[10-3-5] 5. The Gate to Thalassean

Identify the choke point south of your starting position, characterized by two hills with a narrow pass between them. Prioritize holding the left hill, as the computer frequently targets it for a direct route and firing position.

Be aware of a small opening on the left side of the left hill, resembling a seashore, which can be plugged by destroying units that attempt to pass through.

Utilize low hills in front of the main two hills for cover (press the cover button to crouch behind walls or objects) and to advance your position.

The gate is located in the southwest corner of the map on an island.

Deploy a squad of aqua tanks to reach the island, but be prepared for turrets and thuds defending it.

Your commander is required to capture the gate himself. A squad of 6 tanks plus the commander is recommended.

Walls on the island offer poor fire support for your subs.

On the main landmass, use the skeeter's (a type of unit) radar (your minimap with nearby blips and threats marked) to spot enemy units on the shoreline.

Once spotted, use subs to attack land units on the shore and ships that cannot target underwater units.

Target stray units too close to the shore with your subs.

Address small forces and emplacements to the east of your position with a squad of 8-10 peewees (a type of unit), potentially adding rockos (another unit type) for fire support to minimize losses.

Use fidos (a unit type) as fire support when the computer attempts to rush your base.

Build a 10-unit squad of peewees plus 5 rockos to clear the eastern area of the map.

Queue up builder kbots (a type of unit) and then hammers (a unit type) and rockos to reinforce your forces.

Move your larger tanks west, directly south of your base.

Keep your base structures clustered and establish a perimeter with approximately 6 Light Laser turrets.

Recycle metal only in specific areas, leaving the rest to act as 'dragon teeth' (obstacles) to impede enemy advances, especially at the choke point.

Use scouts for early warning and set up radar in the middle of your base, behind the laser turrets, for forewarning of enemy rushes.

Build windmills on the shoreline and solar panels behind them using your commander to generate power.

Advance towards the choke point ('hamburger hill') by rushing with light tanks, kbots, and rockos, focusing on clearing the north-facing side of the hill.

While the enemy regroups, use a builder kbot to repair damaged units.

Send your commander to build Light Laser turrets on the small hills north of the two main hills at the choke point to bolster your defenses. Build four turrets and a radar in total for forewarning.

Maintain a steady supply of indirect fire units mixed with medium tanks, using build queues to ensure continuous production.

Expect and meet several rushes of enemy units in approximately three to four waves.

Utilize the wreckage from destroyed units as roadblocks to slow down enemy rushes.

Use indirect fire units to attack enemies attempting to navigate the debris.

Deploy a samson (a unit type) and ideally two or more to pick off crasher kbots (a unit type) from the mountainside.

Once the area quiets down, send another rush of units to take the hill, concentrating on the left mountain.

Use a mix of fidos, rockos, both zesuses (a unit type), and peewees for this assault.

If necessary, move your commander forward to fire D cannon rounds down the mountain face to eliminate thud units and tanks, creating more obstacles.

Support your assault with a smason (likely a typo for samson) and fidos on the west-facing mountain for crossfire and elevation bonuses.

Hold the hill, even with heavy losses.

Continue to use the captured hill to your advantage.