Loose Screws - The Dangerousest

It’s #331sts for 7th April, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelven) 

Squadron Briefing:  

BGS highlights

• No Updates this week! See Squad channel in the discord for changes

Short PP Report:  K5 Report pending -

• Cycle 79:

• Li Yong-Rui with the best week on all rankings with 11 new systems

• Antal in 2nd

• Archer and Torval negative for the week losing fortified systems

• Grom also losing systems this week. Did they make Delaine mad again?

• All imperials looked to have another bad week. Or combining with Grom struggling, some continued effort against ZYADA?

• The spot to keep an eye out is between Archer and Kaine. Kaine is about to take P7, especially if Archer has another bad week.

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: -

• https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/update-operations

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site  

• 7 may Dodec Station Enters Full Production Availability

• 30 april Guardian Artefact Research Initiative Concludes

Discussion :

• WHATEVER THE HELL COMES TO LARKS MIND LOLS!

Community Corner : 

• New Screw Space is building new stations, help for hauling and building needed out there, contact Volt or the New Screw Space thread in the disco for further details.

It’s #330rd for 30th April, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelven) 

Squadron Briefing:  

BGS highlights

• The Loose Screws are in 413 star systems, controlling 123!

Short PP Report:  K5 Report pending -

• Cycle 78:

• Big winner for this cycle is Emperor Arissa. Not a lot of new systems, but 3 new strongholds and 2 new fortifieds gave her a great week.

• Antal in second, but really close behind are Kaine, Winters, and Princess Aisling

• Kaine and Winters tied for the best cycle on the FDev charts. 9 new systems for both, AND both with 1 new stronghold and 2 new fortifieds.

• Archer went negative for the cycle losing 2 fortifieds.

• Torval and Patreus both -1 for total systems this week.

• 
  

• After 24 cycles since the end of 1 ton trading, the biggest loser (or the biggest cheat depending on how you look at it) is Zemina Torval. During the era of 1 ton trading, Zemina made solid, steady, progress in the number of systems. However, when 1 ton was fixed (in cycle 54), while most other powers adapted and recovered, Zemina has only managed to add 12 new system since then.

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: -

• https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/update-operations

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site  

• 4/28 - Zorgon Peterson Presents Lynx Highliner

• 4/28 - Criminal Attacks Trigger Evacuation Effort in Lhou Mans

• 4/30 - Guardian Artefact Research Initiative Concludes

Discussion :

• Inside the board room of a zero arx ship

Community Corner : 

• Distant Worlds 3 waypoint is Phrua Flyuae ZE-A e7on 4/19

• Stellar Screen Shots happened 

• Store Sale - Expressway Paint Jobs

It’s #329st for 23eeth April, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelven) - Bloom 4/23

Squadron Briefing:  

BGS highlights

• The Loose Screws are in 413 star systems, controlling 123!

• We expanded to nowhere out of IC 2602 SSector Zu-Y d103 (Bloominwind’s Folly) - and are expansion again from there

• States of interest - 

• Outbreaks in Medzisti

• Boom - Qama

• Infrastructure Failure - Alexandrinus

• Public Holiday - Piscium Sector ZK-X B1-3

• Election in Alexandrinus 2-second with  - Day 3 (1:19PM Central)

• Several wars and an election we’re not worried about

• The only old system overheating is NLTT 2969, a mining stronghold for LYR. 

Short PP Report:  K5 Report pending -

Cycle 77:

• Yong-Rui tops both the charts this cycle with 9 new systems including a new stronghold and 3 fortifieds.

• Winters has a solid 2nd place adding 2 new strongholds.

• Looks like Archer is back with another solid cycle adding 9 new systems

Tough week for the imperials!! that don't have blue hair.

• At the bottom, Emperor Arissa loses 6 systems this week

• Princess Aisling loses 2 strongholds

• Patreus AND Torval both with 0 gain

I often ignore the midpack for brevity, but the tightest race right now is between Antal, Archer, and Kaine. All within one KrugerFive point of each other.

