Loose Screws - The Dangerousest

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

Squad Stuff:  
BGS highlights - 3-5
In 398 Systems - Controlling 117

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

Expanding out of 7A

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

#321nd for 26rd February, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)
http://loosescrewsed.com
Join us on discord! And check out the merch store! PROMO CODES
https://discord.gg/3Vfap47Rea
Support us on Patreon: 
https://www.patreon.com/LooseScrewsED
Squad Stuff:  
Inara has had a refresh. With so many PMFs present in hundreds of systems, the Minor Factions pages have had a refresh. 
When you go to Systems or States, the systems are no longer all on one page which is unfortunate, as you have to turn pages to sift through 

There is a filter to edit out Trailblazer systems from OG worlds. 

BGS highlights - 2-26
In 397 Systems - Controlling 118

States - 7A, Qama - Boom

Successful Expansion out of Ross 310

Conflicts of Interest - BD+44 4389 - vs. ADI - Leave it be, it’s an inadvertent Control War, NLTT 52560 - We want to win

Systems needing a push (controlled systems below 40% Inf.)

Alexandrinus - 26.9% - But 4 factions locked

Miola - 34.8%

Medzisti - 39.4%

Cephei Sector MC-V b2-2 - 39.4%

PP Stuff: lifted with unspoken consent from KrugerFive on the LS discord
Introduce and interview KrugerFive!
Update 2-26 from KrugerFive
Cycle 69:
Kaine had a massive week at the top spot. 18 new systems with a new fort and stronghold

This has been a strong week for a few names you don't see often

Winters showed up this week at #2, not a lot of systems gained, but added 2 new strongholds

Antal as well with 2 new strongholds

On the FDev board, Princess Aisling has a good week with 10 new systems

Archer after back to back weeks of big gains drops to last with Patreus, both with no systems gained.

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

https://www.k5elite.com/
Dev News: 
Kestrel Update - Lots of game updates

Audio updates

https://www.elitedangerous.com/update-notes

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site 
Core Dynamics Unveils Kestrel Fighter

October Consortium Agreement Signals End to HIP 87621 Enclave Conflict

The talks are also understood to have focused on shared scientific access to Radicoida unica and cooperation on research initiatives following the recent publication of promising genetic findings by Dr Casimir of the Holloway Bioscience Institute.

Analysts suggest the arrangement had created space for diplomatic settlement rather than decisive military resolution, with no single power claiming majority control over the enclave.

The rise of Lexi October and the growing influence of October Consortium since the discovery of Radicoida unica has not gone unnoticed, however, and Vox Galactica has confirmed that an interview with the Consortium’s reclusive chief executive has been secured for an upcoming feature series.

Discussion :
The Kestrel might be the first hint of a new design playbook from Frontier - let’s unpack what that means. (I’ll give a short intro to tee this up - Roy)

Community Corner :
Family Feud charity event pitting Loose Screws against Lave Radio this Saturday the 28th at 20:00 UTC / 12:00 PST

Shout-out to Scotty’s Kestrel - Hydra “0” hits win

#320th for 19th February, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)
http://loosescrewsed.com
Join us on discord! And check out the merch store! PROMO CODES
https://discord.gg/3Vfap47Rea
Support us on Patreon: 
https://www.patreon.com/LooseScrewsED
Squad Stuff:  
Inara has had a refresh. With so many PMFs present in hundreds of systems, the Minor Factions pages have had a refresh. 
When you go to Systems or States, the systems are no longer all on one page which is unfortunate, as you have to turn pages to sift through 

There is a filter to edit out Trailblazer systems from OG worlds. 

BGS highlights
In 396 Systems - Controlling 118

States - 7A, Qama, Alexandrinus - Boom

Conflicts of Interest - G 172-15 - Election vs. BD+52 3410 Partners - we’re up 2-1 and Porsche’s Progress is in jeopardy

Systems needing a push (controlled systems below 40% Inf.)

Alexandrinus - 33.4% - But 4 factions locked

Miola - 34.8%

Balmus - 35.9%

Cephei Sector NX-U b2-3 - 37.9%

Medzisti - 39.2%

PP Stuff: lifted with unspoken consent from KrugerFive on the LS discord
Update 2-19 from KrugerFive on the LS Discord - Powerplay Cycle 68:
Cycle 68:
Archer continues his expansion with back to back best weeks. Adding 11 new systems this cycle.

A bad week for the imperials, with Torval going negative, 0 new additions for Emperor Arissa, and Patreus only 1 new system.

Pretty subdued cycle overall, maybe still a hangover from the relics and enclave activity?

