Trade Routes

A trade route can be established with an existing trade network (within one nation) when the new system is within 1 month's travel (at standard cruise speeds) to another member of the same network. This generates a 5% increase to the output of each (producing) planet within that new networked system. Routes to systems outside that one month's transit cost 10% more to establish and lose 10% of the increase (i.e., only provide a 4.5% overall increase) for each month extension of travel. No route can be established more than 10 months' travel from the closest member of that network. Multiple routes can be established between the target planet and other producing systems within that 10-month distance radius, each providing a 5% increase to the planets routed. (Routes are generally named alphabetically, with both planets/systems named; ex: Earth-Vulcan).

If a trade treaty is signed with another nation, each nation may add one of the other nation's systems to it's network. Usually at lest one planet on each side of the border is established as a Cross-Trade Center.

The base cost to establish the new route is 17 EP. To establish a cross-trade route, each nation pays 25 EP.