Mercury's Mining

route, they end up near Mercury. But ESF (Earth Space Force) has constructed a mining facility above the planet due to the inibility to build a land base there. Probes are sent to the surface to mine a precious energy eminating crystal. Debris of the first space station attempts by the ESF remain, but they have a fully operational facility now. As the Empire arrives they quickly gather pieces of debris and there own materials and build a station. Also do the Alliance, most of the Alliance fleet got lost along the way there so they start just like the Empire. Unknown to both, the Consortium was watching and tracked them also building a station. The goals of each are to conquer the area and return back to known space. Beware of the ESF! (Note, a tractor satilite owned by the ESF may pull or hold one of your ships in the debris!)
One of the Empire's expeditionary forces, after being chased by an Alliance fleet, hyperspaces far into unknown territory to escape the Alliance, this was a risky move as there was no hyperspace