how about utilizing other galactic objects such as asteroids and comets ?
maybe you could scan them like planets, but they are only 1 time resource gains and they disappear from your scan list when done harvesting them.....either by attack or using am artifact

with the incorporation of kalvium asteroids, i think dan might add more space objects like that to the battle tab.

I think it would be nice to add some. I feel like we could use some more permanent enemy groups, so these could work. They could drop mineral and/or artifact points. Maybe unique minerals that could be used to create special modules and other artifacts.

Don't forget organic NPCs as well!

The single asteroids could be a one time thing. But lets also have entire asteroid belts that work like planets.

cough cough... Silthion... cough cough...

Though it would be interesting to have something available for the lower ranks.

Ive been thinking of a Silthion chain.....

make sure you base it off the existing silithon chain... theres already one out there, even if it is extremely short...

Extremely short is an understatement... only the first 2 missions are worth spending energy on unless you have all the other non-fail missions complete. 4 hull plates, 3 aphotic planets and Queen/Hive spawning after the first 2, then a repeatable mission rewarding a planet trap (???) what a letdown...

well, when you think about it... i would really like to see more of the 'NPC unlocking' done throughout future mission chains. thats a silithon only aspect, and i would like to see it in the future. maybe Octafari elites posted when you complete a future mission, or something new in a future higher level chain... but the silithon chain is one of my favorites so far... the first mission gives modules, the second gives megarich planets, and the third unlocks two new elites. thats how i like my mission chains! :P

Never knew there was already a chain, in that case i can probably do something with....thinking.....thinking..... either we should be able to become silthion for a Research +1 every 40-48 hours or
Syntric Red's - Syntric Reds have long sinced lived on Volcanic and Toxic planets at war with the Blue Syntrics. (note i just think of the idea i dont care what the proffessions or race abilitys are)
Syntric Blue's - Syntric Blues have lived on Oceanics and Icys , at war with the Red Syntrics . (Note this are of the top of my head so please take that into judgement.)

Other than that I would have to spend days coming up with a description and Backstory, unless i could suggest a different planet then i dont currently have a different race other than the Shadows
the reason i suggest these races is because we have never had a Yin Yang kind of race