Federation Storyline

## 1st Mission

This mission is common for all three factions.

## 2nd Mission: Federation Apprentice I

**Start of Mission: Lowly Errands**

You graduate from the Academy eager to blast aliens and serve the Federation.

Unfortunately, you find yourself assigned to the remote Discipline station, directing traffic…

Hope! Your commanding officer asks you to carry out a maintenance run to the nearby Hypergate.

You leap at the chance to be in the pilot seat.

Arriving at the shimmering Hypergate, you are surprised to see a strange looking Federation Cruiser idling.

Now, you will face an **Infected Federation Ship**.

* The engine isn't doing much. You can power it down and free energy by DRAGGING DOWN.
* Good work! The power saved from the engine is now available to use by other rooms.
* DRAG UP on the lazer control to allocate additional power.
* Great stuff! Now let's take down the enemy!
* TIP: You have destroyed a room! Any further damage to the same room will result in damage to the enemy Hull!

Gods, what was that? Those crystals... You've never seen anything like it.

Disturbed, you hurriedly chart a course back to base.

**End of mission**

## 3rd Mission: Federation Apprentice II

**Start of mission: Decide how to deal with the pirates attacking your Federation outpost**

As the ruins of the mysterious cruiser vessel disappears behind you, thoughts churn in your head.

Your commanding officer hails you on the intercom.

Lieutenant Beard: You certainly took your time, recruit! Anything to report from the mission?

Now, you can choose between 1 and 2.

**1: Report infested Vessel**

You explain what you saw to the lieutenant.

Lieutenant Beard: Disturbing news; this isn't the first report of that I've heard either. You get back, recruit, and we can lodge an official report.

Lieutenant Beard: ...Wait, are you seeing thi-

**2: Say nothing**

You: Nothing of note; just some old space junk caught in the hypergate.

Lieutenant Beard: Copy that, recruit. Come on home. ...Wait, do you hear-

**Thereafter, the storylines merge back.**

**Lieutenant Beard**

Suddenly the comms cut out.

At the same time, your telemetry registers several hostiles swarming around Discipline station.

You punch the engines, racing against a flow of fleeing trade vessels to reach the station.

Blue arcs from the station's crippled reactors illuminates a pirate ship attacking the station's undefended flank.

Now, you can choose between 1 and 2.

**1: Attack The Ship**

**Lieutenant Beard**

Shaking with anger, you move to engage.

If you continue, you will have to fight a **Pirate Frigate (Light)** with a mining laser and beacon, and is barren in minerals.

**End of mission**

You leave the crippled pirate ship behind you, trying without success to hail the lieutenant.

**2: Evade the pirate**

Lieutenant Beard

You don't have much time to waste in a dogfight.

You need to get back and help you commanding officer.

You fly over the shoulder of the pirate ship, ducking and weaving between missiles.

It pivots to give chase, but you lose it in the wreckage of the station's devastated lower levels.

## 4th Mission: Federation Apprentice III

**Start of mission: Defeat the pirate captain to save the Federation outpost**

The pirate gunboat dealt with, you dock with Discipline as fast as your shaking hands will allow.

The sharp stink of gunfire greets you as you sprint down the ramp.

The station's corridor are choked with bodies, pirate and Federation alike.

You emerge onto the main deck and watch in horror as the pirate leader dispatches the lieutenant. He turns to yu with a wicked grin, levelling his blaster.

Captain Swallow: Well now, what have we here?

If you continue, you will have a ground battle with the crew Mack Swallow.

**End of mission**

SURPRISE! New members have joined your crew! (you obtain the crew **Fed Medic**)

You manage to save Discipline Station in the nick of time. However, the surprise attack has left the station utterly devastated.

## 5th Mission: Federation Apprentice IV

**Start of mission: Return to Earth to let your comrades know what happened to Discipline**

The pirates have been repelled, but Discipline is all but destroyed.

As the only surviving officer, it is your sad duty to inform the Federation Directorate on Earth.

With a heavy heart, you give a final salute to your fallen comrades, and head back to the docks.

You uncouple from the station to find your route blocked by Qtarian scavengers.

Most scatter as you fly forward, but one of the ships, panicking and defensive, decides to try and harvest you.

To get back to Earth, it looks like you'll have to go through it.

Now, you will face a **Qtarian Frigate (Medium)**.

