Part 98: Caliban System, Vega Sector, Mission 2 (Gameplay)

Well, this didn't take forever at all. I'm clearly going to have to find some way of decreasing the amount of time it takes me either to a) edit audio or b) do these missions, because editing multiple 25-minute videos is olbviously not going to be a feasible way to get this LP finished before Armageddon.

1st September 2669, Caliban System (Mission 2), Vega Sector
TCS Victory

The Victory launches fighter wings to intercept and destroy Kilrathi reconnaissance patrols attempting to report on her movements.

Conversation videos (Youtube) (Polsy/Gamerstube)


Briefing Video (Youtube) Briefing Video (Gamerstube/Polsy)



Mission Video (Youtube) Mission Video (Gamerstube/Polsy)


Kills this mission: 11, though the game only gives me credit for six. I don't know why the game only gives me credit for six. The lowest number I can manage based on the video is 7.

Ship of the day:
Ralarrad-class

Class: Destroyer
Length: 450 m
Mass: 17,000 tonnes
Max Velocity: 180 kps
Cruise Velocity: 150 kps
Maximum Yaw/Pitch/Roll: 15/15/15 degrees\second
Weapons: 8x dual laser turret, 2x tachyon turret, capship missile launcher
Shields: 1500 cm durasteel equivalent all sides
Armour: 1000 cm durasteel equivalent all sides
Other: Small fighter complement
(Image taken from CIC again, because I've already spent forever on this update and that's a pretty good shot, I doubt I could do much better.)

Official Strategy Guide: Destroyers are about the biggest target a team of fighters will ever be asked to tackle solo (if you ever come up against anything bigger, and you're not flying a multiple-torpedo bomber or running interference for a friendly cap ship, you're having a very bad day). To destroy a destroyer requires timing, team work and flawless piloting. There's no quick kill with destroyers, and you will need a torpedo, or better yet two. First, take out any escorts, if possible, before closing into range of the destroyer's turrets. Then eliminate all the turrets that have your chosen point of assault in their line of fire. Definitely choose a weak point to concentrate your fire on, and remember to have your wingman attack a different side to keep shield regeneration down. Once the defenses are taken care of, unload all available torpedoes, then continue to pound
steadily with guns and normal missiles until the job gets done.

I say: Yeah, this is another case of "the OSG was based on an early version of the game, wasn't it?" You've all seen Ralarrads go down to a single torpedo by now, well, assuming you actually watch the videos you have, anyway. They're generally worth a torpedo though, since they've got fairly decent turret coverage including a pair of tachyons. Basically it's a bigger Kamrani-class corvette, and much like a Kamrani, can be killed easily enough by a pilot who is willing to be patient and let shields recharge and so on, and for the rest of us they're quite annoying foes. My favoured way of taking them out is definitely letting somebody else (wingman, handy nearby TCN destroyer, whoever) do it if I've not got a spare torpedo.

Total kills (Wing Commander III): 17 missions / 145 kills
Total kills (this thread): 43 missions / 510 kills
Total kills (including previous thread): 153 missions / 1425 kills

Next time on Let's Play Wing Commander:
Almost twice as many enemies, but in more than twice as many waves.