Greetings!
I write this due to two causes:
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51% to answer questions about the Aliens.
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49% to stop (or at least reduce the quantity of) thread after thread after thread, all asking the same (or similar) question(s) about the Aliens.
Okay, here we go:
The Alien missions are the last missions - just face it. Once you have completed that mission, you get a great reward (I won't tell what - and I hope that no one else will, as it will take away a lot of curiosity and excitement from the game).
You get the Alien missions, only if siding with either the Rebellion or the Confederation. Once you get the mission, just follow the instructions - they are very clear. But for the last part of the mission - where you actually are supposed to blow up the Aliens.
In order to defeat the Aliens, go to the Gamera system, and here is a guide on how to get there from Sol (which where Earth, Luna, Mars and Stardock Alpha are):
(list=1)
() Travel to Tau Ceti (south-west of Sol)
() Travel to Antares (south-west of Tau Ceti)
() Travel to Diphidia (north-west of Antares)
() Travel to Farazon (which is an empty system (NOTE! marked with grey on the map), which is lying directly west to Diphidia)
(*) Travel to Gamera (which is another empty system (see above note), lying south-west of Farazon).
(/list=a)
This is just one of the many ways to get to Gamera, from Sol, but this one only requires five jumps.
If you, however, are playing on the Rebellion's side, you will get the Alien Mission whilst being on Palshife, I have therefor written a guide how to come from Palshife to Gamera:
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() Travel to Clotho (south south-west of Satori (in which Palshife is))
() Travel to Curzon (south-east of Clotho)
() Travel to Propus (south-east of Curzon)
() Travel to Darven (south-west of Propus)
() Travel to Perseus (south-west of Darven), I strongly suggest that you refuel here.
() Travel to Farazon (south-east of Perseus)
(*) Travel to Gamera (south-west of Farazon)
(/list=a)
Alright! Now I've taken you to the Aliens. Now let us focus on how to beat them.
Ship
Theoretically, it is enough with a Shuttlecraft, for all you need is a weapon. But I suggest at least a Corvette (preferably a Kestrel), for newbies. But it is not impossible to do it in a Rapier either. But some people claim they have done it in a Scoutship(!!!).
Weapon
Do not use Missiles or Torpedoes on the Aliens. Instead, load your ship with Laser and Proton Turrets and or Canons, as these damages shields much more than any other weapon. If you have sided with the Rebellion, you might have the Tractor Beam. You use it by selecting is at your Secondary Weapon (above the Target-box), and then fire it.
Strategy
If you are using the Tractor Beam (and I recommend that you do that), make sure that you get the Alien Cruiser within the beam's range, and preferably, with the Alien Cruiser's nose, pointing away from you. This will make the Alien Cruiser unable to attack you with its beams - but watch out for the Seeker Drones and the annoying Alien Fighters.
Like I said in the Weapon-thing, do not use Missiles or Torpedoes. But use Heavy Rockets and Javelin Rockets, if you like. But I still prefer using the Tractor Beam and a bunch of Turrets.
If you do not have the Tractor Beam (which you won't if you haven't done the Tractor Beam-mission, or have sided with the Confederation), buy the Thrust Enhancement, the Engine Upgrade and the RCS upgrade. By using these, you can fly at (almost) the same speed as the Alien Cruiser - it depends on what ship you used before. Fly after and behind it (or on its sides) and fire with whatever weapon you have (except for Missiles and Torpedoes!). After quite some time, the Alien Cruiser will be killed.
You do not need to kill the Alien Fighters - but you can always do that for fun! If you do not kill the Alien Fighters, they can/will appear now and then (I have only seen one once, when I did not kill them in the Alien Missions).
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I hope that this answers most the questions concerning the Aliens!
//KaBoomer
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If you cannot say something nice about a man, cut his head off! >=)
(This message has been edited by KaBoomer!!! (edited 12-26-2001).)