Requirements
This plot is only available to the Terran Commander and Aldrin Adventurer starting scenarios. The plot begins as soon as the Fight Rank of Professional (14) is reached under the condition that the player has the Race Rank of +1 (Local Councillor/Outer System Access) with the Terran/ATF.
Chapters
Special Assignment (confirmation needed?)
The X-perimental Shuttle
Special Assignment
Objective: Dock at the Military base in The Moon
Time Limit: N/A
Loss Conditions: N/A
Reward: N/A
Commentary: The player will eventually reach the needed fight rank through killing Xenon and Pirates or Fight missions. The fastest way to get the fight rank is to use salvaged missiles from the war sectors on Argon ships. As the Argon already hate the Terran Commander starting scenario there is no further rep loss from fighting in the war sectors and the starting Katana can use Wraith Missiles that can easily take down single capital ships. Once reaching the needed requirements the player will be asked by Admiral Chianna Giorno to dock at the Military Base in The Moon. Unlike X3:Terran Conflict where the ATF would open fire if the player lacked the correct system access the player can visit any Terran sector in X3: Albion Prelude as long as the Terrans/ATF are ≤-1 Race Rank. Once docked there will be several messages in the log book about stolen Terran technology that needs to be retrieved along with the names and locations of agents that are on the case. Unfortunately the plot is linear so there is no choice as to which mission to do first.
The X-perimental Shuttle
Objective: Dock at the Pirate Base in Brennan's Triumph
Find Gunne's Crusade
Talk to the Teladi (Part 1)
Talk to the Teladi (Part 2)/Hire Mercenaries/Attack the X-perimental Shuttle
Return the X-perimental Shuttle to the Saturn Research Station (Saturn)
Time Limit: N/A
Loss Conditions: N/A
Reward: X-perimental Shuttle (temporarily)
Commentary: If the player is the Terran Commander starting scenario getting out of the Terran sectors can be a challenge. The only two exits from the Terran sectors to the rest of the X-universe are via Omicron Lyrae which can easily have over 15 capital ships guarding it and over 20 M6s or going via the Xenon core sectors which may or may not also be painful depending on spawns. If trying to flee via Omicron Lyrae it is recommended to set all turrets to missile defence and reallocate one EMPC to the unoccupied turret. Take a large loop in each sector avoiding the 30km detection zone of hostile ships on the way to any waygates and actively shoot down any heavier missiles. The problem with the Katana however is it has a squint making it shoot to the sides of most small targets so it is not the easiest starting ship for direct combat (still has Wraith Missile compatibility). Alternatively buy a Valkyrie, max the Engine Tunings and fly to a safe sector before using the Jump Drive to get your M6 to a safer sector (Scale Plate Green or Sacred Relic) or trade in the Katana for a far faster Springblossom in Aldrin 1 (may regret that option later when you need a more durable ship).
If the Terran Commander starting scenario it might be advisable to get the Argon Neutral just to avoid all the RR Minotaurs from making life difficult. Fastest way to get Argon neutral is to kill the Xenon in Getsu Fune by the North Gate. Until the player is -4 Argon Race Rank there will be problems with RR ships jumping in to spoil the party so kill whatever Xenon ships possible and try later when the RR ships have left (always have spare jump fuel brought in the Boron sectors). Since Elena's Fortune has a military base, a lot of military patrols will come from it heading to other sectors including the mission Pirate Base right in the middle of the trade lanes of Brennan's Triumph! This means having a Docking Computer will be very useful to avoid getting killed by the constant heavy missile barrages the station is constantly under (if it was not invincible it would have died numerous times before docking).
Once docked the agent Lt. Patricia Heywood gives a cryptic message which means Gunne's Crusade. Once in the sector there will be a Teladi Pirate/Playboy joyriding in the X-perimental Shuttle. Hail the X-perimental Shuttle to see what he is willing to trade it for. After hailing the X-perimental Shuttle loses the bail prevention flag and can be bailed by attacking it. Else five friendly pirates can be hired for 15 million credits (fastest option) to make the pilot bail. Alternatively the player can complete the three Generic Delivery missions needed to trade for the X-perimental Shuttle. Forcing the pilot to bail has a repercussion after scanning the Headquarters later in the plot and the Generic Delivery missions, although time consuming, can be highly profitable. Like all pirates wanting a good time he needs 250x Space Fuel, 200x Space Weed and 100x SQUASH Mines. All are illegal goods in Commonwealth sectors except the Space Weed which is legal in Teladi space. It is advisable to build the necessary factories as those will pay off in the long term especially with the cash return per unit from all the delivery missions. Good sectors to build illegal goods complexes are Hatikvah's Faith and Savage Spur. After completing the Generic Delivery missions or making the "punk" go for a space walk the X-perimental Shuttle will be in the hands of the player.
It is advisable to either use a TM/M7C/TL/M2 to carry the ship to Terran space or to give it a Jump Drive (can be brought nearby if not hostile to the Argon). The X-perimental Shuttle is like an Aamon Prototype in many ways so is no loss when it is handed over to the Saturn Research Station.
Objective: -
Time Limit: N/A
Loss Conditions: N/A
Reward: N/A
Commentary: