Part 39: Episode IV: 2400 - 24??

Episode IV: 2400-24??


To start off the 25th century, we get some good news ...




Mobas was a 70M planet; now it's 100M. It's still mineral-poor, but it basically just went from being a fairly good research planet in development, to being a quite good one.




No High Council yet, but when it does form it appears that it'll be us and Psilons vying for the top population, somewhat ahead of the Sakkra and Klackon. We're gaining on them in production, at least over the past decade or so. If we can at least equalize there ... we will still fall behind further and further in technology. But at least we'll fall behind at a slower rate!




Another round of diplomatic efforts demonstrated a couple things. Our economy has grown to the point where more trade is possible: we increase deals to 600 BC across the board -- they were 225 to 275 BC previously. Tried to get the Klackons to agree to an alliance; they declined. We did get a Non-Aggression Pact with the Psilons though. A bit risky while we are still looking to expand, but being on their good side is worth it and we have missile bases up at a good proportion of the border systems now.

We're on quite good, and basically equivalent, terms with everyone now. A couple years ago they were all allied with each other, but right now there's nothing going on. Tensions will probably start to rise before long, but Pax Galactica reigns at the moment.




The military empires, Alkari and Bulrathi, we have not seen any sign of. Not even ships. It appears unlikely that they are large though, based on the available territory. I'd be surprised if either has 10+ systems. Multiple wild-cards, but it looks like Rocks vs. Eggheads from opposite corners -- or a heck of a lot like the last game with the bugs. If it plays out that way, I'm hoping to go for Orion earlier and play that trump card while it can be even more decisive. But it's way too early for that.

The two stars we are presently aiming for with the new super-colonizers are Mu Delphi(red star in the galactic center, a Toxic world) and Darrian(blue, halfway down the extreme right edge). Mu Delphi is first for strategic reasons of potentially allowing further growth. We're completely blocked off everywhere else; these are the only options that don't require better range, which would be really nice.




This is the Klackon border, the area basically just to the right of the galactic center. Here is where our defenses are most developed. Toranor is safe: the others you see all have at least 1 missile base. Quayal has I think 7, on it's way to at least 9. That's our artifacts planet, which ironically is not doing any research lately so that it can be well-protected. To the right and above defenses are not in place yet, but working in that direction.

Approximately half our colonies are border systems(i.e., potentially within range of enemy fleets). The other half can concern themselves soley with more economic matters of industry and research.




The Nuc Recons here are recently built and on their way to all border systems and those near them, though we needn't bother with the upper-right section. Once they are in position, the original Recons will be decommisioned. And the decidedly strange-looking Colony XT is our new mammoth long-range colony ship of course.




And finally, a look at research, where Personal Deflectors are expected fairly soon, along with Death Spores(who cares). In reality, we aren't studying a single thing that I'm going to be excited to acquire: it's all just about pushing the scientific process forwards in general.

Thus ends the briefing: onward!

2401: Pirates are finally gone. Took way too long, but that's dealt with.

2405: The first Colony XT left Cryslon for Mu Delphi -- which was claimed by the Klackons that same year. Well, so much for that idea. It'll re-route to Darrian as soon as it can. We lose 35 BC every year it's out there in maintenance, so the bug bastards cost us more than just a potential system. A little surprised to see them able to colonize Toxic worlds.

A year later, and we got the first of the next set of research projects: ECM Jammer III.




Battle Computers are important enough that I'll go that route instead of staying cheap, even though it's about a third more expensive than another ECM. It would be really nice to get some sort of Robotics advance though ...

In 2408, Personal Deflectors come in. Only choice to move forward is Class IV Shields, which would double the effectiveness of our current IIs. No planetary shields yet which blows. Also ...




Carnax vs. Zygot. Us vs. the Psilons. Yay. This vote ... is not a good sign.






The birdies have little to say, being wimpy.




Bears suck even more.




Eeek. Everyone we've met likes the Psilons more. The other two are irrelevant. Super-Great.

We have 12 votes and abstain, ending this vote indecisively. Barely. 31 votes needed for the Psilons to win ... and they were two short. This almost got ugly right away.

Also, 13 for the Psilons, 8 each for the bugs and salamanders ... we're just behind the eggheads in total votes here. Looks like they've gotten enough planetology to improve themselves, or else merely filled up all their planets(believe it or not we actually aren't quite there on most of ours). Or both.

Simple answer on why the Psilons got their support: the alliances are back on. All are stuck at 'amiable' with us. I try to join the fun ... all three turn down my offers. I may know why -- I wonder if fleet strength has an impact. Given the rather lackluster state of ours ... as in, we have yet to design a combat ship ... they may just not regard us as having the firepower to help. Which they'd be correct in. Might explain why I have better luck getting allies later in games. Not like I can afford a fleet buildup right now anyway, but ...

Bottom line is our dozen votes is four shy of a veto bloc. Seems unlikely we can bridge that gap in the 17 years before the High Council meets again, but if we at least stay close and the minor races stay on the sidelines(likely IMO), we could hang on here.

Short update in terms of years, but quite a bit happened and a fair bit of info thrown back into the fray.