Tactical Operations Briefing

X-Wing Alliance - Battle 3, Mission 5

Plant Listening Device

Skill level:  Hard
Craft:  Correlian Transport
FG:  Sabra
# of Craft:  1
# of Waves:  1
Armaments:  Concussion Missiles
Countermeasure:  None
Mission Objectives:
    Locate suitable satellite
    Return to the Liberty
    ZG/U Aeron: complete mission
Prevent: ZG/U Aeron: Inspect
Bonus Points:
    (250) Destroy ETR Minelayer
    (500) Destroy A/S Omicron 

At mission start, hyper to the Imperial listening post. Once there, target the Assualt Gunboats (2 ships from FG Tau) ,which will be closing on you shortly. To protect yourself from a head-on run with the two Imperial fighters, target one and tell your turret to fire on it (press the [F] key), take the second one with your forward laser. After their initial onslaught has been deferred, the GUNs should be easy pickings.

If you want an extra 250 bonus points, it will be time to take out ETR Minelayer after you have finished with FG Tau. Try a combination of turret fire and concussion missiles to destroy it. After you've toasted the ETR, take a few minutes to recharge your shields before engaging the mines. Once you have ample shielding, take out the mines, don't inspect any of the comm sats yet, but be sure not to destroy any of them.

When the minefield has been decimated, turn your attention to C/RLY Comm Center. You can destroy the C/RLY for extra points, this will also give you extra time to recharge your shields to full strength.

Now inspect the comm sats. You can destroy any of the sats after inspection, save Comm Sat 6,, since this is the one Aeron will be working with.

When you've inspected sat 6, ZG/U Aeron will launch from your CORT and dock with the sat. The docking will take four minutes, and triggers the arrival of an assault shuttle when it begins.

Destroy assault shuttle Omicron as quickly as possible, this will keep the number of Zero-G stormtroopers you have to intercept to six. Now target on of the Zero-G troopers from FG TK, these will be going after Aeron. You must destroy them before they get close enough to inspect her. Afterwords, clean up the four other troopers that are tailing you.

Head back to ZG/U Aeron and wait for her to complete docking. A strike cruiser will come out of hyperspace but do not worry, the fighters will not reach you before the docking is complete. When you have Aeron back in the Sabra, you can either run to the hyper buoy for a mission complete or stay and earn some extra kills.

The STRKC Hurricane will launch 3 waves of 4 TIE fighters from FG Alpha. Destroy these however you wish. Once this is accomplished, fly to the underside of the STRKC, exploiting its blindspot. Destroy the STRKC with your turret, then head home for a well deserved mission accomplished.

Author:  Tony Marco (Kid - Rogue 6)
Strategy:  Tony Marco