diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index eab89df..fc79b1b 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -877,6 +877,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "galactica-content",
  "galactica-playeragent",
  "galactica-util",
+ "log",
  "nalgebra",
  "rand",
  "rapier2d",
diff --git a/crates/system/Cargo.toml b/crates/system/Cargo.toml
index 34a4bde..de5c455 100644
--- a/crates/system/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/system/Cargo.toml
@@ -25,3 +25,4 @@ rapier2d = { workspace = true }
 nalgebra = { workspace = true }
 crossbeam = { workspace = true }
 rand = { workspace = true }
+log = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/system/src/data/ship/ship.rs b/crates/system/src/data/ship/ship.rs
index c16f673..31fc37f 100644
--- a/crates/system/src/data/ship/ship.rs
+++ b/crates/system/src/data/ship/ship.rs
@@ -78,11 +78,11 @@ impl ShipData {
 	/// That is the simulation's responsiblity.
 	///
 	/// Will panic if we're not flying.
-	pub fn start_land_on(&mut self, target_handle: Arc<SystemObject>) {
+	pub fn start_land_on(&mut self, target: Arc<SystemObject>) {
 		match self.state {
 			ShipState::Flying { .. } => {
 				self.state = ShipState::Landing {
-					target: target_handle,
+					target,
 					current_z: 1.0,
 				};
 			}
@@ -285,13 +285,12 @@ impl ShipData {
 		&self.state
 	}
 
-	/// Get a handle to this ship's content
+	/// Get this ship's content
 	pub fn get_content(&self) -> &Arc<Ship> {
 		&self.ship
 	}
 
-	/// Get this ship's current hull.
-	/// Use content handle to get maximum hull
+	/// Get this ship's current hull
 	pub fn get_hull(&self) -> f32 {
 		self.hull
 	}
@@ -316,9 +315,4 @@ impl ShipData {
 	pub fn get_faction(&self) -> &Arc<Faction> {
 		&self.faction
 	}
-
-	/// Get this ship's content handle
-	pub fn get_ship(&self) -> &Arc<Ship> {
-		&self.ship
-	}
 }
diff --git a/crates/system/src/lib.rs b/crates/system/src/lib.rs
index 443c370..61bbdb8 100644
--- a/crates/system/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/system/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,3 +6,6 @@
 
 pub mod data;
 pub mod phys;
+mod playerdirective;
+
+pub use playerdirective::PlayerDirective;
diff --git a/crates/system/src/phys/physsim.rs b/crates/system/src/phys/physsim.rs
index 1315e0e..8fc4fcd 100644
--- a/crates/system/src/phys/physsim.rs
+++ b/crates/system/src/phys/physsim.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use galactica_content::Faction;
 use galactica_content::Relationship;
 use galactica_content::Ship;
 use galactica_playeragent::PlayerAgent;
+use log::error;
 use nalgebra::{Isometry2, Point2, Rotation2, Vector2};
 use rand::Rng;
 use rapier2d::{
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ use super::{
 	PhysImage, PhysProjectileImage, PhysShipImage, PhysStepResources, PhysWrapper,
 };
 use crate::data::{ShipAutoPilot, ShipPersonality, ShipState};
+use crate::PlayerDirective;
 
 // TODO: replace with a more generic handle
 /// A handle for a ship in this simulation
@@ -190,7 +192,7 @@ impl PhysSim {
 	}
 
 	/// Update a player ship's controls
-	pub fn update_player_controls(&mut self, player: &PlayerAgent) {
+	pub fn apply_directive(&mut self, directive: PlayerDirective, player: &PlayerAgent) {
 		if player.ship.is_none() {
 			return;
 		}
@@ -204,37 +206,49 @@ impl PhysSim {
 
 				ShipState::Flying {
 					autopilot: ShipAutoPilot::None,
-				} => {
-					ship_object.controls.guns = player.input.pressed_guns();
-					ship_object.controls.left = player.input.pressed_left();
-					ship_object.controls.right = player.input.pressed_right();
-					ship_object.controls.thrust = player.input.pressed_thrust();
-
-					if player.input.pressed_land() {
+				} => match directive {
+					PlayerDirective::None => {}
+					PlayerDirective::Engine(x) => ship_object.controls.thrust = x,
+					PlayerDirective::TurnLeft(x) => ship_object.controls.left = x,
+					PlayerDirective::TurnRight(x) => ship_object.controls.right = x,
+					PlayerDirective::Guns(x) => ship_object.controls.guns = x,
+					PlayerDirective::Land => {
 						if let Some(target) = player.selection.get_planet() {
 							ship_object.data.set_autopilot(ShipAutoPilot::Landing {
 								target: target.clone(),
 							})
 						}
 					}
-				}
-
-				ShipState::Flying { .. } => {
-					// Any input automatically releases autopilot
-					if player.input.pressed_left()
-						|| player.input.pressed_right()
-						|| player.input.pressed_thrust()
-						|| player.input.pressed_guns()
-					{
-						ship_object.data.set_autopilot(ShipAutoPilot::None);
+					_ => {
+						error!("Got an invalid directive {directive:?} in shipstate `Flying`");
 					}
-				}
+				},
 
-				ShipState::Landed { .. } => {
-					if player.input.pressed_land() {
+				ShipState::Flying { .. } => match directive {
+					PlayerDirective::None => {}
+					PlayerDirective::Engine(_)
+					| PlayerDirective::TurnLeft(_)
+					| PlayerDirective::TurnRight(_)
+					| PlayerDirective::Land
+					| PlayerDirective::Guns(_) => {
+						// Disable autopilot and apply action
+						ship_object.data.set_autopilot(ShipAutoPilot::None);
+						self.apply_directive(directive, player);
+					}
+					_ => {
+						error!("Got an invalid directive {directive:?} in shipstate `Flying`");
+					}
+				},
+
+				ShipState::Landed { .. } => match directive {
+					PlayerDirective::None => {}
+					PlayerDirective::UnLand => {
 						self.start_unland_ship(player.ship.unwrap());
 					}
-				}
+					_ => {
+						error!("Got an invalid directive {directive:?} in shipstate `Landed`");
+					}
+				},
 			};
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/crates/system/src/playerdirective.rs b/crates/system/src/playerdirective.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f93521
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/system/src/playerdirective.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/// An action the player wants to take in the game.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum PlayerDirective {
+	/// Do nothing
+	None,
+
+	/// Set main engine state
+	Engine(bool),
+
+	/// Set left turn thruster state
+	TurnLeft(bool),
+
+	/// Set right turn thruster state
+	TurnRight(bool),
+
+	/// Set main gun state
+	Guns(bool),
+
+	/// Land on the currently selected planet
+	Land,
+
+	/// Take off from the planet we're landed on
+	UnLand,
+}