Chasing the Weather

### Win Condition

* Destroy 2 enemy Transports before they reach the escape point on tile 27, 53 and 28, 54

### Loss Condition

* One or both enemy Transports escapes from the map

### Next mission

Downpour

**Chasing the Weather** is the 26th campaign mission in Field Commander.

## Plot synopsis

The player is ordered to stop 2 enemy Transports from leaving the map to hinder Shadow Nation's use of the Weather Machine.

## Available units

* 3 Gunships
* 2 Utility Helicopters
* 3 Corvettes
* 2 Transports
* 3 Grunts

## Enemy units

* 2 Tank Busters
* 2 Stealth Fighters
* 2 Gunships
* 2 Transports **(main target)**
* 4 Corvettes
* 3 Submarines

## Buildings

All these buildings are neutral and can be captured if the player wishes.

* 1 Satellite Laser
* 3 Seaports
* 2 Factories
* 1 Airport

## General strategies and tactics

* Being the second-to-last mission, this befits a climactic showdown, Aqualung will have a full outfit of aircraft in addition to naval vessels. You, on the other hand, only have a handful of gunships and corvettes. Your most powerful weapon will therefore be soldiers and mines.
* The Storm Riders, while possessing heavily outfitted naval units, are close to useless in this mission. Choose the *Killing Depths* rather than air-based divisions like the Fighting Vipers so you don't have to worry about increased loss of fuel. Also, the Killing Depths have very valuable division powers that center around increased damage inflicted by air, sea and land units. The Storm Riders, conversely, merely benefit from exposing hidden enemies.
* Aqualung's forces are probably more for show than anything else, given the distance he needs to travel before the Transports can escape. Also considering the fact that the weather will change and thus affect his unit's fuel consumption, it's possible that his fighters will even run out of fuel close to your end of the map unless they are *constantly* being escorted by Transports.
* *Immediately* send the 2 Corvettes and Transports at the top north corner down south to provide cover for the single Corvette near the Escape Point. Order the lone vessel to start creating a minefield that entraps anything that wanders into it. Hold your Gunships at the island where they begin until the Transports get close enough for striking distance. This is to provide constant fuel replacement and maximise healing.
* Most of the buildings are more for show than anything else. Don't bother capturing them except the cities where your troops start off, in order to resupply your Gunships.
* **Scripted event**: Despite being united for the same general cause, Shadow Nation's commanders lack comradery among specific individuals, and in fact even frequently suffer from internal infighting. This is demonstrated in turn 8, when Aqualung issues an order to activate the Weather Machine, which changes the climate from rainy to snowing, ironically causing his aircraft to drain their fuel much faster. Use this to your advantage. (I guess this order he issued is in response to being denied air support from Strike Zone, a request you can hear at turn 3)

## Trivia

* It's the first mission where the weather can vary.