“They descended on Earth, and in a matter of weeks, every single human joined the Collective. The civilization, and our future, were lost. However, it was just the beginning of the Borg Queen’s expansion.”

Unusual rifts tear open across local space as Borg forces from an alternate universe invade Federation colonies, assimilating everything in their path. In a desperate move to stop the Collective, the Commander discovers a dormant Borg Sphere hiding a shocking secret: members of the Enterprise-E crew who escaped the Borg Queen. Now it’s up to them to stop total assimilation and set First Contact Day back on course.

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Watch the video here.

What’s in Update 88 – TNG: First Contact

• A new Faction: The Mavericks
• A new Faction Store
• A new Building The Warp Dive Bar
• A new Research Tree
• New Officers
• New Solo Armadas
• New Artifacts 
• New missions
• A new Battle Pass and a new Mid-Ops Battle Pass
• And more!

Quality of Life Updates

New G7 Veil Mining Systems

We are increasing the number of G7 mining systems in the Veil:

• Level 71: Ved, Bonoxug, and Xameda
• Level 72: Pepen, Kafaq, and Cliffor
• Level 73: Okonel

Missions

Core Missions (Ops 55+):

Fallback Parts 1-8
When spatial rifts tear through Federation space and the Borg begin assimilating unsuspecting colonies, the Commander must step up to help Starfleet prevent the new invasion. However, the familiar enemy isn’t what it seems to be, and even more questions arise when a mysterious dormant Borg Sphere awakens…

Building Missions(Ops 55+):

The Warp Dive Parts 1-2
The Commander’s Station gets an upgrade after an Independent fleeing from the Borg invasion opens a perfect place for spacefarers and visitors – The Warp Dive Bar. The menu includes delectable cocktails, flavorful snacks, and new opportunities.

Side Missions(Ops 55+):

Maverick Days 1-5
Mara Dalen, a member of the Maverick Faction, offers the Commander a deal – protect a colony from Orion slavers for a hefty reward. But things go awry when a seemingly easy battle ends up in a time loop.

The Warp Dive Bar

The Warp Dive Bar is the new faction building and serves as the entry point to the Maverick Faction and its associated Research Tree.

To unlock the Warp Dive Bar, Ops 55+ Commanders must claim the initial item from the Gift Section and complete the mission chain, “The Warp Dive.” Finishing the chain grants the building key for the Warp Dive Bar, along with new Conqueror Borg Solo Armada Directives. Once obtained, the final step is to construct the building to activate access to its related systems and progression.

Upgrading the Warp Dive Bar provides:

• Increased FKR Isolytic Damage against Conqueror Solo Armadas
• Parsteel and Sigma Parsteel cost efficiency for buildings
• Weekly Task Keys for Solo Faction Tasks
• Increased output from Faction Store Rewards
• Unlock access to the V’ger Particle in the Maverick Faction Store

After completing the mission chain claimable in the Gift Section for Ops 55+ players, the Warp Dive Bar unlocks the Maverick Faction and scales in power as it levels up, providing increased bonuses, additional Task Keys, and expanded bundle rewards.

Level 1

• Unlocks the Maverick Faction
• Unlocks the Research Tree
• Primary Maverick Rewards become available
• FKR Isolytic Damage buff vs. Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas begins

Level 20

• First Faction Task Key unlocks
• Parsteel and Sigma Parsteel Cost Efficiency for buildings begins
• First Maverick Faction Store Reward scaling increase

Level 25

• Increased Parsteel Cost Efficiency for buildings
• Second Maverick Faction Store Reward scaling increase

Level 30

• Second Faction Task Key unlocks
• Increased Parsteel Cost Efficiency for buildings
• V’ger Particle Bundle unlocks in the Maverick Faction Store (first scaling segment)
• Third Maverick Faction Store Reward scaling increase

Level 35

• Fourth Maverick Faction Store Reward scaling increase (including V’ger Particle Bundle)

Level 40

• Third Faction Task Key unlocks
• Fifth Maverick Faction Store Reward scaling increase (including V’ger Particle Bundle)

Levels 50–70

• Continued bundle scaling increases:
  
  • Level 50 – Sixth Maverick Faction Store Reward scaling increase
  • Level 60 – Maverick Faction Store Reward scaling increase
  • Level 70 – Eighth Maverick Faction Store Reward scaling increase

As the Warp Dive Bar levels up, it expands faction progression, increases resource efficiency, unlocks additional Solo Task access, and enhances bundle rewards over time.

The Maverick Faction

Arriving in Update 88 for Commanders Ops 55+, the Maverick Faction introduces a new progression path centered on structured weekly objectives tied to the First Contact Loop.

