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The game is breaking down to pieces, but don't let that stop you, you can win this battle! Also, just to know: is the Russians' bad English intentional? How good is their voice acting?
The game definitely did not expect me capturing the Legion base in the first three minutes and getting to Roth in half an hour. The first time I played this mission, I barely got the rocket in time to not get nuked, and I had to stall Platonov for that. This time I put together a team of max level scientists and mechanics and did everything well ahead of schedule.
The 'secret project' Platonov was talking about was supposed to be revealed at 1 hour mark. I was finished with the mission by 59:47.
That's where the Russians are supposed to nuke us, but since we have already disabled their Siberite rocket launcher, absolutely nothing happens.
Some troublemakers are creeping behind our lines in the meantime.
The pink forces are no longer heading for my primary base. Normally I would sacrifice this armory as it no longer serves a purpose, but I still have Kurt hidden there and he can't come out because the game does not count the Alliance out yet and if he ever leaves the barracks he gets kidnapped by Roth.
I wonder if it would still happen if I killed Cathy Simms.
I have to send my laser tanks to protect this, and they are not nearly as effective in such a constrictive environment with little place to maneuver my vehicles behind the enemies. Still, those are computer vehicles we are fighting against, and ours are controlled by pros.
My mortarmen destroy the first Warehouse and half of the turrets on the western side go offline. Fore some reason the time-lapsers remain active even without power. Weird.
And a but farther to the north I finally find a way inside.
The northern turrets are powered by another Warehouse, so the turrets overseeing this passage are all active. I take some serious damage while I squeeze through, and the morphing chassis do not help because they often choose to morph in the most inappropriate moments.
The mop-up is trivial. There is no one left to oppose me but a few civilians.
But just when I thought it was all over...
- Watch your back!
- Who the hell is it now?
- The Arabians, taking advantage of the chaos to come and destroy the motherlode. Don’t let them get near it.
New primary objective received:
- Kill sheikh Omar. Protect the motherlode.
I have just the thing.
So while they are making their great entrance...
...I send a little present their way.
Remember 4 vehicles that spawned with them? Their drivers are the only ones who survived. They are just standing there in an open field looking stupid and wondering why their cars just vaporized around them. The radiation takes care of them in seconds.
So... victory?
Riiiight.
Okay, let's aim a bit to the north, shall we? It's a shame I don't know how to turn off the UI so that information about six bases didn't clutter the screen.
I love how people continue walking as if nothing happened.
Sheikh Omar and his Mastodon are the only ones standing amidst the carnage.
Curious fact. The Mastodon is alive and in fact is barely injured. How the hell did these beasts die out if a thermonuclear bomb doesn't kill them?
The sheikh, on the other hand, is not feeling well.
Finally!
- Excellent. The primary deposit of Siberite is ours and there’s no-one to argue about it. We’ve a lot of work to do before we start extraction and transportation of the Siberite. But the hardest days are behind us. Gentlemen, we just won World War Zero.
- Thank God we succeeded, John…
- It was no picnic, but...(letting rip) Hell, we did it!!!
- We’d never have made it without you, commander.
- John, you let me down big time. I had money on us losing (laughs, then serious). I’m proud to call you a friend.
- Now, I came here to build machines not fight a war. Any chance I can get started now!?
- You showed us the way out of hell Colonel. I’ll always be grateful.
- How long have we been fighting that damned war, feels like forever.
- I can’t believe we won. (disappointed) Whose ass am I gonna kick now!?
- Congratulations, Macmillan, you were fantastic,
- God, I'm tired… Tired but happy.
- Congratulations, Colonel. Now and again the best man does win!
- Let’s celebrate guys! Time to build a bar!
Mission Accomplished.
Hmmm. That was a bit anticlimactic. I guess I will redo it in a more traditional way.
We will meet their offensive head on.
