Im not sure if this has been suggested already but maybe have npc villages/ships/bases/ect. have prisoners from enemy groups, traiters, and depending on who is holding them various other types of npcs(space pirates and raiders might have merchants and mad scientist might have people they have used for experiments, prisons and bounty hunters might be holding/transporting space pirates and raiders) if you free a prisoner they would have various responses depending on who they are and there groups relation with the player 1.attempt to escape 2.pick up a weapon or take a weapon the player give them and help the player fight there captors. 3. in rarer cases(possibly insane failed experiments and animals) will attack everyone they find freed prisoners would also sometimes join the players crew or give them a gift as thanks the player should also be aloud to take prisoners to experiment on, brainwash them and have them join the player, or more fun things to do like drop them off above there enemy and watch them fight(if the group sees the player drop the prisoner off they might become hostile) the player could also find crashed ships and abandoned bases with prisoners who have escaped as well as some prisoners still stuck in cages and cuffs. i know some of this is a bit much but what do you guys think?
