Description
GTC has discovered a disabled Demon class cruiser, the Astaroth, in the Beatlegeuse system. Unfortunately, only the GTI Timbuktu is near enough to send any forces in time to destroy the hulk. Additionally the Timbuktu has NO bomber wings available. In a twist on the traditional protect Omega 1, the object here is to blow up Omega 1, not see it safely away. Timbuktu engineers have outfited a transport with one of the installations fusion cores. The idea is to ram the transport into the Astaroth and detonate the core. The GTC Foundation may arrive to cover your escape.

Storyline:
The star Beatle is becoming unstable in the Beatlegeuse system and almost all available pilots have been used to evacuate the system, basically leaving your wing to defend the system from the Shivans. Isn't the big star in the Beatlegeuse system also named Beatlegeuse and not Beatle? Just nit picking, I suppose. <p> In the meantime, GTI has spotted a disbaled Demon class destroyer that you are being sent to destroy. Normally I'd find it odd that the GTA would be foolish enough to send a single wing of fighters (Not bombers) to take on a threat that big, but you'll get help from an Elysium transport loaded with a big bomb to take down the Demon.

Balance:
There's plenty of fighters and weapons to go around, which is always nice. It's sort of a shame that there's only one Athena to choose from, since a few more could come in handy, but it makes the mission for fun and challenging. It's also a bit disappointing that there are not any extra Hornet missiles available. <p> The initial enemies aren't very difficult to deal with. If the Dragon fighters show up, however, look out. On high skill levels, they'll be as <i>baaaad</i> as they want to be so you might just want to stay out of their way.

Design:
One big plus about this mission is that it uses some well done, and very complex sextep statements. Although the use of all three dimensions could've been stronger, I liked the ship placement of the Demon destroyer, it really looked like it was disabled and slowly adrift. <p> The playing field would normally be the perfect size, but the Demon destroyer is snuggled right up next to jump node from which the Shivans pour in. This isn't much of an issue until the Dragons show up, since it puts them a short walk away from your position. What also makes the battlefield more constricted is the fact that the player must jump out of the jump node from which he/she arrived. This is explained in the story, but it becomes a bit of a pain in the butt either way. You can call in a Leviathan cruiser as a reinforcement, but it's only good for covering your escape. <p> The mission also makes good use of Volition-made sounds. The used waves are fairly specific to the mission, which usually doesn't work out too well for third party designs, but this mission handles it fairly well. The directives are also a handy reminder to keep the player on track.

Gameplay:
The action for the mission is pretty fun, and well balanced on medium difficulty. It'd be nice to see the Manticores put up a little more of a fight, however. One thing that annoyed me a little bit was that I found myself having to give multiple orders to my wingmen in short order. There's a bit of learning curve as to knowing when to send your buddies after the enemy fighters or the enemy cruiser to minimize damage to the Elysium, since dividing your wingmates won't hold off the fighters or the cruiser particularly well. Although some people might find this challenge interesting and fun.

Other Thoughts:
In the mission, Alpha 4 comments on strange damage patterns on the Shivan cruiser's hull. This idea isn't expanded on any further, which is a shame. It'd be nice to know what's behind those patterns. <p> The debriefing stages are also a little unorthodox. The office giving you the debrief seems to get a little too friendly and specific instead of somewhat general. Also, GTA Command is constantly referred to as GTC (Galactic Terran Command) which might confuse some people at first.