Talking Trek: Star Trek Fleet Command

Update 90 is here, and Talking Trek is diving headfirst into the May 2026 Starfleet Academy arc preview. DJz, Tarpy, and the community break down Duo Wave Defense, the new Ops 61+ cooperative mode featuring training drones, combat drones, repair drones, Venari Rall hostiles, new currencies, new mitigation concerns, and a whole lot of “wait, does that actually work?” energy.
We also dig into the major battle pass changes coming this arc, including the new Mythic track, the 27-day battle pass structure, Flash Pass changes, Broken Desealing Rod sourcing, the end of overflow events, the loss of choice rewards, and the new temporary build queue included with battle pass purchases. Plus, we wrap up the previous arc, talk officer bugs, outpost issues, content creator playtesting, and spend a few heated minutes on the latest Incursions format.
Whether you’re Ops 61+, sitting at Ops 60 and debating the jump, or just trying to figure out what Scopely is cooking this month, this episode breaks down the good, the weird, and the “somebody please check the math” of Update 90.
 
00:59 Show open and server sound off03:33 Tarpy joins, Griffin update, and cow video progress06:10 Twitch updates, PPP push, and tier three chat chaos09:52 Arc wrap-up begins: how bad was the last month?11:43 Performance, lag, officer bugs, and outpost frustration14:09 Scopely’s officer bug communication and no ETA16:24 Progression tax, broken loops, and why DJz keeps pushing anyway18:32 Nostril waxing, headaches, and stream aftermath19:20 What playtesting actually looks like for content creators21:36 Existing wave defense bugs and the “arcfall is the second test” joke25:15 Previewing the May 2026 Update 90 arc26:00 Official Duo Wave Defense video begins31:18 DJz reacts: what looks good and what feels weird33:12 Junker confusion and why solo wave defense research matters34:23 Duo Wave Defense central entity health and Prime carryover36:39 Broken cube behavior shows up in the preview video37:29 Shield icons, hostile threat levels, and damage priority39:38 Repair drones as a “choice hostile” mechanic40:41 New currencies: Engineering, Science, and Command credits42:10 Critical Training, massive crit damage, and mitigation concerns45:37 True critical mitigation returns in a new form50:41 Combat drones, guaranteed damage, and strategy choices1:00:32 Tooltip confusion and repair drone healing clarification1:10:01 Engineering credits, simulation codes, and Starfleet Academy rewards1:11:21 Class Honors, Remote Campus upgrades, and “what are laurels?”1:20:08 Why this arc is Ops 61+ and what that means for G6/G7 players1:22:17 Mid-ops expands up to Ops 601:22:45 Battle pass changes, overflow removal, and desealing rod sourcing1:25:13 Mythic track pricing and pass purchase options1:29:04 The 27-day battle pass and Flash Pass merger explained1:32:48 No more choice rewards, at least for this month1:37:06 Why choice tokens may have been removed1:43:16 Battle pass math, value concerns, and what still needs proof1:50:03 Why the $100 option may become the best value1:56:27 Rentable build queue debate begins1:59:17 How the temporary builder should actually work2:02:11 Extra builder as a progression accelerator2:10:00 New officer discussion and niche wave defense value2:16:18 Incursions segment begins, brief but spicy2:20:05 DJz calls this the weakest version of Incursions yet2:23:02 Tarpy explains why the new format helped alliance leadership2:30:02 Should Ops 60 players go to Ops 61 before the battle pass?2:37:25 Final questions and show wrap-up2:38:33 Website, YouTube shorts, Patreon, and closing plugs2:40:26 Meow for now

