Principles of Starship Engineering is a three-part mission chain in which you rescue Chancellor Ake after her escape from the Venari Ral, then raid a Venari Ral facility for the 32nd-century parts needed to get the U.S.S. Athena running again. Your cadets come along for every step. All three parts are recommended for level 61, start at warp 1 and reach warp 900 to complete. Rewards include 400 Ultra Recruit Token, 227,000 Latinum, 6★ broken ship parts and, if you choose to start construction, 250 U.S.S. Athena Parts. It is a short chain with light fights and two choices.
Principles of Starship Engineering at a glance
| Part | Recommended level | Warp to complete | Key reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principles of Starship Engineering Part 1 | 61 | 900 | 400 Ultra Recruit Token and 49,000 6★ Broken Explorer Parts |
| Principles of Starship Engineering Part 2 | 61 | 900 | 77,000 6★ Broken Battleship Parts and 2,300 Σ-Tritanium |
| Principles of Starship Engineering Part 3 | 61 | 900 | 227,000 Latinum plus U.S.S. Athena Parts or Officer XP |
All three parts start at warp 1, and each one unlocks the next.
Principles of Starship Engineering Part 1
Stage a rescue mission. Chancellor Ake has slipped away from the Venari Ral and is hiding in an escape pod in Zehux while their ships search for her, so you call the cadets to the ship bay and go get her.
- Proceed to the coordinates in Zehux.
- Stop the Venari Ral ship in Zehux (enemy strength ~2,643,533,500).
- Send an away team in Zehux.
- Rescue Chancellor Ake in Zehux.
- Return to your Station.
Warp to complete: 900.
Rewards: 5,000 Σ-Parsteel, 400 Ultra Recruit Token and 49,000 6★ Broken Explorer Parts.
Principles of Starship Engineering Part 2
Infiltrate the Venari Ral. Ake knows the Venari Ral base is somewhere in Tel’Droht. You find it, watch the facility, then get past a guard by posing as invited guests, either by force or with a bribe.
- Find the Venari Ral base of operations in Tel’Droht.
- Stake out the facility in Tel’Droht.
- Decide how to proceed.
A show of force
- Disable the guard’s weapons in Tel’Droht (enemy strength ~2,643,533,500).
- Investigate the recruitment drive in Tel’Droht.
Rewards: 2,300 Σ-Tritanium, 7 1 Hour Σ-Speed Up and 77,000 6★ Broken Battleship Parts.
A bribe
- Donate 3,500 Σ-Parsteel.
- Investigate the recruitment drive in Tel’Droht.
Rewards: 2,300 Σ-Tritanium, 15 30 Minute Σ-Repair Speed Up and 77,000 6★ Broken Battleship Parts.
Warp to complete: 900.
Principles of Starship Engineering Part 3
Get the U.S.S. Athena back up and running. The away team, cadets included, beams into the facility for the parts, and you fight your way out. Back at the Station the cadets get to work, and Ake offers you the chance to build an Athena of your own.
- Beam the away team down to the facility in Tel’Droht.
- Retrieve the ship parts in Tel’Droht.
- Defend yourself in Tel’Droht (enemy strength ~2,618,077,029).
- Return to your Station.
- Put the cadets to work.
- Decide whether you are ready to build your own U.S.S. Athena.
Yes, begin construction
- Build your very own U.S.S. Athena.
- Answer the transmission.
Rewards: 1,000 Σ-Dilithium, 250 U.S.S. Athena Parts and 227,000 Latinum.
No, wait until later
- Celebrate with the crew.
- Answer the transmission.
Rewards: 1,000 Σ-Dilithium, 255,000 Officer XP and 227,000 Latinum.
Warp to complete: 900.
Tips for completing Principles of Starship Engineering
The Part 3 choice is the one that matters. Starting construction pays 250 U.S.S. Athena Parts, while waiting pays 255,000 Officer XP instead. If you want the U.S.S. Athena in your fleet, take the construction path.
In Part 2, a show of force costs one fight at about 2.6 billion strength and pays Σ-Speed Ups, while the bribe costs 3,500 Σ-Parsteel and pays Σ-Repair Speed Ups. Part 1 hands you 5,000 Σ-Parsteel, so the bribe is always affordable if you run the parts in order.
Every scripted fight sits around 2.6 billion strength, and there are no hostile grinds, so a level 61 ship with warp 900 can finish the chain quickly. The Venari Ral page covers the faction’s roaming hostiles, which drop Pledge of the Venari.
Are the Principles of Starship Engineering rewards worth it?
Yes, especially if you want the Athena. The chain pays 400 Ultra Recruit Token, 227,000 Latinum, 126,000 6★ broken ship parts and either 250 U.S.S. Athena Parts or 255,000 Officer XP, for three light fights at most. The story continues in the level 61 Independent Study chain, where Deidamia comes after the parts you took. For other level 61 missions, see the STFC mission guide.