Mission 16 - A New Beginning

## 16 - A New Beginning

The most unlikely of alliances will soon established between the once most antagonistic of forces.

## Battle Information

### Location

Thorun Aether Horn facilities, Quas Region, Sedra System

### Aftermath

Decisive Renegade Sylon Victory* Renegade Sylons successfully leave the Sedra System to their new facilities on the Dagon System.
* Joint Human/Sylon alliance established between Unizar and Admiral Benjamin Colburne.

## Belligerents

* Renegade Sylons
* United Federation

* Thorun Empire

## Commanders

* Unizar
* Benjamin Colburne

* Kagan

## Forces

* Complete Sylon arsenal.
* Complete Federation arsenal.
* Command Vessel
* UFN Fenrir

* Complete Thorun arsenal.

## Objectives

* Capture the Aether Horn facility and contact the United Federation.
* Neutralize all Thorun opposition before departure to the Dagon System.

* Protect the Aether Horn.
* Destroy all incoming enemy forces.

## Casualties and losses

Severe
Extensive

## Involved Characters

* Unizar
* Cura
* Benjamin Colburne
* Greg Leskovski

*A New Beginning* is the sixteenth and final mission of Chapter 02 - Ascension in the Five Nations campaign. Completing this mission unlocks Chapter 03 - Cataclysm.

## Setting

Three days following the successful execution of the Ascension Program, Cura informed the newly-born Unizar that the Sylus forces previously sent to eliminate the Praetor turned deviant had left the system, the Sylus believing the elimination of the Renegade Sylons was successful. However, the Sylus had also eliminated all equipment available to perform warp shifting, leaving the Renegade Sylons effectively stranded in the Thorun-controlled Sedra System.

However, Unizar already expected this and thus devised a new strategy program, that would allow the Renegade Sylons to leave that system and head to a new manufacturing system at the Dagon System - the remaining Renegade Sylon forces in the region would raid a Thorun facility in the Quas region, meant to restore and repair the warships of the Thorun Empire], which also held a communication station known as the Aether Horn. The capture of the Aether Horn would allow the Sylons to contact a possible ally: the United Federation.

Cura, while slightly resistant to the plan, was convinced by Unizar to follow this plan, citing Cura's activities defiant to the Sylon Collective as a contribution to the Human-Sylon hybrid's creation.

## The Horn Will Sound

The Renegade Sylons had established within the perimeter of the Aether Horn facility, which Cura had discovered the location, informing Unizar to be lightly defended. Unizar, however, knew better and informed Cura there was a large Thorun installation nearby, and no doubt would send more forces to strengthen the Aether Horn's defenses by the time they were alerted.

This was but the first issue, however - while the immediate area had a small, but considerable amount of asteroids rich in Helium-3 and Tachyon, the position the Sylons could establish themselves without detection was totally devoid of Metal-worthy asteroids, leaving the Sylons unable to build even the most basic of drones. When inquired by Unizar for suggestion to solve this issue, Cura informed of an approaching Thorun Zoner cargo ship which carried a considerable, but nevertheless limited amount of Metal, on which the Sylons had assimilated the vessel. Those resources would be limited until the Renegade Sylons could capture the Aether Horn.

Relying on the quality of it's units rather than the quantity, Unizar would use the combined experiences of it's creation to perform an optimal attack towards the Aether Horn, with Unizar's Command Vessel - a modified, specialized Plasma Raid - leading the attack and neutralizing key targets such as a pair of Ion Cannons guarding the Horn.

As predicted, the attack did draw the attention of the local Thorun military installation, on which Cura urged Unizar to abandon the assault to "secure the ability for further resistance" (i.e. to allow the Renegade Sylons could survive and carry out future operations). Unizar resisted and persisted the assault, informing Cura the merits of the operation were already debated, and there was no option but to secure the Horn.

## Strange Bedfellows

> - "This is Admiral Benjamin Colburne of the Federation Expeditionary Fleet. We received your message and want an immediate explanation. Who the hell are you, and why are you using this classified communication protocol?"
> - "Benjamin Colburne, your companion has adapted to become a part of me. His name was Sterling Buckner — an Admiral of your species."
> - "Mother of mercy, Buckner, is that abomination is really you?"
> - "'Lieutenant Leskovski. Good to see that you’re still alive, though I see your manners haven’t changed over the years.'"
>
> First Exchange between Unizar, Benjamin Colburne and Greg Leskovski

Eventually, Unizar's vessel did reach the Horn and interfaced with it, activating the Horn and sending a message to the United Federation, a direct emergency transmission to the Federal Network Administration using Admiral Sterling Buckner's ID protocol. However, the average waiting time could not be determined, hence why the Renegade Sylons had to secure the Horn's position until a response would come.