One disadvantage of mortarmen is that they are pretty useless against fast moving targets. Recognizing that, I order them to attack ground to make the enemy push through a constant barrage of shells. It works fine, to a degree, but one vehicle dodges and closes up.
Watch out, it's a flamethrower tank!
The tanks save the day, as they always do. Now only the infantry is left.
The mortarmen soften up the targets and the apes finish them off as they come closer. It works out pretty nicely.
The apes take the brunt of the damage, but that is what the medics are for.
Steyer is the only one I let through. I have other plans for the girl.
The mastodon vs 4 tanks. Make your bets!
Hey, don't shoot him! He is mine!
Another incursion of the pink forces that forces me to split my attention.
It's you and me now, fatso! Let's settle it one on one, like real men!
Omar has 10 levels in every skill, but he does not have a specialization, and is described instead as a 'desert warrior level 4'. I have no idea what it means.
Macmillan, too, has 10 in soldiering skill, and he is specialized, which on paper should grant him bonuses in combat. His damade output is more than 50% greater than Omar's, but he shoots slower and his armor is also lighter.
Even though it looks like I have the advantage...
...it should be noted that my soldiers fall unconscious once they hit red hitpoints, while the Arabs use combat drugs that allow them to remain on their feet and fight to the death. It actually comes disturbingly close, and if it wasn't for a stray tank shot that hit Omar at the beginning of combat, I would have died here. I was within one or two shots from fainting.
As it is, though...
- Excellent. That must be Omar Ali! Or at least it was.
Your observational capabilities are astonishing, as always, John.
- (hysterical) Macmillan you bastard! I will tear your heart from your body, you evil American shit!
No you won't, lady. You are the last survivor of your team and though you stand in the center of the motherlode you lack the equipment to set off the chain reaction. For your part in the act of a prehistoric terrorism I hereby sentence you to death through monkey firing squad!
Heike is a 10th level mortarwoman. Even though her damage is the same as Macmillan's, she is a bit slower and better armored. Apparently the Arabs in this mission have a stamina of 16, while most of my guys are in the 9-11 range. Must be another quirk of the Hard mode.
Monkeys take a bit of damage closing in on her, and I make a mistake of sending the second monkey behind the first, eating some shells along the way that I really didn't need to.
Still, when they get close and personal, there is nothing she can do about it but run.
Sadly, the high slope slows my second ape just enough for Heike to fire another round, bringing it into red hitpoints.
The good thing is that this is an Arabian monkey, who is on drugs like the rest of their soldiers. It does not lose consciousness.
It bleeds out from its wounds all the same, but its comrade avenges it.
Victory!!!
Medals:
+ Peter Roth was captured.
+ The secret project was cancelled.
+ No losses!!!
Note the 'No Losses' achievement, even though I have lost an ape to Heike and Yamoko Kukichi defected to the Alliance. Apparently monkeys and japs do not count towards people. :patriot:
So that's it for the American campaign. I will put down a few of the highlights from the last mission that did not make it to the update, and probably move on to the Russian campaign after a hiatus. Wish me luck!
For the Russkie campaign, should we vote for the science ending instead of the military one? Or are the military endings actually different for the two factions?
I don't think science ending makes much sense for the Russian campaign. You'll see.
How different are we talking about? The American goal is to move the Siberite to Alaska. The Russian goal is to keep Alaskite in Siberia. That sounds pretty different to me.
The last map is different in Soviet campaign, but the point is the same (in Soviet map, you're on the Motherlode and defend it). Americans transport Siberite to Alaska in their ending, Soviets leave Alaskite in Syberia.
Which also means that, unlike Macmillan, you are free to nuke the living shit out of the Legion, Alliance and Americans.
Now, who would want to miss on that?
Actually, the Alliance is the main threat in that one. Powell is just pathetic, and out of all the times I've played this mission, not once did he beat me to the bomb.
If I remember correctly, after you use the bomb the Alliance becomes horrified and you have to destroy them quickly before they do something to the Motherlode. It was quite some time (8 years) since I played that mission, so I forgot the details already.
