I think we should create a mechanic to allow factions to expand into UNPOPULATED systems and once they do Frontier need to place a base. It should be very hard to achieve I think and would go nicely with commander owned basebuilding. For example you need to have built by at least one base (mining, agri, industrial) and the trade through all such bases must amount to CRxxx million per tick based on the Ly distance from the nearest system of the faction you choose to ally your base with. If this can be sustained for X tiks then success. Maybe you don't even need Frontier to place a base in fact, maybe players ones are enough. They have shown that they can do it with FCs, and they move!!!! I realise Dav may hate me if this ever happens.