A Lesson in Politics is a Romulan storyline mission in Star Trek Fleet Command where you assess a Corvallen lieutenant named Xeloc. The game lists a recommended level of 1, it starts at warp 1 and needs warp 18 to complete, and everything away from home happens in Gowok. After clearing 15 hostiles you choose to kill Xeloc or let him go. Either way the last objective is a fight with him, and the rewards differ: Parsteel on one branch, recruit tokens on the other.
A Lesson in Politics objectives
The shared steps:
- Meet with the Lieutenant Xeloc in Gowok. Location: Gowok.
- Defeat 15 hostiles of Level 22 or higher.
- Choose to kill Lieutenant Xeloc or let him go.
Kill him outright
- Kill Lieutenant Xeloc. Location: Gowok (enemy strength about 53,959).
Rewards: 1,129,000 Parsteel, 100 Romulan Credits, 1,000 Romulan Points, -576 Federation Points, -384 Klingon Points.
Offer him a way out
- Kill Lieutenant Xeloc. Location: Gowok (enemy strength about 53,959).
Rewards: 150 Premium Recruit Tokens, 60 Recruit Tokens, 100 Romulan Credits, 1,000 Romulan Points, -576 Federation Points.
On the second branch you give Xeloc coordinates to a safe world, but he rejects the mercy, and the objective is still to defeat him. The fight is the same strength on both branches.
Where and what warp
You can accept it at warp 1. Warp 18 is needed to complete it.
The recommended level is 1. You need a ship that can clear level 22 hostiles and beat Xeloc at about 54,000 strength.
Gowok is the only named system. The 15 hostiles have no location, so you can hunt them wherever level 22 targets are easiest to find.
A Lesson in Politics rewards
| Branch | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Kill him outright | 1,129,000 Parsteel, 100 Romulan Credits, 1,000 Romulan Points |
| Offer him a way out | 150 Premium Recruit Tokens, 60 Recruit Tokens, 100 Romulan Credits, 1,000 Romulan Points |
Either branch unlocks The Belly of the Beast.
Missions before and after
The mission before this one is Repeat Business, which finishes at warp 17 and pays 7,000 Dilithium with the same Romulan reputation. The Belly of the Beast comes next with a warp 17 finish, so A Lesson in Politics is the longest reach of the three at warp 18.
Tips
Pick the branch by reward, since the effort is identical. Parsteel for upgrades, or recruit tokens for officers.
The 15 hostiles are the slow part. Clear them before going back to Gowok so the choice and the fight come together.
Both branches give the same Romulan reputation, so the choice does not change your standing.
Repair after the hostile count and before Xeloc. He is the strongest single enemy in the mission.
