1. CLAIM TERRITORY
After setup, starting with the Speaker and proceeding clockwise, each player places a Command Counter from his reinforcements onto a system adjacent to his Home System. After each player has placed a Command Counter, each player, in the same order, may place a second Command Counter. Players may place the second Command Counter adjacent to their Home System or adjacent to the system in which the placed their first Command Counter.

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2. BUILD UNITS AND BUY TECHNOLOGY
Starting with the Speaker and proceeding clockwise, each player receives resources equal to the total resources of his Home System plus 3. These may be used to purchase additional starting units and/or 1 Technology advance. Each player may purchase one Technology advance for 4 resources. This cost may not be reduced, the player must have the necessary pre-requisites, and players may not purchase Race-Specific Technologies. All unused resources are lost.

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3. PLACE UNITS
Starting with the Speaker and proceeding clockwise, each player places his starting units in his Home System and/or any systems in which he has placed a Command Counter. Two important restrictions are that:

1) A player must place a Space Dock on one of his Home System planets, and
2) A player is free to place Ground Forces and PDSs on planets in his Home System. However, all Fighters, Ground Forces, and PDSs that are placed outside a player’s Home System must be placed with ships that are capable of carrying all the Fighters, Ground Forces, and PDSs in the system. Ships capable of carrying these systems include Carriers, War Suns, and ships with Stasis Capsules.

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4. RECEIVE PLANETS
Each player claims the planet cards for each planet with one of his Ground Forces on it. Each player then removes his Command Counters from the board and places them back in his reinforcements.

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5. REVEAL OBJECTIVE
Reveal the top card from the Public Objective deck and place it in the common play area.

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6. ABBREVIATED FIRST STATUS PHASE
Each player receives 1 Action card and refreshes his planets. Then play proceeds to the first Strategy Phase as normal.

Notes: Players may not use any special abilities during this procedure (treat the “Special Abilities” area of the race sheets as if they were blank). Players that start with Trade Goods may use them when purchasing additional starting units.

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Notes: Players may not use any special abilities during this procedure (treat the “Special Abilities” area of the race sheets as if they were blank). Players that start with Trade Goods may use them when purchasing additional starting units.