Part 103: Episode X: 2375 - 2400

Episode X: 2375-2400


https://youtu.be/PFs7idhF7oo



I'm pretty sure I've got all the technical issues sorted; I like how things look now and hope that my loyal readers can say the same. So let's get to it.




Bulrathi are big. We're not. Not much else to learn from this.




Trade is nearly up to even, and only Phyco still has room(and not much) to grow. At least the reserve is pretty healthy.




The suggestion about crashing planetology and propulsion was considered, but ultimately rejected. We're pretty close on both but more to the point, I think this far into the game we really need both those techs and those from the other fields. I.e. it doesn't really matter if I get more planets if I can't do much with them. An argument can certainly be made for desperate times provoking desperate measures, I just usually find they don't really help in the long run.




The very next turn. Normally having almost a full quarter-century to deal with whatever happens in the first Council vote before the second one is great. When you have less than 6% of the galaxy and said vote arrives though, you're in trouble.

** Silicoids(7)
** Alkari(2) -- Abstain
** Bulrathi(7)
** Mrrshan(7) -- Granid

I'm shocked by the Mrrshan here. Since when did they get delusions of grandeur? It's early, but the kitties are a serious player here, nearly a nominee!

** Meklar(3) -- Granid. Lots of love for the space rocks.

17-7 Granid leads it over Smurch, a total of 29 possible votes, as it comes to our three. A clear division of the haves and have-nots. We're as good as anyone in the irrelevant category, and abstain.




Bad news once terraforming comes in; Controlled Radiated Environment is not in our tree. IMO this makes this the worst starting galaxy I've had in the ten games (not counting RNG events to happen later). With the starting situation of being boxed-in, this means that there was no chance of us getting beyond our current four systems. It's going to take something extreme to avoid another loss.

Bio Toxin Antidote was the pick here, in retrospect probably a mistake. Getting Toxic Landings just in case we have a chance to go after a hostile world somehow would have been better. +40 Terraforming wouldn't add that much. And then it was time for the micro as we boost populations on all worlds. All four of them.




Once that's done, I do a major shift into propulsion research. It's probably too late to matter, and I'm not abandoning other fields, but our only chance at natural expansion is crossing dark space to the right at the top of the map.




In 2384, I try for a trade deal increase but can only buff it by 50%; not really worth it. However I do swing what might be my first-ever Tech Trade of this LP. The Bulrathi are willing to part with Range 5 fuel cells, +1 compared to what I currently have. Reduced Waste 80% is given in exchange. Interesting fact; I still can't move my ships after this, as it requires the next turn to process before I can distribute the necessary infrastructure and protocols(or whatever technobabble gobbledygook you want to imagine). I also start the first sliver of 'just-because' spying.




We have the Inertial Stabilizer now. That might well be useful if we have to fight. If so though, we're probably up a creek without a paddle anyway. But at least we got a better range tech. Once Dotomite comes in, there are a couple more systems we'll be able to reach. I don't think it'll matter -- but if they are hostile, just maybe we could do something. After all, only one would be needed to get a further foothold ...




Yep. Them and the Mrrshan(Silicoids especially) absolutely blowing up on the other side of the galaxy. The only good news is they aren't Psilons. At this size though, the difference probably won't matter much.




One system came into range with the Bulrathi fuel cells. We've now arrived at it. Shockingly, a nearby yellow star is not unoccupied.




Heh. The Alkari homeworld. Even though the birdies suck so far this game(the only race with fewer votes than us in the first vote) I don't fancy taking them on.




Finally. Thanks a lot, virus. But at least we can upgrade the economy. Improved Space Scanner next.




Wow. Look at that. Up from 29 to 45 total votes; the galactic voting pool has increased more than 50%. And the space rocks' tally has almost doubled. It's been a booming period -- we just had no way to take part in it.

** Alkari(2) -- Smurch. Same nominees, and something got the fencepole out of the butts of the fowl.
** Bulrathi(13) -- Sheesh.
** Mrrshan(9) -- Granid. Time has passed them by; now in solid #3 position.
** Meklar(5) -- Growing as well, they stay with the space rocks.

We are up to four votes. That places us 5th overall. So tempting to just vote for Granid and go for the quick ending; they are up 26-15 so we have just enough to win it for them. But we'll take the longer, slower death. Abstain.

Just for fun, I intend to explore the complete pointlessness of going for some kind of military solution to our problems at the start of the next century.