• Interestingly, Antal who generally doesn't appear to get much undermining may have gotten some attention the past few weeks, losing a fortified this week.

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: -

• Operations is postponed to June, that being said they gave us a bit of a preview: 

• Two modes - mercenary and powerplay

• Multiple scenarios at launch - Counter Attack, Burning Rescue, Megaship Massacre Reclaim, Megaship Massacre Strike, Surface Rescue, Pirate Hunt

• ‘Operations Runner Ship’ is the Hub/Entry Point for Operations

• Seems like a lobby, does it count as a ‘vessel?’

• Rewards - Credits, Mats, Merits (PP mode), Merc Coin

• Merc Coin can be used to purchase ship modules and engineering blueprints

• New Ship - Lynx Highliner (Heighliner?)

• Medium Passenger Liner

• Has an Adder cockpit - so technically it’s the Adder Mk2 ?

• 225 passengers

• Economy, Business and Mk II Cabins (sardine cans?)

• Multiple boarding ramps and front and rear entrances

• Hardpoints - 

• 1 Large 

• 4 Medium

• Core Internals

• PP 5

• Thrusters 6

• FSD 5

• Life Support 6!

• Distributor 5

• Sensors 3

• Fuel Tank 5

• Optional

• 1 Size 1

• 1 Size 2

• 1 Size 3

• 2 Size 4

• 2 Size 5

• 3 Size 6

• Utility Slots - No mention

• Arrives 4/28

• https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/update-operations

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site  

• 4/23 - Coordinated Raids hit Outposts Across Core Systems

• 4/21 - Competing Claims Emerge Over Wellness Surge

Discussion :

• Inside the Blue Circle

Community Corner : Bloom 4/23

• Distant Worlds 3 waypoint is Phrua Flyuae ZE-A e7on 4/19

• Stellar Screen Shots happened 

• Store Sale - Expressway Paint Jobs

It’s #328th for 16st April, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelven) - 

Squadron Briefing:  - 

BGS highlights

• The Loose Screws are in 410 star systems, controlling 120!

• We expanding out of IC 2602 SSector Zu-Y d103 (Bloominwind’s Folly) - but to where? IC 2602 Sector DB-X d1-19? 43 LY away?

• States of interest - 

• Outbreaks in BD49+3937 and HIP 11879

• Drought - 7A

• Boom - Alexandrinus

• Control War in Alexandrinus 2-1 - Day 4 (1:19PM Central)

• Several wars and an election we’re not worried about

• The only old system overheating is NLTT 2969, a mining stronghold for LYR. 

Short PP Report:  K5 Report pending

Cycle 76:

• The week that was Cycle 76

• Kaine Gained 5, upgraded 1

• Delaine Gained 3, Upgraded 3

• Empress Gained 3, Upgraded 1, Lost 1

• LYR Gained 3, Upgraded 1

• Grom Gained 3

• Winters Gained 2

• Archer Gained one and Lost one - Guerrilla Wars suck, don’t they, Archer? (Cue Fortunate Son). 

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: 

• New Marquess Paint Jobs for Old Ships

• Intern Kevin - CG Suit Error!

• Kestrel Paint Job, Ship Kit and Hollow KitSale - 10% off

• New Ship Amethyst Paint Jobs

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site  

• Unidentified Mercenary Group Linked to Fabrication Facility Break-in - 4/14 - Nearby LHS 1167

• Ancient Origins Suggested in Radicoida Unica Study - 4/15

• October Consortium Seeks Guardian Artefacts for New Study

• SRV Pulse Blue paint job & Credits for trying

• Get that Mavericky G5 Maverick Suit for 75% - Lookin’ at you Kevin the Intern

Discussion :

• That Damned Intern Kevin

Community Corner : 

• Distant Worlds 3 waypoint is Hypua Pruae ZR-H d11-59 on 4/19

• Stellar Screen Shots include ones from MartingW, Nug, Sighman, Wither Czach, 4RKOZ, Code-Lin, FishfaceFPV 

It’s #327th for 9nd April, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish) - Bloom 4/9

Squadron Briefing:  - Bloom 4/9

BGS highlights

• The Loose Screws are in 410 star systems, controlling 121!