**End of mission**

The Directorate admirals are drawn and solemn as you make your report; news of the strange crystalline ship seems to worry them especially.

For your bravery, you're awarded a distinction medal and command of your own Federation warship.

Your heart swells as you board your new vessel, set to follow in the footsteps of heroes past.

You vow to make them proud, and to safeguard the future of humanity.

## 6th Mission: Federation Captain

To unlock this mission, you will have to complete three "Repel raiding party" quests at Sol, Discipline and Alpha Centauri, which require you to battle against Qtarians in ship and ground battles.

**Start of mission: A call from Federation command.**

**Computer**

Incoming call from Federation HQ. Connecting---

Soumya: Greetings captain, and congratulations on your promotion. This is your liaison with Federation command, Soumya Rishi.

You recognize this woman, of course.

Soumya Rishi, and old classmate of yours from the Academy. She's always been ambitious, and has finally made it to a junior seat in the Admiralty.

Now, you can choose between 1 and 2.

1: Copy that, miss Rishi.

2: What's up. Soumya?

**Thereafter, the storyline merges back.**

Soumya: Let's not get overly familiar, you may address me as Rear Admiral Rishi.
You: \*sigh\* ...Copy that, Rear Admiral Rishi.

Soumya: Good, Now then, I have your first mission from the Admiralty. There's a newly minted officer waiting in Central city. We need you to go and pick her up, posthaste.

You: Wait, what?

Soumya: I'll contact you again when you get to Central.

You: ...

## 7th Mission: Federation Captain II

**Start of mission: collecting a passenger.**

A short trop through Central City finds you at the Federation Officers Academy, your old university. It is here you are to meet the new officer.

You: Ah, the old Space Academy. This brings back a lot of great memories, like that time in xenobiology we dared Hanhui to eat that Visirian frenzy gland.

You: Ha ha ha, I don't think I've ever seen anyone puke that much! Oh, or that time-- Wait a moment, those guys don't look like they're meant to be here. What's going on?

**You**

You find the meeting place, but it is blocked off by an angry mob.

Separatist protester: The Federation is trying to control you. It's time to reject the false narrative of galactic multiculturalism! Earth is for humans!

You: Oh gross, more anti-Federation protesters. Don't they have somewwhere better to be?

You: Hey, could I just squeeze past? I'm meant to be meeting someone here.

Separatist: Look what we have here! Another Federation thug, here to feed lies to our impressionable young children! Well, we aren't going to let you get away with it!

You: Buddy, this is flight school; everyone here is like twenty already.

Separatist: Look out, this Fed is trying to silence me Get 'em, boys!

Now, you will face one wave of male and female civilians and one male civilian as the boss.

**End of mission**

You disperse the protesters, but can find no sign of the person you were meant to be meeting.

Grumbling under your breath, you return to your ship to apprise Soumya of the situation.

Rewards: 1 combat armour (+ unknown quantity of minerals and gas)

## 8th Mission: Federation Captain III

**Start of mission: The debrief.**

You return to your ship to find your captains chair already occupied by your new ward.

She's not the youngest officer you've ever seen (The recordholder which was technically promoted to duty a few minutes prior to their own birth,) but she's on the list. Top ten, at the very least.

???: Well, you took your time! I gotta tell you, I sorta figured a captain's chair would be a bit more comfortable.

???: ...

???: Me! The name's Louise Shackleton, but me mates just call me Lou.

Lou: Or Lousy.

Lousy: Or Loser.

Loser: Hmm.

Loser: ...Let's go with Louise.

Louise: Anyway, I gotta tell ya I'm pretty pumped up to finally get out of an assignment at last. The academy was so boring! They didn't let us blow up anything.

Louise: So, uh-- ...We gonna go shoot some pirates, or what?

Louise: ...

Louise: Well whatever. I'm gonna go hit some neurovids 'til something interesting happens. Peace!

Computer: Inoming call---

Soumya: Hello again captain. I take it you've met your new first mate? When I contacted your ship earlier she placed an order for a large pepperoni pizza and tried to block the channel.

Soumya: This is, as I understand it, a typical example of Australian humour. Also a briggable offence, for what it's worth.

You: First mate? Her!? Don't I get a say in this?

Soumya: You wish. Character aside, she graduated top of her class-- and even younger than you did-- so you're really just lucky the powers that be didn't make you her first mate instead. Either way, you're stuck with her.

