Campaign Mission: Lamplight

Objectives

Board Lamplight Station (15:00 Minutes)

Required Objectives
Locate Frigate
Board Lamplight Station (15:00 Minutes)

Ships

Allied Ships	Neutral Ships Present	Enemy Reinforcements
ANS Winter Chain (EWAR frigate)	M/V Clipper Kate M/V Independent Future M/V Midnight Sun M/V Morning Lily	OSPN Just Getting Started (100 shuttle) - E/M/H OSPN Radar Noise (jam shuttle) - E/M/H OSPN Running Late (100 shuttle) - E/M/H OSPN Slayer Grip (100 shuttle) - E/M/H OSPN Punches Up (rocket shuttle) - M/H OSPN Sleight Of Hand (rocket shuttle) - M/H OSPN Toll Unpaid (rocket ) - H OSPN Unknowable Intent (rocket shuttle) - H

Area Outline

Upon arrival at Lamplight, you are met with a large mining station. The station master, Mister Wyman, greets Task Force Alder and advises you that the frigate Winter Chain has arrived and is docked at the station. The frigate’s master, Commander Cutler, is unable to communicate with you due to having sustained damage to their communications. Nevertheless, Wyman offers the station’s hospitality after asking Cpt. Stratton a few questions about how the task force got past the blockade.

Now, it is entirely plausible for a player to be spooked by Wyman and just give Lamplight station a wide berth, leaving Winter Chain behind. However, this is not recommended. Winter Chain is the only ship in the entire campaign with an “Interruptor” command signal jammer, a crucial piece of softkill equipment that can jam out Protectorate missiles, and also has two “Blanket” radar jammers to blind enemy ships. It is a crucial piece of equipment needed for future missions.

Getting to the Winter Chain, however, means approaching the station. This causes a cutscene to play where Mister Wyman springs the ambush awaiting Task Force Alder.

As Harsh Winds Blow approaches the berthings where the Winter Chain is docked, the hatches on the far side of the station open, revealing hidden Ferryman-class shuttles. Some of them are armed with rockets, others with guns, and there are even two equipped with an omnidirectional radar jammer that will jam your Active Radar missiles (Thunderhead Block 1).

It is also revealed that Alder now has a time limit. Commander Cutler is dead, Winter Chain is locked in by the berth’s docking clamps and the frigate’s crew under Lieutenant-commander Lambert are fighting off the station’s boarding teams. They only have fifteen minutes before they are overwhelmed. Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with the shuttles once you know where they are coming from, within the time limit. Here are some tips

Before the Ambush is Sprung:

1. Have your SEWACS Sundial launched to provide offset tracks
2. Ensure that your carrier is on the berthing side of the station (near Winter Chain), and away from the hatches where the shuttles launch. It should not be too far from the action so it can provide point defense support, but not so close that it gets shot at
3. Going to Crucible first enables you to pick up the Long Lance, which makes this mission a lot easier due to the Vauxhall’s firepower
4. If you chose to go to Lamplight first, you may need to launch bombers in advance, or prepare to expend missiles to protect your fleet

The following are some strategies to use once the ambush is sprung:

1. Liberally use RPF to disable the shuttles first. You don’t have to kill every one at once, just disable them enough that they can’t advance, at which point you can hit them with HE.
2. Focus firing on the closer targets is key. Again you’re watching for a stoppage of movement rather than outright killing a shuttle
3. Use bombers to bomb the shuttles with torpedoes, 2 torpedoes a shuttle will work
4. Use ARAD (Squall radiation) missiles to delete the enemy jammers and mix other missiles with them for best effect (the cheap Active Radar Thunderheads)
5. If you have the Long Lance, it and a frigate can solo the shuttles and provide cover while one of the frigates go board
6. Keep your fleet faced toward the enemy and maintain distance with your fleet
7. Leave some time for the boarding action to complete so the timer doesn’t run out. You will need about one minute to complete the boarding action to stop the timer.

Once the battle is over, it is recommended to repair any damage you have at Lamplight, loot the station by docking at the berths, and fuel up. Lamplight station has a lot of fuel, so all your ships should have full tanks before they leave. It is not required to loot the shuttles, as the only thing usable is 20mm ammunition.

You can end the mission by exiting the room.