Overview
Trade is the quiet path to wealth. This fleet maximises cargo throughput while keeping just enough escort to survive the corridors where pirates wait for fat convoys.
The core is bulk haulers loaded with cargo expanders, screened by a trade-escort hull. It funds your war machine without ever firing the first shot.
Ships
Bulk-trade core — the cargo capacity.
Armed trader that doubles as escort.
Fast escort to chase off interceptors.
Modules by Slot
| Slot | Module | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Utility | Cargo Expander III | Maximum goods per trip. |
| Utility | Fuel Optimizer II | Longer profitable routes between refuels. |
| Defense | Shield Generator III | Survive an ambush long enough to escape. |
| Utility | Hyperdrive Booster II | Outrun pursuit when the escort is not enough. |
Commander
Kael is a trade specialist whose profit and cargo bonuses turn every run into more credits. A combat commander adds nothing to a fleet whose job is to arrive, not to fight.
Required Technologies
- Cargo Logistics
- Hyperdrive Tuning
- Market Networks
How to Play This Build
- 1
Plan the route
Buy low in surplus systems and sell into shortages. Check the market before you load.
- 2
Avoid choke corridors
Route around known pirate chokepoints even if it costs fuel — a lost convoy erases the whole profit.
- 3
Keep the escort ahead
Run the Corvettes on point to spot ambushes before the haulers arrive.
- 4
Run when threatened
This fleet does not win fights. At the first sign of a real attacker, hyperdrive out and re-route.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +Steady, low-risk income
- +Cheap to start
- +Funds every other fleet
Weaknesses
- −Minimal combat power
- −Profit destroyed by a single lost convoy
- −Vulnerable on fixed routes
Hard Counters
- ⚠Pirate interceptor squads on chokepoints
- ⚠Blockade fleets controlling trade corridors
Budget Alternative
Run two Hauler Mk.I with Cargo Expander I and a single Corvette Mk.I escort. Lower throughput, but enough to start trading from your first hour.
FAQ
How do trade fleets make money?
Buy goods where they are in surplus and sell where they are scarce. Cargo Expander III and a trade commander maximise the margin per trip while the escort keeps the convoy alive.
How do I avoid losing convoys to pirates?
Route around chokepoints, run escorts on point to spot ambushes, and fit a Hyperdrive Booster so you can flee rather than fight when threatened.