I hate to be the guy that states the obvious here..but seems to me another BGS player is working the BGS without having any real idea how.
Wes 7659 - look through this for starters. If nothing more, at least save the charts from this thread, even though they are old they are for the most part still very relevant and very useful
The Mercs of Mikunn: The BackgroundSim and Colonization Test A Minor Faction and Background Sim Guide (Game Release 2.2 Under Construction) Introduction: Hello CMDR's. I'm going to share all of my groups knowledge on the background simulator and minor factions (I answer enough...
forums.frontier.co.uk
here are 2 more that are also very useful
If you were not aware of the 75%, and no mention anywhere from anyone on how to expand from a system without owning or controlling..
not to rehash, but learn the basics, then learn to test. Don't be dependent on what others try to tell you, being wrong and not wanting to teach tricks is a thing.
And that particularly bad bit of knowledge of the status sliders and inf and how they work.(the only real value on the sliders is the up/down/flat pointers) More to it than that, but during conflicts the number is locked and only the arrows or lack of matters, the rest of the time you can figure it out easily enough.
FWIW, once your factions INF hits 75%, next day should be pending expansion, only being below 75% and never reaching 75% will prevent expansion from pending, then eventual.
The most useful tools start with information. Sounds like you have next to zero.
Happy to help, prefer you have some better idea than you currently have though, so read, learn, plan, and ask when you are stuck.
Good LUCK!
o - listen to the hutton advice, always keep in mind " Know your abilities and know your oppositions " don't waste your time on Goliaths until you know exactly what you are doing and how to do it with correct and accurate information and hopefully some very useful experience.