Tactical Strike Group, usually shortened to TSG, is Star Citizen's large cooperative InterSec operation in the Nyx system. The full contract sends an organized fleet against a Shattered Blade-controlled QV Extraction Station and combines exterior fleet combat, precision trench flying, mixed ballistic and energy weapon requirements, FPS infiltration and the rescue of People's Alliance pilot Gabe Windell.
Quick answer: to unlock the full Tactical Strike Group Needed contract, complete the InterSec introductory mission in Nyx and reach Sr. Contractor with InterSec Defense Solutions. Sr. Contractor begins at 5,800 reputation XP. The operation is designed for 7 or more ships, the contract is shareable, and the current reward data gives one blueprint from each of two reward pools plus InterSec reputation.
Tactical Strike Group was originally introduced with Alpha 4.8, but it remains active in the current LIVE game. This guide therefore treats the activity as evergreen content instead of tying every section to an old patch number.
If you are still building the required standing, see our Star Citizen Reputation Guide. For the Nyx system itself, use the Star Citizen Nyx Guide. Players who need organized assistance with the operation can also check the Tactical Strike Group service.
Last verified: September 2026. Mission rewards, reputation requirements and technical behavior can change between LIVE builds, so check the active contract before committing a large fleet.
Star Citizen TSG at a Glance
| TSG detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Full contract | Tactical Strike Group Needed |
| Faction | InterSec Defense Solutions |
| System | Nyx |
| Location | QV Extraction Station |
| Required InterSec rank | Sr. Contractor or higher |
| Sr. Contractor threshold | 5,800 reputation XP |
| Recommended force | 7+ ships of different sizes and roles |
| Shareable | Yes |
| Main operation | 6 numbered phases |
| Current TSG reputation reward | +300 InterSec reputation |
| Blueprint rewards | 1 blueprint from Pool 1 + 1 blueprint from Pool 2 |
| Post-mission threat | Vanduul Mauler and escort |
What Is TSG in Star Citizen?
TSG means Tactical Strike Group. It is an endgame Verified Mercenary operation offered by InterSec Defense Solutions in Nyx.
The operation is different from a normal bounty or mercenary mission because one loadout cannot solve every objective. The full strike force must be able to handle:
- large-scale ship combat;
- defense of the People's Alliance Idris Tranquility;
- ballistic attacks against hardened power relays;
- energy-weapon attacks against cooling units;
- small-ship trench navigation;
- distortion and radiation hazards;
- FPS boarding and interior combat;
- pilot extraction;
- a dangerous post-completion Vanduul encounter.
The mission rewards a balanced fleet much more than simply stacking as many large ships as possible.
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How to Unlock Tactical Strike Group
The current TSG unlock has two important parts: the InterSec introductory contract and the required Sr. Contractor reputation rank.
Step 1: Go to Nyx
InterSec Defense Solutions operates its current independent-contractor mission network around the Nyx system. Move your character and practical respawn/logistics setup into Nyx before starting the reputation grind.
Step 2: Complete New Defense Contract: Elimination
The current introduction is the once-only New Defense Contract: [TargetName] Elimination mission.
Completing this mission:
- awards InterSec reputation;
- marks the InterSec introduction as complete;
- unlocks the wider InterSec mission network;
- allows later rank-gated contracts to become available as your reputation increases.
Step 3: Reach Sr. Contractor
| InterSec rank | Reputation XP required |
|---|---|
| Neutral | 0 |
| Jr. Contractor | 800 |
| Contractor | 2,200 |
| Sr. Contractor | 5,800 |
| Veteran Contractor | 15,000 |
| Head Contractor | 38,000 |
| Elite Contractor | 95,250 |
Tactical Strike Group Needed becomes available from Sr. Contractor onward. If you are already Veteran, Head or Elite Contractor, you are above the minimum reputation gate.
Step 4: Find Tactical Strike Group Needed
Once the requirements are satisfied, check the Contract Manager in Nyx for the InterSec Defense Solutions Mercenary contract named Tactical Strike Group Needed.
