Independent Study is a three-part mission chain in which an anonymous Independent offers to help Chancellor Ake and her cadets find a way home. The offer is a ploy to lure you away, and while you are gone Deidamia‘s fleet attacks your Station to recover the ship parts taken from her. All three parts are recommended for level 61 and start at warp 1. Parts 1 and 2 reach warp 1,000, and Part 3 stays at your Station. Rewards include 400 Ultra Recruit Token, 377,000 Latinum, 130 U.S.S. Athena Data Module and either Commander XP or Ship XP. It is a short chain with light fights.
Independent Study at a glance
| Part | Recommended level | Warp to complete | Key reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Study Part 1 | 61 | 1,000 | 24 1 Day Speed Up and 2 1 Day Peace Shield |
| Independent Study Part 2 | 61 | 1,000 | 377,000 Latinum plus Commander XP or Ship XP |
| Independent Study Part 3 | 61 | 1 | 400 Ultra Recruit Token and 130 U.S.S. Athena Data Module |
All three parts start at warp 1, and each one unlocks the next.
Independent Study Part 1
A fellow Independent has valuable information. An anonymous caller claims she can help the Chancellor’s crew get home. Ake decides to take the risk, leaves the cadets to study, and goes with you to the meeting point, where a bandit ship is waiting.
- Meet with the Chancellor.
- Debrief the cadets.
- Proceed to the coordinates in Steria.
- Defend yourself in Steria (enemy strength ~2,643,533,500).
Warp to complete: 1,000.
Rewards: 700 Σ-Tritanium, 2 1 Day Peace Shield and 24 1 Day Speed Up.
Independent Study Part 2
Get the Independent to talk. She tries to slip away, so you choose how to make her explain herself. Either way, word comes that a fleet is heading for your Station, and you race home to help the U.S.S. Athena hold it off.
- Open a line of communication in Steria.
- Decide how to get the Independent to talk.
A show of force
- Disable the Independent’s ship in Steria (enemy strength ~2,632,999,787).
- Return to your Station.
- Expel 400 Σ-Dilithium to distract the hostile ships.
Rewards: 1,600 Σ-Dilithium, 100,000 Commander XP and 377,000 Latinum.
A bribe
- Bribe the Independent with 3,500 Σ-Parsteel.
- Return to your Station.
- Defend your Station (enemy strength ~2,618,077,029).
Rewards: 1,600 Σ-Dilithium, 1,000,000 Ship XP and 377,000 Latinum.
Warp to complete: 1,000.
Independent Study Part 3
Protect your Station and the Athena crew. Deidamia hails to demand her parts back, then sends her fleet at the U.S.S. Athena. Once her ship is disabled, she offers a truce, and Ake answers by sending her to the brig.
- Answer the hail.
- Defend the U.S.S. Athena (enemy strength ~2,643,533,500).
- Disable Deidamia’s ship (enemy strength ~2,643,533,500).
- Transport Deidamia to the brig.
- Debrief with the Athena crew.
Warp to complete: 1.
Rewards: 4,000 Σ-Parsteel, 130 U.S.S. Athena Data Module and 400 Ultra Recruit Token.
Tips for completing Independent Study
The Part 2 choice changes one reward and the order of events. A show of force means a fight in Steria and a 400 Σ-Dilithium payment at your Station, and pays 100,000 Commander XP. A bribe costs 3,500 Σ-Parsteel up front and a fight at your Station, and pays 1,000,000 Ship XP. Pick the XP type you need more.
Every fight sits between 2.6 and 2.7 billion strength, so the chain is light for level 61. Part 3 takes place entirely around your Station, and the two fights there come back to back, so repair after Part 2 if needed.
The cadets crew the U.S.S. Athena, which they rebuild with parts taken from Deidamia in the Principles of Starship Engineering chain, so run that chain first for the full story.
Are the Independent Study rewards worth it?
Yes. For four light fights you collect 400 Ultra Recruit Token, 377,000 Latinum, 130 U.S.S. Athena Data Module, 24 1 Day Speed Up and a large XP reward, plus a few thousand Σ-resources. For other level 61 missions, see the STFC mission guide.