Part 52: Episode V: 2362 - 2374
Episode V: 2362-2374The next Colonizer came out in 2364, and that meant all habitable systems within range had one en route. The Psilons' superior range has them sending a colony ship to the planet in the extreme lower-right, and they are going to beat us there as it's out of our capabilities. Assuming that we get all three that we are on the way to, that'll give us a 13-11 edge, though we'll have a lot of crap mixed in there.
On the left, the four systems with the lime green line around them are the target. The green one is Vulcan, the Radiated Ultra Rich. Above it is another small rich system. The lower two are bigger but not as lucrative -- they also aren't as important in terms of cutting off other empires. If we get to Vulcan first, we could well have the bottom third-to-half of the galaxy to ourselves. That's a price worth investing in a massive ColonizerX. The usual decade is the timeframe for it, and probably another 12-15 years to get there; a full quarter-century. This is a long-term play for certain, but one with a potentially huge payoff as well.
Research and population transfers are ramping up to the new colonies, as well as continued regular reserve payments. Every tool in the box has been unleashed to try to maximize the growth curve.
Not the best planet, but it's a range-extender in the galactic centre. It's 2366, and at the same time a dozen Psilon transports to Crius are intercepted and destroyed. Thanks for evening the scales just a tad there. And ...
Stupendous. Great to make your acquaintance.
We have good chances against an empire with just four planets in the long-term. They've got the biggest fleet though and are right there with the Psilons in tech.
With a decade till the next Council vote, we definitely need all the friends we can get. We bribe the Darloks with the only thing they are interested in, our +10 Terraforming. They say it is 'accepted as reparations for our crimes'. Yeah, you're jackasses. We know. A 175BC trade deal is also signed, and they make it clear it wouldn't have happened without the gift. They are Xenophobic Industrialists. They hate everyone, and have no current allies.
Meanwhile, the Psilons are still mad at us but are willing to accept our envoys once again. I'll wait for things to cool down a little more before attempting to bribe our way back into their good graces. I've also started throwing anything extra in the reserve, after the growing colonies have had their fill each year, into Cryslon for the purposes of accelerating getting that big colony ship moving.
We're on our way ... to something. Probably painting a big target on our backs. Meanwhile a trio of Psilon destroyers, new ones called Star Blades, are en route to Crius. I'll wait to see what they do, but if our Piranhas can't handle them I'll have to try for peace sooner than planned. They are allied with the Mrrshans, but we haven't met them yet. If they make friends with the Darloks though, we will be screwed.
The scientists were really impressive here, converting on a 10% prototype chance the next year. Extending our scanner range from 3 to 5 is a big deal right now.
We also get Robotics III with our next set of options! That will be quite nice, thank you.
In 2371, the ColonizerX departs for Vulcan. A 12-year journey. Meanwhile we are most pleased to see a very brief Psilon-Darlok alliance, which we dreaded, broken up. The two of them are at war, with the Mrrshan on the Psilon side. This is good ... unless the eggheads win and expand. Then it's bad.
What can we do about this? Probably nothing. We don't have enough firepower to join in. We're left hoping for the Darloks to somehow fight them off, or failing that, for the Mrrshans to reap the benefits of any success. Most of all, I just want them to bleed each other.
Grrr. Either Darloks, who seem to have no 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' sense, or the Psilons are responsible here. Either way, sucks.
Gee, let me think. How about ... no? Ruthless Ecologists, they are surprisingly non-terrible with 5 planets in the upper reaches of the galaxy. Despite their request for our pre-emptive surrender in true Jar-Jar Binks style, they agree to 200BC in trade.
I also notice that the Humans have allied with the Darloks. There are now three arrayed against the Psilons. I'd really like to use this information. somehow in the next few years before the Council votes. It's 2373, and there are only two years left.
It looks likely that we'll be the ones opposing the Psilons. Unfortunately it also looks likely that they will have enough for a veto bloc. Humans and Darloks voting with us won't be nearly enough. And they have more Star Blades inbound ...
Perhaps they would consider peace, now that they have this many wars?
"The Psilons have considered your offer, and rejected it." Got it, you want to pave the galaxy in the blood of everything that isn't you. Okey-dokey.
Indeed it is us here now in the #2 spot. Thankfully, while the galaxy as a whole gained 3 votes, the Psilons got none. Technically we could win, if everyone comes our way. I could also inherit a million bucks tomorrow. I think that's more likely.
The outcome is already decided now. The Council will end deadlocked. Humans(3 votes), Klackons(2), and Darlocks(4) do all support us though. We have four as well.
Only enough to get us to 13, three short of victory. Naturally we go for the transparently cheesy tactic of voting Zygot, our arch-enemy, and thereby currying favor with the bastards. It really should lower the opinion of those who vote with you if you go the other way like this -- they stuck your neck out for you and you're like thanks ... but I'll support your enemy.
Anyway, fairly close to a cheap win but we couldn't make it happen. I suppose it's too much to hope that they all stay at war for the next 25 years while we expand, retake Denubius, and grow our numbers .... yeah.