It did not take long for the response to arrive, however, in the form of a compact Federation expeditionary force, led by the UFN Fenrir under Admiral Benjamin Colburne, whom immediately demanded to know the identity and intentions of the one using a classified communication protocol. Unizar introduced himself to Colburne, using Buckner's form and even an old statement said to Greg Leskovski in Buckner's previous voice, catching both Colburne and Leskovski - whom was aboard the Fenrir as well - off-guard. Leskovski immediately presumed the Admiral was assimilated against his will and had set-up a trap to lure both him and Colburne, and immediately suggested attacking and destroying Unizar. Unizar immediately requested the Federation forces to not open fire, offering an alliance against the Sylus in return for assistance in terminating the Thorun military installation and opening a Wormhole to the Dagon System, so that Unizar could start constructing a war fleet. Against his better judgement, Colburne agreed and the local Federation forces established themselves at the Aether Horn's site, which had it's plentiful resources - especially Metal as well.

It took some time, between the hard-hitting Thorun strikes, for the Federation to establish themselves and start deploying a fleet to attack the Thoruns in one location while the Renegade Sylons struck in another, using the combined experiences of both Admirals. A succession of tactical strikes and maneuvering could exploit the vulnerabilities in the Thorun positions before the bulk of both fleets could advance and overrun the facility and it's defenders.

## Aftermath

With the Thorun installation destroyed, Colburne and the Federation forces kept true to their word and opened a wormhole to the Dagon System, which the Renegade Sylons had traversed to and left the system, much to Leskovski's disapproval. While Colburne informed he was indeed using the utmost caution concerning this promise, the prospect of a united resistance that could weaken the Sylon Collective was promising. However, while Colburne also added Unizar was a Sylon, and thus could not lie, Leskovski quickly reminded Colburne the hybrid was **also** half-Human.

The Federation departed as well, as the devastating war between the Athraels and Thoruns continued, with the root cause of the conflict still unknown. However, all were unaware of events happening in another location, as a mysterious force was now in the verge of awakening...

## Walkthrough

The player will start in command of a well developed Tier 2 base - lacking only an Array and Defensive Server - with a good quantity of Helium-3 and Tachyon but no Metal deposits. As instructed by Cura, the player will have to assimilate the incoming orange Zoner arriving north of the player's base via an incoming stellar cloud field and take it and it's cargo (1200 Metal) to the Installation Prime. The player can use the Zoner, if desired, to help increase the income of Tachyon, but the metal captured will be all the player will have to work with until Unizar's Command Vessel reaches the Aether Horn, which is already revealed to the player, and the Federation ships arrive afterwards.

The player should take, on the other hand, the unique opportunity of the available Tachyon and Helium-3 and research both Prefining at the Refinery - which will benefit the player's economy early, making workers return 10 resources out of 7 - and Fast Charging at the Conflux, that will benefit the player spellcasters - especially Repair Stations, Assimilators and Pasteurs. Meanwhile, the player should station at least a couple of Twinblades at the resource asteroid fields to protect against Predator raids, better than Pillboxes would. To assemble the attack on the Aether Horn, the player should assemble at least two Glooms with both respective upgrades (Absorptive Plating and Gravimetric Impulse) as well as a Twinblade to help shield the attack group versus Predators the Aether Horn base (green) will build as well as Marauders, which the player should assimilate a couple for anti-fighter cover. If done right, the player should have over 250 to 300 metal the player should avoid spending until the Federation forces arrive.

After Absorptive Plating is researched, the player should take the Command Vessel and, firstly, attack one of the structures defending the southwestern entrance, either the Provincial Beacon or the Guard Station, and then retreat away as it will lure the local defenses, amongst which a Devastator which should definitely be assimilated and taken away to the Repair Station, as it's such a valuable inclusion to the attack forces. After dealing with the defenders, the player can then rush the Command Vessel directly towards the two defending Ion Cannons, getting as close as possible to their 'blind spot' *(see image for directions)* so the Command Vessel can destroy them in one or two shots. The player, in this strategy, should be careful only for the Command Vessel's health and shielding, due to the defending Guard Stations, Predators and Marauders, retreating immediately to the Repair Station if compromised, as well as for enemy Zoners which will block the Command Vessel's projectiles. When both Ion Cannons are destroyed, the player can then retreat the Command Vessel to the Repair Station, group up and attack the Aether Horn base. The player should focus on the base's Guild to shut down Marauder production as well as the Foundry, afterwards.

The Aether Horn itself is protected by three Guard Stations in a triangle formation . The player can use the Glooms to neutralize the Guard Station at the southwestern corner as the Command Vessel can advance on the southeastern one, using EMP Burst at the other Guard Stations before they do too much damage. With the Guard Stations cleared, the player can move in the Command Vessel to the Aether Horn's marked location and retreat the other ships back to the Sylon base for repairs and guarding it. The player should not take too long to clear the green base and activate the Horn, however, as Kagan's base (blue at the eastern part of the map) will start soon enough and begin sending it's own forces against the player.