Soumya: Unless, of course, she were to have an unfortunate accident with the airlock...

Soumya: ...Apologies, that was unprofessional of me. Let's move on. The attack on Discipline station was not an isolated incident. The pirate warlords are growing bolder, sending their ships deeper into Federation space than we've seen in a generation. Compound that with the sudden surge in Qtarian scavengers...

Soumya: To put it bluntly: the council is worried. The Federation navy is stretched thin in the defense of pur frontiers. What we need now is a show of strength, to send a clear message to the Federation's enemies.

Soumya: That's where you come in. The Admiralty wants you to return to Discipline station, and reclaim it before the pirates and scavs can get too strong a foothold. This mission is highest priority, and is effective immediately.

Soumya: Ahy questions? No? Good. Happy hunting, captain. We'll contact you again when the station is secured.

**End of mission**

## 9th Mission: Federation Captain IV

**Start of mission: Back to Discipline.**

The drumroll of shrapnel against your hull heralds your return to the Discipline system. In the weeks since you left, things have degraded badly at Discipline station.

Louise: Wow, check that place out. What a dump!

Ooh, are we gonna blow it up? Awesome!

Soumya: Please remove your hands from the missile controls, junior lieutenant.

Louise: Aw, but it's already busted up! How about just one misile? Captain? Louise: Pwetty Pweeease?

Now, you can choose between 1 and 2.

**1: Well I guess one won't hurt...**

**@: How did you even graduate?**

**Thereafter, the storyline merges back.**

Soumya: No missiles, either of you. The admiralty has decided that Discipline is to be the Federation's frontline defense against threats to our way of life. For that to work, it needs to stay in one piece.

Louise: Mate, it's not in one piece.

Soumya: It's a figure of speech, At any rate, you need to chase off the pirates and scavs that hae taken up residence in the area. Once the danger is subdued, we can start sending in repair teams.

Soumya: You have your orders, captain.

Computer: Connection terminated---

You: She did it again!

Louise: ..I like her.

Louise: Well, I'm gonna rack up some hours on Call of Shooty. Lemme know if something interesting happens.

## 10th Mission: Federation Captain V

To unlock this mission, complete the "Repel raiding party" missions in Alpha Centauri, Discipline and Sol which feature a ground battle against Qtarian crew and 2 ship battles.

**Start of mission: Take back Discipline.**

You: Well, that should send a clear message to the Qtarians.

Louise: What should?

Louise: Wait, what did I miss? Was there fighting? Why didn't you tell me there was fighting!?

Louise: God, I cannot even deal right now. I'll be in my cabin.

You: ...

You: Okay, time to take back the station itself.

**You**

Your ship clings like a limpet to the hull of Discipline Station, ready to board.

You: Everyone locked and loaded? T-minus thirty seconds til we breach that airlock. You coming, Lou?

Louise: Huh? I'm in the middle of a level, captain. Can this wait?

You: So, that's a no then. The rest of you, get ready!

**Computer**

Caution is suggested, captain' sensors indicate heavy pirate presense [sic] throughout the station.

You: That just means I don't have to aim as carefully.

Now, you will have to fight several pirates in a ground battle.

**End of mission**

**Computer**

Incoming call--

Soumya: Captain. I can honestly say I didn't think you had it in you. It pains me to say this, but...

Soumya: Now, if you'd kindly return to Earth, you can start escorting the first supply ships.

Rewards: 3000 minerals, 3000 gas, combat pants

## 11th Mission: Federation Captain VI

**Start of mission: Home again.**

You fall from hyperspace into the welcoming glow of the Earth's golden sun. A sigh of relief passes your lips; home at last.

You: Ah, home at last. Lou, contact Federation command, and let miss Rishi know we're here.

Louise: Sure thing, Cap'n! Oh man, we should pretend we've got some alien zombie plague, be all like 'blarg, argh, brainsss, blah!' Woudn't that just totally blow her mind?

Louise: Ha ha ha, hell yeah buddy! Let's do it!

~~Louise: Ah, be that way then. Nerd.~~ [outdated]

Louise: ...Huh, that's weird; I'm not getting anything from Fed command. Like not even a dial tone; the line is straight-up dead.

Louise: Oh man, it gets worse. I'm looking at blanket radio silence across the board. Captain, something bad must have happened at HQ!