The contract is currently marked as shareable. This means the player who has unlocked the contract can accept it and share the mission with the party. Other players still benefit from leveling their own InterSec reputation if they want to independently accept and organize future TSG runs.
InterSec Missions List and Reputation Progression
Search results often mix Tactical Strike Group with the wider InterSec mission network. The important distinction is that the introduction unlocks a broad set of InterSec contracts, while individual missions may still have their own reputation or prerequisite requirements.
Current InterSec mission families include contracts such as:
- Defend InterSec Operative;
- Operative Extraction;
- Protect Vital Asset;
- Pilot Under Fire From Vanduul;
- Handle Vanduul Attack on Ship;
- Terrorist [TargetName] to be Neutralized;
- Neutralize UEE Threat;
- Preemptive Strike;
- Neutralize Vanduul Target;
- Eliminate Vanduul Ship;
- Patrol Dangerous Sector;
- Strategic Bombing;
- Assist People's Alliance Vessel Tranquility;
- Tactical Strike Group Needed.
Availability changes as reputation and mission-chain requirements are satisfied, so do not expect every InterSec contract to appear immediately after the introduction.
Fastest Way to Grind InterSec Reputation
The fastest reputation route is the highest-value InterSec mission you can complete consistently, not simply the most difficult contract on the list.
The current reputation threshold for TSG is 5,800 XP. The introductory Elimination mission currently gives 100 reputation, leaving 5,700 after the introduction if you started at zero.
| Example InterSec contract | Current reputation reward | Use in the grind |
|---|---|---|
| New Defense Contract: Elimination | +100 | Mandatory introduction |
| Defend InterSec Operative | +100 | Standard repeatable progression |
| Strategic Bombing | +200 | Higher-value reputation option when available |
| Neutralize Vanduul Target | +250 | Strong reputation value when the chain is unlocked |
| Tactical Strike Group Needed | +300 | Available after reaching Sr. Contractor |
If every post-intro mission gave only 100 reputation, 5,700 remaining XP would require 57 successful completions. At 200 each it would be about 29, and at 250 it would be about 23. In practice your route is mixed because higher-reputation contracts have their own unlocks.
Best InterSec rep strategy
- Complete the introduction first.
- Stay in Nyx instead of traveling between unrelated systems.
- Use one or two InterSec missions with a high completion rate.
- Move into higher-reputation contracts as they unlock.
- Skip missions that repeatedly fail because of technical problems.
- Track the actual reputation bar rather than only the aUEC payout.
- Stop once you reach Sr. Contractor if TSG is your only objective.
For a broader explanation of faction ranks and mission reputation, use the Star Citizen Reputation Guide.
Can You Solo Tactical Strike Group?
TSG is not designed as a solo activity. The official mission design recommends a squadron of 7 or more ships across multiple sizes and classes.
The reason is structural rather than simply enemy health. The operation simultaneously demands:
- exterior fleet combat;
- Tranquility defense;
- precision trench pilots;
- mixed damage types;
- FPS troops;
- extraction support.
Highly optimized groups may attempt the operation with fewer ships, but that should be treated as a challenge run rather than the normal recommendation.
If you are organizing a first clear, build around the official 7+ ship baseline.
Best TSG Fleet Composition
There is no single mandatory fleet list. Tactical Strike Group is specifically designed around role diversity.
A practical seven-ship starting structure is:
| Fleet role | Suggested count | Main responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Small / agile fighters | 2–3 | Trench runs, Cooling Units, fighter interception |
| Heavy fighters / gunships | 2 | Exterior ship combat and sustained fire |
| Heavy combat platform | 1 | Station pressure, large hostile ships and fleet support |
| Infantry transport / flexible ship | 1 | FPS deployment and pilot extraction |
This is an example composition, not a hard requirement. Adjust the fleet around the ships and players your organization actually handles well.
Do you need a player-owned capital ship?
No. A player-owned Idris, Polaris or other capital ship can add firepower and logistics, but the operation does not require your group to own one.
The mission itself provides the People's Alliance Idris Tranquility as a forward support platform. Ships that can use its hangar can receive repair, rearm and refuel services during the operation.