• We expanding out of IC 2602 SSector Zu-Y d103 (Bloominwind’s Folly) - but to where? IC 2602 Sector DB-X d1-19? 43 LY away?

• States of interest - 

• Boom in 7 Andromedae

• Civil Unrest in Cephei Sector MC-V b2-1, Col 285 Sector HT-W b16-3 and V518 Carinae

• Election in Alexandrinus 0-3 - Day 4

• Several wars we’re not worried about

• No Old Systems overheating, only Colonies, BGS is healing slowly

Short PP Report: 

Cycle 75:

• Princess Aisling with the best cycle with 8 new systems, including a new stronghold and 4 new fortified systems

• A name you don't normally see at the top, but Archon Delaine in 2nd place with 8 new systems.

• Patreus loses 4 systems

• Mahon reaches the 2000 system mark, 2nd power to Princess Aisling to make it to this point

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: 

• Steam Sale:

• FDev is having a publisher's sale until April 16th

• Deluxe edition for $8.74 (ignore the others, this is the bundle you want. Core game and Odyssey bundled together) 

• Lots of their titles for 80-95% off 

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site  

• Radicoida Unica Research Initiative Concludes - Bloom 4/9

Discussion :

Community Corner : 

• Distant Worlds 3 waypoint is Phrooe Blou AA-A h62 on 4/12

• Buckyball Prison Circuit Winners - Epaphus in the Regulation Leaderboard Class and Shaye Blackwood in the open class. Both with Cobra V’s

• Stellar Screen Shots include ones from Mactavious Myrrhth, Osilran, Shibasnoot, Vaegavic, Frog’s Friend, Gianfrancoariza. Inra taigan, John Blackbeard, Lenqxx

• Store Sale

• Pretty much everything is on sale to some degree or another - Still going on

It’s #326th for 2nd April, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)

Squadron Briefing:  

BGS highlights

• The Loose Screws are in 406 star systems, controlling 120!

• We expanding out of 6 Andromedae - but to where?

• States of interest - 

• Boom in 7 Andromedae

• Civil Unrest in Cephei Sector MC-V b2-1, Col 285 Sector HT-W b16-3 and V518 Carinae

• Election in Alexandrinus 3-2 - Day 6

• War in BD+67 1409 - LeGuin Terminal in jeopardy

• War in Col Sector GN-O b21-1 - Ember (Asteroid) Port in jeopardy - Jeni (Orbis) Port added if we win

• Election in Ross 676 - Raxxla 6 Station if we win

Short PP Report: 

Bloom sifting through the numbers from KrugerFive on the LS discord

Cycle 74:

• LYR with the best week by total moves - 7 exploited and 1 fortified

• Antal with the best week by control point reckoning - 5 strongholds though losing one exploited and one fortified

• Archer with one exploited system

• Goose eggs for Patreus

• Overall, by K5 scoring, Princess OnlyFeets is in first, LYR second

• Kruger’s special additional analysis

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: 

New CG

• Location Exogene Sciences | HIP 87621

• Objective Deliver Radicoida unica seed pod samples

• Progress Tier 4/7

• Contributors 941

• Contributions 103,457/600,000 (17.24%)

• Time left 1w 6d 12h 35m

• Estimated completion 100% in ~2d 9h 49m —> moving fast !

• Independent pilots can support this initiative by first signing up at Exogene Sciences in the HIP 87621 system, before gathering seed pods of the newly discovered flora at biological sites located on several bodies of the HIP 87621 system. These seed pods must then be handed in to the Research Contact at Exogene Sciences.

• Pilots who gather at least 1 seed pod sample will receive the following rewards:

- Maverick Rescuer Teal Suit Pack

- Credits, depending on success tier achieved and individual contribution level.

• Pilots in the top 75% and above of contributions will receive a grade 5 Maverick suit with improved damage resistance, battery capacity, backpack capacity and ammo capacity.

