OK, it's not as pretty as I'd like it, wasn't expecting the sticky so soon. If anyone spots a mistake please let me know. Credit to Strolan for some help with notes on the Nova side (much cleaner than my notes, I was rushing)
Before you begine the quest line there are a couple of things to keep in mind;
First, when doing these quests in Ord Mantel space be aware of your surroundings! Ord Mantel is full of T6-10 spawns that will love to aggro you. Many of these missions are difficult. If you involve the local they become next to impossible. Also, be sure to have counter measures on your ship. The higher tiers love using missles and they hit hard.
For comparison of difficulty a Tier 7 missile will do around 2k damage, a Tier 8 missile 2.5k (I think) and a Tier 10 blaster can do 1.5-2k.
Next, make it a habit to move any crystals you recieve as rewards or loot to your backpack. For some reason you only get singles if you leave them in your inventory. But if they are in your pack then you can get higher loot drops (5-10). Most smugglers are used to doing this with the smuggling loot that drops.
Lastly, on the quests that come later that have you move from sector to sector you can take breaks to repair/reload CM's. Like all other JtL quest the mission does not start until you enter that sector. Take advantage of these breaks to make sure your ship is fresh.
Note, before you can start the quest you have to do a pre-req from Maikia, she will only talk to master pilots, so any non-masters I'm afraid while you can have a look around, you can't do any of the quests. Once you have done Maikia's quests once you don't have to do them again.
Maikia - in landing hanger.
Rescue freighter - dantooine system.
Starts with a nice simple patrol, at the end of the patrol you'll see the freighter sitting disabled, dock to repair and escort it, a single tier 6 ixiyen will attack (these guys are a little tougher than tier 5, but not much). Once escort has completed go back to nova (NB: You cannot home port, it will take you to corellia).
Maikia will recommend you get a job so head on to Willard, he is the "promotions" guy, see him any time you need a promotion, or when you restart the quests.
The first promotion is free and gives the rank of "Mailroom Attendant" reporting to Byrec (2nd hanger)
In the room with Willard is Evie Denigh. She is the HR manager and when you want to restart the station talk to her and resign, unfortunately you can't start as a game designer, but you can go back as the Mailroom Attendant. As you'll soon see, it is vital you get to know Evie.
Well, now the pre-req is done, you've started your new job and go report to Byrec.
Byrec wants you to do a fairly simple delivery, collect from a Corsec ship. As you head to the delivery (or after you arrive if you have >1500ish speed) two tier 6 ixiyens will ambush you, once delivery is done head back to Byrec (remember the distance bug above)
Reward 50 Crystals (Officially Midlithe Crystals, personally I wonder if a dev is having a midlife crisis and let it affect his/her work)
Now is a fairly simple pirate patrol, finish it then hit ships at a given waypoint. Note: The ships can get tangled up with a nearby static spawn, focus on tier 6 ships and the right ones will count and respawn at the waypoint you were given NB: Remember the waypoint, those guys will replace the blackscales as the grinding spot of choice, there are a few similar 3-ship T6 spawns. After you kill the T6 ships then another patrol is triggered but at the end this time is an ambush by 5 tier 6 ships. Kill em and return to base.
Reward 50 Crystals
With the fleet thinned a bit time to kill the leader, follow a simple patrol route. Note, the escort are not required kills, but if you kill the leader first they'll hang around long enough to show you they aren't happy with you, so take em down as well. Then return to base.
Reward 50 Crystals
Now, you need a promotion, mailroom assistants don't get the good missions, but you need to bribe Willard to get the promotion, and he wants 200 crystals before he makes you a "Security Officer"
The eagle eyed among you will have noted the rewards above only come to 150, assuming 10 from kills still leaves you 40 short.
Either go mad from grinding (which you'll be anyway if you want a gunship) or go resign at Evie, then do the mailroom again. That'll put you at just over 300, however, the next promotion will cost you 300, and the last one costs 500, as you'll see as you read through the guide the missions continue to under reward. Therefore before you take the promotion "bank" some crystals. Assuming you want the two reward schems from your side you'll need a total of 2,100. You'll get 475 from the rest of the missions so make sure you have at least 1,625 before you take that first promotion. A bug is being investigated where you can increase your crystal drop rate by moving them into a backpack. Further details to be confirmed following 8.1.
