Missions

The content below is based on the demo release and needs to be updated as it may not accurately represent what's currently in-game.

Missions are the bread and butter of the game, wherein the player commands a force of Marines (and other motley recruits as the game progresses) against pirates, alien fauna, other Factions, and eventually the MENACE itself on a tactical grid. A series of 3 to 5 tactical battles comprises an Operation. Mission progression is as follows:

Mission Selection

The player is treated to a view of the planet the operation as a whole takes place on, and is given a selection of missions which have different objectives, but also provide different rewards for completion. These missions are also labeled with different numbers of skulls representing difficulty, with 1 being the easiest and 3 being the hardest.

Briefing and Preparation

After selecting a mission, the player is provided a map displaying the tactical objectives of the mission as well as the disposition of enemy forces. The amount of intelligence received is based on OCIs and other factors, so the player can go in knowing exactly where every enemy unit is located or can enter battle completely blind. Then the player chooses which Squad Leaders and/or Pilots to bring to the mission and what their equipment loadouts will be. Weapons, armor, vehicles, and accessories all cost supply points which are taken from the mission's total limit. The more squaddies attached to a squad, the more expensive it is to deploy as well.

Success in Battle

Once you have chose your troops and their loadouts, the TCRN Impetus will deploy a dropshop and send them to battle. It is very important to remember that victory alone is not enough, you must win decisively to gain long-term advantage. On every mission you have a chance to earn a maximum of 5 stars, and you need at least a 4 star rating to gain benefits to the ship's Discipline. This is very important in keeping your Morale high in tactical battles and reducing the number of negative Events in the strategic layer. Not only that, but the higher your rating, the more promotion points are gained at the end of a mission to improve your Squad Leaders, promote them to higher ranks, and gain new perks. The mission rating is calculated based on the number of secondary objectives completed within an Operation.

Mission Types and Objectives

Alien Wildlife

As of SL Update #1 the Alien Wildlife faction has the Alien Infestation Operation that contains a selection of the following missions:

Local Wildlife has grown into a serious infestation. Head down to the planet and smoke them out but be warned, biosensors show large swarms roaming the surface. - In game description

• Reclaim Settlement
• Clear Landing Zone
• Rescue Settlers
• Protect Settlement
• Extermination
• Contain Migration
• Smoke Out Nests
• Collect Samples
• Hunt Hive Queen
• Contaminate Brood Pools
• Corrupt Xeno Hatchling DNA

And the Xenos in Colony Operation that contains a selection of the following missions:

Alien forces have entered one of the primary colonies on [PLANET]. The infestation is spreading rapidly, overwhelming local security elements within days of initial contact. The xeno presence is escalating at an unsustainable rate. Civilian infrastructure is compromised, and resistance is fragmented. Multiple countermeasures are available to contain and neutralize the infestation. You are to initiate an urban assault operations immediately. Expect heavy resistance across all sectors. - In game description

• Enter Infested City
• Minimize Civilian Casualties
• Clean The Streets
• Assist Local Forces
• Mine Migration Corridors
• Clean The Streets
• Assist Local Forces
• Mine Migration Corridors
• Defend The Outskirts
• Escort Research Truck
• Seek And Destroy
• Recover Sample Eggs
• Restore Energy Supply
• Corrupt Xeno Hatchling DNA
• Eradicate Hatching Grounds

Pirates

As of Patch 10 the Pirate faction has the Counter Insurgency Operation that contains a selection of the following missions:

An aggressive warband of Pirates made an unexpected planetfall and have spread over a concerningly large area. Local Forces have been outmatched by the pirates' audacious tactics. The TCR needs to insert, secure the area, and ultimately find and destroy the pirates' base of operations. - In game description

• Secure Perimeter
• Establish Combat Outpost
• Stop Extortion
• Search Weapon Caches
• Clear IEDs
• Protect Town
• Take Out Bombmaker
• Rescue Authorities
• Lion's Den
• Repel Counterattack

And the Thwart InvasionOperation that contains a selection of the following missions:

A large Pirate Fleet secretly gathered over the past months while amassing ships. This is atypical for Pirates, but the goals are lofty: the invasion plans to loot as much as possible until dispersing again. Already, Local Forces are overwhelmed and need our help. - In game description

• Seize GTAM-Site
• Hunt down Saboteurs
• Secure Repair Depot
• Interdict Forces
• Retain Spaceport
• Break Off Raid
• Sabotage Supply Infrastructure
• Rescue and Disengage
• Defeat Pirate Force
• Crush Bridgehead
• Eliminate Leadership

Rogue Army

As of Patch 10 the Rogue Army faction has the Turn the Tide Operation that contains a selection of the following missions:

Rogue Army units have overrun local defenses and are advancing quickly and mostly unhindered. We have to stop them so that an effective defense can be mustered and prepared further back. Be prepared to operate behind enemy lines and fight outnumbered and outgunned. - In game description

• Delay
• Stop Marauders
• Relieve Outpost
• Mine Roads
• POW Rescue
• Search and Rescue
• Raid Command Post
• Defend Outpost
• Decapitation Strike
• Breakthrough

MENACE

As of Patch 10 the MENACE faction has the Construct Activity Operation that contains a selection of the following missions:

Enough reports about disappearing civilians has made the situation impossible to ignore: the Menace is active here. We have to immediately search for any Constructs and take them out before they can establish production facilities and a lasting presence. - In game description

• Investigate Attack
• Recon Patrol
• Secure Landing Pad
• Search missing Civilians
• Deny Resources
• Gather Samples
• Destroy Comms Towers
• Contact Checkpoints
• Terror Attack
• Raid Holding Cells

Army Lists

Enemy force generation is accomplished by the game buying units according to points budgets. Each army list includes a unit weighting and a multiplier which the game takes into account when picking units up to the total points budget. Some units may be initially restricted from use by a Campaign Stat that prevents them from showing up until the Player has progressed through a set amount of their Campaign.

As of Patch 10, the following army lists are used to determine enemy force compositions:

• Alien Early
• Alien Early Reinforcements
• Alien Mid
• Alien Mid Reinforcements
• Alien Late
• Alien Late Reinforcements
• First Wave
• First Wave Reinforcements
• Pirate Defensive Early Game
• Pirate Defensive Mid Game
• Pirate Offensive Early Game
• Pirate Offensive Early Game Reinforcements
• Pirate Offensive Mid Game
• Pirate Offensive Mid Game Reinforcements
• Rogue Army Early Game
• Rogue Army Early Game Reinforcements
• Rogue Army Mid Game
• Rogue Army Mid Game Reinforcements