Should you agree to help UC SysDef in Starfield?

If you're looking to join all the factions in Starfield at least once, then you are not going to want to leave out the notorious pirate group The Crimson Fleet. Joining them is not an easy task, however, and you'll have some hard choices to make on whether you want to stray toward that rebellious path or help out the UC SysDef and bring them to justice. Your choices will always have an effect on your standing in the universe, so we have everything you can expect with these big choices you make during the questline below!

Should you go undercover for the UC SysDef in Starfield?

This undercover mission is one of the most interesting questlines you can find in Starfield, in which you'll be able to work first-hand with the most notorious group of pirates The Crimson Fleet. However, the twist is you're a bit of a double agent. There are two ways you can end up getting offered this job by the UC SysDef:

1. You sign up for the UC Vanguard at the MAST office in New Atlantis and complete the first mission
2. You get caught by the UC for the first time with a bounty

Either way, you will be personally asked by Commander Ikande to go undercover for him (one way obviously a little less black-maily). It's up to you whether or not you choose to accept the offer. If you're a criminal and you decline, you'll have to spend some time in jail and pay off your fee, and if you're in the Vanguard, there are no consequences. However, this is the only way for you to get in with the Crimson Fleet.

I would suggest always accepting this offer so you can experience the questline and get all the good rewards you can out of it. You will have a choice later who you would rather side with (the Fleet or the UC), so don't worry about your reputation by accepting the offer now.

Related: All Burden of Proof Evidence Locations in Starfield

Should you side with the UC SysDef or Crimson Fleet in Starfield?

You'll have to work your way through all the Crimson Fleet quests, continuing as a double-agent the whole time until you reach a certain point, and then you have no choice but to pick one side or the other. When you do this, there will be no turning back: the opposite side will no longer be friendly to you and will fight against you in the end battle.

After you finish downloading the Galbank credits from The Legacy, you will get a prompt on the screen notifying you it's time to make your defining choice. Where you choose to fly to will determine which faction you are siding with: The UC Vigilance or The Key. After you land at one of these destinations, your choice will be locked in, and you will continue to the final battle, where the opposite side will fight against you.

This choice is completely up to you and based on what path you want your character to walk. If you're trying to keep your character on the good side of the law and hero-like, I would always suggest following the UC SysDef since you will gain a better reputation with them and your companions usually prefer it as well. However, choosing the UC will cut all ties with the Crimson Fleet, and they will always attack you on sight going forward.

If you choose to side with the Crimson Fleet, you will remain in their good graces and have access to The Eye at any time, and be able to complete Piracy missions. But fight against Ikande and his fleet in the end battle and you lose your standing with the UC.

Related: Can you quit the Crimson Fleet in Starfield?

There is no wrong choice to make here. You either get one set of allies or the other, with multiple benefits and consequences for both. If you want to try out both, use two different playthroughs and switch up your choice. I found the Crimson Fleet to be more likable than the UC, but I didn't want that negative rep on my current character, so I switched it up to a more evil character. Explore every avenue and you'll find intriguing outcomes and benefits for each one!

Looking for more Pro Game Guides Starfield content? Check out our guides on How to smuggle/get rid of Contraband in Starfield or Starfield Absolute Power Faction Quest Guide!