Description
Ravaged is quite simple - the GTC Ravage has hidden in an asteroid field, and you've got to escort the wounded cruiser out. Watch out for asteroids and fighters (as well as a special surprise...)

Storyline:
One of my favorite missions was the retreat of the Galatea through the asteroid field. This mission recreates a similar situation: Alpha must destroy the asteroids blocking the path to the waypoint and cover the GTC Ravage as it retreats to safety after a failed attack against the Vasudans.

Balance:
The mission takes place in the Terran-Vasudan war, so neither the Vasudans or the Terrans have shields. Likewise, the loadout is limited to ML-16/Disruptors and Interceptor/Furies. This makes the Vasudans a reasonable threat and challenges Alpha's flying abilities.

Design:
This mission drains resources, as your system must manage a large asteroid field. This mission ran slowly on my machine and even crashed once. This might just be from recent problems with my system, so please let me know if you run this mission without any problems on a P200. <p> Ship placement and timing is well done, even if the fighters do jump inside the asteroid field. Notification events are good for ships arriving, but a warning or two about the Ravaged's status would be appreciated. The enemy fighters are not targetable until they become in range, but you might not notice it since you're not far from them at the time. Overall, a solid mission design.

Gameplay:
Without shields, the asteroid field is a dangerous place. The Vasudan fighters handle well in the asteroid field, so Alpha must choose between destroying the fighters and defending the GTC Ravaged. The suprise at the end almost comes too late, though, to be a serious threat. However, it does add to the challenge.

Other Thoughts:
The real threat here is the asteroid field, not the Vasudans.