Operation Three

With a full slate of six missions, Operation Three begins the more difficult section of Mechwarrior 3. You should have acquired several heavier Mechs by this point and need to put them to use on the battlefield. Both the Orion and Thor should do nicely; tinker with different weapon configurations to strike that balance between long- and close-range weaponry.

Mission One
Mission Objective: Infiltrate the Clan Training Center and destroy the installation. Proceed through the tunnel at Op. Baker and finally to the tunnel at Op. Charlie.

Primary Objectives: Destroy headquarters at Op. Able. Escort Mobile Field Base to Op. Charlie.

Secondary Objective: Destroy Smoke Jaguar Forces.

Difficulty: Medium

Mech Recommendation: Heavy Mech with mixture of long-range "sniper" and close-range weaponry.

The mission begins just off the ocean, outside the Clan Training Center. As you approach Op. Able, an Orion greets you on the left (it is stationed on the top part of the Clan Training Facility) and two Striders that attack from the front. The Orion eventually retreats back into the deeper portion of the facility while the two Striders attack. With two lancemates joining you on this mission, you should have little trouble taking out two light Mechs.

Take care of the laser emplacement on the left (just in front of a segment of the training facility). You'll see several Mechs out here in the open. Just ignore them; they're holographic projections used in the Clan training exercises. Around this time, a couple Mechs power up - an Avatar and a Bushwacker - but they're all inside the Clan Training facility, so you need not worry about them quite yet. Proceed to Op. Baker and eliminate the laser emplacement there.

There's two main ways into the Clan Training Grounds. If you're equipped with jump jets, you can leap over the main entrance (the large circular structure emitting the red rays). You'll be a tad vulnerable to enemy fire, but you'll have a decent sniper point. The other route is around the left wall into an opening in the valley. From this point, you'll have a long view at the Mechs inside.

If you're equipped with jump jets, you can enter the rear of the training facility by leaping past this installation.

Each enemy Mech fires missile salvo after missile salvo at your team. Fighting them from this distance isn't easy. Try to take them one at a time and use long-range weaponry to remove limbs and weaken legs. The Bushwacker can't take much punishment. The Avatar, on the other hand, is sturdy and will likely come out of hiding to attack at close-range. Order your lancemates to attack, and while they have it occupied, take out a leg or go for a head shot. A missile emplacement also sits inside the base and can dish out ample punishment if you don't eliminate it quickly. At any time, return to the mission start point to repair at the Mobile Field Base. Don't forget the Orion inside the base as well. Once all the Mechs are destroyed, target the facility and open fire.

Head to Op. Baker. As soon as you make your way through the tunnel, two Mechs power up in the distance, a Vulture and a Madcat. Both keep their distance, firing off long-range lasers and missile salvos. Try to use the mountain on your left and the structures in the opening as cover against the shots. If you're cautious enough in this area, you can take on each Mech one at a time. The Vulture's missiles are especially deadly. Send your lancemates after the Mech and take down the Vulture while it is occupied. If needed, call the MFB into this area for a quick repair and refit. Destroy the Madcat as well and then proceed to Op. Charlie. Radio for the MFB to meet you there and the mission ends successfully.

Next: Operation Three, Mission Two