Part 108: Episode X: 2500 - 2525

Episode X: 2500-2525




Two centuries in, and our desperate struggle has reached a critical juncture(in case it wasn't obvious from the flow of the last update). The outbreak of war has already benefited us, despite the loss of Rigel. The nameless Bulrathi ambassador has set the galaxy aflame, and we will either grow or have our doom set in stone.




We're nearing Robotics IV, and will really need battle computers if we can snag one.




Per usual for Silicoid systems, Ukko's size has now doubled. A size-80 Rich world, a third bigger than Phyco. That'll definitely prove useful. Imra in the lower right was recently taken by the Bulrathi from the Silicoids. If they make for a planet with their colony ships, they are getting it -- much faster than us. Just above Rayden, Rigel is about to come back into play it appears. The Silicoid population there is down to just 6M. We have a colonizer in orbit, and the bears don't. That would make seven planets if we got it back, and also put us in contact with the Alkari making the Altair plan a potential option for a takeover at a convenient time.

Also, the red fleets over Rayden and Ukko show the philanthropy of our allies. The balance of power will continue to shift, but here is the current systems controlled per empire:

** Silicoid(27)
** Bulrathi(13)
** Mrrshan(10)
** Meklar(6)
** Sakkra(6)
** Alkari(2)

It's still the rocks on top by a mile, but you can also see that if we can keep sniping systems we could become a vaguely relevant 2nd-tier power.




Trade is basically a full third of our income at this point, making it a huge bonus for us to maintain peace with everyone as long as possible. Meanwhile the military maintenance has held in the low 30s for decades now. The cost of bases has decreased a couple points and ships increased, and that transition should continue once we get robotics boosted. We are growing ... but slowly and still very much at the whim of the others for it to continue.

The ships are really starting to fly around, and soon I decide to boost our operational 'colonizer reserve' from two to five ships at all times. We've got to be ready to move whenever something happens.




Let's complicate things even more.




We must agree ... but we're going to have to hope the war starts going better for the Silicoids if we are going to make any progress of from this. It could be fatal, but refusing the dominant power in the galaxy wouldn't be much better.




Ukko gave us the range to reach yet another dead end.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ3GjJcasI4



Well, so much for that. Not really surprised.




Heh. Of all the races to do it. It came into their remote lower-right planet.




Definitely going with the planetary ones here. Meanwhile Meklar spies destroyed a few dozen factories. They are getting involved in the fighting. It's getting quite chaotic.

2511: We're now at war with the Meklar. I fear we will be consumed by this growing conflagration.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEPA9zYXaSM



Rayden was of course destroyed. Had we chosen the Silicoid side I don't think we'd have fared much better. We are caught in the crossfire, and doomed.




+50M Terraforming has arrived. Complete Eco seems the best investment.




Far too late, Battle Computer VI is our next target.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSA...ature=youtu.be.



First-ever Colony Ship vs. Colony Ship battle for me. Included just for the LOLs.




The galactic war rages on, and the rocks do not appear to be winning.

** Alkari(1) -- Granid
** Bulrathi(22) -- A veto bloc here and the Silicoids are just two votes short of it. Smurch could be looking at his first victory.
** Mrrshan(10) -- Granid
** Meklar(6) -- Smurch. The cybernetics have switched sides.

It's evenly-divided, and we choose Granid. We've got to try to keep them on our side as long as possible, even if they are losing. Granid leads Smurch 36-28 in the final tally.

Might as well grab some goodies, popcorn or otherwhise, as we have front-row seats to what promises to be a long and very destructive galaxy-wide war. The Sakkra are now simply waiting to be wiped out and/or absorbed into the conglomerate formed by the winning side.