Starbase needs Supply in order to Fire?

The starbase needs to have stored supplies in order to fire weapons. A quantum reactor is great, but you need something to hold the supplies it generates.

Space Empires Depot | SE:V Balance Mod

I never thought about it that way but it does make sense.

Groovy Baby Yeah!

ya... starbases have ALWAYS needed supply.
reactors have never stored supply, they merely regenerate it. and thats at the end of your turn. not actively during. (do they regen during combat?)
as for your weapons... i don't think one 5kt storage pod is enough to power all those weapons for very long during a fight.

i'd say look at storage pods as a Battery, the weapons draw from the battery, draining it. and the reactor is there to recharge your batteries.
in a car, your electronics don't feed directly from the engine, they feed from the battery that is charged by the engine.