Ultimately, I would like my character's final profession to be "ruler (or destroyer) of the universe". He does not care if there is nothing left to rule after reaching that goal. Ruling everything is ideal, but personally destroying everything is an acceptable victory outcome (because it is a combat-focused game).
Some people aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some people just want to watch the sector burn.
@ AxleMC131
What I think SS has done completely right since I've been playing is to
not romanticize the start of the game. You are not destined to save the sector, overthrow some horrible government, or make a scientific breakthrough that will reshape everything. You're literally just a guy/gal trying to scrape by and you're so generic that you're beneath the notice of everyone in power. Without having a story, per se, you (as the player) create your own with every battle and every ship you buy/steal/salvage. That's why talk of professions and the start of the game interest me so much because if we mess with the current start too much, the magic of discovery and self story-making gets watered down. But that's also why I point to the endgame as the impetus to draw us towards exploration, trade, battle, etc.
If I had it my way, I think the most I would want from an endgame is to have enough "capital" (ships, resources, planets, stations, etc.) to start my own faction that could compete with the others. I have no idea how that would work from a technical standpoint but from a story standpoint, "my" faction would take on goals/purpose I would want for the sector. If you're like Megas and want to conquer everything, that would be possible, but if I wanted to explore and figure out a way to get out of the sector, that would be possible too. It almost reminds me of the victory conditions of the Civilization series: military, science, cultural, or political. I'd be curious what is in Alex's design goals for the endgame but of course, that will remain REDACTED for the foreseeable future.