Combat Briefing

You are hereby requested and required, with the man and craft under your command to destroy all enemy units that you can locate in the four Galaxies.

Your fleet consists of three Andromeda class Heavy Starcruisers, and a single rotating Base-station.

The fleet as a whole can be "warped" (press W) into hyperspace and shifted between galaxies.

Individual control of each ship is gained by pressing 1, 2 or 3.

As you know, some enemy units are very well defended. Battle stations in particular have accurate, powerful and rapid Disruptor beams. Those with very high Battle strength are almost invincible.

Other units are "easy meat". Battle Cruisers especially have less experienced crews, and only a lucky shot is likely to inflict damage to your ship.

Your 'Andromeda' ships are equipped with high energy, tight-beam "lasers" (press L). You must hit the enemy unit dead centre for any chance of detonating its power plant.

As it is destroyed the target will release a harvest of energy. Some of this will be captured by your ship.

This valuable and scarce energy, when delivered back to the base station, will count as a measure of your ability in executing the deadly task with which you are charged.

If you lose a ship to enemy fire, a rescue is possible by injecting energy from another ship. All energy transfers (to ship or Base) are accomplished by stopping one unit exactly over the other.

Base Radar Map

The Base space-station is equipped with long range radar (Press R), available to all ships.

This shows the position of the Fleet and the currently designated enemy target.

The next Enemy Target will be displayed in sequence when the former has been destroyed.

Target Data is displayed along with the Energy Score.

You are cautioned not to tackle the stronger targets until the softer alternatives in other Galaxies have been dealt with.

Urgent Information

1. Our agents report a new type of Battlestation, invisible to our sensors with continuous Disruptor fire. Codename for this new type will be Phantom. Expect these after the enemy has suffered a considerable loss. No further information...
2. At any time there is a slight chance of meteor strike. If hit, the ship will lose half of its energy. Therefore, it's good practice to send each ship back to base after a large capture of energy.

Game Controls

1, 2, 3 - Toggle ship under control, < - Turn ship left, > - Turn ship right, SPACE - Rocket Motor, L - Laser
+ - Increase "Flow of Time", S - Stop ship, W - Warp to shift galaxy, U - Update display, R - Radar Map

All motion in Space is cumulative, until S (stop) is pressed.

As a burn is made with the ship pointing in a given direction, so speed is built up in that direction.

If the craft is now turned through an angle and a Burn made in this new direction, the old speed and direction is gradually changed.

The ship is not necessarily going where it is pointing.

Some of the best attacks can be made in this fashion, drifting slowly sideways while raking the target (similar to a Naval Broadside)

Flow Time Control

While cruising between points, the "Flow of Time" can be increased by holding down the plus (+) key.

Keep an eye on the Radar map as the increased "Flow of Time" applies to all ships in motion.

Using this control, a ship full of energy can be sent 'slowly' back to Base while another ship goes out to attack a fresh target.

Good luck, may the force be with you!

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