Description
The first epic mission on the struggles of a 'Lost Generation' Colony based in the Andromeda Sector. This Version features custom sound. <a href="http://freespace2.nzwl.org.nz/files/firstcon/" target="_blank">For Full Prelude</a>

Storyline:
Epic? Well, okay. Apparently, the Shivans as some pirate group have returned after 32 years (32 years since what, the Great War I presume?). They've been taking out gas miners and it is up to you to defend the three remaining ones as they make their way to an Arcadia for refueling.<p> The briefing, which is supposed to be coming from a supercomputer, is very succinct and to the point. The Arcadia is also incorrectly represented as a Ganymede Drydock.<p> There are also very few in-flight messages. And thanks to the monotone computer voice, I felt like I was taking orders from HAL ("Dave... Dave?").

Balance:
The balance is sort of intriguing. The Shivans send in king-size bombers (Nephilims and Seraphims) to take out a few gas miners? What's the importance of these things to them anyway? They have practically no fighter escort either, nor any big bombs.

Design:
Pretty simplistic escort-the-ships mission. Why do the gas miners have such absurd names? The Shivan wings also go under different naming conventions, like "Nero Death Wing."<p> Actually, I have a couple larger gripes, though. Just like in the other mission I reviewed today, <i>Enemy Forgotten</i>, there isn't any background to speak of. Just black, unobstructed space. Kinda' dull. And beyond that, why do I fail the whole mission if just one of the gas freighters is destroyed? This is never explained...<p> By the way, to go with the silent black space is... what do you know? Silence! The designer neglected to put any background music in.

Gameplay:
This mission sort of reminds me in premise to the second mission in the Demo. The challenge is in saving all three miners. Certainly, two isn't hard to do - but three is the challenge.

Other Thoughts:
Lots of hype surrounding this mission. There's also a shameless plug for the mission's web site during the Command Briefing.