Alpha 5: Encoded signals detected

To the LZ

Time limit: 1 hour

So far, it's been pretty easy. Well, this time, it won't be. You get an hour, but since this stage gives you a bunch of useful research artifacts, it's best to rush through it so you have time left over to research them (not that that's easy). You'll need them for the next stage.

Secure the zone

Once you arrive, you'll get a message from Новый Paradigm. It boils down to "Leave, or die." Of course, it wouldn't be a very fun game if we did either, so we'll be doing neither.

As usual, have your truck start building defenses.

Штаб проекта tells you they're near the bottom, and helpfully mark their location for you. Don't go there directly; it's a trap. Instead, follow the arrows on the minimap here:

Now, set all your units to "Не стрелять" (and save the game). This is important, since you'll soon meet a Новый Paradigm sensor, and if you shoot it, NP will send a pretty big army to attack yours.

While in Не стрелять mode, you'll have to click on enemy scavengers manually. And yes, you did just see a cannon on a school bus.

Once the Новый Paradigm sensor is gone, move north until you see a scavenger base. Штаб проекта will decide that's enough, and let you call reinforcements.

Reinforcement time: 2 minutes

Do so immediately. Get some of those Миномёт Гадюка Half-Гусеницы, some more HMGs, anything you have. As you wait, start building some more defenses:

Start building a sensor tower near the scavenger base, as well:

Reinforcing a sensor tank also works, but it will have slightly less range than a sensor tower.

When your mortars arrive, assign them to your sensor, and they'll start attacking the scavenger base from afar (if you're using a sensor tank, target the scavenger base manually). You might get attacked by scavenger units, but your MG tanks should be able to deal with them.

Either way, make sure not to destroy the whole base (but do destroy their factory, so they can't send anything more at you). Now send an MG tank (in hold fire mode) over to grab that artifact. It's Легкая пушка:

 СтоимостьEffect
Легкая пушка$75
* Противотанковые снаряды$37
  • Улучшения cannon damage to 130%
* Противотанковые снаряды Mk2$75
  • Улучшения cannon damage to 160%
* Противотанковые снаряды Mk3$112
  • Улучшения cannon damage to 190%

The Легкая пушка is better against the Новый Paradigm's tanks and structures than any of your other weapons so far, and it's also better at soaking damage. Дизайн some Легкая пушка Гадюка Half-Гусеницы, and start manufacturing them. If the Новый Paradigm hasn't attacked you yet, you might want to save here, as well.

While waiting for your cannon tanks to arrive, you might want to build another sensor tower northwest of you. You should see some Новый Paradigm forces, but as long as you don't get too close (or start shooting them), they should leave you alone. You might want to build some more MG towers, too:

Move your machineguns back to the LZ to meet your new cannons. Well, now you should have your army of mixed machineguns and cannons, as well as some mortars.

Before we begin our attack, let's see what we're up against.

...yeah. Now do you see why we did so much preparation? Now for our plan:

1. Attach your mortars to the new sensor tower.

2. Move your MG units due east, and set them to retreat at тяжелый damage. They will end up overlooking a valley where scav units are poised to make a surprise strike on you. Fortunately, from the ledge above them, you should be able to gun down 80-100% of their force before they leave the valley.

3. As soon as the Новый Paradigm announces hostile intentions via cutscene, move your cannon tanks due east of where they are currently sitting, to just outside the range of the NP cannon-tower at the base's corner. Make sure they are set to Сделай или умри.

NP will first attack with a wave of lighter tanks. Your earlier MG towers should be able to handle them. Keep them constantly repaired with a truck, and the truck constantly repaired with a repair turret.

NP's stronger units will stay in their base. You can lure them out by having your mortars hit one of their structures (hit, no need to destroy). Make sure to retreat your mortars behind your MG towers immediately; mortars are fragile and you don't want one to get killed.

Wait for the enemy commander to come out, then ambush him with your cannons. You'll notice the commander has a ton of HP.

Pay attention to your units' HP, and retreat any that fall to red. If done right, you should be able to pull this off with no casualties.

Start repairing everything now, and attacking NP's base defenses with mortars from afar. Remember to defend them with your cannons and MGs, as NP may still send some tanks every now and then.

Once the defenses are down, move in with your cannons. Make sure to set them to Не стрелять, since you'll be wanting to keep their sensor tower alive so the mission doesn't end early.

If all this strategy seems too much to you, I've also heard that spamming 20 to 30 HMG Гадюка Полугусеницы will also work. Make sure none of them are experienced units, though, since you'll probably lose quite a few of them.

As mentioned earlier, there's a lot of useful tech in this base.

 СтоимостьEffect
Заводской модуль$75
  • Открывает новое строение: Заводской модуль
* Средняя броня - Кобра$37
  • Открывает новый корпус: Кобра
* Средняя пушка$150
* Ремонтная мастерская$75
  • Открывает новое строение: Ремонтная мастерская
* Автоматизированное производство$ ?
  • Улучшения factory production speed to 130%
* Автоматизированное производство Мk2$75
  • Улучшения factory production speed to 160%
* Автоматизированное производство Мk3$ ?
  • Улучшения factory production speed to 190%
* Улучшение Пулемета$112
  • Улучшения machinegun rate of fire to 118%
* Скоростной зарядчик пулемета$150
  • Улучшения machinegun rate of fire to 143%
* Hyper Fire Chaingun$212
  • Улучшения machinegun rate of fire to 182%
Командный пост$37
  • Открывает новое строение: Командный пост
Хардкрит$18
  • Открывает новое строение: Хардкрит Wall

TODO: Finish this list

All of this takes around 20 minutes to research. While you're waiting, start demolishing all those structures you don't need; you'll get half your money back. Also open up your design screen. Your new combat units should be Тяжелый пулемёт Кобра Half-Гусеницы, Средняя пушка Кобра Half-Гусеницы, and Миномёт Кобра Half-Гусеницы.

Don't recycle your units yet. Wait until Alpha 6.

When you're ready, destroy that last sensor tower, and end the stage.

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