Once you are ready, take the promotion and report to Dexen on the lower level, he has a nice long mission to start you off with, it seems some freighters need an escort. First in Nova space (Tier 7 ixiyens will attack you, they aren't too bad as long as they don't all hit you at once, watch their missiles, but you should be able to cover them with a shunt). Second is Dathomir space, Emperor's hand nearest hyperpoint, Black Sun tier 5's will attack you, nice and easy, once escort finished hyperspace to Corsec wing at corellia. Again black sun will attack but second wave brings the Dark Eclipse out to play. If you are fast enough the freighter will make it out before the Eclipse has a chance to do anything, I've not seen what happens if it opens fire, that could be messy. Finally a flight to tatooine Outer Rim and we are back to familiar tier 7 pirates although with up to 5 of them it gets a bit more interesting, once he hypers out return to Nova
Reward 50 crystals
Parts for repair - A freighter has broken down, you have to go collect some parts (needs more than a jump start this time) and dock with the disabled ship. Tier 5 chiss ships will attack, then head to Trifecta Star at corellia for another round, once done there head back to nova
Reward 50 crystals
Rescue Nova Transport - he's been captured by some nasty tier 7 fighters, but he isn't your biggest problem. This clever little ship is about to fly into a tier 8-10 spawn. If he makes it.../esc yes. Trust me, that's easier than trying to tangle with them all. Easy to workaround tho, disable the freighter first, then tangle with its escort. Once it's captured you'll get attacked by some tier 7 fighters, and an ambush at the end you have to clear. Once all done return to Nova.
Reward 50 crystals
This time move on to Skyron Waurie (central level)
You'll find out the cause of the split between Nova and Orion and be sent on a revenge mission to kill those responsible.
Starts in nova with 5 tier 6 kihraxz with buggy engine graphics and missing weapon graphics then on to yavin (smugglers run, nearest) for 1 tier 7, and 4 tier 6 (same bugs as those in nova on graphics, while the tier 7 isn't bugged) then hyperspace to naboo (%TO bug through this mission) royal way nearest, for some tier 7 ixiyens and a tier 7 rihk, the rihk is missing weapons and has some kiharx looking engines (i.e. too small, and not quite in right space). Finally return to nova for a tier 8 lead with tier 7 escorts, all rihk, again all ships have the missing weapons and wrong engines
Once complete you will find a small toy ISD in your inventory, it is no trade and is unique, so cannot be put on display Either give it to Nova on the upper level (ion cannon and engine) or Orion (Disruptor and engine). To choose just drag and drop the toy from your inventory onto the NPC. If you really, really like the toy don't worry, it'll make a comeback later on.
Reward 50 crystals
ORION PATH
Now, another promotion this time to "researcher" costing 300 crystals, then on to Rassthern (central level)
Aim is to disrupt the Nova operations, first a patrol to locate where nova is hyperspacing in his supplies.
Hold the new waypoint long enough and return to base (sounds simpler than it is, hehe)
Spawn is of tier 6+ ships.
Oh, and imperial pilots...bad luck, the spawn location is right next to the rebel tier 5 fighter static spawn, so as well as tangling with the nova ships, you've got a small fleet of rebels who don't like you. Probably a bug, but by now who's counting?
Reward 50 crystals
Resupplied - this time a capture mission starts with a patrol, followed by the capture, tier 3 freighter with some tier 7 escort. Once captured Tier 6 waves attack, along with the freighter pilot being a bit dumb and ending his hyperspace in a static spawn of Tier 6-9 ships, he should make it out, try not to get blown up before he does.
Reward this time is 75 crystals (oooh)
Rescue Orion Shipment - patrol, then dock with disabled ship, escort it.
Reward 75 crystals
Next mission is Cut off the head...patrol then a single tier 9, stay in behind him and you'll be ok, also note, he's bugged and missing his engine and guns. Kill him and return to nova.
Reward 75 crystals
Another promotion - this time for 500 crystals and to the title of Chief of Production, now report to Garrick Orion (downstairs in the droid repair room)
Mission - Hold off Nova fighters
Hold waypoint. Tier 7 and 8 fighters, these missions do get a bit hairy.
You are told to return to base - IGNORE IT, do not pass go, do not hit /esc yes!!!!!
You'll get the next bit of the mission after 5 seconds, so wait.
Same again for next bit.
Except this time the devs have been really kind and put a tier 6-9 spawn patrol path next to the waypoint - be very lucky and you win (nearest point is around 700m from the waypoint, but if you are in a furball you can close enough to aggro them, and that's then a rather more....interesting furball (also known as the exploding dwarf furball)
Again, you are told to return to base, IGNORE IT
Big battle tier 8, make sure you shoot nova only (yes, you can shoot orion, but they don't like it when you do that!) 6 enemy ships, again missing engines and weapons, once all dead return to base.
Reward - Nothing
Next mission Recover the transport - note no reward indicated this time.
4 Tier 8's escorting the freighter, then a nice long escort followed by a 3 tier 8 ambush. Again, the regular engine/weapon bugs, but otherwise not too bad.
NOTE: Rebel pilots bad luck, the ambush takes place within 1km of the imperial vette so be lucky and he'll not be nearby, if he is...well..good luck, you'll need it.
Reward - nothing (as expected)
Next mission - Open warfare
4 phases of tier 8 vs tier 8 battles, note - shoot the right side only or you are in for a world of hurt.
Reward - no crystals, but promotion for free to VP of research and clearance to buy from Nemdon Ralleck.
NB: You cannot buy from Cyll as an Orion supporter.
NOVA PATH
Another promotion this time to "researcher" costing 300 crystals - Report to Vothinyak - Med Center Central Level (-55, 6)
"Rescue Shipment"
Launch to Ord Mantell. Patrol waypoints until you get message to wait for the frieghter ("Spring the Trap). Dock and then Escort. At the end of the Escort one Tier 6 Orion fighter will spawn. Worthy to note tha it cons yellow instead of red. Kill it and the mission is finished.
