Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos is a three-part mission chain in which the U.S.S. Athena and its crew of Academy cadets turn up in your galaxy, badly damaged and far from home. You rescue the ship from bandits, help repair it, build the Starfleet Academy: Remote Campus and then chase down a cadet who tries to fly home alone. All three parts are recommended for level 61. Parts 1 and 3 need warp 900, while Part 2 never leaves warp 1. Rewards include 183,000 6★ Broken Battleship Parts, 138,000 Latinum, 250 Class Honors and an Academy Field Pass.
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos at a glance
| Part | Recommended level | Warp to complete | Key reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Part 1 | 61 | 900 | 2,800 Σ-Parsteel, 400 Ultra Recruit Token |
| Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Part 2 | 61 | 1 | 183,000 6★ Broken Battleship Parts, 6,000 Σ-Tritanium |
| Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Part 3 | 61 | 900 | 138,000 Latinum, 250 Class Honors |
Every part starts at warp 1, and completing one part opens the next.
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Part 1
The crew of the U.S.S. Athena find themselves in unfamiliar space. You answer a distress signal from a Federation ship that matches nothing on record and find it being attacked by bandits.
- Investigate the distress signal, in Solas Astra.
- Disable the bandit ship, in Solas Astra (enemy strength ~2,632,999,787).
- Open a line of communication, in Solas Astra.
- Return to your station.
Warp to complete: 900. Rewards: 2,800 Σ-Parsteel, 400 Ultra Recruit Token, 34,000 6★ Raw Ore.
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Part 2
This part is about helping the crew of the U.S.S. Athena. The ship needs specialized parts, the crew is short on resources, and you choose what to donate toward repairs before building a campus for the cadets.
- Investigate the damage to the U.S.S. Athena.
- Choose what to donate.
Both paths lead to the same construction step. The rewards differ only in the speed-up type.
Donate 6★ Explorer Parts
- Donate 250 6★ Explorer parts.
- Construct the Starfleet Academy: Remote Campus.
- Debrief with the Athena crew.
Rewards: 6,000 Σ-Tritanium, 16 1 Hour Σ-Speed Up, 183,000 6★ Broken Battleship Parts, 1 Academy Field Pass.
Donate Σ-Parsteel
- Donate 3,500 Σ-Parsteel.
- Construct the Starfleet Academy: Remote Campus.
- Debrief with the Athena crew.
Rewards: 6,000 Σ-Tritanium, 35 30 Minute Σ-Repair Speed Up, 183,000 6★ Broken Battleship Parts, 1 Academy Field Pass.
Warp to complete: 1.
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Part 3
The cadets are struggling to adapt to their new reality. Darem takes a shuttle without permission and heads back to where the Athena came through, and you have to bring him home safely.
- Follow Darem, in Solas Astra.
- Defend Darem, in Solas Astra (enemy strength ~2,643,533,500).
- Tractor beam the shuttle, in Solas Astra.
- Find the training drones, in Itraneia.
- Defeat 10 hostiles of level 61 or higher.
- Return to your station.
Warp to complete: 900. Rewards: 600 Σ-Dilithium, 250 Class Honors, 138,000 Latinum.
Tips for completing Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
Part 2 is the gate. You cannot finish it without constructing the Starfleet Academy: Remote Campus, so check that building’s requirements before you reach that step. The donation choice is simpler: pay 250 6★ Explorer parts if you have spares, or 3,500 Σ-Parsteel if you do not.
Parts 1 and 3 both send you to Solas Astra at warp 900. The fights there are the bandit ship at about 2.6 billion strength and the attackers around Darem’s shuttle at roughly 2,643,533,500. Part 3 also asks for ten level 61 hostiles near Itraneia, which takes the most time.
Pick the Part 2 path by speed-up type. The Explorer parts path pays 16 1 Hour Σ-Speed Ups, and the Σ-Parsteel path pays 35 30 Minute Σ-Repair Speed Ups.
Are the Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos rewards worth it?
Yes. The chain pays 183,000 6★ Broken Battleship Parts, 138,000 Latinum, 6,000 Σ-Tritanium, 250 Class Honors and an Academy Field Pass, and it walks you into building the Remote Campus. The costs are two warp 900 trips, two fights around 2.6 billion strength and one donation. For other level 61 chains, see the STFC mission guide.