You: We need a closer look, take us in.

Louise: Can do, boss. Hold on, where does that civilian ship think it's headed?

Louise: Oh my g-- Captain, they're on a collision course, with weapons hot!

You: Everyone, battle positions! Brace for impact!

Separatist Terrorist: Death to the Federation!

Now, you will face an **Oil Tank Lv.6** with 4 bolters and a missile launcher if you press "continue". It is barren in minerals and gas.

**End of mission**

Blazing fuel pours from the broken tanker, illuminating a sky full of panicked civilian ships trying to escape the blast.

With a sharp bark, you order the ship to fall back out of the chaotic gridlock.

Rewards: 4500 minerals, 4500 gas, 1 combat helmet

## 12th mission: Federation Captain VII

**Start of mission:** **New friends.**

You: Everyone okay? ...You can come out now, Lou. Fight's over.

Louise: Huh? What, you think I was hiding under this control panel? That's ridiculous! I just- uh- I saw some wires down there. Y-yeah, some frayed wire I was fixing!

???: --epeat, this is captain Ajax Snow of the Federation navy, ordering you to stand down! Stand down, or we will be forced to engage!

Louise: Whoa, cool it, champ! We're with the navy too; that civvy ship was trying to blow us out of the sky!

Snow: Oh thank god, another Federation ship! Have you heard from HQ? Something is messing with long-range comms, and everyone's going crazy!

Snow: We need to debrief. Tell your captain to hold position, and prepare for a boarding party. Snow out.

**Snow**

The seals on your airlock hiss as you dock with the friendly Federation ship. The captain climbs aboard and shakes your hand firmly enough to cause mild bruising.

Snow: Captain, thank you for receiving us. With everything going on, it's good to see a friendly face.

Louise: Keep your pants on, mate. You're only here cos you seem like the only guy who knows what's going on, so quit kissing up and make with the explanation.

Snow: ...

Now, you can choose between 1 and 2.

**1: Sorry about her**

Snow: No, no, it's fine; she's just being protective. A loyal crew speaks well of a captain.'

**2: She's right; get to the point**

Snow: You're right, of course; no time to lose.

**Thereafter, the storyline merges back.**

Snow: I won't pretend I know much more than you, but I can tell you that re-establishing comms needs to be our first focus. Without that, things are gonna get a whole lot worse real fast.

Louise: Man, we've got no idea what's going on. First thing we gotta do is head to Central City, and make sure everyone at HQ is okay.

Snow: One of us can secure Federation Command, whilst the other checks out thr Communications satellite. Captain, your thoughts?

Now, you can choose between 1 and 2.

**1: We'll secure HQ**

Snow: Very well then. Good luck Captain, I'll see you soon, God willing.

**Snow**

You break through the Earth's atmosphere to find Central City in uproar.

Everywhere you look, angry protesters have taken to the streets, burning and looting all in their path.

To get to command, you'll have to fight your way through on the ground!

If you continue, you will have a ground battle.

**2: We'll take the commsat**

Snow: Very well then. Good luck Captain, I'll see you soon, God willing.

**Snow**

You quickly locate the Earthside communications hub, drifting lifeless in high orbit.

For a moment, you are heartened to see several Federation ships holding position around it.

**Snow**

As you approach however, the ships power up weapons, unresponsive to your hails.

Looks like you'll have to fight your way through!

If you continue, you will face a **Federation Destroyer (Medium) Lv.5** with a hangar and two mining lasers.

**End of mission**

Louise: Okay, I'm taking remote control of the satellite. Wait for it-- Yes! We've got a signal, captain! We flippin' did it! You still alive, Ajax?

Snow: Still kicking, miss Shackleton. We've cleared the a path to fed command, but there's a lot of resistance!

Rewards: 5000 minerals, 5000 gas, 1 personal phaser

## 13th Mission: Federation Captain VIII

**Start of mission: The showdown.**

Louise: Captain, we've got a line with command! Patching through!

Soumya: The Grand Admiral and those loyal to him have turned traitor, and are attempting a coup.

Soumya: Myself and the remaining Admiralty council have taken refuge in the command tower, but we can't hold out for long. I must insist that you make all due haste here. Please.

You: Wow, politeness. Things must be dire.

Snow: We'll hold things out here! Get in there and save the council!

