Mission Preview: Assault on Expelan Space (Fleet Battle)

Lore

The Unified Earth Forces Navy has finally fought its way to the enemy's home solar system, but cannot proceed any closer to the enemy homeworld. A strange shield generator, positioned in open space near the ocean moon of Expelan, is creating a field that is physically stopping our ships. Surrounding the shield generator is a massive assembly of enemy ships in what appears to be their home fleet. This might be their last stand in space, and they will fight hard.

The UEF Cruiser Corinth is equipped with nuclear warheads that we hope can destroy the shield generator. While the rest of our fleet engages theirs, escort the Corinth as it rushes through the fighting and tries to get within firing range of the shield generator. A successful nuclear attack by Corinth would allow our forces to move on Expelan, and, subsequently, the enemy homeworld of Marastab. Join the escort and ensure that our cruiser makes it to her target intact.

Gameplay

Scenario

Okay, imagine this. Next to you is a glorious, heavily-armed human capital ship that is equipped with nuclear missiles and enough point-defense turrets to fill your screen with lead.

Off in the distance is a shield generator, which is its target. In between the Corinth and its target is a very determined enemy fleet. Your job is to make sure it gets through that gauntlet of enemy ships alive. A classic naval escort mission under fire, with a bit of a “blockade run” feeling thrown in. Joining you is another allied ship, a frigate, which is also equipped with point-defense turrets and railguns. It will help you intercept missiles and destroy enemies, although it usually does not survive long.

And yes, the enemy ships are more determined in this mission than in previous space encounters. You're basically on the doorstep of their homeworld, so more is at stake. A lot more missiles will be coming at you and your protectee.

Tactics

Even though this is a Point A to Point B escort mission, you can approach it in a variety of ways. Will you stick close to the Corinth and rely on your point-defense turret and shields to intercept incoming danger? Will you fly ahead of your protectee and try to destroy the enemy ships blocking its way? Or will you hide under the cruiser's guns to save your own skin? The positioning of enemy ships is randomly decided at the start of the mission, so you'll need to strategize based on what you see in front of you. None of you will collide with the enemy ships, but you will fly over them - a very vulnerable place to be, because they will be able to launch missiles at you and your protectee at point-blank range.

I first thought up this mission because I felt that in a fleet battle, each combatant ship should serve in its actual designated role. For most of the game, you are operating mostly alone as a skirmisher and attack ship. But when joined with the rest of the human fleet, I thought that your corvette should do what corvettes are often designed to do: escort capital ships. So you've got a corvette (you) and a frigate, both escort ships, actually escorting a cruiser, which is a capital ship.

It's fun, it's frantic, and you'll hear explosions everywhere as missiles get blown up by point-defense turrets. But like all active defenses, they are never going to be 100% reliable. Make sure you're doing your job and protecting that cruiser.

Wishlist Today

If that mission sounds interesting, consider wishlisting the game! Fortified Space releases into Early Access next week on March 27, 2026, with a planned price of $3.99.

Good hunting!