Two things were important, from what I remember. One is, never letting anybody ever build a mine on the motherlode. Second, never allow an arab scientist next to a alaskite mine.
I remember Roth threatening me to cause a chain reaction if I ever try using the bomb on them. He lives up to his word... unless you drop two of those and end the Alliance instantly.
The Siberite rocket, though powerful, is not very reliable.
Sometimes the Arabs manage to channel the power of Allah and just walk through it without so much as a scratch.
It is quite infuriating, really, considering its high cost and long production time.
Sometimes the actual effects are simply delayed until the explosion animation plays, but this time they simply didn't trigger and I had to dispose of the soldiers personally.
At other times it works 'better' than it is supposed to.
Here it simply erased the sheikh alongside with his pet Mastodon from existence. There supposed to be a comment on Omar's death, but the destruction was so absolurte that it did not trigger.
Sheikh? What sheikh? Was there a sheikh?
It is a fun weapon to play with.
If anyone is interested in what the Russian secret project was...
These monstrosities are considered half-vehicles and half-buildings. I think you can order your engineers to actually dismantle them.
The building process is extremely slow. Normally you would want all of your engineers to work on these, not one.
It takes about 4 minutes to construct the first one.
And the rest are not too far behind. The AI is smart enough to use the freed mechanics to help the others build faster.
At 1:00:00 mark they start moving towards our base.
So, why are they dangerous?
Well, they are not too dangerous. You have seen their stats in one of the pictures above, and they are fairly tame when pitted agains vehicles, though extremely destructive if used against buildings. It's just that they come equipped with every single weapon in the game - gatling guns, double guns, and rockets - and they fire them simultaneously. They also double as bulldozers, as you can tell by the ease with which they plow through the forest. Thank God they don't have lasers.
Oh yes, the flamethrowers, too.
Still, against a massive tank force driven by the best drivers they are no match. They are only as good as the computer research allows, and it shows. One down, three to go.
You want to meet them in a place where you can surround them and open fire from all tanks at once. They are few, and we are many. They are also very slow. You can destroy some of them before the others catch up.
Not a very difficult foe if you play your cards right, though I have a setup that explicitly specializes in vehicle combat.
And if we take a look at the secret base, we will find that the engineers are at it again, building a new set. They will harass you with these raids every 5-10 minutes if you do not stop them.
Thankfully, there exists a more elegant and fun method.
Note the charred and broken trees. God, I love this game and its attention to detail!
But wait, I think we can make it even better. We can trade one for one.
Suddenly 'I have a nuke with your name on it' does not sound like an overexaggeration.
The game can't handle that much AWESUM, though, and decides to trigger the Motherlode chain reaction. Doesn't matter, had 'splosions.
But there is also a third way to get rid of this menace. It involves snipers.
Well, it does not have to be snipers, but their range definitely helps.
The mechanic to the top-left is the trickiest one, as the behemoths are massive enough to hide him from snipers' sight and approaching the turrets is suicide. Still, there is a single good spot for sniping him.
Then we let the tanks in. Naturally, the infatry rushes out. Perfect. That is what we have the snipers for.
After they are all dead, we secure the area from enemy turrets.
And when the path is clear, we snatch the depot! Whoa, that's a lot of crates!
Now, remember the part where I said that behemoths are considered half-buildings? Well, buildings and engineers can interact in a certain way...
Yup. To finish the actual construction, though, mechanics are required.
And in about two minutes...
Now all we need to do is send this slowly advancing wall of death towards the enemy positions and see the world burn.
BUUUUUURRRRRRNNNNNN!!!
The armor rating of 255 (the highest in the game) ensures that these things are hard to destroy for good, and if you send several mechanics after one they become nigh unkillable.
The passage narrows to the point where only one of those can pass, but one is all we'll ever need.
Eh. It is a fun way of humiliating the AI, but also excruciatingly slow. I still prefer mortars.
