Comparative Xenobiology is a three-part mission chain built around a class taught by the Doctor for the cadets of the U.S.S. Athena. You take the cadets on an away mission to collect samples from a planet in Daz, lose them to an unknown lifeform, and then help the Doctor and SAM find a way to get them back. All three parts are recommended for level 61, start at warp 1 and need warp 700 to complete, and every system objective is in Daz. The chain ends with 3 Academy Doctor shards. Expect two ship fights and a Σ-Dilithium payment.
Comparative Xenobiology at a glance
| Part | Recommended level | Warp to complete | Key reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comparative Xenobiology Part 1 | 61 | 700 | 8,000 Σ-Parsteel, plus Ship XP or Officer XP by choice |
| Comparative Xenobiology Part 2 | 61 | 700 | 400 Ultra Recruit Token, 700 Σ-Tritanium |
| Comparative Xenobiology Part 3 | 61 | 700 | 3x Academy Doctor shards, 900 Σ-Dilithium |
Every part starts at warp 1 and finishes at warp 700, and completing one part opens the next.
Comparative Xenobiology Part 1
The cadets go on an away mission. After the briefing you fly them to a planet in Daz whose atmosphere hints at life, beam them down and then answer a distress signal that turns out to involve pirates.
- Attend the briefing.
- Proceed to the coordinates, in Daz.
- Beam the cadets down, in Daz.
- Follow the distress signal, in Daz.
- Decide how to get rid of the pirates.
The two paths end the part differently and pay different XP.
A show of force
- Disable the pirate ship, in Daz (enemy strength ~2,643,533,500).
Rewards: 8,000 Σ-Parsteel, 500,000 Ship XP, 74,000 6★ Broken Explorer Parts.
A bribe
- Pay the pirates 1,000 Σ-Tritanium to clear the area.
Rewards: 8,000 Σ-Parsteel, 235,000 Officer XP, 74,000 6★ Broken Explorer Parts.
Warp to complete: 700.
Comparative Xenobiology Part 2
Now you have to retrieve the cadets. They do not answer when you return, transporters cannot lock on, and scans show many life signs but none belonging to the away team.
- Return to the away team, in Daz.
- Re-establish a line of communication, in Daz.
- Retrieve the cadets, in Daz.
- Scan for life signs, in Daz.
- Return to your Station.
There is no fight or payment in this part. Warp to complete: 700. Rewards: 700 Σ-Tritanium, 400 Ultra Recruit Token, 26,000 6★ Raw Crystal.
Comparative Xenobiology Part 3
Sam and the Doctor work against the clock to get to the bottom of things. They identify a neural parasite and build a device to reverse its hold on the cadets, and you power it and take it back to Daz.
- Proceed to the science lab.
- Donate 400 Σ-Dilithium to power the device.
- Return to the away team, in Daz.
- Keep the bandits at bay, in Daz (enemy strength ~2,618,077,029).
- Retrieve the crew, in Daz.
- Return to your Station.
Warp to complete: 700. Rewards: 900 Σ-Dilithium, 280 30 Minute Repair Speed Up, 3x Academy Doctor (shards).
Tips for completing Comparative Xenobiology
Every part needs warp 700, and every system objective is in Daz, so once your ship can reach Daz the rest of the chain is round trips between Daz and your Station.
The Part 1 choice is the main decision. A show of force means a fight at roughly 2,643,533,500 strength and pays 500,000 Ship XP. The bribe costs 1,000 Σ-Tritanium, skips the fight and pays 235,000 Officer XP instead. Pick based on whether you need Ship XP or Officer XP more, and whether your ship can win that fight.
Part 3 needs 400 Σ-Dilithium before you can head back out, and the bandits in Daz are listed at about 2.6 billion strength. Part 3 pays back 900 Σ-Dilithium, so the payment is covered.
Are the Comparative Xenobiology rewards worth it?
Yes, especially for the 3 Academy Doctor shards at the end. Along the way you collect 8,000 Σ-Parsteel, 900 Σ-Dilithium, 700 Σ-Tritanium, 400 Ultra Recruit Tokens and 74,000 6★ Broken Explorer Parts, plus a large block of Ship XP or Officer XP. The costs are the warp 700 trips, 400 Σ-Dilithium and one or two fights. For other level 61 chains, see the STFC mission guide.