Surprise Attack

When placing the station for Surprise Attack, it can be placed within the first player’s deployment zone. However, it cannot be placed outside of the setup area and into the play area.

Reference

The speed restriction for ships deployed by the first player only applies while deploying fleets. Ships deployed later in the game by effects such as Profundity or Admiral Raddus may be deployed at any speed.

Reference

The first player must deploy their flagship overlapping the station and within the setup area without overlapping any squadrons. If the flagship cannot fit without overlapping squadrons, the first player must deploy the flagship so that it fits as completely as possible overlapping the fewest number of squadrons.

Any squadrons that were overlapped are then placed by the opposing player as written in the “Overlapping” topic in the Rules Reference Guide.

Reference

During setup, the station can be placed beyond or overlapping the first player’s deployment zone.

While deploying fleets, if the first player’s flagship is a huge ship, it must overlap the station and also touch that player’s edge, if able. If that flagship cannot meet both restrictions, it must be placed overlapping the station with its rear hull zone as close as possible to that player’s edge.

The standard obstacles are used, which are 3 asteroid fields, 2 debris fields, and 1 station. During setup, before placing obstacles, the station obstacle is placed at distance 1-5 of the first player’s edge in the setup area by the second player. The second player then places the first obstacle “as normal” as placing obstacles starts with the second player per RRG.
The station CANNOT be placed outside the Setup Area.

While deploying fleets, the first player MUST deploy their flagship first before deploying any other ships. This flagship MUST overlap the station, even if it extends beyond the deployment zone (meaning past distance 3).
During deployment, the first player cannot deploy any ship at a speed greater than half that ships maximum speed, rounded up. Meaning speed 4 or 3 ships can only go a max of speed 2, and speed 2 and 1 ships can only go a max of speed 1.
Ships CANNOT be deployed outside the Setup Area. Even when overlapping the station. Note that shield dials are considered part of the ship when overlapping.
The 1st player CAN place squadrons at D1-2 of the flagship if the flagship is small, medium, or large base, outside the deployment area.
Huge ships (SSD), must follow the rule of no squadrons beyond D5 of the players edge, if placed ranging from the SSD.
Huge ships (SSD), must follow the rule of touching the players edge, when overlapping the station. If the Huge ship cannot be deployed in this manner, due to other obstacles, place it overlapping the station with its rear hull zone as close as possible to the first players edge without overlapping other obstacles.

After deploying fleets, the second player sets commands on 3 command dials and places them facedown on this objective card in a stack.

The special rule:
At the start of the Ship Phase, during the first, second, and third rounds, the second player reveals the top command dial from stack on the objective card, then the first player gains a raid token on each ship matching the revealed command. (The reveal comes after the first player resolves any card effects at “start of the ship phase” timing.)

When Corvus redeploys, it is no longer limited by the speed (or station if flagship) restriction set by Surprise Attack. This is because that restriction is during the “while deploying” step and Corvus is in “after deployment” step.