Part 59: Episode VI: 2375 - 2399

Episode VI: 2375-2399




The Silicoid fleet is not very large, and we may have no choice but to fight back. That's not our main issue at the moment though.




Two more rich systems will be within our grasp once we get this. Our first two colonies, Exis and Berel, will be able to contribute more research soon. Keeta isn't that far away either.




There we go, last of the current ships that are out there.




Not surprising. We are now completely cut off.




2380, a year or two later than hoped, we get our new Dead landings. This opens up more possibilities, but we've definitely got to snag those two rich systems nearby. As far as our next choice here goes, Enchanced Eco Restoration will cut our waste bill by a further two-thirds. That'll take a while though; time to switch over to the waste-reduction in Construction.

One ship will be built at Sol, one at Keeta. The next question is to fight, or not to fight. Silicoids now hold 13 planets; we're at 9, hopefully 11 soon. That's really not quite enough, even with a few rich ones.

There's a lot to be said for the idea of trying to strike now; direct diplomacy with the Silicoids is not going to work too well, as they are likely to be our oppositon in the Council if we have enough votes to be nominated. Things are likely to get worse before they get better; they've built up their fleet quite a bit recently and are still expanding.

I decide to go the more in-character Human route though. Turn turtle, go defensive, befriend everything that moves. We'll eventually be able to fund research or whatever with the rich systems and planetary reserve, and we've got good chances to get the shielding that bases will need to survive for a while. The hope here is that diplomacy flows our way like in the last game. Eventually the Silicoids will tick someone off. When they do, we'll hope to be able to join in as their advantadges diminish.

We up to 275BC with each, and sign Non-Aggression Pacts. Neither is willing to form an Alliance yet either. I need to experiment here with building up a respectable fleet size(even if just crappy fighters) and see if that makes them more amenable, as I expect it will.




Interestingly, we are still favored apparently to be nominees in the first High Council despite the slow start. That would appear to be a nod to the weakness of the competition. I rather suspect that if we were going up against Klackons and Psilons this would not be the case.

It's 2384, and the second of the two colony ships are away to the rich planets. There is one more Tundra that hasn't been taken yet in that nebula up by the Meklar. It seems worth getting a out-sized ship going up that way.




Here's the look of the fleet at the moment. 9 years is the estimate on the big one. When it's finished it will kill two birds with one stone, temporarily fooling the game into thinking I have a larger fleet than I really do(since it's based on cost, not combat effectiveness)




Another couple years, and at the last possible moment we get our waste reduction. Duralloy Armor is the only forward option. Two important changes now. Palladia has maxed out factories and will be ready to fund the reserve soon: just need to get a couple of bases up and running. Meanwhile, it's finally also time to switch to more permamentish research ratios.




Not as extreme as the Silicoid balance is, since we are decent in all fields. It's time to begin anew the great chase up the ladder of science. We nab Klystron, the last option except for the big ship being readied for the nebula.




Another year later, 2389. Let's see how the population looks across the galaxy.

** Silicoids -- 8 of 30. I expect that to rise.
** Meklar -- 4. Good to see them vote for us, as they should.
** Bulrathi -- 5, voting for the space rocks. That'll have to be dealt with, but they haven't met us yet and we've had some confrontations in exploration so not too surprising.
** Alkari -- 2(abstain).
** Mrrshan -- 5, also voting Silicoid.




That leaves us. Granid was only two votes from winning outright on the first try, all his support coming from races we have no contact with. That's too close, and it's just over a decade till the next vote. Regardless, we abstain here to maintain relations and the deadlock.




The big Colonizer is finally on it's way now as well. Here we'll go cheap again with the Neutron Pellet Gun for the next tier. Despite our fleet being about two-thirds of the Silicoids', they and the Meklar continue to rebuff our offers of Alliance. I try to butter them up with bribes. I get the Meklar all the way up to Affable, but both still refuse.

Argh.




2394. Class II Shields are in, and now these come.




This brings the first century to an end. We got Robotics III for one of the new options, so that was a no-brainer.



New Council, same choices.

** Meklars -- 4, stayed with us.
** Bulrathi -- Still 5, voted Granid.
** Alkari -- Still 2, but instead of abstaining they went Silicoid as well.
** Mrrshan -- 5, and Granid.

After we abstain ...




Well that wasn't close or anything. One vote shy of defeat. Some diplomats we are. Many things have gone against us in the first century, but humanity is still alive and kicking ... barely.