Capital support becomes especially useful if your group intends to stay for the post-completion Vanduul Mauler encounter, but it should be treated as an advantage rather than an unlock requirement.
Ballistic vs Energy Weapons in Tactical Strike Group
This is one of the most important mechanics in the operation because the correct weapon type changes between phases.
| Objective | Correct damage focus | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Power Relays | Ballistic | Relays are hardened against energy weapons |
| Cooling Units | Energy | Cooling Units are vulnerable to energy weapons and hardened against ballistic damage |
| Core components | Energy | Energy weapons are effective against the exposed core systems |
| Enemy ships | Fleet-dependent | Use the normal weapon mix best suited to the target and your ships |
Do not arrive with a fleet where every pilot runs the same damage type. TSG is explicitly designed to punish that approach.
Tactical Strike Group Mission Phases
The full Tactical Strike Group contract contains six numbered phases.
| Phase | Objective | Primary team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Approach and defend Tranquility | Whole fleet / exterior combat |
| 2 | Destroy Power Relays | Ballistic-equipped ships |
| 3 | Destroy Cooling Units | Small agile ships with energy weapons |
| 4 | Destroy the Core and defend Tranquility | Split core team + exterior defense |
| 5 | Infiltrate and override the station | FPS team |
| 6 | Escort Gabe Windell to safety | FPS extraction + fleet cover |
Phase 1: Defend Tranquility
The operation begins around the People's Alliance Idris Tranquility. Establish control of the combat space and prevent hostile forces from overwhelming the allied ship.
Tranquility is not background scenery. It remains the fleet's forward repair, rearm and refuel point throughout the mission.
Phase 2: Destroy the Power Relays
The station's external defenses cannot simply be brute-forced. The exposed Power Relays must be destroyed to open access into the superstructure.
Use ballistic weapons. Energy weapons are ineffective against these hardened station targets.
Phase 3: Destroy the Cooling Units
After the relays are destroyed, access opens into the station's internal trench network.
This phase belongs to your best small-ship pilots. The tunnels:
- favor smaller and more maneuverable ships;
- apply distortion pressure while pilots remain inside;
- contain Cooling Units that should be attacked with energy weapons.
Do not send the largest available combat ship into a trench simply because it has more DPS.
Phase 4: Destroy the Core and Defend Tranquility
The fleet now has two simultaneous responsibilities. One element pushes into the core chamber while exterior ships continue defending Tranquility.
Distortion and radiation hazards increase around the core area. Energy weapons remain relevant against the core components.
Phase 5: Infiltrate and Override
Once the station is sufficiently disabled, the operation transitions from ship combat into FPS gameplay.
The ground team boards the QV Extraction Station, fights through Shattered Blade personnel and reaches the required override objective.
For current weapon recommendations, see our Star Citizen FPS Weapons Tier List.
Phase 6: Escort Gabe to Safety
The final numbered objective is to recover People's Alliance pilot Gabe Windell and move him safely away from the station.
Assign one player to track Gabe and the extraction objective while the rest of the FPS and fleet elements provide cover.
The Vanduul Mauler Is a Post-Completion Encounter
The Mauler is not a seventh numbered TSG phase. After the core mission objectives and Gabe extraction are completed, a Vanduul Mauler and fighter escort can arrive in the area.
This distinction matters because the fleet should decide whether it is still healthy enough to continue fighting.
If multiple ships are damaged, ammunition is low or the group only wanted the contract reward, disengaging can be more rational than turning an already successful operation into an unnecessary fleet loss.
If your organization specifically wants the Mauler encounter, prepare additional sustained anti-large-ship damage and keep enough ships combat-capable after the six main phases.
Best Pilot and FPS Loadout for TSG
Tactical Strike Group has one unusual equipment problem: the best cockpit gear is not necessarily the best FPS gear.
Trench pilots should care about G-force tolerance
Flight suits improve G-force tolerance, while combat armor reduces it. Full heavy combat armor has a particularly large negative effect on a pilot's ability to sustain high-G maneuvering.
