Rank progression works but is pretty badly implemented.
You never need to go to the permit systems, in fact they don't even work properly as you never receive the communique's.
You have a "hidden naval reputation". You will get spammed the system permit "mission" until you have done enough rep gain jobs that your "hidden naval rep" increases and starts spawning the next progression mission, which will remove the previous (permit summons) and allow you to carry on up the ranks.
I'm at earl with the empire and have been through all of this myself with every system permit summons, frustrating and rather uninspiring set of missions, which is why I want to leave the rest of my Federation ranks until FD shows some much needed love to the rank progression missions. Probably the worst "game feature" in the game at the moment.
You never need to go to the permit systems, in fact they don't even work properly as you never receive the communique's.
You have a "hidden naval reputation". You will get spammed the system permit "mission" until you have done enough rep gain jobs that your "hidden naval rep" increases and starts spawning the next progression mission, which will remove the previous (permit summons) and allow you to carry on up the ranks.
I'm at earl with the empire and have been through all of this myself with every system permit summons, frustrating and rather uninspiring set of missions, which is why I want to leave the rest of my Federation ranks until FD shows some much needed love to the rank progression missions. Probably the worst "game feature" in the game at the moment.