What They Cannot Hold is a level 53 story mission in Star Trek Fleet Command where you defend VESTA from a Cardassian assault. It can be picked up at warp 1 but needs warp 185 to finish, and every objective is in the Beta Sector. There are two fights, both above 22 million strength. The rewards are 4,590,000,000 Parsteel, 9,000,000 Dilithium and a Data shard, and it leads into Lean On Me.
What They Cannot Hold objectives
There are three objectives and no choice split:
- Return to VESTA. Location: Beta Sector.
- Defend VESTA. Location: Beta Sector. Enemy strength is roughly 23,029,645.
- Drive out the Cardassians. Location: Beta Sector. Enemy strength is roughly 22,170,271.
You return to VESTA in the Beta Sector and immediately face the Cardassian assault. The first fight is the defence of VESTA, at about 23 million strength, and the second drives the Cardassians out, at about 22.2 million. Winning the second fight completes the mission; there is no return-to-station step.
Where and what warp
What They Cannot Hold has no named pickup system and can be picked up at warp 1. Completing it takes warp 185, the range for the Beta Sector. The recommended level is 53.
Both the warp and the fights put this firmly in the endgame. Two back-to-back battles above 22 million strength are the real test, and your ship needs the range to reach the Beta Sector at all.
What They Cannot Hold rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Parsteel | 4,590,000,000 |
| Dilithium | 9,000,000 |
| Data shards | 1 |
Completing this mission unlocks the next mission, Lean On Me.
Almost 4.6 billion Parsteel is the bulk of the reward. Operations 51 alone costs about 1.5 trillion Parsteel, so at this stage it is a top-up rather than a whole upgrade. The single Data shard is a small bonus toward that officer.
The two fights
| Order | Objective | Enemy strength |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defend VESTA | ~23,029,645 |
| 2 | Drive out the Cardassians | ~22,170,271 |
The two targets are within about 860,000 strength of each other, with the first slightly stronger. If you win the first comfortably, the second should follow, provided your hull holds up.
Other Beta Sector missions
| Mission | Recommended level | Warp to complete | Named fight | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patterns of Behavior | 50 | 185 | Borg Scout ~15,761,293, plus 8 level 50+ hostiles | 530,400,000 Parsteel, 5,000 Latinum |
| The Abyss | 1 | 185 | Borg Cube ~15,600,929, plus 10 level 49+ hostiles | 6 each 4★ Epic Refined Crystal, Gas, Ore |
| What They Cannot Hold | 53 | 185 | Two Cardassian fights, ~23.0M and ~22.2M | 4,590,000,000 Parsteel, 9,000,000 Dilithium, 1 Data shard |
All three need warp 185. What They Cannot Hold has the strongest fights of the group, but no hostile grind, and it pays by far the most Parsteel.
Tips
Arrive at full hull. The two fights are consecutive, and each is above 22 million strength.
Put the Parsteel toward whichever late upgrade is closest to done, where a top-up of 4.59 billion makes the most difference. More endgame missions are on the mission guide.