Scopely dropped a new Alliance Tournament blog, and Talking Trek went deep into what it actually means for players. Tonight we break down the Emerald Chain expansion, new milestones, Jerali, repair speed cascade, Sigma reroll caps, heroic task changes, legendary tasks, legendary currency, and whether the new Alliance Tournament structure is a healthy evolution or another monetization landmine.
Then we dive into Field Rations: the new emergency field ration compensation chests versus the old March chips. Tarpy brings the math, Jules’ sheets enter the chat, and DJz walks through whether players should spend old currency now, wait for the new chests, or make the call based on what their account actually needs. Plus: live base raid chaos, shield bug frustration, event value drama, and a full panel debate on trust, timing, and Scopely’s economy decisions.
00:58 Welcome to Talking Trek Live01:32 Tonight’s topics: Alliance Tournament blog + compensation currency math02:04 Server Sound Off begins07:43 Twitch sound alerts, chaos, and live audience shenanigans11:20 Oliver’s baseball update and proud dad moment15:17 DJz gets raided live and can’t shield17:18 The “pending battle” shield bug becomes a teaching moment20:27 Alliance Tournament blog breakdown begins22:23 Emerald Chain expansion: 30 new milestones23:25 “Exclusive source for new content?” DJz calls out unclear wording25:33 New epic officer Jerali and Borg Cube abilities29:41 Repair Speed Cascade explained34:16 G7 repair sticker shock and the Aphelion debate45:04 Emerald Chain XP cap and player fairness concerns51:37 Why Scopely needed Sigma reroll tokens58:42 Alliance Tournaments becoming a reroll fest1:07:09 Store expansion across all leagues1:08:15 Heroic task frequency and cost changes1:12:43 Legendary tasks, legendary currency, and monetization concerns1:20:02 Why currency caps can protect long-term game economy1:35:29 DJz summarizes his Alliance Tournament reaction1:45:55 The mid-day event value change controversy1:50:12 Why changing milestones after players spent money is a problem2:05:06 Hidden/local event changes and trust issues2:10:01 “Cash grab” debate: value vs. ethics2:20:20 Field Ration math begins: old March chips vs. new chests2:23:06 Tarpy compares old and new compensation rewards2:25:04 New chest choice rewards: parsteel, tritanium/crystal, or dilithium/gas2:27:29 The catch: individual gains but total material decrease2:29:17 Where did the Latinum go?2:33:52 Overlap window confusion and spending strategy2:35:20 How much old currency you can still spend2:40:01 Show close, socials, Patreon, and final thanks

Talking Trek is back live with special guest Jason Vneck for a big community episode covering STFC’s latest updates, the return of Vengeance Is Mine, Borg Sphere reactions, and the increasingly spicy conversation around Alliance Tournaments.
The show starts with some classic live-show chaos as DJz and Griffin return from Idaho with stories, jokes, and one truly unhinged Ghost energy haul before settling into a fun and thoughtful conversation with Jason about content creation, Twitch growth, podcast milestones, and how communities form around Star Trek Fleet Command.
From there, the episode dives into the game itself: Borg Sphere impressions, ship utility, artifacts, store issues, officer value, and how newer content is landing with players across different ops ranges. There is also some great Star Trek lore discussion mixed in, especially around the Borg, First Contact, and Voyager.
The second half of the show is a deep dive into the future of Alliance Tournaments, including the announced sunset of alliance rerolls, the broader in-game economy, free-to-play strategy, tournament balance, Temporal Disruptors, and whether STFC is heading toward a full tournament refresh.
If you enjoy long-form STFC discussion with community perspective, game analysis, and a little live-show gremlin energy, this is a great episode to catch.
#StarTrekFleetCommand #STFC #TalkingTrek #StarTrek #BorgSphere #AllianceTournaments #JasonVneck00:59 Live show kickoff and server sound-off03:48 Jason Vneck joins the stage and the show setup begins05:46 Idaho travel stories, Ghost energy loot, and airport suitcase chaos12:26 Griffin and Jason discover a wild Fry’s Electronics connection14:16 Twitch Partner Plus talk and community support update17:54 Talking Trek celebrates episode #600 hitting the podcast feed24:30 Jason shares when he started playing STFC and his server history25:58 Mid-ops discussion and ideas for helping newer players on older servers30:23 First impressions of the Borg Sphere and mixed player reactions33:23 Borg Cube utility, Sphere grind, and how players adapted to the new ship40:02 Store navigation headaches and bounty pack talk48:01 Borg fandom chat, First Contact callbacks, and Voyager changing the Borg56:30 Alliance Tournaments announcement and the end of alliance rerolls01:06:20 DJs breaks down the in-game economy and why tournament changes may be coming01:13:41 Temporal Disruptors, material spending, and the debate over “broken” scoring01:20:23 Could Alliance Tournaments become bigger, newer, and more rewarding?01:36:54 Maverick tasks defended as some of the best recent content in STFC02:05:10 What is actually breaking tournaments, and what players may not want to lose02:22:38 Ops progression vs. lower-level support in tournament design02:37:53 Paywall versus slow grind: defining the difference in modern STFC02:49:20 Final thoughts from Jason Vneck and community sendoff02:50:43 Bonus LEGO Enterprise stream plug and closing sign-off

