Espionage Missions and Devices

There are two forms of espionage: space and ground.

Space espionage uses a Space Probe sent with a fleet. Contact with a Vellambre Trading Post uses this infrastructure, but yields neither planetary intelligence nor combat: the probe establishes the ship's trade channel.

The Trading Post also displays a short reference, 131-xxxxx. It can be entered in Reference mode in Operations → Fleet → Espionage to target that same ship; it does not reveal the ship's coordinates or bypass mission checks.

Ground espionage uses a Ground Drone sent via the Pillars.

The universe-wide truce blocks new space and ground espionage between two distinct human players; it does not apply to contact with a Vellambre Trading Post. Its rules and limits are described in protections that block an attack.

Quantities and Shortcuts

An espionage mission uses at least 1 device and can send more.

The player chooses how many Space Probes or Ground Drones to send, up to their available stock. In Settings, two preferences ranging from 1 to 4 001 separately configure the space and ground shortcuts in the Galaxy, favorites, profiles, chat, and reports. A shortcut sends no more than the usable stock available. Manual mission composers retain the quantity entered, and the Vellambre quick contact remains set to one probe.

Temporary Report Bonus

Each additional device adds a 0,01 % chance of a temporary report bonus, capped at 40 %. If the bonus triggers, the report gains +1, +2 or +3 effective espionage levels according to the 70 % / 20 % / 10 % distribution.

Cap and Vellambre Contact

Devices beyond 4001 are still consumed but no longer increase the chance of an espionage report, because the cap has already been reached. Several missions can target the Trading Post before the first contact. Once contact is established, no new missions can be sent; missions already in flight continue, however, and provide no additional information.

Device consumption on arrival and probe returns are detailed in Device Consumption and Returns.

It depends on the type of espionage.

For space espionage, the defender receives an alert only if their Espionage technology exceeds the attacker's by at least 2 levels.

For ground espionage via the Pillars, the defender always receives an alert.

The Space Probe and the Ground Drone are single-use devices when they reach their target. A successful Vellambre contact therefore consumes the probes as well.

If the ship disappears before contact, the probe returns intact. If the Trading Post completes its crossing before arrival, no contact has been established: the fleet turns back from its actual position and retains the probes.

Yes, for space espionage.

A Space Probe uses a dedicated consumption rate. On a single mission, probes 1..100 consume 100 % of the rate, 101..500 consume 40 %, 501..2 000 consume 15 %, 2 001..4 001 consume 5 %, and each subsequent probe returns to 100 %. The batch cost is then adjusted by the speed percentage, followed by reductions from the Aether Efficiency technology, the alliance, artifacts, and the faction.

The cost is debited from the planet at launch for the outbound trip only. The probe carries neither cargo nor a return fuel reserve and cannot be recalled manually. For device consumption on arrival and probe returns, see Device Consumption and Returns. If a Vellambre Trading Post disappears before contact, the automatic return incurs no return cost, and the outbound trip is not refunded.

Ground espionage goes through the Pillars and consumes the Weave Resonators needed for projection; see how the Pillars work.

AI planets can be targeted by Attack or Espionage.

Missions using Transport or Deployment, as well as support missions to an AI, are not allowed.