Part 21

Immediately launch your salvage corvettes (they are not affected by the gravity well) and capture the missile destroyers, then the assault frigates, followed by the support frigates. Leave gravity wells or cloak generators for last.

Capture at least one gravity well for the next mission.

Once gravity wells are disabled, launch heavy corvettes and assign 3-9 support frigates to them.

Prepare for a major strike force of bombers, interceptors, and corvettes. Position missile destroyers to the left and right of your main ship (MS) and form a mutually supporting ring with any unassigned support frigates.

After a few waves, a cruiser battle group will approach. Send a scout to investigate.

Assign support frigates to protect your salvage corvettes (one support frigate for every two salvage corvettes) and send in heavy corvettes.

Send your carrier, supported by at least two support frigates, to engage the cruiser. Use the carrier to ram its defenders while heavy corvettes attack other defenders, utilizing manual targeting.

Simultaneously, send salvage corvettes to capture frigates and up, prioritizing the cruiser, but be cautious of their mutual support orders.

During this time, research proximity detectors and keep three in orbit around your MS to lure and capture attacking frigate skirmish fleets.

A destroyer will appear, chased by black ion cannons and fighters with a support frigate. Send heavy corvettes to deal with the fighter screen and salvage corvettes to capture them while they are distracted.

After saving Captain Olson/Elson, he will position himself in front of your MS but will not be under your control. You can heal his ship.

To capture the remaining enemy carriers, frigates, resource collectors, and fighters: strip off their fighter and corvette defenses using heavy corvettes supported by 8 support frigates. Target multigun corvettes one at a time or use aggressive order mode.

Once the fighter screen is cleared, move a carrier close to the battle group's path without drawing attention. Send salvage corvettes supported by as many support frigates as possible (which are themselves supported by two more support frigates) to capture the ships. The carrier must be returned to the MS, while other captured ships go to the carrier.

Repair all ships and capture any survivors using a similar method. Prioritize capturing resource collectors to ease future missions.

Be aware of enemy salvage corvettes that can latch onto your heavy cruisers; you may need bombers to rescue them or scuttle your own ship. It is difficult to salvage their salvage corvettes as they cannot be captured when attached to your cruiser.

You can capture all incoming fighters and corvettes near the beginning using the captured gravity wells, though this is tedious.