Emergency maintenance turned this episode of Talking Trek into a live STFC town hall, and the result was one of the most honest conversations yet about the Borg Sphere arc. DJz, Tarpy, and the panel break down the maintenance chaos in real time, react to server rollbacks and shield-extension questions, and talk through what the outage means for players across different regions.
The show also dives into tentative plans for an upcoming community meetup and 24-hour stream, with talk of Epcot, travel logistics, and even possible ticket giveaways for viewers. It is a wild mix of community energy, live troubleshooting, and classic podcast banter.
In the second half, the conversation turns sharply toward the Borg Sphere itself and whether this arc is actually delivering value. The panel digs into free-to-play timelines, alliance task dependency, challenge track priorities, G7 fatigue, and the growing sense that the month’s content may be much thinner than the hype suggested.
If you want the real player-perspective version of this arc, not just the sales brochure in a shinier coat, this episode is worth the trip.
#TalkingTrek #STFC #StarTrekFleetCommand #BorgSphere #StarTrek
 
00:59 Intro, server sound off, and emergency maintenance energy06:17 DJz explains the maintenance mess and “Windows update” chaos13:37 Epcot meetup plans, 24-hour stream talk, and ticket giveaway tease19:23 EU and APAC begin rolling back online while US stays down23:19 Why getting raided is “not the end of the world”31:09 Regen tournament and community banter during downtime41:24 Post-raid philosophy, value, and resource loss perspective52:32 Store issues, disappearing bundles, and platform weirdness01:02:28 What likely caused the maintenance and why it spiraled01:12:11 Compensation talk, missed events, and shield-extension concerns01:20:48 Global maintenance fairness and how APAC deals with this all the time01:27:56 Dev chat update on shields, timing, and uncertainty around reset01:33:59 Call-ins begin with the free-to-play progress conversation01:35:12 G7 fatigue, boredom, and reduced motivation to grind01:43:08 Challenge track priorities and what players are actually doing daily01:54:40 Monthly pacing, arc value, and how much content really exists here02:08:31 Free-to-play timeline estimates for unlocking the Borg Sphere02:19:47 Alliance strength, task completion, and how much that changes progress02:33:46 Servers begin to come back and the panel wraps the F2P discussion02:35:00 Final reactions as the game appears to recover

Tonight’s Talking Trek takes a different shape with a true fireside chat cast takeover as the crew steps in for a relaxed, wide-ranging conversation without DJz and Griffin at the helm. What starts as a casual hangout quickly turns into a deep dive on PVP banding changes, incursions, alliance support, and whether STFC’s current combat structure actually rewards the right kind of gameplay.
The panel explores everything from possible instanced PVP systems and event redesign ideas to War Room progression, warmonger research, and how players at different ops levels experience the game very differently. As the conversation evolves, the episode shifts into strategy mode with practical talk around battle logs, Apex Barrier, Apex Shred, officer choices, and progression planning for players trying to squeeze more value out of their account decisions.
This one has the feel of a late-night Trek lounge mixed with a mechanics workshop: funny, thoughtful, occasionally chaotic, and full of the kind of player-driven discussion that makes the Talking Trek community special.
#StarTrekFleetCommand #STFC #TalkingTrek #Incursions #PVP #StarTrekGaming #MobileGaming
 
00:00 Cast takeover begins without DJz and Griffin05:00 Maintenance update and when the PVP banding change actually starts13:05 Debating whether tighter PVP ranges would help or hurt the game18:17 Thunderdome-style instanced PVP systems for incursions24:20 Alliance support, ship imbalance, and the reality of high-end combat30:00 War Room progression, tactical warmonger research, and limited-life primes39:00 Why players believe Scopely is still adjusting incursions and watching feedback49:26 Solo armada meta predictions and cloaked hit-and-run strategies55:17 A Kobayashi Maru-style event idea with brutal but meaningful rewards01:03:00 One last warning before maintenance locks in the new banding rules01:14:25 Why raw ops level alone does not tell the full PVP story01:24:49 Game design chaos, account progression, and rebuilding systems over time01:34:04 Mobile lag, touch controls, and why phone players feel pain faster01:45:06 Apex Shred explained: what it is and why it matters01:53:57 Why Apex Barrier scaling makes long fights dramatically harder02:00:00 Reading battle logs correctly when officer abilities do not display cleanly02:09:56 Picard vs. Harrison for long-term account growth02:19:29 Why stopping at tier four can be smarter than maxing officers early02:29:28 Relativity, hostile scaling, and practical ship advice for ops 67 players02:44:23 Final officer recommendations and choosing immediate gains vs long-term value

