Official media referenceDirect answer
The strategic layer connects contracts, wages, intelligence, covert operations, faction relations, equipment, healing and support assets to the tactical campaign.
How to use this page
Random contracts are not filler when they finance the company. The strategic question is whether a mission's reward, risk and downtime improve the next operation.
What is verified
- Recon and covert operations have their own long-term achievement tracks.
- Missile, allied-squad and UAV support are confirmed systems.
- Failed strategic actions can lead to Rescue missions.
- Faction relations and contracts should be recorded with dated thresholds.
Evidence scope
Verified against sources on August 14, 2026This guide describes the confirmed strategic systems—contracts, wages, intelligence, covert operations, factions, healing and support assets—without inventing hidden success formulas or optimal numeric thresholds.
The strategic loop
A strategic turn asks whether the next operation improves the company or only creates another liability. Contracts bring resources, injuries create downtime, intelligence and covert operations can change conditions, and support assets can turn a difficult tactical map into a manageable one. The correct choice depends on readiness, reward and risk rather than on a single always-best action.
- Compare reward with wage and recovery pressure.
- Use intelligence before committing to a high-risk operation.
- Track support assets as campaign resources, not free abilities.
Contracts, recon and covert operations
Random contracts are part of the campaign economy, not filler between story missions. Recon and covert operations have their own achievement tracks and can fail, with rescue missions appearing in the wider structure. Record the operation type, time cost, participants, result and follow-up instead of relying on an unverified success-percentage table.
- Use safe contracts to repair readiness.
- Record what a failed operation triggers in the current build.
- Do not spend every available slot on one strategic action.
Faction and support decisions
Faction relationships and support assets create longer-term consequences, but public sources do not provide a complete threshold table. Use the exact in-game wording and dated screenshots when recording rewards. Missile support, allied squads and UAV reconnaissance are confirmed systems; their costs, cooldowns and best timing still need build-specific testing.
- Keep faction thresholds labelled as observed, not assumed.
- Reserve support for missions where it changes the risk calculation.
- Record resource cost before calling a support asset.
Strategic decision checklist
- Check wages, injuries and available replacements.
- Compare contract reward, risk and recovery time.
- Record recon or covert operation outcomes.
- Confirm faction wording before making an irreversible choice.
- Track support resources and their current cost.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do between story missions?
Use contracts and strategic operations to fund wages, recover injuries, gather information and improve readiness. Do not spend every turn on upgrades without checking the next operation.
Can covert operations fail?
The achievement structure and developer material support failures and Rescue follow-ups. Exact success formulas are not published as a complete reliable table.
When should I use UAV or missile support?
Use them when the information or firepower changes the mission risk more than it costs. Exact optimal timing depends on the current resources and build.
Sources and verification
Official facts are separated from developer estimates and unverified community claims.