User manual GAMES PC WING COMMANDER-ACADEMY

[. . . ] WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR After I graduated from the Terran Confederation Space Naval (TCSN) Academy, I was immediately assigned to fly missions against the Kilrathi. The flight simulator at the Academy had taught us basic combat strategies, given us a feel for the different ships and cockpits and acquainted us with fighters from the Kilrathi fleet. But the simulated missions we flew at the Academy were hardly comparable to a real-life dogfight. With the whine of a missile lock indicator and the harsh taunts of a Kilrathi pilot reverberating in our ears, we suddenly faced completely novel situations when we flew our first dogfight. [. . . ] I personally witnessed the demise of the TCS Viper when it came under fire from an attacking Ralatha destroyer in the Gwynedd sector. Sartha Class Light Fighter Length 8. 3 m Max. Velocity 400 kps Cruise Velocity 220 kps Acceleration Good Max. YPR 4 dps Mass 12. 5 tonnes Weapons Neutron Guns (2) DF Missile (1) Armor Fore and Aft Shields 5 cm equivalent each Front and Rear 4 cm each Left and Right 3 cm each The Kilrathi Sartha is a light fighter comparable to the Confederation's Epee. The Kilrathi fighter is slower and not as maneuverable as the Ferret or the Epee. At close ranges, the Sartha can inflict damage with its neutron guns and one dumb fire missile, but these ships only pose a real threat if they surround your fighter in large numbers. During my service in the Gwynedd system, I lost a wingman to a swarm of Sartha pilots. Strakha Class Medium Fighter Length 17 m Max. Velocity 320 kps Cruise Velocity 200 kps Acceleration Poor Max. YPR 4 dps Mass 15 tonnes Weapons Laser Cannon (2) Torpedoes (2) DF Missiles (2) Stealth Device (1) Armor Fore and Aft Shields 4 cm equivalent each Front and Rear 4 cm each Left and Right 3. 5 cm each The Strakha is a medium fighter with average traveling velocity, negligible shields and armor, and poor acceleration and maneuverability. And yet it was this fighter that destroyed the TCS Tiger's Claw in 2654. The Strakha was the first (and, to this date, only) Kilrathi ship equipped with a previously-unknown cloaking device that allowed the ship to vanish from sight without a trace. With its torpedoes, the Strakha contingent then proceeded to annihilate the Tiger's Claw. We have since received confirmation of this device through Hajjnah, the brilliant Kilrathi scientist and engineer who defected to the Terran Confederation two years ago. WEAPONS OF THE TERRAN AND KILRATHI FLEETS Strategies in space combat depend not only on the ships you and your opponents are flying, but also on the weapon loadouts of every fighter. For example, if you know your enemy only has short range blaster capabilities and no chaff pods, you will try to eliminate him at long range with particle cannon and missiles. If you are attacking a enemy capital ship with phase shields, you will use different weapons than if you're attacking a Dorkathi transport without such defenses. An intimate knowledge of ship loadouts and weapon characteristics is absolutely vital to your survival in space. This section summarizes the most important weapon features of all Kilrathi and Confederation weapon systems. DEFENSIVE WEAPONS Flak Gun. Capital ships rely primarily on heavy flak barrages for protection. The massive explosive force and the high velocity of these weapons will down almost any ship immediately. With their great accuracy, flak guns are also employed for point-defense against torpedoes. Chaff pods provide an efficient method of diverting missiles that are currently targeting your ship. Missiles will home in on the chaff, rather than your ship, and explode harmlessly. Chaff pods must be released shortly before impact of the missile. [. . . ] Box 161750 · Austin, TX 78716 ® TM REFER ENCE CARD Console Commands Select Next Clear Ship Wingman Load Save Execute Escape ENTER TAB C P W L S X ESC Selects feature currently under cursor Moves to next command button Clears action sphere Selects ship Selects wingman Loads game Saves mission Runs mission Returns to simulator room Spaceflight Commands TO FIRE Gun/Tractor Weapon Targeting Comp. Lock Target Chaff G W T L Cycles through guns (or tractor beam) Cycles through weapon systems Selects targeting computer/changes target Locks targeting computer (or activates ITTS, if available) Fires chaff pods ALT-ENTER TO FLY Afterburners TAB Fires afterburners for as long as key is pressed Brings ship to immediate stop Engages autopilot Displays ship's damage screens Selects communications panel (or clears incoming communication) Enables or suppresses comm video Stop BACKSPACE Autopilot A Damage D Communications C Video V SIMULATOR OPTIONS Message Duration M Music CTRL-M Sound CTRL-S Score S Pause Slower Faster Exit Eject P ALT-+ ALT-­ ALT-X CTRL-E Changes message duration Toggles music on / off Toggles sound effects on / off Displays score (in gauntlet mode) on right VDU Pauses game Slows speed of game Increases speed of game Exits to DOS Ejects from ship and returns to simulator room CAMERA VIEWS Front Left Right Rear Chase Battle Tactical Missiles Tailing F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 Front view Left view / go to left turret if available Right view / go to right turret if available Rear view / go to rear turret if available Chase plane view Battle view Tactical view Missile camera view Tailing view; cycles through ships MESSAGES "Attack my target. " "Break and attack. " Request wingman damage report. "Keep formation. " "Form on my wing. " "Help me out here. " Random taunt to targeted enemy. ALT-A ALT-B ALT-D ALT-F ALT-F ALT-H ALT-T Using a Joy s t i c k Between Missions. [. . . ]