Instinct is a Klingon-side mission in Star Trek Fleet Command where you hack the Tal Shiar’s intelligence network for details on the Romulan war effort. Everything happens in D’Deridex: you break into the network, destroy a Suliban defender and then hack the data hub’s memory core. It starts at warp 1 and needs warp 38 to complete. The reward is 859,000 Dilithium and a large Klingon reputation gain, paid for with heavy Romulan and Federation losses.
Instinct objectives
There are three objectives, all in one system, and no choice split:
- Hack the Tal Shiar’s intelligence network for details on the Romulan war effort. Location: D’Deridex.
- Destroy the Suliban defender. Location: D’Deridex (enemy strength about 910,378).
- Hack the data hub’s memory core. Location: D’Deridex.
The mission opens and closes with hacking steps, and the fight sits in the middle. The Suliban defender is listed at roughly 910,378 strength, which is the only combat check. Once it is destroyed, the memory core hack finishes the mission without any further travel.
Where and what warp
Instinct has no pickup system and starts at warp 1. It needs warp 38 to complete, since D’Deridex is where every objective takes place.
The game lists a recommended level of 1. Warp 38 and a defender at over 900,000 strength are what actually decide whether your ship is ready.
Instinct rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dilithium | 859,000 |
| Klingon Credits | 500 |
| Klingon Points | 100,000 |
| Romulan Points | -124,800 |
| Federation Points | -56,160 |
The reputation swing is the part to think about before you start. You gain 100,000 Klingon Points but lose 124,800 Romulan Points and 56,160 Federation Points. Completing the mission unlocks the next one in the chain.
Instinct and neighbouring missions
Instinct comes after Splintered, where you dispatch the Corvallen captains holding the Neutral Zone for the Tal Shiar. It leads into No Origin, where you decode data believed to hold the location of the Gorn’s original, lost homeworld.
| Mission | Warp to complete | Main rewards | Klingon Points | Romulan Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Splintered | 40 | 500 Klingon Recruit Tokens, 1,050,000 Dilithium, 500 Klingon Credits | 100,000 | -121,600 |
| Instinct | 38 | 859,000 Dilithium, 500 Klingon Credits | 100,000 | -124,800 |
| No Origin | 48 | 500 Klingon Recruit Tokens, 500 Klingon Credits, plus speed ups or Battleship Parts by choice | 100,000 | -128,000 |
Every mission in this stretch pays 100,000 Klingon Points and takes a slightly bigger bite out of your Romulan standing than the one before.
Tips
Only commit to this chain if Klingon reputation matters more to you than Romulan standing. Each mission here costs over 120,000 Romulan Points, and there is no alternate path in Instinct that avoids it.
Bring a proper combat ship for the Suliban defender. The two hacking steps are free, but the defender is a real fight at around 910,000 strength.
No Origin needs warp 48, ten more than Instinct, so check your range before you move on. For the rest of the Klingon-side missions, see the STFC mission guide.