Confusion with “Liberate 4 Precious Gems” Missions

[Myrm]

KK, so I’ve taken on a couple of missions in which I have to liberate 4 precious gems, as I’ve not done these type of missions before.

For the first mission i tracked tracked down the NPC that was, apparently, holding the gems “captive”. I killed him. When I examined the cargo he had dropped I found no precious gems. I then noticed a search zone appear on the nearby planet. I had no Planetary scan missions outstanding in this system. So I assumed it was where this chap I just killed was stashing the gems. When I got there it was a group of buildings with a scanning post thing, such as you do find with Planetary scan missions. But I saw no sign of any gems. So I scanned the post anyway but received no information about any gems. So I departed, but noticed that the planet search symbol was still present. Thinking I had missed something I went back to the planet surface and revisited the buildings. No gems found.

So I gave up and went to complete the second precious gems mission. Same story. Found the player allegedly holding them. Killed him. No gems. Noticed a search symbol around the nearby star, but so far nothing found.

Then I get a message telling me mission failed.

What am am I doing wrong? Why am I not finding the gems?

 

[Iscariot]

I would imagine you need to render him immobile, rather than killing him. Then you would probably need cargo hatch limpets to secure the merchandise.

 

[Tetzmol]

I would imagine you need to render him immobile, rather than killing him. Then you would probably need cargo hatch limpets to secure the merchandise.

Right, the limpets will do the trick. If you kill the NPC, all is lost.
Please read the mission description well, it is mentioned that one needs 'hatch breaker' limpets. Reading the stuff is half the work.

 

[Myrm]

Thanks guys. You both were right. I wasn’t using the right method of attack, and I didn’t read the mission description properly.

 

[Tetzmol]

Thanks guys. You both were right. I wasn’t using the right method of attack, and I didn’t read the mission description properly.

You're welcome. To immobilise a ship, one can target it's drives in the left side panel under 'sub-targets'.

 

[NordicPagan]

I've done a few of these types..

Hatch breaker limpets fire at target

Collector limpets pick up booty

no shots needed, no imobolisation of drives needed, all pips to shields (strong shields)
be ready to run when feds turn up, the mission will always re spawn if you wait in super cruise after running

Start with missions thta only require 2 units and progress up as your skill improves

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