Better the Devil You Know is a level 71 Federation mission in Star Trek Fleet Command in which you back Gessa as she opens trade talks between the Forsaken and the Orion Syndicate. You pick it up in Dhaunia and need warp 1,550 from start to finish. An ambush at the meeting forces a hostile fight, and you then pay 50K Σ-Tritanium to calm the Orions down. The rewards are 1,917,000 7★ Raw Crystal, 500 Federation Recruit Tokens, 2,300 Σ-Federation Credits and 1 Gravimetric Data. The mission has no choice split.
Better the Devil You Know objectives
The Forsaken are running short of supplies, and Gessa has arranged a meeting with her old Syndicate contacts without the Council’s unanimous approval. Vaxto is furious, the vote is tied, and your arrival breaks the deadlock. The objectives, in order:
- Attend the meeting in Kithmór.
- Defeat 12 hostiles of Level 71 or higher.
- Pay 50K Σ-Tritanium as compensation to the Syndicate.
- Report back to Iohap in Alvolea.
Gessa opens a channel to Veku, a high-ranking Syndicate boss she has history with. Before the talks get going, hostile ships drop out of warp, and the Orions assume Gessa set them up. Driving the attackers off proves her innocence, and the Σ-Tritanium goes to repair Veku’s fleet. Veku agrees to the partnership, and Orasek declares trade relations officially open when you return.
Where and what warp
Dhaunia is the pickup. The meeting and the fight take place in Kithmór, and you report back in Alvolea. Warp 1,550 is listed both to start and to complete. The recommended level is 71.
Better the Devil You Know rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| 7★ Raw Crystal | 1,917,000 |
| Federation Recruit Token | 500 |
| Σ-Federation Credits | 2,300 |
| Federation Points | 14,600,000,000 |
| Romulan Points | -8,000,000,000 |
| Klingon Points | -17,100,000,000 |
| Gravimetric Data | 1 |
How it compares with nearby Federation missions
Of the Federation missions with their own pickup at levels 70 and 71, this is the only one that pays Raw Crystal:
| Mission | Level | Pickup | Main rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straightforward | 70 | Crossroads | 2,700 Σ-Dilithium, 48,000 7★ Broken Battleship Parts, 3,900 Federation Credits |
| Swinging for the Fences Part 1 | 70 | Alvolea | 60,000 Σ-Parsteel, 500 1 Day Speed Up, 3,900 Federation Credits |
| Better the Devil You Know | 71 | Dhaunia | 1,917,000 7★ Raw Crystal, 500 Federation Recruit Token, 2,300 Σ-Federation Credits |
| Show and Tell | 71 | Alvolea | 82,000 Σ-Tritanium, 70,000 7★ Broken Survey Parts, 1,400 Σ-Federation Credits |
| Prime Directive Part 1 | 71 | Xaporila | 228,000 Σ-Parsteel, 40,000 7★ Broken Explorer Parts, 800 Σ-Federation Credits |
Tips
Have 50K Σ-Tritanium banked before you start. The payment comes straight after the fight, and the mission will not move on until you make it. The Σ resources page covers where that grade of Tritanium fits in.
There is no single boss here. The combat is 12 kills of level 71 or higher hostiles, so any ship that already farms at that level will do. Show and Tell sends you to Dhaunia and Kithmór at the same warp, which makes the two easy to run back to back.
Nearly 2 million 7★ Raw Crystal for a hostile grind and a modest donation is a good return at level 71. The deal you broker is with the Orion Syndicate, while the reputation shift favours the Federation: plus 14.6 billion Federation Points, minus 17.1 billion Klingon and 8 billion Romulan. Read faction reputation before you commit to a long Federation run. The mission guide lists other missions at this level.