Construct the R&D Department is one of the first station missions in Star Trek Fleet Command. The story line explains that the R&D Department unlocks additional upgrades for the Shipyard and ships, and the single objective is to build it. It starts and finishes at warp 1, and the game lists a recommended level of 1. The reward is 25 Tritanium. The payout is small, but the building it asks for is the one that opens up research, so it is a step every new station takes.
Construct the R&D Department objectives
There is one objective and no choice split:
- Construct the R&D Department.
No system, no fight and no donation. The mission completes once the R&D Department is built at level 1.
Where and what warp
Warp 1 to start, warp 1 to complete, and no pickup system. Everything happens on your station.
The recommended level is listed as 1. The building’s own requirements, covered below, are what decide when you can place it.
Construct the R&D Department rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tritanium | 25 |
Completing it unlocks the next mission, Upgrade R&D Department to Level 2.
What the R&D Department needs
The game describes the R&D Department as the lab where new ships, buildings and supporting technologies are unlocked. Current building data lists these early levels:
| Level | Cost | Build time | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 Parsteel | 3 minutes | Operations 4, Academy 1 |
| 2 | 200 Parsteel | 4 minutes | Operations 4, Academy 2 |
| 3 | 350 Parsteel | 6 minutes | Operations 5, Academy 3 |
From level 2 onward the building raises your research speed. The bonus starts at 3% at level 2 and reaches 14% at level 10.
How it compares with other construction missions
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Construct Parsteel Generator B | 10 Tritanium |
| Construct the R&D Department | 25 Tritanium |
| Construct Tritanium Generator A | 55 Tritanium, 1 1 Minute Repair Speed Up |
| Construct the Tritanium Warehouse | 65 Tritanium, 1 1 Minute Repair Speed Up |
| Construct Dilithium Warehouse | 460 Tritanium, 12 1 Minute Repair Speed Up |
Construction missions pay more as the buildings come later in the game. The R&D Department is one of the earliest, so its reward sits near the bottom of the list.
The missions on either side pay on a similar scale. Upgrade Operations to Level 5, just before it, pays 75 Tritanium and a 1 Minute Repair Speed Up, and the R&D level 2 mission after it pays 30 Tritanium.
Tips
Check the Academy. R&D level 1 needs Academy 1 as well as Operations 4, and each of the first five R&D levels needs a matching Academy level. Level 5 also adds Tritanium Warehouse 3 to the list.
Move straight on to the level 2 upgrade. It costs only 200 Parsteel, takes four minutes, and switches on the research speed bonus.
Previous mission: Upgrade Operations to Level 5. Next mission: Upgrade R&D Department to Level 2. Other missions sorted by level are on the mission guide.