Scanners, defense, then whatever you want, you're don pretty much everything that is required for AGES!

personally, i'd say scanners, topolis then +12's then def then do what you want but that all depend on personal preference! otherwise i'd listen to bluecifer

Already have +12s. I'll continue with scanners then, I guess. I'm rank 362 for those who don't know.

Why do I suddenly feel like the 6 million research plunged into the base tree has cost me dearly?

Anyway, I'd do at least tier 1 exergonics. Whilst with most trees you should complete the whole tier, you can get a great boost by doing one into the next tier with defense.

I'll be following up into defense once I'm done with scanners; I've only very recently done a tier of defense so my decks haven't quite caught up yet.