**Snow**

You arrive at the command tower to find a small army of separatist rebels beating down the blast doors. Horribly, you recognize some faces from your time at the Academy. Traitors!

Mad Admiral: What is this!? What sickly squirming assaults my senses!? Insects!

You: Put your weapons down, all of you! You're under arrest for High Treason against the Federation!

Mad Admiral: You fool! You poor, bleating idiot! Can't you see how hollow it all is, to think ourselves masters? We are but blind puppets of fate; dying flies on a bloated corpse!

If you continue, you will have a ground battle with 9 infected citizens and the Mad Admiral.

**End of mission**
Mad Admiral: ...It isn't real. None of us are.

**Mad Admiral**

The admiral's frail body gives in, and he falls still.

Rewards: 5000 minerals, 5000 gas, 1 Fantom drone.

## 14th Mission: Federation Captain IX

**Start of mission: A reprieve.**

You: What was that all about?

Soumya: Who cares? His madness died with him, thankfully.

Soumya: By the way. Thanks for saving us.

Soumya: Okay, that's enough sappy stuff for a lifetime. The former Grand Admiral my be dead, but his rebellion is far from over. Establishing order has never been so important.

Soumya: Believe me when I say that no words can explain the depth of the Federation's gratitude to you, captain, but there's no time to rest on your laurels.

Soumya: We need you back at Discipline Station. There's a storm on the horizon, and we need our best and brightest to hold the line. Soumya out.

**Soumya**

Of course, Soumya can't actually hang up in person, but she does stand perfectly still, without even blinking. After a few seconds you get a bit unnerved, and decide to return to your ship. After all, there's still so much to be done.

Rewards: 2 Void Particles

## 15th Mission: Federation Commodore

**Start of mission: Incoming call detected**

Computer: Call from Federation HQ incoming. Connection established--

Soumya: Captain, greetings. Apologies for the delay in contacting you.

Louise: And you call me lazy. Tut tut, rear admiral.

Soumya: It's admiral now, miss Shackleton. And the lass few weeks have been quite busy, what with the violent schism at the highest level of the Federation government.

Soumya: Which brings us to the crux of my call. Captain, I have a new mission for you. We believe the grand admiral's physical and mental abnormalities were the result of a bioweapon attack, which naturally points our suspicions towards the pirates.

Soumya: The Pylon War left many unsavoury artifacts behind; perhaps they stumbled upon one.

At any rate, a galactic summit is currently in session at the Star Academy in Wolf 359, and we have nominated miss Shackleton as the Federation delegate.

Louise: Whoa, slow down, boss! I'm just here to blow up aliens! I'm not cut out for any of that diplomacy stuff!

Soumya: Meet with the Qtarian delegate, and convince them to share notes on the pirates. If we're going to protect the people of the Federation, we need to learn precisely what we're up against.

Soumya: Needless to say, this mission is top secret. That's all Captain, miss Shackleton. We'll be in touch.

**Computer**

Connection terminated---

Reward: 20 000 Minerals, 20 000 Gas, 2 Void Particles

## 16th Mission: Federation Commodore II

**Start of mission: A visit to the Academy**

With the diplomatic summit in full swing, the system is even more crowded than normal, as ships from every corner of the galaxy clog the skies in all directions. Minutes turn to hours as you inch your way through heavy traffic towards the sprawling silhouette of the Academy space station.

You: Ah, the Star Academy. The largest manmade structure in the galaxy. Have you ever seen anything like it?

Louise: ...Like what?

You: The s- The Star Academy? That gigantic space station right outside the window? It's literally right in front of you!

Louise: Eh, can't you just describe it to me? Captain, I'm trying to pwn noobs here.

You: The noobs might have to wait for a bit; we've arrived at our destination. Hold on, we've got another Federation ship approaching. What do they want?

Louise: Who cares? They're probably just--

Louise: Captain, that's an attack trajectory! Brace for impact, now!

Separatist captain: Down with the Admiralty! Earth is for humans!

You will battle a **Federation Destroyer (Heavy) Lv.6** with a Plasma Cannon, EMP cannon, Railgun and Android Studio.

**End of mission**

You: Separatists? How did they know we'd be here?

Louise: Ugh, can't we ever just have a normal day?

