Card Extra

Symbiont Diagnosis from Evan Lorentz (07/1998)

With mission thieving as popular as it is right now, missions like Symbiont Diagnosis are greatly appreciated. Missions don't get much harder to steal than this - one of only two personnel in the entire game must be there to help you complete it, Jadzia Dax (DS9) or Kareel Odan. And even assuming you're lucky enough to have the Trill with symbiont along, you still have to muster up double Diplomacy, Anthropology, an OFFICER, and (the real kicker) 3 MEDICAL. None of this should be that difficult for your Federation deck, designed to gather the skills, but will be all but impossible for your opponent's Romulan or Cardassian thief deck.

And of course, any mission that's hard to steal is just perfect for the Borg. Symbiont Diagnosis is a prime target for Assimilate Planet. You don't have much to fear of your opponent coming to collect 45 points before you can get there for your 25 and make it unattemptable.

Combos:

• Darian Wallace + Riva + Symbiont Diagnosis: Turn 45 points into 55 with Assign Mission Specialists. Now Dead End at your second mission is no problem...
• Betazoid Gift Box + Symbiont Diagnosis: ... or start at another mission and then come to Symbiont Diagnosis. With a Betazoid Gift Box recovered at the first mission, you can get Julian Bashir, Jadzia Dax, and a double Diplomat, and be just 15-20 CUNNING away from winning the game.