Upon logging into ME, you will be greeted by the newspaper, The Universe Daily, and above it will be a bar, much like this one:

The buttons NAV, COM, INF, NWS, FRC, DOC, SYS are parts of the menu bar, a vital part of the game. From it, you can access many functions in the game.

1. NAV (when landed on a planet):
   

   Planet -takes you to the status screen of the base you are docked on Galaxy Map -displays the galaxy map in a new window

2. NAV (when in space):
   

   	Current Sector -takes you to the Current Sector screen Local Map -displays the local map, an area of 5X5 sectors around your position Plot course -allows you to use the Plot Course system Galaxy Map -displays the galaxy map in a new window

3. COM:
   

   	View messages -link to the View Messages screen, which views the messages sent to you, your alliance or everyone online Send messages -link to the Send Messages screen Online Forum -link to the Merchant Empires Forum Message alliance -opens a send message window, which sends a message to the alliance you are currently in

4. INF:
   

   Merchant status -link to your statistics screen Merchant search -enables you to find another merchant (no, it does not reveal the location) Alliance status -takes you to your alliance's status screen Rankings -displays the rankings Requirements -displays the experience point requirements for reaching higher levels Highscores -shows the score chart of the game Currently online -tells you who is online at the moment

5. NWS:
   

   Newspaper -link to The Universe Daily Market News -market news shows which goods are being bought or sold in the galaxy and how many ports trade in them

6. FRC:
   

   Drop one SD -drops one scout drone in the sector Drop all SDs -drops the maximum possible number of scout drones in the sector Pick up SDs -picks up the maximum possible number of scout drones from the sector Drop one CD -drops one combat drone in the sector Drop all CDs -drops the maximum possible number of combat drones in the sector Pick up CDs -picks up the maximum possible number of combat drones from the sector Drop full Mine Stack -drops the maximum possible number of mines in the sector Pick up Mines -picks up the maximum possible number of mines from the sector

7. DOC:
   

   Documentation -link to the game manual List of Knows Goods -displays the goods in the current game, as well as starting goods on planets Ship list -list of ships in the current game Weaponlist -list of weapons in the current game Get More Help -link to your psychiatrist, if he/she is not present, it takes you to the game forum

8. SYS:
   

   Preferences -takes you to the preferences screen Logout -exits the game