Part 77: Episode VII: 2400 - 2425

Episode VII: 2400-2425




Production's ok-ish, but even that's a mirage. Not big enough to be relevant. To become so, we'll need to eventually find a way to join the right side of a conflict -- or get radiated landings first, which isn't likely here.




The trade deals have just kept things where they are basically. Humans are allied with both parties; Darloks with the Psilons as well.




Only Robotic Controls III is anywhere near completion. Elsewhere, we still have a negative trade balance(-60, 5.2% of our current production).




Just below the cursor is Nazin, the Darlok homeworld; above it is Rhilus, a Human colony. We may be able to explore another system or two but it seems unlikely. Those two radiated worlds are it. It seems sensible to do what we can to secure them -- if we can do that long enough, we can make a run at eventually colonizing them but it will almost certainly take some 'brush war' border fighting to hold off the others.




A simple laser-equipped fighter is going to be outclassed at this point. So likely will this 'Heavy Patrol' destroyer be, but it'll have a better chance. Basic battle computer and shield for minimal boosting of it's capabilities, and a couple of heavy lasers. Best we can do for system defense. Once any system gets enough missile bases up(right now Meklon has 3, one of the others 1, and that's it) I see little downside in investing a relatively minimal(typical 10% maintenance or less) in these to attempt safeguard of the wealthy radiated systems.




About half of the production on all fully-developed worlds is going to waste cleanup. This is our other big problem at the moment, and there is no solution coming anytime soon. In fact it probably gets worse before it gets better when Robotics arrives. You can also see here that I'm following the '50-50' plan; half of discretionary spending to research, half to the military. It seems a sensible approach right now. Our economy is really going to be hampered until we get some kind of more effective way to deal with the waste though.




We've found a hole in the middle of the galaxy basically. With the Guardian just below and a short hop to the left, this isn't a real useful section of 'terrain'. We've also gotten our first tech peek; the Psilons have at least Toxic landings, while of course the Silicoids don't need much. We don't have a lot of time, and I'm doubting we get enough ships out to the radiated systems in time. Still going to try though.




Another Human(purple) encounter on our final option here. We are definitely cut off in all directions.




Robotics III takes more time than expected, showing up in 2411. By this time all four core planets have 2-5 bases each and three of them are building the patrol ships, with several in the pipeline but none on station yet. We've also got a positive trade balance, are starting to make progress on the other tech fields, and the new colonies(Darrian and Kakata) are over half population and accelerating their industrial buildup. As for the next choice here, the scanner is definitely worth the price IMO.

It takes four years to get the new factories built in the core worlds, and I take a look at increasing trade -- but we can't double our deals yet, so we'll stay where we are. The Psilons are growing more favorable towards us all the time, so that's something. Meanwhile we have a few destroyers at each of the radiated systems. Not much, but we aren't totally defenseless now.

In 2420, we discover that the Psilons are already up to Class VII shields. They probably don't have any ships with that yet, but those would make their fleets impervious to any weapon we can mount(Heavy Lasers max out at 7 damage). We've got 23 destroyers for a maintenance bill of less than 3% -- plenty of room in the economy there but it still seems research would be the best use of our funds, and we switch everything we can into that. At least until we can build something that can damage them.




Hyper-X Rockets arrive in 2425, just before the Council puts in their two cents again. We have multiple others close to completion. On this list we are choosing from the last two. If we really need Scatter Packs we can come back for them; the Mass Driver will give us at least the capacity to damage current Psilon designs, though they might well have outgrown that by the time we can deploy it. It's a chance to do something though anyway.




Zygot vs. Sedimin here, with the Silicoids having overtaken the Bulrathi. Not a surprise.




Smurch throwing his support to Zygot has the potential to bring the Psilons dangerously close to victory ...




They may not have much, but even a couple votes can turn the tide as we've seen.




This is a surprise. I'd expect the Humans to be diplomatic enough to stay out of it, as I think they are still allied with both. Should be safe for another round.




Zygot gains another two votes. One shy of a veto block, which I imagine they'll have by next time. They more or less control their own fate with 50% more population than the other two majors.

As for us, we are up 1 vote again to 4. That makes us chief among the irrelevants, and we abstain. 22-11 is the final, with 25 needed to win. The Psilons were just three short here. All they'd have to do is flip the Humans. Sure looks like the galaxy will soon be at their mercy ...