suicide Kings]]

'''Description:''' The 242nd Suicide Kings repel a rebel assault on ''Enif Station'', the GTVA's base of operations in the Epsilon Pegasi system.

----
==Background==
In the contested [[Epsilon Pegasi]] system, a vital [[GTVA]] installation, [[Enif Station|''Enif Station'']], is under attack by the [[Neo-Terran Front]]. Alpha wing of the 242nd is sortied to oversee the evacuation of civilian personnel and defend the station.

==Walkthrough==
You can only use the [[GTF Perseus|GTF ''Perseus'']] in this mission. A recommended loadout is two [[GTW Subach HL-7]]s, a bank of [[GTM Harpoon|Harpoons]] and a bank of [[GTM Tempest|Tempest dumbfire missiles]].

Your primary objective in this mission is to defend ''Enif Station'', an [[GTI Arcadia|''Arcadia''-class installation]], from NTF forces. You jump in a few clicks away from the installation, and just in time to see the ''Cato'', a hostile [[GTC Leviathan|''Leviathan''-class cruiser]], open fire on the ''Calypso'', a civilian [[GTFR Triton|''Triton''-class freighter]]. On the other side of the installation, the ''Mannheim'', an [[GTT Elysium|''Elysium'' transport]], is docked to ''Enif Station''.

Start approaching the installation and target the [[GTF Hercules|''Hercules'' fighters]], which pose a danger to the escaping civilian vessels. If you fail to take them out quickly, you will lose the ''Calypso'' and fail the secondary objective.

You should destroy the ''Cato'''s main beam cannon to prevent it from dangerously damaging the station. The Tempest missile is of good use here. Fire at will while the beam cannon is in your reticle, and once the beam cannon is down, the ''Cato'' is barely worth your time. You may not have time to destroy it in any case because enemy bombers will soon jump in and attack the station. You should then divert all your power to engines and approach the bombers.

With the agility of the [[GTF Perseus]], you can easily reach the hostile [[GTB Zeus|''Zeus'' bombers]] before they launch their warheads at the station. Even if they do so, you can destroy the bombs by shooting them; destroy them by sight or use your Bomb or Target in Reticle keys to target them (B and Y respectively, by default). Several waves of hostile bombers and fighters will keep jumping in, but their focus is on attacking the installation, so they should not pose too much of danger to you. Concentrate on intercepting the bombers and any warheads they launch.

While you are fighting the bombers, the ''Hawkwood'', a [[GTCv Deimos|''Deimos''-class corvette]], will jump in, with its bow pointed directly at ''Enif Station''. Do not engage it and do not order your wingmen to engage it either (see notes). After the ''Hawkwood'' bombards the station with its beams for a short while, a massive warship will emerge from subspace and stop directly above the corvette. As it does so, all NTF ships, save the ''Hawkwood'' and ''Cato'', will jump out. The unknown warship identifies itself as the [[GTVA Colossus|GTVA ''Colossus'']] and immediately destroys the ''Hawkwood'' with a beam salvo. If the ''Cato'' is still alive at this point, destroy it, as the ''Colossus'' will be too far away to hit it with its beams.

Once the ''Cato'' and ''Hawkwood'' (and the ''Conquest''; see the Notes below) are destroyed, you will be authorized to return to base.

==Objectives==

''(Objectives are viewable by pressing F4 and going to the Objectives tab)''

* Primary Objectives:
** Protect Enif Station
* Secondary Objectives:
** Protect Transports

===[[Awardable_Medals#FreeSpace_2_Medals|Medals]]===

You will obtain an '''Distinguished Flying Cross''' for saving '''Enif Station'''.

==Tips==
* The ''Cato'' occasionally does not hit the ''Calypso'' with its first beam salvo. As that single shot alone is enough to reduce the hull integrity of the ''Calypso'' by more than half its total hull strength, it is possible to manipulate a miss by restarting the mission, giving the ''Calypso'' a much higher chance of escaping the area than if the beam were to hit it.
* You may wish to destroy the Fusion Mortar on the ''Cato''. In the time it takes to recharge the main beam cannon of the ''Cato'', the Mortar can actually do around as much damage.
* '''''Do not''''' destroy the ''Cato'' until the ''Calypso'' has jumped out: as soon as the ''Cato'' is destroyed, the ''Hawkwood'' will jump in and the ''Calypso'' will be in its firing range.