And here is the early draft of the story.
The Siberite is called Siberium and Macmillan's entry is different from how it happens in the game, but most of the major details are intact.
Congrats for half-finishing this LP! And for giving it so much effort for what essentially is a completely forgotten game
Don't be in a hurry to do the Russian campaign though, you deserve rest. Although the intro certainly does show promise :D
The music in the video is taken from the Soviet WW2 song, 'The Sacred War'. It is quite a powerful one.
So, apparently, this is our Russian alter-ego.
Let's take a closer look at the OS he is running.
Welcome, Comrade!
> Red Army Operation System is booting...
> Electronic countermeasures aborted
> Jamming Initialized
> Establishing control of nuclear warheads.
***Control Established***
> Personal files mounted
> Loading the proceedings of XXXIV Party Congress
***Please Wait***
> Marxism-Leninism filter loaded
> KGB Daemon loaded
> Political consistency check
Checked
System Loaded
Still better than Vista. Though I don't know if I would trust a mechanic 3rd class with nuclear warheads.
By the way, here are our colleagues that were noticed during the identification process.
Name: Petr Vasilievich Shevtsov
Position: Mechanic 2nd class
Born: May 15, 1976
Relatives: Brothers Ivan Vasilievich Shevtsov, Vasiliy Vasilievich Shevtsov, no other living relatives
Background: Of worker descent
Father decorated by the Order of Lenin in China
Graduated from Volgograd State University
Member of CPSU from 1996
Last Political Screening: 2000
Name: Anatoliy Brolin (?)
Position: Soldier 1st class
Born: October 11, 1978
Relatives: Uncle Peter Brolin Vysokiy
Background: Son of high politician
Graduated from Moscow Polytechnic Institute
Last Political Screening: 2000
Name: Vasco Boronov (?)
Position: Soldier 2nd class
Born: June 5, 1965
Relatives: Father Yuri B*r*n***, Mother Sonya B*ro*ov*
Background: *inner*st*te persecution
Father decorated by the Order ****
Graduated from Ultra High Russian Military University (?)
Last Active Fight: 1998
Name: Sysel Obechniy (?)
Position: Loyalist 1st class
Born: July ****
Relatives: Mother Syslovn* Obech***
Other information indeterminable
We have a loyalist on our team! Didn't know it was a profession.
Position: Číšník 3rd class
Born: March 4, 1911
Background: something about a cafe or a restaurant (?)
Číšník means 'waiter' in Chezh. Apparently, we are taking a 91 years old one with us.
And finally, a terrorist 1st class born in 1280 which has something about Lenin being a playboy written in his background. Looks legit.
Quite a motley crew.
Mission 1. We are the champions.
Far East Army Group, Special Service Unit Base; January 14, 2002
You are now Yuri Ivanovich "Burlak" Gorky, a mechanic in the Soviet army. You have been selected to travel 2,000,000 years into the past, using the incredible device known as TAWAR.
A quick look at our surroundings reveals a base that consists of almost nothing but barracks. And a lab. But we are not given time to look around.
- Company, Atten-TION!
- Assemble groups: four soldiers, two technicians, one medic.
- Company, re-GROUP!
We comply.
- Remember your codename. Immediately after you arrive, free the area for your comrades. Make contact with marshal Yashin, call sign Eagle, and await further orders.
- Company, forward-MARCH!
We do.
No chance to pussy out like one in the American campaign. Russians mean business.
See that blonde guy in white clothes who set himself apart from the team? That's us.
The moment we step into the EON...
...the snowy landscape around us disappears.
Position unknown; circa 2,000,000 years BL
Your task is to defend the Alaskite deposits from the American forces that have come to rob the USSR of its resources and its power.
- So what’s different here? Same wasteland as always. (A beat. Burlak moves aside quickly.)