After the Horn is activated, it will take a while before the Federation's fleet - A Dresda, two Hailstorms, a Pasteur, a Kutuzov and the UFN Fenrir - arrive and move in on their own towards the horn, which the player can rescue them by leaving a unit close by. The player will also receive enough Metal to build an Engineer Shuttle and Mining Station, so if the player saved Metal as suggested, the player's start of the second phase - destroying Kagan's base - will be definitely a lot easier, as the player can readily build in an Icarus at the spot. The plentiful metal asteroid field right by the Aether Horn will make this the definitive location to settle the Kutuzov and start Metal mining operations. The player can take away the available Labors mining Tachyon and Helium-3 back at the Sylon base and reassign them to mine Metal at the newly formed Federation base, which the player should start building up, building additional Labors at the Installation Prime to replace the miners at the base's Helium-3 and Tachyon fields.

In the meantime, the player should take the Fenrir and the Dresda to neutralize a small Thorun outpost, consisting of a Foundry, a poorly barricaded Guard Station that can be flanked and a couple of Power Plants, which the player should tear down as they all count for the final objective. The player should watch only for a spawned wing of patrolling Assault Predators that will appear shortly after Colburne's group spawns and heads for the Aether Horn. For these, the player should use the Fenrir's Furie UAVs to help neutralize them before they do too much damage. The player can also use the Fenrir's Pegasus UAV to help detect any guarding enemy Raiders.

Apart from the usual Predator attacks, Kagan can only attack from two entrances with cruisers - to the North, close to the Federation's position where the UFN Fenrir and other forces can hold, but not for long, and the south close to the Sylon base where the player can station some Glooms (up to six or eight), along with an Absorber and Mask to cover against Raiders and some Twinblades or assimilated Marauders to protect against fighters. Kagan will use Predators for early attacks as well as some Devastators accompanied by a Vanguard, before escalating with Grinders, Corsairs and Flagships. The Glooms can definitely shine against these forces, although the Devastators may need at least one assimilated per attack to handle the others as the Glooms tear them apart. In the Federation side, the player might need to build an Astro Telescope, Dockyard and Fleet HQ as soon as possible and assemble at least a couple more of Avengers and Hailstorms, and definitely a Merchantport and Medical Station to field Pasteurs.

With defenses secured, the player should, at this moment and with F8 (Tactical Pause) toggled, consider the options available as the player has access (once again, if *The Deal* was played) to the tech trees of two different races that can complement each other, allowing for liberal combinations. For an example, Crows and Eclipses together form a very deadly combination of an invisible anti-cruiser carrier, while Orcas can accompany Glooms for a better anti-fighter cover while Masks can help cover the player's heaviest units - heroes included - after Cloak Generator is researched at the Conflux.

In regards to which unit does top the other, the Avenger is more preferable than Plasma Raids and Shades - which the player can build in this mission if desired - due to range and firepower, and Glooms do fare better as Cruisers due to their weapons that can ignore shields. Pasteurs are more preferable than Repair Stations for their mobility and ability to restore shields, and Supply Silos are a better option for additional supply for their cheap cost and the fact the player will be as hurting for Energy, already provided by the Sylon stations. Hailstorms are better detector units than Masks and can provide fire support with other ships as well.

For attacking Kagan's base, the player will want to attack the northern entrance, that is far more lightly guarded than the southern one - Having only one guarding Ion Cannon - and possesses both almost all of the Foundries and Siege Yards that should be neutralized, leaving the player only having to worry about Hall units - Devastators, Flagships and Breakers - as well as an Anvil, Guild, Forum and Skycourt (these last two north of the Thorun Tachyon field), whose destruction effectively neutralizes Grinders, Marauders, Raiders and Corsairs, respectively. To neutralize the tech structures and Ion Cannon, the player can assemble a wing of Crows by researching ATB Program at the Astro Telescope (not forgetting to research Whirlwind Thrusters at the Research Center), as the Crow's projectiles ignore obstacles like Hailstorms do. The player will want to scout out Kagan's base with fighters and/or Pegasus UAVs for additional Ion Cannons for the Crows to fly and neutralizing, taking great care against Guard Stations and Corsairs that can be dangerous for their splash damage.

For the final attack, the player should field the Avengers and Fenrir, Hailstorms and Glooms, at least one Eclipse filled with Crows as well as a group of Pasteurs on standby and move in northside down, progressing with care. The Command Vessel can also be taken, but can be risky, especially if Stabilized Plasma (at the Quantum Core after Plasma Theory) isn't researched. The player can take Plasma Raids but proper maneuvering must be done so that the Plasma Raids can get in firing range and take most hits meant for other units at the back.

After all of Kagan's structures are destroyed, the mission is finished.

## History and Background

The capture of the Aether Horn would ensure that total communications would be cut between Kagan and Thalok as the latter was occupied in the Thorun civil war against Bleda. As a result, Thalok would remain oblivious of Kagan's ultimate fate in *No Longer Slaves* in Chapter 03 - Cataclysm, until informed by Cura in *Dethronement*, in Chapter 04 - Endgame.

The alliance between the United Federation and the Renegade Sylons would appear to be an optimistic one up until the events of *Operation Reckoning* in Chapter 03. This alliance would also be heavily criticized by Nephral in that mission as well.

## Trivia

* This is technically the second mission in which the player can utilize the tech-tree of two different races, the first being *The Deal* in Prelude - Calm Before the Storm.