Basket tries the second layout of the Zoltan Cruiser: "This one has no shields, it has two disabling weapons, and then a slower recharge pike beam." The ship is the Noether, on Normal with Advanced Edition content enabled, carrying two Ion Blasts, a Pike Beam and the Zoltan Shield augmentation. The crew list shows three Zoltans, Lanng, Kozar and Caris. Over six parts the crew grows to seven, and the Noether destroys the Rebel Flagship in Sector 8 with a score of 4346.
Part 1: Disable everything
Sector 1 is a Civilian Sector. The plan is to keep enemies helpless: one Ion Blast on the shields, the other on the weapons, then the Pike Beam "slowly hurts him." It works on the first ships. At the first store Basket buys a Scrap Recovery Arm "for the long haul."
A ship with crew teleporting gives up a Human crew member, T'ten, before it can board. A fight beside a sun starts fires on board, and Basket admits, "I messed this up," but the fires go out. The part ends with little damage taken and plenty of fuel.
Part 2: Drones, a Clone Bay and a Vulcan
Sector 2 is an Engi Controlled Sector. The first store sells Drone Control, and Basket adds an Anti-Combat Drone and a combat drone. A cache event gives a Defense Drone Mark I, and a second store sells a Clone Bay. "Let's do the cloning Bay."
Sector 3 is the Uncharted Nebula. A fleeing ship surrenders, and the quest beacon turns out to be a store with a Vulcan. "Oh the choices," Basket says, and buys it, then sells the Defense Drone and hires an Engi, Jose. A later store adds a Zoltan, Yeoz. The scrap keeps coming, and Basket notices why: "we do have a scrap recovery arm, so that might explain why we're getting so much more money."
Part 3: Slug space, still no shields
Sector 4 is the Slug Home Nebula. Without shields, the first fight against a Slug Light-Cruiser goes badly: fires, damaged drones and doors. "So that was a little messy to say the least." Basket sells the Pike Beam to pay for repairs.
A Pirate Light-Surveyor runs the black market. Basket attacks instead, and its surrender brings shields and a Heavy Laser Mark I. "I will definitely accept." A Backup Battery comes from the next store. Then a Slug Assault named "The Black Raven" hails the ship, Captain Nights issues a challenge, Basket declines, and it attacks anyway. It yields, handing over a second Heavy Laser Mark I.
Part 4: A Mantis joins
Sector 5 is a Mantis Controlled Sector. Basket sells an Ion Blast and puts the scrap into weapons power so the Heavy Lasers can run. A distress signal is a trap, but the attacker surrenders.
A young Mantis teleports aboard asking for sanctuary from the Engi, and Basket sides with the fugitive. "I got a guy. Good." The Engi Bomber is beaten, and Breckon joins the crew list. A ship with three shields sends boarders over, the crew fights them off, and the part ends with a shield upgrade bought.
Part 5: The virus
Sector 6 is another Engi Controlled Sector. Basket sells the combat drone for a Hull Repair drone, swaps the last Ion Blast for an Ion Charger, and a nearby station hands over a free Stun Bomb.
Sector 7 is the Engi Homeworlds. A ship carries a virus, and Jose leaves the crew list. After an Engi Hacker is beaten, the event text says the Engi crew member has reformed, reprogrammed by the virus, and a new Engi named Virus joins. "Oh my goodness so I got a guy that's awesome with everything," Basket says.
The part ends at the outpost near the Federation Base, where a popup reads "Zoltan Cruiser Type C." "We got the next ship."
Part 6: The Last Stand
Sector 8 is The Last Stand. Basket spends the scrap on upgrades and then meets the Rebel Flagship. The first stage goes well: "we only took a sliver of damage." Between stages Basket takes on another ship and says, "we got the achievement."
The second stage sends boarders and drones, and the crew repairs and fights through it. In the third stage boarders teleport in again, and Basket says, "I need to get my Captain not mind controlled anymore." The Hull Repair drone keeps the ship going, the Flagship's shields come down, and it breaks apart. "We killed it! Yes!"
How it ended
Popups announce two more ships unlocked, the Lanius Cruiser and the Mantis Cruiser. "I didn't think I was going to unlock all that stuff." The end crawl thanks the Noether "and her successful crew: Lanng, Kozar, Caris, T'ten, Yeoz, Breckon and Virus." The victory screen reads "Congratulations! You've defeated the Rebel Flagship and ensured the victory of the Federation!" with a score of 4346 and "New High Score!" Basket then looks through the new ships in the hangar before the end cards.
