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Sudden Strike is the second mission of the first mission pack of the Nova Covert Ops campaign.

History[]

Loyalty and Service[]

"We have evidence linking you to a terrorist group known as the Defenders of Man. You're wanted for treason against the Terran Dominion."

- Admiral Matt Horner(src)

After escaping Sharpsburg, Nova Terra hailed for Terran Dominion support from her ship. A battlecruiser appeared, and escorted her to Borea, where Admiral Matt Horner and his forces had established a base. He informed her that she had been missing for months, and that she had been reported as working with the Defenders of Man. However, the zerg attacked the base as they discussed this, and Horner said he believed she was innocent, and asked for her help in defeating the zerg.[1]

Mission[]

"The zerg have always been a threat, and today the emperor's forces have proved they are too weak to protect the people of Borea. But the Defenders of Man are here for you. We will do all we can to safeguard your future."

- Defenders of Man Officer(src)

The zerg began assaulting Horner's base, but to do so had to cross through narrow passages. Nova was given a special operations team, which held a base between these passages, which included reapers wielding spider mines. Nova was given a jump jet to aid her in traversing the cliffs. Nova and her crew weakened the zerg as they moved through the passages in increased number. During the battle, Chief Engineer Rory Swann's Military Research Center and Experimental Weapons Lab came under attack by the swarm, and Swann requested aid from Nova's forces. As time went on, the zerg attacks became more intense, eventually even sending ultralisks and a brutalisk against the Dominion position.

SuddenStrike SC2 NCOScreen

The Defenders of Man arrive

The zerg were repelled for a time, and battlecruisers arrived and engaged the zerg. However, they were not Dominion, but rather Defenders of Man ships. They demanded the surrender of Nova and the evacuation of all Dominion forces. Horner's forces slipped out in the chaos, while the Defenders of Man engaged the zerg.[2]

Walkthrough[]

This mission involves four lanes that zerg will come from. The objective is to soften the zerg up enough to where they will not be a threat to the Dominion base at the end of the canyon. Reapers with spider mines are a useful defense, but take care not to overdo them, as they are fragile and will quickly be taken out by ravagers. Early saturation is necessary, as the starting mineral patches are low. Use Nova to clear the first two waves while the majority of the resources are spent building up an economy and initial defenses. Due to the limited resources on the map, building a command center next to Horner's command center and mining from his mineral patches will greatly boost the player's economy in the late game, especially if aiming for the "no buildings lost" achievement.

MilitaryResearchCenter SC2-NCO Game1

Military Research Center

In regards Nova's loadout, the hellfire shotgun is useful for taking out large numbers of units, but has a slow rate of fire and is not very effective against the larger armored units that come later in the mission. Nova's sniper rifle on the other hand allows for a large amount of damage against some of the priority targets such as the defilers and ultralisks, but leaves a potential weakness to banelings. Both options are viable. Flash grenades can be helpful if timed correctly, as they will stun units in range of bunkers, but pulse grenades can serve as a powerful wave clear, especially if the sniper rifle is being used.

On the map are metal plates, that signify optimal places to build bunkers. Some of these are on harder to spot cliffs, so be sure to scout the entire perimeter for these plates, as all should have a fully manned bunker on them. All bunkers should have at least one marauder, as their concussive shells have an area-of-effect slow. More marauders should be added to bunkers closer toward the base, as the units that will survive spider mines and the initial bunker waves should be the heavier, armored units. Place reapers on the cliffs, but be aware that ravagers will kill them in two corrosive bile shots.

ExperimentalWeaponsLab SC2-NCO Game1

Experimental Weapons Lab

Defilers are a priority target, as dark swarm will prevent your units from being able to hit any zerg under them. Grenade or snipe them before they hit the bulk of the terran forces. Nova should alternate to where she is most needed, as she alone can almost take on entire waves if used correctly.

Halfway through the mission, bonus objectives to defend research facilities will appear on the map. Only reapers can reach them, but only a few should be needed. Next to the nydus worms are easy-to-miss cliffs that put reapers above the nydus worms, allowing them to attack free of retaliation. On higher difficulties, the second facility will be destroyed quickly, so a fast response is needed to secure it.

The last wave will be a heavy one, but the mission will end shortly after. Even if this wave breaks through all defenses, do not quit until the mission has fully failed, as often on this wave the mission will be successful even if the majority of his base has fallen.

For Curiosity Killed the Zergling achievement, it is advisable that player play this mission on Hard or higher difficulties for more zergs to kill. Refineries at Horner's base can be destroyed and taken to significantly increase reaper's production rate (beware that Horner's AI may try to rebuild them). The lower ground's defenses should be abandoned so all attack waves converge at the two ramps leading up. Nova and her forces in general should not actively fighting here except when taking bonus objectives. Last attack waves are endless and kill count only stop when the mission is finished, so player should keep placing mine until the final cutscene start to play.

Starcraft_2_NOVA_COVERT_OPS_-_Sudden_Strike_-_Brutal_Guide_-_All_Achievements_(Mission_2)

Starcraft 2 NOVA COVERT OPS - Sudden Strike - Brutal Guide - All Achievements (Mission 2)

Achievements[]

SuddenStrike SC2-CovOps AchieveIconComplete Sudden Strike
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Complete the “Sudden Strike” mission in Nova: Covert Ops.

Edit
SuddenStrike SC2-CovOps AchieveIcon1 Arachnophile
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Destroy 30 enemy forces with Spider Mines in the “Sudden Strike” mission.

Edit
SuddenStrike SC2-CovOps AchieveIcon2 Built to Last
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Prevent Admiral Horner’s base from losing more than 5 structures in the “Sudden Strike” mission on Normal difficulty or higher.

Edit
SuddenStrike SC2-CovOps AchieveIcon3 Indestructureable
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Prevent Admiral Horner’s base from losing any structures in the “Sudden Strike” mission on Hard difficulty or higher.

Edit
NCO10 SC2AchiveImage Curiosity Killed the Zergling
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Destroy 200 enemy forces with Spider Mines in the "Sudden Strike" mission on Normal difficulty.

Edit

Trivia[]

If the player scans the top-right corner of the map, they will find a hidden Defender of Man ghost and psi-emitter, foreshadowing a similar instance in the next mission.

References[]

  1. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Cinematic: Loyalty and Service. (in English). 2016.
  2. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Nova Covert Ops, Sudden Strike (in English). 2016-03-29.
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