diff --git a/colony.go b/colony.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25e1fa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/colony.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package main
+
+import ()
+
+func MakeColony(c *Connection, sys *System) {
+	if c.money < options.colonyCost {
+		c.Printf("Not enough money!  Colonies cost %v but you only have %v space duckets.  Mine more space duckets!\n", options.colonyCost, c.money)
+		return
+	}
+	if sys.colonizedBy == c {
+		c.Printf("You've already colonized this system.\n")
+		return
+	}
+	c.money -= options.colonyCost
+	m := &MakeColonyState{
+		System: sys,
+	}
+	c.SetState(m)
+}
+
+type MakeColonyState struct {
+	CommandSuite
+	*System
+	start int64
+}
+
+func (m *MakeColonyState) Enter(c *Connection) {
+	c.Printf("Making colony on %v...\n", m.System)
+}
+
+func (m *MakeColonyState) Tick(c *Connection, frame int64) ConnectionState {
+	if m.start == 0 {
+		m.start = frame
+	}
+	if framesToDur(frame-m.start) >= options.makeColonyTime {
+		return Idle(m.System)
+	}
+	return m
+}
+
+func (m *MakeColonyState) Exit(c *Connection) {
+	m.System.colonizedBy = c
+	c.Printf("Established colony on %v.\n", m.System)
+}
diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index b5d0d54..0baa12c 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ func (c *Connection) Tick(frame int64) {
 func (c *Connection) RunCommand(name string, args ...string) {
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			c.Printf("shit is *really* fucked up.\n")
+			c.Printf("something is broken.  Log this as a ticket!\n")
+			c.Printf("recovered: %v\n", r)
 			log_error("recovered: %v", r)
 		}
 	}()
diff --git a/idle.go b/idle.go
index 5f1b0cc..7387b9c 100644
--- a/idle.go
+++ b/idle.go
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ func (i *IdleState) scan(c *Connection, args ...string) {
 	currentGame.Register(NewScan(i.System))
 }
 
+// "make" is already a keyword
 func (i *IdleState) maek(c *Connection, args ...string) {
 	switch args[0] {
 	case "bomb":
@@ -146,6 +147,9 @@ func (i *IdleState) maek(c *Connection, args ...string) {
 			return
 		}
 		c.SetState(MakeBomb(i.System))
+	case "colony":
+		MakeColony(c, i.System)
+		return
 	default:
 		c.Printf("I don't know how to make a %v.\n", args[0])
 	}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 54f4031..ef02c9f 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -11,20 +11,22 @@ import (
 )
 
 var options struct {
-	bombCost      int
-	bombSpeed     float64
-	debug         bool
-	economic      int
-	frameLength   time.Duration
-	frameRate     int
-	lightSpeed    float64
-	makeBombTime  time.Duration
-	moneyMean     float64
-	moneySigma    float64
-	playerSpeed   float64
-	respawnFrames int64
-	respawnTime   time.Duration
-	speckPath     string
+	bombCost       int
+	bombSpeed      float64
+	debug          bool
+	economic       int
+	frameLength    time.Duration
+	colonyCost     int
+	frameRate      int
+	lightSpeed     float64
+	makeBombTime   time.Duration
+	makeColonyTime time.Duration
+	moneyMean      float64
+	moneySigma     float64
+	playerSpeed    float64
+	respawnFrames  int64
+	respawnTime    time.Duration
+	speckPath      string
 }
 
 var (
@@ -118,4 +120,6 @@ func init() {
 	flag.DurationVar(&options.respawnTime, "respawn-time", 60*time.Second, "time for player respawn")
 	flag.DurationVar(&options.makeBombTime, "bomb-time", 5*time.Second, "time it takes to make a bomb")
 	flag.IntVar(&options.bombCost, "bomb-cost", 500, "price of a bomb")
+	flag.IntVar(&options.colonyCost, "colony-cost", 2000, "price of a colony")
+	flag.DurationVar(&options.makeColonyTime, "colony-time", 15*time.Second, "time it takes to make a colony")
 }