Ill tell you what I did, It may help.. When I was in federation space I was just interested in trading runs, I had a run back and fourth between 2 huge population systems one was Hitech/extraction the other agricultural, I ran back and forth about 20 times building up credits, every visit I would check the buletin board and pick up missions for the stations federation faction owner, would not pick up missions for the independents.. I mainly went for source cargo missions which would appear each trip back and forth, once I had about 15 missions excepted and before time run out I would then trot off to a nearby system that had all the items I needed to source, fill up with the various items and then return back to the stations and complete the missions usually about 5 to each station. I then instantly became friendly or allied with that station and it appears green in the hud display..Then after a couple more trade runs a Naval mission appears, drop everything run that mission and return to the station, you will probably find a naval mission then appears every run or 2 between your trade routes.It happens fast at that point just keep running the missions, first will be find guns or combat stabalizers, then I think it was a couple of deliveries, then you get the find General so and so, since I was only trading and did not have a fighting ship Type 6, I put off running that mission but kept picking up more and more Find general so and so.. I believe I had 10 of them to complete before I actually stored my type 6 and bought a Viper.. Only one needs doing so dont make the mistake I did and pick up all those missions.
It worked in Federal space and got me from none to Ensign within 4 hours..After each promotion you usually get a Federation invite permit, beta hydi, PLS, then Ross (Never did get a Sol Permit dont know why?)
Since I was only gaining rank to get a SOL permit so I could fly past earth I gave up and headed for the Empire so I can get a Clipper one day when I have enough credits..
Went to the Wuru System did exactly the same thing, just trading back and forth between 2 stations, picking up the odd mission from the empire faction that owns the station,and running those missions when I have enough together to make it worth deviating from my trade route.. Once the first Naval mission appeared it was then one navy mission after another to get to Master, and the Achenar permit.(Just killed general so and so) so I think if its the same as the FEDS tonight mission will be go kill some pirates and get KNight..
I thought I might not be able to do this since I was ranked with the Feds but I guess it does not matter you can be ranked with both Feds and Empire..
PS once I finished the combat missions I sold off the viper and got my money back, but I think I will stay in the empire with my viper this time to build up some fighting cudos, because I am still only neutral with the empire and I hear killing wanted ships in front of the PO PO gets you there faster..
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