The Frontier Trader is not a warship. It is a rugged commercial vessel built for lean routes, marginal worlds, and dangerous frontier work. Your job is to keep it flying.
Before every launch, check cash, mortgage date, fuel, hull, shields, cargo, passengers, crew, and route risk. A normal Jump-1 route requires 30 tons of fuel, and the ship carries 42 tons total. Shields protect the hull, but they do not recharge during combat. Hull damage, system damage, fuel shortages, and unpaid repairs can turn a profitable route into a disaster.