Welcome to the Boonies

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

	Campaign Walkthrough	Next Mission

ACT 1 MISSION 1

Fighter squadron: 212th Silver Scythes

Description: Alpha wing patrols the area around Tau Sigma Station, and meets their first pirate wing - BR

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Command briefing

• Aftermath

Five years have passed since the jump nodes to the Capella system were collapsed, sealing off a massive wave of Shivan juggernaughts and preventing them from pushing further into GTVA space. The supernova and subsequent nebula hang like a growing scar throughout the GTVA as light from that event continues to spread across our worlds.

• The Ripple Effect

The loss of Capella created serious economic hardship throughout the Alliance - a new Great Depression is upon us. The complete loss of the planetary resources and economic foundation of a rich world was devastating in its own right, but that is not all. Two hundred million refugees continue to walk the stars, seeking a new home. Some have settled, while others have been forced to move from place to place, hoping that the next place may welcome them with open arms.

• The Fall of Reason

While the Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance continues to hold, the current depression has given way to political instability. Local governments rise and fall as often as lunar tides, organized crime and piracy have prospered in a black market environment. It seems no one is immune. Radical voices are raising echoes not heard since the blood cries of the Neo-Terran Front. The ghosts of the past are catching up with us.

• Response of the Alliance

Since collapsing the Capella jump nodes, the recovering GTVA fleets have spent much of their time and resources in police actions. Our own resources are taxed to the limit, and yet still we have the courage to live up to our calling. Even so, it is alarming that there are those who are starting to take matters into their own hands.

• Problems and Difficulties

This is not an easy assignment, pilot. You will often be working in less-than-ideal conditions, but we trust that your skill will help to bring some much needed relief to this region.

Background

• Welcome to the Tau Sigma mining colonies, pilot. We are the boondocks at its finest. You may be used to high tech fighter wings and the latest weaponry where you come from, but now it's time to forget all of that. It is a poor space jockey that blames their lack of skill on their equipment.

• Alpha wing will be flying a routine patrol with the GTC LoneWolf, a Great War vintage cruiser. She may not look like much, but she has a proud heritage.

• 'Tau Sigma Station functions as a receiving point for both inbound materials, and outgoing mined ores. The minerals in this region include high grade fissionables, and are valuable in many parts of the Alliance. The Morgan Mining Company has been the first to develop the Tau Sigma resources for shipments to Altair and Aldebaran.

• Your job is to make sure all shipments go smoothly. Keep an eye out for pirates. We are not well armed, so you may be forced to rely on your skill and wits. Good luck, pilot.

Walkthrough

The first mission of Derelict. You'll get introduced to Mackie, the character who Snipes was supposed to be. Fly around and look at the pretty nebulae, this is the first mission, no challenge.

To save everything (which is not required to win the mission, nor is even recognized, but feels good), send your wingmen off to protect the two far-off Tritons while you go hang near the station. Don't bother actually guarding the LoneWolf, as it will not come under attack. When you get the objective to scan the Poseidon 7 freighter, do so, and then immediately destroy it when it turns hostile.

Meanwhile, enemies will be attacking the two Tritons you send your wingmen to guard earlier, and will be easily held off by them while you cover the distance to join them. If you max out engine power and afterburn as much as possible, you should just arrive in time to grab a fighter kill before the hostiles are wiped out and the mission is over. Make sure the hostile Triton dies, either by your hand or by ordering in your wingmen while you are still in underway - They can easily handle it.

Alternatively, you can keep your wingmen with you and let the two Tritons die, which is probably what your are 'supposed' to do, and then hightail it there and kill the enemies after the fact. This will let you get more kills as your wingmen haven't done most of the work by the time you get there. As long as you manage to kill the hostile Triton, you won't get in any trouble for losing the two friendly freighters, as they were never really intended to be saved.