Rewards: 40 000 Minerals, 55 000 Gas, 1 Green XP book

## 17th Mission: Federation Commodore III

**Start of mission: Diplomatic outreach**

Your crew stays on high alert as you dock with the starbase, but it appears no more terrorists made it though the Academy's defense grid. Relaxing by slow degrees, you navigate across the vast domed city atop the station to the Qtarian consulate.

You arrive to find the building surrounded by a crowd of armed pirates.

Pirate: Ah Jeez, it's the Feds. What do you want?

Louise: Outta the way, weirdo! I have important business with the Qtarians!

Pirate: Well so do we, so get in line. And that 'weirdo' emark was uncalled for.

Louise: Aw, lighten up! You can't hack a little ribbing?

Pirate: ...I have absolutely no idea what's going on, but I don't think I like it.

Louise: Look, just move already, will ya? This is an official Federation affair!

Pirate captain: Oi! Is this Fed trying to push you around, Jandel?

Jandel: Ah man. now you've gone and done it!

Pirate captain: This is neutral space, Fed; your dumb laws can't touch us! Lets send these pigs packing, team!

If you continue, you will engage in a ground battle against various Pirate crews.

**End of mission**

YOu: I can't help but feel that might have been resolved more easily.

Louise: I did tell you I wasn't much for diplomacy, captain. Now, are we just gonna stand around yapping, or are we gonna see that Qtarian Delegate?

Rewards: 38 000 minerals, 58 000 gas, 2 void particles

## 18th Mission: Federation Commodore IV

**Start of mission: Opening a dialogue**

With the pirate mob dispersed, the Qtarians seem happy to open the embassy doors to your away team. You wait in a sparse barracks while Louise talks to the delegate, during which time you discover that the Qtarians make terrible conversationalists.

After the thirtieth question relating to your favourite building materials, Louise finally reappears.

Louise: Good news, cap! The QT have been having their own problems with the Pirates, and are keen to pool resources.

Qtarian delegate: Indeed, there is much to be gained from cooperation. Your reputation precedes you, Captain; a pleasure to finally meet. My name is Compile672\_Deviant, but you may call me Deviant.

Louise: No offence, but that's the worst name I've ever heard.

Deviant: You clearly haven't met many Qtarians then.

Deviant: Captain, the Collective has been dealing with pirate aggression for generations now, and we judge it highly probable they are behind these crystal outbreaks. Any sanctions against their government will have our full support.

You: So, what can you tell us about the weapon then? The crystal stuff?

Deviant: Very little, I'm afraid. Analysis is ongoing; we can't even work out what it's made from. What we do know is that under the right conditions it seems to form some sort of parasitic relationship with living orgnisms, and will consume inorganic matter to replicate itself.

Louise: Damn, that's creepy as hell. How do we stop it?

Deviant: We can't even work out what triggers it to grown in the first place; all the samples we've collected so far are inert. If we could find out where it came from, we might have a better shot at understanding it.

Deviant: Deviant:(mistake)The source is likely somewhere in pirate space, I'll mark some likely locations on your map.

Deviant: I apologise for not providing more aid, but as your chances of survival are fairly low, it doesn't make sense to waste resources on you. No offence.

You: ...

Rewards: 25 000 Minerals, 20 000 Gas, 1 Green XP book

## 19th Mission: Federation Commodore V

**Start of mission: Searching for evidence**

The first of the coordinates supplied by Deviant leads you to an ancient Qtarian wreck hidden deep in the system's asteroid belt, surrounded by dozens of smuggler shuttles and mining ships.

As you enter visual range, most of the pirates scatter to hide amongst the asteroids, and you dock without encountering any resistance.

Louise: I'm getting some strange energy readings onboard, captain. Whoever lives here clearly doesn't care too much about reactor shielding. Oh man, maybe we'll get some cool mutations!

You: That's not how it works.

Louise: Oh.

Louise: ...Well, this sucks. I'll see you back at the ship, captain.

**Louise**

Your away team follow the energy readings down into the lower levels, deeper than any smuggler dares tread.

There in the deepest, oldest levels of the station, you find the source of the emissions; the decrepit glow of a Qtarian ship-brain, thrumming with memories older than the human civilization.

As you approach, several mechanical servitors reanimate, rallying in defense of the time-worn device.

If you continue, you will battle against multiple Eva crew.

**End of mission**

This clearly isn't the source of the strange crystals, but hardly a waste of time; the knowledge encrypted in the ship-brain could prove invaluable once decoded.

