{ "version": "2026-05-25", "patch": "Alpha 4.8 Tactical Strike", "status": "live", "aliases": ["Save Stanton (incorrect alias)", "Return of XenoThreat", "Attack on XenoThreat"], "verified": true, "verifiedSources": [ "starcitizen.tools — Attack on XenoThreat", "starcitizen.tools — XenoThreat (faction)", "starcitizen.tools — INS Jericho", "starcitizen.tools — Overdrive Initiative", "mmopixel.com — 4.8 Return of XenoThreat guide (2026-05-13)", "starzen.space — Alpha 4.8 Evocati: XenoThreat is Back", "starzen.space — XenoThreat history", "soren.com — Alpha 4.8 hits Live for DefenseCon (2026-05-11)", "theimpound.com — This Week in Star Citizen May 11 2026", "scfocus.org — release dates" ], "note": "Wiki contract name is Attack on XenoThreat. Save Stanton is a SEPARATE concluded 2954 event (Slicers vs Stanton, Ardor pistol rewards) — frequently conflated in community chatter. This guide covers ONLY the 4.8 dynamic event at INS Jericho.", "overview": { "tag": "Live Server Event // CDF", "title": "Attack on | XenoThreat", "summary": "Server-wide dynamic event running concurrently with DefenseCon 2956 in Alpha 4.8. XenoThreat — a Pyro-based human-supremacist terror faction operating out of Ruin Station and led by 'The Commander' — has launched a capital-fleet incursion into Stanton, targeting UEE Navy logistics at INS Jericho. UEE Advocacy SAIC Rowena Dulli has activated the Civilian Defense Force (CDF), a volunteer player militia, to repel them. Three-phase engagement: scouting → resupply → final capital-vs-capital battle.", "startDate": "2026-05-14", "endDate": "TBD (concurrent with DefenseCon ending 2026-05-27; historically persists through the patch and may re-trigger in sub-patches)", "recurring": "Yes — sixth time the dynamic event has run (3.12.1, 3.14.1, 3.15, 3.18, 3.22.1/3.23.0 'Overdrive Initiative', and now 4.8 'Return of XenoThreat' fully redesigned).", "contractor": "SAIC Rowena Dulli (UEE Advocacy)", "factionGiver": "Civilian Defense Force (CDF)", "factions": ["CDF (player-aligned)", "XenoThreat (NPC hostile)"], "sideSwitching": "No — the 4.8 contract is CDF-side only. Players cannot fight FOR XenoThreat." }, "iNSJericho": { "name": "INS Jericho", "founded": "2871", "namedAfter": "Squadron leader Amare Jericho", "role": "UEE Navy forward base outfitted for capital-ship refuel and resupply — Javelin-class capable.", "location": "Stanton system, near microTech, sunward of MIC L1", "distances": [ { "from": "Hurston", "km": "34,253,442" }, { "from": "Delamar", "km": "34,288,981" }, { "from": "microTech", "km": "4,363,317" }, { "from": "MIC L1", "km": "22,027" } ], "quantumMarker": "Only appears in the quantum-drive marker list DURING active XenoThreat events (per wiki, since 3.12.1)." }, "phases": [ { "code": "P1", "name": "Scouting / Vanguard Intercept", "color": "cyan", "location": "Outer approaches to INS Jericho (MIC L1, microTech L1) — gas-cloud field around the marker", "objective": "Intercept XenoThreat scout and vanguard squadrons, clear forward elements, gather intel.", "hostiles": "Light/medium fighter screen — Arrow, Cutlass Black, Buccaneer-class XT equivalents", "completion": "Cumulative kill quota across the server playerbase. Builds individual CDF reputation per kill.", "duration": "Variable — phase advances when server-wide quota is hit", "tips": [ "Cheapest rep-per-hour farm phase — don't skip it.", "Stay in global chat for phase-transition pings.", "Run a Gladius / Arrow / F7C-M with stacked Call to Arms contract for per-kill aUEC bonus." ] }, { "code": "P2", "name": "Resupply / Logistics", "color": "amber", "location": "Starfarer wreck debris field near INS Jericho", "objective": "Salvage / loot cargo crates from Starfarer wrecks (Diluthermex, Acrylonitrile, Distilled Spirits, etc.), then haul to INS Jericho's cargo deck.", "hostiles": "XT fighter strafing runs targeting haulers; CAP escort required", "roles": "Hauler pilots (C2 Hercules / Cutlass Black / Caterpillar) + fighter escort + optional Vulture/Reclaimer salvage", "completion": "Cumulative server tonnage delivered to Jericho", "tips": [ "Bring CAP escort — XT actively hunts stationary tankers.", "Use the gas cloud for cover and quick extraction.", "Vulture pilots can scrape Starfarer wrecks while haulers do the bulk run." ] }, { "code": "P3", "name": "Final Battle", "color": "red", "location": "INS Jericho proper", "objective": "Defend Jericho during XenoThreat main-fleet arrival; destroy capital ships.", "hostiles": "Multiple Hammerheads + an Idris-M frigate flagship + fighter escorts (Arrow, Mantis, Cutlass Black, Valkyrie, Vanguard)", "doctrine": "Light fighters focus enemy Gladius/Vanguard escorts; bombers (Eclipse, Retaliator Bomber) reserve torpedoes for the Idris flagship; Hammerhead PDC platforms screen against fighter swarm.", "completion": "Idris destroyed + supporting capitals neutralized", "tips": [ "Don't engage Idris solo — coordinate bombers.", "Idris-M has a railgun — don't sit still inside 10 km.", "Multi-crew Hammerhead is the best PDC platform vs the fighter swarm.", "Bring a backup ship at Tressler — you WILL die during P3." ] } ], "rewards": [ { "tag": "Account-Bound", "name": "Spectrum / RSI Profile Badge", "desc": "Account-level participation badge displayed on RSI profile. Persists through wipes.", "req": "Participation tier (exact threshold not yet public for 4.8)", "color": "cyan" }, { "tag": "Account-Bound", "name": "CDF Armor Set", "desc": "Civilian Defense Force themed 4-piece set (Helmet / Core / Arms / Legs). Per mmopixel: 'account-bound flair'. Survives the 4.8 full wipe. Exact piece names + reputation thresholds not yet public — flagged TBD.", "req": "CDF reputation milestone (TBD)", "color": "amber" }, { "tag": "Contract Payout", "name": "33,000 aUEC base + completion bonuses", "desc": "Per wiki Contract infobox. Per-kill aUEC stacks via Call to Arms (run concurrently).", "req": "Contract completion" }, { "tag": "Crafting", "name": "Reputation-gated Blueprints", "desc": "CDF rep milestones unlock blueprints in the new 4.8 crafting system. Specific recipes TBD.", "req": "Higher CDF rep tiers", "color": "cyan" } ], "eligibleShips": { "phase1": ["Gladius", "Arrow", "F7A / F7C-M Hornet Mk II", "F8C Lightning", "Vanguard Warden"], "phase2": [ "Cutlass Black (escort + light haul)", "C2 Hercules (bulk haul)", "Caterpillar (bulk haul)", "Vulture (salvage)", "Reclaimer (salvage)", "Hornet / Gladius (escort)" ], "phase3": [ "Eclipse (torpedo on Idris)", "Retaliator Bomber (torpedo on Idris)", "A2 Hercules (bombing)", "Hammerhead (PDC anti-fighter)", "Polaris (capital-vs-capital)", "F8C / Vanguard Sentinel (fighter screen)" ] }, "loadout": { "fps": "Medium armor (Karna / Pembroke), P8-AR or Demeco LMG, FS-9 LMG or Karna rifle backup, 5+ medpens, recovery beacon. UltiFlex Novia Crossbow + Scorch plasma grenade if boarding the Idris.", "ship": "Balanced gimbals for Phase 1; heavy ballistics + size-9 torpedoes for Phase 3 capital work." }, "progression": { "tracking": "CDF reputation track via the Contract Manager. No public leaderboard confirmed.", "stacking": "Run 'Call to Arms' (UEE bounty contract) concurrently for per-kill bonus aUEC on every XT kill." }, "tips": [ "Set medical and ASOP spawn at Port Tressler (microTech) BEFORE accepting — saves a lot of travel time on death.", "Run Call to Arms concurrently for per-kill bonus aUEC on every XT NPC kill.", "Phase 1 = easiest CDF rep farm; don't skip it for Phase 3 glory runs.", "Don't engage the Idris solo — coordinate bombers, screen with fighters.", "Bring CAP escort for haulers in Phase 2; XT actively hunts cargo runs.", "Use the gas cloud for cover and extraction.", "Bring a backup ship docked at Tressler — expect to die at least once during P3.", "Watch global chat for phase-transition pings.", "Wipe-proof rewards: focus on the BADGE and ARMOR rep tracks, not aUEC — the full wipe ate everyone's stockpile.", "Idris-M has a railgun — don't sit still inside 10 km.", "Multi-crew Hammerhead is the best PDC platform vs the fighter swarm.", "Plasma grenades + UltiFlex Novia Crossbow (new in 4.8) work for boarding ops if you push the Idris." ], "patchHistory": [ { "patch": "Alpha 3.12.1", "date": "2020-12 → 2021-02", "change": "First 'Assault on Stanton' XenoThreat dynamic event — 11-day campaign." }, { "patch": "Alpha 3.14.1", "date": "2021-08", "change": "'CDF ALERT: Attack on XenoThreat' contract added; first formal recurring rerun." }, { "patch": "Alpha 3.15 / 3.17 / 3.18", "date": "2021–2022", "change": "Periodic reruns; server cap expanded; tuning passes." }, { "patch": "Alpha 3.22.1 → 3.23.0", "date": "2024-03 → 2024-05", "change": "'Overdrive Initiative' — 5-phase prelude culminating in the Global XenoThreat Event. Rewards: F7C → F7A Hornet upgrade + ORC-mkX XT armor set." }, { "patch": "Alpha 4.8", "date": "2026-05-14", "change": "Return of XenoThreat — fully redesigned. Simpler solo combat contracts feed into the multi-crew Jericho assault. Concurrent with DefenseCon 2956. Tested in Evocati ~April 2026; Live on 2026-05-14." } ], "openQuestions": [ "Exact CDF armor piece names + their CDF reputation thresholds — not public for 4.8.", "Hard event end date — DefenseCon ends 2026-05-27 but XenoThreat historically extends past the framing event.", "Per-phase discrete rewards (vs cumulative rep) — not clearly published." ] }