ACB to "strike while the iron's hot" (ie. before forum attention moves on). 
Yes it's twice as expensive, but the absolute outlay at this level is still small.

That'd be AP where 100 = $5m.  
1AP = $50k, 20AP = 1QP, so 1QP = $1m  

Update:  100@ACB-C (mk-100's) started.  ETA March 29th.  

Will we have bylaws, a funding structure, and management by then ?-)  
If so, we'll have a transfer vessel :-)

CliffClavin - to sponsor, in the normal sense of the term - you need to put up something of value.  Raphael led with $100m, I followed with around $90m.
You're staking..  (maybe $26m for Freighter-X Optimization on the first transfer ship ?-)

Iow.. we're endowing a Not-for-Profit NGO  
 
fwiw, I'd been thinking more of a B-Corp, to be handed over to mid level players who'd benefit the most from taking it big in an ethical manner.  However, am just as happy this way :-)

Part of me wants to say that PT should be in charge of this because we came up with it, but the other part of me doesn't completely understand where the GCA has gone, so I will allow it to carry on its own path.

What happened is you "crowdsourced" an interesting question, around a common need, in an open forum  
You want control, "sell" a solution  

imho, you did the right thing - crowdsourced results are unpredictable, but (absent a genius) typically better than anything one individual would have conceived.

cf https://www.whitesourcesoftware.com/whitesource-blog/crowdsourcing-open-source/
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wisdom_of_Crowds

'nuff theory - back to the Game!

__
I will Sponsor with the first corporate ship license, an unoptimized Titan, and 100@ACB-100 = 772,500m3 storage (someone else can contribute a Freighter-X Optimization :-)
(all 100-slots go to storage - this is strictly a transfer vessel, chained to Earth)

Will start the ACB's as slots open up this week, and they will be reserved, but they will only be released once all Sponsors agree that Trade Corp is otherwise ready to serve the public good.

If we set up something like this, we'll just set up an SPQNR trading account player and share the username and login with our member base. Yes, it will be an "alt account", but will serve no other purpose and stay Solbound. Can't imagine Sir Emi having a problem with that. We'd be fixing one of the development problems the (otherwise still interesting, or I wouldn't be here after 4 years) game.

Problem solved for Corporate players (including likely sponsors) 

Now the trade-corp needs some: sponsors, simple bylaws, and a rate structure.

He's around.  Recovered 2-server errors this year, and SPQNR's seen his "Avatar" ship out and about.
That said, AG certainly isn't first and foremost on his mind :-)

Hi Sir Emi,

Suggest giving Vipers a defensive role as a form of "active armor".

A simple possibility would be armor value = Viper's Weapon strength.  When hit, divide armor value by crew count, and that's the hp needed to kill each crew member until they're all gone.  Damage would first hit Shields, then Vipers, then standard passive Armor.

Reasons: 
(1 - scifi) Vipers are independently piloted smallcraft, with a heroic sci-fi tradition of daring, self-sacrificing defence (eg. Star Wars, Babylon 5)
(2 - logic) It's much harder to effectively target an enemy ship or installation, when heavily armed small craft are - stinging away at you, interfering with line of sight, and jamming sensing equipment.
(3 -balance) Gives a reason for researching and building these otherwise bottom-of-the-line weapons.

Thank you?
Publius

I could help, but would need a clear ruling from Sir Emi on using an alt for this.  Surrendering my SPQNR equipment for even a short period would cost much more than the traffic likely to flow through the corp..
(Suspect the same for Raphael, but even more so ?-)

Suggest 5% fee on mods, 3% on materials?  Charged to the seller by the transfer agent.  Reason it has to be seller, is that's the only party before the transfer agent.

Still won't make up for Sponsors' time vs their other activities, but won't choke weaker players, allows Sponsors a token of appreciation, and undersells Earth's fee :-)

Hi Sir Emi,

Suggest giving Vipers their standard bonuses for Combat Tactics and Officer even when they're deployed on a Station or Surface.

Reasons: 
(1 - scifi) Vipers are independently piloted smallcraft, with a heroic sci-fi tradition (eg. Star Wars, Babylon 5)
(2 - logic) Unlike Stations and planets, Vipers are fast, highly maneuverable ships, with lots of capability for innovative maneuvers
(3 -balance) Gives a reason for researching and building these otherwise bottom-of-the-line weapons, and gives a Station a preferred means of active defence.

Thank you?
Publius

He attacked a station where we were testing low level defences.  Completed the test for us.  Thanks? ;-)

Doesn't need its own military.  Treaty with at least 1 major Corp or a few big Independents would do.

in PM, Nojehu (SEC's Leader) suggests SLB as a better currency - it's something everyone researches, everyone needs, and can't be used offensively.

I agree :-)

Thanks Nojehu!
Publius