==Notes==
* The ''Cato'' has been neutered by the mission designer. It has no working AAA beams.
* '''''Do not''''' order any of your wingmen to ignore or disarm the ''Hawkwood'', or else the ''Colossus'' will not open fire on it. Due to a bug, the ''Colossus'' will follow some the orders that you gave to your wingmen - if any of your orders prevent destroying ''Hawkwood'', you will get softlocked and need to restart the mission. If your wingmen keep attacking the ''Hawkwood'', distract them with other orders, such as attacking the ''Cato'' or the bombers.
* It is possible for the Colossus to jump in before the ''Cato'' is destroyed. If this happens, all of your wingmen will automatically stop fighting.
* If the ''Hawkwood'' is destroyed before the arrival of the ''Colossus'', the NTC ''Conquest'', a ''Leviathan''-class cruiser, will jump in and ultimately replace the ''Hawkwood'' as the first vessel to be destroyed by the Allied warship.
* If ''Enif Station'' is above 50% hull integrity after your primary goal (Protect Enif Station) is marked complete, the installation will thank you and your wingmen for doing "a commendable job". This does ''not'' provide any additional rewards or a debriefing different from what you would get if ''Enif Station'''s hull integrity was 50% or less.

==New equipment==
*[[GTF Perseus]]

==Total number of forces==
{{total_numbers_2
|belligerent_1 =[[Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance|GTVA]]
|belligerent_2 =[[Neo-Terran Front|NTF]]
|ship_1 =
*1 [[GTVA Colossus|GTVA ''Colossus'']]
** ''Colossus''

*1 [[GTI Arcadia|GTI ''Arcadia'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Terran Ship Database#GTI Enif Station|''Enif Station'']]

*1 [[GTFR Triton|GTFr ''Triton'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Terran Ship Database#GTFR Calypso|''Calypso'']]
*1 [[GTT Elysium|GTT ''Elysium'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Terran Ship Database#GTT Mannheim|''Mannheim'']]

*0-6 [[GTEP Hermes|GTEP ''Hermes'']]
** ''Pod 01'' through ''Pod 06'' (*)
|ship_2 =
*1 [[GTCv Deimos|GTCv ''Deimos'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Rebel Ship Database#NTCv Hawkwood|''Hawkwood'']]

*1-2 [[GTC Leviathan|GTC ''Leviathan'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Rebel Ship Database#NTC Cato|''Cato'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Rebel Ship Database#NTC Conquest|''Conquest'']] (**)
|strikecraft_1 =
*6 [[GTF Perseus|GTF ''Perseus'']]
** ''Alpha'' (3)
** ''Beta'' (3)

*1 [[GVF Serapis|GVF ''Serapis'']]
** ''Epsilon 1''
|strikecraft_2 =
*3 [[GTF Loki|GTF ''Loki'']]
** ''Taurus'' (3)

*12 [[GTB Zeus|GTB ''Zeus'']]
** ''Gemini'' (3)
** ''Leo'' (3)
** ''Virgo'' (3)
** ''Aries'' (3)

*3 [[GTF Hercules|GTF ''Hercules'']]
** ''Pisces'' (3)
|casualties_1 =
*0-1 [[GTFR Triton|GTFr ''Triton'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Terran Ship Database#GTFR Calypso|''Calypso'']]
*0-1 [[GTT Elysium|GTT ''Elysium'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Terran Ship Database#GTT Mannheim|''Mannheim'']]

*0-6 [[GTEP Hermes|GTEP ''Hermes'']]
** ''Pod 01'' through ''Pod 06'' (*)

*0-5 [[GTF Perseus|GTF ''Perseus'']]
** ''Alpha'' (2)
** ''Beta'' (3)

*0-1 [[GVF Serapis|GVF ''Serapis'']]
** ''Epsilon 1''
|casualties_2 =
*1 [[GTCv Deimos|GTCv ''Deimos'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Rebel Ship Database#NTCv Hawkwood|''Hawkwood'']]

*1-2 [[GTC Leviathan|GTC ''Leviathan'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Rebel Ship Database#NTC Cato|''Cato'']]
** [[FreeSpace 2 Rebel Ship Database#NTC Conquest|''Conquest'']] (**)

*0-3 [[GTF Loki|GTF ''Loki'']]
** ''Taurus'' (3)
*12 [[GTB Zeus|GTB ''Zeus'']]
** ''Gemini'' (3)
** ''Leo'' (3)
** ''Virgo'' (3)
** ''Aries'' (3)
*3 [[GTF Hercules|GTF ''Hercules'']]
** ''Pisces'' (3)
}}
(*) '''These ships arrive only if the hull integrity of the [[FreeSpace 2 Terran Ship Database#GTI Enif Station|GTI ''Enif Station'']] drops below 20% before the arrival of the [[GTVA Colossus|GTVA ''Colossus'']]''' 
(**) '''This vessel enters the field of engagement only if the [[FreeSpace 2 Rebel Ship Database#NTCv Hawkwood|GTCv ''Hawkwood'']] is destroyed before the arrival of the [[GTVA Colossus|GTVA ''Colossus'']]'''

==Technical information==
{{MissionInfo|SM1-08.fs2|65.8 KB|Brad Johnson|38 (+5 waypoints)|9|52|30|3: Leviticus|Brief1}}

==Videos==
===QuantumDelta===
 <videoflash>7V5unLwEMPk</videoflash> 
===TheOneTrueRenairen===
 <videoflash>bgt71WYEp38</videoflash> 

[[Category:Main FreeSpace 2 Campaign]]

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The Sixth Wonder