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site  

• Exploration Data Initiative for Rainbow’s End Concludes Successfully

• Radicoida Unica Begins Blooming as New Research Initiative Announced

Discussion :

• The Space We Were Promised 

Community Corner : 

• Lave Radio on hiatus this week

• Distant Worlds 3 headed to the 8th waypoint - Phreia Byio PT-V c17-0 on 4/5/26

• Stellar Screen Shots from St4r Fox, Streya, FotS Alec Turner, Amorim, Diva Mage, Texas Red, Reise Lang and others

• Store Sale

• Pretty much everything is on sale to some degree or another

It’s #325rd for 26st March, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)

Squadron Briefing:  updated by bloom

BGS highlights

• The Loose Screws are in 406 star systems, controlling 120!

• We lost the war for control of Alexandrinus to Alexandrinus Mission

• We have expanded out of NLTT 2969 and now expanding out of 6 Andromedae

• States of interest - 

• Pirate Attack in Alexandrinus

• Lockdown in Cephei Sector MC-V b2-1

• Civil Unrest in Col 285 Sector HT-W b16-3 and V518 Carinae

• Conflict in BD+67 1409 - LeGuin Terminal in jeopardy

Short PP Report: updated by bloom

Lifted with unspoken consent from KrugerFive on the LS discord

Cycle 73:

• The relics hangover kicks in and you can't always hang on to all the newly acquired systems

• A good week for Antal, Mahon, Kaine, and Grom. All close in points for the top 4

• Antal takes the most points in the K5 board AND takes P6 from Archer!

• Kaine adds the most systems with +9 overall and 1 new stronghold

• Negative weeks for Archer, Torval, And Aisling.

• Aisling losing 7 systems, but a drop in the bucket of the 116 they added the last 2 cycles

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: 

• ???

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site  updated by bloom

• Caspian Explorer under full production

• Exploration Data Requested for New Deep-Space Station - ending tomorrow

• 2600 contributors

Discussion :

• More ship stuff

Community Corner : updated by bloom

• Midnite Black – “The 7 Levels of Elite Dangerous Players (Most Get Stuck at 3)” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RMm5vA0Ffo

Chapter 2: Level 1

If you spent more time watching Elite Dangerous than flying it, you're probably here. Every commander starts out as an observer. At this stage, you're not really playing the game yet.

Chapter 3: Level 2

At the button master stage, you're finally flying, but you're mostly reacting.

Chapter 4: Level 3

If your entire sense of progress is tied to your credit balance, this stage might feel familiar. Eventually, every commander discovers efficiency, credits, ship progression, grinding. This is where players start focusing on optimization, mining runs, mission stacking, trade loops. 

Chapter 5: Level 4

If you rebuild the same ship three times in a week because you learned one new thing, you've reached level four, the builder stage. This is where Elite finally starts making sense. Instead of chasing ships, players start designing them. You begin thinking about purpose.

Chapter 6: Level 5

If you can explain exactly why you want to fight, not just that you did, you're probably here. By the time players reach the specialist stage, they found something they're really good at. Maybe it's combat, maybe it's exploration, or perhaps it's deep space travel. 

Chapter 7: Level 6

If you disengage from a bad fight early with zero ego, that's usually the sign of a veteran. Veteran players stop chasing after mastery. Not because they can improve, but because they've already learned what matters. They flown most ships in game. They've tried most activities. They understand the risk.

Chapter 8: Level 7

If you log in with no destination and still have a great session, welcome to the final stage, my friend. The final level of an elite pilot is hard to define. Some become mentors, helping newer pilots, teaching mechanics, sharing knowledge they wish they had earlier. Others become drifters, pilots who log in simply to exist in the galaxy. They fly without a strict goal, exploring systems, running odd missions,

Perhaps level 8 (7A) Flying with space buddies. Working as a squadron or dare i say it Powerplay ‘leadership’ so called.

• Store Sale

• Caspian Explorer Paints including Midnight black and Eternal Copper and holokits

It’s #324st for 19ed March, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)

Squadron Briefing:  

BGS highlights

• The Loose Screws are in 403 star systems, controlling 121!