You send a message to Deviant to inform the Qtarians of the find, before setting a course for the next indiated location.

Rewards: 60 000 Minerals, 32 000 Gas, 2 Void Particles

## 20th Mission: Federation Commodore VI

**Start of mission: Ambush!**

You arrive at the flagged coordinates, an old battleground where antique shipwrecks turn in sleepy orbit around a bomb-packed moon. You spend a few hours sifting through the broken hulls, searching in vain for anything out of the ordinary.

Just as you're preparing to move on, klaxons begin to sound as several pirate capita ships drop their cloaking fields. You're surrounded!

???: Avast, Federation dogs! Quake in fear, for you face the merciless empress of the pirate kingdoms, Critical Kit!

**Critical**

That's me, if you didn't know. Now, tell me what you're doing in my territory before I VAPORIZE YOU WITH NUCLEAR FIRE!

Louise: ...I know I shouldn't laugh, but who even talks like that?

You: Quiet, you're gonna get us killed!

Critical: Actually, I really respect her disregard for self-preservation. Hey, you wanna come be pirates? You can be my NEW BEST FRIENDS!

Louise: You haven't had too much practice at this whole intimidation thing, have you?

Critical: Ugh, it's so boring just threatening people when you can't even shoot them! But I really need to find out where those weird crystals are coming from, so now I gotts question EVERYONE and I hardly get to blow up ANYTHING! THIS IS THE WORST!

You: Slow down a moment, what did you say about weird crystals?

Critical: Aw man, there are these spooky purple crystals that keep turning my subjects into zombies and nobody knows where they're coming from and the whole thing is just SUCH A CHORE! I thought I was tracking some here, but it was just you guys.

Critical: Oh, I know what will cheer me up; killing some Federation spies!

**Critical**

As the pirate Empress gives the order to attack, a volley of missiles tears open the flank of her ship. You look around to find a swarm of crystal-infected warships bearing down on your position.

There's no time to escape, you'll have to stand and fight!

If you continue, you will battle an **Infected Pirate Cruiser (Lv.6)**.

**End of mission**

You fight your way out of the chaos of battling ships, clearing the scrap belt just as a nuclear detonation reduces both fleets to molten shrapnel.

Louise: Huh, I guess the pirates aren't behind it after all. So where are those crystals coming from? We should go see if the Qtarians have learned anything new.

Rewards: 45 000 Minerals, 55 000 Gas, 1 Blue XP book

## 21st Mission: Federation Commodore VII

**Start of mission: A meeting at the Academy**

You find Deviant waiting for you at the docks as you make berth, standing alongside a nervously fidgeting pirate diplomat.

Deviant: Fortitous timing on your return, captain. As you can see, I've been busy assembling representatives from every race in the galaxy!

Louise: Nice going! Where are we meeting them?

Deviant: Well, uh-- You see, the thing is--

Jandel: Just us, sorry. No hard feelings about that fight the other day, I hope?

Louise: Hey, if you wanna forget how we wiped the floor with you, it's no skin off my nose.

Deviant: Please; your petty human squabbling is quite amusing, but we need to focus on the matter at hand. The ship-brain you recovered had records from before the collapse of the old Qtarian Empire.

Deviant: The data is badly fragmented, but what little we have recovered is, to say the least, deeply worrying. Whatver this stuff is, it's been around too long to be of human design.

~~Jandel: That's a relief, at least, I'm pretty sure nobody wants another Pylon war. Well, maybe empress Kitt, but nobody, you know, sane. Don't tell her I said that.~~

~~Louise: Yeah, yeah, we already figured it wasn't the pirates, so tell us something we don't know. Like, what is it?~~

~~Deviant: The logs detail 'Resonance Shards' that closely match our observations of the crystal. Information is sparse, but it appears the old Qtarians considered them an extreme threat.~~

~~Jandel: I don't suppose those logs had anything we could actually use. Can these resonance shards be destroyed?~~

~~Deviant: Unknown. What we do have is a probably point of origin, bordering on the galactic centre. I propose we formalize a truce between our nations, while the captain travels to LHS 292 to investigate the matter.~~

You: ...Wait, what?

Rewards: 25 Starbux, 1 Military Holodrone

## 22nd Mission: Federation Commodore VIII

**Start of mission: At the edge of the map.**

(This mission is in LHS 292, you will need to be Lv.8/9 to enter.) (new section, sorry for 1 year delay)

A deep thunder throbs through your ship, as around you city-sized crystal formations scrape and clash in dizzyingly complex reciprocal orbits.

