In the game, you command a space cruiser in a futuristic universe where humans have achieved faster than light travel and made contact with intelligent alien species. You are a member of the Galactic Federation and have to deliver vital information to the main fleet eight sectors away. However, the Rebels are pursuing you so you can’t take your time in “jumping” between beacons. You start with several systems (shields, weapons, life support etc.) and a crew of three or four members, alien, human, or both. Along the way you will pick up the main resource and currency, scrap. You can use scrap to upgrade your systems or reactor, or at shops to buy merchandise or hire new crewmembers. Most beacons will have some sort of interesting encounter or event as well as a possible environmental hazard (asteroid fields, ion storms etc.) When you encounter a ship you get into a fight with you must: a) destroy their ship b) kill their crew c) accept a surrender or d) charge your FTL drive and jump away. During a fight you may have to reroute power to different systems depending on the situation. In a very dire situation, you might have to kill the life support temporarily in order to put the shields back up for example.