Mission 4

Mission 4 takes place on August 7, 2160 and is part of the Operation Shield campaign.

Briefing
''Check the screen and pay careful attention!

''Due to a blind spot in our forward defenses, Intelligence is sending out one of our Radar Installation Squadrons, the Condors, to plug the gap. Our job is to provide fighter cover. On take-off, you will rendezvous with the Condors at nav one. A contingent from Alpha will then scout the drop zone, while the rest of the wing hang back and provide cover for the Condors.

''Once the drop zone is given the all clear, the Condors will move in and start deploying the single-turreted early warning satellites. Your primary mission is to keep an eye out for the enemy. If any appear, take them out.

''Once the satellites are deployed, you'll escort them back to navpoint one before returning to base.

''Understood? Time to load, people.

Recommended loadout

 * This is a very difficult mission to pull off successfully, so the choice of fighter depends on your skill level. If you aren't confident with the ability to take on eight fighters and take them out quickly, the Coyote with its Blind Fire is very useful (which is why focusing on scoring many kills in previous missions is so important). Otherwise, the Grendel is a good choice for a capable pilot, especially if you practiced in Instant Action.

Walkthrough

 * You launch from the ANS Reliant and move out to navpoint one. It's clear of Coalition forces and soon the Condors jump in, greeting you with a skeptical message over the comms. An Alliance convoy, Sierra Delta, follows soon, and mentions detecting Coalition signals at the next navpoint. The Condors hang back, allowing you to scout ahead. Shortly after you arrive, three Haidars and three Karaks jump in. Wipe them out with primary weapons, saving missiles for later.
 * The Condors jump in once the area is clear. They start deploying their satellites, but the coast isn't clear yet. Eight Coalition fighters (again, Haidars and Karaks) jump in. About half of the Coalition fighters will make a beeline for the Condors while the other half break off to engage your wingmates. The group that's moving to attack the condors can be easily identified because they bunch up and head in a completely straight line. Drop in behind the group and unload shot into each of them until they break off, when they break it means they've changed targets and are no longer a threat to the Condors. If you act fast and get the attention of the entire attacking group before they reach their target they can safely be destroyed at your leisure with no further risk to the Condors.
 * Once the Condors are done, Commander Enriquez contacts the wing and orders you to investigate a distress call broadcast nearby, broadcast by convoy Sierra Delta. Once you jump out to its coordinates, Nicolai Petrov will decloak along with several Black Guard fighters, after crippling the Larson's Pride, a Mammoth cargo carrier he used as bait. You won't be able to kill Nicolai, so focus on killing the Black Guard fighters until Petrov calls in a Kamov to destroy the Mammoth.
 * Make a hard burn for the Kamov, wipe out the torpedoes, then the Kamov to complete the bonus objective. Afterwards, just return to the Reliant and land.

Outcomes

 * Success + Bonus: All Condors and the Mammoth survives.
 * Success: All Condors survive.
 * Partial success: Up to two Condors destroyed.
 * Fail: More than two Condors are destroyed.