Star Fortress: exact unlock and Heroic route

01 / START TO FINISH

Unlock the first fortress, then defeat the Exarch

These stages are deliberately chronological. The first Solo run only introduces the mission chain. Each heroic requires its own Resistance contact, scan, supply crate turn-in and shield bunker before the fortress target unlocks.

1. 01

   Complete Knights of the Fallen Empire Chapter 9

   Star Fortresses are Alliance content unlocked only after KOTFE Chapter 9. Do not search the Imperial Fleet Flashpoint terminals. Go to the ODESSEN ALLIANCE BASE, which is available after its introduction in the KOTFE storyline.

2. 02

   Start Battle for the Stars with Miot Dengd

   Inside the ODESSEN base, look in the NORTH HALLWAY for MIOT DENGD and accept BATTLE FOR THE STARS. Follow the quest marker outside the base to the officer overseeing fortress missions.

3. 03

   Speak to Lieutenant Marklo

   IMPERIAL characters use LIEUTENANT MARKLO outside the Odessen base. Republic characters use Sergeant Ahkar. At first, select START SOLO MODE. You must complete the introduction before Heroic 2+ planets unlock.

4. 04

   Use the pilot computer, then the shuttle door

   Walk through the nearby BLUE INSTANCE DOOR. Inside the shuttle room, RIGHT-CLICK THE GLOWING BLUE COMPUTER BEHIND THE PILOT and select a planet. After travel, RIGHT-CLICK THE SHUTTLE DOOR BEHIND YOU to actually begin the fortress. Merely choosing the planet does not leave the shuttle.

5. 05

   Complete the introductory Solo fortress

   Clear Skytroopers and the first PRAETORIAN boss. In the EPHEMERIS encounter, fight waves until a computer's aqua shield disappears, then RUN INTO THAT OPEN ALCOVE AND CLICK ITS BLUE CONSOLE before the countdown. Repeat for both consoles and then interrupt Neural Energy Surge on EPHEMERIS.

6. 06

   Return to Miot Dengd on Odessen

   After EPHEMERIS dies, leave the instance and speak with MIOT DENGD again. He explains the six Resistance contacts and their shield bunkers. The initial Solo fortress does NOT count as destroying a Heroic Star Fortress.

7. 07

   Choose one of six Resistance Alliance Alerts

   Open COMPANIONS & CONTACTS with N and select, for example, ALDERAAN: THE RESISTANCE. Click TRAVEL TO ALERT LOCATION and speak to the listed Resistance contact. Each planet must be unlocked separately; it is not enough to open all six alerts.

8. 08

   Scan the shield bunker on the planet

   Follow the bunker map marker to the RECONNAISSANCE SCANNER location. Stand on the curved-line scanner icon facing its arc, click Reconnaissance Scanners beside the objective or use its MISSION ITEMS inventory entry, and rotate until the bunker highlights ORANGE; click to scan and then ESC to exit the scanner.

9. 09

   Disable the Zakuul transmitter and turn in the alert

   Near the scanned bunker, locate and RIGHT-CLICK THE GLOWING BLUE TRANSMITTER and fight the droid it summons. Use COMPANIONS & CONTACTS to travel back to the Resistance contact for the turn-in and next phase.

10. 10

    Give the contact five locked Supply Crates

    The GEARING UP step asks for FIVE LOCKED SUPPLY CRATES of eligible types. You receive some during the starter steps and can earn more from HEROIC missions. Keep the remaining crates; completing all six contacts requires five per planet.

11. 11

    Enter and clear the planet's shield bunker

    Follow the next planetary marker into the SHIELD BUNKER. Kill the SHIELD GENERATOR COMMANDER and finish its objective, then return to your contact. Only after completing that planet's alert and bunker can you choose that planet in HEROIC 2+.

12. 12

    Choose Heroic 2+ through Lieutenant Marklo

    Return to ODESSEN and speak to LIEUTENANT MARKLO. Select START VETERAN MODE / [HEROIC 2+] THE STAR FORTRESS. Go through the BLUE DOOR, select ONLY A PLANET WHOSE BUNKER ALERT YOU COMPLETED, and click the shuttle door behind the pilot.

13. 13

    Prepare specialist buffs and companion

    For Heroic solo attempts, an 80-level character, high-influence healing companion and trained defensives matter far more than the nominal Heroic 2+ label. Advance your four ALLIANCE SPECIALISTS' influence to unlock bonuses. Your teammate also needs the chosen planet's bunker Alliance Alert completed.

14. 14

    Pick up the Sungaurd radiation shield

    In Heroic fortress, defeat SKytrooper SUNGUARDS and pick up their PHOTOVOLTAIC RADIATION DAMPENER. It appears as a TEMPORARY ABILITY; activate it before crossing dangerous SUNLIGHT BEAMS that can knock you through the station.

15. 15

    Grapple across fortress gaps

    Approach each GLOWING BLUE GRAPPLE HOOK until the mouse cursor indicates usable range, then RIGHT-CLICK the hook to traverse. If the forward grapple appears unusable late in the fortress, LOOK UP; the final grapple goes upward.

16. 16

    Disable the Exarch's photovoltaic shielding

    At the SUN GENERATOR the Exarch starts IMMUNE with ten shielding stacks. Wait for a beam to activate a PHOTOCONDUCTION DROID, defeat it, RIGHT-CLICK ITS BODY to loot a CAPACITOR, target the Exarch and use SIPHON ENERGY from the temporary ability bar. Repeat until the shielding drops.

17. 17

    Overload the Sun Reactor at the correct moment

    When the Exarch casts ABSORBING PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY after shielding drops, SPRINT TO THE GLOWING BLUE REAR CONSOLE and RIGHT-CLICK it while the approximately 12-second cast is active. This overloads the reactor and forces the Exarch to retreat. Repeat this process in subsequent photovoltaic rooms.

18. 18

    Defeat the planet-specific Exarch

    Use the final grapple upward and fight your chosen planet's EXARCH. Keep your companion or healer alive and move clear of attacks. The Nar Shaddaa Exarch LESIN TYN is notable for the Esne's Avarice heal; interrupt when possible.

19. 19

    Return to the contact and repeat across the six worlds

    After defeating the EXARCH, return to the resistance contact now inside ODESSEN's base to complete DESTROYING THE STAR FORTRESS. Repeat the planet-specific alert and Heroic chain until all six worlds are liberated.

02 / PLANET-SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

All six Resistance contacts and Exarchs

Open N → Companions & Contacts and select the Resistance alert for the planet you intend to liberate. All six fortresses follow the shared route above, but unlocks and Exarch targets remain planet-specific.