Tonight on Talking Trek Live, we take a deep dive into the new Borg Sphere and the big question the whole STFC community is asking right now: is the Maverick store actually worth it? We break down the Sphere loop, the new weekly task structure, epic Maverick credits, blueprint pacing, building priorities, research value, and whether this feature is something players should buy immediately, grind slowly, or skip for now.
Along the way, the panel tackles both sides of the argument. Some players see long-term value and future G7 prep, while others feel the store is too slow, too complicated, or simply not worth the price tag. This episode is a full value audit with real math, real reactions, and a lot of live back-and-forth as the crew tries to figure out whether the Borg Sphere is a smart investment or just another expensive detour through the Delta Quadrant.
#StarTrekFleetCommand #STFC #BorgSphere #TalkingTrek #UltimatDJz #Scopely #MaverickStore
 
01:21 Cold open, server sound-off, and the opening chaos05:06 Is the Borg Sphere skippable or not? Setting up the night’s big question09:19 Lost In 73’s teaser rolls in after a marathon stream11:00 Breaking down the Borg Sphere loop and how the weekly tasks work14:39 Matters explains buying the Sphere immediately to test the loop17:16 Regret vs. value begins, and the community split comes into focus21:24 Tarpy argues the store does not justify the spend for many players24:00 The panel shifts into long-term value, G7 usefulness, and future payoff39:59 Store item review starts getting more specific with what matters now versus later49:57 Maverick credit math starts driving the discussion instead of pure feeling59:58 Timeline talk: when players might realistically hit key Sphere milestones01:10:00 Officers, costs, and where huge chunks of credits may really go01:20:00 Prime priorities and what should come before blueprints01:30:16 Blueprint math shows a possible long grind path without overspending01:47:36 DJs says the system feels too complicated and should have been cleaner01:59:58 Bundle randomness versus targeted pulls and why choice matters02:08:08 Strange prerequisites, odd unlock placement, and store progression weirdness02:23:21 A brief vape-detour turns into a funny side tangent before returning to grind talk02:40:09 Chaos tech gets re-evaluated live as the math changes mid-conversation03:00:40 Final big-picture takeaway: this may be more G7 prep than immediate payoff

The recording for this Talking in Carz episode starts a few minutes into the show, but once it kicks in, DJz and Jules go deep on Arcfall launch day, the new Borg Sphere loop, and the real math behind blueprint acquisition in Star Trek Fleet Command.
This episode breaks down how the new hostile mechanics work, why killing hostiles without the Sphere does not really help progression, and how the Sphere’s tasks and Maverick-credit rewards are designed to scale over time. DJz and Jules also tackle the biggest hot-button topic of the launch: blueprint cost, free-to-play timelines, and the hard choices players now have to make between Dive Bar upgrades, research, officers, and Sphere progress.
They also cover Suppressors vs. Obliterators, forbidden tech, Chaos Tech, new refits, artifacts, epic Maverick credits, and why the Sphere is best understood as a loop-focused ship rather than an all-purpose monster. Along the way, they share the strategy advice players need most on day one, including when to prioritize Dive Bar 20, when Dive Bar 30 may actually be smarter, and why Jules’ calculator is so important for planning your path.
If you’re trying to figure out whether the Borg Sphere is worth chasing, how long free-to-play acquisition may really take, and what matters most in Arcfall right now, this episode is your roadmap.
#StarTrekFleetCommand #STFC #Arcfall #BorgSphere #TalkingTrek #TalkingInCarz #Scopely #STFCStrategy #MaverickFaction #StarTrek
 
