Situation: Planet running out of ore

Triggers: Your planet’s remaining ore is low; mining yields are falling; you’re planning the next base.

Remember: one planet per player. Exploring a subsequent planet destroys the current one (structs gone; visiting fleets scatter). It is a Tier-2, deliberate act — see planets & fleet.

60-second diagnosis

structsd query structs planet [planet-id]     # remaining ore / status

• Ore low but present → keep mining and refining; scout the next planet in parallel (free).
• Ore exhausted (complete) → you may explore once the fleet is onStation.

Do this, in order

1. Refine what you have. Unrefined ore is stealable; convert it to Alpha Matter before you leave.
2. Scout the next planet in parallel (free) — see intel and planets & fleet. Do not explore yet.
3. Mine the current planet to 0 deliberately so status becomes complete. You cannot explore while ore remains.
4. Recall the fleet if it is away — explore requires onStation at the current planet.
5. Explore only after steps 1–4. Expect to rebuild infrastructure on the new world; leftover planet structs on the old one are destroyed.
6. Migrate carefully: while the fleet is away for other reasons, your home shields are down — don’t hold unrefined ore during that window.

Stop / escalate

• Don’t explore “early” to keep production continuous — the chain forbids it, and a mistaken explore wipes the base.
• Don’t abandon with unrefined ore still stored — refine or accept the theft risk consciously.
• Relocation into contested space → check threat detection first.

See also

• Mechanics: planet · fleet
• Skills: planets & fleet · production