Electromagnetic interference is as high as ever, your scanners showing only sputtering lines of static. With no light except that generated by your ship, you begin to feel very, very alone...

A transient gap inn the towering wall of dark crystal lets in a faint ray of sunlight, and you gladly steer your ship through the breach before it closes once again.

As your eyes adjust to the sudden brilliance, you find yourself facing a towering wall of shard-encrusted warships.

Federation and Pirate and Qtarian alike flying shoulder to shoulder, rank on rank, stretching as far as the eye can see. At the head of the legion, a dark and deformed Federation flagship hails you over a crackling connection.

Corrupted Admiral: You again? Of course. Another moth inevitably drawn to the fire, as are all here. A fitting audience to the end of humanity.

You: You don't have to do this! Those crystals, they're controlling you!

Corrupted Admiral: I have no choice; I never did. I have seen the future; a universe bound in gleaming crystal. There is no escape, not for any of us.

If you continue, you will battle a **Federation Capital Ship (Class 2) Lv.8** with a Superlaser and other weapons.

**End of mission**

**Corrupted Admiral**

The Admirals (sic) ship explodes in searing purple fire. Around you, millions of the infected ships begin pouring through the system hypergates, too many to ever hope to stop. You have to warn everyone!

Rewards: 55 000 mineral, 40 000 gas, 1 Blue XP book

## 23rd Mission: Federation Commodore IX

**Start of mission: The last line of defence**

You return to the Academy to find the station under seige (sic), as the system's meagre defence fleet fights a losing battle against wave after wave of shard-corrupted warships.

Your comms light up with hundreds of distress calls from ships overrun by the relentless foe. Dodging through cascades of laserfire, you make contact with your friends on the Academy.

Louise: Captain, what the hell did you do? There's thousands of these things!

Jandel: I don't like it, and I think we should leave.

Deviant: Escape would have a negligible chance of success. Our optimal course of action would be to go on the offensive.

Jandel: ...I'd rather not.

Louise: He might be a spineless pirate, but he has the right idea. Those things outnumber us a thousand to one!

Deviant: Obviously a battle of attrition would be suicidal. A pinpoint strike at enemy leadership may have a slim chance for success, however.

Jandel: They're spakly zombies! Do they even have leaders?

Observation suggests they operate on a psionic network, much like Qtarians. Remote control of this many bodies would require a broadcast relay, most likely from a capital ship.

Deviant: Take out the largest ship, and there's a chance they'll lose control just long enough to turn the tide of battle.

**Deviant**

Seeing no other option, you turn back around and dive back into the fray. Stray missiles scorch your armour as you push through the swarm, eyes set on the ponderous colossus following in the wake of the attack.

If you continue, you will battle a **Myrtis Station Lv.11** with various weapons and a teleport room. (40 HP)

**End of mission**

THe destruction of the Shard flagship throws the fleet into disarray just long enough for the defense fleet to regroup. After several hours of desperate fighting, you are able to push the crystal ships back to the hypergate, and secure the system. For now.

Rewards: 50 000 minerals, 50 000 gas, 3 Void Particles

## 24th Mission: Federation Commodore X

**Start of mission: Tides of darkness**

As reports of more Shard incursions begin to roll in from around the galaxy, leaders from the major factions gather at the Star Academy to discuss a more permanent treaty in the face of the threat.

The mood of the assembly is serious and sombre, with the notable exception of Pirate Empress Kitt, who seems genuinely excited to have found an enemy she doesn't need to negotiate with.

For your role in turning back the initial assault, you are given pride of place in the negotiations, but it soon becomes apparent they have no further need of you; Everyone present seems more intent on consolidating power than working together against the Shard invasion.

You return to your ship, taking your captain's chair as distress calls and rallying beacons light up the comms system.

What the galaxy needs now is those who will put aside their differences and work together, fleets of likeminded warriors united toward a common goal.

Now is your time, captain. Good hunting out there.

Rewards: 25 Starbux, 1 Admiralty Doublet

### End of Federation Storyline as of 8 Sept 2022

(please add to the page if there are new missions in the future/storyline is updated. Text marked as sic or mistake are directly quoted from the game)