Orion Scientists is a three-part mission chain about a new V’ger vessel, the V’ger Orion ship, and the Orion captain connected to it. All three parts are recommended for level 51. Part 1 is picked up in Heruyos and needs warp 205 both to start and to finish, Part 2 stays close at warp 8, and Part 3 goes back out to warp 205. The chain pays 500 U.S.S. Excelsior Parts, 225,000,000 Dilithium and 2 V’ger Ilia shards. It is short, with three V’ger fights and two big donations.
Orion Scientists at a glance
| Part | Recommended level | Warp to complete | Key reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orion Scientists Part 1 | 51 | 205 | 225,000,000 Dilithium |
| Orion Scientists Part 2 | 51 | 8 | 195,000 Officer XP |
| Orion Scientists Part 3 | 51 | 205 | 2 V’ger Ilia shards |
Part 1 needs warp 205 just to pick up in Heruyos, Parts 2 and 3 start at warp 1, and completing one part opens the next.
Orion Scientists Part 1
A new V’ger vessel has entered service. You investigate it in Heruyos, lure it in with a large Tritanium donation, then fall back to Rehan to finish the fight.
- Investigate the new enemy, in Heruyos.
- Use 670M Tritanium to tempt the V’ger.
- Engage the new V’ger ship type, in Heruyos (enemy strength ~17,249,879).
- Fall back, in Rehan.
- Defeat the V’ger Orion ship, in Rehan (enemy strength ~17,249,879).
Warp to complete: 205. Rewards: 50 U.S.S. Excelsior Parts, 25 Challenge Credits, 225,000,000 Dilithium and 6,000 3★ Raw Gas.
Orion Scientists Part 2
Next you dig up intel on the new V’ger Orion Interceptor. A Dilithium donation boosts the signal, and it leads you to the Orion system, where a clone of the Orion ship is waiting.
- Use 137M Dilithium to boost the signal.
- Go to the signal’s point of origin, in Orion.
- Defeat 8 hostiles of level 11 or higher.
- Destroy the clone of the Orion ship, in Orion (enemy strength ~19,553,313).
Warp to complete: 8. Rewards: 150 U.S.S. Excelsior Parts, 30 Challenge Credits, 195,000 Officer XP and 900 3★ Interceptor Parts.
Orion Scientists Part 3
Now you use what you learned to counter the V’ger Orion threat. You confront the Orion captain, follow the Orion ship to the V’ger in Sorethna and help it on its way in the chain’s hardest fight.
- Confront the Orion captain, in Orion.
- Follow the Orion ship to the V’ger, in Sorethna.
- Defeat 5 hostiles of level 51 or higher.
- Help the Orion ship on its way, in Sorethna (enemy strength ~22,170,271).
Warp to complete: 205. Rewards: 300 U.S.S. Excelsior Parts, 230 3 Hour Speed Ups, 1 8 Hr Peace Shield and 2 V’ger Ilia shards.
Tips for completing Orion Scientists
Part 1 is the gate. It needs warp 205 just to be picked up in Heruyos, so you need that range before you can begin. Part 3 returns to warp 205 for Sorethna.
The V’ger fights climb as the chain goes on: about 17.2 million for both Part 1 fights, 19.6 million for the clone in Part 2 and 22.2 million for the final fight in Part 3. If the Part 2 clone is a close call, strengthen your ship before Part 3.
The hostile counts are easy to find nearby. Part 2 asks for 8 hostiles of level 11 or higher, and the Orion system itself spawns the Orion Traitor at levels 11 to 15. Part 3 asks for 5 hostiles of level 51 or higher, and Sorethna spawns the Klingon Patrol at levels 51 and 52.
Have 670M Tritanium ready before you start. Part 2 then asks for 137M Dilithium, which the 225,000,000 Dilithium from Part 1 covers with plenty left over.
Are the Orion Scientists rewards worth it?
Yes, if you are building the U.S.S. Excelsior or collecting V’ger Ilia. The chain pays 500 Excelsior parts, 2 Ilia shards, 225,000,000 Dilithium, 195,000 Officer XP and 55 Challenge Credits. The Tritanium donation is the steep part of the cost. Natural Selection, another level 51 chain, opens with Scotty in Rehan asking for answers after the battle with the new V’ger. For more missions by level, see the STFC mission guide.