diff --git a/commands.go b/commands.go
index 9c9445c..807ab10 100644
--- a/commands.go
+++ b/commands.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ another, it takes time for the light of your message to reach the other star
 systems.  Star systems that are farther away take longer to communicate with.
         `
 		msg = strings.TrimSpace(msg)
+		fmt.Fprintln(conn, msg)
 
 		if len(args) == 0 {
 			fmt.Fprintln(conn, `use the "commands" command for a list of commands.`)
@@ -171,6 +172,23 @@ var gotoCommand = &Command{
 	},
 }
 
+var mineCommand = &Command{
+	name: "mine",
+	help: "mines the current system for resources",
+	handler: func(conn *Connection, args ...string) {
+		conn.StartMining()
+		var fn func()
+		fn = func() {
+			if !conn.IsMining() {
+				return
+			}
+			conn.Payout()
+			After(500*time.Millisecond, fn)
+		}
+		After(500*time.Millisecond, fn)
+	},
+}
+
 func move(conn *Connection, to *System) {
 	start := conn.System()
 	start.Leave(conn)
@@ -255,6 +273,7 @@ func init() {
 	registerCommand(broadcastCommand)
 	registerCommand(commandsCommand)
 	registerCommand(gotoCommand)
+	registerCommand(mineCommand)
 	registerCommand(helpCommand)
 	registerCommand(infoCommand)
 	registerCommand(nearbyCommand)
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 47ceb83..aaf2cbb 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -60,10 +60,16 @@ func handleConnection(conn *Connection) {
 			log_error("failed to read line from player %s: %v", conn.PlayerName(), err)
 		}
 		line = strings.TrimSpace(line)
+
+		if conn.IsMining() {
+			conn.StopMining()
+		}
+
 		if line == "" {
 			continue
 		}
 		parts := strings.Split(line, " ")
+
 		if isCommand(parts[0]) {
 			runCommand(conn, parts[0], parts[1:]...)
 			continue
diff --git a/session.go b/session.go
index 7bf084f..47a190d 100644
--- a/session.go
+++ b/session.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
+	"math/rand"
 	"net"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ type Connection struct {
 	lastBomb time.Time
 	kills    int
 	dead     bool
+	money    int64
+	mining   bool
 }
 
 func NewConnection(conn net.Conn) *Connection {
@@ -119,6 +122,27 @@ func (c *Connection) MadeKill(victim *Connection) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (c *Connection) StartMining() {
+	fmt.Fprintf(c, "now mining %s with a payout rate of %v\n", c.System().name, c.System().miningRate)
+	fmt.Fprintln(c, "(press enter to stop mining)")
+	c.mining = true
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) StopMining() {
+	fmt.Fprintf(c, "done mining\n")
+	c.mining = false
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) IsMining() bool {
+	return c.mining
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) Payout() {
+	reward := int64(rand.NormFloat64()*5.0 + 100.0*c.System().miningRate)
+	c.money += reward
+	fmt.Fprintf(c, "mined: %d space duckets. total: %d\n", reward, c.money)
+}
+
 func (c *Connection) Win() {
 	for conn, _ := range connected {
 		fmt.Fprintf(conn, "player %s has won.\n", c.PlayerName())
diff --git a/system.go b/system.go
index a3f3aec..17800f1 100644
--- a/system.go
+++ b/system.go
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ var (
 )
 
 type System struct {
-	id      int
-	x, y, z float64
-	planets int
-	name    string
-
-	players map[*Connection]bool
+	id         int
+	x, y, z    float64
+	planets    int
+	name       string
+	players    map[*Connection]bool
+	miningRate float64
 }
 
 func (s *System) Arrive(p *Connection) {
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ func indexSystems() map[int]*System {
 		}
 		index[p.id] = &p
 		nameIndex[p.name] = &p
+		p.miningRate = rand.Float64()
 	}
 	return index
 }