00:00 First Contact event hype and exclusive real-life rewards00:01:04 Recording picks up mid-show and the informal live-only format begins00:01:34 Can players kill new hostiles without the Sphere?00:02:55 Burning vs. hypothermic decay and the round-one kill loophole00:04:07 Suppressors vs. Obliterators and early punch-up possibilities00:04:42 The blueprint-cost debate and why players will have to choose00:06:18 Best early priorities: Dive Bar 20, key research, then blueprints00:08:15 How long it should take newer Ops 55 players to reach Dive Bar 2000:09:05 Punch-down strategy for solo armada milestones and weekly credit math00:11:24 Blueprint pricing, weekly returns, and the long breakeven conversation00:14:45 Is the Borg Sphere paywalled content or a grind-to-unlock feature?00:16:35 Why players are frustrated with a path that could stretch beyond 100 days00:18:43 How Sphere tasks stack and improve Maverick-credit income over time00:21:04 Why regular Maverick credits may eventually become surplus00:23:34 Jules’ calculator and planning your credit-spend priorities00:25:30 Behind-the-scenes pushback that got blueprint costs lowered00:28:19 Forbidden tech, Chaos Tech, and what actually comes with the ship00:31:03 Why Suppressors matter now and Obliterators are a later-game accelerator00:33:17 Is Scopely experimenting with long free-to-play unlock timelines?00:36:42 Zephyr and Cochrane shard events plus First Contact Day meta00:38:36 Free refits, instant jump, and whether Assimilate Sting matters00:40:01 New artifacts, epic Maverick credits, and who they’re really for00:42:12 What non-buyers will still be doing this month in the Maverick loop00:43:56 Final verdict: the Sphere is a loop-only ship, not an all-rounder00:45:00 Preview of tonight’s follow-up stream and lab testing plans

Arcfall is almost here, and tonight’s Talking Trek Live is all about getting ready for what’s next in Star Trek Fleet Command. DJz and Tarpy break down the full Arcfall Eve Eve preview, including the arrival of the new Borg Sphere, how it fits into the Maverick loop, what the new weekly tasks look like, and why players need to understand the difference between Suppressors and Obliterators before diving in.
This episode covers the Sphere’s passives, refits, new Prototype Tech and Chaos Tech, Epic Maverick Credits, faction store rewards, and the bigger gameplay implications for free-to-play, light spenders, and whales alike. If you want the full strategy-first breakdown of the next arc’s mechanics before launch day hits, this is the episode to watch.
 
01:04 Welcome in and server sound off begins04:00 Tarpy joins the studio and the show opens with pre-podcast banter05:40 Recap of Studio B, 90s rap chaos, and surprise Twitch front-page traffic13:30 Bonus LEGO Enterprise-D stream gets unlocked by the community15:08 Setting the plan for the show: watch the preview, then rewind for the full breakdown18:01 Hammy’s Arcfall Eve Eve preview video begins with the Borg Sphere reveal19:00 New weekly tasks, solo progression, and Maverick loop acceleration explained19:47 Borg Sphere refits introduced, including Transwarp and Assimilation Protocol20:37 Suppressors and Obliterators revealed, with instant-kill mechanics for non-Sphere ships22:19 New Chaos Tech and Prototype Tech enter the loop23:15 DJs rewinds the video and starts the deep-dive analysis27:13 Side-by-side breakdown begins with Tarpy helping unpack the subtle mechanics35:00 Sphere positioning in the arc and why players need to focus on the right targets41:23 Free refits, unlock tiers, and why the Sphere progression feels Vengeance-like51:12 Epic Maverick credits discussion and why separate currencies may actually help01:22:43 Why Suppressors are the real target for most players, not Obliterators01:40:00 Monetization pressure, ship access, and what the loop may feel like for different spend levels02:05:16 Interplexing Beacon, Borg Operating Table, and how tech may reduce crew pressure02:19:13 Tasks being based on ship level rather than Ops level gets a big thumbs up02:33:16 Final takeaways, wrap-up, and teaser for continued Arcfall coverage tomorrow

Talking Trek goes deep on the newest Star Trek Fleet Command updates with a full breakdown of Infinite Incursions, the new PvP banding changes, and the latest CoTA reveal. DJz and the panel tackle the controversial removal of base raiding from server-vs-server incursion scoring, debate whether the new system will actually improve PvP, and explain why Klingon Armada scoring may be dead on arrival if cloaking stays untouched. Along the way, the show also covers the March community survey, shifted incursion timing, and why player reactions are all over the map.
The back half of the episode turns toward interim scheduling, clearer event communication, and the reveal of Zephram Cochrane for CoTA. DJz reacts positively to the improved roadmap visibility, breaks down the new arc cadence, and explains why knowing future launch windows is a big win for both players and creators. If you want one episode that captures the community pulse on incursions, PvP structure, and what’s coming next, this one’s got the whole warp core humming.
 
