So same thing happened in a new game, but decided to verify integrity of local files and two files updated. I know I had two files altered, one for music and one for system names, but didn't think they would be affecting this.

On restart afterwards, loaded the BEFORE save file, met the Liberated of ...

Here are two saves, one just before meeting the Liberated of the Stars, and one just after.

Exploration set to Always send away teams, and prompt for investigations.

Have not run into this before and have started a few Zenox games prior to this.

I'll try a new game again and see if it changes or ...

Started a few new games with the laters patch and any time a ruin is uncovered, choosing 'investigate ruin' doesn't seem to do anything and it doesn't leave the active log until it times out.

Alos, in the Zenoxi opening where the pirates offer the datacore early on, I'm now missing the actual ...