**********   Star Traders   **********

   Star Lanes is a game of interstellar trading.
The object of the game is to amass the greatest amount
of money.  This is accomplished by establishing vast,
interstellar shipping lanes, and purchasing stock in
the companies that control those trade routes.  During
the course of the game, stock appreciates in value as
the shipping companies become larger.  Also, smaller
companies can be merged into larger ones, and stock
in the smaller firm is converted into stock in the
larger one as described below.

Each turn, the computer will present the player with
five prospective spaces to occupy on a 9x12 matrix
(rows 1-9, columns A-L).  The player, after examining
the map of the galaxy to decide which space he wishes
to occupy, responds with the row and column of that
space, i.e., 7E, 8A, etc.  There are four possible
moves a player can make.

   1. He can establish an unattached outpost- if he
selects a space that is not adjacent to a star, another
unattached outpost, or an existing shipping lane, this
space will be designated with a '+'.  He will then proceed
with stock transactions, as listed below.

   2. He can add to an existing lane- if he selects a
space that is adjacent to one - and only one existing
shipping lane, the space he selects will be added to
that shipping lane and will be designated with the first
letter of the company that owns that lane.  If there are
any stars or unattached outposts also adjacent to the
selected space, they, too, will be incorporated into the
existing lane.  Each new square adjacent to a star adds
$500 per share, and each new outpost adds $100 per share
to the market value of the stock of that company.

   3. He may establish a new shipping lane- if there
are five or less existing shipping lanes established,
the player may, given the proper space to play, establish
a new shipping lane.  He may do this by occupying a space
adjacent to a star or another unattached outpost, but
not adjacent to an existing shipping lane.  If he
establishes a new shipping lane, he is automatically
issued 5 shares in the new company as a reward.  He
may then proceed to buy stock in any active company,
including the one just formed, as described below.
The market value of the new stock is established by
the number of stars and occupied spaces as described
in #2 above.

   4.  He may merge two existing companies- if a player
selects a space adjacent to two existing shipping
lanes, a merger occurs.  The larger company takes over the
smaller company - (if both companies are the same size
prior to the merger, then the survivor is determined by
alphabetical order of the two company names - the earlier
survives).  The stock of the surviving company is
increased in value according to the number of spaces
and stars added to its lane.  Each player's stock in
the defunct company is exchanged for shares in the
survivor on a ratio of 2 for 1.  Also, each player
is paid a cash bonus proportional to the percentage
of outstanding stock he held in the defunct company.
NOTE: After a company becomes defunct through the
merger process, it can reappear elsewhere on the
board when, and if, a new company is established.

   Next the computer adds stock dividends to the player's
cash on hand (5% of the market value of the stock in his
possession), and offers him the opportunity to purchase
stock in any of the active companies on the board.
Stock may not be sold, but the market value of each
player's stock is taken into account at the end of the
game to determine the winner. If the market value of a given
stock exceeds $3000 at any time during the game, that
stock splits 2 for 1.  The price is cut in half, and
the number of shares owned by each player is doubled.

NOTE:  The player may look at his portfolio at any time
during the course of his turn by responding with 'STOCK'
to an input statement.  Likewise, he can review the map
of the galaxy by typing 'MAP' to an input statement.


                ** Game ends after 48 moves **


Player with the greatest net worth at that point is the winner.