- (absorbing the view) Where are others? I should not be alone. (into radio) Hello, this Robin 5, Robin 5 calling Eagle. Do you read me? (static over radio)
- This is not good. Either radio is broken or there’s nobody home. Better take a look around; see if any American bastards are nearby.
Since I know how the mission is supposed to progress I will try my best not to do things in a proper order.
With that in mind, let's return Burlak to the place where he started. Maybe he missed something...
Ah, even the austere soldier's soul is moved by the beauty of the Siberian waterfalls.
Burlak is a funny man. His command will be telling him that a lot in the near future.
Let's forget about all that nasty war business and have a safari instead!
Here is our first Russian puzzle. The apes have no problem taking out a lone civilian one-on-one, though they will run from soldiers. Without a plan, Gorky does not stand a chance.
The plan is to know the basics of ape psychology and act accordingly. You should strive to wound one...
You should not run. It is doomed to failure since they are faster anyway - and unless you run to other people, they will pursue.
The moment you drop one of them, the others will scatter in fear. You should take this chance to wound another one while they haven't got their wits back. Leave the mortally wounded ape to die on its own, don't waste your time and ammo. Always have an ape around that you can easily drop to scare off other apes.
- Look, the Apeman had our radio! What’s left of it. He must have taken it from one of our men. Maybe they are nearby, maybe alive.
What do you know? The safari was a success, and we have learned that we are not alone here, after all! But we are not finished yet!
AHAHAHAHAHA!!
MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
HAHAHA! Ha! Ha. Aaaaah...
Wait, didn't I see two monkeys running for the hill, yet there is only one corpse to my right?
Riiiight.
Remember, kids, knowing the basics of animal behavior can save your life in the Original War.
Alright, let's do the same thing we did, but without making the last oversight.
Here is a lesson on proper positioning. Even though we managed to wound the monkey, it can close the distance between us before we make the third shot, rendering the whole fight closer than it needs to be.
However, if you approach it from the hill and force it to move upwards, slowly, the results get much better.
A lot of seemingly innocuous things can tip the balance in your favor.
Let's continue the sightseeing tour...
...until we finally find somebody.
- Greetings comrade. What is your name?
- Corporal Gnyevko, 21st platoon, call sign Sparrow 3. I appeared here couple of days ago, the apes attacked me and took kit. You’re first person I see.
- I think it was the same ape who attacked me. He won’t do it again! I found your radio, it’s had a few modifications by the Apeman I’m afraid.
- My name is Yuri Ivanovich Gorky, but I am known as Burlak. My radio’s broken. I think we should go together. That way is better chance to stay alive.
- Up to you, Burlak. Lead the way.
Great! We have met our first meatshield! We let him scout the map while staying in a relative safety. It does not take long for him to make another contact.
- There is one of our mechanics in the area, his radio is broken…
- We heard the materialization boom. We'll wait for him.
Hmm. I wonder if I can sneak past them and live the rest of my days in relative peace and quiet...
Nope.
Alrighty then.
- Mechanic 3rd class, Yuri I. Gorky. Call sign Robin 5...
- Forget call sign my friend. Forget everything Red Army taught you. This is not the place for rules. I am lieutenant Mikhail Vasilyevich Pokryshkin... (a distinct materialization sound interrupts him)
- What the hell was that?
- Ssssh… wait…
- (over radio) Lieutenant Charles Brown calling Alpha. Alpha do you read me?
- (to Burlak) Now you will learn, little Robin! (into radio – with fake American accent) We read you loud and clear, Brown. Head east and find a group of three trees on a hilltop. We’ll send a search party to meet you.
- What’s going on here?
- Come with us and you will find out.
B-but... I don't want to! You are mean! I don't like you!
Let me go or I'll shoot you!
No kiddie gloves like in the American campaign.
But if you shoot him just at the right moment, the scripts to intercept the American soldiers take precedence, and everyone forgets about the traitor of the cause.
Now's my chance!
However, there is another script in place that prevents you from venturing too far from the plot. Resulting in this:
- Where are you going, Gorky? I told you to stick with us!
