Command points

Command points are a global resource and the primary limiting factor for fleet sizes in Master of Orion.

Overview
Command points are a reflection of the size of your military. They act as fleet support: As long as the number of command points available exceeds the number of command points required by your fleets, ships have free support. However simple, this system also has a very simple punishment: If the number of required command points exceeds the amount available, you start paying upkeep costs - to the tune of 10 BC per missing point.