Star Wars Zero Company: How to Operate the Crane With Aurelio

The crane in this early Star Wars Zero Company sequence is an environmental interaction that only Aurelio can start once he reaches the console. Selecting him and confirming the action moves the cargo container, but the console sits in the open, which sets up an ambush the moment the crane finishes its cycle.

Quick answer: Select Aurelio, choose the OPERATE CRANE action tile, and move him onto the console tile to confirm. He runs over and activates the crane automatically. Expect a Separatist Striker to drop in behind him, then respond with another squad member.

Operate the crane with Aurelio

The interaction is scripted as part of the INTERACTIONS tutorial, so the game highlights the crane console and walks you through the input. Follow the tiles in order and the activation triggers on its own.

With Aurelio selected on the tactical grid, look for the INTERACTIONS prompt on the right side of the screen. It marks the crane console as the target for this turn.

Choose the OPERATE CRANE action tile and move Aurelio toward the console. The action tile doubles as his movement command, so selecting it sends him to the correct spot.

INTERACTIONS tutorial highlighting the crane console with the OPERATE CRANE action prompt — The INTERACTIONS tutorial highlights the crane console and the OPERATE CRANE action you confirm with the cursor. Image credit: Bit Reactor

Confirm the action. Aurelio runs to the console and begins operating it, and a short cutscene shows the yellow crane lifting and shifting a large cargo container. You know it worked when the container moves and control returns to the battlefield.

The ambush after the crane activates

As soon as the crane finishes moving the container, a Separatist Striker drops down directly behind Aurelio and attacks. Because Aurelio is standing on the exposed console with no cover, the hit lands hard, and the game registers his defeat with an AURELIO HAS DIED notice.

Player character trading fire with an armored Separatist enemy on a sci-fi platform — A Separatist Striker drops in behind Aurelio at the console, kicking off the fight over the platform. Image credit: Bit Reactor

Note: this loss is part of the scripted tutorial beat that introduces the ADVANTAGE system. After Aurelio goes down, an ADVANTAGE tutorial box appears to explain special abilities and squad resources you can spend to swing the fight.

Counterattack with your next squad member

With Aurelio out, the game hands control to another operative so you can punish the Striker that dropped in. Switch to your remaining squad member, line up a shot on the enemy, and use the ADVANTAGE resources the tutorial just introduced to reinforce the attack.

Armored operative firing across industrial rooftop platforms with 24 ammo remaining — Your next operative opens fire on the Separatist across the rooftop platforms during the counterattack. Image credit: Bit Reactor

Crane interaction summary

Beat	What happens
Setup	Aurelio selected; INTERACTIONS prompt marks the crane console
Action	Choose OPERATE CRANE and move Aurelio to the console
Activation	Crane lifts and moves the cargo container in a cutscene
Ambush	Separatist Striker drops in behind Aurelio and defeats him
Tutorial	ADVANTAGE box explains special abilities and squad resources
Recovery	Switch to another operative and counterattack

Treat the crane as a one-character objective that leaves Aurelio wide open, and keep the rest of your squad positioned to answer the drop-in. Once you activate the crane, expect the enemy immediately, spend your ADVANTAGE resources on the counterattack, and press forward with whoever is left standing.