Part 65: Episode VI: 2525 - 2550

Episode VI: 2525-2550




Less than a decade ago, I had virtually no fleet at all. Given that, this comparison works just fine for me in that regard. Perhaps there's still a chance. Probably not -- but it isn't over yet.

That whole right side of the map is chaotic. This description would make a lot more sense if I'd actually managed to save the relevant screenshot, of course. Overall I think the Silicoids have lost a couple systems, while the Bulrathi gain. At this point, here's the overall count:

** Silicoids -- 18
** Bulrathi -- 11
** Alkari -- 9
** Meklar -- 8
** Mrrshan -- 8
** Human -- 7

Quite fascinating to see no total 'nothing' empires. Everyone's got a foothold ... and we're dead last! The Meklar don't have a lot of territory, but as far as I know they've not been successfully invaded yet. Silicoids still the largest by far, but there's a balance going on and wars all over the place. Silicoids are at war with Alkari/Mrrshan/Us, Meklars and Mrrshan still at odds, and of course there's the Bulrathi -- but they have no allies and only us as enemies. I think it's worth trying to get back on their good side. After bribes of Robotics III and ECM Jammer I(LOL), they say thusly:




Trade of 1050 BC is also signed, and they even agree to a NAP!. Truly we have the Midas Touch in diplomacy. We re-up with the Meklar to the same amount of trade as well. Friends with two significant players. Not bad.




Significant number(and costs) of bases here, but we still have room to have a much larger fleet. If we can stop getting it blown up. That's been the rub now for decades.

With a smallish empire and mid-level tech, progress on research is slow. We're starting to get there on a new planetary shield that frankly wouldn't do us all that much good, since it's the biologicals that are really killing us. Worse yet, we discover that the rocks have discovered the dreaded Bio-Terminator.

The next year, we re-colonize Helos for the umpteenth time, and also Morrig which will be only a shadow of it's former else. Protecting and building those up is top priority as the Space Amoeba leaves Phyco in search of another target ...

Then we lose contact with the Bulrathi. Just when we were making progress ...




2528. Didn't see them coming until it was too late -- takes three years to get ships there. Fortunately our bases took care of it with minimal losses(10M pop at most, two bases). A somewhat larger follow-up attack the next year was defeated as well, though more died. They only have the mid-level Doom Virus right now, and just one launcher per ship(though their anti-missile rockets are no fun). At the same time, we recolonized Phyco. The Space Amoeba left a small percentage of the factories intact, but that's it.

Soon it struck again ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBm177yycZY



I was hoping it would attack Aquilae, our biggest stronghold(Rich, 105M). It didn't do well. The Silicoid attack on our homeworld went little better, killing 14M but resulting in many incinerated ships on their side.




A new first for this LP -- they've always attacked another empire before. A larger attack on Sol involving over a hundred ships took out a few dozen more, but still over 100M remained. A combination of the antidote, higher populations, and more bases is holding the line for now -- but time is against us if we don't continue to improve defenses.

2534. The Meklar have taken two former worlds of ours that were being fought over, Rigel and Exis in the upwards direction. Once again, the cybernetics taking a system ends all discussion. They are keeping it. Our fleet is nearing the maximum size I can reasonably pay for(about 15% each for ships and bases), and continues to muster at Helos, the most vital system to keep as a developing rich world. In the backwaters, Morrig and Phyco are building up gradually as well. I deign to send an expedition to Palladia, green star on the lower right of this screen(that is also missing in this update, which really was a session of fail in terms of saving the images apparently). That's another rich one right in the Silicoid craw and would be quite nice to retake. Meanwhile focus of the economy shifts back to research.

We've crawled back from the brink a bit now ... can we keep it going? The report from Palladia is promising ... it's unoccupied. I send half our fleet in. They won't last against a determined Silicoid attack, but they'll force a sizable one in order to defeat them. Getting back to 11 systems, and a fourth rich one, would be a major boon to our economy. I also notice that the rocks have taken Rigel ... first time I've seen the Meklar lose a system. Still focusing on Palladia though, which is more valuable.

2538: A silicoid force with a colony ship and a few cruisers is chased off of Paladia. We lost about as much as they did, but still a success. The rocks are getting away with occasional bit of sabotage maybe once a decade, while our espionage has gone nowhere. Neither side is accomplishing anything significant on that front.




Lots of activity over here now that we are back in control of Palladia. The year is 2540, and there are rocks everywhere as you'd expect this close to their territory ... but this Meklar fleet is also coming. They could well help us defend the system. This also puts us back in contact with the Bulrathi, yet another reason to maintain control; a second trade partner. I send most of the rest of the fleet in, figuring that this will be a higher priority for the Silicoids to attack. Currently our fleet is about 80% of theirs in strength, so I think we've actually got a fighting chance to keep this.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRn2I8zG3bM



That went pretty well ... their missiles hurt, but we gave ok too and they never got close to the planet. And Class XV Planetary!




