In a *Campaign Setting* when one of the heroes/players draws the "C1 Comlink" card from the Supply Deck, what is the proper way to use/implement said card???

As a reference, "C1 Comlink" is a "Consumable - Tool" and it says:

"Discard this card at the start of a round to choose and exhaust a regular Deployment card."

(I have some specific questions about the terms/language that pertains to the card, but before I ask anything else I'd like to see how other players have made use of this in their campaigns..."

1. Because it has a cost (Discard), its use is optional.

2. Timing is Start of the Round, i.e. after the status phase, before the first activation of the next round.

3. Effect is exhaust a deployment card - preferably an imperial one (mercenary or imperial affiliation) - but it cannot be elite (red), it has to be a regular (grey) group. Because the deployment card is then exhausted, that group cannot activate that round. (Except by using some suitable imperial ability to ready the card.)

As for the best time to use it - that depends. The more and the more dangerous figures you can "freeze" for a round the better. Usually you want to save the card for a round, because the Imperial player needs to consider you using it while performing deployments.

Based on the post from *a1bert* a PLAYER could choose to utilize the card (once) at the "Start" of any round, following the round during which they collected the card.

Correct?

Can it therefore be assumed that the PLAYER who "uses" the card does not have to "Activate" their figure/character in order to use the card? (i.e.: they don't have-to go "first" in the round during which they use it???)

The hero who claimed the crate token and the supply card can discard it at the start of the round. No-one is activating at the time. (There is no "during your activation" timing.)

If effect the rebels choose to use the card or save it at the start of the round. Then the first activation starts, and any eligible group can activate regardless of who discarded the CI Comlink.