New features in beta branch

The "development" beta branch has been updated to the current state of development, which includes few still work-in-progress but already pretty functional features.

During 2021 the amount of time spent on development has been admittedly pretty low and the work has focused on the sandbox campaign mode, which is still quite far from a releasable product.

New features:

• Added simple configuration mod support. Don't like the balance of combat or want to try something wacky, like 10x faster fire rates on all weapons? Enable mods from a launcher or create your own by editing some JSON files.

• Added roaming pirate fleets to campaign sandbox.

• Added neutral single-station "free port" factions to campaign sandbox that are a good place to sell salvaged debris and rebuild your fleet.

• Station battles can be now fought manually in campaign sandbox. This feature is still pretty basic, but features static defense platforms in a generated level with asteroids. Player can be either attacker or defender and any docked fleets also take part in the battle.

• Lots of minor improvements to campaign Faction and fleet logic. For example, fleets will now evade enemies, and more fleets may join ongoing autoresolved battles.