- My apologies Lieutenant. (in-game video, Burlak walks back to Pokryshkin)
That's what I call true dedication. The lieutenant orders you to come and eat a bullet, and you go, no questions asked.
Back to the railroad.
I follow the squad to the designated rendez-vouz point.
The soldiers lie prone and hide in ambush. Sure enough, the American soldier comes to us soon after.
- Hi there guys...
- Get Yankee bastard! (Russians open fire at American)
- Oh my God! No... Please! (dies)
Burlak is not amused.
- This is what you call war here?
- We take them out before they know who we are. We can’t allow them to make contact.
- Easy pickings comrade! And a lot of fun. Did you see, he pissed himself for real. Yellow bastard!
- I don't find it amusing, Belkov. But if they want to steal what is ours, they can expect nothing else.
- This isn't war. It's nothing but murder!
- It is not pleasant but I see it is necessary. We can’t afford to lose here. If they were afraid to die they should never have come.
- So, now we can head back to S. M. Kirov base.
- Construction has taken place already?
- There has been time. The TAWAR does not deliver us here in order that we left. Could be three years late or early, no-one knows.
- And different places… I travelled two days before I saw another human.
- So how long have other comrades been here?
- The first to arrive was general Morozov, on 7th November, last year – today, it's March 13, year two of the New Reckoning, or 2 NR. Morozov founded base V. I. Lenin and then...
We are interrupted by radio call. It comes from colonel Kurin, apparently a big man in the Soviet military hierarchy.
- (over radio) Mikhail, there are Yanks North of you. Take your men, find the Americans and kill them.
- (into radio) Roger, Kirov. On our way.
- At last, some action! I hope it’s not too easy!
Lieutenant goes in first, as befits an hero.
But is met with a pretty sturdy fortification...
...and promptly eats dirt...
- (desperate) Comrade Pokryshkin!
- Retreat, everybody! We have no chance here!
...while the soldiers scatter in panic. What a shamefur dispray!
After making an abject retreat, we re-examine our options.
- What the hell should we do now?
- Obviously, frontal attack is not an option.
- We cannot win! Comrade Pokryshkin was a great soldier.
- Pokryshkin was commander. Without him we must return to Kirov for orders.
Here's our chance for GLORY!
- What for? We have our orders comrade: destroy the base.
- We have tried and failed!
- We need a better way to attack.
- Burlak!
- He may be right, we can examine options. Maybe take cover behind trees.
- Are you both crazy? We need reinforcements!
- You are the one who wanted a fight and all we face is a woman and a pile of sandbags. Is that too hard for you ?
- Burlak is right. We can take it. Let's kick some Yankee ass!
No one can see through trees or buildings. This is sometimes apparent in the fan pattern around your characters where the dark or black shadows extending away from the character show the areas that cannot be seen. When you come close to a tree, the grey strip behind it disappears and you can see behind it. You can thus hide behind a tree, watch you enemies and still be hidden and shielded from them.
We give the bunker a wide berth as we come around from the western side, hidden by the vegetation.
Our attack takes the enemy by surprise.
- Quick, Tim, the Russians are back!
- Hold on, I’ll send the Apemen to help you!
Wait, THAT Tim? Tim Gladstone? You know, the first American to arrive here in EON? The one that put the apes into the American service? Man, we are in luck today.
The apes are fierce fighters, but they are melee-based and unarmored.
By the time the first of them make it to us, their lifeless bodies put a natural obstacle between us and the rest of their pack.
After that, the bunker remains the only threat. But not for long.
Hidden safely behind the trees, we dismantle the fortification piece by piece.
- Damned commies.
- Our situation’s desperate. We have to run for it.
- After him! He is the commander!
The female soldier tries to put up the resistance, but quickly realises the futility of it and turns to escape.
Unfortunately for her, there is none.
Well, well. To kill one of the key American characters on the very first mission. This promises to be a good campaign.
