Part 142: Episode XIII: 2375

Episode XIII: 2375 -




Still doing better than a typical game at this stage. Darlok relations are up to neutral and the Alkari war has been a completely fake one. We literally haven't seen a single ship of theirs.




Closing in on the next step in multiple fields. Highlighted here is what I think was a significant error. I really need a more high-powered beam weapon at this point. Not going with the Mass Driver was a big mistake I think. Missiles aren't great for ships that aim to defend a system, due to the obvious limited ammunition issue. I'm not sure if I have time to research a new weapon system in time. We're working on getting spies in place; I may or may not design a new combat ship after I can see what the Darlok/Alkari have so far, and once we get the new engines in. And of course what draw we get for the next planetology level will be of great importance.




Oooh. Well out of our range, but once we get new engines we could build yet another big ship possibly.




Ok, what to do here. Tough choice. I don't think the Ion Cannon is quite good enough ... I'd really like the Fusion Beam here but I'd be waiting a long time for it. Longer than I can afford to wait. Hard Beam is in the same boat. The Ion Cannon or Mass Driver would probably hit the spot for current needs.

To heck with it. I'm staying at our current level and going Mass Driver. That won't move us up in the ladder but I think we're going to need it. Probably the right balance between usefulness and time required.




Another standard system way at the bottom, ultra poor sure but oh well.




With ships incoming to Ryoun, I give the Alkari a couple of first-tier techs to achieve this. They refuse a trade deal despite being at Neutral.




A total of about 30 destroyers in multiple waves were incoming. They are turning around now once they arrive, but I don't think we could have fought them off.

Nuclear Engines arrive, and sub-light is the only option. I decide to take the risk of going for an unprecedented third extra-large Colonizer to reach Thrax. If successful, we might also be able to get Beta Ceti. There's every reason to think the Darloks will get there before us, and the diversion of resources from research will slow us down in that aspect. But I'll kick myself later if I don't at least try.




So that's Sol -- and there's already a battleship defending it. A battleship. In the first century. But I don't think they are particularly large given the position of the Darlok worlds.

2383: I've managed to get a spy into both Alkari and Darlok now. Both have Barren landings(so what) but the birds also have Tundra; both are also at Class II Deflectors. So, not as advanced as I thought. I'm not used to this whole early-fleet stuff much. I know I keep saying that, but I'm really not. So the question is whether it's worth building any faster ships with the Gatlings ... and I think it is. A couple of my earlier colonies are where they need to be in terms of missile bases so I can get a small amount of ships out of them. Better than nothing of course.




First ground combat boost. I'll take it. Death Spores are in as well. Both of them had a low chance of success so we got lucky here. Class V Planetary Shields is the only option for the first one, and of course I'd take that anyway. Then ...




I want all of them, and I want them now. But Inferno Environments will give me several more systems. So I basically need that yesterday.




Dead last in tech despite two recent advances and the research kick-start. Gotta love Impossible. But there's good news here. Alkari are under control so far and they are tops; Humans at 4th is more evidence that they are struggling.




I changed the spending up here. I want to accelerate getting the Controlled Inferno, but there's a lot of things I don't want to pull from. We need better weapons, and planetary shields, and Robotics. Those are all important techs. I took from propulsion as nuclear should be ok for now, and construction which is just getting us cheaper factories. I'll put those funds back in once we get Inferno probably, but I really want to give it a shot in the arm.

Gave Death Spores to the Alkari to try and get a trade deal ... they still refused. They are really being obstinate.




Just a big poor planet. This would end up killing half the population though, taking the system from Poor(95) to Radiated Poor(47). That's a pretty big blow.




An interesting question actually. I don't want a NAP this early. It'll let them take planets we want to guard. I also don't want to be their enemy but I think it would benefit them more than us, and turn them down. In 2390 the big colonizer for Thrax came out. The Sakkra had buzzed around both worlds; they had destroyers but that's it and retreated in both cases. So it's a race to see if we can get there in time ...

Nope. The Alkari took Thrax in 2395. We were four years out. Our fleet isn't ready to fight them yet. It's not that far away, but there are too many undefended systems. We've lost the first skirmish, but there's a lot more life left in this battle for territory.




Another big year as the Mass Driver came in as well. With the Alkari recently acquiring Class III shields, we'll need it now. Improved Space Scanner was selected over Battle Computer IV, though both deserved consideration. Then we'll finally move up to the Fusion Beam. I'm sucking up most of the resources from both of those for now to accelerate the Inferno work more though. And that will have to wait briefly while the new factories are built.

It was 2399. The end of the 24th century came with many questions still be answered. Nermal's struggle for all to worship her cuteness is promising, but undetermined.