Firstly, the new misson accept screen is excellent. A great improvement over "Decline and request another". It also looks really good.

Accepting an "escort from the stargate" Korolov mission can give an 'Unknown Friendly' target designator if the stargate isn't already known. See image. Identifying the stargate on mission acceptance would be a good idea IMO.

The Situation Screen and Dock Services actions could have the action disabled and the explanation as an action description if the player isn't yet a Korolov member. This would save a couple of panes.

If you save the Charon Korolov station and it is the only Korolov station in the game it is impossible to get Korolov membership and so access the Situation Screen and Dock Services sections. Saving the station or possibly destroying the Fortress or one of the Strongholds could be made to be enough to allow membership.
Also if the Charon Korolov station is the only Korolov station in a game maybe there could be a random chance of getting Volkov after all the pirate stations are destroyed. Suggest this is only if the station is saved.

EDIT: Added in 1.8b4.
Noticed in TBR. If the player starts in other than Eridani the Korolov station that gets indicated by Benedict can be a long way away from the SOTP system line. Possibly code could be added to direct the player to a Korolov station that is along the main system line even if this is not the nearest station. Admittedly this does direct the player away from the TBR systems which probably isn't a desired outcome but the Benedict mission line is based around the SOTP system line.

unknown cygni stargate korolov.jpg
unknown cygni stargate korolov.jpg
george moromisato 23 Dec 2020:

Fixed in 1.9 Beta 3:

  • Stargate is marked as known.
  • Disable Dock Services if no access (and explain why)
  • Changed Situation Screen to Information (to match other stations)