Defcon 5 strategy

Note: The object of the game is to escape the defense station with evidence that will prove the attack on the station was an inside job. The game is a non-linear adventure. Although many events happen at a pre-determined time, the order in which items are collected is open. There are may possible paths to complete the game.


Essential items

The following items are needed to escape MRP-6F and win:

Robot PAD (personal access device): Enter the area in the upper right hand corner of the Control Room and step to the right. The PAD will be at the 12 o'clock position.

Self Destruct PAD: Available on Level 7 Administration. It is used set the self destruct timer before escaping the complex.

Two Fighter Escort PADs: Available at the crash sites of ships that are shot down. Some of the crash sites marked with a green dot will have these items after the third attack wave. Fighter Escorts will protect your unarmed shuttle when during the escape.

Security Upgrade: Available at a crash site marked with a yellow dot. This item upgrades your security clearance and proves that the attack on MRP-6F was engineered by the Tyron Corporation's Defense Department.

Shuttle PAD: Available at the first crash site (marked with a white dot). This is the where the shuttle that was shot down at the beginning of the game crashed.

Software Control PAD: Available on level 6 Administration in the area immediately to the right of the Control Room access door. This item allows you to adjust the defense software so it works properly and defends the space station.


Security PADs

Security PADs can be found in certain areas of MRP-6F. There are three types of pads:

Droid: Allows reconnaissance droids to be sent out to search the wreckage of crash sites or combat droids to stop intruders or patrol the halls.

Self Destruct: Allows security clearance to activate the Self Destruct mechanism in extreme situations. For a definition of an extreme situation, check the Archives section of the VOS for information on Tyron Security Protocol.

Software Control: Allows adjustment to the defense software's parameters. This may be used to make the station's turrets more effective against incoming attackers or to automatically reload when the ammo runs out. More information about adjusting defense software parameters is in the Archive section of the VOS.


Droids

There are four types of enemies that will be encountered. Except for color, they are identical in appearance.

In the early portion of the game, green Berserkers will appear. They are not very tough or intelligent. Three or four shots are needed to destroy them.

As the game progresses, blue Beserkers will appear. They are tougher and a slightly smarter than the green variety.

Further along the game, red versions of Beserkers will be encountered. They are very tough and intelligent, with and attack with a new strategy. Red Beserkers will begin to swarm and back your character into a corner.

The final Beserker type is yellow. Retreat if they are encountered.

Berserker or Combat Droids that are destroyed will pollute the surrounding area on that level. Watch the oxygen meter for each area explored. Unbreathable air will cause damage and result in death. Unbreathable air can be made more breathable by opening doors to other areas (including elevators) to allow fresh air to mix with the contaminated air. This task may also be done by your combat droids.

Doors can be locked in the complex to trap Berserkers. Find a VOS terminal, preferably in a room that can be locked. Activate the VOS term and go to the tactical VOS screen. Select the station map. Place the cursor over a door and press the appropriate button. The door should turn white to indicate that it is locked. Watch the Beserkers until a group of them enter a room, then lock them in.


LIMOs

Note the location of accessible LIMO stations. The LIMO is used for transportation around the complex, including Hangar A during the escape. LIMO stations may shut down due to damage to the complex.


Self Destruct

Make sure you have a path to leave the defense station. Once all necessary items are collected, enter the VOS in the Control Room and set Self Destruct. You will not be allowed to leave if Self Destruct has not been activated.


Display items

Radar: Displays other lifeforms in your area of the complex.

Current Gun Type: There are five types of guns (yellow, green, red, blue) The blue gun is the most lethal.

Air Quality: When alien intruders or your own combat droids are destroyed within the complex, they pollute the air.

Life Meter: The game ends if this reaches zero.

Ammo: The amount of ammunition in the current clip.

Number of Ammo Clips: The number of remaining ammunition clips. More can be found throughout the MRP-6F complex.


Turret display

The following items will be displayed during turret sequences:

Turret Temperature: As many as six ships may attack the complex at once. Do not fire in a steady stream to avoid overheating the turret.

Damage: The amount of damage taken by the turret. When it approaches level, an evacuation warning will appear.

Missiles: The remaining number of missiles in turret.

Bullets: The remaining number of bullets in turret.

Radar: Displays the attacking ships in relation to where the turret is aimed. This is not available when a turret is accessed from the VOS remote.


Virtual Operating System

The VOS is the computer system that runs MRP-6F. With proper security clearance, almost every operational aspect of the defense station can be controlled. The VOS can be broken down to four main areas, each area housing several more sub-areas:


Installing the defense software

After arriving at Hanger A, move forward and turn to the right. Move toward the LIMO door and call the LIMO. Select Admin Level 2 as the destination and active the LIMO

Exit the LIMO, turn left, move forward, then turn right to reach an elevator. Call the elevator, select Admin Level 6 and activate the elevator.

Exit the elevator and move to the right until the pink and red Tyron emblem on the wall appears. Move towards the emblem and enter the automatic doors. Continue moving towards each red Tyron emblem, which will lead you to the left to another elevator. Take the item in the corner en-route to the elevator for extra ammunition.

Call the elevator, select Control Room, and activate the elevator.

Move towards one of the two blue and white Tyron emblems that are on each side of the Control Room. These are VOS terminals. Activate the VOS terminal to receive a briefing from the Tyron Corporation. After the briefing ends, install the defense software by entering the Tactical Node, then to the Defense Systems Node, and to the Software Control Node. While in Software Control, Install from Pad should be highlighted. Install the defense software to activate the turrets that defend the mining installation.


Adjusting the tactical software parameters

Software control is probably the most important factor in the game. With the proper adjustments, the turrets can have the same accuracy as under personal control. Before adjusting the software parameters, locate a software control pad (such as in Admin Level 6). When you attain the pad and log into a VOS terminal, your security access will be upgraded.

Next, adjust the turrets' parameters. Set the MEF at 11111 to allow the turrets to fire missiles manually. Set the GET to 111111 to allow the guns to fire automatically. Set the ART to 000000 to allow the guns to reload automatically. Increase the TBF and DBF settings to 100 to allow the guns to take more damage before failing. Finally, set the reload weapons types for the guns. These correspond to the Turret Weapon Layout. The should be varied to conserve the weapon reserves.


Turret weapon loadout

The weapons for the turrets range in number from 1 to 6. As the number increases, the respective numbers related to the weapon (range, speed, power) increase, while the numbers of available weapons decreases. Take this into consideration when loading a turret. (Do not load all of your turrets with level 6 bullets and missiles or they will quickly run out).

A recommended loadout out for the six turrets is one type of each missile and bullet in each turret. (Load one turret with level 1 bullets and level 4 missiles. Do a similar combination in the other turret to conserve ammunition.)


Power-up icons

There are three different power-up icons that can be picked up (weapon, health restore, and ammunition).


Droid Control

You can deploy both reconnaissance and combat droids. The recon droid will retrieve things, like compatible weapons for the turrets and other types of security pads.

Combat droids can slow down the Berserkers. However, combat droids will not stop Berserkers for long, due to their weak their damage capacity. Place them in strategic locations such as elevator doors, VOS terminals, and LIMO access doors.