For pilots assigned to the trench phase:
- prefer a racing or combat flight suit while flying;
- avoid unnecessary heavy armor during precision flight;
- carry or stage FPS equipment separately if you will later join the ground team.
FPS team equipment
- medium or heavy combat armor;
- reliable rifle, SMG or LMG;
- secondary weapon;
- enough magazines or batteries;
- MedPens and/or medical device;
- backpack;
- optional Multi-Tool for utility.
Do not expect the station to supply the equipment your squad forgot.
TSG Preparation Checklist
| Preparation | Required action |
|---|---|
| Contract owner | Confirm Sr. Contractor or higher and TSG visibility |
| Mission sharing | Invite party and share the contract before departure |
| Fleet | Target 7+ ships with different roles |
| Ballistics | Enough ballistic damage for Power Relays |
| Energy weapons | Enough energy damage for Cooling Units and core systems |
| Trench team | Assign skilled small-ship pilots |
| FPS team | Armor, weapons, ammo, meds and backpacks ready |
| Flight gear | Do not force trench pilots into full heavy armor |
| Repair/rearm | Use Tranquility when the ship can access its services |
| Command | One player calls phase changes and target priority |
Current Tactical Strike Group Rewards
The current LIVE mission data is much clearer than older TSG reward lists.
A completed Tactical Strike Group Needed contract currently awards:
- one blueprint from Reward Pool 1 with a 100% pool drop chance;
- one blueprint from Reward Pool 2 with a 100% pool drop chance;
- +300 InterSec Defense Solutions reputation.
This means the current contract awards two blueprint rolls per completion — one from each pool. It is not one blueprint randomly selected from either pool.
TSG Blueprint Pool 1 — Ship Components and Weapons
- Omnisky III Cannon;
- Omnisky VI Cannon;
- Omnisky IX Cannon;
- Omnisky XII Cannon;
- Omnisky XV Cannon;
- Omnisky XVIII Cannon;
- QuadraCell MX;
- JS-300;
- JS-400;
- JS-500.
TSG Blueprint Pool 2 — FPS and Flight Equipment
- Neutrino Racing Flight Suit WhiteHot;
- Neutrino Racing Flight Suit BlackFire;
- Neutrino Racing Flight Suit BlueFlame;
- Neutrino Racing Helmet WhiteHot;
- Neutrino Racing Helmet BlackFire;
- Neutrino Racing Helmet BlueFlame;
- Novian Crossbow;
- Novian "Nighthunter" Crossbow;
- Novian "Ghostmaker" Crossbow;
- Novian "Wildshot" Crossbow;
- Tailwind Flight Helmet Thunderstruck;
- Tailwind Flight Helmet Blue Skies;
- Tailwind Flight Helmet Frostshock;
- Tailwind Flight Helmet Airwolf.
Specific blueprints are random within each pool, so collecting the entire TSG blueprint set requires repeat completions.
Do not hard-code a specific aUEC payout into a long-lived guide. If the active contract shows a monetary reward, use the value shown in the current Contract Manager.
TSG Loot at QV Extraction Stations
Contract rewards and station loot are two different things.
QV Extraction Stations contain multiple loot areas. Documented locations include:
- main loot rooms;
- smaller armories;
- component spawns in the hangar;
- component spawns around Cargo Deck A;
- component spawns around Cargo Deck B.
If the group intends to loot after the operation, separate a loot team from the combat-ready element and do not assume the area is safe simply because the six contract objectives are finished.
Related InterSec Tactical Strike Contracts
Do not confuse the full cooperative TSG operation with other InterSec contracts that use related locations or characters.
| Contract | Role |
|---|---|
| Tactical Strike Group Needed | Full six-phase cooperative TSG operation |
| Assist People's Alliance Vessel Tranquility | Separate InterSec combat contract involving Tranquility |
| Strategic Bombing | Separate InterSec strike contract |
If you are looking for the complete six-phase asteroid-base operation and its two blueprint reward pools, the contract name you want is Tactical Strike Group Needed.
