That said, there is something to waiting for those rank up missions. You appear to be able to gain rank at the previous rank's rate. So once you hit 100% Serf, it looks like you can gain up to 100% Master at the "Serf" rate.
Wow, is that verifiable? If it's true I feel a bit of a berk for trekking back to the bubble and looking for a promotion mission.
Try and get my head around the maths here (where's Rachel Riley when you need her?)
I think I hit 100% Baron after 2 or 3 data scan runs. Stacked to the max but including some from The Foundation on the basis that if I help both sides it will prolong the war.
Carried on and did 10 in total and when I cashed it in I was at 73% Viscount.
Two runs later I'm at 87%, so a gain of 14% meaning I'm getting a 7%ish gain for each stack - which will vary on factions.
That I went up to 73% suggests to me that it started counting it at a Viscount level from the point I hit 100% Baron.
So I don't think it's actually the case, but I'll ne more than happy to be corrected (quickly, before the beta ends and I do it again!) by somebody more mathematically agile. Preferably Rachel.