Kaine is making a good run at taking P7 from Antal in the KrugerFive rankings. At the current pace Kaine may overtake in 2 cycles

In the FDev leaderboard the real race right now is between Kaine and Archer for 6th place. Kaine took it 5 weeks back, but Archer is steadily coming back

https://www.k5elite.com/
Dev News: 
Devlog posted! Elite Dangerous | Developer Log - 16 February 2026

High level roadmap

Kestrel

Colonization back patting

Operations pushed to April +info

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site 
Distant Worlds 3 Marks Major Milestone - Waypoint 2 - Seldowitch Nebula

Discussion :
Kestrel 

Specs via Buur Pit: http://youtube.com/post/Ugkx5Rsi-Bdb6ReiCaQQuJO0LyTU7s_wbEPU?si=xLjbBMdkDZoHUIFx

Radacoida

Bug report: https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/82481

Roadmap -> Refreshed Feature

Community Corner :
We're looking for 100 CMDRs to be surveyed for the Lave does Family Fortunes/Feud gameshow that we are running on February 28th as part of Gameblast for Special Effect. If you'd like to be one of the CMDRs surveyed, sign up below!
https://forms.gle/ChB1xbGyDdcRqAZ76

#319th for 12th February, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)
http://loosescrewsed.com
Join us on discord! And check out the merch store! PROMO CODES
https://discord.gg/3Vfap47Rea
Support us on Patreon: 
https://www.patreon.com/LooseScrewsED
Squad Stuff:  
ALEXENDRINUS
PP Stuff: lifted with unspoken consent from KrugerFive on the LS discord
Update 2-12 from KrugerFive on the LS Discord - Powerplay Cycle 67:
 Relics supply are back down to normal and the hangover sets in! Can't always hang on to all those systems you acquire. Interesting cycle with the usual suspects missing in action.
Archer with the best week post-relics. Adding the most systems with 10 including a fortified and stronghold

Kaine and Winters followed with 7 new systems.

Aisling suffering the most. Only 1 new system but losing a stronghold and a fortified.

Antal and Patreus also hit this week with Antal losing 4 systems and Patreus 3.

Is the FDev supported campaign against Antal taking shape?

https://www.k5elite.com/
Dev News (12/11): 
Select armor and outfits for on foot action are on sale!

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site 
PIRATE ACTIVITY SURGES AS SECURITY FORCES ARE REDEPLOYED (2/10/26)

Discussion :
Is there suddenly too much to do in the game?

Let’s do the Radacoida TIme-Warp Again! (reminder to updoot the bug report if you havent)

Video: https://youtu.be/ekwgBLI1KNg?si=I52Fry7ZvtrlQwf2

Bug report: https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/82481

Community Corner :
Lave Radio does Family Fortunes/Feud gameshow that we are running on February 28th as part of Gameblast for Special Effect. BE ONE OF THE SURVEYED COMMANDERS!!!

https://forms.gle/ChB1xbGyDdcRqAZ76

#318 for 5rd February, 2026 or 3312! (33-Oh twelvenish)
http://loosescrewsed.com
Join us on discord! And check out the merch store! PROMO CODES
https://discord.gg/3Vfap47Rea
Support us on Patreon: 
https://www.patreon.com/LooseScrewsED
Squad Stuff:  (bloom update 2/5 )
We are in 391 star systems, controlling 118
Overheating systems  seem to be slowly cooling off via expansion and not reheating. 
Conflicts we’re interested in - retaining system control or a starportWar in 23 Andromedae - Vonnegut Hub in jeopardy up 3-0
War in Piscium Sector VF-N a7-2 ; a Coriolis in jeopardy - Pending
Six systems that need a boost - Systems we control that are below 40%
Medzisti, Balmus, Miola, Cephei(sef-hy) Sector NX-U b2-3, Kaupatak (car-pat-kal), Alex-andrinus
States - States we care about
Kaupatak (car-pat-kah) is in infrastructure failure/civil unrest
7Andromedae is in civil liberty and boom - Platinum can be sold for 213K, LTDs 311K, core mined minerals as well!
Alex-andrinus and Lambda Andromedae are in boom
PP Stuff: lifted with unspoken consent from KrugerFive on the LS discord
Update 2-5 from KrugerFive on the LS Discord - Powerplay Cycle 66:
The relics rush peaked with 600t and a solid supply through the week.

Aisling, of course, took full advantage adding +82 new systems, with 9 new forts and 3 new strongholds. Far outpacing everyone.,

Second closest was Li Yong-Rui with 51 new systems.,

Grom, while mid-pack in overall systems took advantage and led the number of new strongholds with +4.,

Someone forgot to tell Torval, Patreus, and Delaine about the relics. All gaining less than 8 systems.

https://www.k5elite.com/
Dev News (12/11): 
Noble paint jobs still on sale (old ships, Ren-Faire paint)

Galnet News: Galnet News | Elite Dangerous Community Site 
Genetic Study of Radicoida Unica Released

Coalition Announces Non-Aggression Pact Amid HIP 87621 Hostilities

Discussion :
PvE, PvP, ganking/griefing/open/PG/Solo/CG’s Go!

Let’s do the Radacoida TIme-Warp Again!

Video: https://youtu.be/ekwgBLI1KNg?si=I52Fry7ZvtrlQwf2

Bug report: https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/82481

Community Corner :
Lave Radio does Family Fortunes/Feud gameshow that we are running on February 28th as part of Gameblast for Special Effect. If you'd like to be one of the CMDRs surveyed, sign up below!

https://forms.gle/ChB1xbGyDdcRqAZ76