diff --git a/db.go b/db.go
index 0a47c46..adf4592 100644
--- a/db.go
+++ b/db.go
@@ -123,6 +123,6 @@ func randomPlanet() (*exoSystem, error) {
 	}
 
 	pick := rand.Intn(n)
-    planet := planetIndex[pick]
-    return &planet, nil
+	planet := planetIndex[pick]
+	return &planet, nil
 }
diff --git a/errors.go b/errors.go
index eec361c..33d9354 100644
--- a/errors.go
+++ b/errors.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ const (
 	E_Ok int = iota
 	E_No_Data
 	E_No_DB
-    E_No_Port
+	E_No_Port
 )
 
 type errorGroup []error
diff --git a/interactions.go b/interactions.go
index 94fb070..221e923 100644
--- a/interactions.go
+++ b/interactions.go
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 package main
 
-import (
-)
-
-
+import ()
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 2eca770..1400b26 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"math/rand"
 	"net"
 	"os"
-	"regexp"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
 )
 
 var dataPath = "/projects/exo/expl.speck"
@@ -30,30 +32,58 @@ func bail(status int, template string, args ...interface{}) {
 	os.Exit(status)
 }
 
-func handleConnection(conn net.Conn) {
-    namePattern := regexp.MustCompile(`^[[:alpha:]][[:alnum:]-_]{0,19}$`)
-	r := bufio.NewReader(conn)
-	fmt.Fprintf(conn, "what is your name, adventurer?\n")
-	name, err := r.ReadString('\n')
-	if err == nil {
-		name = strings.TrimSpace(name)
-		log_info("player connected: %v", name)
-	} else {
-		log_error("player failed to connect: %v", err)
+func handleConnection(conn *Connection) {
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+
+	defer conn.Close()
+	conn.Login()
+
+	planet, err := randomPlanet()
+	if err != nil {
+		log_error("player %s failed to get random planet: %v", conn.PlayerName(), err)
+		return
 	}
-    if !namePattern.MatchString(name) {
-        fmt.Fprintf(conn, "that name is illegal.\n")
-    }
+	fmt.Fprintf(conn, "you are on the planet %s\n", planet.name)
+	for {
+		line, err := conn.ReadString('\n')
+		switch err {
+		case io.EOF:
+			return
+		case nil:
+			break
+		default:
+			log_error("failed to read line from player %s: %v", conn.PlayerName(), err)
+		}
+		line = strings.TrimSpace(line)
+		parts := strings.Split(line, " ")
+		switch parts[0] {
+		case "scan":
+			for _, otherPlanet := range planetIndex {
+				if otherPlanet.name == planet.name {
+					continue
+				}
+				go func(p exoSystem) {
+					dist := planetDistance(*planet, p)
+					delay := time.Duration(int64(dist * 100000000))
+					time.Sleep(delay)
+					mu.Lock()
+					fmt.Fprintf(conn, "PONG from planet %s (%v)\n", p.name, delay)
+					mu.Unlock()
+				}(otherPlanet)
+			}
+		case "broadcast":
 
-    planet, err := randomPlanet()
-    if err != nil {
-        log_error("player %s failed to get random planet: %v", name, err)
-        return
-    }
-    fmt.Fprintf(conn, "you are on the planet %s\n", planet.name)
+		case "quit":
+			return
+		default:
+			fmt.Fprintf(conn, "hmm I'm not sure I know that one.\n")
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func main() {
+	rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())
+
 	setupDb()
 	listener, err := net.Listen("tcp", ":9220")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -65,6 +95,6 @@ func main() {
 			log_error("error accepting connection: %v", err)
 			continue
 		}
-		go handleConnection(conn)
+		go handleConnection(NewConnection(conn))
 	}
 }
diff --git a/player.go b/player.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37c13b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/player.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"regexp"
+)
+
+var namePattern = regexp.MustCompile(`^[[:alpha:]][[:alnum:]-_]{0,19}$`)
+
+func ValidName(name string) bool {
+	return namePattern.MatchString(name)
+}
+
+type Player struct {
+	name string
+}
+
+func (p *Player) Load() {
+
+}
diff --git a/session.go b/session.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..642b358
--- /dev/null
+++ b/session.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+type Connection struct {
+	net.Conn
+	*bufio.Reader
+	player Player
+}
+
+func NewConnection(conn net.Conn) *Connection {
+	return &Connection{
+		Conn:   conn,
+		Reader: bufio.NewReader(conn),
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) Login() {
+	for {
+		fmt.Fprintf(c, "what is your name, adventurer?\n")
+		name, err := c.ReadString('\n')
+		if err == nil {
+			name = strings.TrimSpace(name)
+		} else {
+			log_error("player failed to connect: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+		if !ValidName(name) {
+			fmt.Fprintf(c, "that name is illegal.\n")
+			continue
+		}
+		log_info("player connected: %v", name)
+		c.player = Player{name: name}
+		break
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) Close() error {
+	log_info("player disconnecting: %s", c.player.name)
+	return c.Conn.Close()
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) PlayerName() string {
+	return c.player.name
+}