Deep infiltration into enemy territory by unconventional means!

(7:04) Level 5 ('Assault on the Control Room') on Heroic. Yet again we've got the same spiral path megabattle save featuring 53 covies. In BCM579 I included a spectacular bail stunt in grabbing a blockade Ghost. Here I use bail stunts with various landings to initiate fast attacks on the covies. Not an easy way to approach the battle, but it makes for some good entertainment!

Released September 2nd 2025, gameplay recorded August 26th-27th 2025.

00:02 (Play 1 - Tree cushion) This was one of the earliest successes I had, of getting inserted into enemy territory and surviving the ensuing battle. I get cushioned by the tree branches and manage to drop down to the ledge. An attempted early sniper shot at the needler Elite gets denied by the descending dropship, so I go to work on the nearby Jackals instead. I really could've done without that plasma ball in my face, but I get away with it, my two frags taking out all three Jackals.

After helping out the Marines with long-range sniping, I step out for some closer action. When I see a red Elite nearby, I realise I could be in trouble. But a dangerously close-range rocket around 0:56 kills both him and a buddy, which gives me encouragement.

Moving out from cover, few Elites seem to be emerging from the blockade area, and that gives me time to send in some ordnance. After a brief skirmish with a few covies that make it out alive, it's all over.

In regard to the bail stunt, note that I fly up into the path of the dropship, somewhat from the side. That wasn't my usual way of doing things however. More usually I was going for more of a head-on impact, as seen in the remaining three plays (and in the Ghost grab play in BCM579).

01:35 (Play 2 - Ship cushion) Somewhere along the line, I realised I might be able to get cushioned by the ship itself, which would be an excellent trick and make a good spectacle. So I put a lot of effort into that, making a large number of attempts. There were a few times when I actually managed it, but subsequently got killed by the covies, which was very frustrating. Finally however, I landed on the ship and managed to prevail, as seen here.

I could've been in trouble from an approaching red Elite around 2:09, but luckily he gets stunned by a Jackal's plasma ball in the back, giving me time to send a rocket his way.

Shortly after my frag throw at 2:27, the Banshee comes tumbling my way and I almost get splattered. I remember being relieved at escaping that. It would've been really annoying if I'd died from that. By this time I'd probably made a few hundred tries at the ship cushion!

The danger level increases as the covie advance overwhelms the Marines, and I back off for safety and to swap the empty launcher for a plasma rifle. Things get a bit sticky around the time the sniper helpfully calls out "Lots of 'em over here", and soon I've got a bleeping shield and only two health bars left. But when the final two Elites go down, things look up. Some good work clears a mass of Grunts and Jackals, and soon we've just got the Hunters to deal with.

03:51 (Play 3 - Tree & rock cushion) This time I get cushioned by the tree then the rock. Very neat, and I think this was the only time I landed like that. I go down to only two health bars though, which makes me a bit fragile. I do well to quickly kill the two rock Jackals with a frag, and then the ship Jackal is sniped before he can reach the ground.

After helping the Marines from distance, I launch a heavy attack on the blocked mob, and at 4:38 an Elite or Jackal (I think it's an Elite) gets launched vertically at high speed, and I'm not sure the body ever came down (might've got removed from the game once it was sufficiently out of my view).

A bit overconfident from my bombardment, around 4:46 I almost get myself killed when suddenly targeted by two red Elites I didn't see emerging. Silly cyborg! I go down to one health bar, but my rocket takes them out in the nick of time, and I survive to the end of the fight.

05:13 (Play 4 - Back wall cushion) There were a few times when I got cushioned by the back wall but was soon killed by the covies. Survival was a definite problem out in the open! On this occasion though, I finally win through. And of course, the mid-air rocket straight into the mob is a bit of a highlight.

When it comes to the two Hunters, I end up boarding a Ghost, which may've been by accident when I instead wanted to reload my needler. Can't remember. But in any case, the sniper does the actual killing.

Closing remarks Just to mention, you can of course also insert yourself into enemy territory by dropping yourself off as required. But the bail stunts add some amusement, I think you'll agree.

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