I don't rate games often, and this one, I guess I just feel the need to say something. I was really excited to see this game on GOG because I was really looking forward to it when it released however long ago. Anyhow, I never played it because my system at the time would not have run it well. Long story short, I dl'd it looking forward to playing a good RTS that people had said so many good things about. Well, it didn't disappoint. The visuals are cool, and it's entirely unique. The whole game presents in a way that no RTS has even tried to duplicate. But, here comes the but, BUT, what I found was that I was really getting into the game and then I hit that one mission where I get me butt handed to me almost immediately. When are they gonna learn to pace these games better? I end up getting so mad at the level it completely turns me off to the game. And it's sad too, because this game had so much potential. Don't get me wrong, like I said this is a great game. I'm just tired of greatness having such disappointing flaws.

Which mission was it that drove you off? Nothing in the first 11 levels has struck me as all that difficult, not after you find the trick that the level is trying to teach you.

Um, I believe that the level that got under my skin was the one that first gives you the burrowing technology. I found myself getting raped by my opponent and not being able to erect enough defenses no matter what I did. I probably just suck at strategy games...

Tricky start, then easy. Move your buildmasters so they are between your frame and the enemies, and build as many chasers are you can. Ignore all other defences for now, though there will be Wargon's later IIRC. You wont be able to build enough to stop the first wave, but you should be able to find it. It doesn't matter if your framed gets uninstalled, so long as the majority of your bast survives.
Also, you need to get a squad or two of scummers out to the enemy frame to uninstall it before its fully charged. The AI wont reinstall is, so when you get it off the ground you have effectively won.

played this back when it was first released and as far as I remember it was pretty mutch just build base till you absorb the emenies base.

Something else to mention about that level: Alpha Portals hover on a predefined trajectory (I believe it's the ellipse on your map) so you'll just have to wait until it comes close again to enter..