The Mavericks are a decentralized collective of independent peacekeepers operating along faction borders and conflict zones. With no formal hierarchy or home base, they unite in times of crisis to defend vulnerable systems and push back against instability across the sector.

At the core of the Maverick experience is a dynamic Task system that serves as the primary source of faction progression

Weekly Task Structure

Each week, Commanders gain access to six total Tasks, which reset every Tuesday at the same time as the Daily Goals Reset.

• 3 Alliance Tasks
• 3 Solo Tasks

Every Task has both a Solo and Alliance version.

• Faction reputation progression is tracked individually, even when participating in Alliance objectives. Players who want to progress faster can do so by completing additional Solo Tasks.
• Solo Tasks require a Maverick Task Key to unlock
• Task Keys are earned by upgrading The Warp Dive Bar
• Faction reputation progression is tracked individually, even when participating in Alliance objectives

Three Research nodes in the Maverick Research Tree improve Task output and efficiency:

• Glory of the Mavericks
• Patrons of the Mavericks
• Deeds of the Mavericks

These nodes increase the rewards and progression efficiency tied directly to Maverick Tasks.

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Objective Categories

Tasks rotate on a structured schedule and remain aligned with active loop content.

Weekly Core Objective

• Conqueror Borg Armada Hunt – Destroy Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas

To successfully complete this Task, it is important to unlock the key Research nodes in the Maverick Research Tree that strengthen your fleet against Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas, including:

• Isolytic Defense vs. Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas
• Apex Shred vs. Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas
• Critical Damage Reduction vs. Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas

Rotating FKR Objectives

• Spreading the Word – Earn Federation, Klingon, and Romulan reputation
• FKR Hunt – Destroy Federation, Klingon, and Romulan hostiles (Level 55+)

Rotating Hostile Objectives

• V’ger Hunt
• Aggregation Hunt
• Transogen Hunt
• Augment Exiles Hunt

These rotations ensure that weekly progression remains integrated with First Contact Loop systems while providing a predictable cadence of activity.

The Maverick Faction Store

Completing Maverick Faction Tasks rewards Maverick Renown to improve your faction standing and Maverick Credits, which are the primary currency in the Faction Store. 

Maverick Faction rewards increase as you upgrade the Warp Dive Bar, the higher the building level, the better the output and scaling of its associated rewards and bundles.

Maverick Credits can be spent on:

• 5 New Epic Artifacts
• G5, G6, and G7 Ship Parts
• FKR Reputation
• Maverick Periphery Intel for the new Research Tree
• Exotics Spirits Shipment to upgrade the Warp Dive Building
• Exclusive: New Epic Officer Zefram Cochrane
• Conqueror Borg Solo Armada Directives
• Missions
• USS Dauntless Prototype Data
• Recon Locus USchematics
• Aggregation Smuggled Studies
• Transogen Forge Foundation
• SNW Montgomery Scott
• SNW Black Ops M’Benga
• VIL Winn Adami
• VIL Gul Dukat
  

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New Epic Artifacts

Five new Epic Artifacts are available through the Maverick Faction Store:

• Optical Chip Reader – Increases Base Service Award, Merit of Honor, and Pioneer’s Crest cost efficiency
• Crash-n-Burn Jukebox – Increases Reclaimed Loot from Aggregation hostiles
• Phoenix Thruster – Increases Scrapping Speed
• Phoenix Cockpit – Increases base Damage against players
• Cochrane’s Music Disc – Increases Isolytic Damage against Open Armadas

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Additional Progression Currencies

The Maverick Faction also introduces:

• Maverick Periphery Intel – Used for research progression
• Maverick Exclusive Periphery Intel – Used for Glory of the Mavericks, Patrons of the Mavericks, and Deeds of the Mavericks research
• Maverick Task Keys – Unlock Solo Tasks after upgrading The Warp Dive Bar

For a deeper breakdown of mechanics, rewards, and progression details, check out the First Look at the Maverick Faction that we posted last week.

Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas

New Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas are part of the Maverick Faction loop and Commanders will need to watch out for the devastating Adept Overcome ability, which can instantly obliterate all targets. 

To avoid this deadly new weapon, each solo Armada fleet must include one Explorer, one Interceptor, and one Battleship. If all three ship types are not present, the instant-kill weapon will trigger and wipe out the fleet. 

Each grade of Borg Conqueror Solo armadas come with increasingly dangerous abilities. 

• G5 Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas: Increased Isolytic Damage. 
• G6 Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas: Increased Isolytic Damage and Apex Barrier. 
• G7 Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas: Increased Isolytic Damage, Apex Barrier, and Critical Damage.