00:01:10 Welcome in, server shoutouts, cat shirt energy00:06:01 Family visit recap, missed Studio B, Sunday show setup00:08:27 Ball cap vs dad hat vs trucker hat comedy detour00:15:23 Studio B makeup show plans and community dedication00:18:09 March Talking Trek STFC survey opens00:21:15 Infinite Incursions blog post begins00:22:49 Incursions shortened from 24 hours to 12 hours00:24:15 APAC date correction and timing clarification00:27:10 Why one unshielded base can swing a whole server00:28:53 Base raiding removed from server-vs-server scoring00:31:07 Debate over whether raiding and defense will still matter00:33:43 Attacker-side Armada scoring concerns00:34:23 DJz pitches a home-and-away incursion doubleheader format00:39:49 Klingon Armadas added, but cloaking becomes the giant red flag01:27:14 PvP banding criticism and why ops banding “fixes nothing” for some players02:14:30 Interim blog post starts, CoTA updates arrive02:15:26 Zephram Cochrane revealed for CoTA, plus flash pass details02:16:03 Quark events, easier completion, and clearer interim meta structure02:42:23 New 28-day cycle and shifted arc start dates explained03:00:08 Is Zephram Cochrane worth it? Final verdict and closing notes

Tonight on Talking Trek, DJz and Griffin tackle one of the hottest STFC topics in the community: the return of CoTA, why it was canceled, why it may be back for only one more run, and why players are so split on the decision. Before that, DJz clears the air on the recent apology controversy and addresses the rumors surrounding his original statement to the community. Then the show goes full teaching mode with special guest Sudo, creator of STFC.phd, for a deep dive into battle log parsing, sub-rounds, officer activations, mitigation, hidden combat data, and how players can use the tool to improve their gameplay.
In the second half, Jules Vern delivers a massive “20 tips for your 20s” presentation focused on low and mid-ops progression, covering ship priorities, faction strategy, away teams, event traps, community tools, and how newer players can avoid costly mistakes. The episode closes with a lengthy community roundtable on CoTA, player trust, communication, hoarding strategy, and the ongoing tug-of-war between player value and game economics. If you enjoy STFC strategy, game analysis, community debate, and a little live-show chaos along the way, this one has the whole buffet.
 
00:52 Welcome in, server sound off, and tonight’s roadmap11:31 Sudo tech gremlins, live troubleshooting, and studio banter23:14 The apology controversy, community perception, and “who was it for?”34:53 Sudo finally joins and the STFC.phd deep dive begins46:24 Sub-rounds explained and why battle mechanics fire the way they do57:46 Forbidden Tech, Chaos Tech, and the hidden data inside logs01:09:13 Why STFC.phd matters for diagnosing bad fights and crewing mistakes01:20:44 Community log submissions, examples, and how players can help the tool grow01:32:42 Sudo wrap-up, support talk, and transition to the next teaching segment01:43:49 Jules Vern’s “20 in 20” ship priorities for early and mid ops players01:55:16 Away teams, trait XP, crit strategy, and long-term account planning02:06:50 Kobayashi-style pass warning, alliance tournaments, and spending traps02:18:17 Alliance culture, community value, and the final stretch of Jules’ presentation02:29:57 CoTA returns: why it’s back, why players care, and why it may change02:41:22 Community backlash to CoTA’s return and the “vocal minority” debate02:52:51 Callers weigh in on whether “one more run” is still a win03:04:27 Communication issues, delayed feedback, and why players felt blindsided03:15:57 Free-to-play vs spender perspectives on CoTA and event expectations03:27:26 Planning lessons, hoarding strategy, and why you should never spend to zero03:38:57 Final thoughts, thanks to guests and callers, and good night