Factions and Contracts Addition - v0.6.0.45

Contracts can now be offered to you from three factions that have been added to the game. Contracts appear in the new Factions/Contracts window available from the Ship Communications window. If the contract appears good, click accept to make the contract active. Completing contracts give rewards and improves your standing with the contract faction. Failing or cancelling contracts reduces your standing.

Faction contracts can be to buy certain resources from you, or for factions to sell to you. Several different conditions (a certain number of resources or any), time period (open ended, by a due date, or valid period) and rewards (credits, a premium when selling, or a discount when buying). Trading window has been updated to show the ship you are dealing with and faction, and if contracts affect prices, they are highlighted.

Also note a fix for mining & scrap lasers, they have not been targeting large asteroids (mining) or derelicts (scrap) directly, only meteors/scrap from salvage depots. Now fixed.

Patches notes:-

New factions/contracts display window, selectable from ship comms window.
Traders can now belong to a faction (shown in information and ship comms windows).
New messages for msg board - new contracts available & contract end (success/failed/expired).
Improve: Trading window lists ship/faction and highlights contract price adjustments.
Improve: Droid Maintenance and Mining Unit Info window add 'metal' to cost for clarity.
Fix: Mining & scrap lasers were not targeting large asteroids / derelicts directly, only from scrap depots.

Nick