Subset Games Forum

A lot of ship unlock guides just say "Beat the game" when describing the unlock method for the Federation cruiser.
If you're like me, that's just not do-able without a year or two of experience.
And I'm not a patient person.
So luck decided to go my way and I stumbled across the unlock "quest" (no quest markers in the unlock) for it.
It's actually quite easy, if you have what you need.
So, Here's the tutorial!:

YOU NEED:
1. A ship that can destroy a ship with two shields.
2. High hull.
3. To get to a Rebel Stronghold sector.

Once you have all those things, jump around a bit in the sector. Explore all you can.
If you're lucky, you'll stumble across something about a large Rebel shipyard.
Explore all you can. Don't back out even when it says there's a big ship..
Which turns out to be a 2-sheilded, death-blossomless final stage OF THE REBEL FLAGSHIP.
Kill it. It'll say something about getting some odd items, and then hit continue.
It'll say something about a ship, and then you have the federation cruiser!

If I'm missing something, notify me in the replies.

While this is good information, it's fairly well known. I suspect any guide you come across that says "beat the game" came out 2 years ago or more, because that's the old way to unlock the ship. Sadly, most people put these guides up and then forget them forever.

For better info on the game I suggest the wiki, whose Federation Cruiser section is up to date.