Alien Colony Attack Mission

Alien Colony Assault? Evil!

Don't get hurt, don't get mind controlled, do take it thorough, do throw flares like hot potatoes, do take 30!!!! Don't hand-to-hand Tentaculats, do take 14 soldiers (or more). DO NOT go unless you have Thermic Lance and MC knowledge and Disruptor Pulse Launcher, and do edit this post!

Overview

A colony assault is a two part mission:

• The first part takes place on the (dark) sea bed. The centre of the map contains the main colony building and there are several small outlying buildings.
• The second part takes place in a four-level bunker beneath the sea bed.

Colony assaults are one of the few regular missions in which aquanauts are guaranteed to face the dreaded Tentaculat.

Part One (Sea Bed)

The aim of the first part of the mission is to get your team to the lift at the centre of the main building, so they can descend to the base below and complete the second part.

In Part One expect the follow aliens:

• Hallucinoids
• Aquatoids
• Tasoth
• Tentaculats

There will be senior ranking Aquatoids and Tasoth — and they will be happy to use M.C. and Disruptor Pulse Launchers to make short work of your assault team.

The types of aliens will differ between phases - although, Tentaculats are more of a problem in low visibility corridors underground. You can profitably succeed in the first phase, and immediately abort the mission in the second, if you want to repeatedly harvest technology from the alien base.

Possible Tactics

• Take along a SWS and use it for scouting (perhaps with some sniper support). Since it is impervious to Tentaculat and Hallucinoid attacks this can usefully reduce the threat to your aquanauts.
• The double doors of the central structure allow you to get your SWS to the central lift area. Do this to get sight of the (many) aliens that will be there, and then use M.C.
• There will be aliens with Disruptor Pulse Launchers on the balcony overlooking the central lift. Use M.C. on them and have a blast fest.
• The central base structure is the destination, and can be entered via holes created by DPL missiles. These are also very handy for clearing the upper level gallery in this structure.
• Tentaculats have a huge number of Time Units. Use M.C. on them if you want an effective temporary scout. Be aware, however, that they have very high M.C. strength. Only aquanauts of exceptional M.C. ability (80+ strength and 70+ skill should be enough) should try this.

Part Two (Beneath the Sea Bed)

Some of your soldiers will be scattered alone in the second phase.

The base is populated with Tentaculats and Lobstermen. Your target is the Synomium device in the command center on the lowest level. It will be guarded by Lobstermen, including at least one Commander. Bringing multiple stun grenades is recommended for kidnapping one. Destroying the device can easily be accomplished by sending down a Disruptor Pulse Torpedo through the one tile hole above the room containing it. Dropping a Sonic Pulser down the hole might not overcome the armor?

I managed to blow it up with a Magna-Blast Grenade tossed right in the center of it. A Sonic Pulser should work. --Myroc 12:39, 18 February 2010 (EST)

Due to the size of the base, it may be more practical to pick up an unconscious Commander and carry him out of the base manually than to find and kill every alien. Keep in mind that corpses and unconscious aliens are quite heavy.

Possible Tactics

• When the equipment screen appears between the two levels, it is a good idea to:

-Bring out close combat weapons on all aquanauts that have them. This is because Lobstermen are all over the place in the lower level, and they are weak to both Thermal Tasers and Drills. Vibro Blades are best because they use very little T.U.s and can kill most Lobstermen in one hit. [br] -Switch to smaller weapons. This is because there are lots of small rooms and narrow passages inside the base, and you will end up using most of your T.U.s just moving between them. Large weapons lose accuracy if you are holding a close combat weapon, use up a lot of T.U.s and leave you vunerable if you find yourself up against multiple enemies. Sonic Pistols are best because it is accurate, powerful, small and quick to use. Though not effective agains Lobstermen, two shots will usually kill a Tentaculat.