R&D Department Level 49 is a late-game station mission in Star Trek Fleet Command with one objective: upgrade the R&D Department to level 49. It needs only warp 1, and the game lists a recommended level of 1. The reward is 160 100K Dilithium Tokens and 60 8 Hour Speed Ups, and completing it unlocks Engine Technology Lab Level 49. The upgrade is the whole task, and it is a long one.
R&D Department Level 49 objectives
The story line and the objective read the same. There is one objective and no choice split:
- Upgrade to R&D Department Level 49.
No system is named, no hostile is listed and nothing is donated. The mission clears when the R&D Department reaches level 49.
Where and what warp
Warp 1 to start and warp 1 to complete, with no pickup system. Everything happens on your station.
The recommended level is 1, but the mission can only complete once the level 49 upgrade is built.
What the level 49 upgrade costs
Current game data for the R&D Department around level 49:
| Level | Main costs | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | 51.41B Parsteel, 189M Dilithium, 5,000 4★ Rare Refined Gas, 12,000 4★ Uncommon Refined Gas | Operations 48, Academy 48 |
| 49 | 85.68B Parsteel, 315M Dilithium, 20,000 4★ Rare Refined Gas, 25,000 4★ Uncommon Refined Gas | Operations 49, Academy 49, Tritanium Vault 43 |
| 50 | 149.94B Parsteel, 551.25M Dilithium | Operations 50, Academy 50, Treasury 1 |
Level 49 needs Operations 49, the Academy at 49 and the Tritanium Vault at 43. The base build time is about 1,052 days before speed ups or build-time reductions. The refined gas bill is the step up from level 48: four times the Rare gas and about twice the Uncommon.
R&D Department Level 49 rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| 100K Dilithium Token | 160 |
| 8 Hour Speed Up | 60 |
Completing it unlocks the next station mission, Engine Technology Lab Level 49.
How it compares with nearby R&D missions
Each R&D Department level in this range has its own mission. Current game data:
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| R&D Department Level 48 | 120 100K Dilithium Tokens, 60 8 Hour Speed Ups |
| R&D Department Level 49 | 160 100K Dilithium Tokens, 60 8 Hour Speed Ups |
| R&D Department Level 50 | 230 100K Dilithium Tokens, 60 8 Hour Speed Ups |
The speed ups stay at sixty 8 Hour ones, which is 480 hours each time, while the Dilithium tokens rise with each level.
Tips
Plan the requirements early. Tritanium Vault 43 is the odd one out on the list and is easy to overlook.
Spend the speed ups on the next long build. Sixty 8 Hour Speed Ups make a real dent in upgrades that take years at base speed. Other missions sorted by level are on the mission guide.
