How would you do a State Controlled Mining Ship?

<t> I add shields and weapons to my construction ships and set them to fight weaker targets. They get more work done, and don't abandon the job site to the pirates. The escorts get time to show up. Ranged weapons and fighters help.<br/>
Anyway - This means I also have to add more cargo bays to ...

<t> I put docking bays on my mining ships. I had an early war with a neighbor. A severe steel shortage. One mining ship had 2k steel on board and was still happly chewing away on an asteroid. No freighter would pick up the steel. The miner still had room in the cargo bay. There was no way to call it ...