[b]Planet Haven
Grand Palace of the Empress of the Mithran Dominion[/b]

"Run the numbers again *Architect." Ordered Empress Helena Greywind, sitting alone on her throne with a holo-screen in front of her shifting with the graphs and reams of data the *Architect network was feeding her as a convenient summary of managing an entire interstellar dominion of kingdoms, colonies, and planets. All this information, and able to do so little to change anything.

<Running. Sequence complete. Result unchanged Empress. Current rate of growth and expansion is decreasing due to lack of economic stimulus to expand. Nobleborn unemployment is at 45% and holding. At this time we exist in a state of sustainable stability and prosperity. Current population trend data reports few are inclined to change economic status quo.>

"Meaning people want to sit on their old wealth. I don't want stability, I want growth. We cannot afford to become stagnant. Damnit, how did my mother let things get so bad? What can we do to change this *Architect?"

<Devising suitable macroeconomic countermeasure proposals. Will require three days to complete all requisite test simulations.>

"Very well, take the time you need to make it right *Architect. Start contacting Freelancers, authorize another wave of expansion and exploration. And look up assets we can spare to equip new Freelancers as well."

<Command confirmed. Initiating Contingency 4493-77-F-21. Activating dormant Freelancer assets and cross-referencing frontier sector starcharts to mission profiles. Would you like to speak to Freelancer Command, empress?>

"Yes. Open a channel, full holo-com. And have the full council brought here by tomorrow for a meeting on a new colonial effort. Lets get these people back to work."

* * * * * * * * *

[b]Freeport 10, docking bay four
MDFS Venture Star
Captain's private quarters[/b]

The chime of an message alert roused the lion from his slumber. Yawning and careful when stretching to not rouse the pair of sleeping forms in his bed, Freelancer Tanner put on his trademark lion-ear headpieces to activate the holo emitters embedded and bring up his personal terminal as a screen in front of him where a shape of shifting mathematical symbols hovered by its side as the representation of his communications AI. "What is it *Enigma?"

"Captain, incoming priority-two message from Freelancer Admiral Randgriz from Freeport Central addressed to you. He would not leave a message."

"Hey, no problem, always love talking to the Admiralty. Put him through."

"Would you like to get dressed first sir?"

"Just put a holo-screen over. We're not battle fleet. Lets not keep his royal admiralness waiting."

"Understood. Patching him through.

The screen shifted into the image of another Mithran, an older man but with a solid military bearing and body despite the admiral's discharge from battle fleet decades ago, standing in contrast to the laid back Tanner, who was signaling a bot to bring him a chair and datapad. "Tanner. I've got a new mission for you."

"Finally. Been laid up in dock for too long boss. R&R is nice, but I want to get back into the stars. Where am I going?"

"A loosely charted deep frontier sector. We're calling it the Midway cluster. Based on initial probe findings, it could be a critical link in future expansion into other deep-frontier sectors. The whole area seems rich in starship fuel and minerals. A refueling and drydock station there could lead to major expansion of the Dominion's borders."

"Shiney. Whats my cut?"

"Due entitlement of resources and even a lordship of a planet are on the table for negotiation. But only after we get surveys of all the major planets in the system and clearance of any significant threats. I'll have more details forwarded to you shortly. In the meantime, get your ship ready to move in the next week. And Tanner, wear some pants or get a better holo-filter next time, at least pretend to give your position its due responsibility. Randgriz out." The full-body holo winked out of existence, leaving Tanner alone just grinning like mad at the prospect of a whole new sector to explore.

"We have a mission captain?" Inquired a soft voice behind the young freelancer, which the young lion happily leaned back to face one of his favorite companions in biosynth form. 

"Yup *Wolfhound, we got a new sector to explore. Double-check the ship's stock of mechs while I go look at how those new biosynths are working up. And get me *Spyglass, I want to know how ready his latest project is for field testing."

"Aye sir. I have no doubt *Spyglass will surprise us once again with his work."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Nation Actions:
* To counter the trends of stagnation and idle wealth, the Dominion is beginning a more wide spread freelancer independent explorer program, and the Empress is working to reverse the trend of idleness.
* Freelancer Claus Tanner gets orders to explore a possible gateway system with lots of jump potential. And has his crew gear up for another adventure.