Part 13: 2487 - 2500

Episode I: 2487-2500

Last time, we eventually managed to overcome the Silicoids on Kronos, but discovered that we need to be in a hurry about this war since they've improved their planetary shields.

It isn't over yet though, even there. They've got transports and a sizable fleet incoming ... and if they recapture the planet, they'll probably end up stealing tech from us. We have a portion of the fleet stationed at Willow, and they'll head to Kronos to help deal with this counterattack. That could leave Willow a little bare if the Darlok invade, but we'll have more problems than we know how to count if that happens anyway and there's no sign of it.

We also get a small trade deal with the Alkari, and will work on building relations there again. We take a bite out of their fleet but the numbers are just too much for what we have. All of our transports are destroyed by their fleet. We'll have to keep at this and wear them down ... hopefully.

The next year(2486), they are back with even more. I don't think we have a chance here ...

ProTip: Don't screw up with the screen capture hotkey. I did, which is why you don't see a video here of the Silicoids retaking Kronos and stealing a tech of their own.

Well that blows. We basically traded them Fusion Drives for Zortrium Armor there -- the Mass Driver really doesn't matter much. Looks like we'll need to keep us this routine for a while ... I think taking out those Makos, the missile ships, is our priority.




Or not. This is one of those virtually inexplicable things. I think the way they move their ships around is the worst aspect of the AI. They just take off from Kronos and head elsewhere because ... why??

Well let's not look a gift horse in the mouth -- time to take it back!




Sometimes war is quick and decisive ... and sometimes it's a grind. We've got the latter. A dozen years after our first attack, here's how things stand. We've pulled even in population, but fallen behind in tech. Fleet strength and production actually look a little better than before now that our worlds have recovered -- we'll have to send in more troops now of course but not a huge amount since they don't have many there either. If we can eventually take Kronos back and keep it, we can make something out of this. If not, we could be in trouble.

In 2491, I thought we had more than enough to retake the planet, but it didn't work out that way. The plot stinkeneth: they have fusion rifles now. And soon their fleet returned. Round and round the mulberry bush we go here. No decisive resolution in sight. With the fleet already a little too big as it was, at least we were able to dump a lot of resources back into research.




ECM Jammer V eventually came in, and while a new computer or that Advanced scanner would be nice, the new Robotic Controls beckoned my attention. We're at 3 factories per million right now; moving up to five would be a 57% increase in productivity. Hard to imagine anything rivaling that.

In 2497 we recaptured Kronos, as their fleet seemed to find more interesting things elsewhere again. Also this happened:




Another random event. It actually doesn't matter much in this case anyway, since Tyr is small enough to be a research planet. Whenever we do upgrade to better factory controls though, it will take a lot longer to finish.




We weren't far from getting it ourselves anyway, but I'm not throwing this back. We also got the first-tier Deep Space Scanner, FWIW.




The Cloaking device is nice, but not really a huge advantage. Eventually you are going to want to de-cloak to attack, and then it's not useful anymore. Good to get in a first strike, or to get bombers to a planet, but often I find it's not worth putting on. The best shields we have are Class IV; Class VII would be a big upgrade, so we'll take that. I'd like to get one of those ground combat shields eventually ...




Here's something strange, and it appears to have tipped the balance enough in our favor to let us hang onto Kronos now. Much of the Silicoid fleet is gone; things are pretty even in that regard. This is Selia, which the Silicoids have had destroyed and recolonized several times over in the past few decades. At first I didn't think it was the Darloks because those two are never at war: but I think when they destroy the colony, it could be taking them out of contact. The Silicoids have range 8 though, so that doesn't really make sense. Something is happening over there though, this is about the 4th time or more in the past half-century. but either the rocks scrapped a bunch of ships or, more likely, they were destroyed by the Darloks and their fearsome beam weapons. Either way, they don't appear to be in any position to threaten Kronos for the moment. And that's just fine by me. I'll consolidate and let them keep fighting over it.

Scouting expeditions, a few destroyers each, are sent to the three reachable Silicoid systems to see about the possibility of expanding more if we can hold on here.




And what's this? The humans are being heard from, attempting to invade Altair. That's an interesting play. In 2499, the ships report back that Seidon is about a size 50-60 planet, Rotan 80, and Mu Delphi 160(!!). However, they all have planetary shields up. We're just building ours, and that will help a lot, but there's no way we can mount an attack with Sting Raids. They will now be relegated to defensive duties. For now at least, we'll have to satisfy ourselves with Kronos. It's not nothing though. In time, it could prove to be the beginning of a decisive edge.

With all this chaos going on, it's time to see what High Council VI has to say.




This is quite a prelude. There are now only five empires, four rivals, in the galaxy.




We get the support of the Darloks. And note the total votes; there's been enough carnage to reduce from 21 to 16!! The galaxy hasn't been a friendly place the past quarter-century.




The lizards join us as well, as their on-again, off-again allies the Silicoids have been at war with them lately.




The Humans cast us their single vote. Granid votes for himself of course ... but he doesn't have enough to veto. With everyone else throwing their support behind us ...




Our six votes are just enough to put us over the top! 11-5, Emperor Zygot of the Psilons is deemed the new ruler of the galaxy!!