We trash the only remaining building in the base, the warehouse.
- You were right comrade! We succeeded !
- We have cleared our debt, now we can return with our heads held high. Do any of you know how to get back to the V. I. Lenin base?
- V. I. Lenin is main base, south of here. But S. M. Kirov is much nearer. To the East. I can take us there.
- Let’s go then.
While nearing the exit grid, we receive yet another call.
- To all... This is Kirilenkova, call sign Grouse 4. Can you hear me anybody? Where are you?
- This is a medic from our platoon! (into radio) We read you. Tell us your position.
- There is a lake and a waterfall here. And large monkeys. They grow violent and I think they may decide to attack me.
- I know where this could be. I had same problem with apes.
- Stand by, Kirilenkova, we are coming for you. Find somewhere you can defend yourself.
A monkey tries to lunge at Burlak, but 5 guns swiftly dissuade it.
We find our medic hiding on a hill across the cave.
- What is happening here? Why do we not arrive in platoons?
- The TAWAR doesn’t work as we thought. We’ll explain at the base. But first we have to get there!
I let her heal our team and max out her scientific skill for the day.
Then move out to finish the mission.
Victory!
Medals:
+ Nobody escaped.
+ Gnyevko and Kirilenkova saved.
+ No Losses
I have way less time for updates than I planned for, even though the mission is long completed. I will try to push it in smaller chunks.
Mission 2. Hunting grounds.
S. M. Kirov Base; March 14, 2 NR
Not everything is going according to plan. Burlak arrived alone, some of his comrades are missing, others are dead. However, the struggle against the Americans goes well and soon Burlak will play an active part.
Meet comrade colonel Kurin. He is a pretty bro type of guy, with a calm and laid back attitude and a dry sense of humor. It would be nice to serve under him.
- So, you are comrade Burlak. We need boys like you, good mechanics who don’t run under fire!
- I am glad to be part of the mission, comrade commander.
- Good. I’m going to transfer you to L. P. Beria. This is the base where we produce vehicles. Private Kovalyuk will come with you, he is also a mechanic. All clear?
- Yes, comrade commander!
- Good. Then get moving. Commander of Beria is comrade major Platonov. You report to him. And take corporal Gnyevko along. I think he would be lost without you.
Primary objectives received:
- Reach the L. P. Beria Base (Left to the S. M. Kirov base).
Ah, to be separated so soon after our first meeting. Our love is a forbidden one. Well, if we can't have you, my precious, then no one else will!
Instant loss. Figures.
If we linger at Kirov any longer, the colonel reminds us what we should be doing in no uncertain terms.
- Burlak? What are you doing here, boy? I thought I told you to go to Beria? Report there at once!
Off to Beria we go!
- Halt! Identify yourself!
- Mechanic third class, Yuri Burlak reporting for duty, comrade officer! My orders are to report to comrade major Platonov.
- He is expecting you.
- (when Burlak comes closer to the centre of the base) Comrade Gorky, I presume.
- That is correct, comrade major. Reporting for duty.
- Good. Welcome to Beria. Shipments arrive often in this vicinity comrade, so this is where we will build vehicles.
- Makes good sense, major.
- (correcting) Comrade major. Are you ready to commence your undertaking, comrade Gorky?
- I am, comrade major.
- Good. But before you can begin playing with engines you must construct a design centre and a small workshop. Quickly, comrade Gorky.
One commanding officer may be as good as the other, but, intentionally or not, Gorky is hesitant to call this one a comrade - a fact that does not escape the officer's attention. Those two didn't quite get off the right foot.
We have a chance to educate ourselves on the basics.
- Excuse me comrade major, but what are the ‘shipments’?
- I forget you are new, Burlak. (as if telling a child a story) Let me explain... everything here was built using supplies our army sends through TAWAR. Sometimes you can hear a blast or see a flash. This means a shipment, maybe crates, maybe people, has arrived. There’s no way to know where or when the next landing will occur but the frequency is greater here than near Kirov. Hence the importance of Beria.
