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| “ | The Architect has rendezvoused with the forces on standby in now Chinese-controlled Kazakhstan, which keeps track on the Ironwing, an experimental hypersonic aircraft. This jet is the only way to quickly and safely get her to the location of the main Revolt army. | ” |
| —Mission description |
Operation: Kill the Messenger is the second Foehn Origins campaign mission.
Briefing[]
Now that Our Architect has been evacuated from the Kashmir Home, getting her to the current location of Our main army is the priority task. Increasing amounts of hostile Chinese forces and growing PsiCorps activity within the region have made it difficult for Us to get her to safety by aquatic routes. Yunru believes that time is of the absolute essence, and it won't be long before Yuri puts his master plan into action. His dangerous abilities and research related to control of human mind is most likely the catalyst of the war between the Allies and the Soviets in 1982, and the abrupt dissolutions of alliances. It is plausible that a worldwide mind control is the scenario Yuri is aiming for, as he has displayed capacity of using such tech with varying area of effect around the world before.
If We are to fight Yuri and his Epsilon Army, the Revolt needs to continue developing new weapons that resist mind control and acquire collaborators in the immediate future; the Council must grow beyond its founders. Thus We will hijack a prototype jet of Kanegawa Industries origin, the Ironwing, currently held in an airbase in Kazakhstan, which has been under Chinese control since they moved into Central Asia soon after Yuri took Moscow. This jet will be used to carry Yunru away from the enemies' grasp, and return her to the main army currently hiding at Sakhalin. Our numbers in the area are not many, so We will have to take over a local Chinese outpost if We are to obtain the Ironwing. As this is strictly a recovery mission, We should spare as many Chinese forces as we can. Our goal is not to kill, but to do what needs be done._
Objective 1 & 2: Destroy the Iron Curtain Device & capture the Airbase.
Objective 3 & 4: Clear the airstrip area & get Yunru on the Ironwing.
Events[]
Securing a foothold[]
Commanding a Revolt task force, VOLKNET raided a Chinese outpost (with conveniently positioned explosive barrels and Demolition Trucks) to the west. After the outpost was razed to the ground, a Jackal Racer arrived and sent a Huntress to hijack an MCV here, which is immediately deployed into a Construction Yard.
VOLKNET deduced that, if the Revolt wants to take the Ironwing for Yunru, its Airbase must be captured to obtain the control codes. Receiving news that Yuri's army are still chasing Yunru. it realized that it must act quickly.
Just before VOLKNET pointed out that it was necessary to destroy the Iron Curtain Device which shielded the defense structures around the Ironwing, it received news that a PsiCorps invasion force had landed in the southeast. Their actions were so quick that VOLKNET was informed about the establishment of a Psychic Beacon. In addition, the mind-controlled Russians had also arrived, bringing a Stalin's Fist and deploying it on the northwest side, and they had began to produce armored divisions to attack the Revolt. Therefore, the VOLKNET analysis concluded that the Revolt must act as soon as possible to avoid having both themselves and the Chinese army fall under PsiCorps control. They could buy themselves more time by destroying the Psychic Beacon, but this risked a massive assault from the rear by enemy reinforcements
The gauntlet[]
VOLKNET was informed of the lack of resources in the area, and was advised to alleviate this by capturing Tech Oil Derricks in the southwest and northwest. At the same time, it also discovered that PsiCorps built a Psychic Dominator, so it responded by building a Nuke Silo of its own.
In the next defensive battle, the endless supply of paratroopers and repeated nuclear strikes by enemy forces kept VOLKNET in a passive position, and it was not able to see the countdown of the dominator. It therefore decided to slowly build up guerrilla task forces and continue to capture more Chinese bases to the east. In this manner, its own losses would be reduced, and it would be easier to approach the northeast. After a long time, the Revolt reached the front of the Ironwing base. VOLKNET then fired a nuclear missile directly at the Iron Curtain Device.
