Part 29: Episode III: 2500 - 2515

As a PSA, I'll just mention that this update takes us up to 20 years from my current point in the game; almost finished with the backlog here.

Episode III: 2500-2515




A massive and growing territorial edge has pulled us even in population, but that's it. We're still trailing in other aspects.




Expanded trade with the Sakkra and esp. the Psilons here. I'm rather shocked that they haven't started turning against us due to our size. Looks like we'll be able to keep growing.




Robotic Controls and, not longer afterwards, terraforming will hit soon. After that, the plan is to start building stargates.




29 planets, nearly half the galaxy under our control, and still growing. Also, our fleet is now costing a third less than what it did before, at the same size. Maintaining absurd amounts of missile bases isn't trivial, but it's not costly either. Such is the nature of a high-end economy.




Finally we're ready for the big upgrade that will take us from 6 to 8 BC per million. More ECM tech is all that's available next. Meanwhile Cryslon and Obaca both fall, and we capture a bunch of tech. Mk. VII Battle Computer is the only improvement, but we also get our current construction option, leading to ...




As it says, this will increase our tech level, giving cost and size improvements. That's all it does though, nothing new is available. We can keep at it until reaching Level 99, the best available. After that, nothing more can be done.

With the new robotics, research will shrink to a minimum for a brief refitting period. Our research spending ratios will also return to normal.

It took about two and a half years for the factory-building on the developed planets. In 2504, the top six in terms of production started putting resources into Stargates. As they finish, they'll switch to research and other planets will start theirs. Nothing magical about this approach; the basic idea is just to have some systems working on it while research efforts continue for most of the empire. It's not urgent, but convenient relocation of fleets across the galaxy would be nice.




As you can see here, it'll take our homeworld a few years to build one, but not long. Smaller planets will take longer, but for a developed world at this point it's not a huge undertaking.




This was inevitable. We may soon have another conflict on our hands. The Bulrathi put in their two cents as well. Perhaps our Alliance with the Psilons, or their Honorable personality, or both, are keeping them firmly on the side of peace. The Sakkra are advanced enough that they'd be a little tougher than the Silicoids ... but not that much tougher. I think our Knights could still easily handle things if there are problems there.




Another round of terraforming(+80M, up from +60) arrives in 2508. However Advanced Cloning is not of much use to us -- there's usually something better to spend the money on. Occasionally after a big troop transport we'll do this, but that's about it.




This is the last planetary threshold. I wish it were true. Instead, what happens is the Sakkra cancel our Non-Aggression Pact. In reality they just saved us the trouble of doing that ourselves later on.

In 2510 the Bulrathi signed an alliance with the Silicods, and declared war on us. Their own death warrants as well. They were also allied with the Psilons, but they were willing to dissolve that. It's become time for us to just basically commit mass genocide now.




It's inconvenient to take that one yellow flag off the map, but we are not the slightest bit concerned about anything they may try to do. They'll be eliminated when convenient.




Our economies are almost equal now, allowing a rather absurd level of exchanges here.




This is a pretty massive leap; our current best is Class VI.




We're now getting into some truly absurd tech. This can be quite useful when an enemy design defeats efforts to destroy them by more 'traditional' means.




I noticed that the one remaining pathetic Bulrathi world had very little in the way of defenses -- so I didn't even bother sending the fleet. Most of our transports made it through, more than enough to commit my first act of genocide.




Check out the Psilons here. I expect that'll go back up, but that's just a massive hit we took. It's definitely enough to make me concerned. If they were to declare war, I think our missile bases would deter them, but it would be a while until we could get more advanced ships going. Hopefully they don't get too antsy while our alliance and trade boost it back up.




In an established, large empire this doesn't really matter, but still annoying.




Notice that the TRANS button is deactivated. Ajax is quarantined until the plague is cured: nobody can leave. The solution is the usual one -- transfer in funds, put everything in research. Millions will die every year until the cure is achieved.