Reward 50 Crystals
"Hyperspace is not safe" - Disrupt Hyperspace point
Maunch to Ord Mantel. Patrol Waypoints. Final Waypoint you have to hold for a certain amount of time while Orion fighters spawn. 3 waves T6 Scyks, T7 Dunelizards and T8 Kimo's all missing engines and guns. 1 Tier 4 Frieghter also spawns that you should kill as well. Make sure you stay close to the waypoint you have to hold. If you get to far away for to long the mision will fail and you will have to start over.
Reward 50 Crystals
"Resupplying" - Protect supply convoy
This time it is your tuen to protect a frieghter. Starts with patrol that ends with escort. Mission spawns the same 6-8 spawns you are used to. WARNING - This mission spawns right next to a Tier 10 Krask spawn.
Reward 75 Crystals
"Orion's #1 Pilot"
Starts as a patrol and ends with 1 tier 9 Duneie. Vap it and head back to Nova base.
Reward 75 Crystals
ALL OUT WAR
See Willard for your next promotion. It will cost you 500 crystals. Title "Chief of Science". Next see Jones Nova on the Upper level. (-17, -70)
"Recover the Nova Transport"
Disable the Transport first. You canusually do this before the 3 T8 Dunies aggro. After the Transport is disabled clean up the Escort. Then you have to escort the Transport. At the end 4 T8's will ambush you. Kill them and head back to Jonas.
No Reward.
"Rising Violence" - Hold off Orion Fighters
As the mission inplies this is another mission where you have to hold a waypoint as waves of fighters spawn. 3 T8 Scysk's, 3 T8 Dunelizards and 3 T8 Kimo's.
You are told to return to base - IGNORE IT, do not pass go, do not hit /esc yes!!!!!
After you finish that one you will get another one of the same thing. After you complete the second one again don't /esc! You will get the next mission;
"Join the Battle"
There will be 7 or so Orions and 5 or so Nova's. This mission is easy, just kill the Orion's. However, if you accidentally nick a Nova you are in toruble. Try you best to finish if this happens because if you don't complete you will have to repeat all three missions. Once complete head back to Jonas
At this point you would think you are done, right? Wrong!
No Reward
"To Arms!"
This is 3 seperate battles of 6 Orions on 6 Nova's culminating in one Final Battle. Like the last mission these aren't that tough unless you hit a Nova fighter. Good luck!
Once you are done Jonas gives you permission to purchase from his vendor. Like the Orion Quest line you can purchase for the Orion vendor
OK - MAKE SURE YOU READ THIS BIT - IMPORTANT
Once you have done one side you can resign and when you get the toy you can choose to support the other side. After you have finished BOTH Nova AND Orion make sure you talk to whichever you did last before you resign again.
It seems that the whole Nova Orion crisis is a classic star wars tale of Jedi getting involved in other people's affairs. In this case the meddler is a Jer-Doac Vaine and there are a few missions to go through to sort him out. I'm afraid my notes are very sparse as I was rushing through for QA but the basics of the missions are as follows:
First is a patrol, a few T6 Firesprays, nice and simple to start with, a few T6 and T7 Firesprays up next, again fairly simple, then hyper off to tatooine
Now...a bit more interesting...some T7 Firesprays (easy enough) and a few T6 decimators. Yup, decimators. This is where it starts to get interesting.
Once you take them down it's off to capture a T7 firespray and uncover the plot.
Now, the final mission. Called "Endgame". Starts off with 3 T7 Decimators (yup, tougher model) with some firesprays. Note, they will spawn near your faction for imps and rebels (not sure on freelance). You can use the nearby vette to help, but ensure you get some damage on each ship, or you can bug the mission and need to restart.
Second part is off for some more T7 Deci's and Firesprays.
NB: there should be time to race to Nova/Orion station for a quick repair if you need it.
Now...the big bad guy decides to show up.
Vaine flies a Tier 9 (Nine) warlord cruiser (Dark Eclipse style ship) with a Tier 7 Decimator and a bunch of Tier 7/8 Firesprays.
All I can say...Enjoy.
Once you get back to base you can finally put Katiara to rest. You'll be given a gravestone to place on her grave (you know those flowers in the atrium at the top layer you kept running over...oops!).
Once the gravestone is placed a blue glowie young girl will appear, talk to her and receive the ISD toy (this time non-unique so can be put on display, but still no-trade) and a new space buff. Lasts 2 hours and increases the drop rates of crystals (as of 8.0 is bugged in fighters) and collection items (no idea if it is working or not, difficult to test for sure, I couldn't see any benefit). Buff survives logout, but I understand is once only.
Oh, and the real reward is your new rank as Director of Nova Orion (shows as badge Nova Orion Peacekeeper) which means you can buy the nova engine/ion cannon and orion engine/disruptor whatever rank you have, so once you have the final mission done it's then just grind 550 crystals per schem you need.
