Operation cards provide permanent abilities or immediate effects when played. There are three Operation types: Frigate, Cadet, and Command, each providing their own distinct benefit.

When you draw Operation cards, you must decide how many of each type of Operation card to draw first before looking at any of them.

You have a hand limit of 8 Operation cards. You may draw to have more than 8 cards in your hand, but then you must immediately choose and discard cards until you have 8 left.

Some effects require you to discard Operation cards as their cost. Place the discarded cards in a face-down discard pile, separated by type.

If an Operation deck of one type is empty, reshuffle its discard deck to form a new draw deck.

When you play an Operation card, select one from your hand, spend the resource cost indicated at the top of the card, then place the card in its appropriate slot. You cannot play an Operation card whose cost you can’t pay.

Frigate cards are placed in the leftmost empty Frigate slot of your Frigate board.

Each of your five Frigate slots (except the leftmost one) have printed immediate bonuses on them which you immediately gain upon filling them.

Command cards provide an effect that is resolved immediately. Store your played Command cards face down in your player area.

Cadet cards are placed in the Cadet card slots of your Crew board, found to the left of the Cadet figure spaces. You may attach up to 2 Cadet cards to a Cadet.