• We are engaged in 7 conflicts - A new war in Alexandrinus is live and the states in that system are a hot mess for all the factions. That’s the only war we care about.

• And Yes, there are Space CZ’s this go around!

• We are in expansion out of NLTT 2969

• States of interest - 

• Civil Unrest in Alexandrinus, 

• Civil Liberty in 7A

• Boom in Qama

• Bust/Lockdown in Cephei Sector MC-V b2-1

Short PP Report:

Lifted with unspoken consent from KrugerFive on the LS discord

Cycle 72:

• 400t relics in full effect this week

• Princess Aisling getting 70 new toes, 15 new feet, 0 new spiked heels

• Li Yong-Rui, while not getting as many systems picked up 70, but add 6 new strongholds! First to reach 200 strongholds.

• Arguably had the stronger cycle than Aisling because of that

• Patreus getting blasted and losing 16 systems, including losing 5 fortifieds

• Getting super tight between Archer and Antal, Antal may be able to pass in a few cycles for P6.

• Kaine also right behind and could also overtake Archer soon

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: 

• New Launcher Update 18 (yes, again)

• https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/elite-dangerous-launcher-update-18-march-2026.646228/

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site 

• Distant Worlds 3 Fleet Departs Beagle Point to Continue Deep Space Survey

• Heading to the Abyss, Acheron and the Veils, oh my!

• Viral Wellness Trend Spreads Beyond Entertainment Circles

• Social Contagion of holovids regarding Clarity, Motivation, and Resilience in the Alliance

Discussion :

• Old Ships, New Tricks - Roy intro then guiding questions

Community Corner :

• “LARGE Player Instances made EASY in Elite Dangerous” by SiegfriedOrigin - https://youtu.be/mwUawYZSdxg

• "ED Wing Helper" - https://github.com/Siegfried-Origin/EDWingHelper

• Rainbow’s End Station is live in Roefoo ZE-H d10-0 (DS3 Waypoint 8). 

• Store Sale

• Engine and Weapon Colors - 40% Off

• New Plating Pack Ship Kit for Python Classic, Mamba, Krait Mk2, Krait Phantom, Cobra III, AspX - 0% Off

• New Kestrel Mk II ‘Flare’ holo-kits

#323nd for 12rd March, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)

Squadron Briefing:  

BGS highlights

• The Loose Screws are in 400, yes 400 star systems, controlling 119!

• We are engaged in 6 conflicts - The War for control of Alexandrinus vs. the Marquis du Alexandrinus is the most important. Before tonight’s tick we’re D2 - Score 0-1. We want it to be short and sweet.

• We are in another expansion (out of?)

• States of interest - Boom state in Qama, Civil Unrest in Alexandrinus

• Bust/Lockdowns in V518 Carinae and Cephei Sector MC-V b2-1

Short PP Report:

Lifted with unspoken consent from KrugerFive on the LS discord

Cycle 71:

• Rares are back at 400t for 1 day and the effects are felt!

• Aisling and LYR both of course jumped on the opportunity

• Aisling with the best week with 31 new systems, 4 new forts and a stronghold

• LYR in #2 with 26 systems but growing 2 new strongholds

• Big news of this cycle is Grom getting destroyed and losing 28 systems, 8 of which were forts!

• Archon was triggered by Grom and utterly brutalized them.

• Biggest loss since cycle 23 at least

• Rumor is that Grom has conceded to Delaine and hostilities will end, or at least be contained to a specific area.

• On a related note, Patreus had a great week adding 12 systems

• LSN opened a branch office for LYR in Piscium Sector ZK-X b1-5. Sirius Gov. continues to appreciate the efforts of it’s favorite subsidiary company, The Loose Screws Network, LLC.

