IDIC 1: Cetacean Federation is the first of three Cetacean Federation missions in the IDIC series. Q sends you through one of his portals to an unfamiliar reality, and you end up helping the U.S.S. Gracie, a starship of the Cetacean Federation. The game lists a recommended level of 61, the mission starts at warp 1 and needs warp 22 to finish, and it runs through Oprelian Delta and Niawillen. Rewards are 700 Σ-Dilithium, 2 Relocation Tokens, 25,000 Ship XP and 1,000 Refined Isogenite. It is a light opener with one small hostile grind and one mining task.
IDIC 1: Cetacean Federation Part 1
The story line asks you to check in with your neighbor in the Origin Sector. That check-in turns into a meeting with Q, a question about where you have ended up, and a call for help from the Gracie.
- Meet Q, in Oprelian Delta.
- Determine where you are, in Oprelian Delta.
- Assist the U.S.S. Gracie, in Niawillen.
- Defeat 3 hostiles of Level 27 or higher.
- Mine 50 3★ Raw Gas.
- Top up the Gracie’s deck water, in Niawillen.
The first two objectives are story stops in Oprelian Delta. After that the mission moves to Niawillen, where you assist the Gracie, clear three hostiles of level 27 or higher, mine 50 3★ Raw Gas and then return to top up the ship’s deck water. There is no named enemy and no choice split in this part. Warp to complete: 22.
Rewards: 700 Σ-Dilithium, 2 Relocation Token, 25,000 Ship XP, 1,000 Refined Isogenite.
Finishing this mission opens IDIC 2: Cetacean Federation, the next part of the story.
The Cetacean Federation missions compared
The three Cetacean Federation missions share the same recommended level and the same warp 22 ceiling, so the difference between them is the work involved and the payout.
| Mission | Warp to complete | Main tasks | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDIC 1: Cetacean Federation | 22 | 3 hostiles (level 27+), mine 50 3★ Raw Gas | 700 Σ-Dilithium, 2 Relocation Token, 25,000 Ship XP, 1,000 Refined Isogenite |
| IDIC 2: Cetacean Federation | 22 | 3 hostiles (level 14+), one ship fight (~2.11 billion strength) | 3,600 Σ-Parsteel, 13 15 Minute Σ-Speed Up, 45,000 6★ Raw Crystal, 300 Quantum Prism |
| IDIC 3: Cetacean Federation | 22 | 2 hostiles (level 12+), 20.9B Parsteel donation, water choice | 3,000 Σ-Tritanium, 100,000 6★ Broken Survey Parts, 128,000 6★ Raw Gas, 300 Sector Prism |
Tips for completing IDIC 1: Cetacean Federation
Any ship that can reach warp 22 covers the whole mission. Since the objectives bounce between Oprelian Delta and Niawillen, a survey ship with some cargo room can handle the mining step while you are already in the area, and a combat ship can clear the three level 27 hostiles quickly at level 61.
The 50 3★ Raw Gas is a small amount, and if you already have a miner parked on a 3★ gas node you can finish that step without an extra trip. Keep the Gracie’s deck water step in mind: it is the last objective and it sends you back to Niawillen, so do not leave the system after mining if you can avoid it.
Look ahead to IDIC 3 before you finish this one. That mission asks for a 20.9B Parsteel donation and offers a 690M Dilithium option, so it helps to start saving now.
Are the IDIC 1: Cetacean Federation rewards worth it?
Yes, mostly because it is quick and it opens the rest of the Cetacean Federation story. The 700 Σ-Dilithium and 1,000 Refined Isogenite are the useful part of the payout, and the two Relocation Tokens are handy if you plan to move your Station. The Ship XP is modest at level 61. Treat it as the entry fee for IDIC 2 and IDIC 3, which pay more. For other missions set around the Origin Sector, see the Origin Sector arc and the STFC mission guide.