need a little tech tree/starbase help

[President_Elect_Shang]

Imperator Fyron said:
The supplies are for energy. Not all weapons fire bullets/missiles, which is what ordnance is supposed to represent.

Sorry that one just doesn't hold water. What are the supplies... solid fuel? Why can't the engines supply the energy? If we can build cars that supply all the power it needs plus extra for built in DVD players and such why can't we build a ship with that same ability. Finally what about the weapons that use both? What is the supply pull for in them? Gotta get the 'ol electro catapult up to power 'eh? NOT!