StarCraft/Terran mission 7: The Trump Card


 * Location
 * Antiga Prime


 * Difficulty
 * 1 out of 10 to 5 out of 10 (depends on which strategy you choose)


 * Mission Objectives
 * 1) Bring the Psi Emitter to the enemy base.
 * 2) Kerrigan must survive.


 * New Units
 * Terran Siege Tank
 * Terran Science Vessel


 * New Enemy Units
 * Terran Siege Tank (Delta Squadron)
 * Terran Battlecruiser (Delta Squadron)
 * Terran Ghost (Delta Squadron)


 * Special Units
 * Sarah Kerrigan (enhanced Ghost)
 * Psi Emitter (carried by SCV)


 * Special Structure
 * Terran Beacon

The data recovered from the Jacobs Installation has been discovered to contain the blueprints of a "Psi Emitter", a device capable of luring hordes Zerg to it from huge distances. Mengsk plans to use it against the Confederates, but a sudden attack from their part forces the Psi Emitter to be activated as a defense mechanism.
 * Mission Background

You have to deliver the Psi Emitter to the beacon. You'll notice that the northern and southern outposts are under attack while Kerrigan talks; move all units back into main base, and liftoff the Science Facility and the Starport back. Now focus on gathering resources and building SCVs until you have seven on minerals and three on gas. Build a Machine Shop, an Armory, more Supply Depots, and later, an Academy and Comsat Station as money comes in. You get to use Siege Tanks in this mission, and the enemy does too; but the big difference is that your Tanks can go into Siege Mode (basically kicks the crud out of any ground unit from far, far away) once researched, but the enemy's can't. Fend off periodic infantry/Wraith attacks with infantry of your own plus the Science Vessel you start with (to detect cloaked Wraiths).
 * Walkthrough

Build up a force of 1 Dropship, 10 Siege Tanks, 8 Wraiths, 8 Goliaths and 16 Marines. Also, research Siege Tech at the Machine Shop, U-238 shells at the Academy, and both infantry upgrades up to level 2. With the Armory, research nothing but Vehicle Weapons (this will really enhance your already-powerful Tanks). All of this does take quite an amount of resources, so when you have about four Tanks and four Goliaths send them down to the spot where the Supply Depots used to be and set up a base there. Later, have these units join your strike force and instead have surplus Marines stand guard.

When you're ready, load the Psi Emitter SCV (and another SCV if you wish to repair units as you go) onto the Dropship. The recommended route to take to get to the Beacon is the central path; if you take the upper one, you'll have to face a lot more enemy attacks. Follow the canyon at all times, meaning don't go up any ramps. Move your forces down in this order: Marines first, the Science Vessel above the Marines, Tanks second, Wraiths above the Tanks, and the Goliaths last. This ensures that your units can repel any attack.



You'll know you're near the objective when you come across a Missile Turret and a Battlecruiser comes to get you. The thing may look scary, but focused fire from the Wraiths will kill it very fast. At this point, use the attack-move command on every single unit on the area around the Beacon and cloak the Wraiths to help them survive a bit longer. When the Siege Tanks get close to the Beacon, have them all go into Siege mode and watch them reduce the base to rubble in about 15 seconds. Now move in the Dropship with the SCV at your leisure and have it step on the Beacon!

Simply order the nearby Science Vessel to use the Defensive Matrix ability on the SCV carrying the Psi Emitter and send the SCV to the beacon, ignoring all enemies. Don't give the move order multiple times even if enemy units are blocking your path - this will only confuse the SCV.
 * Alternate Strategies

And that's it. Thirty seconds, and you're done. Congratulations on the shortest victory ever!



Dropship Rush. This is kind of like the above strategy. What you do is move the Starport back to main base in the beginning and produce SCVs like you normally would. Then add on the Control Tower ASAP and build a Dropship. Load the Emitter SCV into the Dropship, and have the Dropship and your Science Vessel go to the area in the screenshot. Have them cross the river, ignoring the Marines. Cast Defensive Matrix on the Dropship, and send both vessels straight to the Beacon--try to have the Science Vessel take most of the hits. When you're near, with the Dropship selected right-click on the Beacon, and once the ship is above the Beacon click on the SCV's wireframe to finish the mission. (Note: This strategy works even better with about four Wraiths to take hits.)