Inquisitor's Briefing
Clarification is needed in terms of our domestic spending. It appears that the last vestiges of the Silver Fangs have been swept away, and in accordance with the set instructions a balanced spending approach has been undertaken between expanding fleet assets and economic investment. Here is the most recent star chart:
This seems an appropriate moment to recap our current economic levels. Perhaps it is better to do it every so often as deemed appropriate, rather than once a decade or whatever.
** Energy -- 327/2500, with a surplus of 1.18 per month. The first of two mining stations have been built in Solaris Troutentis for the purpose of supporting the fleet expansion.
** Minerals -- 45/5000, monthly surplus of 25.2.
** Influence -- 238/1000, +3 each month.
** Research -- 5 Physics, 10 Society, 8 Engineering each month. Physics is the only department that does not have a stored balance of increased research being worked through. They've definitely gotten the short shrift early on.
The situation is basically this: we've exhausted current mineral resources within our space. After the next energy station we won't need any more of those for a while, and have a few spots available if needed. So energy isn't a problem. Humboldt is at the point where it is going to be mostly building research labs since that's really what's left other than a spot each for another farm and power plant, neither of which are needed right now. And of course Bakangi isn't going to be doing much for a while as the population grows.
If we invest internally, it will be in more research stations. We have five suitable candidates for those, three in physics and one each in the other disciplines. This would much more quickly bring our technological investment up, especially in the lagging Physics Department. The other option is to expand so that we have the option to continue to invest in building up the economy.
Options that occur naturally:
** Colonize either Norgon or Leesak. This would involve gradually saving some minerals towards this goal, in between building fleet assets and the occasional research station.
** Build a frontier outpost to expand our borders. Obvious candidates here are Leesak to claim the resources there including the only known Troutstones; above us there is Joinum which should give us access to Ferathon and Vermillion, with all three systems looking profitable; Wexellia, which expands towards the Kroll and gives us the opportunity to study the Shantari and secure that space; or Ambisia, which has a lot of minerals available with a couple nearby systems still being investigated.
** Focus on the research stations in our territory, and wait for the fleet to clear out Impal Tov and Wollaeus before making a decision on our next expansion move.
I'm throwing this decision up now so that we can have a ruling by the time I have to decide on it. It'll still be some months before the next energy station is up and running.
Inquisitor Roe Laren, what are your thoughts?