Battlezone (Activision)/Flying Solo

"After Arkin made off with the alien relic, we spread the fleet to comb the nearest CCA bases. The Freedom went to Ganymede, and the Liberty to Callisto. Finally, we found a CCA outpost on Europa, and planned to infiltrate their base and tap their communications tower. It was our most stealthy mission. We had to sneak in unnoticed."

The CCA's nearest base to Io is located on one of Jupiter's other moons: Europa. Their Europa presence is small, and we could easily overwhelm them, but we first want to break into their data transmission networks and get information on all of their ship movements.

MISSION OBJECTIVES
 * Obtain a CCA vehicle.
 * Follow the patrol route to the comm tower.
 * Tap the comm tower.

ENGINEERING REPORT: This is a solo mission. We will equip you with a data tap that will activate when you get within 50 meters of a CCA communications tower. Once activated, you will need to stay within range of the tower for one minute while we download the data.

We believe the CCA has developed Site Cam technology. This weapon will allow you to see through terrain and find the buildings that you will need to go to in order to complete your patrol route.

Walkthrough
One of the most challenging missions in the game, this mission will require lots of skilful manoeuvring and shooting to accomplish. With about 18 minutes before the transmission is complete, you have no time to waste. Having a map and knowing the route, however, saves a lot of time while navigating the Soviets' labyrinthine base.

The first step is to get to the first checkpoint tower and then press H to exit your vehicle. Switch to your sniper rifle and kill the pilot of the flanker passing by.

This flanker follows a set pattern: it starts in a small scrap field to the north, then proceeds southeast past the tower and around a set of four ice pillars. The scout also stops right in front of the tower, but next to the tower is a barracks that spawns more pilots who will take over.

You will have, at most, two chances to successfully make this sniper shot - missing and hitting the flanker itself will alert the flanker to your location, and evading it is not possible. If you miss all three sniper shots and somehow survive, re-entering your tank will reload your sniper rifle. Destroying the flanker patrol ends the mission in failure.

You'll also need to ensure subsequent CCA patrols don't find your tank, so try to hide your Grizzly close to where the patrol route ends. CCA patrols will stop at the checkpoint tower itself and don't proceed further than that. Once you have your flanker, you will need to complete a patrol route to avoid raising suspicion. Trying to skip ahead will result in an extremely challenging fight much earlier than you need to, so follow the patrol route as much as possible. The route itself is relatively easy - it simply requires a counter-clockwise route through the mountains to hit all three checkpoints in order. Should you get lost, use the checkpoint in the middle of the base to identify where you need to go. As soon as you leave the checkpoint, though, your nav cameras shut down again.

You can, at most, make one error before the alarm is raised and you'll be in over your head with Soviets. Even if you somehow manage to avoid all their shots in your fragile flanker, you don't have the ammunition to destroy all of them. First, visit the hangar, followed by the mobile unit factory, and finally the scrap silos. Once you have completed the patrol route, you'll need to head right to the middle of the base for the communications tower. Park right next to it as much as possible and sit still. The Soviet commander will comment that you've checked in out of order, but ignore him - you can't do any more convincing than you already have. As soon as the transmission is intercepted, the entire Soviet base turns hostile and will fall on your position if you don't move.

Make a beeline for your drop off point and don't look back, because around ten enemies will be right on your tail. You won't be able to snipe these enemies, either, though you can try to evade them if your fighter is destroyed for a little bit.

Get back to your drop off point to complete the mission.