Looking confirmation

[jureidinim]

Hi all.
I got this game off Steam and have two quick questions;

1) Where is the manual? I dont see it in the game folder under Steam

2) I may have misunderstood, but i thought the "open-ended" play would have maybe random events/jobs. So far , everything seems very scripted.
Are there random events happening? or random jobs being created? could i go to a sector and get into a fight by some patrol or are all encounters just scripted?

thanks for any help.

** EIDT **
Just read a review which may have answered my second question - nothing to do outside of story missions.. bummer.. that sux..

http://www.gameon.co.uk/game/review/...-war-pc-review

"Outside of the storyline missions, there isn't a huge amount to do; whilst you are free to roam the hundred or so star systems there's generally little of interest beyond killing a few pirates. Despite the protagonist's trading background and numerous trade stations, there are no goods to be bought or sold other than ship upgrades."