Current LIVE TSG Status
Tactical Strike Group remains active in the current LIVE game. Recent updates have specifically fixed multiple TSG problems, including:
- Vanduul fighters failing to spawn on arrival;
- the mission getting stuck at a Go To objective;
- S12 station turrets firing outside their intended angle;
- the Central Hub door panel being unavailable;
- collision and geometry problems around the TSG station and core.
This is another reason not to keep the guide titled around Alpha 4.8. TSG is now a persistent Nyx/InterSec activity with ongoing fixes and balance changes.
Common Tactical Strike Group Mistakes
Grinding the wrong faction
TSG is gated by InterSec Defense Solutions. Unrelated mercenary reputation does not replace the InterSec requirement.
Stopping at Contractor instead of Sr. Contractor
TSG currently starts at Sr. Contractor, which requires 5,800 InterSec reputation XP.
Assuming every party member needs to accept their own TSG
The current contract is shareable. The unlocked mission owner can share it with the group.
Running only energy weapons
Power Relays specifically require ballistic damage.
Running only ballistic weapons
Cooling Units and core components favor energy damage.
Sending heavy ships into the trench
The internal routes are built around smaller, maneuverable ships.
Flying the trench in full heavy armor
Heavy combat armor significantly reduces G-force tolerance.
Forgetting the FPS transition
The operation includes a mandatory interior infiltration and rescue phase.
Treating the Mauler as one of the required six phases
The six-phase contract concludes with Gabe extraction. The Mauler arrives afterward.
Believing old reward charts
Current TSG data gives one blueprint from each of two pools, not one blueprint total from a combined pool.
Star Citizen TSG FAQ
What does TSG mean in Star Citizen?
TSG means Tactical Strike Group, a large cooperative InterSec Defense Solutions operation in Nyx.
How do I unlock Tactical Strike Group?
Complete the InterSec introductory Elimination contract and reach Sr. Contractor with InterSec Defense Solutions.
What reputation rank is required for TSG?
Sr. Contractor, which currently begins at 5,800 InterSec reputation XP.
Can Tactical Strike Group be shared?
Yes. The current Tactical Strike Group Needed contract is marked as shareable.
Can you solo TSG?
It is not designed for solo play. The official baseline is a squadron of seven or more ships with multiple combat roles.
How many phases does Tactical Strike Group have?
Six numbered phases: defend Tranquility, destroy the Power Relays, destroy Cooling Units, destroy the Core while defending Tranquility, infiltrate the station, and extract Gabe.
What weapons do I need?
Bring both ballistic and energy capability. Ballistics are required for the Power Relays, while energy weapons are effective against Cooling Units and core components.
Is the Vanduul Mauler part of Phase 6?
No. The Mauler arrives after the main six-phase operation and Gabe extraction.
What are the current TSG rewards?
The current contract gives one blueprint from Pool 1, one blueprint from Pool 2 and +300 InterSec reputation.
Do I need a capital ship?
No. A large or capital platform can help, but TSG itself provides the People's Alliance Idris Tranquility as an on-site repair, rearm and refuel platform.
Final Tactical Strike Group Checklist
- Travel to Nyx.
- Complete New Defense Contract: Elimination.
- Raise InterSec reputation to 5,800 XP.
- Confirm Sr. Contractor rank.
- Accept Tactical Strike Group Needed.
- Share the mission with the party.
- Build around 7+ ships and multiple roles.
- Bring ballistic damage for Power Relays.
- Bring energy damage for Cooling Units and the Core.
- Assign small ships to trench duty.
- Use suitable flight suits for high-G pilots.
- Prepare a separate FPS combat kit.
- Defend and use Tranquility for fleet servicing.
- Complete all six phases and extract Gabe.
- Decide whether the remaining fleet is healthy enough for the Mauler encounter.
Tactical Strike Group is fundamentally a coordination check. The unlock is InterSec Sr. Contractor, the fleet baseline is seven or more ships, and the mission is built around switching roles instead of brute-forcing every objective with one damage type or one ship class.
For other Nyx progression, faction reputation and current activities, continue with the Reputation Guide, the Nyx System Guide or the full Star Citizen services section.