During the defensive battle, VOLKNET did not forget to use Wallbusters to slowly disintegrate the Chinese base's defenses, which made the task of capturing the Airbase much easier.
"Get to the Ironwing!"[]
The proselyte of the PsiCorps was still exerting pressure on the Revolt's main base, even as Revolt forces had reached a road on the north side. Shortly after the Airbase was captured, Yunru took an elite Jackal Racer and four Nuwa Cannons to the main base and headed to the Ironwing's location. The Jackal Racer escorted Yunru directly to the Ironwing and witnessed her boarding it. With the Ironwing safely taking off, the Revolt was victorious.
Aftermath[]
| “ | With Kanegawa Industries' Ironwing hypersonic jet in the hands of the Revolt, Yunru can quickly and safely reach the current location of the main army and resume her work. Yuri's worldwide mind control is inevitable, preparations must be made to counter it. | ” |
| —Situation assessment |
Yunru finally found a way to transfer herself directly from the hinterland of Asia to the east coast, and created the conditions for meeting the major power in far away Alaska. However, as the existing Foehn forces were still few and weak, she decided to go to Japan to rescue their allies - Kanegawa Industries. With the Revolt becoming active, the Chinese occupation forces in Japan would not sit by and ignore these "traitor's allies." At the same time, she could also make use of some of the unused technology from their allies' research facilities. In ideal circumstances, she may even be able to persuade the remaining Pacific Front troops in Japan to join them.
Difficulty changes[]
Casual[]
- Starting credits: 80000
- The enemy attack intensity is the lowest
- Removed part of enemy defenses.
- Countdown for the counterattack after destroying the Psychic Beacon: 10:00
- PsiCorps enemy's Psychic Dominator will prioritize Chinese forces as its target.
- Removed a Chinese patrol squad consisting of Gyrocopters and Dragonflies.
- Replaced Eradicator patrol around the first Iron Curtain Device with Conscripts and Flak Troopers.
Normal[]
- Starting credits: 50000
- The enemy attack intensity is moderate.
- Countdown for the counterattack after destroying the Psychic Beacon: 5:00
- PsiCorps enemy's Psychic Dominator will equally prioritize the Revolt and the Chinese forces as its target.
- The Tech Machine Shop is initially controlled by China. PsiCorps will auto-acquire Tech Hospital later.
Mental[]
- Starting credits: 40000
- The enemy attack intensity is the strongest.
- Countdown for the counterattack after destroying the Psychic Beacon: 2:30
- PsiCorps enemy's Psychic Dominator will prioritize the player's Revolt forces as its target.
- The Chinese forces will activate the Tech Missile Bunker after PsiCorps builds a Psychic Beacon.
- The Tech Machine Shop, Tech Academy, Tech Heavy Machinery and Tech Aeronautics are initially controlled by China. PsiCorps will auto-acquire Tech Hospital later.
Behind the scenes[]
- Prior to version 3.3.5, the Psychic Beacon built by PsiCorps would immediately control all Chinese forces on the map once the Beacon is built. The player's forces would indefinitely remain uncontrolled.
- On Normal and Mental difficulties in pre-3.3.5 versions, the enemies won't build the second Iron Curtain Device but a Tactical Nuke Silo; Psychic Dominator won't be built in Casual difficulty and the player didn't have access to Nuke Silo until the enemies built their superweapons.
Easter egg[]
There is an invisible Red Devil that will stay in several specific areas on the map. Find and kill it to obtain a special one-time Great Tempest. The icon of the Great Tempest is blood red, and the light when it's activated is also blood red.
For the video tutorial link, see here.
Trivia[]
- The mission's name is a reference to shooting the messenger, a metaphoric phrase used to describe the act of blaming someone who bears bad news for said information.
- The three demolition trucks which explode at the beginning of the mission may be a reference to the Command & Conquer Generals GLA Mission 6 “Splinter Cell” where the Chinese provided three nukes in convoy trucks to GLA traitors in Kazakhstan. In addition, the model of the Soviet demolition truck was taken from the model of the convoy truck.