- Excuse me, comrade major, how do I build this workshop?
- You have to go to the depot to get tools, then build a workshop nearby. And get working!
- I am sorry, comrade major, what kind of design centre?
- Use your limited intelligence, Gorky. Call it what you like, design centre, laboratory, it's all the same. A space to think in! If you don’t plan a vehicle before you build one it won’t get out of the workshop!
We are dismissed once we run out of questions.
- Very well. Now I am now going to search for shipments. I'll get back to you when you have completed your endeavours.
- Thank you, comrade major. I shall start work immediately.
Primary objectives received:
- Build a workshop.
- Build a laboratory.
It is then I realized I forgot to bring private Kovalyuk from the Kirov base because he was inside one of the buildings. I hastily correct the mistake.
I am sorry, comrade major, are you saying that I am supposed to return to Kirov? Get your orders straight, will you!
We start with building the workshop. Platonov is supposed to tell us whenever a shipment arrives, but all he really does is walks around the base leisurely. We are quite capable of noticing them ourselves.
This picture is a rare sight. Apparently, the big guy got bored enough that he decided to take a break from an arduous task of dallying around and help us with the construction. Didn't know he had it in him.
That does not last too long, though. Once he does his token part in a team building exercise, he is back to being his useless arrogant self.
Thank you, comrade major. What would I ever do without you?
We are done with the workshop, but the major still isn't happy.
- The workshop is ready, comrade major. Shall we commence vehicle construction now?
- Your memory is weak, Burlak, I said you need laboratory also. Get on with it. Now!
And God forbid you build a bunker or something else.
- Did I order you to build this, comrade Gorky!? In this base you follow my orders! Remember that!
- (engineer abandons building, it is destroyed, material is returned to depot) I am sorry, comrade major. It will not happen again.
This guy simply does not allow fun. Ah, well, let's build the lab as we were asked to.
- Comrade major, the lab is up and running. We shall now proceed with your orders.
- Good, you’ve completed your assignment, comrade.
- Now we have all the facilities we need, comrade major! But we must use the lab to develop a proper engine.
- Then what are you waiting for, Gorky? Get a move on!
Primary objectives received:
- Produce a vehicle in the workshop.
We can't build vehicles without researching an engine, and the Russians don't have Solar Power technology available. Meaning we have to research the use of oil. Efven though there is no well in the base, there is still some supply available in the depot.
- Now that we are ready we can begin production. We can only build light reconnaissance vehicles in this simple shop. Still, our vehicles are sturdier than the Yankee crap.
- Very good, comrade Gorky. Now you can build us one!
Finally! Our first prototype is made!
- Comrade major! We have met our planned production! The vehicle is ready!
- Very well, comrade Gorky. Now you can drive the fruits of your labour all the way to Kirov. Then return and report to me.
Comrade Kurin is glad to see us again.
- So you brought us new vehicle Burlak. This will help our scouting groups. The Yanks won't stand a chance now.
- I look forward to seeing twin machine guns in action.
- Now we have these vehicles I hope we won’t repeat tragic death of comrade Pokryshkin.
Now, this mission was designed with learning the ropes in mind, and as an experienced player I took Platonov's order of getting to Kirov and back again too literally. By the time the dialogue finished I was out of the base since I queued orders, so I was treated to a long cutscene of Belkov trying to catch up. :D
- Now get back to your duties. (Belkov and his group leave) Comrade Gorky, you can return to L. P. Beria. I’m sure that comrade Platonov has plenty of work for you there.
*sigh*
- So, comrade Kurin has his vehicle. Now we shall benefit from your expertise! Get on with your job, Burlak, and when you have vehicles for your own use you can join the reconnaissance mission.
- I’ll see to it, comrade major.
Primary objectives received:
- Produce one vehicle for each man under your command, including yourself.