As many missiles as the Silicoids are deploying, I'm thinking it's worth getting the Zyro. They are mostly Stingers right now, so it would have a significant impact. We could upgrade our shielding also, but that would take a lot longer.

And ... we lose contact with the Bulrathi again anyway. There's so many battles going on all over the galaxy, fronts ebbing and flowing; I've never gained and lost and gained and lost and gained and lost contact like this. I literally have to check the Races screen constantly just to see who is even on it! You don't get a notice when you re-establish contact, just when you lose it. Because reasons I'm sure. The Alkari were back, so we set up trade with them. Only to lose it in a few years probably. We're still allied with them, but they are fighting the Bulrathi(the reason for the switch, I'm sure), so that may not last long.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVW1QWzafU4



Another success, as more ships have arrived. What you saw there was the majority of what we have. And thanks birdbrains for sabotaging your ally. Get a grip.




Four planetary shields finish, but this is more my concern. There are two Silicoid fleets bypassing Palladia to attack elsewhere. If I had to guess, I'd say one is headed to Sol and the other Helos. And I do have to guess due to my scanner tech. The fleet is recalled to Helos; bases will defend Sol just fine. I'm now depending on those Meklar to stay at Palladia and guard it like they are doing right now, or I'm going to lose it again. But if it's a choice, I'm keeping Helos.

Another attack at Rha is easily repulsed, and we get the Ion Stream Projector -- which I have no interest in using right now.




This is another matter though. Pulson missiles are much more effective than what we have against anything with shields. Just what I was looking for to boost our defense. The Silicoids bribe us to break our Mrrshan agreements for the umpteenth time, and ...




This is simply a matter of strength here. The Alkari continue to be the weakest overall race in the galaxy. I'm not siding with them against the Bears. We are no longer allies now -- but the Bulrathi replaced them in the contact list again, and we established trade again. Then I discovered that the stupid Bulrathi have allied with the Silicoids and are at war with the Meklar. Well, I would have honored my alliance had I known that. There was no way I could have though. The chaotic wheel of MOODiplomacy continues to spin, with another likely-inconclusive Council six years away.

2546: the Meklar leave Palladia, but it looks like we can spare the ships and once again half are sent.




I was a year too late, and we lose contact with the Bulrathi again. Another 10 million human citizens were exterminated, but I'd do the same thing again given the same choices. Helos is a higher priority. The year afterwards, incoming attacks at Helos and Keeta were obliterated easily with almost no losses. I'm getting the sense that the Silicoids are getting worn down.




This was a surprise to see, but one I've been looking for. It came in early, single-digit probability while our engines were further along -- though we got those(Ion) the same time. Battle Computer VII for this computing option, and for the other ...




Normally High Energy Focus would be a no-brainer here, but I actually want the range. I've never had it matter this much this late in the game -- but for the purposes of re-establishing relations and trade it is vital.

Scanner-spam resulted in a dozen planets being scanned -- and we also will now know ETA and destination of enemy fleets, just as vital. The Meklar have been busy turning all their planets into Gaias it seems. Making use of what they have.




With the Ion Drives it was time to put together a new ship. I thought about putting shielding on it, but the new thrusters took up too much space. Speed will increase the evasion significantly as it is. No other weapon system worth considering, so the HI(Hard Beam-Ion Drive) Cruiser has arrived.




This is incoming, and it's the largest Silicoid fleet I think I've seen, though a few have been close. Unfortunately for them, it's headed for our fortress at Aquilae. Anywhere else and I'd be worried.

The last thing we do before the next Council vote is recolonize Palladia. For like the 5th time or something. I think we keep it finally, but we'll see. Same nominees, different generation.




The galaxy added one vote, and the rocks didn't get it. That's good news, but they've still got veto power so we're settling nothing here.

** Meklar(6) -- Johan III. No change.
** Bulrathi(8) -- Granid. Since they've allied, I knew this was coming.
** Alkari(4) -- Johan III. They lost a vote.
** Mrrshan(5) -- Johan III. No change.

We've got 10 here, the only empire to gain and we are +2, a reflection of an excellent period in which we defeated the space amoeba, made peace with the Bulrathi, and pushed back against the Silicoid menace. We vote for ourselves -- I don't know why I abstained last time, it's not like making the rocks more angry is going to matter.




After 250 years, nothing is even close to being decided. Almost a 50-50 split.