This is Moliere, got something interesting for ya, boss.
My old contacts in the fleet are once again paying off, just yesterday got word from my man on the 41st task force sent to Kansas. The expedition is there as part of some deal with the locals, that's not really relevant here... What is relevant - they've discovered a rich deposit of Iridium in the system. My contact didn't get into geological specifics, but seemed like the field might be worth a survey effort. He also mentioned, that the field is already being exploited on a limited basis by private miners - mostly poor and under-equipped, lacking coordination... There are also some Independent miners from the Magellan Freeport - according to my contact's judgment, the Freeport has drifted away from the guild's core to such a degree, that they seemed reluctant to recognize our central authority! Now sure, I do admit I'm not exactly the oldest and most influential knuckle-dragger on the deck, but in my humble opinion, secession from the guild isn't what we should just accept. I'd advise sending someone new... and more loyal to govern the Freeport. When that's done, we could go to Kansas and exploit the Iridium, seizing or scaring away all competition.