Part 101: Episode X: 2325 - 2350

Episode X: 2325-2350


https://youtu.be/4LaRE3J9tsk



The next thing to be done was the research to allow us to get the barren planet Hyades. Two things this time were needed; Barren Landings and Hydrogen Fuel Cells. The barren tech had to come first, then the shipbulding could coincide with the range research. I pondered whether to have Zoctan join the research effort(it could boost it by about 30%) but decidedly it was ultimately better to have the system keep going on industry and join the effort later.




I was a fair bit shocked by this. Tops in population despite not being able to expand much. Maybe we're doing better than I thought.




After barren comes in, our next choice arises. Tundra is pointless here as Dead landings would include it. Almost every time I would go for Improved Eco in this kind of situation, but there is that Dead rich planet out there and we are highly lacking options, so Dead Landings it is.

Everything now gets shifted into propulsion research on Zoctan, while the new barren-capable colonizer is designed and built on Sssla. One year before the ship is done, the fuel cells come in -- and Inertial Stabilizer is the only choice now.

In 2332 the new colonizer is on its way. More recons are commissioned as well, but now it's just back into research as this whole operation only is going to net us one planet.




Three is better than two, that's about all I can say for this. Reseach proceeded to quickly snag Reduced Industrial Waste 80% from construction, then switched over to the much more expensive Dead Landings.




Just a scout, but they continue to poke around over here.




This is a bit more information -- a handful of small Alkari ships were here at Rigel(75M max). Seven of them, but all scouts so they ran anyway, amusingly. 50M and 4 factories currently so they've definitely shipped in a good amount of people.




Reduced Waste comes in shortly afterwards, and this is another obvious choice; the more modern option.




That's ... not good. We're at three and will stay there for some time. Looks like we are well off the pace. In all fairness though, eight systems 40 years in is a lot. Perhaps the space rocks are just off to a superb start.

The Meklars come visit Trax soon afterwards, so they are in the vicinity too. Good grief. Three empires closing us in. This is just getting better and better. If they, the Alkari, and the Bulrathi are all in this nearby band of yellow stars, then the Silicoids and Mrrshan essentially have most of the galaxy to themselves potentially.

We could have a bad case of the Runaway Silicoids on our hands. A very bad case.




This couldn't come soon enough.




Toxic is in our tree, but Radiated is yet to be determined. That will be important. For now though, crash-researching Improved Eco Restoration will help the productivity of our quite limited economy, and terraforming figures to follow.

The new dead-capable Colonizer is finished right at 2350, leaving our path clear. It'll head out to what is hopefully our next acquisition and first rich planet, while freshly-built Recons join it to push the boundaries of our knowledge further.