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After a few perfect boarding operations to build up strength it is time to move on to boarding larger targets. The Titurel XL Trade makes a good early trade ship as it offers a large quantity of Universal storage for hauling wares and is considerably tougher and more powerful than the previously boarded Rahanas. These ships are often found as part of heavier SS raids and can also be mission marks. The Titurel can be boarded in a way similar to before except more time and care is required as the ship posses a lot more surface elements to destroy. The higher boarding resistance also requires a lower hull percentage before the target is safe to board, possibly as little as under 10% if boarding crew is very inexperienced. Among the surface components are 2 Plasma/MA Turrets which give the ship some long range assault capabilities. Strafing is critical for survival against the Titurel as the full weapon system capabilities of the ship are enough to quickly destroy the Albion Skunk if enough hits are landed. The full repair time after capture is quite long due to the 5 the 6 Matter/Anti-Matter Drive elements.
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Mission spawned capital ships will usually spawn in the targeted named zone either high up or low down on the Z axis and are accompanied by at least 1 other capital ship, several small craft and all involved capital ships carry a lot of drone units. They are usually given aggressive orders such as "Patrol" so they will slowly move towards any hostile target in the zone. Since every zone in Albion has at least 1 station there is a good chance the capital ships will attempt to suicide the station. Due to the massive fire power of stations the mark and escorts will not last long once in range of the station. Not only will this make boarding impossible, but unless the <player> deals significant damage to the mark the mission will fail and no payment will be received. As such it is recommended to disable the Matter/Anti-Matter Drive and Jump Drive of the mark and escort as quickly as possible before they enter station range allowing the player to kill/board them without interference. Escort capital ships will usually spawn a considerable distance away from the mark allowing for them to be left separated by quickly destroying Matter/Anti-Matter Drives. In zones patrolled by faction capital ships it is unlikely that the mark and escort will be left alone making boarding as good as impossible so instead all attention should be focused on destroying the mark. In addition to the common Titurel, fight ships like the Light and Heavy Sol Sul and Balor can spawn.
The Balor is a ship that looks fantastic on paper but is completely useless due to bad AI. Intended as a glass cannon it has pathetic toughness and very few turrets but comes with 3 comes with 4 integrated Nova Drone launchers, each capable of dealing high splash damage at a massive 50 km range. Nova Drone missiles have sufficient homing capabilities to practically guarantee hitting any non-boosting capital ship even if fired in the wrong direction. It is also the fastest capital ship in the game, allowing it to run away from anything that tries to get close. Combined with its extremely low shipyard price tag it has all the potential to be the ultimate "troll" ship, barraging a target with several waves of Nova Drones and then running away if it tries to get close just to continue barraging from somewhere else. However the AI captain pilots the ship like all other fight capital ships and attempts to close range broad side its target, an action that almost always results in the Balor being destroyed. Although mods do exist which attempt to improve Balor AI, in an unmodified game the best use for captured Balor ships is to sell them for an extra credits.
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- Talk to: Kol t'Yo
- Dock at: Argon Station
- Return to ship
Wait - Collect: 25 units of Medical Equipment
- Collect: 40 units of Teladianium Panelling
- Talk to: Kol t'Yo
Dock at: RYK Lost Colony - Talk to: Kol t'Yo
Return to ship
Follow the markers to Captain Kol t'Yo (caught you) who threatens that the Split are strong and asks what Ren wants with the Xenon. Once convinced that Ren is not with the Argon navy he commissions the Albion Skunk to visit some Split that live with the Argon to get reliable information about the intentions of the Argon navy. Return to the Albion Skunk and start following the highways back to the Omicron Lyrae Jump Gate. On leaving the zone Yisha comments about having a lonely Split heading to Argon space and that she is worried. Sky Meadows in Maelstrom/Sigma Sector/Alpha Quadrant is the closest suitable base to drop off the Split passenger. Kol t'Yo says he will look for a worthy Split to talk to and Ren offers to get some supplies for the Split base however, Kol t'Yo says there is no need but he would like Ren to "tribute" some gifts. If the <player> has been looting boxes/lockers on station platforms and been picking up containers dropped by dead ships without selling anything from the inventory then it is highly likely that the 25 units of Medical Equipment and 40 units of Teladianium Panelling have already been acquired. Return to space and wait until Kol t'Yo contacts the Albion Skunk wishing to return home. While on this station employee details can be asked for Kol t'Yo which may make one question his competence as a leader. Kol t'Yo shows surprise that the Argon on the station are not cowering in his presence and returns to the Albion Skunk where he then contacts Ren about collecting Xenon Components for Split researchers of the lower caste. Back at Lost Colony talk to Kol t'Yo again who thanks Ren for his help and Yisha then comms saying the Argon navy is back. Return to the Albion Skunk to witness an argument between the Split and Bayes. It is revealed that the Split plan to destroy the Xenon is to weaken them by planting bombs on their stations. The Split choose to use the Albion Skunk to deliver the bombs using a camouflage device.
The Camoflage Device
- Collect: 5 units of Xenon Components
- Fly to: the Sixth Scripture
To build the camouflage device requires Xenon Components. If the required Xenon Components are not already in the <player> inventory then kill some Xenon ships attacking Lost Colony for them. Dock at Lost Colony and talk to the engineer Ra t'Nst to install the camouflage device. If the <player> does not own a Trojan ROV one will be given. When back in space the Split say not to be alarmed if their ships start shooting the Albion Skunk and Bayes marks the location of a Xenon scout party to fly to. The device activates making the Xenon appear neutral and all other factions appear hostile. The Albion Skunk computer then begins looking for a suitable planet to terraform which creeps Yisha out.
The Xenon
- Fly to: Shattered Singularity
- Enter: Trojan ROV
Bayes says scouts have reported highways leading to Xenon installations. The plan is to land on the Xenon stations plant the bombs and then the rest of the fleet will join the Albion Skunk to finish off the Xenon. Follow the markers to Sable Vortex where Bayes will wish the Albion Skunk luck. A Xenon Branch 9 I Destroyer will be patrolling this sector so is best avoided. Follow the markers to Venturous Profit where a unique lockbox containing the Kha'ak Talon of the Kha'ak Relic Collection can be found in a broken sphere to the west of the station. keep following the markers to Cryptic Heart where Yisha says to "play it cool" and finds the docking bays of the stations are locked down and will need to be hacked.
Use the long range scanner on the northern most station to find a unique lockbox on the underside containing the Computronium of the Ancient Relics Collection. As this item has the potential to be lost when the stations are destroyed collect it while the Xenon are still friendly.
Bug: During this section no trade deals can be initiated
WIP
Bug: Some Open bounty Collection missions will show the mark as a Titurel but will spawn a Lyranea