The Watchpoint. A critical location that controls the flow of Coral in the Northern Belius region. We‘ve been tasked with infiltrating the facility and destroying the valve to cut off their Coral supply. It won‘t be easy though. The perimeter is swarming with Security Guard forces and defense systems aimed to keep out any intruders.
We‘ll need to equip some heavy firepower and make use of every resource at our disposal. Our AC will be taking some damage, no doubt, but a few repair kits should get us back on track.
The goal – make it to that valve intact and blow it sky high! Let‘s do this!
Clearing Out Sector 1
As I boost towards Sector 1, pulse rounds immediately pepper my AC. Turrets! Two of them high up on adjacent buildings, pelting me with that freezing blue laser. My systems start to lock as ice forms. I quick boost to break their line of fire, using a zigzag pattern to close in. Missile pods open, sending a salvo of rockets screaming towards the nearest turret. Direct hits! It explodes in a shower of sparks and metal. One down, one to go.
Ground troops start taking potshots as well, but my armor absorbs their rounds. I ignore them for now, spinning around to draw a bead on the second turret. My plasma cannon hums, then unleashes a sustained burst, slagging the weapon in an instant. Area secure. Time to mop up these ground forces.
A few strafing runs and some well-placed mortars make short work of the stragglers. Sector 1 cleared. My missile pods are running low though, so better reload while I can. On to the next sector.
Securing Sector 2
This looks familiar. More turrets, more troops. I repeat my earlier strategy, boosting wildly to avoid their freeze lasers while honing in to missile barrage the nearest turret. These ones seem armored somehow – the missiles only take it down to half strength. I ignite my boosters and close in with energy blade extended for a vicious chop attack. The turret ruptures in an explosion of shrapnel. One down!
The second turret scores a partial hit on me, sending ice spiking across my left arm and missile pod. Damage is minor, but my movement is slowed. I unleash a swarm of micro-missiles to keep it occupied while I circle around back and drive in with a melee strike. Another down! Now to polish off these ground forces.
A few defense turrets pop from bunkers, peppering me with grenade fire. I shrug it off and stomp them flat, then rain down mortars on the troops fleeing my onslaught. The last one falls and things go quiet. Just some smoldering rubble and wreckage now. Sector 2 secure!
My missile reserves are completely tapped at this point. And my AC could use some patching up. According to my instruments there‘s a repair station just ahead. I‘ll resupply and repair there before hitting the next sector.
Mini-Boss Mayhem
What the hell is that thing? Sensors identify the robot as "Sulla" – apparently one of the Security Guard‘s anti-AC attack platforms. Missile batteries bristle along its shoulders and down each arm. And is that…a pulse cannon in its chest? Wonderful.
Sulla doesn‘t waste any time, immediately going airborne on thruster packs and strafing me with missile fire. I boost evasively, returning fire with my plasma cannons. Most shots go wide or splash across some kind of pulse shielding. This thing is fast!
I manage to score a few hits, but they barely scorch the armor. Going to need some heavier firepower! I jet towards Sulla, priming all my micro-missiles for point-blank release. Macross Missile Massacre!
The world disappears in smoke and flame as all my missiles detonate at once. My optics recover to see Sulla reeling, armor shattered across its frame. Now! While its pulse shield is down!
I rocket in with a burst from my boosters and drive my crackling energy blade straight through the mini-boss. It spasms then goes still. Throw that one on the scrap pile! Monitoring stations now showing way is clear to the central control facility. Let‘s get that valve!
Infiltrating the Control Center
With Sulla wrecked, I now have access to the Watchpoint‘s central control building. According to mission details, our target lies within. Sure enough, after breaching the exterior defenses, I spot the valve – a huge device regulating Coral flow to the entire region.
My AC clamps on and I start twisting with all actuators at full torque. Alarms sound as the valve rupture and I ride the spewing wreckage down to the depths below. Coral pours from broken pipes as explosions rumble through the complex.
I fire grappling hooks to swing clear of the destruction, sensors barely picking up a strange new contact through the chaos. What now?!
Showdown with Balteus
An ominous shape emerges from the smoke and debris. "Threat identified: BALTEUS."
!
BALTEUS. An autonomous assault unit. Heavy armor. Devastating weaponry. Looks like the Watchpoint‘s last line of defense. Fine then. Let‘s dance!
BALTEUS wastes no time, energy shields snapping into place as it floats towards me. Missile ports open, raining fiery death from above. I boost evasively, returning fire with my plasma cannons and last micro-missiles. They splash harmlessly across bulbous shields.
In close now! I ignite boosters for a point-blank strike, energy blade crashing against BALTEUS‘s shields. The barriers flare and rupture, briefly exposing the armor underneath. Chance!
I unleash everything in my arsenal, missiles and plasma bolts and mortar rounds pummeling BALTEUS before its shields recharge. That did some damage!
Now it returns fire with energy blasts from arm mounts that send my systems into momentary overload. That thing packs a wallop! Going to need to finish this fast!
We trade devastating strikes and counters, strained actuators fighting to keep pace against BALTEUS‘s relentless attacks. Sparks erupt across my console as multiple systems reach critical stress levels. Just…a little…more!
There! BALTEUS overbalances from sustained damage, destabilizing for a moment. I rocket in with the last dregs of booster fuel, driving my crackling energy blade up and through the assault unit‘s core. It spasms then goes still, collapsing as I withdraw my weapon and stagger clear of the wreckage.
Targets neutralized. Mission complete!
Aftermath
That was one for the record books! My AC took a heavy beating getting through those defenses to take down the Watchpoint. But the valve has been destroyed – Coral flow disrupted.
Lots of shoring up and repairs needed on my ride after that final brawl. But mission accomplished! And so closes Chapter 1 of this campaign. If that‘s just the opening act, I can only imagine what else awaits in this conflict. The destroyed Watchpoint facility drifts past my optics as I radio for extraction, planning my next sortie…
