IDIOT'S GUIDE TO FED2
JOINING THE PLUTOCRACY
PROMOTING TO PLUTOCRAT
The highest rank in the game, the position to which all members of Fed DataSpace aspire, is that of Plutocrat. Being a Plutocrat means that you collect together a group of star systems owned by different players, and place them under your wing (or equivalent).
To become a Plutocrat you do much the same as you did at earlier planet-owning ranks - build, build, build until you've reached the requirement. The builds must be on your leisure planet. There are a couple of other conditions, though. You must have at least two planets in your system, otherwise Armstrong Cuthbert won't be able to generate any jobs to put on the cartel's workboard. You must be on your leisure planet. And the star system must be open - closed systems cannot become the hub of a cartel.
When you type 'PROMOTE', assuming you fulfil all those criteria, you will promote immediately, and become the Plutocrat of a cartel with the same name as your system. Your planets will stay at their current economic levels, but your star system will become the hub of the new cartel.