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: 

• Nothing since 4.3.1.0 Kestrel update

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site 

• Shocking no one, Kestrel Fighter Trials Deemed a Resounding Success

Discussion :

• Ships with Soul

Community Corner :

• Coriolis.io updated to version 4.0 with a revamp of the UI

• Buckyball Racing - The Prison Circuit - 3-20 to 3-30

• Start at Cummings Ring in Vaiurisc with an empty cargo hold

• Fly to The Beefy Boiler in Puppis Sector ON-T b3-5 and purchase 1 unit of Consumer Technology

• Visit each of the following Detention Centres in any order, flying through the habitation rings and then docking at each one:

• Detention Ship Beta, Bei Dou Sector DL-Y d76, 1 ring at the end

• The Fist of the Empire, ICZ KS-T b3-5, 2 rings at the end, ignore the ring in the middle

• The Shield of Resolve, G 203-51, 1 ring in the middle

• Mercy's Hammer, Alrai Sector KH-V b2-7, 2 rings, widely separated, at the end

• Return to Cummings Ring and sell the Consumer Technology

• https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-buckyball-racing-club-presents-prison-circuit-20th-30th-march-3312.646130/

• Burr Pit wrote a love letter to the Corvette

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpQs2AL-DXw

• Distant Worlds III - En Route to Waypoint 7 - Guardian of the Twins - Byae Aowsy GR-N d6-52 - Planet 4F - 20.09ª by 26.52ª - Deadline 15 - 03 - 3312 - Their Website is hella cool - and they have a newsletter for those of us with FOMO!

• https://distantworlds3.space/

• Store Sale

• some pre-built ships: Mandalay, Asp Explorer, 

• and some ship kits: Mandalay, Anaconda, Cobra MkIII, Imp Cutter, DBX, Corvette, Python Mk1

Host intro

It’s #322st for 6nd March, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)

Squad Stuff:  

BGS highlights - 3-5

1. In 398 Systems - Controlling 117

2. States - 6A Public Holiday, 7A, Qama Boom, Kaupatak Civil Unrest

3. Expanding out of 7A

4. Alexandrinus - Ground War- We want to win. There are two other wars in the system. Ideally we finish fast so we can leap frog opponents. We want to get our faction well above the other factions because war state affects our power play tactics. Terrorist Attack - Combat Bounties, security related missions, clear terrorist USS

PP Stuff: lifted with unspoken consent from KrugerFive on the LS discord

Update Mar 5th from KrugerFive

Cycle 70:

• Li Yong-Rui led this cycle with 3 new strongholds and 3 new fortifieds.

• Kaine and Mahon also with strong weeks, both with 2 new strongholds.

• For total new systems, Kaine led the pack with 10

• Tough cycle for Archer losing 2 systems, Grom losing 6, and Emperor Arissa losing 7.

• There is a new chart this week showing the rankings for just this cycle. Check it out!

https://www.k5elite.com/

Dev News: 

• Distant Worlds 3 - Next Waypoint - Veil’s Ember

• Server issues and The Hack

• Fortuitously timed?

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site 

• Who is Lexi October?

• “Her hands-on approach came to light in 3305, when the Consortium rescued struggling tech firm Supratech. The investment stabilised the company after poor sales of its Torc computing system and enabled further development of products such as the Artemis exploration suit.”

• “October’s reputation for discretion was reinforced in 3307 when she hosted an exclusive gathering for the secretive Joker's Deck, attended by political and corporate elites including Zachary Rackham and Scorpio DeVorrow. The event made headlines after master thief Winking Cat stole a priceless artefact.”

• Felt like ‘previously on Galnet News’, keeping the story warm

• We are reminded that she saved Supratech, maker of the Artemis suit.

• Not sure if the goodies, whatever they are, are going to be restricted to the powers that remain in the Enclave

Discussion :

• Charity event / PP2 / Kestrel builds & engineering (I’ve got a setup and some guiding questions ready - Roy)

Community Corner :

• Family Feud charity event pitting Loose Screws against - We win! Suck it Lave! (hey! Be nice! They were very gracious about it) covered in discussion topic

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R46UhACimc - Burr BGS 2.0 as the possible Autumn Feature

• Store Sale - Bobbleheads