Mission 5: St. Louis

Welcome to St. Louis, a pivotal mission that tests your squad's tactical flexibility and ability to handle diverse enemy types. This urban environment is rife with opportunities for ambushes and requires careful positioning. Your primary objective is to eliminate all hostiles and secure the area.

Squad Composition and Preparation

For this mission, a balanced squad is crucial. Consider bringing:

Heavy Weapons Specialist: Essential for dealing with armored targets and groups of enemies. A M60 or Flamer can be highly effective.
Sniper: For long-range engagements and picking off high-threat targets before they can close in. Equip with a Sniper Rifle or Hunting Rifle with a scope.
Close-Quarters Combatant: Someone with good Small Guns or Melee/Unarmed skills for clearing buildings and tight spaces. A Shotgun or SMG is ideal.
Medic/Support: A character with high First Aid and Doctor skills, and ideally some Lockpick or Repair for utility. Ensure they carry plenty of Stimpaks and Medical Kits.

Before deploying, ensure all squad members are fully healed and have ample ammunition for their primary weapons, as well as a few spare magazines for secondary firearms. Consider bringing a few Frag Grenades or Molotov Cocktails for clearing entrenched positions.

Walkthrough

Initial Engagement: The Street Approach

Deployment: Your squad will deploy on the western edge of the map, facing east down a street. Immediately take cover behind the overturned vehicles and debris.
First Contact: You'll encounter several Raiders and possibly a few Guard Dogs patrolling the street ahead. Use your sniper to eliminate the most immediate threats.
Advance Cautiously: Move your squad forward in a staggered formation, using buildings and cover. Be wary of enemies hiding behind corners or inside doorways.
Looting Opportunity: Check the overturned truck near your starting position for a Combat Knife and some 9mm Ammunition.

Clearing the Northern Buildings

The northern side of the street contains several buildings that often house additional hostiles.

Building 1 (Northwest): This small, dilapidated building usually contains 1-2 Raiders. Send your close-quarters specialist in first, supported by fire from outside. Inside, you might find a Pipe Rifle and a few Stimpaks in a footlocker.
Building 2 (Central North): A larger structure, this building often has multiple floors and can be a strongpoint for enemies.

Ground Floor: Expect 2-3 Raiders and potentially a Shotgunner. Use grenades to soften them up before entering.
Upper Floor: A ladder or stairs will lead to the upper level. Be prepared for another 1-2 Raiders. On the upper floor, check the desk for a 10mm Pistol and some .45 Caliber Ammunition.

The Central Plaza and Southern Sector

As you push further east, the street opens into a small plaza area. This is often where the heaviest fighting occurs.

Plaza Ambush: Expect a significant ambush here, including more Raiders, potentially a Super Mutant with a Minigun, and possibly a Sentry Bot. Prioritize the Super Mutant and Sentry Bot with heavy weapons fire.
Southern Buildings: The buildings on the southern side of the plaza are also occupied.

Pharmacy (Southwest): This building often contains a few Raiders and a valuable cache. Inside, you can find several Stimpaks, RadAway, and sometimes a Doctor's Bag on shelves or in a medical cabinet.
Warehouse (Southeast): This large structure is usually heavily guarded. Approach with caution.

Exterior Patrols: Two Raiders often patrol the exterior.
Interior: Inside, you'll face 3-4 Raiders, some armed with Assault Rifles. Use the crates and shelving for cover. In the back room, a locked safe (requires Lockpick skill) contains a Plasma Pistol and a good amount of Energy Cells.

Final Clearance: After clearing the plaza and surrounding buildings, sweep the remaining areas of the map. Check all alleyways and hidden corners for any stragglers.

Tactical Tips

Use Cover: St. Louis is full of debris, vehicles, and building corners. Always move from cover to cover.
Overwatch: Position one or two squad members on overwatch to cover advancing teammates or choke points.
Grenade Usage: Don't be shy with grenades. They are excellent for flushing out enemies from cover or dealing with groups in tight spaces.
Focus Fire: Concentrate your fire on one enemy at a time to eliminate threats quickly and reduce incoming damage.
Healing: Keep an eye on your squad's health. Use Stimpaks proactively rather than reactively.

Once all hostiles are eliminated, the mission will conclude. Remember to loot thoroughly before exiting the map to maximize your gains!