How about a simple player operated market for the base contacts?
Each character at a port has a starting contract option for perhaps 1m credits. A player can purchase this option. If the player then purchases a second option the characters switch ports, with a notification message as 'Employment market news' at both ports.
Once a characters starting contact option has been bought, the next time it is bought the cost is doubled, perhaps with an additional cost related to the distance between the ports if a switch has been made. This additional cost would prevent all the fees being the same. The current fee and contract status could appear on the portrait.
Perhaps there are better methods, however the existence of a market in base characters would allow player minor factions more customisation without there being any effect other than that of a credit sink?
Each character at a port has a starting contract option for perhaps 1m credits. A player can purchase this option. If the player then purchases a second option the characters switch ports, with a notification message as 'Employment market news' at both ports.
Once a characters starting contact option has been bought, the next time it is bought the cost is doubled, perhaps with an additional cost related to the distance between the ports if a switch has been made. This additional cost would prevent all the fees being the same. The current fee and contract status could appear on the portrait.
Perhaps there are better methods, however the existence of a market in base characters would allow player minor factions more customisation without there being any effect other than that of a credit sink?