HWC Campaign: Aiowa System
From Encyclopedia Hiigara
 Aiowa System
Campaign
In mission
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In Mission 5, the Kuun-Lan defends a Bentusi Tradeship from Beast attack.
[edit] Overview
The Kuun-Lan moves to the Aiowa system where it tries to ask the enigmatic Bentusi about the Beast. However, soon after finding a Bentusi Tradeship, it also finds the Beast. The Somtaaw send fighters and corvettes to aid the Bentusi. After repelling the first waves of Beast attacks, the Kiith Manaan carrier Caal-Shto exits from hyperspace to aid the Bentusi, who are broadcasting a distress call. The combined force of the Hiigaran ships successfully help the Tradeship, however with coming waves, the Bentusi are attacked by subverted Heavy Cruisers which badly damage the Bentusi Tradeship. The Hiigarans are unable to destroy the Heavy Cruiser, and soon, it strikes the Tradeship with an infection beam.
- "There is something wrong here. A presence. We sense its hunger. Not infant race. Not Unbound. Something other. Something older. Something from Outside! It tears at Us! Rewriting Song. Devouring memory. Turning Our Body against us...Binding Us!!! This cannot be... WE... WILL... NOT... BE .. BOUND!!!"
- — Bentusi
The Beast infection, attempting to infect the Bentusi Tradeship, is wiped out as the Tradeship self-destructs. The resulting explosion destroys all nearby Beast and Hiigaran ships, and the Caal-Shto suffers heavy damage and a hyperdrive core malfunction. The Kuun-Lan destroys the remnants of the Beast fleet and escorts the carrier on fusion drives to the Kadiir Nebula
[edit] Hints
- Move Kuun-Lan closer to Bentusi ship (but not too close, so that it wouldn't suffer from Bentusi explosion). Thanks to this you will be able to send reinforcements in short time, and will have more time to react on Beast ship striking on Kuun-Lan.
- On Very Easy level, the Bentusi are invulnerable (!!!). It's not a joke, they doesn't receive any damage at all, not even from ion cannons. So just mind your own business until you see the Heavy Cruiser show up on the sensor manager, then move closer to the Caal-Shto.
- If you attack the Beast Carrier with about 20 Acolytes, their missiles will finish it off quickly. However, use any less and it will hyperspace out when severely damaged.
- This is the mission where Ramming Frigates become obsolete. They may prove useful time to time, but attacking the Cruiser here will result in the frigate being infected on contact. I (amitakartok) learned this the hard way...
- After the explosion, focus all fire on the badly damaged Cruiser to finish it off before the infection beam is recharged. Recommend using a missile volley of the Acolytes.
- Several Infected ion array frigates attack the Kuun-Lan soon after your arrival, but with a bit of judicious ship-handling to keep the maximum number of turrets bearing on them, the Command Ship can fight them off unaided and suffer only moderate hull damage.