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Strategies for Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas

Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas are among the most challenging encounters introduced so far and require careful preparation.

Key Research

Investing in Maverick Research significantly improves survivability and damage output:

• Isolytic Defense vs. Conqueror Borg SA (Ops 55)
• Apex Shred vs. Conqueror Borg SA (Ops 62)
• Critical Damage Reduction vs. Conqueror Borg SA (Ops 71)

Upgrading the Warp Dive Bar further strengthens FKR ships by increasing Isolytic Damage against Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas, with scaling bonuses as the building levels up.

Support Ships

The following ships provide strong advantages:

• U.S.S. Cerritos
• U.S.S. Titan-A
• U.S.S. Defiant (use its pre-armada combat buff before engaging)

Crewing Recommendations

Focus on combat optimization rather than loot bonuses (rewards are milestone-based):

• Armada-focused bridge officers
• Strong combat Below Deck officers
• Balance Below Decks for:
  • Defense (e.g., WoK Joachim)
  • Ship repair (e.g., PIC Hugh)
  • Status effects like Hull Breach (e.g., B’elanna Torres)

Forbidden Tech, Chaos Tech & Fleet Commander Setup

• Equip class-appropriate Forbidden Tech to enhance offensive output
• Use Armada-focused Fleet Commanders such as:
  • Janeway
  • Sloan
  • Lorca

These encounters are designed to push Commanders to their limits, and success depends on preparation across research, building upgrades, tech selection, and crew optimization.

For more detailed strategy tips on tackling Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas, keep an eye out for our upcoming blog dedicated to helping Commanders prepare and engage effectively.

The Maverick Research Tree

The main path of the Maverick Research Tree includes 20 nodes that provide increased combat power against Borg Conqueror Solo Armadas, enhanced G5+ FKR faction ship strength, and significant G7 Station and Research cost efficiency. In addition, three special nodes improve Maverick Renown gains, Maverick Credit gains, and Task point efficiency.

Several research nodes are particularly important for improving performance against Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas, significantly increasing fleet survivability and damage output:

• Increases Isolytic Defense against Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas.
• Increases Apex Shred against Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas.
• Decreases Critical Hit Damage of Conqueror Borg Solo Armadas.

G7 research nodes further expand progression, focusing on Critical Damage Reduction against Borg Conqueror Solo Armadas as well as dedicated G7 Research and Station cost efficiency for both Uncommon and Rare materials.

New Officers

FCM Data

When the crew of the Enterprise-E followed the Borg into the past, the Borg Queen tried to exploit Data’s desire to become human by grafting organic flesh onto him and manipulating his emotion chip.  But the Borg Queen found out she could never override the one thing beyond her control: Data’s loyalty to his friends and crew.

Captain’s Maneuver: Plexurus of Borg

Officer Ability: Through Space and Time

• Increases base Loot gained from Armadas by X%
• 40% / 55% / 80% / 110% / 150%

Zefram Cochrane

Every member of Starfleet has heard of Zefram Cochrane, the legendary figure who, alongside Lily Sloane, with some help from the crew of the Enterprise E, built humanity’s first warp drive and initiated first contact with the Vulcans, forever changing the fate of Earth.

Officer Ability: Let’s Rock’n’Roll! 

• Increases Isolytic Cascade Damage by X% against Group Armadas
• 70% / 100% / 140% / 190% / 250%

Below Deck Ability: Visionary… or Something

• On round start, repair X% of hull damage taken in the previous round of combat against all Armadas 
• 5% / 7% / 12% / 20% / 30%

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Additional Content

Artifacts

Other new Artifacts arriving with Update 88 include:

Ensign Lynch Combadge

• Increases all base Piercing stats against Hostiles (by 2000% at level 12). 

Phoenix Nacelle

• Increases the base amount of Components received from Solo Outpost and Elite Solo Outpost Retaliation attacks (by 300% at level 12).
  

Little Ship Model

• Increases base Hull Health for G7 ships (by 10000% max at level 12).

Borg Neural Processor

• Increases base Shield Health of G7 ships (10000% at level 12).
  

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Battle Passes & Events

First Contact Battle Pass (Ops 51+) 

The First Contact Battle Pass includes FCM Data shards, Maverick Credits, Maverick Periphery Intel for the new Research Tree, Exotic Spirits Shipments to upgrade the Warp Dive Bar, as well as Choice Tokens and Faction Reward Tokens. Ops 51-54 players will receive Challenge Credits, Officer Depot Tokens, and other rewards in their Battle Pass.

