[Maldiem]

I think that because with the starting engine it is very difficult to go somewhere farther away than the moon (it's 8 turns of flying through space to get to Mars) that there is going to be a great deal of cooperation among players in the early game.

With regard to my faction, cooperation with our European allies would be pursued as a matter of course. I plan to build a trading port on the Moon, for both technological and diplomatic contact.