Into the Maelstrom

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ACT 1, MISSION 9

Fighter squadron: 242nd Suicide Kings

Description: The 242nd defends a resupply convoy for the GTVA Colossus from NTF attacks.

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Background

With the unveiling of the GTVA Colossus and its destruction of the NTCv Hawkwood in Epsilon Pegasi, the Neo-Terran Front are now avoiding direct conflict with the juggernaut and targeting its resupply convoys instead. The 242nd is ordered to protect one such convoy.

Walkthrough

You cannot choose your ship for this mission and will be flying the GTF Perseus. It is recommended that you load a bank of Tempest dumbfire missiles.

You have to defend a supply convoy through an asteroid field in this mission. The NTF will attack the convoy continuously with Medusa bombers. You should intercept the bombers to avoid losing a single convoy ship. Near the end of the convoy's transit through the asteroid field, a Fenris-class cruiser, the NTC Maelstrom, will jump in from the nearby jump node.

Command will order you to neutralize its forward beam turret. This does not have to be done immediately, but it is recommended that you complete this objective before the convoy reaches within 2 clicks of the Maelstrom as you will risk failing it either by losing a ship to the beam, or having the reinforcements destroy it before the beam is taken out. Target the Maelstrom's front beam cannon and fire your lasers and missiles continuously to destroy it, and try to avoid its anti-fighter beam cannons. After the Maelstrom is destroyed, you only have to take care of the fighters. Upon the arrival of the Colossus, you will be authorised to leave.

Tips

• There is a bonus objective in this mission. Destroy all rebel sentry guns in the asteroid field.
• To destroy the Maelstrom's forward beam cannon quickly, load one of your banks with Rockeyes and set to double fire. Approaching the beam cannon from a good angle, a few salvos of Rockeyes will take it out swiftly.
• A good way to time when to head for the Maelstrom is using the Hercs that jump in from the direction of the node. By the time they reach within range of the convoy, it should be your cue to head for the Fenris. Leave your wingmen to defend the convoy, and there should only be 1-2 wing of bombers left by this point, not too much trouble for the escort and the convoy's own guns.

Notes

• There are two meaningless GTT Elysium transports in this mission tagging along with the convoy. According to the messages sent by the CO of the Colossus, those transports were probably supposed to take off from the Colossus itself and head to the convoy at the end of the mission.

Total number of forces

Forces involved
Belligerents
GTVA	NTF
Ships
1 GTVA Colossus Colossus 1 GTCv Deimos Parapet 1 GVG Anuket Jooyun Cargo: Fuel 1 GTG Zephyrus Avila Cargo: Fuel 1 GTFr Triton Parracombe Docked: TAC 163 Cargo Pod 2 GTT Elysium (*) Hauler 1 Hauler 2 1 TC-TRI Container TAC 163 Cargo Pod Cargo: Foodstuffs	1 GTC Fenris Maelstrom 11 GTSG Alastor Gun1 through Gun9, Gun14, Gun17
Spacecraft
3-7 GTF Perseus Alpha (4) (**) Theta (3) 4 GVF Serapis Kappa (4)	9 GTB Medusa Libra (3) Gemini (3) Cancer (3) 12 GTF Hercules Pisces (3) Capricorn (3) Aquarius (3) Aries (3)
Casualties
0-1 GVG Anuket Jooyun 0-1 GTG Zephyrus Avila 0-1 GTFr Triton Parracombe 0-1 TC-TRI Container TAC 163 Cargo Pod 3-6 GTF Perseus Alpha (3) (**) Theta (3) 0-4 GVF Serapis Kappa (4)	1 GTC Fenris Maelstrom 0-11 GTSG Alastor Gun1 through Gun9, Gun14, Gun17 0-9 GTB Medusa Libra (3) Gemini (3) Cancer (3) 0-12 GTF Hercules Pisces (3) Capricorn (3) Aquarius (3) Aries (3)

(*) Haulers 1 and 2 are supposed to take off from the Colossus, but instead they're already on the battlefield at the beginning of the mission

(**) It is possible to use the GTF Ulysses and/or the GTF Loki instead