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Event Updates (Ops 51+)

As part of this month’s schedule adjustments, the following events will no longer be running:

• Bonus Treasury
• Chronicle of the Ascendant

In addition, the Cosmic Choice event for Ops 51+ will not run during the first weekend of the Arc.

Instead, we are making the following updates to the event lineup:

• Moving the Officer Treasury to Week 1 of the First Contact Arc
• Launching a New Officer Unlock Heroic SMS and SLB during the first weekend of of the arc.

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Mid-Ops Events (Ops 20-50)

Khanquest

Khan’s influence is spreading across the sector, transforming routine operations into calculated tests of strength and resolve. Throughout the month, Commanders will need to push back against his growing shadow and the forces he’s set in motion.

Ship focus for this event centers on the Botany Bay, Stella, and Reliant. 

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Community Corner

This March, the galaxy is calling your creativity. 

Introducing “Beam Me to the Movies”, a community poster event. From March 9th to 11th, submit your poster using in-game assets and showcase your favorite Star Trek movie or series. The top 10 most upvoted entries will move on to the finals, where they’ll compete for your votes and a chance to win one of five packs of their choice. (Not including New, Limited-Time, and Weekly Offer packs)

Check the official Discord channel for all the details and get ready to boldly create where no artist has gone before!

Head over to the STFC Official Discord for full details.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

Improvements

Alliance Tournament

• Updated the “Temporal Conduit” task text to specify Chaos Tech must be equipped on the ship being used.

Challenge Track

• Updated the Challenge Track to display a pip when there is a reward available to claim.

V’ger Hostile Spawning

• V’ger has updated the presence of their replicants and now more should be continuously present in each system

Bug Fixes

Outpost Update:

We wanted to let our players know that our team is continuing to investigate the Outpost issue where Outpost Attacker waves end sooner than they are intended to. We will update players when we have more information.

Challenge Track

• Updated an issue where the Challenge track notification PIP did not disappear after claiming rewards.
• Resolved an issue where the Mission HUD notification count did not update when a Challenge Track PIP was triggered, causing the PIP number to display incorrectly.

Systems View

• Fixed an issue where a player attacks hostiles with Ship A and then changes the system view, the enemy destruction animation incorrectly appears in Ship B’s system.

Alliance Tournament

• Updated the “Temporal Conduit” task text to specify Chaos Tech must be equipped on the ship used.

Gift Section

• Resolved an issue where, after reaching Ops 10, players were unable to complete the Syndicate Forbidden Tech because the “Loyalties Part 1” mission failed to appear in the in-game Gifts tab.

Surge

• Addressed an issue where the message “Game Activity Error” triggers in game during Surge gameplay.

Research Tree

• Addressed an issue where the description for “Serene Squall Jump Drive” does not fit properly inside the research node box.
• Fixed an issue where the Prime Vengeance Parts Cost Efficiency node does not appear in the Combat research tree.
• Resolved an issue where the Research Tree could fail to load and display a blank screen when accessed for the first time after logging into the game.
• Updated an issue where the “Prime Vengeance Parts CE” and “Prime Solo Outpost Credits” nodes had the incorrect art

Artifacts

• Fixed an issue where the Kir’Shara Artifact hostile queue would stop functioning even though hostiles remained queued.
• Resolved an issue where, when using the Kir’Shara, the first queued hostile was skipped and the queue order broke when a PvP battle interrupted combat.

Arena

• Addressed an issue where an pip can be seen on the Arena Tab in the Alliance screen when Arena has not yet been unlocked.

Fleet Commanders

• Fixed an issue with Fleet Commanders Benjamin Sisko and Khan whereThe ‘00’ digit overlaps the active ability icon after the timer ends.

HUD

• Addressed an issue where store packs displayed in in-game popups showed a negative or 00s timer and could not be purchased.
• Resolved an issue the pack name in an in-game popup gets cut off in the left side bar panel.

Localization

• Resolved an issue where text in the Korean and Japanese languages is missing across menus and UI.

Open Armadas

• Fixed an issue where the attack button was missing when tapping Open Armada using a low warp range ship.
• Resolved an issue where, when a user started or joined an Open Armada and navigated their ship from another system to the system where the Open Armada was active, the Armada circle sometimes appeared in the ship’s current system instead of the correct one.
• Updated an issue where the  “Share Location” button tooltip title missing tooltip text box.
• Resolved an issue where, on the Open Armada screen, the ship ability description was rendered outside of the tooltip box, causing the text to overlap with the UI instead of being properly contained within the tooltip.
• Fixed an issue where selecting the Open Armada coordinate share button while it was on cooldown caused the tooltip description to display improperly within the tooltip box.

LLAP

The STFC Team