Poking the Bear

The following information has not been confirmed by Volition and is therefore not canon for the FreeSpace universe.

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MISSION 8
Location: Sol-Delta Serpentis Jump Node

Background

The 52nd causes a distraction so GTVA stealth fighters can scan the UEF superweapon.

Walkthrough

This is a traditional escort mission.

You'll start in front of the AWACS, the Seneca, and two Cretheus-class gunboats, with a wing of stealth fighters in front of you. Off in the distance is the Federal superweapon, some scary-looking subspace energy, and a very, very large task force. Your job is to escort the Seneca.

After some dialogue, the stealth fighters will cloak and start flying towards the superweapon, and the Seneca will start locking subspace missiles. The UEF deploys two Custos cruisers and a wing of Uhlans to take your AWACS down. As in the previous mission, the torpedo launchers are the threat, not the fighters. Take down the torpedo launchers and let your gunboats take the fighters down. Next, the Federation sends a wing of UEF Kentauroi carrying Shrike warheads. Use long range missiles if you have them. Once the Kents have taken heavy losses, they'll warp out.

The Seneca then achieves subspace missile lock on the UEF frigate Kongo. Watch the fireworks as the Seneca cripples the Kongo from long range. The Federation then launches a third wave of fighters and another AWACS warps in. Ignore them - they're too far away to be a danger. While this is going on, the stealth fighters get close to the UEF superweapon - and promptly get shot down by the AWACS. Oops.

The Seneca orders the GTVA units to abort mission and it engages its jump drive. Once the Seneca departs, the mission is complete. Jump back to base.

Notes

• Most of the UEF units in this mission are from the First Fleet, which has been strictly on defensive duty since the war began.