these storylines are the bulk of the game. each storyline is a long and involved set of plot-filled missions which are like "playing" a short story written in second person. each story-line forces pilots to align themselves with a particular faction, restricting a player's freedom but giving him access to more powerful ships and technology. a single story-line can take anywhere from an hour to several days to play to completion, depending on the player's level of experience and preferred pace. there also exist a few shorter minor stories and missions, which are difficult to find but have great rewards, such as the ability to use the old hypergate system.